Wigan March

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QUESTIONS TO ANSWERED On Saturday 1st Feb the Wigan Builders Action Committee began their march which, according to 'Workers Press had the intention of "halding meetings, calling out, sites and inviting workers to join in." It was, apparently "a decisive march to rouse the whole working class."

If this really was the case, then the Workers Socialist League wouk of course, regardless of the major differences we have with the WRP and irrespective of the non-political leaflet the Wigan Committee issued on the TUC lobby, give the march critical support, as being a protest march intended as part of a genuine fight to mobilise the class for the defence of the pickets.

"PUBLIC" MEETINGS Unfortunately this is not the case. The march is dominated completely by the sectarian practices of the WRP, which means it is very selective as to the sections of workers it allows to join in.

On the day of the lobby of Parliament a delegation of carworker form the 5/293 T&GWU Branch and Oxford Trades Council was turned away from a 'public' meeting of the Wigan Committee by leading WRP fembers, on the basis they were 'anti-party elements' Further, two trade unionists travelled from Oxford to St. Helens on the first day of the march to write a full report for 'Socialist Press', only to be physically threatened, called 'police spies' , and refused admission iu tr 'public' meeting. Again the term 'anti-party' was used.

ANSWERS NEEDED We would ask - what party does this term refer to? Is there a new Wigan Builders Action Party? If not, then who is running this marc and in whose interests? Why are trade unionists being excluded from its public meetings?

If the answer is that it is because they are members of the WSL, then the question is why CP stalinists, Maoists, right-wingers, Tories, IS and IMG are not 'anti-party' anc are allowed in, if the WL is, and is barred from entry?

The Labour movement is entitled to full answers from the Wigan Committee which is allowing its name to be used in this way by the WRP