Socialist Press no. 42

JONES & CO

STAB LEYLAND

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

STEWARDS

As the seamen vote for action against the 42% pay policy, and with a wave of strikes escalating throughout British Leyland reflecting the strength of the working class beginning to break through the TUC bureaucrats' pay deal with the Labour govern- the union officials have hit back at those fighting for ment, principle on the shop floor.

Buckle even refused to use the Central to their moves was a held 19th, official procedure, simply saying meeting on August it was the members to up to convened in London Jack decide" The Jones of the T&GWU and Hugh The members immediately did decide, Scanlon, AUEW President. and stoppages took place on both Harry amenance was Princess Maxi and tracks Urwin, General Secre- Assistant where the stewards worked.

tary of the T&GWU and Ryder supremo, together with National,

CONFIDENT

Regional and local officials of the unions from areas covering

LWO

Next day, however, feeling Leyland plants. confident he could swing Scanlon told the Jones and decision to end any action, Buckle assembled bureaucrats that Alex called mass meeting Park, Financial Director of British meeting North Works. The was Leyland, had outlined to them a.

the that enlarged very serious financial situation in sections with victimised stewards Leyland, had complained to them were put in a minority. of the number of disputes and of this, and after a 2 In spite had pleaded that District Officials Buckle and hour battle against work closely with local more right-wing convenor Reg Parsons, the management in Leyland who both argued management's plants. case, the meeting voted to support

MAIN QUESTION

the stewards. by this, Although shaken Jones and Scanlon went on to Parsons recovered Buckle and close the meeting enough say the main question was < 10

BROW

before any decision was taken on getting the next £400 million form that support should what backing from the government. thus laying the basis for argued that it was vital to take, They this confusion to set in get message across when As a result, following the mass industrial action was considered - meeting the sector whose stewards however good the reason. victimised took strike had been strikes were opening the door to They went while the other sections action, foreign he socated enemy" and worked attacked the so-called

INTIMIDATION

from within British Leyland.

tantamount to a was door for This opened the declaration war against with management militants in the Leyland plants on to move in individual intimidation. Each behalf The managemeu. militant was shadowed by two or in the factories impact was who each noted more foremen immediate. of down every word he spoke.

That same day a meeting To add to the pressure, Parsons 173 took place in the workers published a witch-hunting state- North the Cowley works Assembly Plant to consider the ment on the uesday which was taken up by the local and national case a young. worker sacked for allegedly not working press. On the Thursday, however an hard enough. meeting of the Joint emergency

RECOGNITION

Shop Stewards Committee unan- imously backed the four stewards, A few days later on August and issued a statement in their 24th, Leyland management with- defence to members. drew recognition from four shop after a week of Mean wille, stewards who, they claimed, had consciously created confusion, addressed the meeting. The local crack in the strike came on the T&GWU official, David Buckle, promptly agreed that management Cont'd on Rack Page Col 4 ПЛЛЛ and Not only the size of the persistence demon- daily rocking the strations in South Vorster regime Africa, but also the forms the struggle is taking, are becom- ing every day more threaten- ing to the oppressive apartheid system. Latest unconfirmed reports suggest that a further extension of recent massive 3-day general strike is being prepared with calls for a three week national stoppage by African workers.

SOWETO

In Soweto the call for the general strike between three-day 23rd 25th August and was followed by 80% of Johannes- burg's black workers. In their efforts to break the strike, the armed police and the BOSS (Bureau of State Security)

FORTNIGHTLY PAPER OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

No 42 * 8th SEPTEMBER 1976 * 10p

QUALITY 77

SAVED AGAIN JACK

S.AFRICAN REBELLION

GROWS

demonstrators was not intimidat- ing the rest, took advantage of the especially insecure position of those migrant workers who live in hostels to try to promote inter- necine strife among the black worKers hostel dwellers are under The the 24-hour vigilance of wante they hostel supervisors; can be sent back to their "tribal home- lands" at a moment's notice.

By making threats of this kind the police tried to blackmail these workers into attacking the partici- pants in the demonstrations.

black Several journalists all heard present in Soweto white police officer say to these hostel workers: "You have been ordered to attack only the trouble makers. If you attack buildings belonging to the administration will be W C

SEAMEN

VOTE FOR

ACTION

The result of the ballot in National Union the Seamen gave a 309 vote maj- ority for "industrial action of some kind", whatever the think executive necessary. was very high The polling from with a 33% vote a membership which is scatter- ed all over the world. The seamen's claim clearly goes against the Social Contract's terms which say group workers will have more than one rise within a year. The executive of the NUS will decide on Wednesday what action to take. Already the leadership of the TUC and the capitalist press they would be saying "isolated" if they took action.

with the But, as happened miners, if the seamen come out on strike they would bring to the su face all the hatred latent withi the working class for the betrayals of this Labour Government and they would no doubt receive mass support. would show hest Socia how This flimsy is the hold of the Contract on the working class as The whole effort of the a whole. TUC is "towards discouraging the

NUS

from such leadership action." The seamen's vote has expres sed the feelings the real OI class in clear contradic working treate the matoeuveins of the bureaucracy Brighton. The demand must now be on the executive for no piecemea but determined strikes all out action. And there must campaign for full support from dockers and other transpor workers. Since the regime was unable t reports,

COISON

-press backfired and in the manoeuvre merely long run has served to deepen the hatred of all black workers for the racist regime responsible for their appalling conditions of life.

COLOURED

The most striking new upsurg the the steen dae a ree the Western Cape. "Coloured" (mixed-race) popu lation has shown itself to be a one with the black workers an students and to share the sam militancy and courage. demonstrations in th After University of the Western Cape it which students turned firehose their white teachers, th on Cape Town suburbs of erupted. Every day for the past weel demonstrations of thousands o and workers students havi

SPAIN: STALINISTS KNOCK ONTHE DOOR

Page 2

PORTUGAL

Soares lets Spinola back Portugal has disappeared from the press headlines in recent months as the social crisis has abated. But this is not to say that the problems facing the working class have Portugal's gone away political problems have yet been finally resolved by the capitalist class. Amid much publicity and care- ful manipulation during ¡A$÷ General the right-wing President Eanes has been elected Socialist Party and the government of Soares brought into

CAPITALIST

Soares presented his programme August at the beginning of as a capitalist politician calling for 'hard work and austerity' and the ending of strikes and occupations.

the North- an ottica visit to ern city of Oporto on 3rd Septem- ber, President

LOOK

same theme in attacking previous revolutionary actions and asserting that 'everyone must work' Yet the political problems have not been solved for the Portuguese such speeches. bourgeoisie by Although the Counci •of the military Revolution, organis- ation which evolved after the original coup remains in existence, it is alleged to have handed over its powers to the electea Government But has it really done so in practice? When right- Spinola returned from exile winger 10th August Prime Minister on Soares appeared on TV the same In Spain this week the leaders of the Communist Party are literally and politic- knocking ally the front on •door of the fascist state.

King Juan Carlos' second govern- ment looks all set to fall because it cannot decide whether to let them in. The literal aspect of the problem Ibarruri and that Santiago Carillo, the President and General Secretary respectively the Spanish Communist Party, have said that, although already refused by Spanish embassies passports abroad, they will enter Spain during September. A special watch on all border posts has been ordered by the Suarez regime to prevent their entry.

CARILLO

Usually well informed press sources in Madrid claim that Carillo has already spent most of the last six months in Spain. And he himself admits to having entered the country several times.

The most recent occasion was three weeks when he went to ago Barcelona try to persuade the bourgeois Catalan nationalist organ- isations and dissident "separatist" CP members to integrate themselves the nationwide class collabor- the Democratic Coordination

INTERNATIONAL NEUS

Soares military, and evening to deny any foreknow- military caste still balancing itself ledge of it. contending between social Yet only had to read Le Monde the French newspaper on delicate and unstable 24th July to see that Spinola's arrangement has manifested itself in return was already in an advanced the Soares His two-day programme stage negotiation. says it will stay in prison on the small charge allow the market economy but that of having tried to organise a coup d'etat in March 1975 was obviously the state control the "com- manding heights.' negotiated with somebody.

Similarly Ist September, the Council of the Revolution issued a 'provocation and statement against and *the pseudo-exercise violence' of the right to meet', attacking in be solved by one of the main social families classes taking power.

JULICIOUS

throughout the country who are squatting in houses formerly empty or owned by the rich. national imperialism will take over, expressed against venom or the working class and peasantry.

'the illegal seizure of goods and will win. Ultimately there can be no to the m ain enterprises large and the and main enterprises The need of the hour is to build small which were taken over from

NOVELICIE

their by workers Iormer Lilabicio and peasants, mostly during 1975.

military and its class collaboration-

BALANCED

that the It is clear, therefore, industries and the development of real intention mullary has lo effectively handing over power. Nor The Soares admin- has it done so. istration remains precariously balanced between the working that voted for the Socialist criminal collaboration of the Stalin- chass Party and the forces that stand Communist Party, behind the HeALindly officers. The political situation remains of a government without real power These leaders also must be called the on to fight for the interests of the trying to balance Its political problem, however, is demanding entry to Spain - and that it timing is no coincidence permit their open return to Spain without reversing its pledge not to legalise the Com- munist Party. do But that it is unable to because it would finally break the already strained which support the Francoist Suarez has from "bunker" fascists who - those argue that even to talk of 'reform"

REFERENDUM

This strain is already showing up in the fact that not even the plans for the referendum on "constitu- tional reform' originally promised for this month have yet been unvelled. in the Informed speculation press about its content has now been censored by the regime.

This is undoubtedly beçause of the resistance of the bunker (which still controls the Cortes, Spain's Carillo caricature parliament), which opposes any constitutional reform at all. A reilza provocative inter- gave While Prime Minister Suarez view to Cambio 16 Spain's (in fact and the King face this immovable Europe's) most widely read politic- their obstacle plans to incor- al weekly. porate at least part of the oppos- he said, that It was ridiculous, Communist Party should ition in a plan for minimal consti- the remain illegal. It should be legalised tutional they are also audias. having to deal with an outflanking and, he implied, invited to join the Francoists and the other opposition manoeuvre. This comes from the self-styled parties in a National Pact.

"reformist" wing of the fascists in virtually the This proposal the percon of ex-Foreion Minister identical twin of the CP's proposed ‚Eanes' working class and poor peasantry, or else be pushed aside to make way for those who will.

JOCKEYING

It is for this reason that some of political the most important jockeying is still taking place within the armed forces. Talk of differences between various political factions there filled the Portuguese papers at the end of August, with extreme right wing supporters of Spinola moving into a number of leading positions.

Some prominent Socialist Party for the deputies began call abolition of the Council of the Revolution altogether. The real question from the point of view of the working class is to bring about the endine city control altogether, the election officers and the disbandment of the armie is printy o role of petty- teactionary bourgeois hero and former Presi- dential candidate Otelo de Carvahlo was made obvious when he joined the chorus of soldiers denying that the there was any split within military and asserting that all such talk was designed to upset democ- life and divide the armed rațic forces.

PROP

It is through such statements as these that the power of the military is maintained and a major prop of capitalist rule continued.

Areilza and the CP leaders are gambling on provoking the King to thow Suarez out the oza Yranconst and by-pass the Francoist constitutional organs such as the Cortes and the Council of the Realm (also dominated by the "bunker") whose role is to nomin- the candidates for Prime ate Minister. Such an action would certainly produce major constitutional CP leaders would crisis which the exploit by attempting to deliver the King mass movement "democratic" provisiona ana a government of "national unity" led a kind of civilian Areilza, as Spanish version of Portugal's Spinola.

BATTERING RAM

millions of Spain's Already workers and impatient militant CP of oppose the leaders' policy knocking politely at the door of Francoism. The "reformist" fascists and the Stalinist leaders now coincide on a plan such as the one just outlined because they both know that if the not promptly answered knock is those millions are waiting with a battering ram. With this the workers are prepared to destroy not only the edifice fascism, the capitalism and protectoI imperialism in Spain, but also any- indudine theit own leaders. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 It is only one step more to the opinion of Eanes that there carnot be any repression now because the President is from the armed forces.

Behind the of course, scenes efforts to consolidate the right wing The arrival of Spinola go ahead. symbolised this, but worse was to follow. One of the demonstrations against his return, called by the one of the Portuguese sections

LCI,

of the United Secretariat was , banned by the authorities.

About 10,000 marched, on 13th August, under however, the auspices of the so-called of Popular 'National Commission Unity', pro-Carvahlo political body. has also been recently reported that large numbers of the former members of PIDE. secret police of the fascist dictator- ship are being released to join in Spinola's conspiracies. It is said that only of those locked up in seven March 1974 after the original coup remain incarcerated.

ARRESTS

Early there August was 1n wave of arrests of extreme right- wingers, including the mayor of a small town under the fascist regime, for being involved in a series of bomb explosions, опе malang during the election campaign when two people were killed at the Cuban embassy. The chief of police in Oporto was implicated. With Spinola now back in business, this is clearly not the last we wil hear from these quarters.

NAMIBIA

Callaghan Backing Vorster One of the major questions discussed by South African Prime Minister Vorster and Henry Kissinger in their week- end cabal in Zurich was how best to keep Namibia (South- West Africa) a client state of world capitalism. This perspective is supported by the British Labour govenment who arch-imperialist have been Kissinger's main collaborators.

said in a BBC inter- Callaghan vi w that: "With my policy and American power we ought to be able to maxe some progress in Southern Africa."

South West For many years the Organisation Peoples' Aircan

(SWAPO)

been fighting guerrilla war against South African rule Vorster, knowing that this be as fatal for colonial war could his regime as were the African wars to the Portuguese dictatorship, has attempting up "independent' state which would be a scale model of South African apartheid - a huge white owned area surrounded by client "Bantu- On 18th the Vorster August announced the successful regime independence completion of the Windhoek, negotiations in the Namibian capital. dismissed

SWAPO

the have Windhoek agreement as "a gimmick aimed at buying time for the South African regime' On the other hand the SWAPO leaders have continued their dangerous aolicy of reliance on the.

IRAN: LABOUR LEADERS PROP DICTATORSHIP

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednendey 8ik September 1976 Review of "Workers of Iran: Repression and the Fight for Democratic Trade Unions" by T. Jalil. (Published by the Campaign for the Restoration of Trade Union Rights in Iran, and available from them at BCM 816, London WCIV 6XX for 75p plus postage).

in the working class. are may have been deceived by all into thinking that the workers produce the wealth are bene- fitting by it. Such an impres- Istanian, sion is quite false, particular- dictatorship of the Shah.

an important and timely pamphlet living increasing rapidly, to the level of Western Europe, and rents in the capital Tehran as much as £50-£60 The Hillman cost of car produced by the Chrysler-control- Iran-National is about half led much again as in this country, but makes gets about one-eighth as much his as countery other formsnoty.

Many other forms exploita- tion quoted, including the are of children, the employment subjection of women to their male ot unem. ployed and under-employed people, at least 7% of the labour force.

How is all this brought about?

By thé brutal suppression of trade rights and of every effort to establish independent organisation The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation leadership in the working fighting to build a revolutionary "left" and right class in opposition to the betrayals of both Labour and trade union leaders and the Communist In the daily struggle to take the demands and principles of Trotsky's Transitional Programme into the trade unions, the WSL has been at the forefront of the fight for the sliding scaie of wages, and work sharing on *a pay plan and the wholesale acceptance of 1975 T&GWU Conference were the redundancies by the bureaucracy. In today's fight against the TUC's 44% cutting deal with Healey this demand for a sliding scale of wages 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 for the start of workers' control of the service (beginning with opening the books of the Health Authorities), along with the fight to end all private practice. Perhaps more important we have led the growing call for strike action to defend the NHS against the cuts and fighting those like the ASTMS and NOPE leadership who substitute the words for the action.

won a big response with the one- In London this policy has already day action against the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital 2,000 hospital workers in the area struck and 400 marched to lobby MPs against the cuts.

WSL comrades have testel and developed the • In local disoutes aso. Transitional Programme, putting forward in every case the only real opposition to the Stalinists and the right-wing. Our struggle "open the books" demand in the motor industry and against all forms of "workers' participation" have won mass responses Dolle calling for unity of employed and unemployed through the fiaht to mobiise the trade union movement.

transitional demands, going beyond mere trade union militancy to pose In doing this our comrades have been forced also to lead struggles for union democracy against the bureaucratic manipulation of the Stalinists and right-wing.

But our struggle for the continuity of the principles of Trotskyism is in no way a task confined to Britain. It requires an attention and involve- ment in the international struggles of the working class and moves to rebuild the Trotskyist Fourth International.

while many interventions in Britain have developed the League's Transitional Programme, there has been a consistent drive to deepen and enrich the movement's understanding of the history crisis of the Trotskyist Fourth International, as an and the present essential part of any serious initiative towards its reconstruction.

We urge all readers who agree on the need for rerolutionary leadership demands we put forward to find out more about the WSL and join our fight in the labou: movemert.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

manufacturing to easily slash wages and conditions, represents in this

URUGUAY:

Uruguay's new President, Mendez, (a civilian Aparicio puppet of the military who seized power in 1973) has issued a decree which deprives left-wing political all known leaders of all political rights for life and also takes the same action against several hundred members of the two major right-wing bourgeois parties (the White and the Coloured Parties) for fifteen years.

One of these, ironically, is the deposed President Juan Marcia jointly seized Bordaberry power with the military in 1973, having previously been elected to power in a rigged election against front popular candidate The

I'LL BUY THE LOT, JIM-IF

YOU'RE SURE THAT YOU

the at becanse it raises 1n military dropped him three months when he demanded the presi- dency for life. In practice the new decree is no more than a formality since no one Uruguay had any political has rights since the 1973 coup.

'But the measure is a sign of the of the military political plans dictatorship The present President is due to hold office until 1981 when there "election" with only one candidate.

presidential who must be a joint nominee of the White and Coloured Parties.

Then 1986 they plan permit a presidential election with two candidates. The military call all this a return to democratic civilian rule. Since the military took power.

have they exercised ruthless 'foreign locations (often exploiting workers on low wages in countries where rights to organise are denied) is recognised as a cause of economic instability and redundancy.

During 1973 more than £1000 million was invested abroad in this way, instead in creating jobs and growth Britain." Despite the reactionary and chauvinist way in which the TUC poses the questions, the fact is that international employers can now- adays move about work to where conditions are worse and workers' rights are not recognised.

Why should the employers be able to in this direct investment way? Why cannot workers, through their international union feder- ations, prevent employers going to places where unions are not recog nised and wages held down below minimum union rates? The TUC of couse, looks to the United Nations for the prevention of investment in countries where turky, enter the not restate di the workers themselves opening of By fighting for the books ot the murmanolas and for of investment by control the employers they can initiate the for the overthrow steps necessary of such barbaric regimes as that in Iran and bring the struggle for workers' control mallonal plane

RIGHTS ABOLISHED

regime of terror in which virtually and all democratic trade union rights been eliminated and have thousands of trade unionists and political militants imprisoned and • tortured. The police and security services links with the have forged close Chilean, Brazilian and more recent- ly military and Argentinian secret police. Uruguay should not be OveI- the struggle to build the active solidarity in British labour movement with the fight of workers in many south American states against murderous right-wing military dictatorships. The Labour government must be forced to cease its friendly collab- oraton with these regimes.

Page 4

CONFERENCE

Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement, the Ad-Hoc Committee which is the October 24th organising Wage Control Conterence on and Union Democracy, met in Saturday Birmingham on September 4th and discussed the latest developments in the struggle for democracy within the Trade Union movement.

The main discussion was around the developments in Cowley with the

BLMC

management's with- drawal of facilities from four shop stewards in the Assembly Plant.

the report showed réaction of the first mass meeting to the position put by the T&GWU District Official and senior steward (who attacked the stewards invol- ved, only to be heavily voted down by the meeting) showed workers real hatred for the role of bureau- стасу.

NO DIRECTION

But the bureaucracy, after that meeting, consciously left the mass with direction. As a result some workers went on strike, while other tried to work, and sowing. greater greater confusion. Ins went oll 10r over d week alongside a vicious witch-hunt in the capitalist press and with the leaflet attacking the decision of the mass meeting. this confusion the district official called a further mass meet- ing of the day shift (which has none victimised stewards), and the work took a vote pending negotiations. right of This attack the workers to elect the stewards. of theac chon trads conion right For attack on trade union ments.

this reason the organising commit-

43 FACE

Seven of the 43 Right to last Work Marchers arrested and remanded bail March on on a series of charges are due to appear at Hendon Magis- September trates Court on 17th. Having marched 800 miles from trouble, Glasgow without any march was broken up as it entered London when baton-wielding police waded 35 as well as nine trade unionists who had joined. the last lap of the march to give support.

INQUIRY

Barnet Trades Council, which the area where the covers took place immediately set up the trade union inquiry into incident which was supported by a number or ledanig trade umonals.

The Director of Public Prosecu- tions attempted prevent

SUPPORT BUILDS UP

FOR DEMOCRACY

tee decided to issue a special state- ment as part of the preparation foI the conference. Reports were aso given on the struggle against the closure of the Garrett Mlizabeth Hospital in which the bureaucracy the Health Service unions was in reported to be trying to take action out of the hands of the local shop stewards movement and but it into the hands of the Regional Committ- produced that would the importance of the Trico dispute and the dispute of technicians at Smiths Industries in The committee also decided to would be uséd to seek the support of GMC's for the Campaign Confer- In discussing the campaign so far was reported that highly public meeting on the theme of the Conference had been held in Oxford, and two such meet- ings were planned for London, one Londonk Hackney in Central and one Tony Kelly, witch-hunted Secretary of Newham N.E. Labour Party would be speaking. Political movements that so far have declared support for the Conference include the

WSL,

the Socialist Charter Socialist and Fight. position of the

IMG,

however, far from 1S they published a four page section Demonstration at the Hendon hearing

TRIAL

arguing that they would possibly be in contempt of court. The inquiry committee did meet and take evidence, finally publish- ing its report in mid-June.

accepted Ine

CONSULICE

evidence by marchers and indepen- dent observers "excessive and violence" indișcriminate by the police and further stated that: "If the Committee had evidence that on 19 March the viol- ence had been caused or provoked by something marchers had done, would be difficult to say that there had interfer- been anv ence with the right to protest.

But the evidence before the Committee is to the contrary. rears that the volice attack on the march was planned in advance ales supporteu Dy wie latt Lal lic National Secretary of the Right to Work Campaign, John Deason had far more serious charges laid against him and was comitted for trial at the Old Bailey. Working class onnosition to the Photo: Camden Chronicle of Red Weekly on the fight for labour movement democracy which contained a statement with passages almost tor trom Conference resolution but with- out mentioning the Conference!

The ICL had two observers at the meeting and will be deciding whether to support on hearing their The! IS and the WRP have report. sent no reply. A report on union branches so far supporting the Conference was

NUPE

also These include glyen. University College Hospital (6 1s brates), Coventry

GMWU

London London Hotels branch,

'AUEW/TASS

and Oxford No. NUJ. A number of other branches have meetings next two weeks. motion of support is also to be considered at the next meeting of Newham NE CLP. The Organising Committee will report again in one month's time which, to plan the conference the campaign is now getting under it is clear will be well way, awetcet We call again on all our readers fight in their and supporters to union branches, students unions, shop stewards committees, Trades • Councils and Labour Parties for support for this Conference, and to Conference which is apen to all bona fide trade union- delegates from IStS unions. Copies of the Conference Resol- ution submitted by the committee, together with a letter for trade can be union branches Secretary, from the Campaign Kevin Handswort, Wood, Birmingham 20, Devonshire Road,

CAMPAIGN FOR

DEMOCRACY IN THE

LABOUR MOVEMENT

Conference on

WAGE CONTROL AND

UNION DEMOCRACY

Sunday 24th October Digbeth Hall, Birmingham.

Sessions 10am - 12.30pm. 1.30pm - 4.00pm. Credentials, 50p, from Kevin Lee, Campaign Secretary, 44, Devonshire Road, Handsworth Wood; Birmingham 20 unionists demonstrated on a trade morning outside Hendon weekday Magistrates Court when the Right to Work marchers made their first court appearance, and numerous branches trade union nave volta donations the and to

SUDOUIL

defence fund.

PICKET

Now the National Right to Work is calling for a further Campaign marchers appear there on Friday 17th September.

It is important that this picket Labour government quite clear allow trade unionists like the Shrewsbury Two to remain in jail and will prepared to see the 43 receive the most vicious sentences the Magis- trates feel able to impose.

call We readers and U11

VUL

to attend the mass supporters support the demand for picket and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976.

URKERS

NHS

TYQUIRY

COI

Marchers from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospita Hull Docks - T&GWU withdrew credentials of 19 stewards

VSPORT & GENERAL WORK

HRE HELPING - SOMEONE OMWHERE

DO OUR OFK

TO

BRO DISTRICT OFFICE

T&GWU Oxford Office - picketed by Export Packing Services workers

BOOKS

THE TRANSITIONAL

TIE

PROGRAMME

BATTLE BES

The Death Agony of Capitalism and Tasks Fourth Inter-

TROTSKYIST

the national.. .30р

BEHIND THE SMOKESCREEN

workers press An analysis of the sectarian politics of the WRP ..40p (p&p: 10p)

SOCIALIST

TROTSKYISM TODAY

PRESS

BACK ISSUES

"Fourth International Problems and Tasks" * 15p "In Defence of Great Revolutionary: James P. Canon" by Tim Wohlfortn 10p "The Post-war Reconstruction of Capital- Documents of the Oppos- ism" plus a reply to Wohlforth's article ition expelled from the on Cannon. • SP "The General Strike" Workers Revolutionary .. 5L of the Transitional Party in 1974. 'The art Significance account of the expulsions.

Programme" . 5p Price {l plus 20p p&p p&p: 6½p available from WSL, 31. Dartmouth Part: Hill, London NW5 IHR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesde; 8th September 1976

MUST DEFEND

Photo: Sue Boafo Who can protect workers on the Notting Hill? streets of The police or black workers themselves? This the most important workers question being asked by the aftermath of the Notting Hill Carnival, and this was the very London police Robert Mark commissioner when he raised the issue of "no-go areas" in London. After, the Notting Hill Carnival had of trouble been for two days, Mark says he found it necessary to draft almost 1600 policemen into the area on the final day. What possible justification was for having police gathering cnere threateningly on every street corner in groups of five or six, like an occupying army?

CYNICAL

The reasons given by Mark for this move are a cynical fraud. Does - he really expect anyone to believe that it was to 'catch pick-pockets? His refusal to shift from this line reflects the golden rule of all police chiefs when dealing with the public: choose a Itss of how far and then stick to it, regardless from the truth it may be.

To find the real reason behind Mark's strategy one has to ask thé comparable same questions situations. Why do largé numbers of police- cars patrol working class housing cities? Why in British are there vast of police in numbers South black townships in Africa? Why are the Catholic council estates in Londonderry and Belfast thronged with British soldiers and police? Why are there massed police at meetings picket lines, big political ihe answer is the same in each case; the police are the private army of the of capital, used to 1orCes control and intimidate the working

NOTTING HILL- WORKERS

BlAcK community class in every aspect of their lives.

When Notting Hill's Tory Resi- dents Associations' business. and men objected to the carnival taking place on 'their streets', and when their mouthpiece the Tory- controled Kensington and Chelsea Alderman Peter Methuen, counci, Carnival stopped, tallen to get lit then it was the police who obliging- ly swamped the streets of Notting Hill to teach the black man fis thousands of place; to prevent people trom enoving themselves on a traditional occasion. Most time, working the constant, people put up with nagging presence of the police in their midst, but occasionally, after blatant of intimidation, bouts working class community loses its Dancer. Immediately see tIcy repressive role of the police and at the same time begin to see what is protect themselves from this their Iepression; •WIl combined strength. This is what happened at the Notting Hill Carnival, and this is why Mark was forced into posing the question 'who rules the streets?'

The same question was posed in Southall after the racist murders and violence against Asian youth in June and is constantly being posed in Soweto, Capetown and Londonderry. The policeman is the enemy of the black worker above all - this underlined the was by recent national campaign to recruit the police colored people into force, which ended in almost total But even more important, failure. he is the class enemy working class as a whole.

The chief task facing the working class is to form workers' defence sqauds, to protect the community from constant and increasing police harrassment.

workers organisations must express solidarity with black workers and join in the building of these squads, ensuring they By Rob Elliot are firmly based in the labour and trade union movement. This present at the time, when the trouble at Notting Hill is being fascists up racial hatred, and right- whip wing MPs such as Michael Brother- ton, are baying for increased police power, more repressive anti-work- class legislation, and stricter ing immigration controls.

COWERING

In the Portobello Road on Monday night, immediately after bands of police were the fighting, still cowering in shop doorways, clinging to their improvised shields dustbin lids, milk crates - èven a tailor's dummy! From their tattered uniforms, and by the look of fear and defeat these young policemen's faces you could see why Mark was forced into asking who rules the streets.

This time they were driven back by the explosive might and anger of ot the working class,

DESCENDI

but next time, they will come prepared, with riot shields, batons, horses and dogs. Sporadic struggles are not sufficient to defeat the deeply entrenched power of capital. Many of the police who assaulted black youth in the Portobello Road are the same onces who, in the last few weeks, drafted onto the were streets of Southall and, a few miles lines to let away, broke picket through scab lorries at the Trico factory. The only answer is: end police harrassment; build workers' defence squads now.

BLACKBURN

MARCH

SEPT 11th A Workers Socialist League contingent will join the anti- racist demonstration in Black- burn on l1th September. *End Immigration Laws! Work *Defend All Jobs Sharing on Full Pay. *Racialism Workers Out! Defence Squads In! Page 5

LOBBY TO

STOP

NHS CUTS

THE WORDS...

"This Conference views with concern the inadequacies of the National Health Service and calls upon the leadership of the Labour and trade union movement to pledge itself to a socialist policy for the Health Service.

Conference therefore: (a) rejects any cuts in the National Health Service and demands a very substantial immediate increase in health expenditure to recruit new staff pay adequate provide attractive career structures at all levels, wages, replace outmoded buildings and ensure the provision of an equally high standard of health service facilities throughout the United Kingdom and believe that in future health expenditure should be linked to price and wage indices to protect the National Health Service from further cuts; (b) calls for a free National Health Service at the point-of-use with complete abolition of prescription, dental and other charges; the proposed remova. of private practice from the National Health Service but is concerned that it be completed rapidly and that existing part-time contracts must end. It further demands that the long of the Labour Party be term the total abolition ot private practice with all private medical care outside the National Health Service under Government control as a first step and the prohibition of all private patient insurance plans; d) demands the public ownership of the pharmaceutical and othe industries which are major suppliers of the National Health Service witl compensation on the basis of need, with state monopoly over the import and export of drugs and medical supplies; (e) demands the abolition of all nursing agencies and the rapid move by the National Health Service towards the non-use of agency staff or outside contractors for any purpose; (1) calls for all management bodies to be democratically elected and to include elected representatives of all grades of employees within the (8) calls for an extension of occupational preventative and rehabilita- tion health care schemes with a major expansion in the number of health centres; (h) calls for extended facilities for pregnancy testing, contraception and abortion so that they are available to all women on request, free of charge and opposes moves to restrict the availability of abortion on social grounds. Conference, desperately alarmed at the stagnation in morale and innovation in the National Health Service and concerned at the continued erosion and constant amendment of plans for the future, calls upon the Government to publish within one year a major White Paper embodying a Ten Year Plan for the development of the service.

Labour Party Conference, 1975

THE REALITY...

• The effects of the cuts in In Brent, 200 nurses, ancilliary and maintainance workers occupied the National Health Service the administrative offices are starting to bite nationally.

Central Middlesex Hospital over In London, for some time a management's refusal to employ whole number of Hospitals six nurses when they finished their have been faced with total training. close.

REFUSED

answer to this, at the Eliz- abeth Garrett Hospital Anderson Management refused to discuss the Joint Shop Stewards Commit- the situation so the office staff tee have successfully organised a were sent home and the building 400-strong of Parliament was locked. with workers other The key has been kept by the London Hospitals coming out on a Shop Stewards Committee who one day strike in support.

have organised the occupation.

the

EGA

In Edinburgh, research workers consultants organised 'anti- and an technicians working -closure' meeting to try and take research into breast cancer are not the power away from the unions.

having their contracts renewed and Although there was a response they, are not being replaced. the to meeting the consultants This savage cutback is not onl deliberately excluded some union jeopardising 100 jobs but the lives members. the one woman in seventeen

WITHDRAWN

who is suffering from breast cancer.

Also in Edinburgh, 2000 NUPE members from 14 hospitals have As all the unions won a dispute over the sacking of have withdrawn from the consul- auxilliary nurse after a three tants' bogus an campaign 2100

TWEE

day strike. strength of the movement is again Management did not follow the with the Joint Shop Stewards Com- agreed appeals proceedure.

mittee.

THE FIGHT BACK:

All these disputes show the need the Labour Party Conference about for a national body to lead and its blatant refusal to carry out which coordinate action against the cuts.

Labour Party policy For this the WSL has opposed to all cuts in the NHS.

reason the Nationat Coordinamom- All trade union branches must National Coordinating support the lobby and the petition Com- mittee (NCC) Against the Cuts in which calling on the • 1S

NHS,

mentary Labour Party to carry out the which although so far inadequate in the fight against the Labour Party policy. The WSL will in addition be call- provides possible basis for a fight back ing on the NUPE leaders, who have The NCC has called a lobby of talked about 'guerrilla strikes, to the Labour Party Conference for call serious all-out strike action to September 28th in Blackpool.

force a halt to the cuts.

It will coincide with the official Lobby details and petitions lobby called by NUPE against the from: NHS cuts.

Top left: Chilean peasants get ready to defend occupied land. Top right: A mass meeting discusses the running of a firm Bottom left: Confrontation in Santiago a few days before the coup. Bottom right: Allende's supporters herded by troops.

Six this week Salvador years ago Allende, the candidate of the Popular Unity, was elected President of Chile with just over 36 per cent of the votes cast. Three years ago this week Allende was shot dead in his Presidential Palace.

An hour or two before his death he made his final broadcast. In it he called on Chilean workers fight against the LU military coup which was taking place. Tens of thousands oi workers nad already begun to 00 They barricaded themselves their so. in laclones or men nomes ana useu wnar lttle armanent they had to resist with formidable the ruthless courage attacks of the armed forces. They were defeated. In the struggle of that day and the months which followed, 20,000 workers and their allies were murdered by the military dictatorship. Tens of thousands more were put in jail where most of them remain today. Workers' organisations political and parties trade unions, tactory, neighbourhood and women's committees systematically exterminated by the dictatorship.

REPRESSION

In the three years since 1973 the repression das continued undiminished. All the material gins made by the working class in decades of struzzle have been wiped out and reversed.

The standard of living of workers has been cut to less than half of its 1973 level. Virtually all the industries nationalised during the Popular Unity coremment tave been retumed to the capitalists. The total production of the

CHILE

PART ONE.

BY BOB SUTCLIFFE.

unemployment has risen, even on the latest estimate of the dictatorship, to more than 20 percent of the labour force.

In this way the Chilean working class has and suffered a military, political economic defeat of historic The proportions. consequences of the defeat are to be seen not only in Chile but also in other Latin American the success of the Chilean countries has (temporarily at military junta least strengthened the forces of reaction.

On a world scale, however, Chile is still an the working class exception; remains des pot chithe undefeated. The therefore be reversed as part of present worldwide advance of the working class. But the that unless lessons of defeat thoroughly learned it will be horrific of what lays in store for the demonstration workers of the whole world.

lessons is a task The analysis those which can only be successfully undertaken by the Trotskyist movement. This is because under the guise of bringing out the lessons of Chile', the leaders of the reformist Stalinist parties - those parties which led the Popular Unity in Chile - have been doing the opposite. Ever since 1970, and even more so since the coup of 1973, they have conducted a single-minded campaign to prevent the real lessons from being leamed.

This campaign has been taken by those the parties into campaigns "solidarity' with the Chilean working class such as the Chilean Solidarity Campaign Britain. And it being conducted by the IS parties of the Chilean All too resistance. often, organisations which claim to be Trotskyist, from far unmasking this treacherous campaign, have actually helped to

PROPIA

OF THE 1973 COUP

Socialist League considers it to be a matter of the utmost importance fight for to an understanding of the lessons of Chile and for the building of a real and active solidarity with the Chilean working class.

WHAT WAS POPULAR UNITY?

The Chilean Popular Unity was an explicitly class-collaborationist electoral and then alliance of workers' and bourgeois parties. As such, it was founded In 1969 to fight the 1970 presidential elections but it of similar looser alliances grew out which had put up Salvador Allende, a member of the right wing of the Socialist Party , in the 1958 presidential elections of 1952, and 1964. After Allende's defeat by the Christian Frei 1964, Democrat Eduardo in the Communist Party, in particular, began to propose a tightening of the alliance with what it claimed were the progressive sections of the In particular, this meant the bourgeoisie. Radical Party. It was this party with which the Socialist and Communist Parties had been in a Popular Front government from 1938 to 1947, when the Radicals expelled the CP from the go seite ent this che chilean i has this Chilean the Popular consitently tried to return to Front of the thirties and forties in which it had held some power. In 1968 the Radical Party itself split, the "left-wing' declaring itself a majority party. This was the final encouragement to the CP to link up with these Radicals in the Popular Unity. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 Chilean Socialist Party not a social democratic party on the lines of the French or Italian Socialist Parties or the British Labour Party. In fact, it was the Radical Party in which was recognised by the so-called "Socialist International" of Callaghan, Schmidt, Soares and Mitterand The Socialist Party was formed after the 12-day. "socialist republic" of 1933 by five parties which had supported that abortive government. These parties ranged from those themselves which regarded as social democratic to one which at the time actually claimed some with Trotskyism. ympath The of the Socialist Party varied origins were still to reflected in some extent composition in the late 1960s. The right wing of the party was led by Allende (a foundes member) and unhesitatingly supported the setting up of the Popular Unity. The left wing, largely in the rank and file of the party, was the beginning critical of the Popular from Unity and the CP.

CANDIDATE

When the decision had to be taken as to cho would be the Polarist Papes deadia, Communist readily Come de dropped its own of Pablo original proposal Neruda (the Stalinist poet who had supporter Stalin's Moscow hi trials and purges and campaign of lies and slanders against Trotsk 1930s) in favour of Allende.

It was in his own Socialist Party that Allende's candidacy was hotly debated and resisted by a large section of the left wing The Socialist Party was, therefore,

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 reformists and centrists who, in words at least, adhered to revolutionary Marxism.

A lourn paricipant in tne ropular unity was the MAPU (Movement of Unitary Popular Action), a petty-bourgeois group which had split from the Christian Democratic Party in disillusion with Frei's 'reforms'. During the period of Popular Unity government a split in the MAPU was engineered by the Communist the majority Party: were closely allied with sections of the Socialist Party on the left of the Popular Unity, while the minority were virtually indistinguishable Socialists, the Radical Party and the Communist Party on its right.

DENIALS

The Popular Unity therefore was, despite the denials of most of its leaders, a Popular differed from the Popular Fronts of the 1930s 1940s and two The respects. bourgeois parties played the Popular Unity than smaller direct role in they had done in the Chilean Popular Front of 1938-47 or in the post-war Popular Fronts in France and Italy. In addition, those earlier had popular fronts been justified by the Stalinist parties as a defensive alliance against fascism. The Popular Unity instead was a way of reaching 'socialism' by lustitied as peaceful and parliamentary means.

Communist respect

TMAT

Clean Party's policy in launching the Popular Unity completely with the present policy

OIHAA

of other Stalinist parties in Europe: the Îtalian CP's proposal "historic compromise" Iot a Christian Democrats; the Spanish with the Communist Party's willingness enter to coalition "government of national unity" with Crencha Unity or the Lette with Mitterands Democrats and fascists; the french Socialist Party. Although each of these parties slightly different kind they governmenta alliance. common a readiness to compromise as far as is a chance to participate in the necessary government. There is no question that if the Communist Party Chile could have set up a broader in alliance, including the Christian Democrats, it would have done so. fact, as the Popular Unity of Allende. encountered government increasing hostility from the right wing, CP urged more and more that it should invite the Christian Democrats to join it.

GYRATIONS

However, the "Trotskyists' of the "United Secretariat of the Fourth International" have, after a number reached the erroneous conclusion that the Popular Unity was not really a popular all but a mont at United Front of workers' parties. Thus, Tariq Ali in an IMG pamphlet says that: "The Popular Unity in Chile was thus, if (sic) a anything reformist united front dominated by two large working parties". (Chile, Lessons of the Coup, p3). A correct assessment of the class character of a government is basic to establishing a line towards it. And pontical assessment cannot be made by these methods, as Trotskv showed vividly Allende with Cuban leader, Castro.

in the case of the Popular Front in Spain: "the bourgeoisie's place was by occupied shadow. Through the medium of the Its Stalinists, Socialists and Anarchists, the Spanish bourgeoisie subordinated the proletariat to itself without participate in the Popular Front". (Trotsky Revolution, Pathfinder Press, P 309) The Italian

USFI

leader, Livio Maitan, comped then Popular Unity: Chilean Popular Unity was not a re-edition of the old Popular Fronts.

•after point, as the dynamic of the class a certain struggle sharpened, the Popular Unity based itself ever more exclusively working the class and against came up parties of the entire bourgeoisie". opposition International, Summer 1974, p7).

an astounding judgement when beside the that, placed fact for large proportion of the last 18 months of the Unity Popular armi

ZOVCENTICL

SCOT

officers occupied key posts in the cabinet .

of the bourgeoisie was replaced the shadow by its most solid substance.

THE POLICIES OF THE POPULAR

FRONT GOVERNMENT

programme of the Popular Unity followed from its popular frontist class collaborationist nature. Although, in an effort to head off opposition from the left; the leaders often talked about the Chilean road to , the programme was explicitly not "socialism" anti-capitalist anti-imperialist, • tE anti-oligarchy and anti-monopoly' All these aims were in principle saleable to the nationa.

capitalist class and most sections of the bourgeoisie. petty The government explicitly promised in etect not fo capitalist property relations. The 'economy was to be divided into three sectors - the state sector, the mixed sector and the private sector. The plan was to nationalise the major monopoly sectors of the economy, especially the natural industries

JOLESC

and

SHELTCUT

state participation in others and to leave the vast maionty of smal canitalists untouchedi The government gave solemn guarantees to this last group that they would not be taken over. The absence of a parliamentary majority and its firm lo constitutionausm meant that the government had to rely on existing legislation. A number of acts passed under the 1933 "socialist republic" and under the Popular Front governments, which had been permitted Ievoked, nationalisations in circumstances. Other mamonansations, sucn as tnat or tne major banks, were effected by government purchase of shares on the stock market. The Popular Unity's land reform also was carried out entirely under the land reform legislation of Christian Democratic government. have Manv claims been made by its sympathisers for the scale and importance of the reforms carried in difficult circumstances the Popular Unity. How bv great were thev in realitv?

In the sphere of expanding the state sector of the economy a major change certainly took place. When the Popular Unity took office the state-owned sector of industry comprised 31 12 enterprises producing about percent of 1973 total industrial output By the state sector included about 300 enterprises which accounted for about 30 percent of national but well 20 percent

DULDEI

employment. But was this socialist nationalisation? The answer is self-evident. Except in practice in the case of the copper mines, full compensation was paid; thus in no sense wa: capital expropriated. Though various forms of "participation" of workers were introduced in the state sector they were the very opposite of workers' control. There were, however, an increasing number of nationalisations which were not initiated bv the covernment at al. ''hev were initiated by the workers themselves, who ran far ahead in their demands for real ol lne government socialist nationalisations under workers control. When workers took over the factories of capitalists, the in and government stepped legalised the takeovers in an effort to prevent their assuming a socialist character.

the firms of the state the

SECLOT

conditions of workers were normally improved: hours were reduced, sports, health and childcare facilities were often provided. And usually these too went far beyond what the Popular Unity leaders would have willingly introduced. The ability of the wotkers the 1n state-owned sector to make such gains was an encouragement to workers all the

WYCI

country to initiate other nationalisations. This was, however, completely in conflict with the Popular Unity's policy of guaranteeing the integrity of the vast majority of capitalist firms. Honi ions man i encouraging think.

Popular leaders preventing national in encouraging The 80 percent of workers who in 1973 still worked for private capitalists received demonstration the conflict practical OI between the Popular Unity programme and improvement of their own working conditions.

AGRICULTURE

The the same situation arose agricultural sector. Once again proponents of the Popular Unity point proudly to the fact that in its three years the government brought land into the "reformed", largely the cooperative sector than previous reforming' Christian Democratic governmen this claim had done in. six What years. conveniently evades is the fact that 82 percent of Chilean peasants and rural workers the land remained wholly untouched by reform. Many of the takeovers which did take place were at the initiative of peasants themselves, who confiscated vast areas in the famous 'tomas' unauthorised takeovers of land.

These, like the pay The takeovers, wait bitterly opposed Popular Unity leadership, especially the • by Communist Party. as being the sultra-left work provocateurs" As in the industrial sector the graduali and anti-socialist conception of 'reforms' he by the Popular Unity increased the divisio among the working class, leaving majority untouched Most workers, however, gained son benefit from some of the other social refort of the Popular Unity, such as the expansion the health service and the distribution of mi urban families. In addition, poor expansionist, Keynesian economic policies the government in its first years very rapid produced an economic boom. sharp and leading to increase in real wages of almost 30 average of office. These in its first year Lempora improvements were real and quite rapid.

There was nothing socialist about thei since they relied on encouraging a expansion of the capitalist economy. And, the absence of any socialist measures, th inevitably contained the seeds collapse. After the first years of office su reforms were increasingly eroded as resources led difficulties in guaranteeing the distribution food, and inflation began to threaten wages. Ot course, it must be recognised that mai of the reforms which the Popular Unity tri to, or was forced to, introduce during its fu year in office were later threatened not of by their own economic contradictions also by of sabotage Chile. Dy une bourgeoisie and the imperialists.

So, for instance, Chilean copper sales we interrupted by the attempts expropriated copper companies to preve copper shipments being paid for by th purvilasers International credit was virtually cut o from all capitalist sources, though the Popul Unity never repudiated the debts incurred t the Frei government, even though it forced rescheduling of payments on a number occasions. Internally the sabotage particular took the form of two long lockouts by ro haulage firms in 1972 and then just before ti coup in 1973. Such at sabotage have bee presented by the apologosts of the Popul Unity as a major cause of its defeat which wi beyond its control. The uncomfortable fac however, is that the government's reaction t sabotage and bourgeois opposition of th Popular Unity not resistance compromise. Almost invariably it retreate before right wing opposition and tried demobilise the workers and were pressing through their actions for a mos uncompromising and socialist response Once again, the Popular Unity's attitud its overall conception trom that th he or entity hourgression seller ot potentially "progressive' sector bourgeoisie would accept and not by what th working class required and demanded Compromise and retreat was not a tactica "mistake" ; built was into clas collaborationist politics of the Popular Unity

CONCLUDED NEXT EDITION.

A Review of 'Marxism and Literary Criticism' by Terry Eagleton. Published by Methuen (87pp) £1.

Page 8 How often have revolution- aries interested literature in bemoaned the fact that Marx never did write that mono- graph on Balzac? How many times have we read that Marx and Engels had more import- ant things to do than provide as with a fully worked-out aesthetic theory? too often, unfortunately; and all too often such lamentation has been merely for an inactivity, for unwillingness to with the complex relation- grapple ship of Marxism and literature.

which goes beyond the commonplaces of literary criticism and the suggests certain theses subject. no broach a few basic issues and raise the book succeeds exceedingly well, with this topic is the precise relationship which exists presents literature as nothing but to be sure. position within that superstructure, and its consequent relationship to the base, is a highly mediated one: prevents us from reducing the art reality exists outside it, but is instead an imagin- ative reconstruction of that reality in accordance with its own specific laws. Artistic production is, of course, with all other material production, but within that context it is relatively autonomous.

NOT PASSIVE

The artist is neither a mystical creator who conjures his art out of a void, nor is he the passive register of evéry change in the economic base. He is a socially determined individual, belonging to a partic- ular class at a determinate moment history and producing his certain materials and techniques at his disposal.

In paraphrase Marx, the artist. Matter his he own art-work. does not make it just as he pleases.

T.S. =hot wrote The Waste Land. W.B. Yeats, Blunt and Ezra Pound in 1914.

MARXISM AND LITERATURE

a whole set of factors prevailing at that time: the cultural and material of bourgeois society at the end of World War I; the revolution- upsurge in Europe, sparked off агу by the momentous events in Russia; Eliot's own isolated and ambiguous position within English society and conservatișm; his debt to Fraser and Bradley; his membership of a con- ceited literary coterie whose major magazine; the kind of audience he avant-garde literary devices etc. (Ct Eagleton pp.14-17). to syntesize au tuose elements ana thereby fully to explain the poem.

political position of the author) and to use this as the touchstone of the - Eliot, Pound, Lawrence and Yeats were ponticalv reac. fascism for certain periods of their they produced great art is entirely to the withered values of liberal Summary political judgements of the sort that raised such medioc- rities as Serafimovich and Gladkov (who were they?) to the level of classics because of their devotion to stalin have thus nothing in common with Marxist literary criticism. The task of Marxists is not then to rile search for references to the prolet- ariat and the class struggle.

Such was the method foisted world by the Stalinist bureaucracy in Russia during the late twenties and thirties.

Terrified what it didn't by understand it could only vilify and degrade; what- ever failed to serve its interests was "counter-revolution- denounced as ary and injurious to socialism In this spirit, Radek described James Joyce's work as a heap of dung with worms, and Ulysses (set in 1904) of accused untruthfulness since failed to mention the Easter Rebel- lion (which took place in 1916!)

Such philistinism was, of course, but the nothing literary counter- part to the bureaucratic barbarism of Stalinist Russia; just the Thermidorean reaction coiled itself round Bolshevism and attempted to squeeze all life out of it, so too it coiled itself around literature and choked it. fight against the Stalinist against the Stalinist theones "proletkult" "socialist and realism" It is for this reason that Trotsky included a section on culture in his The Revolution Betrayed. And in this he was merely contin- the work he had begun in 1924 in his masterly Literature and Revolution. In like fashion, Lenin obliged to polemicize even in the very last article he Better Fewer But Better • against those who "dilate at too great length and flippantly on "proletarian Loo duty of Marxists is to educate the dition for the creation, not of their cultute, bul or a LU ot nterature

WHICH

ture as in politics socialism or barbarism. The former truly human culture, free from the shackles of bureaucratism and the iron grip of commodity production.

extinction of culture as we know it.

No other class but the working class Engels could say at the end of his Feuerbach that "the German working class movement is the inheritor of German classical , so we now say: the coming historical period can avert tevolutionary tanguard. Chiefly its

REVOLUTIONARY

Eagleton's book will not unionary surely help the revolutionary move- attain a clearer subtler, more scientific approach to the problems of literature and literary criticism.

If it succeeds in that then it will theories' which serve to repress and smother the true potential of the international working class all socialists. literary criticism is not just another weapon in the struggle for our own SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 Discussion Article

PROBLEMS OF

MARXISM IN

PAKISTAN

We publish here the iconcluding part of a discussion article on the history and problems of the Marxist movement in Pakistan.

We do so not because we are in complete agreement with the views expressed — indeed there are several points with which we have consider- able disagreement - but because we feel that discussion on such questions is of importance to those within the Trotskyist movement take the need to build the Fourth International with sections active in every country. The problem of programme and perspective for revolution in the colonial and ex-colonial countries must be considered and tackled by Trotskyists if we are not to descend to mere abstractions.

We will therefore publish this discussion article and follow it with our oints of reply - while inviting also our lcducts to controute to tbe liscussion. Letters or articles submitted to Socialist Press should be kept a: brief as possible to avoid any necessity for cuts.

By Fauzia Rafiq and Communist elements who were Field Marshal Mohammed Ayub Khan came to power in 1958, and managed to hold it on India's side the Tashkent Declar- for ten years. In his view, the as a bow to avub's country's (as well as his own) regime. There was a growing unrest salvation lay in America, and the

USA

obliged sense was to replace Great Britain in her uary 1967 the period of the ban on a number of political leaders under amount of money in Pakistan, gave neavy 100IN.

CLINDHOS

even Queen Victoria couldn't have ition and the Pakistan Democratic championed the cause of industrial- Bhutto however did not join this but instead launched the Pakistar PPP's Document No 3 pointed out: body of the people, spearheaded by Urly recenton that the od traditional methods are not suffic- control of the NPT (National Press and full of challenge, requires a new Rules (DPR) were amended.

a new face and vitality OT population of Pakistan.

COULLIY

all a owl various classes and different regions of Pakistan into a socialist soe eur ramme nite for an launched an anti-Ayub movement.

bureaucratic regime. The PPP was the first political party which organised its cells among the countries rushed a gigantic amount of arms to India, which decisively relied on their power for a decisive tilted the balance of power in the sub-continent and created insecur- ity amongst the people of Pakistan.

and in 1969 the PPP gave a general dullullhot the students, intellectuals and trade call to the Trade Unions for a strike union leaders now openly criticised America and Ayub. In 1965, during and factory. and the Wall ineffective and enhanced anti-West- Mills, Karachi - others soon joined the most popular country with the people, and it was after that that to bin a maress of pede race also, thy reape ted ed se chime people for their achievements and Hall relations with China contributed a gital movement in Pakistan.

CHINESE

Ayub was compelled to make policies, changes • Bhutto sided with Chinese the

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wedresday 8th September 1976 After that, the government was literally paralysed and Ayub was forced to resign. The country was handed over to Genernal Yahya Khan to prepare for the first General Election in Pakistan (1971). From 1968 1971 Trade Union activity flourished. In 1970 and the industrial workers were federated Front) on a provincia, level, while students arrested and were prasants gaining 1n cunsciousness. The left wing, however, virtually accepted Bhutto's leadership, worked for him and in 1971 Bhutto came into power in two major day. industrialised provinces; Punjab and Sind. The National Awami League took over East Pakistan. There was a clear-cut division - East Pakistan became BanglaDesh their and Bhutto formed coalition government in West Pakistan.

Bhutto Kapra 19. (Food, Clothes and Shelter) to every citizen of Pakis- tan, and as an antidote to right- 20. wing propaganda, invented a new formula called 'Islamic Socialism'.

This cross-breed made it convenient for him to preserve all decadent and bureaucratic institutions of the system. As a result, in a few months there was division between the opportunist element of the PPP, and the genuine left. Instead of joining the Government.

Marxists with the people, stayed with them and slowly took almost all the Trade Unions and forums. other

DINARIVE

Within short time, people began to realise that there period was no essential change the 1n system.

PAKIS I

PPP members supporting Yahya Khan against Bangla Desh.

This realisation led them to frustration and, under the guidance in of Marxists, they started agitations trade and strikes which were not lust politicised. trade unionism but had an obvious

COSLAN

i complete change in the entire demands, a complete change in entire handle Bhutto was superstruciute. faced with his real enemy - the people - conscious people!

Government Bhutto started his operation very cautiously. He had to crush This the crux of the problem the leave them Marxists. Some of the happenings are stated here in order to give some 1dea the situation in which exhaustion, Marxists of Pakistan find them- impotence selves today. 1. Bhutto slowly purged the PPP of its left-wing. 2. He amended the trade union laws. 3. He made the MPO (Maintenance comparatively of Peace Ordinance) and the DPR which (Defence of Pakistan Rules) more situation in effective and convenient to operate with. 4. Leftist trade unionists are exten- today. victimised sively under both the DPR and the MPO. 5. Workers were wounded, arrested national tortured when they demon- country-wide strated in Karachi in July 1972.

In Karachi, in October 1972, on strike, and two workers went were killed. Next day there was a bigger strike and more than 100 smail were killed. civil Workers in the Punjab agitated

ICVIIONISIS

blood-shed and 500 were fired from their factories.

8. Peasants were brutally murdered interest of the in the landlords in Marxists Hasht-Nagar, also in 1972.

Baba Riffat, of the a leader People's Labour Front was abduc- kept and tortured in Shahi- Killa Lahore. 10. The Fourth Army Division was proletarian sent to Baluchistan to fight with gucillas. i1. During 1973-74, the language issue was initiated Sind distract the people from anti-state victimise progressive elements in the province. 12. Abdur-Rehman, leader of the Joint Labourers Action Committee;

(MMMA)

was murdered in Lahore in AP Differen Different Marxist leaders particularly from the MMMA, PLF PMM (Punjab Labourers were falsely charged and for putting. bombs Wapda House. 15. NAP was banned and the PPP took over Baluchistan in 1975.

16. In the same year, 32 Sindhi publications were banned in one 17. Leftist trade union activity is sabotaged by compromising with the puppet unions. 18. Workers who were suspected of being leftists, were forced out of jobs. In Lahore alone 1150 workers lost their jobs in this way n three months earlier this year More than 500 Sind just disappeared. Nobody saw them again. All mass media (TV, radio, press) is under the very firm control of the Information Ministry. Only one opposition paper is allowed to survive, and is used by the Govern- ment as the strongest weapon to take action against the progressive intellectuals, educationalists and trade union leaders. 21. An ex-PPP. man, Miraj Mohd. Khan was arrested, kept in Shahi Killa and tortured extent that now he is said to be blind and mentally retarded.

THE PRESENT SITUATION

Over the past four years the Government has been successful in Unions limiting. Trade to nothing to remove them. programme and leadership curbing where union could be are in rush wotkers legal and try fight infiltrat- state does not time to concrete planning. and and exactly cuts Until now, Marxist move- has imited within outlook view the and bars possibility of the level. has to be and industrialists intellectuals, even with the closer from an arm them- any credibility in the labour move- ment has to put forward some kind in Pakistan, of 'left' face. It does so in two main wavs toothless Labour leadership on the one hand; combined on the other hand

SPOTLIGHT

A NEW REGULAR FEATURE EXAMINING THE POLITICS OF THE LABOUR

TRADE UNION LEADERS

WITH A SOCIALIST APPROACH.

"MILITANT" SHIELD

FOR CALLAGHAN

radical variant of the "Tribune' these techniques is to be found in the 27th August edition of Militant has for years been to in which the headline on unemploy- rationalise the desire of some

LABOUR MUST ACT

acting for the last two positions on verbally opposing and a half years, and have decided the betrayals of the right-wing skipped over in this way, putting a headline even Jack Jones and Len Militant group seeks to enlist some younger workers who _genuinely do Lane ith the Militant "split" in the Labour Party and the supposed prospect of an imminent mass influx of militant workers into the Party's ranks which it is hoped With this perspective, the impor tance of any real struggle today for Callaghan is minimised. Why take a when workers will flood in and take The refuse to lead any real fight either MPs of the Tribune group who have "With the TUC Conference repeatedly voted for these policies.

uperoren recent vote by Tribune Group MPs favour of Healey's last package from the board-rooms.... group (who even call themselves Trotsky- ment might be like a bad meal, but issue. question is the mobilisation of the arti strength of the working class, not as a pressure group but in a way that connerence U1L simply ignored by the leadership.

Only conscious fraud Yet the Militant group, to retain refer to bring out these factors. fraud goes even further, attacks on the and its policies linked to any demands which action to remove these ON

REFORMISM

- AND CONTRASTING THEIR POLICIES

a fight to throw out the Callagh right-wing clique from start finish of the article inde ПОГ, from start to finish of the Milita how does the Milit manage to sound left-wing? To so. they include a series reaching demands around the iss of jobs: "But to make our voice hea and to really have an effect !!!], a crys government policy clear alternative policy must be forward. No ore would dispute th sieek, could hardet capitalist economy is on rocks, but why should the work Shipexpected to go down with t This is followed by a number demands summed up at the end: "The working class must for the government's hand. demand: Work-sharing without loss wages. massive programme of usef Public Works. * Work or full pay. * Nationalisation of the banks ar 200 under worker 110••0e control and management."

NOT SERIOUS

We will leave aside for th article the confusion rampant in th because th last two demands - demands are obviously not serio anyway. These demands are being put b Militant not as a call to action bu as an "alternative" - to be imple mented by the Callaghan govern ment! What other conclusion ca be drawn from their cringing desir "have an effect on governmen policy. And the trade union demand are presumably to be fought for b Len Murray and Jack Jones, th architects of the present reCOr unemployment and wage cutting 4½% policy - there is n call for new leadership in the trad unions!

STOLEN

To these demands, stolen from the Trotskyist Transitional Programme, as such abstractions is the crudest deception the working class and less experienced Militant by leadership which long ago aban- doned any fight against reformism.

The struggle for work sharing on full pay, the struggle for defence of through factory occupa- tions, the fight for opening the books of the employers to elected trade union committees, and the demand for nationalisation based on the figures exposed in this fight that can only be taken forward if it centres exposing the bureaucrats and building new leadership in the trade unions.

And the fight for such perspec- tives in the _Labour Party demands an all-out fight to throw out the Cretahan dense Tend aps ethe treachery "left" refuse to fight its policies Neither fight can be waged along the lines of the Militant group.

Tient wine

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

PRINT ACTION CALLED OFF

Page 10 Fifty provincial newspapers members enforcing the decision of their National Council. which ceased publication as a result of industrial action by National

RETALIATED

members of the Graphical Association (NGA) 23rd August resumed on The NGA retaliated by instruc- publication last Friday. ting all members working for these two newspaper groups to report for when the The dispute arose work but to refuse to carry out Council of the

NGA

National the their duties unti employers agreed to implement the decision of withdrew the dismissal notices and the Boumemouth Biennial Delegate agreed ban to type- Conference to black all typesetting setting and lay-out. and lay-out originated by 10I- a result over 12,000 NGA union sources. members stopped work and 50 provinical newspapers ceased publi-

EMPLOYERS

cation. Now, after two weeks, the employers have agreed to withdraw dismissal notices and the NGA has While most employers were called off its action while further prepared to cooperate in insuring negotiations take place. that non-union work was excluded, NGA General provincial newspaper groups, two Secretary Joe Wade was able to United Newspapers East and that *the report loyalty of Midland Press, refused coop- members concerned is 100% but extremely enthusiastic erate, and instead issued 48-hour rismissal notices all

NGA

to is an indication of the support that

RIGHT WING DEFEAT

AT CAR TRANSPORT

The efforts (previously elected chairman of removal, was 'Socialist Press') the branch by a very large majority reported in in the 70-strong meeting.

of right-wing Oxford District This development led to Buckle,

T&GWU

of Secretary tne David Buckle, to protect Henry Shepherd, (a general foreman) in his position as leading trade union negotiator in the local car transport industry, have received a heavy jolt. Buckle was just able yet again at the car transport branch meeting to use a technicality lo prevent Shepherd from being removed.

steward Preston, But Brian main sections of for one of the transport drivers, and one who had pressed on principle for Shepherd's

JAGUAR

WORKERS

UNION SUPPORT

STRIKE

Paint shop workers at Jaguar's Brown Lane plant in Coventry are continuing their campaign for a public inquiry An important struggle has into Leyland's plan to site a developed in the Black 'shop Castle new paint at Country borough of Sandwell Bromwich, Birmingham. against rent increases imposed Last Monday they held the first by the Labour Counci. in a series of one day lightening From August 9th Sandwell's strikes and will meet this weekend to decide on further action.

60,000 tenants were expected to pay increases of up to 30% of their The feeling at the plant present rents. steadily and the mounting weekend the whole plant joined the £1.50 workers in their over- здор time ban. It is clear that the strength of Most people in houses were to the Jaguar workers is in danger of €1.50 more and most people pay being dissipated in long drawn-out in flats £1. partial actions: A wave of protests erupted over The leadership in the plant must these increases, which was begin with their own inquiry would swallow in one Done O into Leyland's plans. bite the whole of the 4½% increase If the real purpose of these plans allowed under the present pay is to emerge, the Company's books policy. must be opened to elected commit- Tenant associations were formed . Only on this or revived right across the borough 01 vos :a5 a full plan be drawn up and committee was an action can be won in a principled struggle defend the union to jobs members. Throughout dispute the NGA leadership have made it clear that they are not seeking to take work away from other print unions.

develop- aran late ments in printing technology, many NGA members are either unable tor find work or face redundancy. It was in this context of threatened jobs and generai rise of the class militancy working nationally, that the NGA National industrial Council decided action. the negotiations with the United Newspaper Group and the Allied East Midland fruitless, their must newspapers be brought again immediately a hait, backed with the preparation of national strike action to bring the maximum possiblę pressure onto the employ- and outlaw non-union origin" ation. who had staked much of his repu- the of tation on protection Shepherd in the local area, to walk out of the meeting. Cars awaiting shipment

FOR RENTSTRIKE

A decision was taken to withold the and pickets W 1C rent offices. 10,000 witholding rent are increases. of On August 9th a meeting 1,000 tenants took place at West Bromwich Town Hall. The atmos- phere was electric. Tipton Jim tenants leader, Smith, had a letter from the JSSC of the Leyland subsidiary Beams Industries to the council and local MPs. This threatened strike action if evicted and deman- ded an immediate withdrawal of the increases.

SUPPORT

Similar messages of support were of Rubery the

COICIO

Owen and leaders at BSR Records.

The Yorkshire Area Council of the NUM has thrown out a branch motion calling on them to pay the legal costs of two right-wingers who successfully fought for injunctions against the union. The injunctions had the effect of lifting two year suspensions from office imposed on the two men - William O'Brien, branch secretary of Glasshoughton Main Colliery and Tom Roebuck, former secretary at Manvers Main. They had been disciplined in this gave union docu- way they and information to lawyers ments defending the Sheffield Star against a libel action brought on behalf of Yorkshire President the union by Arthur Scargill. The resolution to the Yorkshire Council called for the right wingers' costs in seeking the injunction to be met out of the funds which have amassed out of members subscrip- tions. The right-wing went so far CYCl as to call for a ballot of members 1000 Last week over shop workers machine at Don works in BSC's River Sheffield came out on a 24- hour strike against a manage- ment demand for wage cuts.

Not satisfied with holding down wages under the 4½% pay policy, the Corporation has decided unilat- erally productivity agreement which gave a bonus of up to fl5 a week.

This latest move follows a year in which the labour force has been town intere with the agree- run steel union leaders ment nationally to help the Corporation achieve cost-savings of f8 million a week. According Tony Hope,

AUEW

Convenor, the alternative Mike Peckmore, who is also secre- tary of the local Communist Party branch.

"NON-POLITICAL"

He declared that rent is a "non- political" issue, and attempted to silence anyone who tried to give a political perspective to the struggle (including another well Known member of the local Communist Party). This was especially important because the contained members of the National Front.

challenge failure to the I ne fascists handed over to them on a plate a position of respectability and even leadership in the working class of Sandwell. Fortunately not all workers share Mick Peckmore's complacen- cy. Building workers in Sandwell's SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 Scargill

YORKS NUM SAYS 'NO'

TO COURT COSTS

on the question - certain of course that they would receive full support from the local and national press in any attack they led against Scargill and the militant Yorkshire leader- ship. The effect of these reactionary steps taken by the right-wing has been to severely attack finances. The three-day hearing at against eye aired cinnait on Council against Area estimated to have cost the union at least £6,000 Now the right wingers make it clear they intend to proceed to a full trial which will drain union funds by anything from £50,000- £100,000. The use of the law by the right wing in their attempts to secure a stranglehold over the

NUM

in Yorkshire must be firmly opposed.

Scargill and Yorkshire leaders must take all necessary steps to isolate and defeat these right wingers who value the court decisions, the press and the policies of the capitalist class above the organisations built in struggle by miners to defend their rights.

STEEL BONUS FIGHT

scheme planned by management would mean clear reduction in earnings. "We intention of have no taking cut bonus earings, TUC-Government pay which the policy will prevent us from correc tin the workes have the backing of.

the AUEW District Committee and further strike action is planned.

BSC underlines This move bv the importance of a fight against all forms of wage control and union officials who act as their policemen. As well as this, prepar- must be made locally nationally for strike action to defeat BSC's plans to cut manning and to fight for work-sharing on full pay. the tenants until the National Front members are thrown off the action committee But it This is a correct decision.

is important to realise that what has the National Front their given chance is the failure of Sandwell's "left' Labour councillors to offer any lead to the tenants.

DISCIPLINE

On this issue, as on all other cuts in council services they have put Labour discipline group socialist principles. The result will no doubt be seen by-election in next week's Victoria ward, Smethwick where both the National Front and tenant's candidate are standing in a formerly safe Labour seat.

CP PREPARES SHIPBUILDING

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 In a move spurred on by widespread fears of impending redundancies in the shipbuild- notorious UCS 400 shop ing industry, over paved stewards and convenors from thousands the major shipyards in Britain showed

AUEW

Ireland met in and Northern national Glasgow last weekend and set up an unofficial committee.

Airlie Labour Government has The consistently made painfully that their plans for the a clause, obvious nationalisation after maustry members large-scale sackings and involve rationalisation.

COMPENSATION

narrow margin. Airhe seen alongside the When this is the huge sums to be paid in compen- committee present owners, sation threats what are in many cases some of the dilapidated and world's most neglected shipyards, the real role of "nationalisation" as seen by the Callaghan Government is revealed.

another variant of the It is simply National Enterprise that the of for aling sectors propping niche capitalism and subsidising the profit of the employers. unofficial combined The new committee, which trade union Stalinist James Airlie, elected convenor of Govan Shipbuilders, as Longbridge resolution passed a its The declared that "industrial which that action" would be used to combat security" redundancies and yard closures.

In recent months. Socialist Press' has repeatedly stressed accepted that national strike action by He the only teaching unions Is way in which education cuts ing can be defeated. Council The refusal of union leaders to led such action call situation in which 30,000 qualified teachers are unemployed, and those have jobs, faced with who working conditions and But declining Stedman increasing class sizes. breathing areas local councils insome the reluctance of encouraged by union leaders to fight, are translat- Denis Healey's talk of the language spending direct sackings. proposed In Oxford, the Tory Council is ways to cut f5 million looking for such and from an wants £3¼ million to come from education. TuMOurS

SACK

to sack This involves a threat full time and 233 part-time 500 case" teachers. The Council only employs 5000 full-time teachers all together!

of the Oxford Secretary The ment, NUT Division. Jack Stedman, has in

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

"PARTICIPATION'

cooperate after nationalisation to But these fine words will have to be seen in practice. Airlie (one of make the industry as as possible". the leaders Stalinist All the which of that this sort the loss tries are the way for can mean only of jobs) only recently eration" his conduct at the collaboration by Section by management to impose speed-up Engineering that he and rationalisation. conference Taken together opposed to serious struggle.

moved an reactionary successfully that British shipowners place orders amendment to the resolution which opposed the 44% pay deal, so that only with home yards called for official which backing to be given to any group of nationalist policy fighting the deal, was controls deleted. The already castrated resol- spell betrayal and disaster for th shipbulding 12,000 then defeated by was covered by the committee.

is still this confirmed essentially his position when he said A centralised shipbuilding unions new committee is important. despite of "industrial action, programme adopt "a flexible response" to any threat of redundancies. full pay

NICHE

short, works to guarantee jobs. Even more ominous are the signs is seeking committee of for itself in some torm "participation" machinery the need 101 of policy without following the same lines which have turned Derek Robinson workers' management. the Stalinist convenor at Leyland's enable planned factory opol programmes to be drawn up representative of management.

*Occupy any yard agreed weekend meeting "guarantee of job redundancies, given it would undertake to 500 sackings challenge congratulating himself on having million in cuts of recent years. led the NUT Division has little into accepting these cuts, negotiat- his Union them and £1 as to which areas to cut, cuts of find going arguing that a) the cuts were neces- manufacturing indus- bayo try and b) the NUT does not have to defeat strength, anyway, throughout this period education the members has felt his leadership his with down increasing neat.

10% CUT

union back this struggle. Under these of 10% of total Cult staffing was sufficient to impel even to bureaucrat diture paable London last week to plead with the Union's executive to take action.

Since his return there have been other unions.

NUT

intend the that to make Oxford, with the Council's revealed a fight can then "excessive" cuts, into-a "test case" But such a fight will be a "test of spending, not only of a Tory Council's scale resolve in carrying out the demands Labour Govern- of ine Icactonaly also of the local NUT but sixteen After "successful weeks on strike the courage- ous women workers indus- signs from other of "coop- factory Trico Folberth cringing Brentford, North London have with move every registered two successes. have forced management with the They to shut down both their Brentford from the meeting and their Northampton and abandon the elaborately culti- - the ship- building industry's version of the vated pretence that production was being maintained in defiance of the of import - these policies can only strite.

EMPTY BOXES

Indeed so far did management go in their efforts to demoralise the fight coordinated and create the impression pickets is certainly vital. In this sense this- was continuing, that output But repeated they on thrown out must be carrying empty lorries and instead demands put forward through the picket lines, for: No sackings - work sharing on estimated £500,000 • and overheads keeping the factories are where order books "open" and a programme of public The second success of the Trico that at long last they strikers was *Open the books of the yards to forced the Greater London Assoc- elected union committees to show iation of Trades Councils to meet nationalisation and discuss the question of support compensation, under - a mere sixteen weeks after the start of a key struggle on the equal *Nationalise the ship owners to pay issue! production threatening The national executive of the Civil and Public Services Association, the largest of the Service Civil unions, announced its one-day calling November 17th. The strike, which will be accom- panied by an overtime ban, is in protest against Government spend- ing cuts • 73110 planned run-down the manpower The decision, by 16 votes to 10, clearly reflects the growing concern The final total for the Swan Hunter shipyard following amounts: total so far of £52.15. We urge all Development Fund so Monthly September. All donations should be sent to: • their members' most basic rights.

of these leaders passing the test are not good. I, in the past, Stedman has displayed so confidence in the strength of that he dared not fight million, where is the confidence to fight £34 million worth of cuts?

PRINCIPLED

To defend both jobs and free working class needs principled with record, prepared to mobilise strike action and call on the local trade and labour movement to the same time the demand must be put forward that the fall plaure acco the Local education- Education Authority be opened up to elected committees from the teaching and League. On the basis of the information be taken Name.. up for the protection of education against inflation through a sliding rising in pace Address with genuinely increased costs.

TRICO

PLANTS

SHUT DOWN

The GLAIC has issued e turther gruelling call both for the blacking of Trico products and for assistance of the at the for well in reluctance oi the Sorteal The important AUEW District Committe. giving officiai strike, to broader out te shown by the fact thai car protec continued British factores, Leyland and Chasier despite tine fat the Tico Imitata: 907 o Brissa Fatters ps

DETE

comes in seal an e AUEW convenors in particular.

refusal by the In view of this

AUEW

officials to onto the go thei offensive is hard •to see It occasions sent latest call - for the blacking of al boxer Trice windscreen wipers whether and spent - as anything more than oI not on wages verbal token to cover their inaction the southal oficials, to take t is not taken If an initiative to tour th the strike CHILLer. motor industry district committees unio and stewards communet- branches and fight for the practica imposition the blacking, OI battle stands in grea the danger.

CPSA STRIKE

amongst Civil Servants at the thre posed to their jobs by the Labor Government's intention to cut bac 46,000 jobs part as

OI I

has massive programme ot intention of public spending. However, one-day stike w strike on not in itself be sufficient to sto the proposed cuts. the Civil Servi Immediately from me failure of Consensi Servi from departments to replace staff wi particular have left. in Civil Service Preparations must also be ma next three national strike actic for all out as the only way in which the cu can be successfully fought.

FUND

August Development Fund dipped belc £500 mark, closing at £497.41. This is a situation which we cannot all to be repeated. Our costs are rising, if anything, faster than the gene rate of inflation and we really do need to raise £600 monthly if we are be able to develop the Socialist Press in the coming period.

With the first week of Sep Asserty, belind orior receive Botal so , E0.65; South London, £22.00; Coventry, 12.00. This make Assembly, our readers and supporters to send a donation to that we can reach the £600 target Socialist Press Monthly Development Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London, NWS 1HR

MORE DETAILS

Please send me more information about the Workers Socia Post to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS 1HR.

NO PEACE TILL BRITISH

Page 12

OUT OF

IRELAND

Justice Minister Cooney went It is becoming clear that "peace move- on to reject an amendment that the so-called people detained would allow Ireland has only ment" in access to a doctor. natase skI one objective and one target an amendment contained an insin- - the isolation and defeat of uation against the Garda which he could not accept. the republican forces. When George Colley After the four marches that Taoiseach complained that have been held up to the end of, had failed to (Prime Minister) Times last week, the Sundar why the powers assessed the fruits of the move- hoped needed what he to ment for peace. achieve by passing them, Cosgrave did not of course, lilt papel replied that what success Betty Williams ask police state because: and Mairead Corrigan had had in "I am satisfied on the advice I the Toot cause or The have received from the Garda that violence the British occupation this power is necessary. They had of Ireland. (A pertinent question and had asked

TOI

DOWeL in the week that the European justified the to me. request found Commission

LOELING

Senators would have to take it on charges levelled against the British trust that the reasons given to me Army and the RUC proven.)

were cogent and adequate.

Sunday the Times Party in Labour organisers gloatingly observed: called upon the Dublin however, 'The of people using Parliamentary Party members to the police confidential telephone break with their coalition and the has marches started Suce repressive against the WOEt legislation. They claimed they In the South, the same govern- were expressing the strong oppos ment that is so enthusiastic about trade unionists and rank the "peace" movement added its and file Labour Party members to anti- the

OWIL

the emergency measures. Republican fight when it passed in 'Left' Labourite David the Dail and the Senate a declar- described John Thornley even ation of a state of emergency.

Kelly, (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach) in speaking for the

DETAINED

"fascist hyena" meanes However Thornley, although any Under these the officer above the rank of threatening to Garda

TOLE

found he could do no Chief Superintendant can order a without more that abstain even in the face detained person of this "fascist" legislation.

charge and held for seven days.

A person so detained need not At the very time that these measures are introduced in Ireland be held at police station. the English government spokesman explained National Council for police stations have been "subject Civil Liberties has just issued a "Preven- report on the so-called to attacks". SOUTH AFRICA Cont'd from Page 1.

marched into the very centre of white police slipping on the pools of blood in the streets. Yet all this the city - the areas considered by bloodthirsty intimidation has not white into the regime d1cas which others are allowed only as stopped the demonstrations resuming each day and growing in compliant wage Slaves. size.

SHOTGUNS

apartheid are no Racism and longer safe anywhere in Southern demonstrators have been Africa. Vorster now. knows that The his only hope is to get help from met with shotguns, baton charges and teargas from the police. Every imperialist friends from his Kissinger and Callaghan. day up to ten demonstrators have therefore, imperative that been killed and numerous others It is, the fight intensified in the injured. Film of the charges showed British labour movement to force SUBSCRIBE to Socialist Press

BRITAIN

EUROPE

£1 £1.15 6 issues. 6 les £2 .£2,30 12 issues 12 issues •£4 . £4.60 24 issues 24 issues.

REST OF THE WORLD

.£1.50 ó issues ... .£3.00 12 issues 24 issues . £6.00 I would like to take out a subscription to Socialist • issues, I enclose £ . Press. I would like

NAME.

ADDRESS

tion of Terrorism Act" passed by the Labour Goveinment after the Birmingham pub bombings. Ket nom Belongs, only one

NCCL

that only from had been convicted under the Act.

In Liverpool, 253 trade union- ists have been held under the Act, : interrogation centred on the trade union and political activity of those concerned. Here is clearly exposed the real purpose of the legislation introduced by both governments.

VIOLENCE

In short it is painfully obvious There state the sole right to A brutally frank illustration of of would-be hanghes carace for the capitanst maintaining a favourable balance until the hold of British populations in the North until a road can be opened spain to Ireland as a whole. the Labour Government to end its Southern Africa. of the labour movement must be with e maximumactive dricay fighters *Report on Namibia: Page 2.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETINGS

AYLESBURY

Plough and Harrow Stoke Road Thursday 16th September 7.30

LIVERPOOL

Friday 1st October AUEW Hall Mount Pleasant 7.30pm.

SKELMERSDALE

Tuesday 14th September Quarry Bank Community Centre 7.30pm. LEYLAND STEWARDS......Cont'd from Front Page.

Maxi track. Buckle at once moved in to call a mass meeting of the - on which none of the to return to work continue with management" Yet only hours later Region 5 1&WU official enquiry into drawal of credentials. These terms relerence welc open to leave scope for further movement in Cowley. gloatingly reported Parsons saying "we have put these four to bed" echoing the meeting with Jones - was that we have enough enemies It was the very same day as this that Callaghan 'entered the scene, weighing with his statemeni that "we cannot afford you" and "stick to calling for stewards to procedures". was amplified by Terry This the extreme right-winger Duffy, the Executive newly elected to Council of the AUEW and to take charge of British Leyland for the the witch-hunt Aiming towards Longbridge disputes Duffy said: "If I find a politically motiv him. miltant, And indeed the full impact of week. Following a series of strikes right wing marches and a furious press witch-hunt, convenor Derek Robinson, a member of the Com- munist Party, swung a meeting of which pledged: "That there would be no strike action, no unofficial sanctions or procedure is exhausted." went on lo casuit will be. put sectional meetings throughout the complex, at which all votes will be The only section of stewards this were those which opposed from the toolroom who walked The retaliat- out of the meeting. ion from management was swift.

They announced a complete lock- out of the complex until the tool- room workers change their policy of 'one out, all out'. Robinson said afterwards that

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETINGS

DAGENHAM

Wednesday 15th September Fred's Cafe opposite Fords works 4,30pm.

SHEFFIELD

Sunday September 12th Prince of Wales Division St. 7.30pm SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 8th September 1976 was to be the toolroom issue Secretary. referred to the District This too is in line with the dis- Jones-Scanion cussions T ft which discussed strength- meeting full ening the hand officials over the rank and file.

PARTICIPATION

Robinson's right wing open position on these questions completely linked with his leading the worker participation set-up created under the Ryder has already brought Plan. him to make joint statements with Leyland Cars boss Whittaker the company's 77" "Quality reachionaly and support company campaign, to establish national, level bargaining corporation full time officials through place of plant level bargaining.

'Participation' requires that the move in and attack bureaucracy all those who oppose it and fight on principle for the independence movement the from the employer. Stalinist like That a leading Robinson is in the forefront of the attack is a continuation of the role of the Communist Party fighting introducing maintain participation. The developments are a part of the policing measures within the factories if the trade union bureaucracy is to be able to control on impose working class, together with the resulting fall in living. standards.

STRONG

But inspite of the bureaucratic between Communist despite the of whole layers stewards into management roles "participation' The question remaining is the for the building necessity leadership for this fight.

When a lead is given workers of the respond. These actions desperate bureaucracy behalf of the on measures employers. for an initative to begin the fripe conditions are now This is why the Conference back. Wage Control and Union on Cam- called by the Democracy Democracy the Labour Movement in Birmingham 24th of. decisive October importance for all trade unionists.

*Conference details, page 4.

CAMPAIGN FOR

DEMOCRACY IN THE

LABOUR MOVEMENT

PUBLIC MEETING

HACKNEY

Dalston Library Dalston Lane, E.8 Wednesday 28th September 7.30 Speakers include Tony Kelly Secretary, Newham NE Labour Party