Socialist Press no. 169

Engineering employers split

ALL-OUT STRIKE

CAN WIN CONFED

PRESS

Fight betrayal by Patriotic Front Prostituting political principle not on any written agenda of the Tories conference on Zimbabwe. been one of the main activities of the principal delegates. leaders of the Patriotic Front and the Smith-Muzorewa have skipped over

IC. WITC

amount: ok obstacles with an agility amaz. ing even from such well-trained COlICIES. Prooress TowardS comoro mise seems in fact to have out: stripped optimistic most Tory timetable for the talks.

ment of the war is the product of oppressive increasingly torce:

CONT

DOTT

Ene guerrilla leaders and the racist Salisbury government. Protracted war and contin- uing sanctions trade are dragging the of economy Zimbabwe closer and closer to a total breakdown. Sanctions ing firms, For the white bourgeoisie, Smarte •ack counter- eering Employers Feder- part, the lifting sanctions Of imperative, and this ation, are lickes

SILV

have political arguments. But effects of the war national pay claim being are not confined to Zimbabwe.

fought for I ne Tront-ine STates-In Confederation particular Zambia-have suffered severe economic conse- building and cuences ing Unions. The bourgeois nationalist of leaders these states into bine is planning to leave the Enell DeST ettorts forcing the Patriotic Front EEF after the present dis- leaders pute, with its succession of settement. damaging one day and two Kaunda and his colleagues day strikes, is over. are also goaded on by fears that their realmes. may come of the press to foment splits any further under treat trom escalation and divisions amongst engin- Zimbabwe to involve the masses eering workers have almost struggle- More The completely failed, the solid- especially when the armed mili- arity and cumulative impact tants of Patriotic Front of the strikes and overtime Continued page 2 ban are clearly splitting the employers. Profit-hungry In the divisions now emerging among this, the most profit- mungry ana union employers' which forms the very back- bone of British capitalism- one defecting employer told the Financial Times: "We can employers' our business customers must come first".

And though employers out, it is this for amongst Kaunda

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 169 * October 3, 1979 * 20p About 500 engineer- which has meant that the Rolls Royce-led attempts by including 60 the spread members of the Engin-

LEF

national lock-out out the industry have failed now said to so miserably. conceded the Interest rates the Smaller by employers, already struggling under the of Ship- interest lories sky-high Engineer- rates and the effects of the soaring value of the pound And the giant GEC com- on export prospects and im- ported goods, have shown no inclination to join Rolls Royce shutting down production altogether. though manage-

KONS

So while the early efforts ment appear to have nego- arrangements with Lated certain customers to allow them leeway for late of delivery engines, they too face possible loss of orders and huge costs from the shutdown, includ- ing the full pay being given to laid off white collar staff.

Other, weaker, employ- ers, though no less eager to a clear indication of defeat the strikes clearly teel unable to take such an expensive, and so far unsuc viciously. anti- cessful gamble in the face of body- a determined working class.

Faltering This faltering position of admire the employers and clear solidarity, but signs of divisions in their and ranks points to the necessity

•OWI

for the unions to step up the action. most are still holding. If des- the employers, same instinct pite obvious encouragement self-preservation from the Tory government, whole sections of now visibly from a employers total shutdown of the indus- would strike government engineering alongside

ITV,

try, then a total shutdown is Vauxhalls. precisely the move neces- sary to force them to settle massive forward full £80/39 hour week the claim. has already made 1979 the Terry Duffy and the other Confed leaders who have deliberately restricted a victory in engineering can the scope strikes OI vicale lavourable conditions must be opposed on this at to witch level in the every unions replace Duffy with demands that they call right wing all-out action. whose policies To inflict a defeat on the collaboration stand

EEF,

to OI mentally major split in its ranks, necessary Fighting the cuts-pull-out supplement inside Oxford parents in picket at rail station protest to Tory Minister Carlisle at the complete closure of nursery facilities by Oxfordshire's Tory council.

USFI and Portugal Centre pages Who are the 'Boat People' .. p.3 Liberals and Ireland.. • p.5 Persons Unknown ... • p.9

CLAIM

dramatic bring down the Tory weakening blow at the Tory government whose policy revolutionary leader- of confrontation has so far ship, of matching capable been energetically adopted up to the tasks and possib.

employers, ilities of today's situation and fighting to mobilise the Chrysler/Talbot and working class in defence of its class interests, must be And in strengthening the built. movement Conference of the working class, (which The Workers Socialist biggest year for strikes since League is supporting the 3 Heath was toppled in 1974) November Conference of the Campaign for Demo. the Labour Move. cracy in challenge and ment (details p.11) which offers workers from engin- and other leaders, eering and other industries class the opportunity to discuss funda. the political programme and which this opposed to the perspective on mass action fight can be taken forward TrE

THE

Car workers-first victims of US "social contract"? Page 2

- INTERNATIONAL-

Iran oil chief sacked The Ayatollah Khomeini declared last how pained he week much needed boost had been by the 'unjust for President Carter's and inhuman' accusa- flagging credibility has been tions that he was provided by the agreement dictator. of top US union bureaucrats collaborate in But, heroically, he is sub- American version of the touching signs auing of human weakness in the "social contract". drive to assert the suprem- Reactionary leaders of the of Islamic in

TUC)

(American aly Iran. along with the gangster bosses the non-affiliated The latest victim of this offensive has been Hassan AUtO Workers, have pledged to assist Nazih, head of the National Carter Iranian Oil Company. on their pay restraitl Conflict between Nazih in exchange for and the religious leaders promises of White House action reached a climax at the end on unemployment benetit, with his dis- programme enerov missal and the certainty that protection. he would be charged with Unanimous LIcasOl "crime" lay Nazih's in The "national accord" was by a meet- the passed unanimously movilig lo of the oil employees ing or z3 or ine so members o the A is a treet kick in the industry TO f extent It is a farewell kick Khomeini's demanded by teetn Tor Ine uo workine class revolutionary council. from retiring • Prest. Khomeini and his fellow dent George Meany, who at 85 bigots are seeking the mass ending finally 24-year sacking of all 'communists' •erloo oTTiCe marked proud and open class collabora- industry-a category in me tion and vicious anti-commun.

elemero y democratic ism. element democratic And it is testimony to the opposition to the Islamic continuing reactionary alliance regime. between

TOO

us union tedders Nazih himself no and the capitalist Democratic friend to communism, but Party. far accurately avoided seems likely than ayatollahs how Foretaste altogether. deep would be the workers' The strike would have of to the reaction against moves B0anst Ene •roposais kind ob bitter foretaste TnE GM management for a three purge all their leaders and consequences that nostrike agreement with jS year militants. will for "accord" and a few fringe Nave 9% pay rises For this capital stand trace unionists nas beer alver benefits. in the moves now underway capital interests the pay review for This proposed agreement, it sell-out • unequivocably before those will set the standard the giant General Motors work- accepted, of Islam. TOrCE Anxious to restore capit- throughout the rest of the US The expected strike over alism to its former glory in due which Toe pay claim wa. naustry frequently Iran, from September 15-and shortly. 1020 urged the regime to reach economic deals with imper- a lar more rapid rate than the one prevailing.

Nazih's cals for the re. establishment of private capital, protected by Tully the state, were accompanied by a firm resolve to avoid provoking the development of proletarian struggle by unnecessary and impractical attacks on the organisations of the working class. With Nazih now on the from the powers of run Islamic reaction, Khomeini and has installed new more pliable functionary to Meany direct the crucial sector ol Carter the Iranian economy. Zimbabwe ...from front page far. have their bases inside the front dent' Zimbabwe. On the same day, a new raid This breathtakina 180 degree the states. Parallel fears ensure that the turn must have sent shock waves South African apartheid capital- jarring throughout the rank-and- Smith Muzorewa army, the Tongogara with which ss coin with une ourtisa lories The or me radiote ront. No experimetel a maintaining pressure. accomoaatingty willing to work dealing in the near future. experience The London conference has ialist settlement. With

DOILICO

Bowing this opposition to shocking pressure their leadership already Shown

WILL

conceded defeat now the stakes clarity the murky depths Smith has now which Nkomo and Mugabe higher than ever before. "ne •uestion sink order veto bloc any new parlia. the Patriotic ment. But his effective rejection Front are uncomfortably aware ao vance Tnetr sent-interest that diplomatically will at this against the needs of the masses of UDI finds stage of the in Zimbabwe. its reflection in ine concessions 80• me wal Censure and cynicism cannot made by the Patriotic Front.

produce a crisis in the ranks of years of fierce he Front which may well throw counter such betrayals. and must be overcome in up a radical &r even consistenti uncompromising anerone. to build a the struggle Too are migreted revolutionary alternative historic Mugabe-ted nationalist leadership.

GOTSKVISI

of course, which can lead the proletariat at And the National wal the head of its allies to develop Liberation Army) declared his develop tinues ground to the manoeuvres and willingness to the Smith-Muzorewa regime deals in London. into a revolutionary • last week army of the Smith Muzorewa due mas the dictatorship of the proletar- ime in the transitional period attacked one of the major Salisbury's northern camps lat ano the govance or une lter.

national socialist revolution.

their detences. Goodle OMAN major operation of this type Balloons, beer and banqueting-the UAW Convention, 1977 With current inflation US announced 14%, and with large-scale redun.

dancy une industy threat proposed deal represents I wage cut for the workers. the Ter the ourcauerdls United Automobile workers have called off industrial action of basis the minimal gains Tinev currently trying to force on the throughout the com- pany. Extraordinary methods Their methods of doing this British by standards. First of all they flew the the largest plants convenors vacuarters Detroit and persuaded them to vote unanimously for the deal on Thursday 21 September out the Next Eney

TOOK

committeemen-senior stewards -of all the big branches in GM , Durin this all expenses-paid trip. they new governmental crisis is certain to emerge in Turkey following the resig- nation of one of the inde- pendent members of Prime bourgeois Minister Ecevit's cabinet. the of ender opposition Justice Party wing that claiming two more will soon resign, they will bring down Ecevit's RPP government after That day will see by-elec. five constituencies and tions in third of the Senate, and could prove the turning point for Ecavit's "democratic" unstable alliance with army generals and through the operation of martial aw. restrictions The lacoul Te count throughout much of

COULY

widespread are now that right wing and reports aders are proparing to military le a "transitional regime' based an constitution. This has long been the demand of the Justice Par Ecevit himself described the persuaded them to support the deal also. Finally. they are 'explain meetings to the deal before running a secret ballot to get acceptance On what basis are the UAW sell this In a report published by the they union 18 September claim Shostant: increases involved in the proposed settle- They state Inat Ine nouri rate of an assembly line worker TrON

FISC

hour 3/.30 per that for skilled men from $9.30 to $11.19. • rates nowever are our living number elements and increases otel which were due in any case. And they cannot hide the fact that little indeed is promised up to 14 September 1981, when will no-strike clauses operate with rigour Turkey: coup threat- grows resianation from his cabinet a move "planned by dark circles" of bid • al thi Imoose such a constitution. govern. But he claimed n!! event, he declared vaguely, The people will not tolerate move by certain ruling cliques one ne reture• to answel interviewer asked if the

RPP

mobilise its mass would support threat of a fascist takeover. Instead he stressed the need "strong

TOI

WHat caned d democratic state" state" already exists, and embodies many the repressive against the left demanded by the fascists.

Under the these conditions

RPP

with

BIGGUOUS

nothing oTTel Tine masses or the Turkish bourgeoisie. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday October 3, 1979 which time the assembly line base rate will only nave gone up to $9.60. One major retreat which the netonators allow the management deduct 14 cents per hour from the cost of living entitlement to pay for the company pension scheme-this had formerly been Travel expenses This is despite the fact that negotiators claim to have the •erected proposet _ comedy 'takeaways' such taking for travel expenses out money ot the cost of living increase: t can once said that such ludicrous notions have must been deliberately set by the up enolovers alve me oureau crat they three coast about they were rejected. nat me on way me party concessions on pay can be sold by some improvements on other Italicis 'paid tine personal holidays' are increased in the new contract from six per addition the Inis Is in normal specified Christmas and Recognition Another important conces- company nas agreed to give recognition to UAW members moved from old • closea pianis to te new ones they are in the process of setting up in the huth and conder concessions come tocemer with the rear cuts wages which being proposed, they clearly •designed to make it more diffi.

cut to secure relection trom the rank and file Socialist League members at The reemont general Motors campaignin for eration or re plant near Francisco terms in the forthcoming ballot.

Weakness the They point that extraordinary lengths to which The oureaucraev nas been com pelled to go to sell it shows their weakness and lack of confidence rather than any real strength However though the may well be thrown out at Freemont, in the absence paign, it is difficult to see how overall can be rejection Yet the leaders of both main remain committed to supporting the RPP advocating no • policies whatever to satisty the indepen dent needs of the working class.

And the trans of wing parties sections Commus Party are this time running can didates independent of the

RPP,

they oTel talk of "defending demo. vague calls on Ecevit to and cracy act against the fascists.

Imminent The militar danger of d fascist takeover is imminent. It is vital I that the workers' move.

breat decisive trom ccevit ana torm & unite front in the against violence and military repression: Workers defence squads formed. The fight must must be not fake "democrat". Ecevit, but fo a workers' and peasants ment. which must be driven tr carry out the necessary socialis!

policies to defend the Turkish

SOCIALISI PRESS,

INTERNATIONAL*

Who the "boat people" and what do they reveal about the nature and policies of the Vietnamese Party which Communist the defeat of the

SACE

American imperialists the 1975 nas ruied North and South of Viet- nam? The great majority oT ine boat people' have come from South Vietnam, especially from City (formerly HO Chi minn Saigon) Mass emigration from South Vietnam oredates the defeat of the imperialists. It acelerated during days of the last as imperial- from the vengeance they deserved and expected. After that a steady stream of refugees continued to leave Vietnam until the present enor.

began in the early months 1978 Sudden change very much affected by a sudden change in the policy of the Viet- namese CP After the collapse of the pro.

imperialist regime and the US Hanoi very in relation to capr alist property in the South. In sizeable particular remained in the orivate SeCTOT area of day iu7i, however, the In May 1978, leadership towards rapid political and economic integration of North and South.

This included expropriation of virtually all private property in the South down to small- scale wholesalers and retailers, very many whom were Chinese national origin. measure; and way it was evidently carnico oc which set in train the flight to sea of the boat people At first almost all the boat origin •evole ware or cainese (traders and their families) and recently as two months ago that 80% were still Chinese, though the Vietnamese component is continume to rise. One million refugees have How many there been up till now? UN High Cimatission for Vetu- estimate gees since one that million refugees have left Viet- Halli About 250,000 of these have gone, often by land, to and some of those probably did nor reacio nemseves as perma nent residents of Vietnam in the first place. Most of the rest have left the country by sea-often in small, unsafe and invariably overcrow- 250,000 of these have been admitted countries outside Asia least 350,000 are now in

USA

MOSTIV

"transit camps" sometimes conditions, appalling the

ASEAN

countes" or Hong Kong probably aisease, starvation and arown- ing. Conference The Vietnamese government at the July Geneva conference the boat conTe ence waico ir oedan ov denouncing and ended up by S. E. Asia: Part 3 Who are the "boat people'? collaborating with fully). said expected the eventua total of emigrants would be 3 million, of whom 1½ million would be of waltest The Vietnamese government also says that of those : who have nave done so legally and that, despite their efforts, they been unable control

JOSL

rest have left illegaily in order to avoid paying the taxes on emi- grants imposed by the govern- ment. Some emigrants, however, present a different story.

Semi-legal They say that most refugees leave semi-legally in the sense that they "fix" their departure cracy who personally pockets some or all of the money the refugee pays. That Lono a former mathe.

matics tende claims tedt entad quoted recently in Le Monde to pav $3.000 to be allowed to leave. He also claimed that in total 53 billion had been taken from emigrants in this way in the first six months of 1979 The Vietnamese bureaucracy and

ITS

ales Colto refugees are almost entirely former capitalists and traders regime which has nationalised their property. 0- Vietnamese bureaucrats received in Moscow Others they allege are ele- Ho Chi Minh City where they collaborated ments which have mostly come trom course with ine imperialists i ano Wno inat is not represent a permanent block on the fact that the social deny revolution and whose fate the environment created: particular.

ly in Saigon, by imperialism was im oucation, snove oe no serious concern of socialists.

Kind of progressive sicil trans hostile to any No answer Tormation. To hundreds of thousands, The problem with this and collaboration corruption explanation that it doesn't of lite occome one million people are preparea to embark in con- ditions of obvious danger with soldiers in the ranks of the old million were one guarantee destina- ally tion otner man a retucee camo or worse. According to the Hanoi all this is inde- oureaucracy pendent of our will" Yet it has waged a consistent camoaiol aminese residents which is driving many them through fear to pay large sums to seave une country the most dangerous con- ditions. It is beyond the bounds of many million Chinese and the same number of Vietnamese are irre- ist collaborators. Yet this is the gist of the Vietnamese wu cauciacy s version of events. Fifteen percent The three million they expect to leave amount to 15% Heng Samrin and 75% of the population of South Vietnamese puppet army In Vietnam itself the ques tion of the refugees and poten.

and economic life was in ruins.

tial refugees is something which % maion were unemolove‹ in the South and corruption was Tne oureaucrac rife answer its unpopularity and Its material problems at home The North Vietnamese Stalinist First. they can be set up as a oureaucraci Tacer with this situation, held back on mass "Toreion oresenct of North and which blame can be deflected mitecration Second, their property South, attempted to remove 1½ • bal of Saigon's 4 million oe contiscateo. inus easino unt personal material problems of useful work #illaDilallls sections of the bureaucracy the countryside and rounded up tens thousands of South well Int mOrt cenera material problems the Vietnamese Contes bureaucracy a Ene the Geneva conference made a Bureaucratic rule deal with the imperialists that out these carrying •rospective emirants ano inert are policies the bureaucracy did not still two millior ot inem would be placed in "departure base ITSe T in Vietnam itself under mobilisations of the masses cam ps' which had helped defeat loint united varons ano viet namese supervision to await impertausts atemolee transport. impose in the South an exten.

sion of the bureaucratic Stalinist Inis way une avantace which the bureaucracy derives rule in the North from the result reoressive neasures have been applied not retugees can continue, but with out the international • elements of my to reacionary opprobrium. vietnames ociety but also against any the imperialists way ection of the masses aspiring to too, solve a major problem.

noesenoenci Embarassed aracy Even though everything has Because although they have been complicated by systematically exploited the and blockade сколотик boat people tol tne Ine chinest invaston anti-communist propaganda pur- policies of the bureaucracy are also to a great extent responsible for the presence the basic materia the lack ludl hundreds Inousanos problems of the masses are not : whom they refugees "support" being solved. are not prepared to take in One reason that the supply snce the geneva conterenci of basic foods and other goods the flow of emigrants has been becoming even tighter the reauced a ut orenive maintain m measures taken by the Viet- vast Vietnamese armies of occu- pation in Laos (50,000 troops) Severe sentences, including ana in namouched. voce de ve one i sentence naves deer reported last week Viet- that imposed on illegal emigrants in forces would be the last few weeks ex panaca statern It is verv hard to escape the 200,000—halt the number or Us conclusion that present tha troops in Indo-China at the peak treatment of refugees has of the war! , with the preser 200,000 occupying troops to vation of socialism, but. every- police K milit popula- to . do with the preser- tion million hardly of of the the power vation evidence of the adoles counter-revolutionary Vietnam ity' of the invaders and the ese Stalinist bureaucracy.

puppet government under Heng Samrin.

OUT SOON!

The Battle for

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out' fraud exposed Labour 'lefts' back rate rises Page 4 All sides were united and minimising burden thing in last on one middle class. Party week's Liberal Set date conference: whether or favoured the not they eventual withdrawal of ment sought simply British troops, they all "date be British of opposed the war proposed that the liberation being waged army of occupation by the republican move- be replaced force? keeping ment. age-old imperialist "debate" The on of troops in Ireland kitchen-the issue Nations. a haggle over was purely which tactic of preserving force best the same as that undertaken capitalist stability in Ireland Uuru

HOOPS OUT

Young Liberals on August 12 Troops Out demonstration' Letters Dear Socialist Press, let alone any public debate.

member ot Holborn In practice it means: Party als will be cut by 50% Socialist Press, I would like to some recent relay Camden ex•erences Council's

TIONT

adainst proposed Tory cuts in local government expenditure. Camden Labour Group, who contral the council, are formally pledged to fight any cuts in or public services existing staffing. statement recent Holborn and St, Pancras South Mills

GMC,

Councillor declared that the Labour Group "avoid cutting back if possible But such a stand would have

CAMDEN

by an immense *о ов васкье ш• rate increase of at least 35%.

It is useful to remember that.

Camden Council tenants already pay in the The nonest Tales country. In practice the rate increase that Camden WoUle Mean tenants would be paying a min- of a f2 rate increase on imum top of existing rates of between £5 and £8 a week In April 1980 rents will also increased by approximately €2. interest that the It is of Com- chairman of the Housing mittee in Camden is that weil some-time known under-privil- egod Ken Livingstone. He backs those proposals 100%. In his capacity as Chairman of the Housing (Development) sub-committoo Councillor has already quickly Livingstone annitulateo to Tory pressure to reviso Carden's housing pro gramme. This decision to revise the housing policy was taken by the in fight against the cuts Labour Group without any con- Liberals 'troops the by the British troops-the tax the national British of the repression liberation struggle and the capitalist preservation Stability North and South the imperialist-drawn The "troops out" amend-

LOE

The fundamentally reac- set" for the tionary ponlics withdrawal, and Liberal "troops out" contin- British was demonstrated by gent should their the fact "peace- influential spokesman, Cyril from Smith, later went out on a thieves limb to support the Tories' United proposals in anti-picketing defiance The task of such a UN Come ecc would of course Smith's main gripe was and Enoch Powell him" like are "people "clinging and under the protec- privilege tion of the gun and at the expense of the taxpayer."

"Murderers"

5 SAY

And Liverpool Edge Hill MP David Alton, "troops ; out" speaker, went out of his way both in the subse- conference and in TV interviews quent called the allack wnal ne "murderers" in the

IRA-

who the stangle to force British currently troops out of Ireland. Other Liberals of course stuck to the more orthdox imperialist rhetoric-with talk of "bloodbaths", "cata- c) The municipalisation pro.

sultation within the local party gramme will be drastically cut.

These are just the virst step: Labour Group ery and right is taken Camden's a) Camden's building propos- the tace of an all out allack Council-owned sites wilt Thatcher's government on the be sold off to Housing Associa- workine class Camden's local governmeni

N.U.P.E. C

NUPE

says: £60

NOW

All-out strike by Camden workers set the pace in low pay struggle. Labour councillors refused to mobilise this strength strophic consequences" and "encouraging the Provision-.

motion were carried and with- troops drawn. Liberty One luckless speaker who took the Liberals' talk of liberty" 'individual seriously and moved a call for the repeal of emergency in Ulster, was

DEMONSTRATE

powers answered by the in support of "alleged brutali- that the

POLITICAL STATUS

ties" of the army and the

FOR IRISH

RUC had nothing to do

REPUBLICAN

with emergency powers! week's Daily Tele-

PRISONERS!

LAST

graph described the Liberal Party as a party for people

OXFORD

who don't like politics. Ireland Saturday October 20, The debate proved beyond doubt that Assemble 2pm the the position ted "troops Chapel St, off Cowley Rd argued by Smith the Young Liberals troops Oul position for people who do like British imperialism.

must have been rudely dis- Respectable appointed. the Any elements The task workers movement who had unavoidable Liberals hard, hoped "respect- fighting would provide a behind British able" platform which they could voice mild struggle to force the immed- disapproval of British army iate troops from while opposing the tactics national struggle in Ireland ties of Ireland, Send us a letter, putting your views on the articles in Socialist Press, on the struggles in your union or district, or on any topic you feel is important. Write to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

to unwilling up a sub committee nas ser working class committee against Tory cuts.

But at its first meeting it was Tignt against une lories made cear what Ins body sluic increases are is to be. of The majority delegates existing public services could oresent further financial used to defend proposed publicising the increases, Ine workine class. •alC argument that if the Tories had Removed not got in to office this would • have happened. never Labour A Socialist Press supporter refuse to on this sub-committee made I clear that she opposed both cuts and Camden increases •vmassive ratt should follow the example of Clay Cross and dety Dar lies the Tory government, she said But it was made quite clear the present trie Cuts, Camden's 'left' and right alike The Wild Life Park Bahrain to be shipped to Italy Dear Comrades, ordeal After last week's outcome of the suttered by mysel and my com tionist line of the mass panions at Rome airport I am to draw your attention tionary the way That we animas- with including endangered species- the consequences sumerit alroort Wasce crisis the •voletariar leadership Stalinist leaders earlier was bad enough finger British when the v88l Inc eed Labour letts capitulated miser ably to Callaghan and allowed of the State a promise of an him to drop the momentaru animal water: would easily Manifesto-thus paving the way police if one for electoral defeat. suffered the ana rusty Italian). result of the Now after reformist Stalinist trade ourselves union bureaucracies in the capit.

alist countries bleck trade SOCIALISI PRESS. MESMEriE

-TROOPS OUT

NOW!

IRELAND

Oxford Irish Delegation Organising Committee presents a showing of

THE PATRIOT GAME

7.30pm, Friday Oct 12 Coop Hall, Cowley Rd plus speakers from Provisional Sinn Fein and Oxford trade union movement Tickets 50p. conditions for the Irish people as a whole to deter- future. mine tHeN

OWI

Crucial to this the remains the one of fight for labour movement to the Sinn Fein mobilise the support working class in the national demonstration of the Block support withdrawal of British blanket men, to be held in 20 Saturday Oxford on . the

SIX

October. and create mobilise the govern Camden Trades Council are behind them in a shortly holding a conference or Tory cuts in how to fight the The argument goes that rate defend made to public spending stealt this conference must demand Labour Group Camden Unfortunately this will mean rates hardship for must reTUsI order to subsidise the Tory cuts Associations should mount á campaign boycott proposed rate, rent and who heating increases counciliors council of action must mobilise and resist be elected from the conference Tory cuts directly or indirectly co-ordinate to mossation. against this Tory government be removed by their local ward of the actions and Camden.council. It is not enough for Labour Yours councillors to formally oppose SP but their duty Camden, to challenge ine sortes right te Rome victim complains Emir plainly with South Africa-as we were tion where feels a kindred spirit with us bundled aboard a British aircraft endangered species be boring The governmental crisis-an Bahrain , class collabora- enough, even without the com.

showing: of evening

SUSOUN

But to Communist Party in their reac Vanessa Reagrave Tuls. "historic compromise" make matters worse, there is of a state visit by talk the Christian Democrats-

TOV

and other leaders was clearly a major factor in the of the British so-called Workers Revolutionary Party. And we should note that the be said that, having atted noT to defend our interests- characteristically and even fake Trotskyist' exposed in practice, sided with the repressive forces leaders when two of us loose land build a revolutionary party broke the reconstruction of and nave ere BO CIO the Fourth International?

had not broken a had rather Yours in sisterhood, other Ann. T. Lope these betrayals dumped in this stronghold of feudal reac-

Gloomy bankers meet S. African bosses change tactics to extend control Tories step up racist laws as crisis deepens already enormous unemploy- The financial leaders of ment rate was on the way up the capitalist world are again. meeting at the conference Spending cuts of the International Monet- ary Fund this week: These classic features of may derive some satis- becoming inev are today faction from the tact tnat tnelr evervwnere more eveent as takes place one meeting governments try to deal with country (Yugo- "communist' through public sector deficits slavia), and TrOM KnowiBace austerv oroaramlics a membership application huge spending cuts. from another (China) is in the This particular problem has post. te arsen Decause ou le way in which capitalist governments Sluggish have felt obliged to up to now une casic tandencies But, beyond that, there is towards slump in order to avoid virtually gioom head-on confrontations with the uaviuus among finance ministers. In the organisea working class and diso of the Financial Times protect the weaker sections.

correspondent they economics of capital al tulk tual: Both within the main capit- "The woria is condemnea to aist nations ane erween tnem rapid there is now some tendency for to These interventionis solicie and sluggish output the and drive weaker capitalists to wisalion. stronger sections the wall. noi unemoovmenr ano tiere is capitalist class to force an enc little any government policy maker can do about it."

iustitied nese entirey expectations result from the fact that capitalism is a system o:B•on LASt VOr orOvt rather than the direct meeting of human needs. universal NacBe decline in its protitability in tne capitalism itself "'automatic" produces Gol tavi

TESUITS

Wncu neo to generate more unemployment and the weaker sections of capital. The capitalist-apartheid amongst other things, the aboli- Symptoms state of South Africa has

TION

Statutory

IOL

resel vd tion (affecting only a tiny per- recently produced a series of reserved These jobs classic symptoms Colitagc of governmental moves, of world economic crisis are visible wnites, Ene rest Doine tre sube all over the capitalist world.

which there ject agreements between was another employers and white unions as spattering last week, warmly Lüst Webk vou Wstanco. was announced that in the last wedd ds d dezd n vcnc welcomed by the bourgeois three months unemployment in ressive controls over black press abroad and by "pro- Italy, the weaker capit- workers). one ot of capital residential and alist gressive sections Limited economies. nas risen 300,000 to 8.3% of the work- and mouthpieces at ownersao conis in wate u.cr force. areas for a sector of blacks were home. latest also planned in ontar L00. These reforms promised, And the Wiehahn parliamen- figures suggested South African state forces at work and thrown out of Britain While work proceeds by the state. on additional legislation But after an extensive to further curb immigra- local a fourth- Ca vad eight-year old Akram Dogar tion, the Tories have -has now been allowed to wasted no time in show- stay. ing their determination The strength of the local to enforce the existing cam paign only forced not racist laws with Tory MP Patten to support even more ruthless efficiency Dogar's case, but also drove Home Office the to hold than their Labour pre- back from breaking the decessors. 'genuine bond' between the All the over country boy and his 'adoptive Asians have been harassed parents' in Oxford. by police, thrown into But this victory stands in detention intimi- obvious contrast to the

COLIC

dated by immigration nationally-publicised case of officials and deported. Manju Patel and her three Oxford In over recent SOlS weeks three men have been Driven back India, Home Secretary Whitelaw dubbed "illegal' immigrants Manju Patel faces 00 Omal Toyota cars awaiting export to USA One effect of that on. a wor o scale is that some coun tries-such as the US-have been tary Commission recommended allowing black trade unions to Teistereo-subcc stringent conditions and limita- tions. Tactic Press shown Socialist Has in fact, a enal tnesc miove: tactic to ветепо тле capitalisı apartheid state ayainst The posed to it by the challenges olack workine class Generally, they are a part of a rigidly controlled and limited of reforms through roatatte wnich the ruling class

GIVS

larger layer of black co voL a allies, drawn from the small but black polltically sie ntivicanl petty bourgeoisie and an upper layer of skilled black workers and union bureaucrats. Workforce In a world system of decay- ing caDitaism ane a crisss profits, , South African capitalists led been turn nave TC increasee mechanisation The formation of a large and skilled and semi-skilled cheap worktorce is thus increasingly Holcosaly Together with its political implications, government's programme of reforms has this the case of the registra- tion ot back industria oroanisa.

tions, what appeared to commentators to be bourecols the extension of trace union rights was rather designed as an of control over the exterisiol the Home f aice buream Home Office bureau- cracy The Bombay High Com- mission has now reported its findings on the Patel case and recommended that the children be refused entry into live with onlal Lo their mother. The reason given that Manju apparently Patel's divorce from her hus- band was one of 'conven- ience'. Met ex-husband Despite her statements that they have been separat- ed for eight years, the High Commission now claims to have that Manju evidence Patel may actually have met ape to reman concetituve onus by constant devaluation of their currencies. This fact led in 1971 to an international monetary CrisIs which has brought eight years of continuous monetary chaos Yet another sharp reahon. of currencies took place ment fast WeeK The German Deutschmark upvalued land the Danish was Krone devaluaa in raiduon the other currencies European US ana Tre a•war acal! sharply relation to Cotnel currencies. fall prompted a nev "rescue" goreement detween int and West Germany to hold up the value of the dollar.

Should it continue to tall. it threatens to magnify the USA's rapidly increasina inflation Ano We now nadare o berol help to send Carter's popularity rating further down at the same speed But positive effect inflation must be at the cost of woiseniH capilal d competitive position in worit More fundamentally, this currencv crisis shows. each time it breaks out, that it is much Botha organisation or black workers Fanie Botha, Minister of Manpower announcee last week unat unesc ambiguous 'rights' are now to cover all black workers, , includ- ing migrants (though not those rom torelen countriess Legislation When legislation pub. was ighe n vine on te scol the Wiehahn report, only those black workers ocr maronuly resi dent areas were In nne uroan affected-contrary to Wiehahn's .r ecominenaa tiors her ex-husband, and that her children stayed with him. Flimsy this flimsy Armed with argument, the Home Office will no doubt feel secure in ahead with the pressing Tories campaign oi the intimidation against Asian community in Britain that such is essential attacks are fought by the labour movement, and coupled to struggles for an end to all immigration laws and for the right of any worker to travel, and Suve work in the country of his or her choice. more than. a question of the relative values of currencies

ITUS

Incress noy a cuestol of a flight from paper money itself-from Deutschmark as wal as une condi I nat tendency nas been ver illustrated in the last the soaring price weeks by

TIIST

GOLe ano anen other precious metals (along with some not so precious ones, like copper). the growing instability produced by the capitalist crisis an• ne vain eltorts to reco ve it becomes expressed in a search material store value OTAeI Thar DaDa money reminder the insubstantial 01 foundation on which capitalism TeSTS. However this latest amend. ment-possibly made easier now •vme a•sence ovel Ine months of any really meaning.

ful and strong right-wing threat the government's TeTOTMNS from the privileged white workers who have formed such cessent e.

OTTS

• SOCa base-is merely a development of the same project. Stringent •v moosim extremely suia gent conditions for registration any legislation on labour control willall to destres Inose en black unions, now unregistered through which have sought to build an indepen dent trade union movement The Draconian rules will most kely outaw a c {e most docile and firmly controlled black unions. Alter- natively olack Workers will.ee forced into unions totally con- trolled by whites Last week also heard Prime Minister Botha stating his readi- ness to consider changes in the lavs

WITCN

marriage across racial lines 10,000 people About • nave prosecuted been under the Immorality Act. in its 30 vea!

history. While Botha also said that mixed were always fTalisaycs uncestra•e ITs certaintne government is very willing modify legislation as part of Its retorm programme-as long such modifications further I stability of the • threatened

LIIC

rulino class, and im orove the political and economic conditions fol capital's extrac-

•TOTITS

TTOY

DaCK proletarian labour. Restaurants Another announcement last week concerned the opening of all South African restaurants to

0 8CKS

While black businessmen will admiring now dine the white liberals) and glances OT while the government's programme of retorms is carried through, the repression, contro and exploitation of the mass : of workers extended and even more dooressive v entorce• The only real defence of the black working class s against that is the building of the organisa the development TIone ano the politicai programme which their ne•oneen interests.

failed the test Portugal after April 1974 constituted the most acute and and sustained social economic crisis of the Euro- pean bourgeoisie since the immediate post-war years.

It has thus been a severe test of all political currents claiming to be revolutionary socialist Every aspect of method and been on trial. How has have these parties analysed the political situation overall ano involved-the major torces the Armed orces movement, Socialist Party, the Communist Party? they adjust their tactics to fight for the indepen- dence working class the Transitional Programme? Can these organisations and international centres be their for the fact here resconstore that the pre-revolutionary crisis which opened in 1974 has not been marked by the growth of a mass Trotskyist party make a significant challenge for the working leadership OT 108 class? Overthrow 1974 The coup of April ended 50 years of ruthless sup- pression of all democratic rights in Portugal. of the over now Caetano regime was sense the work of a immediate section of the armed forces. The consequence of these facts was the time of the anti- that at i mass organis- ations of the working class and their political parties were tiny. the Communist Party, which had maintained a destine organisation, , had signif - icant numbers of trained mem- ber the most organised political the force in the Court y Movement. Armed

(MFA).

The initial test of Trotsky- ist intervention, therefore, was a correct assessment of political forces-the CP and the MFA-and their relations with each of the ano later strengthening Socialist Party of the Portu- verbiage different from that of mort of the other mars CP was USFI Xith WORLD

CONGRESS

How the USFI of Portugal "11

UDADE DI

ADOS 'E

SELHOS

CPs of Western Europe The Portuguese ship, nowever, was to pursue a strategy of class-collaboration qualitatively not was Wien distinct from those practiced by all other Western European CPs.

different tactics were because of the differences in the objective political situation Portugal. The common feature of the counter revolutionary stance o all the Western European CPs i the forging of strategic political alliances with sections of the bourgeoisie. The political form which this the takes varies forms of bourgeois rule itself and the relative strengths of the bour- various sections geoisie. Thus in Italy, in the absence of any size o e political lay ci between the CP and The i main of bour- right-wing party geoisie the Italian CP the bi-partisan 'historic compro- mise' with the Christian Demo.

Crats. Indirect In France the CP approaches the question more indirectly by popular frontist Union of the large amance Socialist Party and 'dissident' bourgeois small

PART TWO

" BALHADORE

1975 march calls for workers' councils parties In Spain the CP tried, unsuc- avoid the rebirth of cessfully, to party retormist aroe proposing broad between the "democratic oppos ition', in which it had hegemons up to 1977, and the 'reforming Francoists In Portugal the destruction of the fascist state in April 1974 found the bourgeoisie without civilian political mass ally organisation. And the Socialist Party was then still little more than a fig ment of Mario Soares' imagina- tio the Stalinists' route to class therefore collaboration clear-an alliance with the 'pro- sections. of the gressive Dour. forces, the MFA geois armed its left-talking and especially elements. What was the nature of the

MFA?

It must be characterised as a political formation bourgeois though one which showed itself increasingly sont between right, which aimed at full-scale anti- communist centre which looked counter revolution; 'benevolent' bonapartism the longer with perhaps sort aim bourgeois democracy neal revolutionary potential off the and a trent from sor much different from Those The United Secretariat of We knom, of course, than main two other grouping the Fourth International (USFI) is undoubtedly the lay claim to the title or rourt International" are both now and most widely largest substantially smaller than the known of the currents that

UNRI

Both of them-the Healyite have emerged from the post- war crisis of the Trotskyist the *Organising Committee movement. • LI Fourth With thousands of members Reconstruction of the International (run and or. sympathising by hol OCI) -certainly sections in dozens of countries, rrenci political positions as bad or fa it is viewed by many militants Fourth than the USFI on man) "the" Trotskyist worse themselves International QuestiOn are the USFI) wracked Workers Socialist (like internal crisis. League does not share this view. We see the USFI as a movement Disorientation that has departed or numerous from the • veston. But the bankruptcy of their positions and method put tor ward the Transitional Pro- rivals is in « our view the Fourth ment for recognising in the which exclusive continuity

USFI

the International was Tounced 1938 Trotskvist Tine l overton

SHOV

ONGELAMEND

C. May Day demonstration, Lisbon 1975, Caetano had been ove work sharing plete rejection military the centre but which saw the loss of pay, nationalisation with.

most effective way of securing government, dise LITt of major through an alliance demand for the dissolution

OUT

commensatis Enem the armed forces and the estab.

industries Unde with the Cr the only party. le management: lishment of a workers' militia; at begin with, in any position to the agricultural sector for a full- control the working class the camf timi Int demand should have been made for com- nature of the pletely free elections At • tne same time rotsKy state the period after Apri ists should have fought vigor. and the 1974? STiTuenT assembl ously for democratic demands- The fascist/bonapartist dicta- formation of a government of workers' organisations which freedom overthrown, ex oression to TOrSAlS octl and organisa though Spinolist would have been dominated b' torce.

STI

demand in democratic made two attempts to restore it the CP and the SP

LIOTIS

the army 1974 March Trotskyists should also have and Witn (September and workers' • parties, and the rights 1975). fought TOr

TINE

setting of women, youth, homosexuals councils (soviets) fight for the and other groups denied rights Dictatorship the coordinate These democratic demands rionts and cono tons o WorKs instances and defend the WoUld formal sense In wha • have brouaht those fiahting gains which were made. military dictator- existed was a them conflict with the The workers' militias and thi and its government ship or the MrA, what is, a site De respons government woule multary form bonapartism of witnout responsible to these councils allies. fascist colouring. But the difference betweer which would be independent o The provisional governments the Trotskyist the bourgeois state or army and were formally creations of the democratic demand: would form the basis for the oresen tina and led by army to the other rotat to alternative state power that . these •Der sonnet groups bourgeois state. unqualified label But the presented never demand: 'military dictatorship' is insuf- separately but as part of a pro.

ficient to describe the nature of gramme which expresses the state. truth th democratie in It leaves out of account the imperialist epoch. to regime demands can never be fully met impose its rule uncontested.

the overthrow 01 except with words, there existed in a other bourgeois rule embryonic dual capitalist system тем areds evel when as in Portugal in 1974 an power though SITUaTION general the organs of workers' grant compelled to power remained weak. certain treedoms, does not do se The formal nature of ine willingly, and will at an oppor state, nonetheless, concealed the moment withdraw. thest in Portugal was fact that power treedoms. In the absence Essence stront of the bourgeoisie, and parties regime This combination of demo the military With cratic and transitional demand able to impose discipline with the help of th at all levels expressed CP, this was without question a of the Trotskyist pro essence gramme in the circumstances of pre-revolutionary situation.

Portugal. ciously for whiry Organs of power every fights reform however meagre, remained to be undertaken hich which The main protect gain however every , but also places before Attack on CP headquarters building of in Toe the alternative the workino cass an uncomor revolutionary leadership and the mising goal-the seizure of state In all the workers' organisa- organs of workers' power by the working class been tions-workers' done • councis. TaSe This could have Within this programme there political parties, strike which unions, on programme committees- are numerous opportunities for contained the clearest possible and oCcupation actions with other Trotskyists should have fought common the class collab. in the working for a programme of demands political force: oration or the Cr and later o class, but there is no . room to the Socialist Party as it grew ir which expressec any compromise with the polit dence and material needs of the representatives working class-the sliding scale programme would Such end to business bourgeoisie. have contained not only a com- Warsal

SOCLALIST PRESS, Wiednesda: October 3, 1979 whom postawar period has been charactarised by profound polit- ical disorientation and a con- unuing series ot incom dete and opportunist splits and fusions.

ng Xith World The forthcomi Conaress of the USFI is however an important oTTerS Marxists opportunity assessing in more detail the stage or cavaloomen or zie solca characterised the USFI's existence since its formation in 1963. Such Un like the IC and the assessment no task. Basy.

OCRFI.

the is tne very opposite of a politically.

imo o.

HUNC

constang satelite grouped

CAPTIONS

round a national-based party Rather the USFI is a deliber- neraroceneous DOCVi consei usly created hodge- widely podge varying positions. analysis and practice.

thrown but revolutionary while programist ons ne balis ed basis wAlcA It •in avà z cccc ccc ass.) sections the working two which CIules covern programme the inde- pendence ot the working class threefold: involves the building of organisa both Ilass trade organisations unions, and oTtne working class, the organisallon: WOrKIne fig dence. The independence the working cass Continual threatened both by the bour- geoisie and by its agents in the leadership of the workina class.

A successful application of the Transitional Programme, therefore, ww cs a cut moe ressiv ro exoose ano reoace ait sections of the pur- ported leadership of the class. ine bunele or dn alterna tive, revolutionary leadership can never be bin Portugat in 1974 :but conditions énded vee more „von than alty" conTusce anel •vo•ce. the against and in • chillatilo •eTence inTerestS- them into clashes WIt/ •robert relations. Not entrenched And the leadership of the main workers parties was not Western European coun tries.

antoncnoe ast OEnE obstacles the the development of the revolution straddled by a leadership which -for its weaknesses and definitely interna- romany wasee The UsFi makes a virtue fact that within ranks the holding completely CUets opposing DolTICa views of programme and side-by-side- practice can exist even wineh SUCA GIerBNCES topics such and 1974-6, in Portugal the tactics Kam. v etnames Inves on puchea and the analysis of the Sandinista regime where rival USF|

TARCI

a evel factions find themselves poten- tially actually opposite sous arcades •UolCy denouncing the line adopted by their own

USFI

therefore no I Te fixed entity: it is a sum total ol factional currents shift which continually and bourgeoisie retained power through AFM.

were insignificant in portugal compared with the question of leadership. the UFi revealed its

YET

complete incapacity to under- stand things in this way.

I ne olane

TOT

Ene non- existence leaders wiere working masses! The view ex-IMT, 25 coromised Theses, present period

CSS

ane workin But the SWP formal coolt• Portugal. G. Foley Press: adoltaust JUlE JeTT thread. Nothing held but their illusions the demagogy ormic 1975, the ership We do course argue Tn8E bourceols democracy in reformist and st in not determinants autonomous class they are len- ished by aceas, Stalinist Hori rk- ing class building and ¡lusions counaie uner ny mobilisation working class fecel - as Trotsky said: not de. all a шаге the product own Prao creativeness leadership or friction the different W ool laydd Witten SWITCh oosition in lesbonsa lc the surface developments in the class struggle. Untenable At its Tenth World Congress n z e man àcon ver the Leninist Trotskyist Faction, politically supporting the form orno ox

•••OTURIS

of the US Socialist Workers and Party, the Inter- national Maloriy •entency clinging on to the ultra-leftist guerrillaist schemas of the wor s eurocean decrera But the untenable positions taken by both the LTF and the

IMT

Portuguesi events V74-0 ano the Angolan war led to a sharp re- alignment of forces which now Shades une coming sit vorid Congress. The USFI's bulk Having once the leader- ship invariably rises above its class and becomes pre and ODosoo ore-sure (The Class, Party and the The that the "have along the building a quo ted above: ''Ont Tro astmo between Te Has •ano tweeda the leaders, Wont ша the masses nano in clove towards that the Illassus

USFI

the The how can the to thoroughly lescershios that between •vaitative Stalinists even •ITer ano other by turns. We do that, Portugal euse regarded loft' consistent/y the Given unambiguous long-term the occasio nal CP positions by the SP Jeaders must consis- rather as a wal l Page 7 Latin American member appropriate failure to reconcile past politica a sont razne sections and sympathising disagreements demonstrated than internal debate on with the line of by the pattern sections broke conspicuous politics diplomatic the SWP and the LTF and, lec much OlISSEOT alto lescel TArea1 by Nahuel Moreno's Argentinian evasions seen in the statements produced The «ocuments

PST,

'Bolshevik formed The Bolshevik Tendency ha Trotskyist 'Leninist by a new in the meantime declared itself Tendency' endency Wnich nas aiso • Bmer fron ged, with forces in a number of Ine growing challenge racuor these forces, combined with the removal calls sections, pledged to in the credib. and an "un. complete collapse BIrOTST ox sting ility leadership. aueruutals. perspectives of 1969 and 1974, The USFI in short is a move- pressured European both the ment wrackoe oy

MOS

The and profound internal crisis and ov ead ers Into a nasu dissolution of factions and the part vicious have contradictions. of "united" public attacks the Simon formation a new, assessing its development Bolivar leadership prior to and its problems we can not Tine ouc altisot Congress. only better grasp the Omisions problems within it but aiso pin point issues

PANTR:

on clarity is essential in the struggle i nese Fourth Inter. to reconstruct the "It was leaders in this new majority MaLona autor taty leadership that drafted the five international centre for the main documents tabled for the Increasingly the necessary Trotskyist world lans uat Congress. But manifest used these attacks is that party of socialist revolution.

the (leaders and rank and file) are a way distinguished in the SWP's eyes for CP the inde- from supporters or ine lass ane a te so-paleo u tradett] es the faction of the -band. n in US prove than mort of the SWP Tne cecisiv. moment it the masses in also the (and / their

OCI)

adaptation, defending French esp • Of hà trn om- Socialist Par and del with

OCI,

presented It i that the SP leader

DICHRISTS

Centests 'cal alist "rights ' or assert- Party' as bein ues- ing the masses revolu Winst • tio the wanted" SP leadership reduced to a By deepenin the division for and CP rank and file between SP mem ers the sr leaders were ir farced inrding against being reformist, no into a government aie tus

• WILL

workers bartler the ds a They were also defending workers' the npt to the CF or fighting that SP demos into Torred unr and marginal limited of 'people's that Ilassos. Soares-tail-ended by SWP the VuB• in Witt the ATTiy masses sh tư họo or The masses. And

LUTTED

ist leaders. July TÉnE This 1975 defending has little Party democratic which But behind common That WnICI aco suCh org is that the "What is SP The

(IMT),

footsteps elemenu reaCLon Walci Pablo has® class the present main- working in SP time the demonstrations democratic wave of the among ultra-leftists beating up of members and Icaucis, Darticuldi une cherish the that the Who Tollowed Chacow that and even ULIUTId and 'under the as consciously the masses of Trotskyists masses. circum-

TICUS

stances ysis and its history Trotskyist are awic lo exoress newspapers. Poisoned Well this analysis we Wil of the Ine uocd SU •oOr

DOTN

USFI.

democratic and transitional demands rather than part of a metnoe woicn Decause it nat no such firm foundation in the Transitional 'Programme Citoned empirically to wnich ever section of the existing situation leadership appeared to be most any given moment. abandon sectarian power" Such could not it to fiaht SWP leader Barnes have led to the building of an together SP workers independent working class pro- gent, class conscious and coura.

whole." gramme; it could only have led sections ot the proletariat to the creation of illusions in a myrmidons Witt

TARDIST

the USFI the who were mobilised to sing the I cacuowary soader situe scalersitv of These criticisms of the SWP's praises military rulers positions in 1975 do not imply the majority of the nel• deny the of the existing working class the right to LfICl

SUDOOT

SUDOOTL

Lift ant uton rise in e leadership of demonstrate"

IMT

and summarised This approach to the SP was a wholesale adaptation document Detenc tionary and Portuguese Revolution' by its policies, ana Mandel, P. . Frank and L. Maitan. and led Teory ano amounte•te a witul retection This and the of the method of the Transition- docum ent al Programme. • positions of the IMT ir •tner Portugal, are as far away from erases all distinc- It virtually the Transitional Programme as if correctly the working class Ton derweer programme tih ts leade rsbip, distinc. unose ou the oyvr

SWP

the While the saw the through Trotskyist which, above bist existing reformist leaders as the must be the purpose of Trotsky- Warty Tne ists to expand талов. Tn8 section Foley and the SWF masses', sought and Instead the M1 thought they had found accept ema•nas ze tne vertica divisions in the working class created and doe aes w c oęc As corps of the bourgeois army!

which exploited by both Stalinist anc retormest leaders alke Continued next week So all supporters of the SP

TROTSKY STRESSES

Page 8

HISTORY

The political richness of October of Lessons for revolutionaries today is inestimable. The book raises a multi- of tude questions aboul strategy and 1n tallies the revolutionary conservalsill, Cancels and the sway of petty bour- the pulling geois forces revolutionary party towards social democracy. "Lessons' that The Trotsky was trying impart were of a far broader nature than just a study of of the October the course wallill Disastrous Written in October 1924, disastrous attempt after by the German Communist powet Party to Lake Saxony it was a warning to the international Commun- ist movement that ignorance of its history could own failure grasp mean revolutionary opportunities.

massive econolllic 1921 in in crisis occurred Germany with the occupa- tion of the Ruhr by French • to force reparation payments. the Communists, shot Prices up tried to bring about an up- did Germany and

LOO

rising after the situation had support for the Communist matured and Party. class had passed Vast numbers of workers around fac- delease were grouped committees under tory The Communist leadership. 'Red' •Saxony CP after their vote even reached 3.7 and 1923 defeat, Communists. Despite these favourable was for revolu- opportunities with American aid. the Communists tionaries Trotsky rot alliance persisted illustrated tion with the 'left' social demo- well how of the government cratic Saxony: tion Underestimated to a situa- Placing the entire fate of the strategic and the tion, working class, in the hands of the parliamentarians, Such underestimated the they insurrectionary situation.

of Brandler, ( the Header

NEED TO STUDY

LYNN GREGORY considers the current relevance of Leon Trotsky's small book 'Lessons of October' in this, the centenary year of Trotsky's birth.

'Lessons of October' is available in the collection by Pathfinder published Challenge of the Left Opposition' or on its own in an edition published by New Park Publications.

Russian workers demonstrate for All Power to the Soviets belatedly warn: which does "The party with the his- not keep step, torical tasks of its own class working becomes, or runs the risk of onto the the indirect too becoming of other classes. As a result the German Brandler's policy in 1923 army intervened, ejected the the had been continea lu government party's relationship with the the proscribed rather than government with the working class and By 1924 the government had completely therefore able to stabilise itself subordinated the class inde- pendence ol the prolelallal this situa- parliamentary only too

LNIC

"Lessons of system. October' had been ignored.

Sneering He compared the situa- of the The appearance commander book in 1924 brought forth chief who in preparation for sneering comments from the new wars failed to study the being party leadership now technical and consolidated under Stalin's experience of the last imper- control. The debate was referred commander to as 'the literary discussion' would inevitably be doomed and the events of 1923 as defeat. He went on to Trotsky (centre) with the Petrograd Soviet The Press entitled placed it in the context of a world socialist. This 1917 drawn Lenin in the struggle for the April Theses of that year, and then shown in practice by the events of October was now being repeated by Stalin, Kamenev in 1923 October The

DOOK

crucial moments Coulse revolution: tne aecision nol to send front which sparked off the insurrection, arrival in Russia to turn the whole course of the revolu- tion towards an extra-parlia- mentary struggle for power and against an alliance with the Mensheviks. The right Bolshevik in 1917 Zinoviev, was episode' the 'only an struggle of the working class pects for revolution 1923 in Io1 power. AS In Pessimism the masses to night. This glossing over of the They came German events revealed the plete opposition of certal sections of the party about tion put by Lenin the chances of the working Instead the class .of overturowig policy of the might state armed with (except in alance petty bourgeois forces). bly. Such pessimism had been These ideas expressed in 1917 in the were exactly given initial support conceptions Stalin and Kamenev to the Mensheviks. Provisional bourgeois Government, set after up • February revolution They failed to the under the now clearly mis- "the slogan leading of dictatorship democratic and tasks and the proletariat conservative force. Tne peasantry" Trotsky's Indeed whole sections of standing of the Bolshevik party, unable strategy to believe in the ability of throughout the book an underdeveloped country In the to take the road of socialist shown had revolution, themselves to be tied to the ing in the Pre-Parliament.

working notion Some could help only party class were bourgeois building the democratic state. Only when the working this, they class had for

GONC

struggle would there be argued. posed. possibilities of revolution.

Trotsky Impossible through mentary road. this In contrast Trotsky argued that because He wrote the bourgeoisie was weak a regime years democratic stable was impossible. ian revolutions. class, to The Worke defend its interests, would school _of be forcea lo seize power socialist and adopt the main, measures. This was the theory of conquest of power. Revolution Permanent which drew out the dynam- revolution and ics of the SUCIALIST PRESS. MErEsa: UCiUDEr 3. I9.» Trotsky bourgeois sarily through revolution all naked of are was the lesson publicly by one the hand foot, The same basic mistake an Zinoviev and shadow the the the policy analyses

HILLS

the by guided October the with tux the troops • the

CLO

not to go LU and Lenin's but nent the the insurrection and seize power.' wing of the which Party, and Kamenev steeped pessimism about the pros- Germany they emphasised the reluc- tance and unpreparedness of out in com- the to insurrec they adopted a steering Soviets towards an alliance with the Constituent Assem- of the right Tne samne held by the Conservative analyse the movements in the class lagging behind the historical Kamenev (top) and Zinovier becoming trying Trotsky was book the his keen under- show in of learning necessity revolunonal. lessons of previous victories and tactics shines and defeats of the Commun- ist movement and in partic- July preceding the rich experience of the October revolution the JalI question arose of participat- 1917. These lessons have to be absorbed and applied in a the sections living way to the concrete of favour problems and opportunities participation at a time when of our own time the masses were already on As the boshe vincis nest the streets and the actual .. Bolshevism is not a power was doctrine (i.e. not merely doctrine) but a system analyses the training for revolutionary danger of seeking the revol- the proletarian upheaval the parlia "What is the Bolshevisa. tion of Communist Parties?

such is giving them "It is not true that many training and effecting such must elapse between selection of the leading stafl the bourgeois and proletar- as would prevent them from 'drifting' when the hour of "It is not true that the their October strikes. parlamculanan "That the whole of ism is the one and only or the wisdom of Hegel, and or the compul- books and the meaning of sory training school for the all philosophy ... "It is not true that the road to power runs neces-

in state repression SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday October 3, 1979

JOURNALI

SIGINT

MAN

ISNT

ECRET

INY MORE

The Unknown Persons case is the latest in a series of state trials which reflect shifts in the attitudes of the state and the level of its technical preparation for the developing crisis in Britain. State trials, occasions on whịch the machinery security, the media and state against pulica opponens or te statt regime, are not rare in Britain every requires the occasional (ost OI ILS doodco fo vonc s to evaluate its latest SiTT ano techniques. entraine renu wine Context apparatus tne The Persons Unknown' case Terrorism this context. journalist Ron must ee seer To say this is in no way to another example. denigrate ovautOrcy anarchists senousners The who are the victims of the case, and whom with have differences. •roTounO DolLICa We are convinced that the and as a inst them are untrue, charges ac but even it it were otherwise.

process of the •• nor oe eve Trat îne method strengen. os individua tero canalo oe For capable This pamphlet providing SOlUtIOn tnt problems faced by the mass of reoression The disagreements with the resources scale of the accused wnich ine state nas employed in the trial however, is clear out of supporters. all 'to Im oortan any Incal any group Smali anarchists, however well equipped, is capable of posing.

Training procedure We are convince• ineretore that the trial is a testing and training procedure, and solst a serious exercise by ine state in its own defence.

The most important of the PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Report.

rocoilt stalc wiais was Ine ADU which resulted Trial humiliating defeat for the security forces. In itself the ABC trial was important to the security forces, tor several reasons. The 3 journalists in the case were engaged SorOus the state invesuaations apparatus, reaching conclusions which the state apparatus tound deeply embarassing. The succesful defence of the ABC journalists showed the fact the

WUTAH

cias.

OVCTCE

romane• cetermined to detend its democratic rights.

Coinciding with a rising!

vavo of wage militancy, imit capitalist state's une against the living conditions of the working class.

developed by the the flimsiness, Other period the nonexistence, cases Inlos had proved to evidence on which be yT catel for. have state been neid, Successor Tine the Agee •enieuarV MenEns Hosenball case (with During which the

ABC

trial they have been COSoly linkee libel prison and for long periods in dne ( nocerver case. solitary confinement At a series of Not discouraged court the police hinted at. but presented, neve enormous and deeply lajd plans As. a security to destroy society.

TESU T

The forces are not likely to be seriously discouraged by their , never deteat in the ABC trial. Indeed police's evidence points in the or any evenee opposite direction. mechanically with succesful … I ne extradition of Astrid Proll, contravention of requiring changes the law bail was refused because of the and the repeated tascist attacks accuseds' political beliefs. against her defence organisation, cinevilld

BUDIY

SEREY DEMAR

ARE

WON

INNOCEN

ABC defendants outside the Old Bailey A dress rehearsal shor the che intac detec nae state oerTec. repression The use of the Prevention of Acl oast e z McKay was yet 182 Upper Street, London N1, priced 40p.

The Persons Unknown' case has been particularly protracted ous phases Ios tand rous or ses pamphlet of the court hearings give a vini d hee tuasic thes of state testing ITs which Nasic

NOTEES

workers. when Tested in court very reason procedures prove not to the is important material There are interesting sections in our study of the apparatus of securit arrangements our operated by the police. •esote the politics These varied from Vicch lu week. contirmino our bellet tha1 the police were using the case to theme rehearse their techniques.

Five of the six Persons Unknown' defendants: (I to r) Vince Stevenson, Iris Mills, Ronan Bennett, Trevor Dawton and Dafydd Ladd.

pamphlet is Always they involved police firearms , one coulo ever sometimes of the sub-machine guns, sometimes the accused sometimes nanoouns. over sharpshooters' rifles.

TOF

They aiso involvee sertous most of this time on the rights of the restrictions public to observe the courts brIXTOn work, and sollicites aiso une exclusion of the press (the key appearances in gallery was 'lost'). The oress Many workers believe in the evidence old saying of 'justice being seen To c cone The magistrates at Lambeth Filled by police any of the never asked Anyone who has ever tried ane comoled the polic observe to important tria refuse bail. will have found that there are very few places available for the Ine bal Act public, and that these few Cart usually lanen •y mne souce the This is a weil tried trick with MyR:.

REMOVAL

EVENT.

FOR 4 YEAM

LIFE. PEACEP

IF SHE IS

PHOTO: Mark Rusher. IFL

PRISON TORTUKE

FRIENOS OF ASTRON

SAY ...

units (including the SPG).

• a ne development surrounding the ERNIE STUBBINS reviews a pamphlet on the Persons Unknown' case, available from Box 123, anyone the police to light during (where an ex which the judges ana court selected as jury officials knowingly connive nas (as the Attorney Those who persisted since August 1975 attempting observe the Even procecaines wete subiecteo searches, questions and identity with a new 3-level vetting based checks criminal Sometimes they were filmed.

Branch records (which include When they finally got into the political materials) public gallery found the view plockea oy a line of police.

effort to

BUSLICC

•Terec the jury pis vit presles. will great value to any workers who happen to have private access to the Police National but of less value to the average victim of the system. material on tnat su rounde• une trial These had purposes. In the first place they large •roouceo intelligence. glariec and were seized, along with notes of nicetings feLLerS. raid the police produced a chart of their view movement and its interconnec- LIONs mida second purpose was no usenolos. prevent the • defence organisation. This crawl same treatment was features of the raids. accorded defence

HECTOSCTC

In one instance the SoriCiTors these raids was the participation searched one the of German police in at least two solicitors and his 18G0 ot them confidential defence notes!

Doviousv further development In reply to complaints the techniques which merits further magistrate actually praised the police for their diligence!

investigation Obvious!v kind This Role of media interference with legal rights makes nonsense of any concept of 'a fair trial'. The high the speed armed cUsS role convoys from Brixton jail building were an the guilt of the accused Lamecta courtnouse, important feature of The development of hearings. •orweet Clearly these were intended and the media is briefly traced check improve o4* The material here is not new co-ordination between

LITC

prision Squad, the Trathe although it deserves to be more ThA Anti-terrorist Squad, widely known Division and the other police Kitson and Page 9 Supporters of Astrid Proll picket Bow Street Magistrates Court 'counter-insurgency' experts anc iciuae: Unt orososals o the rignt wing think-tank Insu tute for r the Study of Conflict' ideas on black propaganda and press manipulation. Mark implemented of these ideas during his Tlalty relon at scot ane y aaro ane McNee continuing down the same roda Tailored news The police are currently attempting refuse recog. misc Journalists vro ao not nave porce-issued press caras. Mecen1 exposures of

BBC

procedures confirm the caccil which official news is taitored to most recent the wishes of the police meet the security and army trials inc uc ence crou• seis oui annoncement that the jury will to draw some conclusions about be vetted-i.e. stected to exclude its own activities They think might correctly tried to publicise their be sympathetic to the accused.

war nines aoovt the case It marks an effort to make illegal anarchism political belief, ane unis is a verv seriou the rest of S KIne olu v•ixne caraf Inreat nor onv to the ABC trial the far left but to basic demo- SAS man had been cratic rights toreman) anc justified come criticisms of the left's lethargy been usea at least zo time: General admits in relation to the case There criticIsms should be made of the defence • nere une stale aobears campaign however. improving its methods Labour movement recorOs •oec a and local In comparison with the ABG, and Agee/Hosenball cases there In a particularly hypocritical has been an evident failure maintain the fiction of propagandise the casc in lIdot accuseo nave been Party UniOn ane La Dou chance to vet the branches with a view to building a campaign in the working class presumablv be of • nis underles the complaint 'the left' was more interes- ThaT ted in fighting the Nazis than comouter the moves of the oppressive state. It is also connected with the second political tailure Wave of raids

OTTAE

campaign-the failure to propa.

the anarchist views of gandise The pamphlet also has useful the accused and their defender.

wave of raids in the campaign. The international campaign two main defend for example, for all its weaknesses amount political debate policies for Iran. address books Persons Unknown Ine case, even at the end present pamphlet have WE ete Ont knowleage of ine poltics ot tn of the anarchist accused except that they call themselves anarchists. Experiences to TalcO How possible for eTTori workers to understand the building of the need Dogs and • derena une anarcnists it they will not explain themselves?

common were There is a brief conc uint the pamphlet des- socuon feature criking the experiences the accused while Tollarode orISon Although there is little new ThI! marks here it is a useful brief summary in police of the conditions imposed upor people who have not even come to trial and yet are often subject to even more barbaric treatment anan convicted prisoners Socialist Press readers will The pamphlet goes on to dis find pamphlet informative of the and, at 40p, good value. meeld It should be used especially a widespread belet in trade union branche: a close propagandise the true the state nature of the police and the courts , and also to build solidar- ity with the arrested anarchists now facing a brazen frame-up trial'at the Old Bailey begins with Clutterbuck, the

Tories slam women's right Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

to work! This week has seen by further of signs the which must, Tory government's Thatcher, MrS determination cut to chance to grow and thrive workers' basic -at the expense, of course, back on of their employees. rights. Employment Secretary James Prior has announced Firms be legislated to a package, than 20 workers are to be by the end of the year, exempted designed to seriously under- mine the Employment Pro- missal legislation, effective- sanctioning

JOIN OUR FIGHT

AGAINST TORIES.

to office after. five Returned betrayals, the Tory government has immediately begun wielding a sharpened axe on jobs, conditions and social services. Trade Union rights face imminent legal attack.

Prices are already beginning to rocket upwards.

Plum sectors of state industry will be handed to the Tories' protiteering big business backers; and the pay rises to police and armed forces mark only the prelude to increased state violence against pickets and anti-fascists, and an intensified army crack- down in the accupied North of Ireland.

The Callaghan-Healey leadership has made it clear that it will opppose any perspective other than settling down and meek.

ly accepting Tive years or dory devastation.

though they have once more dusted off their And, "socialist" speeches, Labour's forgotten continued to duck awav from any tight to remove

TUC

leaders, 100. have set out Thatcher and the collaboration with their anti-working class alliance with Wilson and then Callaghan.

But the working class has experienced and overcome such betrayals before-to topple Heath's union bashing government in 1974, Callaghan's reactionary Smash wage controls in a series t monument pay dolls tast witc These experiences are not dead. They point to the way that jobs, social services and hard-won union rights can be defended against renewed Tory attacks.

revolutionary leadership is needed if the But a. principled, TUC collaborators and their hangers-on in Labour traitors, the Communist Party are to be exposed and pushed aside, and the mass struggles mobilised that can Tory government Such a leadership must fight day in and day out for a pro- arammo or transitioner comancs. wiren conditions and today's consciousness within the working class lead workers to grasp the necessity for socialist revolution.

And in taking up democratic demands-such as an end to sexual discrimination, it must show the crucial role raclal and working class as the only consistent.

that must be played by the ly revolutionary сириов от Івао• emancipatior of mankind. International basis-mobilising And it fight on an must anti-capitalist for anti. moerialist whether in Ireland, in out the world, and drawing strength, and political lessons from as that which ousted the hated revolutionery upheavals such Shah In Iran. This means fighting for the reconstruction of the Trotsky.

ist Fourth International.

This method of approsch, relecting any descent to simple trade union militaney, or concersions to any wing of the labour.

bureaueracy, Is the method fought for by the Workers Socialist Lo The naxe pariod will see major cles striggles in Brizain. A principled, Marxiat leadership is essential. Our movement though strong in propramme remains small in numbers.

JOIN US and take forward the struggle for socialism!

NEWS

effects will be felt workers in small firms according to be Exempt less employing from unfair dis- summary sackings and victimisations- maternity leave provisions and unionisation legislation.

These proposals will inev- itably mean a further attack on women's rights decent wages employment, and conditions, since it who work for such small firms.

Right The right to maternity leave-albeit in many cases far too limited in time and often unpaid-is an import- ant gain of the past decade and must be defended. TUC chief Murray has out that correctly pointed the proposals are: "A charter for backward years of Labour restoring calloves. them the right • to treat without workers unlaltly infringing the law" But Murray forgets that this is the bosses' govern- ment that the TUC contin- ues to discuss and collabor-

DON'T GO INTO

nedr "left-wing" MPs have Callaghan to establish a basis for Tory cabinet, parallelling Phase 4 of and remove the starting from today's struggle tor the

SOCIALIST

struggles-

GET

PRESS

March against the Corrie Bill Sunday 28 October 1979 Assemble: Speakers Corner at 11.30 a.m.

March to Trafalgar Square for a Rally wages for housewives. of the family" educational fuelled by environment. greater ments for one parent to stay al nome, alternative linked to inflation Labour themselves to force the isolation Prior with Tory Lord Chancellor Hailsham to this offensive. In the ate with and against which• he and his fellow bureau- call a principled, crats refuse ship the labour movement. Maternity rights It is ot course no acci dent that the Tories choose to attack maternity rights.

is a direct result of their determination to insist that a woman's primary role is that of home-maker and and the of jobs and other tions interests outside the home be of only secondary must interest to women The attacks on maternity rights link completely up Corrie with tion Bill and the threatened closure of nursery facilities inrougnout une country. In this aim the Tories. are supported to the hilt by the Liberals who this week in their Party conference in Margate overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

Trial sub (UK): 10 issues, only. Six months One year. Europe: Six months. Six months... For a clear Name. lead in the Address struggle against wage control, cuts and redundancies SOCIALIST PRESS, W'ednesday October 3, 1979 Super plans for pickets Smirking happily at the thumping pay increases handed out to them by the Tories, and delighted at Whitelaw's enthusiastic defence of Special Patrol Group The motion pointed out thugs last week, senior that current social problems officers have police are caused by "the breakup been airing their views and poor how weaken on to "bad' picketing rights A meeting of the Police The conference called for Superintendants Association financial induce- heard one delegate propose a five point plan including: and rejected an *restricting the law for proposal number of pickets allowed higher child benefits, index in a dispute; protect against *ensuring pickets that identifiable with are made armbands; *clearer definition of so- picket- Party leaders, called "secondary committed to ing"; similar reactionary attempts *making illegal to women back into prevent people entering or against and leaving premises uc bell- dence of the home will of their will; course mount no challenge *compelling pickets to police before notify the defend fight manning gates. Superintendant and extend women's ngals

AMOLICI

, socialist leader- from South Yorkshire, went must be built within even further, and suggested that pickets should be com pelled to pay the wages of called to break policemen up their picket lines. asked "Why not?" he this at football "They do matches!" While top police officers debate tactics and list their demands, the Tory govern discussion with ment, TUC leaders, is proceedg its promised formulate anti-union legislation. of The present wave struggles on pay and against shows the cuts, beyond any doubt that such legislation can be defeated the mobilisation of the by full strength of the working class. But such mass action will only take place in contlict Murray existing trade union leaders.

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Send to Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS IHR.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Hednesday October 3, 1979 Postal workers have seen exploitation, months the over recent Tory une spectacle of the their long careers of capitulation hatchet-men whetting their and betrayal axe for a bloody attack on

UPW

resacks carries on this sordid the Post Office. recoonse Carefully cultivated Witch- tradition. hunts in the mass media have formed a necessary part of the incompetence Tories' preparations to cut state management spending massively this sector. ment's threats. 'Determination' Have announced to split the corpora- the solittina of the corporation tion in and sell off two, to has already fruits in the second round of the sections of the telecommunic- 1979 wage bargaining. ations side. At the same time, in a piece of chicanerv. Tine postal service in London has The been referred to the Monopolies Commission. proposed separate review dates the postal side course it Is oertectiv obvious even the most wittunications siot. humble of the domestic user split, and drove Service increasing delays delivery, any possible solidarity from the especially in the London area whole union in wages struggles.

DUl Contrary Ene nant cries of the bourgeois came in two parts these by press, are not Caused 3½% compensation for shifting bulging pay packets. April 1; 2) a 7% increase lengthy Ine process 'efficiency' agreement useculausalon. service is stil chronically short staff of the niust arca. scandalous The not hard to mended by the executive earlier find: in the year, CO• ditions for repetitious drudgery; accepted by was a barbaric shift maority affectively excludes ballot. Astonished to young charen, and poor pay to clinch the bargain. wome second our our The Post Office only con. bargaining had actually material.

unues to tunction at an occaus of the massive hours of overtime tomate worked by most employees des- much neece. ash home a living look on the brighter side of the •trate таке 'efficiency' PHOTO: John Sturrock, Repor

UNION DUES

Postal workers under the axe Behind this situation of mass union bureaucracy urged them The agreement is a master- leadersnio continue piece calculated vagueness and deliberate unclarity.

executive s Happy new With no mention of defend- members' jobs and Ine Them conditions, the UPW executive even Post Office happily has been of 'the Post Office'. etviciency resisting the govern- Specific details suppos- edly to be ratified by a specia oppose conference next year. But postal workers already produced its first know ananade. are seeking sent duction o ment staff, Accepted ane mousta engineering to discover the best means of reducing staff and management offer introducing executive The I ories Enreats and the tele- embark on the risky project o de-nationalising sections of the This effectively accepted the present service are mainly designed to cow the a wedge into

•UPW

into accepting a huge loss of jobs and drastic worsening of For postal workers, the offer conditions. There will • a meas mass

UPW

from January 1 menders as soon as tne lories plans become obvious. basic rate, dependent on an our mere win de no bossie ility resisting these Despite the massive rejection under the present union leader- ship. oTter recom Replace Jackson and his fellows will overwhelm branch way forward against the Tory attacks: they that the must be replaced Tind an atonane revolutionary leadership in the UPW to defend and improve every aspect of the members We C Interests or postal workers in hand Steel our concil, leaders collapse Right wing steel union leaders, never ones to ques- the tion need for their members to sacrifice make the loss-making indus- viable, have yet again been humiliated by

BSC

management. Their "substartial" pay including a call for cost- Colm tion working out at first tutted sight by BSC management. ISTC leaders meekly trailed away to think again, ano. no drop their claim in

COU•T.

deference to the corporation's "ability to pay" The impact such a retreat have on steelworkers' ability to way soarme onces is no doubt the last thing on the minds of these "negotiators".

Jackson DONT COME ALL. THACALLOUHAYRKE AGrOA

RUBBISH WITH ME-IVE TOLD YOU BEFORE: 2 DAYS

A WEEK IS ENOUGH|

FOR ANYONE!!!

WOUA

COHSE

NEC

I MUST REASSERT MY

AUTHORITY-GET ME THE PR

As employers step up the keeping the yard open" drive for rationalisation and But convenor rejected such redundancies in industry each week provides new

TON

evidence of the inability of force: union leaders to defend jobs. any other kind. At the threatened Robb word." shipyard in Dundee where workers have imposec that prevent

SONICIOUS

TinE launching of four ships until they of a dirty word for get a guarantee continued work ware In Ine Norin east. have made an Conted leaders unsuccessful attempt to get the keer open action called off Boilermakers' leader Tyne JOAr with tortured logic, failure. Chalmers, argued that the action only is 'weakened the workers' case for Fighting for new The broader the scope of the struggles mass now erupting in the labour move- ment, the more workers will be forced into conflict with the perspective and programme upheld by their bureaucratic leaders. It is more essential than ever that a tull discussion is held or forward in the trade unions and the Labour Party.

This is the importance of the on November 3 by the Cam- paign for Democrac Tne Labour movement will provide arena within which policies to defend

JOUS.

social services and living standards can be argued out in the context of the struggles now under way. branches and labour Union movement organisations are invitea to seno delegates to the conference, which is also open to trade and

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

GLASGOW

11 Public meeting Fight to save shipyard jobs 3-1 to reject the Build the CDLM Confer- ence offer from ITV companies Wednesday 10 October and to 7.30 p.m week strike. Partick Burgh Hall The offer off Dumbarton Road and, under the guise of "cost of living payments" smuggle with inflation unchecked, would leave workers

DON'T WHINE ON AT ME, LOVE... THERE'S CUTS GOING

ON ALL OVER THE PLACE.

- WECANT BEF

TEVERYWHERE AT ONCE!

ED HOSPITALS

CHOSEN BY US!/

321

STANDING FIRM ON

THEY WILL GO ON.

Page 11 Robb Caledon at head of jobs fight 700 seen Bob Barty whittled whout a finger lifted in oppos away the plant, mumbo jumbo, and refused to consider a reduc ton. in the size of the work. central feature this wretched "campaign" been "We do not talk of redun.

an eftort to persuade industrial dancy here, either voluntary or ists to take over the plant.

It is a dirty In of such grovelling; the defending ened jobs must : be, as in Robb String pulling Caledon, to take action that denies the Unfortunately it is not such and profit-through strike • union officials action, blacking and accupation whose year -while aoul long campaign of string-pullin movement as a whole for sup- Vickers porting action. resulted in dismal close, but the year's "campaign" leadership Campaign for Democracy in the Labour • Movement

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

*Prepare to force out the Torias!

*For mass action against Tory anti-union laws!

*Strikos and occupations against the cuts!

*Build Councils of Action!

Saturday November 3, 10.30am-5pm

DIGBETH HALL, BIRMINGHAM

Open to all trade unionists and delegations from labour movement bodies Details and credentials (£1, claimants 50p) from CDLM, 99, Barclay Rd, Warley, West Midlands ACTT says 'No' out of. 14. ACTT they are now. shops have voted by about The ACT negotiating com- latest pay mittee recommended rejection of offer Members NATKE and the also continue the eight employed by ITV are to vote on it this week. years remains solid Tne strike the unions' position is growing attempts stronger as dover users oress inf a 37½% that employers to get back on the ocal air for the peak pre-Christmas worse off than period.

WHEN'S THE N.E.C.!

AFTER ALL, I NEED THE OTHER.

DAYS TO CANVASS FOR JIM!

WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP..

UNTIL THE MEMSERSHIP

IS COMPLETELY

DEMORALISED!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Labour Conference Needed: political challenge to Callaghan

PHOTO:

URS SOOD FOR BRITAI

we go to press, the seem stacked against Report against democratic favour of him winning the war. While a rare display or eve ofconference resistance the Party's Nationa -xecutive ensured mat une twee contentious reforms will go to. a vote on Tuesday, the NEC also conceded that simultaneousiy the forthcoming Ino ulTy will be able to propose reversing any changes that occur. General secretaries The will revolve inquiry. around five union general secre- taries, whose one nation extend rank and file democracy from their judged can nenaviour at me v ano Untor conferences. But while the press focusses 1978 Conference exclusive v zinese ConstITU• tional changes, the real issues at Election Manifesto this class for the overthrow of capit- tionary stake at the Labour conference the nationalisation alism, much a vear ack of democracy are doscures. without comoensation or Dasic Callaghan would undoubted- the fact the capitalist industries and the banks, ly suffer a further blow to his crisis is so deep that there are no the establishment of a planned pride and authority if defeated under oftered: retorres Can i SocialIs econony for a second year running on a instead living standards must be workers' management. attacked to raise profits.

And as long as they shrink major issue. "lefts' dedi- No alternative cated to seeking gradual Parlia- must also inevitably pull back through state mentary reforms from the necessary struggle for time the refts wat sound off so readily But at the wing and subsidies Investesent The emo du to fine capitalist industry along with Catlaghan-Healey leadership- 'democracy' controls, would then face them about nave SUll import which nationalist nothing to spell out any cannot politically challenge this with the task of leading workers done political alternative to the position. forward in struggle or standing wing's basic orientation-seeking themselves exposed as the pom.

to manage crisis ridden british pous windbags they are. capitalism in such a way as to The only serious challenge to Callaghan would be one based half hearted produce

TEV

the mobilise 'reforms' for the working class.

tne лево Labour's dismal and reac- mass strength of the working

FUND

"Terrorism,. insecurity, economic inflation, crisis, unemployment, porno- Well the £77.38 we received since the last issue was no- graphy and above all crisis where near enough to reach our target. So although there is of authority." still some money in the post our total at the end of the at only £542.90. That is over £50 short me Milans mont's Jaime is a of our former target let alone this month's new target of picture of modern Spain. €750. a press mete vicy Since we have no revenue from advertising we rely on ing this fund to stave off the worst effects of the economic military governor of Guipuzcoa crisis and enable us to fight for our policies in the working (ETA (militar)'s third province will itself face class. Without this money our paper. nigh ranking victim in less tital week), the General went substantial crisis. further than any senior we do better than this with the It is essential that so far in preparing the way for October fund. All readers and suporters should consider a military coup can send a donation to assist the maintenance hether they He said that the army would of Socialist Press Inter vend All donations should be sent to: "When it had become clea Socialist Press Monthly Fund that the law, police and judicial 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS 1HR action are not enough, or when Hill, London NW5 1HR. Published by Folor Ltd fod the Woon. Heated as a newspaper st the Post by Anvil Printers Ltd While the

• SPG

Blair murderers of allowed Peach are to roam free, the political 342 of those trials of thousands of demon- who dared to strators deliberately oppose provocative NF meeting in the centre of Southall daily are running at Magistrates Barnet Court. Contradictory police evi- dence is accepted as good coin and defence evidence brushed aside without thought by bench who have maintained an astound- ing 80% conviction rate More talk of Spain coup it becomes necessary to guaran- tee the sovereignty and indepen- dence of our country." of the inter- The whole tone view suggests that he, for one that time being very costhe Suarez government was looking very jumpy indeed after these events cabinet meetings Emergency were called and Premier Suarez steeled see and catalin Basque Catalan referenda on October 25 The regime's earnest appeals calm serving only for are the atmosphere increase political tension. Under increasing attack from well civilian military, weakness dealing with ETA terrorism, the COHSE call to occupy hospitals

DO IT!

Albert Spanswick, General Secretary of the health service union COHSE, grabbed the head- lines last week with his talk hospitals to of occupying prevent closure. Such a policy, if carried out as national policy with tne Tuil backing of the 215,000 union public sector unions, and other could play major role advancing the struggle against une ory Guld every • orovce in area a focus around which the local labour movement could develop mass sinke actor defence jobs and public services-a rallying point for the necescerv strucale to orn! down the Tories. But Spastic dessed thin stressed COHSE does not plan a political industrial action campaign against the cuts their see eat ers "work-in" policy the opposite of such a campaign.

They reter to tne outcomi the 30-month Elizabeth of Garrett Anderson hospital work- Stop these show trials defendants are•likely to be the immediate jailed in future issue of the wHoe events of April 23 and since be raised within

• LIUSE

of the labour bodies towards the Contadule fines of the defendants by the sending donations •Youth Movement Southall

(SYM,

12, Featherstone Road, Southall, Middlesex).

Join the picket of the inquest of Blair reopened Peach Hammersmith at Coroner's Court on Thurs- day October 11. Demand a workers' into the Southal inquiry events of 23 April disbanding Demand •The Seventy or eighty of the of the Special Patrol Group.

Suarez regime is being backed by the Socialist and Communist Darties Basque National Party (the main beneficiary expectec proposed autonomy statute).

United Those parties have united to Issue Goint ntual denunciation of ET'A violence and called for everything to be settled through Ine Tererenoum But with matter s boycott campaign fast building is a real doubt as to UD. tuere Euskadi whether the reteren dum will produce the authori- tative vote of approval on which both government tion now counting to out- flank ETA

OK, ALBERT,

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Spanswick in-in which the hospital has ment erat now been Hose la women and may , as a gynaecological hos years' time-as a pital, "success There deliver in other parts of the country!

Spanswick has also declared

THAT

occupie hospitals -While acted only selected and Mossass facilities will clearly doned without a fight to the Tories' dosure plans. Behind the 'left' bluster of Spanswick's the tired old diversionary "selective action" tactic calculated CONTESt mislead and demoralise health service workers, who are show- ing Themsave increasingl ready to take determined action to defend the NHS let should not Spanswick and others off Now that the

COHSE

hook. issue o eAces tave occupation, health workers area should press forward every with own that their local leaders adopt and imple ment the policy, in defence of jobs and services. O'Fishall-Page 11 Workers оссиру TWO DAYS after a one-day by strike against cuts workers in the borough, Fulhan workers moved in on September 30 local swimming baths to prevent their cosure The action followed packed Town Hall meeting last WS Wednesday which speaker from ine

TOO.

nad urged that occupation, linked supporting strikes was Tory way only Witch Council could be stopped.

The Baths now being are occupied around the clock local trade unionists, for assistance from appealing sauce chorcers and sue oster in keeping them functioning occupation. and manning Funds are urgently needed.

NEXT WEEK

Terry Eagleton on Marxism and Culture'. An analysis of the Spanish PSOE Conference. USFI and Portugal, Part 2