Socialist Press no. 35

mass media, aims to turn the frustration felt by many workers at the declining living standards and mass unemployment created by the Labour government, into a means of splitting the unity of the

BOSSES

RENEW

RACISI

CAMPAIGN

working class. working class itself. the newspapers, The plan emerged clearly in the sequence of stories publicised last the articles week. *On Sunday (23rd May) every single news centred around a long main item on 30 fascists (from the students, Front National and Party protesting at Gatwick Air- arrival the port against expelled from Goans coming to live in Britain. Since arrive and planeloads of people eave Gatwick all the time it was hard to see any hot news in such a workers storon Monday the Powell story cannot solve. Powell in Parliament. broke just happened to have got hold of "confidential" government happened document, which just support his racist views. • To ensure the story was followed ur the Assistant Under Secretary of working wrote the document State who went out of his way to defend ism all this. thus lending the authority of the government to Powell's rantings.

"ATV

*Also Monday on 15 'nearly Today" presented coverage the on minutes ot National Front strength of the has The television in Leicester. key role in this played a campaign Tuesday television and the FOn trial of Relf, the policies splashed the Jordan, Colin ex-bodyguard to who had tried to start a branch of bureaucracy Ku Klux Klan, and 1s ar the acknowledged Nazi.

FILM

The itself further ATV Today showed film of a handful of fascists demonstrating offensive.. with Relf's interview and an This wife. This spate of propaganda was

THOUS

backed up by a series of articles in

SOCIALIST

PRESS>

A conscious campaign is underway to whip up racist sentiments amongst certain sectors of the The campaign, carefully orchestrated by the capitalist class through the press and to free immigration. Not only did and follows on Sun on im- they refuse to in Immigration migrants in hotels. articles certainly Sun expulsion the helped create the racist hysteria which murdered the two overseas stabbed North unrestricted London last week. and There has been some surface TO response in the working class to class this orchestrated campaign.

"exploited But in order to fight this we and of the capitalism have to look at the source response - the frustration felt by the interest they socialism. problems racig

REFUSAL

British imperialism This frustration is caused by the colonial and the refusal of the trade union and the Labour leaders to mobilise troops British action over class Northern Ireland housing, jobs and wages. Racial- cannot be separated off from thoroughly 'left' the While some trade union leaders leaders who are themselves strongly opposed to racialism, this is not enough.

import controls Racist divisions once built up of ally by capitalism can only effectively against be knocked down when workers come into action as a class against gramme for the crisis. the main enemy. By blocking this, out instead the carrying of the employers the bureaucracy strengthens racism.

For the most part the union Labour leaders and have the most abysmal record of While it is capitulation to racism and every kind of backward nationalism.

Callaghan government considering already was speeches are now not enough.

restricting immigration The bosses' before Powell moved on to the is consistent with the be fully attacks of the previous Wilson administration on the right

TIM

LAWS

Tory injured. They repeal the they even Act, tightened it further at the time of from of the visit of two US warships.

We stand as socialists for the The Athens clashes right of all workers the second day of the 48 hours work whatever in national strike called by a com- country they choose. The working international class, mittee of trades unionists against country by the new laws. every the fact that the with a common Despite government-recognised struggle of Confederation negotiated the final version of the We condemn the notorious rec- law direct with the regime, over ord of successive Labour govern- ments in supporting the actions of 150,000 workers struck forced some last minute amend- against struggles of workers and peasants

TECHILS.

ex-colonial countries - as continued today by

RUMP

in Dhofar and The official Confederation is a rump body in whose leadership And we equally condemn the government supporters and many reactionary stand of figures who backed the Colonels and union Labourites dictatorship are now daily advocate represented the nationalist and divisive policy In many industries its sections seeking to workers with British capital- are smaller than

TOIC

unions built since the fall of the "foreign" capitalists Junta in 1974. rather than pose a socialist pro-.

The law now passed is a com- plete straightjacketing of the right formally embodied ir to strike,

POWELL

the constitution since the end of open dictatorship. , can now be seen to further fuel the reactionary fire of It bans political and unofficial strikes and those without "proper Powell's nationalism and racism.

notice" vital that ever Workers in state enterprises trade union leader and Labour MP face ling or periory face and councillor be forced to take a stand against racialism, correct period. time employers' rights to impose immediate lock-outs moves to whip up scabs' "right "to work get forceful divisions and violent splits within legal backing. the workers movement can only These sweeping attacks on the an all out answered by working struggle in defence of jobs, wages

FORTNIGHTLY PAPER OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

NO 35 * 2nd JUNE 1976 * 10p

MINERS

MUST

DEFEAT

PAY CUTS

It is becoming clear that the ballot on the

NUM

wage-cut plan

TUC 42%

result in its could well rejection. We urge all miners who chance to the still have defeat the help vote to deal. More news Page 11.

GREEK WORKERS

FIGHT ANTI-STRIKE

By a Special Correspondent.

Violent street battles errupted in Athens on May 25th leading to the arrest of almost 200 people and leaving dozens of workers Karamanlis regime were the direct result of the using police and military force to force sweeping anti-strike laws through Parliament. On the same day armed police attacked crowd of 10,000 on the island of Rhodes who were protesting at police through througe Virtually the whole of massive came on the Athens police forces, armoured cars and tear gas, were mobilised against a demonstration to the Parliament building.

An elderly woman died after General being run down by a police car, Labour and many building workers were among those injured and arrested.

Paratroops were reported to be 238G at the ready in the northerr though they were not suburbs, used. Nonetheless, street fightin continued for almost twelve hour bringing an extension of the strike in some areas, and a press strike it protest the following day.

The determined resistance pu up - against very large sections o the trade union bureaucracy, strongly the the abstention of Party - throws government's abilit doubt the militant to operate the new laws. In principle, however, the law all th outlawed would have protests against the legislation.

HATRED

The demonstration on Rhod reflected the deep hatred of U imperialism and its close relatio to the present regime. Police use tear gas in an attempt to disper ten-day a peaceful crowd of ten thousa At the same against demonstrating of the aircraft carr and America and a cruiser tighting ensuing In the police headquarters was serious damaged. So was the car of t pushed

Political crisis continues Page 2

NAMIBIA

militants condemned The death sentences passed on the two SWAPO militants Hendrik Shikongo and Aaron South Muchinba African government in illegal occupation of Namibia must be condemned throughout the labour movement. All to secure their reversal must be given support.

any They

CAUSE

talk 'self determination' for of Namibians and show the determin- ation of the Vorster regime to hang onto Namibia with its rich deposits all of Uranium and diamonds by including, the murder of those fighting for indep- endence. South Africa currently engaged in a 'constitutional confer- ence' at Windhoek. the capital of Namibia to decide the future of the This is to some extent a cormory. retlection of the pressure irom the Angolan government which is giving measure support Namibian independence movement.

However; the present taiks are Vorster's stall. part ot

CLU

Majority rule and independence is not even on the conference agenda!

largest liberation movement and the ughout Namibia ettectively banned 110L COl 14 Te (because he knows full well that it the talks on the basis of: The release of all Namibian pol- Vorster says that: work out their own future without any interference from South Africa, because he knows full well that the local whites will never agree to the colony up to the First World War) all come from South Africa and are led by a Mr du Plessis of the right- recognition of SWAPO - only Vorster is cynically pursuing in wing Africans - that, in attempting to. out a ubera lace to tne Rhodesia however. selling up their properties at back Ansolan from

ITALY

The Italian general elections on 20th offer the June opportunity for an important advance by the working class towards a socialist solution to and Italy's deep economic social crisis. But a huge obstacle stands in the - the policy way Communist Party. In the electoral campaign the CP party as a leaders present the saviour of the Italian "nation" (that is, of Italian capitalism), and never as the leader of the Italian working The aim of the party leadership establishment of government emergency *national 'democratic' including pates fry specifically excluded specifically excluded only party is the fascist MSI.

"COMPROMISE"

the variation on Inis is a 'historic compromise' formula for a Communist and Christian Democrat government which, the CP leaders remains their long term aim.

The new plan for broader coalition is the formula emergency

CHINA

The political crisis in the Chinese Communist Party has been resolved by in no way the removal of Teng Hsiao-. Ping following the demon- the opening of the 'Cultural Revol-

UNION

top echelons of the Party and state.

The failing health of Mao Tse- Tung raises the spectre of renewed, press against the 'handful of capit- leading figure to have been publicly first crised have disappeared from view Ching (Mao's wite) gives a for the pre-war purges within the Soviet Communist Party.

powerful capitalist elements within the Party itself, that this situation communism (ie to an immeasurably higher level of economic and social between the working class and the handful of 'capitalist roaders' in the party leadership can even be called been (or are on the very point of being) completely routed, and that the task is to 'concentrate criticism the sole direction of the Party com- oi course, cannot pos

SOCIALIST PRESS.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

CP blocks road to workers government which for several months has been The CP General Secretary Enrico of the Socialist Party. Berlinguer has said that even if the workers 'forced" parties are their part have ruled out in advance own government, they lost thei will leave the door open at any time any coalition with the CP, and on their behalf the Vatican is waging for the capitalist parties to join the coalition. the most hysterical anti-communist These positions of treacherous the CP and Socialist Party leaders make it clear that the establishment Democrat leaders of of workers' government are pinning their hopes on another it is an indispen- parties, though sable step for the Italian working class, would by itself solve none of the problems which the capitalist crisis is loading onto the backs of

DELY

Italian workers. wond be not the end ot a beginning fight but The the coalition of workers' parties should leaders of such a government must be forced to abandon the reaction- ary policies on which they are fight- ikely. And the CP has not excluded ing this election campaign: In it they have expressed hostil

THIR

Democrats cannot be persuaded to ity to further nationalisation; they tacit sometimes have given and The only way forward for the open support to wage control; they warmly supported the

EEC;

these have elections is through the formation and say firmly that Italy should remain in the NATO alliance!

of a government of the Communist, Such policies must be replaced The recent statements of the CP which can protect politics workers against the effects of the the possibility of such a coalition; capitalist crisis and lead on to the introduction of socialism rather than back to the reestablishment of profitability the capitalist Liu Shao-chi (centre) 'theory' that the 'main enemies' of announcing that two people had been executed and others sentenced the working class are capitalist ele- to long terms of imprisonment, fol- lowing the pro-Teng demonstra- in Peking but tions these were by the bureaucracy that political immediately denied by the Foreign Ministry. There are also reports of simul- sections of the Party machine and clashes, them violent, other many areas Kiangsi, Hunan, Yenan; Nanking.

STALINIST CRISIS

the crisis as it appears through the prism of the presently dominant The crisis of Chinese Stalinism is of the greatest concern to the inter- trial, and there is no national workers movement, not only workers and peasants of China and Asia. all their denunciations of to 'capitalist roaders' at home, the 'Maoist' faction have gone out of their way to underline that Teng's removal will not alter the Cultural Revolution). relations they are busy building with some of the most virulent anti- communist politicians in the world.

WALL POSTERS

The recent visit of racialist, Tory New Zealand Prime Minister, Mul- doon to Peking was the occasion for a speech by Hua Kuo-Feng. There were reports in the middle Wednesday June 2nd, 1976 workers' expense. The struggle will therefore inev- itably he one about the leadership of the working class. Leaders who claim to fight for the interests of the working class must be forced to substantiate their words in practice.

And when they do not, a fight must be waged to replace them.

the Proletarian Democracy, alliance of left wing parties which is fighting the election with joint lists has correctly called candidates, for the establishment of a govern- coalition of workers' parties after the elections.

SUPPORT

The present signs are that this call gaining large 1S among the vanguard of the Italiar working class. The programme calls Proletarian Democracy foI more nationalisation and for Italy's withdrawal from NATO. But it fails either to take up plainly the question of leadership its demands into or TO unite coherent programme. Unless it can do these things Proletarian Democracy inevitably become more and more a left cover for the CP at a decisive moment when the political survival and advance of the Italian working class demands a clear and principled revolutionary leadership.

"capitalist roader" Lin Piao Prime Minister) openly inviting the military imperialist alliance against the Soviet Union.

Conservatives on a dele- British May gation were pleasantly surprised to be greeted as worthy followers of their "great leader" 'Edward Heath. the executions Mrs by • Gandhi's dictatorship of Maoists for alleged "crimes' during peasant struggles for land been have no obstacie to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. Yet these opportunist 'alliances' provide no more than the can illusion of security for the Chinese state. It has been for several years a premise of military planning,

NATO

the Soviet Union's land forces will be tied down the Chinese on border. One of Teng's main 'crimes' is said to have been that he favoured a with the Soviet Union. Yet in reality it is Mao's line that the Soviet Union is a 'social fascist' state and the greater danger of the two 'superpowers" that is one of the the military man factors ame imperialism the pressures

SOCIALIST PRESS Notesda Joe 2ad 1976 CHILE stalinists resume trade US Treasury Secretary a meeting which the Santiago daily William Simon said on a visit El Mercurio claimed was a prelude resumption of trade and to Santiago in early May that the economic relations. Chilean the government's record on human rights was an

REPAY

unfortunate "irritant" Such agreement would This detracted • because presumably have to depend partly from the country's impressive on a committment by the Chilean

CORDI ECON

junta to repay the $ 100 million Last year foreign capital worth $ Allende's 250 million went to Chile mostly borrowed from the USSR from Italy, Germany and the US(S possibility of such ine 50 millions). combined development especially Simon had much more to offer with the recent revelation of trade Pinochet's brutal dictatorship between Chile Germany and would only it shows that the working class image on human rights so that the Chilean to US would not be so embarassed in dictatorship can expect no helping it. from Soviet Pinochet Tone tesponded by has bureaucracy, and certainly slight reduction in the number of direction from the still outlawed arrests and the release of a few Chilean Communist Party. Popular Unity prisoners who are, of course, kept under constant survelllance.

ARGENTINA

The which Simon loudly is this: • praised workers; inflation the of over 30% a year; remains this Law number 21,297, signed two weeks ago by Argentina's the new dictator General Videla, authorises the establishment Production and of government committees to exports however, to the latest make recommendations about figures, trade unions and the right to remains in economic slump strike. These problems have taken on a material sudden with privation. outbreak of working class resistance It is little that the regime is regime's economic policies, centred on the Renault factory in the Allende Cordoba. A go-slow of 4,000 workers was under government prompting by a management lock-out.

They paying huge The protest began over the dic acady subsidies firms at to present in management's refusal to grant a private ownership wage increase. Simon's visit brought new hope regime seized power Since the of large scale US aid. on March 24th, inflation has cont- But 12,000 miles meanwhile. over 30% a month Well Damascus, the Chilean away while wages have been frozen.

dictatorship began to 1o0k for The economic cabinet has now alternative economic help.

authonsed a wage nise of a censor There the Ambassadors to Syria 15% from June 1st, together with a of Chile and the Soviet Union held of the Part The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League was formed in December 1974 to struggle for the continuity of the principles of Trotskyism in Britain and towards the rebuilding of the Fourth International. In the daily struggle to take the demands and principles of Trotsky's WSL has been at the Transitional Programme into the trade unions, the forefront of the fight for the sliding scale of wages, and work sharing 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 In today's fight against the TUC's redundancies by the bureaucracy: 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 tient to end al private oractice. Perhaos 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 At the same time we have put forward policy fight unemployment, calling for unity of employed and unemployed through the fight to mobilise the trade union movement.

The

WSL

is the for only that fignts connstentv 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 trade unn democracy against the bureaucratic manipulation of the Stalinists and right-wing.

While these Leagues's of intertentions have developed the grasp Trotsky's Transitional Programme there has been a consistent drive to deepen and enrich the movement's understanding of the history and the 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.

INTERNATIONAL NEW

Photo: USLA strikes normal hat veary bonus. "l'hese moves still leave real wages cut by around half since the coup.

The regime realises that the val- time gained due to the surrender abject the Peronist OI trade union leadership at the time the coup, will soon be lost unless it can curtail the potential power of the labour movement at local and factory level.

COMMITTEES

This has been growing through the clandestine establishment of Coordinating of Committees unions and factory delegates which in some areas have effectively re- placed the moribund CGT organ- isation. The military dictatorship is pre- paring to fight the battle on several fronts overtures corom tue old Peronist from Peronist CGT leaders, well aware that their support among the rank and file has collapsed. There are however, signs, that they are prepared to try some kind

IRELAND

Six members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary have been executed by the Provisionals period of eight days. in that should Against be con- trasted the number of British soldiers shot - only five this counties. so the RUC Merlyn Rees, Secretary of that a British and calls itself already under and the militar- of the isation is only the latest proof of it. towards these moves to suppress of deal with former Buenos Aires governor Victorio Calabrio, a leader of the metal workers union UOM.

Calabrio and his allies emerged as a mildly left-talking opposition to the orthodox Peronists before They now claim control 40 out of the 100 unions CGT confederation - and in the there is every sign that they are ready to do a deal. numbet of growing Argentina's four million trade un- ionists fully are noW conscious that they face a major battle for organisational, economic and phys- ical survival, in which their tradit- ional leaders will be on the side of the enemy. The weapon the enemy is incr the workers easingly using against right wing death squads of Is Cne the 'Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance (AAA). These are largely controlled by generals of the regime have been making numerous murderous attacks on workers, esp- local factory delegates and ecially their families. The regime's tightening censor- ship laws forbid publication 'Ine of information on these terrorist jobs crisis splits Protestants ments was made clear by the IRA leadership in a recent statement: "We wish to state explicitly that no distinction be drawn between regular British troops and other branches of the Crown forces.

Police, UDR and civilian employees of the British government are all classed as legitimate targets and will be struck down when and wherever possible". Every such blow is regarded by the Protestants as an undermining of the link with Britain and produces in reply sectarian attacks on Catholics such as the bombing of Clancy's Bar Charlemont which left three Catholics dead.

IRA REPLY

In its turn the IRA reply with increasingly sectarian actions such of the Dobson brothers in Moy, shot in the office their egg packing station last Monday. With this simplistic belief in the efficacy of bombs and bullets the Republicans can make no political canital out of kee's deciaration that not will be spent a penny to prevent growing unemployment in the North. At the Lord Mayor's Show in Belfast on May 22nd Rees said: ..one thing I must tell you is that there is absolutely no spare money in the public coffers. Government money does not grow on trees". Occupation, expropriation and Chilean soldiers groups and their activities, but their recent murders are known to have run into the hundreds. In spite of the murder of some of their militants by the death squads, however, the Argentinian Communist Party continues to give Videla's regime critical support.

The Cuban news agency Prensa Latina , however, after weeks of total silence on the situation in Arg- has finally started gentina publishing the fact that the regime has made thousands of arrests.

The position of the Argetinian Stalinists is a scandal rivalling their support for the Gandhi regime in India. the building of new leader.

In ship in the ations now emerging in Argentina, the political lessons of these bet- rayals must be drawn, along with the need to break once and for all all links with the Peronist move- A political be ment. party must built to represent the independent interests of the working class.

Immediate steps must be taken to provide forms of workers' def- ence against the

AAA

and other murder squads. nationalisation represent. the only policies that can defend jobs and the fight for them poses question of the border in a far more way the utopian scheme for a federal and capitalist republic put forward by the Pro- visionals. The importance to Protestant workers of the link with Britain explains why a united protestant against direct rule has been impossible, to secure.

Convention broke Since THre down the petty bourgeois politician Ernest Baird has incessantly called for rebellion. More recently another politician Loyalist Edmond Thompson "to has said that maintain the link with Britain is to actively assist in the downfall of Northern Ireland". But while the Protestant working class resist being dragged into a civil war and an independent Ulster run by chemists and other hompsper are gerald without an shopkeepers Bairds army The UVF intensely suspicious of 'their loyalist politicians have called a ceasefire in which "foI three months they would sit on the fence and observe and act onlt im defence" Our demand for the immediate of troops, to be tates withdrawal up in the English widened undermine the link with Brake o advancing in Ireland boc: and South defend jobs.

MAY 26-DAY OF ACTION

Page 4 Teachers STRIKE must

TO SUPPORT

OCCUPATIONS

The occupation of all 10 teachers colleges in Scotland and of at least 95 out of 140 the in England, all within space of ten days, is a major things. forward fight step in against the Labour govern- ment's economic policies of these The wildfire spread confirms the disgust and actions anger which exists throughout the working class against the though living standards which the govern- offered ment's policies inflicting are until through wage ment and cuts in spending.

movement The occupations spread as soon from official clear as it became announcements that about a third of new England teachers in and over 60% in Scotland would be utive unable to find work this year.

requires

ONLY TWO

spearhead These are average figures. Some In Bradford, areas are even worse. for instance, only two out of every teachers 70 teachers qualifying this summer have jobs. the surrounding area In only 15 out of 255 have jobs to go to. This has absolutely nothing to to do with whatever calculations of the birth rate, as the government with the support of the capitalist press trying Driver maintain. is entirely the result of the Labour government's refusal to and develop education services. Tens of thousands of work- marched throughout the country ers took part in demonstrations and strikes on the May 26th thousands Day of Action against unem- ployment. These 5,000 London Liverpool demonstration against unemployment on thousand trades unionists marched through the town on the protest called Confederations of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.

by those who ostensibly were organising the demonstration. The demon- stration included contingents from Fords, Halewood, Shotton steelworks, teacher training colleges Rudents from contingent of girls from the Tate and Lyle refinery which is under threat of dosure. At the meeting afterwards, speakers from the local trade union leader- ship together with left MP Eddie Loyden were unable to put forward any

GIÒN

More teachers relative to pupils could mean full employment for teachers, smaller classes and higher educational standards. The Labour government, in all practical senses, is against all those

SHAMED

The National Union of Students unemployment in London. Executive has now finally called for the extension of the occupations, foI months they no lead against the cuts they were shamed into the action of the students.

supporting these occupations by a A l which was already strongly underway. fight must be conducted inside the occupations and through- out the NUS to prevent the exec- from retreating when difficult. This becomes the construction of national coordinating committee to the struggle, with for the reasons delegates elected from occupations.

regulations In the immediate situation, the members taking unions have special sanctioned by responsibility. The statements from the executives give every sign that as the intend to duck this respon- diture cuts develops. sibility in practice.

NATFHE

the student teachers. NATFHE general secretary Tom has said that his union their objectives supports the students, will oppose new proposed cuts and fight every from Apart college closure. impotent words, But there is no sign that his Hill "to Tower from lobby of Parliament. In Liverpool given even the most limited lead.

police estimated the demonstration as 10,000-strong, while in Scotland

PROTEST

Glasgow, marched Dundee and Edinburgh. actions are a clear indic- ation of the readiness of the most The 3,000 tion at the Unemployment as a to level and no "reflation" of demand backed by the and 'left' reformists. opposition to the Callaghan government.

THREAT

But for ployment through and TUC-policed May closures, standards. and trade union movement tor new May 26th. Ten threatened jobs, Merseyside Joint Construction Unions and the in "bankrupt" under occupation and a large the Day of Action. The next step in policies must on una oth

DISTRICT

AND:

MADES COUNCIL

NO IFS, NO BUTS. B

NO TO

EDUCATION CUTS,

Student teachers on May 2oth march against opposition will take on the form of of not covering for teachers absent real action to support and match for more than three days.

This action, which was spread to fight must be taken up in week, has only Surrey last introduced on a limited basis in a NATFRE to demand strike action locally and nationally in opposition few It should to the cuts and in support of the national immediately. But actions of this kind are no substitute for strike of the

SUDDUEL

NUT

occupations and against the spend- LIB Culs. The same goes for the NUT. The The demand should the new disciplinary taken up through unions and the occupation (which threaten action not for the opening mittees books of the educational authori- the executive with expulsion) will become very plain ties as a basis for teachers' control struggle against the expen- of manning levels. Already Fred Jarvis, NUT general

CAMPAIGN

secretary, has gone as far as he dare in trying to weaken the action of At the same be forgotten must not education affects the He issued a statement supporting their working class, not simply teachers. Trades Councils and local Fred Jarvis' branches must be mobilised in the of action broadest the which the NUT is supporting is that defence of education. advanced layers of workers to fight

LOBBY

TUC

decided on Assembly on was called simply protest - with no programme June 16 fight unemployment at factory demands other that of the capitalist econ- omy and the reactionary nationalist "import controls" Communist Party Join WSL contingent 9.00am CENTRAL HALLS For these people of course the Day of Action was simply an elab-

WESTMINSTER

policies of the thousands workers facing the threat of unem- spending cuts and speed up 26th showed willingness to respond and a search

BRITAIN

for a way to defend jobs and living 6 issues 12 issues In these conditions, the struggle 24 issues by the WSL throughout the labour leadership to stand on principle and 6 issues fight for occupations in detence of work sharing on 12 issues place of redundancy 24 issues the opening of the books of firms to prove the case for their nationalisation, is essential in preparing the way forward from

NAME

ADDRESS

the fight for the biggest possible lobby of the TUC Congress COMPLETE and SEND to: : Wednesday June 2nd, 1976

SOCIALIST PRESS.

HINPMAYOYED

TEA

CLASSES

been made action students' also be teachers' com- of the Charles Clarke, NUS President.

time The Labour government has met that these occupations with contempt whole and hypocrisy. Higher education minister Gerry Fowler said that he union sympathy had every with the but teachers would do nothing because the government's policy was to cut education spending.

BOOED

Education minister Fred Mulley was correctly booed at the con ference of the further education teachers' union NATFHE, when he repeated crocodile rowier's and said 'if they can't find a job in will have to find a teaching they job in something else. Like the other 1¼ million unemployed, perhaps! Muliey's cynical words underline the fact that this protest against teacher unemployment must be taken as a stimulus to much broader struggle throughout labour against movement unemployment and all the other consequences of the Labour govern ment's economic policies.

The last of AUEW meeting Shipley No. Branch (near Bradford) heard a speaker from Bradford college and voted support for their occupation. SUBSCRIBE to Socialist Press

EUROPE

• £1 6 issues . £1.15 f2 12 issues.. £2.30 24 issues. • £4.60

REST OF THE WORLD

£1.50 £3.00 $6.00 I would like to take out a subscription to Socialist Press. I would like .... issues, I enclose f....

NUS 1TID

WOMEN LEAD WAY

Not satisfied by the TUC's plan for massive wage cuts under the 4½% limit, pay the employers at Atkins factory hosiery in Hinckley want to cut take home pay for their workers by £6 £10! The (mainly women) workers in the Hinckley area had to wage a bitter battle during last winter to defend jobs protect living moves' to impose speed-up and redundancies they a series of one-day pickets and strikes, occupations. At the centre of these struggles was the ful £6 increase allowable under the Labour government's pay laws. But it soon emerged that their fight for this against but management, against the of the bureaucracy Knitwear and Hosiery Union as well.

"BEST DEAL"

Vic Towers, Secretary of the Hinckley and District Branch, deal which settled for he "the described •as best deal we could get". It gave most workers either a percentage increase two-part payment which cases meant less than the £6 limit.

Now, instead of rejecting Atkin's demands managements' wage-cut out of hand, the union leaders are desperately seeking "compromise" figure. While management want a 15% an arbitration board has wage cut, suggested a cut of 11½%. This has, not flatly surprisingly, rejected by the workers. There are no grounds on which a cut. in take-home pay should be If the management accepted. unable to maintain the full workforce at adequate rates of pay their books must be forced open'to an elected trade union committee the -employer is that really bankrupt, then he clearly incapable of guaranteeing jobs and wages, and must be nationalised without compensation.

MEETINGS

To put the union officials on the fight and spot in this to lodge demands for substantial increases linked to a sliding scale of wages to protect against inflation Atkins and attend regular union branch meetings In Liverpool women workers are again in the forefront of the struggle - this time on strike at the Dublier Which the ectore is east half electronics factories the women workers, mainly are fighting for a AlEw. Iney wage claim plus equal pay.

strike committee statement says that the companv agreed a 1o increase backdated to November - of Denartment Employment approval. At the end of March the Department decided in the union's favour. But the

CHER NY

called upon to pay the backdated increase they refused, saying they would appeal against the decision!

And, according to the strikers, they further refused to give the womer workers equal pay - at the end of last year they were the oriered same pay as labourers, though they are given the same training as semi-- skilled workers.

ORLAKES

Meanwhile Orlakes at Dagenham (110 women out of a 140-strong workforce) a strike over lasted more than four wages nas weeks. As in the Liverpool dispute the strike centres around a wage

IN PAY FIGHT

by Maureen Shevlin PHOTO: Chris Davie g. Report Jones (right) with Murray The trade union bureaucracy workers, hostile to the struggles of the most oppressed.

claim submitted during the f6 legal pay limit. The King te mas. Their presses and packing records.

and els.00 fores present averages between £13.50 25 hour week. offer was a puny hour When this was rejected the increase. offer was upped to 10p Getting the message that a fight win still more, could the workers This was voted for strike action. management attempts intimidation - threatening to sack if a strike WORKeRS any ouncI industrial action took place.

T&GWU

and decided to join the T&GWU - up to this point there had been no goods in and out, management's attempts to employ Official Canfield was to attempt to reduce the size of the picket to six - T&GWU routine the official's main teen independent" ACAS arbitration. This was linked to the call for the women to go "for negotiations to Returning to WoIk "negotiations" make Cutle since it would give hand and management the sacrifice the strength of the strike.

At the same time the proposa is to take a secret ballot on whether the want to iom the union or not - as if the strike is not sufficient evidence! The reactionary emerges union bureaucracy with great clarity on these basic issues of organisation and equal pay where impeded on clearly pos officials impeded only officials preference to get along with the employers than defend the working class.

OPPRESSED

These strikes and struggles show clearly that women are not simply busy and concerned with "family affairs" as the bureaucratic untor leaders like to make out. As Labour Party bureaucrats and right wing union officials redouble their efforts to restore Reg Prentice anti-union former Education Min- Ister, as Labour candidate in the next election in Newham North East, the abuse of rules and demo- cratic procedures hots up all round.

Tony Kelly, Newham NE

CLP

Secretary has suffered further attack at the hands of the ASTMS bureaucracy. the more privileged layers of rest On First he was unconstituționally expelled from ASTMS membership in a bid to exclude him as a New- 'They are a particularly oppressed ham

NE GMC

delegate from the sector of the working class entitled Charing Cross ASTMS Branch.

to the same rights and facing the This took place with the person- same crisis of leadership.

al involvement of General Secretary Clive Jenkins, keen Drove hi

STRUGGLES

respectability to the Labour Party right-wing. the formula Jenkins used of Only by drawing into declaring that Kelly "never the struggles against employer, showing the relation between their particular problems and those the whole of the working class can women's. oppression be seriously fought. We must fight at every point to organise women into trade unions whether they work full time or part time. And in the fight for will provide women additional support in the fight for new leadership against 1. It who turn reactionary bureaucrats their backs on oppressed layers of workers. As Trotsky points out it is only crash foest social risis which til draw mass oppressed who will come forward with their own demands. The fact struggles throughout the centry is women emerge

DEFEND 44!

indication of the upheavals and the caused the crisis by possibilities opening up.

As Trotsky wrote: "Millions of toil-worn little men whom the reformist leaders had never given a thought will begin to insistently pound on the doors of About 1500 trades the workers' The organisations. unionists attended the picket unemployed will be drawn into the of Hendon magistrates called •The agricultural movement. the Right to Work workers, the ruined and the semi- Campaign. 2Ist May. ruined farmers, the oppressed of on cities, the woman worker,, Appearing before the court Tne proletarianised housewives, layers 44 Right were to WOrk of the intelligentsia, all these will marchers, arrested after the seek unity and leadership". police three time violently (Transitional Programme) attacked the Campaign's

OUT

national march against it unemployment as passed through the London borough of Barnet at the end of its

NOW!

journey from Manchester. lo cheers from the pickets, the 44 arrested marchers marched up to "Right to He court behind a large Work" banner, chanting slogans

THE BATTLE FOR

beiore disappearing into the court

TROTSKYISM

through an enormous contingent of polive the gate Two documents of the posted around Those supporting the picket WRP opposition plus an later formed up for account of the expulsions demonstration to Hendon police prepared by the Staples station near Corner Executive Committee of scene of one of the three incidents on the original march which led to the Workers Socialist of the the arrest of some 44. League. Of the 44, 43 were remanded on Available from WSL, 31, bail until September, while the Dartmouth Park Hill, march secretary of

VIZAINCI

the National Right Work London NW5 1HR to Campaigr., John Deason Price £1.20 (inc]. P&P). remanded on more serious charges

REE MODERATE

COMMON

NSE

KELLY APPEAL

THROWN OUT

been a member of ASTMS" on ti that the

NEC

had approved his appli membership ation. This, of course, if taken seriou would virtually ever ly exclude member of ASTMS. It is simply transparent means of victimisi Kelly. Immediately this was know Kelly submitted an appeal to tl predictab

NEC

The reply

ASTMS

general secretary written to Kelly explaining that I cannot appeal - because he is not member! We urge all ASTMS members 1 take this issue and fight f up resolutions to the NEC protesti at this bureaucratic victimisatic Kelly's full rei and demanding member statement as a of union.

TAMESIDE

TRIDES

UNION

COUNCIL

until July. Barnet Trades Council sponsored inquir into the attack which has receive backing the ot prominent trac union leaders. The findings of th inquiry are expected shortly.

Meanwhile has hee money pouring in for a defence fund fron union branches and shop steward committees ill over the The defence of these worker from further police victimisatis and from the courts is a basic issu worker Tane moveinent. The fact that right wing Hom Scuretary Roy Jenkins is allow i "'lefts" hy Labour to preside no such actions os a further indicatio of the need for new leadership i the workers movement. Jenkins has specialised in the us or the power the state intimidate and attack the workir class - from the continued jailing • the Shrewsbury pickets police raid on the premises of th Workers Revolutionary Party las autumn. The defence of the 44 therefore linked completely wit the demand that the "lefts' launt movement as a whole to lat ou offensive labou within class Jenkins-Healey anti-working Callaghan clique from the Labou leadership.

The defeat of the Kornilov revolt led to an enormous upsurge of hostility in the working class to the Provisional Government and Having been forced to in it. the capitalist ministers who sat frequently under the leadership of the mobilise independently, prevent the further advance of Bolsheviks, to defeat Korniloy and his armies, the working class was able to return to the offensive.

The witch-hunting of the Bol- Central to the two letters sheviks after the July Days now Committee of the Bolshevik Party counted for nought. It was the Pro- urging the leadership to prepare the visional Government which had seizure of power. ordered another oftensive: It was Describing the Democratic Con- the Provisional Government which representing "not ference refused to carry the revolution for- majority the ward to the overthrow of capitalism!

people but only the compromising and the solution of the food and upper strata of the petty bourgeois- land problems; it was the Provision- Lenin insisted that: Government with its capitalist "The point is to make the task ministers which was seen to have clear to the party. The present task opened the way up for the Kornilov armed must uprising revolt, the success of which the Petrograd and Moscow (with its reg- capitalists alone had stood to gain ion), the seizing of power and the by. The which enormous pressuic built up in the working class, there- fore, the downial oi the lea to Kerensky was forced government. to form a Directorate of five to try and torm July and the present period, Lenin the Social Revolutionaries because argued that while the objective con- refused to let m lead a gover ditions for seizing power did not included capitalist which 11lP1 exist in July, that was no longer the ministers.

URGENT

swung behind the class had now Bolsheviks as demonstrated by their The most urgent task facing the capitalist and their backers in the Menshevik and Social Kevolutionary parties, was to chan- nel the increased militancy of the working class away from muopel and back onto dent mobilisation finish and a separate peace directed the path 0f bourgeois "democracy". under the pressure of The Executive Committee of the All-Russian Soviets, still under the domination of the Mensheviks and SRs therefore to Ine caned populat organisations to send delegates to a Democratic Conference to present a declaration demanding the transfer Democratic Conference to meet in Petrograd in September. power to the revolutionary In the meantime, the Bolsheviks of Soviets the

CORATOE

leave the Conference and go to the Petrograd, Moscow, Kiev, Odessa Committee was to ater the re The response of the Executive to the masses. then determine the right moment of the various delegations entation Democratic Conference in to ine favour of the more conservative groups. Despite this, the first decision of the Conference on the question of ference agreed to set up an advisory government was call for To without the Cadets (the coalition capitalist party).

TATI

DIFFICULTY

Russian Soviets postponed the date of the next All Russian Congress of with the greatest difficulty that Kerensky was able so should have Soviets which tilty September, three convened persuade the Conference to reverse months after the first Congress.

WIN ACOLO

The Executive Com- Central Tre Bosteriks had participated mitte was still dominated by the Costeresa 4.35 and having seen the compromisers, Russia most important Soviets in but Lace himsel was growing nass into the hands of the Bolshevik Government troops with armoured car Congress which was convene the Bolsheviks likely to give majority. had his If Lenin had doubts of the about the participation Bolsheviks in the Democratic Con- ferenice, he had no doubt but that they should completely boycott the Pre-Parliament. It was one thing to participate in such gatherings when the revolution was in retreat and it was necessary to use all methods available to com- mence propaganda work among the quite the opposite. Such gatherings were nothing more than a trap which kept revolution- aries listening to speeches when the revolution was in danger and only actions of the sent was suppoll ed by Trotsky. Now released from prison and once more elected the President of the Petrograd Soviet, Trotsky himself led the Bolshevik amidst cries from the compromisers about German gold and the sealed power behind them, down to discuss the question of the a discussion rendered all the more urgent as a result of the set- backs being daily pelled to fight; the left argued that Trotsky points out, calling for the removal of Kerensky, began to hold up

AGICISAY

Committee The situation in the Baltic Fleet was nothing short of insurrection- ary. A similar state of affairs was July, virtually ceased since once most hated officers were frequently arrested or murdered. The withdrawal of the Bolshevik from Pre-Parliament Party the marked, a turning point in the revol- crisis gripping Russia. On all sides it was recognised that this moye represented the first step on the road to armed insurrection.

Lenin was chiefly responsible. Con- stantly concerned at the refusal of the Central Committee to support his demand for armed insurrection, continued to argue against any further dead te question of the Pre-Parliament.

stepped up their agitation through- out the country which resulted in the increasing Bolshevisation of the was being confronted with the one question: which class is to rule?

means of regulating their relations with the government was through turned their attention in a concrete for the study of methods of trans- munitions to peaceful production; the Moscow conference of factory and shop committees declared that tled by a decree of the local Soviet, thus establishing Soviet power over 'The workers are more interest- ed than the owners in the correct and uninterrupted operation of the plants. Workers control... is in the of the whole country and Day by day the government of the soviets grew, as capitalists began TO attempt to discredit the revolution and the factory committees stepped in and took control of the factories.

The enormous growth or sup- port for the Bolsheviks which was finally cemented in the struggle lor the calling of the Congress of the Soviets, now set for October 20th, Lenin more had made even of the impatient for the start insurrection. Trotsky argued that the insur- rection should be timed to coincide Congress of with the start of the

ARTIN

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 2nd June, 1976.

THE RUSSIAN

PAR

OCT

the offered immediately be to Lenin But was in Soviets favour of such formalities, especial- ly since the date for the start of the Congress was being constantly put back. must fare because it was 1n tor an immediate. The response was Ignoring the of the accusations capitalists that the soldiers in Petro- in idleness and grad had grown fat betraying the front, the were workers insisted that the garrison remain intact. the soldiers of the return, garrison stepped up their demand that the workers be armed.

the threat to Petro- Playing advancing posed by the grad the compromisers

LTE MIN

proposed to the Soviet on October 9th a motion to set up a "Commit- tee of Revolutionary Defence", in order to defend the capital.

To their surprise the Bolsheviks welcomed the setting up of such a The Bolsheviks had committee often discussed the possibility setting up a military committee of the Soviet to lead the insurrection and now the Mensheviks themselves the creation of a were proposing which, in the hands of committee Bolsheviks, the could fulfill that function. On 10th October, the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks met.

SOCIALIST PRESS Metro!

I REVOLUTION

T 11

OBER

meeting and moved a resolution organisations to calling on party begin to decide on the practical questions involved in the armed and Kamenev Only Zinovier This of Central meeting the Committee proved who had to this point remained isolated on question insurrection now had party legality on his side. opposition of the Central The Committee to Lenin's call had proved to be only of momentary significance, and the party could task of now be directed to the revolution. The meeting of the 10th pro- of the visionally the date as 15th October, but this uprising proved to be impracticable.

TIMING

was important that the insur- It before the rection take place Soviets Congress O1 Bolsheviks could offer the power to the Soviets: On 16th October, the Central Committee again insistence and the differences which had already emerged at the meeting of the 10th again came to the fore.

Kamenev out against fixing any date for the Krylenko, arguing the insurrection. position Committee tionary Trotsky was the head, argued that the setting of the inexpedient. "The question of the removal of the troops (from Petrograd to the front) is fighting issue just upon which the struggle Is lakils place...The attack upon us is thus already fact, and this we can make use of...It is not necessary to worry about who shall begin, for the thing is already begun".

any hint of Lenin, alarmed by delay, proposed a new resolution "All organisations and all workers and soldiers to an all-sided and most vigorous preparation of armed insurrection" This motion was adopted by 20 votes to 2, Zinoviey and Kamenev, with 3 abstentions.

POSTPONED

The next day, October 17th, the Central Executive Committee post- poned the opening of the Congress from the 20th to the 25th October.

They had been encouraged make this decision by the result of the election of delegates 10 the Congress from the Petrograd Soviet.

The Baleri 1: 155 that TE: C== Provisional Government troops guarding the telephone exchange.

All Kerensky! Down with war power to the Soviets! Command were The High so alarmed that they offered discussions with the Milit- Revolutionary Committee, an ary accepted solely ATTe with the purpose of reconoitring the situation in the enemy's head- quarters. Revolutionary Military The Committee immediately issued a proclamation stating that: "...the commissars, as represen- By Ian Swindale tatives of the Soviet are inviolable.

Opposition to commissars is the opposition to the Soviet of Workers But it gave the Bolsheviks five and Soldiers Deputies". days the prepare Trotsky later pointed out, insurrection. that was the language of sovereign- day, Zinoviev and same ty "The Committee is crowding out denounced the plans of Kamenev the Bolsheviks lead an the with the pressure the non-party governmen with the weight of of the masses, press. It is taking all that it the garrison. can without a battle. It is advancing

STRIKEBREAKERS

its positions without firing....

Lenin branded them strike- breakers the revolution and

WINNING OVER

demanded their expulsion from the Committee, Party. The Central The one remaining task before however, was not prepared to go the insurection could begin was the this far. wung over or neutralisation of The order for the removal of the those regiments which continued to troops to the tront had by now waver in their loyalty between the been communicated by Headquar- Provisional Government and the ters to the Executive Committee of Soviet. the Petrograd Soviet. Immediately Bolshevik agitators barracks, A breach between Headquarters to the went various and the Soviet was clearly posed for Trotsky himself tackling the troops there was no question of acquiesc- in the Peter-Paul fortress.

mg to cne demand The Petrograd bourgeoisie were Military The Revolutionary hourly expecting the Bolsheviks to the Committee of Committee, launch their insurrection but none Revolutionary Defence had now ot them with a Left Social been renamed, consider the possibility of the Revolutionary at its head in order Bolsheviks for retaining power as far as possible its more than a few days. to camouflage thus set about organ- real purpose, The time had now come when ising departments of defence, sup- this would be finally question plies, communications and intel- decided. The Provisional Govern- ment itself provided the pretext for It first met in full session on the launching of the insurrection.

October 20th, only five days before In the early hours 24th October, Government troops loyal to the Pro- the insurrection. "coming of out" visional closed down Rumours rife the printing press were already throughout and capital. Hardly a day passed with- the phones to the Smolny Institute the authorities sending out Petrograd headquarters of the Party, loyal troops to look for possible Soviet and the Bolshevik were cut off. sigis or such a commg our Revolutionary But the outcome of the insur- The Military rection was already being decided Committee took the decision to in the barracks and the working fortify Smolny and machine guns class districts. placed at the Red were calance patrolled

SUCCES

REGIMENTS

armoured vehicles. By the evening of the 24th, Smolny was a veritable One regiment after another was fortress. placing itself under the command Military Revolutionary The of the Military Revolutionary Com- Committee was by now putting the to the and refusing to go mittee, finishing touches to its preparations front except under the direction of for the insurrection. the Soviet. hours of the 25th October, Red The period of dual power was Guard, detachments occupied the power of the giving way to with hardly a shot being fire Capital strategic points in the the Govern- Soviets as the Provisional ment found itself more and isolated, with fewer and fewer

CUT OFF

loyal which it could troops on depend. the The Petrograd Soviet called for a At seven in the morning, Exchange fell peaceful review of its forces for the Telephone and the Winter Palace, where the Pro- 22nd October, and on the 21st, the full visional Government was in Conference pledged per- Garmson off Military was the Revol- manent session

CUT

support to irrevocably from the outside world Committee and called on The Second Congress of the All- the All-Russian Congress of Soviets Russian Soviet of Workers' Soldiers' ' davs time. to 'take the power in hands and and Peasants' Deputies finally its opened at 10.40 on the evening of people peace. the 25th October. The insurtection had gone accor- =2= detal Congress opened amidst the utmost with the Menshevik and confusion, Revolutionary Social delegates and the Bolsheviks demanding that hostilities against immed- Winter Palace cease the iately.

ELECTION

The election of the Presidium, the real however, demonstrated relationship forces within the 0I Congress of Soviets. The Bolsheviks won 14 seats, the Social Revolutionaries 7, the Men- sheviks 3 and the Internationalists only one. Seeing that they were in a minority, the Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries and other compro- Bolsheviks misers denounced power and walked for seizing the out of the Soviet. John Reed, the American journ- alist, sympathetic to the Bolsheviks describes totsky. ...standing with a pale, up cruel face, letting out his rich voice cool contempt, 'All these SO- called Socialist compromisers, these frightened Mensheviks, Socialist Bund - let them Revolutionaries, go! They are just so much refuse which will be swept away into the garbage heap of history'.

Papers the streets appeared on proclamation carrying the Military Committee Revolutionary and the Petrograd Soviet.

TO THE CITIZENS OF RUSSIA!

is The Provisional Government deposed. The State has Power passed into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers Deputies ommittee, Mil- Revolutionary itary which stands at the head of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison.

The cause for which the people fighting; immediate proposal were of a democratic peace, abolition of landlord property rights over the land, labour control over produc- tion, creation of a Soviet govern- that cause

LIVE

acheived.

LONG

THE

OF

WORKMEN,

REVOLUTION

SOLDIERS AND PEASANTS".

By the early hours of the 26th Winter the Palace finally surrendered and the Ministers of Provisional Government were the Kerensky was placed under arrest. not them. He had fled in order to bring loyal' troops to the rescue of the compromisers.

The question facing. the Bol- could was this: they, sheviks now having won state power, hold onto it? Those like Zinoviev and opposed the Kamenev, had pointed to insurrection constantly the troops supposedly massed Petrograd who would be around called on to put down an uprising.

WEAKNESS

Against this Lenin and Trotsky had argued that it was a typically petty-bourgeois weakness to over estimate the strength of the enemy justification for ayoiding the conflict. Regardless of the military Provisional support Govern ment chimed to have on paper Would be dectied relationship

OTI

street the and in that, the uprising of the working class would for a great deal. At 8.40 on the evening of the 26th, the Presidium, headed bs Lenin, entered congress Soviets, to the thunderous cheerint of the delegates. Lenin mounted the rostrum anc when the cheering had died dow announced: proceed to "We shall now construct the Socialist order!"

went on to outline Soviet terms for peace, , - no annexations no indemnities and the right of sel determination of peoples.

read the Proclamation He then the Peoples and Government to of all the Belligerent Nations, whic!

unanimously by the was adopted Congress.

LAND

Next Lenin read the Decree or Land. All private ownership of lanc abolished, all landowners was were transferred to Lanc

COCELED

Committees and Peasants' Soviets The Land Decree was debated anc with only one vote agains peasant the delegates wer and delirious with joy. Next on the agenda came the announcement of the composition Lenir Soviet government. the was to be President of the Counci Trotsky as Peoples Commissa with for Foreign Affairs. comprised solely remain in powe for more than a few days. To avoic civil war, they aruged, the left partie all government oI was needed. The Bolsheviks coul of that government part provided that Lenin and Trotsky were excluded.

UNACCEPTABLE

proposal was This unacceptable to the Bolsheviks who nevertheless were prepared to shar with socialist party which was prepared to accept th legitimate transfer of the power to the Soviets. Only the Left Social Revolution th aries were prepared join to government on this basis and the Bolsheviks welcomed them into the Council of People's Commissars The capital had been conquered Now it had to be defended agains whatever forces Kerensky colO muster and the rest of Russia has to be won over to the Revolution and the transfer of power to th Soviets. Such was the enormou task facing the Bolsheviks on th third day of the revolution.

Page 8

IMPERIALISM

From the first involvement Southern of in Europeans there been Africa have attempts to enslave and the local African exploit first population. The Europeans to settle - apart from the odd traveller - were the Dutch employees of the Netherlands East India Company in the 1650s. They established a base at the Cape of Good Hope the on

INDIANS FIGHT

DICTATORSHIP

Gandhi The right wing dictatorship in India contin- ues to repress and attack the Indian working class. The struggle for the restoration of rights in India is democratic therefore of great importance.

The dangerous confusion created by Maoism in the Indian working clearly class shown by very speakers at a meeting in Oxford a week ago. The Oxford Group Against Dic- India held its first tatorship in public meeting at the Buxton Hall, Ruskin College, the plat- and on form Maoist speakers from Went their two major Indian parties, the Communist Party (Marxist) and the Communist Party (Marxist- Leninist). Neither of these speakers could otter any perspective or assessment either on what is happening in India Starting from the concepts of a CPI and an "imperialist' 'fascist" Soviet Union, the Maoists can only serve to disorientate and disarm the considerable base of support they hold within Indian working class. In reality, the Gandhi dictator- ship is still swinging further to the of the first casual- righi, and one ties of this is likely to be the CP!.

Gandhi's son - a powerful figure in the regime - is already making open attacks on the CPI. The experience of the national in other such cases is that they use the Stalinists as a eit protection against the working class. for as long as they feel neces- • and then they ditch inem is the most likely course in This India

GOLD AND

History of Southern Africa by John Lea Gold mining, 1887 Southern tip of Africa and took up farming and cattle rearing to supply the company's ships on the main route to India. The settlers had various conflicts with the Company aver lack representative government in the colony. In the 1770s the combination of the weakening of Dutch seapower in favour of the expanding British coupled with the spread of ideas from France and the American War of Independence, prompted the colonists to take up a The meeting went on to consider a resolution which corcelly associated the campaign on demo- cratic rights from the "religious- revivalist parties like the Jan Sangh and Alkali Dal" This principled stand is a step forward because both the Maois groups are in favour of cooperating in every way with these groups.

The resolution went on to call for the restoration of democratic rights in India including the right to strike and freedom of association.

It called also for the: "...ending of all forms of imper- ialist intervention in India including economic and military aid to the dictatorship". An amendment to the resolution moved by WSL members called for the return to the Indian people of factories and plan- tations owned by British capitalists; together with a cancellation of the debt on all outstanding loans - all without compensation LU British owners. This was carried overwhelmingly despite the opposition of the CPM speaker. was important The amendment because the resolution went on to call correctly on the eft of the Party, Labour the trade union no students to fight for on Students fight demands. Many of these leaderships would be willing to go along with a tooth-

STOLENI

missed out the basic support of the Gandhi dictatorship, which is world imperialism To highlight the direct involve- ment of British imperialism with the essential part of this important campaign. Boer Commandos passing through Johannesburg.

struggle for independence.

As. with America however the mining investors. Firstly, wealth of independence and the in democratic government stopped at gold and was the Was slavery was independent rule maintained. lived by the Independence was short itself however. In 1806 Holland gave over of would become growth Cape Colony to Britain was capitalist occupied by British immediately military forces naval and to colony "a prevent Napoleon getting his hands on This occupation, and the incorporation of the into the British Empire, put paid to any ideas on an independent Republic of Dutch colonists. Secondly, profitability of British rule the first part of the on cheap the 19th Century semi-slave labour. number of measures, which, while With of the the beneficial to the rising bourgeosie in Britain, undermined the settlers' way of life.

SLAVERY

But th following of 1833 Abolitionist the white African Britain. colonies and This, coupled with the lack of tew Africans self government, provoked the the Boers as they came to intolerable the Malco • 111 be called - to set off in 1836 on a mines. money played great Trek northwards beyond the no part in African tribal range of British Colonial Rule to set economy! up two independent Boer republics: The third worried the Transvaal and the Orange Free British State. Trek' occupies The 'Great an current South which all important "scramble for • Diace in in African racist mythology.

the major Capitalist It is used to conjure up the myth of people sturdy independent and caermanor were searching trekking off into the unknown in frantically from their ox-wagons to escape bureaucracy and and falling rate Huro be. with Bible and shotgun to establish Southern Africa, a new clean go-fearing way of lite - "Wild West" of like the America, and at about the same time.

ROBBERY

What is generally not emphasised that this sturdy Rhodes was robbery especially East central - by

CLUBS

Africa to a Portuguese they the time being. colonial 'belt' across Africa, North. value, both them inside the The Boer suddenly the mining formed to exploit the diggings The agent of most British imperialism this period was Cecil Rhodes. Rhodes virtually South Africa for the last 25 years of the through of being both Prime combination Cape government Rhodes and one of the leading capitalists in Gold the diamond and mining The Kaiser was not far behind.

industries. He already had Financed by money raised. on Tanganyika on the London Stock East moved South the Exchange and had into Rhodes and his friends were making West Africa on the Western borders He likewise might profits by 1889 in excess, of £1½ of South Africa. million a year out of the sweat of try and link up the two. African labourers recruited - often In the minds of the imperialists, by force - as mine labourers, and Africa was a gigantic chess board.

paid stealthily first more than pittance. dealt with By the late 1880s several things the Africans and then with the were worrying Rhodes and through Boers. SOCIALIST PRESS. Wednesday June 2nd; 1976 From the 1880s on, the British engineered government violence takeover by trickery and all the independent virtually African kingdoms in the vicinity and they became incorporated additions to the colonial territories The wars often went on

•HOT

involved many British and defeats at the hands of the better African armies. for oroanised example the, Zulus. By 1900 the process was complete. It was by this method that the Rhodesia be colony of Che TO established. Rhodes was convinced that the African kingdoms of Mashonaland and Matabeleland lying to the north of the Transvaal Republic •gold contained valuable

REASONS

but He was mistaken, nevertheless there were other for seizing the important Imperialism area far as concerned. It would defeat any attempts at a Portuguese or German 'belt, and the British would enable as part of its strategy territories African bordering on the Boer Republics, to complete the Boers. Already in Treaty with Boers had Lobengula, In 1888 he court to sent Rudd to explain the with the Boers. whites dig for minerals. Rhodes ideas. He had other formed the of the Kingdom. His and British diplomacy 1891 By was 1893 with blessing and loot rape, stronghold of feudal kingdom. Once colonial control was consolidated Rhodes instituted the This basic hut tax. was the imperialist tactic - together with lorced labour measures - to force the Africans to go and work in the mines. A tax had to be paid in money on each hut. The only way to get money was to work in the mines for wage labour. The other part of robbery. strategy was Africans moved off agatural land and on to orbi fertile majority most reservations. Here the land was worse and the food output was less This, coupled with the greater concentration of population on the land, meant starvation unless some of the youth were sent off to work in the mines. The other side of that coin was that mine were incredibly warco low - below the subsistence cost of

17th CENTURY COMMUNISTS SOCIALIST PRED. Veinesio Labourer. Death was prevented only by food grown 'at home' by of the community on the Le rest reservation. This system was and is to this day the of the system of migrant labour in the gold mines of South Africa and the key to the profits of the companies: It was instituted in all the African territories taken over by British colonialism Southern On Africa. Burford.

RHODESIA

emerged years nationally farmers. Levellers most

SUTPONETS

universal leading franchise _ ications, prospectors defeat Slavery was threatened Africans escaped work in the mines swapping the tyranny of the Boers for the tyranny of British Capital. Surrey Kruger, the president of the Winstanley Transvaal, attempted to get some of the mining profits into the Transvaal treasury by keeping up the Dynamite price through a state monopoly, and tarriffs the on import of mining materials and the and diamonds. gold ideas. Between 1883 the income of the Transvaal State rose fold twentvive from these disappeared, measures and various land licences, until stamp duties, etc., - much to the Kautsky annoyance mining companies. Though a farmer, Kruger had a shrewd understanding of the class "All conflicts between capital and grounded labour. The majority of immigrant English miners were skilled workers. In South Africa they engine drivers, ovelseers, technicians and blasters. They were a labour aristocracy. In the South African context the feeling of superiority сле traditional skilled Marx craftsman towards the unskilled labourer turned into a virulent racism - the unskilled were Africans.

TRADE UNIONISM

that problems of of the earliest attempts at One arose trade unionism white miners in the 1890s - the Knights of Labour' - pledged itself to fight nut only the company but "cheap labour competition of any inferior race".. Kruger therefore enacted number of laws benefitting the min- ers against the company in 1893, including state enforced safety reg ulations and i a portent of things to come ! a so. bar banning Afric- ans from ail jobs Evolving the use The here =27 :: + Britist ÷T==: 1000SI 1s 53= essential o mama- tain Boer political power.

Thus when in 1896 Rhodes with of the collusion of Chamberlain, the British Foreign Secretary, attempt- ed to foment an uprising in Johan- nesburg in Transvaal, the Dretext tor the entry of British forces from the Cape, the plan fell The notorious Jameson Raid basic text. lidl. defeated was Transvaal by police. too!), The next in this series of But the four articles on the history of Southern Africa will appear in silent) ghosts 'Socialist Press' No. 37. in four support weeks time. and 15:6 May 14th 1649, at north of Oxford, Cromwell's army, having victorious from six of civil war against monarchism, defeated also the more radical wing of his own side now in revolt against him.

These were the Levellers, organised movement especially strong in the army.

The political programme of the does. not perhaps look very progressive today. One of their radical demands was for male suttrace and mant Levellers had by 1649 abandoned even this in favour of a based on property qualif-

DEMANDS

Even the Levellers' demo- SO. cratic demands went far beyond the rest of the Parliamentary side in the war and they had to wait a further 180 years to be introduced.

Six weeks before the Levellers' group of about 30 "common people" had established a commune in order "to dig up, manure and sow corn upon George Hill in Surrey" Disillusioned with the compro- mises of the Leveller leaders, these communists led by Gerald Everard, William called themselves the True Levellers or more commonly the Diggers.

The Diggers, unlike the Levellers were a proletarian movement - not merely in their more portantly in their political Though widely read by contem- poraries, Winstanley's writings soon and wage labour. The origins to unknown • clearly, 19th the late century when almost 200 and Bernstein introduced them to the socialist movement.

Freedom that: '..all rich laws that are not equity and upon the labours reason, not giving a universal freedom to all but respecting blessed thing persons, ought.....to be cut off receive. with the King's head" •But other own. and Engeis, they had eous actors in the earth" known of Winstanley's work, woutd He advocated have seen it as a major pioneering for wages, presentation of some of the ideas of general strike action. scientific socialism. such Winstanley, for instance, saw the spiritual and material which 'universal the common people flourish because would be abolished rivate not Irom the absence of and 20th century 'lefts' 327tb anniversary of Crommell's defeat of the Levellers his vague Pare Tosy Beau an opportunity to incering Ma: 15th Bent gate a remarkable of the Christian

TOOLS

the British socialist tradition' These were to be found, he said, as far back as the Old Testament and dismiss their Ministers".

prophets Amos and Micah, not to Christ and radical movements like the Levellers and fight against Diggers who took the bible as their this was a distortion of the politics of the Leveller and Digger possibly even of Amos and Micah The ruling class let astonishing century did feel threatened by what an version of the history of encialism the Levellers stood for. (Mars received no mention).

But there speech gave Benn the speech to make their contemporary chance to 'adapt' the (fortunately bourgeois successors turn similarly of the Levellers pale. of his own ten-point The Levellers political "programme" of equality 300 years ahead of their time - but democratic control a ere business. bureaucracy and the to defend their inheritance...Whereas on the other si Phil Oliver as William Everard bourgeois parliamentary democracy but from the existence of property "Wheresoever community of livelihood into of wealth, he saw was exploitation. In 1652, years before the Com- munist Manifesto, Winstanley wrote in his major pamphlet The Law of men live at ease, feeding and clothing themselves by of other men; not by their own; which is their shame and not their nobility; for it is a more dare to to give than another" rich men receive all they have from the labourer's hand, and what they give, they give away This would lead to the end of men's labours and not their the state which, Winstanley correct- Therefore they are not right ly saw, existed only because of the necessary conflict refusing to work property and freedom. primitive form of Winstanley's style in expressing Through mass these ideas, is often very biblical.

this he hoped to This may create a false impression, establish a 'universal community' in for he was not in any recognisable liberty would way a Christian. property

REASON

'God' to him meant "reason' and "righteousness' was the reason opposed 'Heaven' was the property. sal community, which could exist only on earth and would have to be built through political action.

It is one of the few faults of the recent film 'Winstanley? by Kevin •Brownlow The most specific point made in the words spoken by Mollo) that catalogue was a call for Winstanley himself tend to over- 'the rights of constituents to recall emphasise his religious language and Parliamentary underemphasise ideas. In general, however, the film is an absorbing, exciting and should be upheld. account of the chag Benn argued, 'on the same basis and during which the Diggers reason, as dissenting tained their commune chapels claimed the right to appoint George's Hill. The film begins with a rapid summary of the events of the revol- confirmation that today's 'lefts' see ution and civil war up to 1649 (in the style of Movietone News) and and abstractions. of a major civil war battle (in the style of Eisenstein). Senn was right in one respect

COMPELLING

in the seventeenth Thereafter, the style is that of Brownlow nothing in Benn's and Mollo and extremely compelling. Winstanley's own words are almost taken from his writings. The result may have been this is not to make the stilted and didactic, as could prepared fight easily have happened, but to make there is a people. united by common oneness, it will become the - strongest land in the world; for then they will be as one man pleading for property and single interest divides the people of a land and the whole world into parties, and is the cause of all wars and contention and bloodshed everywhere.....But A Review of the Film "Winstanley" directed by Kevin Brownlow: and Andrew Mollo shall dare to seek dominion over others, neither shall ane .....then this enmity of all lands will cease, and none kill another, nor desire more of the earth than The conviction is strengthened by brilliant but unobtrusive camera and editing which create between vividly realistic impression of the hostile physical environment and climate. This, along with the astonishing attention historical detail, the inevitable slight counteracts formalism of the dialogue and creates a sense of close involvement the story of the commune internal development, the constant assaults on it by the ruling through violence class courts, and its eventual collapse.

rule of The collapse was inevitable. The of That Diggers were attempting to create a 'univer- communist society when capitalism was still in its infancy and had not passed through the progressive phase in which, at the cost gigantic suffering, (directed it the bicalet material preconditions for a com- and Andrew munist society.

MARX

materialist Marx showed what Winstanley had failed to realise - that: convin- "..if we did not find concealed 12 months society the material as it is main- conditions of production of and the St. corresponding relations of exchange prerequisite tor a classless society then all attempts to explode would be quixotic. In 1649 St. George's Hill was occupied by a class which was not yet ripe to lead a revolution Today it is mostly occupied by a which is historically ciass rottes and whose overthrow only waits on kind of uncompromising and courageous fight which was waged then by the Diggers. 1t directly film by Bob Surcliffe

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

lage 10

AUEW: CP KILLS

PAY FIGHT

Government pay policy and But the key role in knifing any the proposed amalgamation of real fight was played by the Stalin- ists before the vote was even taken the AUEW's four constituent on a resolution opposing the deal."

sections - the Foundry work- Communist members ers", workers', construction James Airlie and George Anthony the Technical and Supervisory successtully moved an amendment section and the predominant removing clause which wolf have pledged support those foI Engineering section - were the workers into action main topics under discussion against the policy. at conference of the Engineering section last week.

WORDS

Leading the right wing in sup- This meant that even if the resolution itself had been passed it former union Hugh would only been a form of president Scanion, who threatened to withdraw from the TUC negotiating team if the deal would have had the same impact as the union's verbal oppos- was not supported.

RIGHT WING

SABOTAGE

MERGER

On amalgamation the right- wing at the AEU Conference were able successfully to defeat the Executive's propos- ais because they contained a clause which would allow TASS officials - who are at present unelected - to remain in office unelected for life.

This would course preserve the jobs of these bureaucrats who Stalinists are mainly and their Gill supporters, but would mean that only new officials would be elected.

gamated Union! It would for instance mean that The right wing of course are not

TASS

General Secretary: least concerned for the stalinist The Ken Gill, democratic rights of the member- could retain his present position but with no risk stand for ship. They are opposed to amalgam- election as President of the Amal- ation because they fear that their

CONFERENCE

SPLIT ON RULES

The same issues - pay and conference to vote for the pay deal.

amalgamation - dominated the This ruling meant that the Engineering section could decide all ful joint conference of the decisions at the full conference AUEW this week, with the because an overall amalgamation splitting issue majority of delegates. On this basis the union from top to bottom.

the smaller sections may as well not bother to participate. We make must our position Scanlon's ruling therefore clear. The Workers Socialist League throws into question the whole is in favour of amalgamation and basis of full amalgamation of the for as much united action of the four bitter trade union movement as is possible

SCRUS.

which took last arguments both at local level and nationally.

plact the smaller sections were But the principle of defence of week quoting a rule adopted to protect free collective bargaining and the the rights of the smaller unions complete independence of the when they amalgamated into the unions should stand above the

AUEW

as separate sections. This amalgamation issue and not states: prejudiced by it. "Each Section shall be entitled Uniortunately, when the TUC's to submit for consideration of the Fage-cutting policy came before National Conference any resolution the joint conference the majority of or resolutions dealing with issues delegates (35) abstained, leaving it which affect than more one carried by 34 votes to nil.

Section; all such resolutions shall be submitted to the National Confer- ence; such resolutions may be

RULING

considered at one or more of the policy conferences of the sections.

but policy decisions of the National The reason for the abstentions Was the ruling by Scanion that the Conference shal overrule and super- Engineering cede any relevant policy decision of section delegates were ition to the pay laws last veat which meant only that delegates at the TUC voted against the measures while official actions were called to fight the f6 limit.

In the end, Bill Rowlands, dele- gate from the North West (Div 15) voted against the resolution - even though area's resolution was part of the final composite. In the the two delegates from way valle 24), J. Lambourn and J Simpson, both voted against their Divisional Committee mandate. Another right winger, from Birm- Jordan, voted ingham, against the resolution, though both Birmingham East and Birmingham West Shop Stewards quarterlies voted against the 4½% have pay deal. PHOTOS: Chris Davies. Report Scanlon own new-tound majority on the AEU National Committee could be submerged the amalgamated The Stalinists, by attempting to

TASS

have thus given the right wing an excuse to block amalgam- ation. The resolution eventually passed at the AEU conference was to allow less of the even representation smaller unions and for all officers in TASS to be elected. This the right wing hoped would torpedo the allaikamalion. be binding on the National Exec- utive Council of the Union and also on the Sections". (Rule 13(a) emphasis added] The Construction section delegates that pomlea our this rule the National Committee of the Engineering section never had any right to change their position and accept the £6 pay limit - since opposition was decided at an amal gamated conference. Nor did Scanlon and the AUEW Executive constitutional authority to take action against the striking Leyland toolroom workers The stie prof theres at-viconsti- démocratic procedures tutions is clearly exposed in this struggle. The WSL is in favour of TASS and the CEU leading a fight against and refusing to the pay policy accept this week's vote. Clearly the vote itself must be this time according to the retaken, tules of the full union, but before this takes place there must be a full discussion throughout the union mandate obtained and a genuine from the membership. Jones-Healey pay policy section must be rejected and any of workers fighting it must be given full official backing. In campaigning for a re-vote the sest will she also forth of igot sliding seeking. clause and in all agreements, an explicit defence of free collective

SOCIALIST PRESS.

COWLEY

Alan Thornett last was week elected chairman of the Joint Shop Stewards Com- mittee of the British Leyland Cowley Assembly Plant. His election, at meeting 100 attended by nearly of the plant's shop stewards, followed six months of bureaucratic manoeuvres by the right wing of the T&GWU, became mendatect A Thornett had been chairman of the committee up to his victimis" Leyland in 1974. ation by After this the T&GWU bureaucracy term- inated all offices, held conditions of national under witch-hunt, and split up the power- ful 5/55 Branch of which Thornett "was Chairman. The this bureaucracy followed by ruling that the chairman of the newly formed 5/293 Branch would automatically take the office of chairman of the JSSC. This ruling caused them when, last December, Thornett was elected chairman of the 5/293 Branch. As demands grew from the stewards that he the of JSSC chairman the previous ruling, the bureaucracy quickly changed theit position, and declared would that the matter have to be decided by the T&GWU (traditionally the AUEW provide the JSSC secretary and the

TUC DISOWNS

TRADES COUNCIL

After 89 years affiliated to the TUC, the Oxford and Dis- trict Trades Council has been removed from the TUC's list of recognised Trades Councils by the right wing bureaucracy led by Jones and Murray. This move was not unexpected.

Since the local bureaucrats and Stalinists, organised by right-wing T&GWU District Secre- walked out of Laly the Trades Council AGM in Febru- ary, the TUC has been seeking ways of restoring the dominance wing and their Stalinist right allies over the last two years.

With breath-taking bureaucratic Murray arrogance declares - in a letter distributed to delegates - that the Trades Council Joint Conslu- tative Committee (TCJCC): "reached its decision only after careful consideration of very information available about the functioning of Oxford and District Trades Council".

NO EVIDENCE

"careful consideration" This "inquiry" took the form of a mock evidence which sought and views from none of the Trades Council majority delegates and not a single one the officers elected at the April AGM. The only evidence it heard was from the extreme right wing-CP alliance which broke up the Febru- AGM by calling an inconsti- ary tutional meeting selected delegates 30 minutes before normal starting standing orders of the Council.

time changing the Despite a subsequent TUC decla- ration that this secret meeting was in fact unconstitutional its "null void" and the

TENDEN

out fully "inquiry" has come 'in favour of that minority, accepting charge every and demand it has made. Murray bases his "case" on three charges. held its ye that te Trades Council AGM on Apri Wednesday June 2nd, 1976

SETBACK FOR

RIGHT WING

T&GWU, the chairman). This new angle of the officials also contained a further problem- Thornett was likely to be elected by the stewards. So they refused to convene a stewards meeting!

A meeting of stewards was then called under the authority of the

T&GWU

the branches in

•LWU

factory, and Alan Thornett was elected the T&GWU nominee for endorsement at a full JSSC meeting on May 24th.

T&GWU

Again the officials switched position this time they no longer recognised the

JSSC

and that their opinion it should not exist.

They followed this up by approaching and Landsul asking them to withdraw the use of the works canteen for the May 24th Management meeting. were only too eager to oblige. The successful fight to restore these facilities to the committee, together with the of election Thornett, were both blows to the bureaucracy, who are now redoub- ling their efforts to establish dictatorial control in other directions. In general terms their strategy is to break up any committee, branch, Trades Council or any other body not controlled them. Their failure so far to destroy the Cowley JSSC shows they have a long way still to go. proposed by the TUC. This, Murray ludicrously concludes, "excluded' those branches who had decided not to attend (entirely of their own free will!) Secondly, Murray accuses the Trades Council of upholding the "to criticise the policies of right unions". individual He connects this with a reference the so- to called "campaign" against the cuts Service •xtord unions, which the Trades Council Health Service sub-committee cotrectly criticised as a sham fight.

Thirdly Murray chaere res the Cotative with ot Council being a body. He means not of the right-wing bureaucrats. The charge is one very Oxford TA 71:191 T&GWU bureaucrats are now even proposing to disband the District Automative Committee on the basis that it is 'unrepresentative" - level- Team brange andithe the ling charge against 5/293 Cowley Assembly Plant Joint Shop Committee. Stewards fact against any trade union body not slavishly subservient to the officials and their policies. attempt to complete the the co siste TUC has called manoeuvre meeting the Trades Council on July 14th. This means that for the next month they will be working overtime to bureaucratically Limit and change the delegations from branches to that meeting Their aim is a Trades Council controlled top to bottom by the local officials with Standing Orders rese of ted or this the new ult redrafted for this - the new Rule But their manoeuvres arise from not from strength. The weakness know they officials have no rea popular support in the local labour movement. And in attempting to hamstring those workers determined to fight in defence of the working class they only educate new layers of workers the and nature of the bureaucracy itself - both its right

SOCIALIST PRESS.

Wednesday

'WITCH-HUNT!

WAILS

RIGHT-WINGER

Always eager to protect its own, the Tory press in York- shire has been falling over itself to support extreme right winger Bill O'Brien. He was suspended for two years as NUM branch secretary at Glass- Castleford, houghton Colliery by the Yorkshire Area Council follow- ment and internal union documents to solicitors acting for the Sheffield Star. information The was iser • part of their defence against successful libel action brought by Yorkshire NUM President, Arthur Scargill. The of O'Brien, suspension together with another right-winger, former branch secretary, Tom Main Colliery, Roebuck of Manvers was on the charge of "acting against the National Union the interests of • Scargill maintains of Mineworkers". that documents the the were property of the NUM.

PRESS

O'Brien, all right-wingers when in trouble, made straight for the press claiming that he was being "witch-hunted" and launching into a full-scale attack on the Yorkshire Redundancy notices were issued Friday to 355 last workers at Monkbridge Forge in Leeds, a part of the Daniels Doncasters combine. The sack- ings will come into effect on 20th August - one week after the summer holidays. Management blame workers for the situation claiming that the redundancies are because of a run- down 17 poor quality of production.

They go on to state the grounds on which they will decide who joins the list of redundancies • which include assessments of each worker's quality and of Foc atsentee

FIRST OUT

In other militants words, those who resist speed up will be first out of the gate if management get their way. The factory, which makes turbine blades for Rolls Royce and Concorde is affected by the run and down or ge acra mousy suffering from the unplanned devel- opment it has undergone. nOW consists large oI a number of expensive white elephant machines bought by government money and rented back to the firm. The stewards must organise the fight back now. These redundancies are only the first wave as the firm can only become less and less viable 1975 Jane area leadership. In a statement to the Yorkshire Evening Post Scargill's referred indirectly to principled fight against the 442%0 pay. cuts advocated by the TUC and of the

NUM

majority execute. "I decisions taken support by democratically executive and what I do abhor is people who come bacK alter all work executive decision and to oppose it" O'Brien wisely kept silent on the role of Joe Gormley, NUM Presi- dent, who as an individual defeated democratic vote; launcle a national press witch-hunt to seek to reverse the recent executive for overtime ban in of jobs Langwith detence Colliery. These tactics are deemed fit and proper wing carry them while left wingers like

OUL.

Scargill are supposed be constrained by executive decisions from campaigning within the union to reverse wrong positions.

O'Brien is clearly putting himself forward as the focal point of right- wing opposition to Scargill and all those who support Labour govern- ment and TUC policies of attacking the working class. Miners leaving Glasshoughton Colliery

SACKINGS AT

MONKBRIDGE FORGE

under capitalist management and face eventual closure. 'The fight must besin by forcing the employers to open the account books

ANCIOU

the for committee, to prove case the nationalisation of Monkbridge Forge, and at the same time reject- ing all redundancies and demanding work-sharing on full pay.

CHRYSLER: MORE

JOBS FOR AXE

Chrysler's workers at plant will not be Maidstone those whose jobs have among temporarily saved been following recent orders for components from Iran. se this notone wito the lose to close this month with the loss some 600 jobs. Plans for something like 1,000 sackings at the Coventry plants are being shelved but there is no room for complacency the Chrysler workforce. As we have pointed out in past Socialist Press articles, any talk of Chrysler's depends survival very much and 'flexible' speed-up other arrangements - lE "disciplined" workforce. WOIls d According to management threat of redundancies be removed only if the unions agree to

INDUST

In this, with the backing of the press he may well win a measure of support in a few sectors in York- shire, But for any miner who sees defence of the living standards of class as paramount, the working this right-wing campaign must be contemptuously rejected. Instead, all possible support must be rallied behind a 'No' in the ballot on the TUC pay cuts plan.

*FOOTNOTE

The coordinated efforts of the 1ory press, television ana laudo alt daily at the beck and call of the right wing. But the move by the Yorkshire area NUM to put adverts in Nottinghamshire the TUC wage-cuts opposition lo plan has provoked wails of protest Notts President, from right-wing Len Clarke. He described the Yorkshire "diabolical liberty". action as Presumably the only voice allowed free access to Notts miners through the press must be Clarke himself.

"freedom of the this is what SC press" is all about. Recent articles in The Miner', official journal of the National Union of Mine- workers are preparing the "workers' for way partici- pation" in the coal industry, with the full backing of the NUM executive. In the latest issue of The Miner the proposals of the Economic Sub- Committee OI the NUM are out- lined. They plan twelve-man "col- liery management" teams for each pit to be elected by secret ballot of employees. Through these the present consultative committees at which management and unlons sit across the table from each other will be abolished. hundreds of workers changing jobs, mostly moving from Ryton to the Stoke and Canterbury St. plants. it onany spokesman bunsary Potentar that: general redundancy programme is planned However, difficulties are experienced effecting in redeployment, then consideration will be given to limited voluntary redundancy Although some overtime is being worked at Stoke, especially in the engine is being reduced from 29 to Workers take should not management's word on their future - the fight must begin to open the bat Maidstone, for

CORDAY.

and instead for

FOI

sharing on full par.

VOTE "NO" TO

WAGE CUTS

The NUM ballot of membership on acceptance or rejection of the wage- cutting Jones-Healey pay plan is now in its last few days in many areas.

which to rejection of the plan would provide a crucial plattorm trom launch action to defeat the reactionary policies of this Labour government which threaten not only miners but the whole working class.

"No" vote must be followed by active preparation for a national strike in support of the £100 claim already backed by several key areas in the North, linked to a sliding scale of wages to protect this increase against inflation. This would provide regular increases to match the rise in prices as monitored by elected trade ution committees.

miners in rejecting the plan would be the best The lead given by support for rank and file militants in other unions fighting the treachery of their leaders in accepting the wage cuts.

While McGahey Prepares Escape As support got under way for a 1974 and payed the way to thei "No" was the rank and fil vote in the NUM victory - it massive the &GWU and membership munist Party were already begin- other unions. rank and file member ning to look for an escape from the These possibility of strike action.

been excluded from any have from the democratic voice on the 42% pa This emerged clearly statement of Mick McGahey, Scot- plan. And of course there would be tish miners' President that "we a mass of support, as before unde shouldn't go ti alone' Tories, for section ally workers in struggle against wage

REJECT

cutting. For McGahey however, the only The only if onsi mi ms nite to this is that the miners vote people who matter in the labou movement are the full time unio reject the 42% wage cutting plan while the bureaucrats at the TUC bureaucrats. CP members in the NUM mus Congress on June 16th vote to accept, that Stalinists liko McGahey depth watch out for a new vill advise against strike action ir betrayal now being carefully pre he name of "unity" pared by their leadership.

No could be Miners must be ready to lead th argument more struggle on behalf of those worker reactionary. It was not the bureau.

crats represented at the TUC who denied a voice on policy. They wil 1972 and backed cne mmels

"PARTICIPATION"

•THE SCARGILL WAY

For years Board and all this sort of thing any attempt by the National Coal Board to introduce That's workers' power "participation" has been met with Workers' power is to take into th constant opposition from militant hands of the working people all th workers. this article it means of producing wealth, distri From bution and exchange" clear that the NUM bureaucracy are We pointed act one hell preparing to do the job for them.

So strong has been rank and file acknowledge refusing opposition to having anything to do difference between a fully fledge with management that local NUM socialist economy and the concret branches have refused to distribute struggle for workers' control nou the Board's journal Coal News.

which is both the only solution t the problems facing the workin

COMPLAINTS

class and. the concrete ret a socialis way posing the necessity The NUM's Economic Sub- planned economy] Scargill wa Committee now complains about of hi Manilante „lIc this attitude, by saying, "The socialist rhetoric....but doing existing colliery forward th mittees had degenerated into little struggle to defend jobs, wages and more than complaints committees" democratic rights of the trad The article tries to skirt round union movement' the fact that all final decisions will still rest with the National Board

OPPOSITE

composed copes that the ocasiom on which management, Board or its Area Directors Now Scargill has come dow "partici openly the side of might directly intervene in the pation" , the opposite of workers decisions of a colliery management of team would be few". control. And talk electing managers is simply words they hope that a smokescreet

EDENCE

by placing miners on "management conceal the unchanged faces i the NCB itself. teams" they torce through Grimshaw productivity deals and closures.

case of Alan dismissed by the NCB after expos The greatest danger to miners overcharging now is that "lefts" such as Scargill ing huge by sub for fo have now come out in favour of parts spart just the sach proposais despite their power-supports, scrapes of previous talk of opposing the links betweer suntact palled pation" under any circumstances.

management and private capitalist and highlights the importance of struggle to expose deals like thes

STEP

by fighting for opening the book Scargill presents these proposals of the Board to elected workers as if they committees. were nothing to do with participation, but a step Only in this way, not by sitt towards on 'management teams' respondi workers' management of the pits.

In a previous issue of Socialist to Coal Board management, real struggle for Press (no 19) we quoted an inter- ment of the industrybegin.

riew with Scargill where he said Tito the independence o dre I'm totally opposed to workers control.....I believe once you start blow to the independence miners' union will only be defeates talking about workers' control by a consistent struggle capitalisin what you are saying is that the books advocates, right and we open

NUM

and we take charre of 51% of the

NALGO N.E.C. DEFENDS

Page 12

PAY CUTS

shopping list of things the unions

NALGO

leadership The government must take and the or asking for are opposing avoiding the of, carefully note power in action of the withdrawal of every the potential force for action membership motion calling

NALGO

such demands through. even those which simply call for publicity campaigns for a

"APATHY"

halt to cuts, unemployment their cutting at The NALGO leadership will of and wage National Conference at East- motions claim that any COurse entail activity designed to which bourne this week. The discontent of the NALGO not • mobilise this strength because of the claimed membership is reflected in many "apathy" of the membership.

branches. of the motions they Yet same time at individual There are many on are opposing the motion from the such as opposition problems which suggests Hackney branch the call cuts in the rail services, branch meetings a year (!)

four for more money for the National instead of the present one or two.

Bus Company, and opposition to such that Clearly Other motions health service cuts.

NALGO

apathy as there

NALGO

mobilise to attempt protected by must be carefully against the cuts in general.

creating the impression of a com-

NALGO

General Secretary, pletely dormant union. that all Geoffrey Drain, argues link shows clearly future policy measures are cover- between so-called "apathy" ed by an emergency motion to be the So does very leadership. put to conference by the NEC.

example of the West different will be seen by This motion Midlands County Council branch many delegates as the ultimate in pre conference meeting, where 60 cuddling up to the anti-working members voted by an overwhem- class bureaucrats within the TUC majority to instruct conter- ing government. The and the Labour ence delegates to throw out the

NALGO

states that the motion NEC motion. leadership: considers it essential that the

DIRECTED

development of the continuing acceptable economic mutually were directed to Instead they Tradey unions posed bee gener support motions directed towards unions ment must be the cornerstone of specific actions which could defeat the Labour government's our purpose" working living Of course the economic policy attack standards. proposed in по way now for determined struggle "mutually accepted" by the mem-

NALGO

is the leadership within bership - who have been given no of for the defence prerequisite voice on the issue of whether to This jobs and living standards. wage-cutting accept the TUC's must take firm steps forward at 4½% limit. the Eastbourne conference.

The NEC follow this with a

£60O FUND

We have had an encouraging response to the increased £600 Monthly Development Fund this month. With money still on its way to us the total so far has reached £529.82.

amounts have been received. BLMC Cowley Assembly £32.00; Birmingham £10.00 Plant £30.00; BLMC Cowley Body Plant Islington £50.00; Oxford Health Service £50.00; Leamington £2.35; South £30.00; South London $40.00; Coventry $22.00; Yorkshire $21.30; J.W. Liverpool £20.00; Hull £22.50; Central London £40.00; Nuneaton £10.00; • £5.27; East London Oxford General £40.00; Aylesbury £10.00; Banbury £47.50; Oxford Bookshop £25.00; Leeds £15.00; Collections £6.70.

Let's make an early start with the June fund so that we make the target in good time.

BENN'S HAND OUT

over millions to the oil companies.

Still more subsidies for private To the amazement of the oil through National industry barons, Benn is offering them cash Enterprise Board and

ILLE

North Sea look of the simply widespread extenstion oil - regardless of whether they participation" schemes "worker cutting jobs in British find any! already unbelievable genersoity This Leyland and Chrysier are exposes the real face of the left embodied in a new plan from the talkers on the NEC! National Executive of the Labour Party. These reactionary proposals to preserve and give a "respectable" combined face to capitalism

MORE DETAILS

with utopian and ludicrous plans I would like more infor- £1,000 million for another about the Workers sector house building mation public £2,700 million more on increased Socialist League. pensions and £1,500 million more on social service Name... proposal for without single nationalisation. Address. While the 'left' on the Labour

NEC

content themselves W101 grandiose daydreams, these Pars Hi London NaSH 31, Dartmouth Secretary Wedgewood Energy Benn has been getting down to

BRAND

HACKNEY

VAL GU

the national Petrified by growth of militancy among shown by the students as by of occupations spate student teachers, the leaders National Union of of the Students have already begun to beat the retreat. Meeting at the weekend, the 25 strong Executive decided not to action to all colleges widen and universities. will leave those Instead they students already in occupation to become isolated and demoralised while the reformists of the NUS embark on an orgy of protest and "pressure" campaigns on teachers' Racialism, cont'd from front page.

and housing - against any bureau who seeks to hold back the tral working class. shown in the much This was black strike over a publicised British Leyland, in Cowley. The right-wing senior shop stewards correctly sided with the worker going back on his job - but it is precisely because of the collaboration stans Parsons, 10T-

T&GWU

between Reg Convener, and BL management, with together

CONSCIOU

extreme right wing tostering oi reaction in the plant that racia.- workers' found food ism frustration. It was left to the committee of the 5/293 Branch of the T&GWU intervene, correctly producing case and this statement This circulating it to members. pointing to attacked racialism by showing that workers' its roots, • caused by problems are by the govern- immigrants but ment' There is no doubt that if the

4½% TUC

miners do reject the decide on plan and wage curs strike action, giving a lead to the it would strike the working class, biggest possible blow against In struggle against the racialism. - the employer the working class can break down rectional divisions.

WEDEMAND

SAN IMMERIATE

anne MILLION

M'EME

HEAPSTEN

BOUNCIL

The NALGO NEC left face has been support for the national coordinating Committee against the Cuts in the NHS. Their Conference policy statement shows they regard this as just words.

nUS LEADERS

SOUND THE RETREAT

parent-teacher associa- union, MPs, councillors and trade tions, "persuade" them to unionists to "pressure" the government employ more teachers! would This proposal, which be laughable if it were not for the of the situation facing gravity students, is quite obviously bank- rupt.

IMPLEMENTING

and right have All MPs left' played their part in implementing The handful the spending cuts. who abstained on the of "lefts Paper collapsed next White BLMC Cowley Assembly Plant.

The answer to the racist cam- paign therefore is completely tied up with the question of working class leadership and the indepen- dent mobilisation of the working class against fascism. solution for

ILU

workers in passive appeals to the Relations Board any more Race than there is justice to be had from Industrial Tribunals (though we are in favour of Relf remaining in jail till he rots). The answer to racialist attacks must be the organisation through the workers' movement and immi- grant organisations of self-defence off the squads to drive streets. stand in the And those who way of the united struggles of the - whether openly working class wing union bureaucrats or right "left' talking Labourites and Stal- inists advocating import controls- must be exposed as the allies of real the capitalist enemy, class in every country. *Repeal all anti-immigration lawsReject import controls.

cuts!' *No to the TUC wage Action to defend living standards!

*Defend all jobs - work sharing with no loss of pay. *A crash programme of hous control to ing under workers' provide work for the unemployed.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday Zna June 1970.

of the day and voted in favour government's economic policies.

of "emergency rosts t with And cuts being further Healey to "save the prepared by pound" it is certain no amount of verbal persuasion will change the situation. The only way the cuts can be fought is by resolute action calling on the full support of the labour movement in all-out strike social defend the action to services and education. the NUS The decision leadership to restrict the occup- to student teachers ations for this reason sheer treachery.

must be taken to Every step reverse it and widen the existing Greece cont'd. Orthodox Metropolitan (Bishop).

who had welcomed of the island, the captain of the aircraft carrier.

Last week's fighting underlines fact that Karamanlis is the the political heir of the Colonels and that struggles for eyen the most democratic rights elementary must become a challenge to his regime.

WEAKNESS

The relative weakness of trade unionism in Greece (only about 20% of ate organised workers in unions) goes back many years.

The General Confederation of was set up with a Labour itself, by the nominated leadership Monarcho-fascist government immediately after the war. willie the British Labour government hundreds of millions in their pounds to support civil puppets" anti-Communist war. waving agreed to diaise Stalin, imperialist Europe with while stood aside powers, thousands of Greek Communists were murdered today's of The policies pro-Moscow Greek Stalinists offer forward against way government. They disclaimed responsibility demonstrations for the Athens and attempted to link the revol- utionary left with fascism. I d "fascist statement which blamed and anarchist elements" for the violence. defence democracy call for the They went on to. the struggle for the In reality the class rights of working Greece now urgently requires the building revolutionary, Trotskyist party firmly based on the advanced sections of workers such as those who faced the police truncheons in Athens.