Socialist Press no. 102

KICK OUT THE

COALITIONISTS!

PLO LEADERSHIP CRISIS

PRESS

BUTE

Army scabs during firemen's strike The decision last support prior to that date.

For the Thursday Liberal by capitalists in David leader Steel to Party and break the anti-socialist Lib-Lab coalition deal andertines the urgent arrangement face the tunica lls purpose. workers' ovement. on is certainly by minority prepared Callaghan. The question for the working class is on what strike overthrow basis will that election be control. fought: under dis- credited coalitionist leader- sim Inal nas inılicted un precedented cuts in living solid support standards? Or under the outside leadership pledged laying of programme socialist Phase 3 policies that are capable of TUC traitors. galvanısing maximum work- ing class support and *It gave ensuring the return of Labour government? government the confidence to carry through a military October election scabbing operation unprece- dented since General Strike to crush the The break in the Lib-Lab Firemen's strike. pact stems from Steel's belief that October dil General Election is all but has the most talkative Labour Collarl anu nis anxiety lo salvage what remains of the 'lefts' into abandoning even Liberal Party's, electoral the pretence The much publicised get through south Lebanon to fight the Zionists divisions within the Palestinian Liberation commander Organisation which came to announced that his forces would the surface on 24 May will the guerrillas. no surprise to Trotskyists who have under- date yet another stood the dynamic of the Palestinian Revolution. Lebanon, 13 June. The Zionist invasion At the samue minister •etence of UN troops to enforce the de announced plans for the setting new nas created nave brought inta the question the policies Yassir the and the PLO Arafat leadership Bank territories. with al vino Arad Tem days bourgeoisie in order to defeat plans to take over the property the Zionists. of exiled Palestinians were also nave stated that the struggle against All of these Zionism by the Palestinians show very Would i imperionit nackony with the backers settlement ConIsts our aiso win an ose alestinians. in the Arab world who are tied They aim to grab to imperialism. territory as possible over 100 Palestinians guerrillas have been detained by "buffers' 'occupied the PLO leadershin for trying to other alnhemicme for colonial.

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 102 * May 31, 1978 * 15p C.T. government for a States socialist programme But now, with

TUC

second string leaders. already consciously the Liberal preparing the ground for a the reactionary fourth round of wage leaders of the Labour Party with opinion the 14-month old coalition polls, local election and by.

has already election results suggesting that Labour might win General Labat October i govern- ment through a period when time to go tor an elechon This they hope would action threatened to allow them to continue with Phase: of wage their method of attacking working class, walc they regard more *It provided Healey with effective than that of the drawn from 1 ories labour move Tories worse his down But Callaghan and Healey are interpret the renewed elec- toral support for Labour as the Callaghan a vote for their policies of Ware cuts, mass unCluDIo v- ment and destruction of the social services. the 1926 Workers have been turning out to vote Labour because they have come to realise that a Tory govern- pressured ment would be even worse It would mean a further intensification of that the propaganda and legislation, ism, for as long as they are able.

Nor does seem now possible for even the bourgeois Roberto Guyer Arab regimes arrive at the 'compromise ot setting state for the -same way to restrict Dantustan Palestinians. This the context of the The Zionists then announced for their "final The CrISIS within announcement came on 24 May from south in a document signed not onl by Habash's Popular Front and Zionist time other parts of those who have Weizman always been Demo- also. Hawatmen's cratic Front' which has worked usual 'settle- closely with occupied West ane tended in recent years to side with Arafat. further ater i ne da may statement also said: 'We feel that political developments decisions being are Lakel that individually instead of clearly the collectively. 1 mere Is no participation u with the adoption of decisions sinc (the Fatah leadership) is still as much the party that determines the the from political decisions The reasons for this state- zones' and clear wecatte * LE Plai Prepare for election of new battery laws effectively still against the unions, complete more spending cuts to benefit big „rade business hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in a new round of speed-up and rationalisation in industry. the Asset-stripping the Only last week andeaked -coalition: Tory перо conndenfial from office revealed that the Tories are developing detailed plans asset-stripping and Those selling off the nationalised to claimed industries-sizing the government's scale of working class resis- collaboration tance in each case. capitalist Workers Labour vote called upon because they recognise that Tory would such attacks destroy jobs, rights and standards living won decades of struggle. But the very fact that it took David Steel to break the Lib-Lab coannon, and Callaghan-Healey that intend to campaign in the election on their record as and job- ware culler. slashers makes it clear that it is by no means enough to sit back until October and vote Labour. demoralisation and alienation of thousands of Labour voters can only be announced the setting up of a three new man committee to south Lebanon. The three committee will include sopresentative: the Lebanese govern. The PLU ment and the Syrian forces who are still Lowanor large numbers. Its according an interview with Arafat published is to end all Palestinian military operations Lebanon and for the move ment contine Itself propaganda and information" activities. was also announced that instructions had been issued to PLO units to cooperate actively the Arad with the UN Lebanese socialists,

VORCES

aner commanders north of the Litani fought tenaciously river have been told to use force Twel It necessary to prevent guerrilla pursue it With from going behind the UN lines the 'Palestinian army' ment now of direct negotiations A unitied was also proposed to enforce between the Zionists and Arab these policies. bourgeois reyes difficult rule can only be maintained by see now these policies of the PLO leader.

coopting into its system of rule ship among the leaderships or tnose tighting cal wilt suboon

BL BEHIND

COWLEY

WITCH HUNT

See page 4 Nursery Rally Report ..:Back page Docks jobs in danger. • p.9 Family Election Ploy.. .. p.8

IR.C.T. LIBRARY COPY

PLEASE RETURN

countered by into action. To those that show the break coalitionist Labour leaders.

slightest sign of such a fight union branches both critical extend and Labour GMCs must at support and the demand that they press further and once lake steps to ensure that the Labour Party con- fight socialist ference is re-called prior to programme • based on the abolition of wage controls, General Election; and Callaghan-Healey restoration of cuts in a cabinet adityans Namervices spending a crash programme of public jobs, 'Lefts' works to create new nationalisation of the "lefts' that have banks and major industries.

this way we can flagrant demonstrate that the "lefts with the are incapable of seriously class must be challenging the right wing or Parliamentary lo lake up a solving 1n fight, and turn their words fashion the problems faced by the working class. The struggle against the existing leadership within the Labour movement prep.

aratory to the General Election, the election of a Labour dinarly and the • fight ment encourage workers demand and force measures on a Labour government in defence their indepen- dent can thus prove a crucial point of development for revolutionary principled, leadership in the working Healey Arafat masses, including There can be no doubt that who have within the stresses the Palestinian movalen reoresen struggle and their right to of leadership among the arisis the anti-imperialist forces in the virtual abandon- altd wen can resolved by those who fight for socialist policies and colonials • rotskyist bany to moduse Lne working class and the peasantry conflict with the Arab •our eoisie

NO VOTERS NEEDED

FOR SADAT'S 98%

Pig: =

-INTERNATIONAL

of A clear example anti-democratic the nature of the referen- dum was to be seen in Egypt the last over week. The use of the referen- dum as a means of imposing by the first Bonaparte after the French Revolution. Its use by later Bonapartist regimes which balance between the revol- of the utionary aspirations masses and the imposition of class rule has been seen many times since then. held in The referendum Egypt 21 May was no

OIL

exception to this. "Spread defeatism" It called on voters to say 'yes' to a series of propos- each more reaction- ary than the last. The six 'democratic prin- the ballot paper ciples' on the included

MOWINE

take government to action against those who published 'unfounded rumours 'spread defeatism' the 'demo- Another cratic principles' was all those directed against who 'were convicted taking part in propaganda in opposition to or critical of religious principles. Such people according to the ballot paper: could not occupy higher administrative positions in the State or the could public sector,

3IOU

candidates for stand administrative bodies or could not trade form of mass work in any media whatever or take part work which might ally influence public opinion".

the Within MOus Minister of the Interior had announced a vote of 98.29% The sole remaining 'treaty of friendship the Soviet between bureaucracy and Arab nationalists will shortly join all the others in the dustbin. This time it is the leaders of the Iraqi state who have to inflict a further moved humiliating blow against the of crumbling strategy Stalinist diplomacy in the Middle East. The last government Polish week Stalinists of shifting support from Arab nationalism the Israeli state. Now, it has threatened to break diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union unless all military aid to the Ethiopian military dictator- ship is halted. The major partner in the

REFERENDUM!

Nor did it aim simply to of the electorate in favour silence critics of the type of with a more than 80% poll. Muhammad Heikal, former Nasser This was despite the fact confidante and Financial Times editor of Al Ahram. that the correspondent noted that: He advocated more open interview "For long periods or the government an day the Cairo voting booths published the London in were almost deserted" Times 22 May. His on The Le Monde man said is to allow objective the capitalist regime more effec- that: "Several foreign tively to defend itself. journalists had to go to lengths Reassert authority come SeC all citizens performing Nor did it need the refer- their electoral duty" The purpose of the refer- endum to ban. other

• MOTO

whatever the real radical forces the such as enoum. result, newspaper Al Ahali (The was not to uiscover the 'democratic opinions' of People) published when the Egyptian people. in Egypt an interview with 'Left' Iraqi regime purges Communists ruling coalition is the Ba'ath 'to drive a wedge between Party of moderately radical the Kurdish people and the government. bourgeols nationalists But the Whatever truth other group the which formed this 'National behind unconvincing anese Progressive Front' in 1973 accusations, the motives of none other than-the the nationalists was can be in little doubt. Iraqi Communist Party! The days of this Popular The Iraqi has regime 'left Front are clearly numbered.

mouthed the most 14 positions of any Arab state Communists are on the Palestinian struggle, reported to have been executed in the last month, Svria and the PLO now provides the the Ba'athists and have range of Eritrean liberation fighters wide prouuccu d their material with only allacks on merr Supporters of the Ba'ath

SUDDOIL

and argue pollical These positions have won popular losses Have relegated the uncritical

[CPI

them the recent an admiration of the Workers position

IC OF

organisation which it led in Revolutionarv Party's dally paper Newsline. Ba'athists' turn More particularly the But ine against Stalinism in no way Stalinists have been charged indicates that they are being with 'doubts about stability in Iraq' and seeking inevitably Lowarus SOCIALIST PRESS. Wednesda: 31 May 1978 desperately looking for a base for further lurches in policy, clearly ana ln the aim of the referendum.

The great fear of those who rule Egypt today is of a outburst popular OI feeling of the sort which brought workers onto the of Cairo and streets Alexandra in January 1977, shouting 'Hero of the cross- ing, where is our breakfast?'

IMF delegation The important most purpose of the 'saving of democracy' and the purges Pronounced ubl from •oftices by Sadat at press conference on 23 May was made clearer a day of later when news began two the be published activities of an International Monetary Fund delegation currently visiting Cairo.

Although Egypt's my Sinat (left) balance of payments deficit Heikal. has been slightly eased Sadati had a number of Economics recent montis in different Minister Hamid El Sayeh is our DOSCo running the referendum. currently trying to negoti- The first was to reassert $750 million special the authority of his Bona- from the drawing rights partist fundamen- regime,

IMP

tally unstable and threaten- ed at the centre as a result of the failure of its policies.

Papers close to Sadat himself like the magazine October have been talking recently of the need for the army to 'defend the consti- and stay well away tution from 'the game of politics' The policy of raproche- Zionists with the ment failed, having completely Sadat regime is now the Begin As Arab many financial transactions complicated involved relationship between the various capitalist powers in the area ways this socialism by One of the revolutionary this the spontaneous pressure of case through petro-dollar loans the masses. These Bonapartists from Saudi Arabia, acting in part as an agency for the US certainly need to contain the anti-imperialist imperialists of the Iraqi As the Financial Times consciousness and by put it diplomatically on 26 workers peasants May: adopting a "radical foreign "The Saudis have let it policy: Yet far from working to be known that they wish to capitalist much stricter transform of property relations programme economic control in Egypt" Newsline has suggested, Further attacks on the they engaged in alt

NOW

forging much stronger econ- economic conditions as well with omic as the democratic rights ol the Egyptian masses can be imperialism. in Iraq These events confidently expected the of of point sharply result the pressure necessity for building those well-known Trotskyist party which can supporters of human rights, President fight against the betrayals of imperialist . Carter the feudalist Saudi Stalinism and and

DOUSCON

Arabian leaders. nationalism in leading to the by the revolutionary overthrow struggle imperialism and the seizure Egyptian workers AS also inevitable against them of power by the proletariat.

Cubans- come unstuck in Addis As the Eritrean revol- utionaries to continue Ethiopian hold the forces beseiged in Derg in Asmara, ( the Addis Ababa has been able to vent its frustra- tion in other directions.

Ethiopian radio last week • announced the dismissal of the executive

CLIC

mittee of the All-Ethiopia Trades Union charged with "corruption, political sabotage and abuses of authority" Another charge was that the Executive had been infiltrated by the Meison political movement, which the military regime has been pains to stamp out. This same political grouping seems to have been used by Cuban diplomats in an unavailing attempt the Derg into ending military rule and holding back on the war in Eritrea. The two senior members of the Cuban embassy have Ethiopia reportedly after failing Mengers persuade Derg leader establish with dialogue exiled Meison leader Dr. Negede Gozeze Little desire Such reports reveal the of the problem international created for and its allies by Stalinism the war in Eritrea. The Stalinist bureau- cracies themselves have very little desire to be seen ir openly engaged physically massacring revolutionary struggle as the Mengistu demands of the liquidation of would guerrillas Eritreat force them to do. Eritrean Popular The Front has Liberation appealed to the Cubans and Yemenis join South to forces with them against the bloody and repressive regime in Addis Ababa (see their statement, reprinted in Socialist Press 97). Despite his fulsome for Mengistu, Castro praise has undoubtedly attempted to arrange negotiations between the

EPLF

the Front Eritrean Liberation and the Ethiopian dictator- • ship. Another coup? These have so far come nothing through the violent of opposition Mengistu. would come as no learn that the surprise to and Cuban bureau- Soviet working cracies have been to engineer another coup Ethiopian within the coup counter-revolution -a that would bring to powe sufficiently grate. regime Stalinism ful to that would settle- with the Eritreans, no ell and thus save the bureau considerable cracies embarrassment their efforts maintain defensive interests in this region of Africa

INTERNATIONAL

DICTATORS

TOTTER

IN LATIN

AMERICA

would be world The events of the last the predictable enough event; in few in Latin weeks Brazil it was the first strike America seem to mark a for 10 years. turning of the political And within a few hours Saab/Scania tide. the workers were joined by 20,000 other In countries, • aozen Sao Paulo's from militant workers' struggles

WOIKCIS

motor plants (Ford, Volks- and mass mobilisations have wagen, Mercedes begun to show on a contin- others). ental scale that the stability of latin America s mıltarv dictatorships was

CHOE

profound as had appeared.

after one country another the working class and movement has shown through the renewal the intensitication struggles that despite setbacks (many of them maior reverses) of the last decade the working class of Latin America has suffered a decisive historic defeat: The readiness to struggle has survived the worst that the repressive, pro-capitalist Latin American dictators can inflict. Open defiance Carter In Chile on May 1, 4½ years after the bloody coup was only hesitantly of Pinochet in which 30,000 that Geisel's regime, faced met their deaths, with such an unexpected

WORKENS

5,000 workers once more challenge, declared the came streets strike illegal. onto tne Santiago' in open defiance of Ine emplovers. however. government ban on conceded a, large proportion demonstrations. of the workers demands in 600 them were hope of ending the tne arrested and fined • action before it off There was visible (and wave other of Pinochet's • in tne industries. divided Latest reports say that that alarming) Cuence ot the strikers have most 30,000 murders and tens of now returned work. thousands of jail sentences But the self-confidence "disappearances" and are of Brazilian capitalists and not crush the Geisel's shaky dictatorship resistance of the workers' has received a blow from which cannot quickly The fourteen year old recover military dictatorship blow COle Brazi —imperialism's moment when the Brazilian showpiece-has American ruling class is increasingly received a similar shock in divided about the succession the last two weeks. to Geisel who is due to be Brazil too the first presidential replaced May Day trade unionist elections later this year.

since 1968 took Geisel's candidate, secret place in spite of a govern- Chiet Joao Bantista ment ban. Figueiredo has not been universally accepted by his Strike military rivals. Then on May 16 only a although AnO Figueiredo's few days after receiving campaign being financed by American which was walt insufficient to "multi-national manitestly corpor- is known the ations" cover against that Them 2,000 of inflation, many sections

DOLI

workers in the Saab/Scania domestic and international plant capital are very uneasy and lorry Sao Paulo went on strike to about the declining prestige demand immediate of the dictatorship an addițional 20% increase. combined with the new rise That in many parts of of workers struggles. This is precisely what is now happening in Peru. The right wing dictator- ship Genera Morales Bermudez, plagued by an catastrophic econ- omic crisis, had scheduled elections to powerless "constituent assembly" take place on June 4. Last regime week Ene raced a virtual mass uprising and in panic "postponed" its elections, The reason why such a many pullllig measure might be seriously of the candidates in jail.

contemplated The occasion for the new President Carter is that Peru political crisis was now one of the attempt by the regime two of the Latin get long-solicited IMF countues American continent where loan. • imperialist most the threatened (though Soviet Union-by reschedul- debts and sending military aid - is still trying to save bermunder) The other one of the two undoubtedly Nicaragua, political death where the warrant of the 'dynastic has been Somoza for several outstanding months. Daily events Violent demonstrations and political strikes against Somoza have been common for some time. But the. last four weeks they have become daily events. Even schoolchildren have begun widespread protest of their occubanons schools. many as Frequently population of 10% of the the capital Managua have Taken to me sees. Their confidence cannot be increased by observing what looks to he the impen.

ding collapse of the dictat- orial military regime in the of countries He enDowne Bolivia and Peru. In Bolivia, too, presiden tial elections are due within a tew weeks though It 15 secret that now open dictator Hugo Banzer, who Geisel seized 1971, financial situation is The power would like to prevent them desperate With Gent 1U W from happening. and. interest expected to eat up a stagger- Out of control ing 55% of Peru's expected export earnings this year!

His attempt to introduce In order to satisfy the the of • demo• appealance IMF of its capacity to repay cracy to his dictatorship has any new loans the Morales increasingly got our of nIs Bermudez regime That control as the workers have introduced series reestablished their organis- austerity measures in which ations and strength over the class living working last few as weeke standards have been sharply Banzer's support even within the army has melted Cul In addition a new anti- away. trade Banzer has tried to stamp . union law has beer _and out the new wave of protest promulgated, by closing the universities universities closed down.

the rOr SOMe reorganisation of the these actions have provoked unions. growing working class resis- But the question on the tance and there has been a Bolivia sharp rise in the number of agenda 1n 1S whether Banzer himset car strikes (supported even by survive until the the Peruvian Communist elections are due (in July) and Party, which backed the whether the elections will military regime for nine years after it seized power inemselves be overtaken Dy in 1968). Meeting of workers in Colombia votes for strike action Two the week. food regime removed

SUD•

sidies, producing a vicious leap in the prices of the basic foods consumed by workers and peasants Virtually all workers' organisations in Peru seem to have united last week in supporting two day nation-wide general strike.

This followed general strikes the previous week in Cuzco and Arequipa, during which workers were savagely by lne army. At least 26 workers have been killed by the and who

OOHC

Clockwise from top left, Bermudez, Somoza, Pinochet and have also carried out whole- of local and Salt national working class organisations. In spite of this the strike has reportedly been almost complete, Dringing and the main cities to a complete halt. The new economic still not enough to satisfy the IMF which, given the political suggests that the imperialists may be actually attempting to promote the regime's bankruptcy and default in order to justify direct imperialist military Although Carter has recently congratulated his "restraint" homoza on killed (after he had just 30 'only' people demonstration), even the US is beginning to tire of its faithful old servant.

But, the major left wing Page 3 and working class organis- ations have pursued criminally collaborationist policies which have kept the rotting tyranny and will help to lead to its replacement by another pro- imperialist regime The Nicaraguan Stalinists (the Nicaraguan Socialist Party-PSN) nave reCently fact the only been political party to take up Somoza's dictator offer of negoti- desperate ations. The PSN is also a part of popular frontist alliance known

UDEL

as which includes Tories. Liberals, Social Christians and other sworn enemies of the work- ing class. The Sandinista guerrilla movement has also recently moved into popular tront poulics Major riot These are not the only examples Latin America 1n the last teu weeks working class resistance and evident ruling class weak- ness In Colombia and Mexico there have been important strikes. In Ecuador last month a followed an increase in bus fares. And there too the government is threatening to "put off" the proposed elections In the Dominican Repub- lic "election" is stil the of the is still uncertain and producing a particularly tense political situation The evident strength of the working masses how- ever, is nowhere matched by a principled leadership fight- ing for working Class inde pendence fight the against dictatorship and imperialism. All over the continen! Stalinist and "guerrillaist" leaders have shown and con- tinue to show that they are incapable of fighting imper- ialism and its agents. Only guarantee The opportunity to build new leadership and revolu- tionary Trotskyist parties, to mobilise the independent strength of the working class at the head of these massive upheavals, however, exists extent now LU all not existed. for several years. It is the building of these based Darkes struggle for the demands start from the material problems faced by the working masses and lead to an awareness of the neec for the over- of capitalism, which

LATOW

will be the only guarantee that today's new militant struggles will end not in new defeats but workers power.

LEYLAND BOSSES

Page 4 Startling new evidence has come to light of the deep com- plicity between TGWU officials. and •British Leyland management in the victimisation of Thornett Alan and other shop stewards at Cowley the Assembly Plant. The evidence 19-page contained dossier submitted to ne TGWU by Leyland manage- ment in order to their continuing refusal to recognise Alan Thornett as deputy convenor of the Assembly Plant-a position which was elected he shop floor ballot by 1asI • December. Since then Thornett and eight have been ine orner

TGWU!

constantly witch-hunted by

TGWU

internal inquiries and threatened with expul- Only Moss sion from the union or a life ban on holding office in the Allegations strike figures The new dossier consists the conclusion that: of three lengthy letters from the Cowley Plant Director - W.D. District Secretary David Buckle containing a series of allegations against Alan 1974 Thornett In and detailing minute by minute accounts line, e.g. of disputes on his section.

"prepare to It had a covering letter plant" "reject Pat from Lowry, British review" Leyland Director of Lowry Personnel and Administra- pointing tion, (and one of the few to lend top BL executives to survive management the Edwardes clear-out). stand firm North's letters nition of sent Buckle between the October deputy convenor. 20, North's 1977 decision by Buckle to mainly with proceed with

TGWU

Alan Thornett's disciplinary hearings and the drivers' section. Regional Committee discip- linary hearing on February 27/28 1978. at that All points to chuckle Reg Parsons, the • letters being sent by Thornett arrangement with Buckle, stewards meetings and later since despite the fact that centred they contain serious allega- Thornett against the TGWU tions against Alan Thornett, disciplinary hearings. Buckle concealed their exis- tence until the company produced them in evidence months later. North dossier with Weapon paragraph points clearly to collusion The obvious purpose of with the officials. the dossier was to place a "Once weapon the hands of emphasise the serious nature

TGWU

both officials and of this matter and Leyland management in the that you will investigate the event of a strike, either in whole issue defence of Thornett against and TGWU disciplinary action your organtsation's or in support of the demand enforce that he be recognised in his

VOU

elected position. plant" the As officials have begun to find themselves in quick reaction from the 170 increasing difficulty the disciplinary hearings and as time has gone by, they have been unable to prevent the letters coming to light.

Most revealing is the first paragraph of Lowry's letter which he says that his understanding of the settle- ment 1974 (when In Thornett was victimised and defended by his section) was that the TGWU: was no longer that Mr quesuoning Thornett would not under any circumstances be granted facilities to act as a senior steward, deputy eno Neware If this is true it means that Thornett has remained victimsea lot lne past lour BEHIND o

WITCH-HUNT

TGWU

years by agreement with the stewards the on Assembly Plant! They voted with only 4 against to demand that Evans, now national official Grenville General Secretary, but the Hawley-to whom Lowry's negotiator at that meeting letter is addressed-attend a -can testify to the truth or meeting of the stewards to otherwise of that statement.

questions on Alan alis wel Lowry goes on to quote Thornett's recognition. and to draw "Extreme line" "Mr Thornett holds the same ideals now as he did encouraging workers to take an extreme "reject speed-up" thẻ occupy the wage concludes by North's letters support to the decision LU against Thornett dossier deals disputes on transport Buckle-concealed letters The disputes arose from the decision of the convenor from British Leyland Limited Serious nature National Seerinary. G. Hawley, his concludes revealing I Gwu/venicle Building and Automotive Group. which again Dear Mr Hawley,

MR. A. THORNETT

again must Our meeting on 14 February ended with a commitment from I trust review main

TATUSIN TACHMA TO

on urgent Mected depury senior steward at Thornett to inform. us of intent discipline into write you formerly (sic) thereafter. These arguments are on this listed below:- I. z was ou • clear understand The dossier has brought a ing, as I recorded in my letter to Moss Evans dated 5 June 1974 concerne i nornet that the TGWU was no longer questioning that Mr. Thornett would unBr circum stances be granted facilities to act as a senior steward, deputy senior steward or in anv ornel similar capacity at Cowley Assembly Plant. You Parsonal Manager aththe Plant Know urged union lottor yOUT dated 29 November 1977 delete his name from the list of candidates to prevent misunder standing. Your union •took contary view desoire tne tam that our understanding concern the granting of facilities to Mr. A ¡ noner na not deen contradicted. analysis of dispute L. An Lowry. statistics for Cowley Assembly

TGWU COWLEY

They also decided to call demand Thornett • a mass meeling 01 lne plant and recommend that the convenor. meeting demands the Cowley

TGWU

bureaucracy demanding drop the charges of against the crisy Cowley 9 in order to create demanding new conditions for a fresh I hornet: approach to management al General Secretary level. themselves Evans-what are the facts!

control. a Lowry's letter tells all- Plant reveals considerable improvement at the Plant sina confrontations. It is our 1974 when we adopted that Mr. AOTl position in respect of Mr.

same ideals Thornett. This analysis and that all the attached as The are presented so that the losses arising in March and 1974 shows April 1974 are isolated. Whethe one looks at hours lost by those continually Mac in dispute or vehicles : lost the Company conclusion is the same: trial losses post-April take an extreme line, e.g.

1974 significantly lower than in 1973. If one extract arising from certain Company initiatives to achieve union in the change last advocate twe adherence years of main. In ane re-organisation tenance and the "four shop differences stewards" yea May 1976 to April 1977 and Asson alternatives good ment to the industrial Engineer maintain ing Agreement in the Paint Shop relations when the May hostile and negative attitudes.

1977 January 1978, figures for ThE last two years are an out The The standing improvement October, which the attached copy the since from Mr. W.D Tour veare April 1974 we have established J. Buckle dated 27 October. are much strong evidence Createl understandine the Company's problems anc there autnority purpose make Cowles are attachar A semov rant a success. Partic ipation has nothing else, events given representatives that the disregard of generally wreatel Knowice or the ousiness. and the reasoning behind Strode ment policies and decisions. We be said to have unton reoresenta tives to seek the best deal meetings possible for their members but notning to point out to those we do not expect concerned the ana canno accept totally negative , A shop steward, ways. which has approach perhaps, Senior or senior steward must ir some not only oasIs orner TRan 7r006 _our view uniot wins plas keep to th unacceptable expected of him in his dealings SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 31 May 1978 IGWU Regional Secretary Mathers, lobbied by. Thornett's section. recognition of that he be expelled from the union be brought to an end.

stewards are Details of the Cowley 9 that the hypo. Defence Campaign from union officials the Organising Committee, Alan Blackbird Leys, Oxord. 23, Overmead Green, recognised the LinC tecommending Thornett at the TGWU conference arguing against wage attitude that led to the 1974 with the Company but he must view also advise and persuade others Thornett holds the to keep within the basic codes, did he e.o. the Procedure Agreement evidenc The points outliner Trom such documents as Branch

TOU

Nows in the interim years since above are our main arguments for refusing to alter our positior hostile attitude still prevails. He , Thornett. We recare to vir. attacked are not involving ourselves in ar his emotional officials, encouraging workers to ao is evidenced by ar innocent working man. We prepared letter, back ou vews The strong shop steward The responsible who advocates different approach to that of a Company need not fear probiem procedures to attempt to resolve similar refusal facilities The Company provided he or she stays within agreements constructivE ThI Tundamenta cannot governing the industrial employee relations Cowley such Assembly Plant's policy is one of complete acceptance of trade unions and their representation.

25 incidents al system within the spirit anc British Leylanc are outined ir intent of the of a letter Procedure Agreement 1976.

North to Mr. D of It is in disregard for industrial relations and the con tinued uninterrupted ane oroceoure.ke copies of employment 'thousand: about Company has , in transport which shov maintain its on refusa accept Mr. wide Thornett senior • his have members steward Thornett cannot dishonoured commitment organised recognise him as a transoor : it can be said he dic and we demariment stewart see any valid cannot error of their position arrived at in 1974 with Mr. Moss Evans deput. Yours sincerely, know and Pat Lowry code of conduc Director of Personnel and Administration.

SOCIALIST PRESS. Heiresis: 31 Me;

GRANTS

FOR

SCHOOL

The opportunist announcement by Shirley Williams, Secretary of State for Education that she is considering introducing grants for, school students who decide to stay on for sixth form education must viewed with be extreme scepticism. Even Labour spokesmen have admitted that the proposed "full national inquiry" into such and a scheme the grants

CABOUR

The scars on Mrs. Jean Paton of her public abortion may well last the rest of her life. Thrown against her will into the centre of a press campaign she Mas been pinned on exotion and condemned. She has indeed, as she said after the Liverpool Hiah Court ruling, been used as a pawn. The only question is exactly what game Is being played The anti-abortion lobby backed by nearly all sections of press-citner with nudges and hints about the pendulum having "swung

LOO

far" But it would be a mistake see Mrs Paton's page one status solely as an expression of anti-abortion sentiment. The threat that abortion on family, demand poses and the threat that the weaken- ing of the family poses to capit- Callels that the "family' papers defend.

The Daily Express for example-in sharp contrast to its abortion rights in its page.

• 10 editorial: "The law must always keep step with contemporary morality. The right of a woman Choose now widely accepted in practice, and the now backs up this general conviction.

STUDENTSP

age group will probably mean no action for another • 2-3 years. Any paid Saut Would means-tested like certain v be those for university students, and, if they were to fit in with unancellor Healey s strategy OT spending cuts, would be so small as to be insignificant. The maintenanc grants for school students- available only at the discretion ot the local education authority £2.50 per week for a sixth former. • A mere 2½% SCHOOl students England and Wales receive such

PARTY

PRESS GANG

"A great number of women have been spared a great deal of because of the court's heartache decision" Perhaps one in twenty of their readers will have read that.

went our or will nave read the lead story, 'Wife takes final step"-the second and third paragrapns or wich read. 'Bill Paton said he would appeal against the finding that a man has no rights over the life of his unborn child. "And he will still go ahead with his Tital. sa la . Мошлеи Mrs Joan Paton, to help other fathers. She added: We were shocked hear about the operation. It is murder".

So not only month old foetus unequivocally given the stul title ot. unborn child", but the grandmother's nonis are adata to tre alrel s in an attempt to tip the scales against Mrs. Paton The story later included this gem of loaded reporting: "All through the case-and end the foetus within her at the was three hours orcer-virs. Paton wept quietly, never once head wo the legal raising her arguments". If the father were given the right of consultation, says the Daily Mail: • some doctors might be less inclined to treat the grant- ing of permission pregnancy as a formality.

the transcending grants. Williams' scheme suggested grants of about £10 per week to DIes TUl! education, with a f4 bonus in the family allowance for every dependent child over 16 But she did not say wetne this would be awarded to all sixth formers or only those on Courses uncertain whether the money would be paid to the student or Vague promises have also made concerning students been 16-19 age choose to Colleges of Further Education. At present such students are entitled tiny alowances to those for school students-and only 7% of those eligible receive grants. Principle Tine •coaltion with ivanpower services Commission spending cuts forcing the (which operated the 'youth Grants for school and college clasure of schools, cutbacks on opportunities' programme) - students should be a principle books and equipment, and mass cynically exploited by This grant must be protected MO1 unemployment among teachers. Labour leaders as a vote-catch- inflation-rising penny None of thest were gimmick or as raised by National Union of a cars ou by penny in pace witn ine cos artificially reducing the numbers Students President, Stalinist Sue of living. And it must be paid of youth on the dole: direct the and Slipman. student, Will welcomed Williams admitted Williams proposals, and through the intermediary of the sutaising student grants that one motive for proposing suggested steps towards Tamily the is that many working class youth All round fight 1101 i ne small National Union ot staying School Students

(NUSS),

at school ano are swel ing the numbers of youth however, is in a position to take unemployed The cost such • 01 up Williams' vague promises and grant. £10-£14 discretionary campaign the Haunch would ot course de considerable handout is seen as a cut-price schools for the payment of ade.

-and would highlight the of fobbing off youth and for way necessity an all-round fight quate yvauls this, present easing pressure on employment against cuts in public spending offices. Stalinis a anorahmand st be Stalinist leadership must and cuts education must also be seen in the particular light of the huge adopted of a attacks COn arant • ar Ine samt but i vourn are •TO nave a education being carried out by level as that given by the genuine opportunity to pursue Minister for Torture is happy in his work of Mason's troops, "Some might think work in Belfast find it or one of British rule being Secretary of State rewarding stimulating, for Norther Ireland or a and who leers secure to wak lad in political terms streets of Northern Ireland.

office Minister in our in personal satist ying "Direct rule not the least desirable of all terms' Government by ICmOLt Government posts. It is So says Labour man Roy contro trom London. exer.

cised body of through a an understandable view Mason, British capitalism's of State men sitting current Secretary but quite wrong. Stormont Castle. We have Northern for Torture in My ministerial made it our business to get Ireland, in an interview with colleagues and who Northern Ireland Labour Weekly. клон well". With imperialist And so have the hordes and reformist arosance of British Special Branch, claptrap jostling side-by-side

SAS

thugs, spies, spivs, in his argument Mason murderers and provocateurs attempts to justify his active who are cynically referred role in supervising the brutal to in the bourgeois press as military occupation and the "security forces" operation of whole battery of repressive legis- Vicious tortures aimed at preserving British rule He boasts: They have broken down poignancy(!) of this particular "There is not one of the doors, barricaded case, real cause is the tor councils 26 district which and carried out the most concern: that broadly has not had a visit from one vicious beatings and tortures acceptable retorm to liberalis more members of the "get to know or in order to the abortion law has come very Ministerial team". For also ion on demand approval legal the activities of anti-imper- near creating But nor there one forces Perhaps this reaction will Catholic that and ghetto area Ireland, smashing convince readers we are right to has not been the victim of splintering their way into "Free Tormulate our demand as repeated visits from sqauds the lives of the entire work.

state abortion on demand" and "A to not as woman's right Choose If we turn to that authority liberal reaction-the Guardian ea find it almost a the end of its tether After à column of dither the ally spirit of ringing certainty but with a painful recognition of the comoexite emotions of this case-that the law is right to say what it does".

Away Trom sureine emotions and into the offices of the Daily Telegraph we find the reader writers inking the voi Abortion Act to all anti-capital- ist measures "It must also be said that Labour views in general on such matters as taxation, inheritance, ee uality. nearn. ecucation.

age of majority, what you will, are all more or less calculated to destroy conesion primacy of the family. family "By the now must itself a British regarded social problem The Tories should certainly make it a party "There is not one of the 26 councils which has not had a matter reverse tutest disastrous social trends".

Page 5 ineir education beyond the age of 16, this fight must be taken the student, trade unior Back peddle meanwill unlame continues to back peddle on the introduction of com renensive allowing ories in a number areas to selective schooling and refusing TaKe stam• out private education. Comprehensive education in the 1950s. On got underway present showing it could be a least the year 2,000-half century later-before grants for i and fully i students ColA prehensive education are finally introduced! ing population Since this entire police- military operation designed to prop up •not British simply imperialism but also the Irish bourgeoisie both sides of the border the workers of Ireland can thank Mason for his personal role in the mass unemployment levels by created the capitalist slump. Mason himself admits to unemployment running at 30% Strabane, Newry, West Belfast other allu But he does not mention that capitalism in Southern Ireland -which also rests on the counter-revolutionary presence of British military occupation in tae worla and on investment from abroad - has a similarly huge rate of Beside these fruits of capitalism, •the puny housing programmes 1 and job-creation ventures carried out by Mason are no more an insult to the Irish working class-forcibly administered Within week recently three anti-unionist workers have suffered violent deaths the and the British Army-three more notches to be carved into Mason's desk. Obscene involvement This obscene involve- ment of Labour leaders in the oppression of Britain's oldest must

COOV

brought to an end The labour movement must step up the fight for the complete withdrawal of British troops from Ireland for selt-determin- ation of the Irish people And the •Labourite butchers and police nark. like Mason that have super- and defended this exploitation must be driven from the workers movement

The violent events that 'parliamentary traditions Page 5 One of the •move- ments thrown up by the English bourgeois revol- ution was the Diggers. Winstanley; the Led by Diggers shared the view that wage labourers were unfree, but they drew a distinctive conclusion -freedom abolition of through the wage labour. followers Winstanley's pacifists) (who were rejected the legal restraints laid down by their masters.

Sharing an early concep- tion of the labour theory of value they sought to put an end to exploitation through instituting common owner- SOlD Scarcity from Though doomed the outset, as would be any notion of communism based on scarcity and a low level forces, the productive an Digger movement important indicator of the far-reaching character of the which Revolution English threw up forces which were, senses, dramatic- in certain advance of their ally time. In such a revolutionary not hard epoch, how men who imagine of politics thought religious terms believed that were on the verge of they

THE ENGLISH

REVOLUTION

paved the way for PART FOUR by Mark Hyde Coming Christ's Second itself. Ludewick Indeed one Muggleton thought. that he was the Messiah. Fifth the Others stke saw their Monarchy men task violent uprising that would prepare Christ's rule. Desperate sects" activities The became increasingly more desperate hysterical and failure of the after the Leveller movement. suppressed Cromwell them. The small men (and a of women good

AUL OCT

who believed that they had found a road out of oppres- in the sects) were in some ways an inspiration, in and sorry others a pillui casualty of developing capit- and the bourgeois alism revolution. All necessarily were swept away by the might of expressed who Cromwell the historical mission of the possible progressive only society of the day-the new bourgeois order. Ruthless Like all revolutionary Cromwell's movements, could survive only by ruth- dictatorship less Ovel Class cacics. The Navy was built up as the instrument for the expansion of the new bourgeois order.

Cromwell The expansion of English capitalism reland hac consequences-that DIOOuy remain with us to this day but the bourgeois historians who portray Cromwell as a mere tyrant simply cannot face the real origins of their own system. Marxism can Only Cromwell's appreciate worth. with the fact (as and Russia Lenin Cromwell's rule saw a great spread of toler- ation and creativity in arts ana science New popular styles in art and literature remain in the SOCIALIST PRESS. Wedrestar :1 Ma: 19-8

CHRONOLOGY

1652 Act of Settlement for Ireland transfers Irish land to London merchants.

War with Dutch breaks out.

1653 Cromwell expels Rump of Long Parliament.

Barebone's Parliament convened but dissolved before end of year. 1654 Peace made with Dutch.

Cromwell calls new Parliament.

1655 Royalist uprising followed by rule of Major Generals. 1657 Humble Petition and advice presented.

1658 Cromwell dies. Son Richard succeeds him.

1659 Presbyterian-Royalist revolt defeated by army.

1660 General Monck marches to London to restore monarchy. Rump recalled and dissolves itself.

New Parliament accepts Charles II's Declaration of Breda. Charles returns to England 1661 Cavalier Parliament meets.

1670 Charles II signs secret Treaty of Dover with France. 1673 Third Dutch War begins.

Cáholics purged during. hysteria over 1678 Many 'Popish Plot' invented by the charlatan Titus Oates. 1685 Charles I| dies-proclaiming himself a Roman Catholic on his deathbed. James II succeeds him. crushed at Sedgemoor. Monmouth evenion Followed by Judge Jeffrey's Bloody Assizes.

of Indulgence- 1687 James Declaration primarily to give freedom to Catholics.

1688 James issues another Declaration of Indulgence.

opponents, invitation is sent by James An including erstwhile allies, to William of Orange to invade England and take over.

James' efforts to hold power fail. William takes over and James spends his last years in exile.

Finally defeated two years later at Battle of the Boyne (1690). They feared ution to stop. Barbon-one of its carefully of Dryden and dictatorship, WOlKS members) selected was revoluonal y Marvell. which took power. out dissolved as a result of the poet Milton was their direct control, as much of wealthier appointed public as they had hated the dictat- and merchant gentry servant paid by the state.

frightened by its orship of Charles!. who had worked members, revolutionary ' programme. for Cromwell as a surveyor Craving for order The conflict between the in Ireland, founded modern conser- The fact that the Boyle modern armv and the most statistics; vative elements in the bour- bourgeoisie even beseeched chemistry. become King geoisle remained Cromwell to plan of 1657 expressed the Science army neW Instru- craving for order, for a link compromise-the Government-fell forged ahead of tenuous-with Discovery -however through, and it is probable traditional institutions.

like astronomy in sciences that in 1655 Cromwell was of The new ruling class felt The scientific methods exposed -it only too pleased to be able Bacon-of uncomfortable, Francis military rule. place of to institute awaited an oppor- and research in only minor Royalist mysticism and obscurantism using tunity to cloak itself in the revolt as an excuse. garments of the past. -came into their own. The architecture of Wren Cromwell lived, While Carried through and the philosophy of John the instability of the situa- would have both tion was overshadowed by Locke The rule of Cromwell's been impossible without the his enormous revolutionary Generals, based on Major Ironsides of Cromwell. strength and authority. had military discipline. of The notion In his person he brought more decisive outlook than Cromwell's England filled together the continuity and any previous attempts. bigotry and fear is a dynamism of the revolution with out They carried shallow myth borne of the 1658 But his death in bourgeois measures of the Quite for the mind. the road conservative opened that the the opposite was the case.

Tevoludoli restoration of the King "proper were bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie instantly while timid enact sacrificed a few political and

LOU

the men of property wanted religious ideals for Republic and Restoration.

what had consolidate guarantee of order Cromwellian The been won, and avoid further Charles returned in republic carried out a revol- risk. The conservative 1660 ution in bitter conflict with Opposition to the Major spearheaded by elements the conservative reactionary Generals came from former General Monck, broke the forces that opposed it. revolutionary bastions. the loyal of To Royalists, Cromwell's The history of experi- Cromwellians in the army.

social base and the new ments. unbelievable rulers were Cromwell's time are exceed- Rallying point One described upstarts. ingly complex. as "most sordid men them But predominant and of the vilest condition" Charles trend the longing for was to be ine Cromwell, of course, had point against stability by the main body rallying if carefully As of wealthy merchants and further palace between the contradictory happened, , the nothing had gentry old Long forces at work. They wanted the revol- Rump of the The frequent changes of fact and governier King was finally the Tual restored in 1660. the precarious instability of the bourgeois young dictatorship. Frightened Rump Long Parlia- The frightened full of ment. gentlemen, proved incapable action. of serious Cromwell's army dispersed it. Cromwell was present for scornfully the occasion. pouring abuse on the MPs as the they scurried

OUL

"Thee legal' Parliament The But the next was no more. experiment faired no better in tne long lun Barebones' Parliament, Praise-God (named after A cotton mill-part of the industrial revolution op

geols nave Sucl revolution. implies a the process. This of did not happen. was corpse welc tortured disem- bowelled. The church state was secured the was of feudal tithe payment content of revolution always doubt not presided over a completely to that of his father. but compromise new In Sold of quality and the monopolies obligation of employers to ned up by the 1640

1GND

TO. OF

error and faction ampling on geoisie. free brought.to Capital Bone power by the English Revol- unrestric- ution tnus assisted lne list of capitalism. accull" The old regime had The On the Royalist stitled and stunted it flowering full the industrial huge capilallsi SVSLeI the modern working and class were still decades into who Even men future-but they were LIle The breakthroughs made revolutionary for the advance capitalism were preserved employ the through the Kestor- even the to ation. The who tenant, ally

SOUS

landlord. the land were enclosure beaten and forest vation. lowered to expansion expansion the firmly and the first government and capitalist stage 1n Colonies to trade foreign Navigation oowers. Acts heavy restrictions trading Tre of the the At time navy defence and extension The classes, on the one hand, and the poor paid heavily on the other, finance the taxes to expansive foreign policy generated by the avaricious appetites of the rising bour- 1660 political ution. government had economic of Rather system taxation The of the old noyallst: hold agricultural advance, through eye over interests of the signify end reflected rule The Presbyterian merchants, could allies. not but feel disguised for favours reactionary France. interest, Was do even been held back. of rabble- certain 'Popery' raising amongst excitable 1688-but when complete reactionary Ribbon Whigs the disdain opposition were to push Levellerism stirring old revolutionary memories. of systematically course The were revolutionąry anolnel Whigs unite with 1640s Charles Tory be than gentry New more sects, no When openly bulk would no attempt Only the good Protestant Dutchman. ition pledge and James to ous Bloody him When wd. King revolutionary had implications. was necessar arrange escape historian: called 'Glorious have Revolution' economic pontical idated the of the pourseoisie This was vital for process that would, matter of Revolution full flowering modern capitalism. was a poor 1649-and geois ward of flux. opment can uncover between the 'gradual' society's periods the rapid evoluliul. leaps that revolutionary Fit: The revolution gave a fresh impetus to innovation and technological and scientific advance that had until then , the bourgeois anything from

TOLSK"

moved" But diminishes significance historical materialist the draw- the Tole economically Doweru •vul leadership utionary the prepared tained the revol- called ution' 1640 that decisive are words, and call stage the be must fortified from positions. Cromwell lnal ine 'who rules?' was a and military one ponlica. that could not be settled by debates on the merits of the Divine Right of Kings. It is for this reason that bourgeoisie and its the reform ist Jackevs can only the odd assimilate im pres- sion from this period The legacy of Parliamen- • religious mystifi- tarianism, • cation and bourgeois conser- vatism lives on through the Labour bureaucracy today.

But the great trauition. of revolutionary determin- contempt ation and

TOT

decaying order can only live through Trotskyism on which will guide the future 'Roundheads' of the prolet- arian revolution Concluded

Page: The political, organisa- tional and financial bank- Delind the grandiose facade have lurked ruptcy presented by the sectarian International Spartacist Tendency openly are all revealed this week in the announcement that the IST Workers weekly paper Vanguard is to retreat to fortnightly publication. The paper itself had never really gone beyond the tasks of a neoretical macazine. Huge, rambling and undisc- iplined articles combined banal truisIns Will dus tidel anda tor _the maximum

OTOO-

of socialist revolution ramme and the dictatorship of the prol- etariat. In anxiety to stand dist- inguished from all other groups Trotskyist, Calise the Spartacists nave columns of Workers Vanguard open falsification of the

WITH

Trotskyist position voting for in Popular workers parties Pro-imperialist And in their efforts to avoid capitulation •ourceois nal : they have espoused pro-imperialist oo couvely POSITIOnS reland tITC Middle East. But while these positions IST's the nave revealco. empirical, sectarian teacersnio until concealed its now the daily conuue. work of their own movement Now announcement of fortnightly publication, which is signed by the workers vanguard editorial board, the Political US Spartacist of the Duredu League, and the interim secre of the International Tendency, gives Spartacist inson no tone comicle cor onsibility ane incomeetence 'leaders' who have posed world's only authentic

INC

Trotskyists. And it also reveals the huge material investment piled in by the internationa Tendency into financing and 20-strong up oro barracist laction Inal soll from Workers Socialisi second League conference in February "Quiescent" The Spartacists rationalise this decision to drop the weekly paper, by pointing to the failure of the working class in the USA and internationally to live up to their requirements: The problem is not some overextension OT OUr capacities,

OUT

tannel relative to the quiescent period , through which we are passing.

this quiescent period feise North American political, 'current where social and financial realities course the period in which the has miners strike given an impetus To ine wade. throughout movement; in which New labour again on the City is once

TOTK

brink ot a major minancial cald strophe; and the period in which Carter regime faces a world- wide alemma in its bia to prop up tottering bonapartist regimes in Asia, Africa and Latin Amer- ica. But for the sectarians of the the period Spartacist League assessee not on une oasis ol ar objective analysis of the move- but on ment their subjective requirements as a movement. Incapacity The statement reveals the leaders to relate to the actual 9499° ..as the weekiv WV it did and could not serve not central intended purpose-as an aditational organ of intervention

"VANGUARD'

IN RETREAT

Forward to the monthly! standing political paralysis into major and continuing social which has dogged every part of voneavas in america in order to help shape and direct elemental ther oroanisation Ine struggles in This culminated in a 'preci- and partial class pitous break in the WV Editorial accoreance Witn The MistoriC 'several aims and possibilities Tonowed months working class' 01 discussion whether and the mess could be cleaned up this of all micole muddle and worry and 'even ns chronic political tature sinister threats to our organised to present a living programme, or interven- conduct serious existence. Ine opartacists arse ally overed the beginnings of a sect- tion into workers daly struggles arian clique in the Workers Soc- led inevitably to a political crisis the hardened sectarian lalist ¿eaque. ano even in enormously expensive campaign circles ot ine ol basis of a faction to build 'the continuing discrepancy and realisa- between intention prior to the wol conterence Key figure classic in this tion arought me tow sunoreds in political dishonesty of the SL/US right to the brink of a major breakdown. WaS birminenam oranch member Alastair Green. the statement detals appalling shambles of the IST's organisation 1-which being According to WV of April 7 Green wrote secretly to Birm- haileu by their british agents as Alan branch secretary a paragon or a marxist vanguara inental party: Holtoro sin Juv oeclarine to "fight for the centred and most politics of the Spartacists inside grinding on the press, the exces.

been across have the wol pressures SIVe Holford, a National Comm- the oralisation. of the WSL, took ittee member 'It has been telt in al ine Central Office .. to intorm the nationa no steds departments, not just the press.

leadership move ot tnis Green. Our Tue He was himself looking for a committees of. too executive the way out local committees, The inevitaole Smal problems of fighting to build a heads of inadequate cae r branch of the WS based on the fractions, those going in spirals [!] trying to forge a black cadre working class birmingnam than fight Green's incomplete comoonent. lurch to sectarianism, he joined leadership OT Youth League-have been repe- him. They began to gather around titively faced with urgent tasks hopelessly devone meals and forces available!

PLOY BY

Holding forth-Green All this confusion and chaos combined with a static ('stable') membership, and increasing bills for leaders' extravagant prog- of international travel, disorient any Sternly reproving and movement. familiar by turns, cosily But the IST points out that Callaghan has long culti- the leadership compounded the problem simply standing the image of a vated bemused whole 'The father-figure to situation. Nation'. 'The central party leadersnip senior cadre generally were and But last week, when he immune to these comp Maraly addressed that • sturdy onent disintegrative processes.

the 'For a couple of years [!] gathering,

SOCRESI

resources then fina- General of the first human Assembly Church Scotland, the neal ones ware exaustea oI had to: impotently witness Labour Party leader gave a ad, the organisation Weaknesses new meaning to this homely slow ulcerated manner. "Individual responses drifted frenzy Far this being trom temporary financial crisis, then, the IST statement reveals a long

D.O.P.

POP FRONT

QUIESCEN

any) fund drive before, we do them circle critics. defeatists, debaters and dabblers how much to expec not KnOW as the basis for a faction.

from Thousand dollars would be poor; twenty with subsidies from Green thousand dollars would be good the si. becan makina extensive repeated factional trips Your leadership has let us drift members in into this mess; maybe the mem.

secretly visiting bership can help us out! various branches of the move and meeting ment, with ine But even though Spartacists London Spartacists rallied round witn SOmE The Spartacists began to step €28,000, this was not enough to up this British intervention. And refloat the leaking Workers Van- the costs escalated guard tup This gives some Miserable • measure '01 the rate of overspending carried

IST

with their -But fruits these leaders the jet-setting "international consul- mighty labours were miserable.

tations" A mere 22 members were pers- vadeo to soilt trom Ine voL d Conned the February conference, despite the investment of hun The message, for those who crees or pounes ano monus or to fall have patient and clandestine factional been naive coot gu work tor the lies, the rine are pretensions of the Spartac Among those 22 were all the very period least reliable and non contrib

IST.

ouring une uting of the which this Tinancial disaster : occurring, is simple: You the cynics, I movement Was sceptics, dilettantes and incur have been conned . ov some able wooden propagandists had the cynical tricksters in the labour movement! rallied to the Spartacist banner of abstention from A leadership which for years The diving struggle, leaving on end is incapable of admin.

revolutionary core of the WSL istering the day-to-day political intact. and financial workings self-evidently movement The of this adventure irresponsible being is only now incompeten ana

IST

leadership. counted. Arianeir leaders launched a fund drive, in which characteristically once There is no likelihood that leading cadre such a again abstained trom giving the slightest direction: ITs own dammission, Since have never under- even function we the as men emergency lor vaunted trade union fractions - такап

SUCH

FAMILY USED

AS ELECTORAL

Omaxio

CALLAGHAN

added to his society: Callaghan "The place where we workaday homily a passage care for on youth and crime each other. where To resolve situation we feel our responsibilities where increasing numbers of for each other, where we youth seek to practice consideration overcone each other . the caring their frustrations through family is violent action, he proposed the basis of the caring society". a renewed emphasis on the values of the family. Cant But such sanctimonious Remote cant is all the more obscene from the lips, of the leader of the Lib-Lab coalition.

The which he The Labour Party leaders described this institution point proudly their startlingly record in the fight for the of experience everybody who has endured liberation of women. of oppressior une imposing of barely and the rigours of capitalist legislation Incompetent-IST leader Robertson can arrive at a correct political anavsis or mne much more comn- plicated problems of the inter- national class struggle Unfortunately There equally chance that •the

IST

sectarians in the seasoned ranks will draw the obvious pol- itical conclusions from this state or attairs, By John Lister

DATIO

Fighting to break the shackles of the home conceals a contradiction in the recent development of bourgeois society. capitalism As experienced renewed period of expansion during the 'Long Boom', consider- of able numbers women brought out of the were social produc home into tion involved the Once in of public life , these began to develop women and politically raise demands for equal rights with male workers. even the demands which tactics of the labour bureau.

could not succeed in cracy stifling.

DOCK JOBS

UNDER

4000 dockers' jobs hang in the balance now London the Port of Authority

(PLA)

has declared its plan to virtually close the 'Upper' Royal, Millwall and West India Docks.

ATTACK

The number of registered dockers London Ilas already fallen from 24,000 8,000 10 the last years. If the bosses' figures are believed, the Upper to. be Docks have made a loss of The speed of technolog- That was the significance years, ical change has accelerated, of the betrayal of the alone. the last five vears having dockers' strikes of 1972. The asses are seen as much change as the 1974 and 1975. The aim o claimed shrunk previous 30 years. £54 tne live week strike in 19/3 from to £2 At least 200. brand new was to bring all unregistered smaller ships are lying up in docks and and all ports the fjords of Norway-there dock work within five miles is no market for them. of the into the riverside The Docks Labour Scheme. The tanker in disasters show some of the trade part of the : Watered down dangers involved explanation. social 100,000 tonners. They are The is the main reason slow and difficult Longshoremen in the US do in fact have.a nine mile manocuvre, laking as mucn as 5 miles to stop. corridor of this type. general handling But capitalist profitab- Thanks to the treachery opposed modern ility be held 'Labour" back such methods containeris- for social factors. Brian Walden, this Ports Bill ation, proposal got watered down to a half-mile corridor. The bigger End of scheme than The five mile corridor, the St. and had been implemented, which have The main attraction of would all have put work already closed and the Maplin plan, which the connected with the docks lucratively off

PLA

still nurturing on a quite different basis.

take despite government veto, is would stopped that it would employ no employers fleeing from the The West Docks India 1,000 dockers, more than registered strongholds. perhaps only 700. They Trebors, just the latest a pinch would entail the end are about to leave take But of dock registration examoic. West Ham favour of in scheme which the labour unregistered Felixstowe movement fought Thousands of workers like to build and bitterly achieve. and whose working conditions Already thousands jobs connected with provide and against short time and lay replacing registered dockers have been and to work outside the OlIs. wilose are are now in jeopardy through accomodate these giants. registered system.

OUR SERVICE N

ion Cuts hit particularly hard at women In muted form these of the family by its compro- particular. demands were incorporated between mise capitalism's As unemployment has into Labour Party policy, at needs and workers' climbed, it is women who a time when capitalism itself demands. have suffered needed attract women of jobs. to loss ine cuts in into wage-labour Major attacks public spending have been grant them increased free- a major contribution to this dom of movement. Yet already persis- increase. the They later tence of capitalism's econ- Faced with permanent were expressed when the Labour unemployment driven omic crisis meant that and legalised government back into the home, women longer women Went divorce abortion, made required as wage-labourers.

experienced the nave here easier and introduced legal effects of inflation which .con- AgustIng reform sexual discrim. ditions, the Labour leaders has served to make house- 0I ination and equal pay. slaved defend the work an even more arduous Only infantile idealism interests of capital. occupation. could dismiss the Athen gains First alone, in these contained within coalition with the Liberals, The public spending cuts reforms, but they were Callaghan and the whole have added to these burdens limited, partial, and hedged throwing Labour by on to the leaaer.snip about with a dense thicket Party have presided over a of the respon tamily more of restrictions. series of major attacks on sibility for the of care Social democracy had the children, the old and the helped to loosen the bonds have hit women workers in sick. the threatened closure of the Upper Docks, would in a position to nave been defend themselves as integrated and organised labour force. Redeployment Such workers include container depot workers, railway workers, drivers and loaders, in firms dotted all around the Dock- Valley area, land and Lea but judiciously outside the half mile corridor. Redeployment without worsened conditions would been possible rather have than redundancies.

PLA,

paliticians and trade union bureaucrats saw in the five the mile corridor embryo of what they most fear-the basis for a fight for nationalised, integrated transport system, under workers' control. It would have brought an extension, rather than the destruction of the registered scheme. would have heralded the fight for the PLA to be a body of delegates elected from the shop floor. With these measures the Labour traitors have done far the Illule

ICSLUIC

family and to continue the oppression of women than their 'progressive' parlia- mentary acts did to reform these elements capitalism. Now they seek to cover words of cose chentort sid treachery with the smooth pieties of well- practiced hypocrisy. Callaghan's speech was in no way a freak outburst. Central theme decision has clearly been taken that the rehabil- itation of the family will be central theme the Labour Party's electoral campaign. Labour Weekly has already enthused with this uneasy sarcasm on 'devilishly clever electoral gambit'. Such proposals must be fiercely resisted as part of the against this struggle programme for attacking the working class to defend capitalism. Every step must be taken to break the repressive and reactionary influence of family life The policies of betrayal can ve orcar onw win a socialist programme. We call for: *Work sharing on full linked pay, to massive programme of public works.

end unemployment and redundancies, and to bring women back into social production. * A sliding scale of wages, assessed by elected London dockers' mass meeting during the 1975 strike.

It is still open • to the TGWU leaders to fight for these policies. Most of the workers ir the industries concerned are the But the

TGWU

bureaucrats Fred Bryden and Ron Todd; who have sat on the PLA Board for years, and who have participated the documents pleading for the virtual closure of these docks, consider themselves (in their own words) not as trade union representatives, of Her appointees Majesty's Government. Hard job Not have they OnCe passed on information reported back to the docks branches despite resolutions last demanding that they should. The

PLA,

government and trade union bureaucrats know that they will have a hard job carrying through 4.000 redundancies The East End Labour MPs Peter Shore. lan Mikardo and Nigel Spearing aie likely to look for delay- ing tactics The

TGWU

still nanona 'Family' specialist Thatcher committees of trade with the participation of housewives from domestic isolation in this way *A sliding scale of public spending and massive injection of funds into the social services needs of workers, including those facilities required by working women-tree abortion demand, full creche nursery

LUENIC

alle education. *The immediate abolition of all forms of legislation •that authorise repression or discrimination on the grounds of sex or sexuality. By David Whitfield strike action in the event of any registered dock workers • being forced off the register.

When Wallace's, the last employer the villal Royals, folded last month, making 330 redundant, con- sultations were immediately held between the

TGWU

Dock Labour Board and

PLA

Fear Rather than provoke a confrontation at that stage all 330 were found jobs, distributed on a percentage basis around the London docks. No employer refused to take their share-despite overmanning Fear of the problems facing them lies behind the PLA saying that in carrying out changes it will look for: positive co. operation employees, trade unions and the National Dock Labour Board". Cuckney, Unuoubtealy

PLA

chairman, renowned for his hatchet job on the Liverpool Docks and „tol "sorting out' the scandals of the Crown has carefully worked out strategy Question mark Predictably the dockers themselves rather than the TGWU bureaucrats who have resisted his invita- tion make approach to the government •for £68 million. It threat of dockers' that the Challenge Future, (except for thos who to employees which frustration, which This the employers fear, must now be turned into a clear political strategy to defend dockers' jobs. Industrial action The demand in ust raised for a conference of all workplaces connected with the docks and transport Such a conference must be the first step to launch- ing industrial scale which can force the opening of the books of the port authorities to elected union committees the and profit- coralon eering at expense workers and implement workers plan for integrated transport system based on the social national- isation without compensa- tion of all firms involved.

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

members of she TOWY decision to return to work at Winsford's Metal Box factory marks a setback for those workers and a corresponding victory wholeheartedly in support for trade union bureau- of the done crats-most notably have humanly possible Roy Sanderson, EETPU the dispute to an end" National Officer. The betrayal off and bureaucratic Started three months ago when an by electrician at the factory- and full-time union leader- the second ships (although it must be Winsford -was suspended by •said EETPU officials moved quickly management over again, anu Escalation electicas. They fellow electricians they would immediately stopped work.

"an call they From that point the escal- electical ation was rapid. scab workforce. reaction Management "Peace package" was to impose 11 conditions oi work wich nao not beel in force prior to the dispute.

EETPU

With a line-up 01 been carried officials and employers against them the electricians the support and began in on the case. accepted many of thesę con- ditions. management refused said the But point blank to compromise been sackeu full | conditions. on Tae the package and sent home rest oi the factory, including petween

AUEW

TGWU,

and members. which was work and negotiate" An indication of the next But stage of the betrayal is given final by the following statement sell-out by an AUEW official: 20 Metal are "We stress that we throughout The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to construct a principled revolutionary leadership in the working class in Britain and internationally and for the recon- struction of the Trotskyist Fourth Internation- al on the basis of the Transitional Programme.

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

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

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

For more details on the WSL and its work, fill in the form below. Name... Address Trade Union/Occupation Send to WSL, 31, Dartntouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Metal Box launches speed-up drive stopped work for a day, that clearly realising They eeciricans. Winsford workers are being everything used as the anvil on which bring would the company out its policy hammer After seven weeks of lay- up and greater speed

TOOL

exploitation ol ine wnole both factory workforce.

AUEW

officials Winsford to are expecting be confronted by 24 similar their betraya!) precedent-setting conditions stepped on their return to work and sacked all 15

TGWU

leaders less than 60 new points to that announced be by aemandea or tnem provide what the company. alternative service"-i.e. It is widely supected that have could not without

OUL

of K V Sanderson, who was called •company spokesman electricians have because they have 'not taken notice of a agreed and emoto vers EETPU officials, the essence.

"return the day of the electricians at factories Box Chapple--working closely with Callaghan supporting the country speed up and sacking Published June 15 'Communists' Against deals with, the Revolution most important aspects of the development of Stalin.

ism on a world scale since 1945. the It brings together in one harnessed to the volume the until now un- 1964 essay by i obtainable Westoby. (varied revisionist currents lessence of the Transitional Programme.

destroy its establish a mass

STILL AVAILABLE

"TROTSKYISM

TODAY"

Quarterly theoretical Workers journal of the Socialist League. 2 includes Issue No. article on the history of the Fourth International. Available from WSL, 31, Hill, Dartmouth Park London NW5 1HR After several months machine and painting, speculation, a number Ferguson of serious lay-offs and the switching of many , production workers to one in workforce in Coventry. for volunteers to be in Iopolls tvening Telegraph have so received

TAT

cations. remains will bE staff which 990 redundancies But after seven weeks on the dole, a mass meeting of factories.

TGWU

agreed the company's Tenur Two convenors work call. However strong and

EETPU

determined picket Massey's on the gates may make the outcome less certain volunteers LICi Winsford EETPU And as convenols member Richard. Donleavy of member. told Socialist Press: stewards committee. "I shall be fighting for all

EETPU

members Come out in support of the Metal Box electricians. The dancy betrayals of the leadership time working. must be challenged." arguing for block lay-offs Socialist pointed oul suppliers time working. extend credit

COUTLICA

instead of cash aid. And to company Temporary Subsidy.

OUT

lution evo Issue No. on rost wa Stalinism includes. an assessment of

NUS

conference ainst articles . the ANL 1960s, utionary Way Youth mouth Park NW5 Tim Wohlforth The Theory of postage. Structural Assimilation with a critical commentary by Adam This 166 page book is vital reading for those who wish to defend the method and principles of Trotskyism against the that have challenged the very Order from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5

TROTSKYISM

5 issues 10 issues

TODAY

* 25 issues 50 issues of f. Name Address SOCIALIST PRESS. Wednesday 31 Mas 19°s

MASSEY'S SACK 1000

MPs have been called in to maintenance help pressurise the govern- Massey- ment. finally have As we have argued before announced nearly 1,000 the programmati sackings-approximately for demands worker. the the Massey's and five of suppliers are company's total manual sharing full pay work on the a fight to open and The company has called books' made redundant and according to Answer the Coventry This is the only indepen- 1,200 appli- dent, working class answer the sackings mass to seen Through the fight for these whether sufficient of these be demands way can fully accepted to cover opened for up the 900 hourly paid and 90 integrated nanonanseu up tractor industry in Britain- make the under workers manage- Banner Lane and Baginton ment. • Massey Ferguson have shown they cannot provide jobs-the plant and machinery must be removed The crisis of leadership in ownership LucH shown graphic- without compensation. ally by the fact that among 'left MPs are two doubt Coventry and lll all y complain about these redun- the shop and demand that dancies the government 'ease the Nevertheless the stewards have stated their intention to fight compulsory redun- Prepare and also any short- They are they about their opposition Press has , unemployment, if they were before, the hostile to the firms which crisis at Massey's has had a destroy jobs left, right and severe effect on component centre, they must be hostile where there has to the present government.

also been sackings and short They must prepare now a campaign for the removal of Callaghan/Healey and the Pressurise of alternative building an Union leaders represent- leadership in Party and the trade unions ing the unions involved have called on the government to However since the entire facilities to record of these leaders, like which that of the trade union afford to buy tractors; or to has consisted bureaucracy, buy tractors and give them slavish support for the to underdeveloped countries Lib-Lab coalition and its policies, must no WOIKel. the fall into the trap of waiting waill apply for for letts all Employment but press ahead with their own independent demands. Coventry's 'four Labour

MARXIST

Student bulletir Workers So

STUDENT

NOW

May 1978, the as well students and Revol. Forward

TOI

F) CDORDINATANE

Available from WSL, 31, Dart-

LEIGHT THE CUTS

Hill _oncor

GAL HEROS

1HR, Price 10p plus 9p

SPREAD

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

. £1.10 . £2.20 .£5.50 ..£10.00• I would like to receive... issues. I enclose the sum Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Subscribe!

JACKSON-UNITY

IN INACTION

mounting Faced with motion callino special conference to draw up a and objections inside rage wage the year- Union of Post Office claim later m the when the extent of the TUC's Workers to his key role in to the government capitulation pay control, would be known, was certain of Tom Jackson was forced to massive backing. Jackson ensured control by resort to outright trickery at year's annual reducing its role to conference. by nailing down UPW policy to ON

JOCKSON

GARNERS: CONFERENCE

among the scabs, who see To any outside obser- of picketing prospect ver it might appear that hit continuing Custorn after 18 weeks on f6 a and slash their income. week strike pay; the Main ally of harassed Margolis employer have marathon strike for the recognition at been union police who have gone as far Garners Steak Houses demanding

SUDOULLCIS

has taken its toll of the show cards before original 84 strikers. allowing them to join picket The solidarity march lines. But developments within by two was accompanied the scab firm, and the lines of from lour ponice weakened position divisions.

TGWU

bureaucracy in Police efforts to restrict the strikers to те IOn the size of picket lines have that sides shows assisted by those of been ground down by this Ron Todd

TGWU

omicials war of attrition. and George Abrahams. outside the Picket les Abrahams, announcing restaurants are being main- that the Tone response tained each day, and a new strikers' demand for £36 per of picket suppliers week strike pay had been a Wardour Street has been miserable once off hand-out imposed. Regular supporters declared at a mass meeting attending from are now on May 21 that there would Wandsworth and Southwark "no more be intenterence Trades Councils. from outsiders" The strength of the announced he of the action and the size would take personal charge solidarity march on May 20 of strike pay and that the has clearly aroused doubts Tu. Offishall

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

slavish vedi adherence to wage controls.

He was aided by the absence of policie! designed to provide an alternative way forward for the tele- phone staff. Bob Divine, moving an Edin.

burgh motion calling simply tol free collective based his case on the need TO! fact that wasn't . "wages caused which isolation' inflation. Applause Despite the ot a clear line on the TUC's role general and Jackson's role in the noId of the working class, every speaker who spoke against wage, controls was greeted with applause. Jackson told the conference: imposed by politicians who don't know what they are doing union movement can work out with the government of the day a can tor ine tuture : a plan Tol fairness and I don't want to return to the jungle etTec. supporte Jackson's plea by roughly two given to one the conference has nim une room ne neeas lo the hands of his members and to union will find a new strike HQ-presumably as far from Abrahams as possible! these The 'failure officials and their allies to good of the any from promises extracted them by the strike com- them in an mittee places extremely weak position. It is urgent that the recall conference in support of the be held strike- Garners 22 at Transport on Julie House, Smith Square, London-be made the arena for the complete exposure of these betrayals and for a renewed fight for full-scale blacking of Garners, TGWU and £36 pickets Illabo week strike pay financed by a Regional levy. More information about the recall conference can be from strike obtained the committee ạt 12/13 Henrietta Street, Telephone 240-1056.

(SINCE WEVE APPLIED FOR RECOGNITION OF INCREASED PRODUCTNIT

ND TRE RESPONDEILITIES OF FOOTPLATEMEN

PRESS CONFERENCE

WE'LL HAVE NO MORE

PROCRASTIN

connorate witn any ment-Labour, coalition Tory. But the narrow margin which . Jackson clings of class collaboration policies demonstrated most vividly was in the Grunwick debate. 1 : Inaction 'A motion condemning the executive tor the nanding the issue lin effect a motion condemning the action taken against cricklewood dostmen 5594. defeated • by 9,033 1,000 . with more than aostentIons. • Jackson defended himself with a plea for unity in inaction.

"A only succeed Cal when united. It this proposal i: carried, our union will change and many will not like change. If carried you give consent to break Conference decisions ano union rules Member would be set against leaving the way open member, tor unotticial leaders,, entnusias tic and headstrong, to do what They uк8C could. open a new and dangerous chapter in union history Treachery .The debate revealed clearly the treachery of the "lefts' who put. themselves ; forward as the champions of the working class.

At the Grunwick conterenc two weeks before, John Taylor member, executive breathed TIre against the right wing of the Union . Now, faced with those same right wingers on the platform his speech in around opposition to their policies wa: dissend. model of grovelling Delegates had voted to suspend standing orders to give Taylor time to state the case for the Cricklewood postmen. Major overturn By his careful avoidance of any attack on Jackson and the EC, otner rant winders on ine Taylor played his role of a left cover for the actions out to the last. The only major overturn of came over the executive the reintroduction of Sunday mai collections and the introduction cheap postage at Christmas which would

TWO

move. increase work tor te members while they remain debarred for improved from fighting • wages and conditions. These proposals, which came the full backing of the WItH members ON tne rOS Office board, were decisively

TACTICS AND BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE!

I! NO

GET I

Page 11

EGA CLOSURE DATE

STILL JULY 21

blame the "apathy of the Garrett The Elizabeth members" for the failure of the could Anderson Hospital action still be closed on July 21 or all branch It is vital that shortly afterwards- very secretarie. attene conference and argue strongly depending on whether EGA a call for indefinite strike for "cooperate staff in actiol moment closure" running of the EGA is interfered with his, coupled with picketing.

is included in a letter from the Area Health

EGA

staff, and is the only kind of Authority action ina WilE leadership must be to tho save the

EGA

the that Ennals showi ved intention is to close the hospital possible, whilst put

COUT

this cal trom tal

SOOT

June 5 meeting. publicly refusing name steps can be taken closure date Definite This cynical attempt to sow to organise action at a meeting of London Health Service shop contusion amonest trade unon (called by stewards ists and supporters of the EGA supported by be by must fought stewards

CLASH)

at the EGA on

TOT

June. the closure and by Torcino Tie Stewards all Health trade , leadership to give a clear lead to this action.

service unions must attend int meeting and decide on a date •wo torncomina meeting. which indefinite strike in London could play a decisive trom part in organising the fight to action shodia be called tor All trade unionists in the keee tue nosowar oper Health Service and throughout The London INUPE DIVIsIon Council called for inoustry mus attempts to confuse and defuse of all NUPE branct converenc the fight to save the

EGA

secretaries in the cavisior for Monday 5 June (at Portchester organising immedlater strike action and Hall, Queensway, London W2) the union demanding that The Council. has already "rotating out this call on i proposed Headers but action" national level. throughout STIKe The defence of the

EGA

London Nur. branches This is despite the fact that must be linked to the fight to it has become obvious that one- reverse all public sector cuts and the demand for social service strikes assipali spending to be protected against action and demoralise the mem.

whilst allowing inflation through a sliding scale bership- of spending. time officials to sit back and

PRINT RETREAT

lacked and still lack Machine minders at the programme with which to fight Observer who had been the officials who want to see threatened by the them out of.a job. with permanent loss of their returned to work "on jobs returned to normal the hasis that otner tellow trad unionists' livelihoods could be work at. the weekend in jeopardy." full time to produce • Instead a call to those tellow version of the Sunday news- trade unionists should have been an all out defence of made to paper. jobs at • oserve ano But NGA leaders who had policy of restored staffing levels the direct and work sharing on full pay.

aoreed agents of management in victim ising their members cannot hail The гетити WOrK THE TRANSFER of work outright victory on Leyland's TR7 car sports It had become clear during from the machine that it the tne week plant to Canley Coventry minders decided to

OPTV ТВЕ

has already cost 3,000 jobs on threat for the second week attempts by the NGA Merseyside. running, Now Leyland have to bring in scab forces were not Puitar 900 jobs at Caly- plans announced likely to succeed. the Other printers on "phased out" over the next prepared voservel went 18 months. refuse to work with union scabs, workers, who were and the NGA leadership was Lanie y having difficulty recruiting the told by union leaders to accept the TR7 to create jobs, are now small numbers they needed to being w. arned by employers that break the dispute resistance speed-up machine minders, Cane The 25 sackings could endanger output who are also Reveille over manning and pay, and job prospects

IT'S NOT ON.

INTERMINARLE DISCUSSIONS, DELIBERATE DELAYING

HAVe HAL

ENOUGH!

WATS GOI

OFISHALL THRS WE

HE NEVER USED 1

, PRESS CONFEDENCE

WELL HAVE NO CRORE BUT

BOLIN THE GANTLET-

TRE ENTARE RAU

To SHUT DOaN

DONT GET "MINISTER...

NETWORK FOR 1OMAATES ON DEC 300!

110012% J SUNDAy -

TROOPS SETTLE IN AFTER SLAUGHTER

Rally platform: Ann Marie Sweeney, speaking 30 The fight for in one nursery 'places town has to be seen in context of the fight for national leaders and policies to combat the cuts. That was the message from Ted Eames, NU1 member and speaker at the Action Against Cuts the Rally-called in Oxford at weekend by the South Tne Oxford Nursery Campaign. Ted Eames Inked fight for the nursery places to the fight against the Lib- and against callion who trade union. Headers refuse to carry out a fight against their policies. The rally attracted 100 delegates and visitors to a detailed of discussion policies to counter the cuts They included action. speakers from London hospital occupations and an occupation of a Liverpool hostel for homeless women.

Eames said he 30 nursery places were a victim of the coalition policies same way more as ine The real, imperialist invasion of Zaire is still through being. carried by the forces of the Belgian French and states. On the transparently that the fictitious grounds Captured rebels have European French nostages, paratroopers waging are major offensive to subdue the region of Katanga. of Despite the outches the indignation Belgian parliament, Belgian troops have withdrawn from only the main conticl

CLU

station themselves Kamina airfield. It is quite clear that these forces will not withdraw

SOCIALIST

PRESS

CALL FOR STRIKES

TO STOP CUTS

sackings, • wage "Only the trade unions dramatic control and other attacks on can bring the right kind the working class. to bear; and by pressure made strike mean Have and frenzied is consistent Support «BO. attack on the pitifully small dangerous word and resources fought for by the dangerous concept unless it labour When consistent linked to movement. under these resources pressure for action" action attack only stressed the cannes effective. of the social importance "We are talking about services to women occupation and we are talk- for "We must fight ing about strike action".

principled, conscious leader- ship in the fight against the Landmark cuts. the "We totally reject The nursery occupation pessimism and defeatism of had stood out as a landmark those who that of opposition to the cuts, working class will not fight.

compared to the swamp of We have heard enough made by trade

DEOLOSLO

holiday union speeches at union leaders. we want no conferences, "They either support cap stunts or OKed gestures. in hand protests or outright We are for a clear policy capitulation to the of opening local authority bourgeoisie's demands". and books, and to occupy. He cited the Oxfordshire strike in defence of jobs, dispute the social teacers and conditions example of the refusal by services generally". trade union leaders to allow their members to fight. Marie Sweeney, "If they had called an all NUPE member, and another out strike in May last year smashed member of the occupation they have could said that they the cuts policy of this committee. council." had had enough of general- ledge that an invasion in the until the threat of further from a future even insurrection has been stifled small body of half-trained the vast mining ana would • be almost rabbits operations can be resumed enough to rout the army of in profitable peace. Zaire, which is at present Meanwhile the bourgeois ruled by corruption, demor- press clings to its lie that the alisation and disaffection troops were sent to avert a

CIA

funds alone cannot of whites'- suctator in propping central despite clear evidence that dictatorship General 200 Europeans have only Mobutu for very long died compared with well âgainst any organised oppos- over 1,000 Africans gunned ition. down by imperialist forces.

of Zaire The economy claims by Presi- Despite will collapse rapidly into dent Giscard d'Estaing that this happens all French troops had been unless very soon, and already some recalled, the commander in mines have started working Zaire declares that he received no such instruction and that paratroopers are to But imperialism remain indefinitely. tormented the know- Ted Eames campaigns with no ised action. Councils had learned to run down services they closed them, demoral- ising the workers and the them feel making second rate services were and hardly worth saving. Responsibility placed This an exTa on the responsibility trade leadership fight union 'rationalisation' and other euphemisms. 80,000 "We had an march against the strong cuts in 1976 pleading with the government to change mind. It never stopped the cuts. It never saved a hospital bed single nursery place and it never will. "It is no good calling for general action against the cuts if we don't fight to save South Oxford Nursery Class. It is vital that the unions don't comply with the smaller less dramatic cuts. We must fight on every cut it is only half an Mobutu politically in- But conceivable that the French could government dont survival of the guarantee

FUND

only £10.50 towards our £2,000 special fund With this has been the worst the last seven days, arriving in We need to raise f100 a week to keep on week so far. target for this fund so there is no room for complacency.

March in defence of Aubrey, Berry and Campbell, victim coming week to change this position.

Donations should be sent to: WSL Sepcial Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR how far the authorities are of dinner ladies' hour prepared to go". hours" despite the Nationally, Open the books the national banne saying conference

NUTE

the union The conterence, in Fights the Cuts series of group discussions had not conducted a single fight cut the aren

OUL

LOSSOL

ally occupation and of the open country. the hooks demand

CLASH

closed with a clear the restatement Colin Kenny, secretary and policies of principles of

CLASH,

the London the campaign, with an over- health service stewaras whelming vote for the organisation, outlined some tabled resoluton the drastic cuts taking "1. This Action Against place in London hospitals the Cuts Rally endorses the The attempt to set up policies of the Oxford City CLASH had been opposed Nursery Campaign of: by trade union officials to occupation of social services the point where had threatened with closure, b) threatened their vital recognition membership. importance of strike action

EGA

clear At by the trade unions involved commitment to defend the social services, other hospitals and c) striving to set up was required. of trade unionists bodies Yet the work-in had and other consumers of the allowed 'security men' to social the services-varcus come and survey patients, ete-to investigate The hospital. date for the spending and profits in was still officially closure and public sector, July 21. specifically the demand for "The implication of this the reopening of the South is to build for strike action Oxford Nursery Class, fully protest but which is not a financed by Oxfordshire which mobilises the County Council with all the independent strength of the refilled. Delegates jobs at working class". the rally resolve to take this Unprecedented back their branches, trades councils, etc. Against Action The speaker from the This the Cuts Rally resolves to Pat Hounslow Hospital, give full support to similar that the McCarthy said in defence health authority raid on the call Daris had social services, and where October hospital arise in unprecedented struggles been an

SUCS

Oxford the Oxford City of history in the Nursery Campaign will seek health service coordinate "It has to be an example campaigns". to the labour movement of

OAKLEY

WHC

WHO 1

PHOTO: Andrew

MILITAR

HIS JOB

IS A

COCONTRAN

TERMS

dad fortho Workor Gorialist 1 erdue 31. Dartmouth Par charges under the Official Secrets Act the long term defence of Mobutu. This situation has driven imperialist interests in Zaire of the imperialism to seek a Pan- The task inter- African national workers move 'peace-keeping force, with, troops from ment-a task rejected by pro- social democratic and every reactionary and black Stalinist parties throughout imperialist state in Africa. Europe-is

OTCH

withdrawal of all imperialist But such a proposal has without been greeted forces from Zaire, to enable bourgeois the popular resistance enthusiasm by who know what Mobutu to sweep away this leaders vicious military dictatorship strains this would impose on political and open up new avenues of their credibility and power. revolutionary struggle Africa. troops Only Moroccan Central to such struggle have so far interyened along fight for the side the French must be the ana lie building of a Trotskyist pressure of continuing wal leadership capable of assert- the Polisario Front against ing at each point the leading in the Western Sahara makes that Hassan's role and political indepen unlikely dence of the working class could undertake tyranny