Socialist Press no. 77

CALLAGHAN OUT

As Terry Parry, Gener- al Secretary of the fire- men's union calls on the Minister, Prime Callaghan, to plead for of the some way out strike, his members on the picket lines are grow- increasingly ing deter- mined against any compromise. Members of the FBU, well their third week on IntO strike, are beginning to turn their anger against the govern- ment Ministers who refuse to paid. allow inem Wherever Callaghan travels he is met by lobbies shouting His get out. him arrogant replies only serve to anger against the STOKe up Lib-Lab government among the firemen. Need of the Now that some learnt that to strikers have 30% claim, they win their must get rid of the wage- cutting coalition government, must now go. further. they They must face up to the need to build a new leader- ship in

FBU,

which is the prepared to press home the fight and call on every other section of workers to follow the firemen's lead and take action on their own claims.

FBU

The leaders of the know that the honeymoon days of the strike are running out fast. Hostility Their members can longer be expected to behave like good lads on the picket.

developed Hostility has towards fire officers who scab on their dispute. tolerance towards the troops is aLSO beginning to turn into bitter- ness, though much confusion remains. militants even sonne remain convinced that army scabbing on a firemen's strike is somehow different from them scabbing on other trade union disputes. this they reflect the

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 77 * November 30, 1977 * 15p Callaghan inadequacies of their union have done leadership, nothing strengtnen spell out to their strike or members the issues involved.

Roundly booed When Parry rose to speak to the tiremen who marched through London the weekend he was roundly He has opposed the booed. strike from the beginning. Now he is sitting and waiting for it to reach a crisis so that he can move to stifle it.

Firemen are right to boo They right Parry. are to heckle Callaghan. But they and the whole working class must also turn their attention to the leaders of the other unions with wage claims outstanding. At the or tne

COLLIC

problem is the 12-month rule desanee to fighting sheulder to shoulder.

Pieced together The Lib-Lab coalition was pieced together in March in a bid to enforce a third round the wage •OT

COLLO!

working class. As union conferences

SAY FIREMEN

Officials hold back pay strikes roundly rejected any Phase 3 *Raleigh workers Nottingham are demanding the sole remaining vestige was stage-managed £27. There are 5,000 workers the TUC's on strike over the claim for the 12-month support *Rolls Royce workers at rule. Willesden have been on strike Every union official now for eleven weeks over a 17% recognises that this rule is a claim. key plank in supporting the All these strikes are Callaghan-Steel coalition, and important. But vital groups of should determined workers, in NUPE, the NUM remain intact. and other held back cy share As a result they are now being back by their fighting might and main to officials. prevent a unified movement But even after 17 out of of the working class. the union's 18 regions have Instead they are allowing voted to reject a 10% pay struggles to come offer to local authority under the hammer of govern- workers, NUPE leaders have ment resistance one by one.

made no moves towards *Lift workers

EETPU

strike action on strike. their claim. But leaders, (just as Socialist Press Instead they have donated week) only £10,000 'conscience money predicted made the dispute official in to the isolated firemen. and order to sabotage it. build support Within days the claim had mobilise other sections on their own been reduced from 130% to firemen claims, 13%. The employers offer of must call in each area 9 to 11 percent was suddenly councils of action, comprising within the officials reach.

local union branches, *Journalists on the Daily stewards committees. tenants Mirror are fighting for associations and labour move- massive increase of £3,000 a ment political organisations.

Moves year-but again refusing towaras such confront the question of the council of action have already begun in Aylesbury where government.

GRUNWICKS

New initiative needed now Ireland-Nationalism's Dead End.p.6-7 Hotels pamphlet reviewed .. p.8 .. p.9 Stalin's Ton Up Merchant World Slump Deepens. .. p.4 Smith's 'sugar coated poison' slaughter The hundreds of Zimbabw and Mozambican fre fighters, civiliar dom and children Rhodesian armed fora befo one day came racist leader Smith

FIREMEN DROV

hailed from Whitehall White House the CONSTANT pUBI making a major move f peace". The attack on the ca ---- 60 miles inside Mozambiq Firemen lobbying Callaghan at the EETPU Conference left men, women and childr dead dying -ane hundreds. Planes bombed the can flew k Helicopters then machine gunni overhead, anything that moved. dropped chutists complete the massacre The claim by Rhodes forces that security killed than 1,0 people in return for one their own soldiers shows h unprepared the camp was. Set 18 miles outs Chimoio it ran schools children, many of whom w killed, and provlacu no! hundreds of for refug from Zimbabwe. 'Poison' This attack had alre Sm taken place invited "moderate Africans to reach a con tutional agreement with hi The deal was described bef the Patriotic Front, news broke of the massa as "sugar coated poison".

the Trades Council passed a Smith's move was a ta from the local FBU motion David Owen to outwit calling for support Andrew Young wno are Councils of action can ing to impose their own provide

DOTA

-pracuica colonial solution support that is necessary anc country enable the political problems It has shown yet of the action to be fought how, despite the imperia

COUL

readiness to talk about set Cease talks ments Smith has no intent of yielding an inch to If firemen are to win their form of black majority rule claim they must demand that The difference betw Parry ceases any talks with Smith's plan-for an 'inter: the government until the full settlement based on an ag claim is met. ment with the non-guerr Hints are being dropped groups-and that the government may British-American plan is t offer certain gimmicks to get the latter would involve around the embarassment of interim British colonial di breaking the 10% limit. torship and a political role Ideas include extras for Nkomo and Mugabe. travelling to work. payment political leaders associa certificates for the guerrillas,

WILD

inspection or even an immed- themselves would iate cut in the working week disarmed. to 42 hours, with payment of Smith himself prepared to do a deal 6 hours overtime. phoney "fringe' All such the same leaders, but up deals must be rejected. Power workers who based now the evidence Is unatt have rejected it deals their claims on such leade other were manoeuvred into defeat.

I nest Bishop Muzorewa, The firemen's claim- Sithole and Chief Chira limited though it is by the lack of a cost of living clause Cont'd Page 2 Col. 1 -must be stuck to in full.

GREECE SWINGS TO THE LEFT

- INTERNATIONAL•

While US employers in the basic industries step up their offensive against bitter the working class, struggles underway miners, steel- among workers and dockers. Eleven of the 160 strikers at the Justus mine in Stearns, Kentucky, who have been out July 1976 demanding since the workers TITeO jailed union contract, wert last month following a vicious police attack on picket lines on October 17. 150 pickets had attempted to force a halt to scabbing at the mine-but were altackea by 80 police in full riot gear.

Those arrested included 40 momen who are to go on trial on Vovember 28. Armed guards strike Stearns has been the scene of continual violent confrontations, with armed hiring Coll Jally guards to beat back the strikers and protect scabbing operations. Kentucky circuit judge JB Johnson, the man who jailed che pickets, had sanctioned ine guard's use ot tirearms, stipulating that they sinply smould use no more than shotguns and sidearms!

UMWA

Meanwhile the leadership remains passive on ite struggle. At the same time they are allowing negotiations with the coal bosses to drift aimlessly towards deadlock.

UMWA President Arnold suspended Miller has talks *ith the bosses' organisation, the Bituminous Coal Oper- Association, declaring aLUN the main obstacle to that agreement is the question of medical benefits for miners.

Concessions But the employers are sceking a wholesale package from the concessions

L'MWA,

including an end to union safety the Ignl ol committees CIOSe have all welcomed Smith's announcement. He knew they would, since he has been involved in secret negotiations with them all for the past few weeks. The talks had already established that a public com- mittment on the vote was all the leaders required in order negotia- into open

IO TS

tions with Smith. Smith's In exchange for announcement they have all constitu- agreed UCuss safeguards for the onal political and economic privil- siges of the whites. The British American plan alen ta itly annorted by the

USA MASS

STRUGGLES

dangerous pits; a manning mining machinery; no-strike guarantee backed by punitive payments; and con- penalty tinuous seven aays a wets. fifty two weeks å km year operations with no premium fixed holiday payments periods. The current contract expires on December 6. Miller has been talking in terms of no work" -but no contlacl. for serious propatahons sinke acun dave veci maue.

The solid resistance of the Stearns and miners. a ten unofficial strike earlier

WECK

year thousands of

CATS

defending their miners medical benefits are a pointer to the possibility of a struggle against the local bosses ulti- matum lt ine oostacie or tae UMWA bureaucracy could be

OVEL NO

Meanwhile another union bureaucracy-the Internation- Longshoremen's

A SOLA

tion leaders-are preparing to wind up a nine-week official docks strike that has para- iysed East Coast ports. The strike centred on the issues of containensation and Increasing hostility to the main Greek bourgeois by Prime party Karamanlis was Minister indicated in the results of' week's General last Election. But the conscious attempt by Stalinist and left-reformist direct parties avoid Karamanlis challenge to meant that no credible alter- party government

DALEY C

stood opposed to the increas- repressive and austere ingly policies of Karamanlis' ruling ee Olalv Biggest electoral gains in ZIMBABWE... from front page settlement which involves the Patriotic Front exclusion The of the Patriotic Front leaders from an agreca settiement would they a prolonged iear, make civil war more likely, open- ing up the danger of the liber- ation struggle turning into an anti-capitalist one. Appealing although the Thus, Patriotic Front leaders have claimed they reject the imper- their they and TaRISL DIdul squabbling allies in the "front line states' are still in general lining up behind it. In effect aDDeal- thev are ol hikt

WE ARE

4757 t7, United Steelworkers

NOT SECOND

USWA

•f IMEN! Local 6860

CLASS

CITIZENS!

TRIK

DIVI.

FAL

embodied in the final ILA 12,000 renewal of the dockers' marched wolkers Tane deal, East Coast dockers will local town of through master contract. Wage increases of 30% be tied to it for the next Virginia on November 6 in a which cul- show of strength, over three years have appar- three veats 2,500-strong

ILA

leader Gleason minated in was env been wor Dul asuckım!

week confident that the has last rally by leading point heen em ployers adresseu Steel and whole affair could be con-

AFL-CIO

bureau- refusal to guarantee jobs and cluded today, with the deal wages against the effects of crats. This indication of militant being the Put contane salon. struggle among steel workers individual ports. In Minnesota, 18,000 iron- the The concept of three year, Sulare Collasl lc passive acceptance by USWA workers have been on all-embracing and legally official officials of lay-offs and plant enforceable "master strike for over 15 con- shut-downs elsewhere in the British weeks on a pay claim, despite tracts" one that IS efforts of steel union boss industry employers would dearly love The fight for a principled Lloyd MeBride to force in a to import. "compromise" proposal from leadership inside the US In practice it means that the employers. labour movement is essential.

whatever the helall PASOK almost doubled its the leftward swing was the heterogeneous

"PASOK

vote in this election, taking 25.3% and gaining 76 parlia- whose social base groupung spans radicalised peasants in mentary seats. workers' the countryside, The other party pelty poul- geois layers in the towns, and to gain from the election was certain sections of skilled and the Moscow-led Communist Party (Exterior) which won other workers. 9.3% of and

VOTES

Mish mash increased seats arom 5 to Parlamentary PASOK's programme is a Part of the reason for this mish-mash of uto olal suclal' increase of support for one of ism and unbridled chauvinism the most diehard of pallim. regard to the Cyprus defending Stalinist orthodoxy both question. opposes It must be the decision of the the Common Market and "Eurocommunist" self-styled

NATO

COmMOHV Communist Party the British equated the a Popular Interior Tribune Group.

HO CHILCI

Front electoral bloc with four calling bourgeois parties, Eresivesand Ahe Lee of Pro- the "Alliance itself Karamantis Sharp setback for This bourgeois It will be to nebussaly respectability met sharp for ensure .in the struggle setback polls showed as demands to protect the work- support of only 2.7% of the ing class that the PASOK and electorate-bringing a loss of Stalinist leaders are exposec four parliamentary seats.

determined not as As the CP Interior leaders challenge Karamanlis cuddle closer to their 'own" the slightest independent lead bourgeoisie, their sender base to Greek workers. of support is beginning to crumble. PASOK on the other hand, gained both from nupporNew Demo- Karamanlis Muzorewa with Callaghan and from the liberal сгасу"

FORWARD

bourgeois party headed by MavIos, George

WETCU

slumped from 42 to 15 seats to PALESTINE in parlament. nol BACKLARD But the other side of this ones who can install them in left swing was a significant power in place of Smith or a :to SETTLAMENT the growth Smith-Muzorewa-Sithole

SUDOOTI

10. extreme right National Front.

alliance. Increasingly all sections of Class tension the black leadership are their hopportunism reyealing In their first appearance and their readiness after splitting with Karmanlis compromise I.ne the NF gained five seats and the liberation struggle of 6.8% of votes for their Zimbabwean people None them be demand of an amnesty for of can Zimbabwe trusted by the the Junta's supporters. Karamanlis thus workers and peasants to fight has for their retained power under uncompromisingly They conditions of increasing class independent interests. a Trotskyist party tension in Greece, in which will need the brazen Popular Frontism Diplomatic fighting for a socialist Zim- nunueupre. Interior has been continue following Egyptian of the and aranst all Iorms

DHNE

of unprincipled alliances with rejected and the brazen lett President GOdOT! the bourgeoisie if this is to be of

PASOK

Israel. Svria howerer seems to demagogy

OM ONSTRE

Iron ore workers march on day 98 of their pay strike the every struggle treacherous role of the exist- ing bureaucracy seeking to shackle the working class to the strategy and even the political parties of the ruling class is plain to see. Programme A programme to defend bob raid li astan aris tse raised, with alUne demand that the unions locally and natonally break from the Democrats and the Republicans in order to build a Labor Party. Sugar strikers face troops For more than three months Guyanese sugar have been workers on demanding back strike pay of £50 which is owed them under a profit to sharing scheme. But the main issue of the strike has now become that of scab labour. The 'socialist' government of Forbes Burnham reacted workers' demands by to the mobilising 6,000 troops and civil servants to scab on the striking sugar workers The agricultural workers union is demanding the with- drawal of the scabs before they will negotiate The strikers have been supported by oil workers in TinRo wno mave re uscu l[ deliver oil to Guyana until Burnham withdraws the scabs. Burnham shows no sign of budging, but seems determin- ed to crush independent trade unionism altogether fits in with This position rightward shift his the foreign policy recent months he has been wooing the Carter administration, though oniy a tew months ago he was publicly accusing the CIA of trying to over.

throw him. At present the 'opposition' led by which Cheddi Jagan, last year was prepared enter a calition government been with Burnham, has opportunistically taking of his rightward adantage shift. Jagan, however, has shown conclusively in the past that he is not prepared to lead an independent struggle of the working class working uvanest the sham class must reject "socialist' alternatives offered

Matt Merrigan Since its rout in the elections of June 16 last, the Irish Labour Party has been in disarray. Its policy of sharing power and governmental office with the right wing conservative Fine Gael party resulted then lass for three seats (from 20 to 17).

fell at the time from 55 43, Jack unle Lynch's Fianna Fail increased its seats from to 84, giving it the biggest majority in its history.

IN BRIEF

VIETNAM

The military dictatorship for has published the rules the democracy return to which supposed begin 1S next year with 'free elections' assembly. constituent The elections will take place while many opposition leaders remain in prison or in People who are illiter- exie. ate (30% of the populațion) are not alowed to to get on the lists it is neces- sary to get 40,000 signatures and have committees in 12 or more departments. This auto- matically excludes most organisations to the left of the CP. The CP itself, for long supporter of the millary dictatorship, not

TOW

sure, has criticised quite so the ground rules but is going to parmerpale nonetneress.

PERU

The visit of Vietnamese CP leader Le Duan Peking to highlighted has Ent differences between Chinese and Vietnamese bureaucracies. Le Duan was received with a good deal less public than such warmth recent visitors as Tito and the chief, Pol- 100100012 Party Pot. He did get a banquet at he publicly Thank edI 'the Soviet Union and other socialist countries for their Vietnam; help and which he adopted the Soviet bureaucracies "world formula' against imperialism rather Chinese alternative than in e the third world SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 November, 1977

NTERNATIONAL

Crisis for Irish Labour Party Browne in fact was elected Dail (parliament) II the Dublin Artane constituen- cy, having secured 5,601 first preference votes Merrigan failed to be elected for Finglas, but 1,512 first preference votes.

Some time after the Merrigan election, Browne, and their supporters in the Liaison com- of the Left were from the Irish Labour Party for having stood against official Labour Party candidates. (Ironically, Browne originally been adopted as official candidate in Artane, but his nomination was overturned by Labour's top brass). Formation of At the. beginning October this group-number- ing at most 300-held public meeting in Dublin to discuss the formation of a A short time ago the party-named Socialist Labour Party- mole was formed on what seems to be vaguely left social- of At the time the democratic platform. Press elections, Socialist Many of the policies are refused to call for a vote for taken over Labour because of its open the electoral of positions that declaration would Browne and Merrigan: oppos- form a coalition government ition to coalitions with Fine with the bourgeois Fine Gael.

fion to Fae National page- Critical support National (Ireland's Social Agreement We did give critical sup- Contract); opposition to the port, though, to those candi- more overt examples of state dale repression in the North and to the coalition part of their South; opposition to the programme-for dominance the Catholic O1 example, Noel Browne and Church of and to the lack Matt Merrigan, who stood as basic rights for women, eg Independent labour candi- facilities, contraceptive dates. divorce, etc. All of these points are of course supportable for social- ists-but on their own they COra maacqualt the needs of the Irish working The programme advanced by the new party contents itself reformist and

HOLLAND

with securing certain minimal After the definitive break- gains. of coalition down talks Claw back the Labour Party between and the Christian Democrats, But in a situation of gener- programmme was agreed alised economic crisis where between the leaders of the capitalism

IIOE

Christian Democrats and the demands, but grant any new wing.

V VID

must claw back reforms won rarty 101 a would coalition which the past, minimal programmes exclude the Labour Party. are in truth This has since run into pro- useless. blems from the 'left wing' What is needed instead is a 01 the Christian Democrats who of about the coalition's demands which extend a fight worry ability to control the labour rights into a movement without Labour in struggle for state power itself.

So Holland, power. Browne's party will not, seven months after the elections it elaborate such a because sill nas no government. programme precisely effect of this on weakening it wants to charmer Ine maep- the bourgeoisie was seen endent strengths of the work- when national negotiations ing class into parliamentary between unions and the bye-ways, "left" though these the employers wage may be. 1978, broke increases for Restlessness down after 20 minutes. Its formation this

COLOMBIA

period is symptomatic of the growing within restlessness The ruling Conservative the Irish working class, their and Liberal disenchantment Parties into

ENE

the pre-presidential election impotent official Labour Party and their desire for a increasingly Period avided, which can lead them while the agitation by the party working class for wage out of the present situation.

It is too early to say with has resumed with a Herease eries of large demonstration any certainty precisely what role this new group will play major cities. Ine in Irish politics.

ETHIOPIA

Most likely it will end up as a pressure group to the left The West Somalia Libera. of the official Labourites, but tion rront is reported to have will be most certainly won what expected to was unable to provide the revol- •rove a demove batte leadership which struggle with the Ethiopian alone can solve the economic dictatorship military DaCKtU political problems dflu PHOTO: Mark Rusher, 65-100,000

PRISONERS

OF

KONSCIENCE

IN

DONE SIA

In a week when it was announced that 10,000 political prisoners have been released in Indonesia, a picket was mounted outside the Indonesian Embassy in London to protest against the continued detention of tens of thousands of others.

SOARES THREAT

With only a few days

TO QUIT

to go before the end of Premier Mario Soares' ultimatum to the oppos- ition parties, the Portu- political situation guese to be heading seems towards a new crisis. Soares says he will resign the other parties-the Social Democrats, the Demo.

cratic and Social Centre and the Communist Partv -do not agree to support the govern- ment's programme. Exclusion The programme includes of explicit an exclusion further nationalisation and further hand halcasult back nationalised property to the capitalists and the pay- ment of compensation to others, the establishments of limits on the agrarian reform and on the right to strike.

Panes There is also further of IMF-inspired programme the labour force. economic austerity measures Taken together this pro- including the limitation of huge wage increases to 20% (when represents canine inflation is running at over made by the Portuguese since the over- 'improve 30%), measures to throw the Caetano work discipline' and lessen dictatorship in 1974 absenteeism, measures to de- capitalists' restrict the … free dom sack to workers and Line up maintenance unem- Ine ployment its present The Portuguese Commun- official level of about 14% of ist Party is, according to its

CP BACKS STATE

CRACKDOWN

Italy's 'Red Brigades' have once again claimed responsibility for a con- tinued wave of terrorist attacks. Last week attempts were made to kill or injure an Fiat-owned editor of the newspaper La Stampa and a director of the part-national- Ansaldo, ised company who is a member of the Italian Communist Party. In the face of events of this kind the Italian Commu- nist Party has lined up com- pletely behind the respressive policies of the bourgeois state which are directed by Interior Berlinguer Minister Cossiga brother in law of CP secre- total collaboration with the Enrico tary general bourgeoisie. Berlinguer). Pechioli is now calling for After the latest series of the mobilisation CP attacks, the had gone masses to defend the bour- further down this treacherous geois state and its repressive apparatus. an interview last week In "The defence of the demo the Milan Daily Corriere cratic state said Pechioli, della Sera the party spokes- "cannot only be delegated to man on law and order, Ugo the police and the courts. If Pechioli, spells out violent groups or their accom- clearly the way in which the plices exist in a factory they CP Italian has abandoned be denounced by other Lll Last Page 3 recent conciliatory sta ready apparently Illents, behind this up working class programme a join a government of natio unity under Soares To the two bourge parties, YCl programme is not enough. far they implied Have they are not prepared to operate in Soares' plan And Soares himself refu to contemplate a governm with of workers CP. If he cannot get grand popular Iront he he demanded he will, resign. right wing 25 to organis November of demonstrations celebrate the anniversar the overthrow the wing insurrection' in 19°3 Political crisis And President Eanes i hint the occasion to that, if the political crisi resolve itself quic he might assume the spe powers that the constitut allows him That the right able to talk brazenly SO the responsibility leaders of the workers' par of the Soci not only government but CP which in 'opposition last few months has wage bitter war all signs militant action by the wo ing class. "We should strive for inhabitants of the suburbs tell the. big cities to authorities what they learned, that they tell th about what they see". Pechioli claims he is : talking the peo about becoming "informers but he then sugge spies' that local committees are up to assist the police a security forces of the state "For • the popular and for the State, terroris which an must fought by every means". Pechioli went on support the illegal operati of the state security or sations. "An efficient ni mation service is indispensi and no one imagines thai can operate in an legal manner at he works secret 29 that he works openiy formal respect for the las contradictory, ridiculous Thus the Italian Stalinis driven on by the logic of ta Tory Party. the Chris exceed even Tories the ther 13:2302

POLITICS SHUNNED BY

Page 4

JOBLESS UP

AS SLUMP

DEEPENS

inflicting new Capitalism unemployment upon the working class. Last week the European Economic Community announced that the registered number of workers as throughout the EEC had reached 6 million. Even that vast figure is an underestimate.

jobs on the list of registered There are further millions vacancies-2,000 jobs of jobless in the rest of capi- shared among one and a half talist Europe, including pro- million workers! bably 2 million in spain and Portugal. mic news which made it clear the United States in million are without jobs and that there is no prospect of countless millions of others the problem rest of the unemployment being solved throughout une capitalist world. by capitalist system About 1,500,000 of these millions are in Britain where Economic Development (the club of the unemployment has doubled since the Labour Government rich capitalist countries) held took power in 1974. a conference in Paris at which its 'experts produced figures to show that Monstrous growth of was everywhere Last week's figures show

WALES

far behind that this monstrous number made a few months ago. sign whatever

-HOWS HU

number of The unemployed in fact wholly And the fell by a negligible 500 which bleak equally the Government, clutching at the future. any straw, saw as a positive' The sign. 'hopeful sign' The other conference by saying: pointed out by the Ministry of Employment was that this sionary measures, the month there were 2000 more

ONTACT

MACHING E

RE ASTATE

-a SWINDON NA! Rank and File's hatred of bureaucracy is not enough.

No call for the with- "campaign drawal of scab troops from the firemen's strike No demand was made last Saturday those union leaders who the Rank and File deliberately by action on wages. conference in delegate Manchester organised by Socialist Workers the Party. opening speaker, The cede with their 135% claim.

Strathclyde fireman, never even mentioned the troops.

And another later referred to them not as scabs, but as "squaddies" wage control. Restricted Democracy The motion that completely Movement adopted was proposals for restricted restidarity* urging delegates "raise financial support"; "ensure proper fire cover" at BLMC's "support places:

#DIK

calling for a campaign and nicketa" DUATO. Iahe Stupon Report age of mass unemployed has painted a secretariat for 1978, gloomy picture of involving lower growth industrial production, to of stagnation investments. and rising unemployment sharp decline in world trade The week also saw econo- lead to much could greater protectionism. mass OI Raging for 'Protectionism' the Organisation Cooperation and polite word for the trade war which raging already between the major capitalist countries, desperately search- ing for a bigger share of the the rate of world's diminishing mass capitalist econo- protit. lagging general the Although the predictions frightened economic authori- world ties of the capitalist have stopped this trade war Bleak prospects from taking the form of an increase in tarriff and custom figures showed duties on trade, it is still there prospects for in the form of the increasing number of 'voluntary' restric- Financial Times tions on exports, summed up the mood of the which Lit United States in particular is trying to impose on a growing

DECD

number of countries. movement to break solidarity labour for Lib-Lab coalition and the action"; and strengthen "rank remove the Callaghan-Healey and file support committees" Labour leadership. was oul only speaker was the are protest at the invitation back to holding to

BBC

televising conclas had been extended by

SWP

publicity-hungry Let off hook organisers. their Conspicuous by Miners leaders were let off the were absence however the hook for refusing to pro- most eager conference's left, the publicists on No mention was made of İnternational Marxist Group, the Lib-Lab coalition govern- Socialist whose paper. ment or its role in enforcing Challenge had been trumpet- It was left to the movers ing praise for the conference for support for and calling of amendments based on the weeks beforehand. policies of the Campaign for four

IMG

In the end the Labour members were spotted in the make these 400-strong audience wich political points and offer considerably itself clear programme for struggle.

than the last smaller Thornett from conference. •Cowley Assembly The drop in numbers was amendment matched by a certain loss of in the week by two events: the first The textile industry was the announcement of the already America has Latin stunted by these nall yearly tinancial figure to arm the British Steel Corporation twisting methods. And the which The loss for British government. has rejected the reactionary amounted million nationalist demand second! import controls which comes At the same from the Labour Lefts and Bethlehem Steel Company in CP, has instead wrested US 'voluntary' limitations from scale of Hong Japan exports of such products as AnnouCed almost double this TVs and cars. The capilalst slates air Dumped increasingly throwing around accusations against each othet workers against the (and producers blame the situation 'dumping' (selling states) on cheap 'dumped' goods below the cost of pro- from Japan and are threaten- duction). ing step Committees of the United against Japanese steel. States Congress are at present investigating demands for the crisis of the steel industry dumping and protection based on that and -which is part of the crisis of grounds against goods the whole capitalist economic which acount for two thirds system-is to of the exports of the EEC to the US. should be Japanese, American or European workers that are forced to bear the bulk of the This trade war was high- lighted in different ways this

SWP'S

CONFERENCE

No call to pull out army control by the SWP-run Rank social spending to sate for and File committee. 50 only votes on In two snock platform had first policy amendments, the plat- the amendment, form was first defeated and then scraped through by an issue of confidence. whisker. the long- As a result SWP demand of standing flat £15 across-the-board pay rise was scrapped, and the cal "wage increases at least large enough to restore 1974- break in standards" coalition was living adopted. Narrowly defeated work- And the call for sharing on full pay as the union bureaucracy. sackings policy to combat and unemployment was only narrowly defeated. programme amendment. cost of living fulfill calling tor the clauses in all pay settlements tronting the working class "automatic increases in and SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 Norember, 1977 Separate SiX months fight can £200 over nearly £13 only lead the time which is similar - to failure production to BSC losses which were The size of this year's NUS Women's Conference was an indication of the weakness of Both British and American the and womens campaign the refusal of the Broad Left imports take womens' leadership to seriously-only about protection issues 150 delegates and activists turned up. The capitalists' answer to There were discussions on important issues like women Northern Ireland; lesbian parents; sexism in education; bargain with and rape other about whether it these debates were overshadowed by the two demands which have domin- ated the womens' conference for the past for •3 years. and for status giwaler autonomy taken Any decisions useless while totally remain Conference Womens purely advisory, and while its resolutions are not discussed at national NUS Conference.

womens™ conte passed which conference conflict with

NUS

policy should be automatically given priority for discussion at the policy-making national conference. that status, the Without Womens' Conference

NUS

will remain a token gesture from the Broad Left-domina- ted executive. Closed Over the past 3 years, the

NUS

Womens Conference has voted to be closed to men -and this year was exception. Excluding : men from the Womens' Conference can inflation" received only detract further from the after fight to make womens' issues votes, the

NUS

distorted integral part of then and policy. made it plain they saw it as Women never alone cari challenge the material roots The conference's emphasis -that their oppression away from political questions struggle can only be under- taken by the whole labour and towards pure trade union militancy was reflected in the and student movement with smaller number that voted for principled leadership Lib-Lab Nus leadership. unlike the present recognises

NUD

the importance of womens And there was nothing to suggest that this latest Rank rights. NUS conference delegates and File conference would do its prede- in December should support than an amendment to delete the cessors to assist the course of the struggle against the trade demand for autonomy of the Womens' from Conference Women Society Only the construction of a this new political leadership on a and it is vital that the to regain BuI substantive motion is passed standards can tasks con- be womens nights ian built throughout JUS

The National Exec- utive of the Labour Party refused to give support to the firemen last week and instead called for urgent talks the Prime with Minister, Callaghan and Healey, the Chancellor, over the "rigid applica- tion of the ten percent limit. The starting for point these talks is complete sub- servience to the pay policy.

Ruled out motion put Labour party Socialists executive member, Nick Bradley* was Tuied out of order. mild enough was It did motion. not specifically call for the money to be paid. simply expressed 'con- cern' and said the

FBU

claim "justified by was the terrible drop living standards that working past pew years suffered in the people In its search for a 'reason- defence of the firemen able' the motion even pointed to the electoral support that the would paylig Call bring. It was all in all the sort of motion that even right wing bureaucrats are prepared to But much meat for the abolit executive. not LnE accepted emergency

FBU

not because nad asked the NEC to intervene.

Hailed So, despite the fact that a position favour of the would strikers been have hailed by every fireman on gave every occer ane. the chaired executive by "left' talking Minister Joan A wounded shark is in of being severe danger torn to pieces by its fellow hunters, should it happen to get wounded while they are feeding. Much the same casual butchery is also the practice of Fleet Street. The Mirror Group has shown what sharp teeth it has by sacking every single one of its 420 journalists over their pay claim. But the dispute has made wound in the soft under- belly of the IPC paper, and the blood has drawn the other Fleet Street papers to- wards the kill. Most of the nationals are covered by a sort of cannibal gentlemen's that will not increase their own print run when one of the other papers is off the streets due to a strike. But the Mirror since Group left the security net of the Newspaper Publishers Association its fellow carni- SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 November, 1977

NEC BACKS 10% LIMIT

- NOT FIREMEN

Lestor, bureaucratic room for If the 'lefts' that generally a way out. dominate Labour's NEC are Instead Norman Atkinson not prepared to come out in full support of the firemen into the depths of scar clung his "left' then there is nothing, absol- reputation to come up with something, proposed utely nothing, that will force that

NEC

deputation- them to break from complete Lestor and General Secretary support for the coalition and Hayward its policy of wage cuts, job Kon - meet Callag- han and Healey in private.

and public cuts in

CUILS

spending. This was hailed The motion Tribune Group has with relief. All bar three increased its affiliation of members the executive 50%. Neither lee bi voted for it, and those that nor cosy chats with Callaghan opposed it (including Shirley are able to from save tnem all hardened complete and utter political Willams) were right wingers. bankruptcy. LPYS backing for - Lib-Lab coalition 'Our criticisms do not mean that we want to bring Governm- down the PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report ment, we want to strengthen it and keep it in power'.

This the conclusion drawn Tony Saunois

LPYS

National Committee member after harrowing of the account vicious attacks by the Coalition Government workers' living standards, and a rousing description of the mass mobi- lisation of workers growing daily, against these policies.

Benn This Militant double-think was apparent again and again overthrow Callaghan

LPYS

'Young during the Healey. Workers' Conference at Isling ton on Saturday November Unity 25. It came not least from He claimed that a split in the main Tony Party speakers, the Labour Benn, Minister of Energy, and destroy the unity which made Bob Wright, Assistant General the British Labour movement Secretary the

AUEW.

the strongest in the world!

He agreed that it was only Benn was given a friendly mass struggles that reception by YS and Militant

LATOON

could be workers' gains members

UL SCHL

achieved. But he conspicu- applauded as he left the room slid the around ministeria] challenge that he should "duties' of organising produc- therefore fully support the tivity deals for the miners and firemen and other current other plans to strangle the disputes. He rejected working class.

PRESS GANG

SHARK PRACTICE

Victor Matthews, the man vores have ditched their who bought the Express in scruples and set out to pick the summer, burst on to the up some of the easy pickings front for the second of Daily Mirror page suffering from withdrawal time in a few months to pro- test against 'unwarranted symptoms. interference' by Keys. all the best But as in With tears rolling down his suspense stories a hero rushes face, businessman turned ace to the rescue in the nick of reporter Matthews wrote- time. 'His instructions do not And when the threatened take account of the welfare victim is one of capitalism's who better of Beaverbrook staff. whose presses, has been security snatch it to safety from the years through jaws of disaster, than a full- jeopardy for financial difficulties, or the time official of a print union?

Bill Keys, General Secre- right of small shop-keepers.- who

SOGAT,

are already fast tary of whose disappearing-to sell the servIces •to the newspapers that give them a bosses most recently include living ... attempted sabotage oI Ine Keys Darlington strike, 'Mr should know instructed that we shall continue to up- his members not handle to hold the right of management of any other paper than normal. manage and right workers to work of this The sondarily action is tempered by the fact Not word about his profits. But then Matthews, that print union leaders are like his fellow sharks in the now trying to cooperate with the Mirror to find a way to business, does not want to show all his teeth at once.

scab on the dispute through linking production to That really would frighten up Manchester. the fish. Suddenly the chances of Labour being mass- acred at the next election look less clear cut. With the critical struggle against the 10% limit already launched, the working class has shown its determination resist the wage policies of the coalition, and immediate threat provide an to the Coalition itself. But middle class elements who oscillate between Tories Labour showing and 410 doubts that the Tories will offer anything intensification of the class Wal Every poll now publishes shows the Tory lead cut The reaction of Tories is shown 'open letter' an Reginald Maudling has writ- ten to his constituents-or at least those of them who read the limes The Tories want power. Ministers break ranks-over EEC, not pay Seven Cabinet Ministers and 170 other Labour MPs proved conclusively last week that they do not go into Government lobbies on tram lines! All Ministers seven abstained on the vote for direct elections

EEC

to dil Parliament while 70 odd Labour MPs up the courage to vote against it.

Four Ministers-Benn, Shore, Orme and John -actually sat unblushing in their seats while the vote was taken. The earth did not open up and swallow them. Despite the two line whip Leader of the House, Foot, also abstained. In the best traditions of undercover leftism, the MPs had swallowed the camel of IMF policies inflicted on the working class and were straining at the gnat of direct EEC elections It was a safe stagemanaged rebellion. A massive majority was assured since the Tories, Liberals and Nationalists were all supporting the elections Just to be on the safe side, the MPs had taken the pit caution of confessing to Callaghan about their bad Page i Swapping yarns on wage control? Callaghan and Chapple at the EEPTU Conference.

"THEY HAVE STOLEN THE

TORY PROGRAMME

SOBS MAUDLING

Maudling reflects dilemma and the unhappi it is causing inside the Party. He points out that present programme Government contam: proposals more nationalisation' Maudling goes on: 'As for the powers of trade unions, the Governm are no longer trying to ext Enem 'Indeed to the

COILI

fighting they are of Parliament and the pop will against the organised ильстиршой. muscle of some trade unio Optimistically Maud reckons that the Govert.-.

will hold its pay policy the Conserva

BICOCULA

Party with a dilemma. If t Maudling support him (Calaghar, They fear that the Labour he succeeds, he will be in Party will be forced into con.

call an electi position lo and in a very strong posit cessions unfavourable to capi- talism. At the same time they indeed to win it. Yet si alternative do the Conser recognise the Labour- tives have? Liberal coalition is managing capitalism more effectively shall not get mi than they could-by assuring benefit from pointing the complete acquiescience of that the leopards changed their spots, that t are doing now what we h advocated for some years Despite his warning an economic recovery lead to an outbreak of Be ery, Footery and Scargilldo line of Maudlis the main plaintive letter is that si the Labour Party name putting wage and job cutting pol that the Tories advocate a that there is theretore effective opposition that th can make. Class line drawn on racialism In an important step f ward, Oxford City Party has set up an Ar Peter Shore racism sub-committee. attack of principles at a Par- Last week a public me Party namentaly ing was organised br meeting. Main speaker + committee. assured of his Paul Rose MP, who is one majority and conscious of the Labourites the few important role that his 'leits' kind of record of play in confusing the working fascistl class, handed them their But as he denounced "s escape louie tarianism" as a "crime". Ro He told them abstentions revealed that his ideal "unit 'on conscientious grounds' front" against fascism wou were permissable include Tories and Liberals Tribune Group MPs are The 60-strong meeti this SCIe however, was more in faso and precedent apply platform and flo Callaghan for permission to speakers who demanded kick over the traces on other campaign centre on matters of principle. Just so labour long as the Coalition strategy

HO›COCTI

ending the Lib-Lab coality for suppressing the working class is not disturbed. Createu une for fascists to operate

Page 5 Ireland

ROOTS OF

TODAY'S

CRISIS

Part Five

DEAD END OF

NATIONALISM

July 1923, after the Civil War In a contribution to the partition of the country, as had ended, there were 11,316 well as against the clauses in national debate on the prisoners in jail. which stipulated question at the Second Con- they would have to take an Faced with such gress of the Communist Inter- and with dwindling support mational, a Jewish delegate independence from the war-weary popula- even after from the Bolshevik Party, conceded was granted. tion, the

I.R.A.

The and anti-Treaty- defeat and on May 24 1923 Mereshin, said: The transfer of ites were ultimately bound together by their desire to from the hands of the big dump arms. establish an independent capi- bourgeoisie into the hands of Valera (De Ireland petty bourgeois groups form- himself found great

IIU

democratic republican The did ing not trouble in accepting the pro- for the states, does not reduce visions of the Treaty later national tensions but on the the contrary sharpens them in tormed ment to the extreme. were of 1922 Minutes of the Second 1924 Congress. Vol 1 p.163 they differed how that The New Park Ed. October prisoners Griffith's wanted Ireland The events British mar- open immediately following jail. ttom ¡1921 ceasefire with the Even graphic British are contir- they were Mereshin's state- 3 1925, of harassed. capital. the Treason- able Offences of had Murder the taken place

I.R.A.

Free State proposed by and The. southern, By June, repub- escalated all-out Ireland had o: status

JIRLO

shot in licans, within the British artillery using 1925 In the North counties, State Government THree the

I.R.A.

at the officially the time. and border, SaHIL- of the The within Northern state-a be Ireland were

TOL

each other the National of 26 state; Mereshin those the ensuing governmental

I.R.A.

Fein. In and Michael which Cosgrave- the bigger represented

I.R.A.

the with greater their lot with had thrown in Dail the oath period. 1922 On 15 Having secured as much De Shortly independence political Sinn trom they needed, and fearful lest a movement of the working of Fianna Fail (Warriors class go and drive Military were set- too lat Destiny'), the well out the as move- orthodox decided British, they Kevin terms of Mussolini-to try 4. arrested accept the the 44 The new effort I.R.A. men. Treaty an 1927 seats in June stabilize the situation. elections, The anti-Treatyites, led by Eamon De Valera, were more 1922 nine Went representative of the interests 1927, farmers and small them small court-among el- the Dail opposition capital. as For them the Treaty was Erskine Liam initially too much held election they reacted Internment camps were Fianna that 57 while the won separation 62 The government of Fein policy demise of the leadership, almost George 44 of Price) bring the anti-Treaty abstentionists, 40 TICkets une anti-Treaty republicanism communist Fein and

TATIANCIL.

The the I.R.A. to at this unification 1927, the Army class-North Convention decided ten-year-old the suppor dil Under Peadar radical groups -where of 1927, 1920 had Republican was momentary 1928-29, 1919-ł establisncu, set Catholics Saor Eire the together to up group. The Defence was the

I.R.A.

unionists- Under held This body national July 1929, which Labour Revo- March established avowedly organisation, Communist which paper Workers' entitled The Voice. of radical organisations UD- the Irish Unem. the ployed Womens' International League Farmers Party Wall St. the crash. For most of this period there was more red though, smoke than fire. None of the had organisations pro- capable of integra- gramme political and economic ting demands, tarian class solution to the national question. The left-republication movements never went beyond the limits of a radi- cal nationalism, and were thus organically incapable of utilizing the favourable ditions of the early thirties in Just as a revolutionary way. the 1916-20 period the national question was separated off from the working class agitation of the 1929-32 time, in these two movements apart. Sinn Fein 1929-32 the Michael sought questions did not with and adopt for did time for the working South, and crushed the unity and to come for their was to Northern De Valera with US Irish leaders in 1919 Armed members of the IRA patrol unemployed worker was entitled to benefit only if he met a number of stiff require- if he had been ments; contribu- work and paying tions for the preceding two years, if he passed a means test and if 'he was genuinely seeking work' Given the near-permanent state of high unemployment Northern during Ireland few the twenties, very workers were actually entitled to benefit In Britain, those denied benefit usually received out- door relief-a form of charity doled out by local Poor Law Guardians. In Belfast, ODR was allowed only to a handful of applicants, and was awar- in kind rather than in ded cash A series of demonstrations during 1925-26 won a minor concession whereby all heads of families qualified for ODR The rates were at starva- tion level. A couple with no children eight shillings a week; got twelve with one child, with two children, shillings; sixteen shillings; with four of children, maximum mOrE of twenty four shillings.

this the husband had to per-

SOCIALIST PRESS. Weiness 30 Norember. 19=-

PUT

HIM

IN

YOTE

G he streets of Dublin in 1922 Man The in • +4. r. Election poster for Griffiths form days work' 'task spread were Road-an in On 14, the which kind gas bills case, or means test. nothing unless they

ZUL

secured sions did meet the and rights. was to fragile. riots Northern 28% of population, in Belfast. prove that class unity forged can 1933 OnlY Workman closed That taneously the con-

MOLISI

Agitation in late battles over sciously. 1930 Workers' (who latel cance that but was R.W.G.-led Tommy Revolutionary an Out- of ttee, and a series mass rallies August the formation

TOUSI

On 24. of what Tne

ODR

Committee could by Flying Ireland. and isation Catholic and that 60,000 through undoubtedly Belfast 'work and events since 1968, WSL still we 1n unemployed workers lutionary workhouse the Law Guar where are and mum of Such unity be 13/6d can only man: single forged basis on woman-all o1 a to De programme revolutionary issues The RWG mic all task work. clashes police as they in the single were parts of the city Nor were On Friday the left promised 'United (the Irish Con- was rejected of such who called a series of development. October demonstrations 12. Again vene political WIll events in the ! shot dead fourteen When the Civil

RUC

wounded the militants each group Falle off Growing Valera's Fail Party isolated Sinn I.R.A. even In the February. elections, Planna 57. ment of annuities to britain, many of this demand. tion was trouble-

HONESTO

year constitution a new claiming jurisdiction and on Anglo signed Ireland that had ceded to treaty. Collins - his assassination in 1922 sparked more repression.

1938 Fail gave of exodus men EC 1936-7 and the of a Second

L.R.A.

the embarked bombing campaign in Britain during consequent of the alleged men Barnes of the inorougnly land very of had begun. Fantastic schemes for many Russell Nazi Foreign actually in August and together they 'Operation The hated Black and Tans This though Russell a U-boat which heading the and

I.R.A.

served to as even a hint of planning, process reconstructing «Derree distributed Partition they in Belfast- mosi situation Ireland prepared engage further of armed struggle. 1951-54 raids were paration campaign

TOT

question simply Der 1930. repeating Barracks These But and the secure German can confined off farce, though, 'Punch'

I.R.A.

the a serious country struggle - was the I.R.A. closer to suspected of 1957 to From being an was March they were defensive as mainly leaders-Sean McCaughey among would opened been shot suspected men into escaped. Lack of casualties Edentubber November'57 the I.R.A. were laving exploded warning) wear the down were only incidents; 1960-76; first month of campaign- December aluitc produced 25 and incidents attacks. The campaign thereby The deciding to whose minds deliberately been the people-the and unity "distraction" How

IRA

had made clear. Paze " In truth though the 56-63 to the Instead of scrutining them- leaderel support they wanted needed but attempt analyse the the failings but revolution Men Cathal head of the Official IRA-developed Communist Party member Roy that first Ireland had to be then military IRA and share a alistic (It virtually at same time another petty-bourgeois Stalinism) make no break have attractive ing Ireland 196° agitation in Northern ine hase republicans must this-the thought of their theor mation But that troops clear that Northern was reformed-it to going And that to have was repercussions within republican was now since 1963

Pize :

LESSONS

FROM EPIC

STRIKES

FOR UNIONS

Pat Lally reviews This pamphlet more than a record of the 6-month strikes for union recognition fought out by TGWU Cater- workers Sheffield, ing Oxford and Birmingham from last autumn until August this year. In placing those struggles firmly within the context of collaboration decente between the labour leadership and the employers, immediate connections with both Grunwick and Desout- strikes, and raises questions which extend far beyond the fight for basic union rights. Respectability But, like The whole industry is those new recruits combination of prestigious 5 House Forte and star rated respectability and working conditions Ddy which with the ning lowest and worst there is to maiority be found. realisation The problems are legion. separates Tied accommodation, deliber- ate recruitment of immigrant their workers and threat of the wilncrawal in support. wOrk permits, and high proportion of "traditionally' low paid workers, tently effective СОЛОНЄ pamphlet. union organisation difficult.

It is within this section of the working class that unioni- sation has dramatically Tosti, Jo the few increased Shop Steward years, forced on by mounting inflation and unemployment.

A major part of these new union members have turned TGWU-the the towards very country's biggest union which union bureaucracy has grown by nearly a quarter igning or of a million since 1974.

I BOYCOTI

HENEKEYS

TRUST Har Some of the many Trust Houses Forte workers who can bear testimony the irm has for workers Square. London, in July 1974.

Unionisation"-a new *The Hotel Strikes, Lessons for pamphlet published by the Hotel and Catering Workers National Action Com- mittee. Available from the Action Committee at 21, Scala St., London, W1P 1LU price 35p plus 15p post and package.

was overruled by Jack Jones in what is supposed to be the most democratic union in the The of the country. policy bureaucratic was always one of accommo- dation with the management

THF

They were not prepared to fight against the victimisation of their shop stewards, but on the contrary worked towards of their members in dispute to facili- tate a sell out which doing Nateener

THF*

Determined This analysis is confirmed Jack Jones rorte. many more Trust voKeu, and Linton Lodge hotels quickly learnt that joining is only the begin- oi a solution. ror ine brought bitter of the chasm union membership from control of organisation

ULE

organisations and the ability to mobilise its strength it is this central issue ot leadership which runs consis- throughout the Not fighting reinstated as the 1n successful strike at the Linton Lodge, writes in the foreward be "Throughout the disputes, was not members. The will of the membership who join a union. Sacked workers picketing Henekeys, in Leicester they with Ine was SOCIALIST PRESS, Wedresdas 30 November, 1977

IN REVIEW

Top: police in action outside the Randolph Hotel, Oxford, in May 1977, where 39 arrests were particıpants unemployed and workplaces as

TOTCOI

Mudes Genera the workers. and which wil Serto class

STAKHANOV - STALIN'S

SOCIALIST PRESS. Wednesdar 30 Norember, 1977 On the night shift of August 30/31 1935, at Irmino Colliery Central in the Donetz Basin, the 30-year-old miner Alexei Stakhanov produced 102 tons of coal. It was fourteen times the 'norm' standard for or single shift. Stakhanov, who died three weeks ago had been preparing his assault on the record tor some time As an individual achievement is in fact less impressive than it has been made to look. Stakhanov did not work alone but with two assistants the

ITALIEU

Stakhanoy props while whole devoted his hewing coal. The norm for the shift was eacaworker 401- stantly and inefficiently shifting between each task.

But the pertormance of Stakhanov and his helpers was still a dramatic improve.

ment in productivity and it Stalin's was selzeu upon bureaucracy as a model. Stakhanovism was born. In each major industry an equi- valent individual record was selected given aHu massive publicity in the press. Heroic A11 workers en- were couraged the example of the heroic record beaters. In November of 1935 the first All-Union Conference of Stakhanovites assembled In the Kremlin was dressed by Stalin: "Is it not clear that the Stakhanovites are innovators industry, that our seed contains the the . 01 future rise of the cultural and technical level of the working class, tnal i opens to us tne path by which alone can be achieved those high indices of productivity of labour, which are essential for the transition trom Commu- nism and for the elimination the distinction between mental and manual labour?"

1935 was the second year of the Second Five Year Plan

OUR

on full pay not. baurence sparnam, Ii h.

during which industrial outout was supposed to more than double with more emphasis being put on con- sumer goods than in the first plan. Substitute But despite several years of massive investment in in- dustrial machmely, ductivity of labour still failed lo grow al int pace which lie demanded. The bureaucracy leaders and Molotov complained that the Russian workers still lacked skill. Trotsky, in The Revolu- Betrayed, argued that tIOn this was "only half the truth, half. The and Russian worker ingenious and gifted. Any hundred Soviet workers trans- ferred into the conditions, let us say, oi American maustry after a few months and even weeks, would probably not fall behind the American workers of a corresponding calegory. "The difficulty lies in th labour. Th. Organisa LI01l Soviet administrative person- nel is, as a general rule, far less equal to the new produc- tive tasks than the worker.

that was the problem then the answer was clear- the introduction of workers' management in industry. Machinery This, needless say, could not be contemplated bv the Stalinist bureaucracv.

Stakhanovism therefore was part of their substitute.

Stakhanovism also was intimately bound up with the A new series on

POLICIES

Work sharing

TON-UP MERCHANT

Such this, re emphasis of piecework and things as the basis of socialist forms of individual material incentives Trotsky observed, and Stakhanovism property, "explain the fact, at first "to a great degree to work.

CONCE

The Stakhanovite pioneers glance astonishing, that down to an intensitication of enormous labour, and even to a leng- received growth the number 1n wage bonuses. Stakhanoy and Stakhanovists was frequently thening of the working day".

his in the emulators coal an Speed-up piecework and mining industry were soon increase, but a decrease of the the privileges for

LICW

earning 1600 roubles a month general productivity of the Stakhanovites, therefore, with 500 roubles compared often met with the hostility

CHILCHENC

before, and an average wage of the workers. other ways, too, of about 250 roubles. Stakhanovism did not always There was brutal re- These enormous wages improve the performance of pression against workers were reduced later as norms the Unplanned accused of resisting the new economy were increased but still the of methods to impose speed-up.

Crense

OILEI

Stakhanovites (who in some caused shortages and bottle- Many were accused of cases were half the workforce sabotage of the necks in other areas of the allu factory) got murder of Stakhanovites. But materia] OI often privileges, at the And, since the piece rates tactories, in the of the lower paid whole country, these years than the increases in produc- were to see the ruthless re- pression and extermination of tivity, Stakhanovism often put up the money costs of all opposition. As the leaders of the revolution and count- production and thus upset the financial aspects of the plan But in spite of these wide- spread problems Stakhanov- ism was certainly one of the reasons why productivity rose in the Soviet Union during this period. Grotesque But it was a grotesque lie for Stalin to refer to this as "preparation of Stakhanovism was sup-

CON-

ditions for the posed to represent improve-

NATION

from socialism to commun- ism" as it was for the presi- improvements in work organi the State dent of Planning sation, rather than mere Mezhlauk, physical effort. say in 1936 that "the rouble But frequently degenerated into a manic pur- is the sole real beçoming means for the realisation of a speed-uo. Manage-

SUEL

ments often reorganised pro- socialist principle of payment for labour" individual by In fact piecework, achievements Trotsky part of its labour force which out, pomied would capitalist principle of get them favourable pay- publicity. ment, even though it was on There are 16 million The demands that Trotsky casualties of capitalism in forward Put Europe and the USA-16 ¡tional Programme are as rele- the fight for Transitional today as they were in Demands million workers without 1938 when they were first a job. adopted by the founding of of the Fourth For every single one these workers it seems there is not a job but a speech Sliding scale Labour ministers deploring the waste' of unemployment, They are a sliding scale of hours and a programme of trade union leaders deciaring the statistics 'unacceptable' publie works-policies businessmen the unite the employed the unemployed unemployed A sliding scale of hours, or with apprehension and urging govern ments get the as it is more usually known work sharing on full pay lays wheels of industry moving.

No reliance can be placed down principle working class do not accept on anyone aims WnC share responsibility for correct unemployment as an independent fault The employer will protest Unemployment is built into capitalism as pain is part of It will ruin him. "Common sense" dictates

CACET

compro The demands we make are mise, that the working class therefore not simply demands shoulders part of the effects to end unemployment but of the crisis; that it helps the demands which lead forward capitalist survive so that at to the overthrow of capital- least some jobs are left.

ism itself. Trotsky takes as his start- Common sense ing point the demand for the right to employment. But are not dealing 'The right to employment with em ployers' "com the is the only serious right left sense" mon or parllal to the worker in a

SOCICL

based upon exploitation" beyond defence of the exist- (Transitional Programme) ing workforce to include the But this "right to work" is unemployed. simply a starting point, not as The fight must be taken the Socialist Workers Party the whole la boul have adapted it, a starting and movement to take respon- tinishine point sibility for the unemployed.

Trotsky uses the demand for more workers to be taken as a propaganda rallying point the pay-roll oi tha from which to build We demand that all avail- shared equall, among all who able work is shared equaily through the workio:se-tha?

CORES:

-usiness cut to the leve. demanded by production and conditions. that there is no less of pal Then le: chese huscetes Pare 9 less thousands of Soviet wot- kers and peasants were sent to their deaths or to prison Stakhanoy was for years pre- sented by the press as a super- star of the Stalinist economy In 1943 he went to Moscow to take up a job in the administration of the coal Then industry ministry. retirement 1957 until his Stakhanov three years ago, was manager of a coal mine in the Donbass region movement named after him did not survive be- yond the Second World War.

Management But the nature of bureau- cratic management of the economy which relies on in- dividual and incentives ourcaucranic nectorg of tae workers has not fundamen- tally changed The Soviet bureaucracy remains as hostile as ever to anything which would release the full productive power of the socialised economy of the Soviet Union-the democratic management production by the working class That will not be possible without revolutionary overthrow of the bureaucracy for which a Trotskyist party must be built Meanwhile it will still need its latter-day Stakhanovs.

Stalin depicted on a propaganda poster of the 1930's must demand nationalisation without compensation under the control of the workers The battle needs be taken up as much against the leadership as against union the em ployers since the bureaucrats who run the unions want no part of such far-reaching demands. Alongside the demand for must put forward a demand for a programme of public works. At present Britain not only: 1.6 million unemployed but also than 300,000 young workers on "job creation" and "work experience" schemes. pay schemes leS than union rates, are of short duration and create unem- ployment direct council workers. Programme Our demand is for trade union control over the pro- for full union rates of pay and for right of every LIte worker to a job. programme not diffi. unemployment is cult to conceive. When build- ing workers are unemployed muldin® high materials stacked builders merchants yards and schools desperatel: and hospitals short of buildings. the anse: is as clear as ABC But tha challege :: delicerate

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

TYNESIDE JOBS

BLACKMAIL

press last the While and (by implication) no jobs.

exulted the These terms have already week at by shop been accented capture of a £100 million at Govan ship- stewards for ships for the order builders presseu accep Government, Polish tance of the terms through a workers were not so en- mass meeting. At Swan Hunters on the thusiatic. the govern- Tyne however, It appears there is a snag ment and union bureaucracy the deal. The 'socialists' has not had such an easy ride.

of the Polish government say 1700 outfitters have refused won't sign any firm

LACY

to call oll an overtime ban 1n the workers orders

CHUCA

of parity wage who are going to produce the demand. firm committ- ships give 'ment not to The calling off of the ban action which might hold up has been made a condition of their delivery. the yard getting the order. During the week therefore, of the the Government has faced the main employers in there 'negotia- workers Clydeside and tions' is a member Tyneside shipyards with the 01 le board of the newly national- following choice: agree not to ised British Shipbuilders, Mr.

strike and to increase prO- John Chalmers. or else no orders ductivity,

UNION OFFICIALS

WIND UP CUTS

an exhortation to 'work and Last November, work' against the cuts. of officials from body General Albert Spanswick, various public sector of

COHSE,

detail- Secretary called a national unions ing the horrifying scale demonstration in London Health Service, the

CUL

"What are was heckled with in social against cuts you going to do?" services. He announced decisively: trade unionists 80,000 compel the mESI came-the largest demonstra- Government to plan .. and tion since those called against Oil Sea bring

NOTI

under public ownership". Tory Industrial Relations the A November a year later-the The "left' position was Dix of Bernard given committee steering

NUPE,

speaking last after an *week of action'- FBU delegate had collected most inappropriately, £115 from the meeting for were this constituent unions the fise men estreThe time allowed any fight zraKe His subject: strike action. against the cuts is were asked last Members ably bound up with the fight week, as during the other 51 for more pay" weeks of the year, to engage militant conclusion in local protests against the Dix arrived at was that all firms should

LULS

Nationally, a mere 5,000 under public ownership. Un- issued for fortunately he forgot to welt lobby of Westminster limited such how plan it was gravely asserted, in the could be carried out or how interest of "public order".

he proposed to tight Under this deliberate mis- NUPE officials are perfect- ly placed to lead a fight for leadership, not astonishingly, the lobby failed to achieve pay backed up with a fight even 5,000 delegates. against the cuts. NUPE has actually lodged a meeting afterwards, about 200 in 30% claim against numbering pay Westminster, Government policy and rejec- Hall, 100% offer

ISTMS

Rep for council ted a Since the massive vote the productivity against deal in the mines, NUM leaders have sat back and avoided pressing the £135 claim. The vote against the pro- •deal was a vote for

AUC AVIES

the £135 claim. Yet Gormley and the NEC are now simply for next March waiting claim will that the miners' conflict with the 12 not that month rule, strike action as spring begins would have little eftect.

Miners the militant Betteshanger Kent pit spoke two to Pre si methods that have been used to hold off the struggle.

Fictitious the Mr. John Chalmers, Firstly, miners have been negotiator softened management up by than 'Brother" the known John general 'golden hour, whereby any- secretary of the Boilermakers one underground can stop on Union! for an extra hour a day. Previously this could only similar In wavs As be done in an emergency. different industries the inter- the struggle well as diverting national crisis of capitalism is this basic rates forcing reformist and Stalinst increase practice attacks the hard-won leaders to come out openly as and agents The second assault on the of capitalist defenders wage claim is in the form of 'viability'. local to negollale incentive schemes. Construction The Executive of the NUM is split down the middle on But these. recommending The problems now facing several Executive members can only be resolved workers South Derbyshire including through the construction of a Ken Toon delegate are leadership prepared to

HICW

favour of giving locai areas struggle on a principled pro- go-ahead negotiate the gramme atiene or Jobs local incentive schemes. another right Ron Clark winger, is following another tactic and calling for a bailot on strike action. Hull AUEW fights pay limits contin- Struggles uing in the AUEW against Scanlon's Hugh man- September's oeuvre at TUC, in which he defied conference policy to casi the union's 1.2 million votes in favour of the 12- month rule. Now a recalled union con- ference is to be hela. Hull AUEW District Com- mittee last Wednesday passed to that confer- a resolution ence, spelling out a rejection of Scanion's back door wage controls: This Branch calls upon all

RNME

recalled the delegates

EALT

reject the 12 conference to

ENG

SAVE

month rule which fetters any return to free wage bargain-

HAR

YOUR

ing. As our membership's inter- Bernard Dix their ests lie in protecting forces could be These call standard living we fighting with the firemen.

ot conference to imple- of upon But the subject ment the following policies: and NUPE's claim on pay Complete support and Dix would work for how for any official backing strike action section of AUEW who Executive the audience heard Tne oppose any further erosion of not one word. living standards. No questions were 2. Conference to campaign accepted-the meeting was all gains to be pro- closed. All wrapped up now for by cost of living tected for another year. negotia- clauses in fight for all-out Wa c Only tions in the form of a sliding national strike action to stop scale of wages. this the

CULS

Call Prevelil 3. Cost of living index to dwindling charade of protest be compiled by año noen me coo o o cal and of brothers of jobs and public defence

NUM LEADERS

DUCK PAY FIGHT

He reckons to use this to membership, divide the will be hoping the result 'No' vote. Firemen's fight However, miners are aware that the firemens' fight affects their dispute: as one miner said 'Wait till the fire- if Len win. men inen see Clark will propose a ballot'.

'Everybody watching monthly. calls for Branch also 4. serious consideration to as alliance with any other sec- Trade Union tion of the the that oppose movement living deterioration standards. District Copy to Committee. The Hull policy should be the taken throughout up

AUEW

Victory at Sheffield THE STRIKERS at James Engineering in Sheffield have won their instatement and full compen- sation loss

TOT

O] during the nine-week strike.

They return to work in a some strength position of despite the actions

TELH

official, full time strikers Boilermakers' district dele- Nuttall in under- gate mining the strike as reported last week Indeed he has now refused to pay the men the strike pay promised would that he had be paid them the The fight alspute was over be taken up in must now Union in the Sheffield to keep Nuttall SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 30 November, 1977 said a branch the firemen', than But more course necessary. Betteshanger

NUM

The branch last week plan- were ning action in support of the firemen A levy of 10p per membel strike towards fund was to be imposed and each branch was planning to "adopt a tire station Their aim is to help with finances, producing material and generalising their struggle bringing in the miners' experi- ence of fighting government Miners saw the parallels with their battle with Heath in 1974: was just like this in 1974-its exactly the same as with the Tories'. Government The need is for the fire men to smash the 10% and bring down the government The Kent miners 'adopt a station' policy an fire embryo of how this can be done But such a link up needs generalising into full Councils of Action which ean develop basis as alternative workers' power in local areas best Also the support miners can give the firemen is striking on their own by claim ,Yet no NUM officials-not even the left-talking Arthur Scargill-are pressing it. Kent miners were aware of the need to "watch Arthur Bought off 'Scargill's not God', saic *I don't think he is doing anything against the delay'.

Others argued that there were forces who wanted Scar- gill into Gormley's job so he could be bought off Gormley reportedl] looking for the 'golden hand shake with couple of lined dital y up. NUM branches should be pressing for strike action now and for building true Councils to bring firmens struggle down the government.

NEW KANGARDO COURT BUILDHOTELS

In a move described by "Daily Telegraph' as the "assert authority of the enione designed the Oxford District Com- mittee of the TGWU is making preparations to discipline leading militants in the British Leyland Cowley Assembly Plant. At an emergency meeting of the District Committee last week a motion was submitted from the Finance and General Purposes_ Committee of the District Committee asking for powers to be vested in itself conduct disciplinary hearing involving certain members of the District Com- mittee. Hearing far The reaching

MOLOD

which was carried by a large majority says the tollowing: This specially convened District Committee meeting Finance arnor ses Stls General Purposes Committee conduct disciplinary hearing under the Union rules respect of those delegates disruption caused and disorder at the District Com- mittee meeting held on the 20th October 1977. The disciplinary hearing, if with agreed, shall

ZENO

Gerl those members of the District Committee whose conduct, both at their place oi work and within the District Com- THiLLee Drougul Lne Union into disrepute. this District ruciermore. Committee authorises its Fin- Purposes ance General and Committee, finds where members to be in breach of Kule ll to make such recom- mendations as it deems neces- the Regional Com- saly. lu mittee, for disciplining those members". According to delegates at the the meeting chairman ruled that only the

F&GP

can preler blalges Executioner This means the TnaT motion sets up the F&GP as prosecutor, judge, jury and

CACCULDCT

It the four • gives same to select • people the right those to be charged; prelel Charges; conduct the hearing: and recommend the ustipmary 10 Regional Committee. In the case of the Oxford Committee,

EISENCL

who committer are

WAS)IP

conducting the hearing are laying the charges. It is there- fore impossible to argue that they can be to any degree unbiased.

EETPU RIGHT WING

IN RULES JAMBOREE

It was quite a confer- ence for Frank Chapple, ultra-right wing leader of Electrical the and Plumbing Union. After his publicised speech against wage control, Chapple steered the i uls revision conference away from any hint of trade union democracy. Defeated Attempts to TestoTe Lne election of full time officers the ban on aulu io Nosember. I9

SET UP BY TGWU

Oxford IGWU District Chairman, Bill Roche JP. A hearing set up in this way cannot be designed to disperse trade union Justice.

It is a kangaroo court and the purpose of kangaroo courts is to act on predeter- mined decisions and to perse- cute people. The purpose of this partic- ular set up is not difficult to find Next Monday is voting day in the shop floor ballot for and deputy COnvenoT Assembly convenors of the Plant. Witch-hunt As stand things most workers active in the trade union movement in the plani convinced that present convenor and night

ATLI

winger Reg Parsons will lose the election and that Bob Fryer removed as convenor in 1974

TGWU

al LCl and ino ury Ketonel national witch-hunt will be elemen convenor that the expected names of those to be charged will be announced before the election along with the nature of the charges. It is also expected that the list of will in clude leading the LOnienucis election who will then be the rolced Parucıpale m ballot with charges hanging over them It presumably hoped that this will provide the witch-hunt material necessary if the right wing are to regain their positions. The problem tor the right wing is that most workers in Lowev ud vC There is always петоте witch-hunt before WYCly election in the plant. Problem This year, with militancy high and with and Wares rapidly Conueos deteriorating it will be hard witch-hunt catch to make a The other problem the right wing have is the reaction of militants WUlNCS are conference two thirds had which given

W AE-

Callaghan a standing

CELICI

ovation. Big tasks confront electricians they break free trom this vicious right wing bureaucracy.

O'FISHALL.

Your "man at the top" is away this week having been among gurtau- seat on the crats given a free first Concorde ignt lo new York. victimised. tinuous witchhunts against The local Oxford Mail has Alan Thornett. He has repres- in the mentoRce

IWO

names ented our interests targets for the disciplinary Transport Department for the hearing-Alan Thornett past 15 years and all we ask is chairman of the TGWU 5/293 that be allowed Branch and Tim O'Sullivan continue to elect the stewards chairman of the TGWU 5/55 of our choice. Branch. Only recently he was The result of this was a undemocratically barred from lobby the a meeting of shop stewards outside

BISTACI

Committee meeting 40 of plant, fear on the Now workers from Alan Thornett's that further such action could Transport section along with arise from this District Com- workers from other parts of mittee meeting the Cowley Assembly Plant, The Transport Department particular the Princess is not prepared olene further witchhunts, tracK any The Transport Department personal vendettas or undem- made their position clear in a ocratic actions statement to delegates: We request that a dele- Brothers "Dear and o o oo enę Sisters, This delegation Transport Depart- from the attendance tonight, which ment be allowed to attend tellesents the whole of tine following mass meeting tonight's meeting, purely. as We also observers. request Transport Department, be that such representatives wishes to make this point: allowed to attend as observers

TGWU

the any meetings which material- mcbeIs Transport Department ise from tonight's meeting".

completely ted up with con-

.RUMBS

DON NIT

Sparham,

EDINBURCH

CENTRE HOTEL

!SUPPORT.

Edinburgh hotel workers join picket of national pay talks with Centre Hotels

STEP UP BUS FIGHT

After nine weeks of By adding in the separate votes of Rotherham and Don- one day a week lightning caster (who had garages South Yorkshire strikes, already voted call off refused

PTE

have to industrial action) they improve on a derisory ten discovered a 57 vote majority percent offer to Sheffield across the ditrict tor accept- ing management's offer. They bus crews. declared that Sheffield would of full On the insistance be breaking the union consti- Keith Garner, official, tution if it did not settle.

management's latest offer was One day strike Sheffield and rejected by 900 vote Sheffield shop stewards immediately votes to 500. bv Seacied calling a one day strike the backed by Warner while the full Regional Official Jack Green, following day official and shop saw the ballot in support of time stewards from Rotherham the claim as an opportunity acceptance of the and Doncaster met manage- torce 10%.

HICIIL

PHOTO:

Pallk Rouce Sinkers

OLSNE

SU PRAML

GRUNDICE StR

SHOPSTEARO

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

ACTION

COMMITTEE

The struggle against It has significance beyond that branch. Centre low in the hotel one wages Hotels branch were always and industry catering the key to • leading the fight which has been waged in for the £50 minimum wage London the last over backed by the necessary suffered eight weeks strike action. major set back last Wed- Sufficient nesday when stewards at Centre Hotel branch the The importance of crack- of the GMWU accepted a ing the Centre Branch has deal productivity and long been recognised by the 10% pay rise in a package GMWU leadership. They sent National Officer Cooper to negotiated the previous negotiate the wage increase day. for grou. Romp, and the whereas The best organised hotels Regional Officer, boy Tilston messenger branch in the london region considered sufficient was poised for strike action were in pursuit of a £50 minimum to crack the resistance in the

GMWU

Hotel branch and to Now the Rank Wade bureaucracy has by skilful knife the Metropole strike.

manoeuvre and sabotage been Cooper delayed negotia- win acceptance of a able to tions saying that he deal which will drive living pressing for a £20 across the standards down even further.

board tise and so managed to break up the threat of a common movement on th: £50 claim. Romp and istor been busy for over a month delaying negotiations ani acceptance for wagt gaullig increases of 10%. Little alternative When the Wages Counci 50 rise of ten percent was the: It Here presented ZInSRU position, leading stewards fel they had little alternative br Given the activit LO dLUCOL of the GMWU it is hardl! surprising that they capit: lated Throughout the last eigt weeks the strike at the Metro pole has brought militants around trom .the count. together in a fight for wage increases which has threater ed the bureaucracy and th future of the Wages Council.

The lengths to which these leaders have gone to strange the movement shows the importance of directing tha: fight against the bureaucrac!

decent wages are to won Determined Sheffield The rank and file comin stewards have the member- together only the begir- ship's support, and must step ning up the action. One day strikes The question is now pose: must be turned into all-out how of completely action.

GMWU

leadership Strike committee London region will be abie :: reassert its hold If the bureaucracy attempt It is essential that militar: discipline stewards or the out here remove credentials the struggles throughout the las: stewards must be elected as a yeaı direct their fight strike committee, and a cam- breaking that grip. launched paign throughout The Hotel and Caterine the TGWU in the area in their Workers National HCiiu. detence. Committee could be Other bus branches must that struggle be contacted and an all out hotel militants should conta:: fight waged for the full claim the group at 21, Scala Stree: and against the 10% limit.

London WIP 1LU

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

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SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

OFFICIALS

STAB

GRUNWICK

STRIKERS

A new low was hit last week in the 66 weeks of bureaucratic betrayal in the Grunwick dispute. Four strike committee members who had staged a

TUC

strike outside hunger headquarters demanding essential action cut off services to the factory heard that the TUC General Council had yet again voted to ignore refuse their appeal and to any action in support of the Suspended APEX leaders Meanwhile, suspended the hunger strikers for four from the union stopped their weeks and Murray what APEX strike pay for arch-scab Len Murray there is secretary general deputy a danger that the fight against branded: bureaucrats "A self-defeating course of will he relaxed. action designed to embarass the TUC". The TUC has the power to This scandalous action by They could bureaucrats was shut off supplies.

APEX

mobilise millions of rank and of backed up by SeTTe

TUC

file trade unionists to do the other insults

LOUI

job. leaders. These workers must be Murray, assured the Len hunger strikers that no action would be taken, despite the iorm of words unanimously adopted at September's TUC Congress. He then asbed we Tues did not clear off the steps and stage their hunger strike outside the Grunwick be would factory, where it appropriate" and "MOTe

TUC

presumably where leaders and Ward could each the hunger calmly

WALCI

The claim for an extra strikers starve to death.

£3,000 a year by journal- 'We've done all we can", "We've done our ists on the Mirror group lied Murray. admitted Stalinist Ken best" of newspapers in London Gill. all the epito mises strengths and weaknesses Confrontation of the drive for higher The fact is that the TUC wages. have done their best to sabo- The journalists have given derail the dispute, tage and the claim almost total. back- isolate the strikers and to ing, rejecting a management avoid the confrontation with which brought the courts that is necessary to WuHl Lull production to a halt last week ensure blacking action to shut one on the votes to Grunwick down Daily Mirror, 53 to operation. none on the Sunday Mirror A recent strike committee by a similar margin and bulletin pointed out: A closed the Sunday People. of "After weEks shop agreement has ensured struggle, we have historic effectiveness of any the been told that no official action. action will be taken to cut off Scabbing deal services avErLal hunger strike was a desperate in* Manchester to those Colleagues Last-minute appea! *ho have the power to end who are not in dispute told this dispute to use it." who were maReemCnl. trying to arrange a scabbing

TUC

the right The targe: fo: the hunger strikers.

deal with union officials that "You will if it went ahead: B:: baste viga camel lo al i= astonishing and only do it once" ==: •.... But journalists are refusing :cdshake witt PHOMO. Andrew Wiard. Report alerted to the teachery of their leaders. Mass lobby A mass lobby calling on all those thousands who Grunwick regularly attend mass pickets must be called to confront the TUC General New Council early the Year. This would be of far more value than yet anther mass picket. This should centre round a demanding national the union leaders challenge black the courts and services. leader, cial, Trades Council delr- union official, gate and shop steward should be approached and asked to Lobbies of union com- sign. mittees should demand support for the official petition. Pressed for support Left talkers like Arthur Scargill Tribune MPs and should be pressed for support wherever they go to face the political nature of the task they face in winning their claim and the challenge to the Government which it represents. The follows a deal claim with the earlier this

NUA

out 90 which bought year jobs by offering a flat wage of £174 each. Technology

NUJ

members who have accepted the prospect of new rejected technology decided to redundancies, draw up a flexibility claim They costed such things as availability, distup- COnStalll of family life, creating ideas for a story, and unpaid overtime and came up with a bill for an extra £5,845 a year which they then reduced to £3,000 on top of the £7,400 average wage now paid. offer, The management been with- which has now Government drawn on been des- has instruction cribed as in the order £1.700 but was even further The strike committee has said that they will now "seek " and: unofficial action' unionists "Call on trade everywhere to protest against the savage act of censorship suspension of • the was the hunger strikers and two of the strike com- orcials mittee". This fight must be stepped As other up in every. a on. of workers sections are coming into sharp conflict the policy, the pay Grunwick betrayal is just a part of TUC attacks on every worker Wed- Prominent on last 200-strong picket nesday's were Rolls Royce pay strikers from nearby Willesden. than it from the claim appeared. the offer included The

NUJ

2 £4 (which Phase members say should be paid as well as the extra £3,000) and it included demands fot which the 50 redundancies journalists are not prepared to accept. The complex nature of the claim with its bizarre clause by clause justification designed to obscure the of whether question inside or outside the Govern- ment's 10% pay limit. While IPC are prepared to play ball in concocting a deal made variety oi a they are not eemienl. prepared to go within hailing distance of the claim, while Government is looking the over their shoulder. Apprehension The Mirror is also looking forward with apprehension to the talks with NATSOPA and

SLADE

over the

CLU

new technology, and face an extremely high claim if the

MICH

STRIKERS

ON

HUNGER

SIRIKF

Jones-who has lifted not a finger during the strike-offers no more than a handshake

FUND

from Grunwick, Strikers local fire Rolls Royce ana should be fighting now to set up a local Council With only two days to go with a view to of Action, to the end of the month we sections of mobilising other still £35.85 short of our workers on their own claims.

al d Every £600 target. effort made not only must be Confidence raise the outstanding amount as much over the Such action can maintain but lo e0 the confidence of the strikers top as possible dona the latest possible might Amons and waele tions sent in were Hull £8.05; unofficial blacking achieve £10 East West London £2; Central London Full daytime picketing £26.25. must be resumed in place of All donations to the £600 2-3 hours each the current Monthly Fund should be sent

TUC

leaders must morning to: that the see made le Socialist Press Monthly Fund determined • strikers are of 31, Dartmouth Park Hill weeks win, despite London NWS 1HR betrayal. policies of the Lib- the cutting journalists, who are weakest section, win. cox] Fleet Street journalists are The confused situation is fact that often objectively opposed t reflected by the the working class. The Mirro journalists are turning up for journalists could now cast a work every day and gomg blow in its support. the of through motions putting a paper together.

They cannot go out of the Westminster Press manage- building on jobs because the ment are expected to reject a cahier's department is closed 'compromise' offer by print and will not expenses. pay union leaders for tacit agree- Even the library has been ment on an NUJ closed shop instructed not to give them agreement at Darlington. normal. General Secretar JOP Cu Responsible has said that hi of

NGA

conside is prepared UnIOn This state of affairs does some degree of escalation for the not seem strange to some of strike if this happens. They reason to believe There is no the Mirror journalists find anothe were partly responsible for that WElOT for the NUJ to stall off excuse the Fleet electing stree sympathy action as has happened which opposed leadership since September. bargaining at free collective The strike, the longest in the the NUJ annual conference in NUJ's history, is now weeks April. old. NUJ members in Darlington For the Mirror journalists kind of and London must call for strike this a break the group in double is essential. aCIDn TOIn K support of their not cain de mus Their target must be stop trying to outwit Westminster convoluted clauses Justi- fication of their claim but an

"TESS

the wage assault on