Socialist Press no. 221 (part 1)

As Tories halt house building

MASS ACTION

PRESS

lated to the Trotskyist Inter With housing output at it the GLC elections agreed by the London Labour its lowest level since the growing

SUDDOTT

Wilson government came November 1 conference on the into office, and over sponsored CUts council leader Ted Knight.

million people on council waiting lists, Tory Secretary Councils have of State for the Environ- Michael Heseltine to the hatcher cuts nas been to maintain a large last week delivered another the services by raising the rates.

savage blow to working class families over the "Hit list' CoulLLEY. In a panic move to cut local authority he issued in any event cuts working class living standards-is new capital projects exceD! less anu less possible as Dayton where there is a legal obligation ment o spend money extended legal restrictions the amount councils are allowed What this means is that ther will be new contacts To LO raISe. housebuilding or improvements, council mortgages Heseltine on 18 improve- so-called • purchases ol land for future projects.

councils removing money shows that the Cancelled Tories have taken a decision to Councils' capital allocations, go to war with locar government services. on which they were supposed to It is as a base their four year programmes measures that in been cancelled. Have SIllPLy borough ol canoem aone a addition to The •wide deticit ot spread hardship caused by the now possible in urgent housing work, the decision

WILL

LICVILdULy Knight-who laST mean massive Teammeancies 1n rates by building firms and council hous- pelled to admit that further rate ing departments. It is ironic that the tenants less possible, who wish to buy their colnci case even houses from the councils will they not be affected by this decision, Lurte Culs. because mnev nave a lega man to claim a mortgage from the council to makers the tories New situation will put uD cash to destroy council housing by returning Briefing, houses to the private market admitted that there was now a but are determined to cut the provision or nousing, along wit other hard-won rights in educa- no option but to make cuts, and tion, health and social we should be services. other councils and trade unions scale of the lory cuts within the public sector should in local government is truly enormous: and the anger welling take a decision that the only up within the working class is so path vith the Tory government. Th gical mal i nas broken to une surface in the form of an emer- is the only other option open to resolution at the Black- us". This pool Labour Party Conference, position closely parallels what was spelt lett wing maniesto io1

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 221 * 29 October 1980 * 20p

NEEDED TO

STOP CUTS!

and

•TOT

Ene Lambeth most Labour cuts, proportion of This course of action-which becoming has Hese tine The 'hit list' announced by September of over-spending whom he out a little more clearly in the from emergenc ICSOLLLIOn Lambetn passed at the Laboul Party conference, where it was result of these said that: the London "the labour movement must be prepared TO use

ITS THI

up to £6 million is strength, o decent the industrial action, most this situation even Ted needy in vea raised interests or every working class 49%-has been com- family. *Campaigns be local com- less anu launched to unite and that in any actions munities increases will not be able to ase Labonist Councils Labour and trade this position winning

WITH

widespread support within the labour movement it is of course mievildule ular suci uuuaves d In an interview with London The amber conterence would Knight attract badad layers of arkers.

Already Friday October over 330 delegates had I do not accent that there is agrees to come mcluding dele.

gations from numerous Labour demangling that councils-among them Leeds, Rochdale, Sheffield, Glasgow. Tyne and Wear Greater London and Camden open to us is confrontatio NUPE leader Alan Fisher has also declaed to come and speak and there will be numerous delegates public from sector course But here is the contradic-

SOUTH EAST

KONAL COUNCE

T.U.C

Heseltine (top) and (above) London demonstration against Tory cuts tion: many of those who turn have our to devate me cart resolu tion tabled by Lambeth Labour councillors will themselves b voted overwhelmingly either councillors who are at present implementing Tory cuts or trade union bureaucrats who principled stand. are merry preseng over une closure schools, hospitals, old homes and other peoples acilities There has not been a single The cuts official call to action in defence stopped in of public services from NUPE other ally SCClOl This union means While it is relatively easy for broaden such these Ther Camden Town Hall and sound off against the Tories, the real development that is needed is sector unions ain tangible action terms sector unions defeat the cuts. political parties) In this Two-faced stance laid Une Even in Lambeth itself there government. similar two-faced stance. Socialist While Knight and the Labou council have tabled a resolution November calling struggle against on action to halt the sale of council support the ments put forward b nouses. nave themse ves voted that they have 'no choice ters of Socialist Press, but to obey the Tories and sell off houses in oWI borough! ment (see page 5).

CDLM

conference resolution Page 4 Import controls Cruising.... TiONAL,

CHOLIN

been challenged These amendments seek a Lambeth Town Halibers hain clea _commitment rom unosi attending the conference that their anti-Tory rhetoric be trans- Heseltine's instruction to sell: a Tornea mo tangiole anu brin workers last week endorsed this their council chambers and umon branches In the fight for such policies Councils of action workers who have been time and again betrayed in the few place be struggles that have taken will only the fight for against the cuts, will be able to

SUCI

real nature of those assess the acuon ov the workers move put themselves for- ment against the Tory offensive.

who must also ward NovenDe. socialists. build local Leadership action drawing in delegates from the whole labou And in the struggles of the next period new militants will workers emerge who must form the basi of a new, revolutionary leader way the basis can be suo a leadersh prepared 1 necessary fight tooth and nail for actio action to defeat the Thatcher to bring down the Thatcher to drive government; prepared Press therefore out une • Labour uallors wil unces delegates to uns comer implement socialist retuse to ence-now a key focus of the policies, and establish a workers Tories-to of

-SCLICS

suppor Socialist Organiser and the Campaign for ветостасу m me adour vove

French workers march against fascist violence Iranian militants put forward Page 2 It is estimated that about Interne " passivity of the public one million people marched France autronues au te crence on October ot the government as weil as against the bombing of the * th i netice a bis po estes ess synagogue of Rue Copernic of the police' where three and 20 conqemnec ov Alamn de kouls- ated President of the Repres- chic were injured. of Jewish entative The of right ressurgence institutons in riance wing neo-ascist It has therefore been a major gluys blow against Giscard in the run- "rance nas Deen marked feature of the last three months.

to next year's Presidentlal UD Their targets have included elections. He has demanded that the not ony synagogues and Jewis!

areas but also Nortn Alrican police "an exemplaty action to capt unson and ell knothe captuie unuse les Soviet ponsible. non-rtenen telt wing icaders Rue tact that Statement Copernic murders have brought Prime Minister Raymond lass IvoUUIs Dal CLy because of the highlv organised Barre made statement and vocal Jewish lobby and the r'alliamenl conuennma partly because of the guilt of and homolna Tere was sectors of French capitalists unanimous vote in the National collaboration with the Assembly proceed- TneiT suspend Nazis in deportation

LES SU

unal ils vebuties couru French Jews to Hitler's concen- go on the demonstration. tration camps. The police unions temselves Abysmal record nave Jomnea tne chucism, partic- ularly against Bonnet. A public argument has been But also reDIesCIIls raging Teo non on tae doc on silile asocclul puldill of French workers of was unmaske• as a menoer the need to fight the growth of the recently outlawed FANE by investigating Tacisil Bologna bombing gemonstration centred The Autonomous Federation on the abysmal record of the French police in convicting rolce Untons ane tine National Autonomous Union of those KIU WIl Tascis oTeyel Civil Police maintain that up to caugnt in ine act. But the anger of the demon- su names on a si or memoers fascist organisations are strators directed squarely Was currently serving police officers.

against the Giscard government One of the main slogans was aney acmanaca lilal "Giscard, accomplices these people be kicked out but Bonnet denies that there are any murderers" (Christian Bonnet is the Minister or tne sulal independent line* we renmnt below alere issuer py an ranan erouo calla tor umay ol communst allars The leaflet, transiated from Persian by forward a class line in opposition to the Khomeini regime alongside an analysis of exactly Iragi invasion is in the interests of world imperiaism. Whist the policy spelled out is not identical tr our own, we reprint below a word for word extract from the leaflet; only spelling has been amended.

annihilate and communsl. 'The invasion of Iraqi Ba'ath other revolutionaries regime in its continuation and assault 0) 10 Intelsu) against cepenee uvon ceram curcun wor ker. a00l stances, political organisations and trade is ilkely to be trans- erred into a war of annexation unions, pressurise work ers (in the form of disintegration of more than betore in order Iran, occupation increase the production and minanl to to trag on of reion his militarise the work-places; c) To establish semi-martial lidl ilav actual fact law rules and regulations and to invasion tne serving to provide the Aricile torme core inad grounds, facilities and aids to counter-revolutionary serve oneme ICVUil- imperialist tionary opposition and distruc-

OOUIECUISIC

accomp ishi irandan revolution: ting democratic rights; against the d) To increase its demogogic is in essence against thus, even more. and to oooaald Icvolu Lol

WUIKCIS

dill siow down the loss or popular ity of regime among working TOReTS OLTATI The Islamic Republic regime, showing themselves as people by is a capitalist governmen since deng anu-moerlalst. With and is an active component ol respect what was bourgeois-imperialist mentioned above: counter revolution which acts to serve Firstly, Iranian revolutionary liquidation of the Iranian the workers nave no an mostv ane revolution, difference in interests with Iraqi n une ace ol lao] nasion due to its essence, acts workers and toilers: lot to defend the revolution of workers seconov workers and tolers of lan. but and tolers see the war as on merely to defend its own exist- between capitalist states which results in oppression and This egime (The Islamic Drevenon or une soread or Ent Republic) neither wishes revolutionary nec e In ran! and therefore they defend their can rev vo macer ac !e armi iran and in the light of war achievements revolutionary with under the guise of against this capitalist war the siluatiuls. Hrom r nan orking cass assault by an enemy, the neces- point of view, , the Iragi aggres- sity for the "defence of Islamic is another effort sion Dour- fatherland" and with reliance geom-memist counterievolu- tion in providing and creating upon its disorganised military the background and forces shall attemot: circumstances for their ultimate a) To pursue more actively policy aims .to take assault against the revolutionary and of Iran. political liberties and toilers

WULKCIS

secret list. have not, however, distinguished Other police unions such as themselves from the liberal the General Police Union have DoulCCO cicinclls •Cilt marches; put condemned the nonchalant atti- nor have nev in facet bidene to the rise independent fascist working class demands. violence. astomsnea o une artcuce or Inadmissable the Minister of the Interior who minimises the danger of the neo.

"All measures must at last be Nazı movemnerls taken by the government so that More to the point of course the police at the same time are the criminals wil oe arresteo and punished. An end must be onceinca oy cae growun or sell inadmissable the among immi- delence squads

DUI

ande acaves or une grouos wHic! call temselves our Nazis as mo voicll. d1c ceaselessly eseleral Sec retar party equally worried because of the declared CP nsk of setting up ol sell delenci following this teorees varenas action." Gaston Detterre, presicen of the Socialist Group in the The movement against this echoed this Assembly terorism was expressed not latiullal only in a major demonstration theme nose who are Donuc responsible, who are Paris but the charge of the forces of Aix-en-Provence, counlrv. quickly people led Mayor unus Alain Joissainf marched throug!

decisively.' the Lu wil. 'Best interests' people attended a mass meeting; in Besancon, 3,000 people were mobilised the Meanwhile the CP fails to AsansI Kacisa aro lol anere- mount struggle any ship Among People (MRAP) as national chauvinism; unions indeed Bordeaux unev Cozdon Cal disallsaliul immigration controls in France

.U.UU

olmed march. describe Grenoble 7,000; 4,000 turned best interests of Lille, 5,000 measure in the A in Mont eller nd ,n Immugran worker. *No reliance on the state in strasbourg. police! *Build workers' self defence Active squads! *Drive the fascists off the The main trade union organ- streets! isations the CGT and the CFDT wert aclive ortamising ana participating in the demonstra- tions but the leaderships of the Communist and Socialist parties , "student supporters of Iranian communist movement", puts Such assault, whether carried Palizbans, Bakhtiars. Madanies Islamic republic or regimes of the egion or of tes armies regime, armv: can im per alst onyoe answered in realun of ra the creation by laline based revoluuonay Ironl. armen workers ane Tolers ant the leadership of com. munists. The effort in organising this front irrespective of the poten- tiality of this or that specific assault is the immediate fask of commumst movemcnl Iran. Definite tasks facing communists in conjunction with unus docesson are as oclow.

Iranian communists should against tollowing trends hich: Anti-American demonstration in Tehran a) encountering une present war, call upon the proletariat to Islamic republic regime defend the bourgeois nature of this war and or a lacuon wilnın te rulng counte revololar body. objectives: Propagate b) aclosies the antidamo- indifference Iranian and pacifism under the pretext cratic activities carried Mat leis war s nor reatcc lo regime o postart of WiCE proletariat. under wat and Publicise the agitating deltatice or demooratn sing purely rights as struggle against this regime and ignore the Iran-Irao war and its , essential ground for a mass Ene poltical aims mobilsation against all counter- 2) Communists should con- revolutionary forces; and sistently pursue the following c) Agitating organising the orensaturd workes anlu luucis araliis.

tasks in order to build up all the efforts and attempts independent proletarian the regime for the militarisation ment and united revolutionary of work-place. d) Révealing the policies and front against this war aliu aims: operations of the two factions a) Exposing every aspect of within the ruling body in face of

POLAND:

dilemma for bureaucrats After prolonged haggling with leaders of Poland's new independent union fed- eration_ Solidarity, Warsaw judge Zdzislaw Koscielniak decided last Friday to cut the Gordian knot. He himself deleted the right to strike-a clause negotiated by as pare or ine settement or tos summer's strike wave in Gdansk -from the union's draft consti- LaLIlI added a claus inen ne pecifyin the Communist Party's leading role in Polis allas And then, while Solidarity leader Lech Walesa pondered his Judge Koscielniak steps, registered une maepenaenl union with its 'amended' consti- tution! Walesa afterwards declared that we shall be suided by the changes charter without The court maue py uc

CULLU

has its charter and the union has its own." such was uneasy balance o forces which

SUIK O

zeduel olarll f thought they had superceded with the Gdansk agreement.

The court ruling amounts to a rearguara attempt by at least sections of the Stalinist bureau- cracy to reverse the gains of the sumer sunike wave It comes in the context of a call by Warsaw Communist the war, , and in their efforts to the situation to abuse present caln ConCeSNol

LIOI

vall. e) Disclosing the reactionary counter-revolu- policies of the Imserids , ODUSILUl. (Ovaisi, ,Palizban Hakna taking and their activities in the circum- advantage Iron Sances unal wal ilas cicalcu f) Arguing for imdeDenceni armed masses the necessity for the permanent arming of masse ana revolu tonar y urpallsalivll g) Creating b organising a30 resistance in localities, schools .. factories, and bourgeois political parties.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 farty leader Henryk zabiak Ior CP members to join Walesa's new unions-in a clear bid to ge prat control over them. And at the same time the debate on how best to CU De with the new situation in Poland the among Stalinist bureaucrats of Eastern _buroDe German leader walle Last Honecker and Romanian leader Ceaucescu hav vasIy amackea une concessons to ure Polis Sikers aain TaS boss Sandor has admitted that strikes have taken olace l hungary,

TOO

ane advocated tactical concessions workers' demands in the "participation" extension Meanwhue in the USSR, the Kremlin bureaucracy, ageins the resignation weakener illness of Premier Kosygin, must be watching with some reddanon Dogged by mounting work- resistance Poland hey face the duntig prospect ol anotnel asasurous narvesl di home, and the addea surains ol their Afganistan. Fearing above all the possib ility that workers within The

USSR

will draw lessons from militancy of thei brothers ane SISterS Polane une Kremlin leaders are forced to spectator's role as the Polish bureaucrats struggle to regain control. Explaming TuSI revolutionary struggle and the Kurdish movement Kurdistan nelol Suruceit toilers an exam ple Can t independent and consistent resistance against the popular different counter- assalli l Tevomuonar, IOICeS ane currents Arousing am masses by historical example tumo naH atas. res sLance the leadership communists Vietnam, . (e.g. Korea. Albanıa . ..] j) Arousing the masses in 1 probable occupied areas for the purpose of retreat me tre uvaome lordes.

Fighting to break Teamsters SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 from bosses parties We reprint here extracts from a leaflet distribu- ted at the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) convention in Cleveland by the Socialist League and the Revolutionary Workers Group. The Socialist League is in sympathy with the Trotskyist Committee International Liaison but is barred from affiliating by reactionary US legislation.

The Teamsters for Democratic Union (TDU) is

PREZ

rank-and-file the largest opposition group in any Q0 union in the US or Canada.

It is also the only opposition with national organisa- in it a large Nas number of militant workers who companies both the trucking union bureaucrats. The Teamsters are powerful union in a critical industry. Wednesday 8 October 1980 the Teamster leadership endorsed Ronald Reagan for president. Endorsing this labour-hater to me member ship! The rank-and-file, as usual, was not even consulted. endorsement Doninu Reagan, (left), Carter with defeated rival Kennedy (right) deal between Reagan and the mob to let the latter graze off the leamster pension funds in peace and to end the govern- unionism- "militant and ment's investigations and prose- democratic" business unionism giving culions. -mcalls cabilalist parties and their government an preparing and open TDU cannot remain slent in the face of the Teamster leader- Carlyll ship's workers struggles Endorse- Either TDU accepts capital- politics by default, or ist ment of Carter obviously would better, since Carter is as begins to put forward its own he no much labour's enemy as Reagan.

Workine Cas nomeN A Plan of Action for TDU TDU also cannot get away must begin to move in with "relecue Donues. now ever much some TDU suppor- a new if it is to Makers of| Modern Marxisml By Terry Eagleton

STILL AVAILABLE

Terry Eagleton on made theoreticians from ting tib phlet contains articles b of the Comintern to the present day-Lukacs, Korsch, Gramsci, Benjamin, Marcuse, Sartre and Althusser. Price 65p including P&P from WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX

VOTE

survive. This requires a new plan of action, a new programme and strategy. 1. Union democracy. TDU came the Togener over struggle for union democracy within the Union that the membership meet oca regularly The membership must have full information and must make all key decisions. All commit- -including negotiating dowros convention ana counci delegates, officers and business agents must be elected at least alllually allu suo ecl recall. An International conven- tion must be held each year to elect entire International leadersno anc i ser une bov o the union. Paid union officials only workers' receIve Wares mittant companies. All over the country employers walk and industries housink, camsters work wnere • ale or the offensive. Lay-offs, speed and real up wage cuts are order of the day. Militant actior is the only way to defeat the companies 'offensive Industry-wide strikes, dary boycotts, mass DIckenny plant and other workplace occu- pations, roving pickets, labour sonuariLy —lese are une lactic.

that can win. Through militant action Teamsters can prevent closings muna ways. DeaT thro ho a sss in park week with loss pay (work sharing), stop lavase. unlimited cost-of-living allow- based on price surveys by union committees. 3. Fight racism and sexism. Next the construction unions, the Teamsters Have about the worst record in the labour movement of going alon with the notorious racisin and sexism ot American societv Yet blacks, Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, other minorities and FliP! There are no workers' candidates in this election are in the union a serious attempt to build a wome substantial numbers. party workers division between the largely unions-union militants should male drivers and the rest willing to out- willie. bureaucrat critical suppor of the union makes it impossible for Teamsters to use its

TDU

has been much too its enormous strength. promiscuous support- TDU must lead the union in usually out a fight against race and sex dis bureaucrats mas er dir least crimination in Teamster work-

TDU

at This must stop.

• TDU

and in American society places declare all the generally Wall ol 4. Oust all the bureaucrats. The bureaucratic factions. policy of supporting out-bureau- Keep the government out of the union. Even worse than the crats against in-bureaucrats is a dead expenenci poncy ol supportng oul-bureau harshorats early mele do pu- crats to "reform " the Teamster make policy of the bureaucrats • pro- the in- government to bureaucrats even in words.

TO DO

COUNT

uLs daalest u In rare cases where the union. If the readeren to attempt to turn to th rank-and-file movement an out- were bureaucrat is riding forces him ccan us une umons would or her to make such a program- every thinking worker reject the tactic as handing the break-Iol Pilegal strike action or to sead massive Enemy of union

TROTSKYIST

But turning to the govern

INTERNATIONAL

ments even worse. ine bosses government muci

LIAISON

of there danger the bod enemy

COMMITTEE

-and fai more dangerous because government infinitely more powerful thar the and mob because many workers do not recognise the 6. Break was tee De Break with Democrats Republicans! Build workers rarty. Ine teamste. leadership's endorsement is outrageous. But so is

DISCUSSION

Reagan the JAW leadership's endorse

BULLETIN

ment of Carter. No. 2 Anderson is no better. Nor is Kennedy. Workers have no candidates in this election. sinc Articles on Nicaragua, the policies or botn capitalist sion and in desperines es Parity Commission and threats of increasing TILC Declaration Wall Even union struggles, there is: no escaping since the government will ente Price 40p plus 15p p&p important every economic from WSL, BM Box struggle the side of the 5277, London WCIV bosses The alternative to capitalist 6XX action political againsl Page 3 working independent class is working class political action against the capitalists. But political action requires political organisation, means which class decend ty would that of black people milerests women, gays other minorities. and even the lower sections of the middle class. The unions are big enough and powerful enough to build a workers? party overnight. further the cause • or even dent class political

TDU

action, tsump bureaucrats should also demand that the union lead in found a workers' party in the US. first step in this direction could Tank-no-ne control of funds of IBT Political Action Committees, which ther could be used to support inde- government. class political action only requires a workers' party programme for that party. That requires workers prog single phrase kees single phrase: workers' No. workers' nower mean: a class-wide fight for sliding scales of wages and hours, mass labour/black the Nazis against and Klan, political strikes against military control of production, expropri- ation of the monopoly corpor ations without compensation to

LICL

owniels allu workers anvernment haced or democratically elected workers should be councils. This the •plan or acton lor tne workers party. New. Socialist Press Pamphlet con- Lattes coup by the Bolivian generals Defend Bolivian masses against imperialism Price 32p 3ox 5277. London WC1

Conference offers lead in anti-Tory fight Page 4

MAIN RESOLUTION

2½ million unemployed, women workers driven back into the home.

Factories economic Massive crisis. closing every day. Huge new cuts in Picketing public services. now except as defined by Prior's illegal, 16% inflation, with the standard law. of living falling rapidly. This is the reality of Tory rule today.

But why is Thatcher getting away it? She has not defeated the WitH working class. They remain highly organised in a trade union movement which could bring the Tories down the strength of the working class was used! The situation is clear. The mere threat of a national dock strike com.

pletely the halted redundancies in ports, yet tens of thousands of jobs Labour Party conference constituency delegates- moving left

• CDLM POLICIES:_

*No to the anti-union laws! No talks with the Tories-for a general strike to force them out of office!

*Defend living standards! Fight for cost of living clauses to give a 1% rise in every 1% rise in the take home pay tor cost of living-as calculated by elected committees of trade unionists and house- wives. *Defend all jobs! For ocgupations, force a strikes and blacking action to policy of work sharing on full pay!

*Organise the unemployed; for their rights to tull trade union membership.

Fight for Trades Councils to organise democracy. Bring down the Tories this Winter! are being lost in almost every major job loss is industry. the in steel the total national labour double force in the docks and not a finger lifted. In BL the union leaders agreed to a similar number of redundancies In the health service scab ambulances closed St Benedicts under the verv of the leaders of the main noses health service unions. Nothing done to defend the school meal service or Tameside Trades Council from tee expelled nursery provision. TUC for raising the role of British imperialism in the six counties in the trade union movement. The fact is that the trade union protected leaders have ТОГУ une when has been cover ene threatened, the stee workers in sub-committees unemployed with affiliated representation cuts! Оссиру threatened *Stop all acci. Set fight for supporting strike up workers' inquiries into action. welfare and social services to nealin, expose private profiteering and the savage impact of the cuts! *Fight for a woman's right to work!

Defend and extend state nursery and childcare provision! For free abortion on demand! Defeat Prior's attacks on mater- nity rights! *Demand a restoration increases to spending with automatic increases Socialist Press urges readers to attend the November 15 conference of the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement where the following resolution will be discussed along with motions on Labour Party and trade union where they ensured the isolation of the steel workers. In reality they are politically opposed to bringing down the Tory Government by the mass They action of the working class support the so-called 'principle' of parliamentary democracy which says three Thatcher has a turther That years to run! But what will be left by then? Thev are as prostrate when ar employer claims to be bankrupt as they are when the Tories say they have to put promitabilty back into The last Ine cavitals! economy Labour Government, which the trade union leaders backed to the hilt, had smarces Despite the correct moves by the General Council to discipline Duffy and Chapple for organising the dis-

"BRING DOWN THE TORIES THIS WINTER"

Saturday November 15 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Open to all labour movement bodies Digbeth Hall, Birmingham Credential £1 (unwaged 50p) from 169, Barclay Road, Smethwick, W. Midlands Saturda • Webster keep pace with inflation. Demand Labour Councils repudiate debts and interest charges and refuse to implement cuts or raise rates and rents. *Unite strikes ana occupations do d step towards forming councils of action.

*Unite strikes and occupations as a step towards forming councils of action.

*Fight throughout the labour move- a) immediate withdrawal of tor British troops from Ireland, b) self-deter.

mination for the Irish people; c) restor- ation of political status to Irish PoWs, preparatory to an amnesty; d) defence o Council and calling of Tameside Trades SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 graceful mass scabbing at the Isle of Grain, the Conference September totally capitulated to the Tories. Despite rhetoric about "opposing"' Prior's law "with strike action if necessary", Prior introduced his provisions on picketing three days after the Conference finished with- out a word from the speech makers rt the previous week. At the same time the Adwest strikers, who were actually challenging Prior's laws at the factory gates were completely betrayed by the TGWU. At the TUC the policies offered to the working class as an alternative to Toryism was wage control, the same reactionary which let Thatcher into policy was lubilant at the Lanaonan rightward swing at the TUC. But the Party Labour was conter ence There, the hatred of the different. Tories and militancy of the working the reflected through Class was delegates sharp constituency contrast to the trade union leaders wielaing ine block votes The conference decisions favour of mandatory reselection and to scrap the existing system of elect.

ing the leader were heavy blows against Callaghan and put the right wing on the run. The campaign which has resulted in these victories must be continued.

The CDLM must fully involve itself in the Rank and File Mobilising Com- mittee between now and the Special Conference in January, campaigning for the right of the conference to elect the leader of the Labour Party, and to kick out the right wing.

The Rank and File Mobilising Com- mittee must also take up the refusal of Benn to support the call for the bringing down of the Tory Govern- that the trade ment and demand union leaders implement the resolu- tion moved by Ted Knight on strike action to fight the cuts the trade unions we must In prepare for the battles for wages and jobs. We must fully support every wages struggle and demand that the leadership fight irrespective of the viability of the firm. When wages fight strikes break out we link the councils

COT

struggles and direct them against the We must fight cover cl to defend every job where the axe falls. We must fight every cut in the public services whether education or the social services. The right to picket must be defended and Prior's law defied. Those arrested and charged under the Employment Act must receive the full support of the trade union movement. labour movement conferences on Ireland: controls. *Oppose immigration Defeat racism and fascism through workers defence squads. Drive the fascists from the unions. No to the nationalistic policy of import controls!

*Remove the Labour and trade union leaders who won't fight. For a workers' government! *Open the books of the employers who threaten redundancies or refuse wage and of their suppliers and cases. bankers! Prove the case for their national- compensation under isation, workers' management!

More than 1,000 trade unionists and trainee teachers marched in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on Thursday October 16 against the closure of Hamilton Teacher Training College. Several Lambeth: putting Scots Labourites: SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 teeth into the resolution The conference against trade union organisations at all [from

TUC

General the convened by

CULS

Council to branches and shoo Labour Council Lambeth steward committees to pledge marks a local point for themselves to and campaign for all-out strikes and occupations those seeking militants forward the •ol workonces soon as any way agallist Labour council faces receivers Tory offensive in the public commissioners, sector. surchalges, lot laking a stand against the cuts. But it will also form a stamp- "The may centre ing ground for numerous left' talking around the public sector unions seeking to councilors register a token vote of protest before implementing workers, especially the other strong sections like miners vuLs and engineers, to join this fight The draft resolution tabled by the organisers leaves many to orce me rov covenment.

loopholes back down on the cuts or get I01 cements. out. Conference But forward amendments series Labour councils and Labour last by the Dul week Leicester AUEW 16 Branch Parties, cooperation with supported by Socialist Press, local anti-cuts committees and Socialist Organiser and the Cam tenants' associations, Democracy the paign for rent and rate strikes as

BOT

Labour Movement, aim to lay soon as any Labour council is the basis removed or surcharged for for zeneransed struggle against the cuts.

taking a stand against the cuts".

heading ments cal roction, under the industrial the amend- Commitment They specifically of no cover for demand that vacancies and campaign resolution's Cal loT against voluntary redundancies and natural wastage. Create and our councilors us the Labour councillors using

GODS

stoppung over inactivity of others to justify time and fight for shorter working week". implementing or accepting cuts as well as: atenseves They add the commitment "Initiation of and

SUDDORI

for action now against the cuts.

that: Trade unionists and councillors *We pledge ourselves to fight should commit whole labour proposed cuts; no secret deals!

following movemen Where closures are proposed, policies: resist rundown prior to closure Cancellation of debt repairs are made, charges, Open the books; defend equipment. nationalise the supply Immediate strike action with e.g. drugs. food and

LIGUSICS.

official subsoll to soo rcuu bunding, Tine ano dancies finance institutions without as soon as notices are under workers' Where closures are announ control. ced, prepare for occupation ol No charity funding of threatened facilities, private sector so phonic rike to eatened use of facilities! occupation is threatened 3) Funds of public services with eviction. to be Organise full strike pay for rom inflation in line with a cost occupation if wages are indeem ent committees». index labour cut off? "A national fight is neces weak kneed section on sary to force the Tories to back Town Hall unions is deleted and down, but this should not mean staking replaced by a declaration that: everything pre- conference on determined date or holding back

AMILION COLLEC

MID COLICE

LOCAL

GOVERNMENT

IN CRISIS

National Labour and Trade Union Conference Saturday November 1 Camden Town Hall For credentials write to Rm 103, Lambeth Town Hall London SW2 1RW Starts 10.30 am. immediate local action. Confer- ence calls on all activists to cam- paign for complete non-cooper- aunt anestory cues stor Lob localanty and union, and tor for local anti-cuts fights.

MPs Labour assist the fight against the Tories bv filibuster ing and obstructing the Tories work in Parliament The resolution's call for non- the sale cooperation in the amendments by specific such action by rewcastle Call for strike action to delena any worker victim ier An fix definitive date of January 1 for the uccessal y deleted, and there is an attempt to put the left talkers the spot by calling for the publica tion of: those councils, trade union organisa- tions and Labour Parties willing we connimer caler for by this conference". Practical fight Other and Labour Partv bodies are discuss ing the same package of amend- ments which provide firm basis for a practical fight on a Hala ever danse une cus words of Ted Knith and comt this the militant any best of pur to herest eyes of public sector workers. Press readers to attend this important and support actualls. On Saturday 18 October the Scottish Council of the Labour Party held a special conference on the public spending cuts. Representatives from local authority Labour Groups. Party Labour members Labout Parties Constituency blame members Tory government cuts in health, education and social services have workers by the tens of thousand fuming. Many, sick to the teeth of futile petitions, protests and token are call for action from their leaders -a call which has never come. and women who are ready to fight in defence of their jobs, wages, working conditions and hard- WOn social services are lelt in forced inactivity. But for the public sector Inor eaders woo nave te and again shown themselves willing with Thatcher government than fight taem, the problem s une older way around. They blame the members for to ram home allowing Tories necessary for ducate themes possible! Isolation Meanwhile, St. as at the Benedicts Hospital occupation, Lne case Nottingham nursery teacher Eileen Crosbie, as in

CPSA

the allurgic al Drixton, ine milan!

struggles The membership that do break out are left in isolation, to be picked off by the Tories one by one. AL une centre or lois is the 'left' leadership of While Fisher Alan chairman the TUC heads oI Thatcher, delegations the union's gang of smooth-talking officials officers are heap- ing the blame 101 une cuts firmly on their members. Typical of this is the atti- tude of NUPE's West Midlands Page 5 15,000,000.300

PEONE

VE THE

DUCATION

unions were represented on the march which was joined by six MPs and STUC General no fight on cuts and District Labour Parties met Although both the holding of to discuss Labour's attitude to Conference decision to increase activity at the cuts Scotland local level the Labour tarty nave overwhelming elec the lack of any perspective Iol local bringing total Control dowr government was evident authorities Yet Much of the discussion wa the conference could olly aeclue on a propagandi around tecancanties from campaign against the Tory opposing the cuts within exist- government's cuts. ing legal boundaries. bruce Minister of State for Scotland, NUPE leaders went so far as to advise Health Board

HUL

to implement the Tor reluse cuts, but stay in their positions and to alleviate the of health service cuts! Split This is in a situation where Local Government Area Com- Lornian Heato boara 1s solt mittee. The Secretary's report over the question of whether to oppose the government and if so how to oppose them sac mama coca author nembershin to attack the cuts ity was left to its own devices made at the present time. H on ho as to on the t that appeared that the Local Author- Dosion or Labour cooronatin!

can do what it likes and the Committee n to emptementers cuts to supporters membership were stand up and oppos to tight ior loca services alla them. He said that he did not right raise government s blame the membership entirely revenue Marjorie Ön defence Bain East of the school Edinburgh CLP pointed out that meals service the com- this meant going to working agreed that "not much Labour Party supporters done nationally -it 'We could be will maintai anu sayllis. must be done locally vour services and detend von The problem is that mem living standards with 60%, 70%, bers are "done 80% rates increases". bela by spineless NUPE officials tow- ing the Alan Fisher line of capit Bankrupt policy Icactlollars It is self-evidently a bank- matcher covernment rupt policy Only the building of a new Although a number of dele leadership in NUPE and a fight raised the for all-out action walls cuestion Call opposing and cuts in services rate increases it was evident that

LCC

supporters would be goin the position of justifying high rate increases. maiority of councis will no doubt continue to make cuts in - althought not to the the Tory by required government It was interesting that there was contribution to debate from Strathclyde Regional Counci 01 Glasgow The stirrings in the Labour Party have not yet had the effect awakening these bastions of right wing domina- tion They obviously have no intention of being in the fore tont or any struggie to oring down the Thatcher government this winter. Fisher

TAIL-ENDING KHOMEINI

Page 6 What kind of government is there in Iran-a capitalist a workers' government or government? quesuon appears ridiculous that it seems pointless Khomeini's ask. republic nas done everytning n.

its power to block the forward movement of the working class, organisations ol the atlack une rett. Intensiv ine oporession dI national minorities, and thus defend the continuity of capitalist exploita- tion. While a few imperialist banks and holdings have been national.

Ine remander or liailall industry remains-as netore ine in the hands of fall of the Shah- Ine cabilalists anu le cavitans!

state. The task of Trotskyists in lail necessarv oroleraran leadersn transitional and acmanas Wild Lal. elvale conditions or une overrow Khomeini regime workers' and Difference give any political credibility whatever to But in the eyes of the leader- ship, Amenican Docialisu Shop of the united Secretater.

and the leader. International (of of the Fourth which inewes ene wo svoa- section) the Khomeini regime is a capitalist regime with which amierence. they believe correct support. is their support restric-

YUL

ted to "critical" support in the present Iran/Iraq border war.

dates the judge from statements by The rana dor! section ingly published in the USFÌ and

SWP

press) goes Dack vurlually the time February the 1979 revolution over- inrew une slidi weekly Militant October 10 Topi of

HKE

editorial whole an published before article Train vasion. tones ringing social the HKE unfavour- "right ably contrasts lie flaul regime Saddam Hussein" with "our revolution".

al warlis cal. of "The experience

OUT

revolution up to now has clearly shown that imperialism's aim is exhaust, break demobilise the masses and to destroy and sabotage tion and the organisation of the maron's econony

DOU

indigenous external agento a word here against the Khomeini, Bani- code and toe gaes sanc "exhaust, break and demobilisie the down masses"! On the agenda Instead the Hen ell us hate agenda Iranian revolution total and genuine independence fand problem, emancipating the solving imperialism; mom porepey and out resion and oppression; expropriating did landowners. weal millionaire capitalists, and other indigenous agents of imperialism" The HKE significantly leave off the agenda the liberation of Iran's oppressed national minor- Women, ities. women and gays. they claim later, are also laking steps toward winning equal rights": the steps of course the against allu

GULF WAR

Islamic bigots! The

HKE

leave wide open the question of exactly who 1s to carry out the expropriations of what they is an extensive ruling class in Iran.

ins can because. l thes one paragare the hide declare the HKE's goes enhancing the The cabilausis-in tuc populist formn the "jihad war] for reconstruction".

[holy the Iranian that r lollie nationi comprises millionaires and unemployed, landlords and poor peasants, the "national calls for a • pro- nAb gramme" or struggle lo aciend revolution' not against Khomeini simply against but Of course the HKE adds a ritual warning that: 'to with the Culavuldie agents-the capitalists and millionaire weakens the active participation or the masses or beovie But rather than spell out an independent class line for the they on Hasses instead to deplore the tact that: "the [Iranian] state, although loving the supporl of the overwhelming majority of the population the past as in the present, has been well as incane ame immediate tasks-uprooting the counter-revolution -because the bureaucracy inherited from the monarchy. HKE-with the JOHN LISTER examines the position of support for Iran in the Gulf War with Iraq adopted by the United Secretariat of the Fourth International and in particular by the American Socialist Workers Party-an organisation in sympathy with the USFI. Iranian civilians and soldiers surround anti-aircraft gun in mobilisation against Iraqi regime's attacks capitalist state machine militants, raiding left wing

SWP/USFI

on the backıng OI bookshops, etc. emerge with a complete revision and wield it for its own objec 'the week before, the of the Marxist theory of the tives: it is necessary to destroy smash, the apparatus of capital HKE's paper had published an Slalt ist rule, in order to establish the appeal for • the release extensive 'Uproot capitalism' of one of their leading militants, hass tor ine capitalist property and the Nematollah Jazayeri, arrested power of the working class by Khomeini's Central Revolu- Far from providing the Septem- The USFI has already aban- Committee conal y armed force to machinery and coned inıs Dosioni Lnel Der •. and not near or since.

and detend capitalist Sancest popular ront rectine support exocation accost ene masses Collaborationist the state is supposedly allotted Now in Iran the overthrowing are Tanne benma une selleviu such prope relations! Even this HKE appeal illus- ently reactionary period since republic-awaiting the moment trates entre their long-stanamng the February insurrection, "uproot the adaptation to the Islamic regime that it decides to immediate of the state has -Nematollah keen was a counter-revolution' been and still is to uproot the

HKE

Meanwhile, the cate of the organisation Muslim counter-revolution, unambiguous Students Following the Iman's declares uproot capitalism profit monialis order and the Line-and to the class collabor- its support for the government ationist line put forward by the "battle ior producton, and It But after 18 months of dis thais even beriare tinst the regime_in June he received the dubious distinction of a letter of appointment, even the nAt li Even Laus beginning wonder from the now commendation Iraqi tank moved across unc Khomeini's Islamic republic management at his factory!

border, the HKE was urging on really going expropriate Iranian workers to support their Indeed the reports capital: without comment the fact that Islamic cavitalists The experience of our own leaders against in a was the workers whe Iraqi regime Mossadegh era, share Jazayeri's socialist views well Ult Now, for the defence of th revolutions experience for explained how some of the out- revolution. it is around the world, have shown raged workers proposed a strike, the toiling masses bureaucracies mobilise against sit-in, and oskee lakling force was selense, are imperialsm [Iraq] as one united tess nar erecuve . comtatievolution extension combatting patiently explained ranks, and : was that this not the correct to strike as one fist" Was Unfortunately for the HKE way to light on this Issue anc Abandoned that Iranian that release possible capit- the message by discussing are all Nemat allsts and

WOIKCIS

the workers and winning "family" Experience since the Paris tne Wat against the Iragi masses has not their support without disrupting commune nas acmauv canart yet sunk in with the Khomein productio Communists that the working The HKE's obvious concern class-let alone the Islamic regime-who keep on persecul ing Trotskyists, leftists and clergy-cannot simply lay hands lor ine producuvily or Hallan SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 capitalism 210

OOOS LON

strike action to free their own imprisoned comrade is under- that they quote another worker WInG that. Nemat should be argues reLeasel "and be put back to work.

One of the machines is no and his help is very working, much needed" mealy-mouthed HKE The hatal concludes by pleading "The All-Iran Prosecutor's Office should _consider impressive record of struggle outside the country in defenc or the Dolca shouth conside la ral contri the vile Pahlavi regime. It bution he had made to the work or reducing we county and u the anti-imperialist struggle.

It should release him as soon so that he as possible [!] can return to the trenches of i thi struggle against US imperialisn Method It is not easy to tell whether the adapta by the sit leaderer and see the USFI leadership and the

SWP,

their ending or the snomem regune the reflection of the oppor tunist method • vividly ited in the USFI support for th bourgeois "Government Reconstruction" National Ivivalagua

I: ALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 IN Whichever, is the case the empts to evade the uncom- navie necess to near tor a line in Iran has led the FI and Iranian section a social-chauvinist position support strator ward regime in the war with Iraq.

"Dialectician" Indeed the

SWP

does not en scrupie to declare tnal in ing this stance it is defending capitalist government inst another. David Frankel Intercontinental Press argues "To insist n this situation on between The pitalist Iraq . the capitalist government in • is ike usuid a Cock wout nefit of any reference to the world. Nine o'clock is nine lock, but the difference can between night and day" problem this SWP sane

TOT

¡alectician" is that his readi- is to capitulate to, re existing

CASLIC

ance ol lorces "real old the chim to effectively essential similarity

IWO

Teames ano is leave the workers and peas- of Iran in the dark. in neither lic laut a nor Iran do the masses have interest military ence of the ruling cliques.

ent state of imperialism, their i-imperialist rhetoric e the fact that both are reac- lal y governments aammis petty bourgeois dema- ues within the framework of nestic and world capitalism.

Existing balance are locked into the They capitalist market, and to defend the existing ance of class forces. pursue the

BOTA

Thererore secution of national minor- the vicious oppression ¡ch anu or says, anu seck lu Dress a torme om sociat itical opposition. are now prepared in a futile war over a terway wich bout need in order to export their oil, than throw their military uices belina le sururgies 01 present Palesting and amon front against imperial- and its stooges in the Middle contempt and hostility Idle East. Socialist Press stands to support for either oooosed side this war. We defend 1n neither Khomeini nor Hussein agallest unt would either or both nowever detend against an imperialist attack In the present war, the task before both iraai and ranian work a terio at disput ele from a territorial dispute external enemy struenie dealst une russein and Khomeini regimes at home.

This means the fight within the armed forces each side TalK me committees and soviets to halt the hostilities and the formation in Iran and may or lactory committees ano committees of poor peasants to turn into a civil war waI which the masses repress state forces that dally them, and take up the fight for a workers' and peasants' govern- Minimum step It would be necessary demand that such a government snould. asa marioum STeD move to end the national of Kurds and oppression the owner monues. extend demo- cratic rights the workers' books of movement; open lo the worKers mOve expropriate merl holdings and establish workers management state-owned and

VILI LISAS

duDl genumey an11 imperialist foreign policy, pledg- ing active support to struggles in the Middle East al y Bani-Sadr In the various discussions within the labour movement on the fight against unem- Socialist Press ployment consistently opposed the almost universal panacea of demanding import controls. We have argued against this not only for the obvious reasons that

SUCH

measure: would l enforced, merely export unem- ployment to other manufactur- countries off retalia trigger capitalists catastro- une areal phic world economic recession.

Nationalist The main argument we have raised that Ine

WE DOI

controls poncy 1s a nanonals!

dwelling exclusively the supposed "national" interests shared employers and workers, diverts from the neces sarry mucoenuent acuon ov une working class to defend jobs, halt the closures, and defeat the bosses oftensive instead or manana the cantt.

alists who closing to maximise profits, unca u berina grovelling Their emilovers In "selective" protection a firm Instedu lakıng jobs and stand in delence oi hard-won working conditions, workers are dragooned by union accepting speed-up readers into and rationalisation designed t "British" make compet- Lilli

ILAV C

cut-unroal WOne market. Instead of looking towards socialist planned economy

WILICIE

JOUS

can oe crealta ana defended through the expansion production for need rather than for private profit policy

CORTOIS

focusses workers' attention on futile efforts "viability of capilanst system, and on secking more capitalist investment.

Everyone of these arguments import Cull uls the demanc underlined new

TGWU

booklet Control Now! Imports launched usu con- ference. The Introduction spells out a Balkart

JULICIOS

Hally which are already being argued for strongly by sections of the

PDITISH

Page 7 The import controls TERRY SMITH takes a look at a TGWU booklet entitled 'Control Imports Now!', avail- able from Transport House, Smith Square, London quagmire WC1. "British" checked. Both companies and CB: a cut in the value of firms competitive selective sterling; Tina Webb, convenor Government have to recognise import from British" that people are more important "Buv cam- toaster connois. serreroers Iron and factory at Swinton, South York- than balance sheets". (p.10) paigns; use of North Sea oil cast o bolster industrial investment shire, declared that Ihe reader is then offered a dazzling arrav and a cut in interest rates.

none or the stones about or states or

TGWU

departs from low productivity wash the eratitand growth intish CBI orthodoxy with the workforce at Swinton, British only insofar as it adds in a call for "planning because it nad an impressively mater in various sectors or pro- agreements" with major firms, high output. Management fron duction. German company who paid and for Take one tad binetor the We are told, for instance sector to visits that the two million people who marveled met an saying it was higher will

THOUT

expanded role for the NEB.

than in Germany". rave to work each cav in an But since neither sick icy is imported car are riding a Trojar than Horse to oblivion!" any mor joke- Exploitation have maria, particularly under the are ernes re while the the plunge in GKN nut and bolt The insinicant _Inaced WOTa putting forward an employers "profits" was scarcely momen and doctor ore under mentioned at the conference, guise tactfull told in great detail of defending jobs. and is are omitted Irom Moss Evans makes this quite the have been almost everv section of the new clear in his introduction to the bookiet, lt сеат that tne ov une tens or enousand union's Ten Point Charter on import control policy could Businee are man told of ven Controls, succeed bs example Import which was only increasing one attempt by the 2 million-strong adopted at a special conference bolstered une in April. profits of major employers. This union to delena such treatened We take the view that the when the jobs. We are given no hint that CBI ought to end its silence and TGWU declares that: action is possible against any "The controls would be for a interests

OL I

closures omner man to beseeci members properly, as individual short and would be the Tories for a grant of North industries press the government when indus- our Sea oil cash and a control on tries have regained their strengti 10 OR There if at call hot ta If they do not respond, and and can meet overseas competi if it becomes tion on an equal footing". (P glimmer slimonalisation of atle affected necessary initiative the from 1ne lact inat escapes all o these direc unions, jor us to jorge management mmae‹ maustries, and no perspective links with employers' associa- bureaucrats is that the industries whatever of a socialist planned tions we will do it. gover against they tions economy survival. property of capitalist class down their Bogged this in which lives off the surplus value ine booklet ecnoes its Conclusion: exploiting workers capitalist investment protect DV "In private enterprises. on the shop floor capitalist industry and That TGWU members have a crucial capitalist now profitability 1U. finds role to play in increasing the "British' anarchk ems over. awareness of managent. (p.51).

system in the throes of a major expense of the increased exploi- nternational crisis members. the profitability Frenzy -a crisis reveals itsel

1UWU

fully committed to the Insolole witnot the wholesai!

destruction of existing crisis-ridden A parade of speakers at the tive capacity on a world scale- already produced record new conference worked themselves levels of unemplovment COsuTes into lather nationalistic industries. the inevitable fate Such frenzy the way In Britain the capitalist class uilawalc of defenders import managers were allowing foreign is headed by a lory government controls. Socialists must reject employers to destroy what they such policies out of hand minessiv intent upon restoring referred to as "our" industry. sections its the these or tee profits strongest In their place must come a Was fighting programme of action to reserved chemical and defend existing jobs-linked to rubber official John Miller ICSl Yet the TGWU, the fight to oust the Torie seeking American man-made fibre wretched alliance with sections *Occupatior firms industry of ruined and disgruntled British unreatened win recuncancies to "Chevron tankers with our show the bosses that the factory were now going straight to and other industries, offers thrown on the United States and noW workers no strategy to oppose sold ш me materest profit. this is the

COULLCI

• Impacit in ton decountry using outerites closures: booklet need to stop the bosses fron Intente undermine textiles cringing declan is asi stripping machinery industry!". (p.5). Union asking the plant. Others boasted of the level [Tory!! government to do its *Demand the opening of the exploitation they had been duty to the people. Dogma has firm's books to elected worker able to their to whilst reveal the impose the committees to need members in the fight to make unbridled power of companies is the nationalise 50% com dine along with oter Irm: in the same branch of industry: the and banker: suppliers who the firm must also be deal with F made to nand over their book!

proffering role in the dated order reveal thei

STOP

1? The information workings of the firm's accounts should then be used to formu- late a workers plan dased or

IMPORTING

the needs of the working class, not the need make profits *Work-sharing on of tours and a sliding scale hours be a would central part of such The a workers plan. distributed misi between the whole of the popul- ation needing work councils of action have chance Workers lefeatin united employers' attack if they try to beat then one by one The Thatcher government only be defeated through can prepare for a general strike to bring the Thatcher government down. Furniture workers march in London against foreign imports

A David Attenborough trip into heavy leather Page 8 It's difficult know trinily of these three compon- entine documentary is the zoo where to begin. "Ever had your cock sucked displaying ot the

WHITFIELD

captain

DAVID

entertaining observa- allen or police knows his officer. Young tion. Whether its area of investi- reviews the controver- Sergeant behaves with Burns gation is zoological, anthropo- sial film 'Cruising' now respect towara nis superiors, so logical or sociological: however doesn't start compassionate on general release. commitied punches. And he's a liberal cop, the intentions of its makers; the saturated urumicital Just acts surorseo. em parrassed the domin even structurcu Dy as he answers NO. eering But he'll need to the tecnniques or documentary which its social roots are pack plenty of ice-cubes to stay anu pornography enmeshed. unlal Way wice So suras is sent to municise Al Pacino in the leather bars himself in the leather bars and down into those burning nell- is like Michaela Denis with a holes of flagrant vice and sicken- ase a Cortimate i Habitato Pass leopard in or David her lap, ing perversion (and I don't mean gorillas: as catale Habilalt. Attenborough playing when Al Pacino bobs down the une ciemal. that he ws the 11 S somenow A killer is at work-stabbing steps into a cellar club, he is no doesn't turn as camera dismembering bodies among the longer a cop on an undercove] zooms in, to offer a confidential leather bars and clubs job. may heavy commentary Al be very Icast Suddenly we are presented o New york. sor STOS IS tO there should be a voice-over.

act as bait to lure and trap the with a roving reporter, working murderer. The latest assignmenl Pornography investigative journalism.

*ne scene is ser or a m lousy way beyond your worst Al Camera-angle and expectations Pacino's It is the absence of this movements detection thriller, trived commentary which reveals how The l welesmousneu Cruising has all the gripping ten- of documentary: an Cruising located in the aiso sion of an empty washing line.

of informal impression pornography sua Graced with tired ness is produced to suggest the camera-work and dialogue that eporter' pornography is the painstaking intimate autolla but the unmis- naturalistic to super- would utterly and Hutch, the plot has just careful takeable traces quasi-scientific detall-a liclat about strength lurch rehearsal are left to establish the observation mirrors wnlen detachment aspects of dear entra 2012 The reDorie predictable fits. from the area of investigation.

deadly literalness the club, the camera porno- inside Inceed essenta pans steadily graphy: without it, art may be Setting across ine room, displaying. the general features less in various erotic and and activity, pausing ways. but it cannot be porno True, there is the shock of focus more closely on graphy. As with documentary, theiren visual preet in vill some telling detail pornography produces only one violent effect Men, in leather, belts, studs, but here it is the viewer But that's Exorcist tradition dancing, straps, beards, caps, aone wo lors lilal subcol. l coon over and in the end. alter is the observation of the viewer arinking, nedyy three murders and one mistaken AI Pacino (Sgt. alical ours, cels us man But of course it's the setting we're expected to thrill to-to be repelled by the images on the screen ver m unable to lea

AL PACINO

Stayi. ourselves from our seats and demand our money back.

IS CRUISING FOR A KILLER|

this setting Is a Ana SureLy director's gift? Sex and violence brought together neatly this mysterious world, the dark lurking undersue urban life. what with lasnion- in homosexuality and the inevitable guilty excite- ment unar comes will dooroach- ng an area taboo such as 7M (sado-masochism), Friedkit must have thought he was laugh- ing au ine way lo roll Anox.

Yet whenever Cruising underworld of plunges into gay S/M, something very strange happens The Ine police offices, in the girlfriend's appartment, even (though only JuSt) in scenes.

- AL PACINO

film is working within the con- ventions of the cop film.

images une are carelessly

CRUISING

nancer ane obsiinately unmemorable, still form effective they coherence. Thev are all selected from one stable code, and those must be blow-jobs from thousand earlier cop happening against the wall, and presented; these dead objects films and easily read by a con- are correspond with 1s that a guy getting tist-lucked temporary cmela audience.

over There. -une cameraeve moves back for verification, yes

ANO OT

COUTS!

one mao! No image that's what -more leather, type of pornography is specif voyeuristic images 1cus. locke bodies. created function But gay leather bars do not 1U L in this Far have a place Objects is observation of the images they do not sexual which mutual activity have any image in tne dominant of imperialism. As yet of the ans is not ucuon n docu- creates unt salislaction image is to be found only experience. This is what we are their mentary with treated o in ting. Ene manazire. ano To Slotted into of grainy films of pornography; in activity. reports and sociological reality within the restricted of detection the miacie surveys. ramed thriller, and Cruising of produces them the wider gay combination which does not work at munity. For al c no image at all. So how does Friedkin cope when wreck 1akes a goat and ing on the wild side, the with this fundamental problem?

camera result is the is having become stuck witnout an on-te-peg he is forced to fashion through image, • The nome movies ol a his own substitute. But there are They. "distort'-by creat- with boring, second-rate, voyeuristic fantasies. The viewer selecting-but imagination, 'simply', is barely titlliated: certainiy not ano The result 1s not much the creation of a thrilled, but, far more, confused so and even embarrassed. and living as the viewer One way and another, titilla- carrying-through accom lo broduce plished improvisation based in sole subject: indivisible non is a promment characteris tic of the whole film. and it's largely produced around Pacino. None of the film's contradic.

tions and confusions instead, all genuinely resolved: are uisplaceu

IALO

ine aevelop ment the Sgt. Burns character development This provides the only • red tenson in me mum fitful, tuCKerIng tension at that), substituting for inadequacies of the detec it is set. burns woo gives the entree into the leather clubs and it into confused response that the film proiects DOIn The _Contusion viewer and, insensarily. the the confusion original With all this burden falling in the one place, it's scarcely surprising that Cruising emerges increasuga unshakeably in the developing character of the young cop One Hollywood's dominant and defining charac teristics is its enduring obsession with the socialisation of the innocent young man, his passage into me lut varmly o amelical manhood, with all the superior- ity of its compasion born of paintul experience many noble and inglorious predecessors, Cruising is shaped to embody this initia- Temptations Stripped of his badge and his gun. denrived of his status and authority, Sgt. , Burns is sent out alone into an alien to lace and overcome whatever Terrors and temptauons may be sent to try him If he survives this ordeal, his achievement . will acknow- soclal recogmnon and reward. And there's the captain of police as the living guarantee or une promise-ne amos oadly so we know he's been through pretty tough, maturing experience himsell une •ceremony he remains in clandes- contact with Sgt. Burns, the adult male sponsoring the rites The manhood many societies he would in fact the younger man introduce nomosexual experence. as al expression of male bonding Here, of course, it is precise- which is the ly homosexuality ordeal-and its T.nel temptation. Some critics of the film have allackel SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 which Friedkin of all makes male homosexuality _gay S/M Of that ludicrously unrea identification . тогсев то make a strictly token admission But the argument is surel an based olate one, tiplaced misplaced only moralism or divisive (and ulti- mate! counter productive, political tactics. forbids any defence (Space or explanation of here of S/M wna CaT learned dooul sexuality and sexual relation- ships from its structures).

Threat It is the presentation of S/M its is onic wisen triest bad when Friedkin only dangerously estaousnea reactionary image That ne con as he certainly does, allow it to of all male stand as ar image nont osexually Within the film, S/M serves purposes: sensational two. setting, and as the threat to Sgt Burns progress to manhood

BOTH

• 10 beyond caricature would be not but actually only desmuctve For Cruising, , S/M is violent sex in bizarre clothes, and that's is to it. Makes you sick, doesn't it? Well, it should do anyway- sick with excitement, *reekin nao s way. By the structures of docu- mentary and pornography, S/M recessed

JOCKCO

dimension, far less

OLIC

approachable than the comfort ably familiar, comforting fiction world of the cop film. there out there

IL S

aown inere; and tnose people they're not you, not me, the They'Ic alien, The viewer least not 'healthily' human, cer- Way of tainly not the American blic in the darkes corners of this foul web of dark.

ness is the • murderer, a psycho- wall, analyseu lul hon Sterile He has been unable to adjust to the death of his father, and leather Dals pick up guys who look lke n father, and have sex with them gather) before murdering (so we Oh, sterile. So you see, we're safe really: psychiatry why behave in these the people aisgusting way they do, and Its natural and couldn't happen to you or me. our somernme a naobenns to Sgt. Burns as he passes his days and nights in this environ.

ment aoesn l КЛОЙ what Or, at least that's • 11 10 what he keeps telling us and his girlfriend (perhaps I should have mentioned caruel lial ms gul- friend is called Nance). Like the 'corrupted' spy, or space- Lne cerumanised traveller after long sojourn in ar alien culture of science-fiction the cess-pools of corruption.

While he's making it with his girlfriend her and spativui apartment. it's the heav the leather metal music from Wail this alien, threatening envil that swamps his mind. onment defeat nim 'our hero' ends? Will be we shown racino givig nead In lie last reel? Well,

LOUISE

LUL-

that's just part of the titillation.

Sgt. Burns arrests the murderer passes • Inrough emerges to receive the token of manhood from the of captain police: Welcome to the Detec tion Department' But Friedkin doesn't let us go even with that emphatic con clusion. "Unstable" Sgt. Burns actually has become friendly with one nice Ine Gays-des ineffectual and not into guy leather. don't make together sexually, of course, but ure good sergeant coco make a jealous scene with Ted's jealous lover). But there's no getting away irom it. even i not every quce.

is a psychopath, then they're al unstable emotionally neurotic, incapable TOOK atten No soone is the mass murderer locked up Ted gets himself murdered It's what happens to you lt you that vicious, violent ave world. At this point, the editin plants a suspicion in our mind That easter • IS none oe than Sgt. Burns, transformed by his repulsive into experiences the avenging sword of god. Ih am bigulty must nave gladdened for Christ on the Kull uner mob, but it's only Tease moment's detective work identi- fies the in Ted's real passionately valous love.

But it's true that Sgt. . Burns doesn't altogether happs with his achievement. There h shaving in his girlfriend's appart- ment-but can we be sure that tainted? been Pernaos nomosexually Is. alte.

all, contagion, even pestilence. Is that really Sgt vile thing Burns. or ha:

• SUITC

taken possestol and soul, occupied his body?

Nance comes in. She sees the gear lying on t chair, she picks it up and, o goo dressing up clothes.. .The jacket, the cap, in tha and now snes posne black garb before the mirror ir the middle of her clean-limber a pal till coll They've taken our sons, our brothers our friends-and now sacre from the clutches of that loathsome wich rises to overwaen us.

God, O Ronald Reagan, O Peeping Friedkin , make haste the Beast is nigh to save us. lor and the gour or our desauco!

is surely even now at hand.

THE BIRTH OF FRENCH

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 June 1936 was the high achieved the point by French workers' movement.

The end of the strikes, although it was claimed by the big partners and unions as a victory the workers, great was in tact the beginning or a period successive som bre defeats. This was the phase leading to the war. Every country was engaged in feverish preparations, rearma- accompanied the ment Dollies among fascist bourgeois democracies and the Soviet Union. long Milie Was 110 U invading Austria and then the Sudetenland. Spain the revolution was defeated by olisiauzills

LIC

bourgeois republicans, the social democrats and the Stalinists, the uncontestably the latter

WOTST

enemies revolu- tion. Falling apart It was the period of repub- Ouite logically. Franco proceeded to introduce the bloody Spain was plunged into dark- ness nance me bourgeoises or teratack big ache end 1936, clawing back workers' gains one by one Front was une ropular falling apart Blum Government crashed against the 'Silver Wall етестем ои anel was forced to decree the 'Pause' and put an end to the flow of pay claims. Abandoned The electoral alliance of the left' collapsed the over ques- in Spain: or merell doned to its sorry fate The Popular Front came to grief definitively after Munich.

Throughout ThIS winole the workers kept up a period desparate resistance against the corner arrack or une bourgeois® ie, hoping to salvage something of the gains of 1936 was marked lills resistalle by numerous wildcat strikes which met with severe repres-

TROTSKYISM

sion. The French bourgeoisie invoked the needs of national defence to destroy the workers' rule by resistanice. decree, backea up oy loice and propaganda The isolation of the Trotsky- ists, their splits and their desper- ate attempts to ink memserves with the workers must all be seen in this general context.

had Without uney recruited members during the Popular. Front, but their ship remained ridiculously fragile in

TO DIOW.

Birth the Fourth Inter- national. September 1938: the found- ing conterence of the H OUTTh International was held where in the suburbs of Paris.

acresates were present, ten representing countries. The situation of the of these Irotskyists HUsL columnes was no onenter than It was in France. number militants strongly disputed the appropri- ateness creating Fourth International. Artificial They argued that it was artificial to found a new Inter- period of national during uneT SaiD wreck national workers' movement.

The previous Internationals had each Decl Consuituleu dynamic party strongly rooted in the masses: the the Second around the powerful German Social Democracy and

SANTO

Bolshevik Party. By the Fourth could only assemble a few tiny struggling stream. People like Deutscher considered that th Was anne al insane. Trotsky and his followers made a revolutionary criterion Fourth aa nerence Tine International. Third International failed and become irre having deemable, was necessary to create the Fourth. In 1915 the oscillated between public revo- the Zimmerwald Congress could positions and lutionary be carried in four cars; retorms oooortunist practice The was tion came about. contradiction unsurmountable Trotsky put his faith in a until 1938, when was new revolutionary epoch arising expelled. Along with Pivert went ITOmR mevildvic overlows during the war. Guerin, Collinet, Jacquier workers would mass themselves During phase Lefeuvre, Herard, Weil- Curiel ana a leading under the banner of the Fourth Young Socialists- International. This was the Meier Stibbe Neitz, and conviction he affirmed frequent- number i were later to ly. find their way into the present

PSU

Fresh quarrels The expelled GR set up its the Parti DoCauste the short term, Ouvrier et Paysan (PSOP). The 000 me bersed fact tro case, the creation of the Fourth hoped regroup International the

DOUSECU

morae or une rotskvIsts. lide The solidarity of militants in undoubtedly proletarian base is precious, Throughout his period other countries especially exile had followed when one is fighting in very almicult conditions developments in rrance closely However, fresh The split between Pivert's Blum created quarrels were to break out and entirelv new situation In June 1938 at the Congress Henceforth the PSOP could of Royan the

SFIO

expelled the pol revolutionary road Gauche of the Trotsky

MUSSOLILV

Revolutionnaire faction. would no longer The GR had in the preced- be forced to retreat into sectar- its ing period, bravely defended ian isolation. positions which were often close Hostile majority Pivert had written in June 1936 in Le Populaire an article Entry into the SFIO had • ТІЛО ІРА О НАРО „ He stanything can happen now.

been a good thing even li it: was not precisely what and very quickly. We stand at a the for. Today point which without doubt wil conscion or me evolutor not appear the stage of work inthe pased through the On i history again for a long time" towards Trotsky authorised a fusion «eon mum utomo nim to take between the rut and the tour the leadership of the revolution- Fusion discussions began but there was a hostile majority in ary movement! He was to go further. In the tsur many militants Thunderbolts mistrusted "sectarianism' and Accused by Thorez of Trotskyists, ther Trotskvist known during their period the SFIO Blum himset ne government: he was appointed Among the POI one ten- to lead the Secretariat to dency appearec Culaccul about thei rescent or me conser wits Isolation. wolf political responsibility for the timinen apils vior tat control over the press, radio and like avivail vi w cutena. The attitude of a wider revolutionary vanguard the k attracted some thunderbolts The future was to prove the accused latter who

LIULSKY.

correct. rowever il was them of centrism, the PSOP who were to break off phrase they the discussions. Pivert did not Page 9

SEMS

French workers at the barricades in Paris, 1936 We continue occasional series of our articles on the history of the Trotskyist with the final part movement in Hrance of a study of the movement from the beginnings of the crisis of the Comintern to the outbreak of the Second World War.

It is based very largely on 'Les Enfant du Prophete' by Pierre Roussel, who was at the time he wrote the book associated 'Socialisme ou Barbarie' with the group which had links with the British Solidarity grouping want fusion, but was prepared fringes of the PSOP. to accept the entry of individua Others such Naville Filiatre, Hic, Rousset and Riga Trotskyists. the end 38 the PSi had decided to Tensed to Join une out. 1938 the Yet others of whom Boitel itself. Its members hac Livillier most and were with the attempted joined the new party. DesIster! exceptions Frank and maintain the POI Molinier, whom nobody They brought out few wanted issues of 'Lutte Ouvriere' before

POI

important an dispersing TIne minority led by Craipeau and Events do. zey August 1939 Rous and supported by Irotsky ing onwards

HULUSI

The declaca in rebruary 1939 to try was ceciated to win over the PSOP. has written off the (Ironically by their loyal efforts of this which together with him had 3 September. The war broke • not only organised a brave team of militants but also a certain Witch-hunts and persecu- into the tions were not reserved for the utbiallaliun Class which was led by Craipeau in PCF alone. Nantes. The revolutionaries were to review their share. Bourgeois authorities could not Although In had been sent by Trotsky accuse them, as they could the masuade the refactory make final attempt to of 'complicity with the majority the enemy their position unconditional defence of the of the POl. the Executive Com mittee of the Fourth Interna-

USSR

and on the inter-imper tional ceased to recognise ialist war were sufficient motiv- invited as its section ation. Some militants were millants to enter the tsur as quickly as possible called others were up The POT dissolved. Some of The various Iul blay service its resigned groups illega became with the International were Some hung around the broken. (Humanite cesoir French CP mourns death of Stalin

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

JOBS CRUNCH IN

BOOK PUBLISHING

Printing The full effect of the chapels on the other hand have present economic crisis on been putting up a determineo the publishing fight against book their respective companies.

industry has yet to be felt.

Macmulans Employers and unions alike chapel has stood out for two now against are agree cac and waen ne months comes out the Cic. and recession it siesaily stimmer than beatit is going ASMTS had accepted redundan- cies in is now. light. The response from rank and been has fle unior members sporadic. Tew weeks back Hamlyn's NUJ chapel accepted Macmillans situation is tae ack from of support from other unions on four redundancies, sixty, the premises. chapel Lilail background of 3U natural nave neen in first six in the Section of the wastage Industries Federation to discuss must have saved the company Cile

DOUR

absolutely nothing. industry is to be saved. The talks The Macmillans and British

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

SOCIALIST

GET

PRESS

struggle against wage control, cuts and redundancies

RATES:

Trial sub (UK): Six issues.... Six months One year.. Europe: Six months Rest of the World: Six months...... Please send me trial sub/six montbelone year of Socialist Press. I encloa Name.. Address Sead to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX 'manning levels'

NUJ

"productivity, Corporation and "cooperation' as well as the cestructive redundancies in government's policies. If jobs in the industry are to needec Basingstoke be saved firm action is from chapels affected redundan- support amongst the print unions must be fought for this atter SOGAl anc their areas without a Press statements such as the recent speaks of the need

TION

for 'competitiveness' ollet no The depressing aspect of the out for those whose jobs way nave yet lo come under the axe At a national level the NGA to meer tae book British Printing publishing have focussed on A little over 24 hours before Times Newspapers the sale announced closure of its titles the print

SOGAT

union announced what "action" it was going to take over the death of the Evening News. reet member. were to be urged to take all-out action-between 1.00 PEll on the dav and 1.0u pm. Inal paper closes this Friday (October 31)! 1 nis tragi-comic response le the loss of hundreds of jobs ha highlighted the truth about th For a print unions. Because of the hopeless way clear leadership in which the unions are wedded to the viability lead in the the newspaper companies, Tne to be helpless to combat any all out attack.

Ironic This may seem ironic since ne print unions resisted tor 1.

months 19/0/9 le Irontal on their organisation at the Times and Sunday Times.

difference austiclIve however was that the then .£2 could an 'amicable withdrawing £8.00 management the . £14.00 whereas now they see only the abyss The decision to close or sell the Times, the sunday limes and supplements va hivers . £9.00 the only hours Cullule were hetore Tine Calcu in to hear sentence. .. £10.00 management mulu-namona Lulella tional Thomson Organisation.

In 1978 the intention was to batter the print unions into sub- multine Clipluyel 1980 theur intention Is to Darte.

them into submitting to capital- naners will be saved s ine as the print unions sacrifice long their chapel power as part of the clea To Thomson the question of suro conditions is secondary so who paper under economy on a world scale offers With the by workers a way forward. thousand taking the To achieve such Tory oppose streets tive eadersnio policies there is plainly no which, in today's struggles fights lack of militancy the advance In organised working class. Trace unior politics and illusions that capit Yet the existing trade union alism can be abolished through bureaucrats Labour leaders partiament. right or -whether Workers offer those fight League WOrKerS prepared ment mentine detence

COT

lOOS stan out to dards, social services and demo- leadership in cratic rights in Britain. These cen only be defended through DOnC et toi the working class, which, as 'from the incependent , interests international class, Internationally, affiliated to nothing gain and Trotskyist International Liaison attempts to restore to lose trom Committee, which fights for the ine romay ou telown employing class. reconstrUCtIOl In a period where the contra international and anarchic capit- of revolutionary parties in every orce the wholesale country alist system against of the closure oroductive Torces SOCIeLy Parastill only socIalIsT plannec cracies Ine Workers must act to save Times jobs of Fleet Street into line long as a capitalist or consor tium' of capitalists can establish Print union their ability to control.

been predictably TUC's Printing Industries Com- This can be seen from Lorc Thomse hate tenent: mittee sala il wantea to creale unable toi been the right atmosphere to attract a have secure 1116 cooperatol important sections of the work- wen sien. general secretary, said reliable and consis- on a that Tent

DASS

Chande Times Newar il ownership Colle To Dreame a Dit more seuse Mllu the national industry. create a new ule

: ODDUILUIILY LU

have an industry. Maybe a new and constructive Te anonsi with its staff". mange It clearly owner might be a solution Marsh, by Richard exoressea chairman the Newspaper must agree Pluied she neis on the best way. If there "the sible claimed the news a thing that could have happenec for Fleet Street" 1978 the managerial demands were never beyond rhetoric about tech- nology. The New Statesman earlier this year revealed documentary battle field senior manage- evidence ment on the paper did not know members are lined during

TNE

lOCKOull direct input by oumases , was or was not one of the demands.

Joe the NGA, said: At the end of that lockout Socialist Press described the out- come as members unions had shown themselves undeniably angry strong enough to resist manage- ment attacks but unable to go without disruption because on the offensive. Is tne ov Losing money International Times Newspapers-owned the holding company by Thomson British Holdings Ltd- can be persuaded losing nas been Jarge . It expected to lose £15 ine varous tues • million this ye and has borrowed £70 million pro-management lis momson barent suce 190 / But this is not just another example of the collapse lockout and Times this profitability. The , year of

BOST

mone, mOS history, while the Sunday Times in tne nunt lot anounet baye.

is still profitable. ournalist element which any large does not adved on une dalance sheet is the ownership of a instrument the traditional capitalist Dust Slalc. practice Now the limes is to de tne scorpion that will whip the rest that the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980

JOIN

THE

WSL IL

degenerated workers' states We invite readers of Socialist Pres seek a perspec- details of the WSL and its work needec and to join us in the struggle to beyond socialism. militancy Socialis Please send me more details Trotskyist move. day and of the Workers Socialist bulle such a princioicc League. the working class Name. Address. we are the newiv. tormel Fourth Ine ouaine the struggle Send to WSL: BM Box and against 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Stalinist bureau whom are in the NUJ-declare themselves management, supine The against the printers directly linkec Kees Mogi his campaign Times defence of the state "Many of our institutions

NATSOPA

Time: anTeal fights for them and now Times is going to fight for her Sooner or later we have got defensive prove newspape: strength of the print chapels i . Otherwise we will not no longer adequate to meet this Thet threa .. the treachery of their counter But whoever it is our people own officials. honour Workers' strategy obligations and act in a respon Secondly they have to devise resolved workers' independent round the table not by turning fight, strategy tOr the fiel machine room into a battle.

rejects messiahs in the shape of Robert Maxwell (who acted as White flag executioner and undertakel the Scottish Daily News) or in the shape of Rees Mogg. Far from creating a climate for a new buyer the workers uD loI exe create climate for a cution. His white flag will give workers' takeover of the plant is capitulating for now an immediate necessity. A call other Fleet Street "We believe it is in the best workers to come out in their interests of all unions that their should, despite their support WollO produce immediate response reacron. con workers and as The print tinue to produce the newspapers possible that many (many but not all of whom are basis on which we pro-management, pro- can seek to persuade Thomso be must brought this cabilallst not togetner to night lot cue paper become democratically possible. to provide a Dasis o independent controlled hich a new buyer or buyer of all employers. I to take over The first task is to challenge the right of the employers The journalists on the Times workforce onto the hurl the -who had been scornful of the street. That cannot be done by stance taker turning to any other capitalists.

by editor Rees-Mogg during the The employers want ideolog anel ically unchanged papers print have now fallen ir outside London and the breal behind his 'democratic dressing ing of the unions. The workers must demand Lees-Mogg made it clear th of the unions the strengthening stake would them putting ideology. money to buy their own jobs, and being subservient to a more the demand is journalists-most of

Miners must join BL CONVENORS It's Metro madness SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 October 1980 The last few months have seen the Tory press labour- ing to convince workers that they should abandon their pay demands in the face of the growing recession. But although one or two sections of workers-particularlv in engineering-have settled for below 10%, there • sigt vl a saiya walu. such a bosior. week brought a moeed ast sha p reminder lea dt ris on ace umons laner unan une rank ana most eager Tle who are spond to the employers' plea delegate

GMWU

meeting engineering workers voted to throw out a pay offer trom the Engineering Emplovers гесеталол walch been accepted by not only

GMWU

national negotiators but also by am l l unions in une conreaer- ation Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. The

GMWU,

Louise, verv mch a mory bn io the Confed. And the right wing of the AUEW-the single biggest union involved- seem uke succeea in steer: ing the sell out 8% offer through their National Committee meet- ing this week. Pressure But clear from the

GMWU

vote that is pressure from the shop floor for living •eTend standards. A hefty pay claim has also. been tabled bv representatives of water workers who last year secured a setlement of nearly But it's in the miners' union contradiction where The l between the spinelessness of the right wing leaders rank Gehands aIE WIC has emerged most clearly.

The NCB's response to the NUM's 35% pay claim was lu сесате тят Inere was no cas available to pay a wage increase in excess of 10% NUM President wing RIght who'd gone into Joe Gormiey aking noises being able avuL nut Lu sol une cettemen Less than the rise in the cost of living emerged like a pricked balloon that the NUM declaring "had to be realistic" Not challenged This position was not the Communis challengea Dy Party. Scottish

NUM

leader McGahey Mick gave tacit sup- oort to vormev s reueal wael he stressed that there is " a long Delore angone *" es the staalks

UNION DUES

pay fight gun" for action. of the problems of the NCB as a

BUT

ine weekene york- starting point lor pay talks. It 1s shire

NUM

President Arthur important that Scargill in a rare public attack pressed home and that the or vorme ecnoea wial mus miners as mnev ce agamnst unt be the view of tens of thousands Heath government, once more of miners offer a lead to the working class "The Coal Board have told ds d vloe ta cue surusae azals us nothing new and have merely a vicious Tory offensive.

reiterated the familiar sob story Starting point which they have been giving us Tot une lasi ten vesrs. The starting point in the pay I warn the Coal Board that not the inevit- suluzzie Hlust Do be we not prepared able mane acules oI a crisis-ridden capitalist JoDocu Oli • •• raiuc c cor Sy SLeil miners' claim will defend cere The result in industrial action.

improve the living standards ol me workme cass. Gormley's job This can best be fought for the demand Scargill himself has of course through which made militant noises in recent sliding oi sudlt Wazes back down from links pay increases regularly to years-only Io the rising levels of inflation as a suusge al a crucia doml. Nol assessed by committees of trade is his attack on Gormley un- Gond y s hos camen he re ties related campaign umonsts and nouse wives snorty challenge Corniey s acigpta ce Scargill right men you put in a good word for 'The Prince of Wales gave BL's mini Metro the ne env cze o tae en royal seal of approval to the throne begins to waver.

ant nis yesterday when he drove sweat one around the company's back. His hands grow clamms ana unsnakeable. Longbridge factory in How is this man who ranks Birmingham He said: above God in the order or cere- "No one abroad is going to mones WilG Mas JUKeS walk back wards before him; whose sit around waiting for us to have their polo ponies own sort ourselves out. rancuise mm norse sull. .

, . пОИ The Times is he to explain the dreadful Prince Charles truth about BL? has this embarrassing problem-one that even his best friends can't help Mother him with. he goes about the world "It's those bastard unions", nus morlaI ousmess he mutters wishing he was home dressed as a rear admiral or a national hunt jockey, he is often WEN MOLIe "They won't let my soddin called on for special favours.

car out of the factories week they built the first Range Real demands Kover Iot a vear. (nev usec to drive home in at the end of Taken aside after opening a their shift. We are still negotia- trade fair for chemical warfare ting to get it back. oI somme aven my amy ave o geriatric despot, his hosts begin pulled around by corgies.

to press their real demands: royal As tour after royal ne h ce tour ends in disaster the prince anac. •1 Ve ocen waiting months for my is growing desperate. Will bullet proof XJ12 and one rid him of these humiliating my full. Range Rover ashtays are experiences.

(BLOODY SCARGILL-WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?

STOVIS HIO MOUTH OTE AT THE DROP OF A HAY.

COfeall

AND THEN LEAVES MIE, HONES: JOE GORMLE

TO PACIFY THE

BLASTED MEMBERS

EVERY TIME!

AT THE TOP...

(YOU CERTAINLY STRIKE A

THAKD BAKGAIN. O rIOMALL

JUST WRITE IT!)

A meeting of British Ley- land convenors has voted to call simultaneous mass meetings in every BL plant this Thursday with a recom- mendation for strike action against the company's 6.8% pay offer. A recall meeting of con- venors next vona wu assess the results and if (as expected) there will strong support, name the dav for the start of all-out strike action by right Attempts wing and trom Corverol ballar plants tto issue were the issue were defeated prolonged after acoale This unaccustomed show of militancy from the convenors is a further sign of the mount- ing pressure trom the shop floor as workers demand their union leaders act to defend their living standards. This pressure has penetrated even bureaucratised Tne layers of the JNC whose initial recommendation that the con venors teject tne onei sel tne But one brave knight rallies to the throne Sir Michael Edwardes who nas spent two years on a crusad‹ throwing infidel workers out of the royal factories begins, in the of his castle, to design a altil new car. Dinky toys Working secretly at night after a hard dav in the barracks.

Sir Michael painstakingly assem- bles the wonder-armed ony witn alaky cos MOUCIs Of French and Japanese hatch- backs. After two weeks work his model is new unvereu DL des And aze en ite bennen when bonnet opened", Michael says ays Lana or nope ana vior 'he designers mak a few minor suggestions Wheels. an the Soon new BaLD as are „oon oe roo sed production line • Meanwhile in the offices of the Daily Mail alt about to change. Thie itar reporter. renat with What Icalll hew. loodv ne asKs. Startng

PAY

REVIEW

OFFICE

WHAT'S ALL THIS DAMNED NOISE

Page 11

CALL PAY STRIKE

for this Monday's adopted by thes nave re scene decisions. workers have received Now, with BL this year out- increases of 5% in 1978 and side the Engineering Employers in 1979. The present offer rederation. ana mne oe unions *or oo menn æc en coc now therefore no longer nomin- increase in three years is less. ally under the umbrella of the than 17%-the present rate of Confed., the JNC is the highest hillalvl negotlating boay In BL Its rejection of the "final Active support offer" and the endorsement of Lus sanovi une conveonis Meanwhile, means that strike action since last alone, the imminent. Autumn average reservations the living

WOCK

COSi 10. statement from workers on £75-£100 per week official Grenville Hawley, reflect estimated to have risen by £26. colaatol allull are the forces that bureaucracv mat now-al ora nese sudden-BL unions stand on the have driven forward the fight action in and make verge of major action. signs that difficult for the bureaucrats to Dul incic alc nu Tn f membersnp wants sel the rowardes oner retreat. Should Thursday's mass A mass meeting of workers meetings in fact vote for action at the Cowlev Assembly Plan1 WUlKeS Wul two weeks ago voted unanim themselves in the front ranks of ously the the struggle against the Thatcher company's original 6.1% offer.

government. will they Amo shoo stewaras Irom une ThelT

TGWU

and the hillest antive support from the and must demand

AUEW

Assembly Plant have since taken course of Lile Lcll fol whole abour ano trace unor action movement. ThaT noW DeeT Daily Telegraph was anxiously into the gin leckec ot thi iris of his chief hack, who is hanged for treason 1 after saying filling in his third expense form that the car showed a tendency ol une everma. to ratte al soeed news" "Great replies the O num etto of penol ted to hack, throwing his latest effort petrol but a have into the waste bin and searching D notice stopped the gossip.

Ior Isolabon Ordered to vote "Do you know what those day shift workers do at nights? They Industrial relations changed to sleep ul • the SurTEC beds as their wives. I can see it overmant ALSmeore now night shipage 1. 'Sex on the BL realised the benefits of partici- . All over Britain workers pation. But even as the were oraceeo mto manacemen about to throw his arms around méetings and ordered to vote on the names of the next model of his faithful newshound the tele phone rings. Minutes later still wasill! standing to attention the editor tool. Several workers were jailed issues his "Out of my for obscenity orders. Meanwhile in the dicta- You story OliN. ¡allace. Send in the motoring torship of South Ivrannv Princi

SENK

Charles beamed affably as Sand- correspondent. hurst trained _General Torture slipped him a fiver and asked for Pint of petrol delivery earrv valm er something much better I've Fleet Street is unanimous. that", he said, . unveiling 'Round Britain has been saved. the Metro with a flourish The ine world on one pint or petrol venerat lookea al lt screams one headline *Best sleek aerodynamic lines its says another. Union Jack glistened the since the Spitfire in bv Metro perfec tropical sun. His "Huns rocked • nps quivered har-kari at mindor show. tion', third. 'Nips commit His eyes flashed t hest said spoke 'Yol swine," The motoring correspondent n ns means war.

5%-GOT IT ?!

...WELL 1

CAN SHOUT

AS WELL!.

P'LL SHOW HIM

S JUST THAI

IN THE LIGHT OF

HIODAYA ECONOMIE

CLIMATE, EVERYTHI

CONSIDERED,!

THINK YOUR 9%

OFFER IS MORE

THAN FENEROU

SIR!

FUND LABOUR NEC REJECT

PHONY ELECTION

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277 London WC1V 6XX. Printed by Morning Litho Printers Ltd., London

PRESS

Unfortunately we question is echoing through- have to report that the out the organisations of the Special Fund is £1500 labour still arriving too slowly.

workers struggle A further £56.25 was stand why the press should sent in this week bring- have chosen Silkin and Peter ing our total to date to 'left' candidates for leader- Yet £340.25. we are ship of the PLP. asking for the first Even Silkin's €1,000 to be raised by

GMC

appeals November 15. This will started to portrayed as a left winger.

mean an enormous But effort over the next two land nevel weeks we are to tary Labour Party (where social- achieve that target. pound We are asking readers valuable mr doesar take muci and supporters to send to appear as a left winger.

us one day's pay to help fund. As us raise this the end of the month The probiem approaches we are antic- root and shore-but also lacing likely monthly paid ipating that even if they win the readers and supporters elecuons ranks of the getting out their cheque carry books to send us their Please don't donation. let us down. Send your donation to: Socialist Press Fund BM Box 5277 London WC1V 6XX Seven Send us a of Long Kesh concentration camp in the six counties of Northern hunger strike last Monday as restoration SLaLUS Thousands march to stop missiles The 100,000-strong CND demonstration last Sunday stration attracted only 600).

represents the clearest evid- ence yet of a growing mass leadership offered movement in Britain against form speakers. the war drives of British and US imperialism. The strident cold war tones coming from the Tony Tory government together with he was not rarenes decision to buy tvul vound peopic of Trident submarines and provide bases missiles for thousands trade Union. However brougill argue

UNIONISES.

members and youth on to the streets of London in the largest did not have but it

SOCIALIST

Who is John Silkin? The movement to under- to build up Shore as own Party flave anscover tner

VI P

never- of the Parliamen DuKin with the Party's rank and file.

allu candi- of the four Not One dates can command sufficient the Party's Nationat get constituency support No credibility Executive. both Tony Benn- facing Silkin, consistently tops the poll who Denis Healey in une consutuency nomulatons to the NEl-ana ine NEC itsell the PLP hold in cloistered 'holding inev Will opposition credibility whatever any elections lor a new lcdue. Tory concessions fail to halt hunger strike republican prisoners. prisoners in the 'H' Blocks the Tory decision government to reland to meas Ireland wear

NOLLECI

their own clotes tallea to stop Ireland began the protest going ahead. same time a further At the 142 prisoners in the 'H' Blocks have gone une bringing total involved in republican the campaign to 350. nuclear one. Only if the thousands of mobilised people now being against the threat of wai for defend ivor, ses sires ding defend jobs, services to bring down anti-nuclear demonstration since stanualus the natchet government The yous cras years acmon- the horrors of a nuclear holo.

caust be avoided. was no political solution to be to the thous- found in a "broad-based" cross anes or marches on le oldl class pacifist protest movement.

trade union movement 'Credible policy' to black the fight lust lane ur

WOEK

ot une masalalon Cruise missiles as part Benn announced that. struggle to halt the Tories' war willing tell the a ve this country *Defend the Soviet Union.

Thatcher to stop *Stop with the Soviet Cruise. he went on to needed a credible defence policy to be a Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League untune consintional chances agreed in principle in Blackpool have been implemented. • correctlv voted- une with only five votes against-to the

PLP

to call off its on palnelic election' Ignored virtually seems certain will was that their response to ignored. But this only further December 1976 wil intensify the crisis that is most han Labour Party ing roads and schools under ming ine necessity to oust not only the right wing leading clique but all of those Labour them- Mrs wi reluse lo mane which rever answered me o ust

GMCS

council housing ever since.

must demand that Yet

PLP

tael Vird Shore is posing as a elections, and fight for consti- in January that tutional changes : their privil- strip Labour MIs o egged boston mn ue choice ul the Party leader. overlooked in Only in this way can the way for the be cleared implementa of the kind socialist policies that solve the problems faced by the working class

BRING

took Three demonstrations place in Northern Ireland ove the weekend in support of the prisoners, the largest of them attracting 15,000 marchers.

This is without doubt largest demonstration of sup- port for the republican prisoners some ano Clearly represents growing support within the Catholic community for the struggle of the republi-

•CAT

10 De granted political status. As we have the seben re, the decision of seven start a nunger stake is a sign both of their determination and also of their desperation movement i ne has appealed in the past to th support for their demands but British labour movement march against ers wine WIll against repression countries distant refuse repression of repubical prisoners by a British imperialis republican prisoners a nest deserve support of the labour movement *For political status for Irish republican prisoners now, prior to an amnesty! *Britist troops out of Ireland now! *Self-determination for the Trish per let workers' an Irish republic. government Shore Shore's ideas on housing Shore who. that will gush forth thetoric the

IMF

cuts in Labour Party from leaders on extended the me rarest nousne cuts is ual di the methods now being used by council building orders, includ Heseltine to council were programmes was Shore who in March invented bi Peter Shore in his term ol ollice as secretary o cash limits for housing expendi- State for the Environment in Heseltine been the Callaghan government.

so viciously against

NOTE

response to the Healey cuts of July 1976 first imposed a ban the same Peter 'left' in the new moushe comacts and land purchses, as well as halting eecuons the Parliamentary Labour Party!

the growth of housing associa One point that may well be gon senemes a counch more of the ware

NOW

AVAILABLE

a Socialist Press pamphlet

THE TORIESI

LE THIS WINTER!

A brand new pamphlet, spelling out programme and perspective for struggle to oust the Tories.

Available, price 45p including postage from WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX.