Socialist Press no. 177

BLSPEARHEAD FOR

VICTIMISATION

Charing X in Tory firing line - Victimisation of shop stewards and convenors s the Tories first step to attacking workers not only in British Leyland but also in the Health Service. •London over the last 18 months a long succession of sc mutants nave been vid timised key hospitals has worked to management prevent any possibility of wide- spread strike action against cuts and hospital closures.

NUPE

officials have AllO Time and 81-0 defuse action sacking ensure Now, at the Charing Cross inst the run-down leil stand ag meant that skilled workers have been called upon to do unskilled Their sacking has led to a determined five week strike by AUEW members at the hospital, whose pickets have been controlling oil supplies.

for strikers return to work issued by AUEW national last week triggered an intensification picketing, shut off supplies to the 798-bed hospital.

Surrender

ALEW

national officials emerged trom a meeting with management and proposed what to a plan for com- plete surrender. I nere should be a return to work quo on a 1973 agreement, tates basis of 'status ShIo exceot ThaT tine "STaTUS quó' would involve the two sacked shop stewards being relestate• ar a oirrerent nos pital! The District Committee of the AUEW correctly rejected this miserable formula But, latching on to a hope of smashine • • anotner resistance to the cuts, hospital management, backed to the hilt the Lorv oress ane hacks, have hastened to blame putting patients at risk. stage is has of bring Cross patients persuade tanker drivers to break.

the picket line. 12 hospitals closed cYnts herd have these angry patients newsmen wale

SUCCESSIVE

cove nots have been savagely axing hospital after hospital London? Since July beds have 12 hosnitals_ with 2,800 been The total by closed in London. over beds cut, not by strike action but by government decree: "special Curs know cases": children, the elderly, the Cont'd page 11

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 177 * 28 November 1979 * 15p Derek Robinson is still sacked! British Leyland is taking a determined with stand reports. Inal cowares nos unreatence to resign rather than reinstate Robinson. stand taking place is a major part ot the lory govern ment's Edwardes and that ballots the Tories realised themse ves mear can only be used for propaganda purposes plants due to receive WOrK TrON -o the principled not position acceptina other workers' iobs In Cowley, for example, Bob Fryel stewards had and turned away Castle Bromwich work. Further sackings The answer •of Edwardes move to smash une trade union organisation in BL sacking of Robinson is the action to do this Edwardes successtul be move will only this further victimisa- followed by

TIONS

in Leylana but trougn- out industry. But to press the we ga strike nas entered a dangerous stage. week after Still over Robinson was sacked the strike is not made official. Now the talk is that it may be made official on Tuesday But time is Edwardes side very day the capitalist press

CALL OUT ALL

BL WORKERS!

displayed by the to work movement" and exager- Strucele of small marchers, no clear Wa. activities ates groups of scabs. The most noticeable feature The great weakness of the the failure of the of the mainly TGWU-dominat- suike Was Au-v promptly Call Otisday, the day official at meeting last • reoresentation after Robin- section Tine AUEW-neithe union President con was sacked ana me Tanure Midlands the herry

DUTTY

ПОТ same day to give a clear lead Executive Chairman was in attendance. to the rest olene colouric The which hung Instead a motion was passed calling to get over the ramv was "what support was possible".

official support; not just dispute would be whether the And convenors were told not but what would made official, even to seek strike action if they thought they might be rejected!

be made official. Would it simply be backing plants Would the AUEW currently Reinstatement FOr LAUS disoute? OI and the TGWU take the action In addition advice was given dispute necessary to win to Inose •ants like nover ane Cowley, who are on lay off pay which was to call out all their not to strike, but stay on lay ofi members throughout BL? did this BL would pay and tnus cost ou money- On Monday, , 4,000 workers remain closed until the official marched through Birmingham action was lifted Hall, But Derek Robinson, , as first a rally Town speaker calling tor the reinstatment 01 needed ThIs kev Robinson issue. He called only in general despite terms for official support.

But the obvious will noness he cane• on our members Nicaragua: which way forward? Centre pages Housing Crisis • Page 9 - Robinson addressing the rally in Birmingham Town Hall TGWU in his defence (see p. 11).

Hawley was completely caugnt and had to stutter tha Alan Thornett is better off than Derek Robinson because he still Nas ais ou The most militant speech of Rally came from

TGWU

the clerical officer Todd ratiotlal He pointed out that after Thatcher had a meeting, with business plan was scrapped.

Edwardes Then came the latest 'Edwardes plan'. said the agreement • cowaroes was looking Tor the annual wage review "sets out on the destruction of trade unionisT every But this struggle will not be won standing ovations, when Enere were many at the rally It will be won by determined allout strike to respond in the maximum way have demand made money and official. possible-dive respond to our calls". The rally went on to pass a Grenville Hawley, National resolution which avoided this Car Industry and Stalinist _OTTIcer crucial question

TGWU,

made an uncharacteris chairman Jack rome ser tically militant speech aside calls from Leyland the TGWU was Action Committee for He said the r a lobby supporting Robinson "because prepared our to pui morning to press for official monev where our mourns are support. Derek Robinson was elected All of which shows that as on the Longbridge works com- BL management, on behalf of Tory government, mitter reoresen members as well as AUEW. deliberately make Leytar Hawley stressed that the •attetied on which trade union

TGWU

strength is to be broken, •boosec Ine Edwardes plan and will continue are a large body of 'left' talking to do so: convenors cane Untor have said will who have yet to reveal the ful support any members who extent of their own class collab- oppose the plan and this will OratIon. not change." The coming struggles will said Hawley, had expose to new layers of workers nobinson. been victimised "as in struce me comolete mace people have been in the past' quacy of the existing reformist and Stalinist leaders Ins point a snout trom the floor asked the question the struggle to defend even basic "what about Alan Thornett?"

trace union Tents Alan Thornett was victim- A revolutionary. Trotskyist ised in 1974 and has remained leadership with must be built Not vicency amonst or workers u lead this struggle. Tinger nas been lited by Tine

Crisis bites US car firms Page 2 announced has Leyland, As British loss Vaux- Chrysler/Talbot and osisel operativit extent by improved profits from hall managements tead an Europe offensive against shop floor rold Illalla conditions working. however that Britain; US car manufactur- them also face mounting ers 101 back into the crisis of profitability following year. car sales as a slump result of this year's US energy Prospect of collapse crisis has coincided with longer- financial problems for the But they do immediate prospect of collapse Cutbacks in production have that hangs over brought staggering 140,000 chryser corporativa. Chrysler Iacocca has received an ominous car and lorry plants. good news This week 15 whole factories mixture ol until existing his will news in n10 cose

GOWI

bankruptcy. surplus stocks have been sola.

the main And istration turned down his initial sales slump the casualties in $1.2 US have been the guzzlers", General Motors have Federal loan guarantees Good two plants making now. closed later the administration changed smaller vehicles. mind-and Indeed GM only scraped a its last profit through government tax credits.

available American Ford, meanwhile, • OU New splits in Bolivian military she week after with the assumed office declaration that coups had Bolivia, ended for ever in President Lidia interim Gueiler has been faced with her first military revolt.

General Army commander Luis Garcia who was appointed to the post by short-lived dicta- Natusch tor Teruscu surrender his appointment and, support of claimina he has the the entire army, seized the main barracks in Miraflores, La Paz.

Garcia's chances of success of rest are Natusch's high commone nave accepted their dismissal.

Held back nevertheless, least

BUT.

one armoured regiment is sup- him astitucionalista and the pro- porting faction of the military has held from an all out assault so fear presumably another precipitating division in the armed forces, this total degeneration time in open battle. Garcia's action illustrates not only the continuing danger of impose another- but also dictatorship mastery the critical divisions within the to lom une military and its manifest weak- the government in Congress.

face of the popular. ness in tne movement. encourage It is apparent that, despite within the raptures about The revival of democracy in Bolivia over the last week, the reformist and ruins the verge on OT collapse ditched natusch when The conditions for revolu- mobilisation, similar to those in 1952 and 1970-71, are Frightened becoming more auspicious. Despite the activities of the Tne of the bureaucratic COB (TUC) the workers' move- ment has made substantial gains memories will be in recent weeks and it extremely difficult for Gueiler's government to make any more Ition without already developed. support of the working class.

Natusch Maoists bonuses and keep them appointed Gueiler has drawn primarily from ship. cabinet the official wing of the MNR the opposition Victor by -crenssoro-Tol there was once a private she WtON cabital. secretary. The rest of the ministries go Bolivia Christian Democrats. without although the Maoist PCM-L has portfolio for urban gained the affairs-further indication of its $1 billion 1979 on certain predict ement will see deficit in the US, and climb figures to until the

DACK

not face the the head of the Lee and bad off stave Bad news: the Carter admin- manages to raise another $1.5 match billion private market. Good news: lacocca received months immediate cash bonus from.

the United Auto Workers union offered $1.5 Fraser who boss "volunteered" his members for Bad news: the $1.5 billion is a $200 million pay cut over the Chrysler President Gueiler receives the presidential sash of office be floated but the the peso whichna since been marked by a serious loss of regime resisting, reaction cadre, particularly in the mines.

ot the working cids. will be uncontainable. The opposition MR-led bi Hernan Siles Suazo-has refuse Defence budget cabinet but says it will for the time belly, suppor The COB has yet to present but it has been demands; doubt, will the cuts infighting talking of further defence budget a substantia bourgeois inoreers in articipation mee apparatus as the crisis deepens.

workers The economy is in absolute mining state coroman! has become (COMIBOL), exchange controls that the army finally the the IMF and moratorium external debt. advised a currency devaluation.

These demands, if implemen- crippled ted would push the capitalist economy to the verge of collapse-but they are not in The last time this occurred Banzer dictator- themse ves ship was severely threatened by demands. mobilisation Revolutionary Marxists must subsequent transitional demands the -fight class the epression clearly frightened the that reveal nature of the economy and the Generals, in view of the oppos that had Natusch cuestion independence working class must be developed himself purloined €1.7 millions to pay his troops outright rejection and the bourgeois government

OTT LEC

Soviets and mistab and tor streets to uppold his dictator- militias and

SOVICIO

But as soon as the extent of building of a mass revolutionary became ciedl party. flight massive Only in this way will the reaching $10 millions a * he offensiosi a position to proletariat day until the banks were closed witting orgaisation of ist move now virtuall foreign resources capitalist class ano has a €1.5 billion foreign debt The IMF is demanding that Fraser (centre) with fellow UAW bureaucrats: now he is on the board of Chrysler and "volunteered" next year, minion this ved his retired members for a cancel- at the cost of 158,000 Chrysle hundreds jobs-and lation of a cemented ands more in related industries.

worth another $200 increase Thus in the land of unfetter- million. ed free enterprise the anarchy of Fraser, in exchange, the capitalist crisis is wreaking receive a seat on the board of havoc Chrysler! of the engine tring indy of union this news: despite Bad And the treachery demonstration of abject servility leaders-a union bureaucracy in Chrysad, every facet of the struggle in the still don't Chrysler, bankers capitalist countries is also having want to touch the Corporation with a barge pole. TeLCCLOI owned US steel industry. Chrysler's own indeed Workers Manufacturers Hanover bankers, Bridge publicly stated that they have the Corporation week voted to resist a compan plan any money at all, since pite threats that the alternative lend money circumstances in which we don't was closure expect to be repaid." Lloyd McBride had recommen- Other leading US bankers ded acceptance of a three-year with and bourgeois politicians standstill on wages which would of lobbyists the aid of course, further the reflecting the interests of Ford to impose have also and General Motors, the 100,000 workers against any federal out spoken calle Chrysler employed loan to

4UU JUL

warns more and AS steel. • cash is more stridently that ly likely utat the Concorating- US or in Britain -is the same.

likely as at read topst $12 lost which already Zionists in new crisis Zionists The arrest of the mayor decided to prosecute of Nablus in the West Bank of the mayors, Zionist area occupied by Kandall military forces in the 1967 El-Bira, for during a trial over land provoked a huge war has crisis in the area itself and complex the throughout world of international diplo- of thesé actions. whose purpose is to macy the Palestinian deprive Illass of their national people and even rights. United Nations? Mayor Bassam Al-Shaga was in the Israeli newspaper alleged Autonomy said • Ha'aretz to nave with would justify and identify which over during inate the people were killed. west this, The Mayor denies concept of autonomy'. he merely said such saying that raids were inevitable as long as Zionist occupation of the area the Camp from ments between the Zionists continued. Like virtually all Palestinians he of course identities himsel PLO and this in itself enough to provoke is probaoly the wrath of the But Zionist beyond this. authorities. Deportation government, pressure However, Mr Al-Shaqa is not confirm this right wing a position to expand land seizures, been personally lias compelled to incarcerated near Aviv itself probable court make adapt the forg decision to deport him to the Jordan. including Meanwhile, in the West Bank town area itself, in the council of Nablus has resigned, councilors and all tes ma other 200 other with up

TOCCUICI

point in order way the area. Zionists to action in Nablus has Strike been continuous since the arrest and demonstrations or sporadic sop to the Palestinians. every day from the area. violence being reported SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979 now destroying the forces of production, and throwing thous ands of workers out of a job at a and socia time when povert. rampant on a world need are scale to The struggle must be the books of capitalist open elected the committees, to class the futility of working down the seeking a way out capitalist road. cupaead she fight mass strike mass strike occupanon. action to force the nationalisa- tion of basic industry without compensation banks management. under

WOIKCIS

Only planned socials can economy jobs and living standards of the will close down

ADO!

vale working class, independent of the Democratic and Republican of thous machines in the US, and offer ing a socialist perspective, vital struggle for lead the in the workers' governel US The fight in the UAW, and.

in a fundamental section every other union in the coming Break from Carter, Kennedy and must be factor unions to tarash tead in the the privately ing a Labour Party in the USA.

Steel's division last to freeze their wages, des- Steel workers union leader attempt by US Steel for rates steel plants than for the basic The lesson-whether in the The anarchy of the system is Carter is the greatest on the Zionists danger to the Palestinian libera- movement t101 compromise There can be ne with the on the demand 101 drawal of Zionist forces from all occupied territory by the ending have also of the state of Israel itself, and TWO HOLe secular Kasim Khalef Ibrahim Tavil of state of Palestine police' rights of majority and minorities as cultu alike are guaranteed. Why is it that the Zionists have risked all the consequences Demirel including the radicalisation of the Palestinians on the West Bank following the wins vote veni condemeatin by ere, condemnation bi entire General Assembly of the Turkey's new right wing Minister, Suleyman Prime Demirel, received a sub • (229-208) vote of Mayor Khalef explained it as stantial Israeli drive to elim confidence in the National.

banK Assembly last weekend. most opposed to the criminal The programme he has put forward to resolve the political "Autonomy" is the proposal and economic crisis confronting David Turkish capitalism includes the and imposition of a new state institution Egyptian resident sadal i01 c Act; the emergency bantustan-style state in the Wes 'terror- hot special courts tol Bank area, of Palestinians unde and new restrictions Turkish trade unions and assoc- motives go lations While these move. are Begin crisis-ridden cloaked in rhetorical denuncia- numerous "terrorism" will resignations in recent weeks and previous reoressive measure from extreme by the Turkish capitalist taken forces determined to state has been directed almost nas Deci exclusively against the lett wing take action to and the trade unions, while the appear ready carried out by toll of murders continues gangs TascisT UN governments, unchecked. have who thos urgent than ever It is more supported every form of Zionist that the wrist workers move past, ment. break from the political pared to condemn Israel at this Ecevit, and

TOTEMO!

Zionists to set up an inde- turn instead to building a united an inde- working class front to bring pendent West Bank state as a down Demirel and create con and ditions Some such imperialist carve peasants government in Turkey.

up, which may even be forced

WORKERS' LEADERS ENDORSE

SPANISH ANTI-UNION LAWS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979 The Spanish parliament, possible • detail of Ine cass struggle in Spain by legislation the Cortes, at present through the legal i working out the details of apparatus of the bourgeois state one of the most systematic presented has hundreds of amendments to the minutely and calculated statute, legislative but has uttered attacks on the sinole Wore working class ever enacted.

principle, and has voted against It is called the Workers' hardly any provisions. Statute (Estatuto del Traba- jador). "Participation" statute consists of the establishment of minimum The PSOE is thus engaged 'norims'. for wades. conditions U on a " massive nationwice holidays, trade union rights and exercise in "participation" and collective bargaining arrange- class collaboration of the most treacherous ina The statute is made to look The roue members o1 liké a series of reforms.

parliament help to. vote through But fact minimum allies the statute, their close standards far below bureaucracy Tine camned In struce ov the work. one of Spain's two main trade ing class some even Cases union federations, have signed a under Franco's dictatorship.

And woe anone soreement with toe Deyond bosses" organisation, the CEOE, who v take retorms ine statute the Spanish equivalent of the specifies the duties of workers СВІ their employers; places These developments have led restrICtIons Tree to something of a reversal of the trade union activities including the right to strike; and grants all previouS roles or • reTOrmISI (PSOE/UGT) and Stalinist (CP/ Kines anti-working cast Workers Commissions) bureau- rights to employers. • Crabies. During the immediate period Collaboration after Franco's death it was the CP, led Santiago If it is enforced, the Statute Carrillo which

I LOOK U UC

way the rights of free and inde- Jess Hon wine. Class conabora- pendent tion for which workers in Spain favouring the monarchy and the Suarez government; breaking nave ocen structile even Sine: the declining years of Franco's StrIKeS. sabotaine cemon- own dictatorship. strations. Of the PSOE did its course is peme steered through the parliament by the share: but it took advantage of the

UCD

'the CP's gross collaboration to governing party, put on a "left" face on some of ¡entre cemocratic unions.

But the UCD is receiving the the issues-like the monarchy.

fullest possible collaboration of Today the leaders have handed the "'left" mask une largest or the dares wwich allegedly represents the working over to the CP and the Workers class, the Commissions. (Socialist raryl. "Opposition" After two days of strong he debates on the state the debates on the parliament, the Workers stalute, tric In Commissions genelal storetary Donsible resenting began only "res- Marcelino Camacho, nas put up amendments. vehement verbal opposition to clearly the result of the Statute. a secret deal between the UCD the CP carlamentary and PSOE leaders, the details of (along with Euskediko which not been revealed Have Eskerra, the lett Basque nation.

step

OUT

Which Turner alists) have voted against most towards coalition government.

of the clauses passed so far.

PSOE

The is now whole- CP's opposition. how- The nearteov Tavour the ever, is not one or principle.

of regulating every They support the idea of the detailed regulation of the wages ano Conditions workers through bourgeois law And their tactics have been make

IOT

noise, and present amendments. They are against the Statute but in favour of a statute.

"ne reason tor This that the question of the Statute has become central to the CP's new the UCD government de e PSOE's collaboration with it.

Condemned Addressing the latest meet. ing of the CP's Central Commit- Carrillo saying "could Statute, lilal hardly be moementes unee worse conditions"' and that the UCD was: 'imposing texts which don't as Tar as the gains already made by the workers" The CP. said, would mobilise ine workers. "including those who voted for the UCD and who must now realise that nothing bit mobilis athat positions to didend ily Ps would remind their * ation Masterly hypocrisy. Carrillo, however, on the rounciy demand coming from sections of the Workers Carrillo •missions to boycott the parlia Felipe Gonzalez embraces Suarez mentary debates on the Statute currents observed Carrillo with his usual masterly hypocrisy, "can be as collaboratior arment Alins sort male opportunist offensive by the CP to cash in on 'the recent rout of • EnE Marxists in Ine roco right wing leader Felipe Gonzalez, the and crisis and • weakerie

MOSE

parties and groups to the left of the CP But since the CP's "oppos- ition" is a totally unprincipled one, it may easily disappear as soon as it dopeared present tactic looks like giving the green light to The general election to take place in Portugal on 2 December is the result of a long political crisis. The election was called by military president Kamarna Eanes in September, the when non-elected reactionary "tech- government of Mot: поставе Pinto was defeated in a parlia the Socialist mentary vote and Communist Parties sible gorenprove dihad no feasible government would able majority same time the Socialist Parties, despite their parliamen- tary majority, refused to wush tom late comme a coveramen fearing that this would put them unbearable from pressure the working class to implemen anti-capitalst poncies. When Mota Pinto fell, Eanes.

talked about having decided to appoint a caretaker under former associate of ex-dictator Caetano Mana Lources carnace and call general elections. if Eanes imagined that the elections would solve rol tugal's political crisis, he looks like being very wrong. Though in Portugal opinion polis are illegal, some leaked polls done by Spanish are reported the electorate are "undecided If this is anything like true it Call U1 accl thoroughly understandable con- tempt all Portugal' political parties. biggest loser of working class mobilisations. would threaten the the pact. between unwritten workers' party eels are m Spepish can Be sall that Carrillo Camacho would in no time at al do …one Tamous lou degree flips. Already there is speculation that •the

UCU

wicecioe off" "buy CP opposition two three amendiments and getting Tine agreement of the CP bureaucracy to the Statute as a whole So it is plain that for Spanish CP lead the workers to let the com alc wquld be a disaster massive independént Portugal crisis election coe Socialist Party vet Maric Mario Docialisi Soares, non campaign fronder, "Progress, Stability and Social-Peace".

The SP's period in govern- which it consistently ment-in imposco reachonary anu Work' ing class policies-must have lost mass support much of the which gained the lal-est of the last seats parliament. the poll figures are accurs ate l does not look yet as mene electoral alliance, the United People's Alliance has picked up the support the SP 1 believed to have lost This surprise no either since I spite or lie li s recen demagogic "opposition" governments Stalinists studiously Amid a sharpening crisis Basque in the country, police swooped and arrested at least 150 militants from left wing parties last week.

Those detained were mem. of Euskadiko Eskerra bers tinkee to ela dolitico-maltar Herri Batasuna (linked to

• ETA

militar), the Communist Move isation) and the LCR (Revolu- Spanish section of the Trotske Communist ISt Uor I The arrests took place on the same general strike organised by saflic was called to protest against the latest killing Basque militant by the police. Page 3 Suärez with admirers mobilisation is needed against a weeks for unskilled workers.

than government policy which the Ci Working more nine hours.

WITT

Working independent workers! the right to free trade unions, to genuinely organisations. work tions with good faith and dili- some or the pronsions of the Statute passed so far. gence" Overtime-forbidden for Equal pay - no discrimination by workers uneer to no more tnar • two hours day for other Redundancy-virtually rates to be at least 75% workers,

COLIE

ever absence from work for "justi over oronary nours Holida s-23 as ar workers le.g. illness) reasons val mum, days workers legal • Cround.

TOT

sacking. under 1o and over bu Weekend-minimum of 1½ days Elected workers representa- off work tives are protected rom arol sacking during their term Wunimum wade-wiDe Tixe ov Trary government every six months.

of office and for one year after- Probationary periods-two wards refused to mobilise the of the most cass in basic material needs. Revolutionaries in Portugal should call on the workers and peasants to ensure a majority workers' parties in the new barallen But this tactic should the fight to seen as reformists and

I0ICC

Stalinists to form a government • independent bourgeois parties and implement socialist policies As they fail to do this so will stand definitively exposed they ane be lorcco lo make way 0I a new, revolutionary working class leadership which can regair «erene and narce me cans ol 1974 which reformist and Pintasilgo Stalinist betrayals have Basque militants arrested- This latest murder was of a of the must savage torture. young municipal cauncillor who prisoners acainst was member of the Herri government hands. (Popular Unity, The Daldsulid new evidence, first coalition. brought to liäht by an MP. o Euskadiko Eskerra, has made About half of those arrested the government squirm and has nave since deen released The new detentions add to aeeply embarassed Its bourgeois nationalist allies in the Basque the already situation Nationalist Party. cuskaol They are the state's reaction "demo. vears cratic" political reform, and situation which. it to a month atter the passing of thi over Ine rack onune Basque question. the orature oT • Autonomy' political reality of Euskadi has last weekend

ETA

not changed so much since the (politico-militar) Ravi Con the rong of tre long.

days of Franco common slogan. on olatute, mort And a masive file of evidence repression!' is piling up of the continuation

Bureaucrats clamour for import Page 4 controls mented through driving up the The worsening plight of value the British capitalism high interest rates-thus increas- was reflec- ing the relative price of world market, goods on the world market and ted recently by the conter- lowering the price of imported ence decision of the Confed- goods sold in Britain. of British Industry eration It is a policy rather simila to call on the Tory govern- to the old leaving new-born infants on the selective impose ment of their houses imports into controls that Britain. the and only protect British This bid to adulthood. against foreign com- employers flies in the course Deficit petition face of Thatcher's stern '"mone- tarist" policy. The ditterence exposing many cases it is the oldest and consists full, traditional British mos tries that are suffering the blast internat con from Thatcher's enforced process petition, order to weed our the weakest and least profitable strongest sectors and succeeded so far press ine into a renewed drive for speed- balance British up and rationalisation. The policy. has been imple- and which is leading dismantling the Leyland, the British-owned of textile range of countries. ne britisi but available; employers have exploitation as d asset-strippers Two more relics of the Labour government's efforts at systematised class collab- last the dust oration bit week. Michael chairman BL set- hawardes embarked on a piece confrontation designed to sack and victimise Derek Robin- of the foremost detender

SULL.

the discredited Ryder "workers and to participation" instead rule by decree over a broken shop stewards movement. Resignation week, And, the salle Keith Secretary Leslie Smith, Industry Joseph pressed home the moves executive designed to force the resignation Enterprise of the old National Laird Group, Board. 'trade union- the well Scanion, "Broadleft" ists'-Lord engineers Power Lyons, and GMWU chief Davi went And Basnett: and •ul. Leslie Murphy, Sir chairman Sir chairman Oxygen profits, while investment in new way technology through nas of rivals in other behind that British countre: The outcome is that British textile. products are nov OUl outpaced by their and oriced rivals. Bút while the em lovers Spartan custom situation and about this moan protection, plead overnight soecidi find strong

SUDOOTICIS

weaklings perished among the trade union bureau- attained strong cialy One the latest is jim ot left' talking secre- Farrington tary of the Northern Textile and Allied Workers Union: that half yearly report last In his week he declared that: British indus- grim and "The situation acts the unless covernment stem the inflow of natural selection (which has quickly to the United driving the textiles closures are Kingdom, tunnel payment. and many deficit to a massive £2.5 billion, inevitable more will be workers rapidly to thousands of the ranks of the forced to join . O1 unemployed." only substantial offers his thus Farrington manufac- textile and members oInel not the prospect 01 d In particular the CBI confer- WOrKerS the British ence echoed with the plaintive fight depriving employers employers them of their right to work, but industry-who point with alliance Inest angrily to the increasing tide of against a supposed low-priced imports from a wide employers, "foreign" enemy! the "It essential textile industry interests of the nation that the pays some of the lowest wages jobs of textile workers and the over vears jobs of workers in other manu- used the horrific industries are sate- workforce to maintain a viable guarded source Joseph calls in the urence sparnam,!? L Scanlon Dasnet! to carve up the body set up by Rio Tinto Zinc Labour in the illusory hopes.of • John A listair tale. and stimulating chief executive of the crisis-ridden British capitalism: Sir Jack and *The new chairman, Arthur Wellings of the 600 Group.

Knight, a former Chalilas. Courtaulds, has spelt state role Asset-strippers opposition book Private in his industry the asset- and Public came Enterprise hier strippers, groomed for office by vention. chairman Sir John Joseph, and longing for a chance *Deputy Babcock International King is on record as calling : for Rolls Royce, BL and Alfred Herbert- only really be taken out of "holdings'-to NEB control. letter King declared Daily Telegraph "The question of whether and how the NEB itself survives cannot have a high prority * Robert Clayton is technical director of GEC sht apins the NEB setting up ii matochip producer inmos- dearly profits Lane.

IMPORTS

OBS

MEAN

YES

MORE

INEMPIOYMENT

IMPORTS

STARE

NO nationalist cass industrial base. union leaders to by -same logic leads British unquestioning acceptance In the United States, union leaders like Farrington of shop-floor ular, „trace UnIOT speed-up on of been at have permanently low wades vigorous protectionist lobby by of employers to close Une see employers impose controls' on almost iden- make themselves "viable" at the serous tallers imported expense of the workforce.

TICa steel, shoes, etc. Nationalist In other of the fication But he In tne the Is not alone. brines steel, the nationalist divisions in the ranks footwear maustry, (above all British industry of the car and other Leyland), manuick that cracy union leaders, ship TurING MPs Tribune along

WITH

their over themselves protect "British" invading against employers As "foreign" competitors. in such possessing that The irony

ONE

emerged from the Fourth the reactionar Information Bill and journalists already n00, and, amid a the Commons. the through restrictions on investigating Knight after the enforced sale of £100 part assets Howe's spending Chancellor cuts. Socialist Press has, from its consistently issue, first the class expose fought collaborationist role of the NEB which, as Basnett pointed out to the Financial Times: "was a place where industry together working perform. industrial improve ance". The NEB as such represen- ted an alliance between union leaders and leading capitalists, illusion in : a progres- capitalism through the the directon capitalist machinery state Tony Though fronted by Benn it was a set-up endorsed and launched by Harold Wilson right wing entire 111s Cabinet. there can be no doubt But Joseph's decision to drive that out the old board and wheel in asset of atizziad indication workers i sand the weakest sections of capitalists- financial SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 Norember 19:9

JOBS

YES

IMPORTS

NO US workers demand import controls collaboration working "national interest" phenomenon. with the capitalists who.

cause in partic bureaucrats profits from the their derive the neau exploitation of workers. inter Only a revolership: fighting Carter leadership; nationalist closures and speed-up through goods-textiles, nationalis strikes, occupations, and the struggle or words the intensi- socialist can . the capitalist crisis defend Ine forefront class, and combat the Tne working nationals! reformist labour bureau. controls. of import diversion the artie aler. peddled by emoloyeis working class. bureaucrats alike. Propertyless class, propertyless capitalist every Blunt sinks gag law "defence" and every "security", substantial benefit aspect of the workings of the the workers' movement that nas midst of the Bill provided the for Man" affair has been The word of a single the ignominious Tory retreat. on sufficient Protection brand a piece of information as The new Bill, designed to gag classified. muzzle ThOs Select clique fighting to expose the reaction.

ary moves of the capitalist state But the expose of the "state received " operating in the within a state readings in the House of Lords, and the obvious clamour of oppos- fact that the whole affair would entering its commit- hands of a have remained in the tee stage prior to submission to clique of military select gence chiefs if the Tory Bill was It was thus being introduced made already law door" politically impossible to proceed introduced a wide new ran end with the new legislation reporting matters of O'Fishall's Year

•SOCIALIST PRESS 1980

CALENDAR

Price £1.00 plus 20p pap From Socialist Press, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill London NWS 1HR

JENKINS BECKONS TO

Casualties of 1930s Stalinism SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979

LABOUR'S TORIES

the Further signs of also tear tor the loss of their parasitic positions of power and restlessness of increasing Labour's crypto-Tory right al ine Nates i working class. face in the of the wing But for Jenkins even such a militancy of the growing reaconor alance smack too strongly working class were shown by labour "would movement, and call from Roy last week's not be a healthy form of reliet" Jenkins for "moderates" to "Centre" forces leave the party and form a "radical", new, centre He would sooner see a solit coalition. in the Labour Party, in which the considerable rump force of Deliverina the Dimblebv lec- ture on BBC television, Jenkins extreme ront winders Would those wingers break off to join forces with the called › on right Liberals and similar

WIO

wind tne crowine rank and bourgeois file demands for Labour Party Torce. now. democracy and for socialist bortica tormation. His speech has been greeted intolerable policies by immediate opposition from a "break out, and mount a battie of movement on new and higher number or teaoine Labour reac tionaries including David Owen, Could Friday the who on spelt out Recognising that the present •ee entrv dersoective wnich Callaghan-Healey leadershp he and other right wingers are . following. clique is posed with the daunt- foolish Canute-like task of holding most course ing, "ine back a mounting groundswell of now" , he declared, would be to talk of establishing a new party opposition, Jenkins pointed out that the only "just at the oiner very moment vonen salvationfer thiance with whe at long last [!] we are beginning to fight back from within".

alliance But there seems little doubt trade union Walk-out from Corrie committee Labour MPs walked out any change present The criteria for abortion. of the sixth committee hear- And Vaughan went on-to ing on John Corrie's anti- 22-week descrioe proposed abortion Bill last week in maximum as "the worst of all worlds" against the way in protest But last Wednesdav he went which the Tories are bull- back to the Tory-led committee dozing through their pro- medical "evidence" present posals. based on a letter from Professor Willie Hamilton and Oonagh Reynolds University College McDonald descrioee ine oro chaired by Tory MP ceedings, nospital. LonDon. Mr Bonner Pink, as "a disgrace" Reynolds claimed that few" of the "small numbers" of 24 and 25 weeks About-face babies born at survive in nis intanu , care unit. Amongst other blows struck None born at 23 weeks has against those fighting the Corrie admits Reynolds survived, complete about-face but claims it is inevitable that Is lne Tory Health Minister Gerard one will, sooner or later".

Vaughan the upper limit for abortions. Argument Only fortnight ago horrified anti-abortionists On the basis of this tenuous limit vague possibility acclarite illat tlic nonsense, the should be 24 weeks on a cover d vocan sone the 20 called for by Corrie. point surviving laboratory problems of the conditions into detecting some toetal aonormal argument tor forcine unous ities prior to 18 weeks of preg- ands of working class women to and also argued against the agonies There has been one thing about Anthony Blunt on which there has been agree- ment from many quarters. From Tory MP Julian Amery and his ilk on the extreme right been about and treachery- patriotistu winter Should have intimate knowledge since his was hanged brother Germans

TOU

ЦІН From the reactionary government there has been or preservine then system from "Marxist danger"-woe betide intellectuals sons decide they clas WulD want 'betray' the system Stalin. which has given them so much service", , able efficient security presumab v to root out trattors Even more both external and internal, with InTerestino the reaction of Labour greater expediency. lefts' like Canavan and Skinner puritan Lanavan, who have tried to argue that it somewhat to the there were not a 'state within a Parliamentary opposition of the vital 1630s, concentrates on the then there would be question tine Wueen that Jenkins-whose £70,000 a year, tax-free sinecure as Presi- dent ot ends next autumn- mission after only made his speech corneine. Party's extreme right wing, and as part of a deliberate plan for a Labour Party members, how- should ever, endorse cal on tne ront wine to oreak out" as soon as possible.

And those overgrown embry- onic ones whose ocaks are toc soft to crack the shell should be , their way-through a campaign in every Custachey remove Enem TrOm positions and drive them from the Labour Party. 'Lefts' Those 'lefts' like Dennis kinner and rrank Alaun who have rushed to expose Jenkins' hypocrisy should be called on to explain just what they are doing oust Jenkins' political co. thinkers- Callaghan-Healey- Mason clique-trom leadership and to prepare the ground for mass action to bring down the Tories. unwanted pregnancy. And John Corrie himself has willingly accepted the mise" deadline 22 weeks, that this will defuse confident much me son cone Bill. Urgency casting Meanwhile on the of the committee vote "serious" the word chattan, was reinserted into ine criteria abortions-spelling the fact that : without mass action to defeat and remove the Tory abortion government, TonEs wiii soon oe destroyca Hence the urgency campaign for strike action and a Pariiament mass against the Corrie on 5 February; Labour MPs to vote against the Bill; and ot moolisino neaiin unions the entire labour movement in defy the Bill should action it e ramroaded onto une statute book. know?' Yet it is well known that the stands simply at the monarcily pinnacie ot the anti-democratic extra-Parliamentary which determined all

COSTS

maintain capitalIsT domination. Blight However, there are MOre interestine asoects affair hick as loh to tell us about development in Britair ane dooul the blight on Marxism brought about by Stalinism. said is that the Burgess, Philby kes ot Bunt and MacLean took a decision to fight for the overtow capitalism during the sis and proceeded to do with heroism and dedication themselves That they came from 'establish- ment' held against them. Nor can the fact that they

WE MUST FIGHT

FROM THE

HIGHEST PERKS-

I MEAN PEAKS!

WINE

MOUNTAIN

LAKE

PRESS

GANG

Blunt blew his last Chimes chance of getting any not Fleet the sort 1s easy - Pavlovian reaction of of mitigating copy in the Street, and there has not been a press when he barred most shortage or bourgeols column- of them from his press con- behind posturing ference. exterior, Fleet Street has a cal- culating sober heart. the Mirror, Star, sun and the rest of the fuming hacks Industrial sector left standing in the rain outside the Times offices, this was the worst crime of all. On the morning of the day Not only had they failed to on wnich erer kobinson wa track : down this devilish Russian sacked the papers took carefully emas lated version or but tney nad to get then ominous and prescient note.

appeared backstouna bieces events second hand while Blunt in all the papers explaining the Soviet agents in Look smoked recruitment of editor of the Times! the It gave added outrage to the future aristocrats from frenzied ingoism which covered Cambridge were longer the their pages day after day.

target. The new recruiting field was Sober heart declared as the industrial sector Did the Queen know? Was There is little doubt that this fed the 'information she acting under orders! Is there was a crime more foul than leaking press une know eoce our secrets? Robinson was about be clearly sacked the role. ol

UVE.

Witch-hunts against the left patricide among the king the deliberately turned into initially turned were to water of Communist time the world diplomacy on Party, when tew otner marxists coulc denat or the soviet stare seriously present themselves.

Their not towards the emancipa- However, Blunt and the turned Others turneo to Marxism. at a

TION

WorKing Class time under Stalin, the Britain or elsewhere-where no Communist doubt they might have made a International was of the developing Contracen popular front-an alliance Much the same doints could forces proletarian policie 30s, without intellectuals uke Auden and i. Maciece The policy the Soviet worked with the CP on the basis bureaucracy was to defend itself a liberal repugnance against TrOm TaSCISm alliance witt collica other sections of capitalism fight being taken up with them The use to which the talents as Marxists. ano ceocation or inese deodie One their nutter was put was therefore towards Stephen Spender, , wrote a book of furthering the interests the called Forward from Liberalism soviet bureaucracy anner tran wich made i clear unal ne cle the working class. actually travel . very far Diplomacy Spender soon went back to editor of the CA-funded Philby and the others could Encounter magazine. -and part of Clearly Blunt ended up in did-remain that way also. they estaoustment becaust Page 5 ·70,000

PER YEAR

TAX FREE

BUTTER

nowadays rarely take the form of singling out the Communist Party for special attention The obvious role of the Cl as an arm of the bureaucracy in dampening down the struggles Unla Trotskyite' has often become catch phrase for multants Las week this was entirely missing. Having identified the industrial wing of the CP as thi the way was left open sacking of Robinson • to with followed headlines Labelling him "Robbo the Red" In this way the Blunt affair has been consciously utilised as the best 'a tool for ensurine possible propaganda for Michael Edwardes conspiracies by the Oper press are not frequent-in nine cases out of ten the instincts of well-trained news paper editors can be relied on to which the caDilalist class Iccules In the case ol the kobinsor sacking it is evident that these instincts were not thought to be sufficient. But he did at one point place the cause of socialism and Tne work no class aoove inal o1 the which he was brought up, and for this we shoute alve nun some creolt.

•Patriotism' of that sort, Samuel Johnson scoundrel. Higher loyalty Blunt's tragedy, along with that of many of his generation, is that their higher loyalty wa.

i bureaucratised The stalinis leadership and not to the work- ing class and the tight for revol utionary leadership. revolutionaries up today ensure that those tow Brement geoisie who drop out should not into accomodation to capitalism but of the workers' become struggle against it.

WHICH WAY FORWA

Page 0 cO cIty

HONDURAS

GUATEMAL

WALPA

NICARAGUA

GUATEM

MARI

JOSE PANAMA CITY

COSTA RIC

Central America - a tinderbox ofrerolution The FSLN regime in four Nicaragua is now months old. The revolu- overthrew that tion and scored Somoza against victory major has imperialism an influence exercised in the international class of all out struggle the to proportion apparent significance of .

Central small the American state. This is evident not only America itself, in Central the u.s. nas been organise forced to "reformist' coup in El Salva- the and isolate dor Guatemalan barbarous dictatorship, but also in the rest of Latin America where the effects of the revolution particularly have marked and herald new period in the struggle of the working class. Besides this, the Nicara- revolution has caused guan total havoc inside the world Trotskyist movellicul. a major split precipitating within the United Secreta- riat of the Fourth Interna- of the basis tional on from range positions that simply wrong to downright adaptation treacherous the FSLN leadership. such a situation the In of Marxists is to fight task tenaciously for the politica.

the independence proletariat. fundamental to It the inherent Marxism the petty characteristic ot attack by oscillate revolutionary is to bourgeoisie have historic imperialism. the two between towards the working class.

class capitalist classes-lne bourgeois Castro's petty and the working class. 26 When a petty. bourgeois nationalist. MOve July ment, in a developing econ- political formation such as alliance with

FSLN

power, omic/military takes the bureaucracy, Kremlin on the basis the whether it be carried through such a turn of the smashing of the old the Cuba, resulting bourgeois state or not, it is deformed pulled violently from side to emergence workers' state and unable The cadre of the Guerra stable, class- establish

(GPP)

Prolongada Popular based state. had been in tne is tendency tendency This extended for the campo pronounced period (in some cases nearly neo-colonial countries, and had lost presents us with a historical years), twenty many of its organic ties witl of the terms anomaly culti- bourgeoisie the and Leninist theory of the state.

in short, a transi- vated It ls. antagonism towards the pro- phenomenon; despite LOrY imperialist period, shot intermediate "immersed LIlt with contradic- of

TATOUCI

elitism fundamental tions. guerrillaism. existed certain nele Tendencia Equally the FSLN within factions Proletaria (TP) had moved had there been the of from away external material warfare necessaly guerrilla could rural Sandinistas march in triumph

PAL

Victory rally: but ca italism still has not been overthrown in Nicaragua and rejected vague catch all political formulations based and the people 'working masses'. "Leninist" openly This tendency for others, attacked the failing to develop a coherent on revolutionary sulalcy building of the Dasts the working. class. party in declared itself be and 'Leninist', (Tendencia Prole- Documentos Basicos, taria, 1 November 1978). cannot therefore, be said that these forces were from the outset lost to the socialist revolution. practice their But and were small, numbers

GPP

was since the primarily differentiated its adherence to a particular military strategy and the leading cadre of the composed almost of intellecutals, exclusively lashed the ability to

FSLN

10 counterpose a programmatic organisational challenge third dominant the tendency-the Terceristas.

into This faction of the basis being on alliance frontist popular anti-Somoza with the bourgeoisie Nicaraguan which along with the Latin 'social demo- American Costa cracies' (Venezuela, Rica, Panama) gave substan- and backing financial tial prompted rapid recruitment 'anti basis somocismo'. put the rapidly This Terceristas enough position to impose ovei the hegemony their tendencies. through other 'unification' early in 1979.

Tied to capitalism

FSLN

the Thus, entered the final battle with Somoza and imperialism, was still committed and tied to a dissident element of the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979 It is quite clear that the slaughter extraordinary civil war the end of result of a last was the U.S to ditch attempt bolster Somoza's Guard Yet after the Sandinista about-turn a rapid victory was made. This was facilitated by

NACIONA

destruction enormous the inflicted during the fighting, most which made aid the efficacious political weapon.

Deputy As U.S tary of State, Warren Chris- ; stated: topher the chances "With enhanced. that the. will be. revolution] will move in the democratic of direction walk regime almost cer- away we wil tainly assure what we don't communist want, Cuban regime. Lessons of Cuba made. were Offers full encouraged, requests held back and small quantities released to entice and threaten the new National Government Reconstruction (GNR). The lessons of Cuba had been learnt-there was to be no all-out blockade or any move to rehash the invasion which led in Cuba attempt to the Bay of Pigs fiasco ; a crucial turn This was U.S imperialists the by responded and the junta and emphatically- rapidly bourgeoisie through the

FSLN

the instinct and through its innate inability to present a coherent alter.

native. Nevertheless significant that at the height capitalist class. Barricada, the war. political the official FSLN daily paper, But definition of the revolution was already laying the basis depended on the process of U.S. for a turn to the itself; the any the quoting revolution civil social dislocation of Vance's pro- comment, extensive. mass mobili- the nouncement war, apparent the and imperialist policy: sation, capitalist smashing of the let our- 'We must not state apparatus. carried away by selves get Moreove that Was the myth that by stimula- the role ting changes and by having apparent by imperialism relations with the forces of played would be absolutely critical.

help only we U.S. pursued an When we radicalisation towards policy erratic democratic stimulate Somoza in the last months.

change, economic and social it cut aid, First promote justice, we restored it; next it threw its interests, long-term behind the related to resource. including those the National Guard our security. his announced dictator (Barricada June 27 1979) resignation in an attempt to After the victory the first setțle- negotiated reach towards step logical with the bourgeois fortifying the 'middle way' opposition-whist was the inclusion of leading simultaneously pushing the bourgeois figures Organisation of Teacuonaly

GNR

carry states to American employing Far from through a military interven- people discretely: to these

RD IN NICARAGUA?

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979 sing aid as a weapon - Carter being concentrated and fulfill necessary technical

FSLN

tasks under direc- trained to incorporate them army"./Comman- tion, the Sandinistas began into the almost immediately to hand der Luis Carrion, Barricada, July 27 1979): back control over the commanding heights of the Lest there should by any illusions in the possible pro- 'Some people have asked character of this letarian whether the government is new force, the Programme the FSLN or the GNR of the Junta spells out with The truth is that the govern- absolute clarity that: "The of the ment Junta is in charge of mem bers all the high functions of the National Army will not be allowed to engage in politcal but their There, the FSLN, which party activities, at the beginning took charge political rights as citizens will be guaranteed'. of the country;

HOT

the process of handing over (Programme of the GNR June 1979 para 1.12) the ernment the These moves apparatus to Junta. capitalist SLrUCE State (Daniel that hãd been Ortega, apparatus member destroyed by the civil war of the Joint National Direc-

FSLN,

of the rest firmly on the categori- Barricada July 31 1979) cal pronouncement that: 'private property will not From the very start, the the • Junta only be respected but reconstruction absolutely guaranteed'. sought carry through, to was depend. on inter- (Commander Bayardo Prensa, Buenos national finance capital.

Ace, La the Aires, August 1 1979) At same time Robelo, the millionaire on "Mixed Economy" the Junta, was em bracing with Castro in Havana, Jaime Wheelock, Minister both bankers brought in by of Agriculture and leader of the guerrillas and the FSLN the TP, who a year ago was itself were inveighing against the 'petty negotiating for loans from bourgeois hegemony' of the Venezuela, the

EEC,

the IF and the private banks.

other tendencies of the

FSLN,

is now vigorously Arturo According to pursuing the policy of "a Cruz, president of the gradual advance towards national bank: mixed economy 'We are fully aware. we have to work with the IMF outlined in the Junta's pro- gramme, and has proved one submit certain of the foremost proponents We discipline. don't want be the mavericks of the of 'caution': The nationalisation of world... Somoza's which Closely linked this property, (LO 25% comprised of all the of question arms industry and 40% of all sales and military training.

workable land, was imposed Reprimanded political necessity by the mass mobilisation: but state control oI the The supposedly 'Marxist' national banks was a move Minister of the Interior, capital if any required by Tomas Borge (who protests form of control was to be that he much placed the bankrupt influenced by John Stein- beck and his mother as by Similarly, the state Lenin!) declared that there on the export of 100 DO *serious indications were agricultural produce is the U.S. that wants to only possible means He change 1T( which sáles of this year's reprimanded his second-in- disastrous cotton and coffee command for threatening to Soviet crops can be optimised on from the

JUY.

the world market. Union, and indicated that made approaches would be No basic assault to Belgium and the U.S. These developments have These arms are destined for a "small, efficient, pro- altered the configuration of essional army" rather than capitalism in Nicaragua; but they The par utom stren. sense assault from strengthening represent basic the militias as. the armed upon it. Quite the of the indepen- reverse, they

SADICSSOII

working class, the are the most efficient means of defence, FSLN is moving rapidly to and have been disarm all those not under supplemented by a consoli- dated effort to defend ts direct control: the militias are private property relations in Sandinista militia women Frente Obrero (Workers the countryside. Front) and Movimiento The state agrarian reform de Popular (Popular Accion agency 210 Ene official peasant trade union Action Movement) whose El Pueblo has been ATC have ejected peasants paper subject to suppression and who spontaneously occupied land. whose militants have beer And in some areas, such arrested as 'counter-revolu- as that around the city of tionaries'. Trade union leaders who Leon, which was liberated are close to or members of early in the civil war by the "Trotskyist'

GPP

the Liga extensive and Marxista was

(LMR),

encouraged, as a sympa- thising of the it instructions to overwhel- Against dissolve into the that the

FSLN

ming to remain) also been of the the capitalist argued, It is the press as Press, questioned about the (CDS's) Committees nave organs of been popular through • weeks ago . we are of hundreds and had the capable of to prove they Moreover, are have lasses, unsettled the But this revolution is bourgeoisie. ity'; the of gawp ted on asm OI tion. They case': they are The CDS's, for all the gains they represent, are not tance the independent organs of the working class; they have themselves would be been established under the crushed direction of the

FSLN

the cogent relieved them of process FSLN's nationalism and police or military functions capitulation to imperialism.

of and retained the right It against these appointment of the 'dele- developments that our next on each gales lot secunty will article • make an assess committee. ment of the sundry slogans Closely connected, to this and policies put forward by control from above is the would-be Trotskyist forces offensive against Nicaraguan for the the those groups that bose revolution. of working class question independence and attack Soviets the FSLN leadership. The outstanding We do so in the context most of arguing that the political example been the expulsion of the Simon task for Trotskyists is to Bolivar Brigade, causes Tune take up ine struggle lot consequences of which and workers and • peasants government in Nicaragua. will be dealt with separately This must centre on the in another article. Less publicised, but no construction of independent organs of the working class less important, are the cam- paigns against the Maoist -from trade unions through Tomas Borge and milițias. In the countryside, the whose legitimate peasants. desire to the expropriate "anti-Somoza" landlords are being held in check by the FSLN regime, must build committees that will link up with the the •worKers towns in the struggle against the exploiters. Nationalisation central agitational demand must be that the "proletarian" tendencies

FSLN

within the take up the struggle for the full scale nationalisation, without of the means compensation, under production workers management, and the land, which must be placed under the control of the peasants' committees.

Elected of committees workers must be established to open the books of indus- and and, try agriculture with the jointly peasants, a socialist formulate plan for production Such struggle will the real role being expose played in the government by the millionaires, bankers and bourgeois politicians, who are using the fall of Somoza to protect or even enhance their own power at the expense of the Nicaraguan masses. These figures be must ousted from the govornment and their centraliser ing army-with its develop- ing links with the Panaman- dictatorship-disbanded ian Final days of the civil war Page 7 and replaced with the arming of the working class.

Imperialist overtures and all forms secret "hoo macy must be rejected- while tangible aid and assis- be must publicly tall et demanded from the inter- workers' move and Stalinist ment, the regimes in Cuba, the Soviet and the deformed Union of Europe workers States and Asia the time full At same solidarity and assistance must be given to the revolu- tionary struggles throughout Central and Latin America which offer the only long- term way forward from the national isolation Nicaragua to the necessary United Socialist States of Central America. Trotskyist party To through the press fight for this kind of inter- nationalist and consistent socialist perspective, a prin- cipled Trotskyist party essential. Only through such party persistently defending and extending the political independence and leading Nicaraguan role of the working class in the struggle for socialist revolution, can the and retreats of the bourgeois petty FSLN leaders be combatted the possibilities of the full restoration of bourgeois dic the averted and

LLO SHO

necessary permanent revolu- in Nicaragua brought 20 Y about.

OPEN UP THE ARCHIVES!

CDLM conference and the General Page 8 Man of Marble offers an astonishing insight into the workings of the bureaucracy in Poland and into workers' responses to it. responses vary from nese resistance, to cooption into the bureaucracy and even personal breakdown. It helps a great deal in under if you know film stantoine that the encino-the visit to tne clearly that killed in the 1971 the hero was uprising-nas been cut Nevertheless hard to. film believe how the was alowed to be made While there is a flourishing underground press "treedom ano relative culturdi the tum nas undoubtedy only had extremely restricted show- ines inere nolitical knowiedde shows however that it assumes aimed at rousn rater tan Western audiences. As film within a film it Gierek periods, the 1950s, portrdys two daring and persistence that the film The earlier period draws on , accompanied by student. and other elderly cameraman and a lot of documentary to mainly never have been publicly shown.

collect the stages of Trom burkuts tormer associates reconstruct what actually building steel happened. Nowa. Huta, the crani appalling Put-up job the machinations of fact his Stak hanovite the oureaucracy suffering-the tremendous 'achievement' nearly killed him.

achievement. IT was a out young dioloma student careerist film director and make a film of the decides to backed by the bureaucracy as a Birkut, Stakhanovite bricklayer means of faisine work norms: He did rise to fame however • ano To unravel Ene mystery his fall from fame and hís 'dis- backward and appearance'. caving monumental 1 Ne statue tons away some ce basect on secret police. him. lies discarded in the locked the In one village, however, he is acid-soaked state museum amidst deserte Dassco d mediaeval treasures. brick which permanentv intures his hands. Propaganda film Both he and his more politic- With the cooperation of the ally. conscious nerpmate, footn of began their work archivist she not only television and by pelting chasing sees the 1950s propaganda film Car cois him laying 30,000 bricks in ot a oureaucrat win wiso irom the mud flats of Nova Huta in • nours. out diso many other inadequate old films and clippings which

NILOSE

show a different picture.

rations. unoerstand

INIS

worker's hostility. It is onlv bv dint of great Strike call Letter London SES picket lines by are defended 19.11:79 physical

UL L

10H Dear Comrades, defence, based on the pickets or Socialist occupations that mobilising mass peeist od be exist, and In Press 174, in report of the CDLM con- vOUT ference you wrote that, 'an local labour movement. amendment from. Workers "The call for a general strike should form a central plank of 101 vicuatallull for the demand of a General work ar i propa The against the Tories was ganda.' accepted in outline". Ihis is an incorrect presen- our position and the In proposing the resolution I the SDOKe The Workers Power resolu- General Strike ine tion stated, in full: Tories? on the e of vide. slogan This conference resolves to that, period ally campaign throughout the labour spread against movement policies, this would have for a general sinke against Tories' proposed demobilising effect of implying anti-trade union laws. • a call for a general election "Within section disputes that ts or Ems reason unar une are taking place CDLM propa- resolution identifies the anti- ganda should be aimed at gener trade union laws as the focus for linking disputes

SUING

uncause they are them to otners and pointing out main strategy ol the general nature of the Tory the ruling class at the present attacks, focussing them towards the goal or a general strike In adaition tne conterence "The councils of action tha committee accepted an amend- conference is proposing should which deleted the slogan

HECE

"for cost of lying clauses in all have as their target the night IoI and eventual organising of, agreements" replaced general strike Will "Fight for a sliding scale of "To do this they must bi rooted in the organisations wages -1% rise take home the working class genuine dele- every 1% rise in the wages the cost of living-as calculated wate chibracult the workers themselves widest possIble In Ine rank and file workers. form committees of trade "They should ensure that all unionists and housewives.

Pru Chamberlayne reviews the Marble" by cinemas around the country.

Birkut throws himself into a drive for workers' housing and becomes a popular hero. securit TorCe. d. t worried and cause his helpmate to 'disappear relentless BITKUl wages , fight to trace him. Even his efforts to appeal to his union branch are foiled by The bureaucracy In desperation he takes to brick drink, burning inrouan ine coor or une secre police and hands himself over.

'confessed' to being an agent Birkut begins by himse t then begins to but confessing, and roscule brocecomes renounces his capitulation.

In 1956 amidst the uprisings which Gomulka power they are both rehabilita.

Birkut even casts the first in the ballot staged to voTe against all reindee the price 'threshold clauses' " In the context of the Ford such claim, threshold agreement-the danger 'cost of living ol vague cals IOT clauses' should be obvious.

Despite its acceptance the

OT91R21

siogan sull appears your page 4 text of the confer- This is not our ence resolution. idea of. democracy in the labour movement'. Yours fraternally, for Workers Power.

WE REPLY:

The Workers Power amend ment on the general strike . into the text of the resolutIon reprinted in Socialist Press 174 (appearing immediately beneath the tell-tale sub-headline "General Strike"). that sectional Vital disputes that take place around the laws and other anti-union are generalised and lory atlacks focussed on the goal of a general strike. Councils of action should be preparing, penned • 101 organise a general strike.

film "Man of Andrej Wajda, showing at selected legitimise the Gomulka regime.

He retreats trom a political fight saying 'one only has one . But he disappears country

TIM

orrector rose to fame and fortune on the lies and his propaganda betrayals film. Alcoholic wretch Birkut's wife, who lives film- star uke in a chalet-style noust with a restaurant owner, beneath the glitter, an alcoholic wracked with remorse wretch and guilt for her abandonment and public denouncing of Birkut as a secret acent. contrast the scene with film student's night porter the Tatner Ener furnished but tumbledown him to be a apartment shows stalentiorware allu since C man, sympathetic and percep- tive The portrayal modern CP headquarters in Szczecin, Poland, after 1970 workers The variation in wording to McSweene which appeared objects 200- word summary of the confer- ence on another page. But in our defence we would that-if anything point General Strike against Tories' is a more comprehensive altu satislaclul Bespective than the restrictive demand for general strike simply "against the Flaws, proposed anti-trade ult luncs If calling for a general strike against the Tories could be seer surely one aimed simply single piece of legislation than a 11lUl. protest action designed to force Thatcher to retreat on it?

Secondly, the full text of the Workers Powel wages the sliding scale of incorporated into the text as published in of the resolution sociaL cress. out It is cat . which appear inevitablv abbreviated form) the original formulation was not changed. In terms of democracy in the labour movement WORd the considerable point of CDLM time allotted to speakers from Workers Power; which had not building conterene and had only a token presence at it. these We hope that. now points have been answered the comrades will the need to see participate in the meetings and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 28 November 1979 handled Poland tends sardonically It is hard to tell whether the American •rashness or the mal character, the tilm student wit • bizarre clothes and behav sexist ploy in four usine evel the book, Teasing genuine fashion model emancipated women in modern Poland. Lovely She is most intriguing. And Generally. the film lovely luxuriate. tItt scene. Western style living while also deprecating them fate student's power in 1971. Tim nanos in tne balance al This censorship also explains as must the fate of 'Man of Marble' ' itself. the imbalance in the Tim, and the lack of criticism of overt censored the Birkut's death never • the oureducial Nor is the pointed recent period. explained. one of the many shot snowine lat nis son wIKs this beautifully not in any old shipyard, , but message: those Gdansk whose made and brilliant film is jopen the archives!' Gierek brouaht uprising: activities of the CDLM organis idea of the fight for leadership in the working class. focussing less on verbal quibbles and more on practical struggle. That is our

OUT NOW!

BATTLE FOR

TROTSKYISM

THE

DON EXELL

Second edition of the opposition documents presented inside the WRP by the present leader- ship of the Workers Socialist League With a new introduction Price £2.50 plus 20p postage and package from Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

IMPACT OF TORY

'SALE OF CENTURY'

Many local councils have voted to sell off

TOW

council houses at knock- down prices The Tories and Liberals res- ponsible for this action have Carried out this cy nically amid sneering fibes of 'hypocrisy'. at pponents who live themselve ń private dwellings accusation that people 11C 0700 _ we femsveg mm private houses are 'hypocrites' and have dwellers to mierieiy criticise want nave some security ana an cne ever rising rents, might have an elément of appear vantulty to lu Counci housing was origin- ally conceived as a means potentially revol-' a casule uc utionary working cass mn The aftermath of first world Wal. By-product Most social reforms are grantee on wileh une class is faced with the loss of all its property, as a by product vl tre tcvolaiolary suruszic.

ine 1n1112 concention council housing was to provide mass of workers homes tor the were unaD e save Tne capital for a deposit uil a livuse The petit-bourgeois concep- tion that anyone cyptal it they tritd, they liceeosal y tuicu. ane mat ONV santess teckless people failed to achieve the. status of home onwers (through

AAN-ANOH ОРО ОПРАВИРИО

not to mention 'loose living')- still even to the prevails • i vocill uay very same Deo ore acneull sither siveon ex pense salaries constant staff status salaries that thém save consis- enao e tently. Most manual workers how- "ever do not enjoy such luxuries.

Arrogant They come into the 'hourly aid' category. Kt me ang time négotiators of hourly paid manual I unions find elementary oemanos roi 'staff status' met with smug The fact that some manual smiles coupled with atrogant workers do find the necessary money for a deposit on a house heeled, complacent managers in does not alter the fact that there company suits, with many GO nOr cars parked in reserved parking parsic lor tho e in noe imiled working I0ts, WRo re ome dorware mass m als ino the pany subs siacd production industries that particularly prone to lay-offs.

are dining It mainly for these Canteet cumess tnev out on the company's expense workers that council. housing account). conceived was originally : as a means buying off wue same managers can 1ook forward to uninterupted periods militancy after the First World of saving, with guaranteed war salary, 'land fit for heroes' first Nee om Rv-oIs iree from waiting days prior to sick- of all had to include a decent ness benefit, and with regular 10 W House

TOI

workers unable to put up the money for salal LICICaSUS ucs e cods policy, coupled to a mortgage. oi iicomes tax avoidance schemes and all There is no doubt that this manner of company perks. concesson ifom the bosses was Council housing in Paisley a nistore gam tor mne workina class, one which, along with the health and education services, nOW uying to dismantle. Mixed blessing In the case of the health and educațion. the social obvious to most 1s tairly workers; but the case "of council accomodation, after the CHo ous

ICIL

IISCS

BICCe! years 'and thé gradual collapse mainten- Workas Call Ut /upon orotven

TOT

Io0 king council houses mixed blessing KenIs I! many areas nave now escalated to levels compar- GLC leader Cutler with Tory cronies able with mortgage repayments those who chose to do so from thanks largely to the betrayal of owng taer owa nouses Instead the focus would be

LIC

Leas Suedt acalis Heath's 'fair rents' Act under elimination • of private on the last Tory government.

and offering every landlordism. works maintenance Direct worker the chance ol a decent departments have also been sub- home at reasonable cost. decimated -thanks of course, the At bottom again to the same betrayals by council sector reformist public' or socially owned ponticians ana trade union leaders. pluvcily with council housing the NoW, all property Jcike public sector-whether i ure runcowi sare maus and new council housing at.a the vireal sta navit, the Foies and surrounded hospitals-it :on Liberals seized upon asces ov a parasilc workers' fears in order to oppor- sector-construction develop- banks, etc- tunistically undermine the ment corporations, the samo ay they harsh ipo ie which exists solely to milk it same way they have done dry The. for years in other areas of the profiteering of this public sector. the "social' sector negates ownership and subjects it to the Not available anarchy of the profit system. So when workers opt to bur Yet the fact. that many and thus transfer their council live house to the private sector, it is

WOIKCIS

nOW orildlt accomodation is not because of a vamn and misguided attempt tc any secret ideological preference escape from the capitalist anarchy of the money lenders 1o1 le orIvale ownlcisne property or 'the freedom of the wir cucuscs Cess ret riso indívidual but because the in the 'publicly owned' council years of stagnant house buildin.

programmes has meant that Yet these same council houses cue sim ply not Heullcy even lenders operate -more available, particularly

LIIC

Drivalt cnes market-as current TIn fi In Liverpool, for instance, mortgage rate can testify.

to build council more counci house

DUT

Headlong rush offer generous subsidies to build of vuitialluis vilyalr course the Tory and Libera houses, together with the whole- offers from Libera sale selling , off of existing stocks councils to sell off houses a houses knock- knock-down, bargain prices- down orces are wel dovanced a traction of the price in the Anyone wantin to have a private market-attract tenants council house Liverpool in the to the prospect alca lias lo oe way uo lne Dollts All talk of resisting these vem or mote out omne ct tempung oners in the interests to one of the 'overspill' towns pr prese vino sinos ato at. Skelmersdale miles away people who NUnCOB -Wal

VOU

deposus m une onivate secrot are lucky enough to be able to find To indenduat e read to mash job there (a condition of individual workers grab residency). the bargain ofter wille it tase In this sense the dilemma is 20 year mortgage analagous the problem of olar cecner If workers live in private Indeed, while the employer houses it is certainly not for superficially ofter: galelous the privilege of having a twenty payments to persuade workers leave his employment, he i y cal multsage arouril long-term profit necks. looking to the Tory claims that people oe deve tom c dacicascu want the chance to own their explbitation of the remaining workforce, and the benefits he own nomes s ake aralno 10a workers want the chance to be can louk lorwaru exploited by private enterprise permanent pool of mass unem- nationalised tirms, ployment as a means of holding Sisteau ünder capitalism. uvwıl wazes au oossolyeve The sole reason for workers breaking strikes opting their Similarly, in flogging off ouy Coulcil houses is in the hope of seeing council houses by the hundred aner ao hacke sn drain ana by tne inousana, ine iory wage packet and in the government looks s t0 a5d hope of altering the design to eagerly to the profits their own tastes, free from coined in bv the constructior bureaucratic dictates. firms, bankers, estate agents and It has nothing to do with Tory landlords ftom the hun- for any preference private urcas ol uaousanos or worker. who will as a result be forced to plopelty. Nor, 'under socialist pay through the nose in the planined economy, private sector. housing would be Iodav's apparent "bargain' for the individual is tomorrow's nuca to marea soca necos.

would it be necessary to prevent misery for whole sections of the Page 9 working class Whole- Meanwhile the new Housing Bill, wilch specuies a stalulol.

"right buy" for councl be bulldozed tenants the under arougn rasancnl leadership of millionaire Enyir Secretary Michael Hese tine A survey by Shelter shows massive . 60% all that councis are oboosed to this new provision in the law and it is even opposed by 1 30% of Tory. Controlee CovrCIs course some Tory councils that have attempted to mo cuacut suct olecs alcal -including thel —have rur problems, since even the into cost of selling the houses creates mortgage pay way beyond the reach of ments

LIEC

In other words, the provision of the "right to buy" for exist ing tenants could end up beins merely the beginning of the "right to sell" for Tory councils croncaal su uechill families out council class housing Another new report just Duousned m vornenam. allal ysing the sales of council houses the city, estimates that house real counci Insack us sales is a linanciai loss to tne local authorities The sale of 100,000 council houses WOle une cstmale cost a staggering £1,200 million net yearly pay- -more than in ment to the bEc. But the. Tories lessly forging ahead. Heseltine's BIll includes a Clause su wnicı him the right to inter- gives vene per seatle setie ISSUt relation to the sale of a dwelling whether arising from dispute oi deay seemus expcoenl и him to do so." This gives Heseltine and his cohorts the right to ride rough- shod over elected local author- ities and their housing plans- or to take uem to courl ack fig horing thist oer attack housing must with struggle comelca against colossal rate and rent due as result of increases cash Thatcher's spending culs. limits, inflationary policies and high interest rates Wherever possible tenants assocaons mus

OULL

mobilised to work jointly Witr the local trade union and labour the struggle Hucilll open up ase muin accoumus anc plans of local housing depart- and councils, ments town and bankers, contractors Inel suppliers to elected labour movement committees This reveal the woult reasons • behind the total inade- quacy of existing housing pro- and expose

VISION

une orollls being creamed by private

COT TI

exploiters in the building indus- and in interest payments to the banks. Millionaire Heseltine Rent. increases must be means including fought by any where possible rent • strikes linked to mass strike action to detend any tenant victimised Labour councils must forced to take a stand in oppos- ition of counci housing, and for a programme of house building related not tc "cash limits' laid down by to the needs of the working class There must be no increase in the The cuts thai lalc

UILY

Shoule be made is a telusal ic meet interest payments on out- standing loans. •And the anti- workmecs Dolces Tory government must be con head with a mass on, Jabou nobilsatiol movement and an appeal for supporting action on a national level Only when the Tory govern.

ment brought down and answerable to th veilllsul working class put in power D.

mass action can the housin question be resolved in the interests of the workers.

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Pay round "madness" -bosses The present pay round, there na attempts according to CBI chief Sir their against runaway inflation.

Methven, shows 'all John His the characteristics of certi- Employment fied madness". Pror back the government's efforts to employers" spokesman assessp This how "restore sense No to NUJ offer!- Negotiations on the expected from the members this year.

NUJ

claim for provin- journalists have cial, port come to a grinding halt by the provincial ship-who struck for seven 30% with the claim weeks last being met by a 'final' 14.5% offer-the offer averaging 14.5% tions have sought to damp The talks with the News- down chapel militancy:: Society have been paper The offer for their remarkable further erosion of the living and the standards of NUJ members.

nature sporadic demoralisation of the NUJ must team who demands for Herodde the view began talks with SEIKe. could thạt no be

YOU SHOULD

JOIN US!

dictions of the anarchic capital- the With workers ist system force the taking the thousand closure Tory oppose forces streets oroductive policies there is plainly no oniv a " socialist the lack of militancy forward. way organised working class. To tive leadership Yet the existing trade union bureaucrats and Labour leaders -whether right hert'snave ao vance those trade union offer politics and illusions that capit- workers prepared 1o

VICU

defence of jobs, living stan alismu can ve social services and demo parliament. dards, The Workers cratic rents. defended These can only be League policies which start ment through out to build such the independent interests TrOM leadership in of the working class, wnich; class, international has britain alre and everything We invite nothing, to gain Socialist details of the SISt Press to lose tro attem dis to restore the profitability of their "own" employing class. In a period where the contra- Please send me more details Socialist of the Workers League. Name Address. 31 Dart- Send to: _woL Park Hill, London mouth

NW5 1HR

Prior realithe rethey of capitals.

workers standards "reality", of capitalism is living of course one of mass unem view was endorsed by ployment plunging Hivine stan James dards, a destruction of sections Secretary of the means of production and social reverse orevious progress The same message came personnel director Pat Trom su Lowry, who urged spend "howling and more time spell- anguish' economic facts that we Tace Of course workers star wt trom the estaousnow lock of capitalisi than rathel necessity for a planned socialist there Instead of building sup- then for a renewed assault DUl surrender to the likes of Lowry.

Edwardes and Thatcher. year to reach a •But the same reactionary negotia- embodied in the tessaric union arguments leaders that argue for workers to clearly demands not on the their need «етело jobs and living standards, but on with of a particular mel "viability all-out capitalist firm. The interests of the work- the employers in ing class and diametrically this CrisIs are opposed. The of legitimate pressing demands thus and necessary appears to the bosses as "mad- ness". But it is only a lunatic who would knowingly plump for the of the perpetuation capitalist system of misery and exploita.

tion.

DON'T GO INTO

wholesale and destruction of the planned on a world scale offers a achieve such ^ perspec which, in today's struggles fights beyond masancy. protest abolished through a Trotskyist and day a principled the working class internationally. readers seek more and its work and to join us in the struggle for

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ORF

new threat to BSC closure plan Following a humilia- vote by ting management rebuff for their 25% pay claim, federation Blastfurnacemen's abandon the began leaders last week with sounding off tiate redundancy payments.

surprise threats of strike BSC's against action of plant programme meeting closures. ballot is to be held, recommendation with from the union's execunve for a national strike. adopted the Boosted dole cal. General Secretary Hector sake acuon. only few Smith, wine weeks ago was enthusiastic,

BSC

ally by boosted Cleveland management as an advocate Talbot; o1 rutniess de-manning and WeTe week announced speed-up, insisted thạt: March. "If the vote goes way, there will The new be a com- We are not stance plete stoppage the messing about" The main centre of resis- tance to BSC's closures is

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

• CAPTAL

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, Wednesday 28 November 1979 Blastfurnacemen's now at Corby, following the threatened overtime ,ban and selective strikes even if members of the Iron and Steel Trades Con other unions fail to support; and the growing list of jobs no ton threat in BSC create fight to save under conditions where a firm lead their 1obs and simply nego.

produce can struggle against closures But, for all their militant Aggressive stance and blowing, puffing the 3,000-strong mass right wing Corby voted the steel unions have shown overwhelmingly to continue little-stomach for a light. their efforts to prevent the closure of the steel-works- Stall action though they have still not vital policy of has. • Their every tactic occupying the plant, which rather sought to stall action offer the neces- and wait for demoralisation sary focal point for national among the work- to set ir force, before stepping in to negotiate terms for "volun- But policies in defence of jobs have yet to be finalised • tary" redundancy. and at Port need now is he crying

BSC

for revolutionary leader- lasu further the steel unions 2,300 redundancies by next that will mobilise the mem- bers in defence of their class aggressive interests. • of the Biastfurnace. continued tence by ISTC leaders that they will proceed with their

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£1.75 £6.00 £11.00 £6.50 Rest of the World: , £8.00 Please send me trial sub/six months/one year of Socialist Press. I enclose • Send to Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS 1HR.

Wednesday 28 November 1979

SOCIALIST PRESS,

St Benedict's: support needed . workers' committee continue referring patients to has taken over the running sI. benedict s. Hospital management are at of St. Benedict's Hospital present staying well in the back- for. geriatrics in Tooting, ground-no •OUe wero ine South Londön. options for new initiative. The which committee, and includes representatives union •ranches Wadsworth and East

AUEW

NUSC

LUNDC.

& O l Merton Trades Council have

EETPÚ

as well as the Royal College of Nursing, has pledged cecare suosort. ane oractical backing has come from LO KeGO tric vosoila oocl drivers, who are ambulance pite the plans of Merton, Sutton and Wadsworth AHA. retusino ro move oalictts.

The AHA's annoncement Receded •T •ans cose Ine nosona completely by July. 1980 Last Saturday an ambulance triggered the preparation for the crew were instructed to take out workers takeover. Finlay of the a barent.

OUE

sto td dl Nurse Anna picket line, rang their

RCN

told Socialist Press that controllers, and told them that nao anem oreo Iney were not preparea to move avoid normal procedures in clos- the patient. ing the hospital by describing it The firm and militant action as a "temporary closure".

oT. The beneolct s workers As result management has so far-stopped the District dodged prior consultations, and its tracks. /anagement .In

L CONFI

curcuniventee Ine CommUnIty

DUI

une toneel Nia.

NOT

Health Council. receced. certaln that management will come forward Unanimous and more sophistica-

YVELIT

The workers' was Teo Tacties in thew artemots ro to set up the works action com- defeat the occupation and shut down the hospital. wittee severar weeks doo of When .the District Manage- AICdOY LuCiC are sicis ment Team announced that 50 preparations on three main moved to Malicils

WEIG

Funding is being withdrawn he sonooke cosoua oerore Christmas, the action committee Tor adencv stau in some cesan- ments-particularly occupation- called mass meeting, which al therapy. VOTee! Wirsnousv •revenu the patients from being moved.

contracts of some "ane time nursing doctors run out anIOS The AHA could well February. staff refused to aCCe•L 00s m other hospitals.

NOU

rencn ulest The overlei 15, hahice which thus gradually strip the hospital began on November of medical cover. :This the tactic which support of all sections of staff; and local GPs have agreed to unally precipitated the deteat oi From Charing Cross front page mentally The two victims would his. The nano asoco and casualty treatment are all barred from the work. victims ot the Tory axe they viaco-bul occauSt WoUld receive full pay it would become housanos ocone suffer, and some will die as a virtually impossible to persuade CouIL. InCl IClOn fraue unionists YeT when workers take strike in their suooort. stand against the impact of the The advantage - thus cuts and in defence of standards handed to management, who are tree a maor nosoitdr lt lo son out oroceea who are and ings for weeks or months until witch-hunter pilloried in the press! the question has The Charing Cross engineers ebbed-before implementing the sacking. must e erener i mnev are victimised it will give the green of Literally thousands militants have tound themselves Hond ord ew c cc levels throughout the NHS.

victimised as a result of such a formula. And, with managemen!

Suspended at Charina Cross plain/y deter mined to destroy union organ- But there are still damaging sation in the hospital as a part for Calls the vietsce stew- or Ener move l muisoso sociu ards to be reinstated but sus- ing cuts, it is essential that the pended full pay, pending on fight proceed for full .uncon- an inouiry. ditional, reinstatement. Such. an outcome, as has should take AnV "Ino utry proved time and again in been place only after such reinstate- such disputes, would be the kiss ment is agreed. or death tor toe struceie.

Of Shall

AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

the 30-month work-in at the elzabetn carrett anoerson nos- pital *By not replacing ancillary and nursing staff who leave, the AHA can whittle down manning adding Benedict's, levels dl ol to the strain on tnose maintaln- ing the It is crucial to standards attacks on Wout Sucu at the hospital. Such tactics should come as no sulPIsc workers have showr wonse their experience that through halt w004i1 cosures. ur tonows tuat manage' ment will have learnt from their experience that, by play- and tor the isolation OT snelv oudl struggle, they hopé even- and shut tually to win the day down the. hospitals Thel list. The St. Benedict's work-in can succeed preventing ine closure. But only if it becomes the centre growing the class aLION аннів! throughout Tne secun Sser vier and wider labour

CIL-

Renor PHOTO: Andreu NUPE leader Fisher E Snorh am COHSE leader Spanswick It was of, real threat tue widespread supporting strikes that nele oack maratemen from the final closure of the EGA for 2½ years The St. Bene•los action committee must urgently seek strikes pledges of supporting Trom Taroucnout Ine з0C: labour movement and the demand that London area, and

NUP C

ano COHoe eco ers whose official policy is now for occupation against hospital C osure-com botona acton their support.

ITS OUTRAGEOUS - THEY'R

••LInE EATLAINING AW Y «IMA CUTS.

TREN THERES THE ANT-UNION

MUGGINS HERE WILL HAVE TO WORK WEEKS

OF UNPAID OVERTIME TO CONTROL THEM.

Betrayals that led to BL offensive To many Leyland Midlands Region of the union offensive report, the workers, the on i Alan inquiry cleared •Thornett of all shop floor rights and con.

allegations levelled the by Edwardes will ditions by management. appear to use a series of new But they found Bob Fryer of convenor, techniques: in particular the the plant guilty "bringing secret ballot and brazen vic.

Ine union Inzo

• OIS

repute timisation of Combine Com.

had never been Fryer chairman Derek mittee sublect or me mouw. ne was • Robinson. not involved. No charges had even been laid I against him. But hey ha ve tactics are not tested They but unis decision nad a pur new. been before in BL-and not only by

JOSE

management. shame

TGWU

their rethe fec on teinted tty onreaucrats nave unte now deet recommended at the forefront of such attacks

TOOTE

on their own members. breaking up or the most impor tant trade union body on the sacking In taIs respect. • THЄ of Derek Robinson certainly did Cowley Assembly plant-the with not start two weeks powertul s/oo branch. Secondly recommended The ononc ron or me comoine be held for that fresh Committee pamphiet

CICCLONS

and Your Job" all trade union positions-not in Edwardes Plan the traditional way lat branch It started d7 years ago in stewards shop Cowley with the victimisation WoOLuys of Alan Thornett, Deputy Con. meetines, our ov secrer Danou They brought in this new Cowley Assembly venor of the principle, of which Edwardes is Plant and a Trotskyist. Trotkyits always, attacks because nOW TOTTe, followed by zwarter Knows ToA vol Ca are wirt a ballot if you choose your attacks on the Stalinists and the time right and use the press anc whole abonnement t. withdren management n ne ront mav weeks After four of press recognitior TrOU

I VOTIECL

witch-hunts Fryer and Thornett because hartade tr "duty", to get his section back coue пос ou Course election. An extreme right wins work during a strike over a leadership was installed broken agreement After a 3 woek strike which But Jack Jones and Regiona Secretary Brian Mathers did not Cowley he was COSte there They stop gave total reinstated as a sectional snor steward, but romains victimised backing (TO lE new convenor who openly ar this day proudly that he •aelv sonyeRor intended to stamp out Trotsky- Just over two years later in in the name of August 1976, more t onr ism in cowiey victimised the viability of BL were zowaa When the four stewards we Cowlev-their "crime": • втело- victimised in 1974 things had ing a young Asian worker from gone much further persecution. There was no attempt Atter a Iwo week stuke wa.

sold out they romain victimised Cover le any ting. support toi to this day the victimisation was openly presented as the official TGWU The role of the TGWU in opposing the Robinson victim- position. of been At the mass meeting which isation course Tlas followed the withdrawal of their that of his own stronger than union the AUEW. shop STewaro. Are ANTISC 1974 and 1976 it was District Secretary David Buckle But in argued that management "had a the TGWU officials at national regional and local level who led case" ane

TOUGAT

CASuare the way in attacking shop stew- fully) for a return to work The strike cracked after ares ano oreakine ue dasc sho•

TWO

floor organisations which had Weeks WITh • ine proposal Tor a taken many years to build.

further Regional Inquiry.

On the return work rarsons tola the press we nave finally put the Trots to bed" Alan Thornet Now we will. "drive them out ol vner victimised and subjected to a this industry". massive press and TV inquiry The found them hunt-possibly more and endorsad the Com-

'VICOV

guilty than that directed against Derek pany's decision to remove them Robinson today-TGWU as shop stewards General Jack Jone In August 1977 the secretary same moved through the Region 5 report Ino uir was uced Committee to set up a Regional further split the trade union company's movement on the plant.

• DIO UIL

ButO case. This time it was the 5/29.

He used that inquiry branch under attack, the very • To ser stil rehabe ot ing nes ngh tre branch reated by the bureau- reverberating through crats in 1974

Y'KNOW.. I'M BEGINNING

TO THINK THAT SOMETHING

SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT

IRD (OKT GOVONEN

APPRECIATED

ALWAYS

THAT THE NATION NEED

BUT THE ECONOMIC CLIMATEFICES.

HUGHIE

TUFPE COMA

/REINVESTMENT NEEDS INENTIVES-

REWARDS FOR HARD WORK..

Page 11 "'crime" was that Alan Thornett was now its chairman They created a third branch the 5/837 the was move Inettec tive. In December. 1977 Alan Fryer were and Bob I noSeL by the alecte. bac

COTTIAE

Auced byt bak Jones ein 197 Jones in duced by Jack You Woul nave noucol Jones might have accepted 3½ years of effort defeat after out no vo sooner was. me election over than charges were laid against Alan Thornett, Bob rrvel ane seven ouners Unctl the dișciplinary procedure of the TGWU. They were charged with dis- rupting a meeting of the union's Oxford District Committee.

Alan WedkS Thornett was recommended for expulsion from the union and une orners witl being panace from all office for life Yet they were all people who had just been elected office by mass votes of the membership They faced a 15 month struggle simply to stay in the union. In April of this year the charges were dropped. But the damage had been of done. Victimisation stew. ards had become the order o1 the day. All the elements are there now with the Robinson case Ihe precedents naw all beet the TGWU bureaucracy set by -from the secret ballot to the of the momentary

WOOR

even down to victimising Robin.

foI son signed which was «SouBU We'Dl feature of the ritual trial Regional Office throughout the Cowley 9 period). In addition management have seen the impact of victim.

isation on the plant. Although left won the election in December 1977 the shop floor movement had beer Two years later it has only AUEW convenor of the Cowley Service Division plant was After a strike and a profes.

(which he did little to fight himself), Power was reinstated Division has been dramatic shows the function of all these evens The rot must be stopped along with the six stewards il Oxford area who remai

NO, BUT SERIOUSLY... TAKE THESE CUTS

FOR EXAMPLE. THEY RILE THE MEMBERS

LAND CAUSE US ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS...

US IMPERIALIST

SOCIALIST

PRESS

HANDS

OFF IRAN!

The threat by the Iranian regime to place the 49 US Embassy hostages on trial as "spies" has prompted. Carter to warn of a military inter- vention should any of them be harmed. But the political blow to US imperialism from such a trial would flow not so much from the activities concucteo penine toe reinforced doors of American embassies around the world Rather it would arise from the apparent ability of a nation- alist regime in a former imper- last ouroost co sEck fingers to the imperialist war- mongers with impunity. Damaging struggles simmering ary Central and Latin EnougHoul America •evero oment would further damage the of US ability imperialism maintain •ominance ana exploit tit the same time the Bani Sadr. (who doubles up as minister for foreign economic between Wal declared Friday that reman ceone ano uo cavitdi- ism has escalated, with poten- would refuse to pay outstanding more damaging foreign debts. tially even Though there was initially On Wednesday, the atter some cout as to tre aunen- Iranian regime failed to make a ticity of this statement, Bani Sadr's position has been since recular faterest payment, a cult sortium of major Western banks, • DY headed by Chase who on Monday paler tor on all fronts against regime declared the United States. detault on a raised in 1977 under the Shah, The two weeks have that therefore brought a series of began proceedings that the etrectively •all events contami lo*And it was met by a sharp seeds maol Tinancia catastrophe for world capital- Khomeini trom • The response regime. iranian Finance Minister Hassan attempting withdraw its

FUND

It's going to be a hard pull if we are to reach our £750 target by the weekend. With only £601.73 in, we are left with £148.27 to find in the next few days.

this week to Castleford miners Alan and Our thanks, Bob among other readers who contributed to the fund.

Christmas time is expensive for everybody, but we So can we have a supreme must not let our fund slip.

effort to clear the outstanding November fund and get a really early start to the December fund which we must try and raise before the Christmas holidays start.

All donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Printed ed Anil Frie tess, Loden regist ed as at respaper Dantosth Price.

the Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Published by Folrose deposits from US banks, has had Enem unlaterary stolen)-by the Cartel ac min- This could well lead istration. deciding to puli out their noldings wom forfeit them in a fu the dispute

USA

too with US imperialism. fran has now refused to accept dollars as pay- ment for shioments of oil. The consequent drop in demand for the dollar threatens a new slump price, swap their dollar holdings for a selection of other currencies.

Solid currencies And a further fall in the coule versuade orner oi exporting countries to opt for more solid currencies, too "Un TOo oT Inis The ranian default on the $500 million loan -the first major detault the war-threatens to pull out bans. The rain casuares ated now main casualties That the a nas conscae billion of Iranian assets would be West European banks. *The Iranian refusal to meet foreign debts adds a new dimen- sion to this it could bankrupte sections of Western banking, or precipitate a chain reaction in all over the world are suddenly called in. Semi-disbelief So far the potentially expio- sive i conse• uences moves have been held back, bankers semi-disbelief, T80ne Will t enticed back from the brink, protect their own and how to an all-out crash. But should confidence crack substantial dumping colars take pace the bressure on a desperate Carter to launct • a militarv attack on iran would mount-possibly to breaking point. Master le being consciously whipped the US mass media and the the western ground nation that refuses tamely to carry the yoke of imperialism. Should Efit socialists in tae ra ano stan would need to be in the fore of the for : struggle action the Wval moves and defend the Iranian people from external aggression s ne Lash Dustine Khomeini's • bigoted Islamic regime and installing a workers an •easans covere ą is one to be tackled under the leadership of the courageous Iranian proletariat. For this task a conscious. Trotskyist party must be built

NOW AVAILABLE

International Discussion Bulletin towards the reconstruction of the Fourth International 75p including p&p from WSL 31 Dartmouth- Park Hill, London NWS 1HR

SETBACK

FOR A

TOUT

Gerry Fitt, founder ensured that 'concensus politics have never been less relevant.

member of the Catholic Paisley has accepted the invi- petty bourgeois party of Tation to talks to uneerine ta Northern Ireland-the SDLP in his view the Atkins proposals -resigned last week accus- for local authority-type powers ing his party of going soft in irelane make no concession to the Catholic right wing.

on the Provos. official Unionists, The on His resignation has been demand tha the otner nand the British govern- mourned there be no conference and British discussions outside Westminster.

Men Dres wrecking chances of the Atkins While the Tory plans le Conference going ahead disarray, the opportunities for fact Fitt's resignation is the intervention of a consistent perspective revo utiona more favourable than for many that the conference was always doomed as anything more than years. the Provisional a public relations exercise But though and unyield 'Irish dimension' ¡HA's couradeous ing battle is capable of frustra- ting the best laid plans of British soLF's condition attending talks was that they should have an dimen sion' This is the phrase eontinu- ally used to suggest as much a: possible little possible to Orange Protestants Mostly it fools neither side.

Fitt's differences with his back long party go way As the party's only MF has independently of it acted and off his own bat promised Tory Minister Atkins, that the SDLP would join the planned talks. Despite his attacks on "very extreme Republican sentiments Fitt now being expressed within

SDLP'

and will not rule, the councils provide that critical interven. There is no chance dine e tion actively opposing imperialism Under the pressure of events, But at its s annual conference most in early a resolution notably. the ropes visit socialist rhetoric from midUister calling for with •rawa or troods to barracks ang for with "all acreasines recently to an explicit disavowal political and paramilitary organ- of Marxism in Republican News Isations wno belong to tne wrist tradition" , picked up a quarter There is • nO SNOTT CUE TO ENE building of the votes. revolutionary party and such a party must be No solutions DUlL The need for agitation in Britain over demands on At bottom of the political status to republicar •vision. nowever ing recognition by SDLP® sup- prisoners, the immediate with. that the drawal of British troops and for porters party has selt determinatior •ersaecaves

LITC

tions' left. Irish people as a whole is greater Demoralisation than ever among the defeat of British imper-

JOTCOS

wareased ialism success ov ano suodort tor Ini reland Provisional IRA and the con- direct intervention of the British domination of Loyalist working class has to be the basis tinuing portics by une raisieyites nave Workers Socialist League Anniversary Rally

SATURDAY

DECEMBER 8

2 p.m. to6p.m.

100 YEARS SINCE BIRTH OF TROTSKY

FIVE YEARS SINCE WSL FOUNDED

New Ambassadors Hotel Upper Woburn Place London WC1 Speakers from WSL Executive Committee, plus film. Tickets £1.00 or £1.50 at door.