Socialist Press no. 213

BUREAUCRACY!

strike committees

PRESS

ited to the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee

POLAND

DON'T

TRUST

THE

Poland's ruling Stalinist bureaucracy has demonstra- ted its weakness in the face of what had become General Strike mounting by conceding

NOVCICIL

virtually all of the strikers' key demands. But while Polish® workers cheer and their leaders the limitions poestat limitations strike alla stand most starkly exposed.

They have not grasped that the regime s agreement to alow

WOEKEIS

unions independent of the state- organisations, incompatible with demands that luther contront sur vival oe une blast oucau- political cracy itself. bureaucracy and As a parasitic ruling caste, need for feeding throw, the bureaucracy will use economy in Poland, the regime ine breathing depends unon lne regroup its forces and take back of the independent struggles and the concessions it has granted.

demands of the working class.

ine formanon oi maesen- Reforming dent trade unions, genuine of rigid media censor- ship and the release of political strike leaders and the prisoners, wnle woakening une defence organisation apparatus the bureaucracy, potentially the ¡licals than overthrowing the bureau express me unerasenves cracy the avenues and organisations to power the and other Stalinists. leaders the reeling tor wavs anno Transient moment draw the strike committees into the vast This why such gains, vul caucall appalalus they Incolat are conceded practice conditional on the Gierek regime, of plans the on a me mome o coe moruns une werek оителистасу balance of class forces. is also plainly hoping for an ebb If the working class does not revolutionary the Polish 2100 Ine menu oue opennes tor tne re- power of its new independent imposition

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 213 * September 3, 1980 * 20p Maintain the elaborate authority. But nobody should under- power scale of the blow spell out the Struck at the derek reame ov the strike wave of the its revolutionary the issues apparently space in oraci lo wonccucu "un trade unions the torm.

ula endorsed at Gdansk makes that. ior . Cical least, there ceem ikey to antagonistic trade union The political weakness of the key industrial worKers areas or roano une apreement states: have only ever held a "No one's right to remain in of reforming rather the present union will be ques see a possibility of entering into Alreer ta citiosteo the stiles by offering offices bureaucracy Though there is a statement that the new unions will recog- ments To independent nise the leading role of the Com- munist Party, new unions By making other concessions There is no doubt that this drawing up represents a major challenge to the control of the bureaucracy next "on volca orsoners. Ene regime has climbed down com- pletely and agreed to release ferment the prisoners listed wulkik class «nike commutee This must be the first time that a Stalinist bureaucracy has meat-though a been torced by strike action to release pollical orisoners- tol meat taloning was der erred amounts to a fundamental blow There are to be against the ism of the stalinist secret police and state apparatus.

DUCT

In another humiliating con- cession at Gdansk and Szczecin, coming bureaucratical v-managed Polish le govertunen erect memorial plaque down billion in debt and workers gunned the continual

TOUS

4JU1 censorship, te verha sur vival nev can ony nede coe concessions are far more vague: regime further into crisis but the form of words appears ess souncant unan ine dadec confidence the workers. Strike leader Lech Walesa has beaten-or that boldly declared that "we wil 'reformed' out of existence.

wale wrat wolke. Concession The avisions Here too, yuc a concessor would in practice lay the basis latest to undermine the very existence evident anger leaders at the *On economic questions, the underline the walsaw government stood the Gierek initial wage forced by the against the strikers' acuanes. small beginning next year. promise Tories attack right to strike Page 9 Unemployment Page 8 car • workers throughout rolanc walked out on strike or voted action alongside the strikers ports. the Gierel cosmetic governmen reshuffles limiter would not placate a militant workers' 'movement. General Strike if it hiad ceveloned WonC Con fronted Gierek with a total loss of control-and the prospect of Sovie which wou nave been voekr ly resisted with far-reaching and incalculable consequences The Icales sav option but to time being But the time limited by the scale of Poland's And similar tactical retreats taken place before have 1956 Gierek's pre- Poland. In Gomulk: workers' councils and an easing of censorship-only io renege on Dour Diences 1970 Gierek himself promised Gdansk workers steps to democratise the regime-non ol wnieh were impiemented export less food and to import Leadership demand In 1980 it is only the con.

improvements tinued offensive struggle of the service and ronsı masses. Tne mantenanci and extension of the strike com-

COCOSSO

mittees into ongoing so viet-type are not in themselves large: but when the time workes councus anu lie aevel leadership with a opment of a perspective of the overthrow of unstable •Stalinist dependent bureau for cracy loan: the latest concessions represent more than a paper agreement.

*No But the latest concessions by

LIUSI

oui cal cracy: that the Polish *Maintain and extend the strikes and the strike can be committees towards shop soviel type workels vouncus *To gains workers Tactical retreat and independent organisations, build workers' militias *Build the soviets in the arme even purged Central Committee over forces to control the officers.

Soviet troops! concessons Oppose Soviet intervention of the Kremlin line taken ges! Close the special shops anc : tha lact lollar shops Stop the tourists leadership has been 1ooe au cooes cerce to Polish workers! the working class into a tactical *For political revolton Poland! As miners, steel workers and

7a80d Jo pue quapnys 247 u! stunsudn proas Japan I210 7007. jo Jo •aal 01 - uI rijunos Пала

IMOY |

TIAAA

1ST 1A6 1111

seY sEY шочм diusiosuay

ATTS

Papara 000'TE -LInd,, apun 947 pert pres

MASO

SumO!

ATTINATIPO

LIS!

301L 10J pend Isnf 10I 1 047 Sparames

TOTA ATTA

attaintel Jo 247 нарме7 padden sn pey say ang 'ReMe ueyt parades 947 star 4z Japan 947 111N

SISTE

snoas ugor yinos sdoon 10 stage

ISOL

- M018 pent reinIa punore ver pue pue 347

MANNA TAD

NATACITAIT?

LaUM

IT A 01

pey

OUM

100 1 там pasn 'sanbu pue

ATROLAS

COPTA ZINE

АннАн этам a pale palap te las S1e0su03 1910 SI рабешер Jo pastelal

JAST

NATO I

pepmun Suixy

STOM

LA I

SIAYION

drus aut se Aptua lapun 947 sey sn happeni

"SHIQ

sTuo Sarap 006

TAA O

TS SI MUM

•uMouyun sỊ Jo stapuajep, 311? 1

MA11O

pue spins ere of aper мой эте aul put

TO I

uaaq BuISC эшо 07 : spesodod

TIDEOTID

SIE

NATALTITS

SE LO TO

euop Aquasse nasty

IT 10 ANAN

dnos pasopsipun 10J ПОПРАНОШ

T1 TO

passaippe LIaN ортепра spearfe

TADPA AN

puresnout soddo 000'8 pione te passaidep 947 JO laserd 947 spoylaw si!

ATTAIM

чим

о PIT

Jo sanurquos ST47 41 dnos : 947 947

El Salvador left draws wrong lessons from SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980

• INTERNATIONAL

The struggle the Nicaragua workers and peasants of El Salvador against the bloody dictatorship of monopoly capital is by no means new- 30,000 lives were lost in the 1932 insurrection alone. But in the last year imperial- wounded set- Illayus lali allu Nicaragua has escalated offensive to such a pitch that, if capitalist state the Salvadorean destroyed decisive military confrontation, stands workers movement to suffer scale omparable to those in Spain ir 939 and Chile in 1973 El Salvador is onlv a small of million some people. Its productive capacity is of marginal importance the •transnational corpora- Illassive tions. Critical hidebound and tiny,

SITS

vicious oligarchy little relatively value internationa banks. But Salvador now holds the key Central America has become a absolutely region

L1IC

slungle between international capital and labour. However, a proletarian revol- Early days of the Salvador junta: Andano, Gutierrez, Ungo, Majano and Mayorga.

victory in inis siruggle is dependent not only upon crushing the forces of capitalism based on While vehemently anti- a broad social and radical petty political foundation formed in ship th uh mass consistently refuses to call for the first place by the working this the Salvadorean the political independence and the Casallin advanced middle classes.

NOT

sun ply be sub. une workme cass am a on jected betrayals after the the destruction of the capitalist ately united with them will but rather than defeat of the they system grave simply rid it of its 'degenerate' forward this platform, stand carry losing even the war oust the elements and realign the rela- managers of small- and medium- tionship of oligarchy. sections

HAUSIES.

The history of the Salvador- agricultural businessmen, (smal las vetween ean left, its political develop- capital and labour) through and medium coffee growers and social composition ment, of agriculture Diancie Every permutation of radical and cattle raising).

LIC

conultiol against imperialism It will also include honest 9те in many Incon-mac spects distin from those of advance of that produced by the professionals, the progressive le Nicaraguan FSLI FSLN-is to be found, but on clergy, democratic parties such its close these central Moreover links with the Sandinistas, it is Nationalist Movement), the instance still possible that under pressure distinguish the politics of social of Christian advanced sectors left revolution from those the

LIUM

lasses

LIC

pendency. worm du ones Salvador will be forced to recog- army officers, who are willing to pontical relorm) tnere is suence nise of the 'negative' The key text in this regard is serve the interests of the people some the programme of the coordin- sEclUIs, the Nicaraguan revolution.

i savour of read demic a persons or However, the great weight of road democracy entitled evidence points in the opposite masses. directionbe holy showing Democratic pendent development and the ender. kevolutionary ship §' committed to Government. Its Compositior popular freedom". and Platform the politics of petty bourgeois of Political Its Ine programme goes on lo call for ' trade, catioricity, or and nationalisation •tructura ana soca cnanaes the class collaborationist states: foreign strategy of the popular front.

government will Danks. Dul. "al without affecting the small and medium companies which will be given stimulus and (Tasks and Objectives, sub- section e). It calls for the destruction of the repressive bodies ORDEN the Nacional, and the Guardia *one a our or lit new army will be created: "constructed during Teoltonair into which will process incorporated those healthy and worthy members of the present paragraph subsection g). A later confirms includes otticers). Independence Foreign policy will be direc- ted on the basis oi indepen dence: "peaceful coexistence, equal rights and mutual respect between states. Education health, credit, are all outined and agrarian along- scale of wages, a literacy cam- paign and general 'cultural trans lormaton, treated as ends in themselves than transitional rather demand The success this pro- oI grammatic outline as a platform lor a popular Ironl was proveu with re call selity

CRM

itself already represents, as we shall see, which, of forces calling for 'unity although-long political conflict for over decade. Differences Its largest components, the (BPR) and the Frente de Accion Popular Unificada (FAPU), and (LP-28) de Febrero had sub- stantial differences over tactics.

But they had been united in opposition to tne strategy of tne Communist Party, the electoral front of which-the

UDN

fourth oi the signatory PART TWO of a background series by DON FLINT. They attacked the UP as reformist' before the Davisally joine revisionist lon the government set military junta in October 1979.

Nevertheless, these groups share a .adherence Iorma 'marxism' and 'socialism', and possess a sufficiently large mem- bership within the working class workers mass ecos dered workers' parties. petty bourgeois with pontics and leaderships. Coherent move Their alliance on the basis of the programme of 28 Februar was in many respects a coherent and consistent move

FSLN

exatitle Nicaragua- in terms of the of 'prolonged peoples strategy war and the alliances' with capitalist organis- ations conscquenty, davug umte , the CRM the 'established left appealed for the successfully of the Frent Demo. cratico Salvadoreno (FDS).

after the an unree or ek The

FDS,

formed

CORNE

small social democratic MNR tiny Social Christian party, the Bedtime genoctal politicians had who resigned from the government over previous months in protest at it: repressive policies, independent professiona and trade unions which had hitherte resisted affiliating the left parties 18 April the CR and Un Frente Democratico Revolu-

(FDR),

cionario secretary aurelal Alvarez, previously minister of agriculture for the junta April the has been engaged emulating the 'successes' of the FSLN last year in drumming up am lot Is caust amongst socia democratic' regimes The leading political figures of the October-Januarv have toured the chancelleries of search of backing world in newfound democratic locomotive. These are the Chamorros Salvador Hector Dada (ex-Foreign Minis- ter); Ruben Zamora (ex-Minister presetty wild February of this year was attacked for close being Page 3 alliance with the US State Den artment' by Salvador Cayetano Carpio of the BPR-FPL but is now a edog acted or ca FDR; Roman Mayorga (ex-junta member). and Guillermo Ungo of the

MNR

and ex Heale junta member) whom the "petty bourgeois reformists cobweb fully entwined in the oligarchy' TOf Boletin Internacional, Jan. 1980 29-30) pp. In sum, the FDR fosters the political enterprise of bourgeois figures and I parties which, , while they may be distinguished from the central oligarchic

DOC

actively participated in a regime that killed hundreds of workers and • peasants In unt imperialism and with the full knowledge that the junta was totally mortgaged to the Us State Department. this differ from their Nicaraguan contieres wind were faced with the : monolithic Somocista bloc with which they could, despite frenzied efforts, achieve no institutional settle- Moreover, in Nicaragua there scope for was no separate arrangement with the military Nacional Guardia very owed existence and survival to the Somoza dynasty which guaranteed it a share o mne lamv s oool. are actual used it against other sectors of capital To • of the be sure. Salvadorean dissident bourgeois politicians may have been per- outracel LIlt methods employed by their military allies But their principal reason for quitting the ship the fact that this repression encouraged actively resistance a me come revolutial consciousness amongst the masses. transferring their allegiances they have certainly their polished 'democratic credentials: but the nave als moved to safeguard the norms of property ('small- and medium the perspicacious tradiction that relates the to different interests of the specific and the general. 1 ne danger to the workers movement however, remains just as great.

TORIES SLASH SICK PAY

Page 4 One proposal made by welfare. This means the loss of the Thatcher three out of every four jobs in government sickness benefit sections of which has received remarkably little attention, What is more, the Tories are has been the Green Paper on proposing abolish the sickness benefits (known as earnings-related Employers Sick Strategy wnich sick workers are entitled at the moment. Employers Pay-or ESSP). will be Day a llal If you're lucky enough to minimum rate which have a iob vou wil no taxed and subject National

CONO

see from your slip that pay Insurance deductons. I his will weekly and part your hit all workers-and especially monthlv deductions those with dependants. 'to tne National Insurance Scheme.

Your own doctor's opinion You probably think that will no longer be enough either. this money is all going towards A imm's medical officer will be your retirement pension, your any

NHS

aoe over-rice sickness benefit when you are medical certificates. Closely related to the ESSP wilows pensions. caca grants etc. Well think again!

Scheme are allacks If the Green Paper's propsals maternity benefits and become wil injuries payments, law. yUu still be pay ing out as much from oth of which look certain to be your the benefits you're entitled will slashed. Thatcher cer101s l taking the first steps to break So far the annua the conferences of the two up Nalunal Hiall Scheme as an integral part of Civil the cuts in public spending and and the SCPS. have come out strongly against the Green Paper the drive sack cavi servants proposals. In the DHSs The main growing rank-and-file fear about proposals are follows. First the number ot jobs to be cut Inal employers should be responsible Jn10T leader ships paying sick have been silent on the whole off whilst Thatcher workers matter who are WOrk 101 weeks continue to be no sick pay for wheels motion for the the first three days of illness as changes to go through. The CPSA in particular must Il'W only forced to take a lead within posses WIll 'obliged to pay a minimum rate the TUC in campaigning against all and entitlement state Green Any such campaign cannot. be divorced venent will apo seed

TOT

from the wider the first eight weeks. questions of the Working and attacks on social security.

will have no reductions in thei *No reduction state contributions the state benefits! scheme, but employers will have *For an increase in all basic which then be rates The DHSS deals with about linked inflation 10 million claims sickness for union asses co Trace committees! Denent excaved these are for periods of less than the books of the a month. So fell swoop at one National Insurance sonelie private enterprise will take over reveal now much is collected ur massive portion state and how much is paid out!

• OT Polish workers need a Leninist party! Last Tuesday a meeting was in the class lative outerenca called struggle Poland in 1980 anel 5156, 1970 or 1976. individual members the Labour Party to discuss solidar- last ten years the Inte Polish workers have learned not tv acuon wild tae rouse work- ing class. to trust the broken promises of Robin Blick, former the bureaucracy. Trotskvist. opened the meeting But it seemed me on After series 5. hearing this crowd of intellec- correct observations about the tual Libertarians that what the Polish working class needs launched an attack on Trotsky- 1980 more than anything ist parties in Britain. This set the principled disciplined revolutionary leadership Speakers from the platform carry them through to victory.

_comprising both Polish and British strands of reformism, an Silence and libertarian 'Marxist' all joined in on an One point Robin coITeCt attack on Leninism. Blick made in his introduction They declared that the main was Ine sence tom ine dark.

development in Poland was the leadership of the British late = tennisthe Polish

WUIKCIS

movement on the histori cert the events in Poland proved that workers by their own autono- Callying trougn ' a successiul ponnical revolution know where their leaders motley creW. …rOT this stand. and Anarchists ex-- TOtarVICts As a member of the WSL this is indeed an easy poine leaders or the Just let the workers get on 1 with comina tee who needs a revolutionary party? trade vith the Stalist bureaucrack Not yet won of tastern Europe reflects then own disquiet at any attack on Of course what was missed privilege. cut was that the Polish workers their courageous We welcome readers Fees, have not yet won letters a many more concessions on any topic, bureaucracy preferably not more Sefore they have to inter- than 400 words Triskyists can see the quali- length.

FOR TAMESIDE GAG

As the TUC Congress conference etried ent head the leaflet advertising grinds into action, the NUJ slogan Support the Irish delegation has a mandate to Bring: War people the challenge the section of the Britam' * General Council Report which spells out the bureau- Content clear for dis- cratic arguments affiliating Tameside Trades To those who know little of Ireland the slogan Council. the war "Bring the War to Britain" is of Since few trade unionists inter- Report various see normall pretations is not a slogan may be of interest for Socialist which Socialist Press advocates.

look the readers at

SILS

content • states that the war in Ireland is TUC as its pretext for knifing matter of concern for the Tameside's attempts to promote working cass. aiscussion on ine war in Ireland than simply lamenting the war -and the general threat that socialists should be fighting for hangs over any Trades Council active support Trish TO1 The that ace seport section 88, people in the British labour Report, section points out that: is against this that the "In February 1980 the TUC

TUC

bureaucrats object most had received information and so-called complaints local trade from

LICU

GWIl "Better Life for All" Campaign bodies is no more than pathetic ence on wormern re ana wner the British appeal to govern- Tameside Trades Council pro- hold. The ment to improve conditions in posed to particular the occupied six counties of theme and format of the Tame Northern Ireland-thus accept- side conference rise have the continued partition 01 great concern. Ireland which is the source of the ongoing national struggle But the keport grasps for a tie leaf conceal this, Cano comas up with the flims; com.

plaint that: "the Trades Council mas playing an active part i sort of its oran sad, contrary continued trade anionists to sTre Напрожет heinous obvousy cler lorate ounci- men Threat But the TUC makes it clea that in their view: • ОДОНА "trades councils have a res- ponsibility to the TUC to work for and support the implemen tation of Congress policy.

It is also a requirement that trades

ECONDMY TOUR

TUC SEEKS FIG-LEAF

councils must not associate with organisations. and their repres entatives, policies whost of Congress" course, is a threat not only to lameside bu the TUC-wishes fight the Tory offensive: only last month Len Murray vetoed a NW TUC plan for regional Day of Action on unemployment. Ultimatum The General Council then laid down following ulti- matum to lameside "a) it must dissociate itself publicly from publicity material including the slogan War to Britain", which had been issued by the Trades Council in connecuon war me conterence on Ireland. b) it must give an undertak ing not to hold any conference on Ireland witnout Irst securing the agreement of the TUC abou the format, agenda and speaker for such a conference c) it must undertake to play active role in the an county councils and nominate to cooper

TABETTER

Bureaucratic platform of "Better Life for All" SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 ate with the District Manpower Committee and other relevant bodies; it must : act at all times within the •terms of Congress policy and carr out the DroDer function of a trades council as set out in the model rules.

Scapegoat notner worde ameride har been used as a scapegoat by the

TUC

in order muzzle broader discussion hog-tie • the Trades ane Councils to the wretched capitu- lationist policies adopted bv the TUC-designed to cripple any real fight against the Tories By their votes on this issue therefore, trade union leaders will. indicate both their stance on the lrish war and their atti- local initiatives and Tude struggles against the Thatcher Meanwhile the fight within the trade unions and Labour Party must stepped up around the demands Troops out of Ireland now!

Self determination for the Irish people! Restore political status to republican PoWs!

"ONDO

I Conference of the Labour Part Labour: no answer to SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 Tory cuts A central feature of the Tory attack on the working class is the huge wave of cuts in public services-in particular the health service, education and social services. Bitterness at such cuts and willingness to fight them has emerged in a large number of few SLIULLIeS natonal protest demonstrations -but has been largely contained of protest within the confines determined to avoid a full-scale confrontation with the Tory approach is well reflected in the motions on cuts COHSE leader Spanswick Party connerence Nor do major public Not one resolution declares sector

NUPE

COHSE

the GMWU or the TGWU, have Suo or 10l ne sua unde have actually taken place against any tangible policy offer the cuts- in particular the occu- Labour activists: pations ot nurseries and hospit- resolutions on the cuts reduce themselves to the

PRESS

GANG

From the Prime Minister's taking personal responsibility Press Office: To all Fleet Street for the headlines. Don't forge Editors. where that Knighthood came from. Vic!) Re unwanted attacks on this The Daily Telegraph showed government's policies. uncommon lack of tact. The combination of the two head. lines over It has come as something of million-Policy right says Thatcher) contained a disappointment to the Prime an impli Minister to find that our policie cation that our surely are not being derended with the "nemboment—and vigour to which we feel we are has been clearly understood that entitled. this is not to be said. week unemployment passed the two million figure. I

XXXXXXX

would remind that you two millon is An adjacent story about the necessarily of any other —not significance in itself. engineers' 20% wage claim was well placed since it highlighted which Wav newspapers went out of their our message that ettorts to keer way to draw up with the cost of living throw unnecessary atten- people out of work. oi the DIlI next Tal mas have picture of Mrs Thatcher with a forgotten 10 yUur wasp on her nose! She was We understand that we can clearly flinching! little else from the sometimes wonder if the expect Daily Telegraph does not have a Mirror. "Betrayal oi a Trotskyist mole somewhere on Is about wnat we would expect from Callaghan's speechwriters.

its staff. If so he or she should We felt however be rooted out at once. that it was Headlines aside, press En e arenine Standard to headline the defence government is now flagging-often little more unemployed than exhortations not to do a Lunos sevedores non. 'U turn'. There is a dire need for This shows lack of imagina- innovation. in headline writing-2,001, tion 208 Wu em ine as the number of people out of

XXXXXXX

We have written separately Sir Victor to the paper's owner. On a more cheerful note, Matthews, since. Mrs, Thatcher the Prime Minister has asked understood thank inat ne was me to your By John Lister of until the "'next waltung Labour government" office-in four years' time!

In this light of course some

ALICIAITO OI TRACCO SUCTINIOCAT

very left wing demands-for an end to private medicine and private education. ores cription, dental and opticians charges, a reversal of the cuts. of the pharma- ceutical industry, and many others. Relegated But-as ever in social demo- cratic politics-these lofty objec- inite future, 980 while in the real world of workers 41 c onerca .. . not even a minimas protest campaign. The fact is that the only way IaNS to achieve a restoration of the public services that have been Labour axed by governments in the pursuit of profits, is through the develop- coverage of Poland. It is most important that we show public that these the Commie policies don't work.

XXXXXXX

But I was wondering if we word to cola tina replace 'strikers' in Poland. has such bad connotations!

Anyway, keep up the good work. Think of those poor Poles coula you check that none of these journalists has been con- taminated being

UIE

SUKE

Judging from what I saw of they haven't- them on telly but you

LOC

careful! Victor Matthews way. Callaghan ment of struggles now against "right" of accepted the the every aspect of the lory attack Tories govern -and slash Threatened facilities must be public services-for five years.

occupied; local cuts must fight for Serious fight level; and the full resources public sector The Callaghan leadership has umons musi made available to support and declared that Thatcher can'only extend struggles against the cuts removed by the ballot box an all-out light to remove and has opposed industrial the Tory government. action against the Tories against the cuts is therefore also bound up Opposed build movement Under such conditions prepared workers would be best placed for action to defend focus demands the working class their 101 Only this way can the leaders, and to . remove those aspirations many

SOMAIST

COT

who betray the struggle. rank and file Labour activists transformed from far- Union leaders have reneated.

ly shown they stand in practice opposed to such a fight. practical action. have Icadels, 100, Scots 'lefts' plan rate increases "Rate rises just However the discussion did are cuts" show another form of that

LUL

Edinburgh

CLP

lavouring a poncy oi no cuts' warned are not prepared at this point to delegate Joe ka xtei at the fact that this conference in Stirling last requires a light against the Tory government. Saturday. But the warning was not heeded bv the maioritv of the Massive increases conference, convened by the Scottish area of the Labour Councils such as Dundee and coordmating . Committee unde the title: Stirling District Councis where "The scope for social LCC. members are able to put policies in local government" their policies into four agenda covered • piaulice. alt subjects through preparig massive increases on the District *Democratic accountab- rate of between 60-100%. ility of Labour groups. To *The the Labour will be offset-by the fact that •Party ‹the organis- (Labour-controlled!) regional councils are ities) *Industrial out cuts, and the regional rate democracy makes up three-quarters of the local government total rate. Labour councils

"HOW

Scottish should oppose the government's rowever people will have to face up t CuLS Labour-imposed cuts in regiona Impatient necessary allout rigia tor Instead preparing the brin The 85 Labour activists who the Tories, the 'lefts' o attended-including 28 council- the LCC are taking partial steps were obviously impatient which can only lead to confu to get to the final item sion and demoralisation agenda. and time ran out before the discussion on fighting the cuts could come to any conclu- sion. Page 5 NF demo did Labour Council know? It seems more than likely that Nuneaton's Labour Council was involved in the secret plans to allow National Front fascists free run in the town on 17 August. As we reported in the last issue of socialist tress it is quil clear that the police knew well in advance that march the was going lake place But individual of members the Council's Policy anc Kesources commitee are rebor ted to have said that they knew of the planned march previous Wednesdav, the lunch time or the evening before the march Ban The Mayor has been quoted press as saying that th Louica walteu to dooly 101 but that the imm er late han police said they could handle More soniicantiv. a rumou is circulating in Nuneaton that a request was to the police to keer • the anti-lascist coache out of Nuneaton! The Nuneaton Committee Against Racism and Fascism has taken up these points in a letter to Policy and Resources Committee They when did members the Council first know of the planned march and was it confirmed? What wnen decisions did they take the march? Did the agree to 1 gomg aneaa: Dia an member of the Council ask fo the be kept out anti-fascists to What steps did they take to inform the people of Nuncaton that severa fascists were descending on their town? What were the costs of march. полотесии and what pay ofthese costs il met people Nuneaton? At the time of writing no reply has been received, although it has ocen one was posted four days ago.

Public meeting The Nuneaton Committee Against Racism and Fascism is to hold . a public meeting when complicity the Labour 01 Council have been carried out Ihose anested in Nuneator on August 17 come up in court on October 2. delence formed and fund-raising Deen social events are being planned to contribute towards expenses is being demon aration or ned nas entre te been fixed Sunday September 28 Further details be can obtained from and contribu. tions to the detence fund can he sent to Nuneaton .Committee Against Racism and rascism 11 bukneion cane kerwort Nuneaton, North Warwickshire.

One anti-fascist who had to was dealt Termany with by the courts the day after the march and was fined £50.

starl AuL laSCISts sending money in now and start preparations for a big turnout on the march Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement "CAV and the Car Industry - make the bosses pay for the CriSIS Monday 8 September at 8pm Co-op Hall, Acton High St Speaker: Alan Thornett. BI Cowley steward, in personal

POLISH WORKERS' LON

STRUGGLE AGAINST STA

Page 6 In latte 1939, while Nazi troops invaded Poland from the West, the Red Army in accordance with the Hitler- Stalin Pact and under the pretence of protecting the Soviet Union's borders and defeating the war of Polish landlords', invaded from the East. There is no question of there being any progressive content to the later, invasion y calls Daci following the agreement with imperialism over the allocation wurope the ked army waste of the installation of a dominated by government Polish Stalmist Party aman are a act. been hastily resurrected a short time previously In 1938 Stalin's purges had totally destroyed the • CommunIt arrested April 1938 and shot. the dissolution "had been infiltrated by agents provoca- leuls. anu onel enemies of the working class".

When Stalin found desirable as int folish workers farty (now the Polish United Workers followed forced amalgama- with i Dollars rally 1940) 11 grew fashion as to satisfy even him The to Nazi resistance deformed workers' states, was an enormous industrial growth.

occupation was Ica Dr Communists, who played increase 158% was small though increasingly impor- claimed for the years 1949-53.

role. tant But this Paying ine Cos growth was the working class. wine ok was to be a vital part of the East itself quickly grew European buffer. witil muustilal development, the proletariat not only saw targets Bureaucratic ly abandoned in lavour or neavy The ind astry, buas 10% ny the med transformation deformed as much as 10%. By the mid Poland into 1950s workers • State Was CallICu

WOIKES

against economic and political through in a totally bureaucratic manner under the watchful eye repression. of the Red Army Where revolu- The subterranean growth of tionary actions had been taken semi- chaos mis- by the working class tney were tha1 and the forms only of national con my something he produced reversed, these actions later taken again in controlled a110 bureaucratic alla Lilt manner increased scope for political and Poland, as in the other following economic reform In 1953, Fastern European states allotted death reflected in the ruling bureau- to the USSR at Teheran Yalta, structural cracy. the which led Ilalional Concessions The creation or une workers' states was definitively set inm tie pomad follo47, In 1948 Gomulka had been following deposed, not only seemed to the Soviet leadership fine largely independently the 'Titois nationalist working class, in out. varululally. way carried through the histor- because he had argued ToI policy of concessions (especially ically progressive task or lemov ng fron power the bourgeoisie vasally, as a woulilvi which had remained power went to rao mouseasa and fairly limited agrarian OnEY Decise

OWIL

treacherous policies the collectivisation. previous period In 1953 the workers' revolt this and this alone in East Germany argued point; Polish developments con- that hee ine proeressve content of the Stalinist transformations 'reformist" cmuca to do of the period. And sive hask they carried thougn s wing developed

• TUNES?

sasps and yards bir featatine towards totally alienate working "democratisation' and 'de-Stalin- The class itself so that within seven Isation —urgea on Dy a reluctall completion years of the peasantry and disaffected intelligent sia and made impera- v n vc c working case armed tive by a seething working class revolt against the Stalinist The new Party leader Ochab regime". elected as a compromise candi- (Wohlforth, The Theory of date following the timely death Structural Assimilation, p.31).

early 1956, raised of Bierut in lowest-paid of the wares Industrial growth workers and claimed that was all that could be afforded. A tour though, revealed the central feature of the 01 • 1esa. socialist economy of the ot the banned really post-war Poland as in the other working class opposition and he Red Army troops liberate Poland 1944: 600,000 Soviet soldiers were killed.

for announced a 15% increase There had already been • miners. strikes in Gdansk. 'liberals' and the 'Stalin- and the reformis Ists'-that conservative wings or starnisi were both warned alarmingly could by happen, in the workers reDemon of Poznan. There workers had for some time been Zispo threatening action in the ocomotive carrrice ano arma ments factory. Conflict Irregular of materials matesalve atten and ninge above production increased schedules which lowered their miserable still wages brought the workers into direct conflict with the management The local PUWP organisation third the workers belonger -and bureaucratic trade union organ showed which side they isation delegatior Wert Wai despatched to the Ministry and the metallurgical union head- quarters in warsaw the capital i the govern ment agreed to refund exces- tax deductions and to ' pay tul bonuses. Dul dor ation's central demand - immediate 20% unfounded An rumour that their delegates hac been arrested deepeend the Zispo workers' reaction to th rejection of their pay demand On marched to the city centre, gathering on their way thous Polish 'reforming' leader Gomulka (right) with E. German leader Ulbricht in 1957.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 Tanks in Poznan, 1956. cere forested the mere ands of other workers. lo the slogans demanding day. class original working were higher wages were added others indication of the price ol more own witn • Dread >4 were dead "Down with false communism" 300 wounded and about 300 "Down with Soviet occupa- arrested tion" "progressive" Stalinist Different groups of demon wing understood the signific. invaded police head Poznan. Strike: strators ance were seized Gdynia, Quarters anu wed.Dolls an eda y occurin Gdansk and Silesia, and military attacked the radio bullding anc broke cates prone "Armed brutality might not be able to provocateurs" contain many Poznans at once govern were explained) aller warus LItt mace or the security police given bread and the lusion o.

building some control over their exist- He deeds of toy bates. ence then the bureaucrats might down were bullets end up losing cavale Armed battles continued power which suited their own throughout the day; but army tastes units of the interna So the inquiry into the forces and the security civil Poznan uprising modified the analysis which had appearer streets and crushed the last Stalinist bloc throughout the

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 G

LINISM

Yugoslavia) which (excepting spoke of it racinary open reactionary underground agents" (Pravda), a • careruly preparea provocative diversionary ised by (Trybuna Luck. Polish Party daily). conceded that "the strike action of the Poznan WOTKeES was to a consoet. able extent caused by bureau- of the state. The reform asts, by the time of the Centra Committee Seventh Plenum or the need for , were convinced need economic and of the the concertone masses: increasing food and goods production, and peasants. promoting 'workers' participa- In opposition to this wing of there emerged ne burcaucracy minority 'Natolin The nostly from the police, military the industry inter- alll Hallane neavy defending their sectional They had the comfort aving, I not an increasing leve TaNK Party militants, intellectuals and rade union bureaucrats, then at support of the soviet •ureaucacy. which rearer ine so he Tenors of an acceleration reforms' permitted in the Popularity Gomulka, expened leadership and the PUWP rom 1948, had somehow fate Hungary, Rajk in Czechoslovakia. and many otners. In 195o al ne had o do was wait for the reform.

to claim him and make use his popularitv-as a national- who had earlier 'defied' the

JSSR,

as a friend of the rich casals, as a symbol la symbol workers soon learned) of ipposition to Stalinism. Gomulka be re- was dected Secretarv General at 'a central Committee meeting on 9 October 1956, and the hard- Politburo. The Natolinians in pread of core miste prepared They turn drew lo be anested perore the centra Committee meeting. Moscow informed; sections was the alilly under marched towards tenerals Warine Gomulkaists allied their own source of their success was the basis they established for them- in the masses, till ugl Warsaw Partv Committee and union bureaucrats, in the intellectual centres most importantly, in the big Warsaw factories.

Insurrection They threatened an insurrec- tion. It was a dangerous, though move: level cossaly. uscontent me une workine cas threatened to remove not only hard-line Stalinists from of the but the whole parasitic bureaucracy. moment, though, the Stalinist party and organisations wore m control or lne lactones tney mobilised. Arms were distributed to the factories, but were under lock and key. The keys were in the pockets of the party and union bureaucrats they exerted themselves to keep the worker: streets and under O I tne control. This was the situation in the factories on 19 October; wOrKers were not loo or the Russian and Polish tanks moving towards Warsaw. While meetings were Illas mouse workes m une lac- case 'reformists' TOTIeS needed them, the Central Com- mite as with almost meeting entire Soviet Politburo and had

HOME VE

ledaer snip arrived that morning to strengthen the hard-line Broadcast Gomulka, threatening broadcast news of troop movements to the promising was the formation of October' workers' councils the factories, largely independent of villal Dally ana UmOn organisations. Primarily an expression of working class con necessil organs resoonsive to their ince.

pendent class interests-and looked forward similar back pervader k muscoev zo down. The troops turned back were able control and Kruschev and Co flew home -still unconvincer that the rehabilitated 'traitor would and could the secure ain Polish working wass as a peace ful cog in the Eastern European machine they operated from Moscow was beginning the independently had Cod Gomulka bureaucracy sought workers' prior harnes do yall to les destroying His own ends un i uctober there making self workers were riots in Wroclaw and, the management' the councils demonstrations as a form of the Loran Warsaw there were

WOTKS

strikes. ied campaign On 23 October, as revolu- Him it their small Dantee une streets Budapest Hungary red, trate them Gomülka was finally given com- transform Soviet backle Wa. opposite: then able to turn his attention controllin eveloping only the wnose movement working class was that they hi! Was were the VaLE own lactories. machinery deformed Polish workers. though workers' as such duped by the anti-Stalinist' rung who romuika maintain tnt was i0l lie me vene cenamely popular, had been fighting a real proletariat. battle and were determined to long after cla im their own. their real the councis formed b 'Support' Their support the of Gomulka in tor Hungarian revoluton, manifes- ted demonstrations and ily subscriptions, threaten- due presence set fire to the whole deformed Eastern Stalinist structure of workplaces Europe. The throughout victoriou Gomulkaists themselves found it limits until • a little the essea further than Gomulka's in terms independence the affirmation of Warsaw Pact and the USSR After the second invasion of the Soviet Army Kuldanest nu on 4 November, when it became clear that the Hungarian revolu would be crushed revolutionary oi an Gomulka publicly dissociated leader ship, the himself from Nagy. aule to The the central leature or workers' struggle in the Polish Page 7 Delegates to the 20th Congress of the CPSU hear Kruscher denounce Stalin in 1956.

The ideological role played There can also be no doubt that by long Sultall Was history Poland o las casily ain popular amongst most sections 01 of the population. His rhetoric, oppressed nation reforms, made : actual continue in the subservience ilusions about of Poland to the Soviet bureau- substanta une anti-Stalinism that cracy, and the oppression and alienation of the subtly woven during the period exile from And he was able to grant Marxism' renounces , ine when some gains-includin, Marxist humanism and declares workers wage rises-as part of his liberal that profound social most initiative. peasantry the did polish 1 cvolutor

CONSIS

even simply in the nationalisation of 1 ne October Out property and the dictatorship of better as collectivisation was clique, the vul calvialt abandoned. The Cardinal has an obvious michelse Cano given their or elekoplay in the pasce were more precious Increased 'freedoms'. workers' peasants' for small private enter mierests nature Church an organisation foreshadowing Ominously apparently outside hated ents Stalinist structures of the state is an invaluable asset to God and vulcaulialy USSR a greater his cled, very often, autonomy aid to 256 e and ened with • vuicaulial for spontan- church wagn cously gave its aid to Gomulka's lilat the of the drive thwart struggle ЗMТO Wyszynski, From Soviet Union while the Hungarians were fight.

itself, ing tanks and huge demonstra.

tions of support for them arose rape of the Polish Poland urged his congrega "Poles know how to die magnificently. But, beloved Poles need to know how work magnicenty. A man die but once and is quickly covered had in glory. But Poland he gives long years been selling • Soviet Unior world Loudle nataship, pamn anc coal at This greater sultering heroism always tedd suffer- 1957 (hich the elections of January witn a joke about their ings as the Western media like telling spoke thus of ( Polish us, based on appeals to Debiscure Soviet trade national independenc and the m the me stalin. Ine agreement was, we continuing popularity of send them our corn and they wheat".) voluka, une cauca take This was. our pany with the imperialist Radio Europe, urged Poles mayhably, lamer more popula to than Gomulka's announcement line with Gomulka volt : Soviet troops would remain that appeals. It was an alliance that was to continue, in Poland-despite the dismissal in its essence, Russian generals from the beneath mutua rema Polish army. struggle for The inauguration of a closer influence over the masses.

The Polish Done between une sae anot workers had Catholic Church also resulted of Wyszvnski's 'trouble from October, and was to have a and suffering' -another delight inflicted after Gomulka's lor tne bourgeois dress. an earl reformism revealed itself mully as expression of Gomulka's rise to power was the release perpetuation Stalinist OI Cardinal Wyszynski from house ; opted oppression. In 1970 they out arrest anu. soon alterwards unf "greater heroism'; they signing of a new Concordat with revolted against oppression the Church. aside as they / did so unho wing This was a popula move, the man who had clawed him- self whip and bridle ready, all une dice tole di me caure up, the consciousness the ride on their backs to power Polish masses cannot be denied in 1956. vall Dolle than the Poles ly simply Concluded that Irish) are inherently next week religious.

Why capitalist measures can't end unemployment Page 8 of When the month August added over 100,000 to the unemployment regis- ter to put two over million for the first time 1934, Thatcher and Prior arrogantly put the blame on the

TOT

workers themselves. This was inst an instance of the way in which the capitalist class in Britain and else- both where. maKes use or l exist- ence of the mass unemployment it has created to strengthen its its anti-working class objectives.

Propaganda So, for xample throughout the world, the bour geoisle is conducting a massive propaganda campaign alleging that it is the . of the work- greed itself codies unemployment. Workers, by demanding too take or refusine to cuts in pay, are, so the argument "pricing themselves out of goes, a job". Like other notions which are by capitalist this

UIC

llas subscribed power because it 1s to also by a large proportion of the established leadership of the working class. And that occurs because also this other notions

IONI INC

ol bourgeois laeology, contans a tiny is rial chat the of oth life of one capitalist unreateneu with imminent bankruptcy and Piot. a tie ases be closure, extender Lne workers were forced to take a that existing WaLC prices the to make a profit of cases in the Tew monens unorganisea workers have been "persuaded" by this plausible looking argu- Rut tne element onths ard that in reat lend reality. that utteriv false Measures which might tem- porarly nep une workers or d single capitalist in alliance with their exploiter, cannot if univer- sany applea assist the workg as a whole against their

OXDIUILCES

the contrarv. General cuts under capitalism will wage not only fail to eliminate unem- ployment, Tney

WODO

the creation of unem- and intensifica- ployment the This is precisely a concrete illustration the contradic- emphasised which Marx between the production and realisation of surplus value.

One-sided strete ase equally in contrat this central illustrations contradiction in the panaceas oi the left of the Labour Party and the Communist Party: Just as une ors arzuncil.

that workers price themselves out jobs, depends for its limited and ism, so equally do the favourite arguments of the left reformers eliminated by government spending and import controls.

first of these arguments is another example of the failure to recognise the contradictions the conditions for producing and realising surplus value. would ment the problem go of the Labour away as many lefts imply simply by in government spending increase then why are the leaders of the 16

54-1 LYON. EAL

2556: AMA

capitalist class at the present time so desperate

TOT

to be Vhile an increase public serume on use Duorc works create jobs an essential 1S part of the socialist programme SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 Final part of a series by Bob Sutcliffe full pay rather than redundan- cles; government spenane

• DIO

grammes on useful public works create new jobs-but at the time points towards the abolition of the system which already refuses to implement such measures. Mass unemployment today is being created in tne interests or the capitalist system. It will not be : eliminated by con- tribute to the development of a political from • the response which exploited classes capable of expropriating eliminating private property an of eventual profit rather than social need as basis production Even the capitalists statistics show beyond question crisis present canals sy sten virtuall unable to offer any of •Kind a whole gener- employment Tea-break in a Japanese car plant: exporting unemployment is no answer : the Under such conditions controls is fact an almost Pro- Transitiona gramme the Fourth oi inter. Tories' arguments about wage have renewed national vuls Teevance 125° In that programme, Trotsky wace CuLS

IT DOIL

controls involve a section of the thai the argued question working class ally- international of was unemo oven ing guarding the proletariat from appropilalt 103-3521-es 37 section of its own exploiters decay, demoralisation and ruin and other workers life 1 ne • Guest I exo olers death of the onv Like wage cuts, import class, and by that controls they were general token of the future of mankind.

5332 ised would have a detrimental "Let it perish" lavourdult influence on the interests of the If capitalism is incapable of working class.

DOME MINES I

• demane. These examples of the conse- ably arising from the calamities generated by itself, then let it The the production and 77° 241 realisation of surplus value illu-

EXXON

Socialist economy strate workers. will That carilals! self-management relations there is no straight- substitution o

BIOT

forward non-contradictory way

SELLE 4TX

mass unemployment by jobs for

BASK HIDE

all; it will mean a revolutionary oi combatting or any of the other ills created and capitalist its society Under capitalism labour crisis. alienated; workers are forced to

EAST KANAK

contradic of the fight for iobs simply in order to shows that the interests survive. tion be In socialist planned working class cannot OI tie

157-50 MINHESITA

labour can becomi protectea by civiang ll up could y each one of them ine unanenated exoTeston forming an alliance with "their the conscious decisions of section of the exploiting human beings. WiN TOM 63 own' 180 capitalism the fight

RJON

capitalist class. Unce against mass unemployment takes the form of a fight for the Organise alienated

ELF GABON 77E

15 Deton labour, but it can only be defin- Those interests can only be itively successful insofar as it is protected inrougn a struggle In the which the „vorking. class acts of a struggle into the fight to independently its destroy and replace the system exploiters makes a chale both between firms and unity labour necessary. and nationally, Luustics Derween ally-and not competition 1n with eachother. Makers of And more than anything, be waged in the Blue usu workers movemen aase unt Modern division, which the capitalists need to foment, unlovel Marxism workers. This means in part a organise the unem- struggle to ploved within the framework of the trade unions. But generally more the organised Lilt employed working class must be By Terry Eagleton mobilised against unemploy- Programme A Socialist Press But such a united and inde- pamphlet support of pendent struggle in

NOW AVAILABLE

the materia ana polical miel- ests of the working class inter- This Socialist Press nationally cannot be allowed to Pamphlet contains articles by Terry Eagleton marxist Caullatisl system in crisis. No answers in the Paris stock exchange: the crisis is worldwide The for struggle such the Comintern to the presen fight unemploy- that further demands needs therefore day-Lukacs, capitalist require elementay Gramso Korsch, culminating in the expropriation the right to a job for all workers Marcuse, Sartre an ben amin, must be fought for by means o itself since worsen Althusser. wond WithoUT aspects of the capitalist capitalist firms would have to be a programme of demands which Price 65p added to the demands for higher begins with were implemented. from Crisis it it means of protecting and London WCÍV 6XX. hererore une micrests stale exochullule for import creating jobs-work sharing on of class would The demand

PRIOR'S ATTACK

ON THE RIGHT

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 "Public opinion as far as I can judge concedes the right of a worker in a free society to withdraw labour, it just draws the line at strikes" With these words the satirist Michael riavn opened "Perfect aT e Strike" which he penned for the Observer many years ago. His purpose was no doubt to entertain but it appears that the tin co serousy as to construct their legislation action around the schizophrenia Frayn attributes to public TRal opinion. Under this law, the key ques- tion that will determine whether 01 not daos cries or maustral as a go-siow or a 'work to rule' are legal will be not they whether lead 0I performance of a commercial contract! As the bargaining power of any strike rests precisely on Its real or threatened capacity to intertere with the periormance of a commercial contract the purpose of the 'Catch 22' Act is outlaw all strikes that simply to of the « Into one follov in categoes: 1) strike industrial own employer at the workplace dispute or at another work- place

OW ICU

sallic employer. 2) strike industrial oI action by workers while emoved at ine workoace m dispute but employed by major supplier lila 01 customer of the workplace in dispute. Conditions However this Second called sonny are industrial action will only legas It it meets the following the «and conentions: alongside their fellow members a) There is a regular contract already out and in dispute with in existence between the work- the British Steel Corporation.

val museue do une sooter Bill Sirs, as union leader was customer where the acting illegally. industrial action is sympathy Such an action was unlikely Lakme back to nep win the strike because it b) A judge believes (after an was "too remote" to have any employer has unsuccessfully "further" the dispute impact or

SUUZIL

with the BSC. courts to stop the sympathy In fact, calling out the strike action) that the sympathy private sector, whatever appear- • strikers at the customers of or ance must suggest to the super- suppliers to the workplace in ficial observer was not an indus dispute are likely by their action trial action but a political one to help the workers at the place ror me menon ortne ron unet and Steel Trades Confederation conflict with their employer.

(ISTC)

better understood by c) That a judge is satisfied Lord Denning than by the ISTC (.) that the motivation of the leaders and members, was not to sympathy the strikers bring pressure to bear on the supplier or customer has the employer with of disrupting primary purpose in dispute but to bring pressure supplies betwen their workplace to bear on the government who and the workplace in dispute.

of course were not a party lo It might be thought bv the dispute at all-a nice the average person who doesn't juridical distinction that reflect deeply on these present is being mamtained bi matters that these last Iwe dint of injunctions against the are self-evidently Sunday Times and legal threats super mons against lournalists to betrav the sources that have contenti 'Common sense' provided substantial evidence to the contrary Denning's superior Surely workers don't opt for

LOTO

qualities as a trade union strate- courses of maustrial action that gist led him last year to uphold are unlikely •to achieve their objectives? And pursuing this Express Newspapers for an injunction common sense logic, inat has so against the National Union blighted the political develop- the ment of class, a little further, he thinks Blacking to himself, the primary purpose 01 disrupting supplies must be ...to disrupt supplies. In their dispute with the Lord Denning, however, was country's provincial newspapers able to show during the recent the NUJ blacked all Press Assoc.

steel the iation when the PA wnen copy union brought out its refused stop stee to supplying members in the private sector of material

TO STRIKE

Final part of a series by Jack Burnett side of the dispute. It papers. Such blacking covering only would need very clear statutor a part of the copy that made up intersted to that papers affected did not allow The have, in the opinion of Denning the courts to act as some sort of reasonable prospect" back-seat driver in trade furthering the provincial disputes". journalists dispute. In fact its That was of course before Prior's Employment Bill became motivato was m mie words of this robed wrecker "merely law. And it is quite clear that keeping up the morale" of one incorporated Denning's rather than Scarman's side during the dispute, and a shop stewards philosophy into his legal frame- al militant Chancery will know, keeping up work dna mieros precisely to allow judges to be back-seat • 1iv1alc las likely outcome of a strike or drivers in reviewing, approving uispute trade unionists pursue in fight- ing the employers. Quite wrong The judges in the attacks on unions Here are two clear cut cases Laat • nave time and again over more than a century where the trade unionists centred their attacks believed they pursuing question of breach of contract.

various actions in furtherance However, whatever trade dispute." They thinks of the English judiciary thought bringing out wider cannot admire the one sections in one case would make energy perseverence, single it more likely they would win.

mindedness and ingenuity with another they thought wn unev nave undermined incy were disrupting Journalstk outflanker and otherwise copy for the primary purpose of flouted various Acts of Parlia- getting their employer to settle ment designed to give trade unions a The learned Lords were able to from liability claims show they were doing some employers. different. thing completely

DOLI

cases ll should be "Conspiracy" said Denning. was overruled by the Court of Appeal. In over- In 1872 the judiciary con- in turns pemmes mocemen the case of the newspaper dis victed trade unionists, who tried pute Lord Justice to Scarmat said: West London, barrassing abe for a judge nd "criminal conspiracy" 1 ne be cares upask for a judge threatened strike by gas worker!

called (then a crime) meant breaking review of a party to a trade their their com-

RICHCO

dispute and to determine bination for the DuE DOSC whether in the view of the court breaking their contracts consti- tuted an . "unjustifiable annoy- further that ance or interference with the auralice Prior spells out his strategy at the Tory Party conference.

masters in the conduct of their ousmess When Disraeli's parliament in 1875 passed a Trades Disputes All we save race nonse protection against criminal con- spiracy as long as they acted i contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute the judges had to think again. Astonishment They took a little while to do so but in 1901 they develop ed the notion of civil conspiracy and felt that the Taff Vale rail- way company could claim Galaessureren • a e with the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. They could do so said the Law Lords to the astonishment it must be said of most lawyers ol the udy. because wile Arks was a registered, it was an unin- corporated trade union. This new crime of civil con spiracy and this 'unincorpora- ted' exception to the immunity granted to trade unions m 1875 produced this observation from House of Lords first invented a new civi offence and •created a new kind of Enen defendant against whom could be alleged. Vale judgement ane completely undermine what protection had vEci trade unions in 1875. It should be said that the immunity given in furtherance or contemplation of a trade union does not, as many uninformed people believe, put trade unions above What the Act did was to say that industrial action could not Page 9 Denning spited by a man act perse trade furthering a trade dispute or not still punishable. The only dilterenco that the unionist would have to charged for the crime, a specific 101

WICE

concrete evidence would have to be furnished while conspiracy concrete evidence, permits hear- say evidence, require the crime to have taker place or prool that the alleged conspirators would carr r it out short 1s much vaguer conviction, much harsher in the it impose and can much liked by Judges and ine state as weapon.

its enemies of agamst history shows trade unionists to prominently figure. Overturned The limited Parliamentary protection granted trade unions in 18/3 was overturned bv thi Law Lords in 1901 and restored by Parliament in 1906. But the immunity granted trade union nas enrecuve v been a technicality because since 1906 actions (claims for tort • for carnace civi wrongs) nave never been brought against trade union but instead agains ment pers union who have been never given such immunity. character in 1904 a certain Rookes left his called union

DATA,

fellow workers, to protect their closed shop refused to work with him threatened the industrial management action would follow if he didn't get rid of Rookes. He did and ir his case it was held bv Lord that while the workers and the official were breaking law contemplat out industrial action once they "threatened" to do so they were guity of a new crim of civil intimidation! industrial is all action right but to threaten it is not The minority Labour govern. ment of 1974-6 was defeated b a combined opposition when it tried to draft legislation grant- ing immunity for breach contracts in contemplation or The opposition added .th words "of employment" two the consequence of this is to grant immunity for one act but take it for the conse- quences of that act. or how can a contract of employment broken without be interfering with the performance of a com.

mercial contract that the employment was engaged upon?

Notion Perhaps when James Prio brings bractice t or his next "Codes acceptable indu trial action his notion of the perfect strike will be something very like What Michae that Observer a vocater article many years ago: "A small decorous strike of in favour of lunch hour wares or lace union obeca should take place under a Liberal government just as soon Commol Market, Japan and our other principal economic competitors happen to sink into the sea.

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

St Benedicts faces crunch The continued struggle The to save St. Benedicts Hospit- sery es provide its million in al in Tootirig has become a save for the fight focal point against the cuts in London.

spending" caused by Tory cuts.

fact that the hospital The months scheduled closure Attacks Will 100 patients, is the oul solid 8-month occu- come of t'he staged alongside a barrage of attacks on by services to the elderly unleashed

NUPE,

the workforce- RCN and COHSE members. wardsworns the fight to save the Tory council including Now to lose trom anemots to rectori • a threat by the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth AHA to imple- *A £180,000 ment the closure on september 30. budget. Scots teachers sold out have Scottish teachers returned to a new session angry and frustrated with the management imposition of a 14% wage upon them settlement. bernite ine brotestatons o the leadership of the EIS, it is obvious that the Executive must nave known terms of the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee enables the

GET

management to unilaterally call in services of an arbitration board to legally impose a settle- ment upon the teachers, many now asking them- whom -what trust can be placed in a leadership which misleads the membership in this fashion?

Embittered embittered mood of The being teachitis expressed in refusal to out non-statu- duties and administrative LorY Six issues.. resolutions nave passeu calling upon the Executive to official and ban Six months There are also moves alool One year for a Special Salaries Conference a Special General Meeting aru Europe: of the Institute to change ine establish a stricuty elected Exto constitution Six months utive. All of these moves show that may received a certainly do not solDack Uut chare doe

HO0 UI

John Pollock, the National. Secretary, who characterised the settlement as "a major defeat".

and a more maccased Name.. organised union at rank better and file level means a defeat in Address. The eyes or the leadersilip unal *pe under mood ot current mood of dis- Wason with the present leader- shie ent in the elections for Council 6XX. Association Commit- and Local when they tees or war zancul *An end to telephones for AHA hopes that by the elderly geriatric end to holidays for the " AN £1.5 million in active elderly "over- *The closure of a luncheon club for old people *An increase in meals wheels prices from 6½p in 1978 Lo JuD now. Meanwhile the AHA, in plannea closure THIs pincer move designed to whittle provision for the away old plan area's 43,700 people, "replace" the 273 places now *The sacking of 28 out of 61 provided by Benedicts and st with Bolingbroke total of 55 beds in St in • the

DOSSID C

home help and meals-on-wheels Balham and South • the London Hospital for Women.

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

SOCIALIST

For a

PRESS

clear lead in the struggle against wage control, cuts and redundancies

RATES:

Trial sub (UK): ...82 £8.00 {14.00 £9.00 Rest of the World: • £10.00 Six months.... Please send me trial sub/six monthe/one year of Socialist Press. I enclose...

Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV Scots jobs fiasco In the early days of the was to Wilson Tony government, into ailing and emerging sections Benn as left-talking Industry Drivalt Secretary piloted through a profits and create" jobs Bill which set up the much- vaunted National Enterprise with the advance of the world Board. economic crisis but the illusion Inside the St Benedicts work-in to do in any Drawing attention to this onslaught on the elderly-and struggle. the particular added burden that Indeed London's 1l brings to women care older relatives

TOT

facilities are available several whom no one day stoppages by local non —the st benedicts campay nas › a struggle to defend all jobs and ser sires restricted in A campaign booklet declares action

DUESSI

firmly that: "The only way to stop the all out struggle. If the cuts is a united front against the Tories

DOTH

locally." reactionary who And it gives tangible expres sion to this. by demanding that a victory at St. Benedicts be the the cuts. basis of a fight to turn "the dis- In the meantime, against the cuts. "This can only be achieved .. if the movement use the industria and pledges surendul action to stop any committee close it. All protest must London SW17. backed by a real threat of This action should not be costed to the sector be just sector sections of should Joch workers, Regrettable It is not entirely surprising, but regrettable however, that does not go

LIC

Calli Darl place specifically further and union officials in demands

WSL

the public and private sectors to TrOl London WC1V 6XX. moniuse suct maustna aculon which they have signally failed With workers by the a way forward thousand taking the streets to oppose Tory tive policies there is plainly no lack of militancy in the au valiet organised working dass. Trade UnIor "e me exting tade 47.07 IsaacEs

ISORITE

AOTKETS

defence social sernces and sent 0aos. cratic rights These can only be sefended through policies WitC of the working class, tastich as as international Internationally, class, affiliated to nothing to gain and everythin Trom ine indecendent intaret the profitability of their "own" employing class reconstruction In a period where the contra …olctions the anarchie coit alist system force the wholesale country to closure and destruction of against imperialism productive forçes sociely wardsilic planned socialist cracies SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 lives in the make-believe The objective of the NEB on "alternative strateg and channe cance ies" of the reformist left.

Scotland, the role of the boost NEB was to be augmented by a "save" thus new SCOTtIS •ever en Agenc with offices in York and San Francises The plan tell flat on its nost New SDA's The TIne of well-paid bureaucrats gang was to hand sums of cash lure potential Us investors as a for them to set up shop in Scot- land Nearly five years later the

SDA

has single American scotti job to the industrial crumblin landscape. Collapsed And an all-party committer of MPs has divided on whether or not the Us offices should b closed down-thus axing the few administrative jobs (albeit in the USA) that the SDA did creat has invested. £22 million in 41 companies-nine ones of which have subse quenty collapsed The SDA was called upon by previous cuts the Wilson government to secure occupation a staggering 15% rate of return Elizabeth Garrett employed by capital brought tinancial vear-but instead has examples of unofficial wound up with losses that mean a disastrous rate of return of

HUS 4.JTO

to local like the NEB, the the But then. SDA's terms , of reference con officials determined to avoid al demned it to a future of baling economy with a sinking Tory cuts are to be defeated, then so too must the seive. Were there any scope for union bureaucracy profitable investment in Scot- the strength of their as a whole members more than they fear ana or 11 then capitalsts wouid be mvest without the urgings of ing: the such reformist bodies Benedicts occupation is seeking Instead the crisis of profit- ine picket in ability brings simply a rising resist the closure on October 1 of closures and redundan- More details of this picket and Lut cies that copies of ine bookiel (top pius by the defeat of the Tories and postage) are available from the the fight for a planned, socialist 72 Glasford Rd., economy. woman worker

WOMEN BEAR

WOMAN

THE BRUNT OF

UNEMPLOYMENT!

WORKER

New 6 name issue now avail.

Box 5277,

JOIN

THE

WSL!

economy on a world scale offers degenerated workers' states invite readers To achieve such a perspec.

Socialist Press to seek more details of the wst and its work • necocc which, in today's struggles fights and to join us in the struggle for beyond polities and illusions that capit- abolished through Socialist Please send me more details of the Workers Socialist League. Name Addres are newly-formed the Connie nich the forehe Fourth International and the building of revolutionary parties in every lead the struggle Send WSL: BM Box and against 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Stalinist deformed and

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday September 3, 1980 Tories back Labour's closure As expected the Tory Coventry MP William Wilson to the DES asking has written of State Secretary Mark Carlisle has confirmed the decision ana asking lot Ine same closure of Wheatley Street facints Action Giver facilities given to the Nursery School by were Coventry's Labour Council.

And in rushing to confirm Unfortunately the the closure practically as well as Council the destruction of 70 legally a private firm's removal nursery places (50 full time and van was empty the 1cec Io 20 part time) was com- school of its equipment. The and effectively local authority unions will but in a way which has done say

CODI

nave somelning to them not a bit of good. about this. In order to push through the While the DES decision will decision before the beginning of inevitably of the Lakt the new term a Council officer, ol tne anti-closure Labour Conservative sampaint to way can it be councillor the council has oi

DUK

Urue Decielary inflicted a decisive defeat.

State Rhodes Boyson Ealing NALGO fights back The young, the sick and the action. the elderly are people that This is pure hypocrisy as it since Ealine most of us think need a bit 1s no imme at all counci molementeo oute ruth.

of extra attention. less cuts on the social services including of we would be to think tha the shalled ay trained workers tres, day centres, Elthorne Park Adult Training Centre for the mentally handi- CaPNAIGO have care and attention they provide.

already held Ealing council Iwo JooDes different. which were well supported both by members and clients of the 113 day care workers, mem comes concertica Ealing have involved been Very investigation required to show that it is the Le boye since January 1979. rather than the trade unionists The Halacemen are increasing the scandalously the service Concerned about £4,000 level of wages (around being provided. gross

IOT MONI

and for improving the service that is provided.

The employers seem prepared to let the dispute carry result of the manage AS d ment off negotiators lobbing on maemney out Ine uon Is with talk of "national negotia- seeking from the tions" National Emergency Committee the Ealing workers have ballot its membership for an been forced Take mous a action in furtherance of their Ealing claim. Council fail to make an offer by 15 September council administration Ealing NALGO members are claimea to be in support ol the workers claim but as soon as the action started their real position at a time when the council is trying intimidate their work- force with redundancies. Ealing NALGO is blacking all new client admissions, refus- uner ing work demand the support of Labour cong wors a so far r have gone and refusing to send in adminis- with a quaint old custom Staff are also sticking to strict counci socame wit staff/client ratios and refusing in discussions with one vome staff sickness or employees. This cover means

IOT

because the Labourites are in a leave. action has already that

ИЗОНУ CAOM

resulted in approximately 150 the way the Tobicy criticise clients being excluded from day way hual care centres in the borough.

treating their emplovees The employers' response to by gentlemanly IS not debate with the Tory axe-men this has been to witch-hunt the that ilving workers o cause noose o allu

WORRY

needy. Local papers have The carried front page stories about but by determined action. clients adversely affected Gehall

AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

The Coventry Nursery Cam- (Wheatley Street)

(CNC.

PS) responded to the DES con- firmation staging minute occupation Education offices on the first A press statement issued by campaign gave notice that the fight to re-open the continue with a lobby WIll thy september matine a September which several hundred sig- petition of natures will be oresented An investigation into nursery Coventry already turned up approximate- one who need a nursery place either now or in the next couple of years.

Secret plans The CNC-WS is continuing this investigation and combining it with one into nursery provis- ion plans by the Council secret plans. the Wheatley Street site.

The widespread support for the candalet must *ow wanting extended : ano tnose into powerful campaign for more not less nursery places In the unions the lessons of the campaign's 5'-day the Nursery must tion of campaign for Cation he "What we stand calls on "the trade unions to declare The e coe are the Local Authority any with any interfere The platform goes on to say "We support any industrial by trade unionists action taken m delece or nursery services The campaign must also continued Labour Party where has already con- isola- iributed to right-wing councillors. Divided A gienificant section of the Coventry Labour Party suppor- ted the and occupation many Labour rally WeLC directly involved number of the ten rebel coun cillors expelled from the Labour or vole case scoo meals price increases have also The Labour Party is being divided who between

LAOS

actually want to fight the Tories and those who do not. Issues such Wheatley Street pose the question of how to fight the cuts and the Labour Party should take the methods of direct and contront overnment those in the Council who imple- ment Tory policies. information about the Wheatley can be obtained from Coventry Campaigr Beaconsfield Road Coventry.

HAD THINGS TAPED

TUC

WHYS ANA MEANS COMMITTEE

1. TERFERENCE IN THE UNIONS - AND THE

RIGHT

TO STRIKE

WHAT DO WE SAY Y

Steel unions to aid BSC Jettisoning the uncharac- oranonst umon leadersmip-na the lowest cost workforce in the teristic fiery rhetoric of this year's steel strike, Bill Sirs But MaoGregor wants much and other steel has made a priority more -and fully leaders have not international reverted to their more levels or producuvity. mn ome words imposing still further accustomed role in the speed-up. extreme right wing of the Sirs' new pledge to help oul trade union and Labour management in this quest is a further indication to movement. workers that a new leadership is Undaunted by the wave of condon. sackings and o1 more are to be defended. closures, Sirs has declared the s of the ISTC : to collab- readiness Olalt wIll 1O1Y Gregor in his pians to foist the industry's crisis onto the work- deadline for the of the Consett plant amid draws nearer the usual has spire not a to buyers is a return to used to have in this industry just a few which union employers bureaucrats and worked nana mn glove • steel committee document has already boasted that BSC-after years of collab.

Bill Sirs Times bosses lose out Times journalists return- journalists are a key section of ed to work last week having the petty bourgeoisie they wanted to win over shaken the management, tel not only dld a minority Lord Thomson and them- of "journalists' including selves to their foundations.

editorial executives declare The NUJ members were not themselves willing the paper, but also the NUJ quite certain why they were on members were what it was like when they got shown-on management's admission -inal lt was the NUA support which stopped a scab The settlement 27% over 18 paper being produced montas is no better 12 months which • the chapel rejected Hysterical But if the journalists cannot This explains the hvsterical cam to naewe strike demand was some editorial from editor Rees-Mogr abstract concept of moral indig which greeted the return of th nation-the has Times. He declared inter alic manavilve certainly lost. for lamily, ¡easons which are simply those national interest, have put Need of allies tens of milions of pounds into and "A journalist, Ine limes though he may make a judge - ment of circumstances is either ing director of Thomson News- papers, said the board had come man (!) first. munnett The economic crisis can closure" drive the The blow to management is

DOLLUSI

The Times manage Their battle eltner way over ment find to their dismay that will ort unlons their banner is deserted them need of allies and the

AND GIVE HIM SOME ADVICE ON

(WE SHOULD GO AHEAD

GETTING THEM BACK TO WORK!

BUT O'FISHALL, THAT WOULD LEGITIMISE

THE KEGIME... I THINK WE SHOULT

SUPPORT THE STRIKES..

TEL THE WORKERS WE SUPPORT THEM ALL THE WAY

ON THOSE DEMANDS, AND THE FIGHT FOR A CHANGE IN

THE REGIME!

WHAT-AT THE

TUC CONGRESS?

a Page 11

NALGO

ducks pay fight Delegates NALGO's ~ to special Local Government Group Meeting on Friday 29 August were in no mood fight the Tory govern- ment's cash limits which forced the employers stick with their insulting 13% offer. Instead they "voted to refer the case to arbitration Ine leadership of the Loca Government Committee had no intention opment of fall waive or m devel cattal gren comparability action earlier this year, and has made every effort keep Lilt of quiescence чате ance tne beginning of July when the pay negotiations began. time there ha Duce. Inat reference in NALGO been circulars to fighting the cash limits, only talk • Vaguc 'defending scivIces win not a single concrete proposal.

The NALGO decision there- fore does not t change our overall assess l c situation

UNIOI

remain prepared to fight the government and th employers- union leaderships terusing to give any direction o perspective to such a fight this lies in a 'he proof of rall and file action among NALGO members, particularly the lower paid. as movement was relecter inside the Special Group Meet by some unexpectedly militant • moons velasser on orner issues The most important of these response to the refusal of was it

ACAS

aw all pa. increase to nursery nurses.

The Group Meeting instruc ted the convening of a special unlealt nurses to plan a campaign of action The central demand here is

IOT

comparadlity with teaching staff, and an important tactica will step establishment o om cron commutees wa the other unions represented in Other sections demanding action thei special amons mcmae roucation wel fare Officers, the staff of Adult Metal at Trainst es Special Schools in common wnat they nave is that they are all at the sharp of reductions end see vile among the lowest paid of NALGO members. It is an important develop

NALGO

these sections are learning the lessons of the social workers' action and correely unel grievances into the mainstream• of the union.

• AND SEND A DELEGATION TO THATCHER

ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT

BUT WON

LLEGITIMISE HER REGIME

NO YOU FOOL

NOT HERE, IN POLAND

STOPTUC VISIT

TO THATCHER.

PRESS

The 1980 TUC Congress South Wales, and union leaders is beginning as we go to in une buonc anu Drivalt sectur fought tooth but even now it can preserve e recorded as a wash-out steel strikers by for any workers looking for pay a fight against the Tories.

solidarity blacking action.

Thatcher's unprecedented Snivelling anti-working class ottensive and unparallelled post-wat unem Do dise are tale ad Ly qualied tred her to Tud undisguised cowardice ot ine rena to brue dowa de Tories: lea.ders who have no intention of lifting a finger to defend their allowed Margaret Thatcher Macinoes vague hint unemployment-at fight against anti-union Bakers Employment Act-a so-called strategy" mon car or me crouson ol unions that accept Tory cash to un postal ballots-was dropped ing a strategy lot achion by tire days before the Congress workers' movement to halt the (01l started. and defend all jobs, workers are Vague and empty Willl irrelevant and The composite resolution coupled to efforts to advise the tones empty that even the reactionary capitalism! leadership feels able to demand that And while Moss Evans made canceled hypocritical sabre-rattling state- The fact being unions capitalist system avull preparea to pickel as necessal!

defiance Act, ot the new objective basis of the

TGWU

members at Adwest on weeks in a bitter strike for 15 offensive on the unions. union recognition aspute have been told they are to receive no seeking no more than pieceledi official backing. The that-as the lact the union sy stem explicitly AUEW leaders have Labour stated- -union incapable or serously enaneng preparing to accept the terms of it or Act, just as they the lory spending accented une Dublic cuts, accepted the closures and and Privileged layer mass limits on pay in accepted cash the public sector. for the TUC The The keynote balance the Tory attitude to govern- ment on the shop floor the steel ment strike earlier this year when the power opening existed a General for decades been Strike to bring down Thatcher union consolidated

TUC

General has Instead counci intervened to cresi layer General Strike movement and negotiators.

FUND

A rush of money totalling over £200 this week has greatly improved the situation on the August fund. But with the month now over we have fallen short of our f850 target by £282.13.

Now that the holidays are over it is important that we make an early start with the September Fund. We cannot afford to fall short of the target we have set ourselves. So the sooner we get started the better. Send us a donation today.

Our address is: Socialist Press Monthly Fund BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers

SOCIALIST

isolation of the sabotaging Now we have the other side snivelling appeals Len Murray and co. to be Will to discuss which they tor their "alternative economic Instead of resolutions offer- threatened plants absurdly empty protest on Ine best way lo 1uil must unionists the TUC visit is itself and its which are the surge and the Tory Yet by their commitment to Feeding off the strength of the they the capitalist WOIKeS mo venicull. nonetheless leaders and owe Inet powe and privilege to the continued co-thinkers a1 k existênce of capitalism. offering any socialist This is why the TUC bureau- crats fear above all an indepen dent movement of the working class which coula alsrupt balance of forces. confront the and La Dilailst: uncally forces aereating sweep aside the parasitic trade between the rank and file move- union and Labour and the stem the Class has caDilallsi offensive, to defend _Ene the bass on the most elementary Trade bureaucracy union rights and therefore mediators workers Ine necessny lo vulu o new, revolutionary leadership it, labour independent to the interests or the workug class Workers Socials to construct League is fighting suca a leadersio. the capitulation of the TUC and Labour leaders we fight for: *Occupation and supportin strikes cosules allu redundancies. For work sharing on full pay! action and occupa- tions to nait the pudne secto!

Defend all jobs and services! *Unite the struggles agains The alt a during delegates from labour bodies! movement General Strike to bring TO d down the Thatcher government.

out Labour's right wing leaders! action torce ne natiolalisa tion banks and major industry, without

WUIKEIS

ror a plannea socinst economy and works! programme BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Printed by Morning Litho Printers Ltd., London Socialist League, Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the lined the futility of the TUC visit to Parliamentary "opposition" to the Tories.

ADWEST: TGWU

ACCEPTS TORY

ACT

police moves to deny the All the fighting Prior's law aimed at rostrum In move Moss Evans' own breaking the long-running defy threat strike at Reading's Adwest engineering factory, it was where the Act last week yet again refused vasts Imposed the official backing trom

TGWU.

meeting oraanised • from the strikers pressure national official by the union: aTIV uney Regional Secretary declare official support, a step Strike Fund would immeasurably which unel Chance payable to: winning their struggle against victim isation. Lame excuses Instead they got only a letter from Ashman renerate union's lame excuse about 'fin- ancial irregularities' making sup- port impossible : Workers Socialist League 'Call a General Strike!'-MP A Labour MP has under- "The

•TUC

should call a week,' general strike nexi MP for declared Ray Powell, Thatcher and the Ogmore. politicians, despite criticised, have neing everything possible in Parlia ment as an opposition. • little else because mis inaicner nas go such a large majority The only alternative I i can set is for ene wade union lauve ment to demand some action.

Whether Mrs Thatcher agrees to meet the lUC this week o next they should demand general strike against her policies" Powell's suatemen correct summary of the situa tion facing working in flat contradic but it stand. Hon Ene Toolmes molon tabled for the Labour and to the of Party leader Callaghan-who opposet

SLIKE

against the Tories and insisted they must be defeated "through the ballot box Labour MPs claiming Thatcher to stand to the left of Callaghan must be : called upon to endorse Powell's stand and to moun campaign

TOT

enera strike throughout the labour move alongside fight to ous right wing Callaghan leader- ship. Textile sackings The wave of sackings and closures in the textile indus- try has grown still further with the axing of 1,380 jobs by Courtaulds in the last week: Eight • textile mis in in! Greater Manchester area are to lost ir close-bringing the cotton soinning in 1980 to ove Yet previous every closure the bosses attack has been mer only protests and nationalistic appeals import controls for Hom mon ieaucrs the ror textile workers in North West and elsewhere the occupation and supporting strike actlol e these closures and Adwest pickets jobs while the industry still exists. Even more glaring than their clashes head-on with the Tory/ ambiguity over Heathe mous Act; ; the union any part Wall tance from the union leadership.

action which could spark a mas.

, talk about movement against This or one the

TUC

key parts of Thatcher's strategy from recall

TGWU

The strikers planned pre-Congres mass picket 110 |Il1 should be could therefore more appropri ately be held outside the doors the 19h1 oi thi bureaucracy's actual attitude in than the iransport

CHOU

is being gates of the Adwest factory.

ADWEST STRIKE

Donations to the Adwest are urgently needed and should be made J. Dhoot, c/o Danny Broderick, 46, Berkley Rd., Reading, Berks. Evans