Socialist Press no. 184

DEFY THE COURTS!

PRESS

unprecedented In judgement, far going beyond even the Industrial Relations Act of the Heath the Court of government, Appeal has thrown downf the gauntlet not only to the steel but unions to whole labour movement. Headed by notorious anti- Court instructed leaders of the Iron and Steel Trades Confed- -Cancel their instruction to 17,000 ISTC members in private firms to strike from their support

2 ANOIS

by BSC *Call off their picketing of private steelworks, and

SELLUL

*Call off their attempts to revent the movement of strike reaking supplies of steel in an Should the ISTC Executive comply with these ulti fail. to matus, tae juagement mase, I dear that the union's General Secretary Bill Sirs, Presidents President and Vice needle 101 contempt of court. Pickets who refuse to adhere o ne possible arrest. The opened up for striker by every picketing their own plant, while all around employers and trade dispute: Saus

WOTK

present case that action. The grounds for this attack private on the most tundamental demo- government to change its policy lights! AccordIng Denis, the ISTA and two fellow decision to call at all." There is the private sector as vart ol movement damnner and supply of steel and thus win stressed Denning, its demands was not part of a effects of the proposed strike on Welsh TUC leader Wright (left) with ISTC leader Bill Sirs at the Cardiff Rally on Monday.

No sign of them fighting for general strike to defend trade union rights.

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 184 * 30 January 1980 * 20p Denning 'It is plainly arguable in the "Would be so disastrous that it seems to me it is only right the objective that this court should grant the proposed sulke in tne sector was to coerce the injunctions requested". Overturned This judgement, which over- "not a shred of a turns the House of Lords ruling tre onivate sector. and the last on the monte MacShane case (involving solid-

• CALL A

GENERAL

STRIKE!

blacking action by the

ISTC

Executive NUJ) has sweeping implications.

hurriedly accented extra-Parliamentary move the private sector strike.

abolish the legal Yet these right to take other sections of workers in •The struggle. within the ias raced far ahead of the Tor mall government's anti-union Sunday: and solid • support Bill, Employment called members focusses rosecondary picketing by khose main attack steel supposedly on Monday prevented from dis defy the strike call cussing the Denning judgement!

A Re explicitly ruling it And by to spread strike action illegal mining, transpor with the objective of forcing the monstres government to change its policy the Court also clearly rules General spreading strike the services and private industry to the Court of Appeal ruling.

stop spending health education and social services.

all, by taking the treat of saip for elin orcas step of spelling out the A protracted threat ment erectivel hang the judge- from ment effectively that TUC if BSC does not retreat.

head of ever threat over the Bill Sirs trade union militant. be no doubt: if Let there this ruling is obeyed, and the picketing called off, ine stee movement would erupt". strike is doomed to defeat by its The

ISTC

Scab shipments not to defy been have horeshire NuM Leader Scab shipments of steel from Scargill and by Sheffield increasing output at home-and MP Martin Flanner suppliers will enable industry ride ut d

BSC

prolonged inflict a major blow on steel its anti-union courts alone workers and the whole working movement ISTC leaders rapidly retreat-

TUC

from their initial defiant ing speeches in mne eary days orga dispute, have ominously insisted government that they do not wish to break judgement that the Debin only been Labour witch-hunt rebuffed Page 5 South African struggles. ..p.6,7 flouted for two days while an urgent it is now to mobilise the meeting call off full strength of the working class to defend the most basic convened to Trade union nights against this bureaucrats are and employers, pressure from file apparatus of courts. police anc

ISTC

itself, but armed forces! across the whole labour move- General strike Monday by the

ISTC

We call on workers through- out the trade union movement to move resolutions to the TUC many wno untu ine weekend demanding that a General Strike preparing to be callea to deleat tne Denning ruling and uphold the right to Monday well over 100,000 Welsh workers in coal strike, pledging support for such strike, and insisting that and demand the removal of the Tory Government At the same time such resol against

BSC'S

utions should call for the setting closure Dans-a General Strike area of councils of that is itself plainly illegal under action, to draw delegates Iron local labour movement every body-union branches, stewards Erupt associa committees tions, Labour Parties and other strike political lead organisations-to and extend general strike actior March 10 by the Welst independently of the

TUC

leaders, gunte nigal lo Such councils ot action declare in Cardiff that if he were oversee mass would need to jailed for continuing the private picketing, the distribution of "the trade union necessary sudolies. the brovision essential services and the leaders meet defence of picket lines against tomorrow to decide whether ol by scabs and attacks the courts. They forces. to do This fight to develop the steel strike into a general strike ett combined with

MUST

renewed struggle • in the unions Such a stand is vital. But the and the Labou Party 1. 10 the steelworkers must not be left to of the right-wing fight the Tory government and Called the ay forders Tories paved for the way This challenge to the labour and now stands opposed to their demands that the removal by working class action call a General Strike with What is needed is not a repe the clear political objective of tition of the treacherous Wilson bringing aown Inis reactionary and Callaghan governments, but workers government, pre The Welsh TUC has already pared socialist to implement tabled a call for a General Strike policies in the interests of the to hold back the steel closures working class. for two years: how much more

Iran's 'left' President faces Soames bid to gag Mugabe Page 2

-INTERNATIONAL-

Khomeini's "Islamic Republic' has now secured its first-and probably last- elected president. But Abdhassan Beni-Sadr's sub- stantial victory does not guarantee a new period of stability for Iran. The political conflicts and within accumulating tensions throughout the e ectlon 0am- prien eddy and have in no way been the result. striking

NOSE

feature of the election was the absence of any candidate from which is the political wing of Khomeini's base. The IRP had been forced to with draw its original candidate, Jalaleddin Farsi, supposedly of his suddenly-dis- because covered Afghan parentage.

This ludicrous pretext vas conceal put forward massive crisis al present wrack ing the IRP. Incriminating The students' 'Islamic occupying the US embassy have passed - All mullah from Mashad) certain the documents vuillalu principal leaders of the IRP.

The party's leader, Ayatollah Behechti, is now in disgrace, and no other candidate could be put forward to replace the thorough going reactionary Fars Behechti, and the lil the cala bulk of the Islamic cleroy caled for support to Hassan Habibi, Revolutionary Council and close to Khomeini Revelations from the files had already fo ted Moghadam. Icaucl ground, and drove former prime minister Bazargan to withdraw his caroleady Admiral Madani (one When of the favourite runners) issued.

holding information on him should release it stand con- or traitoi chance

LIC

revolution Islam', and met an unexpected reply on the very next day. Assisted The worthy Admiral-impris- oned under the Shah and more recent i send or cre governor-general of Khuzistan, where brutally Ine struggies ol Tne AraDs IOI rights-was shown to assisted in the escape of at least one prominent suppor- ter of the Shah! But the most decisive move candidates came from Khomeini In a statement carefully cal- casual, throw-away remark, Ayatollah announced had valu lates J10U vote in favour of the constitution of the Islamic Republic' could not oe considerca eligibie to stand The intention of this was to Beni-Sadr immediate crises the Ayatollah was immediately sacked as Foreign Minister, but stayed on in nis post as Finance Minister supposed to represent a biend of marxis and Islam. In practice they are understandable : a left, Haule bourgeois socainst vanely nationalism forms an in Bentsant lemon Beni-Sadi who was nationalisation of the banks and tas declared com irm is tendine intention declared his to establish a state monopoly ol foreign tran statements he has. recent called for a diversification of the economy to reduce the massive dependence on oil revenues, and emphasis on agricultural production Successive land-reforms the Shah failed to bring Unet anout the essenaee m ooo Khomeini while they inevit- productior massive social bar Masoud Rajaui, leader of the the of caused such with the solidarity, Khomeini must have Along Mujaheddin. wondered what ground he could Peasants dispossessed Mujaheddin land, together with unemployed represent the organised left-wing hope to gain trom his "conces.

employed agri- 'the Shah and brolich which sion' of the previous week to and seasonally amongst the Sunni sect. cutura abouters oreo lo loc OustCu cities to swell the pool of unem- Knomein to bower • 111C ployed workers. More closely identified with Moslems across une code movement than the Sunnis, but in Iran they form a the Islamic clergy against the Shah developed, this of less than 7% to the Feddayin, have followed from the country also nationally dominant Shite sect, exodus cautiously, the same (unemployed) fighting for and are mostly confined to the the grew peoples of the oppressed nations population of the cities has within the socialist perspective significantly over the ncreased structures borders

WV1T111

supported th Iranian state. and have never In giving the • Be recognised теле олиту Burden Khomeini's state. Sunni Their organised and armed as the official religion in areas The inevitable result has factor, where Sunnis are in a majority significant streneth is a Shüte Islam remains been and .to uset hat production and hugely both spared them most of the • W de increased burden on the already directed against hoping to attacks • overt. Ine struggit social resources national rights, in whick left them a110 real conflict Ine emer water, sall to bargain religious plays. tation, health care, etc Chomeini out distinerly secondary pall These have already led to demonstra- The concession chance of paying dividends but Agreement exposes once again the weakness tions by unemployed workers (mostly youth) demanding of the US the regime against The occupation from the opposition. carried was probably any But the struggles the preserve out by their forces, after tacit Beni-Sadr : must deal with this agreement had been wrung from потова моте

ON ONS

potential source of mass oppos one of the major problems with which Beni-Sadr As SOLUL As a presidential candidate.

seems to be a call for a return to Rajavi would certainly have to grabble as an executive presi the land attracted votes from the most dent with ill-defined powers.

But Beni-Sadr's emphasis His own record gives a • fair will attemp he agriculture Is amongst the oppressed cases guide as to how is thereate i ran pointity and revealed so chalism amon to move, but little indication of create an politically for his ability to succeed in his support chosen direction. economically and youth alla of both super-powers' (i.e.

was precisely Trusted aide imperialist US, and the bureau- dangerous exposure that degenerated workers' Khomeini moved. Cratically state of the Soviet Union.

Like Habibi, Beni-Sadr was a blatantiv bureaucratic manoeuvre provoked an immed- trusted aide of Khomeini's in Within this perspective, iate response in Kurdistan.

exile Iran's oil supplies may represent before the triumphant Sheik Husseini (eader of the He emerged Kurdish Sunni Moslems) and into _greater prominence after internationally, • but dependence Ghassemlov (secretary-general the final collapse of Bazargan's on oil revenues also makes Kurdish Democratic highly vulner une government nana cconom full His recent slip from farty oi lan) nac previousiy able to externa deveoomerts supper ad thom pandiy called See moused a names to For that reason, Beni-Sadr it as essential develop announced readiness sees to for a bovcott of the election in of the

OSCUSS

Tine Wallall arriculture low alus luc Kurdistan -a boycott that was US embassy the United stage where Iran is self-sufficient extremely successful. Nations without first consulting in food production. incite violence and racial with imperialism. of military hostility. conqueror, With Muzorewa franticaliy Tory Soames At the same time tactias to claiming that an electora governor return for Mugabe would bring «eav mudade's imposing an imperialist Zimbabwe were developed 'Marxist dictatorship solution on the struggles of force order to accept

ZANU

(PF) him to Viah Zimbabwe. published its manifesto-a docu- or withdraw from the elections.

ment that essentially has little His latest efforts have been all his more in common with socialism Mugabe has clearly in the elections essential as hand Mugabe participates the imoerialists' demand.

manifestos of the British wITN atti for the release politica Labour Party. opponents detained in Mozam are to nave any creallyr our As one leading white capital- on the other that he participates under the worst possible When remarked Being of held by the smell exploiters 'Even if the Patriotic ditions (essential to prevent his Front-ZANU (PF)-wins the being held the party winning outright majority in parliament next adminstration as many people tear elemons. under the extended martial it will not be the end of the world'. from laws. Campaign nate las But fo the hundreds Mugabe's ZANU wing But this is only-one short ot the Patriotic Front have been seized step further along Mugabe's thousands

OCKS

wine of political gathered outside road compromise •i obames oracts vocauso lICy SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Admiral Madani The Islamic Republic's new president has no cente to…ne of necessity into closer economic cooperation with the

LOOK DY

im posed the imperialist powers his election call Dalli of made point supplementing attacks US with the charge that imperialism provoking the opposition of the national minorities in order reduce stale rubble and so open the way for the Red to reach the Army - Indian Ocean This clear signal did not pas unnoticed ompedalists have Washington US sought to 01 Afghanistan to build ranian barrier between leaders •the neighbouring

UNOC

The Carter adminstration has delayed the await the outcome or ine brescena eechors am assess Beni-Sadr's intentions and authority. Honeyed nane meantime lips about betweer Deleca Iran and Behind thi Shat than can he polied back no no discust 010ll without the high-risk operation of dior his part, meni-Sado has Beni-Sadı ror his part always regardca tne оссиралот of the US embassy as an unwel- come mess to be cleaned up a: soon as possible But he is not master of his alone of the own destiny. let His power is circumscribed the forces by driving which bazarail s impotent government Khomeini now pressing impious haste towards his tina blessed resting-place. Muzorewa 'Left — Front' defeats Gandhi Despite a personal inter- vention in the election cam- Mrs Gandhi, paign by support of her Congress Party, Indira "Lefı the Front" in Kerala state won decisive taking victory, 95 out of 140 seats, against only 17 to Gandhi. According Communis Party General Secretary Rajesh "This was Rao victory proves does not work where the left is strong united and with democratic forces. But the alliance with "demo- parties and CP(M) was alliance with bourgeois parties including the Moslem League These are the same type of "democratic forces" that led Parties throw Communist to 819016 ever lil Sopulat prostant let mine socialist ronts that • cata strophic defeats for the working class in Spain in the 1930s and Chile in 1973. While • the two CPs, locked in their with parties, offer Indian workers no political alternative, the rampant opportunism of Indian bourgeois politicians has been the demonstrated once again by pell-mell rush to support the victorious Mrs Gandhi the Chief • Harvana state legislative sembly, have broken from th coalition and gone over wholesale to Gandhi- giving her a majority in the Gandhi

ICELAND

STALEMATE

ICELANDIC Stalinist Svavar Gestsson has failed to form his People's coalition including party. Annance task of trying to knock together workable government now Falls on Benedikt Grondal, the present caretaker prime ministe in the Social Democrat cabinet Mugabe fiercely defend his political actions, his return to Zimbabwe was the arrivar or une icaccr wond they believe Will serve Thes interests and meet their demands for an end to oppres sion and exploration The task • escentrai socialists in Zimbabwe remains the battle to break this mass of peasants workers ane from their illusions in Mugabe's socialist credentials uncomprising fight for the pro.

of revolutionary gramme Marxism against both the proven trattors of tne oppressec classes of Zimbabwe and thost forces still wrongly trusted by the militants of the Patrioti Front.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980

-INTERNATIONAL

CHILE

Cartoonist Trog sums up Thatcher's dual standards in an Observer cartoon The Olympic ideal" talk of a The growing possible imperialist boycott of the Moscow Olympics raises the whole issue of the "Olympic ideal' and the whole attitude of the capit- alist class and the Stalinist bureaucracies to sport. Socialist Workers The League stands opposed to the called for by Gay laving and Thatcher (noticeably final unti decision

LICH

February in ordei to make u impossible for the USSR and European countries LaSt withdraw

ITOM

held at Lake Placid But our opposition to a boy- cott does mean we ressing for athletes to go to th Olympic We do not endorse either of the two position hecta on the : capitalist press one hand, and, on the othet, by the British Stalinist daily Morning Star.

No politics While the the Carter /Thatcher thunders cold war line, the Morning Star pl of sport, publishe pleads for publishing state- ments from nigures Kt1121n and tne UsA decaring their wash to ta. is plet : "Olympic then, is founder Coubertin. of the modern games, described it this way: most important thing The in the Olvmnic Games is not to win, but to take Cop to. essential thing is to have. but to have fought conquered well." This idealist senti- interpreted by the Morning Star into the Stalinist "peaceful language "At stake is the most impor Such a statement sums up tant of the Olympic principles- the Stalinist view that exploiters the of understand promotion and exploited ing, conderstand cach othe come to youth of the ship among the 'each other world, irrespective of sex, race

LOS

creed or colour." fight against racialism 210 The Battle for Trotskyism 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 sexism simply a matter of "understanding course at the same DUt time the • 210. mastent European bureaucrats lose opportunity "the Games exploit reIn- and patriotic national pride. fion or habeig stakly "taken having increasingly vital to win: so vital that huge resources and rigorous 'individual training programme. devoted to and athletes ahies to defeat their competi.

resort drugs tors. Equal pressures are brought the trom Locar nes capitalist countries, lust for combined with national drives on chauvinism, Stabilised all the But of course for Stalinist longing "peaceful coexistence" with class struggle capitalism, the me alonaly Political questions have there- fore the e ake-believe "non-ped cato constantly intruded world of sport. Again and again the Games have been exploited by the host government to boost its national The clearest example of this MOSCOw By Tony Richardson Defiant gesture by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968 was, of course, the much-quoted 1936 Berlin Olym pics, nere Hitler used the Games not only demonstrate h1s adlity, but also in an altempt lo the of the supremacy "'master-race" Impact This suffered a blow when Owen: olack -American sess won four gold medals: but the overall impact of the Games was succes alu today Nazi groups show Leni Riefenstahl's films. the Olympics More Iccolly. the reel orld into the "deal world into the "ideal" The 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico vere • preccaca student demonstrations Mexico City protest at the expense oi the Games LuCe ine miast or grong poverty Hundreds students were gunned down in the streets.

' one country boycotted

/VOI

the Mexico Olym pics. savage Mexican capitalist regime was clearly acceptable to all.

The Games took Mexico place in the midst mass movement among US blacks and the growing anti-Vietnam movement. When Tommie US Smith, 400 metre hurdle medal gold the TONe rostrum and American : The started to play, he and anthem Page 3 his black team mate John Carlos , which could obvious campaign, bowed their heads and raised all kinds of ly be utilised by their clenched fists in a "black anti-communist elements. power" salute Sure enough, this campaign Smith was vilified in the initiated by for capitalist bringing and others, has now dovetatled press politics into the Olympics-and into the proposed boycott over allowed for the Afghan invasion. But in opposing the boycott again. his sym bolic

UNA

gesture against US imperialism call, we are not urging athletes was the most powerful politica to go to Moscow at all costs.

We oboose the political concept and Olympic staloucht Games. exploitation Olympic 1972 the Munich . Games, which, like all sport and saw the capital Olympics massacre recreation are usea Di Israeli athletes and of their PLO ism as money-making events.

"amateur" kidnappers Despite the highlighted role of facade of the Olympics many of imperialism in driving the Pales- are driven into Luc competitulo homelands the struggle not for any abstract and establishing the Zionist love sport, •but through settler state financial and career pressures Boycott Italian high jumper Sara Simeoni, now no

IOI

Liotativo 1976 saw a boycott by many work Successiu longer nas to black African Olympic athletes are generally demanding home and dry financially Tine Zealand after New tour of While oboosing the boycott.

South Zealand rugby we do not endorse the Olympic . 1980 Olvm nic conclusion And the it is worth were already threatened with a adding d on the concept ol boycott African renewed competitive sports, which some protest • British morally socialists regard wrong. Russians. had declared The urge to run faster, jump better is they Litev LilC higher British team. And sav. a capitalist concept ana al while asking the Lions not to elevation of the individual.

tour South Africa, had refused I disagree with this. Why are the Olympics so popular? to stop them, in order to "keep It is politics out of sport" Rathe So how do we see boycotts it is because we can see in the of spor inge vents? Olympics the supreme develop generally

HICI

alle favour of the tactic. We do no physical capabilities (sometime see the actions of sportspeople stimulated of course artifcially as a decisive weapon in the fight oy uruRs which must Just as a socialist society will analist of the the take forward and develop the centre actions international working class.

level of bourgeois art and But of course there are times socialist society cultulc. when the actions of a regime, or wlll 011C on tne physical achievements estab- The ae (] event give the possibility lished in sporting events.

assisting workers developing . what is OI The Olympics show physically possible for the opposition to a dictatorship, a world people in • where littes place on sports people an obliga

TWO TRICA

people al themselves dissociate undernourished from particular acts of savagery.

When stadiums, pools, , other One of this would exam ple biberated leisur Tacter had have been it a movement time are available to the peoples developed tor a boycott oi the of the world, as well as enough Mexico Qlympics. 1O0O Another, clearer even of physical level was the occasion general anall vc Te con Mankiu. will to Chat in the fan o stadied SuCn play in Santiago stadium never occur under imperialist oppression bolstered up by the which Pinochet regime as a concentra- policy coexistence": only the world tion camp. socialist revolution and the over- cam paign was

CONCEL

developed, particularly inrow. or capitalsin cancreali trade unions, aimed at stopping conditions for the advance of man's cultural and physical well But two questions arise in such a boycott campaign *It must not give the illusior Cali regime: it ,is clearly only propaganda tactic be a boycott expioltea oy Icac tionaries for their own ends.

Workers states It is therefore very unlikely bovcott tactic can de used in relation to the deformed degenerated workers states.

and for the boycott of the Moscow Olympics at the end of last year treatment the Kremlin

CESSIOCIS

bureaucracy. We opposed to this

Joseph blames immigrants for Page 4 Sir Keith Joseph, sup- posedly one of the "brains" textile and the North would of the Thatcher cabinet, Last have collapsed week came out with the been able astonishing theory that immigrants are to blame for rates of pay down. the decline Whole sections in British industry. rened By settling and providing a exploitation potential force labour in What workers-who "dynamic oseph Calce une Lnal oro oI tne and areas -ire Midlande force. South East-Joseph. believes And they prevented employers there "dynamic' nom dulemplng to move tneir Fast investment other undergone re od peane te no ne increases Wille immigrants are taking our jobs" victims. was immediately refuted by the Commission for Racial Equality, which pointed that argument imigrant workers tended brainstorm settle It. alcady-decuning. inner regarded wlutly city areas. unstable. Defence: money no object be increased The Tory objection this year. the expense of providing "a secretary, pill for every il!" does not launched the first barrage in extend to the huge expense support of major cuts in the of providing bomb for health service with a major Communist. every This is speech in one area of public spending those 'abusing' the NHS. they are determined to He said that increase. not afford social Whle services and that the full charge of drug Britain are pruned to the point soula be chargea to tnose wno Secretary Colaose. berence were deemed Pym ane extravagant es,o to week unnecessary demands. Folksy, biali moderas une British nuclear armoury with a new submarine-borne Trident missile system. cover And £1,000 million has

CHLY

spent on mild compared neen improved new warhead for the round. existing Polaris This

HASECS

developed under the NHS has been hit, not just by warner last Labour government, believed to contain a by the totally tictitious inflatior Datkarc or together with decoys, allowance built

DONEDS.

designed to fox radar systems.

budgets. By edict, Opposed NHS was just elt nt year. In fact, Oniy 50 Labourites opposed Callaghan's eager suppor inflation index, prices the modernisation these equipment over an eleven month period.

w cabons. WICa Intenced solely for use against the world's year working class and the deformed growth in spending of a hali o1 and degenerated workers' states.

one percent (wnieh ls a big cut Polaris submarine in Portsmouth capitalist slump It is a well-known fact that ohe hand ste franic cam- the one hand the frantic

COLINO

hreustnes long ago paign by Tory and other bour- if they had not geois ideologists to cover • over draw the most obvious expressions of Jow•ware im migrant labour and thus keep thê anarchy capitalist sysioll. Unemployment of industry regions rising as a result of dependent upon manua labou upon the super the wholesale rationalisation bankrupt and crisis-ridden immigrant British capitalism, which total now piace total labour promis

• LIC

social progress offers workers only the Keith's supposed destruction of existing produc South arcas-ule and West Midlands-have forces. socia services and

LIVC

bigger percentage basic rights. But hand, the other unemployment -In the Tories spearhead the drive LOUISe workers and youth are foremost British employers to carry through these attacks in order It would be wrong however to. raise profits, • ElICY Accu L0 ludicrous seek any means at their disposal JOreDDs more than to divide and weaken the from Minister working class. as somewhat move to blame Josedt. immigrant workers for the long- attacks on NHS Cuts in the NHS are to dramatically Social Services Patrick Jenkin, Parliament the NHS could pill for every ill" have made This or kse tapt chat a5 seen are to the next During the current year the Jenkin numbers of on spending, but comparca .to une people the NHS) the needing government is likely to set the into the rate arbitrarily around 13%. inflation the Since all cosmetic cuts have per cent last now , been made, est ear tor 1980/81 according to the likely to own of drugs away of patients since the NHS rOse was introduced. Doctors cannot be looked to of on top for

LOTH

ocence. followed Jenkin's speech

BMA

with call for the immediate al charges

MLIOGUCUOI

drugs and a variety of other services. D'entists want to see the GP 1hey become like the systen CIus s SySICy • wic mn man impossible • aces it c vmuav treatment the tonget any and where it can be found it is restricted to the most basic treatment only. In fact while the NHS is ir cs fe oc oe r to make companies the

NHS

profits from has remamed undiminished In almost all health budgets the biggest overspendings are to louR ui sold uw oN proportion of that ana a large is due to the notorious expense of brand which name drugs. the basic chemicals avail- trOil ableiet in almost every case the term chronic crisis of British industry, together with the Tory: IlOYeS lO reachionary legislation, newt o a 1cł attempt to whip up raclal divisions in the workers movement. Common fight' But as mass struggles develop the conditions for such racist propaganda are made less favourable,

WUKUR-ORCK

and wnlte alke-ima themseives by side the sIde battle against the employers and the Tory government. le a as raczm e thus connected at each point with the fight for a new, revolu- Lulaly sing is ful sable of in bile ising di Usl Thatcher-Joseph gang and estab- lish a workers' government.

New round of Tory response of the

AHAS

•RHAs is to seek to balance their 'unfortunate books through cutting back return staff and closing hospitals and ciples" -whatever thev are im mediate UUI SOs In the face of these attacks the claim by Stan Orme, shadow minister, that the next Labou government would abolish all and then charen tein was poce y. real inflațion; Jenkin appointed pomi out tnat it was Labow which actually introduced the elected charge of prescriptions.

PRESS

GANG

On the front of the Daily Mail the bourgeoisie's night- compensation. mare of Workers Socialist natlona saton seizure. of private League policies are presen- ted in an unintelligible Pariament. the House of Lords stream of trivia. "The WSL "'Self confessed Trotskyist, disestablished, and anarchist' Union agitato aged the ays the introductory paragrapl abolished and the Too cl llo collcaxoo ›łoll those in prominent positions for anarcny chne evo uton o the far left" the article repeats e brought bac mysteriously crimes, newspapers and anarchy? I rotskyısm of the

NONANI

Revolutior „ Ta! BeTTY and TV would be censored."

Cleariy what Disraell said aboul flattery ('La) it with trowel") the Daily Mail believe any rate! dooul caluny. Incoherent the Titan published It is not enough to do witch-hunt. It is also essential to present the politics of Trotsky- a short 'manifesto" ime as instrerently as possible. WSL's 'policies' art redaers have to turn to tino that chucked down •resumeoV Tne baru the order that they strike dread opposed to. witch-hunts into Daily Mail readers. double "They want nationalisation Lynda Lee oler on SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Joseph PHOTO: Andrew Wierd Porno W mme rere țhe and that Labour "first e miast be rased al the NAS aret for at beudgeed io raised in Orme full staffing with increased restored to pre-cut positions fully protected wages agains! protected fully against inflation All hospital closures must be doos ol management met with occupations linked bodies and their replacement by with strike action

NHS

from the local labour movemen conielc. workers and consumers; and for in the event of Tory attacks.

of the mpenatidi. Tery with McShane (who was jailed fo .wall wo cas ta ocenc ano abetting her mother in a suicide homes and attempt) the Mail the makes personal assets, the abolition of that taken film. and secretly, was handed over to TV monarciy for a documentary on the case.

. wants the Church intervien •WOS LEe with McShane's book athersm ancour conncioe convinced Armed Forces on the case and she arrest of all Lee-Potter of her innocence point really that Capital punishment woul comes across is that the Mail is for political opposed to "trial by television' opposed to Mocn Delter Suck to troo newspaper certain • boks uke curtains for the Daily Mail at

FIND OUT WHAT THE

All this is a good deal pithie

WSL REALLY

lengthy articles

STANDS FOR!

Press explaining WSL Solicies: aPde it Socialist WSL Manifesto certainly packs a great deal into Price 15p including postage, from WSL 21 20 and 31 Dartmouth Park Hill Mail actually stands London NW5 1HR . c cae Yoland

NEW REBUFF FOR THE

WITCH-HUNTERS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Party The Labour National Executive dashed the hopes of the witch- hunters inside and outside the Labour Party last week by refusing to act against Trotskyists: publication of the With tincted 14-12 the NEC rejected Underhil report on the Militant tendency and by 15-8 rejected the expulsion of Ted Heslin, former member of the executive . OT and a supporter of the olicies of this pape! The votes were a bitter blow to all Pat neto tee Labour and to the open press. It has

LOIC

upset agict. by which the 'Labour limits its opposition to the Party capitalists in particler enevave come as a bitter blow to Underhill and his cronies and to right wingers within the Oxford City Labour Party who have devoted years of effort to fighting Trotskyism by their disposal. Wafer thin Heslin was expelled by the water thin majority of 37 votes to 35 by the Oxford City GC for distributing 'propaganda' of the WSL. The attack was led by John Power (who once spent a few misguided years in the Socialist League) and the Kev. Labou LoDy witiamon It is completely tied in with

WSL

attacks repeated the TGWU, the many attempted victimisations of Alan Thornett dad malitants in Cowley, and the bureaucratic. anti-Trotskyist alliance of Power and the on Oxford Trades •Sta mists council. The move he had m Heslin after moved resolution from union 3101 challenge the Callaghan-; Healey leadership. defence campaign was several wards. also committed to fight the ban on

LHO

Socialist Press supporters, Peter Mcintyre

(NUJ)

and Ken Williamson (ASTMS). The defence cam paign a lobby of the

NEC

mounted meeting. Some supporters of the Victory (SCLV) also lobbied the The leaflet sappo the Heslin's rights labour Party ended: The lefts during the cours of the last governmeni confined verbal protests themselves and launched challenge „nO Callaghan and Healey. The lobby brought pre- dictible: clashes with the more arrogant members of the NEC. Callaghan ushered was bodyguard through with his and was almost knocked over by photographers. asked if told recoonise him he some de there. Abuse The sharpest clash came with Ton who nerv go he lobby, which io say he had way vould vote (he on the organisation committee): "You're not telling which way to vote" he snared "Take it up through the union" Joan said against wore une expul- sion and Emlyn Williams also pledged himself the against Daily.

VICTORY FOR

RED

TED

"The lefts say uney stanc against witch-hunts gainst They socialists. must clearty

LEE

Report to hound the Militant group. But the sharpest point is that where a member of the Labou Party is on the point of being expelled Heslin defended. His expulsion must be rejected 'The lefts must today decide if they stand with those who fight for the working class with those who expel In contrast the SCLV leaflet sim ply accused the right wingers of trying "create disruption the Party and said that the NEC should ensure that the forthcoming Party inquiry did beyond the limits originally laid down" But weak though the SCLV leaflet was, at least a handful of What they said to the lobbyers Bern contented himself with telling Heslin he had read his letter, and passed through.

worker was india. we Day nant the thought that she could be mistaken for an NEC di Plai Jim loses again as Labour's executive votes in favour of a militant Carter gets Pentagon call-up plan 'using gas SCLV did supporters Tene lobby the NEC in the struggle against witch-hunting. • group however although under the biggest attack, took a decision to stay uwuy 11olll tile loudy embarrass on the Triends

NEC.

The witch-hunts against wittant are nor over ano cannoi be defended by and wingers City were indignant at the outcome Oxford agent Bryan Keen said plaintively: "We have no choice but to have him back. Until know we have done it Wily nor know where we cant. Not all the witch-hunters are fatalistic. Some will fight on to keep the sharp poutical cage of Trotskyism out of their cosy world. They must be defeated.

Kitson member. you shouldn't have worn that hat", said her colleague they climbed the stairs. Page 5

SHEANISER

DEFEND

THE LEFTS

RIGHT TO

TORIANISE/

REINSTATE

TEN

HESLIN!

KICKOUT

CALLACHAN

* HEALEY

Last week's lobby of the NEC Why did 'lefts' stand firm? Tensions inside the of General build them up and apologise Labour Party were sharply Strike action to bring down the for them. but to mass increased last week by the government, To have, onened un the wa National protest campaign. armed. witch-hunt against the of the "cool decision Militant would have at persuading ine lorie. been Executive Committee not to to change their minds, weaton allow a witch-hunt against in the constituency Trotskyists. Oppose action parties To have allowed the expul- The took meeting This is why the of calls fron Of under a barrage

HIGHE

'lefts' have foucht for a redudia.

been to weaken defence of the the and • one mont of at he Labour Parte Militant. That is the reason for "The Miltant Tendencio into that Labour Militant Tendency, by who Te scoon would oppose industrial action the proposal of the Organisation they nave •one designed to defeat or bring Committee that •Hoslin earn the title, have been the Tory identified as Trotskyists.

years The closer vote (14-12) '•reterrino W811 anti. until the next General Election.

publication of the against Trotskyist witch-hunts partic- has been no call There by ularly the expulsions the Underhill report was a reflection Benn of the fact that the right had leTs

TOI

1964, leading supporters the removal of the discredited concentrated major efforts Callaghan-Healey right on this issue wing and also the faci salves ready to line up with the leadership speaking right wing in But though the lefts' shrink now leaked to the press already voting for expulsion. political battle with the remainder certain to be trom a serious cannothard, in paring there right wing, they published soon. Coincidence Even in rejecting the call for Heslin's expulsion the lefts . Jooking In fact, by for a lead, to be seen to line up do not base timing, the NEC that they was faced not with the right wing in a witch- themselves defence of Trotskyism legitimate to publish the Underhill report, Indeed it is precisely in such but a clear indication of where political torce. but on a liberal conditions that lefts most policy of rejecting attacks on all such a decision would point sections of the party-left and On the was the or Ted -and the Militant group is the Heslin, expulsion Ted ideal means of sustaining such Argument former executive member of the an image. Neil Kinnock said in a tv Oxford City Labour Party and a Like all good left covers thei supporter of the policies of this combine fiery socialist rhetoric interview after the meeting that paper. with absence of Trotskyists had to be defeated complete The meeting was seen there.

teetn and opsalent cheering in by partical drument fore by. right wing in th the right places. Ine rignt wing, recognising Labour Party as a litmus test o that in a serious political argu and to take let but t the pliability of the letts mont the Trotskyists can win But they had miscalculated.

the Labour the best elements in The political crisis which grips. Party, cherish no such illusions the Labour Party this and simply demand repression the lefts moment grips most The vote is of major signit. acutely. Supporters

ONCEHIS

Faced with a major 'upheaval Press now have an opportunity and a duty to demonstrate the which there are fow reformist dead end retormist pollic which solutions carry genuinely think that it can to wage a fight on behalf of th lead to socialist militants who support them.

Our supporters are not 'infil.

Hence the parade of trating' the • Labour Party; they 'left' Mrs-maily Tom are carrying out honest producing secaking thoss anti-Tory speeches politically deceive the working steelworkers' clas for a revoluționary •anonstratious and mass meetings. socialist perspective not be just the right wing thai Parliament week's

'NEC

decision, but also those poseurs But as reformists, committed of. the left' that have no real above all the torts niays tink to of leading intention always link against the right wing and for wow motoric ears tor curac Kinnock action' against the Tories not to

SOUTH AFRICAN WORK

HELD BACK BY BETRAYA

Page 6 By Rex Hughes In the coming period, the underlying combat- ivity of an undefeated South. African black working class, facing daily attacks on its already pitiful living standards, stands set to burst through the post- Soweto lull. •Ihe stage is being set for the further development of struggle, in which the unres- olved political stalemate following Soweto will be opened up and tought out The perspective of a re- emerging movement of mass struggle South Africa possibilities new and deepens Ine urgency of, the building of a leadership in revolutonary the proletariat. Spontaneous Soweto was essentially a mass move- in which workers in ment struggle forged fighting unity and level of political independence decisively outflanked reformist straight-Jacket of their petty bourgeois nationalist and Stalinist leaders. But the working class was unable to spontaneous- sationd the political reve ity ol an undeleated work.

ing class, the state has been isations perspective through which to defend forced temper LO of its repressive might and extend political against specific struggles.

gains. Increasingly, the liberals Neither was black CUll- and their black petty bour- sciousness able offer workers such geois underlings have come way to the fore as key agents in It state efforts to render the was under these circumstances that the working class vulnerable to leadership a decisive blow. of the Soweto movement was appropriated Significance by clique Diack protessionals and capitalists As the working class now known as the Soweto 10' The erosion of the work- stands poised to move into ing class independence and open struggle once unity that had been built specific, apparently local- ised struggles may assume struggle was exploited by crucial national significance.

the state to launch a repres- The sive black of gence mass struggle consciousness organisations.

the fact But marked by that this was way struggles may rapidly gener- carried through to a defeat alise and escalate from of the working class. Call initial focus, arawing Stalemate broader layers of workers LIcU In this of extending range of demands political stalemate, with the and Issues working class lacking the The struggle at present leadership ana programme unlolding in the fort tilza- move forward towards to beth ilustrates alcd Unis victory, and the state unable process. to secure a defeat, reform- The uneven and combin- ists optimum given were ed nature of capitalist devel- scope. opment in South Africa has Zig-zagging between their apartheid Dooncer capitalist masters and their capitalist state-characteris- proletarian supporters, they by developed capitalist were able to promote petti of relations

TOUCHOS

bourgeois interests while together with the denial of minima bourgeois in the working class. democratic rights the Combining ot the working class. with strictly repression the black workers: programme limited reforms aimed Wide range coopting sections the

OTI

black petty bourgeoisie and Subject to the attacks of layer of skilled black particularly workers, the ruling class has capitalist in •crisis, sought toexploit the crisis of black workers may come leadership facing workers.

struggle a wide Fearing above all else the range of immediate issues.

unleashing of the combativ- Essentially, however, such spontaneous struggles are the struggles of workers in an industrialised capitalist Beneath the immediate issue provokes wilch eruption, there always demands relating to the day- needs to-day In diend workers-jobs, housing, wages, prices, control over affecting decisions their daily lives. In the Port Elizabeth area, as in all areas of the workers have been made the target of govern- plans- resettlement arising from the Bantustan policy of rationalising black "out- labout dormitories side" ''white South Africa" Facing from removal Walmer-a black ghetto just outside Port Elizabeth, to an area over 50 km away, workers have turned to black consciousness organisation, PEBCO, as a vehicle struggle. Demolition The immediate issue has been the threatened demoli- tion of Walmer-underlying grievances have been around low unemployment, wages and high prices, focussing

BOTNI

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Thozamile Botha (right foreground) with Ford workers during mass mee transport very often on issue-it was . through, the costs breaking of tha control Seeking to steer the that the of the strength developing mood of oppos strike was undermined, Ition, but teartul of provok Very early in the struggle ing mass response, the workers had come into con- state was unable to simply flict with their union leader- launch repressive attack ship on this issue on PEBCO About half of the Its leader, Thozamile •striking workers are Botha was, however, given members of the United ultimatum by his Workers Union Auto employers-Ford Motors-to • unregistered black trade • agitation ponuca a lated to ne new When he he refused, was Federation of South African dismissed: Trade Unions (FOSATU). News of his dismissal was followed by immediate Far from members 700° strike action bv about demanding his re- workers, Ford have given negotia- instatement. Given the real threat of ting recognition that and the massive union and immediately facing turned to it when the initial dangers any black . strike broke out. striker in South Africa, such Sauls, show of solidarity was rred the central clearly indicative of a major

FOSATU

leader involved build-up of combativity revealeo now lar It 1s Iron the combative mood of the This grow develop politically as more workers "We knew nothing about, more grievances and that stak least ith of td.

demands came to the fore at least half the Such developments were set strikers were to bring union members and we obviously the political failures of their had to help achieve a settle- union and

PEBCO

'ment." leaderships. After the intervention of Strike committee the union, the workers were all tour days

1C SLALCU

With the extension of atter coming out. demands and the building of The union, however, con- tinued to show committee, the no • recog Ford promised to nition of, or way forward in ¡ focal the struggle around underly- serve around which broader layers ing grievances which went of workers would move into beginning to surface open struggle. 'S, Fordstatis that it id negotiating, At the same time, the Sauls, strikers were able to draw an enlightened company strength from the militant which handles labour issues mass mood of "with a great deal of good- workers the area will" Throughout the strike, Unlike their unions independent leaders, Ford workers were workers of the negotiating clearly not satisfied with was crucial such commullet enlightenment and

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980

ERS

LS ng in New Brighton township goodwill. of Increasingly aware strength and drawing from the general support community militancy build- Walmer around the removals, with their • Genes. hostility was union which its seemed to special with any struggle workers grievances. Ignoring persistent I appeals of and them, the tions up strike control negotia- •OI from enervat tility the and to all union leaders. goodwill" of were a little! thin, all the of unity, splendid Ford workers of offer of In such inevitably to those and leader- organisations they ships in struggle.

PEBCO

precisely way. Basing the South African state forces growing Walmer opposition movement, combining with militant rhetoric opportunist criticisms of 2E20R black union ideologues had ted by can chal the work- ing The committee affiliated rEBLU. the strikers negotia- over The leadership political noI had union the and level of forged by the striking workers. appropriated control negotiations, reformist inforcements from the of Council Churches, Soweto 10, threat- ened the OT e strike had been seT: however the bativity strikers and in area-was workers renectea In of militancy and mobilisa- tion. 3,000 of

PEBCO

workers by Port • protest Ford support also workers. were approved a week-long of all boycott was pendence time, a potential the diversionary of class sultation other levels down and ment, all agreed reinstate of strikers no loss As the benefits. and Fathis recent The which dispute South Africa PEBCO and reformist in made cohorts malcales, be reduced now cott

SERKO

ing class, by fact that Despite left M&F The of ing was were

ATOL

eagerly by black by urged aid the tors to strikers. ment. ly black leader Botha by foster credentials as their at the the illusion that workers' arrest The became Monday moved using …rorce. of the Pushed by TaCt differ- capitalist ence to tation. Sake was conditional situation of struggle to for a year. in mental point, broader the had been isolate, contain and alion Even to the meeting planned general will release of 'Botha, the which increased turned only after strike; off the Page 7 planned ition The stage is being set in Africa for a crucial South which phase of struggle in political stalemate that TA10 underlying the post-Soweto turn by lull will be opened up and conflict fought out. , As they of confusion into pulast threatened,/ the workers stand amongst merely by the repres area. appatatus, but slale above all, by the political been of their statement have bankruptcy heeded leaders. black Turning consciousness groups, trade unions, Inkatha, community organisations, the tradition- grow. nationalist organisations vehicles of struggle, underlying workers will time and agalr reformist growing. come up against acton present isolated misleadership and betrayals limited for the militant populist and -as periods, bound of the as of collaborator develop. retormist of workers tomorrow. revolutionary Marxists alone who, inter- day-to-day Natal-in mobilisation vening struggles which are bound contained, to emerge, turn workers to the only forces which can the intervention their independent pursue class interests, their indep organisa- •endent strength, increases been

CHOI

Bus tions, programme and parts price party increases. Soweto Witwater- South Africa, as a section of the reconstructed Fourth likely to International. truct the Fourth Internationa

THE TRANSITIONAL

PROGRAMME IN

TODAY'S CLASS

STRUGGLE

Founding document of the Trotskyist Inter- national Liaison Committee Published in the International Discussion No. 1 Nov. 1979 Bulletin No. 1. Available, price 75p

INTERNATIONAL

DISCUSSION

including postage from 60p

BULLETIN

WSL, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London

NWS 1HR

How liberated are Russian Trotsky: architect of the Red- Page 8 Women in Russia is not intended as a book for the average reader: it is, rather, academic work, heavy sociology and statis- tics, and its price alone (£12.50) is enough to put most workers off. However, for those who do generate it i contains a mass of very interesting information fairly thorough and picture the lives Soviet

COT

OT women. It also includes background essays on women i re-evolu tionary Russia and the debates the woman ques- con wign marxism are orain.

ism The main theme is an exam- mation or me boviet can or women in the USSR are com- pletely liberated.

IT IS.

Course. Trotskvists to find that this claim is a myth. In fact it is almost surprising that equal tion have gone so far: Economists It is interesting to find out, for instance that in 1970 82% economists and planners, 45% of journalists and 40% of Women make up two-thirds doctors and teachers of apparently, more • there are also all other countries combined!

PORKERTGEE

almost exclusively on the situa- tion the RSFSR-i.e. Army By Phil French For the first time the complete military writings and of Leon speeches Trotsky during the period of the Russian civil war (1918-22) will be available in English. first of pre and coles the year The volume 19 the 1918 Soviet the young Rene was n cede one People's Com- nissar for War from March 1918 was responsible ior building the Red Army Red Guards, numbering only a few to a million strong by the end of 1918. The speeches, articles, letters, orders and telegrams collected Teren

HITOESKY

as one of the not only i oh all canst strategists time, lilitaly in 2180 able to assess with great sensi tivity the relations between moods of classes class in the white heat of civil Arsenal Red Army without the theoretical arsenal of Marxism, Themseles are a powerful addition to that arsenal. first writings Barere published in Russia in 1923, and Trotsky intended them be to amates to proletarian revolu- used by tionaries all over the in commuelus: women? Soviet states. Another area study would be the position of nationalities "especialy in ine Islamic culture where romanis strong know how far the legal indepen women and the aboli- dence of lion or orde price are cutorcoa in these areas. The correctly contributors the Lidl Review: of "The Military and Speeches Trotsky Vol. Revolution "How published by New Publications, price £10. But with the rise to power bureaucracy these and all other writings and Trotsky were suppressed unev nave nor been available in Russia for over 50 y vals. the

NOW

Red Army was really built.

No wonder the Stalinists are Red Army. Nationalist In these writings speeches there is no trace of the "socialism in one country" and "peaceful coexistence with It is true that one of the first decrees of the Bolshevik govern- after seizing 141 Cill Peace calling on all governments and cease the imperialist peoples to saughter and negotiate a demo- cratic without annexa- same time

OCHICCI

countries were urged to struggle overthrow their own ruling classes. of botn warring camps had no intention of "peacefully coexisting" with Russia They organised massive with their armed intervention support for counter-revolution- White Guard armies which and reactionary capitalist 20 mil various parts of Russia SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Rosemary Hardwick reviews "Women in Russia" Alexander Dalin, edited by Dorothy Atkinson, A rational way of encourag- ing reproduction would be to and Gail Warshofsky and published by Harvester provide communal dining, child- Press at £12.50.

CATE

• ne 'domestic' facilities, together with generous system ans woule alow women te have and to work without undue hardship.

However tne oureaucracy not act according to the needs of mothers. growth Stainism from the late 1920s onwards aimed at stabilisation and the imposition of authority The tamily unit was ideal tol this task in Revolution Betrayed: "The most compelling motive of the present cult of thi of the bureaucracy for a stable hierarchy of relations, and 1 for means of 40,000,000 points of for and support authority power". Since the provision facilities to communal the of the superecOl . Lasks family threatens this chaott and authority, Stalinist as a policy option. they encourage obstructing high birth-rate use contraccoon (although abortion widely and the of birth by Men and women workers leaving Russian factory glonying: mothernooo in thel ideology and by increasing of and a general lack or commit "wages for housework" to pay women in Russia is their double ment' women's burden the (male) political woren to stay at home of work: career and Soviet bureaucracy leaders. nome. is caught in a contradiction: on However, their explanations the bone wise badour for this phenomenon shortage of the working, but on the other hand pered by their liberal teminist their policies to boost the popu the drive for rapid perspective. Tource d Instead of, their industrial lation have the erfect of driving rooting rowin-sen woren work outside the home.

women out of the labour force.

analysis in the development of contradiction At the same time, it encour- and tne authoritarian alarmisin, resolved by the tong suffering need for the family, they see i ages :5 of of long-term attempt to ease this Hutsian problem. ends up doing both: pursuing a innate conservatism and sexism; Red Guard detachment from the Putilov works that they would be The first foreign invasion After the peace treaty with Sallull sent to France came from the Cermans. the Germans signed was The revolt was undoubtedly the Bolshevik The Bolsheviks were eventu Brest

SCHOYSKI

forced accept harsh with White Guard almos had deal not Spase information pagand by ally to terms only information supplied includir g the loss Allied Imperialism and local of the grain which White Guard forces and the Batter states tEstonne areas of the South and Fast but also wit

DIOSUCHY

direct imperialist invasion from Czechoslovak / revolt SuRe Latvia and Lithuania the Allied i Powers (Britain and coincided with offensive organised by White Guard forces Trotsky himself was rrance) in the North and South Siberia, accept peace well as the Japanese in the and vladiscu terms until persuaded by Lenin East. uprisings by social evolution that there was no other way to aries elsewhere in Russia This was followed by British dangerous The most preserve Soviet power and stations ine maonly or te boisne- • 83 inclined to the revolt the Czechoslovak Murmansk and Archangelsk in Left legions against the Soviet power the North. policy of "revolutionary war" against the in Mav 1918. At the same time the armie.

jermans-a hopeless perspectiv These former prisoners of of the Don Cossacks advanced to e Soth and White t the time because the old Tsai war from the Austrian army power Siberia unde uall grated and the Red Army was Tsarist rule, and were released troops backed by Turkish forces not yet built. by the Bolsheviks on the under- advanced in Central Asia.

career, and raising a family.

The Russian husband rarely sees childcare and housework as res •ensionity theme of the book is the preval- Arguments that motherhood

IS THE

often unchallenged Readers" brings this out partic ularly clearly Meyer's Alfred "Marxism and the Women's Movement" contains some • points of mort general interest about the rale the struggle for women's liber- Beatrice Farmsworth's i and the "Bolshevik Alternatives Enal Marriage Law, generally regarded as a radical the institution of the bourgeois family, was in fact the opposite: attempt to stabilise rather than undermine the family.

as easey Throws •onsieen able othere Parate within Party about Bolshevik sexuality debate which revealed quite deep-rooted differences between raclear. ¡ke nolontal. extreme and conservatives like dominance radical was short-lived; experiments in family law and communal living one of the earliest victims or ourcaucausation. Anyone interested Soviet Union, Stalinism or women's liber- ation. would do well to get hold book il suggest borrow it), The quality of the essays " uneven: some are swamped by sociological data and statistic interest to Trotskyists fighting for and political revolution in the USSR. Indeed by August 1918 the Soviet power in Russia hung by • a toredo The territory of the Soviet Republic completely was encircled by hostile armies All the vital grain producing areas of Russia were held anti-Soviet torces of famine stalked the

SUCCLIC

land. In Left July the Socialist Revolutionaries who had bee in alliance with the Bolsheviks staged a revolt and assassinated the Germar ambassador Coun Mirbach in order to provoke war with Germany prominent Uritskv in Petrograd Koishevik murdered. and Lenin was shot and wounded by Socialist Rallied But in the hour of greatest danger, the workers and poor peasants raihed to the soviet government. in the decidi decisive change occurred Army, and for the nrI time inev took ere otten ive and began to drive back th Vhite Guard forci The recapure of the city of Kazan September gave tremendous boost to the Army -and the Soviet govern- ment The section in this book on the fight for Kazan is one which educate those who fight for the revolu- tionary overthrow of imperial- The himself direned by Trotsky himself from armoured train at the front.

This train was to trayel to alliants and Trot ours th Trotsky war and was able Army wherever he went. Continued next week

MATCHGIRLS STRIKE

TOUCHED OFF EXPLOSION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 It is a great disappoint- National ment that the Museum of Labour History gives such inadequate treat- ment to such an important Matchgirls' the as strike. pamphlet on Their earhier Dublin General Strike led this reviewer expect SOlC what better from an institution inspire ought willlll the атров авс stalus labour movement. There shortage scholarship in Beer's pamphlet His 46 pages include references, predominantly material contemporary JUcai which would otherwise be little known. (Curiously noweven mention of Annie omits Besant's autobiography). On the made of Beer's piece is that its the comozin made focus is too fine. New Unionism • The pivotal role of the 1888 U hondere the development of the strike the New move- of the labour ment is almost entrely omited Without it the whole story is stirring tale : than a oppression and revolt in a his- torical vacuum. of the fitful The analysis growth of the labour movement.

"the nineteenth with difficulties and beset

PORTATEOS

In the second half of the trade unionism and century, socialism both took their first world, sometimes together and some- times reeling , apart. difficulties of under- …one standing this growin yow non the difficulties of understanding of economic history its 19th century, last in particular-the period quarter of the "Great Depression had The British econoa y reached the limits imposed upon it by its own empire as a market and a source of raw materials.

Outside the Empire was challenged increasingly and the USA for the markets of the world. Feared competition to the Thatcherite Contrary vision of the dynamic eriter the capitalist classes of préneur, the world reacted with fear and loathing Tne enforced competition. Invest ment declined and world trade stagnated The British trade union robust not Was this enough sand arallist ebb, but process was the complex and contradictory.

One effect of the unification of the im perial Was substantial reduction food which offset the stabilis- privas, an0l. SOme Casos money wages. At the same time, successive • governments were not ignorant of the threat Thel powel represented by the relentless growth of the urban proletariat.

Reforms such as stato education and the extension of the right to were designed to deflect VOlC this threat. In this aim the ruling class was only partly successful.

State education was eventually to produce genera- tions of articulate labour leaders against whom new techniques of absorption would be needed.

The manhood suffrage itself brougni mio being demanas 1o1 such leaders to act independent- ly of the Liberal reformers.

In trying to assess conditions area, such as the in a particular wale faced with another range of problems. plain in his As Beer makes pamphlet. East London sufiered from the first effects of indus- trialisation and did recover enough to be hit by the 1290 second. That is to say, mechanisation destrovedi SuK industry netore Ine ireal Depression even began, and the second major industry- alca s trous crash in the late 1860s the speculative ship- when brick Dudes Lilt wall of a limit to world trade.

Thus East entered the Great Depression already depressed, with anything up to half million public charity for their survival.

•A minimal level or resistance persisted -evidenced by the of 1860-61 and bread 100 /, but a systematic poncy or atomisation, directed against asistanoe, alived to block magre generalisation revolts developing on the elly • doorstep. In early 1888 even Engels han to admit nat e sawle workers of East London as more of accepting Dassivo. oppression LIlUSC other part of the Civilised world' It is in this context that the strike of the match- explosive the Bryant and May girls at factory in Bow must be under- stood.

OF STRUGGLE

The origins of the socialist agitation around the Bryant and May factory CaT Iracca lo a meeting. of the Fabian Society in June 1888. At this meeting Clementina Black read a paper on Female H.H. Champion after- Wars ese mall vl Bryant and May's dividends and their exploitation of the work- force. The meeting resolved to call for a boycott of the company Annie Besant set out to researcr the question for her papel, lie Link, and travelled to Bow the to discuss with the nexı uay. factory girls. Annie Besant was a remark- Originally able vesollallly devout christian and no el and the wife of a clergyman, unable to reconcile Sile Wan and herself

DOYCILI

misery in which her husband's congregation lived. to break from the She was church • and her family on the occasion of her publishing pamphlet rejecting the divinity •I Jesus ol Nacare u! herself into the She threw of Bradlaugh's National work writing regular- Secular Society. ly for the conducting extensive and Tecture LOus struggle of 1880 for The Bradlaugh's right to sit in Parli- ament as an atheist brought her Page 9 A review of "The Matchgirls Strike National Museum 1888" by Reg Beer. of Labour History pamphlet No. 2.

Besant kept up the momen- published her first article expos with the tum exploitation rallies, meetings and deputation match factory under the title to Parliamen Slavery in mid-July the pressure on Bryant threatened Although visit by the company enouch legal force them to meet the strikers confirmed Factory inspector and the Trades Council. the fact that the illegal were taking place. Abolish fines The company began to seek agreed to , women hac The company out which abolish the fines and charges fos her artiste, the ree were dis three were dis- materials, which was no major both were missed early in July. . concession Since After 1 further sacking on illegal It did however mean a walked out. pay July 5 the women increase provided be The Fabians were forced to tak canteen would tesi biticito the tent away from the phospnorus altu publicity brought other saftey improve solla ments would be made women

OPSK

Defeat returned to work. The pnoss) persisted however, until This was not in fact the first safety the development of the industrial action at the Bryant match effectively and May factory. phosphorus match obsolete.

Beer reports the earlier strike however The matchgirls of 1885 over a wage cut and the retained their organisation after phossy jaw problem, which won the work, and the return to support. and no generat •W.da following year sent a delegatior defeated to the TUC •still lived of The memory The matchgirls victory trans- and also of the great this strike industrial situation formed the demonstration of in East London. the match tax Obviously there was some tradition of Tramways 201010 lic lates li doubt buoyed up by. Ine mier bread riots in mittent the Tom Mann Besant and became involved in the unionis ¡ocallLy 1888 was The difference in struggle for the London aLOI the active intervention by Tramways 4100 socialists. example the 'and Besant took up the task of powerful strike was and Ma organising tund winning the men over. giving a lead to the campaign Although there were i of number Although a large this the union strikes case, the women went to the country for the seasonal fruit pickin and conditions some 800 were left work. improved greatly. strike London dependent important

HOIC

pay. breakthrough Tollowe ar As a result of appeals in The Gas Works. where public Thorne unionised the 1889 donatie ban actor unskaled an cat la. factor however main working day strike dous effect on the dock workers strength and determulatiol continue was the decision of the ano lecto mne crear dock suic Trades Council, led by London of 1889. . This wave of unionis active of the unskilled was to

JORN

DURAS,

ation Bryant and May strikers suppon independent change the face of trade union into contact with Aveling and investiga- ism in Britain, breaking the hold factory bore out others in Marx's circle. of the older craft unions and the Ton ne le she was never to all of Besant's charges, and also labour aristocracy on the TUC and under clear that workers become made was this change were charged for their working the haleful intluence of Shaw.

character of the TUC which was joined the Fabians in 1885 materials which Besant • the formation oi the Her brand of socialism how- never understood Labour Party possible. .This was published in full in ever ehe fabians. She took a leading , 1! matched to that The Times, and Trafalgar Square tabled parliamentary questions By Ernie Stubbins 1887, and which promised more publicity.

1886

TOLS

organised a defence fund to bail out the arrested. Her position in the socialist Women's of the

WOMAN.

movement of the time is reflec- paper Workers Socialist League.

tec the ace suena. chosen as one of Linnell's pall- Bloody Sunday of bearers after

WORKER

November 1887. Articles on: By the time of the match- as : a regular orator at ‹nown dock gate meetings Beer's pampret documents *Chile the problems that Besant found the the factory and among *Textile outworkers who made matchboxes. Industry The wages themselves were uretchedy Iow were regularly fined for a range *Meccano of 'offences More serious even than this *NUPE and "phossy jaw", resulting the jaw, from regular handling of phos- the cuts phorus. A particular irritation to the : that the company Available from WSL, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 • Was had dockea thew wages to crec 1HR, price 15p including postage.

a statue of Gladstone. June, Besant On 23

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Stewards and workers at St. George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, London, decided last week to move into occupation to prevent any further rundown of the 30. Che castalty department ha complete closure hospital, which specialises in heart surgery. been St. George's has been listed the first part of the plan by Merton, Out for worth

AHA

facilities from toong-wich tney claim will save £ 1½ million. The stewards - 25% occupy prevent for scheduled the because On Thursday 24 January

TOOLS

the whole, manual January 28. staff at occupation the heating and air con- George's mUst ditioning firm of F.H. rallying point Biddles Ltd., Nuneaton against hospital walked out on indefinite London area strike in support of a 25% dict's, St. George's is the second pay claim. hospital to followed closure in the recent period.

.T 7S negotiations over a three month As: the during which limits 5½% offer TOMERS needS-are radare A management attempt to the workforce failec ballot when. un sore or a recommen cation trom tne snop stewards committee the workforce showed their contempt for the offer by tearing up their ballo slips The company, without any implemented their any coiticill, otter Trom • the review date, l ted by January. and Tory governments made An external conference themselves felt with a ven- Wednesday failed to move the company. last At the following 115,000 more unemployed Roy. Howells meetine bro signed on the dole. TGWU District Officer again put the same offer. The official When 1.424.927 -is only 200.000 less again resulted overwhelming rejection urged a seven-day "cooling off established under 1977, and certain to be no more period" and than a stage in a continual climb meeting to alow, the company to think about it. over the next period. When Between was now trom the floor that the firm had autumn BL is due to shed some already had three months 25,000 workers and BSC think about to 9 to rejeet the meeting With further axe a every Official's advice and strike from employer looking four o'clock that afternoon.

and The other Nuneaton factory labour, the pledged end at ruttle mill nave tollowed the works and joined government's phoney tob strike.

SUBSCRIBE!

Get your Socialist Press delivered each week by post

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Six issues. Three months (12 issues).

Six months (25 issues), One year (50 issues) :

EUROPE

Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) ...

REST OF THE WORLD

Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) St George's work-in shows the way by June rundowns in the London area is growing to frightening propor- tions Another recent addition Wands and the Royal Northern Hospital move George's to Islington, due for closure on 1

WATCH.

Opposition to the plan action have decided strong. An committee this ward closure pital and Camden ambulance next and

NUPE

branch has joined other hospital ambulance branches in pledging is opening on Monday the casualty department if it is occupied St. opposition, seen for the fight Camden and sington AHA are closures in the determined to go ahead with the closure and have far brushed aside a compromise proposal ol holy on roma rene. during weekdays only. be occupied against The main danger facing these Tory occupations cash matter how strong is the local are transiated. into cuts.

George's and closures and organisation.st. Back to the 1930s Tory policies implemen- September by port scenes throwing further 300,000 onto the unemployment regis- The allocated funds to cater for month, 300,000 increase in unemploy- ment. All the signs are that with recessional swing ende cuts in full swing s likely to be exceeded before job reve Lte Callaghan in vacancies continue to fall desperate workers low-paid

JOD:

sooner than rot on the dole.

and the Scotland plans The crisis of capitalism ha he return o 50,000 actually brought jobs. capitalist the 8.9% Scotland-where leaves ul110Y 11C1 and Tories are also • Ine aole, the Labour the North, where the unemploy.

nel a go. • £1.80 . 23.60 . £7.00 £13.00 • £8.00 61701 Tr Teachers strike to stop school sale participated on January 22 in a half-day strike and mass meeting to oppose the sale of Twyford school to the England. Tory Baling's proposed that £1.78 million, should take place September. backdoor aucron oa seecute grommar.

school set-up in a largely work- ing class area Royal Northern depend 1he sale-part very of f2 s much on tne support o. consultants-not most cuts that at service as son principled and reliable anti-cuts school fighters! Workers of majority mad school studens, local com St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road-alsc organisations от ее ноте-are itality having fighting the 1,600-strong Ealing NUT. AHA tactics of gradually reduc- ing manning levels. well-supported Leadership "no-cover" The answer to such isolation

TOT

conne lies in the hands of the public borough wide strike on January sector trade union leadership 22 was widely followed 1 AC NUPE-especially London the teachers' Division-is nothing short of number of treacherous. support to Militants in. ah threatened mass hospitals must begin the fight to blame firmly force the trade union leadership prepare in education spending. national strike action alongside steelworkers to reverse all Neil James who offered the only public spending cuts. meeting. His Never before has it been more important for workers te take the most determined action - through occupations backed strike action-lo deleno existing jobs and to fight for united bring class action Tories

COWI

creat conditions for planned economy which alone socialist call

HICW

JODS.

With workers by living standards and a develop- ment of the productive forces ic thousand meet needs of the British streets ant memora wore cas of militancy lack organised working class. 'Fighting the Cuts (Socialist Press Supplement) available 15p (inc p&p) from WSL 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR. through from the independent interest of the work one a h international nothing, to gain and everythin the profabity of preit co

DON'T GO INTO

amploying class

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

productive forces way forward.

SOCIALIS

PRESS

Loague. control, cuts Nama.. ndancier Address. Send your cheque/PO. to socialist Press, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS IHR and. to: WSL 31 D

NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Over 400 Ealing teachers turgid waffle from NUT vice-president Peter Speech rom équally Moira Cyriaux, and a call for a "publicity campaign". -including comprehensive Church of a deputation to the Archbishop Canterbury -from local Labour left' councillor Hilary council has Benn. the for sale, James

CONTA

NeR correctly urged that the fight taken up through the provides be must route to the reintro

DR TARAMOOR BASHPATO

linked to strike action to stop the cuts. : of a package goal are education defended" ', he stressed. The demands must include a ¡storation or tae cals, a ponc.

opposed by the of protecting education by link.

inflation as parents, ing expenditure to assessed by elected union com and the mittees; and occupation and strike action to halt the cuts.

also applause Wall! No cover called for NUT recognition of this set moved a te

NUSS

and for motions policy of has been wHions connerence. Tine. *2,000 redundancies school anciliary staff amongst NUSS backed up ana. teachers are eatenoo∞ Leicestershire County Council's stand, leafleting a budget by 06 decision axe the education schools •callin million. the strike and 1,500 teachers DUNd and the Tory stagod one-day strike against cuts protest which have axed 100 teachin jobs Teachers in Trafford, Man Indeed it was NUSS speaker to undertake a pro. chester are selective striker prevent a cuts package costing speech followed on a • 90 jobs

YOU SHOULD

JOIN US!

which, in today's struggles fighti advance

WORKAR

trade union militancy, oppose politics and illusions that capi policies there is plainly no can be abolished througt alism parliament. The is Tokyiss Socialist Loague Yet the existing trade union ment fighting day in and da out to build such a principle • to hong andership in the working clas fight in Internationally, we are aff.

iliated to the newly-former Tuch can dies when stard Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, which fights for the incornational and the which, building of revolutionary parties in every against imperialism and | againsi the parasitic Stalinist bureau. deformed cracies the and in a period where the contra done ted one readers ol dictions of the anarchic capital invite ist system force the wholerak Socialist Press more details of the WSL and its work closure and destruction of the sociaty, and to join is in the struggle only on a lind sete tee for sociali

RED YOUTH

Monthly paper of the Socialist Youth League New issue out next Pleass sand me more details week of the Workers Socialist Articles on NUSS Week of Action; Anti- fascist activity in Leices- ter; Iran; Afghanistan; Review of new Clash album; steel strike. Available price : 15p including postage, from

SYL,

31 • Dartmout outh Park Hill. Lond Park Hill, London NWS 1AR

End of the road for the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 January 1980 Last Saturday's confer-

LCDTU?

of ence the Stalinist-run Liaison Committee for the Unions Defence of Trade marked the end of that organisation have known it. Its afternoon session at the Friends House the Employment Bill Was mare recon one or after surprisingly-the main question oroken up by the rerusar of the becomes law as is practicable chairman-veteran Communist hour: fight we cail on the LUDIU Party member Kevin Haipin-to Rank and File Defend recognise down the Tory government Unions Committee cratic procedures or rules of Instead it called for merely debate within the conference.

of and suppon lor ine soutn wales day campaign protest action on January 28, for deliance against the new laws' Hand picked more extended action on March After the lunch break, Alan Thornett, a from the Matters came to a head after

TGWU

5/293 Branch the info da of as time! TUC day action on May oi moming session nad seen d artem plea Taice a polnt parade of hand-picked speakers order on the issue of speaking the resolution endorse

BIT

cleat that Tre rights at the conference.

would resolution had been drafted to :be the chaurman, stressea. take account of the position of Lost vote conference. Worker.

LIC

Docasi rarLy. whose supporters turned out He amendments or alterna- was obstructed by the constitute majority of the tive proposals conference delegates. could be allowed, he insisted.

microphone. Amid widespread With the steel strike in full agreed with the i pesposa na te the ine swi making indefinite General Strike action.

SWIE

to destroy union rights, the CP- next speaker"-only to lose by 2-1. jeallet put out at ine their front 'Rank and Despite this defeat for the called organisation on Thornett not allowed the micro- support and pres. for a vote on the following non- allowed phone, political resolution the Wilce calls on Conterence Cian intender the LCDTU Rank and time for • speaker-such any Our Unions Com- critical sereno mittee to Bate chein He defiance every speaker far had and fully backed the resolution associated anti-union legislation.

he had Halpin We also call on the two organ- sations jointły for and ruled against the call a one day order, to point calling at once general against the stoppage Genera

AULH

anti-union laws. Secretary Ken Brett to deliver "We further a dreary 25-minute speech.

LCDTU

Brett ClIC Defend spokesman Jerine Deason raised a point of order. delegate conference of bona fide Thornett he was In contrast to Alan Thornett trade union legates as s00n given micto- Action needed on teachers' pay average award given by Clegg to Last week's backdated 9.2% plus the nurses; many teachers interim pay increase in anticipation of the doubt account now wish that they Clegg findings. pecome entangico in tn /embers, initially keyed up comparability study, but had teachers angry at the endless for pursued their claim with an necese ot azom were delays in their 1979 pay disillusioned by weak action cul- when they had minating in capitulation and an claim. opportunity last April. agreement to the comparability Only an award of 30% at Since the agreement last least could bring teachers back Since then, members have Cega Comission teachers had comparabiilty study were been kept in suspense, tied to an after the Houghton settlement in 1974 agreement to accept the tindings led to believe that a sub bCeN of the Commission. the EIS stantial payment (around 13%) But Keir Bloomer, would be made this January.

At first they were promised chief negotiator, , has already let interim report in December slip the figure of 15% No amount of double followed by payment of hille novin e the misted them that they "• noolise ine Trustratior not half of the award in January and of the membership, 18 represen- the second half in September tatives from schools in Glasgon betrayed. Now they the have week before last recolveo d ano Abortive mere 8.2%-from which the nine campaign for of payments of £6 will be deduc- Special General Meeting Glasgow Local Association.

The seeds of the oresent The Commission Wino situation were sown in the abor.

publish its findings until at least for the SGM call for an immed- tive campaign for the 1979 April, and substantial sums iate interim increase of £20 per salaries claim of it necessar, industr money will be forthcoming , including man-nearted entorts by The industrial action a esge cam in April 1900 Uniti alter Then leadership of the NUT and the Instead of a straightforward for a wage Scottish teaching union, the EIS as will compensate for the claim based on the such vise thune

ICO.

rate of inflation and the changes April LISt station since ment which secured mere in the salaries scale for 1979 non- (Many members are increas- manual workers since ingly concerned teaching union leaderships have Clegg Report due _ Is now become embroiled in a compli- April will prejudice their annual salary negotiations).

Calcu comparaos

STON

The involving tne selection of com reoresentaves see thic parators in terms of jobs outside SGM as a launching pad for teaching. one-day stoppage soon Having found the original protest doainst. ene 40 contemptuous fashion in which unsatisfactory, the Commission teachers have been treated.

130 пол They. also researching into another regard it as the campaign occunnino pseudo-scien- secure an award of at least 20% tific is said by in this year's negotiations.

mumbo-jumbo the union leaders to be aimed a by purposeful action now will teachers demonstrate "objective" assess. conevino ar ment of the true value of a to the authorities that they will teacher's job. pusned around on the Clegg Going by the wretched 18% questions of wages and jobs.

Repor An old style LCDTU conference phone. Deason was not interested discussessi pressing political demanded only that the part of the Rank and File resolution calling for a joint Rank and File.

LCDIU conference be put to the vote. Majority Even this was too much for Halpin, of Who roednim out and stated again that onl platform resolution would be voted on. wnen Deason cauleo Ior tnl "strongly clear Ido e Li Corice But Haipın was acamant. AS scuffles broke he decided that the conference had got out ol nana, moveo to a nasty vote on. the platform's resolution, and promptly closed the confer- ence at 3.00 p.m. -just one hour after the lunch break! The break-up of the confer- ility of the Stalinists' insistence suppression of bureaucratic politica oppositon, unde ally nere influence the unions has declined to such an extent that less occasions in the past guaran- tee themselves majority conference of the LCDTU main front organisation. But the role of the SWP- refusing to politically challenge

'YES' WE

who have been quoting ballots at their workforce, say they will not accept the result of the ballot on their 5%-with-strings offer. Despite this the union leadership .have played further into their hands than They have agreed that there will be no statement from either ballot paper goes out in.

But the company is posting out the papers, and it is under- stood that they wil out a state- ment of theirs in envelope on the same daye separate will be ballot posted on Friday 1 February - timed to arrive people's Saturday. In this way gets the ballot as from work as possible. away Vote 'yes' question is such that in order to oppose the company's offer you have to vote 'Yes this Despite confusion al by the union leadership, sown the likely tion of the company's offer. make sure of order this and prepare the best move would be step . mass meetings on the hold -1978 the Stalinists, intervening and simply on the apolitical basis of "unity"- -indicates that they are set to step politically and organ- the decline of the CP in the unions As the forces they mobilised for the conference indicated it i hat is primariy perching the now the SWP as much as the line of militant protest politics, in which the readiness to fight t is channelled

ITON

political struggle against the trade union and Labour bureau- A full political debate on the way forward is necessary recall of the abortive LCDTU this could create conditions for such a debate organising should be set up from among the political organisations represented at Saturdav's con ference, together with the inde that pendent oppose That committee should organise a recall conference that would not be controlled by ant one movement out would give the opportunity to each move and ment the independent present wnal see as the way forward for the working class the present CrIsIS. lhe wall would fulv ane actively participate in such a conference.

REJECT 5%!

Friday. Workers still do not know

LCJNC

do if the offer is rejected.

These leaders must stop avoiding steel strikers. Leyland workers should join steelworkers on all- out strike.

PUBLIC

MEETINGS

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public meeting

OXFORD

Victory to the Steel Workers! Bring down the Tories! Speakers include Tee- side steel worker Thursday 7 February OCCR, Princes St off Cowley Road 8.00 p.m. Page 11 Scottish steel pickets spread out The steel strike in Scotland is now a month .old and so far over 1,000

ISTC

workers out of the 4,500 workforce at Ravens- have volunteered for craig picketing duties. The picketing been has extended manufacturing in the Motherwell and Glasgow which 01 alta. the picketed plants have trailer- loads of finished material lying Flying pickets have been far as Edinburgh, ranging Aberdeen attempt to prevent steel moving and stop the oil rigs from oper- aline Howe e CeS despite the fact that the representing nas takes, over the pieketing of Ravenscraig, the strike commit- continues to refuse help in tee pickelmg dom ouner groups or workers. ISTC pickets outside GRIN C South Street Tem sec from Albion and Yarrow shipyards to join them Yet these workers correcti see that the winning of the stee strike is vital to thew interests. • strike is lost not onl wil shipbuilding nave virtually no chance of winning their 25% claim, but Scottist ship- the facturing industries (all nation alised) will be totally decimated The strike committee musi Cott Dint as heater tork os dores and workers, dockers water oult councils of action to coordin ate the building of a general strike to bring down the Tories The strike committee has also number of deals with steel stockho ders whereb the stockholder shuts down for freeing fos month, pickets duties elsewhere and leaving twe ISTC members to make sure the stockholder sticks to the agree rowerer mese men are on at the gates during the day an rumour has it that the steel in One case in point was the first of these agreements, made steel stockholders Brennan Committee, wisulaw chairman with 1om Ravenscraig Action Wednesday January without any consulta- with the strike committee. tion This agreement allowed the stocknolder to temain open I0] That night 3 lorries laden with steel at less than six hours notice!

SOCIALIST PRESS

PUBLIC MEETING

The Fight for Trotsky- ism in the Labour Party Speaker: Ted Heslin Socialist Press supporter Friends Meeting House Euston Road, London NW1 Wednesday 6 February 7.30 p.m.

MOTHERWELL

Victory to the Steel Workers! Bring down the Tories! Wednesday 6 February 8.00 p.m. YMCA, Brandon Street Motherwell

IRON CURTAIN

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park"Hill, London NW5 1HR. Printed by Anvil Printers, London.

SOCIALIST

PRESS

IMPERIALISTS

WIND DOWN

Alarmed by the blows US struck and world imperialism by the revolu- tionary struggles that in 1979 toppled the Shah in Iran and Somoza in Nicar- agua, Carter and Thatcher exploiting the Afghan are invasion a cover for a major anti-Soviet build up.

Arms deals already surrep- underway long belore the Soviet invasion have been surface the pressed nome ama demagogic attacks on Russian "aggression".

$33 billion particular Carter proceeding speed with the mammoth $33 billion which will

NIA HASIC

desecrate thousands miles of US desert and farm- the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on The And the long-projected of the United vital interests installation of Cruise and

NATO

repelled Pershing 2 missiles into the use of any means necessary, bases also go including military force". ahead as planned. of the Thatcher Distall. US military intervention against revolutionary movement by advanced plans for refurbishing the masses or oppressed nation- British nuclear weapons alities in the Middle East and a £5,000 million scheme for a new fleet of submarines and Intervention missiles.

SALT

naked threat of Meanwhile the US military intervention against treat Us Congress stallea by warmongers I the last autumn. any revolutionary movement by has been shelved indefinitely.

the masses or oppressed nation- alities in the Middle East.

Carter's 'State of the Union'.

message last week also included Such an intervention would steps to register American youth of course have nothing to do with preserving "world peace",

BOSPIC

with introduction of conscription,

DUT

eventall bolster the preserving US imperialist exploi- ation of the masses throughout flagging prestige of the CIA.

semi-colonial colonial

LIC

"Outside forces" countries. The talk of a possible Soviet clear that invasion of Iran is, of course a made it the the US military Generate simply opposition to the "threat" to know all too well that supposed Soviet has bureaucracy Iran Let our position be absol- Kremlin consistently acted not for any clear: an attempt by any of world domination; utely motives to gain control of but to safeguard its own power

FUND

With the end of the month upon us, the monthly fund is badly at £522.15, over £200 short of our trailing only £60.60 arrive at the monthly target. Last week saw office. We really cannot allow this situation to continue. Every penny of our fund target is needed every month in order to meet the rapidly rising costs incurred in the prodiction of the fund is It is essential, therefore, that Socialist Press. raised in full if we are to avoid building up debts that can only cause us major problems in the future.

Rush a donation immediately to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League.

drive the Muslim Tineatens masses

COT

basI further into the arms of reaction and which provides the imperial ists wiln a new pretest tot anti Soviet agitation. Expropriation But, recognising that in the present situation the withdrawal of Soviet troops would create takeover in Afghanistan, we cal for the withdrawal of now not troops, but for policies through which the Afghan masses can, alongside rank and file Red through the Army men, press of land and private property and tendent Soviet Afghanistan.

establishment inde- same standpoint we condemn the new Cold War offensive against the Soviet and all those reaction- Umon. Carter aries within the labour bureau- cracy that have sided with the privileges through the and of a balance imperialists. preservation 'A precondition of the work- forces- "peaceful coexistence" ing class making new gains is to defend those already won precisely because imperialist-backed right • or los reason socialists us must unconditionally forces in Afghanistan threatened the nationalised to aisrupt the balance or forces against all on the borders of the USSR that tions of the the invasion was launched, in a forms Im Detai for the political miscuided at ensive move.

the reactionary Workers Socialist overthrow The the League condemned this bureaucracies has high-handed deformed and degenerated workers' states. bureaucratic measure Prepare to defy Corrie All out Feb 5! been called by the Amid a renewed burst of National Abortion Campaign ol propaganda in reactionary Tuesday February and last week's Sun, the Third backed by the SE Region TUC Corrie's anti- NAC is correctly calling for Reading of possible section abortion bill is due before every workers to take strike action on Parliament on February 8.

that day to register opposition Opposed by every remotely to the Corrie Bill progressive organisation in the But at the same time trade health service and medical pro- unions-particularly those in the containing health service and MPU/ASTMS proposals that would make two.

-must commit menseives now thirds to prosecu- 'ton, the Corre Bit is an arch-

SMASH THE

attempt to struggle for women's rights.

WHFt Agony

BENYOR

Aided by reactionary Labour MPs

CORRIE

agony, the suffer- restoring the mediaeval morality

BILL!

campaigned for Church, the Bill seems set to become law in the near future In a bid to swing last minute votes a national lobby of Parli- 2,000 demand 'troops out 1500 Some demon- strators left Sparkhill Park, Birmingham, on the second of Provisional Sinn Fein's series of demonstrations in cities. At the Bull British Ring local residents and others had swelled numbers to 2,000 future bans, Birmingham police they had announced march considered banning and large numbers police were turned out. the Wat 100-200 backward youth and fascists in the town centre a CP bookshop and broke up a Liberation meeting To advance the struggle the crucial question remains: will turned the issue of reland be remorselessly DaCH labour movement, to base the struggle against the British arms on tne strengen or tre workule class? Yet apart from republican, left

UTOM

and there were pitifully tew labou movement banners in Birming ham on Sunday (Selly Oak Con- being •Parts Labou one of the exceptions). Notably there was not from the delegation sing e Longbridge Ur-ea BL union bodies principled struggle Only policy of troops out of Ireland within the labour move ment can place the issue in the forefront, as it deserves.

to take strike action to defend cuted tor defying toe Com defying Corrie provide abortions. And those Labour MPs who insist on defying Party policy of "free abortion on request" must be removed by their constituen- trade cies

SPOILLE

unions. Uniformed gunman opposing the march Sakharov is no spy! The Kremlin bureaucracy has exiled Andrei Sakharov, the most prominent of the dissidents, Soviet and his wife Yelena, to the city of Gorki, of 250 miles east Moscow. Nobel Prize Sakharov, physicist is not a left' doubts about condemning this the Stalinist bureau- action by the restoration of his right to live in Moscow clear that the Soviet ere ersati Sakharov only reluctantly and considerable pressure • So under wary were the bureaucracy thai sual redressie me this exile methods-exile repressive continement mental asylum, or a swift show trial and prisor being used he is In view o beine channel by the special services secrets O inbortant Stalt against him is relatively minor- though he may be put on trial at a later date. Internal problems But the action of the bureau- far from incompre- , as said by the French mensiole Communist Party. nather is the victim of the Sakharov internal problems faced by the bureaucracy a situation o1 internal economic crisis, crisis in and now a the capitalist system, Cold War offensive by US anc other imperialist powers.

As national consciousness oppressed develops among minorities nurulstarl and elsewhere, the Soviet leader- ship also fears a challenge to its chauvinist • ane ourcauciall treatment of the many national minorities within the borders of Sakharov nationa rights known of defender the of the Crimean Tartars-and thi bureaucracy clearly Tee could become focus for broader •a tal scale than the present dissident movement. His most recent moves how- ever have blaved into the hands of imperialism ant bureaucracy. : signing a state- invasion of Afghanistan and pointing that the Soviet people are denied the right to express their opinion war also put his name to supporting the Carter call for a boycott o The Vivale By not starting fron Trotskyist perspective of build. ing a revolutionary party for the of the bureaucracy and defence of the nationalised property relations , Sakharov has thus in the USSR been ousne ov une ourtoucide into lending support to a pro imperialist campaign. But he is no soy. In detend ing his rights against repression fight to create conditions in which the Soviet working clas organise and mobilise parasitic Kremlin the