Socialist Press no. 89

even get a 10% rise, after two eration. leaders of the 65,000 strong years or wage slasning pay poncy.

Iron and Steel Trades Confed- package signed last week by latest ever for steel workers in the There are no gains what- jobs contemptible sell-out Massive price 6-10%meaning increases that held

COWLEY

CHARGES!

away sign

DROP

unions Steel

FORCE TGWU TO

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 89 * March 1, 1978 * 15p

PRESS

US miners ballot. Defend Basic Rights Break the Coalition. Annie Hall reviewed Strike leader interviewed

GRUNWICK

Page 4 . Back page . Back page ;.• • p.9 • p.8

...YOUR MAN AT THE TOP'S

FIGHT TO STAY ON YOUR BACK.

Diary

DAY 3-PARTICIPATION

MORNING.

AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU MAY HAVE

DAY 4

TRY STAND A STRIKE...

YOU CAN

SUPPORT YOU-

BLAME THEM!

IF THEY DON'T

IT DOES NO HARM...

IF THE MEMBERS SUPPORT YOU

IT'S THE IDEAL DEVICE-

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Repor PHOTO: Laurence Sparham, IFL January for backdating of their i pouse being left isolated. increasing national Still solid-the union recognition strike by workers at Garners Steak Houses.

to outlaw sit-ins and occupations.

under the Criminal Trespass Law-the law designed A picket of the trial of the first person prosecuted Many NUJ chapels fighting NUJ: isolation danger- SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 1 March, 1978 S fishall

DROP THE

TRESPA

CHARGES!

employers agreement

LAW I!!

danger face

THE

have

THE CRIMINAL

SQUATTERS

INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS

WORKERS

FIGHT

TRADE UNK

OFFICIALSTKKE

UNITE

TOWU

WORKERS

deals in a significant number of chapels. employers are refusing local Newspapers Westminster Press and United local conceded the

BRANCH

SPACE

To

TGWU

Newspapers-and level-including demands the Thom-

OFFICIALSTRIKE

FOR

TGWU

large only

RECOGNITKA

SARNERS

STEAK

HOUSES

the the toughest in the country, become self defeating. As the the unity of the employers also correct, since this split allowing liminary issues. all-out battle over the pre- the employers to dictate an avoid the trap fight wage claim. strike action on the national

SWP

entirely to a combination of mentation of the settlements put in local claims, the frag- agreed that allows chapels to agreement. With a clause now top right to make local claims on membership still struggling.

themselves accountable to the increases. chapels,. fidence of the employers to isolation grows and the con- diminishes, chapels number Society. ranks ana reach local agreements wing sabotage-voted against The union membership-due strike against key over backdating 1s making increases so the number o Several Chapels must demand that But Likewise Those chapels prepared to The NUJ tactic of a work The dispute began over the rule rather created divisions in the NUJ negotiators ultimatism was the correct one. with the tactic has now of • including fight of chapels settling the danger fighting chapels the the wages employers than all-out over of allowing chapels Newspaper tactic and remaining some of had to natlona. NO make wages right have was Buckton runs from that wage press ahead with the one- and for elected committees of living standards. head on and demanding wage tivity by negotiating phony produc mitted and fought for, not and must right to make local claims lock-outs takes place. action be called if a wave of permitted and that national no more local settlements are severity of their sanctions.

already faced lock-outs of hullabaloo block those increases. NUR pay train guards-and are seeking increased bonuses stressed repeatedly that they of wages and conditions. employer for an improvement workers prepared to fight the ments. increased leadership day strike called by their seems nary struggle having its roots depended on it. already won battle through as if the rights fore be prepared to fight this the Institute of Journalists.

ineffectual and importance in the continuing make it an issue of primary employers have chosen to question of backdating, the takes the form of a prelimi- underestimated. present struggle must not be necessary. unemployed and housewives, workers, and working class wage rises to match inflation rises to restore and retain combating short periods and a general should brush aside the press not fighting to hold up or equal to ASLEF train drivers will campaign to destroy the NUJ wave mongering But the importance of the It is necessary to fight for Chapels have won the We support any section of As we go to press it NUJ members must there. They

ASLEE

dictate prop up the weak and

DAY 1-INTRODUCTION BY O'FISHALL

OUR TASK IS TO ADVANCE THE

JUST A SOLDIER IN THE

of lock-outs is now

RIGHTS OF WORKING PEOPLE!

WELCOME BROTHERS & SISTERS! I'M NO EMPEROR-

seemingly this reason agreements, but by must demand that those Primary certain unite to ensure against and the vicious what claims are sub- in pursuit of company and bonus wage leaders by the union increased Although it agreed for confusion- rises secondary controls workers chapels union, that nave

GREAT ARMY OF LABOUR

on his hands while the fire- increases, Buckton-who claim union and tion of applying these words men's strike in the December against a Phase 3 at the TUC, Phase 3 of wage control verbally last year against any of the ASLEF pay review issue to duck the central issue

ASLEF

necessary pay fight made no call or preparation men were defeated by the Council. meeting of the TUC General voting in support of the fire- bureaucrats and was one of the 17 unior usea tne token strike on un action and by NUR leader Sid Weighell, reactionary positions argued unanimous vote

VOTE SOLID

DRIVERS

LID-LaD steward's card or his membership ence with Alan Thornett's shop would not tolerate any interfer- past 16 years. ented our interests for the A. Thornett who has repres- ence in our shop steward Bro port Department has passed a membership matter demonstrate our resolve on this Tuesday 28 OT the union

SUPPORT

nent to stage Assembly Plant. Transport Department at British Leyland's Cowley week by 110 TGWU members But Buckton had no inten- Despite He went Buckton was one of the But at the same time it is "A full meeting of the We have however now received The It was the wish or the depan The statement reprinted below was signed this gestures lefts' who sounded off support calling meeting decided that it leader StrIKe breaKers-nas an ASLEF as far as voting a token strike on Buckton

DAY 2-

the of confid. his 30-40%

ASLEF

own wa) pay has

COLLABORATION

PHOTO: John Sturrock. Report outlined by ASLEF are com- for serious action. a personal request from the senior to win their own claim. to take brushed aside by Weighell- union conference drew up a stoppage iately turned into a full-scale that these actions are immed- claim itself. been divorced from the pay pletely inadequate, and have of an elected delegation" place in order to intiame the situation unnecessary closure of the plant 1 conditions steward Bro. Bob Fryer not to 037 call on NUR members-whose it to the district office by means ment aside and emphasise that we cannot stanc advice a proceed Train drivers must demand The series of token strikes We are prepared to accept this ve intend to sign this state 30-40% pay claim collectively and with the strike working in the simultaneous action in support of the see victimisation take this stage but we where the winch has beer to precipitate Ray Buckton Page 11 claim, and manage delive

doors the Derg, and the "red terror" the obvious presence of large have given first emphasis to had aimed to convey. is possible to see resulting flood of reporting it and anti-communism of the capitalist press. reporters of the world's ian military dictatorship, fake-"socialist" weakness which Majorca. which Derg leader Mengistu very different trom the image tacts were made to present towns of Catalonia and con- province of Huesca. the town of Barbastro in the performance Joglars theatre groups. public" the show called La authorised Spanish the Fourth International).

styled 'United' Secretariat of (Spanish Section of the self- Comunista edition of Combate, the confiscation of an entire civilians. system unilaterally of the Francoist army having among several in recent weeks cratised' Spain. of the claims of the Francoist illustration of the fraudulence attacking the armed forces.

Barcelona. theatre ttee of the Els Joglars by the Solidarity Commi- toured vario us Torna presented by the Els paper of the "Trotskyist' Liga Els Joglars, Alberto Boadella, director of government alleged to was Mengistu-shot his way to 'Red terror' hides Virtually Through It was a feeling In September and October On September 'On September 6 1977 the Another recent example is We reprint the story as an The play reterred to 1s The following ine scandalous Derg's nakedness strength and recently November this ministry of culture La Torna around pertormances Aragon, the Basque contain passages the to open its to have demo- Cuban soldiers all the reports is one instance took place group Revolucionaria imposed month "justice' published i the first stability a picture confusion led the the Ethiop- story whole story news- show of its regime has found it harder tionary slaughter night in Addis Ababa during theatre in January. two-stage revolution, its main Stalinist conceptions of the the One of the others is a part of which do not come up with the Derg's repression. West Somalians. for the rebel Eritreans and and where sympathy is strong to organise popular support Muslim suburbs maintained its strength in the tion which characterises the guerrillalst Ethiopian People's suspected members of the morning. found in the streets the next the curfew, the bodies being in several dozen deaths every suspected the the Movement, known as Meisan.

money to finance the war allwer but in fact they see effort. specially high demands for victims their ration of "red terror" have been told that hebelles daily to have become agencies of ally through the hebelles-nomin- Derg as fascist results accoraing to party. Many of the victims of this On November 30 in Rens, Signing of the Moncloa Pact The EPRP is not the only The reporter of the French Elsewhere the Derg rules The EPRP is said to have The terror, which involves show Panethiopian systematic Repression group Party are Monde sulTer Maoist oppositionists, subjected members where the

(EPRP),

also holds murder repression. claims to organisa- Barcelona "people's Revolu- Socialist people. promised with the regime.

have renegades of the Organisation" composed of Derg is the Malerid ("Revol- power. in which Mengistu came to shoot-out of February 1977 of the Derg, founded by the former joint by the "Proletarian League" of the mass organisations.

the Derg and controls many leading military officials of these were was expelled from power and way to power that the Meisan Colonel army trained, now pro-Soviet the Derg. ogical and political role in tuals, played a leading ideol- composed largely of intellec- exclusively on the Progressive Front" along with comprise utionary leader of the Political Bureau dictator Mengistu himself.

Abyotawi Sedede set up by political parties. military officers in the Derg persecuted. present slogan being "demo.

a telephone call from some- formance, the group received a few hours before the per- cratic rgats now It was only when the US These A third supporter of the The Derg is also supported It is composed mainly of The Until last year the Meisan, Etchat, opportunistically com- Exclusively founding their own most that Mengistu the Military shot dead in the a party based three Marxist-Leninist powerful "Quadripartite Senai Legue, time "clandestine' EPRP who shot Oromo parties senior his question of Eritrea have been on the question of Eritrea.

successive purges) have been have physically survived the of whose original members splits in the Derg (only half the establishment of the Derg throw of the Emperor been Mengistu's dictatorship dominated way as the Meison. being persecuted in the same Ethiopian boy soldier with display of captured NATO ammunition the Scala, and the cabarets on December 22. which culminated in a general organised a week of struggle freedom defend professional rights and Barcelona met at once and to sible for what they regarded judge charged in front of the same members of the group were jail. saying that he was being held guns) and there left a note under armed guard (machine known of him, is that judge on December 15. = ment and the following day with. show and this was complied Barcelona the to attent a military tribunal.

tor of the group, was asked Alberto Boadella, the direc- order. way ted the show in the ordinary required authorisation presen- of the fact that it had all the cancel the performance the military, advising them to one who claimed to-be from pected of peopic seems to be on the point ol surıke or uneatrical workers as a collective creation selves to be equally respon- arrived at his lawyer's office he received a new summons -the national struggle by the In each purge leaders sus- One question above all has This latter group, however Boadella The group, taking account Virtually all the political The Grand Liceo Theatre, The permanent assembly The all declared them- On December 16 the other He was given the order of Inen For the rest, all that 1s custody in the appear betore the same with no trouble or dis- ineatrica Captaincy even the built since "softness" Eritrea made his state- December suspend the cinemas all workers General expression ana le on the Modeis way 11 eliminated. increasingly kept in power by a sign of the political weak- situation beseiged, the whole of Eritrea cities no progress in Eritrea Ogaden, the Derg has made help to the Moncloa Pact! to it all because it is contrary Spain. reformists against the procedure by the forces. health has seriously deteriora- others have not been detained Derg which is now destined Cuba and the USSR, must be gigantic alist organisations the two main Eritrean nation- is now under the control of Somalian with Cuban, Soviet and Israeli government. Stalinists in Spain have with which popular sentence of up to 18 years jail definitive ted in detention say that Alberto Boadella's but are under surveillance."

injurious to the armed forces accused of alleged offences Joglars all the members of the Els Seville, television in Madrid, Bilbao, taken joined the strike. Spanish CP leader Carrillo-where does he stand?

procedure was opened against Sarregossa Apart from the three main But they Protests have been made He The Solidarity Committee Other actions were under- The failure to rectify this Yet, This part embodies the Except for Boadella the On December 28 a judicial insulting become 'reformed' Reformists is still awaiting his the which despite some success group military Valencia, the frontist and army reformists repulsing say they object 1 blood-stained Stalinists in the with aid w no francoist Vitoria,

NATO

faces alliance tightly armed from such the the socialism. the same time the fight for repressive revolution, ing of an opposition based on only be saved from continued today as they were in Chile that are the about reforming' the Chilian tic organs of the working this repressive apparatus and austerity measures including parties agreed to accept rigid Suarez barbarism through the build.

weakness and that is their fatal political what most of them are not- Trotskyists' revolutionaries enemies in Ethiopia "counter- Popular Unity used to talk army just as Allende and the "restructing' cally ists, however, class control through the democra- workers' its replacement by an armed fight for the dissolution of of the Spanish state. massive repressive apparatus sion under Franco-on the posses- Spain still rest as they did that of the capitalist class in police because his rule and changes in the army or armed tion' includes no significant cuts in exchange Mengistu. ous clique is Haile Castro's tinued democratisation. vaguest of promises trom thi wage weeK The Ethiopian masses can The reformists and Stalin- In the pact the workers But The head of this murder Socialists in But Suarez's 'democratisa- strategy the and and public of Armed police called prospects of doing Trotskyists dictatorship fight against the which control 'reforming same in Spain the Talk about Spain must permanent subject to recognises Brezhnev's Francoist spending patheti- personal Meriam and 'Democracy' in Spain just a play on words

• INTERNATIONAL

Page 3

supplies and services to the know, argued that the only pickets, Trade many people Congress resolution last year company. through way began, the SL has, as you SP: through, it might take six or to wait until the new Bill gets again. this would be exploited once a loophole in the law and that onto Ward. recognition would be forced realised that they'd have to our strike pay cut off. ded from the union and have things-then we'll be suspen- the TUC. more demonstrations outside present. official strike KG: the restrictions put on you by SP: What exactly have been ation. do. it's difficult to know what to just how the members are frustrated.

was. TUC headquarters. victory, seven months. following this re-ballot, union carry out a further ballot.

House of Lords verdict, it was through KG: had to propose? strike APEX leaders attending your SP: more cant have any more mass we've been told that decisions the APEX bureaucracy? situation we're in, you realise by APEX. of the restrictions put on us as a strike committee because been able to take any action have are ation Socialist Looking can hunger of workers fighting for union rights.

assessment of the lessons of the dispute is of importance to other sections agree with all

FORWARD?

call to action is needed from the Strike Committee. But Kamlesh Gandhi's Gandhi was conducted early this month. As our reply makes clear, we do not Following We certainly don't intend We realised that there was If we do any We've been told that we So that's the present situ- This is one of the reasons Ever since then we haven't I ne Well, essentially to work another a possibility Ever since the strike only Dince the This interview with Grunwick Strike Committee chairman Kamlesh 5 What then have hunger strikes or any committee Restrictions we can't have any committee Proposals Union proposal the Blacking

ALAS

from complicated it is- thought there taken reason blacking hunger strike, bureaucracy the victory

APEX

After when Brother Kamlesh says, and we feel that a much more positive of these was tnal the meetings by the present is that

TUC

that the the He write a 13-page letter to the the mail. instruct his members to black victory. pathetic letters I've ever seen.

wouldn't.

TUC

of the UPW and urged him to discussions with Tom Jackson if they took unofficial action.

situation where they postal that we don't want to put the handles this. The trouble is branch of the ing mail. ant is to interrupt the incom- again what's equally import- would like to see this happen outgoing mail. year they only stopped the postmen blacked the mail last ing: up a common misunderstand- office workers in the area?

made approaches to the post blacked once again? Have you SP: What's the possibility of more crucial. and out of the water and electricity is impor- although blacking KG: Yes! After 12 months pay or jobs. locKed KG: First of all let me clear getting the postal tant, the blacking of mail services ve. dia, or course, It was one of the most All he That's what would happen It's the Central London Although strike laid when explaining still out and lose their workers could do was to the down Cutting the cricklewood believe supplies realised that

UPW

factory a sel why nave long off into certainly key services that, that and get should be insisted that such a lobby supported Trades Council and its secre- Council a few weeks ago. Press, we reproduced a letter the past tense. As you know over. SP: The bourgeois press and all to help us. The TUC has done nothing at been due to our own efforts.

do: No, alche blacking of SP: supplies. they were wasting our time.

a further lobby of the TUC in members. inactivity. tary Jack Dromey to initiate had been sent to Brent Trades forward. policies this we believe it is precisely at the impression the strike is on one thing. They all give some left papers seem united suppres was cutting off some of the Lade union bureaucrats tnal Towards the end we told the have lots of National Front that the Cricklewood branch rank and file workers in solid- been done by all the UPW That was the way out for the no longer handles Grunwick All tney wanted to talk abou off and they refused to do so.

Although The letter They talk of the strike in I agree with you that all We wanted the services cut What is a problem now is That's not, of course, to Yet they haven't even point against the TUC's of these conditions Committee need Cardiff Grunwick this initiative based not that ocurred Murray naturally worthless be correct

ZABENTER LIFES

immediate threats of suspension 1 union recognition. whatever officials is further direction of the dispute by APEX themselves. wick cleft stick in which the Grun- view above well illustrate the Kamlash Gandhi in the inter- KG: demonstration? Committee itself SP: Why doesn't the Strike him. was trying to put pressure on levy we support the initiative it'll be slightest dispute, opening up no prospect Cardiff Support is that Dromey thought the demonstration; the problem Trades Council to call such a don't give a damn! suspenuca. called off. APEX leadership refuses here, APEX refused to support it Jack Dromey is the secretary Region of the TUC [of which ference

TUC.

demonstration prepared The question is, whether or KG: I agree What are your views on such suggested a target of £10,000.

provisions. also believe that it is essential suspension from APEX so we by the Grunwick Strike Com- of all services by the TUC implementation demands simple SE Region TUC Secretary Jack Dromey noT an inmna tive! mittee would provoke your The The Cardiff support group On the one hand the present But we feel it's up to the Still, if it was called and It's the You remember that a con- We reply: Such action, if supported make adequate financial We haven't discussed it supported was called off because or a fund union strikers themselves the other Ineffective Initiative by Grunwick called by points Threats Trades But if there's mempership, reinstatement

FOR

same with the idea. call outside of blacking now isolating the call Committee set up, we . Council When immediate hand situation the such such a find by didn't get by Dromey-the man used by the bureaucracy played by Jack Dromey of Brent bring out another level on which cutting off of strike pay, and presently on strike through- SP: What advice would you postal black? break the law and enforce a code to break the government pay why should we? They refused pressure on the TUC leaders.

demonstration yet. I don't think bureaucracy to peddle illusions in 'extremists", stressed the pernicious role player every other paper on the left ha throughout the dispute obstacles-the The way we cartooned the sell-out at Grunwick last summer But Kamlash Gandhi fails to After Police arresting black youth during last summer's mass picket effective but and by the ma Council, of the APEX and TUC Pernicious say, the their support so semi-official who has acted the would really should they workers firemen such a putting as the mittee must be the dispute mittee trade union movement 1 action must be enforced by key cient to stop the firm. Blacking from workers to respond to the of Grainwand gates have pickets action ful effect in exposing the role of this 'support' be turned into con Grunwick strikers. that the TUC refused to back the union bureaucracy SP: Thank you regular supplies blacked and keep up should workers in support. refuse strike They'll try your KG: Well-"Be very careful of out the Garner Steak Houses which this key battle can be won.

Grunwick strikers, as the way ir convinced supporters, against and their government, but the TUC leader not te courts sections or workers in the pupil picketing the the willingness of thousands crete action mittee the scarman customers and chain for union recognition?

cussed ana acted upon by the wno would seek to prevent suc The obstacle to this action is A mass lobby demanding that IT Is Tor This reason That we art It has been proved that simply But the Kamlash Gandı points ou course, the workers to confront the union picketing Grunwick Strike Com supporters within the the TUC is already on could nave a powe gates mobilise "supporting' report-and the to keep the control scabs getting leadership!" urgently Is not sutti get not the other of the stop the

GRUNWICK:

Page 4

WHICH WAY

GRUNWICK PLAN

TOP SECRET

TUC

BLACK

SERVICES

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 1 March, 1978

popularising Bolshevik policies.

Lenin (right) -commended Kollontai's pamphlets reader is left with from this and energetically to events programme which Opposition, Koitontai became la leadien fruition than to lead them. masses party is simply to teach the the pamphlet and others is that suggests". (pp. 102-3). revolutionary (and to) boldly advocate all being to teach the masses: of the revolutionary party as meinoas These ambiguities come to The overall impression the "to respond independently However, she sees the task task of "self-activity, rather struggle which writing the vanguard creativity Workers' their w nen (p. 166). production of the routine, habits and methods industry are subject to the abilities in the technicians, whose alist class. In businessmen and scions of the bourgeois-capit- chaos. Where? In the hands of creative abilities of workers' workers should have immed- industry, and arguing that the bourgeois collectives salvation mom une maustrial In criticising the hiring of Specialists capitalist system of and specialists economy' sphere of creative Basis of the Woman Question women's emancipation. towards and the communist attitude between bourgeois feminism, ation of working women. tation towards the organis- the party for a serious orien- leading figure fighting within Committee, and she was the the Bolshevik Party's Central ularly on the on more general theoretical Ine only and revolution. Kollontai wa questions. belween sexually, lne Tamil) She sharply differentiates She In ner The storming of the Winter Palace in the Russian Revoluti concentrales woman member of

DOOK

the relationships The Social fight partic the textile industry, and the emancipation of won discuss inent. elected committees and protests against the exclus 1905 revolution, in strikes ing women played in attempts to formulate re Duma, ine vote for aenlal or a woman s dign utionary policies to fight women's When Kollontai goes or Oppression detailed aspects oppression Russian par deputies fr years prior to 1914. during the July the German Proletariat Silent ing the road to reformism and who were increasingly follow- German of the leadership of the trade working class at the outbreak passivity explains concept is never explained.

ciass collaboration unlon of the war in 1914, in terms In her pamphlet Why was Teach masses centres, the the and Days? she Democrats for some German

STALINISM

BOLSHEVISM TO

German party. Russia Social Democratic parties about 15 years work with the Bolshevik Party in 1915, after articles, an ardent campaigner for of the bureaucracy and of her reputation as a left in the West, because various elements on the Europe. basis for her high reputation.

enables us to investigate the excerpts from books, which 'Selected Writings' brings to- women's rights. Bolshevik, is held in great esteem by getner a wide Kollontai This Alexandra Fifteen years collection speeches an opponent particular elsewhere joined variety Kollontai of her the and should be opposed. party, published here (pp81-7) des- ally decisively differences within the Social 1914 Into analysis German leading Ing cribe her horror at the grow- militarism. position on the war was basic- towaras the boisneviks. in voting war credits for the majority of the German party was Democratic parties, and it Jerman The Excerpts from a Diary At this stage Kollontai's The outbreak It is only chauvinism but contains no class correspondence crystallised Social members Pacifist bourgeoiste of pacifist anti- turned after she enters wny Democratic among the of war in Kollontait political of the which with war the revolutionary party. general questions-about the loyalty during the masses, but this mystical ences to the 'selt-activity' relationship of the spontan- questions and on the more work, -both throughout 1915, there is some confusion pamphlets and speeches. of Bolshevik ly through the popularisation October Revolution, especial- played an important part in Provisional Government, and Stalin and Kamenev to the against the support given by Lenin's pendent class politics". the face of the attack from tionary defence of freedom in Menshevik policy of 'revolu- the world market". (p.111).

capitalists for domination of between English and German published Where does 'Revol- Provisional Government, she these positions, and in 1917, eous activity the external enemy as: ments the imperialist war signifies which clearly explains what unonary Lenin that Kollontai develops There are However, Kollontai "The renunciation of inde- She the leadership ...colonies, trade agree- organisation to Bolshevism from the Loyalty ano Defencism "April condemns her period of the policies in her constant refer- despite the theoretical supported women's of the Theses' struggle of the in a fit work done) our party leaders, wages received according to in estee capitalist molde ne the utter socialist policies: system tion of money and the wage was suggesting that the reten- the country had been ravaged 12.9% of the 1913 level, and Civil War. represent a utopian denial of objections that the party had party were acted on by the influx 159-200). duced in this collection. (pp.

labour in money, variations in production Union found itself after the in which the young the real economic difficulties betrayed party leadership careerist involved in War Communism.

toplan reachion "Taking into consideration Their protests about the This faction represented a the Production had tallen to the wars-yet Kollontai was capitalist of Protests collapse Sovie (payment non-proletarian a betrayal of contradictions to the diffi- mode but their principics into of our Soviet for barred, learning more significant than articles writings on the woman ques- industry. they have direct control over of production, taneously develop new forms the working class will spon- them. who have these skills, until industry, and must hire those workings from fact that the working class is tion, she ignores the simple iate control over all produc- tion, which are in many ways ne workers val dis acquic The collection includes a She has a naive belief that Naive belief number business about as soon as Kollontai capitalism, other the important demands around organised she describes the way in wh tion give her". (p. 48). agricultural relations she free herself from the exist feminists to 'clear the way constantly put forward. rural peasant demands which the realisation of the gene democracy the unified efforts of peas raised, this will be thanks economic and legal status life everyday conditions of position for peasant woman wins a bet feminists: attack (written in 1909), she ta and between bourgeois femini of the Woman Question in Russia and The Social Bo Working Women's Movem Towards excerpts writings on the woman qu feminist If the peasant woman women' are irrelevant here logeiner are In a posiliol have won more than al "If, in the near future, The The she As well as drawing the l This and In lnis book are Improve communism attempts a History from community question MOs working other directed herself, the goes revolution: which wo organisati Bolshe™ interest bourge with towa won

ROAD FROM

KOLLONTAI'S

£2.95 (paperback). andra Kollontai: Selected Allison Holt. Writings. Edited by Alix Ann Evans reviews Alex- and Published Busby by

absence of any discussion of oppression becomes family will wither away under Union after October 1922 in ambassador ing the Stalinists' resurrection the logical conclusions of her function". (p. 118). fulfil the fighting for a society in which (published in 1916), she says children. whether or not they want ship rather than give women have children without hard- will simply allow instincts. have tent by remaining tied to the responsibility. on individual mothers, but a child is no longer a burden etc. become socialised, having that the material basis of the childcare with regards motherhood, together women to have children, and to the social obligation of for abortion". (p. 149). thus do away with the need the collective compatible and motherhood and labour for women the healthy instinct Russia a part of the right of women be unnecessary, instead of as operation, was regarded as an Russia in 1920. abortion the ed once, when she justifies contraception Kollontai's work on women's role of women. about confusions in her own ideas are ity and the family, but these points about bourgeois moral- she Norway, Mexico and Sweden.

Kollontai incapable morality and the family made cession of bourgeois sexual a wollar bourgeois laed rooms, communism tasks, as a right. conditions are ripe lor it to panon. their sexuality and reproduc and how women's control of Kollontai In Societi She suggests that socialism She is correct in arguing Kollontai constantly refers "The task of labour in Abortion, still a dangerous Abortion is only mention- One Inis lailure to draw out "without giving However decide whether to have tne realistic ideals motherhood, makes often grounds social motherhood and the which family as an ideal Is to laundries. innate major Bourgeois Abortion about her was for the some she is inconsis- choice Democracy and Maternity provision obscured strengthen and abortion became legalised in Enal should AS against the rise of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the Soviet Union.

The Left Opposition-wrongly condemned by Kollontai for leading the struggle the total failing une super- important biological 'maternal collective childcare up her women which Soviet make dining call instead observed". (p. 313). of the collective duced in this collection show the Kulaks to get rich at the and which Stalin had encour- duced as a limited and tem- were thriving on the private that the peasantry in 1927 (p. 312). the establishing new ways of co- economy and new life-styles, Kollontai pretends are: scale-the same peasants who the peasantry on a massive and forced collectivisation on made his violent Communist Party, and about cratically expelled from the leader". (p. 312). things getting claiming that: Stalinist the demand that discipline be basic demand of the masses: tion of: faction within the party Trotsky's put forward in the Workers Opposition's principled fight promote Stalin's policies.

leading Bolshevik was used to that mittent, aged and рогату government and sections of before Trotsky was bureau- Opposition contradicts This She accuses Trotsky's fac- In her attack on the Left Her writings became inter- The reality, of course, was "creating new forms of "The masses are already she "destroying months democracy economic Contradicts out for covers Stalinism, used 1927, one Expelled extenaca, allowing which was reintro- was bureaucracy reputation sections transgresses me the relying before the cohesion to those written up for the themselves to torm a which she

VICWS

'left turn Kollontai thinking denying of the repro- 1921, Stalin The cipation. сасу Stalinism, through the Workers Oppos- question or on wider issues.

theory, either on the woman make a significantly original policies. Lenin commended as a means through her pamphlets, which her work among women and October major contribution to the foundations. Kollontai's three medals from the Soviet hood' on 1,100,000 women.

and the medal of mother- order of 'motherhood glory' Union goes on to praise the Soviet public canteens, etc-but then ment of women's oppression.

ing Stalin's policy of rehabilitat- Kollontai seems so concerned about.

masses' without paying much atten- opposite extreme and violent- bureaucracy expense of the working class.

defending consistent fight for the two Soviet state during the second con to the mood ot the conducting cale tnal sne was 1945, for her bureaucracy. In Soviet Woman-Citizen- However, her writings indi- She undoubtedly made a She lists the genuine gains Eighteen months later, the Reading this book makes Kollontai herself received imposed social popularising cical was on some rather shaky Three medals subsequent journey and suC Revolution through ramuy-the which ambassador services-creches, a principled and high covers Equal conferring collectivisation, women s of Labour' in went services to the Stalin (right) incluang reveals that amous unable to Bolshevik Kollontai Rights, Marxist instru- demo- eman- for the for decided on nine years ago, in infinitely following that our review could be read Breitman's letter. separate out the two distinct We reply: It is only fair to slanders. response than Richardson's was available in his lifetime grasp of Trotsky's ideas than project is almost completed work books, after a great deal of had not even begun. factional disputes in the USFI 1929-40. written during his last exile, everything gather and publish in English 1969, when we resolved to mind imagines. what book had nothing to do with debate within the USFI. current at that time to foresee the completed. It was impossible before the introduction was February 1977. was published in July 1977.

version of these differences in the USFI, or at least his book with current differences our decision to publish the International) itself". Secretariat within "lies in the factional debate book?" The answer he replies "choose demeanours and crimes. editors of miscellaneous mis- accuses the Trotsky is reviewed by Tony The the Dear Comrades, out with some justification stranas generation has access to an than twenty book more than two years attempt is uaDIe "important book" and a "val.

Richardson, who calls it an Section On the one hand he points Nine years ago, the recent Its publication was really He then attempts to relate In your January 18 issue, After nine years and more I ne Why Work was started on the Crisis today's Pathfinder introduction Richardson's feverish deserves (1935-6) by publication the New York NY 10009 stupidity contribution' state fuller of the George Breitman clear of the

USFI

publishers and Trotsky asks, 711E. E.11th St. expense, revolutionary publish Jan. 27, 1978 Press and better The book from the Sincerely Comrade factional did Trotsky of this (United Fourth French better dated book Leon this this the we Dul the years ago. overal scheme Socialist Challenge. debate replies, "lies in the factional 1977, the SWP leadership had month when ventures. known to have opposed both well advanced for launching 1977. This date is important which in the SWP's own introduc examine political points made indictment which choose to publish this book, asked the political question: more specific book"? paraphrases: from our article, of dates, and a partial quote befuddle readers by a string member. which Breitman is a leading the conception held by the revolutionary the sharp contrast between attack on the political line of Breitman goes further, trying published ambiguity on it. is not the point we intended oeuvre. simply as a factional man- Workers Party published by the US Socialist as implying that The Crisis in in the book. kind of broad basis of "left French USFI section's daily completed points tory comments to the book positions?" US Socialist Workers Party o1 as outlined in the book-and our review, wilen spens our running tor some time on the pape But. The But We accept that the book is We should stress that this And plans The review goes on to "Why, he asks, Breitman does all he can make, and we regret any But our review was much duck this IMG's French Breitman also knew contains an implicit February attacked by Trotsky betore on the other hand Spells out within

SWP

this The Advanced Breitman why did the SWP concepnot wrote until of their "unity" international- were already than this. It question Section publish leaders answer, begun nine purely were had the 19/ / when he that February January did we himself of

USFI

of a own this the are not and standpoint the SWP has per International. are counter to the positions reactionary the SWP and of the USFI as a Fourth International" the independence and revolution of the Popular Front period approach to these problem stance of its editors, by show- that: importance of the book itself.

we in any way belittled the writings by Trotsky? USFI as a whole, refuse to how the SWP, along with the ments, instead of evading this explain why own opportunist purposes" ences raising the this amounts to: etc" ary attitude to centrist group: newspapers, lessons Trotsky tried to teach leaders suggest that not all of their practice of some sections o comments on page 173 of the drew attention to Breitman's adopted a position of calling struggles lessons they carry for today's political producing these books should anon or the work involvea u writings. publication formed a useful function in foundation fought for by Trotsky in the prevented from affiliation by whole (to which the SWP i to sens forces lighting fo makes a valuable contributior ary discipline, this new book to une quesuons Building' our article stressed Headlined Lessons of Party absorb Ene

OUI

central issue' (Socialist Press 83) Trotsky's writings book where he states that: main factions in the USFI.

method anc tor me aissorton or une twe Our concern is that admir But even from this false Why does he not reply to If this was not the case And we pointed out that "The current theory and This is why we justifiably "Despite Ins does not mean tha "a more diplomatic way ol 1935-6 Trotsky's blind readers to their reconstruction .. attempting to us Fourth does No reply nave content lessons of thest , the about SWP's] the editorial programme brenman demonstrating absorbed the International method of politica revolution legislation and Trotsky' for thei factional Fourth politica "broad differ com the the no SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesduy 1 March, 19/8 Trotsky's writings than one of the instruments of this programme".

parity" means parity in cynicism with regard to principles, a scarcely enviable kind of parity. A "mass civil war begins with the elaboration of a programme and that a "mass paper" can be nothing other and aimed at radicalising petty bourgeois who are not even able to understand that the preparation Tor isation of a revolutionary party. "No domination"-in other words, no programme. "On the basis of paper is in reality an imitation of / Oeuvre, dressed up in slogans borrowed trom the right and the lett The meaning of the methods of La Commune are diametrically opposite to all my conceptions of the organ Trotsky, Crisis in the French Section, p. 116.

successful, time a little contemptible.

touching little cringer, wry, funny and libidinous them Allen plays a more-or- degree of embarrassment; in they make the audience pay flagging erection. sexual Burt Reynolds, as the muscul- Know About Sex, in which thing You Always Wanted to ingly Allen's alter ego, disapprov- life-size about their anxieties while a Keaton) gabble on endlessly easy to watch: Play It Again, films, which are anything but ture head-a lover's tap. audience a kind of pat on the there", administering to its = banner, but much of the time Wanted to Know. " Diane Again, of the glamour, on another level the personalities by very themselves its characters seek to insulate dealing with the way in which peculiarly American type.

glamorous what it is really about is style.

the about sexual confusion and cultural and political identity, anxieties about death, about important-a film. been Keaton-Hall is Keaton's real Everything creeping schlemiels of Play It real-life Allen than were the tions, without New York, then leaves him to successful surface and the romanticism the earlier films to the lyrical roughness and difficulty of mined Keaton's real relationship.

ingly, flagrantly so, the story taken pains to establish, is the publicity for the film has things-and Allen points out in his inter-

IOT

encouragement Anile, maniacal couple (acted as in film itself is precisely doing protective trendy anxieties-in particular tiously displays For while the film ostenta- own clothes throughout the Keaton publicity second name; and much has live in California with another lives with him would-be singer Annie meets autobiographical; views, These films are punishing, This marks a sharp depar- It waves its anxieties like a For while on one level it is mors love tory, ot Of course, the clothes are And "Alvie", assured It is perhaps this function But embodiment Annie the Jokes witn consistent limits really is much closer to the looks on; or Every- ordinary made Imagination, the shift "Real life" Sam, you film that has deter- таниге serious Humphrey Departure дате but which the of the Allen from their own Annie wears her comedian "real coloration kind Style Annie Hall, saying, though 5 none of these of Allen and unsuccessful monogamy- rot awnie in character, a pasts preoccupa- a kind of the film's and Diane of signal. fact that from the unnesitat- life", a high Bogart, set of Always Allen's Allen's "there, топо- earlier Alvie, and and not without bruising the glamour.

the duration of an entire film, altogether around, quietly, does not have to be wheeled particularly ugly) head. own will. started to roll out as if of its lurking in a shut cupboard, bed it happened in Pillow Talk, in starred of movie which in the '30s well-dressed couples: the sort adventures of witty, beautiful movies that centred on the innumerable other Allen films than to the being about case stop making wisecracks and- orous young couples had tc those movies depended. the set of illusions on which cynicism which they manifes- people; but the incomparable clothes and furniture as about kind of aggressive style, that ing fox-fur hat. ing her pastel suit and match- Hudson while firmly clutch- in the squeals of Doris Day Grant and Irene Dunne. Carole that-it is all style, lact, ships, made it impossible any tea toward onger lor Hollywood to milk But in the Sex reared its ugly (in the At some point these glam- Those It has less resemblance to they were as much about she made love to Rock This film genre died away

ANNIE HALL:

NEUROTICS

which is all the time

BALM FOR

Lombard, Clark young-and-in-love-in- Cynicism Rock 1962-the movies too had a comfortably, 01T1l sexual 70s movie, sex Gable even if not and manner of cal Hollywood relation- double a film Doris, Carry stick provides a kind and Alvie's love, and of its explanation between the two families: it the simply ludicrous contrast the families in which they are sharply penetrating glance at able to able than the earlier film to neurotic self-absorption of its dislike of sex. her hysteria, and her fear and ticise such aspects of Annie as feat, it manages to roman- ticism it adopts. thing persistently singular or important about becoming a stock image-the failure. Alvie's sets up far more than Annie's fostered and developed. less jokily, so that the film is absorption develops offer Sam, it is nevertheless more lovers as was Play weirdly loyal to the roman- Annie gether that there is nothing certain period. is a movie in the style of a padded bras of Doris Day. It than did the pink suits and and glossy magazines, no less ations drawn from advertising on itself, and relies on associ- ing-jumble-clothing girl-standing-in-the-rain-wear- effect Hall relies peppered with the language process Dy In what is something of a The split-screen on which This It is an image which insists psychoanalysis, but But the (honest) Agall, as reflexes; particularly Hall; it preoccupied Self-absorption is not to argue alto- cast an occasional conversation which such self- both what is for one chats Sam, the and even It Again, by the shock- Annie Annie the Tast the exact pulses of a relation- quite harrowing ability to tell which unwraps at moments a haunting, at once the film of effects-it is at once slick, and between produces an odd disjunction Annie, flash past. whose fleeting interest in the women mainstream Allen, but absorbed by them; with ilarly diffident about women, Robert Altman, who are sim- ular American directors, in partic- of this limitation connects it by, a man. as she is seen by, explained tion of a picture of a woman, male point-of-view, its projec- open confession of the film's in the script is really only an changes in her life; and the tion is given to Annie, to her things, his corner. interesting trick: it seems to seem capable of a more than dominance auarence patenuy The film also plays a very This The film's very sharp sense But really its whole atten- recent moment, about Martin her development, the By ELIZABETH Harrowing the attentiveness Annie into his view films by

THOMPSON

Alvie, their cameras are Scorsese and Allen's voice the ạll, who only

LWO

of a big boost. the floor with the Tory. respect. Fascist them was typical in this Forward's offices to confront candidate goes to National parties. ruptcy of the other political absolute feebleness and bank- strength, confidence, purpose strongly ally gives the National Front fascism the play unintention- workers can be attracted to trying might well have ended up a end, the play right through to the seemed to suggest. fascism" the struggle to build a work- Edgar's play is a weapon in Dear Comrades, platitudes about fairness and welcomed this televised play, picket line. simply to solidarity on the question seemed to reduce the whole club put in a rather belated, made the appeal in the labour main action. were merely incidental to the structure strikers. And because of the authentic opposition were the of the Labour candidate. left, like the left-labour friend cynical, liberalism Tory can only offer pathetic into his neighbourhood. who despairs as blacks move could have play, of course, is the genuine on tne I don't think that "David The scene where the Tory The What's missing from the Cleaver's politics are based Any workers who watched The Left in general has The only characters whc tne confused. (not many probably), class of the leit. tion of the social revolution" strata of the proletariat in the direc- view what is now the most important confused and inade- is how the socialist revolution.

Teany of te wcie from white TaSCIStS In une comes across WSL. 31 Dartmouth Park Hill The Transitional scheming And from the practical point of and "explain" 1 served you today until the beginning of Programme Cleaver mops worker 30p plus 10p p & p from play Because anti-fascism we can guide the different VerSuS meaningles play they Liverpool reviewer And Not the 14.2.78 a programme as corrupt is the London NW5 IHR who very The the the audience on whom it would ful weapon in the anti-fascist as your reviewer did, as a use- fascism. talk to each other with and the secret language we ing our real experiences of the class.

ourselves in relation to the ganda, but to start expressing ourselves on the excellence change this false understand- of course The class's understanding of to the workers. was happening in the world plausible explanation of what few fascists who were able, with a expressed agitation in the play it was people din the know beat ganda play many people. people; agitation, few ideas to wood last year). fascist better material for the anti- effect. (Edgar wrote only of fascism. certain understanding already audience or people wno nad a only intended for pretty close to the revolution- experience only of the small left press is related to the of the people we are talking be related to the experiences The ideas we present have to address our ideas to the class.

misconception struggle. those experiences was wrong, lences ganda is many ideas to a few circle of people This may mean abandon. They spoke to the exper I think this is based on a What the left has to do to If there was any effective If this is so, then Edgar's It wasn't meant for a mass David Edgar's Most of the revolutionary our

TROTSKY

was very subtle propa- key Ideas, to outer for action of the working class have directed dramas and campaign in Lady comfortable rituals entirely Michael Bryant. of how congratulate reactionary play who a narrow by propa- wa. we suring little film. doxically relationship, it is a para- the final breakup of their extreme neurotics toward the in fact, though it follows "a nervous romance" but "Annie Hall" Woody progress calming, reas Allen's is billed as film two Destiny unfulfilled to the review by Keith White in Socialist Press of Page 8 by Allen Keaton. and starring Woody Annie Hall, directed A review of the film Woody and Allen, Diane

IN REVIEW

LETTER:-

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 1 March, 1978

strike-as dent working class leadership.

Liberal Party fought at the ing class remains confused on the Labour Party. the cuts and into the work of into into our work in the unions, dence of the working propaganda and practical Callaghan government is tied basis for the tangıbly in Councils same ordinated ways in which the wishes of geoisie and its parties, and the hand and foot to the bour- exposed the way in which the labour movement. carried on at all levels in the that the fight has had to be the issues involved has meant against wage controls, against coalition and to assert break in political necessity for a 1977 has centred on the ialist League since March work of the Workers Soc- che labour movement are sub- Socialist We have taken this line Socialist Press supporters We have We But the fact that the work- Every political day-to-day have Complicity time Confused Press the organisational aspect to those of the Tilbury power station burns during firemen's strike LIe new, indepen- supporters in Action- most our press indepen- Firemen's Lib-Lab of the struggles develop ition, trooped like predictably, these 'lefts' have out struggles against it through- and have spelled out the necessity coalition and its policies we not to vote in favour of the the question of whether or Whenever and to focus discussion on coantlon mol movement. for them to vote against it, been faced in Parliament with tance of the Lib-Lab deal.

the 'lefts' in their tacit accep- the need to break the coal- fought to inside the Labour Party have But at and the complicity of Tribunite coalitionist these raise Frank Allaun resolutions Stunrock, PHOTO: John Speirs. IFL "o: Derek spontaneously develop to a the "lefts" whose role comple- (as with the firemen's strike), leaflets. solely from books, theoretical these pressure of the up these words. ments that of the TUC. positions actually adopted by but we must reckon with the working class independence to head off any prospect of ment, with the 'lefts' moving blather he has done nothing to follow against the Lib-Lab deal-and ing. on record as publicly declar- "lefts', only Denis Skinner is challenge to the coalition.

complete absence of any 'left' silent. two exceptions fallen stony "excesses have with one or would utter "lefts' courts against unions, etc.

control the labour movement machinery of the state to moving working present situation. for the breaking of the coal- further develop our demand revolutionary leadership.

gramme and the need for a propaganda combined this agitation with class betrayal. And we have ence the 'lefts' in voting confid- to workers in practice that magazines political lessons like this not stressed parliamentary illusions. accord jump over decades of their leaders or of their own political stand that workers will not seriously, them to fight. workers home the point for those Conference rot - using troops against strikes, renance tion coalition are leaders are put to the test.

ouise Our movement has always We have pursued all of We can expect this silence The government, fearing Last year's Labour Party However it is necessary to We have aimed at proving Workers his which their there who prior to of practical struggles avenues transtormea willingness Practical that who might expect Absence Class the since understanding increasingly against pickets, confirmed a protest here words committing wOrKerS parliamentary light resistance, mass move- even government established repressive Into of the under learn tion of the method of the phic eruptions of disintegrat- contradiction to the catastro.

the in freeing the proletariat from Fourth International consists existing reformist leaders: involves the exposure of the Programme the proletariat establish the dictatorship of understanding of the need to today's raise the working class from Transitional Programme "revolutionism" mark by the working class is a hall- trade unions and mass parties not yet exist, to the actual utionary" posing "higher left adventure. gesture and at worst an ultra- alike and build such bodies; official leaders 'left" and right stago. conservatism today's consciousness to the and to assert that this is a that workers turn from thei that the fight for such bodies councis of action. workers' defence squads and mittees, bodies-open the books com- of independent working class leads towards the formation for as it is governmental slogan "The central task of the And, The The technique of counter- To demand at this point BuT Our programme, in so tar best be termed only old in centuries of struggle Programme

WSL

as the Transitional we daopica and loughl leadership, workers, price conditions bodies which do petty spells capilansni must and a rejec- "more revol- committees, out, this bourgeois recognise obviously fight to whose a vair could and workers to an understanding of the need for a government tactics precise system of slogans and return to the situation before asking for no more than a ins pathe chief barrier upon demand,. ical progress class. mobilisation of the working bourgeoisie politically independent of the political situation demands a March this year. in their own name. coalition and take the power calling on the Labour leaders geoisie, take the power" must slogan "break from the bour- context transforming it from a bridge later that 'democratic' sense which anti-capitalist and the sense that it had in 1917 with acceptable to us only in the farmers government" Amsterdam Internationals the parties and organisations of treacherous character of the weapon bourgeoisie. political semi-corpse of the themselves the proletariat is the fact that national advances against the which the ing capitalism and represents mean much more than simply geois slogan, but in no case in geoisie, take the power! is ship' 'Break with the bour- addressed to the they do not wish traditional As communists we stress The This The slogan "workers and Under these conditions the Bolsheviks, termmale chiel obstacle to Second, extremely all the the complexity course Situation which would socialist the OI epigones chief organisations away Fourth need for exposing systematically anti-capitalist amount to Third, in today's old leader revolution can Callaghan accusation important from of the gave Lib-Lab is thus histor- Inter- lead the and the Ene specifically Tribune and Callaghan-Healey leadership".

the demand fight"-in demand end the importance in the fight to correct lessons which and Allaun is something from addressed by Tribunites Wise while on their way to a rally chanting the beginning of their strike, men, marching in London at break with the right wing.

by exposing their refusal to same time the best means of out these lackeys is at the labour cabinet coalitionists. Labour's exposing the 'left' talkers of ship of Labour's coalitionist the Lib-Lab coalition!" "Keep out the Tories! Break for Councils of Action we say Thatcher. Steel, and to pave the way for lack reformists prefer to cite their bourgeoisie-but instead the working mobilise the strength of the of power if it was willing to socialist 'Pact. pitiful excuses for their anti- scorn Liberals. ition between Labour and the of an unprecedentedly vicious task of preventing the return bourgeoisie. proletariat apparatus through which the class, the struggles of the working immediately agitation, as Action' stands at the centre struggle, for transitional and need, bureaucrats. antics of reformist parliamen- masses trust their fate to the compromising the fake 'lefts' unthinkade under tne leader.

majority, to manoeuvre with break the Tory regime assell Ils not only as the best means of slogan Delray etariat to partial demands, for the prol tarians tion can be solved while the Continued next week. Thus, alongside our call Such The spectacle of the fire- The Labour could be assured The first step must be to The working class has the The WSL must pose the Not one important ques. Labour Party Conference drive

OUI

coalitionism but of preparing the movement Fake 'lefts' on mobilisation 'Buic and Group, Return «Make situations indicate class each stage of the 'Rees Whilst control its leaders conjunction i ne power propaganda must

NEL

undeclared will be able to the out thost calls "Kick we have said parliamentary trade coordinating against Councus

W SI

Out! reformists' draw the the constantly and for fight out the of the union 'lefts' pours with drive

WSL

coal- even who and Coalition Break the PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report

POLICIES

OUR

2nd Perspectives recently adopted by the government contained in the British Workers Socialist League.

the section dealing with the coalition We are publishing the first part of Annual Conference of the

PHOTO: Jobn stunrock, Report as a result of an occupation and campaign throughout the London labour movement Demonstration in support of EGA. This hospital has been kept open for two years end the strike was only the the mass meeting -Subscribe!- Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

NEWS

vrong way to fight closure Speke return

...YOUR MAN AT THE TOP'S

FIGHT TO STAY ON YOUR BACK.

Diary

DAY 3-PARTICIPATION

CLOSURE

MORNING

DAY 4

TO USE A ONE-DAY STRIKE...

AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU MAY HAVE

RAY SUMMED IT UPWELL..

BLAME THEM!

YOU CAN

SUPPORT YOU-

IF THEY DON'T

IT DOES NO HARM...

IF THE MEMBERS SUPPORT YOU

IT'S THE IDEAL DEVICE-

January -NUJ: isolation danger- increasing being left isolated. national agreement for backdating to outlaw sit-ins and occupations.

under the Criminal Trespass Law-the law designed A picket of the trial of the first person prosecuted Still solid-the union recognition strike by workers at Garners Steak Houses.

NUJ chapels fighting SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 1 March, 1978

DROP THE

TRESPASS

CHARGES! STUDENTS

fishall employers 1, danger

LAW II!

IT THE

face of their

HOSPITA

have

THE CRIMINAL

SQUATTERS

INTERNATIONAL

WORKERS

FIGHT

TRADE ONCE

RECOGNITION

OFFIOALSTKKE

UNITE

TGWU

ESPACE

WORKERS

of chapels. deals in a significant number employers are refusing local Newspapers Westminster Press and United son local conceded

BRANCH

To

DARNER

TGW

Newspapers-and level-including Thom- demands at DP

OFFICIALSTKIKE

TGWU

FOR

TRADE

large only

RECOGNITKW

W.

SARNERS

STEAK

HOUSES

allowing liminary issues. and created divisions in the the unity of the employers also correct, since this split reach local agreements was fight and less likely. over backdating is making a put in local claims, the frag- agreed that allows chapels to agreement. With a clause now top right to make local claims on increases. membership still struggling.

themselves accountable to the the chapels,. fidence of the employers to isolation grows and the con- diminishes, chapels increases so number become self defeating. Society ranks all-out battle over the pre- avoid the trap wage claim strike action on the national

SWP

entirely to a combination of The union membership-due against mentation of the settlements the tougnest in the country, wing sabotage-voted against strike was the correct one Those chapels prepared to Several The NUJ tactic of a work The dispute began over the Chapels must demand that Likewise employers to dictate an rule rather than all-out

NUJ

of the ultimatism and right with the of key employers less tor fight some negotiators the fighting chapels the ine tactic has now chapels 10% wages naa lo 1& G

TUC

over chapels danger number tactic Newspaper remaining some of allowing national NO settling As the wages have Buckton runs from depended on it. already won battle through as if the rights fore be prepared to fight this the Institute of Journalists.

ineffectual company and campaign to destroy the NUJ importance in the continuing make it an issue of primary employers question of backdating, the nary struggle having its roots takes the form of a prelimi- underestimated. Although it present struggle must not be necessary. unemployed and housewives, and for elected committees of living standards rises to restore and retain head on and demanding wage combating by negotiating phony produc- mitted and fought for, not and must unite to ensure right to lock-outs takes place. action be called if a wave of permitted and that national no more local settlements are severity of their sanctions.

which have expected wave of lock-outs is now short periods and already block those in reasses. not fighting to hold up or are seeking increased bonuses stressed repeatedly that they of wages and conditions. workers prepared to fight the ments. increased leadership in pursuit of day strike called by their press ahead with the one- seems workers, and wage rises to malen Intlaton mongering and hullabaloo should brush aside the press

NUR

equal to employer for an improvement ASLEF train drivers will They must We support any section of As we go to press it NUJ members must there- But the importance of the It is necessary to fight for Chapels

ASLEF

dictate what prop up the weak and wage claims are sub- pay train guards-and

DAY 1-INTRODUCTION BY O'FISHALL

OUR TASK 1S TO ADVANCE THE

JUST A SOLDIER IN THE GREAT ARMY OF LABOUR.

RIGHTS OF WORKING PEOPLE!

WELCOME BROTHERS & SISTERS! IM NO EMPEROR-

seemingly agreements, faced lock-outs of make those Primary nave against certain have reason bonus by the union increased leaders working demand that local claims agreed for the vicious chosen rises are secondary won the a general contusion- but by controls workers chapels union, pay- class that have of the ASLEF pay review. reactionary made no call or preparation Lib-Lab men were defeated on his hands while the fire- increases, Buckton-who claim union. and tion of applying these words meeting of the TUC General men's strike in the December and was one of the 17 union against a Phase 3 at the TUC, Phase 3 of wage control.

TUC

action and by NUR leader Sid Weighell, pay fight

VOTE SOLID

DRIVERS

Council. voting in support of the fire bureaucrats verbally last year against any issue to duck the central issue used the token strike on this

ASLEF

necessary demonstrate our resolve on this steward's card or his membership past 16 years. ented our interests for the ence in our shop steward Bro port Department has passed a membership of the Trans-

SUPPORT

matter ment to of the unlon would not tolerate any interter A. Thornett who has repres unanimous vote of confid TU Assembly Plant. Transport Department at British Leyland's Cowley week by 110 TGWU members But Buckton had no inten- Despite He went as far as voting Buckton was one of the But at the same time it is "A full meeting of the We have however now received The meeting decided that it It was the wish of the depart The statement reprinted below was signed this gestures to "lefts' who sounded off support calling strike stage leader Buckton has an ASLEF positions argued a token strike or breakers-has the

DAY 2-

his the by the 30-40%

ASLEF

own pay into

COLLABORATIOA

PHOTO: John Sturro a personal request from the senior to win their own claim. full iately turned into a full-scale that these actions are immed- claim itself. been divorced from the pay outlined by ASLEF are com- for serious action. place intend to sign this delive.

stoppage emphasise that we cannot stand advice unnecessary closure of the plant ment intend conditions steward Bro. Bob Fryer not to to take simultaneous action brushed aside by Weighell- union conference drew up a call on NUR members-whose pletely of an elected delegation".

it to the district office by means aside and see victimisation take in order to intiame the situation proceed 031 The series of token strikes We are prepared to accept this Train drivers must demand 30-40% pay claim collectively and to inadequate, and have with the strike working in the in support this stage but we where the which has been to Page 11 Ray Buckton claim, and manage of the delive an

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

bishops Gordon ary line on the fight against argues a similarly reaction- job-cutting and speed-up, and fascism. уага, une Govan shipyards into a scab James Allie nights to fight the 10% pay limit and Derek bers like Leyland emerges clearly on this issue.

struggles by the working class opposition Ilford. turned out to back the NF in only relatively small numbers gives streets. the attacks. for a class solution, based on the fascists feed. ed the conditions on which living standards and led to the London ban. endorse Edwardes leaders to policy and other government unemployment, the 10% pay working a policy to give a lead to the social services, have develop- housing shortages, ing people whose policies, creat- state campaign munist Party Act, Mr. Rees?" Rally: editor Tony Chater at the paper's 48th Birthday liberals. the NF. have been campaigning for the capitalist state to ban up all those liberals, reformists and Stalinists who National Front march in Ilford last Saturday-shows rights in this country. months is a major offensive against democratic Callaghan, to ban all marches in London for two "Morning Star" have protested the ban as have some CP While in industry CP mem- The This is the very policy that No! There must be a fight The relusal of workers' Part of this policy must be In other words the Com-

RIGHTS

These people continue to fascists

BASIC

use Sure *When are you going to use the Race Relations But their answer to the ban is that of "Star" This attack-done under the guise of banning the The decision of Metropolitan police commission- contidence to what are David appeals to mass government-the Class solution Robinson General Communist Party's MacLennan who Communist Party class for the act Bishops enough the Stalinists in their paper the call such action unemployment, McNee, continues to independent mere Secretary convenor organised the Lib- plan for plunging capitalist praises fighting savaged turn out very

DUU

the backed movement to break this reac- the Lib-Lab government must imperialism. democratic rights for those and CS gas, along with the one should forget that Rees' forces complete rubber idea of "peace" announced on Monday. No- Northern Ireland. justity is acting-and already using workers in Northern Ireland Home Secretary Merlyn Rees against the same language he used to -to "act" against the fascists.

Andrew wiara. Keport -famed for his repression of Police control anti-fascists in Ilford a struggle The "Decent people will insist The problem is that Rees peace troops by Rubber bullets answer to Rees and opposed bullets, live bullets racism, and Prime In the on the streets, suppression throughout the trade includes use streets" action Minister British union the tionary strikers EE out 'new' offer class issues are involvea.

decision is a demonstration additional march banned by the labour movement. of the organised strength of ship in the working class in struggle away from the necessity to Hain. retailed by ex-Liberal Peter and by the confused forces of the leadership. of the Callaghan-Healey-Rees coalition, and for the removal une ugnt tor tae moorsation as a thing in itselt and direc main forces are provided by down their previous insistence on cised, between those retiring before and miners, pline unofficial strike leaders, an council-are provisions to disci- by the union's 39-man bargaining been passed on for ballot voting of a vicious contract only slightly bureaucracy Bituminous on March 6. leading up to a UMW ballot strike for a new contract, ater 19/4 ena to tree medical treatment tor latest proposal-which has now device to torce nome acceptance Assocation, and their own union employers Miners must throw The fact that the first These people No such fight is envisaged The bosses' only, much publi- The Carter administration, the Socialist Garner police whose differentials and clearly Tota Banned are Workers Party, League-whose strike-breaking Steak commissioners continuation policies shows that new the was to tone Rees leader- BCOA's House be challenged by every trade illegal. dom needed to destroy the crushed only by the workers member. The fascists will be unionist the possibility of May Day extending police repression. up the workers' movement to ban any marches is to open were often killed by the state.

hundreds of years of struggle National rront. class must insist movement. wai sympathy strike at the operation unauthorised contain provisions recognising an UMW's official summary: advocated amid a huge a $20 a day fine on unofficial of any signatory employer" employees who cause or engage in employer's Arnold Miller. within strikers-a provision that had beer rejected Dy the bargaining counci This state crackdown must And the organised working The right to demonstrate Already Rees is talking of To ask ne state now to In ProvisIon But retained is a clear state- achieved that Discipline and 1978 Agreement will Challenge being participating union 41301010 storm

NO NAZIS

UMW President Labour

IN ILFORD -

ban-opening demonstrators of free health on me tree Only when of protest declared stoppages discipline Party first the for opening the books and for even more urgent the demand until April of this year.

teeing five day working only days in all. ing will be laid off for the follow- days at Easter. announced within the plant. (Full story, are to be laid off for three Page 10). the demand for work snaring production Massey negotiators to heel. initiative in forcing the retirement retirement benefits. the conference mate on UNW been enrown aside conterence objective-equalisatior negotiators to improve health and week, paid into private scneme: miners anything from $10-$14 a company-run struggles-Is to be replaced by a control-won Massey's These developments make 1,000

AS WE

The His decision to invoke the lay-offs full pay to be But carter nas now taken the is runs directly counter ic

TIVE

cost-of-living protection Massive pressure company are guaran- days-a total of 8 machine snop men une Ferguson pensions-has workers GO TO press, in 1960 after bitte otner key Umw scheme all 4,000 raise union also Us miners make their aims clear determined need to break the UMW and the Democrat the UMW. that of political leadership within 15,300 signatures. Virginia bers in Miller's home state of W ion by rank and file UMW mem running high. and feeling on health benefits are in forcing home this sell-out deal support stat detend the interests ot the work political ment union officials against the miners porticians with coal posses ang in a ganot whether or not they will succeed leaders it is still open to doub bureaucratic noid on the union against unofficial strikes, which officials as much take steps towards political indep discover apparatus, in which workers could capitalist Democratic Party dent political leadership within the development of any indepen come as no surprise recommending this deal under UMW bureaucrats rather now dangerously low. formation of a Labour Party tc coal bosses collision with the torces of the ment i preparation for a massive UMW and the US labour move mobilise the full strength of the tneir own members rather thar preter to contront the nostrity o tied Ine union, nose leaders remair strike has ually pointed out, the militancy designed to have an impact on provoking a nuge controntation have been fich y diners, have weekend hesitated in order to fight the miners are coal stockpiles built up by bosses shortages caused by the taken under massive pressure period-and to seek to impose a powers of the Taft Hartley union- oT the miners in their maratno pressure or carters threat should rank and Tile miners nave begun to take erect, and Tederal seizure of the mines were for compel miners to return to work busting legislation-which wouic But the key question remains One guage of the mood of Despite the grovelling of these For His threat of such action was Hostility to no-strike clause: These union bureaucrats now Lay-offs as a result of powe Even so, carter nad until thi to the see Americar been Confrontation tron and similar their real strengenne

TOI

parties the union's bargaining not been matched by which has attracted Hostility disciplinary and coat these threat reasons UMW and as tre private allanc to resort to Republican to neit miners take strike

BAN ON

THERIGHT STRIKE

WE DEMAND

GUARANTEED.

EQUAL, RAISED +

PENSIONS!

FIGHT

PRESS *

SOCIALIST