Socialist Press no. 74

FIREMEN'S STRIKE WILL

PRESS *

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * November 9, 1977 * 15p

THREATEN

LIB-LAB

COALITION

The decision by the Fire Brigades Union to land. start all-out strike action from next Monday is a the direct threat to the Lib- official union leadership.

Lab coalition govern- The opposed the ment. strike action. The firemen are demand- And ing an increase of 30%. This is Terry Parry what is needed to give them the decision as "tragic" earnings average 1001S T21 pius 10% for skill and danger.

Even this claim would only give a fireman £86 for a Parry 48-hour week. for a witchhunt that if won, the struggle against

BUL,

would provide the first break- workers. through against на сено Healey's 10% limit and in the more public sector. It was in order to impose be joining such wage control that the workers action-including Liberals decided to prop up Rolls Royce Callaghan Icachonary government-as the Workers Socialist League has stressed from the beginning. of While several sections workers-such as Fords-have through the 10% broken the limit, few apart nom Scottish lorry have drivers done so to the extent of the firemen's claim. This is why the govern- ment intends to hold the line au any once. The moment the FBU vote was announced, Home Secre- nave stated tary Merlyn Rees declared in Parliament that troops would shown be used to scab on the fire- their action. men, rather than concede the claim Almost in the same breath NCB's defending Rees was savage actions of police on ciaim. Grunwick picket line—a clear test-run for the Special the absence Patrol Group as a pIcKel- for leadership. busting squad disputes elsewhere.

RAF

scabs Army and would use their own equip- trained ment-are are being

SOCIALIST

for the task at Fyffe in Scot- But the firemen confront an equally reactionary enemy being used. shape of their own Despite the limitation of their claim-which lacks any

FBU

Executive provision for a cost-of-living 2-1 vote

TOT

clause to protect against in- flation-the firemen must be General Secretary supported. described If they break the 10% limit and the reactionary Lib- Lab coalition, they will do so for the whole working class.

Need this that is setting the stage Tory government will be re- similar to turned? Not at all. The Tories the power have shown they do not want Workers are showing more to be returned to confront a victorious working class.

It contempt for such leaders. The firemen will succession of already involved in Vauxhalls, and Smiths. The power workers, who PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report.

repeatedly and openly their distrust in their union leaders have only just signs of calling And of course the miners have just voted to reject the scheme productivity and proceed with their £135 After the clear decis- The danger in each case is ion of miners to reject of a principled the productivity deal pro- Parry is already talking of settling for "guar posed by the NCB and antees" of more money next the NUM Executive, the year, while doing nothing to right wing now have no counter the threat of troops but delay choice to

CLOS

DISPUTE ENDS BUT

FIREMEN SACKED

would be extremely difficult formed are carry through Councils and strike for them anti-union policies in their tees, drawing such conditions. ployed. allow Workers must

HOL

the possibility of deter them from fighting the scab herders of the and breakers Lib-Lab coalition. moves any class would strike, by The working be strengthened if, in every sections for area involved in the firemen's action councils of action struggle,

MINERS: WATCH YOUR

LEADERS!

action on the £135 pay claim. that They will atempt to hold past until up proceedings the control. miners Phase settlement But runs out next Soring other would Any step of

COSI

they knoW went to immed- confrontation with the iate pay policy and the 10-2D While Arthur strongly deal, on their guard. Such delaying tactics must be The rejected

HE CIS.

the 12-month rule must be

OYCL

broken-and action taken as the NCB rejects the soon Grunwick picket. £135 claim. Already the miners' ballot has raised working class milit- ancy on wages, and struck d heavy blow at all productivity deals.

BACK PAGE

Mass rejection of Spain's Social Contract • • •Pp.6-7 iRELAND (Part Two). Lenin and Trotsky Write on the . p.8 October Revolution.. . p.11 Grunwick Merseyside firemen in an earlier dispute Such organisations are nec Trades around commit- essary police intervention. delegates from all unions and labour move- ment bodies as well as tenants organisations and the unem- Alongside this fight, must expose the treachery it the Parliamentary Labourites by demandir they fight to break the coa The aim of such councils support all of action must be to counter ition and pa strikes. break the we can sho In this way bringing other for the workin need the of workers

HELO

class to develop its indepen their own pay dent strength. claims, alongside the firemen.

The strength of the claim is that it sets out to regain all has been lost over the of wage yeals its weakness is that it contains no demand for a living clause to protect against coming infla- Yorks President Scargill campaigned against the produc- iate strike action against must be 12-month rule, for the i claim. After several mobilisations Meanwhile there are summer Scargill manoeuvres open to Gorn conspicuously produced no right wing Monday's and the remain determined to tage the claim. No compromise on £135! Break the 12-month rule And there is no evidence that he will fight for immed-

ZIONIST REGIME SEEKS ADDED

Page 2

-INTERNATIONAL •

An IMF delegation has now been in Ankara for more than a month dis- the Demirel cussing government's application for a $1,000 million loan to prop up the bankrupt Turkish economy. The most the IMF has so far hinted it would offer is $200-300 million, attached to rigorous conditions. And in the meantime $40 million has been mere handed over, as a reward for the government's 10% deval- uation of the Turkish lira and 100% increases in the price of a range of goods bought by workers. The IMF are demanding

STABILITY

The cutting down of of the luxuriant some growths in Israel's bour- politics geois was 20 announced on when the October called Democratic Move- ment for Change decided to join the extreme right wing Likud government of Menahin Begin. This alliance has served to the emphasise reactionary haracter sections of or all the established political struc- of the Zionist settler ture ale. Opponent When first formed a year ago the 'Democratic Move. ment tot change was bor- trayed in some quarters as an opponent of Zionist cavall sionism, and a 'liberal' alter- nauve to tne antracmocrati of the Likud and policies Labour blocs. fact the DMC was nothing more than an alliance oí disappointed place-seekers confused opponents of and the anti-democratic and the militaristic policies of Zionist establishment. Its policies were sufficient- and discontent for seats in the pick up elections of last May-almost entirely at the expense of the previous Labour administra- tion. This allowed the former Likud of the gangsters come to power. Since then the Democratic has Movement for Change protested about some of the more obviously expansionist policies of the new govern- ment uke ine sellements occupied territories and ibe failure its сагту any

TERCITES

BANKRUPTCY

LOOMS FOR

TURKISH BOSSES

over that such attacks go much last ten months further-to bring about a 35% £2,200 million; and the Central Bank of Turkey has slashing of deaner state spending, no foreign currency even to the scrapping finance the import of oil and of government plans to invest But while the fascists are a total basic raw materials for indus- heavy industry, key role the playing wage freeze, and the cancell- try. 1n disruption bonuses paid to employers' strategy, other ing of all Such the sections of the extreme right civil servants. by this crisis that caused regular power cuts of three are in confusion. The religious zealots of the Different plans day bringing hours National Salvation Party, bankruptcy many in the coalition, are firms, and government-owned partners The unstable National incensed at the IMF demands Front coalition factories, including the Sey- government, that they drop their utopian plants, pledged to uphold capitalism disehir set up independent Turkey, has little have been shut down to save plan to choice heavy in Turkey, industry but to comply with these electricity. and the instruction by these demands. closure This made was international that bankers Turkey's estimated income possible by the control exer- "trade investment be concentrated £6,000 million, while the fascist Csed in agriculture. expenditure is predicted union" confederation, MISK Such is the uncertainty of £8,400 million. suppressed wilch The trade deficit over the the NF coalition that vicious any resistance.

INT

sections of Zionism in Israel and throughout the world, it has also been made uneasy by the distancing of the Carter United administration in the States from the latest phase of Zionist expansionism. The efforts of the US administration to to COle with arrangement some sections the

ATAD

bourgeoisie has also disturbed DMC leaders. It was after a twelve-day visit to the USA of

DMC

Ygael Yadin that he leader discovered the diminishing US favour of the establish- ment for Zionist expansion.

On his return he decided to push for support for the Israel Begin administration. said Yadin, was confronted the we Israeli workers on mass protest at price rises and tax increases tast weel LeST have faced since 1948". Thus Yadin has sim ul-

BRIEF

taneously provided the Likud bolc with a stable parliamen- tary majority and a veneer of support for some measures of social wellare ana an assoc- iation of some sort with the labour movement. west of the province, just Comply

INDIA

Ogaden desert, is now largely At least two men were controlled by Somali guerrilla himself Besides Yadin killed and than 150 forces. becoming Vice the Premier, people were injured in Madras the

DMC

has provided last week when police opened Minister Welfare and

SOVIET UNION

OI Labour, Israel Katz, a former against the visit to the ing The 1977 Soviet grain civil servant. Tamil Nadu by harvest has fallen far short of Meir Amit, former former Prime Minister, Indira of the planned leader nigure general and the Gandhi. organisation The USSR only harvest- Labour Party and the behind the demonstrations is ed 194 million metric tons of business side of the Histarout, known as the DMK and was below the 213 grain-9% Israel's so-called trade union Madras from million tonne figure planned federation, has made Deen 1967 until it was dismissed for 1977, and 13% below last Minister of Transport Gandhi during the by Mirg year's record total of 223.8 The

DMC

also 1976 "emergency". Soviet leader of million tonnes. provided Minister Brezhney only indirectly indi.

"Justice' in Shamonel Tamir, cated disappointment at the former member

ETHIOPIA

shortfall, which comes at a Irgun murder gang. Renewed fighting the time when Soviet needs are 1n This motley combination popula- Bale province, less than 200 increasing to match provide few • more of Addis and to feed miles south east tion growth months of stability for the expanding livestock herds.

Ababa, has, the recuter regime. but they will SeLLICI death of 100 Ethiopian sol- certainly do nothing to serve

MAURITANIA

diers, according to the the interests of the masses in repression is used now against the slightest resistance.

Offensive Last month police with armoured machine guns and cars attacked 5,000 workers who resisted moves to demol- ish their shanty-town dwellings on government land in the Umraniye district of Istanbul. Six workers were killed, wounded hundreds and hundreds arrested But workers fight 40,000 metal workers have been strike against the on last week to prepare, if need be, for a French intervention Mauritania Bou- should medienne of Algeria fail to reply message from President French Giscard crisis d'Estaing. The has arisen because of the capture of French hostages by the Algerian based Polisario Front, which is fighting for the тосрепасло former Spanish Sahara, now shared by Mauritania and Morocco.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka last week granted an amnesty to 130 insurgents gaoled after the unsuccessful insurrection of 1971 in which 1200 The people died. announced by amnesty, Lanka's Prime Minister Julius Jayewardene, on last month's repeal of Mrs.

Police violence in Istanbul workers' metal employers federation since May. They are struggling against employers' attempts to impose an industry-wide Union settlement wages policy is to achieve plant level negotiations Another 5000 workers 12 factories are locked out by employers in a bid to break the strike. Workers fight on Workers are denied any leadership, independent Leaders of both the however. "left' right wing and lit union confederations TURK-

DISK

and simply waiting for the liberal-bour- geois Ecevit to take over the government from Demirel But Ecevit, first and fore- most a capitalist politician, and only incidentally a demo- crat, he die not anit not going sharp opposition develop a in the tension because thr allow it country does not The Republic is in danger Indeed Ecevit is so dedi- cated to the existing govern- ment that he has even rejec- ted the reactionary proposal Turkish Commun- from the ist Party to form a Popular Frontist "National Democrat- ic Front" Ecevit Despite the fact that the Stalinists had shown in this way their readiness to aban- independent any 80H Ecevit position, has moved onto the offensive against the CP especially in the 'left" union confederation DISK Nine full time

DISK

officials, including the Gen Secretary been removed and replaced by Ecevit supporters The of increasing power Ecevit's RPP inside DISK is the consequence policies of the treacherous Stalinists over a long period.

The backfiring of these policies not much 1S SO blow at the ICP but at the independence of the work- ing class. The way forward must be through a fight against policies of class collaboration.

*Down with the popular National Democratic frontist Front! class *For working united front against fascists. defence Build workers squads!

*FOI

indefinite general bring down strike action to

NTERNATIONAL

NEW MOVES TOWARDS

PORTUGUESE POPULAR

Taking his cue from Monday (October evening recent class-collaborat- the minority SP Government broad-based ionist moves by Spanish called for "urgent acceptance op- Social and OI Democrats needed overcome Stalinists, Portugal's the economic crisis. Prime Minister Mario communique expli- The has made citlthe deside to reach a plat stated, though, that Soares an ambiguously worded form orientated around proposal for a four-party political platforms cannot be political pact. confused with executive In a statement issued on power sharing, still less with a

HUMAN RIGHTS

TIM

Videla junta uses troops to run subways Argentina's 10-month The government itself has old ruling military junta been forced to budge by the striy minister, lose and last week Econ- last week sent in troops Martinez take control of the to Hoz, relaxed the restric- Aires' Buenos subway tions on wage increases to allow the company to offer a system, in an attempt to 40% rise. the wide- crush most But in a situation of ram- spread strike it has faced pent mulation suen as exists seizing power in since Argentina such wage the spring of last year. increases only serve to temper continuing fall in living Armed soldiers and police. the standards. men packed up suriebreaking Peronist The established management officials in runn- leaders of Argentina's ing one or me ground lines which have been working-class would glad call off the idle since last Friday fort- growing strike in return for a night (October 28). paltry rise, since the strike is The strike initially began now challenging not only the stoppage by as a miled 4U government's monetarist signalmen demanding higher economic policy, but the wages, snowballed government itselt. into an all-out confrontation Clearly is needed the unions and the between now in Argentina is a leader- Sulla ship capable of transforming The signalmen have been the for joined by overland and under- watc ground railwaymen, airline aimed at ousting the govern- pilots and airport ground workers as well as water and action, and replacing it with workers

KONIO

manding ware rises

FRONT

coalition government'. Soares wants to protect the SP from any charges that he is collaborating with Social rival parties-eg. Democrats (PSD) right Democrats wing Centre

(CDS).

One step further But the charge can still be levelled that this proposed does take Soares further along the step one road to the organised cass- collaboration of popular fron- tist blocs such as France's Union of the left. This turn has been dicta- ted by the worsening econo- situation Portugal The IMF have promised a dollar multi-million loan to Portugal, but this is now obviously conditional on collaboration being formal established between the Socialists and bourgeois par- ties such as CDS. IMF control Is, the IMY through the

CDS,

the can directly pace and direc- regulate Ene tion of SP policies. It is now clear that these disruption Massive seems certain to paralyse this Italy coming -but the disruption will be prolonged and exten- ded rather than short and sharp. Workers in tail and air together with transport, postal workers, are to take action which will grind Italy the protest at Government's austerity as ensures. From November 9 to 14 all trains are to be delayed 30 of ori- minutes at the point with an all-out 24 hour gin, strike on November 12. and 30-minute similar stoppages 24 26 from November to and November 28 to 30. оням

PAKISTAN

ELECTIONS

POSTPONED

Pakistan's military boss, General Zia Ul-Haq, has announced that the country's general elec tions will be not now held until November of next year. The he postponement, said, was "because sanity had yet back to not Pakistan, and therefore 'free and fair' elections could not yet be held. The postponement obviously designed to ensure that former Prime Minister Bhutto, currently charged with corruption and responsi- bility for murder, is out of the way before elections take place. Zia's man in the electoral field now seems to be the ageing leader of the Tehrik- i-Istigial (Movement For Sta- bility) Air Marshal group, already made moves towards the Khan, who Asghar Populat Front rumoured to be about to lead his group out of the nine. National Pakistan Alliance (PNA). will be directed in their This move is seen as the entirety against the gains first step in a bid by Khan for the workers and by the Prime Ministership and the 1975 peasants during seems to be supported by Zia revolution and his military cohorts.

To counter these attacks The decision to pull out of the workers of Portugal must

PNA

will the undoubtedly immediately demand throw the extreme right-wing of all agreements scrapping remnants of the

PNA

mooted in leading

LILC

currently crisis. SP circles. possible that two

STRIKE WAVE

FACES ITALY

Equally disruptive wildcats covered that it takes nine are to be staged by firemen days for a letter to travel and airport ground workers.

from Rome to London. which is longer than it took Meanwhile the Italian pos- tal system have a horseman to deliver a Papal LU collapsed. Bull from Rome to the court This is consequent on of Henry VIII! promulgated on July of decree collapse public 15 last by the Minister of services is the direct product Post, Senator Colombo the right wing Christian OI which ruled • that no postal Democratic Government's worker could do more than austerity policies, which pro- 35 hours of overtime a hibits the hiring of more staff month or 420 hours a year.

to cope with the volume of work to be done. Quota done Clearly one measure which can begin to iron out Since most of the workers Italy's disparity between the had already done their year's work available and the grow- quota of overtime, the postal ing numbers unemployed system ground to a halt, and sliding scale of hours ie.

is now in chaos. the division of the work to be For example, one Rome done among those- all newspaper last month dis- employed and unemployed- AD

MAULANE

VOTANO COMUNISTA

other parties, the National D league and cratic Party, also wil fragmenting fu out, which had the constructed in oppositi Bhutto's Party (PPP). The PPP have beer widescale subject of in recent weeks, and seems to have resulted downturn in their activit There appears to be of inter siderable lack trial-now Bhutto's Lahore-an marked absence of de strations in his support.

All this puts a large tion mark over the future-whether they retain support without leader Bhutto. PPP officials are con they can, and point ti reservoirs of support the hold in the countryside *Either Bhutto will le o Bhutto's ghost will le said one lawyer last adding that the PPP wer in utting mond But situ changing almost daily in there seem no g stall, fat for such sharing optimism case, the in-fig In any between Pakistan's bou opponents benefit Pakistan's and peasants. available to do it This work sharing m course be carried our a of union rates pay the control of e under trade union committee: though it will obviously the reduction worked. But to achieve such it is necessary to mobili Italian working-class the Christian Demo (CD) and the Party Communist keeps the right wing in o The class collabo worked out between th and CP has been embel with the term 'compro storico' -the compromise collaboration- This in content emulates the lar frontism of the France and Spain-is in governi every decision-both and the policies decision to postpone elections until year • the workers of For historic the compro chain that ties th the the Italian bourgeoi austerity further avoided that chain ms broken.

CANADA/FRANC

The leader of the F speaking state of Quet M Levesane been given welcome by the France significance of this s

.. NEW CRISIS!

£ RISES...

The liberation' of the It is little wonder sibility of a further and more market. that it was those who cling to slump in the British pound by allowing it to 'left' days, nostalgia of their float on the international скопошу. Shore who like Benn and currency markets, was a The of Motoring the move in the Society opposed great day for chauvinists Traders Cabinet. Manufacturers and overall effect of the but not much comfort already bitterly i ne nave for the week was however complained, partly for the government. because cars will pound to stand just one pent higher against the do par British cost more A higher pound has impor- abroad but mostly because for the tnat than before the float. foreign will become Cals working class and for the cheaper in this country and crisis of international ' Headache increasing will Lake capitalism. amount of the market. possible effects Its The government would be that has unaermed unemployment, inflation, unable to get away with the despite North Sea Oil, despite controls and public of mate reactionary the profit boom, a floating spending have been such as to pound can still sink. import controls because these produce split in the would not be permitted by That is the other major Cabinet. Germany

EEC

and other headache for the government countries. By allowing the international Pegged pressures to be reflected on Until last week, the pound Backbone the currency they are faced was pegged within close limits with the possibility of against the dollar and other another run on the pound.

A higher pound hits there- major currencies. The manoeuvres over the fore at the backbone of the The Bank of England was pound reflect three things.

visible export trade-the car intervening in the internation- markets curren CV prevent it moving too far up or down When Denis Healey his mini-budget announced two weeks ago he said he was Less than a stable urer he week later Less anchors off the took pound and immediately began to rise-to the sound of CO loud cheering from the popular press and to worried looks from businessmen and financiers. Falling inflation After the miners' vote it ended the week little higher VE than the level at which it had

SIĐW

been freed.

PITAL

The immediate effect of a is to make higher pound imports cheaper, exports more expensive and to bring a promise of falling inflation.

Is it not therefore a move to be welcomed? A sign of good things to come? The answer to those ques- tions is 'no', and to see why the must look first pressure on the pound to rise.

HOUNSLOW:

The initial development of North Sea Oil has provided with British capitalism birthday present of enormous size, enough to attract foreign capital. Although it only can

STRIKES ARE NEEDED

provide profits for a relatively that is short period, barrier to money which is as of the easy to country as it is to bring in.

Profits rise Over 150 delegates and London Area Health Service In addition, profits among Committee, observers attended Shop Stewards businesses in this country are an mobilising strike action in "Fightback on the rise. emergency 10 London Hospitals after Conference" against cuts A Sunday Telegraph fore- the Hounslow raid on which predicts that cast expenditure in public October. wages will rise by 13-14% called by Hounslow Hos- Sister Cath Cooney, from next year also predicts com- the Hounslow Occupation pital Occupation Com- pany profits will rise by 23%.

Committee and sister pam The third major factor to mittee in London last Elizabeth Jones from the international finance attract Saturday. Garrett Anderson spoke into Britain was that the US importance of hospital The intention was to bring Tane dollar weak, which in out the lessons of the raid on occupations as a focal point itself made the pound look Hounslow Hospital, to discuss against the the struggle strong. the fight against the cuts and cuts. for all these reasons funds fight onto spreading the Leadership flowing in, but broader basis in the working increase in cash was proving class. Speakers from the floor an embarrassing risk to the Present were delegates and were in general agreement on leadership's strategy observers from unions includ-

NUPE, ASTMS,

for wage cutting. ing NALGO, of *The scandalous role Foreign money would find

COHSE,

AUEW sand the the trade union leadership in its into the economy,

TGWU.

the fight against sabotaging firms to expand encouldne the cuts. employers to Devastating and encourage *The derisory effect of buy off trouble by increasing token one-day stoppages. from the Speaking plat- wages by much more than the indefinite form Brother Dominic Costa sticking point of ten per cent.

rine cero strike action as the only way decision to float the (Hammersmith Hospital JSSC The to stop the cuts once and for pound was therefore a reaffir- and CLASH) illustrated the all. mation of monetary devastating extent of cuts in policy disagreement, There was by the government which will the Health Service so far.

however, on how to continue describe higher He went land massiviv on A special correspon- dent looks at the ups and downs of the pound and the complex prob- British lems faced by capitalism. 1. That the government is deliberately sticking policy which knows bound lead to higher unemployment. 2. That it intends to use the changes in exchange rate to argue for speed up and sackings 'effic- as part of an iency' drive. That the crisis of capit- become deep alism has that even these policies show no signs of breaking out of E malgo says

UPPORT

ASLIN

HOSPITAL

ALL -OUT

include workers outside the public sector. Various arguments forward, the such out "action formation of local committees" and the need to the trade union by-pass and build rank bureaucracy and file support It was left to Julia Redman (ASTMS, Liverpool) Peazer and Dai Rosie

ASTMS,

Stephens (both London) to make the correct that the real fight 1S point against the leadership in the public sector unions. These union leaders have the power to mobilise health workers against the cuts, and they must be forced to do this or else be thrown out.

Only after the public mobilised sector 1s strong V can outside unions be expec- ted to join the fight. The ended conference with vague calling for for the support lobby of Hounslow Area the Health Authority and DHSS on 9 November. SOCIALIST PRESS, wednesday y sortineer the cycle of falling trade and investment. For the working class the The falling lessons are clear. inflation rate is not the slight- of tavous government policies. The the altalk. working class are now merely taking several forms at once.

The demands for a sliding scale of wages to protect increases inflation, for work sharing on of newsletter action", cation a mass build for mobilisation for the Novem- ber 21 "week of action", and for a recall conference in the New Year. There was some confusion Brother Carl Brecker when (Hounslow Area JSSC), one of the organisers, called on to vote for this delegates resolution which was to be "suitably amended" after- wards to the "mood" of the conference! ASTMS leader Jenkins -could mobilise action full combat the pay be attacks o11

JODS

fought for. They point to the need for the seizure of power by the first working class and the steps to a planned economy the interests the

COT

working class. Going oI down, the up capitalist system knows oniy how to exploit the working Bid to fight anti- sit-in -law With mid-December as the likely date for imple- mentation of the Crimin- Cam- al Law Act, the paign Against the Crimin- al Trespass Law (CACTL) is holding a national con- ference on Saturday-Sun- 26-27 November. day to delegates and open the visitors to discuss new problems that will then contront occupa- tions and squatters. The Act, first envisaged by the Heath government, but passed through Parliament by Labour leaders, gives magistrates swingeing powers jail students or occupations taking part and sit-ins. Tidied up It is defended however by as bureaucrats such

CHOI

TGWU Deputy General Secre- Harry Urwin, the tary ludicrous that grounds 'tidies up' the law and makes it less likely that conspiracy laws will be used. The reason for that is clear can jailed workers —11 summarily for 6 months with- out right of jury trial, the state does not need to go to the embarassment of cooking up a "conspiracy" charge.

Support The

CACTL

organisers promise that the conference will not be a protest affair.

methods but will focus on of obtaining labour move supporting action for ment sit-in strikes and occupations.

The conference will be held at Digbeth Hall. Birmin- gham, and credentials £2.50

QUEEN'S SPEECH: SWEETS FOR

LIBERALS, NOTHING

ATTACKS POWER WORKERS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesdar 9 Vorember, 1977

FOR WORKERS

Even fine tooth electricity industry a the and reform of the fisheries run through the comb ma ustry. Queen's Speech would Genuine policies to fight reveal nothing of benefit (which was to the working class. mentioned only through the bogus and irrelevant job crea- Every measure is designed tion and experience to benefit the Liberals.

WOIK

schemes) were entirely A martian visitor would absent. be forgiven for thinking that this had government Social services relationship Also absent was mention than class other bitter ot improvements to housing.

hostility to it. the health service, education No wonder Liberal leader or any other of the services Steel welcomed the legislative which the government-both programme and defended the in and out of coalition-has coalition "creating been so viciously attacking.

stability". The only area where there Steel hopes this "stability" was the appearance of any will ensure the introduction than gesture a two of a thoroughly Liberal pro- towards the fingered one gramme. working class could Everything they Post Office that workers' suggestion wish for was there- workers might be "given' participation; profit sharing; the right to strike. help for small businesses and The coalition did not of a tightening of the Common course see this as a right for Market noose. the UPW to seize but as some- "Legislation providing for thing to be negotiated United the election bodies the numerous employers Kingdom members of in the following order: European Assembly will be "The Liberal Party, the reintroduced." Post Office, the unions and Collaboration the Post Office Users Nation- Every effort will be made collabora- to increase tion: "Further consulla nons industrial held on wil be democracy, with a yew which producing proposals should command general Ministers support my and directly continue will the development encourage industrial democracy of the nationalised industries."

"General support" means Fake left Wedgewood of course support from the Benn miserably failed to employers and tne Liberais. that convince miners not from the working class.

Further joy for the bosses they should accept the in ine NCB's reactionary is also to measures to assist small firms.

scheme so he has now And Ministers will also hold turned his attention to "consultations about encour- the power workers. aging profit-sharing through the tax system. Benn has consistently The speech wittered called for the power workers with such irrelevant points as: "Changes in the structure The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to construct a principled revolutionary leadership in the working class in Britain and internationally, and for the recon- struction of the Trotskyist Fourth Internation- al on the basis of the Transitional Programme.

fights at every step against The WSL existing leaders of the trade unions and the Labour Party - now firmly harnessed to the bourgeois politicians of the Liberal Party in an unspoken coalition arrangement.

Against their policies of class collaboration which we put forward instead a programme independent class interests of points to the working class, its need to organise indep the endently to overthrow capitalism, destroy its and establish a repressive state machinery socialist planned economy.

Only in this way can workers resolve today's problems of tumbling living standards, mass unemployment, slashed social services, racial, national and sexual oppression.

For more details on the WSL and its work, fill in the form below. Name. . Address Trade Union Occupation. Gill a Promine per Hill Landon ShE IHR al Council." Tom Jackson, UPW Gener- Secretary and long-time and employers" government lapdog, was suitably "delight- and "hoped that legis ed" would be produced soon." The right to strike is not a concession to be doled out by governments but thing for the working class to assert and take. In the same way workers must break in the iorce a the Lib-Lab coalition and expulsion of the crypto and less Tory right wing crypto the of Labour leadership Party. Employers The Queen's Speech offers the further us nothing give all to the Liberals and the employers they represent. of Labour's The silence MPs on so-called 'left wing' this bankrupt package suggests that yet again they will make themselves a part of the betrayals of Callaghan and Healey.

STRIKE BREAKER BENN

action to be ended, and on Sunday was meeting manage- ment and union officials on the joint-negotiating commit- tee. Channelled While in workers the dispute had heard "Indica- tions" that a mediator would be appointed-Benn was in "that the men's fact hoping grievances will be channelled through their own unions" 'Channelling" anything Frank Chapple through like channelling through the jaws of a viper. There no way any Murray thrown out of Len Murray, unrepresenta- the most "representatives" tive ever inflicted the on labour movement appears to be a misunderstood man. Arriving at a hotel after a hard day attempting to smash workers industrial The power Murray was turned action, owner who proclaimed: away a contused, don't want people roof under who are ruining the country Murray, who along with remainder of the

TUC

the and in leadersnip Darlicuial TGWU full time officials, has possible to done all hotel that owners troubled by trade organised in thes demands could remain alive after passing through such a channel. Benn and Chapple in their

ATAT,

different ways each represent bureau- Precisely KEne block to the indepen- cratic dent fight of the working class. "lefts" No Labour have publicly issued any state ment of support for the power workers. don As ever they stand back allowing Benn to spearhead the attack and hoping that no-one will notice their abject refusal to lead and extend the struggle for living standards.

should be asking is who foots Murray's £7 the bill for night strike breaking tours?

he claim it on TUC Does expenses? Is he contract

EETPU

who have the tried every other way of workers ending the action? Or is he paying out of his pocket little weekend amusement?" own Newhan Tory blows cover "I have never be Labour person, l joined when the ru over Prentice starte order to work for Party The Labour against much of wh believe in. I detest left-wing. I am as mu Tory as Reg is. Wh was in the Labour Pa through just went I motions. have e supported it locally or nationally With these words. Tory infiltrati another the Labour Party ac=. clearly what her posite always been and left t=: the clear enemies working class. Callaghan Fingers burned Those

CIT PI:

remaining inside the Party in Newham Nor: burte had their tinger having used week, standard procedure members seven constituency High Court tate For once they found themselves lande. an estimated £15,000 c This should not be s • the "Militant the wav "victory see il, as d right wing. Reliance on bou never

COULLS

Cal. victory to the working especially when the based decisions are principle but on technic which invalidated wing's writs. Isolated merely reveal! Newham NE's crypta are so isolated and urs will help thei: ed that evel judges see continuing s flogging -Sirs Although thei financial backers their expenses, this er. "We recognise that record of legal succes and we Julian Lewis and a there is a crisis, is a blow to this grows are prepared help" even the judges were These were the ominous to call "deplorable i== words from steel union leader Labour Parr Bill Sirs last week as the enquiry Steel East is now goire i

OOO OLIOT

prepares to enlist union sup- promie to port in imposing drastic cuts The in manpower. done nothing It that clear union drive out these ::? leaders will from the Part: Hobson's choice between general redundancies on the Action one hand and the closure of Prentice 23::P- older plants on the other.

have beer. One perspective certail by be raised bureaucrats is that of uncon- 3..-.....

mis evicted in the Famine.

CRISIS

destruction The of through industry crior English competi- • after the passing of Union of Act was isive in the form that nical struggles took the 19th pughout tury. consequent economic caes oi the Irish middle- =ade it one of the most British Te. history. liberal-national be 'masters in house always arrangements with Tsr against their own stanza? Ireland

ROOTS OF

TODAY'S

Part Two The first leader of this was Daniel movement a Dublin Connell, DallIster, campaign in the who lea a 1820's for Catholic emanci- admission pation-the Catholics into Parliament and the levels of armed forces. In order to pressurise the government for this demand O'Connell was forced TO mobilise the peasantry. After a of bass campaign meetings O'Connell was elec- ted against the government candidate County Clare. subsequently passed three Acts in 1829: One admitting Catho- lics to Parliament, to com- mission in services and to the Inner Bar. 2. One disfranchising the 40 shilling fee banni O' banning Catholic Connell's The Catholic 'Emancipa- tion' had thus been rendered toothless by the completely Second Act. The increase of the elec- £10 qualification very people meant that the responsible for the passing of the bill were prevented from any fruits from it enjoying The "Liberator' had freed middle Catholic class the only of The aspirations Catholic peasants had been SOCIALIST PRESS heiress it demean of 1916. 1798 and that that he betrayed it when This period of Irish history challenged by the government remembered however over the Contart meeting.

15 NOL

mainly for its political devel of His political caret event but manoeuvring and compromise which changed the face of the 'in Parliament testinea to ni great the aversion to violent revolution The intriguing aspect was Famine. which the violence with Starvation waged his campaign. In lit famous 'Mallou Defiance of In 1845 there was a partial 11 1843, O'Connell June failure of the potato crop, a warned his audience: accurence. n81 'The time is coming when However followed in was we must be doing. You may '47 and '48 by a total 1846, have the alternative to live as blight on the crop and since slaves or die as freemen.

the potato was the staple diet On the face of it these are of the peasants this meant not the words of a reformist.

mass starvation However they Although the blight which Lali explained by the desire of the potato hit the Was e middle class (aided Catholic natural disaster, the ensuing by the clergy) to separate the man- was masses from the influence of made. the current of resis Under the influence of the tance, the peasall

SECCI

Manchester school of econo societies mists and continuing profits the government decided that, Regain Control despite the bad potato hat- must The tone of O'Connell's vest, free continue. Repeal campaign was thus an effort to regain control of the Therefore export lne dairy goods crops and peasant masses from Ireland to England con- included certain …never measures such tinued and economic increased, during the famine security of tenure in nis is of demands. years. This produce was enough was aided O'Connell to feed the population of Ire.

peasantry retrieving the support of a group land twice over. grouped Typhus around a paper called Nation. In these three years over a This "Young Ireland' group million people in Ireland died led by Thomas Davis, engen- of starvation or typhus and a Irish dered revival similar number emigrated poetry and song, which popu- Despite this, the limited larised the Repeal movement public programme After the Clontart betraya.

initiated by the government of 1843, O'Connell and the form was as 01 'Young Ireland' became more the continually resisted by and more estranged. landlords, as it was providing non-sectarian an alternative to work on the approach conflicted with 0° disappointed, as land. completely Even- Connell's clericalism. Acts in no way affected From 1840 on there was a the O'Connell 1846, tually profound change in the popu- the land system. succeeded expelling the Their continued militancy of Ireland-from Young Irelanders on the sham O'Connell to go million in 1841 to 5½ million pretext of their not excluding in the mid 1860's. the possibility of violent the death by Apart from revolution leadership Starvation agration has pre However 1115 say the least inconsis- Middle Class lation, emigration was After his first chief cause of the depopu Repeal Bill was de- In fact, for the majority of lation of Ireland. Lo Pass a Young Irelanders their middle Emigration had already making removed 40's but was class orientation begun in the alliance with the Whigs. them so completely from the climax brought by In doing this, he declared peasantry, as to make the famine when over one million himself willing to give up the of revolution an Ireland question in for Repeal academic one Canada, Australia or England for 'equality' exceptions exchange tor One OI two However, between 1840 and notably James 1880 nearly 4 million sailed Ireland. emerged, "The people of Ireland are Finton Lalow and John from Ireland on these routes.

ready to become a portion Mitchel. of the empire provided they led Exodus The latter an are made so in reality and not attempted rising in 1848, but They The famine exodus was alone. are it was quickly put down and become a kind of thus merely the highest point ready to Mitchel was transported. ene is and in justice, but if made so of which Briton failure, this Despite pnenomenon formed an important rising are Irishmen again." of and brought the scattering o not, we link between the rising Bargaining Counter Like the present Social Democratic and Labour Party Northern Ireland, leaders in O'Connell the used movement purely as a coun Parliamentary ter manoeuvring. object of the Only manoevres has changed For O'Connell Was la today power forms. sharing. O'Connell's willingness to compromise was shown most conclusions to graphically • 1n the Repeal campaign. In 1843, monster meetings -750,000 strong-were held all over the country In his speeches O'Connell threatened government with outright rebellion. How- called the government ever his bluff by banning the tinal scheduled national meeting for October 1843 Clentarf. O'Connell then had to de- clare where he stood. His fear rebellion outweighed 'opposition' to the govern- ment. He called the meeting off. Violent Campaign What was surprising about O'Connell's handling of the Repeal Campaign was not Daniel O'Connell

SOCLALSTFRESS * crac Irish nation, particularly farmer's side. Despite success- Thẹ Ireland 50 elected in getting 1853-the Right al accident the betrayal by was hange in the leadership, Sadleir and political The was held Westminster, Right Move- ment capitalist Whig lancy for posts The Government. fifties and throughoul he class growing emanded the of landed

LEC

ristocracy. However, the disappear- The first this the farms in ance of process 1846. Laws corn considerably narrowed its Trade social base. ended the reland's this no instead with Competition the whole European american land-system. uppliers of for the From market made Irish illage-based agriculture untenable. economically in America, of However, of lives- can the

LITE

age 'Fenians', 1858 stock. radical the limited Despite heir the movement, social

NOCK -

of ground membership

OTTE S

the the both and the of the ohysical free enant-farmers its was almost totally Marx As out came She allau Capital: This split and others mainly from agricultural depopou- caused by lation further, organise These regarded lish sheep-walk and cattle- Confusion pasture'. led however, and by an army the pledged eradication by aspect February. every informer This began with process. of British Ireland authorities attempt evictions This was full alert for the main obviously to the insurrection. Catholic 1838). Church This poor become landlords between quickly and. prevented from influ- Estates the same year, when land much property' of Kelley leaders, was conception of captured attempt was him. at war even greater callousness their activity the towards the men were tenant farmers. with subsequently charged Capitalist land-owners the police the 'murder sergeant. itting tenant with to motion than showed movement mili- while was released tactics, rather than This Irish tary of American political which Decaust agriculture citizenship. war against Allen, Britain was become age life. O'Brien reality of an their by Ernest assumption. In War, international of the Civil and an campaign sen- tence, and were them businessmen, leaving the be- ing almost dis- The of of Ippeared to replaced by Inaly these provoked clamp- bushed into squalor of down Fenians in on Ireland. the land. tene revIvel the societies, raided leaders arrested. daring Tne from ism' and "crime of insurrec- would immediately tion movement. follow. happened Before of the delay dissension and splits tenant's right ownership whereas the purely ders was was lessee and isolated and the majority all the Allen, Larkin and O 'Brien, the Manchester Martyrs.

landmark WInC although However, tedious 'from outrages revolutionary they had since of their the insurrection. roads League. Despite conservatism of Butt, Fenians saw Irish politics. of Act for any made during The their way to trial. 'F's": 1. Fixity of tenure 2. Free sale 3. Fair rents. The 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878 of evoked the spectre Famine. The economic depression of the period also increased evictions. in 1879 on the for the nationalisa- of this The tuted luvellell Such a movement however could not be ignored by the middle class. + Pamell Parnell Charles Stuart Home Rule MP, who had in the mid-seventies gained fame through his practice (borrowed from a Fenian) of obstructing bills in the House of Commons by long-drawn- the Land League and its subsequently became nominal President. of 'Tent campaign by strikes' was agitated for the Land League The severity of the crop failure of 1879 the increase and evictions left the country on the brink of rebellion. It was only the attempted Bill of 1880 and the Land Act of 1881 which prevented this from occurring This Act actually latter conceded the "three 'F's" in ened hol tne alliance holic tenantry of South and West ten- antry East Ulster wowd Boycott The League boycott of the while Parnell, although actually hostility to favoured Bill When the two the League became too hot, Parnell evaded taking a clear by the position arresting government him. could From he watch "Kilmainham the Compact Pamel tion and the agrarian suppression O1 "crime' in for would Cessions 1882 National up with Int Catholic of the support Clergy and turned manoeuvring. Lories in -exactly difference _ between numbers. support of

1UIC

Gladstone subsequently but by was the Liberal defection 78 Tories their policy pression any agranan Tories insti- movements, followed =5 the next through years, making "propert!• more impor was enterprise This policy isolate

LENIN AND TROTSKY

Page 8

WRITE ON THE

OCTOBER

REVOLUTION

The defence of the Bolshevik method as applied in the October Revolution was Trotsky's starting point in the struggle against the growing power of the Stalinist bureaucracy in 19234. The passage below is taken from The Lessons of Opposition, 430pp, £2.95.

There has been some talk lately in our press to the effect that we are not position to in what channels through the proletarian revolution England. will come in Will it come through the channel of the Communist or through the trade Party unions? Such a formulation of the makes a show of a question broad fictitiously outlook; it is radically false dangerous because that obliterates the chief lesson of dition influence tne last lew years decisive influence in the trade revol- If the triumphant ution did not come at the end unions. of the war. It was because a We have party was lacking. this dearly This conclusion applies tu with regard to Europe as a whole. It may be importance of a traced concretely in the fate proletarian revolution-to re- move- nounce it so hghtly or even to ot tne revolutionary ment in various countries.

minimize its significance.

With respect to Germany Consciousness the case is quite a clear one ation, ana plannie The German revolution might far smaller part in have been triumphant both in revolutions than they are des- 1919, had 1918 and tined to play, and already do proper party leadership been play, secured. tions. We had an instance of this 1917 in same thing m force motive There, the ot rinland. tion was also furnished by the Case movement revolutionary but the developed under exceptional- much less favourable circumstances, under the wing of revolution- the present time. and with its ary Russian direct military assistance. But hands the the majority of the leaders in of the sections the Finnish party proved to be social democrats, and they posal wealth,. ruined the revolution. The same lesson flows just connected tages as plainly from the Hungarian (the cities, the com- experience. the press, etc.). along with the left The did not social democrats, but • were conquer power, hand-to-mouth handed it by the frightened bourgeoisie. acting. The Hungarian revolution able moment -triumphant without a battle and a victory-wa: outset left from the lower. without a fighting leadership.

Party The Communist rused with the social demo- power. showed thereby cratic party, that it itself was not a Com- munist Party: and, in conse- in spite of the light- quence, of the Hungarian ing spirit workers, it proved incapable power it had of keeping the obtained so easily. apart Without party, from a party, over the head of a party, or with a substi- tute for a party, the prolet- arian revolution cannot con- quer. That is the principle lesson of the past decade. It is true that the English trade unions lever =stetarian revolution; ... for instance, even OI

SORKERS

certain un 121 iversary first October, included (on pages 251-3) in the Pathfinder volume The Challenge of the Left In conference during the Civil War: left to right, Bela Kun, Alfred Rosmer, Trotsky, M. V. Frunze and S.I. Gusev precisely distinguished by communist the fact that the proletariat- the Decolle in the person of its vanguard as the in not only offensive force but also main paid as the guiding force

LOO

conclusion- played in bout- The part the role and by the econ- geois revolutions in a omic power of the bourgeois-

DALLY

by education, by municipalities and univer- is a part which can be sities, premedit- in a proletarian revol- filled played a party of only by the bourgeois the proletariat of the party has The role the more impor- become proletarian revoll- of the fact that tant in view become the has In the former instance the far more conscious. revolu- in the The bourgeoisie, of rule, centuries course perfected latter were political has organised and to the schooling far superior consicous than at schooling of the old bureau- cratic monarchy. The leadership remained in served If parliamentarism proletariat to a certain of extent as a training school for bourgeoisie, and the latter had at its dis- revolution, then it also served education and the bourgeoisie greater extent as the school all the organisational advan- with them of counterrevolutionary strat- universities, the egy. Suffice it to say that by means of parliamentarism the bureaucratic monarchy defended itself in a was able bourgeoisie so manner, the social democracy train probing in the dark and then the main is today that private property O1 would social bourgeoisie of the The epoch bide its time to seize a favour- Europe, as has revolution 1n been shown by its very first when it could profit from the movement of will be an epoch not steps, only of strenuous and ruth- its classes, InIOW also less struggle whole social weight into the calculated planned scale and so seize the state and planned battles-far more than with us in 1917 The proletarian revolution To mark the 60th Ann- Russian of the Revolution we have given over our Reviews page to three extracts from Lenin and Trotsky in which they examine the lessons of the ever successful prot etarian revolution. Lenin wrote Left Wing Communism, against both sectarianism and opportunism that characterised the early years of the Comintern. A copy of which sets out to draw general conclusions from the October delegate at the Sacond Congress of the Communist International. This passage is taken from the Peking 1975 the booklet edition, pp 6-7. "Would it not be party ary maintained? How is it tested?

in better if greetings How is it reinforced? honour of Soviet power by First, and the Bolsheviks were consciousness vanguard more frequently attended by a profound analysis of devotion to by its perseverance, self-sacri- the main reasons why the fice and heroism able to Bolsheviks were discipline link itself with build up the close touch the revolutionary prolet- certain extent, if you like, to ariat needs? with political of masses of the toilers-primar- a trend As thought and as a political with the proletariat, lly also with the non-proletarian party, Bolshevism exists since the history 1903. Only toiling masses Bolshevism during the whole its existence period the political why satisfactorily explain by and to exercised was able to build up the maintain under most difficult political strategy and tactics, conditions the iron discipline provided needed for the victory of the masses have been convinced proletariat. the by of all And first they are correct. arises: how is the question of the revolution- discipline wrote the article Lessons of October Parisian revolutionary youth. It appears in Trotsky Writings 1935-36, Pathfinder 1970 Messrs. but in say: October brought the triumph bureaucracy. worth making? A separate haps two should to this question. shot, a rebound Nevertheless forward. threatening of the quest lutior. and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 November, 1977 Lenin An Infantile Disorder as part of the struggle for a correct methoc was given to every experience a revolutionary of the proletariat discipline party that is really capable of of being party advanced class, whose mission the it is to overthrow the bour- of the prolet- and transform and by its geoisie cannot be whole of society, the revolution, achieved. Without these conditions, all attempts to establish disci- Secondly, by its ability to pline inevitably fall flat and keep in end in phrase-mongering and with, grimacing On the other hand, these broadest conditions cannot arise all at • created only They are but once. by prolonged effort and hard- won expertic Their creation is facilitated Thirdly, by the correctness revolutionary by corteci leadership theory, which, in its turn, this vanguard, assumes but not a dogma, correctness its only in close final shape connection with the practical broadest that the of a truly mass and activity revolutionary move truly their own experience that Without these conditions, Lenin (centre) with Trotsky (left) and Kamenev (right) French paper Revolution, the organ of the for the of sceptics might collectivization economy, agriculture which, despite the the end the of bureau- monstrous Revolution the country lead of and economically forward Was it culturally while the capitalist moving back countries are wards. article or per- The October revolutio be devoted can be freed from the vise of Here let only by bureaucratism

LE O

say briefly: history goes for- of the inter- development ward not along a straight line revolution the national but along a devious one; after will really of which victory a gigantic jump forward there of building the follows as after an artiliery socialist society this is not Finally-and history goes Octote: insignificant-the Soviet is important revolution bureaucratism is an ugly ulcer because

DOU

LIlS October revo-

WE DEMAN

AN IMMEDIA

£ 100O MILLI

TO THE M

COHSER

OUR

OF THE NHS

The methods used at Hounslow Hospital to elderly 21 remoye clearly demon- patients the extent to strate which the Health Author- ities will be willing, in the face of Hospital occupat- ions, to ignore standards and follow the require- ments of the Lib-Lab in coalition cutting public spending. The Hounslow occupation has lessons for other hospital workers now (EGA, Plaistow) and in the future, and also for the organisation of workers' control of the health service.

Elements of control At Hounslow there were of clear elements PHOTO: Laurence Sparham (IFL)

BEVAN BUNTIT

EMMALS DESCROETT

A WE DEMAND

WORKERS

ENQUIRY

N

LINNFRSITY COLEGE PAGPITAL

A new series on the fight for Transitional Demands

POLICIES

WORKERS CONTROL

control. After the workers' AHA moved in. official closure on August 31, Nurses willing to admit patients were still being cared patients whose admission was for against the express wishes organised by the occupation and requirements of the Area etc. hesitated when threaten- ed healin Aunoniy by disciplinary action Further admissions from the General Nursing being organised by the Occu- Council so that patients were pation Committee with the turned away. co-operation of GPs. Individual patients. among Intercepted principled trades them Last minute arrangements unionist, were Insisting for the admission of a patient admission. Hounslow work-in The were intercepted 'staft sense a clear of the

AHA

in this member challenge to the control who still had freedom to in the hospital health care by the capitalist come and go right up to the time of the state authority. At the same time there abduction. crucial So what weaknesses are the wider were implications? It is no accident the occupation. is illustrated by the that standards of health care fact that the work-in still vary enormously from region relied on the sympathy of Care of the elderly in consultants-which was with- Hounslow is already grossly at the time that the drawn

SAVE YOUR NAS

Workers march in support of Plaistow Hospital

DHSS

contrais a massive bureaucratio machine com- 14 Regions and promising England and Areas l Health Boards in Wales and On Scotland. there average are at least two Districts to Districts each Area and Ene five control up to or six sectors. Family Practitioners Com- mittees mainly alt appointed by the Regional and Area Health Authorities, but local medical committees of GPs have considerable influence. usually Appointees are retired army officers, local and other representatives of the bour- geoisie "Workers participation" Token trade unionists are included following the recom- of the 1974 mendations Labour government paper entitled 'Democracy in the Health Service'. This joint representation is of "workers' partici- a form pation". The FPC's controlling general medical and dental pnarmacy are the only Chemist shops) have authority an open ended budget. March in support of the EGA occupation This is not unconnected with the fact that the vast inadequate majority of their expenditure The limited growth of the drugs and prescribed health service since 1948 has therefore intimately connect- corresponded to the require- profits of the ea witn ments of capitalism. drug companies has been that The result To enforce the cash limits expensive emergency services.

the authorities that which are out of the question have so willingly accepted for have and tor private hospital been built up at the expense out-patient would services immediately bring the Lib- of preventive and community the the Lab coalition into confron- medicine, care the handicapped and multi-nation- elderly, tation with the of the mentally ill. capitalists the drug With expenditure industry. public cuts it is again these services, which are of most benefit to Fundamental the working class, that suffer.

Workers' of the control In oracl health service therefore raises spective for the development major questions. of workers' control over the of fundamental health service it is necessary health care importance to examine the present struc- developing independent that turing. class action should working bring together workers Delegation the organisations, primarily trade unions of those who The health authorities at receive as well as those who Area, District and Regional, give health care. Sector levels are organised to All major questions in the respond IrOm distribution of resources must

DHSS

rapidly and without decided by working be the question by downwards dele- class as a whole. gation from and responsib- Trade committees union ility to, the bureaucratic layer must be developed to control above.

PRESS

Whistling in the dark It was little wonder between the miners and the Mirror" 'Daily that the Government approaches. called it Black Saturday.

So far no-one has actually accused the power workers of Not only were the power But it is touch and workers showing what effect gO. their demands could have; burning down, Houses TV not only were pensioners falling over in the being blacked programmes dark and other accluents out by ABS technicians; but the blackouts are during the Mirror's own production being nailed at the door of of news in. London had been the electricity supply workers hit by the action of their own • surely as if they had set journalists over a pay dispute.

fire to the house and tripped On all sides confrontation the pensioners personally.

is the rule rather over than the exception. Carry the can It has not taken the most brains of the Fleet dslult When hospital emergency to point the fail- presumably generators way back to 1973/4 when the health service cuts because miners showed how netiec have meant inadequate funds tive talk of 'standing firm' maintenance-then it by the Government could be.

101 the power workers who have to carry the can for the chaos Dress rehearsal and danger that ensues. Press barons are not at all The press treatment given embarrassed that their propa- ganda vies for with to the power workers is space dress rehearsal, a sharpening declarations that they the freedom of the press of the pens, for the flood oi for propaganda that will hit the The Times openly declares its role to be one of moulding Streets Collullalu As they begin such matters. to gain knowledge and exper- will increasingly • ther become organs of dual power.

directly Calendise ment locally and on an area level. To achieve such a policy.

starting from present closures and cutbacks in service, a pro- of mass action to defend the accessa Health Service with occup closure ations wherever threatened. Workers must expose the cynical refusal of the health authorities to maintain services. This is a period in which the health authorities fully demonstrate their ability to only the serve state, their private bourgeois suppliers and the drug indus- * Workers must therefore these connections, and challenge the competence of those individuals who sit as members of the authorities Health workers must take the demand 'Open the up books of the health author- ities' and destroy the secrecy of the health authorities decision making Furs They must link up natics ally with workers drug, supply and consei.. tion industries, to the nationalisation workers management of which toe Tences on of health delivery depends. All of Worker: force their nationz must leaderships developing national strik: the means o

OILY

defending the health service such At the centre ot be the call fo action must public spending to rise pace with inflation as assesse: by these elected union com mittees.

GANG

public agains: sections of workers prepared to fight over pay. "Even today , boomed it "this disregard for a editorial, special responsibility to the public (freely taken onl merely for the sake of one and immediate interests should be recognisec as repugnant. 'The men are opposed by their the employers, TUC as represen the • and bi ted by Mr Len Murray yester Their unions have much is failer answer for, either to give effective repres entation or to impose effei tive discipline member abandoning the proper nego mating channels .. mobilisatior. "By the opinion and a readmes dislo withstand temporary cation, these assaults have t be resisted-starting now {Our italics mobilisation That opinion is what the papers ar now engaged in

age 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

CHRYSLER PLEADS

POVERTY AGAIN

When this The management- runs out Chrysler Internation- inspired dispute at al will have to decide whether Lin wood Chrysler's to fund further losses them- Scotland, plant, has selves, ended with the convening ment for more handouts, "urgent cut back on spending in the of an in depth UK. examination" of working which limit Provoked practices productivity and efficiency at the factory.

It was mind that the Behind this dispute and decided to the urgent enquiry lie the wood workers. plans of Chrysler Internation- tough with their o ECL being were UK workforce. Chrysler's Stoke Just two years atter a Coventry five days before the £162 million handout from dispute the Labour government, that it was a deliberate provo- Chrysler aTe agall! cation. poverty. capitalist Losses posed the problem as a simple one of asking tour inspectors the first nine months of 1977 they claim to have where they were working. million. lost Soon there will be nothing left of a £20 ment were also attempting to million contingency provision speed up the car conditioning set up on a 50-50 basis line and cut manning levels- fund and the all without by the government company in 1975. procedure. Vauxhall fight 19,000 Vauxhall car they have avoided this pitiall, workers remain laid off their differentials claim offers as a result of strike action no long term solution to the skilled by workers problem of inadequate wages.

But claim for pursuing Vauxhall's differentials and separate bargaining structure indicates negotiating rights. kind ine expected soon in British Ley- Only a week ago manual land, where the WOIKeIS accepting a sell-out deal on corporate bargaining have just been forced in. pay. Anger as NUT strike vote ignored The national President The meeting of the NUT, John Gray, minely called for this to be amended to include plans for of faced accusations strike action, and shilly dithering details of the time and mobil- special shallying at for this isation the Oxford still left for the Executive to meeting of decide. Association District Arrests called this week to discuss continuation of Gray replied sanctions against cuts in appreciated the pupil teacher ratios.

were more difficult to imple- told that He was forcibly ment than strike action, rad the

NUT

leadership make individual called strike action from the successful 4,000 Strong victimised, and divided up the against the demonstration of teachers, September 1976, Counci in the instead of dissipating areas of the country! energies of the teachers and could sympathies parents give details brough divisive and demoral- cation Authonty sacctions the battle sing scrapped completely its won long "213 been for action. new Sanctions Oxfordshire now planned-the The Teeting was debating the supporting being considered Executive's present. SELLIOnS special fund, When workers refused to submit to these methods they off the clock. were taken Chrysler are obviously intending to launch a cam- appeal to the govern- paign on speed-up and de- the now manning, threat of financial routine collapse and possible closure.

The enquiry will obviously be used to aid this campaign.

The role of the trade union with this situation Grenville "representatives" Hawley and Gavin Laird will provoke the Lin- be to the road to smootl The fact that lay-off plans peed-up and the cutting a manning levels. arranged have Chrysler workers shown their response to the provocation of the last Scotland proves will two weeks T02T resist management attacks.

What they need is a policy press has Workers which to fin must out their own carry the books of move a few yards from Chrysler. No more pleading poverty.

In actual fact the manage- If Chrysler can't afford to run the company and pay its workers it must be nationalis- ed without compensation through under workers management.

for speed-up While the skilled men feel Following the lead their struggle against given by management in corporate in their British Leyland battle offensive to step up the of workers exploitation outlines of production tracks, on employers are turning to blatant increasingly attacks manning on levels. Latest announced is the decision by UK to Singer some 1,150 workers maKe redundant in their Clydebank factory. Not disguised singlehanded The plant produces 20% of the world's industrial sew- comestic all ing machines. The redundancies are not disguised as the result of any overwhel- Smiths stopped although

TALE

strike were by pay sit-in to the criticisms by saying that he that sanctions Over 500 workers at in did Smiths Industries. parents feel Cricklewood, London are being facing lay-offs after a last Wednesday decision but they 2) by 106 (November had proved effective in other piece-workers to reject "ad- however, their union leaders' of a single Edu- vice" to return to normal winch 1a0 work. plans The production workers at cuts as a result of NUT the plant, mainly women, have been staging daily sit-ins ballot of the support of their demand membership increase in 80% tor a VOLt their bonus. for strike action last May now deliberately provoc- null and ative Smith's manage-

ROLES ROYCE

MOTORS I ONDON

NULLINER

SHOP STE!

ROLLS MEN STAY OUT

After eight weeks, the dispute which has closed 10% guidelines" Royce the two Rolls had been offering just 8%.

Willesden, plants in With North London, is still Royces at a on. men Last Tuesday (November management 1), the strike committee concede their demand soon.

spokesman unanimously TeLL RICH stewards said after last Tues- firm-an offer offer by the day's decision that "the men which falls far short of the are solidly 17% the men are demanding.

intend to fight on." Predictably, the Five Singer sackings- policy slackening of demand, or as The financial the outcome difficulties for the giant firm.

nursery y wish to improve pray simply they wish to of parents, uctivity" last summer Possible strike proposals But AUEW convenor John Oxfordshire McFadyen attempted Council to soften the blow, stating that "we were aware of the short- nursery fall in orders" He has threatened indus- a five point policy. possibly includ- trial action. " if the redundan- ing a strike cies are imposed. provision and should be But immediately electing a trade JODDIes, where etc. union committee to examme books to prove the aims Singers' closures by occupation. case for nationalising this monopoly international jobs and conditions are to be 0I provision to meet defended. of all pre-school children.

*The the reinstatement subject to parents' wishes.

*The the actions unions against education spending. #The against working public access workers time cards saving mation and is in that if the women were not committees prepared to work would be no work at investigate all. needs But this attempt at lock- ing in Oxfordshire. out has not intimidated the contrary, it workers; on the asking local has strengthened their deter- mination to win determination must This be tapped and utilised to the delegates to full if the wage demand is to investigate be won and There is apparently consid- erable support throughout the factory women's for the public metlIg which now should be transformed into of the Smiths action by das which SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 November, 1977

PERK WARD:

DIVISION

Rolls Royce strikers picket the Motor Fair.

In another the pany's argument was that the LUVa written to-ol strikers have maximum it could offer was all people-the Queen, telling "under the government's Hitherto it her why the Jubilee limousine being built by the company Rolls will not be finished on time- production of a point the workers astonish- stand still, the ingly apologise for! confident that But with neat irony they will

ANVE

enclosed collection sheet and invite HRH to give the for a donation Needless to all they say will from this (newly) •behind us and we get bespectacled relic of feudal- ism is a right-royal silence Such pranks do not offer forward for Rolls way Royce They workers. must for supporting walll walk action from the local labour point and other Rolls Royce plants in order to win the full claim.

FARM

WORKERS

Oxford City built campaign, out of the protest action

TO GET

teachers, nursery nurses and others against the L12 percent of the Tory County severely cut The Agricultural Wages schools and Board, covering some of classes, has now adopted the lowest paid workers country, *The nursery campaign is awarded a 12-13% wage opposed to all cuts in nursery increase. will organise incensed This news has petitions meetings, who are used and employers necessary and who labour, cheap oppose actual being presseu concede an increase *The campaign is in favour 10% of above the govern- without even the needs ment a struggle. probably it will demands And campaign farmworkers also, for clare rising fives into first schools whom 12-13% of a pathetic amounts to a pathetic wage ally small increase-far short supports cam paign of the claim submitted by the of the teaching Agricultural Workers Union.

Shut off campaign protests "confidential" council demands parties,

BBC

to all favour of of parents, BBC technicians, mem- teachers, trades unionists to bers of the Association of the educational and educational spend- Broadcasting Staff, have action in already begun The campaign leaders are support of their 30% pay union trade claim by blacking out the branches and Oxford and Dis- trict Trades Union Council to Speech and an Queen's support this policy and send edition of Nationwide Call Lee lu While worses needs the choice o: both targets. i educational spending in is obvious that such perla action will te bristed ce mo There are plans to hold a irrelevent by the BBC in December . designed Io in preparation for the defence para way to force the BBC o broadcasting paralyse South Oxford nursery faces closure on

GRUNWICK- BLACKING

IS THE ONLY ANSWER

trial run for The Lib-Lab coalition government is training a force"-the "third Special Patrol Group-as picket-busting, anti-union This is the shock troops. lesson of Monday's mass picket at Grunwick. Systematic beating up of pickets the was adopted by police. About 8,000 pickets defied the APEX leadership and responded to the strike committee's call for support.

group of about 60 pickets blocked the Chapter Then the police violence Ically starita. Police charged this group of 60, grabbing them by the hair or anything they could grasp, and then pushing them into a line of police. Pickets were then forced to run the gauntlet of kicking and tripping. As punchug soon as a picket fell, three or four police jumped on them.

kicking furiously to the head and the body. But this was only the start.

As about 500 pickets formed linked at the with end of Chapter Road, a squad of 200 Special Patról Group brought vans. was up In wedge formation these

SPG

thugs cnarged mo une line of pickets, punching and kicking at all in sight. Kicked Again any picket who fell was brutally kicked by groups of SPG heavies. Once section of the picket was split up, they were pushed along the road, kicked and punched by the SPG. Anyone protesting or try- ing take number policemen involved was savagely beaten. One picket dragged into a police van had his face pushed through a window- and with his face a mess of blood on by other was sal SPG men. Few arrests Few arrests were made at this point. Orders were clearly restricted to physical attacks on pickets. All the anti-com- UtiC

THE LOIL

munist abuse was hurled by goad police-attempting pickets into resistance. The scab's bus did not through this go Jaleste

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

anti-picket squad entrance. The display of force was for one purpose only: to military disci- pline and training of the SPG.

Dispersing After the picket, the police march went As this protest was station. quietly dispersing, our again rushed the SPG thugs-punch- ing and kicking, and this time Wiard, arrests-which

TROTS

tually totalled 108. The Grunwick Strike Com- Andren mittee has announced it will be calling for a one-day strike in four or five weeks time. Some strikers are also

PHOTO:

hunger strike on the go on steps of TUC headquarters- demanding blacking of services to Grunwick. They have also called for local workers to apply such blacking unofficially. Meanwhile Home Secre- tary Merlyn kees spoke Parliament defending the role the police still contine themselves to verbal protests. 'Left' Eric Heffer-where does ne sanda The Grunwick struggle is a microcosm of the class battles ahead. Conspicuously absent.

however, were the Yorkshire miners who could soon be confronting similar attacks on their picket lines. We must fight for support for day strike, centred on the demand for blacking and

DOTA

locally nationally. At the same time workers must intensify demands that the 'left' Labour MPs break from this strikebreaking coal- mobilise ition, and actively support foI workers in struggle.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE

IN THIS MOVEMENT

OF

OURS...

STAGI

DOOR

HOWEVER, / HAVE EVERY

CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.

METROPOLE HOTEL

STRIKERS LEADING

£50 FIGHT

As the strike at the on the f50 claim finally met Metropole 'Hotel for last Thursday. management But unprecedented the minimum wage attendance of National entered its fifth week, Official F. Cooper and GMWU Regional Official assortment of Regional full- organised Romp timers was arranged to intimi- meeting of scabs in the date workers. the £50 Although claim hotel to elect new scab was lodged, the decision on a shop stewards. management offer of only This act of back-stabbing 13% postponed until Was the hostility November 22. up unon oncials to lne strikers who have dared to challenge Official rebuffed the traditional low wages embodied wages in the Rank Hotels workers, council structure accepted by having Tilston's both and bureaucra cv attempt to whittle their claim employers. down £46.50,. met management offer of only From the very first week 10% when delayed negotia- of the Metropole strike, tions finally opened last which they attempted to dis- Friday. band the picket lines-GMWU Workers at Grand Metro- officials Tilston and Romp politan hotels on the other done everything they hand submitted £50 their could to impede the struggle.

claim as long ago as August- Now their preventine ene efforts and heard have only just directed to from Romp that the claim spread of the dispute "is being considered" of hotel sections workers. Weakness The Centre Hotels branch, which had faced two post- The lengths to which ponements of their meeting officials have gone to saba-

WHO SAY MY

MEMBERS

WILL NOT

ACCEPT SACRIFICES

WELL HAVE NO TRADE

• UNION WRECKERS HER

..CLEAR OFF!

INDUSTRIAL NEWS-

NGA

delays spread of strike The almost endless ability of print union leaders to stall off escal- ation of the Darlington dispute was demonstra- ted again last week, when the NGA executive issued a call for 'talks' with the

NUJ.

for Plans escalation Westminister throughout Press had already been drawn up by the

NUJ

and wère being presented to the emer- gency committee on Novem- 3 ber when the call came the Immediately committee aban- emergency doned the plans until these Violence at an earlier mass picket talks have taken place Wade, NGA General Joe clue of Secretary, gave no what his proposals to the NUJ would be but he made it clear that continued support level would depend on agreement. expected to Wade be making his inevitable bid to sell out the strikes in Darling- ton and London before they can be spread. tage the £S0 minimum wage indicates not their strength but their weakness. Important Despite the inadequacy of the £50 figure therefore, and despite the numerical weak- ness of the Metropole strike, it does have a crucial impor- Wade the struggle against tance in An all-out effort must now low pay in the catering and be

NUJ

members made by hotel industry. to get the national executive Reactionary union leaders recalled immediately and cannot be ignored. have the strikes put into again and again to disrupt and effect. the membership. contuse The mood among journal- be They must tought and ists throughout the group has defeated. once again swung heavily in To do this hotel workers favour of supporting strikes have to the bevond of the General The strategy problems of their own Secretaries appears to be to branches and develop the frustrate that support by campaign for the £50 minim- of series ending wage-answering the umn manoeuvres offers from Censory manate The call to escalate was coordinated strike ment by first made by the Westminster action

NUJ

group chapel early September.

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

. £1.10 5 issues . 12.20 10 issues ..£5.50 25 issues £10.00 50 issues. (Overseas rates: write for detsils).

I would like. • issues. I enclase £. Name. . Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR Shenrihal.

MASS REJECTION

SOCIAL CONTRACT

SOCIALIST

PRESS

OF SPAIN'S

ESPING ENTE DE

A vast gulf is opening force for dealing mobilisation Spanish between the sponsored not class and those working Socialist or Communist Party who pretend to be its leaders. Workers Commission and leaders. UGT leaders started by trying Workers have shown them- prevent to selves virtually unanimous in rejecting the popular frontist, economic class Head off which "agreements TINe Increasingly they are being leaders entered into party month with Spain's ago torced to Francoist Adolfo hope of heading off the mass Premel movement against the Pact.

Suarez. The workers' contempt for But they have been com- this "Moncloa Pact has been pletely made unmistakeably clear. A ing hundreds of thousands of workers taking up slogans not of huge, militant only against the pact but also demonstrations has erupted in virtually all Spanish cities against the in the last two weeks. ment. After massive Not explicit tions in Madrid, San These demonstrations have other cities, been around usually called reached a new peak in Bilbao slogans which are not explicit Viscaya rejection of the Pact. when been They have •aluluay 200,000 workers supported by the main trade through the city in one of the unions, whose attitude to the most either been Pact has and anti-government demon- support it (the Workers Com- strations seen since the death missions) or to "oppose" of France. in ambiguous terms (the UGT and others). Sackings In Barcelona last week, for a demonstration of The 1Esta1Cc called by the Commission of was called 200,000 workers. the Unemployed and the Co- by all the main unions around deliberately confused ordinating the slogan "For a way out of the Workers trOI favourable Crisis" (those that have taken

CINN

of workers". advantage rules which permit uncontrol- Rejected led sacking and the suspen- sion of wage payments if the This was only a few days after the Barcelona Assembly firm pleads bankruptcy). Unemployed The of the natu refrains from mentioning the demonstra- called their own supporied only. by the Moncloa Pact. tion,

C.NT

and left political parties explicitly slogans around the pact and its conse julences. Pact. This march was broken up with armed police by che great brutality-still the stan- This Spain's dard procedure political 'democratic' police naked on the part of the bureaucrats and most particularly of the who Commissions, Workers hand salute the with one Moncloa Pact and with the other beckon the workers to "action". demonstration also 1 ne how the shows, however, bureaucracies are main desperation approaching point in their fight to hold back the working class. Appear to lead In order to cling on to their leadership of a working for ready class the against serious fight the Francoist government, Stalinist and reformist leaders have to appear to lead a fight measures against those which they have helped to design. And it is obvious from with which by demonstra- participate in the Socialist Workers and members League incapable of prevent- Socialist Press supporters gathered in London on the to celebrate Sunday Anniversary of the Suarez 60th Revolution and Russian demonstra- to launch the first edition Barcelona of the weekly paper. Sebastian and scores of the protest outlining Alan Thornett, the momentous Province last leading up to October 1917 described it as *the greatest marched anti-capitalist demonstration was Committee "Factories in government leaflet unitary But no worker could fail to recognise that everything it protests about is a part of the Opportunism the most opportunism The November 5 march in Bilbao mobilisation, however, and as some of the demands of the develop their demonstration that the only

WOUN

possible way to persuade the struonies, leaders workers of their sincerity is union for the bureaucracies to sub- redundancies wages, the bureaucracies find scribe, even if only formally, difficult to a number of very impor- the workers in check. tant demands. These, seriously "Democracy" walled, coals pull oration wall collaboration class The arguments into which the Stalinist and "democracy bureaucracies reformist idated" trying to confine the workers' workers welgalas movement. unemployment with "demo- The demonstration cracy" produces organisers now intend to call income than any other kind 24-hour general strike of unemployment. throughout Viscaya Province.

They see This again is designed to 'democratic' as an active measure appear of the 'democratic" while intending to demobilise police are as hard as they ever were and just as likely to be successful With each

WSL RALLY GREETS

NEW WEEKLY PAPER

power workers, achievement of the single coming battles by class international- working firemen and ly" sections of workers. "The that way only exploitation can be ended is paper was part of the struggle capitalism by the ending ot establishment of to and the ship in the work ecose the establishment socialism, dictatorship of the HO| of the 'magnificent repeat proletariat". out there on the of Lister, editor 1S John June said it would paper to draw the lessons for "Socialist Press' the working class and to draw have been difficult to choose moment the best important struggle forward." to go weekly with action by workers used against struggling for their rights.

own It must have been with a independent of the feeling of chill in their bones, against and that the govern- falling therefore. ment and the bureaucrats of the workers movement listen- hold to the chants which echoed between the buildings of Bilbao last Saturday night: unemployment- Against workers' struggle! that Down with the Pact! must be consol Fight and win-workers to carries less and less that power!

HOIC

POWER

too that the rubber bullets

MEN

armed

SOLD

OUT

of the The vultures capitalist press appear to have got their way with the power workers. The leadership of the com mittee by the limitation and the their claim to fringe benefits.

miners and themselves very had shown similar to the Leyland tool other major makers unofficial committee He said that the role of the Both tried to find round confrontation with the 'build a Trotskyist leader- government on pay have stood Although they up to the leadership of their enough miners own union and to scabbing

TUC

picket affiliated another by task of the the power engineers union, association, the communici caved in under the pressure of the the press campaign, combined elements with the determined stand of , Benn. Energy Secretary, Yet again the power of the working class was shown by the fact that this dispute had the break the potentia: to partic- coalition government, ularly with the development of sit-ins for the first time in a national pay strike workers But the power problem face the continuing alternative of building independent of enderssil their officials press the As we strike committee has declared that it is willing to return to work under three conditions: is fully paid that everybody for the period of the work to that their guarantees discussed will grievances De in the next pay claim; and the shop stewards to right negotiate has committee words abandoned the other original claim.