Socialist Press no. 34

MINERS MUST

SOCIALIST

PRESS

DEFEAT

PAY CUTS

The plans of the Labour government and the TUC leaders for another year of massive pay cuts can be defeated even before they begin to operate. A gigantic step towards this defeat would come from a decisive rejection of the cuts in the miners' ballot which takes place over the next two weeks. This would then set the stage for a national strike which must make its central demand the sliding scale of wages.

leadership of the In 1926 the whole working battle for on strike labour movement. class went against leading trade wage cut in the mines. Today the number of cuts for have question is wage made statements We workers. Once again the miners against the pay cuts poncy.

welcome these, as can give a lead against pay cuts as as well decision of some members of the they also did in 1972 and 1974.

of the NUM

NUM

executive, such as Arthur Those to campaign for a rejec- the leaders' Scargill, who accepted argu- of the executive's narrow ments over the £6 settlement last tion seen their utter vote in favour of the cuts.

year have now fraudulence.

MEANINGLESS

Through this ballot they can deal a deadly blow to the contin- But warn that in many we uation of these anti working class cases such statements of oppos- policies. ition is nothing more than a mean- Millions of workers are ready which does token not Yet to join them in this struggle.

any readiness for real, imply the leaders say that the union political fight. the sacri- accepts worKIng For instance, several members fices and is not ready to fight.

T&GWU

executive of known to have been against the

LEADERS

policy and to have spoken against On the contrary, as in 1926, it it in the executive meeting.

squirmed Yet they meekly is the leaders who are not ready to make the before Jones' wish to fight the demands of capitalism.

order to fight in avoid that they

CHEROUS

forced into another, increasingly help sterling Thanks to Jones and his lily- the fight against

HILCLISIVC

'opponents; livered quite they nominally aeW

SCHUCH

speculators got quite a bit richer represent. that afternoon, while the interests A NO vote in the miners' ballot working class were would stop these collaborationist "opponents' leaders in their tracks. It would be abandoned. Such of least challenge their policy enormous to that of the dangerous as its supporters.

autnonry LO Clive Labour government. Another example, Jenkins, ASTMS general secretary.

fight against the pay cuts, Jenkins agrees with the large vote therefore, cannot remain in the ASTMS conference against question of into a full-scale political the wage policy. But at the same time he tables a resolution which contains for call The function of this oppos ition' to the pay cuts by Jenkins and other 'left' leaders not pre- pared to fight, is to try to hypno- tise their membership into believ- ing that real opposition is taking place. Conference votes will not guar- antee this. ot al Ine members those unions, including whose leaders 'oppose' the policy must fight unremitting for wage an words to be converted into action.

and the The union leaders Labour government are evidently the speed at which alarmed rank and file opposition to their watapo jones ravinen making a attempt to rebuild his desperate shattered image as a defender of the working class by more attacks on the capitalists.

"SACRIFICES"

Speaking to tinplate workers in May 13th, Jones Swansea on called on *city industrialists' to *show the same sacrifices for Britain as ordinary people have made and have shown they are prepared to continue making Jack Jones knows full well that this is rubbish. The working class willingness have shown по whatever to take huge cuts in pay.

Jones and his fellow TUC leaders decided it in their secret have that meetings, making

SUEE

no opportunity to workers got express their views. And Jones also knows that will not make equal capitalists sacrifices, because the whole purpose of the policy he himself so much to design is for the working class to take wage cuts so that capitalists should get higher profits. Callaghan, the explaining policy to Tories in the Commons, was a bit more honest than Jones

FORTNIGHTLY PAPER OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

NO 34 * 19th MAY 1976 * 10p talking to workers in Swansea. Callaghan said: essential that there should be in an unprovement profitability". The Labour government clearly of fears that the Jones' and Jenkins' lies Oppos- ition will not be enough to impose the wage cuts. So they have appointed Lord former head of the Daily Mirror Daily

IPC

el bishin head million group, to. publicity campaign in support of the wage-cut policy.

SALES TECHNIQUES

There could be no clearer ack- nowledgement that it is a policy for which they dare not night openly and democratically in the labour movement but which they with will instead try TO the techniques of capitalist adver- tising and the bourgeois press.

ballot is so because a large and important of crucially important group have the opportunity workers do to exercise tneir democranic nguts through their union organisation.

n term no eve decisive offensive, which through subsequent determined action can put to rout a leadership devoted by all available means to and sacrificeing of their members in conditions support of the capitalism. The WL policy is clear: *For a NO vote in the miners' ballot! *Force the lefts' to fight the pay cuts! the collaborationist *Remove leadership! *Forward to strike action against all wage control! *For a sliding scale of wages!

MAY 26

The strikes and 26th May demonstrations must have as their central point preparation actions against unemployment and programme for that action. The leadership will want to limit the day to protest and such demands as import nationalist controls. For us it must be a day the which we demand of in Parliament that they 'lefts' removal fight for the Callaghan and Healey and that support workers in action.

they factories All trade unions, involved on that and branches day must be committed fight against redundancies, full sharing demand work on fight all the cuts in social pay, sliding and demand SCIVICeS scale of expenditure to defend The

WSL

continues campaign for the widest possible for May 26th whilst support maintaining our criticism of the leadership. must not. allow union leaderships such as that of

ASTMS

(which supported Day of Action at its conference) to get off the hook. They have not called strike action for that day, nor have they led a single fight against unemployment.

BENN

MELTS

AWAY

opposition of the The "lefts' to Callaghan at last Labour Party week's National Executive Commit meeting melted away tee before it even started. of them, anticipating Six fight might be on the cards di not even care to turn up.

Callaghan com As a result, which over manded a majority the entery minted pole polic ruled every item of committee had proposed Instead the NEC substitute support for all the major item of the Labour government's anti working class policy: serious was th announcement of a deal, evident ly concluded secretly in advanc Callaghan Benn and DeLWCCI which would effectively already paralysed NEC an lead to the surrender power to the Labour Cabinet Callaghan announced - withou dissent - that from now on al statement of the NEC should b considered at the most as som goal on the distan long horizon. Benn proposed And from th approving murmurs right) that if in future any NE policy statement appeared to cor flict with the policy of the gover shoul the ment, have to publish the right the sam present policy document as the NEC statement.

So much for the prospect of "left takeover" wing - even bodi Labour leadership on which they have a majority a to the back handed exte right-wing!

ITALY

"Vote Communist - for a Christian Democratic govern- ment". That was in effect the message of Italian CP general secretary Berlinguer's opening statement of the campaign for the parliamentary elections on June 20th. If it emerges as the largest party (as the opinion polls predict), the Berlinguer said, CP will insist, coalition with the forming Christian Democrats. That, to the CP leaders, is the oniy road to their objectives - "a healthy economy, a democratic and and an orderly and efficient state workable one".

CONTEMPT

and abject This complete contempt for the interests of the working class is characteristic of the Stalinists' electoral of the campaign. It has outlawed all further action in support of the long delayed new is campaigning wage contracts. for nationalisation and the less Chiarelli implementation report which advocates the rational- isation of the huge public sectot along more capitalist lines.

Its fiercest electoral propaganda against Prol is directed leftwards etarian Democracy - the alliance of the PDUP (Democratic Proletarian Unity) and Operaia Avanguardia. (Workers' Vanguard) with support from Lotta-Continua (Permanent Struggle). CP candidates do not even have to subscribe to the party's nominal In headlong programme. Christian attacks from Ene Democrats and the church, the CP has wooed 'independents' especial- Catholics, ( stand its ly candidates. tenth of its candidates are One of this kind; they incuuut director the Christian former Democratic Popdo editor of a and another

USA

"We bought it, we paid for and it is and we it, ours, intend to keep it". With this prize bit of jingoism about the Panama Canal, extreme presidential hopeful right wing Ronald Reagan has been rolling up after another primary victory to bid as a serious candidate for the Republican nomination. Never mind that he has got his muddled. Never American history of six-gun mind that his brand imperialism could lead to war Ill Reagan's language is that of the Indianapolis the Texas rancher, shopkeeper, some sections of even skilled workers who have gained a house in the suburbs and a second force CaT and which promises to prevent their loss

MIDDLE CLASS

To the post-Vietnam American middle classes, disorientated the world balance of class forces and scared by economic crisis, COMPLETE and SEND to: 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London of US and fantasy boom. Reagan's campaign is also helped of that by Democrat supporters of the arch-reactionary Wallace. capitalist party. George Seeing that their own one-time idol is a lost cause, they have crossed election tules permit, to swell the vote for "Ronnie"

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

candidates ('The enemies of man will be from our own midst) the munist Party implies no ideological arlesion to Marxism, nor approval of all the programmes and methods To the Italian CP 'those who are The Christian Democrats are also tation has been most stained by the capitalists he is fol- Like many lowing the call of his brother (Fiat President and ex- Giovanni President of the employers' organ- Confindustria) for capitalist isation leaders to take a more direct part in government. Giovanni Agnelli is himself standing for the Republicans, also in Turin. This is a clear sign of the determination of the capitalist class move towards government more adequate to their needs.

These, according to Umarerto Agnelli, are foI an productivity of ten to fifteen per cent over the next year. He himselt has not ruled out that the CP may produce the government best able to realise that. no call, he said, for There 1s Labour Party Needed differences of principle at via. how to keep workers in line when the economy dips again, have largely concentrated on image.

Ford's advisers have told him to start acting more "presidential" and some have begun to call on him dump Kissinger, whose recent African manoeuvrings alarmed the wealthy Texans into believing that be something else was 400L 10 "given away"

DECEPTIVE

Last there were also weth from Ro beile orally who stirrings of beine accused Reagan deceptive in the way he's raising the mean hand issues. KA&Kened at deception himself, will certainly behalf of move against Reagan on liberal finance interests, if the latter looks like wresting the nomination from Ford. With Wallace out of the race the respectable Jimmy Carter black bourgeois support racist with the likely candidate, througli his Democratic party continues to produce new runners from its hat, the latest of Idaho Senator Frank whom, Church, narrowly beat Carter in the Nebraska primary.

UNDIGNIFIED

The undignified scramble of the leaders, bent éstablishing a cosy relationship with

PORTUGAL

Soares Backs a General It is now announced that Soares, Socialist Party the his leader, will be throwing behind General support Antonio do Santos Ramalho Eanes, commander in chief of the armed forces, as presid- General Enrico Berlinguer ential candidate in the June Secretary of the com- his 27th election in Portugal.

Party talking to

KEIRATI

French counterpart, Georges Soares, in confirming Socialist Marchais. backing for the general Party "he explained that it was because [Eanes! could ensure the cohesion and unity of the armed forces" over prospects of a CP panic victory.

SUPPORT

BREAK.

porters support or proced from The CP must break the reciprocated: reportedly Christian Democrats and fight the Eanes will throw his weight behind socialist General Election Soares' plan for a Socialist Party Only through fighting programme. minority government in Portugal.

for this demand wyill a Trotskyist The Stalinists meanwhile restrict arty be able to struggle for the themselves position independence of the working class minority Socialist of the and the exposure ment would not automatically gain with leadership's alliance the approval and support of the capitalism.

ULRIKE MEINHOF

Murdered by state The funeral of Ulrike Meinhof in Like the laws recently brought West Berlin last Saturday was atten- into operation to ban those lacking ded by a crowd of many thousands.

"loyality to the constitution" from death officially labelled "suicide - of the 41 year old leader of the West German anarchist group responsibility of the Social Demo- follows almost four years of judicial of and her fellow her

LOLLIC

prisoners at the hands of the state, including very long periods of iso The Workers Socialist League is deprivation" and lation, cells kept almost

GOONE

totally silent through special sound individual terror associated with the insulation. Baader-Meinhof group. This is because we can see that such methods in no way assist the In 1974, another member of the leadership within the Holger Baader-Meinhot group, movemenl jail following Meins alone can prepare the mass revol hunger strike against conditions utionary upsurge necessary to end there. The family and defence lawyers Meinhof charged of have Lirike assassinated that she by thé was have demanded state. They and defence But we do not for one moment independent autopsy disagreements with confuse lawyers have - after official obstruc-

ULI

postponement of terrorist methods with support for • secured the of the bourgeois the Stuttgart trial of the surviving state which act only in the interests accused members of the group.

of the capitalist class. As one lawyer pointed out, the We therefore unequivocally death of Meinhof comes at a con- condern the prosecu- the barbaric and brutal ventent moment IOr Utrike Meinhof at the of "at a time when the defence is

HOI,

a political hands of the German capitalists, attempting to introduce content into the proceedings".

police and Democratic eaders. The mistreatment inficted on mobilisation these prisoners is one of the clearest Only the of the working class in Germany can bring signs of the police methods in use behind the "democratic" facade of these, the real criminals to account.

succeed, has virtually turned into a Until early this month, most of bureaucrats were But

BRITAIN

£1 Pennsylvania primary, they were on 6 issues... 12 issues. €4 24 issues. Press. I would like.

NAME

the struggle

ADDRESS

independent of

- ICCUS

defend itself against canitalist crisis.

Soares Party. The CP Communist policy of giving continues its по working independent lead to tne class and seeking at all times to tie workers to the various fluctuations Armed within the bonapartist Forces Movement."

LYNCH-PIN

government supporting a president who in Soares' own words period; it acts as a lynch pin in the reconsolidate the state apparatus in preparation for a decisive confron- tation with the Portuguese workers.

ways. Firstly supporting the steps to secure the cohesion and unity of the Armed Forces Movement as an behalf of a weak capitalist class in secondly the support by ority government is an attempt by prevent the tendency as in previous fall apart. This is to attempt to re- organs of the working class workers' and factory commissions.

the context of a massive economic

CANS

need for the capitalists further in an attempt to restore the capitalists and their military defen- 41C abitore parliamentary government.

But this is also the massive Socialist Party vote in the recent election was in no way endorsement by the the independent organs of working and CP to break from the AFM and form a workers' government based SUBSCRIBE to Socialist Press

EUROPE

6 issues. . £1.15 12 issues. • £2.30 24 issues: •. £4.60 I would like to take our a subscription to Socialis?

issues, 1 enclose £. party unes, In states whose pulary l

ASTMS STRIKE OVER SACKING

FRENCH UNIONS'

DAY OF ACTION

The 'national day of action' during Fifth Republic. This brought an emergency meeting of by the French trade unions on the political committee - not in any May 13th gave clear way change the line, but to indication line 5 to where the launch a campaign of 'explanation' 'new the French by the local organisations of the Communist Party is leading in new 'national' perspectives offered by the Communist Party's poliey.

the short term. Scarcely a single union leader-

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

ship issued official call for strike action, leaving the forms of This policy now includes explicit protest against inflation and unem- ployment to be decided 'as approp- support for the nuclear force, essential riate' cats of the regional and sectiona the middle-rank bureau- weapons instrument of 'national indepen- dence organisations. In the universities, strike action continues campuses on many

STOPPAGES

against the government's tional 'reforms' designed to tie Partial stoppages took place in Dolcies on admissions, clo the and examinations much more dullaing industries, by postmen and miners, to the demands of the employers.

Despite the mass demonstrations and in the electric supply and print sectors. But in Paris itself the main during April, the government has retreated all its scarcelv demonstration did exceed

JUL

policies, only 20,000. agreeing extension of 'consultations'.

The first rumblings also are Here Stalinists (and the visible of again, an internal crisis within democrats) Communist Party: Louis bear the responsibility for their refusal to of Althusser, one Party's theoretical lights, has allow any effective support from leading workers' organisations for the denounced the 'dictatorship of the ment or cne proletariat' and has declared (in a preface to a book on Stalin's court

UNIVERSITIES

biologist Lysenko) that the general line of Stalinist repression and lying The struggle in the universities persists in the USSR. also demonstrated the real content :Althusser, course, OI presells a novel discovery, and his of the "democratic' policies of the this as Stalinists. sabotage has objection is that it hampers permitted the fascists to show their French Party in achieving satisfactory relationship with the faces on scale not before the 1968 general strike and intelligentsia. the student demonstrations which triggered it.

REPROACH

On one of the Paris campuses - Assas - courses go ahead under the "protection" Nonetheless the Party leadership of armed squads of extreme right-wingers from the law sutticient to DIesSuIt issue an official reproach to him in faculty, assisted by thugs exported their daily paper L 'Humanite.

tom as lar atied as Marseilles.

With the police turning a benign At the same time the Party has suffered setback in the blind attacked and injured several dozen they have already

BELOUS

tirst test of is le since the zend Congress - at the recent parliamen- left-wing Communist Party and tary by election near Tours.

students on university premises and Its share of the vote fell below Luxembourg the neighbouring all results the Gardens.

OICIOUS

The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League was formed in December principles of 1974 to struggle for the continuity of the Trotskyism Britain and towards the rebuilding of the in Fourth International. In the daily struggle to take the demands and principles of Trotsky's Transitional Programme into the trade unions, the WSL has been at the scale of wages, and work sharing forefront of the fight tor the sliding on full pay - demands which at the 1975 T&GWU Conference were the only alternative to Jones' £6 pay plan and the wholesale acceptance of redundancies by the bureaucracy.

In today's fight against the TUC's 42% pay cutting proposals this demand for a sliding scale of wages (rising according to the rising cost of living as assessed by trade union committees) is the essential basis of consistent opposition.

In the Health Service WSL comrades have led the struggle for a sliding scale of NHS spending, for the start of workers' control of the service (beginning with opening the books of the Health Authorities), along with the fight to end all private practice. Perhaps more important we have led the growing call for strike action to defend the NHS against the cuts and to implement these policies, fighting those like the ASTMS leadership who substitute the words for the action.

In local disputes also, WSL comrades have tested and developed the demands of the Transitional Programme, putting forward in every case the only real opposition to the Stalinists and the right-wing. Our struggle for the "open the books" demand in the motor industry has won a mass response. the time have policy fight At same we put forward a calling for unity of employed and unemployed through unemployment, the fight to mobilise the trade union movement.

The

WSL

is the only that fights consistently for movement transitional demands, going beyond mere trade union militancy to pose the political issues to workers In doing this our comrades have been forced also to lead struggles for июд democrac: agamst the bureaucratic manipulation of the Stalinists and right-wing.

interventions have developed the Leagues's grasp of Winle Trotsky's Transitional Programme there has been a consistent drive to deepen and enrich tne movement's understanding or the mistory ana tae present crisis of the Fourth International, as an essential part of any serious initiative towards its reconstruction.

We urge all readers who agree on the need for revolutionary leadership and the demands we put forward to find out more about the WSL and join our fight in the labour movement.

ATIONAL NEAS

TURKEY

The possibility of an open split dominated the recent the Workers conference of

COUCH ILE

members National Hospital for Nervous Diseases took part in a one hour token strike on 7th against the victim- Nair, Senior Technician. been sacked for refusing to see a psychiatrist named by hosp- suffered a short illness.

active trade unionist in the

MAJOR UNION

NEAR SPLIT

Ecerit with Willy Brandt.

try together with the workers?

offer The RPP is prepared to these policies to the workers".

FRAUD

Of course the entire proposal is politician is merely offering the top chance of assisting the government attacks prevent any turn by its membership class the ruling right-wing made clear the reactionary essence stance of the CTWU, urging that "The CTWU must remain indep- political parties policy.

party it will confront others' Turkish troops attack demonstrators The ASTMS picket line. from the hospital laboratories to an "ofice" in a different building after complaints her work and about time keeping were made to manage- ment. The union claims that none of these complaints were substantiated and that Miss Nairn was placed in office with an no work and contact with other people for three weeks. surprisingly Miss Nairn developed an anxiety state. The personnel officer the hospital at called in two psychiatrists and Miss Nairn was committed to Friern The final decision of the confer- was that the CTWU should ence support a party until one wek after the date of elections is declared.

This move was an attempt to hold opposition federations the CTWU. The crisis of leadership in the Turkish workers has movement been the more acute because of the historical backwardness colonial character of Turkish

COUP

The establishment in the 1960s of a Turkish Labour Party (TLP) cut short by the coup of was then March 1971 which closed the party down The fight now within the CTWU poses again the need for a workers party independent bourgeoisie, particularly as the against sharpen growing repression and fascist attacks on the Labour movement. Only on the platform of political independence can workers buld a firmly based front against united fascism and carry through the struggle against their own reactionary leadership.

LABOUR PARTY

A clear break from the policies of Ecevit and the CTWU leaders is needed, with a turn to building the Turkish Labour Party. Such a step would change the entire balance of political forces ur Turkey in favour of the working creating the best conditions to defeat fascism and fight for a workers' government. Barnet hospital on a 72-hour order.

Guy's After her discharge, Hospital psychiatrist and her own GP both declared her fit to return to work. It was at this point that hospital management insisted that psychiatrist of their she choosing. feel

ASTMS

•members that Lesley Nairn is being victimised for her trade union activities and that the hospital management are her declared attempting to nave unfit for work in order to exclude her from her job. Shortly before the token strike was due to take place, , the ASTMS branch offered to abide by the decision of an independent psychi- agreed by both sides. atrist Management turned down the offer. Although Miss Nairn's appeal was due to be heard last Wednesday management will clearly base their "indiscipline" her foI Lone refusing to see their psychiatrist rather than on an assumption that The Appeals Committee is in any case heavily weighted in favour of management. Encouraged by the token strike, which by supported

T&G#U

and

EETPU

members in the bospital, ASTMS members have made it clear that if the outcome of the appeal is unsatisfactory. d longer strike will be called.

IS THERE A SPLIT IN

WORLD STALINISM?

Page 4 A letter from Comrade H.L. of Cowley in Socialist Press of April 7th raiser important questions regarding Socialist Press's divisions within the world stalinist movement. Our reply (which has been held over for reasons of space) is printed below.

What is the basic significance of splits within the world Stalinist movement? Are they real splits, or merely skirmishes among bureaucrats? What is their connection with the offensive of the working class, and the response of imperialism to it? These are questions of fundamental importance for the working class which are raised in Comrade H.L's letter.

Comrade H.L. is absolutely right to insist that the divisions which 'own' collaboration with their Congress of the Soviet Communist came 25th capitalist class, they nationa: conflict with necessarily run into Party between the CPSU and the Soviet leadership's strategic leaderships of the main requirements for collaboration and Western European CPs (see Socialist 'balance' on Press of March 10th) contain not a muperatoll world scale. shred of revolutionary principle on why there has been stalemate for a year on Moscow's But does it follow from this that plans for a conference and joint these divisions of only European policy declaration superficial importance, without any Communist Parties. long-run consequences or impact on the international class struggle? And does it follow - as Cde H.L suggests. - that the main splitting of Stalinism world will place within national CPs than rather between CPs internationally?

NATIONAL LINES

In our opinion the splitting of the world stalinist movement along national - lines of very considerable importance in the struggle for international an revolutionary leadership W H Cal unite the working class in different direct way the partial, bureaucratic basis of the stalinist caste and its revolutionary precisely because this is so they can 21100 Stalinists' formal abandonment of the 'dictatorship of the proletariat" Moscow as 'completely in line with But consider what has followed on the hees of these These divisions and splits are the necessary outcome of the political degeneration of the Third In the last few weeks the Italian (Communist) International at the CP has not reiterated its hands of the Stalinist bureaucracy willingness to enter a coalition with in the Soviet Union. the Christian Democrats, but has When Stalin dissolved the pledged in advance that within such Comintern in 1943, to please his a coalition wond not seek to capitalist allies, he declared, in his alter in any way the structure or way, what the Trotskyist budget of NATO, and that it would movement was insisting since the not seek the 'sensitive' 1920s: bureaucracy was of defence or foreign affairs. hostile to international unity of the The French &P has come out working class, that it sought always clearly in support of France's 'own' local, național, ad hoc compromises nuclear weapons which play a with the capitalist powers.

French central role military 1n planning and are,

COLLABORATION

knows, directed in reality Olly al the Soviet and Eastern Europe. After decades of being urged And hoping to trade on the anti- by Moscow - down the roads of Americanism of the French middle class-collaboration and classes, they have sharply bourgeois respectability there denounced the Polish Prime little wonder that the leaderships of Minister for conferring on President the french. British and 'nationalist' Giscard d'Estaing Spanish CPs now discover that their duties to their 'own' ruling classes.

consider credentials which they and the particular requirements of should properly be theirs.

These secondary compromise and manoeuvre in their are not 'own' ditterences. hey touch direct v on countries compete the military and violently with their historical international loyalty to Moscow. diolomatic policies of the Ktemlin.

and on its ability to continue to use It is very important to grasp that the roots of the post-war splits in Western the pouties European CPs the Stalinist 'monolith' lie in the bargaining counters with the main capitalist bureaucratic social basis and states. opportunist political character 0I As the CPs tie themselves more Stalinism itself. assessment of 'social fascist' (copied by Maoism today) which split the German and movement alowed Hitler power, through 'patriotic' democratic' capitalist (being explicitly by the Western the each stalinist the workers and the though not the most Colous their own ranks. Tito, Ceausescu, Carillo and Mao.

trained a breed of bureaucrats for Moscow became second nature, for metaphor of a scab, which and splits in the course of its own pressures underneath it. Naturally, like any metaphor, it establishment of the Soviet Union formation, not a new social class; independent historical goals. And it that the stalinist-ruled states have reproduced and preserved the old 'opposition' forces are all seek their own national This fragmentation has objective roots, and the splits that take place (and have already taken place) within world Stalinism are neither willed nor even foreseen by the bureaucratic tops in Moscow.

Cde. H.L. reters to (but does not discuss) the Sino-Soviet split. which proceded 100 1 according to the desires of either Yet this split overshadows side. all others in the world Stalinist movement in the postwar period, and it is one that very. clearly from the fact that both arises Moscow Stalinism and Peking Stalinism stand are intent on defending ground, consolidating their own dIlE national positions, and are prepared principles of support or defeate subordinate of the™ internatiohal workers'

NO PRINCIPLES

Whatever revolutionary -"Marxist' phraseology may be employed from time to time, it is in no sense a question of one side defending even the vestiges of revolutionary principle against the other. The split has now carried the Chinese leadership, which originally assumed a garb of 'revolutionary' against POSILIOnS 'Khrushchevism', into foreign policy more reactionary than that of Moscow Stalinism in the whole post-wat period, and to the point of becoming openly the broker military alliances with the imperialist powers against the Soviet Union. The Sino-Soviet split is, of in many ways formed by course fact the that the Chinese Communist Party has taken power independently (and against Stalin's wishes), with its own mass base and the result of similar history precipitating between SpIt Stalin and Tito in 1948.).

BASE

But the essential factor is the national, conservative social base of each Stalinist apparatus. Rumania. Stalinism was placed in power at the end of the Second World War entirely by the Red reconstructed on wholly Hallola basis, even preserving the monarchy up till 1947. The state and party personnel were built up very largely of middle-class elements, and were initially wholly subservient •to moscow When the Stalinists carried out the transformation of Rumania 'People's into Democracy' 1947, they little in imagined that the same pressures that had brought the dissolution of the Comintern would give rise to Ceaucescu's Rumanian Stalin- ism of the 1970's which is not only brazenly independent of Moscow Union, between the

DRACTI

Soviet China and the imperialist powers, but it is even preparing to insert major territor- claims on the Soviet Union into its foreign policy!

THREAT

The splitting of world Stalin- ism way secondary or accidental develop- ment. As far as the ruling Stalinist the workers' castes in states are concerned, it forms a direct threat to the defence ot these states against capitalist war and restora- tio tach national caste pursues above all its own interests, and they thereby jeopardise the very social base on which they rest. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976 Communist Parties, especially in Western Europe, concerned alt at work In Italy and with well over million, tions, a thick of support the middle classes there the CPs careerism and by in Parlia that a as the British fact period of "left' same spiritual (traditionally white, evasion and mediocrity and middle classes. These features, sedimented and hardened "peaceful' post-war class collabora- tion, bind the cadre of the CPs to the national interests and attitudes of their 'own" capitalist states far more closely than was so before the war. this And certainly imperence element important behind the the

CPSU

Congress HL is entirely right to Cde. point out that there are strong tendencies towards splits within the Stalinist parties in capitalist countries, as well as along national boundaries, and that these splits will reflect the sharpening conflict between needs of the working class and the of the party leadership holding militants within the class from struggle with the employers. Trotskyist forces must always seek politically elements whose experience bringing them into conflict with Stalinist policy. the bureaucratic

CATHE IS IN

LIVYCICEL

nave an this. "Fourth International Problems and Tasks' (in Trotsky- ism Today, nos 1-3)

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976

WEDEMAND

IMMEDIATE

OB MILLION

RTH!

TO THE NHS

INDON

PASMPST

JOINT

INNINE

NAC only mobilised a few supporters on this key issue.

National demonstration against NHS cuts organised by National Coordin

ABORTION RIGHTS

A CLASS ISSUE

the demo- of 'greater unity'. The attack on They presume that cratic right to abortion for consciousness of women is so low isolated women is not that they can only respond to single attack on women as one sector issues and not to a comprehensive of the working class alone. It programme which leads them ultimately to the fight alongside the is part of a widespread offen- working for the organised class being waged against the sive overthrow of capitalism. working class as a whole by Over the past year we have seen the present Labour the emergence of resolutions from govern- the women's TUC conference, the ment as part of its anti-work-

TUC

conference and the Labour class politics in order to ing Party conference, all piously calling 'solve' the crisis of capitalism.

for free abortion on demand, freely Over the past period we have available on the NHS. But nothing seen many other attacks waged on the class TAne Dy Sallie Labour government. Attacks on the the jailing of the picket, Shrewsbury building workers, the use of the troops in Glasgow during the dustcart drivers strike as well as the introduction the so-called "Prevention of Terrorism Act'.

It is in this overall general sit- uation that we have to understand the fight for the right for women to have abortion freely available on the NHS

ABSTRACT

This is why we say that although the right to free abortionon demand slogan ass enoman right to absose essential which the obscures the way to win it.

Could we claim that this demand in itselt would from choice, free them their oppression in the family?

Clearly say that WE either free abortion or equal pay themselves can resolve questions of woman's oppression so long the capitalist system pre- as are only a part of the vails. They problem. But even democratic reforms will not be properly realised with- out altering class relationships. This is why the struggle for them, carried out with a conscious work- begin ing class leadership can to draw workers into the larger fight against their oppression, against the bourgeois family and the exploit- ation of women as a reserve army be discarded at the of labour to employer's convenience.

WRONG SLOGANS

has This is what been wrong with the slogans of the National Barbara Castle meets the BMA dominated nee Its leadership dominated by International Marxist Group, in attempting cor- This rectly to mobilise large numbers of demonstrates the inability women workers on the of the NAC so far to take up the men' and question of abortion in the organ- abortion issue, have wrongly convenient division of labour on this and other questions between the trade union bureaucrats and the left groups. Mal rade u resolutions for fess formal paper resolutions abomion, while teled group teer them endless local groups, which generally represent in reality only tiny forces from left groups along with a few individuals.

The mere building of these "ad hoc" groups in the localities by the revolutionary left lets the bureau- crats off the hook The IMG and other groups who operate in this way are a choice. Either they must concentrate their forces in the unions at the base, attempting local initiatives, or simply attempt short cut, assembling individuals in umbrella they an organisation eated coerse a "the de pre red course is the one preferred by the IMG.

CONFERENCE

The fight for the October NAC conference was therefore not seen as a move to extend and change the relationship of forces involved in the fight but an effort to consol- idate a left propaganda bloc from forces ast June's demon stration based social upon layers largely outside the working class.

In the for all there tias of conference model of the so-called "new mass vanguard" and in orientating towards it the

IMG

exhibited

UNCTAD

CONFERENCE

It is fitting that the United Conference on Trade Nations and Development (UNCTAD) should be held in Africa recent MPLA of the scene • because UNCTAD, victory 'develop- all the like major ment' primarily agencies, 1S a responso to national libein ation struggles. The first UNCTAD conference in 1964, was little more than a 13 week party for its newly assembled each bureaucracy to get lo know other (there is secretariat over 400! The second, in 1968, resulted in some fairly minor tariff preferences for third world exporters.

The third, in 1972, got nowhere.

The present meeting, from May 5th to 28th in Nairobi, is the fourth.

Culer stock scome for primary This involves finance for a body to be set up to buy raw materials and agricultural products when the price is low and sell them when the This would stabilize the export earnings of primary producers.

This plan apparently poses" no real threat the developed economies. Traditional capital suffers from huge rises commodity prices - like the 200% increase that accom panied the mini-boom of 1973-74 11 need to destrov The WSL will therefore conduct an all out fight against those in the labour those movement elements from the womens liber- movement who attempt to divert from the central which the working class. Such tendencies attempt to trap by subordinating class women questions to an imagined "womens movement" , splitting women from men, and concealing the fact that perspective for the there is struggle for womens rights outside the working struggle socialism. 'This links in a very material way, fight for abortion now since any must centrally take up the defence of the free health service.

Ine cul backs directly attack the health service and make impossible even of the the maintenance present inadequate level of abortion done on the NHS And to defend the health service workers have to politically challenge the Labour government and its allies in the TUC who are implementing the cut backs.

We must lead the fight for access to all alone and information on area Page 5 as it gains from the much - as bottom falling out of the market.

speculators would Professional seem to be the only real losers.

A comprehensive buffer stock scheme would however undermine the powerful influence wielded by certain commodities, which give it tance of the US to these proposals than many other advanced capital- ist countries like France, which is principles of the proposal.

The other main plan comes from which would borrow private capital industry in exchange for an option capital The mite nationalave multi-national have become increasingly wary of invest- benefit of extraction by the multi- nationals without the risks to the much out of the confer- hangers-on will provide a boost to Nairobi's tourist industry, badly bit weeks will probably make of the health service according to against inflation and the national- isation of the building industry to of public works to build hospitals as well as nurseries, creches, decent and those of the wulate woleng seriously to attack women's oppres- defend part-time workers who are of women workers and attempts to use the crisis (and the equal pay female workers policy the demand for free abortion neither the TUC nor Labour Party Barbara Castle has even gone along with support for the rotten Select Committee, which only aims find "evidence" further to to restrict women's rights. We call on Labour MPs to refuse to recognise the Select Committee and throw out any restrictive proposals which emerge from it.

The campaign for free abortion on demand therefore has a respon sibility to draw out and link up the ciaos questions dnt to beg to wul broad layers of working women to the fight on every level against the society which capitalist the instrument of their oppression.

*Reject the attacks on public spending! *Boycott the Select Committee!

*End private practice!

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Part 10: THE KORNILOV fige 6

REVOLT

in the period of reaction which followed the repressions of the July Days in 1917 the forced to Bolsheviks were and tactics their reassess demands. were being party they witch-hunted throughout country. Leading Bolsheviks were in jail, accused of acting as German agents. Their papers were suppressed, of and slanders accusing them were German money peddled by the most reactionary propagating But foremost these amongst workers allegations and soldiers were the class collab- leaders of the Mensheviks orating and the Social Revolutionaries.

COMPROMISERS

These both sat compromisers the bourgeois with ministers coalition Provisional government and used their majority support in the Soviets to uphold their reactionary policies of support for the war and opposition to nation- For Lenin and the Bolsheviks this new ton they Menshevik headed by Tseretelli and have of redirect the masses and to educate aries and themselves, them as to the role of their leaders.

by fig-leaves the mere ensure that it takes account of the revolution. ful development the Russian This is that it clearly points the to the real enemy of the people, the either complete for the uprising; Black Hundreds, and that it definit- unmasks the petty-bourgeois the insurrection with a parties, which played and are play- deep, against the mass That would be a very long and and bourgeoisie arduous process under the 'normal" The Lenin which omic disruption will tremendously "The slogan that may make a month or even a revolution (CW Vol 25 p 188) May, demand 'All Power to the Soviets!"

up to the time passed into the the also to other methods of highlight- for it does not no longer correct, leaders, and exposing their increasing separation from the completely the

SRS

and betrayed by the Mensheviks...... Lenin took up the Let them, and resolutely prepare for the armed uprising, if the course of Constituent Assembly, permits it really and used this as a further means to on a The CrOS stress the refusal of the comprom- mass, country-wide scale...The aim of the insurrection isers to break with the bourgeoisie, can only be to transfer to the proletariat, their power the poor supported by peasants, with a view to putting our Party programme into effect". (Collected Works Vol 25 pp 177-8) authority of the Soviets can guaran- This reassessment, which meant even more biry and Socialist Revolut- crucial central role the Bol- Party itself only consistently opposing the war party promise, the declaration to call a directing „The WOIKINg Class towards the struggle for power, did not come without resistance from conservative layers of Bolsheviks.

(CW vol 25 p196-7) Lenin was forced to explain the the class change in detail in a longer article from On Slogans , pointing out that the the could struggle compromisers by John Lister exposed in the eyes of the masses as the war and the crisis continued.

Meanwhile, unchallenged by any further and further to an

CALCINC

right - the Black Hundreds and the military. Lenin and Trotsky, using a comparison with the French Revol- the chief historical leans on the military less balance each other out more or and forces which (CW Vol 25p220) But B napartime shich must eventually resolve itself through the threat from the right that the Bol- sheviks were put on the alert from Kerensky called for a special State Conference to be held in August Moscow The Social Revolutionaries (Kerensky's own party) attacked the compos- "conference': ition of this bogus "As against 150 representatives there are 120 If lesour, tatives industry; trade and 100 peasant deputies, 100 against landlords representatives the have been invited; 100 representatives of the Soviet, there will be 300 members of the State huma. (Quoted by Trotsky HRR vol 2 p148).

CONFERENCE

This conference, to be held in the anana! was like a whole series of counter- conferences at the of August, to rally in beginning propertied the classes behind Kerensky. instead to highlight the strength of the masses and the continuing and growing power of slandered the witch-hunted and Bolsheviks. the opposition of the Despite Menshevik-SR Moscow dominated Soviet, the local trade unions, majority of which were now under Bolshevik control to rice strike calling initiative action of the State Conference. And despite the efforts of the the overwhelming support. strike won 400,000 workers paralysed the city on the day of Kerensky's attempted show of strength. "There were no lights, no tram- and shops were cars: the factories yards and closed and the railroad the waiters in the

CYCL

strike." had on restaurants gone 151)

HRR

(Trotsky vol. and witchhunting The slanders were failing in their task of isolating the Bolsheviks. The leaders of the compromising parties the Sks and the Mensheviks were Insteda themselves forced more and more the as opposing the

OUCH

Jefence of the working class and as all-out defenders of Kerensky and Bonapartist becoming increasingly unstable.

At the same time the opposing was becoming likewis bouleronic and seeking the road to establish its own dictatorship.

Conference itself pre exateme rigne wing of the miliatry, led by Generai to bring a force of the troops into Petrograd to, break up the soviet, arrest all working class government. Korniloy was not an ideal leader for an in agaight wine coup. He incapable making of situations. General assessments as a #mar described him shereer with a lion's heart and the brain of a sheep? But the bourgeoisie, seeing the need for a decisive attack on the class felt its back against working the wall and found no real choice but Kornilov. The original basis of the military intervention jointly planned SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976 between him and Kerensky as a continuation of the anti-Bolshevik "restoration of witch-hunt order" in Petrograd. cavalry corps was to be the city, martial law brought into declared, and then steps taken to Bolshevik attempt to provoke insurrection which could smashing the workers movement. The object as Kerensky saw this conspiratorial plan, was to establish him in overall dictatorial The object in Korniloy's view was to dispose of Kerensky as well and have done with the soviets and the workers parties once and for all. of taking Under the pretext detachments to protect the town of Riga on the front line of the Germans, fighting against Kornilov had begun from early prepare the August to forces to Four cavalry march on Petrograd. divisions considered most useful against Bolsheviks and a division of Caucasian mountaineers with a division of Cossacks

WORK

were moved and all into ready positions.

PLAN

An essential part of the plan was Riga the surrender OT Germans. Kornilov had stated this at the State Conference openly when he announced to the world that the enemy is already knocking of Riga and if the of our make it possible to restrain him on a to Petrograd i, open, "the to prepare DalL Petrograd. On August 19th were

DONE

Germans and on August 21st Riga

DEFEAT

The soldiers had beer confronted defeat they with could do nothing about, because as Trotsky wrote: "Everything lacking: men, was arms, military supplies, gas masks.

communications were unspeakably bad. Attacks delayed because Japanese cartridges Russian stronghold of Bolsheviks were able to show this clearly to wide layers of soldiers who saw there had been no real defence of the city. Even the for the truth to be revealed and to out that "a political game" and horribly to his "muscle" against the Bolsheviks, was going to press too far ahead, and could even threaten Kerensky Kornilov made this celar when he called for all the powers of the Provisional Government to be given

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 191k, 1976 in chief. the same time that and Savinkoy Kerensky clean the intending to up Bolsheviks, and in part the soviets, Korniloy was intending also to clean the Provisional Govern- up want." (Trotsky, op.cit. p.207) Kerensky was forced to counter these preparations by his ally.

On August 27th, the day allotted for the coup d'etat, he sent a command Kornilor that should turn over duties to his chief of staff and come to Petrograd.

MANIFESTO

Kornilov, however, by now committed action, refused, issuing his own manifesto. Proudly, he pro General General Kornilov, declare that the Provisional Government under pressure from the Bolshevik majority of the soviets, is acting in full accord with the plans of the German general staff, and simult- impending aneously with descent of hostil forces upon the Riga coastline murdering the IS army and unsettling the country from within." On the evening of August 26th, the members of the Provisional Government both bourgeois and petty-bourgeois representatives resigned. retaining Kerensky alone office uncertain which way to turn, as on August 28th the split • between government and commander in chief became openly known. Kornilov, like Kolchak (above) fought with the White forces after October and his But while Kerensky hangers-on wavered and dithered, the to

GRAN

moveu prepare armed defence against the counter-revolution.

BODY

A new ad-hoc body first named the Committee for Struggle against Counter-Revolution but later to be better Military known the Revolutionary Committee, had been set up. "Early in the morning instructions were sent by telegram to the railroad workers and postal telegraph and soldiers "All movements of troops ... are to carried Oul al ene crecion or the Provisional Government Guard announced its readiness tó when countersigned by the Committee of put in tne nelo a lorce o1 40.000 People's Defence" ... At the same rifles. The unarmed workers time steps were taken the formed companies for trench- Iot destructión of Kornilovist nests in sheet-metal fortification, digging, Petrograd itself. Searches and barbed wire fencing." (Trotsky, were op.cit.p.224) carried in military schools and officers' organ- These developments were isations. doubly significant. Not only had During the hours of greatest preparations been accomplished at vacillation in the government unbelievably short notice, but the the district soviets in were drawing wiele process was compietely together and the hands and control of closer passing the resolutions: declare the inter- workers and soldiers themselves. tol district conferences continuous; ...

form a to morkers' militia: to

SWIFT

establish control of the district ibbe

OTEF

Thate mere flyirE dals of lightning tine for Ite

ARE F7

DET

50 jos tine presses tie the last

MASSNE

and summon the sorters. The mobilisation 20is 2= Best! Is register disa conter resolution *Z5 and all embracing

ETE: $5EI

i workers found their apart Especially imporian izi tast. 15055 De scities 2nt saiors. Debers of Red Guards: aros of 2=E-7r0LRos. bega= -Experienced soldiers ToTE I : = i Just tomisable tie icei * teachers Ack Goards had been fore Di 052s 5e=e most all the disricts. The Red While the forces of revolution strengthened hour by hour in independence, and the Kornilov camp was disinteg- rating by the minute. As the careful sabotage by the railroad workers halted the advance, the fraternisation, the seeds of friendship by so workers propaganda and sowing and soldiers who flocked out to surround Kornilov's forces were whittling his available down strength to nothing. His dreaded "Savage Division" of Caucasian mountaineers arrested staff

ILS

Cossack forces held meetings and discussions among themselves and and soldiers from with FOrkers IC

IPOSSELE

LATIENCE

70h5 00rdtzi= iszossble the ECTOr troops "The railroad Forkers in those dass did their durs. In echelo ns Foud find themsetres BOring on che Repents

TOTE

roads Tonk arrive the division, wrong artillery would be sent up a blind alley, staffs would • get out of communication with their units...

The telegraphers also held up the orders of Korniloy..." (Trotsky, pp.232-3) 31st August, By the entire military support of Kornilov had crumpled, crumbled nothing. The imposition of "firm" government had not been so simple a process after all.

"ALLEST"

Kornilov finally came to grips with situation, and submitresto the foual rocess through which Kerensky the evaded universal and soldiers demand = Kornior and his conspirators and does sit tacos to be a mar of conquest. is britabl! doomed to BeT catastroptes. Only the working dass, when it has gained pomer. will be able to passe a pezce policy I Ch 5=3 Page 7 Above: Fraternisation with Kornilor's 'Savage Division" led to them arresting their officers. Left: A soldiers' committee meets.

Trotsky anised the masses brought the olsheviks to the fore in the rea defence against counter-revolution and struck a mortal blow at the credibility of the Compromisers.

united action the against Kornilov the Bolsheviks had not acted to support Kerensky, but, in the words of Trotsky, showed the masses how to "Use Kerensky as a gun-rest to Kornilov. Afterward will settle with we Kerensky." The stage was now set for the October opening of the revolution.

REVIEWS

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest The use of psychiatry in the pviet Union to discredit and critics of the carcerate favourite ureaucracy Arget for anti-Soviet propa- anda in the bourgeois press.

But the use of dubious medical ¡teria to give a cloak of respect- bility the subordination of is probably ed on a wider scale in the West.

the use psychiatric ethods to break a petty criminal nich is the subject of the much- film "One Flew Over the aised ackoo's Nest". R.P. MaMurphy, played by Jack cholson, is the inmate of a state ison, an easy going con-man with record of fighting ("What's wrong th that? Rocky Marciano had 40 ghts and ended up a millionaire!") d statutory rape. He is refered to the state mental the assumption that titution on who fights must be looney incarcerated with inmates lose deviations owe as much to which they conditions under held illnesses they as to any ay suffer.

LESS REGIMENTED

During his stay, at the hospital Murphy undertakes to make the mates' lives (and his own) less gimented stimulating and poker for money playing Sead matchsticks, ¿Murphy's enrichment). Although tai-

YELLED

tched, they illustrate that when ren the opportunity, the nuts are aer than the hospital will ever ermit them to be. The reward McMurphy receives his troubles is "treatment" punishment, the distinction 1s (vial) for his misdemeanours, cluding electro-convulsive therapy aried out without anaesthesia (a chnique discredited medically but American penal used stitutions). Unbroken, McMurphy continues spar with the hospital author- es, passing up several opportun- Finally, after an to arious drunken party in the ward McMurphy, the head ranged urse sadistically drives guilt-ridden Billy to suicide, McMurphy ung tacks and almost strangles the and the authorities wheel off to the theatre to have part his brain cut out. He the ward as a getable, reduced to the level of - most hopeless inmates. Although the effects of various treatments carica- …яте film, the its underlying ome is all to real.

OBJECTS

The of mental treatment jents as objects to be used at the of their overseers has been lighted in a number of cases of nurses beating up patients, recent one involving the of a consultant after action by hospital workers.

would be wrong to see these cuts as the outcome of indiv- eccentricities. They result sees the a system which only tally as unproductive, as a ou someth Eva more insidious is the use of both las punishment can In Germany i was suggested for Utrilke that the reason Meinhof's terrorist activities lay not in the contradictions of contem- German society, but in the porary that she might have a possibility brain tumour' The barbaric proposal to submit her to brain

SUITIN

WILLY

prevented by a nationwide outcry, while torture she endured continued until it drove her to her death.

"ILLNESS"

The idea persists, however, that those who cannot or will not adapt to society and those who conscious- reject 1 as destructive must be suffering from form of some organic mental illness. The film attempts to show that it is socicty which creates the misfits andthen punishes them for their weaknesses. has captured the BUt of (especially) the imagination public is the of McMurphy fighting the system, seeing its contradictions and yet break away from it, unable to ultimately bringing about his own destruction. The obvious parallel is with the dissidents 1960s

WIL

social institutions then challenged but find themselves in 1976 part of that system, lobotomized by the consumer society, "democracy' and the American way of life.

It is at this generation too, that the Hollywood-style cop-out ending is aimed. Having illustrated all-too- convincingly that "you can't beat the system" the script-writers clear attempt to away the heavy pessimistic atmosphere.

SUBSTITUTE

They try to direct the audience's feelings away from reality, 'back to nature Eutrala black, and women's red, yellow • [O Dag campaigns in America which sub- stitute revolutionary politics and attempt to block any develop- ment of revolutionary conscious- Thus the film's final assertion is that you can't beat the system, but maybe you can individually clean up your own piece of it a little bit, and that will make everything alright. a philosophy justifięs I SUCh four Oscars and international acclaim then it is time lor a new generation of politically conscious challenge Holly- with revolutionary wood alternative. reviewed by Tony Richardson.

The play, 'Made in Britain' Paul by Steve Gooch and Thompson, is one of the most Vicious pieces of Anti-Communist propaganda to be presented in the theatre for some time Purporting to deal with a series of events which have taken place in British Leyland's Cowley Assembly Plant over the last ten years, it is reality equirements of the right wing in their struggle against the left in the factory. first 8 of the tor period covered by play the was a leadership factory which fought to organise the union, wages conditions, improved opposed Measured Day Work and defended agreements won in struggle.

SLANDER

period Gooch and Thompson (whose incidentally, was published by the Pluto publishers, Press) select witch hunt and lying slander leadership The final 2 years of this period

T&GWU

starts to ren moved in to break up bureaucracy powerful 5/55 Branch, the the re-election of the leadership by ballot in the midst of a national witch hunt and instal right winger Reg Persons: as convenor.

brought the This period break-up of conditions won, le loss of agreements, speed-up on the tracks and a substantial drop in the value of wages. This was carried out alongside an anti-communist witch- hunt reminiscent of McCarthyism.

Gooch two FIom There bycals and Thompson show not a single attack Parsons, not single SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976 Workers leave the Cowley Assembly Plant

I'TALE WITH ASTING

"MADE IN BRITAIN" By Steve Gooch and Paul Thompson recognition of the continuous fight With another twist of the facts waged against him. in defence of the 1969 six-week strike in conditions. They Parsons' ignore opposition to Measured Day Work to attend the 5/293 presented as ending in a drift T&GWU Branch, the of- election back to work - when in fact the Alan Thornett as Chairman of the strike was solid to the end.

branch and of the Joint Shop The return to work in fact only Stewards Committee, and the natched ok and a struggles in the factory around the recommendation hatched after shop stewards' 'Open the Books national Committee. officials had been fought for at a mass meeting by local

PARTICIPATION

officials. the play, the only person pressing to stay out is, laughably, a student, such ridiculous putting arguments as "the vale car las conceal the manoeuvres to bring it become effectively self- destructive"! 117. U1] of even this ludicrous course detail ties in with the witch hunting suppress the widespread shop-floor of the media, anxious to suggest opposition to "participation'.

"infiltration" into the factories. And by inventing such caricatures the authors show their contempt Priestion this the for the best layers of workers who prepared to fight

MDW.

were

PAY RISE

On MDW itself the play simply official in the play "pay rise', and suggests it means a that al his members are in lavour completely distorts the agreement which was fought for by the leader- Parsons is thus defended to the ship after the strike. hilt. A stark contrast to this is the For year after MDW was forced in (backed by the threat that workers who rejected it would be called

CHOOSE

the labour pool on into leadership in the factory.

lower wages), the leadership refused to sign an agreement - fighting for be included. full mutuality to the way the Tory press claimed in a When finally this was conceded by the company and the agreement was International signed, of their 1966 Election campaign. It and Party, Socialists Communist disappeared from the media the day the principled anxious to oppose stand of the leadership (since their been to accept and position had "negotiate" MDW) turned around to attack the agreement, which was one of the only agreements in the containing a entite donate a day's pay to the Lifeboat clause. (This agreement mutuality has since been torn up by Parsons.

up with this, the play Lining describes the agreement as a "lousy

JOCULAR

agreement" the doubt to The director of the play has of IS, CP, and right applause argued that he attempted to show wingers alike "Doin" way. But in the play to slander and witch hunt being raised Every from the capitalist press is dragged of the leading characters discussing out in the play's presentation of the Senior after the mass meeting seriously victimisation of Deputy Thornett in 1974. conclude conmetimes thessary violence that Steward Alan trial"' The "noose

STEWARD

which shows method IunS through the whole paly - portraying *The steward" principled leadership "drivers" is the portrayed as an idiot, of whom the mindless militants talking "he's played right abstract strings of political cliches.

company say 'our hands", while a steward The almost incomprehensible into (rommitted hoc tactical

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976 "trigger-happy". The authors combine this with getting wrong the cause of the strike which led to the victimisation. They join too with the Tory press and the right wing in the unproved by leadersati allegation that meetings under ine old °manipulated/5s Branch were

FROM

From this total perversion of history, to the present day. The Ryder plan is termed "a move away from conflict" - tell that to the workers who have been speeded up!

The 95% state holding in Leylands likewise referred to "nationalisation"

'UNITED

The finale of the play is a song which united management and unions sing together - which sums up the authors' "perspective for the industry's present and future" It is only litting that such display of venonomous hostility to the struggle for principled defence of conditions should turn out to be technically as well as politically a dreadful play, and that its first performances held in Cowley in the nopes of luring a few carworkers to see it should have been given to an almost empty hall. But the right wing have been singing its praises. BLMC Body Convenor Bill Roche lyingly described it as "entertaining" , while Reg Parsons claimed that it would cause offence no-one "except perhaps a few militants".

To show how thoroughly he has swung the right,

AUEW

Convenor of

BLMC

Service actory John Power, who in 1966 as was the main target of the

WT X

'Noose Trial' witch hunt, went on television to urge his members to go and see the play. Oxford Mail Industrial Reporter Peter Sturges has added his voice to the right wing clamours of support.

Sturges was at the forefront of the victimisation of Alan Thornett, and has for years played a key role in witch-hunt in the town record which has caused him to be deservedly hated by trade unionists in every sector. The violent campaign This hatred was reflected recent- launched against Boston's ly in the Trades Council decision to black exclude him community from reached topolills meetings. new level on April 27th when racists openly threatened the lives of leading campaigners against school segregation.

In an interview printed in the Boston Phoenix, Warren Zaniboni head of the white terror "vigilante group known as the South Boston Marshals Association, was quoted as saying ...were looking for Tom Atkins and Maceo Dixon'

LEADER

Atkins is the leader of the Boston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) - the foremost US civil rights movement which has over 400,000 members; while Dixon heads National Student Coalition Against Racism

(NSCAR),

a antracist movement Young initiated largely Alliance (YSA) Socialist of which Dixon National Executive The

YSA

is the

HIGHLEUVE

youth organisation of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). It is the NAACP and the NSCAR Extreme right winger Parsons - not censured at all in play which he Carlists recommends as "inoffensive".

In Sturges' opinion the play Attacked "does give a fairly accurate idea of factory life" Considering most of the material seems to direct come Irom the collected works oi Peter On May 9th on a mountain Sturges this is hardly surprising!

top in Navarra a rally of 5000 for the details of "factory life" - the director of the play in a supporters of the Carlist party, discussion afterwards with advocates Carlist handful of people who had turned pretender Spanish to the up to see said that they throne, was attacked, had two of discussed with CP, IS and labour its members being killed and left shop stewards. In other words, was based on a cross-section of several wounded, by another those opposed the fight for group also claiming allegiance principled leadership in the factory.

to the Carlist cause. The real record of the struggles This bizarre event las grown into at Cowley would make 'Made in Britain" Spamish regimet major political crisis the compelling play. the not real record, disastrous play. The Carlists, dislodged from the The authors, revealed as a pair of Spanish throne in the nineteenth witch-hunters, describe their play as century, were leading supporters of not a documentary but "a tale".

Franco in the civil is a tale with a sting. They Wals moved opposition to Franco JItO after the dictator's of

DEATH THREATS

BOSTON RACISTS

which have led the campaign at the centre of the current storm, a to break segregation in schools by busing children between white and black neighbourhoods to achieve a racial balance.

VIOLENCE

Racist violence against blacks has been mounting sharply since 5th when, amid screams of wet the nigger, kill him" , a mob of White high school students nearly a black attorney Theodore KILea Landsmark outside the City Council Chamber. While Mayor Kevin White watched from his office window, Landsmark knocked to the ground and kicked in the face. His nose was smashed by demon- strator wielding a steel pole attach- ed to which was an Arherican flag.

BOMBS

The previous day a bomb had destroyed a school bus in Dorches and the following the assault on Landsmark have been examples violence The policies of the party are nOW hardly distinguishable from those of the Socialist Party with Carlists have which the been in in alliance Democratic the Platform. The Carlists, like the socialists are now in the wider Democratic Coordination which included the Communist Party. The pretender, Prince. Hugo, who led the rally, says incongruously that: We are monarchists but we do not demand the throne and power.

What we do demand is a socialist society"! The attackers were led by Carlos Hugo's younger brother Sixto and included members of the ultra- right terrorist Guerillas of group Christ the King. They жете allowed to escape ver attacked by antibusing mob in Boston isolated rifle blacks living in hoods and gangs of white thugs cruising black areas smashing cars and windows. It is clear that the violence organised. On April 8th and 9th, the Charlestown Marshals Association and the South Boston Marshals Association announced mounting of the dusk dawn to patrols to "protect" all-white areas.

Despite a seeming lack of inter- authorities and the capitalist Dress were quick to move in when blacks dragged from his car and beaten up Violence" was launched. a move which encouraged statements such as that James Kelly (leader of the violently Rights" (ROAR) During the next two days there were strikes and demonstrations throughout Navarra. In the nearby town of Estrella almost the whole population joined a silent protest march. The town council has said it will resign unless the government moves against the attackers. Even the local Juage has demanded the same.

In Pamplona 10,000 strong protest was violently broken up bi police. As is normal in cases of ultra right violence the Francoist góvern ment had taken no action.

however, left without its usual excuse that the culprits are unknown: several Madrid have published mowspaptis clear photographs of them actually in the act of shooting. This episode and its aftermath come on top. growing public allegations made by lawyers all over Spain, but especially in Euskadi that political prisoners are being subjected to the most extreme and brutal forms of torture. All this has further re 9 In the face of an intensive rac campaign muth liberal backing f 24th an April pro-busing demo stration fell away. Perhaps mo damaging was the decision of tl NAACP to withdraw support letter to the

NSCA

Margaret Bush Wilson, on behalf the NAACP Boards of Director stressed the coming elections of: "not handing the reactionari an opportunity capitalise o latent fears" She argued for a mass 'campaig of voter registration because: "The political offe immeasurable opportunities bring about positive social chang but such opportunities can only b realised if the people most affecte appreciate the value of their vote" This statement th up hopeless confusion of the Liber bourgeois leaders the busin fight. They are always at pains t avoid any politic cal or ine independence of the working clas or the building of a labour party.

At a news conference on Apr 21st, Maceo Dixon of the NSCA announced the April 24th demor stration would have to be resche uled "The black community is unde heavy attack. We are in a state o siege. The intensity of the racis terror is such that it is not possibl to hold a peaceful legal activity a this time" Seizing the initiative, Mayo White, who had. done nothing defend blacks under attack, for a "march against violence calle April 23rd 20,000 peopl marched to Boston City Hall whèr they heard Protestant, Jewish and Catholic religious leaders deplor violence and call for prayers heal the wound of our city".

Despite the decision of the

NAACP

this march less to back than 5,000 of the demonstrators were black

CENTRAL

23rd march as an attempt to avoid central issue of racist violence future plans. In a public statement, Maceo Dixon attacked the Mayor's record on opposition to violence directed «Yes, a march is needed today, but a march that says the law, the applied fully and firmly. A march that says that federal presecution of federal troops be on hand and fully ing our black youth roll into areas their teeth and obviously hope to a final blow to the pro- However, their national march in

OHHY

40,000 to 50,000 expected by the Extra police were drafted into the schools on April 26th and the authorties obviously feel that the situation could get completely out of hand over the summer. Last August blacks and whites fought over use South o1 Boston's Carson beach - a public facility which in practice has been closed to blacks. The issues involved in the means to see mopings means groupings calling themselves Trotskyist have come out in favour of busing, most of these groups have been espec- ially critical of the call by the Socialist Workers Party for federal troops to enforce desegregation.

In future article Socialisi Press will attempt to throw some light on the background to the Boston events and the questions of revolutionary strategy posed by

LETTERS

We welcome letters from readers. Letters publicatevi should be kept as brief as possible.

CONFERENCE TASS -AT LEAST IN WORDS

e 10

PAGE

First-hand reports from key conferences. Jenkins NEC Apologist Williams

ASTMS

INACTIVE

"WKECKERS"

As if anxious to vindicate This ridicule was backed not by urgument but simply by the NEC's Press' the 'Socialist article the ability of contempt for week beforeland, written

4WIL

workers to plan such services. But the ASTMS bureaucracy man- was not dersuadea to

CORLCICICC

oeuvred and squirmed away the motion by these argu- from any commitment to ments and it was remitted to the

NEC.

action for, the three days of their Annual Delegate Con- ference. The end result was that they with carte-blanche emerged to the continue in the way they see fit.

for its inacton on last Year's reso- The key to their efforts was an against all private practice agenda rigged to exclude any calling for action be

MOLDS

and reference back of the NECS taken. And the essential camouflage tor this were two 'lett' resolutions - "urging support" for one verbally defeated, despite a vigorous defence the Day of Action against unem- ployment on May 26th called by the Assembly of Labour, and the delegates at the conference reflect- rejecting the Healey-Jones n pay policy, this apparently ship over the last year government on the NHS has branded "a small minority But the ship is committed to is casting its against the deal at were even more angry fol- lowing the deletion of all motions the special TUC conference in June.

result of this gesture the number of ASTMS members hostile to the way fingers of one hand. closed a meeting of NHS delegates on the Sunday eveining as soon as on economic policy passed at the few speakers allowed on the issue, "the fundamental need for emer- twisting, evading and distorting the urgent need to build up the manu- lack of action, maintaining the workers internationally, was vigor- provided to Conference was reflect-

DENY

who pointed out the racialist and reference back motion proposed by the Oxford Health Service Branch

UNEMPLOYMENT

Tate No policy was adopted on unem- President congratulated the staff of conference, appointed officials on the smooth though a long and vague motion remitted to the NEC, who will be what fittle glad of the chance to ignore the few demands (such as a ban on over- time) which it did contain.

manoeuvres of the Jenkins ASTMS But it was on the government spending cuts on the social services but equally effective way to Jack bankruptcy of the NEC that the emerged most clearly. T&GWU seeks to hold the member- posed the cins, a me NoC hist opposed

NEC

cuts, OI governmcal tried to claim that the Labour government had not increased to an unprecedented degree the cuts Seeing this met little response, exposed to the membership they moved on to ridicule the idea that social services should be political alternative in the union to planned by elected committees of trade unionists, housewives and therefore the clearest task tollowing tenants to meet the needs of workers. The annual conference of

AUEW

(TASS)

meeting in Bouremoutin overwhelmingly rejected incomes policy any under capitalism, reaffirming the decision of the

AUEW

National Conference last year.

That NC decision by rule is binding on all four sections and all "technicality" did not ignoring union policy ment at the General Council TASS General Secretary Ken Gill voted against the deal, but the last year's events show unlikely to be more than a token Communist Party, adopted a so-called "flexible wages policy" which in effect means there is no national strategy over wages, best they can.

DECLINE

As real wage levels of TASS members continue to decline stead- iyat TASS menders so mashs have the leadership must hope "flexibility" the same as their wages policy. An EC spokesman poured scorn on a motion calling for a national campaign to with a sliding scale of wages to keep pace with inflation. He said it would be "difficult" to get the employers to agice lu it. Presumably wage claims are now to be the employers deciding what they will agree?

This shows clearly that the EC Technology was the key issue at the annual conference the union has woken upto the fact that the campaign by our employers and in their news- papers against "overmanning" Fleet Street has been the ing has given newspaper groups the which erodes printing jobs included, have largely ignored the equipment has been installed with a compositores and proof readers are that the jobs that are left could be turn the whole production of news- papers. Into has abandoned all hope of main- members' taining

TASS

living standards. policy" The "flexible is in reality no more than a miserable capitulation to the incomes policy dictated by the ruling class, and its supporters in the TUC. The over the amal- gamated union's attitude is only policy the most Incomes obvious sign of the deep divisions which preventing towards a full amalgamation of the four sections. main stumbling block of officials. At present TASS officials are appointed by a selection com- Some delegates showed such a contempt for the membership that they opposed any electoral system as inevitably leading to right wing ing bureaucratisation of the union wide support for action to protect jobs at Wolverhampton was, sabo- ordered members to resume normal basis is not a bargaining counter. It is an immediate essential require- LiEu

NUJ: FOCUS ON JOBS

which no section played a vital role.

this challenge the ratceti WIll NUJ leadership simply bowed the knee. According to General Secretary Ken Morgan, the possible intro- duction up visual display units, (whereby journalists would take over the jobs of redundant printers) that industrial would mean only could move into the hands f NUJ members Leaving aside the unprincipled in this union leadership portrayed remark, it shows considerable the job would be stupidity since done one to hand if the by any NUJ should strike. motion from the Magazine branch calling for a one year ban of further the introduction technology while a rank and file carried independent analyse out was defeated. place a motion from the In its wing London Central branch right carried the day by 199 votes to This firmly committed the

THIS.

union to a policy of permitting redundancy. Its wording, covering the whole one side of the order paper, included such gems as "a positive approach which will maintain... the optimum number ofjobs". Straight faced, it said, "ADM believes that the number SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 19th, 1976

PAY CUTS REJECTED

ment of TASS members and all other trade unionists.

POSTAL BALLOT

We are opposed fundamentally the postal ballot form to election, wich nands the mass media But this must not divert us into the sterile and elitist path of supposing the union must be protected against its members.

In this period it is the Urgall isations thrown up by the rank and file, such as multi-union combine be committees, which must defended against the trade union bureaucracy which fears anything it cannot control. It is against this background that the proposals for reorganising TASS must be seen. Instead of each of the 26 divisions electing an EC member : only nine lay EC members, and this is seen by towards a full- many as a move time EC. The one EC member to the left of the Stalinists be removed as a result.

FILTERING

Similarly the reduction in the size of the conference which will will introduce a filtering process where- by oppositional motels from reaching prevented conference. Summing up, it must be said that the conference marked of. TASS from ar further active fight against the class collab- oration of the TUC, into a world of left-wing verbiage and no. action. This is perhaps best illustrated by the passing of a motion against the willi understanding that this would in no

TASS

prevent schule delegates

BLMC

Ryder com- to mittees. The ASTMS Conference by Peter Mcintyre of workers displaced through volun- tary redundancy, voluntary full retirement pension (note not full pay, and natural wastage should be kept to a minimum Following this lead, since the ADM, can already be executives seen visiting the offices of new and and super technology papers " marvelling their economy of labour. What has become known as the "Barnsley issue" ' provided the other Full main debate. support was to NUJ branches which, Pike Bad Barnsley, launch a campaign against non-union journalists, the of particular against Institute claim to be a "trade union" by con- tinuing to bring out the Daily Telegraph during the current dispute). The Barnsley. issue proves one thing. of totally small branch non political trade unionists took a Having made the choice they stuck to their guns despite a smear from the whole of the campaign national press. The ovation given to the Barns.

ley delegates was an expression of the optimism that their determin- has in all but the sparked most hardened and cynical right wing elements of the union.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19th May 1976.

BEHIND JONES' WAGE CUTTING

T&G OFFICIALS

CRUSH UNION

DEMOCRACY

'We carry below a number of accounts of the repression of democracy within the Transport and General Workers Union - which is rapidly becoming not only Britain's biggest but also Britain's most bureaucratic union.

It is no accident that this has stepped up as Jones leads the pack of TUC leaders in the acceptance of a substantial wage cut in the form of the 4½% union's conference policy, in line only with British capitalism's defence of the ройни. Such actions require the suppression of any independent sections of the union - from the shop stewards movement through independent committees to branches and any individual who fights for the rights of the working class.

The scorn for democracy by the T&GWU leadership was shown clearly by the endorsement of Jones' position by the National Executive Committee. none of whom have held meetings of the members they supposedly represent.

collapse those 'left' NEC members who timidly voted ine oI opposition to the pay cuts, only to join in a unanimous endorsement of a reworded proposal shows the crisis of leadership in the union.

CHAIRMAN'S

3 VOTES

After the 5/293 branch elections last December the right in wing the Oxford

T&GWU

have lost their majority committee on crucial to the bureaucratic moves by which they hang on to their positions in the town - District Automotive Committee. A problem arose for them at the April at which meeting a delegate was to be elected the annual TO conference of the T&GWU policy 17 Automotive Group. There are the Oxford District Committee, and only 7 be can upon to vote for the right Tened wing. Mathers With one mind - to object suit their case) and since the May Alan Thornett (a member of stop had broken up with no the Committee), from going to the meeting decision having been taken and the 12IL conference was only 3 weeks away, conducted the most allazma which gave no time for a reelection - the Oxford District would have no

VOTES

delegate to the policy conference. This disqualification of Parsons is a tacit admission by the Regional There Committee the that right-wing Alan Thornett Reg Parsons. manipulated the vote. vote for was taken i ne would sooner deprive first, But they the T&GWU car workers in Oxford of a delegate than face a reelection The announced then which Thornett could win.

The then taken vote for Thornett, nine delegates. raising

FOREMAN

their hands. chairman then

IN BRANCH

the result and

- BY ORDER

Having allow to challenge chair he then LO The of assistant secretary closed the claiming Cartransport the

T&GWU

'pandemonium' broken out. Oxford, a branch branch in which of covers number Committee firms engaged in transporting new the distributors again, and to the Docks, was recently the branches which the promoted to a foreman's job were named. of these firms - J. B. in one The letter pointed out that each Henry LTD. of the 9 were prepared to make a Since of part statement on how he voted.

management the matter was raised meeting and the

NO REPLY

made that he be correct demand removed branch officer. month later, when the May David Buckle, the extreme right meeting assembled. Regional District Secretary of the Wing Committee had not replied to the

T&GWU,

ruled that he not only branches. his position Assistant Ittaln The tactic of the right wing was Secretary but that he would also to get the minutes accepted as his retain position the V11 true record emen clarin lnal negotiating committee. this ratified the election.

When minutes were not of of the One major groups accepted the right wing found a drivers within the branch then close meeting. application under rule for a The branches then received new branch, because they did not letter from Brian Mathers attend meetings with Regional Secretary, that management at the table. since the letters from the branches This was refused Brian by conflicted with the minutes (which Mathers, Regional Secretary of the The credentials of 19 lead- Hull ing shop stewards on docks have been withdrawn by the T&GWU Region 10 Com- mittee (covering NE coast). In a curt letter, which gave reason for the no decision, the Regional Secre- D. Cairn, said tary, that the men could no longer represent the T&GWU in the of port Hull. The issue used by the Regional bureaucracy IoT Tos action was Ene blacking by the Hull dockers of the BACAT (Barge aboard Catamaran) The system relies on shallow draft barges being carried aboard a ship of Catamaran-type construc- the barges tion. arrival, released from the ship direct into inland waterways - - thus completely by-passing the docks, threatening jobs and conditions. Although the

T&GWU

has opposed the BACAT system, the 10 committee ordered the Region black on. be lifted. to mass meeting of dockers rejected this - and the withdrawal of stewards cards followed.

INDEPENDENCE

Of course there is more to the action of the T&GWU bureaucrats than the issue of

BACAT.

Trad- dockers Lonally, through their unofficial committees often with a considerable degree of from independence the officials. And Hull they have worked Now the bureaucracy want to move in firmly and end that indep- endence. is part of the right- It ward swing of the union bureau- daily results in which now bureaucratic attacks on any section of workers or shop stewards who way to act indep- attempt in any endently and defend their wages or working conditions. In this way the Hull attack is Following the recent decision of the

T&GWU

stewards the British s at Leyland Assembly for of the Joint chairman Shop new right

T&GWU

David who has just been (with the personal 'of Jack Jones) to all the car management facilities trom the Shop Stewards Committee. thorn body the Books organising the

DOCKS STEWARDS ATTACKED

directly linked to the scramble to stamp out resistanice among British workers hahting the laws, and to the continuing blatant bureaucratic moves in the Cowley It links also to the arrogant way TUC leaders have ridden roughshod over their union's entirely without mandate in order to impose Stage 2 of wage control But the problem in Hull is that those No mobilisation has taken place in Instead the leadership especially Chairman the Port Stewards and one of those light of the victimisation by simply dock stewards have been placed by the bureaucracy at the mercy of the Port employers, who, whilst contin- to prepared to wait. They know that conc varionised mieves is the ot, the declared not eligible to stand, and on the dock refuse to challenge the withdrawn is Tony Fee, Chairman of

T&GWU

Regional Committee. Another is Walt Greendale, a

CALLING IN MANAGEMENT

centre of recent struggles at the plant, is not surprising the company readily this By this open use of management the right wing hope to break up the committee's

AGM

which is scheduled for Monday May 24th. The campaign was stepped up last Friday with a major article in the Oxford Mail by industrial reporter Peter Sturges. Sturges now not simply the voice of BLMC management but, as local secretary of the Institute of Journalists (the scab organisation set up as a rival to break the strength of the NUT is himself active organiser of a strikebreaking force the newspaper industry. His article on the JSSC echoes phrases used by Buckle at a secret meeting of selected T&GWU shop Assembly Plant stewards in the days earlier. He writes: were raised by the "Oblections Transport and General Workers Page A BACAT shir member of the Finance and Gener Purposes Committee th T&GWU Executive mandate from conference. closely with the bureaucracy. kno th They know it would be a blo at the T&GWU bureaucracy natior won

WOTKEN

respond to such a fight, seeing th It is the property of the trad ove the do as shold b ETeE begin in the T&GWU led by thos sections who have been the victim *For the return of the stewards *For democratic election and other procedures *For all officials, local, Regiona and National, to be elected and no appointed. Buckle] and the Company acted" He creates the usual illusion of a left "plot' by describing the wing AGM as "moves to revive the Join!

Shop Stewards Committee" and But val. "The JSSC is now being seen as means which Thornett can extend his influence By to destroy democratic Shop Stewards committee and substitute secret meetings of a minority of selected stewards the right wing hope to win desperately what they need - some kind of base the stewards movement in the plant. is difficult stewards plant with a history of principled struggle when you represent simply an arm of management engaged in taking away the things which have been won in the past. This is the real conspiracy which be must and fought in

Page 12

KICK OUT LABOUR'S

RACISTS

IN MIDLANDS

demonstrators were arrested clashes outside 2,000 demonstrators, week including a large contingent Tane elected an used dustbin lids with mounted police charges.

The NF had boasted of taking to protest the jailing vention of the The fact that so few of their supporters turned up indicates the anti-fascist of recent mobilisations. who has insisted on his "right' to sell his house to 'English people only' has a long history as

12 PAGES!

'Socialist Press' will expand to a regular 12 page format from our 11th August edition.

We have, of course, already published a number of 12 page editions in response to the development of the Workers Socialist League, the the amount of material support for the paper and submitted. To go to a regular 12 page paper will mean that editions which include our theoretical supplement Trotskyism Today will be 16 pages. The finance for these extra pages and improved coverage will come from the increased sales already achieved. The price of the paper will therefore temam at IDD. But to ensure the expansion of our movement continues and to finance the employment of editorial staff, the National Committee of the WSL has decided to increase our Monthly Development Fund from £500 to £600 starting with this month.

The amount received so far for the May Fund totals £205.97. This is a good start but not good enough if we are to reach the new target by the end of the month. Comrades in all areas must fight to raise the finance on which we as a movement depend.

*The final total for the Publication Fund which is now closed, reached £612.78.

RULE 14

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETINGS

At their meeting on May Trades 11th the Camden Council voted 51-18 with 9 Liverpool accept Rule abstentions, to Our Programme to Defend Jobs 14, the new rule for Trades and Wages Councils brought in by the Tom Halls lavern to remove individuals (formerly The Strand)

TUC

Head Brunswick St, Near Pier and prevent support for any 2.30pm May 26th. organisation opposed to TUC policies. Trades The vote on Camden Council came only after a series of Skelmersdale manoeuvres including the Stalinist Our Programme to Defend Jobs Secretary of the Trades Council, *and Wages Sid Gregory, TUC backing, with Tuesday 25th May at 7.30pm himself closing down the Trades Quarrybank Community Centre, Council and cancelling the April Ormskirk Rd, Skelmersdale meeting He managed to get the vote at the May meeting by circularising all affiliated branches informing

BIRMINGHAM

them that they could only te- Racism - The Threat of Fascism.

affiliate if they brought a letter to Trades Council that Wednesday 2nd June at 7.30 the saying "The Wellington" their branch was agreement with Rule 14. Bristol St., Birmingham If the TUC is prepared to go to the rule force such the Trades Councils which onto not accepted it, then they

BRIXTON

have and the right-wing on the Trades Forward to the African Councils are going to obvIously Revolution use the rule to expel opposition or Wednesday 2nd June at 7.30 close down Trades Councils.

is reported that the The Canterbury Hotel Already it leadership of Sheffield Trades Canterbury Gardens, Brixton Council has used the rule to dis- from the Working affiliate Women's Charter.

RIGHT WING BUREAUCRATS

GIVE OPENINGS TO FASCISTS

of a motion condemning Jarvis, demanding withdrawal remarks, and reaffirming a policy motion was passed 83-52 is This, however, not enough. Jarvis must be removed from all Labour Party trade recent electoral successes of the far right, two council seats Blackburn and 43,000 votes for show the danger facing the whole working class. It should be noted that immed- iately before the election, the Sun campaign around immigrants lodged in a - very convenient timing for all those forces wishing to point the finger at immigrants workers in Britain. The blame for the 43,000 NF votes in Leicester lies fairly and

UIL

T&GWU bureaucracy stand against racism at the time of Imperial Typewriters strike Lu vas act Not only did they do nothing years Executive member of East and the (all-white) shop stewards committee.

STEWARD

When Asian workers elected an Asian shop steward to represent Weaver their and the interests shop stewards committee brought a rule stipulating two years membership union a quatif- ication for stewards credentials.

In this they were consistently backed up by Percy Neal, District Committee chairman the

T&GWU.

This disgraceful episode has left the door open to further gains by the NF. WelC Councils. The unity of last Saturday's Oxford demonstration against the cuts in the public services was split by the right-wing and refused to allow the Oxford and District Trades Council a platform position at the public had previously boycotted the anti- the Trades Council on March 13th.

called instead, last Satur- auspices of the Joint Trade Union Committee in the hospitals.

no real base in the hospitals they workers to them by parading the speakers - Geoffrey Drain, General bureaucrats drew only a handfui onto the 400-strong demonstration with the main force being mobil- the ised by the campaigning. Trades Council which fully sup- 300 of the 400 ported the march. marchers rallied behind the Trades Council banner. was this size of mobilisation It which by the Trades Counci An irate Drain To leve leader Clive Jenkins and the Labour Party bureaucracy is exposed by Jenkins' brazen Constituency Labour Party.

have been continuously manoeu- months to reverse the sion was prevented on a Charing

KTANCE

condemned the General Secrètary not to be a member of AST Selly gives platform to launch a vicious Newham NE Labour Party" means of victimisation used section of the union, held during SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesddy 19th May 1976

DRAIN LEADS

HECKLERS

prompted a request from the floor of the meeting for a Trades Council speaker on the platform. The right- wing chairman Chris Luker refused, Demands from all sides of the meeting got no better response and calls for a vote on the matter were bureaucrat after another explained ex lae wage he ting 41e% pay dear at the TUC General Council a week The great majority of the meet- however, remained whilst the that the Trades Council saw the fight against the cuts as crucial continue the at the said cra ct sitting here for 2,000 years if we wait for them to at the back of the hall, ed by Geoffrey Drain, whoshouted The majority of this group, with stalis out then looking embarrassed in the middle "take this back to the he would which means that the attacks

TUC'

of on those the bureaucracy to Oxford who are determined defend the standard of living of the working class are not over.

PLOT TO SAVE

PRENTICE

the second prom

CULICIZ

v11 sion and exclusion of the tank and Public Meeting

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

"Why the 'Moderates" Attack Union Democracy" Thursday 27th May at 8pm The Blue Room, Wadham College