Socialist Press no. 221 (part 2)

Key conference-November 15-See page 11

SOCIALIST

PRESS

* Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 221 * November 5 1980 * 20p Affiliated to the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee Enthusiastic vote for strike action at Cowley Body Plant BL strike heads "Enough is enough!" was The convenors, who knew better, refuted the ridic- the mood of tens of thous- press distortions of the

ULUUS

ands of British Leyland car- voung noures mn me mass meet- workers, who last week and recognised that they anti-Tory fight call a raised their hands for strike strike. in action meelligs these •unawares throughout the corporation.

events been those have from Their angry rejection wing Michael Edwardes insulting BL stewards "final offer" of 6.8% plainl through nowardes amazed the Tory press and mass himself-who were convinced that "BL media-and caught the manage- until last

FORDS,

ment unawares. Facing inflation now running Like any other section of at 16% the BL shop floor will workers. that their fight. it thev Damuny aware Day are aven a lead three and a perspective. increases oveT totalled less than productivity The fact is that so wretched

OCCHI

Icocalcu has been the leadersimo onered management attacks on their to them by their union officials working conditions. and the Party-led Hard-won agreements have the been Lorn up oy managemen. years, Dast TWO unal last yea com nine committee Chairman

MINERS,

Derek Robinson • on cast year's offer victimised; tens strike action oi obs have been 30,000 -workers In support or axed-while union leaders have Derek Robinson was stopped done everything in their power dead in its tracks. Lo avoid a limit have been

DU L

betrayals union int icted Different mood than defeats meted out by Edwardes. But this time even BL con- Now une swoborn resistance of BL workers has finally forced its venors and union officials have the nad to recoanise a very citerenT neeting of 300 convenors who mood on the shop floor.

FIGHT NOW

Enough is enough! catnered Monday erie surroundings of the closed Illass Canley plant, to decide on what decide on the orter let the tianT wing advocates of secret ballots hours, the After eight all those who voles viruicalcu decision strike had arauee mat workers are Was

LUL

ready and willing to fight.

acion a cal walk Deen 40,000 20,000 they by shop Cowley threw out the 6.8% offer and

ON PAY!

gave convenors an inescapable Assembly Plant mandate for all-out action.

NOU

workers nave emerged in the forefront of the aside have been the Swept battle to defend living standards now ToutIne Dress probaranda threatening closure and chaos if

LICI

cale the ring of ment. But they and their case are dire consequences DrOGuCLOn Is Halculu standards that has driven them company s attempts to use shoru time working as an additional IntO struggle nutting pressure to force home the 6.8% Continued, page 11

LAMBETH

Back page

ZIMBABWE

Centre pages Polish workers set date for strike If Poland's Stalinist rulers do not quickly reach agreement with the leaders of Solidarity, the new un- official trade union federa- they will face tion, massive renewal of all-out strike action on November 12. This made clear last Was week amid the various comings and of Polish ministers and negotiations with Solidarity 14 hours of talks between a government delegation led by Prime Minister Pinkowski and a o-strong delegator union delegates on Friday failed to produce a final agreement or the implementation of the dea head of the venera made government Strike movement leaders have apparenty aereed to accept High on one of bitterly contested issues-the insertion by a juage of a clause into Solidarity's constitution that acknowledges une supremac Communist Party In exchange, Stalinist leaders nave apparently agreed in prin ciple to allow Solidarity publish a national weekly news- paper, and to aiscuss the ques tion of access to TV and radio.

ently argued that a shortage o newsornt makes

ISSIOLE

for them to permit the union to run a daily would certainly awart unar or me er sown call paper. But other contested issues Continued page 2 Walesa

Italian Socialist Party tage ‹ i

— INTERNATIONAL-

Polish workers set deadline It has become increasingly From front page clear that far from running in advance of the mass Lech walesa and now strugglin from manv or me omer sonaanly have union demands included for the immediate payment ol members restrain their wage increases luriner action increased supplies of food and One Szczecin delegate told the introduction of meat ration Solidarity's national committee Ing Dy sallualy I that in sounding out reactions The impact ol inese con ine vovember

SUKO

and food on "alert", only oI Poland's already dislocated and factories area indebtea economy Is nkely lo demands were not met apears that the possibility Language of force bureaucracy to ride out such a And the Gdansk presidium crisis-formed one of the talking brief nas stressed nat me onv lan- guage the regime understands is Polio pa leader Stanis that of force. Polish leader Stanislaw conditions Walesa Kania. these emerges balancing precariously Although the visit took place between his ties to the Catholic in the context -which lead him vicious political attacks by East Cultul Czechoslovak towards seeking a deal with ine German bureaucracy -and the pressure enders on une bolca rousi from the mass movement which visits from unions-and moves both restrict

LEST

caravulieu Pointed out last week: national prominence. As he rosa workers— nana seems have won the support of the changing Soviet leadership for his course KeeD worker, 1 knew what to think."* mind. when sul Atter em bracine like Kania the airport, Kremlin in Warsaw, chief Brezhnev their junior partners the Polish bureau- are al present lorceu lo bank or precisely such signs or wcaknes: cracy s abily that emerged country's "difficulties".

in the spontaneous mass struggle Such stance could well Soviet assess- unis summer liC Wi The disbanding the ments on the immense alic federation, union that would be confron- clections led allu wave 1C W asly within the old unions to creal down upon the militant Polish an impression of "democracy mass entry of workers' movement. together with the Popular anger large numbers the new unions move. designed to layers of Any move towards an inva- Walesa into like the miltants son would vrompt a nuge us- rising of united popular anger.

bureaucratic Brezhnev at Warsaw Pact summit

USP

state-or least confuse at sections or workers sulucienuy to give the government a breath- for further ing spave manlocuvies. Not easily fooled But the November 12 dead- line shows that workers are not so easily fooled. T threatened the vsty basis have threatened the very ot the power ana privuege ol the Polish Stalinist leaders: it is in the next period that a con- SClous MaT XIST leadersniD transform necessary InIs threat into political over- throw of the bureaucracy and Ine estaousnment oi tne bowel of the organised working class.

Lenin once said that "for the bourgeoisie there are no absolutely hopeless situa- tions" But he naan a seen lary m the 1980s. No sooner had the recent bourgeoisie won struggle at Flat aided aiding reactionary mobilisations new confusion ine trade unions; no sooner nad it put together, ease, coalition

ICW

led by the President the Christian Democratic Party.

Arnaldo Forlani, than every- thing once more seemed to fall aball. "traditional" for the It 1S Italy's coal- ition governments (the new one 3s une since • une wal) refrain from tearing each other their first few This time however, Foriani was obliged to make a passion- ate appeal for the unity of the coalition parties even before the rarmamen naa civen une coverll confidence. ment a vote unheard-of disunity resulted fron the increasing tortuous position which Tempt me, please"

RADA

ZAKtADO WA

STOCK

Deleted sign for official union office at Gdansk shipyard rocks the boat manoeuvres against the Italian capitalism finds itself.

naked compromised has left, have deeply ine new government come into office with Toe arrea very milea creuld explicit objective ility of his party in the working the class. It was he therefore-in order economic which its predecessor could not to distract attendon arom unest get through Parliament things and regain a little credib ility-who rocked Forlani's boat The only that it was in the confidence debate.

Impossible was that MPs of the government parties responded resuscilallns working class Italy's potentially most explosive political issue-abor- against the austerity tion. measures by voting (in a secret ballot) against their own govern- ment. Referendum Two things have changed will allow the measures to be Craxi supported a referen- dum on the legalisation of abor- passed this time. tion-which is of course vehem- One is the deleat of the flat workers, ently though not belore a resisted Ine ever situation bordering on civil war present Vatican and the deeply embarrassed Christian Demo- nau erupted in the streets o Turin. call rally The second is the series of e clemma a s bout. geois manoeuvres by Bettino Craxi, politicians however expressed in the fact that the leader of the Socialist Party (the second largest Socialist Party has to — 1n The govern press al then coaliance, orich rigntest issue which may split the coal- dominance his rightist the issue in or destroyed ups destroyed faction against the left.

issue which But Craxi knows that his prcuccessor party's support for the reac. t pecomes ever narder to set how the bourgeoisie can resolve tionary economic programme of such a contradiction within the the Christian Democrats, and his Hunger strikers from back page their struggle succeeds, and that prisoners. these men do not die. Largely because this socialists every Detraval. seven brave men have alca been driven to course should at once call meetings and action that could rapidly bring local demonstrations publicise and win support for their deaths. Trade the prisoners' case. a nev nave a nant to exocci and demand the support and Labour Party

UNHORSES

British workers in their struggle members must put down emer- pledging gency resolutions against military rule. It is the active support to the fight.

Thatcher government-busily attacking the British working class-which presiding Mobilise mne oporessor or une nanona- ist minority in the six counties of Ireland ne namona cem osuanon. on November 15 and December capitalist the British 7 must be supported by a mobil- class-currentl labour movement isation irom mions or sta workers onto the dole queues-which is the enemy of British and The hunger strikers thrown down a challenge to the We British labour republican ine prisoners have taken a firm stand. Thes must respond bv redoubling thi fight for PoW have declared only Ior the immediate withdrawal of British of Pow status persuade their troops and tor the right of sell tnem to ena hunger strike determination for lne people. It is up to us to ensure that SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 framework carlamentary unlocialy And it was Forlani himself who warned in the debate that Italy may be en route to becom- I112 anolne. ano ulel Turkey get it Nothing will there sooner than the treachery oI leaders ol workes bares uke Craxi and Communist Party Berlinguer, leader orate in the plans of the bour- geoisie and sabotage cae resis- tance of the working class.

48-HOUR FAST

Friday November 7 at 7pm to Sunday November 9 Downing Street Participants include Lord Gifford, Alan Sapper (ACTT), Jonathan Hammond (NUJ), Gordon McLennan, , Carmen Callil, Jill Tweedie, Pat Arrow- smith. Mass picket, 3 pm Sunday 9 November

NATIONAL

DEMONSTRATION

For British withdrawal from Northern Ireland Saturday November 15 Assemble 1pm. Embankment

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Monday November 24 at 7.30 p.m. Lower Town Hall, Brixton Called by South London Hunger Strike Action Committee Wednesday November 26 at 7.30 p.m Battersea Town Hall, Lavender Hill Called by Charter 80

DEBATING THE WAY FORWARD

IN LATIN AMERICAN STRUGGLE

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980

-INTERNATIONAL

The Stirling and District found countries in other parts of the Chile Solidarity Committee must be congratulated for world Nevertheless, their organisation of a day regimes do have certain charac- theme of the school on "The Revolution in Latin summed up inequality, America" held the weekend before last. The conference, attended by Worsening over au trade unionists. cabout Party members, students and Latin especially Americans, trinity is worsening all the time exes with at present one-fifth of all Stirling area, provided Ine export earnings of Latin Amer- forum for an informative and ican countries going to service lively discussion on a number of nemes. aeoLs Increasy name de bureet Principled stand banks, such as Barclays. Rowland Sheret, opening the the emergence of "sub-imperial ist" regimes and speaking on concience Argentina and Com- henalt ot the drew attention to the have now assumed a new role mittee, for trade unionists, in the pecking oraer or explor necessily tation over the continent as a their working Intougn Lialies councis and the siul for the TUC), to raise the vital impor- British labour of the omic context ass suuezies 1l lalice Latin America are taking a principled movement above stand internanonal where successive military coups questions. still provide no long term basis He cited as one local for capitalist stability Who then are Stirling Trades Council to secure

STUC

affiliation to the Nicar- and the allies Bolivia and aguan Solidarity Campaign.

America? Bob Sutcliffe, economist and Socialist Press then addressed the conference on the imperialism probiems variety, and of the bureaucracies struggle for socialism In an of the Soviet Union and China, within the context of America and now tney domination or ine mine the revolutionary process, continent. The special characteristics of histan states within Latin Union's recent recognition many of terms the multary Junta in bolvia Alicia compenne male culous revolution groups manoeuvring for supre- macy within the overall context A menica res i le strong trade unionism and the of imperialist exploitation, gives radicalism the politics Inese stale. greater complexity than is often peasantry. Cranks' corner for a

SOCIALIST

IS FEDCRATION

of the

BRITISH ISLES!*

ine cranky sectarians • ot their ootcane. Scotland, the sparts gamery wheerea out their uncut demand for catchy argued for openly by the British Sparts strations nere of place, censine Hours! Is this a bid for a rotten bloc with the Campaign for Real Ale?

"underdeveloped" Sutcliffe completed his survey situalion criticising the inadequacies of guerrillaism and popular front- these ism Ernesto Cortez, speaking on which behalf of the El Salvador Solid- indebtedness and explained the committee most recent developments in the emphasising the Hoosity the FDR, •olE to DO which he described as an ana The second of this unholy united front with and Social Christian Democrats all the Democrats parties of the left participate.

In the afternoon session Des which Tierney, on behalf of banks, speaking the Nicaraguan Solidarity Com- mittee, began by describing the Comrade Sutcliffe also noted historical background to recent events there Comrade Tiernev. a leadin: such Mexico which member of the IMG, emphasised the within Government of Reconstruction.

FLower has lain with Within this very sharp econ- The departure of the repres- bourgeoisle entalIves intense an trom the government. such as all Bolivia Chamoro, emphasises the pro- of measures laken by we recuic Comrade tlerney derended co strength thing its hold the enemies actions the

FSLN

the of revolution over The Sanctise especially bringing the local militias into a tighter organisa- Sun terms of the politics o- tional grip. Terms or unc poldes especially Defended action seek to unuel He saw this as a necessari by Soviet step to defend the gains of the revolution against the dangers of external aggression which The potential strength of the very real throughout Latin He also the detended decision not to hold elections traditions of for a Constituent Assembly on sections of the ground: Inal WIll power of the press still in the

ABOLISH

LICENSING HOURS

luis

ABOLISH

the HOUSE of LORDS

ABOLISH

*the MONARCHY I T

SPARTACIST

of the International Spartacist Tendency often pride themselves upon the But seldom have even the Sparts come up with the ones their American supporters sported in New York recently at a picket of a visit by Prince Plainly under the impression that, as Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip has something to do with full programme' for Scottish workers. Their 'A Scottish Workers Republic as part of the USSR' is one which has yet to be • but will no doubt soon make its hilarious debut on demon- But even this is outstripped by the Sparts' maximum demand for the Scottish proletariat: in pride above the routine demands 'Abolish the House of Lords' and 'Abolish the Monarchy the most unique slogan to spring from the Augean stable of Spart guru James Robertson - Abolish hands of the capitausts, wnlo still control 50% of the this would be a recipe for political suicide the discussion that followed, defended the sterney in their attitudes towards Simon Ine ex Duision Bolivar Brigade. He said that the Brigade was "forcing workers Bat gunpos to guilty join wade and of trying to drive a between masses and the FSLN leadership. They had refused to militar- the shoot politically sue ro subordinate themselves inate themselves to the decisions of the USFI and therefore their record was "indefensible" He ended by emphasising the had aid Nicaragua received from Cuba, • a regime which he characterised as being workers democracy. The final pape O'Brien of giver Glasgow University and a recent He pointed to similarities between the atti- and policies Luum Thatcher government in Britain the Pinochet recim e Chile that they emphasising mons summated basis both drew upon the reactionary concepts right THe WIlle ideologues, Friedman and comerence This excellent attention to the orew institutionalisation of sectors of the Chilean state and the way in struggle Latin which this had strengthened the precedent basis of the regime. The questions and controver- conferences along similar lines sies which these four contribu- Not the Landslide win for Jamaican rightist The pro-imperialist which could not in any Jamaica Labour Party won a economic landsiide victory in General Thursday's Election. with Cuba resulting The party, led by Edward , is expected to take 50 of See a, is the final the seats when leaving result declared, People's Michael Manley's and the IMF; nationalise National Party with only ten and economy; scals with the workers' states.

The election campaign was UnIV wner one of the most violent in the history histounced early Manley the threatened this year that elections would laKe place the autumn and by polling day 630 had been killed in political the reject resulting Seaga's victory will lesser loans. the threat of a coup but even this possibility cannot be excluded if there is no signific- measures ant decline in political violence Manley's defeat highlights government the complete bankruptcy without a viable social and democratk nationalist politics. himself winning t After when landslide Manlev attemoted on the one prisoner hand to develop Jamaica's econ- within his party indepèndence from omic particular imperialism (in establishing ThrougT Despite national control over nalual his resources like bauxite) whilst at the "tied relying on the same time superpower" Fund Monetary internanonal immediately apply for loans to prop up a bankrupt for £20( economy. loan With unemployment already at 30% ana inmation over <0% furtea the

IMF

demanded austerity million over severe measures in exchange lor loans y vals Page 3 Sandinista guerrillas after their victory over Somoza aspect of the conference was provided the banish went on throughout on lively discussion that it aiso provided a lorum Io of within the Trotskyist movement on the Stirling Committee must be of thi probiens the springboard for wide solidar- movement America a healthy develop- support be which surely America ano local encouraged. Beast mportan • way The loans will be used, Provide a longer solutione s according to Seaga, to remode problems the Jamaican economy after the confronting the Jamaican econ- This om Whilst cultivating closer ties means tempting foreign capital with the prospect of low wages in a degree and huge tax concessions of economic aid and the supply of Cuban doctors and construc- tion workers, Manley refused to break his links with imperialism develop trade New. austerily measures demanded by the IMI PNP with elec- toral disaster and under mount- ing pressure from me tell will of the Party did Manley finally Pamphlet_con- Socialist Press

IMF

conditions of the military anary sik in the withdrawal o coup • oy the bonvian generals His rejection of the IMF and failure to take bold and decisive the nationalise Jamaican economy left the PNP pamp directionless and political plat torm in tne crucial penoa ieau evian masses ing up to the General Election the mass media were hys- Defend and throwing their full weight behind Seaga.

that Seaga's claim against government would not imperialism! to the coat tails of any he is expected to the IMF to million Linnamed international tinatat claims Price 32p sources have promised him f650 the next 3XX

STOP THE EXCUSES.

Page 4 3XX. We are sure that we do not need to tell anyone here of the effects that the Tories' 1200 mulion cuts in local autonity spend• ing have had on working class women.

services are being slashed in Jobs and meas. MurSCTICS. services, cleaning, old people's homes and children's homes, laliull. Yet the Tories see even the damage they have done to our social services since they took office as totally insufficient Now they want to completely destroy woote secuons wellare stale they showed last month with the massive attack on council housing.

to stop them before it is too We Have late. iney have wready been alowea lo get away with the virtual destruction of the school was a meals system maor can or ine workine class.

The question now Is now cuts? The way to do it is to further bring the Tories down! And the only way The debate today will major possible whether action suvil destrable It is now a year since we had the emer- conference gency against the cuts. Yet still there has been even Ofie organised by the trade union and Labour leaders against the cuts.

Excuses for inactivity The same arguments will probably be peddled today as thcy were a year ago. A well-KnowI hilallavily claim that ine working class nad moved to that workers are the ones responsible for voting in Thatcher.

i course. Ine real reason or a lory election victory was little difference between their bitter experience of the right wing Labour policies wage cool cuts anu alli union laws under Callaghan and Healey and the bland talk in the Tory manitesto.

ans Is ine basis dot lu Tories but to fight for the removal of Labour's right wing leaders!

The major excuse of the union leaders Ior not calling a strike 1s, nowevcr, to say that it is not up to them to do so-that it is the responsibility of the membership a local level. The membership, ther can. are and "don't want to fight the "apathetic 1 ories. take the question of defending

KUL

chool meals. In union branch meeting down the country the member- up. ana outraged at the attack robes nd on ship. "apathetic services. nave vcen mauc the tact that them leaders nave offered them no perspective for a fight to stop the school meals cuts.

Thev are told thev have to lind solu- tions at a local level and that there is to be no nationally organised campaign.

This means that instead of mobilising the strength of the whoie union ine ligne is left up to isolated sections already run staff the skeleton readers acceptance vi Ilalular waslage and huge price rises in school meal prices.

would

NUPE,

support or any acuon as we are portray actions as inflicting suffering on the helpless!

who needs With readers ke tnest enemies? Gesture offer At best the union ender. members the gesture of a one-day or half- members token strike-which many dav reject as being pointless, and just a straight loss of pay. Usually, however, the leadership say the membership that since the rest of won't light. no strike is belter inan an unsupported strike. One and the members are encоuта2e0 :: 53= 3: * % action. agalost ine cubs. action, 1s not etenct.........: readershe fightie seeking voluntary 2.i..... Hull, Oxford County NUPE!.

Other well-known arguments :amiliar to the many women in the membership o

START THE FIGHT!

We reprint below the text of a leaflet distributed by supporters of WOMAN WORKER, women's paper of the Workers Socialist League, at the Lambeth cuts conference on November 1. WOMAN WÖRKER is published every two months and is available from WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN United against action to bring down the Tories: NUPE leader Fisher, and Labourites Hattersley and Kinnock the public sector unions is that the only people wno suller trom strike action l public sector are the people we are paid to look after. picture is painted acsociall geriatrics abandoned as old people's home!

strike or the sick dying in hospital wards as the heating is cut off.

presented in this way Is therefore immediately dismissed as impos- sible the very members they that aboul provide. What is not placed before them is the whole emergency cover, question ol in strike ServICes necessarily be withdrawn but placed under committee workers should decide on what provisions had to be made and would acciae not lo WIlll- draw home-helps, for example, troin essential jobs. We would not be inflicting suffering the users of the vublic sector but would bi dealing enormous political blow taking these services out of hands and running then nurselves with the workers decidine on emergency cover.

Cover provided Such cover was proviaca aurng ne firemen's national strike and the strikes of ambulance drivers. The point that is never raised by the

NUPE

GMWU

national leadership NALGO is that it really shouldn't ana be lett up to the membership in caring sections to take action alone on a local level What isn't stressed is that nationally the three public sector unions nave ine power to bring the country to a standstill.

They control our cities, the water works sewage, waste disposal. our rodus. courls and local government offices.

strike action, not an 1 odd Full all-out dav's stovage here and there. could well end Tory rule. What is needed is a strong lead from a The stakes must be clearly Hallullal Icycl niaced netore ine workme cass. ener we must endure three more vears of orl the end of our social services, the loss rule, of still more jobs and union rights: or we mEnt dor namonal sunke accon Such a fight can be waged along wit the sections like BL and the miners in a 30e ave io kick out the 1ore: sicialis: policies and answerabie she working class that has put them in articer We know, however, that Fisher and the reșt of the TUC stand in complete oppos ition to a mass mobilisation of the work- Ing class agals lie tolles As a result the Tories have a free hand social and to our services Lal yo inflict what thev • like on the working clas: while the lul leebly crawi to lalks will Thatcher -hoping to persuade her to it.ake a U-turn! have predictably that the talk

NOW

failed, what have the TUC to offer? More one-off demonstrations? Or perhaps every union is going to follow NUPE's example and herer n car c help educate the 'public on the effects of Tory policies? Meanwnie as me eders conunue l argue that their membership "won't fight' the fact is that every time there is a focus Benedicts

TOI

Strucet Hospital occupation and the Eileen Crosby victimisation in Nottingham, it is the 'public' ' who respond membership and the while then leauers isolated on a national level, lent to or picked off by the Tories one by one The St Benedicts occupation just like all the other occupations-Wandsworth and Coventry nurseries, St. Columba's-should have had full the unions supporting strike action trom involved, the moment threatened with eviction should established Occupations threatened defend immediately facilities, with full scale back-up action should Labour-run local authorities refuse to implement cuts, not put up rents ana rates repudiate lterest charges anu m the event of any victimisation call upon immediate supporting strike action.

Strike action effective achon. mOSL weapon of the working class to defend our Tory devastation. . So why interests from don't the trade union leaders use it?

Iney dont want to use it because thei are terrified of the power a general strike would ne potential porker to as no deers have the potential power to bring governments. they nave DoWe change the whole social system on which depends for its labour bureaucracy privleges Were this power ever unleashed tha working class could end capitalism.

se ight against the This ..es "e ge aise enzazed in the fight o: existne leaders-lor a new in the labour movement. We deed a leadership that is prepared * her: coal and nan lot our milerests de: chose of the employers and their alling system. the TUC enough! Stop making excuses! Force action now!

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980

TORY SLUMP

Women driven back into home 200,000 every year a sis- While the monthly unem- every year- ployment figures continue 300,000! crepancy of idea the to give an At the came time lnere na impact of Tory been a definite fall in the female general of 135,000 force policies and the capitalist lauvul between June 1979-June 1980 crisis, another set of statis- In other words, more and tics shows the rapid decline thrown married women, in total jobs available. out ol men loos by rcuuruar cies and closures but ineligible figures fol omar ten for unemployment benefits, are employment published in Times show that Talling to register as unemployec Financia -and are being forced to revert jobs existed 185.000 les. to a dependent existence in the June than in March of thi year.

June 1979- 1980 no less than 405,000 jobs of course fall unese neures to account fully for the massive asabearca as lit of part-time jobs in the workers employed fell to 21.9 and private million. industry. which This fall in twelve months is nas also women predominantly hit nearv couoie ure coal uccie in jobs that took : place durin cuts begin bite to two years home and the Tories plan their of : SINCe recession all

COULDE

next of social spending June the pace ol Teaundancie. and greatly Culs. confined to nome will dr further increased, as more and But the special oppression of more find themselves women is highlighted by a com- parison between the fall in the coDe wil

SICK

tives, , denied nursery and the ana cone• employec care and denied even smaller

TISE

chance of takin the registered as unemployed.

in the public services Though 405,000 less people traditionally were in work, , the rise in unem- designatel "women's work" same period Doyment ove Only the fight for a socialist was just under 300,000. can expand other words the working solution that fell social services, expand produc- some populail and create new jobs can tion the number of people of work- end this mounting oppression Bosses divided on way forward of Amid growing signs These objections are now the Thatcher within the Tory Party itself. The disarray needs nel the most Cannel fragile facade of unity that was staunch Tory employers are the Tories lend beginning to Brighton • conterence "wets" to the Thatcher MPs have the weight openly criticised their pleas for a relaxation suralery of the government's relent- Last week saw Howe floun- dering Parliament less monetarist strategy.

attempted to defend the govern- bleats from Anguished electronics textile employers,

DULL Y

only against routine Labour urs ana ouncis nave occunic as but also against sharp criticisms commonplace as the nationalist Heath from demands for "import controls former succules union leaders who refuse minister trom from Wintertor Nicholas to lt a macer to moonise allul.

and William Waldegrave in defence of jobs. These critics by no But now, in the wake of the Tors means oner any nope lo firstever balance sheet loss I01 working class: rather they differ ICi. Britain's biggest corpora They fear with her over tactics tion, bosses of the country's giant chemical monopolies have the consequences of hatcher's policies in ruining sections of weigneo in wim cernanas uld small and larger businessmen Chancellor Geoffrey Howe take "speedy and in promoting militant work r action ing class resistance. rates and bring down the value Rippon in particular centred ot the pound his criticisms on the need to cut A letter from the Chemicals Economic Development Com- nterest late. And in Manchester bawara mutted Dolnts oul Lilal lilally Heath himself joined the attack firms are losing almost all thei blunt speech with an unusually export profits because. of the high exchange rate. lo a galnering where he declared that: "Your problems are greater than since time 193Us. It can t be rignt inal we : small businesses built up by hard work over generations now henna torced into bankruptcy.

It can't be right that great firms, among the most efficient world, should making losses TInC they because they cannot export because the rate of With the capitalist class itself increasingıy alvidea on tne way forward, and rumours of possible resignations from the Cabinet over £2 billion package of spending cuts, workers must seize initiative and look not towards the prospet toward the pr but towards the pros- to bring pects of mass action Howe cown me nate cover

'Blackest ever-getting worse'-CBI chief SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 Competition

SPOT DROMEY'S

'MONTH OF ACTION'

Several million trade unionists who fall under the South East Region

TUC

would have been surprised last week to read in the press that they are now "month engaged of action" against Tory econ- omic policies. At the press conference that launched Jack Dromey, dariur secretary. was sultaoly evasive as to wnat action -1 any-was though he emphatic denying any Was slarille May 14-style stoppage. Unattributed rumours that "month action" the include secret lunchtime motor- meetings cades. bureaucrats or even the furtive distribution of leaflets have not

TUC

as we go to press. But socialst press wisnes to

FORWA

lend support to any struggle against the Tories. therefore offering a we are free of our pamphlet copy "Bring the Tories This Down Winter to any reader who call supply belore the end ol November with information of any activity in town called as part of the SERTUC "month Only evidence of TUC's so-called Campaign for Economic of action". and Social Advance-a wallet of leaflets and stickers Ford UK who is now heading a find parallels. "This is our blackest sur- vocal campaign by the CBI for a Companies shedding ale change in Thatcher's economic labour faster than any time in vey ever, and we have not policies. touched bottom une ast lu vears. anle yet. There ment is expected to decline by is worse to come. So bad is the situation, he next year. over "Project after project spoke that the CB is having to terence says. being rejected by companies and Beckett, the former boss of look at the pre-war slump A new series Why build a revolutionary party? 1. The Crisis repeated savage cuts. hospitals poor By John Lister millons or workers and closing, schools nurseries peasants in the underdeveloped and council housing at a countries tace the untole miserv tare constani dick of vera wonder why slariuslill. dill will you unemplovment ana socia and what Socialist Press the argues security benefits slashed, while lOSU necessity to build a revolu- necessities of life-food, shelter, available tionary party to lead the

IN W

wrapulls systems and war plans. It is olain manufacturing the that we are not witnessing a firms in Britain have decided to capitalist system, it is worth string of exceptions! cease proaucing an ever growing first of all casting an eye at 1 here must be something rotten commodities-from the state of capitalism itself.

textiles televisions, from al ine neart or tne system.

vals with unempioyment soaring.

not mean unar mere s no need industrial production Indeed while workers and for such commodities stand idle in Britain world scale. modern factories closing, invest- factories It means simply that ior the ment cur back aru muacon sull allu Haus capilall 16%; with social countries-bringing the agony of unemployment-countless the crumbling atter trusts and maol sitives

PRESS

GANG

the Pay- Angus Maude, is the MP General, master responsible for Tory public relations. His task is to show Cabinet their ministers how present and their results, in a poncies, positive light. It his that department trains Howe, Joseph and the rest them tell worker. have think themselves lucky and not that they should to ask for wage rises One of the main planks of for the his strategy coming to stress the gains willer not to make their sacrifices in vain It was no doubt Maude who masterminded mowe s statemel that it woulcies when "folly" abandon policies they produce are beginning results". no doubt is based on medical theory that if the old something unpicasall then it must be doing you good.

It may be surprising that this public governmen necu relations, since the Tory press is already skilled at policies 'positive light. Articles vainly proclaiming of been appearir Prospelll lave for months in the sun, the Mai many other business are closing down. The longer the govern- ment delays, the longer the dole yucuro WIll giuw 84% the staggering 2,000 covered by the

CBI

latest survey they are working below a satis- manufacturing monopolies there insufficient profit be to gained from production. capitalism AnO undel production takes place solely in order to realise profit, there are seconu are closed down. recaroless the consequences in terms of lost jobs or the loss of commod- ities vitally needed elsewhere in the world How are we to respond to this situation? Are we to believe the bare-laced lies of the lorie.

when they assure of British industry destruction today is the only way to create Are to believe Sir Geoffrey Howe, when he claims that the Thatcher government's policies are "only just beginning to work"? to workers that the Tory road is towards restoration of tiny , minority at une exoense Illas. unemployment, devastate. socia and standards for living vast Maonly or Lie oopulallul.

But what kind of alterna- tive do the Labour leaders have to offer? Wilson and Calaghar in office showed that Labour's policies are simply capitalism-to Hallas. Increas „une industry at the expense of work- and the express But the course of propagan- da never does run smooth.

In K The heaped on Thatcher at the Tory hardly dry comerence Wa betore some or inose supposeu ly behind the government began complaining that the medicine was laced with arsenic. It has made the PR job that and the press have Maude this winter look woetully plal inadequate-in stark contrast to Ehearers of Sir Michael staff in the sim- vitaneous папаля Metro launch and the BL pay claim. Should Maude find himself out of a iob he could alway: offer his services to King Hassan of Morocco. Not since Giscard d'Estaing's friend Emperor nailed as practising cannibal royal received such an has any nexpecteory nosure Dies.

BRING THE QUEEN HOME

TODAY demanded the Sun. royal report of InCI Lilt tour of Morocco noted that the felt obliged to foot with impatience and (most her belt" at the outrages she had hands of this shiftless Arab despot Such are the constitutional factory rate of operation.

the pleads witn government to implement a 4% cut in t rates in a ate bid to bring down the value sterling from its "crazy level" The desertion of the CBI ing class living standards in the hopes that at some time in the indefinite future they can legis- late a few piecemeal reforms for anti-Tory rhetorio beatred by LabouT S left-wing and their pipe-dreams "planning" the economy hand-outs state private industry, it is the crisis of profitability which is the driving force in the capitalist Cilsis the lories are proving tnal they are unable to control the system; the last Labour govern- ment proveu ConclusIveL thial seeking to 'reform' a bankrupt lead them attack the working class.

workers conclude from this dilemma? Are we to shrug our shoulders mumble "Thev're all the same' and simply put up with the des of hard-won living stan dards and basic rights! We say that such an attitude makes matcher-and easier sell for the going Labour right who have betrayea une working Cass many times in office must recognise that the destruction lorces une squandering precious raw materials, the scourge of unemployment, and une misery or lass Doverl not natural disasters, but the Page 5 changes that have taken place over the past four hundred years invisible to the naked eye) is the pallid substi- twentieth century for chopping ott a let lute heads. disconsolate was the told, that to Queen, we cheer herselt up she was reducec to watching her guardsmen drill- and down the decks of Royal Yacht DIltlallid- apparently one of her favourite pastimes. But it was not all fun. She forced was

CIOT

watching foreign tribesmen wait 20 riding about on horses and other minule. such indignities. She was seen pointing to he although the press wn manage to get unea lee everyone else's doors) claimed not to be able to hear Wildl silk was sayll was it all worth it lor the sale of expected hat the word listen to a lot of Arabs making speeches reduced to Tune bueer with her belt what would the fate of Margaret 1 naluel: ror ine answers to mese and other burning questions write to Angus Maude at Tory Central Thatcher leadership from the camo does nor a bee towards the working class: businessmen demandins Wlal ourcen

COI LOIV

the public rather than their profits. bitter fruits of anarchic capilaust system It established itself in Britain only after a great revo- which in 1649 reached its climax with the execution of King Charles I establish alternative system -a planned soclails system of production for social need rathei than private greed- a new revolution is needed: a revolution Ine • Vas majority of society rises up, to drive out the Thatcher govern ment and any other government that stands for the defence of and capitalist exploitation, insta a cenane workers coverr ment, answerable to the organ- ised working class. of macninery Slale through which the bankers and protect their wealth and profits-in paracuar me bonce. ally all judiciary-must armanded and a workers' state established oversee a planned socialist economy Only way can we solve today's problems poverty and unemployment and the door to a tuture o peace and prosperity. And that is one reason why Workers Socialist we right to build a revolutionary League ne party.

After the Lancaster House

MUGABE'S GOVERI

DIGS IN AGAINST W

Page 6 The underlying social, economic political and tension and conflict in Zim- babwe-which the Lancaster House imperialist deal was designed to COltall-dic beginning to surface more and more openly. Each day, and each move makes, brings a new Mugabe the always unstable halance or cass torees on wilca he first acquired and now seeks position maintain flare contact is ser to specific basic conflict

DUL

remains that petweer a cabilal- state which, despite the level and Mugabe's Ul lllass Chances rellalls politically intact in defence of and profits- property Drivale and its and Class he essed allies which. despite politically damaging effect imperial- of the Patriotic

FION

deal and ine level Slalt repression, remains undefeated, and bound to move into struggle arouna a wide lange or issues.

Obstacle Each day, workers, peasants and coming militants against the tact, not merely that Mugabe's government ПO1 meeting their interests, but that which it is a bosses government stands as an o ostacle struggle to meet those interests resentment and Frustration, the angel are Worker on Zimbabwe sugar plantation oppressed socia: laver. IrOm which the Patriotic Front Dult armies then drew its military commanders have beer electoral support-the uty be to ace of their this- liass growin of thousands nunareas alla peasants and content amongst the guerrillas worKers Zimbabwe. many WiTh unen thousands into the privileged positions of the governing bureaucracy and a guerrillas remain incarcerated in they privileged officer camos. Wild no real prospectol basic adequate housing or jobs have Ine his effort police to defend their position As part against growing rebellion.

former ally. Mugabe seeking make limited housing available in the Maintain control areas -Conuilvilal guerrillas surrendering Inel weapons accepting the In recent weeks. Mugabe has and been forced to use discipline the existing army and police force to main- Dolle And he is using aid from the dissident talli control

UVEI

Thatch govary antice in tos guerrillas. advice In his flirtation with land redistribution-made immediate- enorts ic the desertion army and build up a solid loyal officer corps within the national large ano landowners, almost alilly Major-General Patrick unavoidable British Forces in babe, shed commander •easant sezures or unoccupicu land in some areas), Mugabe has zealously avoided • bestioning recently: banks, "One of the most important position of the Ene business ane caoast armers who control agriculture. consolidate has He fact used much the country. I beneve tial wie British Army is making a big essentia casn ald towards achieving socially useful needs, contribution

DUT

compensation for capitalist halines. Despite much rhetoric and Advisory team the land redis mited realty which tribution has occurred untouched private The general commands 130 has ownersimp of the big capitalist soldiers, marines and who comprise the British train- farms. in Zim- More than half the farming and advisory team land is still owned by just over by the baowe 5,000 white capitalist farmers.

largest British military operation anywhere the wome In ose WItO ime lame are stared of training world. Patriotic Front implements, machinery normel even genuine land redis- any real change, and a growing suspicion of Mugabe's capacity tribution cannot in itself sub- change the conditions To delver r loe rura ooor are becoming increasingly resentful of life of the rural poor.

and hostile It is onlv if any redistrib Robert Mugabe was While ution were accompanied by the meeting ist faris and the banks tal elderly tribesman was expressing banks tarms bewilderment that fewer businesse. unem 26 people had travelled inall that the condition of life of all with the those working on the land could Minister at government expense.

unle earth with his Rapping dictates of capitalist profitabil- stick always flyin They walking …ne comained ity and the market. "They're off of finance to somewhere or other capital over spheres cont come to see us anymore means that agricul- Chinamora the will tural production Trust Land-25 miles from the capital's centre, villagers showed geared to prout. And where agricultural pro- iner oscan nor me new covern duction is geared towards profit.

ment by refusing to accept 10 not need, rural poor kilogran bags of fertiliser cooner

SLEUSSIO

distributed by party officials.

survival. we oe rem to user on In the name of such redistri- their lawns in Salisbury. That's bution, Mugabe is also seeking about all you could use just to control the discontent. con Such a sal alout 10k. centrated amongst the hundreds young man said. of thousands who left the rural Struggles in the relation rebellion area. were Ine wal was belg and growing waged. of guerrillas amongst sectons have served as the most evident 'Superfluous' flashpoints of the underlying instability. As part of a programme to But it is in the struggles of reduce the the urban working class, and in the economically dominant its levels, urban industrial centres that th political fundamental heino user to cumo supertuou

MUSI

on their redistrib Crises Lim Daowe -without any social posed and their resolution uted land determined oi services. agri- For despite the or even ine barest of the peasantry, it is only the independent class interests of some areas, working class which con resettled have left. and returnec illegally to the urban areas.

annect against cabilal Faced with the absence of ism, and it is the working class alone which is capable of lead- ing the revolutionary mass struggle for socialism unpreceden- ted wave of strikes following Mugabe's victory, workers have given clear notice of their deter- mination lo wine lae new sud tion to their own advantage.

Rural and Poventy the have combined to accelerate the population growth in the urban outstripped the provision always pathetically inadequate Massive crisis Even the most optimistic growth estimates of economic hide cannot continuil massive crisis of unemployment the youth particularly facin heavily 1979 there were about 250,000 jobless (from a labour joined Have DeCI demobilsea members former army, at least 50,000 50,000 returning refugees least leavers With inflation at well over 10% the mass of workers in the bound to step Ul Vall •allas all uo their demaras arouna Issue such housing, jobs and wages. In the face of this massive seemme aiscontent Ine capital ist employers are taking comfort from the way which Patriotic Front bureaucracy has "championing" Turned

ITOM

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 Urban living conditions for Zi workers' rights, to actively seek- any to dependent and mpt ess independent attempt workers to pursue these rights Reflecting on the haste witt which patriotic aront bureau crats have grabbed economir spoils for themselves, employer are recognising the basis tor ar alliance in defence of economic privilege. And they are reassurin temselves witn tne spectacie o Mugabe, ne to read his seria after threatening • Salisbury. 1 any veralt now using smitns ponce shoot guerrilla caught ir Salisbury with arms But employers and privileged sections of the petty bourgeoisie cannot ignore the anger, discon- tent and continuing demand for from oppressed une masses Capitalists are witholding tor Mugabe's signs control his base-or, what the same thing- amounts to property earantee unem profits at the expense of the working class Profits in the supposed quest i jobs and economic developme: Mugabe is desperately seekin! : guarantee profits and win is.: alist contidence capitalist profits 81] 7 confidence demand an incres:: the very exploitation i... WOTkE. which led them into struggle = the first place In the face of a grow

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 babwe working class mood resistance amongst workers and their oppressed alues. reactionary layers of the petty bourgeoisie becoming strident their demanos lor une restoraton of "law and order". Reactionaries are not relying simply upon the Patriotic Front bureaucracy; not upon imperialist supervision over the the exist- army: nor even upon ing, largely «intoucred

DONCE

orce, civil service and judiciary They are preparing their own self-defence: the methods of ever present threat of right wing squads bound to and more openly emerge more as coninct escalales ine most vicious eements ol the Rhodesian army have not, as disbanded Mugabe claims, 1 ana large, mey nave been geographically recenioved. ready to defend the capitalist South across the state from Alrican border. And South Africa's political- bosses have repeatedly military to take further military action Zown in a i and ordis a break- Zimbabwe if there is Manoeuving more anu more frantically between these oppos- forces, seeking to protect economic and their own political privilege, the Patriotic HrONI nureaucracy aci shackle the working class to the reformist illusion that through Class Collavurallul can be one we guaraneer capitalist profits and meets the workers and their needs oppressed allies. Mugabe's Increasingly, settlement

IMENT

ORKERS

supporters will be objectively by political confronted of his popular ironusi class collaboration. Within days of being voted by the masses to form a govern- ment inel interests. Mugabe was throwing their votes back into their consolidate a class collabora- nonist bosses government, as an obstacle to those interests.

Irrelevant Rank file

ZANU

ana mutants are coming up against the fact that their majority in Parliament irrelevant, when outside power Itsell Parliament. Workers and peasants are being confronted tne lact unal class oopression and exolor tation cannot be voted, or legis- lated out of existence. of popular guerrillaism

ITONTIST

experienced for what it is-not the triumphant construction of united in struggle, but frustra- tion and disillusion among the oppressed which can even lead mullarsue acIs against workers and peasants.

But and the obiective experience of class conaboranon are adequate nOT them se ver weapons workers' struggle. What required 1S the policy, perspective programme organisation which can equip the working class to turn UnC situation unew owIl advantage. By Jim Farnham The crucial crisis facing the working class is one of leader- ship In the absence of revolution- ary leadership suspicion and t of Patriotic anger-the product rronI Class turn and confusion-fertile grounds for reactionaries and opportunists, renov to exploit ever oevance of the working class to their own advantage. Wherever the capitalist right to profit is conceded, and the productive forces remain back- wall scarcitv must prevan. and undel such conditions workers can be turned workers pursuit of their immediate inter- Every attempt develop progressive socialist relations on the basis of backward produc- rive rorces. geared exclusively to the production of profit, not the meeting of human needs. 1s doomed TaNTe It is not inconceivable that Mugabe himself or left reform- ists within the Patriotic Front weight mass under The or to secure greater leverage with imperialism, or as trantic Curs power may use me boamen tary majority and the limited government to legis- power late substantial avyal cill) But socialism cannot be won and the real interests of workers cannot De tion. Thos stre stenan, of the won strength of the workine cass moosee aroune Page 7 Signing the Lancaster House settlement WANTED FOr It is entirely another for it provoked working class politically weak-

MURDER

ened and looking to parliamen M leaders accomplish Lal y

IAN SMITH

iTE retorms on their penalt is why revolutionaries

MAS

wait for, rely do not see upon any relorms trom Mugade MF./ as steps towards socialism.

On the they con- to buid. againsi sistenty secK Mugabe and his bosses' govern- the political indepen and organisational dence wich done can uteru vailai retorms and exteno inem to une advantage of the

POWE

working class

BE VE

Agitational means must found coutradition and clas divisthe highlight

THE

perween • MuzaDE

POWER MUST:

Zitbabie and intonatinally- links capital

BE VESTED MEE

and its popular suppor The demand for the opening of the books of industry the the agricultural banks

FTHE MASSES

monopones to elected conlint- tees of workers poor peasants can play a key role in

ZIMBABWE/

the of exploita- that

LION

unuel Mugabe and the necessity

TOT

R. MUGABE

independent class action to OF create the basis for a planned, socianst econorry Gone are the days when Mugabe called for power to the Working class messes For it is only the mobilised Sure the leaders pot a as.

of the Lollal y pall ana bunding

SUODOTT

HONI

that can lead oppressed capitalist reaction and build the defence against threat ony soluton in the interests o the • workins class-the workers' 'government, based the independent organisa- tions of thi working class and its oppressed allies. *FoI armed workers' and Build peasants workers' militia. *Build the independent

WUIKUL.

class-in the factories and mines, on farmand communities books of me banks. me the agricultural concerns *Down with parliament of privilege. No secret diplom- acy and wade deals *For a genuine constituent assembly. Down with For government.

WUSSES

workers' government, dased Of the independent organisations of the working class. the land. *Nationalis Expropriate farmers and develop collectives under workers' control. socialist planned Mugabe collul *Solidarity from all section an independent working class against a working class which international labour programme, fighting nia. been boltically musica movement with me connun: independent class and anti-imperialist struggle in working rana licer reformist illusions. Zimbabwe, with the support Of couse every *Aid change which and trade for workers oppressed all Lne capitalist state. threaten: rights and bosses' • Labelalists bureaucrats' privilege. power marise pront. inevitably threatens to provoke *For workers' control of aid Reaction a capitalist reaction. and trade. is one thing for reac- *Build South African the

DUL IL

Any reformist effort to legis- tion provoked by to De revolution -essential To terenc socialism the mobilised strength of the work and carry through anti-imperial. late on basis of a fighting for its inde- throughout ing class, Capitalls! slale bound provoke a capitalist reaction- pendent class Interests

Labour Party... Trotskyist history...Scotland Important changes in Labour Party Page 8 Silence on Scotland Dear Comrades, the most disturbing ternaps recent trial and feature of the sentence of the Scottish Repub- licans at Glasgow has been tne totai absence or comment in te press of the far left. hardly believe that inis woule nave been une case had these events occurred in LUnuUll Republicans who Man consider themselves as socialists arguments the far left MacLean and accuse dominated Delna London organisations' and long situations such this are left protests to the unremedied contrarv wil cur duce Ice.

This is especially so when one considers the record of the Mathew Jelt acience Lygate of the Scottish Workers Party, who received one of the PIISUl sultanes Scotish legal history we have serious urban differences with the out une ony way to win these people from their conceptions erroneous defend ilrst tnem against ine bourgeois stale Yours fraternally, Charles Palmer. Don't criticise Benn wear ou Madam buy the often 1 Socialist Press. Some oi DaDer good. the arneer ne very Some I find very bad. bought it the other day No 217. not agrec will your headline and article, which I do not agree because your will lead confusion! stand How is it possible tor a socialist oraanisation to lenore mne mood which is sweeping the country Party the Labour Suite conterence! To many, kenn radical socialist who will trans- -given the chance. soula be vour uuty to support Benn all the way, but his pointing well. This must be the correct attitude. On the same topic, putting Benn in the same camp as Duffy leads only to contusion. Cheers. not signed my name have because it is your tradition no-one signs iner name in tne paper. If our reader looked at the paper more orten ne would ser that we by no means ignore 'the sweeping which mood countrv since the Labour fart) conference'. entirely support the movements to democratise the Do revent de leucl tion of the betrayals of former Labour governments. • We support every move Inal Benn, or anv body erse, lanes li this direction. However we do not consider that Benn, adher- as he does to a perspective ol seeking lo lerill capitans through rarlament will pursuc the issue as far as is necessary.

We hope comrade who wrote the letter will help us test this out in practice.

We would certainly fill a page with prepared to letters on this issue-and similar topics of debate in the labour movement. We would encourage readers, (anonymous or not!) to wilte to us selting our nel views. Dear Comrade Editor, The test of any organisation which is seriously build a revolutionary party is as recognise much its abulty important DolLicai ments and draw the necessary conclusions as it is to strategic programme against aerena une attempis to nquaate it. Recent issues Press show graphically that the Workers Socialist League is able to do the former as well as the latter. I would like to continue the dente whien nas bean sinet the historie developments which took place at the Labour Party omrade Lister lett ott in h Catin (MOrrOW a10 • (Socialist Press 219). It is interest to and a. even comrades Morrow and she clot manifestation 0i clear manifestation of a significant shift to the left by whole section of the Laboul Party would have thought even a few weeks ago that such sheviks as Morrow and G. would have referred to Tony Benn as a centrist: Leaving aside whether or not this correct scientific description of Benn the impor- tant volt is unal we unchanel" geabie tact whien lrotskylst have to face is that something significant is happening to the LaDour ray combination pressure from the working class, successive lallure 4 pour governments lo Illakt impact on the • chaoti capitalist crisis and effects the clear decision of the ruling class to launen a major assaut the working class have on ferment produced major

READERS

WRITEE

Constituency delegates at the Blackpool Labour Party Conference which reaches right to the top of left social democracy.

recognition by Socialist Press of the emergence of a new anti-capitalist movement mass must be followed quickly by a wide-ranging discussion amongst Trotskyists of what needs to Gone now lo make sellous sucs towards regrouping ana politically that an instrument movement into which can be used by the work• ing che anerol ton of ty central arena fiuht for a revolutionary pro• gramme must now become the Labour Party The time when it was neces- carv to bura organisatiuls vul side party the mass workros kyistement isoler always

LIULSNYISLS

soult to stand alongside othe: socialist currents Labour Party fighting for our policies and perspectives.

"entrists" are Tedi as David Owen. those such Shirley Williams and Reg who people Prentice-the through theur bureaucranc noid on the party and their openly have programme pro-capitalist revoluuonarice out or demoralised them into leaving in disgust. revo unonaries

GODI

fraternal approach to those who the : Callaghans and fighting. of this world alil debate out the elements of our strategy then the days of left organisations numbering only hundreds will be over and a new tionary programme will be or the agenda final comment-the of deve onment Clas struggle tests out all those claiming to organisations throws into revulu lunal y. alsu perspective THe anierences SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 Errors in report on Trotskyist history Actually, Matlow was not so Dear Comrade much and the same goes for Pavesey as entrist recruit, slight has 1 nouvea report of th CrEDI laTO VOUl Conterence of the Group lot ut taras ame Study of Leon Trotsky and the Reg Groves remembers Matlow being in Clapham We welcome letters Revolutionary as in the article that they had ILP at the tim on any topic descrioca Lessur from

DILLISTI

close contacts wiin tne bainam preferably less than Trotskyism your paper on Group, but says that Matlow October 8th joined actually the 400 words. neve. talk of 'Matlow and Communist League.

Y OU

Palsey' being part Naturally, when the oI ine nand lim into the ILP led by Denzil Harber Jim

TOTSK VIS

enly and as being members of the the spli

OUI

ITOM

Revolutionary Policy Balham group to enter the ILP Committee. İ presume that by when they Matlow joined 'Palsey' you mean Joe Pawsey.

came nana duc eminent organising became secretary of the Marxist that the Trotskyists set un in the ILP a year later this, I feel In addition to should have pointed-and you speaker at that should the conterence-mar mne interest In and ferment of semi-Trotskyist Trotskyist ideas in the ILP had already had a long history before the split of 1932 Apart articles in the the

ILP

supporting against the Stalinist bureauc- Lavy, as the late Hugo Dewar, who as organser oi rrank aluey s solli Trotskyist 'Marxian League'

ILP

continued to work in the himsell and regarded sunporter of Trotskyism in its fullest sense before the Balham had declared its opposi- group to the Communist Party line. Others in the group were Only later also ILP members. when me marxan reacue solll did Dewar, or ahe Trotskyoin join of the struggle inside the Communist Party. Ur this the Communist top oi itself members of the ILP and used anda for Trotskyism in pa- ganda Trotskyism Tanks of that party feel the neither Sean l de apocal to be aware

LOTS

impression maintained that with the ILP's contact tirst Trotskyism Harber and the others I am sure This impression, aoes

SION

all! intention to distort which have ditterent tasks overao. and oui ec une trolskylses coe monial the discussions of work is possible on a principled to form different organisations such joint We welcome ts to pe noveu me uenel

AISTOT

OUI

dous opportunities opening during that will force us all to But the outstanding political before us oblige de vale to you about it.

significance of the difference centres precisely on question te Incidentally which political extent many petty allerences winci blanket silence denberali have prevented us from combin- work mule next Delou musi does appear to have been placed resources for the great centre on the Labour Party over the history of the Marxian such, and how much emphasis Frank Ridley task we nave tu lace needs to be placed on the devel League particularly Ram ('Aggrawala') by (nanal heartening to me to note that opment ol a marxist programmine ail who discuss the early penoc Socialist Press 219 reports the and the building of an indepen of Trotskyism in this country, of of dent revolutionary party.

doing aureemeni which I consider to Press has stressed Socialist Organiser and Socialist SOCIalist history a disservice Press to present joint amend- the view that the Labour Party individuali , of Ridley's rather is a central arena of the fight for ments to the conference called his pioneering views, revolutionary programme: but it by Lambeth Council. role should not be undervalued Roll on the day when sup- 1s not the excuse tenue loi quite a few of the later talented porters of these two yo p pers cae Trotskyism recruits struggle produce stop their compellne received firs against his Trotskyist Ted Heslin movelleut one journal Oxford City training orgallisa loll- Yours fraternally, expulsion

ITON

Dr Worrall, Max Nicholls, Gerry K.W Party for selling Bradley, , Dewar etc Press confirms that Coventry Finally, I feel I should brins problems Liere inis ratner long teller lo a close simply wage a tight informing Editor's reply for socialism the movement ir veterans of the accept comrade 'It is only fair to point o this year comrade .W. tha K W's definition of "entrists in reply 1 IC Apart from then we must recognise that it is wal - wils and Socialist Press last letter to me setting th still who in many Organiser "competing" with each other as mue. of the control mosi historical recora straignt snous ared be published by someone-we machinery of the Labour Parti out very also lost Frederick Mar- cally important forces in the different political tasks aient fors valiss emain alien- ziller, who shared with Mation For Socialist Organiser, the the organising Labour principle d perspective arec Group the ILP and Arthur betrayals, and outside its ranks.

basis Cooper, Trotsky's old manaull L opponent ainst al bans and propages agreement tor the formation oi s і вір- Labou against une • GIsCuSSIOl. left wing current within the entry in 1936, Party socialists who con Labour Part!

TORS

tinued faithful to the move. the task Labour Party is needed. It can For Socialist Press, ment throughout many vicissi- take place in far more we set is to spell out as tull!

favourable conditions than tutes possible the full programme fo you feel incapable of building of a revolutionary it is essential thai previousiy • publishing the rest of the letter drawing forces from the fight socialisi poucie and content, Dallyd length and democratic procedures whole vou Ulls would be most grateful if yor incorporate broadened movement-including of cours pass wond ateas elements who not this demand. news to your unwelcome active Labour Party currenuy supporters. rraternany There are obviously import- Al Richardson. ant areas in which these two

•Karl Marx and the fight for the First International SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980

RIVINCTONS

In the struggle for revolutionary politics today militants stand on the gains established by Karl Marx, Engels and the early leaders of the Communist movement.

Communist Manifesto, and spelled Mary co-wrote the out the detailed economic analysis of the capitalist system embodied in Capital. But, together with Engels, he also played a key role in the fight for internationalism in the construction of the First International.

The first Engels international helped Marx and to arose out of the struggles "Communist write une Manifesto" in 1847. of the working class in the strengthening first half of the nineteenth capitalism 1840s and 'SÔs ano une suboression workers' revolts and trade The mam movements were Europe isolated unions in Which the were the most industrialised trom capitalist countries in the world.

economic crisis 1t 1857, the Italian war of Inde- Britain plaved a maior role the pendence and because it was the first country American Civil War the workins have trade unions and class resistance again began to politicised working class which gather strength. grew around tne unarust move- ment in the 1840s. Before 1864 number of Badly affected attempts to set ur some

IOTM

mr anal were Britain and France workers Association and wElC centred mainly in England; badly affected by increased Harney the set competition from the Society Mallor: suCh Democrats" in London in 1845 America, began to amply foreign and poitical exams frome which became refuge for They foreign over workers as cheap labour in the burope. Texte ractones ana increased 1850 Ernest Jones estab- unemployment. lished "International Britain the workers Committee" which held reacted by demanding "one man Hass Taller ana acmonsuanons in one vole and move- Paris and London. ments developed in France.

The re-awakening of ILeasuewas the "Communist which French and British working class By Neil Garrett also led to the growth of inter Their power and inat ine too ol nationalism which class len London "capture political power" September 28 1864 of workers meeting une workers. said Maix. and trade union delegates from "possess one element of America and Europe success- -numbers But numbers agreed draw up the weighty in the scales only to when unev Mens Association organisation and lead towards working congress in Belgium in 1865.

which would have first a conscious aim" the aims of the Dasically International were the same as At irst Marx playea a small believed that the he of bot those Communist believed that Manifesto: era oi revo i) Only the working class can lution nas now lalry opened again in Europe" achiey its nema has ton. He quickly became the main Class rule abolished. intellectual leader and wrote the iii) Capitalism is a system of aims ot the wA boss The address the first against workers and there- meeting in 1864 was a complete fore the overthrow of capitalism is the aim maicement Capitalisill much Communist ments must strive. the Manifesto" itself. ]v) ine workug class revo- pointed out that in the lution neither local nor national, but international.

IWelly years and capitalist production This thus laid the basis tor economic expansion had an international workers' move- the globe as increased all over ment, based communist never delore ver une muserv ano internationalism. poverty of the working class had thought of as War sm remained the same. a theoretical tool rather than The new industry and banks a guide to working class action which the capitalists had set up liberals and sections of bosses in the 1850s/60s.

Proudhon Throughout the 1850s, when workers came under attack, they won victories with the The First International had Parliament of not a majority of Marxists, bu the vasslis liberals • en which meant i ma cass that workers only had to work reformists nationalists ane ten ing up per day and also the (social chauvanists). the One leading brand of liberal selling socialism was expressed by the movement walca gave workers cheape and othe supporters Pierre Joseph The speech first Proudhon who did not believe added that in smashing private property bu in tinkering with the economic capitalist class would continue their economic and system and setting up co-opera.

political privileges to maintain tive societies The Protononist disapproved the main methods of working class the udut unions strikes, occupations demonstrations and action. Marx's biggest battles were with Mikhail Bakunin. Working class Marxism bases itself on the industrial worKins Cass as force capitalist decisive society, , while Bakunin wanted movement dominated by the peasallls. une mue class. us workers and possessec backward, capitalist pro workers. Bakunin became the 'father' modert Anarchism - wnici reflecting the ideology the middle class, is against all forms ot authority organisa Lot … matter It worker. state or a fascist state.

Marx, however, was favour workers' slatt where political and economic power is in the hands of the workers no ser uo Enese states there must be national, local and international communist parties The First International rep the resented muestone history working class oi the also represented the political battles which had to be rougat anead. The battles betweel Proudhon Marxism and Bakunın brought into the oper those the allierences between who represented the minded middle class and those benevea in a perspective of the working overthrowing the rotten Page 9 A trade union demonstration in London in 1867 capitalist system At the same time Marx was the narrow forced to combat ot mans nade umon mulancy of the British representatives.

Despite political the First Inter- OI able it was to brins Ha Liollal. tens of thousan worker onto the streets of London ir 1866 in favour of 'one man, one vote' The IWA was able to stimu- the trade late unions into create contact

WILD

working class by involving itself in the • political and social life of the class In the late 1860s the IWA supported the workers' uprisings , including All subsequent struggles foi revolutionary internationalism have therefore stood on shoulders of the gains embodied mn une rust inemanonai

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

AHA removes cancer patients through picket line Kensington, minster AnA close in the Following Opposition wake of the St. Benedicts staff and local unionists has so tar preventer closure, the authorities have the closure. so far been stopped in their tracks in attempts to close Too ill St. Columba's Hospital, on Hampstad Heath, London. district the Hunt, announcea Listed closure was to co ancau, anu luc remaining 8 patients were to be transferred. St. Columba's is a hosptial for terminally ill cancer patients and has been listed for closure nospital, mr nopkus, the on 101 y wat

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Trial sub (UK): Six issues. Six months One year. Europe: Six months Rest of the World: Six months... Please send me trial sub/six months/one year of Socialist Press. I enclose Name.. Address Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX gramme condemning the plan, Chelsea and West- declaring that the patients were too lll to be moved. ine vlan oy hospital trade Picket mounted The administrators ded by sacking • Mr Hopkins and going ahead with the transfers At the beginning of October, picket line was mounted administrator, hospital gates prevent the moves the from backing wILl Nurt, and song support non.

and local ambulance The acting consultant at the throughout nospital WOIKUr. appeared London. opposition a Inames Television pro- from Against and staff, patients nosoilal London ambulance relusal by move the patients, unions Hunt and his team of adminstra ahead with their TOrS presseu plans. private ambulance companies refused to make the deter move.

BUT

InIs 10 | On Tuesday 21 October seriously patients were three

CAATA

through the picket line escortel in minicads So angry was ine response trade unionists and in the that Hunt has medical world moves since made no luriner that date The line has been picket and opposition to mainlala the closure is spreading through- the London labour out movemenl The chairman of the neigh- Camden and Islington AlA i columbas alu Haue a pies.

statement declaring prepared to take over may providing funds hospital, can be round The camde and tell Necision will be taken there.

final November For a Whatever the Camden AHA clear decide, they have so far given no that they will prevent lead in the indication the remaining The transiel patients redeployment the of staff at St. Columba's.

the hospital and oldli supporters Call Dals! realise that it is only the mobil- hospital workers and isation of that will save trade unlonists St. Columba's. Chance of victory Local NUPE full-timers have ..£2 given backle picket line, and printed leaflets tea to i bise a seven hospital not even attemp- £8.00 out they £14.00 branch against the closure At this time, there is still a victory St. chance Columba's . £9.00 If the authorities are allowed go ahead with the transfers it will almost certainly amount to legansea murael £10.00 St. Benedict's the Hive of died this week after moved and chances of this happening at St Columba's are greater. supporting the picket line (from 7 am. to 5 pm Hospital evervady. Spaniards NW3) local i st pass resolutions public sector immediate strike throughout London to save St Colullda s. economy on a world scale offers With workers by a way forward. thousand the Taking Tory oppose •to streets tive leadershic policies there is plainly no which, in today's struggles fights lack of militancy the in avance organised working class. trade union militancy, protes politics and illusions that capit- Yet the existing trade union alism can be abolished through bureaucrats and Labour leaders -whether riant leTT --nave Workers I nE perspective to offer ThOS …Leacue is a trotskylst or pared tong stain. ment fighting day in and ad jobs, living stan efenc out to build such a principled dards, social services and demo.

leadership in the working class cratic monts in Drildin These cen only be defended through policies which start from the independent interests which, internationa. class affiliated to nothing to gain and everythin Trotskyist International Liaison the pre from at on pesto restor from attempts to restore Committee which fights tor the reconstruction International and the In a period where the contra- of revolutionary dictions of the anarchic capit alist system force the wholesale closure and destruction of the against imperlaiism the productive orasic stalinist planner socialist only Hunterston: shop stewards fight betrayal On Monday October 20 Throughout the workers at Ayrshire broaden ine basIs Marine Constructors at starved Hunterston leadership to Welc back to work after eight mne ena weeks on strike. At the meeting in Greenock aliulis •War James Murray, Secretary-Elect Boilermakers Society was the managed to persuade the work- momentum force by return to work under the most iniquitous conditions, including struggle Milne that lec 1) a reduction in the labour 900 to 600 with force trom everyone having to reapply for their jobs. 2) the original agreement on breaking stance. working conditions to remain in force untu August wnen ll call be ren stated sub-contractors allowed on to the site whenever the management so desire, thus week before : the possibilities lot permanent trade union organis moblilsed allol 4) no back payments for struggle those workers who wet involved in the initial cause of sancuol Pressure the dispute, the unsafe working inside conditions in the yard to at prodiese to be adhered times and, if anyone oreaks unis. They lace we unival of immediate dismissal. Murray blustered and threat- national the meeting, ened throughout otticia "local" dispute revealing at one point that ever 11 the meeling ald not go lis fight are wade opened ands about es he would allow the gates be employed jobs struggle tenacious carried on by the workers and stewards should not be not ment underestimated. hey were Despite so much stabbed in the back as repeatedly stabbed in the chest last Monday. the leadership of the trade the unior movemene, coverially General Council of the STUC and the Executive of the Boiler- the bovermakers socicly makers suvicly. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980

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invite rescer. Socialist Press seek more To achieve such a perspec- details of the WSL . and its work, is needed and to join us in the struggle for beyond socialism. Socialist Please send me more details the Workers Socialist of League. Name. Address Internationally newly-formed parties in every struggle BM Box lead the Send to WSL: and agans 5277, London WC1N 3XX our cau the deformed and central issue at the projected conference on unemployment ir Ayrshire. The closure of the ICI works at Ardeer with the loss of 750 and the debacle at the

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Stonefield factory at Cumnock the agenda of must also be eight InOse stewards fought to any such comerone decided The programme upon at the recent Falkirk con

COI

and to compel the trade union on unemployment, an back them. Up to in Socialist Press reprinted of the strike provides the basis for a discus from trades councils, tactories sion on how to unite the labour and other working class organis- trade union movement in a and pouring into strike headquarter fear of this *Since the above report was behind thatten, Hue reston sews fear of it men, Hunterston becoming the locus of a real against unemployment and the leader- ship of the STUC, Lambie, the Scotland Monday November in Partick Burgh Hal local Labour MP and Murray and the right wing in the Boiler- at lu am makers Society into their strike They intend to carry out an extensive campaign to make this forward in the allau. Lobby struce we wige al class con scious workers to make this a success the union's annua The meeting has been given conference met at Rothesay the the Clydeside support of the the strike ended involved the worker. representatives from sists of shipbuilding yards and engineer- conference demanding that their ing factories. given official delegates

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the specious argument that a could backing The stewards who led the determined that the matter shall not rest there. Thei her tos and to take to and take the

DISCUSSION

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trade union and labour move No. 2 the defeat suffered the struggle Price 40p plus 15p p&p Hunterston may yet provide the from WSL, BM Box springboard for the building of a principled socialist leadership in 5277, London WCIN 3XX Hunterston should also be a

Leyland strike...from front page Conference at turning point of SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 November 1980 every working class tamily as ockets and telling miners tha Tory economic policies gather Dans a singie ngure mercase in repiy to the NUM's 35% claim. plead that they "cannot afford" public workers a living their Chancellor Sir to pay this same line is being wade. Geonrev nowe nas set caso echoed by every employer in limits scheduled further both the private and the public cuts which dictate pay increases sector. more lan un Monday, kolls коусе pelow the current rare o inıa.

arrogantly tion ater workers have already informed union negotiators that declared themselves willing to tney were umposig a 1e nonu "pay freeze". -and that the only strike action Pipale pursue their 20% claim. option open to. fact is that The while the to negotlate a y productivity Tories deal! nave avoluca oDen proclaiming a In rords management claim that profits in the second half of the lines of Edward Heath and the last Labour government, une year alt enT LOeu monelaist economie prepared to offer a policies are designed to force down pay settlements by threat- single figure pay increase.

The National Coal Board. too, has played the same old if workers fight for settlements to match inflation. tune-turning its empty anti-Tory struggle A meeting of the Organ- speakers will also attend from ising Committee has pre- une on ne surike al nunterstor and the Llanwern Steel Action pared the final agenda and Group. speakers the national conference of the Councillor cam- paign for Democracy in the For the session Labour Movement on 15 the Labour Party cracy in the November in Birmingham. mover of the resolution will be In the first session, on the Labour councillor and there resolution, speakers have au cauly come niort the Gardners British Leyland. as well as a speaker on Irelana.

and Birmetals The last session, on demo- in the trade unions, will strike. cracy the committee

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Yet mutant opposition " he whole range of Tory policie is cleariv rising throughout the working class. vote 700 labour The delegates last weekend Ior a programme ol massive strike action against the cuts (see back page) nas gone aloneside uno acon oy NALGO members in numerous town halls of selling oft counci

DOLIC

houses. Thatcher. With against million unemployed. prices soar- women and nough"". The question has been where to begin. Now that a powerful section oi workers has taken a stand.

the task is to ensure tnal ines do not fight alone. include a speaker from the Aawest sanke The committee at its meet ing on Sunday agreed to draft resolutions Leyland. Adwest and ireland the KeDortS

ITOM

aroune country indicate that about 200 people will attend the confer- wich coles al a crucial point the fight for mass 1n action against Tory URe Observers Delegates are invited from all labour movement bodies and individual militants are also wel- come to attend as observers.

being arranged Transport 1s from manv areas to bring dele- gates and visitors to Digbeth Hall, Birmingham. Socialist Press readers art allena

LIIIS

important conference. Further details available from are •or direct Doclust Cress from the CDLM as advertised.

amenam ents was moved with Lambeth Irades councu the support of Vauxhall Labour Party and others. This added to the main statement betore une conrerence a new point: "A policy andi no campaign campaign vacancie against voluntary redundancies and natural wastage. Create and defend jobs stopping over- time and fight for a shorte working week." The section industrial on action was improved by a new section which said: "This conference calls trade union organisations at all

TUC

General revers counci to branches ana shoo steward committees] to pledge to and campaign for themselves all-out strikes and occupations of workplaces as soon as any Labour mission aces rece vers commissioners, surcharged, for taking a stand against the cuts. struggle may centre around the public sector unions at Irst, but conterence calls on other the miners and engineers, to join this fight to torce me norv covernment to hack down on the cuts or gel out. Conference also calls on Labour Councils and Labour Parties, cooperation with local anti-culs committees and tenants' associations, cam to paign for rent and rate strikes any Labour council removed surcharged amend- In proposing y alcosa ty Istilla Lambeth Trades Council empha- We the

MUSL

lessons Winter when TUC leaders left the steel strikers deliberately isolated sooner unar fight to bring down the Tories.

As result, of tens thousands of have been

OUS

lost, and the Tories left in office nine devastating another Never agamnusı such betrayal be allowed! Enough We must down this savant Bovellill employers, aristocrats and bankers! Miners, Ford workers, Rolls Royce workers and others with demand allout astion alongsist calms outstaneing must The fight for acnon lu defend the public services - education, social securILy allu social services- must be driven forward. Lambeth conference support for any action widest against the cuts. Effective weapon She referred to steps already being taken in Bradford, and elsewhere by trade unionists and by councillors against council house sales. Every step had to go towards industrial action our most ettective weaoon-10 win support through rent strikes and action from outside une u Peter navallasi. said that he kegion 1, would campaign in his union for such strike action Supplementing this was an amendment "rOM Leicesten

AUEW

Branch calling ammediate strike citon wies othe! things, amongst oppose backing redundancies as soon as notices are issued. It also called for a fight in capella ion. debt charges. books; Open supply manonais: mous de banks and finance food and build- res, e.g without institutions compensa- tion under workers' control of NO charit) facilities! Black private sector use of facilities! index labour movement committees.

In moving inis amenament.

Peter Flack. delegate from Trade Leicester Council, emphasised the lessons of past Page 11 ¡St Mary's lobby strugales On Monday 27 October councils action must fought for to draw in delegates the North West Thames from every section of the loca Regional Health Authority about movement-trace uniot were lobbied by about 30 stewards and trade unionists students, tenants and val lies the campaigning against pensioner. broaden, deepen and extend the nans to cose st. Marv' fight into a general strike Hospital, Harrow Road. 0111!

COWI

LIC

1llalilli Altosur longe battle against government In this way the most favour- the closure hensington conditions can be created able Chelsea and westminsier AHA have referred the decision to the region, leaving the final decision right and all orthose leaders left and Readersni tomne orv vumster or mealta right alike who stand opposed Following usual practice the

RHA

took socialist the item uccassal y Mary's off the agenda, and have Donces to answer ine economio next meeting on Monday 24 November. Leaders of the St. Marv's campaign are planning a massive lobby of this meeting. Make sure youre there! Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement

CONFERENCE

Saturday November 15 at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham 10.30 am. to 5.00 pm. Credentials £1 (50p unwaged) from G. Webster, 169 Barclay Road, Smethwick, West Midlands From back page struggles in demonstrating the of every job. They were refusing to coop- neca ior supporume acuon ana , with counci house sales TOr poncies lo develor erate such a sion. despite the decision council Tonies ont along with the & Promi oxford CONSI Joann Coxhead from middle ground has • examples andred or now even gone", he said. The choice was the smallest struggles against the cuts could be won with outside now between mass action and mass redundancies. support. of local NUPE These amendments were A numbel carried, along with a number of speakers repudiated the defeat ist views of Ron Keating others calling tor "no rate and rent rises и6o, pensa Liver TO1 Passing the buck government cuts pool NALGO) and a call from John Suddaby trom Thf barnsiev Lavour rarly lnal ln said London Division General Council impossible to keep passing on begin to organise general strike unity One notable feature of the t nere nad between councillors and trade vous that the mote propost cons these proposition: decisions bn action had to ne was to action generally did not the ot une

SUDDOLL

Labou. Group representatives There were exceptions, least two said however. significant could Chambers from That strike action Mortal secured if it was fought for Merthyr lyall Labour Urou!

particularly against urged support for the Lambett bureaucrat ised lavers such as the BL con Trades Council amendment and venors any acton mat iouowed To talk in terms of the prob And Ken Livingstone of the lems of the fight creates its owr essential was momentu weakmess anc retreat. direct a fight Labour in the Delegates at the conference speeches and showed organise defiance votes that they were prepared to government. to win support for hack strikes and other action to Almost all the trade union defend services, and to organise delegates present snowed thell supporte sale feht, tor te cooramaton and victor.

Waller Lambeth of any struggles that now emerge. steering committee members A large alaine evere du tonin de e already voted action ol arouna su was electea Il carry out these decisions.

Lambeth conference adopts fighting policies

NOW FIGHT FOR ALL-OUT

STRIKE ACTION!

'H' BLOCK HUNGER

STRIKERS: DON'T LET

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX. Printed by Morning Litho Printers, London A significant step foward in building the fight against the Tory cuts was taken at a widely representative Local conference on Government in Crisis held at Hall last Camden Town Saturday. The conference. set up by the Lambeth Labour Group and local authority was attended by representatives from 40 Labo aboroup sarties 1÷v Labour and 500 trade union branches ano trades councils. Alternatives They considered wide strategies of ranec alternalive tor mass acton against ine cuts.

The chair the morning Lessiam, was is also chair ath ot taken session He told delegates that this action, conference was not to discuss how bad the cuts were but to work out the policies necessary to defeat Enem. Ted Knight, reader Lambeth Council, in moving the said that this main resolution, conterence snoulu Have called by the and the Labour Party Council Committee. National Executive however une Sillationl was luc urgent to wait for them to react.

added, , was it good the advice of enough to tollow the rant wines cabour cadets and to wait around until they got re-elected. then there would be no services sae believe that on

ANO

in an case, could they would record Chelas! even restore cul which they had themselves initi- Knight outlined the cuts that taken place i local authority financing First there was the reduction support grant; then in the rate lower subsidies on capital spend- ino awances torowed by ine recent moratorium on house building Keating

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Further cuts in the rate sup- grant likely to be port announced later this month.

enoices lace Lose Labour Councils who intenaca defend their services were growing increasingly narrow tried to WIlO "slim. down or nad increases rates no longer had such the options open to them. Who reluse lo coll template further cuts can only think in terms of defiance 1UW the and In e government, organisation of strikes, occupa- other actions the working class against the Tories. It was form of such the response they and that was at were Ikely lo the centre of the discussions at the conference Keating, Assistant Avil

NUPE,

General Secretary oi who spoke for the only union nationally represented, argued Seven prisoners H Blocks of the notorious Long Kesh concentration week began this hunger strike in support of fight for the long-running of Prisoner the restoration of War status to republican prisoners. have been forced to They this desperate course of action 'blanket' alter protest by. over prisoners has failed either to force Labour governments to back ana lory dovn or to win the support of the British labour movement.

Deaf and blind Labour and union leaders. ollen willie denounce torre ane ereon the world, have blind deaf and Irish people Elle against im Derals! oppression-one of the sharpest points of which is the barbaric treatment Continued page 2 Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League that there was "so much fear in Sheffield Citv Counci. said he the land" that it was impossible did not support the tenor Keating's but to conceive of large scale action in maintaining even by agreed with him at inis point —OI January inat l was Impossiole lor one All that was possible was group to act alone. propaganda against the cuts.

Attacked amendments to the main resolu Other alternatives associated tion out all possible with inis view incruaca a poncy calls for action. of Labour councillors continu- speakers suppor- ally standing for re-election or olner ted this and after Keating •пас when in a majority to been heavily criticised by loca form administrations.

NUPE

from Again amenaments were heavly vulcu attacked the widelv down. discussion. However there were one or Most speakers concentrated statements important to develop [W U reflecting samn ( acreasi against une culs. dus celuca us Position and refusal to fight the around amendments Particulat jointly the Cam- Thus John Lebor, right wing for Talki ender or brent councu. arcuct Labour Movement and soclaust "accept reality" that we must Organiser. and wait until political these part of June malll pendulum swung the otner way.

Continued page 11 David punkelt. leader

THEM DIE!

March attacked The hunger strike of the pub bombing, this is an invita- and the republican prisoners in the non lo buysicai allack councitors nave receye tneal.

'H' Blocks of Long Kesh is of violence to lead to a great This certain violence became on last Monday's torch- sharpening of tensions in light procession in Britain over the Irish ques- SUDDOIL Ol the demands for political status.

tion As the march was assembling well lustrated as s very Wa! attacked (Well by developments Bir- fascists who are thought to have mingham over the last week belonged to the British Move. Labour ment.

SIX

DIninglan councillots ano

TWO

County Ihey came armea wiln Dags in suitors • statement of rocks with which they pelted the demands the thirty marchers who had by Block prisoners was struck on ponucai status. one women the head and This followed was rushed was hospital with blood streaming of slander sustainea campaign in the Birmingham from a scalp wound local press attacking the The fascists then charged the with headlines march and seized a priest, threw four successive councturs the ground and kicked issues. They were referred mam sem conscious. which

"IRA

councillors" and as sup- During this With lasted the police terrorism. Steelhouse neighbouring memory DElul dall 4lull.

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SUPE SAY

FIGHT

MITS

THE CUTS

FIG

T TS

SARA

FIGH

11

SUP SAY

J

FIGHT -

THE C

SAI

or: JoB

THE CUTS

FIGHT

Jol

SAVE VE

THE CUTS

JOBS

SAVE

OBS

Smasl. The Dea BlocK Beltas: marchers sa Lane police station were myster- political righes iously absent. only appeared when 3 prisoners escalates. defend prepared counter-attack naa me lascists on the retreat. against fascist attacks And we must defens for the labour The lesson We cannot councillors Labour clear movemeni rely on the police to detend our enough to stand up and ue.:.

marches. press witch-hunts.