Socialist Press no. 219

Behind the blood- curdling battle-cries of the blue-suited bloodsuckers in last week lay a Brighton morbid fear of the growing bitterness and hostility that 18 months of Tory policies have incited within the working class. militancy che massive could be seen 6,000-

OILLY

strong protest Gemonstranon outside the final day of the conference, forcing the Lory delegates into seige conditions but also in the defeats that had been inflicted on Labour's right wing leaders the previous week in Blackpool. Looming answer Again and again Tory leaders were lorcea to look nervously over their shoulder at the loom ing of the labour movement. Thatcher her.

self admitted that: *Because of what happened at that [Blackpool] Conference there has been, behind all our deliberations this week, heightened awareness that now, more nn ever oit conserva tive Government must succeed.

We just must, because now there had realised." And her concluding remarks

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 219 * 15 October 1980 * 20p pointed out that: "We close our conference in the aftermath of that at Blackpool: utopia unvelled let Labour's Orwellian night- mare of the Left be the spur for us to dedicate with a new urgency our every ounce of moral strength to rebuild the fortunes of this free nation". Thatcher before the assembled The threat posed SectIons oI amStocraTs milIon- aires, managers businessmen and small and large motley middle class TeacHonames usa stark one: it's either us, or a downhill slide towards social- And, despite the acute limit- ations no tunderway ins oe processes change Labour rary, unere is a germ or truth in what Thatcher suggestin; Emerging in the workin class political growing for oul Tory acTOn летели spending Si on action no for action CuLs. restore trade towards Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union, Rising layer None of these problems can be resolved while the Tories remain in power-but this new rising layer does not see itself as to the Parliamentary confined niceties of the Labour Party's Tribunit lert. and its established most contra tet atte it made ITseT most vocaly conference when general strike action to stop the cuts. Rank and file It was conspicuous that it was amonast contuency acie gations-most closely linked to the rank and file of the labour this movement-ulai

LICV

militant political current found most support. The more bureau cratised trade union delegation continued the provide the staple block vote for the right wing

SUD DOLL

leaders fact is that not one The union leader has called for mass incitation to dereau Tory cuts at local or national not one official struggl level; against has been factory closures or redundan- ches: and no union leader witt Arthur ехсернов Scargill) has unequivocally eclared himself prepared nobilise action to defy Prior new anti-union laws. The continued existence of government rests the Thatcher on tnis absolute reusa or une leaders to build upon, Invasions and revolutionary * politics Centre pages

TORIES

BANK

ALL

ON TUC

TRAITORS

and mobilise the Financial Times revealed strenatner nas mass anti-Tory feeling that has that TUC leaders have for the grown within the past r di her been closeted in working class will regular with Instead, readers • mecues this week troop limply into CBI leaders, drawing up a joint Downing Street with another : on the introduction ar mement half-baked

SURCOSLO

which they know in advance in industry! Thatcher will derisively reject The Financial Times warn industrialists that if Were the union bureaucracy half as ready to wage an all-out rejects this new "deal" it would: collaboration hich has buil op mood fight to defend their members a: the Tories are to defend baise thinestes ohey tepesth, Derween me two organisation: [!] during a series of dinner businesses they represent, meetings over the past year o1 they would not even be talking Thatcher at all: they would While TUC leaders can still preparing their mem Ders tol hobnob with the bosses, trading the General Strike which alone their members' jobs for glasses can topple this government and oI caret interest nave they in bringing down the lishment of a workers' govern- Len Murray bosses government or putting ment in Britain. develop the struggle for a new union leaders are an ena to a system unal oners But the them such a lavish style of leadership within the labour just as afraid of the power of living? movement-fighting within the the working class the as forces tor thi Tories. They know full well that kind of consistent programme as it learns its own strength ir Challenge and that offer principles the course of struggle, the work- torward to

WOIKCIS

Way wil turn increasingly Thatcher, howeyer, has Class revolutionary politics. against those recognised that trade inon ang growing It is in this context that the continuatides who capitation November

SUCH

Cas conference of th capitalism continuation collaboration has now begun to seek Campagn нот меностасу m unt because break to the surface in the Thev

OTIV

Labour Movement (see page 11) preserve their own positions of Labour Party acquires a particular importance feeding off She is relying on the trade in the fight to build a genuine union and Labour bureaucracy- existing ternanve movement. with the aid of the Tory press anders au te. within the unions and media-to crush such resis- and the We urge Far from preparing action to tance . LO For socialists however, the this vital conference an orrensve u bring down the Tories, the •is to buid upon and

TASK

Turkey's Sept. 12 Junta: a bonapartist stopgap Page 2

-INTERNATIONAL'

Either a civil war or a military dictatorship: these the two alternatives that imperialism and the big bourgeoisie of Turkey faced if it was to resolve its crisis of authority and destroy the obstacles in front of it. military They decided on on September dictatorship 12. Under the influence of the deepening world economic and political of imperialism, crisis Turkish was stage of boal benisie had bourgeoisie had for long period of time preserved social dominance class hegemony over the oppressed classes by relying on forces outside of Parliament.

The 'democratic" parliament had long been unable to fulfill constitutional any functions. economic and politica crisis of the bourgeoisie was so acute that not only was there no the 1O0M 10I concessions workers, but even those already granted had to be taken away.

This could easily be seen in the conditions attached by the

IMF

loans sought by the They Turkish government. demanded the freezing of wages as the for five years most decisive in a package or auster- ity measures aimed to foist the crisis onto the shoulders of the working class. From the very first day of coup, all strikes and Locataly lock-outs have been unions closed down and trade all rights to organise have been taken away. The junta's decree new wage rise was 70% Tollowed ov a lise prices of basic commodities the which absorbed the next day, whole of the pay increase IMF happy The vice-premier has this austerity emphasised that programme must be in force for 1-5 years le says tha the IMF and instutitions are oner teac happy with the developments in Turkey. appears that the Indeed it class are now united mine trying to resolve their political and economic crisis through the present regime of military dicta- torship. So the question will be asked What about fascism? What role will Turkey's mass fascist party play in the next period? These questions can only be New! Socialist analysis of the military taining coup by the Bolivian generals.

pamphle Defend Bolivian masses against imperialism! p&p from WSI Price 32p incl 5277 London WCIV RM Box! answered scientifically ov correct analysis of the nature of the present regime. Fascism is the reaction of the threat bourgeois society to The OI prolelaran revolution. capitalists big arm the petty bourgeoisie and Jumpen thugs for action against the organised proletariat seeing their hopes of secure exploita- in the atomisation of the working class and its organisa tions by the base of Inass But inis melnoa nas some dangers: it brings the threat of social wal. convulsions. turn o une lascists as man with aching molars going to the dentist". Last alternative The bourgeoisie does not really like the fascists methods -but. they see them. last alternative. the bourgeoisie is ir winen can no longer rule on decline, of reforms and class basis is forced to collaboration and take back the existing reforms, the capitalists are also obliged to create the forces to carry out this task. This is why the big bour- and organises sections of the petty bourgeoisie.

around the ideology of fascism them to attack the and proletariat. Increasingly the parliamen- appropriate tary torms or rule to peaceful, prosperous periods lose their function as the power reverts to the streets. This process divides society into the irreconcilable camps on the civil war anu biales agenda. The big bourgeoisie can only absolute dictator- establish and ship over prolelandl other oppressed classes, the organised prolet- atomising arat. ror this it needs a mass base l35 September regime function; it cannot subai was has no such mass base. It can only base itself on the and state military

DOLICE.

apparatus and for that reason it can only suppress the working Class. Transitional That is why the new military fledged fascist dictatorship For exactly the reason the role of the fascists in Turkey has not yet finished for the big bourgeoisie. The 12 September junta is a Imperialism and The decided on bourgeoisie because in the present situation there are dangers running civil waI which would pun tne Kuraish masses within Turkey into an open struggle would Statement by the Turkish organisation in sympathy with the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee on the situation in Turkey.

power in the Middle East unfav- ourably for imperialism. These are Ine man reasolls the big bourgeoisie has why decided on the present solution.

senst or escull regime came to power when the struggle between the two camps of revolution and counter-revol- ution was reaching a climax.

Bonapartist This regime cannot theretore independent from be seen the Its programme programme of the IMF which in turn bases its demands on tne interests impenausu Previous governments tried implement these demands and Talled. The social base or tne new junta includes the existence of fascist mass base; its aim is from above movement balance of forces in favour of and change the bourgeoisie. In this the 12 regime is to be September characterse as a boradarest military dictatorship. been Such regime has Trotsky his explainea by writing on mastity epre locked in reconcilable conflict.

mighty Neither side can win by parlia mentary means. Neither would willingly unfavourable to it. Such a split sivil wait society foreshadows civil of a The threat walk coe an ariter and commander, arbiter and commander, That, precisely, is the function of Bonapartism.

Every regime claims to stand the above Gasses. interests of the whole. But the effects of social forces cannot be so easily determined as those in the field of mechanics. The government itself is made ul with certain peaceful times interests. democratic parliament seems best for reconciling conflicting But when fundamental forces at 180 degree angles, veer off pulling i opposite then opening for a Bona- partist dictatorship appears Puzzle, from he reman The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany, Pathfinder). Elsewhere. Trotskv goes on: "this is the most important function of Bonapartism: raising two struggling en over camps in order to preserve civil war, or precedes order. property suppresses • does allow rekindrie.!° not (German Bonapartism, ibid) Forward movement It was in the period of "free collective bargaining during 1980, with the beginning of the forward movement of the work- ing class that the September 12 SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980

(TLP),

In this way the actually Labour Party and the disarm the Turkish Socialist Labour Party Working class in the face or ever pontically the leader- with alue more catastrophic dangers.

ship of the 'left' union confeder-

DISK

and other demo- The working class has not ation yet been defeated. cratic "left' leaderships.

cannot hope to Trotsky Germany through this life and death simply explains decrees. question struggle the "With class •a correct leaders! of the proletariat fascism would decisive factor and it wil bi be exterminated without diffic decisive in the coming period coup ulty and not a chink balances itself on this struggle for Bonapartism. remain open not the The failure . of the programme that is nortunatel the junta is implement- The situation. Damsel wack strength of the proletariat has ing will necessitate a new alter of assumed the deceptive form native. For the bourgeoisie this must mean fascist rule. a 'strength' of the Bonapartis The opposite alternative to it clique". for the working cass itself "ainst thin own organise Deceiving Trenches i LO regime with Turkish troops in action Holding back the working programme, create the organs of class at every step in the struggle overthrow powel, against fascism the Demirel government was no build dictatorship and organise it as a class in united longer hold back the workers and farmers' govern. ante struggles at Taris, hundreds thousands action in the ment in lurke! Karaman workers from striking. Maras. We, the Trotskyists, propose Fatsa, deceivin with the to the proletariat this alterna- Unstable of 'demo- of defenc Particularly the mass Adana cracy benina cevit s bourgeol: We call for united action to indication of a Republican Peoples and demo une strikes were the overthrow this military Stalinist reformist new rise in struggle. and destroy fascism in torship cratic left' leaderships are now The was lorcea lo some of the demands of striving to persuade me prote class has the The working ariat of the "justness' the striking workers in Adana power and the will to win such generals' Kemalist principles and incause ofth septemone is September their empty words of return to again a messon

OICE

unstable and weak democracy reduces itself to the question of ultra-left wing of the Its appearance of strength revolutionary leadership of the with Stalinists will now say the complete crisis flows from proletariat. shameless irresponsibility the working And this leadership can only reader sill nothing has changed in Turkey class that has diverted and held be given by building a Trotsky.

was back its revolutionary struggles ist party in Turkey based on the existing before, they declare.

counter- Transitional Programme in this goals result they will As revolutionary camp. their petty bourgeois

SULLIC

The responsibility lies Turkish Com adventurist actions with the Hally from the working class. (TKP), Turkish munist Election victory for Portuguese right- advance the interests of commented that Sa Carneiro's It is often boasted that workers and peasants. government was "the continuity the great political upheavals In the recent election the of Salazar which of the regime 1974 and Portugal didn't in Socialist Party even in 1975 place without took present is programme untu my achieve". days before the voting. anyone being killed in street What, of the SP course Sa Carneiro's victory is now failed to add was that the reason political violence. capitalist that the continuers of salaal s People were killed last week, offensive against the rem nants political tradition can regain however, when the general elec- made the in Lisbon the political contro workers and peasants in the last tion victory oI sa that the way has been paved tor right wing Democratic Alliance six years-not only the material them by the Socialist and Com- gains, but even the formal ones, bands munist leaders' betrayals of the Drougal such as references to 'socialism aggressive fascist demonstrators 1974 revolution. into the streets to celebrate.

in the constitution played a crucial part in deaders leaders This means a sharpening con- they

LOWIE.

and flict Carneiro beseiged buildings owned Sa great Millarl workers' and attacked the current parties mobilisations of 1974 and 1975 President Eanes and the Revol known left wing militants in the from preventing them of military Council street. the of 101C At least two people have officers. Salazarism been killed so far in the wave of In the Presidential electior And since then the main be held in December Eanes several to rejoicing, workers parties have both failed will be opposed by Sa Carneiro's were injured. to defend the gains of 1974-5 The Portuguese Socialist candidate and failed to provide any policy Party was not far wrong when it Carneiro (no relation to either of his namesakes) -an extreme

MPLA

reactionary militants concentration camps during his term of office as Secretary General when it was still a Portuguese Colony. still predicted that Eanes will win the election spite of the AD's support for soares carnelu. But Sa Carneiro says that i that happens his governmen to rule will resign and refuse any longer with Eanes as presi dent So, whoever wins the presi dential election, Portugal imminently faces huge a nev political crisis in circumstances leaders of the workers' parties are paralysed Arrest of fascist secret policeman 1974: now fascists celebrate and discredited.

'JUSTICE' IS A CLASS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 The barbaric ruling "justice' which class terrorises the everyday lives of South Africa's black masses probably receives more attention in the bourgeois media than all the capitalist tyrannies on this planet.

Notwithstanding that attention, even the appear- ances of apartheid-capitalist brutality have not begun to be adequately documented, much less analysed. Jackson's book-Justice in South Africa-does little to fill that gap. The book is a subjective account of Jackson's exper- iences of the machinations of South Aftica's legal system as a liberal lawyer in Hastern Cape over une past twenty years. good book of indignant example the bourgeois-moralistic res- ponse to certain aspects of the of capitalist characteristic of

LOTTO

the liberal and Stalinist opposition South Africa. Mechanisms However the book does provide a glimpse into the repressive mechanisms of a based on the denial even the mOSI democratic the of South Africa's black peopie, a legal system in one of its aspects which, (the only one dealt with by jackson), legitimises hard labour, solitary confine- floggings, bannings, torture and murder. But for an understanding of law and justice in relation to ine reanty o1 ine class struggle being fought out in South Africa, this book useless. Yet in recent months the massive forward movement of black workers in South Africa has highlighted the fact that the law is created ana aestroyea, nOT pages of capitalist statute books, but the living clash of irreconcilable class forces. South Africa Today in the. dividing line between legality and illegality has been eroded various With the balance respects. current t Cass tilted in favour of the work- ing class, the class basis of has been bourgeois justice undermined as the strength of the working class has forced certain semi- legal arenas of struggle.

The solid struggle of the Crossroads worker-commun- one example of this. ity In the post-Soweto lull which preceded the emergence of mass struggle this year, the state was able literally to the smash to ground three huge squatter communities within a few mies orcrossroads Combativity But determination the and combativity oi the with the widespread mood

QUESTION

Crossroads Black youth in revolt, 1978 the law into its own of hands solidarity for their struggle throughout the in struggle. black working class, forced Whereas of couple the state to back down and years ago any indication of open support for the illegal officially reconst Lne existence of Crossroads last petty-bourgeois nationalist their year. leaders in prison would have 'Legalise' landed lengthy jail one a the term, today bourgeois What was illegal in 1978 media South Africa 'legalised' 1979 brazenly publishes the pro- through nothing other than gramme of the ANC while thousands pressure ane

UPCI

of the working class. petition the supporting release of Mandela. this year's skewise nationwide for Although these campaign actions in the the release of political pris statute Nelson books. the huge combativity oners includire Mandela s anoreer example 21355 335

# DISME

has begun to. as =

TIE:

approonate the law - to tara Ere: Jim Farnham reviews "JUSTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA" (Penguin) tell i the South African riot police activity. jobs, housing wares. Again and again and transport, the petty the workers break struggle, through the repressive legal' sought to transform it into a parameters and establish in single-issue campaign fact the semi-legalisation of petitions and declarations to the racist government. an mega action. They found ample Threatened support for this orientation amongst the big bourgeoisie Of course, all the gains and their liberal mouth- forced by the working class pieces who were quick in this way stand threatened recognise the qualitative by the treacherous reformist difference between a cam- politics of their pro-capital- paign orchestrated by the and PAC leader-

ANC

black petty-bourgeoisie and ships. demand emerging along. While the working class side from the

OLIC

has thrown its class weight struggles of black workers.

behind the demand for the By wresting the demand bonusa Page 3 ie not only undermines the only class force capable of realising the demand but also boosts its own sagging political credentials. Unable to provide any leadership itselt the workers' in South struggle the bettv-bourgeois actively seeks turn away tron independent strength owni towards passively awaiting their liberation from their leaders-in-absentia and the guerrilla forces responsive to them. Like Jackson, the petty- bourgeois nationalist leader- ship of the ANC and PAC seek only to reform capital- ism in South Africa, to strip it of its racist vestiges and clothe in the garments bourgeois 'democracy'. They don't want to over- throw the of the • We bourgeoisie-they aim simply to share power with the bourgeoisie in the same way Mugabe in Zimbabwe Only a Trotskyist party, itself basing irreconciab t on the independent interests working class, can smash these reformists' obstacles in South Africa and lead the workers' struggle for the dictatorship of the proletar- iat and a socialist Southern Africa Build the South African Trotskyist party as a section laternatonal

Page 4

PRESS

GANG

show. After the Lord Mayor's Thatcher's of the show-the dustcart conference was measured by the Tory Party conference. length ol tne standing half fright- Half arrogant, on last year ened. the representatives of the bourgeoisie gathered behind the unvened witn lne army of police at Brighton to and ceremony as the Metro getting this year). oTIve away fears with rallying speeches and controversi only be there of manites.

jingoistic songs. Tories' had wiped the DIess froth and blood of Blackbool Dolley from their typewriters and sat approved majority-a marked decline on the bland interpret facade of agreement that 4110 i served up at Brighton, other Issues Their difficulties Even the most were coll is ser vile hacks siderable. conference convert such warmed over syco- more difficult to interpret than pnancy into surring cop. sitin the a plause? buro. applause? sacking of Joseph and the return who joined long.

HOW

stallulie ovation last? These are the kind demonstrators of questions which the political conference-such commentators needed to ask stopwatch, had to build. a clapomele expressions are the vital tools it sharp eye facial Despite the the Sun, by heaped, (This Mail turning' is not after all much of version of a television talent Maude with number one liability Sir Keith Joseph Maude blurts it out Tory publicity chief Angus Maude made the following points: I sometimes get a little "When peeved at people who say, complaints. lot of do only see and "Why People just do hear Opposition speakers on and effects television and radio, nent hardly any Conservatives?"

of 11 04C L Not to put too fine a point recession.

A MO

it, that assertion they? How absolute poppycock. I know expected to by precisely how many the high interest of Conservative number prices, appearances on spokesmen Tates. prescuiplot radio and television has out- and you cannot make them" numbered those by Opposition, and the figures How- might surprise you. ever, since I do not want to start a lot of aggro from the fault, own Socialists I shall keep them their own for to myself". not recommend

OUT

NOW

New pamphlet explaining why it is necessary to fight to bring down the Tories in the coming months and the

THE TORIES!

need take fight up against the union bureau- cracy who refuse to lead that struggle. Price 42p including pop BM Box 5277, from

WSL,

London WĆIV 6XX. a loke, there were distinct sign.

the of nervousness therefore in the impact coverage the which itself was a reflection of ovation minutes-a marked decline The nervousness or me ones when Thatcher was themselves. salll e Television Of course it is possible to measured take the Tory confer- try to on immigration ence neat. by watching 1t only any le was television This not advisable for 75% is of a nervous disposition those routine 95% majorities on account should be ana on attempted without careful train- loyal and ing. For six months or so before hard to the conference would-be viewers are advised to prepare by listen- bits Radio A's Any One delegate calling for the starting with five vuesuions. Right to Work ten minutes at a time and slowly building up to the point where challenging only take Any the not Cal Questions but Any which they A swers di well. If this produces strange side- fulsome praise Express and effects, smash your doctor and cancel your lady's not order at the newsagents. all that is said, you young man or woman lo ule › desp erately wants a job and have to face on the doorsteps a find one, or to man une reason Callut simple enough, and you know seen the business who like he built up sort of actresses 50 from scratch bust. That the Wildl Government has had to do, plus at best divisive. and at the wors world it may get you a punch on the a major nose". should will anyone like the • reality or rates, 710 ne higher rents and and the rest? They do not like them "Please don't go around just telling people that it Is a tel or even that it is all good. I really do that approach

THIS WINTER!

Over 2,000 police from six constabularies formed a massive cordon to shield the Tories from a photographers lined the balcony, while other squads, and growling dogs, were held in reserve A special report by John Lister As Tory leaders stand backs into firm not only against the nettle working demands of the tWU class but also against the increasingly anguished pleas for relief from bankrupt and anxious businessmen Meanwhile industrialists their own middle cass their annual confer- who TallAs, vandals Thatcher the ence reverberated to press sound of cliches of patriot- destructiol and anti-communism ism, exploitation. It was a case of "us" (no, grin not the Tories-they really mean professionally the grindstone, comes our fingers out wheel, getting Conference 'representatives' pass through the police checkpoint SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 protest lobby of 6,000 trade unionists and unemployed. Teams of police

WAVE

AT TORY

small businesses problems and our chins up, putting our under Thatcher grasping It was only in such smaller and standing on our own uncomfortable trifles that even a ripple or tic real world emerged to ruffle the avm nastic exercise al une vest u.

placid surface of a conference so bureaucratically stage-managed Vandals made breznnevs routourcal look like a model of free speech and dery "ahap" knew that his the prosperous Ever! aristocialil are demanding speech nad to contibute to til greater good rather than expressing personal _ at services anxiety sulla. devastatio and nationalised industries, an "Cruise On" with the lethal new unleashed on will Thatcher's team of monetarist of nuclear war • even it thel Hallides upper lips That's why it was such bac stitt could be seen to droop slightly form of that fellow Milburn to come to the rostrum-dressed in speaker impolite enough to refer to the overalls! -and winne

TORY

POLICIES

BESTO

PEACE

JOES

FREEDOM

SMASH

A section of the massive demonstration that assembled outside the Brighton conference

OF CLICHES

CONFERENCE

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 'Oh look, dear, are those some unemployed over there?'

'I don't know, mummy, l've never seen one before' unemployment. After all, as one Birmingham back bencher complained on his Tory activist way JOlLe. every knows well l tne hostility to their recessionary policies. "They really give me SOme stick pubs and round our area, he told fellow party worker from the Jenkin hails women's oppression A glimpse of the sheer weight and scale of oppres- sion suffered particularly by women in the home as of the result continuing cutbacks government in health and social services was given by Social Services Secretary Patrick Jenkin.

Speakin enthusiastically in upport of a resolution whic tacitly endorsed the cuts stressing rentin the went on to point out that: •No would be compl on volunteers complete without of the family, because mention family is the biggest volun- tary body of the lot • One of roblems that gravest Britain face the rising of very elderly people number suffer from dementia. estimate that there now 700,000 such people he country today-a formidabl problem. Only 13,500 are bein

MAG

North West" after all. thev're all laid off or made getting redundant "| know" replied his com- "the main firm up our panion, way is on a one-day week!

"repres lory delegates prefer to be entanves as tney did called) not travel Broblems. They encounter such hear such cared for in hospital and, over- being whelmingly, the rest looked after by their familie in the community. It simply is not fair to accuse the modern lamily, as some do, of shuttling on its responsibutes on to the State. It does not. More elderly being looked today people men amues any time in our history, and it is right remind ourselves of that". other words on these figures alone that 686,5 homes saddled with the burden of time care elderly Tull

TOT

vhile hospital facilitie relatives, ontinue to be slashed bac As Jenkin pointed out "that is what our social philosophy is all about" And as nurseries closed, and child axed, he stressed that this is no accident of policy. •We do not strengthen the famiy by relieving, parents o heir responsibilities every day. They went to hear ministers the other one after : up they 'will Lucal not flinch" they , and warn chillingly of the "totalitarian that utopia Ine _Laboul flas supposedly threatened to bring about if they fail. Platitudes platitudes, Vack slavous. grovelling compliments Thatcher that made even the seasoned hacks the press benches wince. grace. and al times giggle uncontroll- ably. They came to read out hack- neved speeenes dullness and stupidity that made the incompetent most sound height of Juke the sincerity and eloquence Indeed so juvenile is the level of argument developed Lne Tory "debates"-in which speakers both "for" and "against the vague resolutions get endorse and eltner government Sheer to go police and fu uner policies mn ten altacks on tae working class-that it is difficult to tell adult whether retarded 1 One w nO mouthed by the "Young Conservative speakers or sixth formers who write the speeches Indictment Certainly the pathetically weak interectua content ortne speeches crushing indict. ment of the level of education mune buone schools are tune testimony to the value of com- prehensive education! But ludicrous Suli the Connives who are perhaps 'Young

CORAL

Page 5

FORWARD TOGETHER

the most grotesquely revolting.

Sporting such badges as "Double the Cuts!" "Cruis On' and "Khomeini is a Shit' they emerged as some oi the most bloodthirsty advocates of anti-union capital punishment, laws and cold war They must nave been wel pleased with the sabre rattling speech from Defence Secretary Francis Pym assurcu unt a nice ot dracon cats it time draconian social services- -include a tank new armoured personne and additional self- propelled guns for army; new suns and weapons ior lit Navy and the Tornado strike aircraft. Gunboat There were-albeit faint and rather ironic-echoes rand old days of British imper.

ialism when the audience wildl doolduaca rym s announcemen that had responded to the Gulf war by redeploying but well, not a fleet, one destroyer to the Gulf of Oman There was no laughter when he onowed uns oy declaring that "we cannot leave it all to the Americans"! Yet Pym's ministry evol 1s tee in the mane me i Thatcher's monetarist -and was forced to admit that cash mous nave orovert abou temporary moratorium on which palms the trial sponsors. Chancellor Howe in yet another of an cucues make an omlette without breaking -which is eggs- why it is best for the Tories not count Then chickens unti they are hatched! Scenes of somewhat synthetic ecstasy greet Thatcher's speech.

as the clapping began to flag some old hands could be heard sa, ing "Keep it up, we must put on a show for the press!

INVASIONS AND REVO

Recent months have seen the emergence of a campaign by two former Trotskyists, Robin Blick la former member Socialist League) aimed at discrediting those who fight for revolutionary politics today by falsely establishing a link We take seriously the need to defend the revolutionary programme and tradition of Lenin, Trotsky, and the first four Congresses of the Communist International. The attack on these fundamentals by Blick and Westoby is a reflection of a trend of anti-communism at present rife within certain layers of the radical middle class: for this reason, and because the questions raised have a wide interest, we have given over two pages to an extended reply to their letter, Page 6 of the SLL/WRP and of the OCRFI's British between the politics of Lenin and those of Stalin.

which we published in last week's Socialist Press.

the Blick and Westoby 1920, for instance, Soviet Union was economically prime examples of petty backward, war-exhausted, ano intellectuals bourgeois militarily weak, facing the real whose search for momente "theoretical" basis to their revolutionary reaction from the White Guard and the Inperialist has brought anti-Leninism countries and the agents then to reject the most the Soviet Union is

CORV

basic concepts of Marxisn:.

industrialised, economically powerful, militarily strong and As a result their letter offers us a pathetic attempt immediate …TO JunK lacing military threat which endangers existence, internally, or reality on its berders. ifference oolecuve situation, time and place.

Wilful distortion Like any bourgeois cornmen- eyes Buck and Any attempt equate talol Westoby actions fron! these two each: periods lifferent must stem country case troops trom

HOM

manoranct oI. as lil have cressed the case of Blick and Westoby, porders another-there arthus agrees of control cisc exercise both of whom have made in the Dast d forcible suppression. the understandine But they leave out precisely Stalinism:, a wilful distortion of differences that make each justify cite anti-communist of the thes examples positions. important maividual episoae In class struggle, necessitating Given the very ren dittl if it is to be facing revolutionaries in individual study principled luv understood Red Army leaders Budienny (left), Mikhail Frunze and Voroshilov in 1920 The Blick/Westoby letter are there (and nOW 74 Regina Road, how!) they Jes London NW4 others perhaps?) fil 12 August 1980 that be created by their too precipitate eat colOr. You have repeatedly invited departure. of the

WSL

and (Yet you discussion have unaccount ably failed to denounce the TILC's politics. which fifth column' may Brezhnev's war in Afghanis tan remains front-page news in force the rapid redeployment o yet for the Red Army-the workers of the Socialist Togliattigrad and Poland).

Press organisation that prides An nreserves a quity

SULLU

last substantial amuce. fortnight after the should almost nave Kabul uprising in February, was precedents for a nore tonishe cemonstrably

LWU

1y des Ted the mass upurate.

of the soviet described the mass uprising tion of Afghanistan. with which it Has Executive and the violence days the forgotten was suppressed. helicopter gun- 1920 workers' state scally second, from when Lenin. Trotskv and Stalin recalled jointly attempted to force upon facts vassallili Poland precisely that evolution that Trotskvists detend the Ked by foreign bayonets' Army's presence

HONE

half century editorial safety, advised Afghans concerned "unite' with them. before? Has it overlooked the similar ambiguities are TOUr successful Phan one, out the all sare but annexation of Georgia in 1921?

that the Russians And, last but not least, why should 10 b 'Bulletin Group') and Adam Westoby (once a member of the Workers forward political being used the adverse Callul fodder in the murderous repres- conditions (sharply exacerbated bureaucracy's The allist

SOR

Agnals in mascon revolutionary defensive measure by revolutionary the counter ot Atonaristan; it is necessary the Kremlin bureaucracy examine Invasons referred by Westoby and Blick with a seriousness which

POLAND

Wel oWI all. hypocritical moralising does not itself warrant. In 1920, just as the May Civil War was draining the Serious socialists attracted exhausted Red Army to a point by some of the ideas which they the put forward should beware.

were aeledi For beneath their revolutionary White Army was a : apparent and immediate threat championing of the interests of oppressed Pilsudski, Afghanistan is a deep suspicion an anti Soviet STeT entere central lessons of of one of the pact with the Ukranian govern- ment. ine working class in struggie anc On May 7 1920 Polish ard one the cardinal political starting points of revolutionary Ukranian armies invaded Tene Soviet Union and occupied Marxist bonus-lal wilhoul c revolutionary party, there can Kler be no une. of Tukhachevsky and Budienny Their apparent commitment repulsed the attack and Polish border nothing more than conclud concentrated layer of actions against the Then retreating invaders bourgeois moralism, coagulated July, mid Polish the encounte observing the way Communists set up a provisiona Soviet soldiers and workers are government in Bialystok. is the WSL so reticent concern- it is possible to carry wetter people closer to socialism by Classe Lenin and apalming them "satellitization' of the WSL leader- Trotsky's Meantim sheoretical respondities, its abdicates Outer Mongolia? invaded АШШУ and installed Mongolia in ing to draw out the essential a government thickly laced with lessons of Lenin's pioneering Soviet advisors'. Moscow had to role as "proletarian' imperialist.

Trotsky's mature analysis of repeatedly subservience guarantee the the tiny Mongolian Party.

revolutionary workers' Most members of the 1921 concepts of dialectical But the cabinet were purged in 1922.

science, you have reminded us, Congress must be ever-mobile to escape Augusi Danzan, head of the Party extinction. anu Congress chairman, was took argue hardy enough statement gain from independence measure of Moscow. Betore the end of the the genocidal workers state"?

Congress with Adam Westoby approval, he had been removed Robin Blick and shot.

WSL

members understandole are bufetted on the one Stalinist racien of alich d pro- as the sull Spartacist tendency and on the other side by their own doubts Imperialist ettorts to Doos the Polish shipments and by the pressur insperialist exerted on hesitant governments Interlalla working c0 10aT11 expressed through i Russia tis "Hands off Russia such The Army howeve proved unable to maintain this military effort against the Polish armv ano was torced to remeal having advanced to near revolutionary Like all Cerned detence revolutionary gains against evolutionary Trotsky had no objection to the

POLIST

Army being aercated on Polish so il (the "invasion Poland according to Blick and Westoby), Military strength Neither did object strengie to utilito the mi tre and strength ked Army over the forces of tne Pclish promote revolution force upon the Poland a revolution, according to Blick and Westoby) Blick unlike and Westoby, Trotsky realised the and the sees cas capacity irternationa! workin defendin and solidarity promoting working class gaul.

and interests. "We than once

NUL'

arnounced the duty of the pro letariat of countries in which the revolution had conquered to come to the aid of oppressed and insurrectionary classes, an that not only with ideas but i possiole will armi Nor did we limit ourselve announcements. We ir our to own time aided the workers o Finland, Latvia, Georgia with armed force: w Teren tol attempt made tariat Red 3 and commanders sent organisers revolution. In 1926 we collected millions of roubles for the aid of the British strikers" (Revolution Betrayed p285) But Trotsky also shows tee problems of such actions: Army 11U1 Warsaw in 1920 only a powerful wave of revolutionary the prevented coming to the aid of Poland and crushing the Soviets' (Ibid p 187) The assessment of the actual balance of military and political forces lee rots-m disagree ment with Lenin-to favour an early armistice, once • the Polish "It would be easy to pick SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 ГРУДЬ пети of my / statements to the erect nani me even that war was forced on not bo we would Pilsudski, try not stop half-way. Such statements were of the entire setting . But draw the conclusion Poland, or were even preparing it, is to lie in face and common sense We strained every avoid that war Even more else, I did anyone perhaps that this not want only too dearly •how difficult secute it ter thee years of would continuous civul wat wanted peace imposed war on us. The Poles were rolled back with velocit never since I could hardly believe the fcolhardines

OLLO

can paign. But on our side too often the our first major successes, that loens or me became were opened to us greatly exaggerated A point of view that the war which began as one of defenc should be • turned into an offen- revo and acquire sive and began grOW strength, principle course, possibly could question was simply one of the correlation of ferces. The attitude of the Polish worker and peasants. Sone of our Polish comrades such as the late J. Markhlevsky Luxenituros co-worker

KOS

weighed the situa The former's tion very soberly. estimation was factor in my desire to get out of the war as quickly as possible.

But there were other voices too. Thrising ere high helish ar uprising the Lenir workers

CAU

Tale. fixed his mind on carrying th arsaw to pip the Polio war to Warsaw Pilsudski's workers government and seize power". (My Life pp456-6, As Trotsky goes on to argue,

OLI

workers' insurrection. Assessment While Stalin maintained hi support for continuing the wal even after retreat the Sovie army, Lenin waited for a repor trom rots wno was sent u investigate hasis of front the basis assessment. Lenin changed position supported 2130 immediate armistic This then is the realits

LUTIONARY POLITICS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 ю на зашиту ОгРада! what Blick and Westoby denounce as Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin's lomt attempt to force a foreign bayonets revotion Dy through an invasion defensive was war, imposed Soviet Union. on the wven it kick and westody are to concede its legiti- macy and necessity in defending very existence workers' state, surely they will their declaration at least extend of Aighanistan to ol tne right defend itself against aggression to the Soviet Union Hostility their hostility or nas Leninism ard the gains of lne Bolshevik revolution led them right only deny tsid which the working class has followed the banner of Marxism seizure of power: an effort to turn the A S initial defence into an offensive, aimed aiding Polish al seize power, class working the invasion stands condemned only by virtue of the fact that misconceived-and Was

ПІТО ЛІТАССР ЗПОМ R O DONIOI

of the balance of forces.

Aiding seize with whatever resources power can be mustered snot oll consistent with every principle of revolutionary Marxism-it is a clear responsibility of every revolutionary Marxist.

MONGOLIA

of 1920, une Baron Ungern-Steinberg, a White Guard invaded Outer general, Urga, captured Mongolia the principle town in rebrual.

1921 With the support of Japanese and Imper t callulaly Chinese militarists, he exerted a the Mongolians brutal rule over characterised by almost inconceivable oppression. Mongolian luDs had been organised, opposition the military dicta- torship oI peace AI controlled Nortnern Unina and later against Izin Gun after An Fu lest control in mid 1920] dictatorships ROSe HIldy were exercised with the colla. boration Mongolian feudal the who had accepted

LUKES.

invaders rule 10] guarantees of feudal privilege.

When Ungern Steinberg, the Japanese, soon sorel invaded cater

MORONE

Mongolian partisans turned their White struggle against Guara. In March 1921 a popular was organised by government the partisans in Khalkha the Spearheaded Mongolian Peoples Party formed at the beginning НЕТ УСЛА- СТОЛТ ФАБРИКИ •ИСТУТАХ-СТАНУТ ПОСЕДА ПОХУДА ДСА НС МЛШ- ГОЛОД С ПАЛН Dares Coa: Must be Ours!', 1919 Turkish, led to the ocainst the Turkish the occupation German of Georgia troops as a protection against Turkish claims end of the world At the imperialist ,British troops war.

IMPERIALIST

occupied Georgia. In 1919. the Georgian Mensheviks appealed

INTERVENTION

mandate imperialis 101 (through the League of Nations

IN THE

over the Transcaucasian region, under British control.

CAUCASUS

world But imperialisn taked its hopes on the Wh11 1918 (troops of which under Army the Denikin occupying

WEIC

territory Doreerne o to the north) and British troops were pulled out at the end of 1919 At a time when the Soviet workers' state faced the full imperialist- onslaught of the backed White counter revolu' tion, the Georgian Mensheviks offering door open to inperlansn. mortal of situation dae Red they moved state, Army into moved Georgia in May 1920 But the invasion workers' state by Polish-Ukraine same month led to forces that a withdrawal of the kea Amly while Moscow concen- units trated its efforts on repelling (left) 'Stand up and defend Petrograd!', Bolshevik poster, October 1919.

the invaders. The Red Army moved Rebruary 1921 and tionary Third International, the 1920 from two nationalist aral : Menshevik govern- within the Soviet leadership was central in toppled the groups), a majority acquiring from Sun Yat Sen favoured witr the Une government would not Georgian communists assurances that he turning Kee The forceful sovietisation of Chinese id against the White Guard burgle le Georgia was undertaken by the Vith the successful defeat of claime have no precise have no precise reliable Soviet Republic revolutionary amiles ir the act of self defence by a revolu information Siberia, withvill workers' state under into Mongolia to attack Ungern- "reported Lullal, imperialist siege with Japanese Moscow to guarantee Steinberg who, that vience, the 1922 purges; and the support, was preparing his own the sam e workers in strikes against big execution of Danzan referred to attack into Siberia capitalists may cause the bank- Fighting alongside forces of by buck and westowy capitalist particular, we have foun ruptcy sm all the partisan government. unit: no information which supports concerns, the revolutionary of the Red Army particated state in military Blick Westoby's implica- workers Steinberg in Jane 1921. defeat Ungern struggle against imperialism may tions that there mass resistance [or indeed any be forced by imperialist aggres- Numbers of Guard individuals sicn to violate the independence resistance, save from remained in Outer detachments of small states. General -under and reachionary social layers lo decision to the presence of Soviet troops, tactical Colonel Kakitch. Aalagrana. advisors and political influence invade and covetic. General Resvonkin, Marxists, flowed from the over-riding task revolutionary Kitargorodov and socialist safeguarding Red The Army we wold macca expet, Willal others Blick must revolution that had been accom and westoby Conned

WILL

clearly be unthinkable, that plished. the Mongolians war The Lenin called for the subor- oppressed peasants and workers against those bands. Georgia policy dination of 1n 1921, would welcome troops, do visers November and influence from a state and to the control of the Georgiar Mongolian Peoples Republic was a party irrevocably committed Revkom under Communis proclaimed. The fact that units Makhardadze; for the arming of Red Army remained to prosecutio me mterests or oppressed classes. the workers

HOOTES

was M01201 anal unal uncre But peasants of Georgia; and for executed. massive Soviet influence Danzan was does flexibility con- mean as Blick and Westoby we have been unable to find any not evidence which suggests that cessions une very waders. that they this was due to arguing for a peasants soviet Resis. oppress passed caster is Soviet Republic in measure of independence from oppressed classes 1921 peacefully sovietized Moscow. Mongolia As previous Minister of Georgia which constituted an With Outer Mongolia having charged with for imperialist Finance, was open gateway been historically divided Orley (Tsarist assault in the Caucasus. between Russian, standpoint of the representative) and with aiding Chinese and Japanese capitalists hinese merchants in extracting principles of national self-deter ang mination said in lection to deal might pletely economically backward debts. could of be In the absence of concrete course Have veeli such sovietisation. Mongoli standpoint that mass Fron the tend which did not involve extremely extending the arena of socialist developed economic ties with at oppression, bureaucratic contro disregard for Jeast One Icialive principles with which Blick and in a peasant country was more economic powers. than à dubious act. Boishevik s w estody accuse Ipoint of the the stand are to be Westoby's self the Won support terms of Blick and workers terence receptivity state surrounded enemies,

UWIL

forceful sovietisation Leninism, than actual historical By sending substantial tified: the fact. aid to the Mongolians military

ACCAS

their struggles against The before formal democratic the military ppressior principles and White

GEORGIA

Japanicso. World imperialism for a lon ushering Guare. Tim e ane cuesucu net of cong alies area violence Ceorgia, with Armenia and renouncing rallying cry in mobilising world Azerbaijan, Georgia formed the treaties, the opinion against Transcaucasian an oil public exploitative territory, benefits accrull. Soviets. from them, and mineral rich region between the Bolsheviks anc Second International the Red Army won the political the Black and Caspian Seas.

took the lead in this canipaign.

The Georgian republic 'militants, support ol layers of aim ed thie up in 1918 under a Menshevik particularly in the youth section preparation of a possible new of the party, covered intervention against the military princes forner Tsarist moved from the national struggle to embrace the (In Defence of Marxism p 173) the programme Three cuarters unequivocally which the material Georgian and the the right and defending the interests of the Mensheviks workers poor level of absolute necessity ior the force under the secured banant ful sovietisation banner slogans, nanonalist with the increasingly could actually be met. reform. Menshevik government expressed support of Lenin, was worth noting that the It 18 the Georgian sharply attack the bureau- banned workers' state was able to otter method and real material aid, even at a time Communist Party in 1918 and Crack which Stalin, its carried out repressions when revere attitude will and conmunists They Comme sport problems and threatened its against mularly the specific poseblems and continually looked economy own drained by the imperialist and imperialist preserve Civil Wars. their bourgeois republic.

Sovietisation. deal with the In response to a challenge, the revolu- Page 7 the bogus historical by clea Blick We have allegations that answered Bolsheviks Tine earl 140 imperialist nurtured neu ambitions. for revolutionaries, who DUl and westoby stil unkeruck uphold Trotsky's analysis of • he 0ES degeneration of state under the Stalinist bureau- there political far more cracy difference important which makes the sinple drawing parallells betweer "invasions' totally misleading whatever the can be appearance, There genuine taken try between to defend the measures of gains 2110 cuterests working class, and those taken to defend the benefits and caste parasitic micrests bureau cracy. Nothing Marxism suggests that there is anything unprincipled in cross- wulitca revolution promote workers' revolution But everything in revolution- ary shows lilal Stalinist bureaucracy seeks to interests caste delena its own through class colaboration anc oppression which and are directed against workers revolutIon It is precisely because th military action of the Bolshevik necessary to was defend the gains of the October revolution and the interests of working that we defend them, and it is precisely because the invasion of Afghan istan was undertaken to protect Soviet bureaucracy from a the expense or workers mierests that we oppose it. Unlike Blick and Westoby, the WSL approaches questions and problems of class struggle, announce prin- not mercy cipies, and evaluate as rigit vi wrong what has already occurred. We seek to develop an inter- vention and perspective wnich drawing on the lessons of class can provide militants and workers in each situation a way forward; adverse conditions persistently imperial- them by imposed on ism and maximum possible advantage of class working and

LIC

oppressed allies The war Afghanistan workers and imposed upon peasants by Stalinism. imperial ism, petty bourgeois nationalism feudal reactionaries does serve and cannot serve the 1U U Soviet interests Afghani fighters and workers. A status quo (if it to possible) a return exactly factors out of which • the war actually grew. The only way forward is one confronts the which politically leader- counte ships which have imposed this war

WSL

The basis nostion thus nes m aki u adverse circumstances are and developing they actually provide a way demands forward 29 2114 revolutionary leaderships which have imposed this war It is only by forging links, basis of their common interests against their existing leadersnips, unal a way adverse cir- forward from the imposed them exists

TOT

DOIN

Soviet. In : trite "similarities", their Blick Westoby

SUI

prisingly сташ c co‹ which common invasions they falsely equate the task of moving forward from adverse politica condi- tions is a task which can only b taken up oy the united stengli and solidarity of workers against leaderships which divide of war, and the poin on The bass or une commot independent interests which unite all workers.

Heffer on Tribune platform; Benn: the Parliamentary 'lefts' are finding themselves overtaken by demands for action to defeat Tories

AFTER BLACKPOOL:

WHERE NEXT?

Page 8 Party Formal alternative to thatcher represent Dear comrade this Socialist Earlie year, and the Tories. Press published series Essentially that was the articles ov me on ine counter lesson drawn at Blackpool from revolutionary history of social last those democracy. experence the examples of Germany Labour government. But being UsInE anti-EEC unilateralist does in 1919. Tne enera oluke constitute anti-capital- Britain, the international crises not you and early 30s l is This empirical rejection of the late 20s tried to show the way in which bankrupt policies of the the reformism's commitment to Callaghan clique does not how- evolution towards gradual ever necessarily socialism within the continuing mass anti- emergence framework cabilalist although movement society has historically driven CaDilalisi social democrats to line up with that possibility certainly caiss as part of that process. their own bourgeoisie against the working class Your article on the Labour Confines Party conference raises, I think, a number or lundameltal ques search for At present the tions for Trotskyists, not least within on the role of centrism solutions remains firmly the confines of bourgeois parlia- Blackpol as being evedence of events To describe mentarism. In practice the political con- emergence of a mass anti- file within the fusion movement TalK Cavilalist members expresses itself in the organised working class is both hardened centrists somewhat premature and also capabily off and politically rather dangerous.

benn neda to a rick in comms inde saw at Blackpool what we reforms inside into series confused expression which would the frustration and anger within the Labour Paety ing out of the 1e the working class and the recog une carry. out of the 'lefts' alternative nition has which strategy, develop sections economic amongst within the the right wing context of the continuation of inside the Labour leac er snip Dear Comrades, Callaghan/Healey from the leadership, failed to in Your reports of the Labour Party conference at Blackpool any waynk las in SP218 contain, I think, some sas no bati do the tiny down the Tory political bring rather dangerous headline on ictory refer

LECT

and Co's headline at Labour benn and Blackpool represent, I feel, Conference' such a victory a working article on page five which begins classe prepared to fight but lack "Telling confirmation emergence of a mass anti-capit- British necessary to overthrow capital alist current within rather a victory for offered labour movement was hardened centrists, like Benn, to by this year's Labour Party con- ference. channe an avert ine and strength of the working As revolutionaries we must class fight for inside the Labour Party and the of this "victory" was. nature the continuation and Co., creating capilalist! the guise of the alternative for the removal of Condions the capitalist system. Benn's politics remain those of social democracy at the point the when Detraved class struggle to line up with its own ruling class in the First World War. Phased withdrawal His support for a phased troops withdrawal Ireland rests on no principle bul rather the same sort or lactica assessments which lead him to argue for import controls.

As a consequence of this the central task for revolutionaries in this particular period must b the challenge the rights the labour centrists leau movement. Benn and should it both possible desir- able to line up with Moss Evan arrived no tack Blackpool as Evans the betrayal of from the Adwest strike shows clearly counter-revolutionary the of the machinations content echelons of amongst the upper the about movemen. For class fighters today what is fundamental Iss antihapten 101 Illas. movement but the necessity to arm that movement with a pro.

gramme which begins from the economic strategy. On the question "mass anti-capitalist movement" while must recognise expressed the hostility of the working class both to the Tories Callaghan, the emerging funda- no moved colas mentally an anti-Tory move. is the task of revolu- ment. tionaries to turn it into an anti- capitalist movement! can only be done by This arming the working class with a from the starting of the independent working and by the building of organs class power which working the independent interests of workulk biass therefore would suggest that rather than being rolled over with enthusiasm for what happened at Blackpool, Socialist Press ought questions about what happen! Fraternally, COl MOETOW Leicester Callaghan only bring down the cannot Tories but prepare the way for the taking of power This means building councils of action, uniting struggles : the Tories as every area against the creation of une orence IoT then to bung can to soviets. ditions Call han ousting leadership Labour Party" (and presumably replacing him with "left" Bennite government?) but to lay the foundations for a workers government. Yours Iralei lally William G SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 Readers' letters and a reply Tories, particularly around the

EDITOR'S REPLY

cuts question, Have comrades Morrow and Labour activists William actually read the articles in Socialist Press 218 to hem is paramen tay ence to have letters apparently which parliamentary, refer? prop andest perse pive. The question is worth asking period the inform solemnly The ReXI they because further development of this con- us as if for the

JUTS

flict-through the fight in of points which were in series strikes, occupations contained within the praclice oI tact clearly and a stand by Labour councils the original artic es wille the bring against other hand they appear almost workers in large numbers face to out perhaps the wilfully to leave face with the our DO nEC21

BOST

Chica tions of Benn and his fellow assessment. left-talkers, in a situation where Our articles of course credentials ye civate one say or an out Socialist Press Tony Benn: entered centie native leadership. vould not front page article As of status pointed out: comrades to noted the next period offer Morrow and William G. the best tondie oresto pyr t such their leaders to thi Social democrat willingness or refusal to fight fo extra-parliamentary action to by their We make it clear that Benn the Tories. remains left talking social willingness or to pres for home the ind hive out the whose quest автоста. drive out the reforms and socialism legislated come cle through parliament mean that right wing leadership, can quickly assess the real char quite openly, stands those For now put who acter onoosed to the necessary lilas strike action to bring down thi Callaghan of the Tories opponents Morrow Unlike comrades gang. and William G, however, we also take notice of the fact We offer our full support to Benn's left rhetoric and fight Lever inter right to kend the democratic important 101 reforms within the Labour Party to bring down Thatcher: have reinforced at the same time we fight consi large sections amongst penites of inst tently limited workers that such politics can Labour left to lead to socialism. for of the kind We therefore point, (partic that programme vital ularly in our inside page article) the interests the defend to the kind of approach neces working class in the next period sary to show workers the falsity In this way we seek to win of these illusions. most the While there is of course unionists Labour certain activists to the fight for a new validity equating Benn's revolutionary, leadership in the today with those positions labour movement." social democrats prior telling us that we must world war sunkey lia such literary denunciations and Benn's politics and fight for : comparison: extravagant The thinking of likely to change comrades Morrow and handful of more than a tiny tell us nothing we did not workers. clearly say ourselves last week: what they signally leave out i of or Socialist Press 218 on appreciation now political con- other hand pointed out that, in under what new ditions these tasks must be to mount terms oi a willingness carried out! tangible action deter BaLe

Irish women fight for right to choose

THE MINER'S DAUGHTER

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 An estimated 9,000 Irish -and into the wider Irish labour

SUI VICC

women each year travel to A couple of weeks ago, seven movement. women in Dublin got together for referral England for the abortions form *Right to centre must also be sought from Choose they denied the are in

WOUD

which well vuolm rades counci. arnougn Republic. campaign for at this early stage it is not likely planning Nevertheless, contraceptive rights choice the abortion already set up abortion, has issue has only recentlv begun to be debated in public. The organ- Is own aborton renera centre ised opposition of the Catholic do not have a pro-choice policy Church is for fear of alienating women.

Donations such that for years swept abortion been OH v under the carpet, issue hotly disputed, but the This is funded by donations, out of hand from the pulpit and Church both are time a000l noW Tull state organiser and trained staff.

the Wellwoman The for and the Family Planning Clinics.

n to now. abortion wallparou Clinic Dublin has These present are rights within the Republic na the Republic nically legal, just

ORIV

статтес. Already the obtain the abortions they question has been raised, neec nole m exisone teasanon-since referring them to English National it is illegal to sell contraceptives pestuously, the and they just give them away, and arranging Union travel and accommodation for organises in the Republic as well survive on donations alone as in the UK This, of course, cannot be a Right wing members objec- Legislation free service ted the Umon or Choic ties for Haughey's new Bill aims to WILlI 10 И not be applicable incomes. put an end to this: clinics which Even the Wellwoman Republic! (which deals Taluse to combly • with cne new with all aspects of campaign for the right legislation will have to organise 1 1C to abortion must now be carried support from the who women s an acon cace unable to cope with the demand into British-based unions use their service and from the their abortion which nave a pro-choice ропсу wider labour movement if they This film is really about Country music buff TONY RICHARDSON reviews The Coal Miner's Daughter', a film directed Loretta Lyn, the "first lady by Michael Apted, starring Cissy Spacek and Tammy Lee Jones.

of country music". • But it begins as a picture of the life of Kentucky coal miner, his wife and daughter. For Loretta, the daughter, the only Way out ol gumoma poverty and misery is to break out of her home environment.

The hard work, the killer dust from Ine ow wages all spent in the company store, are well depicted in the

TLI.

One memorable scene high- lights the poverty of the family the camera moves from darkness une mine The darkness of the house in which the wife is at work. The children wear shoes only in the winter. «ana Il Is a big treat for Loretta when, the age of 14, she gets a new dress. Their only entertainment is occasiona 0arn «ance the 'Grand Ol' Opry' on the radio. But even in this film which focusses on one who person escaped from poverty there tendencv-all in country music-to take pride pos Loretta's husband, fresh out tne army, dec ares inatne not going to a miner he wants to stay with Lurella Les a moonshmer on to be shot dead) to point out to that in harsh world "If Kentucky mountala you don't become a miner you lown the line". He is forced to occome ammer married-and Loretta her four children. She is headed heavily oppressed mother.

But husband break-heads Washington and occomesd tracto arver. rate and the activity take All that sena or Loretta place. Her escape from the oppres children. depicted is family solidarity-in sion of child care and domestic Her from the Ken- keeping with the idol bourgeois comes when husband TO1l tucky coalfields has still left her concept of the family unit.

buys buniversary present ar the home. Her story The strength of this is that- and pushes makes up the second half of the unusually for a film-it does for into singing professionally 1C1 film. she show people who have to the opportunity, Once is indeed the first half workut eating. demon to the to The follows the well which is most interesting for a der this respect it socialist. be used largely avocals lu Yet poverty of the counter-weight show how rising to stardom: the sacrifices high Loretta subsequently and the pressures of continual Hes motorce Sow any class setting: no strikes or union climbs. touring, the death are to survive. Needless to say, this is class issue. Irish wollen esew mere. Can evacle anti-contraception anti- abortion legislation if they have the money. Status quo Indeed the fact that England is so near. relativelv. is commonly used as an argument not fighting the status quo at home boll unese issues we n the agenda for the meeting of International Abortion, and Sterlisation Campaign' which is meeling Dublin on 18-19 October at the invitation the 'Right Choose Group'. is vital that, this trom meeting, the referral clinic and the famiy planning clinics get the active support they need from Irish women and the Irish Lavo movement crash of Loretta's friend and country star Patsy Cline and of course the old story of not resolving personal problems. Loretta's husband is reduced fined her- appendage the home. Of course all cap the relieving factor in this half of the film is the music of Loretta Lyn, Patsy Cline and By Mary Wilson SATION CRy

BLIMERICK

NO: Dublin march Kentucky miners Merle Haggard. Another _bright spot is the acting of Cissy Spacek, who se versatility orance 40 Characters Irom 14 astounding. Country music buffs, Cissy Spacek lans and those looking for a moving ing portrayal of con ditions mining districts will all find something to savour In tsum Page 9

LEGAL COUTDIPFBTIA

WRP

sleuths wrong again! Dear Editor, Thank you for your courtesy in publishing my review of The Young Trotsky'. I would like, i your columns 1 may. again • to reply to some hysterical reaction to my review WRP leader expresser Mitchell Saturday's Newsline Mitchell takes a full page to reply to me. yet ne concentrates on mere three paragraph which mention the WRI skills and all the training he accumulated Fleet Street Mitchell endeavours denigrate and mist epresent every word in my three paragraphs would take a large pam phiet to reply every one o only with the most important First, he identifies wrongly me with the Editor of Socialis Press-quite a blunder for the ace "investigator"! Second, Mitchell asks why if the pamphlet has castmar "attracted entiervedly, little critical attention" have renewed it at all he has not reac the end of the fe st even to column of part where one explained the educational value of such a study This brings me to the third point. Mitchell defends East- man's pamphlet as "essential for the education of the _youth of today" Let us ask, if Newsline and the WRP are so concerned educate tailed to meth why they have review th Eastman pamphlet themselves?

Amo wav nave thev a aler review number to recent

WRP

publications-such Trotsky's Report of Delegation' "Our sioenian Political Tasks' and Volume 2 ol the 'Military Writings' • as well as Sedov's 'Red Book' (the last of which they have not even adver- tised). This inability to review even his own party's material presum- ably accounts for Mitchell's inability understand my Al no point do 1 seek to link the right wing anti-communisn Eastman with the WRP's capitulation to petty bourgeois as in nationaus, even though Iraq and Iran, the result is often the It all Eastman as are a Mitchell's assess men Marxist' contrasts with Cannon's statement "The first was un-

LIOSK ISI

doubtedly Max Eastman" Yours fraternally, Ernie Stubbins

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

LABOUR COUNCIL

BID TO CLOSE

NURSERIES

Labour-controlled Bir- A read y campaign has come up against City Council mingham the official trade decided Wednesday to on residential close all the with management nursery places in the city.

the interests four children's Another threat severence savmeals. nomes ale which will in all probability mean closure or these homes as well the workers in these homes are comes after an determined not by the ago attempt two years then accept "ory connel to cose lo children's homes. A campaign eitect ol the cosures (in tne face of a well-publicised foster- NUPE-the main union involvea-preventea ine closure of 14 of the homes and was Services Department which has therefore partially successful.

miserably failed) will be devas- campaign tating. However mainly revolved around the use of stunt tactics and so enabled many whom mental and physical handicaps again two CoulCu need the specialist care of resi years later, hoping that through negotiations they would not musemes to fight vigorous oppos- ition. Chaurel are start Rumours particular Following rumours young proposed closure or the nomes, ment has been a joint NUPE/NALGO meeting before for a week Closures was Calcu council decision. here it was ly. decided to set up an action com- determined mittee comprised of stewards of In orman ol and provision members of the two unions.

care is and to set The also resolved meeting opposed to itself to be totally control to keep the homes the closure of the homes and to full use fight the closures through occu- Dall a cossal y. Liverpool health workers fight cuts Hospital workers Merseyside have forced Health themse ves Liverpool Area Authority any resulting redundancies.

OVCI

plans to make ward closures Newsham General and try Hospital despite an official closure of two collab- union/management Newsham oration agreement. ostensibly 115 beds At mass meeting

TWO

weeks ago, 1500 health workers city's into the barricading reorges man an overwiculus ly rejected TIne agreement recommended by their full time the dismantled. which promised service

AHA.

cooperalull by cuts and closures in return assurances that there would be unCO placed across will pussy the Two Liverpool AnA spending on its bugget 1o1 luc year to the tune of £3.5 million une barricaut but the action management sackings li tney overtime and beds. temporarily. however the union bureau- protect of our members" of redundancy and It is qulte ciear thougn tnal Out give and 1he sculually the Social now. Nursery age children in care, easily assimilated Bringing together recent older and where material published •experienced Press, this new Socialist or plentino des it pamphlet details the crisis in problems BL, the collaboration of the and babies. leadership It is clear that the manage- with planning the Edwardes on the future of time and long BL and explains how has run homes down according- is therefore management are manoeuvr- collect is own this year's pay ing review. for children Price 42p including pa : up alternative 3M Box 5277 from WSL workers

WHUC

London WC1V 6XX so as to prevent an easy Later in the week, a peace- The meeting responded in no picket of a female uncertain terms. They pledged staff took about 50 massive wald oy the majority to fight both cuts and place to prevent removal the decision, this Liverpool AHA moved quickly porters. push through the Nursing staff at the hospital are refusing to , discuss the issue wards the The

COHSE

Hospital, (reneral "for safety reasons" Bal Du Canistated as far aste Branch Chairman on are planned for axing are concerned the wards will not The workers responded by close geriatric ward In the face of this principled where eleven male patients were and resolute action by

AHA

hospital workers, one to be removca dru lie cus "postpone' the isined any patients sator closure plans subject to TuTThe patients who discussion with the CHCs and trolleys Lne Although une rent is not ye won, staff of Newsham General who refused to cooperate in breaking have given possible answer home not only to the hospital manage still the spid ess Colabortan to to back down spineless collaboration their full-time officers.

MERSEYSIDE

FACTORY CLOSURES

Fisher Bendix Leyland Dunlop Meccano Why campaigns were lost & samhow they can be Brа2т: і 20Ed A SL Pamonle

JUST OUT

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Name... Address. 6XX. With by the a way forward. thousand taking the streets oppose Tory policies there is plainly lack of militancy the advance trade union organised working class. politics and illusions that Yet the existing trade union alism can De bureaucrats and awes parliament right 'left'-have The offer those no perspective 10 League fight workers orepared le jobs, living detence stan dards, social services and demo- leadership in the cratic figuls in Britain These can only be defended through policies start which inde ends, inter, as class, which of the working has class, internationa affiliated to gain and everything notnino to lose trom attemors to restore the profitability of their "own" employing class reconstructior International In a period where the contra

OCTION.

Ufit andreili alist system force me whoresart country closure and destruction of ine dudst imperist forces of society, parasitic the socialist planned SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

SOCIALIST

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PRESS

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Conference prepares for winter pay battles SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 15 October 1980 Terry Duffy's statement last month that the leader- ship of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions were "not in an aggressive mood" in pursuing their notional wage claim of 18.5% has been warmly received by the employers. Following the rejection their initial miserable 6% offer, they now seem likely to offer an almost equally miserable 8%- find it endorsed and expect to

OUTV

ana nis reactionary Confed colleagues. Cut in wages The engineering pay review is one of the first clear instances of a whole section of particul- arly avasivivus vily yels recession anel mass layoffs to force through in real wages oi around luvo rot t milion workers.

The EEF's offer has since Bring down Tories -MP A conference of 100 delegates including representatives of 15 trade unions, three trades councils and five Constituency Labour Parties meeting Falkirk last Sunday decided upon a fighting programme of action against unemploy- ment. The conference, organised by the Scottish Central Region rederation oi liades councis pledged itself to support recruit the unem. can Dal Lo ployed into tne trade unions. and to combat all dyn dancies.

Ewing, Local Harry speaking Ine conterence revealed secret Tory plans to cut unemployment and sickness 5% exemptions from prescription charges. Ewing called for the bring- down of the Tory govern- ing the earliest possible ment opportuniy. Socialist Press will publish a fuller report of this conference m tre next Issue.

UNION

DUES

been echoed by British Leyland ofter of 6% to BL carworkers. from ejectir amount out ol nana, tr union leaders nave gone away to consider it-no doubt calculat- ing their chances of successfully loisting l on shop noor workers who have suffered more than other from almost ally successive years of wage control and union leaders and management.

pressure Meanw alle under from their members,

NUM

leaders have that announced milena lo oress allcal will tne miners 30% pay claim aue for settlement next The have already hinted that une mumers and few other powerful sections of public sector workers be may regarded "specIal vases order to avoid potentially disas- trous confrontations. Rather, they hope to select Eneir targets ior victimisation and to off isolated and pick industrially weak workers with the assistance of the craven TUC leadership.

Living will fall stallualus dramatically

LOT

VaST majority of the working class there is concerted action unless co uercal te tory govertunent this winter. The political questions that arise in such a tight will form a central part of the discussion at the Birmingham conference Convention Novembet the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement. Parties, cooperation with to cam- paign for rent and rate strikes as soon as any LaDour CouncI Is removed surcharged for taking a stand against the cuts" under industrial action, •the amend- ments call for: "A policy of no cover for and campaign voluntary redundancies and natural wastage. Create and defend by stopping over- jobs. for and fight shorter LuIC workme week. as well as: of and support lor alon now dealist uc culs Trade unionists and councillors should immediately publicise proposed cuts; no secret deals!

Where closures are proposed, resist rundown prior to closure, demand

TODAIS

210 made defend equipment. Immediate strike action with official support to stop redun- Orahal

AT THE TOP...

CONFERENCE

AUEW leaders Duffy, Boyd and Laird ne consistent inrust or te

CD LM

has been towards the of a new leader- development ship based ConsISten

"BRING DOWN THE TORIES THIS WINTER"

struggle to programme the independent Saturday November 15 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

interests of the working class.

This autumn's onference taking vlal Il lie sulauuw u Digbeth Hall, Birmingham huge L2 million junemployea, Open to all labour movement bodies cuts ie hanpublic services and Credential £1 (unwaged 50p) from G. Webster laws, will 169, Barclay Road, Smethwick, W. Midlands such a Seek ways or Domole programme It will also take stock of the developments in new political the Labour Partv in the run-up to the Special Conference January. Socialist Press urge readers support and attend this conference. Lambeth conference

FROM BACK PAGE

pany can best be put to the test dancies as soon as notices are in the amendments by specific of public sector eyes

SUDDOIL

suCt and a call Where closures are announ- Newcastle NALGO, wolkers prepare for occupation of for strike action to defend any We urge Socialist Press ced, readers to attend this important the and worker victimised as phoniccupaiken is threatened An attempt fix 11 for and support these connerence the occupation is threatened definitive date of January amendments. the with eviction. all-out action is Hecessary Organise full strike pay for deleted, and there is an attempt - Cowley strike staff in to put the left talkers on the occupation it wages are cut off". spot by calling for the publica- national fight is neces tion of: sary to force the Tories to back details of those The AUEW craftsmen in down, but this should not mean councils trade union organisa- staking everything a pre- tions and Labour Parties wilin the Cowley Body Plant won determined date or holding back to make the commitment calle a significant victory over the immediate local action. Confer- or by this conference". management last week. ence cans or al acavises to can• paign for complete non-cooper During the shutdown the Practical fight with the Tory cuts, for company had brought in outside ation Labour Party and union support do the work the ContraCloIs Lo for local anti-cuts fights, and for Other trade union and millwrights refused to ac assist the fight Labour

MPS

to Labour Party bodies are discuss overtime. filibuster- The millwrights on the Ital against the lories by ing and obstructing the Tories ments, which provide a firm blacked a job done wrongly by work in Parliament basis for a practical fight on a the This contractors. action production nanonal lever agamnst tue culs.

SLUD DCU

In this way the militant Tuesday the millwrights were cooperation "taken off the clock" words of Ted Knight and com- counci houses is strengthened

O'FISHALL, HERES THE LATEST BRITISH STEEL REPORT-

BRIGHTON

CHRIST- I'VE NEVER SEEN

15000 JOLE AND 2084 OF PRODUCTION TO BE AD

CONFERENCE

LUNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES WILL SOON HIT 3 MILLIO

HIM IN SUCH A MILITANT MOOD!

THIS CALLS FOR ACTION

NOT WORDS. WELL HAVE TO

MASS PICKET THE TORIES

BRIGHTON CONFERENCE!

YOU SEE-LIKE

HOLD ON O' FISHALL.

YOU TAKING THIS JAUNT

HE SAID ENOUG

IS ENOUGH. I KNEI

A LITTLE TOO FAR-AT THIS RATE

YOU'LL INCITE THE MEMBERSHIP!

WILD

Page 11 Birmetals march demonstration has A been called in Birmingham 17 this Friday morning labour October to focus movement attention on the struggle being fought by the workers at Birmetals. The dispute, five months old, began after manage.

dispute ment manuracturea of a straightforward pay claim and used it as an excuse to several weeks. They then recalled the work- on workers still in dispute.

Those that refused were again law of and tnen sacka by letter since they has declared But since _Lne wert dispute" when sacked, they are for unemployment not eligible pay or sock security The white collar staff have since been notified that the firm is to close and that they will receive severance pay providing they do not oppose the closure and behave themselves. mit is mal that for the mobilised support which demonstratior WIll assemble at 10 a.m. at Snow Hill car park, Birmingham. Birmetals se to That he be ma away with this one, nobody's job is safe: they'll just smash the unions".

All the AUEW craftsmen, on both shifts, in the plant stopped work in support of the mill- wikile nursdave comoan conceded an agreement that no contractors would be brought ir During the week , also, there by the fork-lif was a walkout Princess over the ending of their Lola dallills Management did their jobs and the

TGWU

leadership did nothing about it.

WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT TO WORK EH?

WE WANT A WELFARE

STATE, NOT A

WARFARE STATE!

SURE, ITS A GAMBLE

-BUT HOW ELSE CA

I GET THE MEMBERS

OFF MY BACK? THE

MORE THEY DEMAND

REAL ACTION, THE

MORE OF A PILLOCK

THEY MAKE ME LOOK!

LET THEM VENT

THEIR ANGER

ON THATCHER

NOT ME!

Lambeth conference Nov 1: let's start the real fight to Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Printed by Morning Litho Printers, London.

PRESS

H Block hunger strike "We, the republican prisoners of war in the H Blocks of Long Kesh demand as of right political recognition and that we be accorded status of the political prisoners. "We claim this right as cap- tured combatants in the contin uing struggle for national liber- ation e refride most soon relute

NUSU

the tag of criminal with which the British attempted have label us ard our sauose and we point to the divisive, partitionist institutions of six county state as the sole criminal aspect or the oresent conuct With these words, the cour- ageous blanket men of Belfast the cuts al e commence a hunger strike on Lambeth October 27 the hopes achieving the for Illarks a demands those militants which they have been fighting for four years. forward Their struggle is just: It Is Tory offensive in the public sector. movement must support with disposal. Hicals They have not yet received such потопо тот support and their hunger strike talking councillors register is a sign oi desperation as well as determination. before implementing the Tory Don't let the 'H' Block cuts prisoners fight alone! *Self determination for the loopholes for Irish people! But a series of

FIGHT AGAINST

THE TORIES.

"We played a major part in the decision to modernise the Alliance's theatre nuclear That torces. decision more than any other cemented the Alliance in a new cohesion". proud announcement 'his the Tory conference delegates, most whom plainly unaware that "theatre" weapons rente to une orotected.

"European theatre" of war The fact that

NATO

under US command, now has a strengthened "theatre" arsenal soie Linute Us President makes it infinitely likely use Cola decide such weapons in a "limited" strike Union and against Soviet Fast European workers' Stales, novocalon in which the USA could hope national while October emerge reduced Lurope Campaign laulu activey to this new awesome Disarmament assembles in Hyde Key Park at 11 a.m. Cruise While possibility the and rersing a missues to de stea m pres Tenders European countries, 150 of promises to be a massive anti- which are coming to Britain.

demonstration, wal It is essential that this wid the need not simply to protest

SOCIALIST

halt the cuts! The conference against put forward last week by the Leicester AUEW 16 Branch, and convened by Socialist Council suDDorLed Labour Socialist Organiser and the Cam- focal point for Democracy the paign for seeking Labour Movement. aim to basis for generalised against the Ine struggle against the cuts.

Commitment But it will also form a stamp- They specifically demand numerous len seeking the resolution's call for that a token vote of protest comt acuon "should not mean CLPs or Labour councillors of others to us tie The draft resolution tabled maturity implementing or accepting cuts organses eaves many such elements. themselves" They add the commitment amendments

TURN 'NUKES'

Рут at the lory war plans. but to 2 cented by tine on link up the fight on this issue called by the with the broader struggle regen- defeat and Nuclear the

LOWI

government. and 1 natcher right Labour's wing all Socialist leaders who stand opposed 0 \ 000 tne necessary poncies or immea- iate withdrawal from NATO and unilateral nuclear disarmament.

stress that: charges. Open "We pledge ourselves to fight nationalise labour ne maustries, movement to the following building, and policies: finance Cancellation debt

AGAINS

WANALGORTH

NALGO

SERVICES

Lambeth cuts demonstration a slow start very slow start. As we urgently needed to enable us to develop our campaigns during the autumn and winter are advertised on other pages of this paper own spending. the country. for £1,500 by important not to leave it until the last minute. We are asking readers and supporters to send us a day's wages as a donation. It's going to be the same amount whenever you pay it, so why not get it over with and send it to us now!

throughout the duration of the Special Fund).

Send us a donation today. Our address is:

LABOUR PARTY

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN

RANK AND FILE

CRISIS

TRADT UNIONISTS

CONFERENCE

National Labour and Trade Union Conference Leeds University Saturday November 1 Saturday November 1 10.30 a.m. Called by Labour For credentials write to Coordinating Committee Rm 103, Lambeth Town Credentials £1.25 from Hall, London SW2 IRW 9 Poland St., London W1 Ted Knight control. the books; No funding charity the supply facilities! Black private secto , e.g. drugs, food and use of facilities! the banks and of public services institutions without to be (as a minimum) protected unue from inflation in line with a cost labour movement committees worker weak-kneed section on Town Hall unions is deleted and replaced by a declaration that: •This conference calls levels

TUC

General [from Council branches shop • tO and steward committees to pledge themselves to and campaign for all-out strikes and occupations 'ol workoaces Labour council faces receivers commissioners oI surcharged, for taking a stand against the cuts. "The struggle may centre around the public sector unions at first, but conference calls on other workers especially the strong sections like the and engineers, to join this fight to force the Tory down on the our comerence aco councils and Labour Labour Cont'd p.11, col. 2

SPECIAL FUND:

£20 from Oxford and £44 from London means that our Special Fund has got off to a explained in last week's issue of Socialist Press, this money is period. New pamphlets on the crisis in British Leyland, on the need to bring down the Tories this winter and on the fight against the Bolivian junta have all now appeared and But with inflation still at 16% we continue to feel the impact of Tory policies on our We know that Tory policies affect the pockets of our readers and supporters too. But we also know that they recognise the importance of the work being carried out by the Workers Socialist League and Socialist Press supporters up and down That is why we are confident that we will get the necessary response to our appeal December with the first £1,000 in by November 15. However it is (And by the way, don't forget that we are still running our f850 monthly fund Socialist Press Special Fund, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX