Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

Socialist Press no. 235

18 February 1981 · 10 scanned pages · about 11,891 words of machine-read text

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Scan page 2

El Salvador: test for Haig Tate & Lyle: occupation the only way Page 2 The Reagan administra- coalition governments. tion will this week step up aposta composites or and its propaganda campaign cross-class composition Soviet accusing the and Cuban bureaucracies of spokesmen of the El Salvador opposition-the Democratic fuelling the guerrilla struggle in El Salvador. Revolutionary Front (FDK).

Sabre-rattling Secretary Coalition State General Haig The

FDR

have doing that in une Kremli recenty leaders are in breach of the reac- denied reports "spheres of influ- talks US government tionary deal signed by representatives in the Honduran Brezhnev The FDR is not an essential- Behind the convenient and hy impical the ly unified body with a coherent imperialists themselves con- politics. coalition 10160. Olly vicious military junta orive the revolution TorWard Salvador and directly super- from the political to the social left realm.

VISC

Lill sauciltel wingers. the one hand. there are U1 The bourgeois ponticians, Decision and tested in the "first, reform- 939 to Jady ary 1980. (and October 1979 to January faced Reagan Salvador and Nicaragua with a citest mer are tactical immersed in the international Having come social democratic bureaucracy, to office roundly and while in temporary "terrorism (libera US. Lon suru ages ne nas. now lo pursue choose Whether retormist variant or imperianst further with Jimmy Carter's control. efforts to buy off the nationalist growing domination over the FDR may be perceived compromise pollacal Salvador, or to cut off all aid to FDR's original plan of govern- the Sandinistas and go all-out to ment, drawn up in May fully Hillarly

LIC

PALI

Duousicu the ADR called for guerrilias in salvador. that ste of outright con- the of oligarchic bring Reagan frontation would and imperialist the control. 'social of. the I110 only wIll estabusement of popular resistance but also with ownership means the the bourgeois regimes of widespread Mexico, Tenezuela nationalisation. and other of this radical Central American states, Which

IYUW

nave looked Towaras measures Talk nas cone to defuse the struggles in Nicar- talks of a 'participationist demo- Recently in London the consolidation of capitalist FDR representative emphasised Poland: another one bites the dust The departure of yet To renace the ninetonares ano Prime parasites ousted from office by another Polish wave of strikes, Solid- Minister has been followed willing arily by yet another attempt by Prime oner THe new wunste bureaucracy Stalinist the 90-day Irenera amize ck1. truce he has asked for and the Solidarity leader- One fly in the ointment is ship to patch together an the

UNSULAC

uneasy truce. amongst students. the central Polish town of Lodz.

Solidarity has abandoned.- unofficial new students or at least postponed-attemots to force the recognition of the with scant union has emerged farmers' union Rural Solidarity.

the respect Tor A1319 'union". Solidarity leader Lech turned up here but Walesa that says perhaps we told them to go away as they this right time for the 10 l were over au and were registraton or a larmers union.

bureaucrats. not students! one Meanwhile, as the Commun- told the Washington ist Party bureaucracy struggles Post. A mass meeting of the their policy, in line with the

EEC

making Europe self- membership-mainly sufficient in sugar-beet supplies GMWU-at Liverpool's Tate mere sudd and Lyle factory voted raw materials from the West unanimously on 4 February used at the Liverpool refinery) not to occupy the plant at at10 une unions is lo present. Minister. the walker. A amelitre Local GMWU official Ton to alter the govern- Humphries successfully stalled ment quotas favour of cane the Scal IcCI previously decided resolution to The initial decision to begin com- the plan of action appears Take The pany, such as occupation of the have been merely refinery. on te part or une stewaras l response to the diverting of Talks with Tories ships the carrying cane-sugar The day before in London, company subsequently general secretary made noises the effect that ship would with able, dispatched cane sural. al some unsoccuicu Calt the Basnett and Evans clearly extensIOn used this flimss 'promise"

ADMI SI

The nanding over the company's abortive alterna- possible excuse 40 val tive indefinitely. plans for the refinery; and occupallun nasnerts ared government reverse Humphries carried out this lory that their demands were only reasonane. Inere would be m for granite or tee respect programmes DelLy bourgeois Salvador have been almost uni- formly radical than those of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua:

•ITI

HOW

Tene bourgeols pies. relays the promises 'non- anti- and "purely nationalist oligarchic' proposals.

NO E

because unt masses have become demobil- ised but the bourgeois the FDR has met leadership of with consueraDic

SUCCESS

presenting project "international community'.

Political threat Neither, however, is 11t a superca sham. For while without the support of the guerrillas and the mass organisations, the besuited ambassadors of the FDR would be left with a substantial bank Mexico City and they pose a serious potical threat by virtue of the increasing acceptance Inel by bour- geois radicals head the deliberates keagan whether or not to strike a deal with

FDR

• calculates stable capitalist regime in El Salvador.

demands the guerrilla oreanisa lons oreur put anel independent programme action for the working class and General Jaruzelski assignment very professionally He told workers that no occupation in Manchester only two months wou and direct action alienate public opinion". Sell-out deal And of course he added that direct actior could always "should the talks and I any actiona, wait for: stall action, wait the any TUrn demoral on an( then negotiate a sell-out deal with marginally increased redun- dancy money Dunlops, two year. ane membership at the first mass meetings de-fused they directed ussipaleu as away occupation Irom ane full-time and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981 Franco man back the backing of the large far-right ¡ranco's sometime cen. UČD sorship chief Manuel Fraga, cassident wing tne which was mostly responsible later responsible as Interior for Suarez' downfall Minister for the murder of That is why Calvo Sotelo is scores of Spanish workers, is the possibility aves calle returning to the centre of getting Fraga's support new government even further to the Spanish political stage.

the right than the last one Leopoldo Calvo That is the only solution to Sotelo, King Juan Carlos selected as Prime Ministe hold bay even after Adolfo Suarez recent demands temporarily, resignation, to Fraga to, armv ofticers for a returr pleaa Ior support to military dictatorship a now es me extene Pretext right wing (and grotesquely mis- Democratic Their campaign to return to may have the votes pue cancain ses a pretext that campaign violence, Lavo bolto necas to yve mn a parliamentary majority largely directed against the His own Centre Democratic security over Union

(UCD)

which 1 approved years Dasuut his candidacy for cue Treme nationalst oranconA. Last week ETA itself gave a

DUT

elected minister Agustin Rodriguez considerable boost to the right Sahagun as party by killing the kidnapped leader at its wing Jose Maria Ryan. chiel enginee parliamentary of the Lemoniz nuclear power majority on its own plant under construction on the Calvo Sotelo is by no Dasy uv vuas killing of a civilian means certam or al or the votes of his own party rather than a member of the "Social Demon th so-called Francoist police and army, was say they by support

•ETA

with new govern normali ment only on condition that it great hostility with killing, • general continues plans for a strike against the Le ali in are i the Socialist, called by he agrees to this too Commmunis alle basoue Nationalist unions was massive- Icauly lavo boree may lose apparently servile *Immediate occupation of and the refinery. errand boys at convenor reve "Union blackıng or all late Instead, they will be presen- ted with a mock "campaign" of lobbying and stunts. the GMWU members lu shape the "action committee' prepares Humphries (against the oppos- for jolly of ition of the executive if neces- next week *Demand to see the Tate Meanwhile, at the Huskisson and Lyle books to ascertain the dock down une roa There sa fosther strong possibara of job reality otherwise of the sugar-handling supposed "losses" ana la af case of bankruptcy, for the pur- The jobs of sugar cane plan- pose of taking firm over workers West under workers tation Indies will also be under threat struggle for planned economy coveral switches binet, asi line with home- • a policy of work- grown sugar beet, in sharing on full based • U1

EEC

policy a sliding of hours scale The closure : of the refinery same policy must apply to al affect the Mersey other workers affected by the cannot out confectionary Thatcher government's cice anc

TOOGI

switch which it supplies, as industry, home grown surd transportation costs increase • Darcar solar alternative, workers arity with West Indian planta- must be along the tion workers. programit following lines, *For joint occupation Armed clash in El Salvador followed workers and there were many protest demonstrations It is unlikely that the killing has lost ElA much permanen But there is no doubt that in the short run the killing of Ryan was a rizall vortical Dunuel- opposition everal the Lemoniz nuclear plant is already vast Some the memory ETA's cruel blunder appears to another dramatic event

ETA

and Wa. •ban state Last Friday an ETA prisoner died Spanish pothe the custody the deal Ther a good evidence to suggest that he was tortured to death In an attempt to quell public against this act. Calvo vullard fledgling government note o's has been forced already to , соп- cede a public enquiry into the B to sure seps were tend o ient weekend prevent a violent mass demonstrations by which basque mutants ‚confirmed that ETA's underly.

ing support is unshaken it is the first major crisis o the government Ana could yet turn out to be the last. committee with other workers

COILE

Thatcher: the Vauxhall workers and Seamen-as a step a Merseyside Tate and Lyle are one of th

COME OUTORS I

tory farty lunds Only the fight to bring down the Tories and bring to power a workers government committed economy can meet the require ments of Tate and Lyle workers

MERSEYSIDE FACTORY

CLOSURES-HOW TO

FIGHT THEM

A WSL pamphlet which draws on the experiences of Dunlops, BL Speke and Meccano. Price 30p including postage from WSL, BM Box 5277 London WCIN 3XX

Scan page 3

REAGAN PLANS TO

EXCEED TORY CUTS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981 bad ment The world was the ailing US economy. with one Thatcher enough Reagan is set to in office. ( Now it is even election promise of three succes- more unsafe-with two and sive annual Cuts income tax. a half. Ronald Reagan is now Missing billions office with administration staffed largely by warmongers a generous sprinkling of And he will take raise the missing aim wits dollars by are critical of His advisors the burden Thatcher not for the extent which policies have ine shoulders or le shout ed ey worry dusty taby unemployed and destroyed British industry American society. but because she has not gone far enough! has been much more forthright felt that she should nICY this policy have cut doll taxes anu Paou spending far more than she has done. And they intend to imple- openly argued that the rich are Italy-here comes a new crisis Italy took a sharp lurch the Party last week towards its next Forlani's coalition (the Socialists and Republicans) political crisis. constitutional court defend the existing law. The questions were dended ulat six be eligible i national referendum. Droposal lu And that presages a political abortion a10 of tions of the 1978 law. because Dal Wy Both the The reterena win oc aboul the political shatter controversial and governing tribunals; but mostly from major social upheaval.

military of the referenda because

TWO

will be about question generally considered in Italy to be political dynamite-the right In conditions unemployment to abortion. Since at accur stry a country where the Catholic discontent, neitner of the governing coalition wielas immense pounds power, has permitted abortions - 004 „He bonuses conditions which are the struggle restrictive that under the more overt. more Maysive referenda is. And even legal abortions are Way difficult and often general costly to obtain. electon prospects will be one - politicians find just as dire.

about whether this limited right should continue. Onc way and a consider- Italy The Church now able part of the Christian Demo- slippery crisis-unless cratic party want it to be ablu gated completely. intorseen one on wic way.

STUC ducking fight threatened closure The Linwood car scottish Assembly. of Talbot's However plant, of Scottish pits and pursued during steel the threat to the ane industry brings to a head While many the mounting crisis facing industry in Scotland. system, How will the Scottish TUC react to this crisis? The STUC from eparatel! exists ritish TUC and like CUlL Investment sider itself as being more radical.

nillion trade attract private About by alc CULe unions with members in Scot- the land. those companies has its own Scotland women's and youth committees. advisory ariate scottishe ste Councils

STUC

affiliate than the

TUC,

have a direct voice in the STÚC Annual Con- and a seat on its General Council. Throughout the 1970s the being to the as STUC was now "eft of the TUC. Was always large part oriented and

ITS

usually by the Congress, Scottish Area NÚM, committed ment in Scotland. to all iorms of to oppositon incomes policy. ntified itself by as thing the central leading provide yet identified avoiding struggle lor me scotusil wever the ones most likely to put the exactly such policies in is giving Reagan extra carry out his them into savings or myesuncie rather than spending it on the necessities of life. daily in come from The Castl American workers in several key areas--with cuts planned in insu arce payme, in, disab. Medicaid programme, steps to unemploy security Davinells. benefit, food Stalli 101 designed child allowance and squarely onto employment subsidies. the likely Other cuts are most the affect space sections synthetic levelopment subsidies and the Reagan's Treasury Secretary® that siphon- theorv. 1s than Britain's ing money trom the pool alla Tories. He has into the pockets ôt the rích "real" will create thousands inne to renact that will be lost through such But with US interest rates the 20% mark, the still near chances many employers urge borrow feeling Ty a od the day parties ist parties ol headlong dash by The government French Communist the Party (PCF) to fill the space The second referendum will in the French political spec- Party's trum left by the banning of extend the right to

FANE

neo-fascist the remove the restric- dramatic reached new questions are likely to stage this week. equilibrium of a country which is seldom far In the town of l'Esperance "communist' Mayor, one launched Robert Hue, Discontent the town'. where MaS. and worsening Publicity intensifying social At first this seemed no more than the eccentricity of a small want to allow town pollucial

LOOKIE

to become bryan No can when we Heard some only constitutional began to appear when we avert the his appeal to parents to intorm to have their children and their against instead -the whom they children's taking which drug suspected oune. was not until 7 February sliding down i the real signific- however that slope towards its next ance of the movement became another clear. capitalism. and for The Convention on Unem ployment in December put out the nolces with the 1970s bore alains employers seeds of the current crIsIs of token opposition campaign reso lions wort to the government's policies.

passed acknowledging the crisis capitalist • Delegates to the conterence for chairmen and secretaries of remeate

WELC

Trades Councils, again held last always reformist ones, designed told that ensure the smoother working necem Der wert main work in 1981 would be to build local committees of the and resurest the campaign for to nature regional development grants to investment were demands Scottish Assembly to be eiven to of the Emphasis was courica. bodies such as churches getting and small businesses involved in 1905 tam are the pung out these campaigns.

NICHOCIE

the General Council have con- redundancies. sistently argued these disastrous poncies since tael Import controls time when Scotland are looking lead stop Far from learning the lessons a. ighting closures and redundancies, when since the o covered coul over, the STUC General Counci Labour-controlled councils need be totally dis- encouraged into a policy Tory turning implement of refusing than give cuts, the STUC is avoiding the leadership to the workers move- issue of working cass leader ship. now controls policies and another confrontation with feted at new factories has been and industries in the near future House in a move pretty slim. More likely seem take the money and for run And with inflation at 12%, CIA. anc of US workers at spending the attacks on their living stan- include of deployment dards planned by readal Wall bomb expected to take a physical nentrol pay Europe. torm struggles and unrest in the area and Terror tactics mass urban deprivation. the Reagan admin- Rather like to deflect some istration hopes into a new paramilitaries in Casualul Reagan's surge of nationalst lervout au believes in using imperialist aggression The nauseatined or the ting

CHINE

"terrorism" return been from one is a terrorist who followed blood-curdling Reagan oppose their system of exploi- fron walls, Secretary of State Haig against tation and "terrorism", and underlining Us 111 valls preparations for a more aggres sive foreign policy terrorising.us! mili- Vicious South Korean tary dictator Chun Doo Hwan French CP's racist attacks

PCF

and the The local held that there is no 'drug problem' Communiste bennesse in l'Esperance or the surround demonstration

LOWI

designed to harass a Moroccan 111: accused by the Mayor of • Tam119 tam ly subject arug atalllig and their flat had been searche without result. Threats The name and the address of the family were given out in a PCF leaflet, as a result of which Members of received a string of they have threats and their children Party Human Rights been abused and insulted on the against the way to and from school. strong y a gang of PCF the PCF without result. Descru vy skinheads the family phoned the sees the Mayor to demand an explana

OICS

told If you further attempt bi LI011 gre outside an eup han tonla to are innocent. you have L'Humanite,

PRESS

GANG

Christopher "Mr peril' Tory MP for Murphy, several jaundiced sub-editors, Welwyn and Hatfield, who has tabled a motion protes- ting at the plan, said it was paint for the main topic of conversa- you gallon. million tion at Westminster. "There is a tremendous uproar. telephone Lilt not services. Not unemployment; war; not The Illica Social the Council for

: VOLLO

And not even Joanna cracy. chormous to be Harris, the soon стеле нике multinational polity mispector their leisure that is iocking ine debate the Commons is over the plan Even in a telephone boxes paint as tas one is still making' fortune.

yellow. expanding market. not part of This scheme 1s The programme sociaiis! revolution-'more red, not less" is our slogan-but has neverthe- less touched a raw nerve deer the same scale inside the bourgeois conscious- who feel The Daily Mail is running a special mail ti Keep Our Telephones Red Cam- and every loudmouth paign, spare has break the newsprint WOWe wiLl motoat in (or added twopene fivepence) rather destruction which link the colour • ot the decimalisation. boxes to golden delivery . the the rush moue. homes days of servile workers and their But divisions inability to find a taxi on their way fulle Page 3 meric he waite prat publicit Reagan any uman rights"; have been taken to boost CND Labour Movement increased US

CONFERENCE

seems likel development and

AGAINST THE

the lethal

MISSILES

Western Saturday March 28, at UMIST Students the Loyalist Union, Manchester. the North of regime terror Up to 2 delegates from they regard a movement labour But since in their view any.

Details and bodies. fights to credentials from;

CND

oppression, like 11 Goodwin St, committed London N4 defends Local police have confirmed paper the action and attacks those vociferously attempted to defend no nave Moroccan PheF attac of immigrants against attacks houston lau extreme right tumby thereis What clear suspicion last yea that Ine grown or suppoll 1o Socialist Mitterand taken them that to tind re Protests and • Unawalco to TenCE desocialely new base of support. the Socialist Revolutionaries mils • and of the League io. organise with the Socialist Party have protested and the unions to defend immi action of against who are now a far more serious While most of the rrench threat than the fascists.

incident the PCF to stir up anti-immigrant violence, the PCF's daily to get over. There are millions The irony is that the 'yellow of people who have never under dubbed ¡stood why should Lact continued massive increases ir not the proauct of a willi, lol and tel of stamps is it a disastrous overordering of phone calls when the telephon o minder boss id service records soaring protits.

It is get over to these gallons") who refuss to under. millions outward symbol of the split in of their own postal stand the logic oppression that decided to paint the telephone division is not only a source of boxes yellow. We could expect from the for itself profit which campaigr glants can list a associate excitement an recession as sharp with cond telecommunications red with lumbering inetticiency which deserves every redundan- cy it gets has put paid The campaign Postal side of the busi- • scheme ness is also a source of profit for • of this the detai which will have to find some advanced manutacturers oi sort- expression. other means ing equipment, etc., but not on problem This the same • 15 for that the Social It also inhibits entrepreneurs Democracy has. Now Slipman has joined it is not jus delivering business a question of painting over th the government Office pale pink but of eradcatin he Post which had past thinnest veneer of red i th implies the I wonder how Fleet Stree "inefficient' daily would react to a plan to paint terms) Shirley Williams and Roy peopic s Jenkins yellow? to createt divisors and less easy easy

Scan page 4

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Scan page 5

POPLAR: A COUNCIL

THAT DEFIED THE

GOVERNMENT

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981

PART ONE

From 1919 to 1925 the Labour council of Poplar in East London detied govern- ment pressure and refused to carry out cuts in services, jobs and wages. In spite of being sent to jail for six weeks, and surcharged the equivalent of £2 million at today's prices, the council was almost totally victorious ant i Noreen Branson's, therefore great when many of the same prob- Mers ace councus under attack from the Tories at present.

POPLAR

How did Poplar achieve so

BOROUGH COUNCIL

much? And what are the lessons

TO THE

МАРСНІНС 101 us loudy.

HIGH COURT

• answers some ot these questions suggests where further research and dis-

AND PISSHAY TO

PRISON

Noreen Branson Firstly correctly the political stresses

ELALA RE

and

AN• RATES

history roots of the coun- •roplat - 200UT POOR BOkURyC Almost all of them movement. central involvement in the our on made umons in te borough, particularly the docks and railways. Many had been members of Marxist

SUCI

recer?- tion and had opposed the First World War. Mass response Others had been leaders of the Suffragette movement and of the British intervention in Russia after the when councillors the gave a lead and fought for their the labour hence that they would stick to was con- there The councillors always- Heeds out e working class. The way in which the cost of the the imposed Was class in the 1920s was naturalv different from today. For instance, unlike present social security payments which mastered poor lasponsibment local local responsibility Poplar councillors march to the High Court, July 1921 authorities. that working meani some) and a minimum rate Poplar the only was class areas which bore the brunt Case which was soon well above borough where London unemployment had to make other local wages. Labour's vote went consistently the nichest poor law pavments.

rmally • cut rates. On upwards rateable and nac the lowes own local rates, The government

TOD

their anc the value on which to do it. local authorities in London also press sat Poplar withholding alternatives" had to raise a police rate which But when rates as just a were to cut the rate of poor law proceedings went to the Metropolitan Police Unall thev discovered that far from massively increase rates, to the London County Council suggesting a compromise, The cut the council wages services centrally Councillors muster provided the support of the trade unions, Culucas. for the whole of London. ine toplar counci rejected the the tenants. and the unemploy protest these alternatives. They refusal of ministers to consider ed for a struggle. increased the of rates poor special assistance above levels U00] reliet The

LCC

• LIC

were invited Council DoroneRs Ine *O0 21 surrounding boroughs and held send in auditors to sell off the declared it would refuse to raise them there even when average the they rates police

COMICS

wages declined. couldn't sced chase for natt County outdated dustcarts, Every one of these measures No cuts So they obtained a mastered by the tory pand the nouses, hysteria by the Tory press court order or me councitors At one stage they even fixed to pay the rate, and they were oi the • Party attitude

LADOVI

scales higher than those deman- held Herbert wing Hannington's court when they were unable to Morrison was hardly more Unemployed workers friendly this 25 men were sent to Brixtor Idy All sides were convinced that and five women to Holloway for nave been a тастіся mistake the Even after the government an indefinite period. actions would be that Poplar issued a maximum scale it was Some ratepayers would have to pay up were stil denied for four years made with difficulty. Councis Minnie Lansbury was chairman poplar ala not cut services overspending and pay huge legal Indeed new services were of the War Pensions Committee expenses as well. started. New baths were opened.

romas are saeers •arouno net free milk for expectant mothers home were patrolled More efficient was - given. house-building servicemen. Eventually the Sheriff had In Morrison's view the iob of make appointment Labour councillors was to show arrest her and the four other Surene

LO MOVE

roads and sewers with a govern- that they could Mom traito a the Ton ment The capitalism efficiently than more went Tories. The 10,000 ga thered outside.

the ahead. cames mat cooars itresoon.

Unly alter a speech in wnici in fact and extremist attitude they called for calm and for the sin e Poplar established equal pay for would lose votes. rent if women (meaning a 70% rise for In fact the opposite was the outside attempts were made to

POPLAR

24,500 levy the rates was the sheriff allowed to drive them away, still the accompanicu demon stration all down the Mile End Road. While they were in demonstrations continued. the largest wa. National Unemployed Workers Movement. 40,000 people fought pitched battle with mission enter Trafalgar Square One result of this pressure Was The prisoners were steadily improved grounds that they Un the political prisoners the were councillors demanded they should be let off prison work. The authorities eventually gave into this. Formal meetings The male councillors won the right to meet together daily and to have daily visits from the town clerk and later the acting mayor. They "tarted formal meetings each day-with minutes which were eventually council mcorporated •Ine minutes. George Lansbury won the right to continue writing for the Daily Herald of Which he wa Culton DIeges concession was the release of Nellie Cressall who was seven months pregnant at the time of her arrest Dissure lI mysterious official

SONCITO

Lansbury leaves the Law Courts-1922 intervened to order her release promptly went to sleep (and fifty years?. refused to leave Hollowav with.

out the others but was forcibly removed. Herbert Morrison meanwhile pressult boroughs London should held eman 2110 Poplar should allowed to send a small delegation from Lansbury and the others totalv reiected this as it would mean negotiatina teen post tomanded release first and nego weakness position was rewarded by the decision to to do that Green their Ical allu rates! Our policies Socialist Press pamphlet outlining programme of action against the Tory offensive. Price including posta from

WSI

Box 5277 London WCIN 3XX. Page 5

GEOFFREY WESTON

reviews the book 1919-1925' Poplarism by Noreen Branson, published by Lawrence and Wishart. Faced with a growing break- down of local government and condone e cerer mination of the government collapsed All the were released without con- ditions or promises • that : settement colm de neconted The settlement was that the of poor relief should be cost paid out of common

DOUL

which boroughs would pay proportion to their rateable Poplar gained far more than the value tre rates it na‹ been withholding that its rates could be kept t at the same low level in succeeding years a wer The only condition was that payments from pool would on basis of a scale relief decided by te maste This set the scene for on Health future conflicts.

Scan page 6

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Scan page 7

WRP OPTS FOR POPULAR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981

FRONT

Class conscious workers movement continual declining sales will have been affronted by the Newsline. the abysmal, crawling per- 1107 was formance of the WRP at the recent "Local Government Crisis" Conference held in Lambeth where members of that organisation rushed Yet, loss the on to the defence of the which lave loucu Labour-dominated Lambeth Council when it faced critic- ism for selling council we spent houses and putting up rates.

over t. u In case anyone thinks that this was a temporary une part opportunist alliance Knight, they will further (see be by Congress. reacing the material produced for their June Fifth Annual Conference at the prime site book end of January. 81-Tory Counter-revolution: the

WRP

Reply* spells out popular front strategy which so few will lead cadres Healy and Banda to stretch out the hand of support to forces far to the right of Knight and the Lambeth Council. Comrade has penchant for for Bile wkr panacea crisis is the formation of "Com-

INTO

The munity Councils" which: within the movement. must all sections Surely of the production, commerce and the call maintenance of local services. establishment a com- unionists and (p.8). mittee Just to make n cear mal this is what is meant there is a mysterious denve IntO reference further down the same sources of wealth of the WRP?

page to 'the whole community' no covern What is this if it is not a cross-class alliance, an appeal to sections oi the stance in face of the Tory attack? Implications The reactionary political mplication position, whicl 'has antecedents the Stalinist parties since the 1930s.

increasingly are becoming evident. with massive Tory raced imposed cuts in public spending general and in the rate support grant Labour councilors find them• confronted with the serves decision-either carry out the orders of the Tories or rally the workme cass m cerence o me It is the duty of all socialists demand that they stand and when mney rense to so, as is happening, with a few Nor can the rightward rush stifle the political rifts within out the they country, declining

LIC

orcansauon. apusca 101 mica subservicile.

acep were tese, stretening into Not so, says the WRI the editorial board itself, that The fight is not with th 28 August Labour councils but against the Committee released a statement Tories because it 1s ue lore univ which crew attention resolution (p.10 of the Manifesto, empha- discipline security, and sis in original). previous What must trade unionists Central Committee meeting.

when they see Labour councils cutting jobs and "Regardless services? differences 4118.

ОКУН OERT

•thev must avoid at al cost difficulties, which were present fighting Labour councils on right up to the adoption of the sectional issues.' resolution, it means the entire membership of the party accept Capitulation we "Preserve party 1E2 N unity (emphasis case any members of a disgraceful capitulation and covering up for the treachery of might entertain ilusions about democratic rights, Healy sets social ucmocracy. ror talk about dangers of military that those who dictatorship being around the WaEl corner, there is not a word in words but who violate it in the Manitesto on the practice automatically f social democracy the crisis themselves ou tside the WRP. aCe vithin the Labour Party which Undoubtedly one the oI oi souls devolutionary factors causing divisions in the unorecedented opportunities. But how could maliks TINe there be, when the WRP is itself rushing towards reformism?

Having fulsome Drast

BOTA

Banda-Redgrave clique, this int abi e tole formary the former recimes. flight towards the right wing socialist pointe SP Iludersary at one do nothing can to solve their

COLLU

10W wine Ineir Lack of cadres in the labour hands anguish that their By Ian McCalman heroes, Hussein and Khomeinl. Wal

WIL

another over territorial onte rights. Central _state- vence _ no avail. position revolutionary defeatism. was something for the had to be of its Just to sure no one of protest makes Their argument another state- «ocumen SecuTILy Which inventor or unacceotao e political which • are the usual string Unto that falsaly the before being ine spult the

WSL,

was the

CIA,

so lon that apparentis of Special capable public defence the into the bargain') a public and is now device to disagreement, using the usual amet politics. that any carried interests of the "'Gaddafi's Foreign Knight's of the WRP. The extreme lurch to the right we are now witness.

all incompatible ing not at with and other the previous swing In an utra lett direcion The WSL has tried to empha-

DEFEND

SERVICES AND JOBS

BUILD

COMMUNITY COUNCILS

Four-person WRP contingent on Camden demonstration last week sise all along that we should alcoale a

HOYO O LC

EMIL

the logic of the method which led them to their previous exoressons from reality material world but irom fixed schematic concepts in the minds of a handful of dogmatists.

Unable to grapple wiin the Gerry Healy's Workers changing balance of class forces the continued chant Revolutionary Party seems of litany "Revolutionary to have taken over the job and "Dail of the Economic League in whilst plunging deeper into the in which they now find militants witch-hunting in morass themselves. factories. of us who entered Mally object' money polltics "the exercise last week Healv vent 1960s joined the Socialist busload of leafleters London to the Labour League (predecessor of Cowley Assem- the WRP) thus coming to know and respect comrades whom we plack tha distan ful personal now publicly defending see attack

WICH

deputy TGWU convenor of the sell off council houses and put plant. up rates. The lavishly produced four broadsheet We are confident that these colour

LW U

carried senuments are Danne their basic class instincts.

"Thornett-What Every Cowley We say to them-break with Worker Should Know the Healy Thornett is accused in hyster clique before vou e sorace yourselves the eyes of the working class!

"crossing a picket line" ence" "thuggery", and being a police agent It is 5.000 words oi persona invective, containing barely one Healy's 'cult of the agenda' By John Lister relatou Scientologists Jones Cult three years ago S918/ And he raised once widely of subsidies Gaddafi and Arab ments. Apparently the WRP do not wish to contest this last fact- vhether because it is undeniabl true or because in denying it tor strenuously they might antagon BataCa Socialist Party and Arar Iraqi alles But they responded at once to Matgamna's other points. Not article in their pross-but ELLe Tene solicitors of Vanessa Redgrave, a

WRP

Central Committee member, to Socialist Organiser.

Redgrave publicly known member of ine WRP she has been damaged by the and article, calls She mission date otto nen to commission lawyers to declaring account от me expulsions ot the founding , members of the WSL from

WRF

contained in The the Trotskyism has DOLLIC TOr DaBl "теттес in newsline articles.

The mind boggles the prospect the High Cour being asked decide account "refuted" the other!

intriguing of Minst Redgrave's that the

WRP

no similarity whatso. bears Jones cult. Healy's idealist моге common cranky sects than it does witt revolutionary Marxism What would the High Court paranore that it announced on November 12 that: Taking over from Economic League coherent political point The distribution of factory document outside should be condemned through- out the labour movement. "answer" WSL leaflet which Healy claims was distributed outside Cowley plants. He knows this is not true leaflet to which Healy refers was the alstributed at WRP's Rally Londo month-condemning the WRP! increases tate Lambeth. It is true an advance copy WRP's only was the member in the plant- member Tom White-since he defends the WRP position in Lambeth and is refusing to sup- ort " ca ana rates sauke or his own estate in Oxford The WSL would not polem- with icise another denouncing them in factory gate leaflets or by personal attacks and smear campaigns. Page 7 but Fire Brigades Trom delegate ference .. leadership Backwardnes: and Centralised would no doubt more oizarre "A rather to Wa t wedlalecuicar

TENHO

is as follows: the here the middle between

SUBJECT

the objective

-PRACTICE

A close of the process Tine the respond 00800e CONSEl to guide our practico. We hope • nis maeria clean to handle at material interest. We will take other groups up politically in our paper and at appropriate political meetings and rallies. The only beneficiaries from Healy's sanders are right The winthe and the left and the militants in the plant are outraged by ity the WRP may have had has Healy, clearly, is not out to build but to destroy. His answer to serious political criticism is a witch-hunt. answer to his inabilitv to develos anything in Cowley since the from

WRP

1s to polson the plant against revolu anyone Londry i TO STOD building a Marxist leadership.

Healy's hysterical para- noid sect now plays an role

CESS

struggle, It is a stain on the banner of Trotskyism.

Scan page 8

Conference to discuss action on the cuts Page 8 As Labour councils make their budget decisions for 1981-2, the Тогу govern- ment is still pressing home its attack both in the local government and health, education and social services. stark to become tools of Tory policies, thus devasta- tine to beat back the Tories. councillors now face a £2 , million surcharge rate in the 1979 'low pay' dis- pute. In June and September this year, councils that have refused The fight to savc Accrington's Manchester Road Day Nursery on again-for the second time in a year. A year ago the Hyndburn Nursery Action Group keep the nursch. open week Lancashire's Social Service Com singled it out for closure again, as the lory County yol сошла саж о more o re Thatcher government's attacks on the working class -and the good The campaign thé Leicester Nursery Campaign to defend the Fosse Road Day Nursery has ended in an important victory. its on January Leicestershire County the Council decided drop close the plans nursery instead-in the openins vIeW new rams Cente mn une area-to extend the catchment allow children from ue nurscry. The news came in a letter to Nursery Campaign Secretary Letter No to paedophilia! Dear Comrades,

MUST

disturoing Iol many other parents as well as Socialist Press myself paedophiles (SP 233). You describe view paedophiles child molesters prejudico that, there is something wrong prejudiced pasville anais cuta molesicis ana will do all we can to delena young people from sexual exploita by and from Your clap-trap about "demo- the edophiles» cratic rights for and "opposing related the to Laws consent" are a slap in the face for working class do not have child care facilities out nave

WOTTY

safety of their children.

Some of us have had our experiences oppressive sexual drives oi duulls. racuoona Is expom tion and I would no more think of defending paedophiles against to carry out the Tories dirty minorities, will have to decide wil face how to deal with these "Labou:

WOTK

part of their government grant lieutenants of the Tories' Direct Labour organisations face Two major labour movement conferences, last November and illassive Culs Cornell debated the Bigger

INOS

witnarawn. uns january. Lave ient increases planned cuts fightback. 600 delegates in And all of November voted for no cuts, no April. this is backed no rent rises; for uo uy nescille s Local dovern Lato 1isoo. menT ACt. councu nouse sales. 10I Lavou. and trade union mobilisation defeat the Tories, and for a fight Words of protest socialist policies, including Halorausalon willoul comnpel the banks and indus- In many areas, Labour coun cils dominated by the right wing tries like drugs and building.

have already made their choice 400 delegates 'at the January LlCy

WIL

aulilliste conclut Corinc Tory will ony a lew words of protest. labour movement conferences In these areas, the Labour take the fight forward. Party alu uaue unions. luzeuiv Dul banoel councu caboui Group group who sponsored the Con- leIt-wing Nurseries-the bad news The Day Nursery fulfills a series, the Hyndburn for Group great need on victories somewnat one-batent anc parents with temporary social to noia tae group togetner problems. Although the nucleus the there, campaign Vulnerable inevitably starts from a weake pos group as exhibrated by a when Dosition Than The attacks are indicative oi victory against the the way the Tory-controlled Lancashire Council and Tory government caucanor comemoree over the more Mount Pleasant School Nursery focus their attacks on in Hyndburn. campaign is faced with ing class. Following last year's successes in defending two nur- County Council attempt to buy Jane Atkins from the new Director of Social Services. that the 11t information be conveyed to the next Nursery Campaign meeting which was-lul of Irish one suoDose- for the scheduled following successful which involved Illass DICKOL nursery honnier council local petition, should major boost war! and to nursery campaigns nationally. Journalists in Northern Ireland are entertained to lunch and drinks and may be fed the ocasional scoop if they behave. And if they they don't behave can quickly find themselves the subject of Army non-coop- eration. The pressures which operate on the individual journalist not stop at the point of infor conspiracy charges than I would mation gathering. They into the areas tnink or delending lascists.

Let young people develop of policy guidelines and forward sexuality with their Their process InTe Corona which material is subject before get back to attacking the exploi- publication tation the working that exists 1110 silualiul rather than supporting exploita- TV is the more documented. Some pro Yours fraternally grammes been S.D. postponed before Manchester postponed ing alll P.S. The nol showi occause tic donation to the Fund. nao secome out or cate Still others have been shown

WE REPLY:

repercussions beyond As we made clear in SP 234, specific instance of its applica- neither Socialist Press nor becoming

DOSEROT

environment pal.

LEC

against paedophilia. Wilch TiRe TournalSt

WOTKS.

But we do have a position of The threat of renureship. the the pressures • 110 codes and guides particular oppose the ine resicrons o me aw. nol *offences to mention 'career' pressures ir to convict people for competitive all wensayes 10! aulas. against the law. se censosmo waca saves unt authorities the em barrassment of having to intervene too often.

ferences, have flouted the Con- have terence decisions nev raised rates and rents •They are talking about widespread nave sell council houses. Other left wing Labour Groups have been une esson s mar multan groups like Lambeth Laboul suo ementee Dy strong national organisation for The retreat of the national public sector union leaders fron organising a Ignt against cuts closures sackings can be and checked. Hospital Longworth 11C occupation shows how closures off parents and staff bv offering alternative employment staff- lower grades of . phasing the closur Colise. - 0) 'over two years, and c orlering parents a scheme of "alternative trained child- -'specially' val! maneets. Nevertheless, many anxious parents expressed their the determination save nursery. Oppose censorship

NUJ

Simon sorship. The patterns of ownership and control in the media ensure that this situation continues.

It is true that, for instance, authorities the broadcasting Have amerences WILl government at times. Thes differences are never so wide as critical government strateg One interesting dimension to these control regards Irish news is the criteria the BBC that any programme be suitable for screening This is a requirement adopted g of the seventies after Northern Irclarid allu programmes give certain measure control over coverage of Ireland antonte Northern Ireland: people closely allied with the Unionist establishment. The comments in the above tw.o paragraphs deal with internal to the broad- These casting industry however. inextricablv bound ur with external pressure exerted by government and the security forces The programme, A Question of Ulster (1971) has gone down example pareychlence of media

BBC

mythology freedom Irish Ovel 1ssue the screener after they SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981 London, March 21 Be there! can be fought. ano amadeu as wer as lo uni councillors' fight That's why Socialist Organis- the Tory Housing cracy in the Labour Movement Finance Act in 197 have come together to jointly it wil nelp Orgaluse suppor organise a concrece on Marer examine the national will plan struggles against campaigning activity. And it wil construct ciosures m une nao. caucaon the aramework or that the decorato the capable nurseres etc• against rent rises and sackings local government. I conferences in Novembe broad The conference will discus an january against The ensis in loca government anc detended looking the examples sliding. fightback by some councillors in Coventry, Camden, South Wales Conference Policies to stop the cuts Called jointly by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement and Socialist Organiser Saturday March 21 10.30 a.m. -5.00 p.m. Islington Central Library, Holloway Rd London N7 Details and credentials from CDLM, 169 Barclay Road, Smethwick, West Midlands Labour Movement Conference Media Censorship and

NEC

Ireland member convened by National . Collings argues Union of Journalists the case for a full dis- Saturday February 28 cussion on media Birmingham Details from Ron Knowles, NUJ, 314 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. successfully resisted what RUC refused to be interviewed the chief Newman police dilu attempt ever made by govern the RUC on red alert claimin ment in this country to keep a that lives were put programme off the air danger by the programme In reality this was something Mason condemned it in th of a pvrrhic victorv. Since 1971 commoRs i the drawn insensitive. Eight months later media chieis have their horns in more and more the IBA banned a film about the the pressure of external report on Castlereagh under criticism The BBC later screened excerpts . will give some examples TrOM at torne ou o De s With the arrival of Roy Mason vers mild documentary or in office and the introduction of Nationwide pressure the a pole

ULE

programme mishes between Tollowed the Only sacked from no baltern became more frequent; a direct Bolton sacked from was position as Editor of Panarama resoonse to extema torces one week Wa! over the carrickmore illm programme that suffered partic Unsubstantiated tame claimed tha because reports at the reputation for critica had made Panorami Col Call Leal. of Northern Ireland film coverase The clashes began with unit action machine with guns and rocket launchers.

Friendship and Forgiveness 1977 Nex No thing the came Wire (Sept. Behind the happened -yet •the Prime 197? iew days after the pro Minister. Mrs Thatcher told thi Commons that she thought it gramme was screened, Desmon time the BBC 'put its house ir Irvine Secretary of the Officers Restrictions on information err editorial policy and censorship There was within the media and pressure , obvious connection betweet exerrea urom westmaste. unesi the two what lie behind our 'high evente out Mason amongst others drew one level of the war cover Inhuman Then and Northern Ireland. I believe we Degrading тестем vcode 1977) which The importance of the public 'examined allega tions of torture in of the lh knowing what is going on in the In the light the Irvine ‹ counties may prove signific killing condemnation of This stepped up. areas. week Northern Ireland Office and the

Scan page 9

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 February 1981 A move to stop the tide of official retreats in victim- isation struggles was made last weekend 80 trade as met in Birming- ham to assess the outcome of the latest show-piece victimisation wardes and BL michael Michael ment-the sacking of militants from the Long- bridge plant. Labour MP Bob Cryer and victimised London hospitals Conwav Welt the platform speakers But the role convenor Jack Adams and the trade

OUL MOSI

fully by speakers from the floor of the conference. Resolution following spelling out the framework for on ongoing campaign in defence Lauc dopted conference recog that in nises omic crisis the of management will increasingly the prodre ourselves to norme in British industry. fight to defend shop floor rights and organisation.

IN BRIEF

With unemployment in Nuneaton now over 8,000 the Trades Council's initia- tive in setting up an Unem- ployed Workers Centre is a timely one. The centre, which is ideally sited in the town's bus been of charge Hids Ine . counch. Hontine and heating, however, do have to be centre which so far is The days has two stated purposes- give advice and to recruit The buying of the Times and Sunday Times by News Rupert Murdoch's International has cast gloom defenders of liberal over capitalism and reformist trade unionism alike. a despised and feared figure in Fleet Street, news rooms. Fleet Street editors regarded Murdoch as an outsider the Sun and News -alright or mie woro our not an maia- tion of the state of the *free 'of Britain. press' Now has found Murdoch nimsel the owner or two or the Britain-the archaic loss making limes and Ine aggressive pront makinat un Times Murdoch's morE of £12 million is purchase price ess tran nan we value ol assets has bought. Sunday Times building alone is worth £8 million. The Monopolies Commission Trading Act to defend the Longbridge: drawing lessons of betrayal The bosses and the Tories stewards are playing workers victimised by stakes; their No inquiry, joint attacks 11C16. 0290 Decomina more severe. The existing union action with the shown leadership support of the unions concerned willing unable the is the only way to beat victimis- challenge of this auul at BL are une repenter sel cons mis contene rece .. the clearest example of this.

Draw report that the ardughout the BL plants and of recent events lessons at labour

LELU

every movement Yve need a militant rank and file within the trade the union leadership at must made ¡evel accountable to the members Leaders who show themselves •Ute employers offensive must replaced. The fight against victimis- ation is central to the fight to celena trade unionism isell ana to the fight against unemploy- mente will give our full support groups worker struggle defence of jobs, wagese d conditions. such struggles are increasingly not just against an individual employer but against the government itself. This conference calls for a the trade union campaign call a halt to this Demonstration in support of Derek Robinson process. run support must De the near Greenock 240 unemployed into the trade members of the NUTGW have UnIOns been in occupation for ten days Last saturday a demonstra tion was held mark the against a closure threat.

opening and 300 turned up laKe Dart.

LONGWORTH

noso ta work-in supporter Anne Marie Sistructed rom tring a colly Sweeney Sit-in action against redun- dancy Is low uluciway al lwe small plants. TIon .une camoaien ourside d

STOCKPORT

the Region TUC Conference on Lightnin Mixer Working Women in the 1980s' : factory has been occupied by 230 workers since last weekend. speech trom the flool Preventing nel access to management. hao been warmiy received And at the Lee Jeans factory the capacity audience of 500 Murdoch's no-lose Times gamble bublic interest which can be every reformist hiding translated as preventing too place. stench arising from Print union leaders quickly Fleet Street than 500 tobs aereen to more being axed and then appeared KITi classic case for the Monopolies together to talk of 'compromise Commission (Murdoch and now No lead own TOur national dailies) reference was blocked. This is the reality disguised editorial standards'! Trade Secretary Biffen said by talk of The workes nove inquiry (although the New no lead from the unons ang have shown few to fight against alleged thät the figures ing how cooked! LaKeover Harold Evans, Sunday Times H ven Ene editor, who is often praised for ists' alternative bodies were organised and led by respective mus outsookeness, courare. clr..

has grovelling over been

POLOTS WI

went coullig 1o1 Murdoch for weeks. finance capital. What was needed was a fight Sunday journalists times Court action to force a refer- of the papers. Not even the hint to the Monopolies Com- such emerged ence from the print unions although (perhaps like the Times Even decause. tney Jooked Dullud winning. article concluaca li (Murdoch) fact is that the pistols became disillusioned b industrial Thomson militancy, he could bulled by the . close down') and bi the newspapers tomorrow

OL OI

Murdoch ('my terms now or I ano lire une san-ano sut end pull out') have stripped away up with a handsome profit."

movement. sheels To draw petition and send petitions into ute

LWO

Cont the actons ol those unions relationship to the victimisations and the local meetings • ve adresser the victimised workers order publicise this campaign. delegates. But SERTUC Secre- tar Jack: Drome nao relused to allow an extended contribu opposed to focussing discussion himself struggies-sucr Longworth and BPC-in which workers are fighting for their rights. As she attempted to collect money for the otticia CUrSE at the end Dromey to out" and her wreck' Ine conterence. one sion on ted a 548 collection out- 'the steps

SERTUC

course, has done nothing whatever support the Longworth work-in.

Just as saison emoover seemed to crack in the about Tace selective striKe action. seamen s leaders carled ort the struggle put the claim to arbitration 5,000 hospital electricians nave been oven une for selective action to press their pay claim 2,500 Durham water workers have beaun a work-to rule in advance national action, after rejecting manage- Name Address. Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WC1N 3XX.

Page 9 Ansells: fight bosses' blackmail. right to introduce contractors On Saturday the 1,000 when they wanted. Ansells workers brewer rejected this

LIC

• WOLKEI

voted unanimously to con- thiee in favour

*ITA

tinue their strike. company then tried to Ine Ters despire the fact thalied get Wall contract: only 28 did have declared biewelles. une The company then sacked are closing down and will offer the whole workforce and tried to recruit from the dole capitalist press has tried lo say that ficit was a cule There are important workers problems on themselves. issues in this struggle reality their the fight closure. Management using struggle been similar lla dispute man omner workers. een up against an all-out attac!

working conditions and job костру revers distribution the picket make the workers pay for their crisis. ta stop atemative supplie 1o ine The TGWU, with Last year the unions in the plant even agreed to agreement with inquir] a joint has the power to the plant and can

SLOS

LAIs attack. cuts the through effective on pe cone company he loss of 444 secondary picketing ignorin TOlO This led to the loss of the legal limit of six pickets o jobs. and defying Prior's anti- This was not enough for unioll laws managemert company suspended the guar-

CAR INDUSTRY CRISIS

week and put four-day week

A POLICY

wanted to pick who was laid off and when by all ta ving Monde ys offe workforce resisted this

FOR OBL

then laid off The company

WORKERS

met and the workforce who said they until the four-day week W di drawn. When this took place they said they would return. But the only • acceotea à new ultimatum-involving 96 redundancies, a change in work- Available, price 42p including ing practices and management's from BM Box postage, 5277, London WCIN 3XX.

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LONGWORTH RAIDED!

Gang of 3 rush to Liberals Pubited ay a rose are ar the at or sesame feel so not es, rindone ted by arts did Printers ted (TU), London Country roads sealed off police cars. Busloads of by police held in reserve. Tele- phones cut off. A snatch manhandles squad arrives, the picket, lifts the gate off the hinges, busts into the quiet country hospital, bundles out four confused elderly and distressed the patients, and shunts others downstairs: They rip out fuses and smash the hos- pital boiler in frenzied move to shut off power and heat. an SAS "It just like operation said COHSE steward Bungay ine alterman Tuesday tr the traumatic raid last occupied Long- worth Hospital in Oxfordshire.

Enthusiastic the catnica our o. with the Area Health Authority nels i bes day person-leadins Party lember Lady McCarthy McCarthy had set her sights work-in by fair on smashing the means or tom sace n oed f early December. She had been angered by the growing malancy снон memners т ne no 1a! and their steadfast resistance to planned cuts in the health These cuts include the closure prelude WUL LIl cosure-in an dea aready zuu geriatric beds short of require- before the raid night une McCarthy had learned that

COHSE

members at Longworth voted unanimously to reject an

DUSL

poned the loss of beds for a few weeks. This rebuff, following on the failure

AHA

attempt to snatch patients from hospital under the "taking them on holiday" fight on Recovering from a near- successful assassination Bernadette attempt, McAliskey has accused the RUC of refusing three appli- cations for a firearm to use in self-defence. She told the Dublin Sunday World that , had

RUC

that the warned by che UDA planned to murder her.

Ine event unarmed when the Loyalist gun- meme and that way to he down with rosemen nusoania Michael. Her courage in continuing to reality of : the expose Cane secur ian statelet of Northern Ireland is matched by the and : courage of the Leilacily Icouvical hunger strikers who fasted nearly to death before Christmas.

Returned prison hospital their recoverca were placed clean cells in the Blocks of Long Kesh.

SOCIALIST

PRESS

geriatric patients until the beds prompted the go-ahead for the al Longworli die Testorea alla The full destructive savagery filled of the AHA management emer- While there is a sympathetic response to this policy at Little- ged as they set about rendering

LOD

LOOT

more. StallI Ives al lung unusable-at considerable worth have been driven so hazard to the remaining patients

COHSE

AHA

that official needed pickets' action is the - sillasticu increase them Shelter by ine gate. ana tore down and destroyed Meanwhile the St. Clements

DUSLEIS

petitions and other material in ward of Oxford City Labour Party has spearheaded the occupation room at the hospital. Mccarthy - analist whose actions routea not only Threatened socialist principles but also the specific policy Pole Lon the Woto the CLP, When pickets refused support In obey An emergency motion has leave the gate they were been tabled General Com Sor threatened with police action. McCarthy-a A mass picket oi ove expelled member —lo PICKetS assem betu from the Labour Party. drawing wide support from the Trade unionists and Labour Oxford labour movement, while throughout the members ponce, despite urging nom tne country should take up this call.

AHA, were reluctant to inter- The Longworth struggle has vene. become the prime focus for As the dust settles after the ult cula raid. the AHA has been daunted

NHS.

to discover that the occupation It must be defended against committee remains strong and is both attacks actively campaigning trade and the inaction of Lut action Lite bureaucracy tell an floor that struggle isolated on a national level. to Myra Bungay 13 Bowbank, Longworth, Oxon have been approached and asked to black the admission of female Further evidence of the parasites to the ideals of "demo- cracy" does not extend, appar- contempt and loathing the ently, to submitting themselves bulk of Labour activists present political positions.

have for the right wing Gang of 3 and their hangers-on Free publicity emerged last week as more Labour Parties voted to call Small wonder. the on their "social democrat" Hurry anita lavouldult opinion poll findings-prompter MPs to resign. never ending tide of fre But the attachment of these publicity in the Tory press and media -it anass becoming Hunger strikers In miserable contrast to the stand by miners against But, in common with their sustained shop stewards commader WIld closures. the blanket protest and union officials have out- Prisoner of War status, the lined a pathetic programme the joined belly crawling their 410 republicans are now efforts to "save" the Talbot 'on the blanket Long Kesh: plant at Linwood. hunger strike alice lICW mass scheduled lo week bore testi- meeting British move- Tabout ment must be mobilised in their mony to the lack of enthusiasm Tor the Teede brotest campaion outlined by convenor Jimmy Instead an immediate stoppage of work and prepara оссиру

TIONS.

doomed plant, Livingstone stressed the intention of stewards to work way work out- complete standing stocks of cars-tidying up nesteathe cluTe! for immediate supporting action by TGWU members in other Talbo and Talbot and Cals Cult Polle would no "provocative' Bernadette McAliskey steps or any form of industrial raid. increasingly clear that the "social democrats" have a very limited prospect ot success a the polls They are able to count or little support from traditional voters. thei own. Inis, as much as anything else, drives them faster than they might have wished into the arrogant David Steel. No doubt the Gang's explicit action until the time-wasting procedure has been exhausted. reality Livingstone's course of action will exhaust the membership-with endless futile pilgrimages to Peugeot manage. France, the Foreign vince une scottis Develop- ment Agency and others. Procedure Livingstone sticks woodenly of procedure- while management merrily tear agreements ame mplemen measures that threaten Linwood and a further jobs in the component industry! anto that at me been set up i Linwood "action wretched protest campaigns run union the doomed Dunlop on Merseyside and the B Sowater paper plant at Ellesmere Port.

like it • em Draces gaggle councillors,

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Our address is: Socialist Press Monthly Fund BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX COHSE members and supporters shout their disapproval at an AHA lobby prior to the.

changed " argued Slipman. whc the features that helped lure the professed her adherence to the first prominent members of the ieformist strateg. embodied in Road CP's "British Communist Party to break rank support the Socialism'. decare

TOT

Slipman is right Council for Social Democracy.

Of course Sue Slipman The CP has for years worked

NUS®

Tory member of the CP for four years happily with if anvthing lormer Present or the Torce. National Union of Students- reactionary than the CSD joined the CSD, along with ex- Cooper Slipman and have Stalinist Penni Cooper, many more Stalinists will follow former US treasure have "My politics not Occupy Linwood! and bosses Thousands bureaucrats

TO DS

already been lost by such bank.

trom me scottish mil Like them it is focussed on rupt tactics. "responsible moves But now the miners' struggle offers a new situation in which hold their fire-at least for solid action Linwood year workers with Scotland vall Like them offers no workers for Talbot shop floo and the whole of Britain in a spectve workers to act-placing reliance fight to defeat the Torie top level diplo- *Reject ridiculous the matic manoeuvres Livingstone campaign Both plants are now closed.

*Occupy the plant Linwood workers picketing during earlier pay dispute

← no. 234, 11 February 1981no. 236, 25 February 1981 →