Defend Jobs a

Scan page 8

ige o The first public meeting of the Workers Socialist League took place in London on January 24th. Attended by over 100, the meeting centred on establishing the continuity of the struggle for Trotskyism, which now takes place through the building of the WSL. Alan Thornett, speaking first, began with an analysis of the objective conditions which had forced on the development first of the opposition within the WRP, and then, following the split with the Healy leadership, forced the establishment of thel WSL to continue the struggle for Trotsky's Transitional Programmi He showed how the sharpening of the capitalist crisis posed an enormous crisis within social democracy and the reformist trade union leaderships.

In such a period Trotskyism could make very rapid developments if a break was made from propagandism.

DEMANDS Comrade Thornett then brough forward some of the lessons already learned by the League in the fight for the demands of the Transitional Programme.

The demand of "open the Books" and of "end business secrets" , for instance, which seemed comparatively mild and easy to win support tor, was bitterly fought by the right wing said comrade Thornett.

The right wing correctly recog nised that once business secrets are ended then capitalism itself is unable to continue, since not only is every employer exposed to his competitors, but, far worse, he is exposed to the critical examination of his own workers.

All the behind-the-scenes manipulation would be brought to light, with the most revolutionary of implications.

The right wing also saw that the demand for a programme of public works for nationalised industries meant an end to the free market, and therefore was incompatible with the capitalist system.

These demands were therefore no not 'soft options, but called for a hard fight in the unions.

THEORETICAL HERITAGE Dealing with the theoretical heritage of the WSL, Comrade DANGER..... continued from front the independence of the working class from those sections of the capitalist class who want to stay out of the Common Market because their interests lie in the old Commonwealth countries.

Such is the case with the 'Daily Express, for instance, which has business interests in Canada. Instead of bringing this out, the 'Star' of Jan 24th says: 'At stake is the whole future of the British people. Those big business firms which support EEI membership do so only to make bigthat employers who are against the Market aren't interested in profits?

CONFUSION This confusion, stemming from an abandonment of internationalism, has led the Stalinists to march on the same march as the National Front against the Market, and leads to further confusion on the role of Powell and the anti-market Tories, as well as Foot and the lefts of the Labour Party who also speak in nationalist terms about 'British sovereignty'.

Now the Stalinists support the 'Get Britain Out campaign, whose chairman is Mr Christopher Frere-Smithan extreme right-wing Tory- and which had as one of the main speakers at its first public meeting in Bristol on 26th Jan Mr. Richard Brody, Tory MP for Holland with Boston. The 'Star' said of this organisation: "The "Get Britain Out' Printed and Published by the 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, Lor MEETING Lister stressed that it was a Trotskyist movement, and would carry forward the struggle against Stalinism, against reformism, and against those who wanted to abandon Marxism and substitute their own surface impressions for scientific analysis.

He said that since the split with the propogandist sectarian politics of the WRP, which had been carried over by its leadership from the past historical isolation of the Trotskyist movement, the WSL leadership had been approached by all manner of "quacks and charlatans" who wanted to abandon Marxism and abandon the struggle for Bolshevism.

"We remain hostile to 'rank and fileism' , hostile to state was distributed in the Cowley plants capitalism and hostile to Pablo- last week taking up Walden who as ism," said comrade Lister, who MP for Birmingham, All Saints adthen quoted from the Transiti vocated the closure of the British nal Programme Trotsky's reply Leyland factories in Oxford and us that we are too small to de- to those other groups who warl Bathgate. Since then it has become clear clare ourselves an independent that he was not speaking for himorganisation: " ....(Sceptics) are self but for big business. The 'City good for scarcely anything at Comment' article of the Daily Tele all." graph of Friday January 31st repea the demand: Any rational restruc turing of British Leyland would involve as a minimum shutting WSL were forces of the inter- The forces which produced the Cowley and Bathgate with all the social consequences involved." national working class moving on This is the text of the WSL stateto the offensive in struggles ment: throughout the world. The WSL declared the unity of the world It is a disgrace for a Labour MP class struggle and that its objec- to go on to a national television tive was to construct a revolutionary party to lead these for- the Cowley and Bathgate factorces, and thus to strengthen and develop the theoretical heritage omically devastate these regions. of the Trotskyist movement beyond the propogandist limitation of the International Committee.

"ACID TEST" as Labour Prime Minister?

In reply to points raised by Bob Pennington (IMG), comrade ies should be closed.' Thornett stressed that "Our acid test in the WSL will be our ability to build and develop cadres in industry, and a principled revo lutionary party. This is how we must be judged." it will be resisted.

In closing the meeting, chairman Tony Richardson pointed out that only the WS had put forward a perspective for the continuation of the campaign to free the Shrewsbury Iwo, through: workers through their unions.

the demand that the Left MPs force Jenkins out of office.

Every other group avoided these questions of leadership.

ment stands.

movement's efforts to stop this pernicious interference must be supported.? (Jan 21st)

Here Chater openly identifies himself with the ruling class, using the word "we" , and boasting of the "vast potential market" which could flow from further exploitation of colonial workers, A further problem for the Stalinists is that the French and Italian CPs (together with the Chinese, incidentally, who talk of the 'Second World') support the EEC, and have ¡al contract is all about.' their elected representatives on its governing bodies, in other word:

on those bodies which have: 'the aim of creating an economic and political frame-work which would constitute the strongest arsenal of weapons in the hands of the big business monopolies against ects up.

progressive governments within Western Europe'(1) or which form 'an effective alliance against the USSR.' (Star Jan 22nd) and more clearly still are part of: 'the cold-war imperialist military and pol- ments of the employers. itical NATO set-up directed against Socialist countries and the trade union and socialist movement at home in the member states' ('Star' Jan 27th)

All this constitutes continuing proof that the Stalinists have abandoned the most basic elements of internationalism, and that only the Trotskyist movement can now raise the principled opposition to the Common Market with the sio-1 gan of the United Socialist States of Europe.

'orkers Socialist League on NW5 1HR is clear.

BLMC Cowler complex The statement reprinted below regarding redundances. - dren: using the threat of unempioyment as the whip to impose 'eificiency"

Speaking on the tuners' strike John Symonds then said ' ....we have failed to meet our survival budget at Cowley. A further deterioration will be calamitous with, let me make it clear, the stongest likelihood of at best, a major reduction of manufacturing and employment within this factory com. plex in Oxford.' In other words -the tuners should step in line or face unemployment.

But this crisis cannot be hung around the neck of any group of workers within British Leyland.

This is a world crisis of the capitalist system itselt The car industry is the sharpest network and call for the closure of point of the capitalist crisis all over the world les, a proposal which would econ- If, as is said, the problems of Bri tish Leyland are caused by worker:

The question must be asked - defending their conditions - what who is Walden speaking for What about Volkswagen?They are exrec does he know about the industry? ting to show a £90m loss for last Where does Wilson stand on this year; are working at 60% capacity with sales down 43% and have shed Walden was very blunt. He said 10,000 workers - yet they are mor? 'The Cowley and Bathgate factor- "efficient ' and have had no strikes This crisis hits individual employWe should be equally biunt in rs- va inflation - hong! cir saying - WE ARE NOT HAVING unit costs, driving them to impose IT! If Brian Walden, Donald Stokt speed-up, redundancy, and short Harold Wilson or anyone else tries time as they fight over a shrinking to close and dismantle this factory market under ever worsening econ Comic conditions - workers have no This Labour Government was control over that. put in office by the working class British Leyland financial director to represent the interests of the Alex Park speaking on Jan 10th working class. The Labour Party said that the company had to find exists on money contributed by at an annual rate of inflation of 20%, £96,000,000 per year just to Trade union branches should de- cover the increased value of stock mand that Wilson repudiate Wal- needed for production. den's statement and he makes it Add to this current interest repclear where the Labour Govern- ayments of £40m plus the fact that unit costs rise as production On Jan 3rd Wilson attacked Cow. falls and you can begin to see the ley carworkers saying that governr degree of speed-up necessary if ment money would not be avail- the workers are to carry the cost able to save the company if work- ers were involved in strike action of this crisis. The reality is that no degree of (ie defending their conditions speed-up could save British Leyagainst the attacks of the employ- land in the end. The problem is far too fundamental, and raises On Jan 10th Denis Healey said directly the question of whether 'It is far better that more people the industry can continue under should be at work, even if that private ownership. means accepting lower wages on Leyland, like all other employer average, than that those lucky will fight for their survival as a the pool whilst millions are living enough to keep their jobs scoop private employer. In their drive to break the resiston the dole. That is what the soc- ance of the working class to the measures they intend to take, the In the same television programm employers are aided by Wilson Graham Turner - a self-appointed and Healey.

'expert' on the motor industry - Jack Jones who says 'we must regurgitated his witch hunt about improve efficiency' shows where a 'skiver's paradise' at Cowley. the trade union leaders stand on Each of these statements conn- this.

Locally the employers interests Each supports the employers in are served by those who try to threatening workers with unem- split the tuners who have a legitiployment and prepares the ground mate claim and a right to fight for ges. These are the primary require- for speed-up and cuts in real wa- it. Symonds knows that to break th tuners is to deal a blow to the On Jan 10th Stokes called a whole plant at the point of strug meeting of trade union represent- gle over wages and redundancy atives from the corporation. The best interests of every workJohn Barber, managing director, er in Cowley are that the tuners said 'There can be no hope of sec- win their claim and the resulting urity of employment without strength is turned to improving greater efficiency...... if we can wages and defending jobs.

step up our production perform- The new so-called 'consultative ance and general efficiency, and body' (being set up with no conif conditions continue to deterior- sultation with workers in the ate, be prepared to use short time plants) will be used to spearhead working rather redundancies, then speed-up.

we can minimise the impact of the Selective convenors will be suckeconomic recession; but I repeat, ed in to continuous discussion because of the prevailing circum- with top corporate management stances I can give no guaruntee and their authority used to push through reorganisation schemes and prepare the ground for corporate wage negotiations and consequenty lower wages.

The Company know that we have weak leadership on this plant and they are taking massive advantage of it. The real meaning of the victimisation of last spring and the breaking up of the 5/55 branch The 5/55 branch intended to protect jobs. It intended to propose to its members an occupation if the plant were threatened with closure. That resistance had to be broken before the Company could proceed. If workers have no leadership they have nothing.

The serious situation we face demands a programme.

We sav that BL should be placed under the control of a properly elected committee of workers. We say that no taxpayers money should be handed over to private management.

The books of BL should be open ed in order that the true position can be seen by those whose lives are likely to be affected. All corruption such as private jobs and fiddles by higher management should be exposed throughout each plant and ended.

The Company are saying that the cannot continue without government money. If opening the books shows this to be true it clearly proveś the case for the nationalisation of BL under workers management - with out compensation to the major shareholders.

We should then demand that the Labour government provide state contracts to keep the factories running With component companies on short time, with wages slashed and redundancies threatened, the books of these companies should also be opened and they should be nationalised.

We should connect up with other :actories in similar circumstances and begin the development towards a national economic plan.

The wage offer of between £3.60 and £4.80 is scandalous and shoul‹ be rejected.

The company must be forced to concede the claim in full, pius a sliding scale of wages agreement to protect against inflation, with figures checked by trade union committees.

Stokes and Barber have threatened redundancies.

These must be resisted by the occupation of the plant on the demand for a sliding scale of hours agreement without loss of pay.

It is only a comprehensive programme such as this which can meet the requirements of workers to defend their jobs and conditions in this period of severe economic crisis.

Workers must not be made to pay to maintain the employers' system.

We therefore ask you to consider carefully the points we have made.

Make sure you get a regular copy of SOCIALIST PRESS • Take out a subscription:

6 Issues 84p 12 Issues.. £1.68p 24 Issues £3.36p Fill in the form below and send it to: 11, Lower Basildon, Near Reading, Berkshire.

I would like to take out a subscription to SOCIALIST PRESS I would like..... ....iSSUeS lenclose £.... .....subscription Name.

Address