Socialist Press no. 53

DON'T WAIT TILL PHASE THREE

DESTROY WAGE

CONTROLS NOW!

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

CAO THE SOCIAL CO

NOW

PARITy ACh

LEIS HAVE

COLLEC

TO FREE

BARGINING

VE WAGE

GANDHI'S SHIP FLOUNDERS

all predictions, Against ition parties unable to organise especially her own, Indira effectively. Ghandi is losing the Indian

EXPERIENCE

election campaign. Her reason for calling it was to But in fact the best organ- clothe try to her dictatorship in opposition the iser tne has 1s some kind of democratic respec- masses of Indira experence tability. Everything was planned Gandhi's oppressive and arbitrary that the election should be SO

LULC.

little more than a formality; a few The success of the opposition opposition leaders were released certainly not in the campaign 1s from jail but thousands due to its own merits. The main remain inside. the opposition party, By springing a quick election, Party, is, as Gandhi herself says, Gandhi hoped to leave the oppos- a 'hotch potch of opposing creeds

NO MORE

CONTE

ACRI

WHOI

FORA

OC and ideologies' from social demo- crats to ultra right-wing Hindu nationalist fanatics. Janta hasn't a single polic sandhi' opposition to exce Yet his has been enough to secure huge attendance at Janata rallies. Indira Gandhi's own rallies have been smaller and disrupted opposition. On one occasion last week she was forced to aban don her speech The defection of Agriculture Minister Ram to the side of the Cont'd Back Page

FORTNIGHTLY PAPER OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

No 53, 16 February 1977. 10p Last week saw an explosion of direct working class militancy, challenge to the moves of the Labour government and the TUC to prop up of private expense workers' jobs and living standards.

On Friday 6,000 workers at British Leyland's Longbridge factory defied convener Derek Robinson and downed tools. Carrying improvised placards and banners they marched through the factory to where TUC chiefs Jack Jones and Hugh Scanlon were sat side by side with management in a national- level BLMC 'participation' meeting.

and And mey Scanlon come out and explain why they are continuing with the wage- cutting policies of the social contract.

This huge spontaneous movement took place at the same time as a ban on overtime and work-to-rule was imposed engineers at

GEC

by Coventry.

RESOLUTIONS

And it came amid a continuing series of resolutions from shop stewards committees throughout industry expressing hostility to the social contract. These moves confirm the massive feeling within the working class on wages - so overwhelmingly a frustra- tion at continuously falling living stan- dards that even the feeble statements against the social contract from Derek Robinson triggered off a shock wave throughout the trade union move. this movement within the And • has at its forefront the workine cass demand to end the social contract now. At Longbridge, for example, the next pay review for the 6,000 demon- strators is not until November - and they still have not received their stage two increase of 5% sold to them by Derek Robinson.

READY TO FIGHT

When these workers call for 'an end to the social contract now they therefore calling for a fight to improve the 5% deal and break on down the TUC pay limit, with a view to restoring free collective bargaining It is with a view to stemming this movement, the real threat to the social contract, that leading TUC figures have now weighed in with statements defen ding continued wage control.

These leaders include "left' talking NUPE General Secretary Alan Fisher his membership ravaged by public embodied in the social spending cuts contract, UPW leader Tom Jackson (fresh from signing away his members' right to strike, and publicly opposed to any return to free collective bargair ing) and UsDAw leader Lord Auen, o top of the carefully-phrased speech b TGWU's Jack Jones who called for "defence of living standards within th social contract". There is no doubt that the righ wing remains determined to do further deal with the government t hold down wages. What might be le obvious is that Robinson, an Executiv member of the Communist Party al subscribes to this view. His first much publicised statemer control threatening that on wage tnere wasn t greater nextowty und future pay restraint there would nee return to free bargaining, was made after a BLM Combine Executive meeting.

JOINT LETTER

But even as he spoke, Robinso knew he had already sent a joint lett co-signed by BLM managing direct Derek Whittaker, calling on Indust: Eric Varley Secretary that Leylan wanted flexibility in next stage of pay regulations!

Viewed in this light, Robinson entirely consiste statements were the needs of Leyland mana With ment. As the Morning Star reported that the pay limits had CA10 Leyland workers on low pay, whi their resistance increased -LO

OIC

uctivity" And in British Leyland, which planning (through the participatic machinery) to impose speed up double the average output per worke resistance to increased produ any tivity is a danger. Cont'd Back Pag

SPAIN: STALINISM TO THE RESCUE

Page 2

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The acute political crisis of Spain's claim to the £1,500 million gold reserve shipped to Moscow by the Spanish ruling class has Popular Front government prompted Stalinists both in during the civil war, which was Spain and internationally to armaments and other spent come rushing to its rescue.

supplies for the republican forces.

the The fortnight which Suarez has also taken steps government seized on the pretext which may result in the rapid legal- of the wave of political killings to isation of the Spanish Communist arrest huge numbers of militants of Party which, with the tiniest of by left parties, chosen has supported the reservations. Union and all the other Soviet government crackdown of the last Europe workers' states of eastern two weeks. to announce the re-establishment of have to get full diplomatic relations with Parties direct approval from the Ministry Suarez fascist government.

noW of the Interior. They must statutes with the In concrete terms, this is a mere their which has six days to formality, since trade and other government they might be have existed for many decide whether relations totalitarian or under the orders of a years. foreign political organisation.

But politically it was obviously planned as a major boost to Suarez' that government In case, the fake 'democratisation' plans.

will submit Supreme Court for a final ruling on for this gesture of world Stalinist support, quid legality. Socialist and Communist Suarez has effectively dropped The

ISRAEL: LABOUR CRISIS

The present governmental has the crisis in Israel lett Israeli Labour Party facing one of the gravest moments in its The crisis itself has its origins in States delivered three new fighter The planes were half an hour late in arriving and by the time all the US personnel had been properly welcomed it seems as if the Jewish raged by this breach of the Holy tabled a motion of no-confidence in The motion was debated in the December 14, and the government The day after the dismissal of During the debate however, 9 of election. By this time the crisis had the 10 members of the right been further exacerbated by who form part of Israel's coalition government, abstained on the vote, Liberal Party. showing thereby its opposition to now leaves in the "left wing" Mapam Party.

Labour Party which dominates the coalition sacked the three

NRP

provoked the crisis in the first place Cabinet ministers. This move left his administration has been suggested that by forcing a minority government, capable of

ITALY

'energetic week delivered an Thai protest' the right-wing

THE

MOVEMENT

OF occu- Bangkok. This government pation in Italy's universities, which of fire across THORN CrI HIt. It three weeks ago in Palermo, the River Mekong, which forms the ead last week to embrace Rome, frontier between Laos and northern Cagliari, Florence, Bari, Thailand. Plans for the withdrawal n, Pisa and Bologna. of US forces from Thailand were The movement - against massive recently 'postponed' once again.

overcrowding campuses, scrimination in teaching and and scist provocations in the uni-

CHINA

gradbate AN INTERESTING sidelight on the 20th thousands demonstration developments appears through Rome on February 9th.

January edition of NATURE maga- SINICA v.XIX InSCIENTIA Many students expressed strong zine. criticism of the Communist Party's No 5 ( a Chinese scientific journal) "Devote every effort to policy of an 'historic compromise" the article: successfully with Christian running

SUC HUGET

demanded joint Research Institutes Science" forerument, and contains a correction slip, pointing with ployed. that "the arch unrepentant Teng

CLASH ON MEKONG

Hsiao-ping" should read just Hsizo-ping". THE LAOTILN government last already Parties have registered under this reactionary law, which is designed to keep illegal any organis- claiming to be socialist. Suarez is his well aware that major allies against revolution are the reformist and Stalinist leaders.

But it still doesn't appear quite that way by the more confessedly fascist sections of the right. Manuel Fraga's neo-fascist Popular Alliance, the groups of the Falange such as Blas Pinar's New Force and large sections of the officer are corps utterly opposed to the formal legal- workers' parties and wish isation of to maintain capitalist rule in Spain without concessions to any bourgeois democracy. The army Chief of Staff General Vega Rodriguez last week announ- cdn. that in exceptional circum- the could be com- army pelled to fill a political vácuum', wouldn't go adding merely that it Israeli soldiers beating young Palestinian demonstrator an early general election Rabin will nip in the bud the growth of the Democratic Move. newly formed ment for Change, which had threat- ened to draw support away from the Labour Party. suggested also -ahe need for Racen Another reason been to consolidate his own position against the leader of the party threat of Defence Minister Shimon leadership Peres, who lost election by a very narrow margin just 2%2 years ago. policies are more Peres' right wing than those of Rabin, and are marked by his absolute refusal West concede any part of the Bank Arab Rule, and his to

IN BRIEF

EGYPT

PRESIDENT SADAT,

his government on 'communists and has responded wave of repression. Thousands been arrested. And a new law been enacted tand through a mock referendum) which punishes with hard labour for life other than three parties sponsored agitation and impeding the author ity of the government.

HOLLAND

THE STRIKES WHICH BEGAN

last week against the employers' 7-year-old plans abandon the limited agreement tie wages automatically to the price level are beginning to have some effect.

so far as to overthrow a 'legitimate government'. But it is unlikely to hold back the far right, particularly since immediately followed by the was killing of another arcelona, responsibility once agai being claimed by

"GRAPO

whose identity remains as mystcuous as The 'rescue" of the head of the General I get exreme less, was presented by the government as a great triumph.

three thousand agents of the CIA and its sister organisation the DIA Intelligence advocacy of stringent THUe His growth in influence now is the corollary of a decline in Rabin's both of which are standing, product of the severe economic crisis which now grips the country.

Inflation at 38%; there has been a gradual drop in the exchange rate of the Israeli pound of 23%; economic growth in was only 1.3%; and the annual balance of payments deficit now stands at 3,223 million dollars.

In this context Peres, in conjunc- tion with his political ally Moshe Dayan and the extreme right wing Likud Party, has been calling for a drastic attack living more on standards as the only way to solve Israeli capitalism's problems.

Rabin has responded by getting the unions to agree to a wage freeze until the May election. By cutting himself off from the has left himself little NRP Rabin room for manoeuvre. Apparently he has now made a bureaucratic turn leftwards on the West question returning Bank to Jordan. This has been done to try and secure support from the Mapam Party for a new coalition government. Empioyers have already made the concession to keep the limited sliding scale, but only as long as inflation does not exceed 6%. It is whether the not yet clear union leaders will accept this inadequate concession. But the strikes continue for now as other demands - for a real wage increase and measures to expand employment are discussed.

WEST GERMANY

THE

SECOND

ROUND

OF this year's wage talks is heading for deadlock. Unions representing million public service workers have rejected an offer of a 5% increase.

Last month, metal workers settled for an agreement worth over 8%.

ARGENTINA

ALTHOUGH

THE

VIDELA

dictatorship is claiming more suc- "left' cesses against the Peronist the Montoneros, guertillas,

5. AFRICA

VOUTH

REVOLT

Both in South Africa and in Zimbabwe the black youth are playing a central role in the the racist revolt against Last week the Students Repres- black suburb of Soweto once again took their protest onto the streets.

Bantu education system and against their organised several demonstrations of school students, who burned books examination papers They have also imposed a daytim and not at school risks arrest. Since case far too few are in school places in Soweto this means anyone boycotting school or not is if anything even more developed. There, the students have never returned to school since last tions Ondane horrendancer was also highlighted last week when 400 teenagers left their school and crossed the border to Botswana to abducted at gunpoint by terrorists was uncritically accepted by virtual- front of the world's TV cameras, they had gone of their own accord because they could no longer put with the oppression of Smith's who, it now seems, has been given the support of Moshe Dayan and Rabin himself; Peres; of all this in-fighting, one thing is clearly unchanged: none of the con- have any intention of forging any dass unity between Israeli and Arab capable of solving the Middle East's facing increasing opposition from the workers, especially in the public services, Electric power workers have refused to work the longer hours demanded by the new labour laws and the government has threatened fine them by docking their to wages.

CUBA-USA

CASTRO'S FULSOME WORDS

praise for President Carter and Andrew envoy Angola (which, he says. troops are a 'stabilising factor') heralds the imminent resumption of full diplo the two diplomatic ties between 16 of countries after years American economic and diplomatic The last anomaly Castro's otherwise complete line-up with the Soviet Union on 'peaceful co-existence' will then be removed.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977 Since the October general strike forced the defeat of proposed legislation special courts, the National to set up Front coalition government in Turkey has gradually been losing its grip on power. clearly retlected in the speech two weeks ago in which Prime- Minister Demiel relerrea to tne duln- culties of governing, and talked of an early general election. Demirel had dis- week later cusssions with top military chiefs and talked about the prospects of imposing a fresh curfew and further military inter- vention.

ATTACK

Mean wie tne oener coanon parcies have begun attack Demirel and to they 'considering' announced whether to remain in the government.

But the biggest threat to the govern- menT remane Tne growing strength Ine working class. Dozens or strikes nave broken out both before and since the genera sinke. Ine mnabuty of tne coai- ition government to introduce special laws to repress these struggles drove the bourgeosle to rely increasingiy on fascist military intervention and

TOTCES

preserve its power.

KILLED

In the last two months alone 35 wo er ave een ę ą eęes against a total last year of over 135 with thousands wounded cases armed battles have In illally taken place lasting for on the streets, hours. Even the general secretary of the bourgeois

RPP

been party Ilas zaced ov laseists. The impact of the economic crisis on Turkey is severe. Inflation is now at more than 30%, wnie s milon are huge trade deficit is Ethiopia's left-talking mili- dictatorship, tary known as the Derg, seized power during popular revolution against the Emperor's autocracy in 1974. Since then, the lack of any social base of support the country has torn apart the Derg in a series of internal struggles between "left' and 'right' The original 120 members of the Derg have been reduced to half that number result these OI struggles. These conflicts reached a climax, certainly not a conclusion, thoueh bizarre battle the gun palace February government on brd of the Derg, Seven members including the head of state General Teferi Bante, were killed.

not make it clear if napoIls G0 the dead belonged distinct factions or whether, as government statements later claimed, they had all been executed for crimes against the "reyolution'. They were accused of being anarchists' and reactionamy with the left-wing sympathising Revolutionary Peoples' Etiopian Party, the Eritrean Liberation Movement and the ultra-right wing Ethiopian Democratic Union: seems that for the At time being the battle has strength- of the ened the positions rival Colonels Mengistu and Atnafu. They received messages ot congrat- ulation from Libya's Col. Gadaffi

TURKEY:

N.E. COALITION

NEAR SPLIT

accumulating and the IMF has refused to give any credit to the regime. These factors all spur on the attacks of the voureeNe The continuing talks between the government and the Common Market - seeking to prevent protective measures which would Tutkey's textile and the policies of the NF

HOLST Y

regime on Cyprus and the Aegean Sea help to deepen the splits among the coal- ition parties. Meanwhile the US has imposed a military and economic embargo Turkey in an effort to force the Demirel government to concede some part oi occupied Cyprus - but opposition to such a step is threatening to break up the govelminehl. As this crisis deepens RPP leader Ecevit, main bourgeois opposition did Demirel's Icaucl.

LUL

talk of an election. He is clearly GuLly biding the time untıl coalition falls of its own accord.

SUPPORT

But the leaders of the Communist Party in Turkey continue to support atenE In this way laling to oppose the government measures to preserve its rule. And while the Moscow-line Stalinists following popular-front position abstain from the fight against Demirel, the Maoists have gone back even further back in the history of Stalinist betrayal, and adopted the ultra-lett theorv that reformist "social OT-dALOn fascist". This theory was the reason why last week the Maoists physically attacked a 100,000-strong demonstration organised by

• TOB-DER:

(Teachers Associations) and TUM-DER (Public Sector Workers Associations) against inflation.

AFRICA: COUP ATTEMPTS

But the permanent state of conflict within the Derg reflects the fact that in three years of power they have done little or nothing to Etiopia's monumental T-OVe social and economic problems.

from As resuit, opposition and from the Eritrean right, left liberation movement has been and the Derg has been unable to control it. The same day as the Derg gun battle a group of soldiers in the Sudan mutinied in the southern town of Juba. This was the scene last year of a wave arrests after President Numeiry had claimed thanned that military had been

#ULU

against his regime. mutineers week's wErE

JEAN.

reported to have expected to get

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Maoists attack In confrontation the armed Maoists broke up the march. 60 people wounded. And the day

LOXL

Demirel's regime used the event as a pretext to outlaw the two associations a step they had failed to impose before. Class unity must be achieved in Turkey. *Build united workers defence squads against fascist attack!

*FOI

an all-out general strike to bring down the NF coalition!

*For an independent Cyprus. All troops out of Cyprus now!

help from the Ethiopian military regime (if so, they chose a bad day) Numeiry's arch rival trom Colonel Gadaffi. On the West of the continent in the tiny republic of Benin (former- Dahomey) ly another 'Marxist- military Leninist' regime threatened two weeks earlier by forces whose identity remains mystery. The government, in a series of contradictory statements, has said that a plane landed at Cotonou- airport filled with white imperialist mercenaries. They were routed by Benin forces and fled back to their plane which then wase urynig lu lasi off. It still has not said where they came from. Page 3 OMAn: OVER TO

UNCLE SAM

British The departure of These are an importan avila part of the re alenment oi powe troops at the end of next politics in the gulf area. The Omar from their month base at regime remains largely a puppet o Masiri, off the coast of Oman the British, with 500 chief Perkins to remain ander th on the south of the Arabian troops, including commander peninsula, has been the cause "official" troops have gone.

of some controversy in recent However, gover Tne weeks. which cheerfully carried o ment, Widespread reports appeared in the war against .Dhofari liberatio the British press and elsewhere at forces since 1966, is now not muc the of January that Sultan good as a puppeteer. ciu The Quabus of Uman are therefo] ANGOLaN the base to the American largely takig over. Air controlle grant at Salalah airport will in future b navy, allow them to maintain LO their hold on the western side of from Pan American instead of th the Indian ocean. RAF. However, even the reactios As a result of these reports, the arny that he is going in complet Onabus necessary ultra-reactionary Quabus felt ly with the Americans to to leCosay

SUITAOR

would believe? Winter Latest reports do seem to ind

VOE

Palace, cortespondent the guerrilla fighters i London Times to tell him that a Dhofar, Western Oman, hav in diminished base was 'out of the question' strength since la IN However, since the Sultan also year. said 'if a friend asks us for an air- The withdrawal of 3,000 Irania troops must show this fairly cleari craft to land, in normal circum- we would have However, the fact that the 50 stances, no objection', the Times man did not British are remaining shows that th go away quite convinced. Of course possibility popular uprisin 'the question of how extensive such against the excerable Quabus has b facilities might be' was left 'open'.

no means been discounted.

WORKERS

SOCIALIST LEAGUE

The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to build a revolutionary leadership in the working class to lead the mounting opposition to the betrayals of both 'left' and right wing Labour and trade union leaders and the Communist Party, as they attempt to enforce wage control, sackings, speed-up and public service cuts. As workers take up the struggle against these policies they are forced by the sheer of forces opposing them to weight confront Only with an understanding of the role of the political questions. labour bureaucracy and a programme to unite the broadest sections of workers in struggle can a way forward be found.

The Workers Socialist League is the only movement that sets out to do this, fighting consistently in the working class for transitional demands, which go beyond simply trade union militancy to raise the political questions to workers and prepare the forms of organis ation and the knowledge necessary for the struggle for socialism.

As a result we have been at the forefront of struggles against the cuts, against wage control, for unionisation, and against redundancy.

We have done more than any other tendency to fight the introduction of 'wörkers participation" And we have strongly supp- in industry. orted the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement, which has set out to show the link between the reactionary policies of the Social Contract and bureaucratic dictatorship in both the unions and the Labour Party. But our practical struggle for the continuity of the principles and method of Trotsky's Transitional Programme is in no way a task con fined to Britain. It requires an attention and involvement in the struggles of the working class internationally, and the fight to recon- struct the Trotskyist Fourth International.

So there has been a consistent drive within the WSL to deepen understanding of the history and the and enrich the movement's present crisis of the Fourth International as an essential part of our initiative towards its reconstruction.

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

CAMPAIGN GROWS

AGAINST POLICE

HARASSMENT

Defence Committee The Lawyers working the on rapidly gaining support. It has been defence of the 18 Islington successful in pressing for bail for youths facing high court trial several more of the youth, in help- on charges of conspiracy several familes to change their that the solicitors and in demanding that the rob are convinced will become of solicitors work in coordination over case one the defence. national if not international fame as a major confrontation Parent's evidence of the intimi- the black the police by on dation and brutality by means of community. "statements' forced the from youths It has the full force of the police will stations be crucial to the police's rabid search for revenge defence, as was in the Leeds their routing at the Notting Bonfire Night Trial, a very similar Hill Carnival. CP's platforms for Tories racial and cultural 'heritage, what- national It is now clearly ever it might be, and went on to for the Communist policy deplore the 'negative side of racial- 'fraternal" to provide party ism' (presumably he chooses other Party platforms for Tory platforms enthuse about the to speakers on issues where - it "positive side'). The answer to racial violence, he is said - there can be 'unity' said, was 'a strong moral tradition' ion common policies. None of this prevented Sharma The latest in a growing series of from delivering warm praise for the place (in a took splendid composite resolution such meetings Golders Church Hall) in racialism passed the last Tory The subject was 'Racial- last week. Conference adding onlv that it was how to fight it' and, under a a great shame that the ism, "grass-roots the Stalinist chairman, time level' of the party did not always divided between speakers live up to its principles.

equally from the Communist Labour The only ghost of a principle in Liberal and Conservative Parties.

this obscene gathering came from a from Barnet The CP speaker, Vishnu Sharma delegated speaker an Executive member and the Trades Council, who had been mandated to say that the Council CP's hardened workhorse OI

LITE

Popular Front antics in all manner opposed the formation of joint of fraudulent 'fronts' against racial- platforms with Tories. Such platforms will, however, seemed unable to disguise his i practice o embarrassment completely.

are the expression practice the Popular Front And indeed, in their search for a Tory with anti-racialist credentials policies spelled out in the new draft of the CP's 'British Road to Social- the Stalinists of Golders Green had been only partly successful.

ism': for broad democratic The specimen they had invited, alliance' which will be 'an associa- a Mr. Pritchard, spoke glowingly of tion of class forces, including "parts the need to take pride in one's own of the capitalist class'.

STEP FORWARD

IN FEES FIGHT

the saving device cobbled together by The struggle agaist the Broad Left leadership within proposed student fee increases

NUS.

boost at the was given a this In contradistinction to weekend. strategy the conference wooly Last Saturday over 200 students called for initiation of nationwide occupations around the folloving attended a conference called by Middlesex Poly and discussed ways demands. lof fighting these proposais.

An amended motion was passed (a) A rejection of the proposed which called for the initiation and coordination of nationwide occu- (b) For a reduction of all fees to pations to begin by 2Ist February.

the level paid by home students in 1976/7 as the first step towards the

NUS

strategy The existing abolition of all fees; confines the present struggle to a (c) No discrimination in education few token protests: a picket of the end the quota system; a "day of

ILEA

March Ist; on (d) For a rejection of all cuts and a action" 2nd; and March sliding scale of public expenditure national demonstration on March to maintain education services.

9th. The conference clearly indicated for such activities its support Again these demands stood in hopelessly

NUS

official nointed out how sharp contrast inadequate they were: policy. Trevor Philips of

NUS

was pointed out that Executive spoke at great length on case In that trial the police charges were disbelieved on 24 out of 26 counts and 11 out of 12 accused were acquitted.

EVIDENCE

There is no shortage of evidence of police brutality in this case. One parent found a youth at the station bent double, his head wet from being forced down a lavatory.

evewitness to Une youu "They started beating him another: his neck and by the time up by they reached his stomach he was signing". There are reports of drunkenness among the police and it is claimed one was

CISFAKEY

administered blows. It is clear that police rely heavily on informers and one of the youths was arrested as a consequence of refusing to act as an informer.

PARENTS

Many of the parents have them- harassed. selves been The arrests unidentified were made by SIx police who broke into the houses, turned them over, pushed aside th parents and took off the youths Committee The Defence calling on the local labour move- ment to ioin with it in carrvine out a workers enquiry into the actions of the police, especially the two leading officers, Inspector Millman and Sgt. Gallagher, and also the of the local magistrates court.

IMPLICATIONS

want to publicise the imp They implications of the case not only for black youth but for the working class as a whole. But they also want to turn the on the police but on the complicity of the Labour government. Because of the rate of unem- is ployment local employer able to offer only £23 for à 40 hour Government-sponsored job weck. creation schemes and industry are un-unionised and pay £16 and £24 respectively.

HOUSING

Bad housing conditions and cause homelessness family strain of the unemployed do and many not register because of the way they are treated in the dole The Defence Committee calling for an increase in the direct labour force and a programme of public works at proper union rates.

together with the workers' enquiry into call for support- police behaviour must De ed by the entire local labour move- ment. *Home Secretary Rees must end Police brutality and hanoveme local lahour movement the enquiry into the

ALLOTS

polce! *No çuts - expansion of youth provision and housing and improve- ment of schools to meet youth's needs! Grants demonstration, 1974.

a refusal to call for a rejection of all fees increases. This refusal was based on the that the univer- spurious grounds sities need the extra income from fees increases. Since the government pays these increases for home students, Philips argued that would. only be we depriving the universities of much needed income if we called for a rejection of all increases!

In this way the NUS Executive merely drives a wedge between

NO CP ANSWER

ON YOUTH JOBS

The opportunism of the Communist Party was shown in full light at the "Emergency Conference on Youth Unem- ployment in London on February 13th. for the Bob Wright, contender General Secretaryship of the AUEW who has no record whatsoever of initiating action against the social contract expressed his pleasure that it was now in shreds. Dromey, leading London Jack Stalinist, ranted against the damage wreaked by the social contract, the of branch and work destruction place life through the removal of the danger of negotiating, and in the unions being incorporated Salt. from These postures came leading members of the very Party which has constantly held back the control and ficht to break wage which argued in favour of the Ryder participation plan and even benefit fringe contract, out he ming industry recent.

rejected through- weeks. Many speakers called for action and an end to rhetoric, but in fact proposed the only was a action of propaganda demon- series strations and pickets in the coming months. These demands were put the without any meeting discussion at all and no chance of amendments. Such policies in no way met up to the anger from the floor of the about conditions facing meeting youth, particularly the non-union- WIlDE.

HUPE

OFFICIAL

STRIKE

deprives the struggle of one of its student unity against Hereabo at sabotage was

HELCHEDI

derision greeted with the and contempt it deserved. Students must now agitate for occupations and direct action possible on the demands

YOUN

outlined above. The sh are now in occupation and Essex are to occupy from 21st February. Unfortunately con ference failed to agree on the estab- lishment of a national committee to national coordinate series SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977 ised cheap labour "job creation' and 'work experience' schemes, but also apprenticeships, low the drop pay and sheer length of the dole Pious sentiments about the need for an alternative economic strategy including the reactionary policy of import controis, expressed.

WENC

and the need for a society which of the world's made a rational use and which rewarded for the wealth they workers produce. hint But there was no force such policies strategy through. contrast to this bankruptcy for trades councils and public sector unions to organise force through strike action to works programme of useful public union rates, based on an at proper investigation of real unemployment.

and numbers of perspective school leavers. • We call for a comprehensive and system of apprentice- compulsory ships and day release, and for all- backed by strike out opposition, redun- action to natural wastage dancies etc. and instead for work sharing on full pay including part- timers. We also call for the full involve- ment of youth themselves in these Bob Wright (centre, policies and the unionisation of all including unemployed workers leavers,. Labour MPs must school both fight for all these policies Parliament inside and outside against the policies of Callaghan and Healey and the social contract.

SERVE

Students join trade unionists in Aylesbury cuts demonstration. This failure quite serious IS since the full potential of the con- ference will not now be tapped.

Nevertheless, making clear by

NUS

its opposition existing and its determination to policy, fight fee increases, the conference has provided a basis from which a national struggle can be waged.

But that struggle can onlv be successful if students raise demands to change the existing NUS leader- further ship. "he to opportuniy that struggle is the NUS Conference on March 28th.

HOTELS BLACKING ACTION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977 The strike by 56 workers at the Parts Division of British Leyland's Cowley plant, which has put some spare parts into the category of rare collectors" items, is now in its tenth, week. And in the words of the senior steward of the TGWU, Pat Evans, 'It's the strongest strike 've seer in Cowley since I've been here".

The of the militancy workers, which has led them to walk out four times over a claim for extra payment for extra work, has shown up not only the mood of workers throughout Leyland, but also the length to which the tentacles of the Social Contract can stretch.

Leyland SARKe ARS to lock out 600 other workers.

began in early December after workers were taken off the clock.

Though they had finished the work for the day, Leyland refused to pay them for the afternoon they were not present. Leyland breached an agreement by which Parts workers did not clock out after overtime, and under which senior stewards went consulted before workers there were taken off the clock.

(The flexible hours worked by the section made life easier for the We PEE L ГУСТ

10 WEEK COWLEY

PAY STRIKE

management by allowing parts to be for selected in time other workers to clear them before the cho ol the day). But now the issue of whether should workers clock after overtime has been superceded by the issue of what wil happen to the backlog of orders that has built up.

Leyland offered and first then £12 for the original dispute, that practically their fault the workers had gone But home. they have refused to offer any extra pay to deal with the backlog of orders. Workers there are paid according to how many orders they complete.

After the strike, during which time the company claims have LU scrapped the original orders, these orders would simply demand twice as many parts. Workers would be expected to complete up to double the amount work eight hours before completing their measured day work target. Pat Evans said workers were sticking to their demand for more money for the same number hours because of this extra work - and refused to be put off by the size of the issues they have raised.

I've never known such strength of feeling. The strength of the case is that they are right. March in support of strikers at the Oxford Hotels.

Blokes only see it as a sectional issue but it's getting a hell of a big issue. It's getting like a quagmire.

It's the same issue in every plant.

They are we'll harder for more money only saying work The importance of the strike is also being played down by the mass Not Olly issues of principle not been raised, but the fact that fleets of cars including police vehicles and some of Leyland's own fleet of vehicies off the road because they cannot get parts is not mentioned.

What has emerged is the myster 'X' understood by factor, union officials or Labour mock "lefts". That extra ingredient, which has pushed to one side questions of the social contract, is the strength of the working class. At the Parts Division of Leyland, as is now flaring in other factories throughout that strength is turning on the offensive clear illustration is the atti tude of the workers locked out because of the dispute. Pat Evans said: "I haven't known anyone who has come up me and been hostile. The impression I get is that although the blokes are unhappy they've of sympathy. When they go back they will face the same problem." Page 5

'ILLEGAL"

~ TGWU

management to show the union Strikes at the Randolph officials what contempt they held Hotel in Oxford and the for the union. Grosvenor House in Sheffield They would not hold any talks have noW seen revealed the in which district treat office were The full weight of the deceit of which the reason why action had to be Transport and General witheld did not even reach the stage Workers Union leaders. of discussing the shape of the table!

Three weeks after every relevant The unions reaction was to agree layer had agreed to call a to come back and try to hold more national black of Trust House Forte talks - two weeks later - at a time hotels - a move that would bring a when every day's delay was crucial.

Buckle's quick end to both disputes - the tune noW changed. strikers were told that the union Other TGWU members were now absolutely has of "free" no intention to take sympathy action. putting these demands into effect.

Again there was a clear refusal to It took an unannounced visit to call out any other workers or to Transport House in London by a take any action at all that would delegation of strikers to have their have real effect. The worst fears confirmed. whole angle of TGWU The national organiser told them policy is now to reach a stage where They bluntly. they can claim that other workers would not a national black because the "did not support" the strikers.

opinion of the union this would be Strikers at both hotels - and at "illegal" the Linton Lodge in Oxford where Such is the desire of the union the fight has been on for one week officials to avoid a clash with the Jonger than that at the Randolph law which could recall some of the have condemned the decision of national union battles against the officers to ignore the Tories that they will twist and turn demands for action sent up by to prevent any action against it.

every democratic layer necessary.

The effect on the strikers was In Oxford a demonstration has immediate. Some who had wavered been. called for 11.00am next after 12 weeks on strike resolved Saturday at the Linton Lodge to that they would the march past continue the Randoph and to against the hold a rally at Ruskin College.

NETUALI

employers, but also against the That demonstration must be given full support. Fellow workers at Gardner The twists and turns of the Merchant canteens in Cowley who union officials are on the same level were set to walk off the job in sup- the threat by the director of port of Randolph workers were the Linton Lodge to sell his hotel ordered to at stav close it rather than admit the wuIk Dy district official in Oxford, David union and take back the sacked Buckle. workers. "talks" were about to start.

was, he said, because Both are extra obstacles to Those winning the strikes - but obstacles talks lasted just long enough for the that must be overcome.

SHEFFIELD MARCH

BACKS HOTEL

STRIKERS

300 workers marched She said that it was important that the strike was won because if through Sheffield on Saturday it were defeated then there would on a demonstration called by never be a union in Trust Houses the Sheffield Trades Council Forte. in support of the 40 workers There was a delegation of the at the Grosvenor House Hotel Oxford Hotel strikers on the demonstration who have been on strike for strikers from the Randolph spoke 10 weeks to win recognition.

in support of the Grosvenor House The limited response to the workers. demonstration was He stressed the need for solidar- the continued unwillingness ity between the two groups of of the local TGWU officials to strikers and the need for regional mobilise support for the blacking of Trust Houses Forte in any strikers. preparation for national blacking.

At a meeting after the demon- The clearest show of solidarity stration, Bill Owen, TGWU District came after the demonstration when Secretary spoke about the rights of the union officials and workers to join the trade union of leaders had gone home. their choice and said it was "un- fortunate" This was at a meeting called by that the contact employment required 50% union the strike committee together with membership before the union had workers from Gardner Merchants, a the subsidiary of THF. right to negotiate for all members. At this meeting the strikers The leader of the strike commit- decided to extend their picket to tee, Margareta Petrovic, Gardner spoke tirms with Merchants about the strength that had been canteens. The first one-day picket will be achieved on the picket line and the need to strengthen it and extend within the next two weeks and the Gardner the picket. Merchant workers have She said that the only way to pledged not to cross the picket line.

win the strike was through nationai They also stated that they would

OPPORTUNISM?

ARCH AGAINST THE BENYON

"A bad workman blames his cools", goes the old adage. But should we describe now who throws aside vorkman the specialised tools designed for his trade and instead picks ap the first implement that hand like comes to tuning an engine mechanic with a mallet? This is the kind of question we must confront when we look at the latest gyrations of the International Marxist Group as shown in the bevy of wrong and opportunist positions which fill the February 3rd edition bf Red Weekly. many blunders are too here, on too wide a range of issues, for them to be ascribed simply to a series of 'mistakes'.

METHOD

They are linked by an under- of method analysis ying wrong which has disorientated the IMG at point of rapid sharpening of this the class struggle in Britain.

The IMG has set aside the scalpel or Marxist analysis for the hatchet of vulgar impressions. For example, in a week in which the wages struggle has come to the forefront the bourgeois foress, and a whole range of indus- been convulsed tries have by continuing series workers in many cases defying their union officials, the IMG parliamen- candidate for the Birmingham InTY Stechford by election, Brian Heron, tells bemused Red Weekly readers in an exclusive interview that: "The present retreat (!) exists workers, even because many militant workers, see any alternative to the Social Contract.

STEWARD

Heron is referred to as a shop Leyland's Longbridge steward at factory. The convener Derek Robinson fore- Stalinist most union advocate of the Ryder and (participation' scheme increased productivity.

WHAT LIES

BEHIND IMG

And in the very week that Heron doggedly insists that the working was interviewed, workers all around class is on the retreat. But it is not just Heron. When- him in that factory were voting by ever IMG members find themselves an 800 majority to defy a stewards' in industrial situations they seem to for acceptance recommendation lose all sense of direction. Another and throw out a proposed fringe example is the IMG members and benefit' deal which included savage Rovers, who have supporters in penalty clauses. The deal had been cooked up by fallen into an even worse trap.

with well known the Leyland management of Robinson and the principle strategic objective assistance from appointed 'Ad Hoc' committee of British Leyland management since they managed to force in Measured collaborating Leyland conveners.

INATIONAL INDONNE U

Day Work six years ago has been to credibility Robinson consolidate that gain into a corpor- tion the aimed at and the whole 'Ad Hoc' committee, ation-wide pay structure, of a real ending the power of shop floor the chance 00C113 workers in individual plants.

struggle in Leyland for new leader- Leyland would then follow such ship. The feeling was building up on a victory ised grading structure to remove the shop floor wac was lo crul in the massive spontaneous strike contentious areas which can lead to plant-level conflict over wage rates.

and demonstration by 5,000 Long- So imagine the delight of those bridge as jones. scanion who plan Leyland's strategy against and Varley arrived on the plant for 160,000-strong the Corporation's talks on productivity. Yet Heron nowhere refers either workforce when they discovered to the question of working class two objectives that both these leadership once to ine are called for within a resolution Longbridge struggles. He puts no adopted as policy by a full meeting programme to direct these forces of shop stewards from the 11 Rover Instead, ostrich-like, ignoring the factories within British Leyland!

tumult and feeling around him, he

CONTRADICTORY

The resolution laying down these two "demands" is a contra- dictory one which on the one hand Leyland's notorious 'fringe icca benefit' proposals, but on the other one hand supports - corporation-level bargain- ing. But what really makes this move • amazing is that it now emerges that the motive torce behind these two "demands" was not the right-wing the IMG

DULL

group in Rovers! And the February 3rd Red Weekly One cance full, but also the resolution in endorsement of their Cartes ure correspondent Charlie Gallagher.

This is obviously not a consider- ed position of the IMG indeed it is extremely hard to tell where their on this issue leadership stand of Red the same page since article written Weekly at tale an Oxford IMG member which by of the flatly contradicts the

IMG

group and attacks Rover corporate bargaining. This second makes the article correct point that the end result of such a wages system is to place all negotiations in hands Such a fact does national officials. have percolated not seem to through to his Rover comrades.

But the logic of corporate much wider bargaining has cations than that. When the IMG argue that corporate colnaucs "unites" workers 1n struggle they open up a common with the carial contract through which the "united" working entire Class IS under TUC negotiations with the At the present time corporate bargaining has been thrown out by with the Leyland "fringe benefits" deal, but manage- ment will clearly not settle for that.

it looks as if the next Indeed, Leyland will take place battles in proposed by the policies against

IMG!

The NAC Tribunal - uncritically backed by IMG This of course is not because the

IMG

comrades in Rovers are class collaborators. neva silly all aware of the implications of their From the best of motives actions. blundering into the they wind up worst possible policies. But the IMG's incompetence at guaging movements and tactical within the working orientations class is not restricted to individual factories. It extends to the whole of the class struggle. This is why they brush off many of the wage battles that broken out have already simply disputes over 'differentials'

FORM OR CONTENT?

To see matters in this way is to of completely mistake the form SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday loth February, 1977 wage struggles (the argu- current ments and rationalisations used by content (the strikers) for the determination of the mass of the working class to tind some way ol breaking the 4½% pay limit).

It is consistent This is not new. with Red Weekly's assessment of the wages struggle in December. In a paper headlining on the miners early retirement claim, and ridiculously claiming this represents a threat to the social contract; we find this: "The

IMG

intervention on all needs to step the

MAINLYCY

questions facing the working class: * Cuts *Women's oppression *Racism *Unemployment" 9th). (The Choice is Yours', Dec.

fringe while Gormley's free benefit some credibility, the front page struggle on wages did not even rate this fund mention major appeal! Why not? Let us look at the topics listed.

'ACTION'

The IMG leadership has obvious- taken a superficial glance ly just around to see where the 'action' is (i.e. where the biggest demonstra- tions are to be found). the They to spot managed November 17th march . on the cuts; the confused ranks of the National Abortion Campaign and the Work- Women's Charter; the massive ing anti-racist marches of 1976; and the certainty of increasing unemploy- ment. could at that time, they

DUIL.

see no 'action' on wages. So they left it out. industrial Lacking any serious of the cadre or real within the working movements class, the IMG are forced to resort impressionist kind Inis method. And having drawn up their fixed schema for the way the struggle will develop, they are completely when in another it goes

LETSY LI

direction.

WORSE

But there are worse repercus sions from this wrong assessment.

• In their desperate anxiety to get in on whatever action is taking place on their chosen four topics, the IMG start to water down and drop programme in the name of their "unity' This has led to a craven capitul- ation to the Communist Party and the labour bureaucracy by the IMG in their work for the Rally 'One Act and Equal Pay Act.

IMG

members on the Rally Planning Committee backed exclude putting motion to position on the social contract and the role of the present leadership of the work cla talkavi stalinists, talking Stalinists, Labour MPs and union officials to participate. And at the same time the IMG has given enthusiastic praise to the National Tribunal for Abortion Mondol

SOCIALIST PRESS. Mednesuter 16th Febraart. 1977 Rights an event whose complete- reformist orientation has spurred ma tio naly i a wave of resignations from the Campaign, and Abortion exposed the complete inadequacy of "single issue" Can basus if the IMG stand shoulder And shoulder with the LoluTSI Party policies, they on these right of manage to stand to the the Stalinists on the question of the Bullock Report in yet another 3rd Red article in the February Weekly. Hoping that dropping the Trotskyist programme willl bring them imagined closer workers group of contused the IMG article astonish- Bullock, ( ingly calls for: 'Full implementation of the original TUC proposals". Even Bert Ramelson, CP Indus- prop sals niser class condemned these proposals cola coralion The reason is clear. The TUC ist'. openly argue that their position is based on the concept that: The TUC believes.. that it is establish the very important interest of labour essentialiy joint !!. enterprise capital t rit ane cial managemen lucla carried out within a framework of making in which the work- policy using the machinery of people, can formulate and express their interests in the direction of a company's affairs".

1976, (General Council Report, p322, my emphasis). Marxists of course reject such an approach. Labour and capital have distinct and opposite class interests which cannot be welded into one.

FEB 26th 1977 11am

A RALLY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS

The Bullock proposals, far from offering towards any workers' control, are proposals for more sophisticated control over the workers within privately owned enterprise. Yet the IMG article does not even call for nationalisation! Instead they give credibility to the TUC objective which is simply that of wedding „ Illclldke" ment: "Only with a system of parity representation trade union can • representatives de expectca lolecı sense of collective responsib- ility for board decisions."

(TUC, p.323, my em phasis) The IMG in this article therefore throw aside the essence OTne the Transitional of demands Programme - the struggle at each political stage Ior COlIVICLe and organisational independence of the working the

ITO™

employer and the state for committees to workers' control over management. In place of this they substitute the craven reformism of the TUC and the so-called Iede ulidı y 'Institute of Workers' Control'.

THREAD

Running as a common thread through this catalogue of errors by the Iviu eacn one or wnicn nas lne of effect bringing workers more under the influence of the right wing and Stalinist bureaucracy, their leadership's fundamental the class struggle from the standpoint of Marxism which demands ettorts beneath probe Yaact appearances to grasp the real motor farce of chanee - and continuously testing theory in practice.

If this method is not adopted and instead impressions are taken at face value from empirical "facts" and built into an abstract schema, lose movenient must

ILS

lLY political bearings. Cush a mathod is not crude type most It is tne bourgeois ideology. Engels showed LS HALELaLIUI. "At first sight this mode of thinking seems to us very luminous, because it is that of so-called sound sound commonsense. respectable fellow commonsense, that he is, in the homely realm of has very his four walls, U W lI wonderful adventures directly into the wide world

*RELEES OUL

[of research]. And the metaphys- ical mode of thought [empiricism), justifiable and necessary as it is in a number of domains whose extent of varies according to the natur® the particular object of investiga- tion, sooner or later reaches a limit, becomes beyond which one- sided, restricted, abstract, lost insoluble contradictions.

In the contemplation of things, forgets the inciticll between them; in the connection contemplation of their existence, it forgets the beginning and end of that existence; of their repose, forgets their motion. It cannot see the wood for the trees" Utopian and Scien- tific. Pathfinder, P.41)

EMBARRASSMENT

There is little doubt that acute em barassment at the wrong orien- will Latiol Nave «hUbCu bring belated empirical adjustments to the IMG's line on many of these questions. But there is absolutely no doubt that without a radical change in their method of analysis, similar eoaes wt ConuRualY rCCu In this the IMG are the legit- imate British representatives of the 'United" socalled Secretariat of the Fourth International within which predominani CUBULSl doctrine. origins of this method in the USec go back to the impression- ism ol michel rabio, lormeriy ine International Secretary of the of the Fourth Secretariat Inter- Haliullal Working solely on the basis of Pablo superficial Imbess ons developed in the early 1950s the "objective processes" theory that specifically an impending Third World War were forcing the development of "revolutionaty ten- mass Stalinist dencies" within the parties of Europe. He claimed that: "this [Stalinist] movement will develop revolutionary tendencies, not through the conscious will of leadership, but through the the situation evolving pressure of towards war". (For a Devisive Turn in France, 1952). false analysis, Pablo proceeded to • Süet rearenb o colary ouccc lț This line led by 1953 to a split lead the majority the split lIUYY Ernest verbally abandoned some of Pablo's to probed to the roots of the method positions, and them to defend him.

also tor example in the Usec party in Portugal, the LCI, which went so far as to join a "United Revolution- provisiona government! This is why we insist that while it is nossibe tor many oithe cadres of the USec to be won to a position of revolutionary Marxism, it is only possible if they are prepared to undertake a serious reexamination of the history of the Fourth Inter- national and the questions, of method raised by that history.

Only in this way can empiricism he consciousv tought and the tool Marxist brought analysis play. By John Lister

SOCIALISM BY

NUMBERS

Why You Should Be A Socialist By Paul Foot, Published by the Socialist Workers Party, price 35p. Reviewed by Alastair Green.

party (?) has been, and is being, frittered away (!), underline the "transformation" of the Inter- key role of a revolutionary party in situ- transforming a revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party.

ation into a victory for the working recruitment class' Never mind the qualit: members this organisation of ine width! It was not the coag IS's ally, the syndicalist

PRP.

tunists hopes to displace TRICIrO LaC" Paul Foot's pamphlet, Whr You T ne Menshevike 1s nenCcu to persuade the SWP's fellow travel- February but they lost the day in without looking militancy over the past few months misty fantasies about half a million (starting with the anti-racist activity members. In terms of a firm base in.

summer) has brought new forces to the declining IS, whose and size (the organisation between the IS and the CP. The CP activity claims 3,000 members) makes it is far better placed in bureaucratic pole of attraction for certain mili- in the unions to derail tants and left-wingers. struggles than the SWP is to initiate that it has no The fact clear programme to distin- revolutionary guish it from the Stalinists and the made this bureaucrats has accretion of forces easier.

All that is required to join the SWP is a vague belief in socialism and a liking for activity.

The quick growth of the group and a recovery of confidence by its demoralised membership persuaded the IS leadership that the time had time.

SIX MONTHS

At the September 1976 'Party

WAICE

months) the decision launch the Socialist Workers' Party Things have evidently Foot "founding event of some IS that the decision to proclaim the revolutionary party could be taken Iedulg The IS has been notorious for its steady consumption of trade union forces the resolution of the Council non-political basis, insisted that 'in the short term (!)

we have to replace the Communist milan acon his pamphlet argues for the 'lonely and prime exponent of the hearts club' conception of the party are in the same league' as the CP.

unite the activists - 'tor the social.

ist who argues or organises on his own, life becomes increasingly diffi difficult. People see him as a bit of walsal North when the CP candidate at the last General decil ld without a fight to get a polițically And he adds to his militants easily drop out of politics claim that the CP and the SWP have a similar active membership. This is

DENCEICH

important groups of workers whom the Nowadays the SWP has no sig- If, when the revolutionary canonwlu organisation fighting on the issues class todav WOrkY has thousand members, it is even Tew possible that the party appears as against Racism' as the sort of work irelevant and does not grow at all.

that has forced IS to recognise its certain size is necessary for take The Right to Work campaign is philistine disregard for the gimmick designed to replace the politics Cliff reduces the crisis of ill fated Rank and File Movement: recruitment! The sort of party he is its lack of clear after is clearly shown by his refer- programme, and by the lack of any of recruitment must be clearer now demands (such as an overtime ban) Portugal. where existence of angry demon-

TEV LOHNY

strations and wasted energy.

constitutes a diversion ho= the serious work that remaire to be building revaluticeas COnE M aberatie in tie Urens The Campaten agairs Rat= $0 ZE = raggire IS =ezbez 550 *** ∞ k* :ag:re= = racist work. What distinguishes the racism is its complete position on failure to connect the growth of and fascists with the the

TAUNE

Tory policies of the Labour govern- ment.

NO LESSONS

In a single minded fashion the racism connection between and What Nazism pounded out. matters for IS is anti-fascist activity political of irrespective being by those lessons are "fighting organisation" absolute failure to take up any fight over the central question of wage In the last few issues of Socialist the opposition in the working class tacked on to the end of titles of But the fact remains that on this the question in the workers' move- of sharpesi conflict with the reformists, the IS/ SWP have simply waited on events abstained from the necessary Hardly a mention is given to the weare NUaOT regaled with three chapters on the Soviet Union is 'state capitalist', to hiduy mobilise the working class on the employers and their Labour govern- 1S sentence observing in passing that a 35 hour week and an overtime ban alK al 'strong socialist party'.

IS has always refused to The establish clear international links on the basis of common politics.

retained Instead they nave 'fraternal' relations with an assort- ment of Maoists, half anarchists and syndicalists who have big working class otganisations and are doing something. The book ends with a rousing call to join the SWP, on the basis all who capitalist

OBOSI

barbarism must stand up and be COlTTed But no amount of energy, 'the commitment of workers will allow the IS laugh and love', to jump over its own head.

Without political clarity and a working class cadre this jamboree will waste those workers' commit- ment and dissipate their energies in and the abstract protest actions preaching of socialism.

rage 8 While Callaghan and Healey today out a historic carry keyel of betrayal, implement- package of Tory ing their policies under the name of a Labour government, the scale of this treachery flows from the depth of the crisis - not from anything new within the Labour leadership itself.

Indeed the same policies, with the same arguments to back them.

trotted out time and been time again by preceding governments not one of which has broken in any way from seeking, "reform' and simply Muta le laril capitalism. The Labour leadership caught in a vice - leading on the one hand a party with a working class base which wins its electora support by promising reforms; yet on the other hand at the same time being committed to running crisis-ridden capitalism which can-.

not concede reforms. Wilson's 1964-70 Labour govern- Labour Britain's fifth

INCTE

government - in this way followed the line of its inglorious predeces- sors. It came to power in October 1964 at a time of rapidly maturing which CeRnOmIC

CCSN

could only be deepened by conces- sions to the working class.

While Wilson at once dropped all attempts to bring about T.ese the strength of the work- reforms, ing class both within the unions and Party left the witiun the Labour democratie leadership paralysed in its efforts to solve the crisis on behalf of capitalism.

NO LOYALTY

It is for this Tenvon because of any shred of loyalty of the Labour leaders to the workers' that had put them in JoYculcul Wilson office that the govern- failed the ment ultimately bour- geoisie and failed to bring in anti- umon laws This first article will deal mainly with the early years of the govern- ment, centring attention on struggles wage control and Uvei productivity. A central question facing the Wilson administration 7æc ve= ationship with the trade union and its ability to bureaucracy cultivate a 'close working bond with leaders such reactionary Woodcock (TUC General Secretary) Cannon (right wing leader of the ETU) and Frank Cousins (TGWU Gener (Serse trad. course trade union bureau- crats have always been at home w'ith class collaboration and have always been thrilled at an invitation to Buckingham Palace. First and oud Woridh both the Wars they Second have agteds str fae onurgeners in agents bourgeoisle working policing the class. Such attitudes die hard in the TUC.

However they did after that period for while to TeLUNI minimal pretence of defending their members' interests and wages. But under wuson tnis was to de tnrown aside.

WILSON'S FIRST

"SOCIAL

CONTRACT'

The Rookes Barnard High 1964-70 was a courtship stage.

Court decision had weakened the While the trade union bureaucracy position of unions, threaten- was prepared to cuddle close to the legal Labour government, they were still ing the closed shop and making officials liable for damages prepared at times to complain that

USIOH

following industrial action.

far, to register a i1 nad gone coo movement, fairly sharp verbal protest.

The trade union was for Much of this protest was but the including its leadership, But while remain- but in that hot air of leit talk. Ln reasol lary. ing on its guard, the movement was period, the trade union leaders did also strong. The boom period had have some qualms about the total strengthened the ability of the shop the unions' signing away floor to make gains and the shop from independence the stewards movement had emerged, Potelilill. powerfully representing and expres- Following the end of the Tory sing this strength of the working in March 1962 the TUC pay pause class. had refused to accept any respon- It was the shop stewards move- sibility for the government's policy the independence of the of restraint on wages. ment,

DOCKERS UNITE

AND DOUN

ALL SHIPS

AND7

L

SPOTLIGHT

ON

REFORMISM

On February 19th William Rodgers who organised a an letter from 15 parliamentary candi- attempt will be made to get a dates in support of Hugh Gaitskell sinister piece of particularly against the Labour Party 'left'.

Labour Party history to repeat From this letter came a commit- itself. Roy Jenkins, tee MiGuUTe Anthony Crosland and other well- On that day "moderațe" Labour wingers which MPs, known right local councillors and party produced a manifesto. workers from all over the country after the And immediately been caled to a meeting in arve of Campaign victory the London to set up a pressure group Nuclear Disarmament in the 1966 anti-Socialist the for views Labour Conference, Rodgers' Labour Party. manifesto turned into the the Manifesto based on It 18 of right-wing Labour MPs, Campaign Democratic Group

IOI

which Rodgers was Socialism, of and aims to have a broader appeal full-time paid Chairman. Prentice's Social Democratic than words of journalist Alliance. Richard Fletcher it was *the most The Chairman of the meeting will be right-wing Transport Secre- effective pressure group the Party had ever seen" William Rodgers. tary, Within a year, the Labour Party in Just ago,

SEYCUECCH

yaals working class that the bourgeoisie and the Labour government needed to suppress. October 1964 the Labour formed with government was majority of a mere Parliamentary six seats. It faced a situation of financial crisis with a balance of payments Wilson, defficit of £800 million. tae manifesto on o es y nt who pledges manitesto OuT slightest challenge to meant the capitaes had later wrote that: "We reached the now situation where a newiy elected goyernment with a mandate from people was being told not so much by the Governor of the Bank

SAY

SLL demonstration to back seamen. May 1966

THE REAL

INFILTRATORS

a result po thes oousands or poun ds pounds poured by the into leatlets, journals, the salaries of a full-time executive and the expenses of a large team of field workers.

REFUSED TO PUBLISH

Yet in Who were his article they travelling with?" (commission- tden ye fuse fo publisint, fiwcich Sunday which points out that the CDS never had a single subscription-paying member.

Rodgers told the committee that the money came from a number of small donations "together with a trom COuEC wished to remain anonymous'.

The reason why the source wished to remain anonymous seems clear. There is little doubt that the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977 of England but international specu- lators, that the policies on which we had fought the election could implemented, the

TH8 N

was to be forced into government the adoption of Tory policies to fundamentally which was opposed [by] the sheer compulsion of the economic dictation of those who exercised decisive power."

"FORCED"

Notice that Wilson shifts immed- iately from describing the capitalist opposition to Labour's programme to accepting that the government "forced doption of Tory policies" and that being much British blames

SIGL

capitalists' interests (against which he might be expected to act) but foreign "beyond his speculators control" In other words, Wilson's position shows that a reformist government will only adopt socialist pollcies it capitalists The the agree! same reactionary logic underlies today's by the Callaghan- attacks Da takt Healey government. after its election Immediately therefore, the 1964 Labour govern- ment refused to implement even humanitarian and such emotive a reform as the raising of the old age pensions But of course the TUC bureau- failed challenge cracy their betrayal on this issue. The only lead in opposing Wilson and campaign- ing for the pension increase EO ne implemented came from the Young the political Socialists UROeI direction of the Trotskyist Socialist Labour League, (SLL) who organ- ised a series of lobbies and protests.

The trade bureaucracy wee Hol moweve Dul or mony Labour government. closer to the

"LEFT"

After all in a cabiriet including Callaghan George than celllot. Brown as head of Department of Economic Affairs and Gunter Minister of Labrsr, was the teas Frank Cousins, General Secretary of the TGWU as Minister of Tech- nology! As the SLL's paper, the News- letter put it: "The presence of Cousins in the government is a sign not of the progress of the lefts but of a final ste ble in seopng cupita iomp ay his role in serving capitalism, collaboration in the Case Dy deception of the workers abomi the character of the Labour govern- ment." The key for that queslion government in its struggle to restore capitalist profitability was, then as TOw WurEa thẻ Yet leaders CElae UA approached the question of wage - or with restraint, more warily more appearance of wariness than they do today. But the parallel is also striking as the resolution passed at the Just TGWU Biennial conference immed- iately signing of the

LU LE

social contract laid down eight stringent including on i1en "lower unemployment, massive probably via one of its front organ- through isations, Ilas right-wing subversion tinanced. 11 the labour movements of the world ever since the 1940s. Fletcher's article (now published by Spokesman Books as part CIA and the Move- The Labour ment) reveals nothing which was not already known, but it does pull together a lot of evidence to show Labour Party Te TanL-GOH leaders have been consistent collab- orators with the CIA This collaboration took place especially through three magazines Sol Levitas's New Leader in the United States, Rita Hinden's Social- ist Commentary, and Melvin Lasky's Encounter, all of them financed in one way or another by the CIA.

SOCIALIST PRESS, W'ednesday I6rh February, 1977 increases" public spending and strict price controls", so the TUC in 1965 argued: justification for trade •Ine union participation in an income.

policy lies in the contribution that it will make to the attainment economic and social policies which will lead to lasting benefits for their members.

The General Council have made it clear to the government and to the representatives of the employers' organisations that trade unions would co-operate in a prices incomes policy only to them likely to secure appeared broad trade union objectives more effectively than present policies"

WOLVES

Casting independence to the wolves they try to argue that the wolves would gratefully give them presents in return! Understanding this, the SLL in the Newsletter of November 1964 made this comment. "Wilson, Callaghan and Brown hope to chain the unions to a wage freeze, A meagre rise in pensions, to next year is used to bait be the trap. the forerunner of Here Healey's fraudulent talk of "tax cuts But, the Newsletter pointed out: "Woodcock's extreme caution in talking about wage freezing reflects the doubt in the minds of some union chiefs about the dangers of too soon to push the rank trying and file into the incomes policy trap These doubts reflected in the TUC decision. The union leaders were prepared to only accept a "voluntary" wages policy lagain a familiar today!] And the note

TGWU

went So to vote lat as of the against acceptance wage norm of 3-32% in 1965. As Wilson commented OIl Cousins of the GWIJ: "His life's work had been based on the doctrine that a trade union leaders job was to get more wages for his men; voluntary incomes policy seemed incompat- ible with that life long objective" Cousins was later to resign from the government in June 1965 over his opposition to wage restraint, an opposition he was not prepared to turn into a full scale fight against the policy. He was prepared to let other bureaucrats destroy this "life's work" even if he would not do the job himself.

AXE

Today's TUC leaders of course are fully prepared to swing the axe against free collective themselves bargaining and the jobs and con- ditions of their members.

another indication of the increased depth of today's capitalist crisis and its impact on the reformist leaders.

The Wilson government continued its Tory policies. central the National played by was Board for Prices and Incomes under Chairmanship the , Tory Aubrey Jones with, VIce Chairman, Managing the Director of Esso Petrol. renegade Trotskyist James Burnham, was in the vanguard of the formulation of the US govern- ment's cold war policies after World War II. CIA director Allen Dulles wrote for it: so did Hugh Gaitskell; and Dennis Healer was London correspondent for some years after 1952. Socialist Commentars has for years been the house journal of the Labour richt-wing. Fletcher reveals that recenty Financial resene remarksale Price and increases were wage referred to this body with the usual result of the former being agreed and the latter being turned down.

including the claim of the exceed- ingly low paid agricultural workers.

In January 1966 the Board recom- mended no improvement on British Rail's offer of 32% on basic rates.

NUR in reply went to the of point calling national which was of course sold out at the lith hour by Wilson's secured agree- ment on a productivity deal.

Productivity dealing was a hall mark of this government's attack upon the working class. Wilson hoped to raise the rate of exploitation and ease the crisis of profitability by increasing proguc- tivity. The which speat- headed this attack on the working cass was al lne rawiey on remery involved higher pay and in return for aban- doning trade union safeguards. This was seized upon by the boyerimene lulls arieto. modern ise Britain? (ie raise the rate of Cannon of the ETU, a vicious right winger and professional anti-.

led a campaign for productivity deals. wages policy called against "restrictive anu practices" Supported by sections of the trade union bureaucracy, the Labour continued hold down and attack wages.

They The

LOO.

Communist Party in the AEU voted for incomes policy in the spring of 1965, in practice endorsing George Woodcock's line that: "The trade share the

LUIS

has always been as dismally low as its quality. Fletcher also describes the financed the conferences by Congress for Cultural Freedom and other CIA fronts at which Labour right-wingers such as Waitskell and Healey rubbed shoulders with the chairmen of the world's Largest capitalist organisations, monarchists. ex-Nazis, commanders of the American and German forces the Crown Princes of Europe and CIA agenrs." government's responsibility and they cannot remain at arm's length from the government" Yet Wilson faced a strong and buoyant working class, a working class ready to fight. Despite the mandate given 1966 the General Election which Labour Party gave the majority of 110 in the house, the government continued to attack the working class.

In May of that year the seamen's strike attempted to break through the wages standstill. As Wilson saw it the strike was: "a of the government's TedI determination to the we had laid down for an Crilerla incomes policy" In other words it was a test of the government's resolve to defend capitalist profitability at the expense of the working class.

The strike was long and bitterly fought. Like many of the events of this period it reveals threads we can follow through to this day.

FIGHT

The Communist Party, as ever, held back from fighting to the finish. At the time the CP had Consept be pover pon and Huss, (except Liverpool and where the SIL, working within the blue union', the National Associa of Stevedores and tion Dockers) had a large following Stalinists like Jack Dash in London who purportedly represented rank and file dockers ir effect abstained both from launch- ing any real fight against the Devlin plans to decasualise the docks and from the fight to bring out the dockers in support of the seamen.

dockers' The leaders allowed ships to be moved in port so that Rodgers' campaign restored Labour backing for NATO for socialists' illustrates the naivety of his political analysis.

Such people are the natural alles of a right-wing Labour leader.

ship who act as the agents of the capitalist ruling class in the labour movement. They must be driven out of all labour movement organisations.

facts is that they show hoWeechers usefulness Fletcher's ist leaders like Rodeers not dil merely 440l* lass forces. but 25 then centress and PaN agents Page 9 norm" with exceptions. the seamen's strike was weakened.

Despite the CPs reactionary role Wilson reports: "In July 66 the TUC began to in these events. the seamen's strike was the of massive express deep reservations about witch hunt against the Communist incomes policy. Cousins stated that Party and all on the left the TGWU would not observe the Wilson spoke of a "tightly knit freeze. Now other leaders were politically group motivated right wing Ever and revealed that police men members of the Council expressed surveillance was kept on leading doubt." militants and Communist Party Finally, oi course. al these members. toothless mouthings and gestures The device of the witch-hunt, ended and the TUC acquiesced to then now, important was an the wage freeze. tactic for the government Parliament, though 47 'left' and the In ruling class in building up hostility MPs condemned the government's "unofficial" "unconstitutional' wages policy, they did not fight for strike activity. Wison's removal. This witch-hunt was a necessary Instead they simply argued in prelude to the second phase of the the time-honoured bankrupt style government's attempt to today for

LADONT

the nationalist we set break the strength of the working demand of import controls - and class its industrial relations bill.

for cuts in defence spending.

(The story of this struggle will be September 1966 at the appearing in our second article).

Labour Party Conference But were beaten. Brighton, Wilson was heckled first Wilson unashamedly admits having by his backing intervened to organise a right-wing for the Vietnam war and then by a caucus in the NUS Executive.

lobby of car workers facing short He did this because his police time and lay off in the Midlands surveillance revealed that the left The pressure of the rank and file was constantly were planning to argue for a ballot Unofficial growing of the entire membership and a bodies of stewards in the car indus- recall delegate conference.

try and on the docks made the Such an excessively democratic government aware that they could plan was obviously a threat to the not sufficiently hold down wages right. so long as there was an independent In 1966, as now, the question of movement free from Trade democracy in the unions and the the controls of the bureaucracy fight against wage control are It was to attack this movement, closely linked. suppress this militancy, that they the second Yet the trade union leaders commenced major their the would not give unanimous backing assault working class. Wilson's government to the attack on wages. "In Place In July 1966 there brought forward of was a wages Strife" , a battery of laws to shackle standstill; this was followed from the unions and directly curb their January to June 1967 with severe restraint; from July 1967 to and March there was "zero By Di Parkin

BOOKS

THE TRANSITIONAL

BATTLE FOR TROTSKYISM

PROGRAMME

THE

BATTLE ROD

TROTSIMON

workers press

SOCIALIST

Documents of the opposition The founding of expelled from the Workers Rev programme the Fourth International, republish- prepared ed with introduction by Alan by the Executive Committee of the an Thornett. Workers Socialist League.

30p plus 10p P&P £1.00 plus 20p P&P

TROTSKYISM....

TODAY *

TERETICAL SOPPERI

I SEGINST MESS

- Problems and Tasks" WSL international "Fourth International perspectives in three parts.......

.........15p "The Significance of the Transitional Programme" • 5p "The Fight for Revolutionary Leadership"

WSL

perspectives for Britain, in 3 parts

.ISP

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Page 10 Health workers occupy AHA meeting Recent 'sensational' reports in the *press about the deteriorating condition oi manv hospitals have served to under- Hine the importance of the forthcoming Conference of London Area Stewards in.

the Health Service (CLASH).

The Conference, be held from 2pm to 6pm on Wednesday, 23 Feb- ruary, will provide an opportunity for stewards zitl

COTTONS

service trade unions in London to discuss the defence of the the next stage

NHS.

The programme provides foI experiences fight- ing the cuts and for the establishment of united policies for future action.

The second half of meeting the will be devoted to the need for a stand.

ing link-up between all NHS Joint Shop Stewards Committees in London.

The most recent meeting of the organising committee for the conference, was attended by a group of stewards and lay officials who played a prominent role in the three-day strike in January of ancilliary workers at five East End hospitals. Denis

GMWU

St. at

INCIOL

Bartholomew's Hospital, Waller, Hosol. Meloponal the secretary of the Central tal, and Hospitals Branch of the GMWU, gave a report of the action which, according to one estimate, involved some hospital workers. The ancillary workers' strike (first reported in Socialist Press 51) centred on staff cuts which had resulted in under- manning and management's attempts to impose new rotas on the catering staff in the District without any discussion with the unions, threatening loss amounting overtime pay between £4 and £20 a week.

The united action of the anculary eventually restled In the suspended statement. of porters although, apparently with the help of the full-time officials of COHSE and the

GMWU,

the management was able to to drop the proposed new rotas.

Negotiations since the strike have staff obtaining resulted In Pitatilt protection for their regular hours but new staff will receive only basic pay. The GWU stewards expect that further struggles around the same issues lay ahead

NHS

STRIKE LEADERS

BACK CLASH

IN ancillary workers throughout the NHS in the coming period unless united action is taken to celeno Iving standaras against

CRISIS

the effects of 15% inflation and the treacherous collaboration of the trade with the Labour union bureaucracy government. The

CLASH

organising commit- tee, built around the South Camden Joint Shop Stewards Committee, Ilas therefore quite rightly made the time question a central topic of the concence Maurice Kolander, NUPE Branch Secietary speak at the meeting, which is expected supported by the shop To be well stewards who were involved in the

DEATH TRAP

dispute. The organising committee meet- ing also received reports of support from a number of other JSSCs

JSSC,

how- HI ever, members of the Communist Party had voiced opposition to the conference.

Don't have a heart attack in Iheir opposition appeared to have been based on the inclusion in the main Hackney! too many points of

ISOLDON

This was the grim message from programme. a nurses' at the Hackney Such complaints absurd in hospital. view of the appeal by the organising He claimed that patients committee for all bodies supporting admitted with cardiac arrest now stood a massively increased chance amendments to any of the three resol- of not recovering, because of lack of equipment. Seven wards are now closed in the hospital, including some which This democratic approach contrasts the Communist recently been decorated at a sharply have with that oi Party inspired and dominated Liaison cost of £18,000! of Trade Committee for the Detence The much-publicised tour of the Jano. hospital by Department of Health As previous occasions, the can be seen worthies not long ago

LCDTU

refused to allow any has to have had no beneficial effect on motions or amendments to be moved by the service to patients. labour movement organisations at then The Hackney area is one of the conference on the cuts to be held on most viciously attacked in London Saturday 26th February. at the moment. The

CLASH

main resolution has The Metropolitan Hospital has been circulated throughout

LOTUDE

just been closed. The AHA did not and together with programme even have the usual excuse of need- proposed constitution. ing to close it as a "health risk" or The also includes 'inadequate" by Arthur Churchiy the report It was universally recognised as Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital on the first ever occupation in Britain of a an extremely good, pleasant hospital by both staff and patients.

hospital threatened with closure.

a strong The all Although there conference for London was staff for a fight feeling

NHS

shop-stewards and lay officials the the closure, the against union will be held at Bonham Carter House.

52, Gower Street, London WCI. Further leadership maintained it was all Many of the workers had neel age

-BUT HOW?

ITTY

HACKNEY - A

in One electrician was nearly as he explained that he had tears got 7,000 signatures on a petition to save the Met. yet still at 55 vears old he was being transterred from a hospital where he had spent nearly all his working life. Already at the German hospital in Hackney medical facilities have been withdrawn and only a small number of psychiatric patients are The Mothers Hospit- housed there. al is next in line for the axe.

Meanwhile in the Isington area the apparently cushioned Whitting ton hospital is feeling its share of the cuts. The NUPE branch secretary Mrs Turner has been told that the laundry at the Archway wing is to be transferred to the Friern Barnet mental hospital. It is rumoured tha the patients there are to do the work!

23 women and five men are to be transferred. It also was discover- ed that people employed before September signed agreement that they would move to Friern Barnet. The laundry at the Highgate wing is also to close by the end of the year. The time has come to stop these cutbacks. A fight must be oroanised for austained strike action SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977.

SUPPORT EGA

Those London health workers service and frade unionists who attended yet "Support the EGA" another conference on Saturday 12th February in the hospital's elegant boardroom must be wondering just where the EGA shop stewards stand on defence of their hospital.

This conference was originally initiated by the International Soc- ialists (now the SWP) to mobilise shop stewards outside the health service, but representing groups of workers in the EGA locality.

eden us. nowever, delegate conference of shop stewards, but as an ad-hoc roomful of EGA supporters, some from the most from various health service, left groups. Three EGA stewards shared the platform, supplying information on the occupation which was already common knowledge to most

DICOVILL

Most illuminating were the ques- tions raised from the floor about the occupation and the role of the consultants. Workers looking to

EGA

the stewards for a lead were disappoin- ted to learn that ines Trave confronted the problems which will

AHA

cuts off the wilen " Lic hospital's power and/or supplies or the workers' wages.

"NO HOPE'

And Pam Jones, NUPE steward, stated clearly that the occupation had "no hope of continuing" with- out at least passive support by the consultants. So the fate of the EGA, the def- ence of jobs of ancilliary workers and nurses and of the health service I the work co de co be suc tected to the whims of the doctors who their class interests as see of

AHA

identical those which is enforcing the closure!

The motion put to the Confer ence by the EGA stewards was a retreat from that passed at the Dec Ilth EGA support conference - 7l had been weakened, and missed out altogether the call for support for

CLASH

conference 23rd February. Despite

EGA

stewards' the ruling that no amendments would be taken to their the resolution, Conference was finally allowed to that reconnection NECS of

ASTMS.

NUPE, COHSE

and NALGO should be bombarded with resolutions from branches, etc.

demanding they call official strike action beginning on the day the moved out of the

EGA.

LEADERSHIP

A lobby of the NECs of these 27th March unions on this on be a major focus demand should for EGA supporters now. The motto on a large stained class window (donated by a satis- fied patient) in the EGA board- 1oom states: "There is no death - all noble souls live on enshrined in hearts they loved to aid and bless".

We must disagree with these genteel sentiments. What the NHS faces now is indeed its death if hospital closures are allowed to go ahead. The health of the working class depends not on "noble souls" but on the action of workers.

And the EGA cannot "live on" in any number of rat-infested wards in the Whittington hospital, but only in its own hospital on the present site. We apologise to readers for the lower than usual typographical quality of this edition of Soctalist Press caused the breakdown

IBM

by of two composing machines. We would like to Ward and Rye Express thank Ann

BACKCLOTH OF STRUGGLE

TO WAGES CONFERENCE

SOCIALIST PRESS, Medacaday 16ck Fetray, 1977 Bang'on time! The March 27th recall Conference on Wage Control and Union Democracy is ideally placed in the light

0I LAC

•current wares offensive right across the working class.

*his was the kevnote to the dischs- sion at last Saturday's meeting of the Ad Hoe Organising Cormittee of the Campaign for Democtacy in the Labour Movement which has called the cone- The committee discussed reports on the previous day's explosion of miitarcy Leyland's Longbridge plant in the licht of the overall sharpening of the wages struggle.

IMPLICATIONS

Such confirm the necessity for serious discussion on the political implications of the fight to end wage control, as correctly anticipated by the Campaign Committee. reported that so tar several union branches had voted to support the Conference - these being TGWU 5,293

BLMC

Export Cowley; Packing

TGWU

Services, Banbury, 5/104;

AUEW/TASS:

Rotherham Blackwells Oxford ACTSS 5/833; London Hotels GMWU; and Sheffield TGWU 9/236.

with the main hall at Digbeth But Civic Hall booked for the Conference it is clear that the campaign must be stepped up in all areas if the potential support is to be fully mobilised.

INTERVENTION

The Committee further agreed that the Conference on ine cuts called by ine blannst-lea bason Committee for

'MODERATES'

Joe Gormley's statement last week that he wond not be able to carry sup- three of wage control port for a stage

NUM

through the stated the obvious following as it did hard on the heels of the Nottinghamshire Area NUM vote for a demand for £135 per week for face workers.

couple of weeks before But only a Gormley himself (who had even opposed fighting for carly retirement) had put his name to a deal with the NCB making

INDUSTRIAL NENS

Trico equal pay victory the Defence of Trade Unions, to expose its complete failure to put programme or perspective for a fight now to defeat the social contract. And proposais were discussed for an imane lo oppose me present wrcu nunong moves, wiln the Lavour rally Callaghan-Healey govern- Itelie. Wherever possible CLPs will be urged to call public meetings to oppose the NEC decision to pursue an enquiry into the Underhill

NOVELOUS

"entrvism" As the working class begins now to move luto struggie m opposton co is.

traditional leaderships, the role of such a body as the Campaign for Democracy in raising the At the same meeting the CDLM Com- the Labour Movement in political implications of each field of mittee discussed plans for distribution of struggle is ohe which stands to consid- à special leaflet prepared to support Alan erably increase coming election for the Various Fragosals as to the form in TGWU General Secretary. anising Committee should which the O attempt to donsilidate itself as a body 70,000 of the leaflets have been anter ле магсл zith Conterence were printea ano aready inere nas been a challenge of discussed, and will be raised again at its strong response to tie making workers aware that there is an next meeting on Saturday March 12th.

Moss Evans, the chosen Labour movement bodies wishing to alternative to send delegates or observers to this meet- "likely winner" boosted in the capitalist the CDEM and copies of the Conference In particular tens of thousands of resolution are urged to write to Secre- inese leallets will de distributed in the Lee, Midlands and among TGWU members in tary Kevin 44, Devonshire Rd., Handsworth Wood, Birmingham 20.

London. all the Committee still urges the Conference are also urged to do so militants who want to participate in a and to fight for support within their fight against the toquionary "social contract" drawn up by Jones and union branches and other bodies.

Now is the decisive four weeks of the defended by all the "main" contenders camozion for this conference. we call on in the leadership elections to take copies all members and supporters to give it of the leaflet and to campaign with them their full and active support.

in their factories and union branches.

£135 BLOW TO NUM

towards Phase Three was followed up b by a vote against the social contract also.

However, proved itself consistent at evading a fight for the wage demands called for by their Lclucs. While £135 is a perfectly reasonable claim and to be supported, it is of partic- limited concessions on early retirement importance to insist that

UET

ally - if Phase Three allows! increase that is won is protected against In other words, Gormley, after care- inflation through a sliding scale of wages fully staging the 'retirement' issue as a providing increases in line with the cost assessed by trade union diversion had already conceded that of big as there would be a Phase Three, only to be committees. And it is even more important that lore mto une open by tne movement Notts miners and other areas bombard of his own members. The heavy setback the their leadership with demands that this "moderates" who lead the Notts Area claim is taken up now as part of the NUM adminstered by the f135 demand struggle of all workers against the reactionary 5% TUC pay limit.

at a time when the 1UC was negotiating

STEEL JOBS

SOLD OUT

In Sheffield the fight against sackings has been dealt a heavy blow, all the more so as it has been delivered not.

directly by the employers but by the local Confed. leader- ship and the Communist Party. strike action in detense of 400 joial After nine weeks official at the Capital Tool Works, 3,000 Edgar Allen Balfour workers have gone back to work on the recom- mendation of their stewards' com- mittee with the factory closed and not one job saved. This sell-out deal accepted the closure of the works and complete arranged for those workers who had not already taken voluntary redun- dancy to be redeployed to fill factories either vacancies in other in the Edgar Allen Balfour group or other Sheffield engineering firms.

This deal, cynically presented by the Stalinists of the CP as a major victory, meant in reality the loss of 400 jobs Sheffield the and of placing about 100 sacked of the dole at the top worKers queue. Not only does this mean the loss of jobs but sets a precedent for for many firms are on short tine..e- mass sackings throughout the area There is little doubt that deployment" wit become a пет weapon in the arsenal of confusion and betrayal utilised by full time

CDLM MASS

LEAFLET BACKS

THORNETT

As the leaflet points out: "For two years now the power of the TGWU, in the hands of Jack Jones and his army of appointed officials, has been used not to defend the interests of the working class but to prop up a Labour which attacking government Workuy class The result is plain to see: wages held down by IUC dictate to a 5% increzsi whilst the value of the pay packet is slashed by massive price increases; 1% million unemployed with more sackings to come as huge public spending cuts are This is the reality of the Social Contract. The longer it lasts the more living standards will fall.

It for this that the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement is urging all TGWU members to vote for Alan Thornett for Generi Secretary in the coming election."

makes clear conditions in which the election takes place: "As we in the Campaign for Demo descaroundenernace pointed out, increasing bureaucracy is the trend not just in the TGWU but throuchout the labour movement. lhe full officials time strengthened whilst the power of elected shop stewards is undermined. Collabor- ation with employers, participation in management ano ce centralisation officials and Stalinists to undermin a principled defence of jobs.

The course of the dispute cleart revealed the treachery of the Stalin From the first they resister

ISTS.

any broadening of the strike acto Capital Tool beyond the Work itself and only reluctantly brough out the other factories. Then forcer to take action across the District they confined this to a half-da!

From that day, having put up show of District support, not on step was taken to win the strike an preparations were begun to agree t à further with meeting ment. The deal was done on thi Saturday and on loca announced radio even before the talks and a mass meeting fixed fo ove Monday gase no time tor ang opposition to be organised the CP Throughout, had th passive support of the SWP who while expressing reservations abou the extent of Discrict support neve challenged Stalinists -Ate leadership politically. For both, th of th cols of Bagar Alen Baltour o opening books of the nationalisation of the firn management wer under workers' considered impossible demands t fight for. The Right to Work campaig issued a leaflet claiming tha even the deal was "a great victory that "the closure of the works..

iS nOW without loss of jobs, an spoke for the sell-out in the fina mass meeting. bargaining in the hands of the official are all part of this". And it explains why a leaflet i necessary if Thornett is to be seen by workers as a serious candidate: "As General Secretary his positior would be to use the strength of th TGWU not, as Moss Evans did recentl) at Rubery Owen, to hammer dow workers on bohall of an employer - bu to seppor workes I surusge agame the employers. We have published this statement tr help offset the intervention of the pres and TV in this election: They want elected a candidate who will support the Social Contract or who will confine any action on wages or cut to simply protest. To achieve this the have used the technique of presentin only two "'main contenders", hoping t reduce the votes which go to the rest".

The leatlet also includes pointers or the rules of the election to assist thos who may have to challeng WOIkeIs branch officials in order to get a ballo paper_ Copies of the beatined fr000 po 1,000 obtained from Secretary. CDLM, Kevin Lee, 44 Devon shire Road, Handsworth Wood, Birming ISWE Cisaral decretary Electio

VOTE THORNETT

Page 12

I'M WARNING

YOU...IF YOU DONT

ACCEPT PHASE 3

"VOLUNTARILY"

ILL FORCE IT

ON YOU/

WAGES.... Cont'd from front page In fact such resistance has now reached the point of open revolt.

down to discuss As Varley sat production increased with selected Leyland conveners stalloll, and "participation' representatives, along with top Leyland management Longbridge, a massive wave had strikes combine throughout we paralysed production of all but two models in the Leyland cars range halted when of them half its workforce joined the factory demonstration! of this developing An indicator shop floor was on the rejection of Leyland's 'fringe benefits' proposals so-called which included a savage clause. Robinson, who had enthusiasticaily given his personal endorsement to the rejected proposals some needed to Iegain amongst militants. carefully staged statement on wages therefore straddled two camps.

managed Seeming militant, veIy he yet again to peddle the line of the management. But the move misfired dramatically and Robinson's talk of workers "raring strike" found a ready go response in the factory. Workers rushed to put Robinson's Walk- vague rhetoric into practice. out followed walk-out, and line after line ceased production. In this blast of hot air, some TUC leaders speeches

THANAY

like oppos- make them sound vaguely ition to pay restraint. But at the same time, the TUC continued its talks with the govem- ment on stage three. Not one leader broken tanks to «enoles o walk out of these proceedings.

Instead all are looking for a story to cover up their eventual acceptance of a stage three. will need most of all In this they the support of the Communist Party which has already used its network of bureaucratic positions in the unions to

MORE DETAILS

League. Name.. Address. help preserve phases one and two of wage control. the Conference this wily month of the CP-dominated Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions will aim at diverting from a hght to ena the social contract now Instead its purpose, as summed up by Robinson, is: "Our bring as much to possible to influence the Piste de policy of all unions concerned".

But fight for the genuine iestoration of free collective bargain- full must support Ing Degin Will now for all workers (such as the BLMC toolroom workers) in struggle against the social contract. One obstacle to clarity within the against the social contract movement 1s the noton that the government 1s "breaking its side of the deal".

This idea has been fostered by deal who argue the "fight unemployment", sought and "bring down inflation".

This was never the case. The system remains one of capitalism, of private enterprise, in which al the means of the control of them and is in the hands of the capitalist class, whose only concer is their Droilts.

The social contract claimed to find interest" between thest a "common capitalists and the working class. Such a common interest does not exist. The contract never represented anyting more than a concession to the interests It was because we saw this from the beginning that the Workers Socialist League has always opposed the social contract, lock, stock and barrel.

And for the same reason we sup- ported the conference on Wage Control and Union Demöcracy called by the Campaign Детостасу in the foI October Labour seeing that the working class would in the next period enter struggles against the social contract in which the centrai would be question an indepenaem policy for the defence of jobs and Please send me more information about the Workers Socialist

STRIKE WAVE

SHUTS LEYLAND

every single As we go to press BLMC except the model produced by has stopped TR7, Allegro MG and production through strike actione There are 27 disputes taking place in Leyland, nailing the lie put round by groups like the IMG that the class struggle has gone into a lull.

The working class is asserting its independence from at a time when every major trade union leader is saying that we have a common interest through the social contract, "participation' or Bullock.

The major disputes are as follows: Castle Bromwich Body Plant 1300 paint stop workers are striking

TIM

living standards. Wage The • conference on recoll Democracy Control and Union March 27th is therefore particularly and picketing in support of 30 fellow well-timed to meet these new develop- and to give direction to the workers. They had refused to accept ments, alternative work in a different depart- fight for: "body in white" production *Action NOW for substantial wage ment surplus to with cost of living clauses when they increases requirements in the paint shop.

ensuring wages rise automatically with This dispute has stopped the Mini the cost of living as assessed by elected the Maxi and Princess at Longbridge, of trade unionists and committees at Cowley, and the new Rover 3500 houswives. *Defend all jobs - work sharing on at jaguar. At the Canley Triumph factory full pay are striking 300 paint shop *Strike action to stop all cuts in against the use of industrial engineers public spending. Full backing to any thus closing production in the plant. section in struggle against the cuts. for a sliding scale of public spending.

INDIA... Cont'i from front page Mrs Gandhi addressing party workers election manifesto so that virtual- was another severe blow Janata ly all reference to her hated son which unleashed further waves of and his demagogic Youth Sanjay within the Congress opposition Congress was expunged. Yet it is Party. Sanjay Gandhi has that she particular the old local come to rely more than anything making Congress to maintain er dictatorship.

increasingly insistent demands as a It is now evident that Sanjay's condition of their further support.

"popularity' depended Gandhi was forced to delay the money than on his policies, such publication of the Congress

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

PAPER OF THE WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

EUROPE

BRITAIN

.£1.15 .E1 6 issues.. .£2.30 • $2 12 insues 12 issues - .1A.60 • SA 24 isnues.... 24 lagues I would like to take out a subscription to Socialist Press. I would like. • issues, I enclose £.

NAME.....

ADDRESS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 16th February, 1977 At Cowley, 56 mechanical main- tenance engineers started an indefinite Thursday company stnke asI moves to worsen conditions of work.

After this had been through procedure union officials recommended the men voted the conditions. They Marina against this advice, closing procucuon Tootroom workers all over Leyland have been voting, in most cases unar- favour of their own imously. in unofficial committee's call for all-out Friday 18th strike acton February. Even if other disputes were solved this would close the whole of Leyland Leyland Cars workers include quickly because the millwrights, jigfitters and some others deal directly with production who breakdowns. Toolroom workers want separate of talks claiming parity OvEr wages, throughout Leyinad, which earnings could raise some wages by more than £10 a week. supported The claim must of corporaté the danger despite bargainiag, because contains potential attack on the social con- as forced sterilisation of the poor, which have aroused bitter resent- ment. So Indira Gandhi's means of political are being torn support away as her experiment in 'demo of cracy' threatens to control. She has already publicly compared the present situation to that just before the emergency, would not thus hinting that she stop short of calling off the elec- tions once again. But it now looks unlikely that she could very succeed. The possibility that the Gandhi is shown by fact that even the rats are packing sinking their bags. The Indian Communist Party, which gave her dictatorship craven support, have been making their sharpest criticisms to date; called on their and they have supporters to vote for "demo- cratic and progressive' forces.

It hasn't yet let them into the secret of who those forces are.