Socialist Press no. 115

THE IRON FIST

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 115 * September 6, 1978 * 15p

EXPULSION!-

Fraser (centre) with toolroom workers during last year's strike Alarmed at the pros- pect of indefinite strike action by 3,000 Ley- land toolroom workers and the possibility solidal strikes hi.. other skilled engineers,

AUEW

OF PHASE 4

leaders on Sunday pulled momen- tarily back from immed- of 32 late expulsion striking toolmakers at SU Carburettors. But nobody should draw from this the mistaken con- clusion that no further steps Toolmakers challenge will be taken against the SU 11lvil. Hugh Scanion, Duffy and fellow

AUEW

biding their are TUC intimidation time, searching for sign of a pull back by the toolmakers. The retreat by the Executive-postponing the Leyland's car draw the expulsions then production day or reckoning unti the with closure. their prospects of exerting end of this week-is not a And for thousands bureaucratic discipline over the right of take strike action against bigger of Concesson other, sections the toolmakers workers taking unofficial „nel umon executive but front of would have reverberations action are remote. Saturday's unanimous vote skilled sections Stoppage

AUEW

by Leyland's unofficial tool- the throughout room committee to call all- membership, and the trade Yet if they do proceed out strike action as soon as union movement as a whole, to victimise the toolroom workers with new sharpness ai c men, then Leyland manage- expelled. the necessity for new, revol- whom

AUEW

utionary leadership leaders collaborated Bludgeon have defend jobs, living standards shamelessly-will be faced and the very right to strike.

with maor stoopage Following adoption AUEW officials, who had the which the toolroom .com- hoped to be able to use the of Sunday's resolution post- mittee will be pressing not the SU ponng lne expusions ll das only for reinstatement of become clear that

AUEW

toolmakers as an example to the SU toolmakers but also help bludgeon down leaders are appalled at this for their main demand of militant opposition to Phase caught in an separate negotiating rights.

acute dilemma. wage controls, suddenly recognised that to If they concede to the And they are only too do so would face SU and much of too makers aware that such a struggle * would come at the time of a General Election campaign which Callaghan and the TUC will be presenting their wage-cutting breaking ejection platfori.

strike-

AUEW

bureaucrats are clearly hoping that more frantic behind the scenes with combined with from toolroom committee leader Roy Fraser (who called off a Cowley meeting scheduled for Tues- day) some Call form of formula which can head off the militancy of Leyland toolmakers. Compelled But if, as is likely, this last ditch escape bid fails, PHOTO: John Sturrock, Repor Scanion then there is little doubt that Scanion and his right wing co-thinkers will be compelled to ahead picss with the expulsions. They determined above all else to uphold Phase 4 of wage control and to enforce it against militant sections-through wholesale expulsions if need be. In this way the bureau- cratic move to discipline the SU toolmakers is linked to the witch-hunting moves to expel or ban from office the newly re-elected TGWU leadership Leyland's Cowley Assembly Plant. The Cowley 9, including plant convenor Bob Fryer, 1938-1978

40 YEARS OF

THE FOURTH

INTERNATIONAL

Centre pages and deputy convenor Alan Thornett, had won re-elec- in a shopfloor ballot tion as a result of their oppos wage. control, and Ion lo their stand in defence jobs and conditions Leyland.

TGWU

bureaucrats recognising this as a threat their policies class collaboration have for nearly a year been conduct- ing disciplinary hearings and "inquiries" into the Cowley 9. On Thursday the Oxford District Committee is to the reconsider (see back page). involved The fighting these attacks by union officials affect of workers and all sections unions. The right to strike the right oppose reactionary union policies are at stake. Support The toolroom committee has definite weaknesses of leadership and, has policies with which we disagree. But • that it i crucial the SU the toolmakers and unofficial be Collec supported in this struggle.

In last year's toolroom strike thousands of workers showed their readiness back the Leyland men. But the crucial point the unofficial committee caved in to Leyland management.

There must be no retreat from the strike decision taken by the toolroom com- mittee. And Fraser must call all other workers to come out in their support.

Our policies are clear: *Force the dropping of the expulsion threats against the SU men, and the TGWU disciplinary charges against the Cowley 9! *Fight to defeat state control of Put catching up pay claims with living of clauses

CON

provide rises to keep pact with the cost of living as calculated by elected CUIn mittees of trade unionists and housewives! *Challenge threats of closure-from Duffy, Leyland • or Chrysler-by demanding the opening of the company's and books those their suppliers to elected trade union committees *Fight for the national- isation of the whole motor and industry without compensation and under workers' management.

as part of a planned, social.

ist economy! *Built a revolutionary leadershir in the trade capable of fighting unions, the treachery and collabora.

tion of the bureaucracy, right and 'left' wing alike!

Nkomo plans backstairs Page 2

—INTERNATIONAL•

betrayal Despite a welter of Saturday evening at the end confused reports includ- the two of meeting of the five contradictory press ing Presidents, statements from Joshua ine. Nkomo and confirming the fact that the Nkomo, the secret secret sell behind the meeting had taken place. Zimbabwe of the out Stalinist choice is liberation struggle now emerging for all to the see. ging as imperialists and the Moscow It is now confirmed that Stalinists to head a govern- August 14 a meeting Zambia which ment took place "stable" rule to Zimbabwe.

Ian Smith and between or hase imperialists to split Joshua Nkomo, the

DUL'

the imperialists to pose of which was to nego- Nkomo from tiate the inclusion of Front the Patriotic Patriotic into Robert Mugabe. being prepared settlement by imperialism to head off a military victory of the liber-.

latest developments. It had ation forces. been Denied has ment post, Friday lesser capacity than Nkomo.

As late as last Smith Behind the Nkomo and both that, such lie the heavy hand of imper- were denying meeting had taken place. By ialism. The August 14 meet- Iceland, Denmark workers face attacks weeks of After nine facing labour pains and three failed of strength parlia Iceland's with vears mentary leaders have finally (now at 40%), Icerandic workers successfully given birth to a coalition.

escalator clauses in wage agree- general elections of 27 The heavy defeats resulted in Once the June tor noth bartners in me brevious has moved coalition-the right wing "inoe Krona. and the radical, pendence' party then discussions farmer-based Procressive party 'restraint' The Social Democrats ano un on eaters. the People's Alliance la party of veteran "Eurocommunists) eacr made large gains, but no single party held a majority Clearly the of the was • Le ment. currently People's Alliance,

LUOVIK

under a major threat, Josefsson new bid unsuccessful look to coalition, which Toundered the objections of the Lemocials. cabital Opposition ation of but refusing to participate, naden. cited Josefsson's they Icelandic membership TITe Communist Party ano Tne covernment of the People's been touting Alliance to NATO membership some time, and the US base at Keflavik.

have both parties bUT by inined in a government led Olafur Johannesson of the Pro- although Josefsson The declared rossines refused himsel nas participate personally. forces of the The Eritrean Popular Liberation rumblings Front still succeeding conscrioT •easant in their defence of the city Derg is in no position to of Keren against the attacks stand del ays launched by the armies of made WILl Cuban the Derg and its and Cuban bureaucracies. backers. the the able to move This setback for recently evacuated military dictatorship ensoolan. severely disrupted Their on Strained wars by Stratedy. several tronts, working class agi day summit 'front both Smith were Nkomo is now fast emer- choice oi ine bring ing was reportedly set up in five weeks ago London Chief fellow when Nkomo met of the four leader Front CHau executive council members now ruling Zimbabwe. But it is not clear now these sell-out moves will react to these imperialism succeed 'socialis resor reported that he too will have much foreign thank been orlerea a govern- Owen and minister David although Young, "black" Andrew who have piloted the secret deals secret diplomacy campaign through southern ANCa But the immediate problem satisfactory growth ir a more output and employment'. coalitior The working class. control, course, wage of spiralling inflation mass. unemploy- speeo -u• and ment. fought

TOI

VAT increase Already a wages freeze has new government the introduced along with been 15%), and freeze on prices expected and VAT has wage profit margins, will begin with the increased to further fuel Danish TUC The powertul Denmark has repeated its position Thal wage control can be agreed only on three conditions-tax reform, agree- strong and tre housing reform and compulsory force 'co-ownership'. The last Social Demo government will no doubt nevel beer Denmark (the colonial cratic policy but the first two power in Iceland until 1944) foi abandoned were the coalition bargain. appropriate methods of defend Anker ing the interests of international Prime Joergensen, having failed the reliable support Last week also saw the form- securt forced a coalition in Copen- been turn to the bourgeois parties different con- which can assist him force ditions from that in Reykjavik.

workers. The minority Social Democratic Denmark had But already a mass wave of protest strikes is spreading from for •artners vor before finally reach- response to a the shipyards in call for 'active opposition' ing agreement with the Liberals.

the coalition. As the collective wage agree- Wage control ments state that Tines will imposed on all workers on strike of the days, this thal coalition is of 'restoring a better more economic balance as a basis for action will prove an immediate Derg army halted and in its midst. tation in Addis Ababa and the same time a new mutiny has the plague descencer on armies Horn of Africa. ' Vast swarms of WITh • in the plans it has

JOCUSTS

dit across Ethiopia and have already caused famine in the norther however reluctant-of the Soviet areas bordering Eritrea.

EPLF

has been Colonel Mengistu must remembering uneasily how pre- back into areas major before the

VIOUS

tamines and now the of the popular uprising Haile Selassie overthrew invading army is also subject to Unau and brought its own execution.

constant attacks on its flanks SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 6 September, 1978 Smith with his three black stooges oppose Nkomo and Mugabe over the last period. must demand Armed struggle diplomacy; settlements; The armed struggle has armed struggle; take brought imperialism to the • conference table in southern establishment Zimbabwe state truly indep- Africa. What imperialișm military endent of imperialist exploi- fears now solution which would open tation. further radicalisation of up and the emer- the masses revolutionary gence socialist forces. seek Those who working class the loud test of the worth of of

TUC

defence protests from ine ana ,and show 'lefts', interests parliamentary Danish the The Peru emergency In seven of General Bermudez. This entering its fifth week miners I ne miners sacked montil militant union activities.

Both privately-owned. individuals pay-offs Mengistu £3,000 er to power in the shape of the the Derg.

REBELLION-

CONTINUES

IN

NICARAGUA

General Somoza has applied to the Nicaraguan Congress for permission to leave the country. Perhaps to suspect he has begun that 'his' country does not want him. of the raid or in the wake Congress by the Sandinist Liber- Front, the 'general strike auton calledov ane broad dosestyl Front has begun to take para hold the capita lysing As with the similar action in and February, this January an independent is action by the Nicaraguan work- ing class-in many cases employ But Way ca secret as before, it has developed in certain areas to a stage far more molera than organisers intensify the devancer intended or desired up The northern city of Mata programme for the galpa has risen in a rebellion led of demand by youth and students, ing the overthrow of Somoza!

reign of repression Armed only with lightweight and improvised WeaDon city. WAlE commander informed reporter only the! would hand that if over their arms 'we would havi no problems! of the Reinforcem Vational Guard are being rushe but in to Ine the army also has to conten with increasing demonstrations four violence in at least These include Masaya, where short-lived commune in Februan befor smashed by being brutally National Guard also cap it all, Somoza discovered last wook the terice of a plot to overthron within the organised from National Guard itself! His power rests solely on thr what remains loyalty and virtually his private army the support of US imperialișm.

But now the Carter admin condem uttering astrallor nations of the regime's abuse of human rights, while the officer doubts that clearly baste the Somoza naSi cavality suppress this latest opposition.

The dictator may well feel that he has enough into fight Whatever course the struggles in Nicaragua may take little doubt. that there can the days of the Somoza family definitely dynasty very numbered the and worker peasants of Nicaragua may wel Anker Joergensen at thi find that their rejoicing the victory

CUT

Snor to mobilise imposition of dictatorship under its independent the old tyrants methods of repression for thi same familiar aims. lift the state of emergency and of provinces on a purely Peru a state of emergency Conster individual basis if the strike has now been declared and ended. all civil liberties suspended The dictatorship claims that the strike by the military dictatorship Is causine a los. foreigr exchange revenue 01 over £1 million each day, at a directed repression" is time when the government against the miners' strike, now stabilise the attempting peruviar econom demanding ments made with the re-instatement of over 300 the working the expense during the class their because But the generals' mair with, this concern blow economit Rejected Cribolle much mue of the stripe the political signific and state-owned serious miscalculation companies art in calling elections to a Constit- rejecting this call for a labour amnesty, but some private firms uent Assembly has placed them a vulnerable and precarious have now been driven to otte of around position, where indeper any working dent by the action a major threat to The union has so far rejected . Crass government's proposal their rule

• INTERNATIONAL

KENYATTA:

imperialism's favourite nationalist the New Testament into Kikuyu Lying in state in a pin- worked himself striped suit, Jomo Kenyatta -ana stcaolly Into Tne laver Ine provoked the British bour- African petty bourgeoisie minor civil servants geois press into a fit of ful- the involved in some eulogy. Was nationalist movement from This corrupt and dictatorial 1919, when the African crescent or kena receved nis with was tounded Association due as a loyal servant to imper- Kenyatta as propaganda secre- ialism: universal acclaim "STatesman As the struggles for political Handsome (if rather belated) Incetencence dever obed ove apologies made for his were the next few years to the yedi serious threat British nanos or aritish colonia rute.

Kenvatta coministaton greater emerged into promin- Nationalism ence, through speaking skills. But pemaps wormiest nao recome tribute at the coffinside came general secretary of the Kikuyu former and vanquished from Central Association-the Kikuyu Odinga Odinga rival dominant tribe "Ne man Kenva ano tne Association wa differences but it's only the the leading force in the national- of doing things. My goad way ist movement. was his coal: nationalen.

1932 1946

OUT

Plain words the Kenyatta lived in Europe where unvarnished truth Kenyatta was he schooled himself fully natonarist Ine metnoos who succeeded triumphantly in opportunism established damming course of the anti- profitable contacts with Labour imperialist struggles and forming and corticialls Dourcols a sne tereo reservoir or caoitaist liberals. profits from the turbulence of revolutionary Kenya. Transformed the followed

HIS

Career nationalist many when he returned to ATrici after the war, the political situa- leacers in colonial countres Born in the 1890's, as British tion ot Kenya nad been trans- being imposed formed. rule vva. The African intelligentsia invatta gainec his first nenva. m longer in control of the educatio com mission schools notable nationalist movement, -his had erupted into huge popular ment was assistine to transiate IRAN: 40,000 march 'Unity, peace and point of the last wave of order' violent demonstrations- were the ritual mourning ceremonies demands put forward for those killed 40 days ago Shah's by the new by the Shah's forces devel- Prime Minister he as oped into demon- took office. stration of 40,000. After Jaafar Sharif-Emami's promucle religious leader had presen- appeal met with a predict- ted set of 14 demands able response. (including retur In north-eastern Mashad Islamic law) as a basis for -holy city of the Muslim negotiations with the Shah, Shi'ite sect, and starting

READ IT

YET?

'Communists'. Acainst Revol.

ution, containing the import "The of ant Theory Tim Wohlforth is the book on Stalinism and Hoaly would not discuss. Make sure you get your copy £1.75 20р DIUd 31, p&p from: Dart- Hill, mouth •Park London

NW5 1HR

struggles. The land question was the force behind this driving European uoneaval. As Tarters settled Kenyan in the TArTHf highlands, Africans wert TReIr agricui tural land Cano driven from their stock pastures interior maucoudit grazing land and cities, forming the basis of a growing proletariat. Kenyatta with Kissinger the demonstration began to break up, with large sections chanting anti-government slogans. Three killed Riot police moved with teargas and then gun- fire, killing at least three of the demonstrators. Once again, the events in Mashad will be only the first shudder in a new convulsion to grip the Shah's dictator- Such crude and bloody manifestations of the class ruele appeared to diplomatic Chairman cordiality of Hua's meeting with • the Iranian dictator. 'Security' But no doubt they did give an edge to their discus- of sions maintaining 'security' in the Gulf area for imperialism and its allies in the Stalinist bureaucracy ruling China. But the majority remained in the rural areas, either as agricul- turar day-labourers, or atempe ing to eke out an existence intolerable conditions more Tar history Kenyatta was rapidly elected president of the Kenya Africar Union and 'we ceciarec T081 must buy freedom by blood'.

Defuse But all his actions at this time were attempts to GeTUSe the African the militancy masses ana divert tnel activity towards a parliamentary forum influ- own that Kenyattas ence could assuree with the underlying priority of stable capitalist dominance.

acted as mass rallying points for the anti-colonial this did struggles, led or organised the mass move- His was oratory important asset in the deveios secured his tum prestige ment movement, and of the

BUT

Tne acente British government reported, meetings pretext not tne reason ior mobilisations, and nis polltical positions were not shared by his mintant doerence But his efforts were frustra- in short-term as the ted incredsingiy vilent struccles against British rule exploded first major Mau Mau IntO revolt of 1952 State of Emergency declared, and Kenyatta himself was arrested for 'managing Mau Mau* His •own indignant descrip Tion ot mis Charoe as: oneot the most brilliantly calculated fomented and perpetrated lies in the whole history of imperialist intrigue' comes rather nearer the Authority But nine years of imprison- and detention preserved movement and saved him from his political exposure in the course of the struggle. Throughout this period, the British colonial rulers were battling crush revolt, using the tech niques they Kenyatta and military chiefs watch a ceremonial fly-past had developed brutally the armies of imperialism were suppressing the valayan revol complete ution after the war. establish bases from which The African rural population seek control over eastern Africa wasneroed InTO sociall structed fortified village Inevitably these policies with agricultural provoked opposition, particular- campments oroduction supervise by troop revolutionar ensure were ments emerged in other African that supplies for the occupying states. and not directed to the forces guerrillas Class division Thousands of 'suspects' were detained and imprisoned in the Capitalist 'prosperity farour an concentration carlos produced an ever more marked some cases whole trioes division into classes, with moved hundreds of miles were the auli crowine an ettort aeross une impoverished urban proletariat the guerrillas bases- and the one rural and 'scorched earth' policy masses nane ane Comen Une was bursued various bourgeois layers accum- These measures •nac ulating the wealth from expand industrial agricultura production "benevolent Kenyatta's dictatorship came under increas- ene

TOT

and the gross methods or rule corruption administration. President frequently 1 ЛЄ resorted reoressive powers of the state in order to deal with his opponent Kenyatta's rule more firmly assured by the total poritica Dan kruele motley opposition, which never attempted mobilise realise Inasse economit

O TICA

demands Kenyatta's funeral, But as avio ower oale ine reseect ful tribute .from one faithful servant imperialism was doubtless turning anxiously from the 'Old Man's' past to the Tuture ou enva Faded prestige effect, but did not succeed in The immediate succession to crusane te perto saudeles British imperialism was the presidenc seem. forced to concede its defeat.

for Daniel Arap Moi. Vice- President for ten years and himself was nenvalld his other posts, Chie released and again amones! became president of what was Scout of Kenya But lacking even Kenyatta's Kenya African now faded prestige veteran Nationalist Union. be a far less effective block to opposition Encouraged of DOnt O OS Lor come from other rival may energy

OTAS

Was of the narrow ruling members spent on encouraging white settlers and foreign investors to around him. stay in Kenya, arguing that they But however successful the would be welcome after inde- bourgeois oureaucracy may pendnece preserving its unity the The elections of 1963 gave Kenyan masses will certainly b KANU a majority in 1 parliament Inrown into contict win ineit wnereudon .Otne bartie interests and with the domina dissolved themselves into an tion of imperialism as the short- enlarged KANU, , with Kenyatta lived boom of the economy sags still at its head. and after indep.

and plunges into the chaos of as president of a one- encence. the capitalist crisis. para rete fifteen years Kenyatta Kenvatta mav navi unwilling to loose the reins of Tuleo supreme. consistentv out his grip, but death manoeuvring such 'left' critics as power trom union leader Tom Mboya and nas soaree nin The nator of seeing them torn from his no coned hands by the masses he patron The struggles against colonial rule in Kenya were amongst the useo ano ex•loitec inrouchout a life of opportunism and mos оготтасте• ano . most gratified ambition. violent in the whole continent, Kenya is one of the yet today strondes ism in Africa. That reversal was not of the work of anv coulst By David Whitfield man, but Kenyatta did play a key such shift. He . tully met his pledg ot a wercome after independence Foreign investment was eagerly encouraged, and capitalism flourished in Kenya,

Carter rings round for Page 4 support US Senators will be plagued by a spate of breathing phone heavy calls in the next week or SO. desporate President Carter, unable to win con- support 101 11s energs servation measures will be frantically lobbying uncom- Senators, ( mitted trying persuade them that his controversial Bill to increase natural the price of gas is crucial efforts to SaSS stabilise the US dollar. Some support Whereas a few weeks ago many sections of US capital were content to allow the fall in order to dollar to their chances there 1s a chance that the mounting evidence of economic crisis US within the itself may rally some support for the increasingly discredited peanut millionaire. In particular the dollar's downward plunge agalist the yen has created renewed chaos in the US steel indus- with clamours from the Liy. steel bosses for anti-dump- 150 march to win back nursery The Oxford City Nur- Campaign started sery off the new school term by firmly reminding the County Council of its existence by demon- strating through the of Oxford streets on Saturday September 2. The march was joined by over 100 parents and other from nursery campaigners the Labour and Trade Union movement carrying banners from trade unions, groups, womens ponucal groups and the nursery cam- paign itself. Victorious They shouted slogans calling for the restoration of the axed South Oxford Nursery class. The march w88 led by children from the victorious save the souta Oxford Middle School. This school to which the axed class nursery was reprieved from closure July by Carter ing against increased imports of Steel shipments from the

EEC

countries increased 72% in July over the June total, and US steelmakers claim that European manu- facturers have exploited the fluctuations currency avoid the "trigger price' system designed millise foreign competition. of trade But dislocation in steel is only one aspect of the weak state, of US Shirley Williams. She obviously drew back from yet another Oxford School occupation, building on the national support of the nursery occupation and with renewed eviction. threats of strike action from the public sector unions.

Exhibition The demonstration ended in Bonn Square where the exhibition of the occupation attracted sympa- thetic interest from passers by who stopped to listen to from Trades speakers the Council and the nursery Cantal They outlined the plans to lobbv the lUC and the meeting of the Educa- next tion Committee. The campaigners also South plan to picket the Oxford Nursery classroom it it is used for anything other than propel purpost- there have been plans drawn up open ll as a private nursery class. capitalism. tied hand and foot to the The July trade deficit has capitalist Democratic Party.

shocked the Carter adminis- massive 82.9 tration rocketing billion-which casualties of this if continued would bring a Latest the $34.8 billion unholy alliance are annual deficit. 460,000 US postal workers.

Both postal unions-the And the fleeting spring in the US economy Postal Workers boom seems to. have

HOW

Carriers Union-had voted • of steam pletely run out Carter takes before further steps to curb growth in a bid to hold the value of the dollar. employers' 19.5% three-year Meanwhile, despite assur- pay contiael But on the eve of strike from officials, inflation shows little sign of dropping below double figures. "im partial outsider" chosen Bleak prospect talks are likely to All this means a bleak for the powerful US working class, with con- exchange for likely conces- tinuing mass unemployment necessity confront Carter's wage-cut- ting "anti-inflation" policy if they are to defend their living standards. Carter however is in far But workers are discover- ing that, as Britain, the in main allies of wage controls are the bureaucratic leaders of a crumb from of the trade unions, who are

IRELAND

TROOPS OUT

NOW!

Mass demonstration for PoW status The complete failure His 48-day hunger strike in support of the political of the most barbaric demand and against and savage repression Slalus his frame-up for the bomb- meted out over the last ing of a British Legion hall.

10 years by British im- ended last eventually was perialism to crush the Tuesday as trade unions Strabane resistance of the Irish throughout 1CD ponded to a Trades Council revealed people was call for a two-hour stoppage clearly last Sunday by a in his support. huge 25,000 strong from demonstration 10th anniversary Coalisland Dungan- Gallacher's non. courageous fight has succeeded in bring The march, led by 200 ing his case and the whole relatives of the internees in issue of Long Kesh brutal- the notorious O1 Kesh ity right into the Irish labour movement. camp, was a show of sup- The demonstration POll marked the tenth struggle republican and the original Civil sary prisoners OI Rights demonstration which restoration followed the had same route. Hunger strike But, coming at time when workers North and into Among the most courag- eous of conflict with these fighters has increasing Willie and been 20-year old British imperialism its Gallacher. Irish bourgeois hangers-on, SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 6 September, 1978 Postal workers on the march in Washington on July 12 The much vaunted The struggle to break the which US medical programme he cynically dangled as from the Democratic Party carrot in front of the noses and for the construction of of union bureaucrats Labour Party assert tor to order to secure their the political independence support in the course of the of the working class must be election taken up now with renewed campaign now obviously dead duck. vigour. New battalion for Ireland weeks ago by the announcement battalion of new minister British troops is to be Hulloy of a massive increase in sent to northern Ireland to take up residential duty Soldiers in the new battalion will be accompanied by families in the service of imperial- and will do less intensive street ism. long term patrols The fares will intelligence work. extra offse reduction The switch-which involves partly by financial commitment an the number of troops marut four month tours. occupatior But change will unlikely event of the fumber of be demonstrates that adu towaras more long stay vorce with tours at least 18 •amonstrate government has no intention of months. from The move is the inevitable withdrawing troops increase reland here to increase control reland. The recent Daily Mirro ditorial calling for the 'bringin of the • troops has beer пола hailed as a progressive move by Socialist Challenge (which 'challenged' the Morning Star to match the Mirror). In fact there is no evidence that editorial -based the populist reaction -reflected any division within the Labour Party and at a time of increasing long Joace slu in Britain of the term occupation northern warenes issues of the Irish struggle.

Ireland. Daily Mirror's call this latest movement has the represented war weariness and a opportunity to learn the about imperialism's pessimism lessons of previous protests don to suppress oopositiou and take forward the figh The withdrawal troops for the withdrawal of Ireland be forced from British troops and for class sel the working of determination the Irish both side Irish people. sea. There 13,500 Central to this fight must are regula be a programme of demands reland + who are 8,000 UDR soldiers on jobs wages and demo- taking over more of the of cratic rights capable street' patrols. mobilising the independent of strength working sides of the class on both imperialist border United Troops Out Ireland, and the struggle in Movement Britain to remove the reac- tionary Labour leadership Demonstration against that has acted consistently British imperialism in in defence of British imper- Ireland. ialism. Saturday 7 October at Prisoners Aid Committee 1pm Day of Solidarity with Irish Barnsley POWs Sunday 26 November Details to be announced

Bureaucrats backing Labour's campaign While Denis Healey and James Callaghan do their level best to des- Labour's election troy chances by spelling out the reactionary wage- policies cutting on intend which they to JOnI stand, TUC bureaucrats are attempting to whip Sturrock, support electoral up among their long-suffer- ing membership. Report General secretaries of six have major

WHOS

Collie together to coordinate their the support efforts Callaghan's men: Buckton, Evans and Chapple Labour leaders in the elec- through Chapple for union officials stand the tion

CORIOL

by Trade Union Committee for shown the Labour to give a day's pay to the Labour Victory. election appeal. leaders for the decisions of With no prospect of the Party Labour conferences Labour Weekly conserv- Labour manifesto contain-

TUC

and the atively estimates that if such and of the they ing so a nint of scabbing an appeal were successiul it TOle save against socialism any played consistently even would nett some £2,250. reforms serious efforts at the workers' movement. diehard the working The Workers Socialist benefitting the wage-

SUDDOLLOL

class, this campaign League calls for a vote to cutting Callaghan-Healey clearly going to be an uphill to create Labour in order the leadership-also had the best conditions to cheek call

EETPU

LO these betrayals in members-many of whom in expose practice. An appeal fund is to be the power industry suffered launched, which will depend direct brunt of Phase 3 the Leadership exclusively limits-to give an hour's pay at OSE bureaucratic lump sum don- Party's In this the Labour way we can election funds. mobilise workers in a break anions ratner lan sponlalt- eous rank and file support.

Labour Carefully avoided at each from reformism clear example of this point by these bureaucrats both left' and right and call last week by was the revolutionary the question oi tight tor based. on extreme right wing EETPU programme which leadership a pro- in general Frank Healey and Callaghan intend gramme for secretary action EA EN AlL Huntley St. squatters picketing Camden Housing Aid Centre Conference fights Trespass law A national confer- trial Relations Act; the Labour government backing 'Occupa- entitled Shrewsbury Conspiracy ence, and defended by such lead- of Trial; the introduction tions, Criminal Trespass ing union bureaucrats as high-speed possession orders

TGWU

General Deputy and the use of Law' has against occupations and the Secretary Harry Urwin been called to arm the use of the Sheriff's Act; the five created new crimina labour movement in its Prevention I errorIsm offences relating to trespass Act; the injunctions against this struggle against which threaten with jail and the

UPW;

the bans on those taking major plank of reaction- fines under the demonstrations part in any form of occupa- ary Labour legislation. Public Order Act (leading, tion, work-in, OI The Campaign Against among other things, to the squat. the Criminal Trespass Law, of prominent arrest mem- which is officially Trades bers of Leeds gives sweeping new police powers to enter and ted by seven major unions Council on May Day). and a host of local and •What is Local to search without warrant.

more, trade and Bills CACTL members played regional Authority Party bodies, has Labour Parliament intend to make an important role in assist- called the conference to dis- it an offence to organise a ing the Oxford City Nursery "criminal trespass' and six-week CusS demonstration Campaign's

WALCOUL

the tactic of occupation in giving seven days' notice to against the cuts occupation the context of the increas- the police; earlier this year and have taken an import. Tory MPs introduced a bill ing attacks on democratic ant initiative in calling this delegate rights by both Labour and picketing conference for to шаке Tory leaders. November Conway illegal; and, senior Appeal The call for the confer- Court Judge Lord, Denning Hall, Red Lion Square. ence details some the has talked publicly about Conference credentials, £1 numerous developments on unofficial strikes (£2 for employed. for this front since the Tory made illegal." claimants and OAPs) are law and order' election vic- CACTL at from tory of 1970: The Criminal Trespass 35, Wellington St., London WĆ2. "We have had the Indus- Law, passed with PHOTO: John Sturrock, Report defence of jobs and living standards. But we combine our call for critical support Labour with the struggle workers' within the ment to break wage control, for removal the the Callaghan- Healey leadership socialist socialist policies, which will test out the complete and expose inadequacy of those Labour 'lefts' that pose as opponents of Callaghan and Healey. perspective This means all-out struggle against not only the Labour Party bureaucracy, their brothers-in-arms in the TUC and the apparatus. The two Southamp- ton dockers who refus- ed to climb a 25 foot ladder to their container last week lifting cranes , because there was oil on the steps ought to have known better. worst that could 1ne have happened to them was a quick fall, a broken neck quick and clean death. But instead thev chose to protest, were disciplined by 2,000 management and dockers struck in support.

That is when their prob lems really began. The witch-hunt that fell on their heads • woud nave made a fatal fall seem an act of mercy. The Telegraph has been in the assiduous tracing "crimes" of the dockers as the strike progressed-saving their trump card until they had gone back to work. last Wednesday (30 • Ву the August) paper had already homed in on Richie Pearce and Ronald Mouls- members dale, of the unofficial national dock shop stewards. the This committee, Telegraph warned its readers "has regularly tried to over- ride official union policy" The (head- same story Dockers lined stay out in 'drop of oil') over

TOW

resorted of the to one Telegraph's best knowr tricks, unattributed quotes: Noting that dockers had frequent- been complaining ly about such defects, the first informant

LABOUR

PARTY

Strikers jailed No scruples have evel been shown by Labour gov- ernment ministers in their scabbing on strikes and British collaboration employers. the racent case of But jailed Indian sixteen seamen the depths to which the Labour leaders are prepared to go in assisting Grook their strike. shipowner: breaking activities The seamen took industrial discriminatory action wage rates and longer none inflicted on them in compariso the Greek sailors on 18 • Calypso. They staged a sit-in, barri- cabin themselves on the ship. The Greak captain promptly called in help-from the British authorities Immigration officers— notorious for the racialist views them-boarded the rite amon

PRESS GANG

HARD CELL

supposed to have said "It seemed very orches trated" The second unknown collective fact Was secret informant: 'Ship- owners' quoted were saying "The men must have a death wish" By Thursday the dockers "wreckers" in both the were headline and first paragraph of the story Tory MP Robert Adley, for Christchurch and Lymington, was given space to attack the working class collectively, describing the "Further evidence of a by determined attempt industrial workers to cripple Britain's major ports". Friday brought "sabotage" allegations of stewards' quoting a snop document to management- which management said they knew nothing about. But Friday also brought a vote to return to work anc so Saturday's Telegraph was looking for fresh targets for its venom. The real culprits it trans- pired dock were workers at all but students . and not just ordinary students either. The story stated: "Shipowners believe that a Trotskyist cell at South.

ampton University is behind a spate of unrest in the port there the past year involving 13 strikes and 12 other disputes that have dis.

rupted the export drive "'They seeking firm evidence that students have been secretly fomenting ship, broke their way into the occupation, and nauled the lt sailors off in handcuffs into WoUl Brixton jail, repeatec wine made deport by air. All such attempts them were сетелес ov The restrand of the seamen, who also rejected $500 pay-off settlement offered by shipowners UTe Last Thursday, however, auer tree weeks monsonment they secured a 5700 cash settle- and payment their ment Tens mone Meanwhile the involvement of the immigration and prison intimidate strikers has prompted protests from immigrant leaders lut orital The case points yet again to within the the for the complete repeal party or me immoration Act ano tal removal of its racist defenders from the Labour leadership.

unrest in the docks, which rade with out a or gateway While still waiting for any "firm evidence of this remote control of the work- Telegraph's ing class, the its leader linked 1alll lI Southampton docks with Leyland. "Manipulation by Com- munist groups-dissident or , They owe their ingredient. influence to their ability to and play resentments anti-social impulses, glori- fying them in • the name 01 class and war solidarity surrogates for a lost sense of purpose and community. "This alliance between backwardness and Marxist force dogma gains added because the industrial and political establishment has fencemuch of its self confid: How will this establish. ment regain its 'self confid- ence? By no other method than paying close attention to the lead given by two mem- bers of this establishment who have achieved close harmony on the task facing the capitalists Or as the Telegraph puts it: "Government, Parlia- opinion-formers ment the lead must take by spelling out the conse- quences for all concerned of industrial vandalism, as Mr.

Edwardes Duffy and Mr have done this week." It was a long drop fror that oil patch

1938-1978 Forty years of the Fourth International Page 6 International "A new be prepared cannot practical partic- without in the unfolding ipation To counterpose a events. programmatic discussion the revolutionior struggle would, of course, be false. It is necessary to combine the two." (Trotsky, Writings 1933-4 p.44) "The Second, the Third and the Amsterdam Inter- nationals cannot at present their congresses, convent because they are paralysed their dependence on by imperialism and because they are torn asunder by "national" contradictions.

the On the contrary, Fourth of the sections International, despite their extremely meagre the difficulties resources. obtaining visas, the of of their secretary murder and the hail of repressions, in the able most Were critical to moment convene their international congress and adopt unan- imous decisions in which the tasks of the present titanic struggle are formu- lated precisely and con- cretely, on the basis of all historic experience." Trotsky, Writings 1938-9 Left September 3, Up to 1933 the On had Oppositionists delegates 1938, thirty reform the attempted LO countries eleven from Communist Parties. met near Paris in secret Their minds

WOLE

the vile changed not by conference. slanders and persecutions of Their business was the the Stalinists but by a great World founding ol a new historic event-the refusal of Socialist of Party Kelle Communist the German Fourth tion-the Internat- Party to fight for working ional. class unity against Nazism, The USA, Latin America consequent Hitler's and

USSR

several the coming to power. were European countries The fact that this monu- represented. Due to "con- ditions of distance, illegality mental betrayal, conducted by the most powerful Com- and other adverse factors in the world munist Party of several important hardly echo found world were unable the protest within the ranks of including send delegates, the Communist Internation- Spain in the throes of civil al, proved conclusively that Africa, war, South the vanguard of the working and Australia, Palestine class once grouped in that China. movement had been stifled, Confer- The Founding demoralised and destroyed ence was the fruit of fifteen by Stalinism. years of struggle to defend the programme and perspec- of revolutionary tives Marxism. Reactionary Trotsky In 1923 Leon had formed the Left Oppos- Communist ition the Party of the Soviet Union to fight the rising parasitic and state bureau- degenerate cracy led by Stalin. By 1933 it had become the Stalinist clear that bureaucrats had successfully transformed the parties the Third (Communist) International into than agencies for the reac- the tionary diplomacy bloated Kremlin clique. The Communist Parties since that time have served only to paralyse the revol- utionary will of the working class. The tasks had changed- the struggle for the Fourth International had to begin.

Since Marx and Engels participated in founding the İnternational Working Mens' (First Inter- Association national) in 1864, commun- ists had based their perspec- the understanding tive on that the international capit- could only be alist system the working class ended by international class with international pro- gramme and an internation- al revolutionary party. Impetus each International Yet built (and destroyed) was different under astonica The Third conditions. (Communist) International constructed rapidly was under the inspiring impetus By 1933 Trotsky analysed that Stalinism had become a counter-revolutionary force.

of the successful Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the upheavals revolutionary First World following the War. 1933 The situation in Just as different. was very thought Lenin had mad by renegades when he proclaimed the need for a International in 1914, new of the the partisans Fourth International had to tiny the fight begin groups against massive odds.

In the document Death of Capitalism and Fourth the Tasks (Transitional International Programme), adopted at the Founding Conference it was explained that: Internat- "The Fourth ional has already arisen out of great events: the greatest defeats of the proletariat in history". SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 6 September, 1978 struggle necessary In fact by 1938 this was destroy them. even more true than it had Trotskyis The young 1933 with the been movement tested of Stalinist police height almost innumerable series o Union terror in ine soviet tendencies in this way. and the diversion struggles of For instance in Februar the working class in France 1933 the International Lef and Spain into the Stalinist Opposition had arrived a treachery of the the aboration with otta ropula. name for th Front-the collaboration collaboration and Italian group Prometeo le class abandonment of revolution- ary struggle. last hours of peace The to close drawing welc Second World before the War unleashed its horrors on the world Foundations It was during such a period that the foundations of the Fourth International had been laid. The Trotskyist move- events analysed ment warned the working class of of its leader- the betrayals ship, and fought in practice to uphold at each point the of working class banner political independence. time it At the same combined its intransigent adherence to principle with flexible tactics aimed at seizing every opportunity to forces around group the slogan of the new International. In 1940 Trotsk The process of selecting was long and these forces painful. At each stage hopeless sectari of theoretical discussion through positions. discussion and Later in the same year practical work the revol- step forward was taken wi utionary currents had to be Declaration For separated from the centrists the Trotsky, written who talked against reform- signed by the Internatios while and Stalinism iSm Socisitit Work incapable Leit remaining Socialist German taking up evolutional y

SOCLILIST PRESS. Hednesday 6 September, 1978 conducting policy of the silence on the betrayals of Revolu- tionary Party and leadership and giving Ine support to the Popular

(OSP)

Front. fuse. Trotsky made many efforts to win back the best elements of the POUM to a correct fact policy -in observers from that move. be total ment were even invited to the Founding Conference of Trotsky that the Fourth through but at the same time waged work could an im placable struggle against it. World Party. Heavy price The POUM paid a heavy price for its centrism, many preparing a members, including Nin, "repre- murdered the Denne Stalinists whose authority isations in they had helped to boost.

It was significant that the POUM's Or- tunism had preceded bee by ra- leftism ere the Along with sed the OSP it itself, Etienne (Mark the turn entryism Into the work the so-called Zbrowski); was a Stalinist parties London loose GPU agent. jes Of those who had partici- pated in the Declaration oj which scored Four only the Internationa the Communist the time Al League (the

USA

Socialist refused to with the later for the Inter- name Party was as national Left Opposition) the entry Opposition and quickly had remained loyal. of deserted the work of the The of the ed Fourth International

SAP

was he major altogether. that of the move- French move- While did not ment under ment. of Sn Bureau or the by Nazis) sided (he attitude one stage with capitula- The to was break the of passed Trotsky links Salute Living with, and working alongside given Martyrs and Heroic the leftward moving centrist refused Dead, which listed the many currents reformist 111 Trotskyists mass parties. imprisoned bourgeois The tacti varied Rich for the and Stalinist regimes inter- greatly to Irom revolutionary movalent nationally. country depending upon the today found such obiective situation, Trotsky's the DUEl was of universal significance 1930s of to ways through and that those who yelled loudest about 'capitulation sacrifice and believed that one some- tomorrow's of how would lose one's purity triumph. proletarian by non-revolu- the tionary were the Fourth The quickest to the capitulate pressurco will International, avenge generated by crisis-ridden the who have who languish and 10CC there". unable to the In short, 1938 the lessons and of the period. blow uable of political In As sending of the The remained powellul attend the movement numerically small, the conference of his record of central America successful guestsons work in the the lines the OI the

POUM

the of class had Republican ranks in Spain, gathered a of the conference occupied the some 2,500. body mall The movement the was in Europe working tions facing class of the world in the The section-the wake of awesome of shortly members. position But Programme stated: War was "If our International be Manifesto counter- still weak in numbers, it is posed imperialist doctrine, slaughter international programme, tradition, in the brotherhood of toilers and incomparable tempering of the revolutionary struggle its cadres". for power: Materina go class has Shadow to defend except conquers The Conter. and rules. No support to the warmakers and imperialist shadow series sav-but continua- Wowe tion of the class struggle in ists-the of the every situation and utilisa- Trotskyist tion of the war crisis for the Moscow overthrow of capitalist rule, Trials. i.e., and erica the Ine war capitalism Erwin Wolf, itself". Trotsky's murdered by Stalinist agents SUn. wale broke with

GPU

and The

POUM

on, came In the went over soca- under the leadership of one- Wa Nin time Trotskyists and struck down Rudolph would be 'against Klement Andrade, to play a criminal fascist Wak responsible role in the Spanish civil for fascism cannot and organising war, acting the work of the Founding will not be destroyed by the major the obstacle to the building Conference. bayonets of French imper- the revolutionary party by In fact, as history was to ialism. Only the indepen- posing revolutionary reveal, one of the delegates ås a class action the OI Marxist organisation while at the Founding Conference proletariat will put an end the hideous rule of to fascism" While devoting consider- able attention to the problems of particular areas of the world-for example ly China and imperialist of particular the crisis- -the discussion Programme. amended the Confer- the whole of the Bolshevik

SUCCE

from Revolu- the aim of "Where Bolshevik- the profound of the present order and, in general, society attained, they are now additionally equipped with the indis- pensable of programme which action can enable them to defend not only the tomorrow of the proletariat but also its today. The programme of trans- contains itional demands the guidelines for the day- to-day It is not merely the programme for the convinced revolutionary worker, but for the working class as a whole.. Formulations of opinion estions. (in by tant with the majority) objected to tne Programme's enthusiastic reception of the wave of sit- strikes in down many the countries time, declaring them often to be nothing more than sions of despair and "dumb protest" on the part of the workers. Favoured (win the Different were favoured the American section presenting an amendment) on the exact attitude towards the question of regenerating the Soviet Union and building of organs workers' demo- cracy-though only delegate- Yvan Craipeau- was of the opinion that the class character of the USSR had changed that the and bureaucracy had become a new ruins cass Finally the Transitional Programme was adopted with Craipeau alone voting The Fourth International declared all out war on Popular Frontism such as that in France (above) and Spain against-it been having agreed that an editorial would be commission elected make final 'stylistic and factual amend- of section which ment central at the Founding and been raised by various centrist the fight in the new International. The delegates, creation the Fourth International on the grounds "the Fourth no was mas. be folly to proclaim it till it was. to this-that would be 'premature' 1936 despite Trotsky's In opposition ing come round to that view havir the Com- munist International dead, the task could be postponed no longer. Deutscher The forces were small weak. The repressions and were massive. Reaction was The ascendant. were LaSKS immense. At that level all the argu- and fears opponents of 'proclaiming International had ine basis. Depth of the crisis But a position that began alone left from this out completely the depth of the international crisis which working drive the wolo class forward seeking leader- ship. Moreover it left out the practical revolutionary obli- gations of the Marxist move- Page 7 the time yet arrived proclaim its creation? sceptics THe Fourth we need of .. Outside of Fourth International exists and still and the task revolutionary that lead the Vall Cal. proletariat its im pose society suffered dis- orientation ment and growth of like currents vice to while undermining the central ot programme- the force ism one change the record -that the Fourth International on the culties to leadership; alone has fought uphold the political of If the list of martyrs has longer, and if the grown forces of Trotskyism remain numerically weak, the Trotskyists of today have on their side the fact that they live not in a period of reaction but of revolution- ary ascent. It is such a period that opens the road for the best commemoration of the Fourth founding of the International-the fight for reconstruction the - On basis of a practical reaffirm- ation of its founding prin- ciples and programme, the revolutionary building parties based on the method of the Transitional Pro- gramme, and the destruc- tion of both Stalinism and reformism and of the deca- dent imperialist system which they defend Next Week: Reconstruct the Fourth International

Fighting for class independence inside the Zionist state Page 3 SP: How would you charac- present political terise the Palestine and in situation Press" the surrounding area? WL: The defeat of the Pales- tinian nationalist

HOTCOS

Civil War Lebanese following the massacres by fascists in the Tel al Zataar refugee camp, has opened a period of general setback in Despite workers' the area for the movement and national lib- eraton struggies was also indicated Britain. This by the victory of the ultra- Begin government right the 1977 elections in Israel, and in the political retreats of the Palestinians in face of the Zionist and UN invasions of the Lebanon.

SP: What is your character- isation of Zionism? WL: Zionism is the method of rule of the Israeli bour- supported by geoisie movement international cooperated the which a Jewish establishment of state-that is to say a state based on race and religion- and opposed to the native Palestinians. SP: And the State of Israel?

WL: We say that Israel is a state colonialist interests both bourgeois the interests of the masses, run In in close Jewish bourgeoisie alliance with world imperial- Israeli rule. While 1sm. Therefore, not only does Arab side in by its very exis- believe that the state tence stamp on the national rights of the Palestinians, it also in contradiction to kind of state we want. of the Jewish the interests workers and the petty bour- geoisie. What is your attitude SP: towards military contlict between Israel and the Arab states? WL: We call for the military the defeat of Israel victory of the Arab states.

We do this not, course, because we have any Arab confidence bourgeoisie, but in order to develop the struggle for the setting up of a democratic Palestine with equal rights for Jews and Arabs. We see the defeat of the Zionist state as serving the

OUT NOW!

WRP JUNKS

THE OLD

TROTSKYISM

policies of the self-styled and its forerunner the Socialist defended by the WRP pamphlet consists of documentary material to demonstrate the full extent of this volte face.

"Socialist This interview was conducted by member of the during August with Workers League, an organisation operating within the Zionist state of Israel, and regarding itself in political solidarity with the Organising Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International of which the largest supporter is the French OCI.

with the political disagreements Workers League we think its views and activities will be of interest in the workers' movement in SP: Why do you call for a 'democratic' rather than a 'socialist' Palestine? cannot WL: Because we place conditions on our sup- port for Palestinian national liberation by saying that it has to be socialist. place no However, confidence in the ability of the the Arab regimes bourgeoisie to. Palestinian achieve national liberation.

by consider We mobilising the working class unconditionally to this end, should then take workers their leading role in estab- democratic lishing which can only be a workers state also. Arab traitor Sadat SP: How does the centrality of the Arab of the national liberation and of Palestinians task in Palestine affect your currently under relations to the workers of the various national groups?

supporting the spontaneously The the war, we consciousness anti-Zionist only the inde- of the Palestinian pendent mobilisation of the

WOINCID

a special role them working class will secure the gives the vanguard of the within Aftermath of a Zionist raid on Palestinian camp WRP leaders!" junk the old Trotskyism

A WS

I pampnier This pamphlet brings together two articles recently published in Socialist Press, dealing with the Trotskyists' of the Workers Revolutionary Party in relation to the Middle East. The second article in particular exposes the way in which almost every aspect of the WRP's current international orientationtrepresents the polar opposite of the principles historically Labour League. The remainder of the Price 45p plus 10p p&p from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Zionist chief Begin with Cyrus Vance SP: working class examples Taking this into account, intervention we see uniting the working class to struggles? WL: achieve its independence, the Jewish economic to break workers class from the working and of Zionism, many influence also to make the Palestinian Palestinians and workers able to appear as an the democratic demands of independent class capable of Palestinian the leading the struggle towards proletarian struggle.

national liberation. struggle even 1n SP: Can you say something economic about the organisations come the workers' the movement in with and your attitude apparatus. towards them? WL: We do not consider the these workers. which is some- Histadrut, times referred to as a trade We as anything of the Arab union, kind. It is a Zionist institution to for colonisation and capital- political development. ist development which also trade union' depart- ment. Nor is the 'Labour Party' of over which is closely linked to in any way included the Histadrut, social democratic even but a simple We called organisation, instrument of the colonial some Case. bourgeoisie. Therefore we call for the democratisation and strengthening of the factory which exist in committees general by all factories or other enter- prises of any size port of We think that the repres paign after the day itself.

entation and leading role of Arab workers in these com- mittees is an essential part of the development militant struggle and the within the political establishing national movement? the independence working class. and the the represent during the the Palestinian Concretely elections of 1977, we called alist state. workers' committees, together with the CP and other workers' organisations Labour to set up new for -namely Party for proletarian demands and the most im- portant democratic aim-the of national Palestinian people state on the West Bank. Front and The Popular the 'rejectionists' we would petty bourgeois- detine as into conflict coming times with the bourgeoisie, but unable to express any independent perspectives.

SP: Can you explain some- thing of the recent history of the movements in Pales- calling themselves Trotskyist, and of how your organisation has emerged?

WL: In 1962 the Matzpen movement emerged, and take this came to up position socialist anti Zionism. was very loose organisation, including many political trends, some pro-Pabloite, state some some little differ- capitalist, ent from bourgeois liberals At least two bodies still the name, one use associ ated with the British SWP the other with supporters of the Pabloite USFI We emerged in 1970, and for the declared support International Committee of the Fourth International.

Can you give us some yout workers We have taken up the demands of (there are factories from which excluded) have tried to develop workers When Jewish workers are on small they questions, conflict sharp Zionist state It is by inter. vening in such struggles that we get the best hearing from " OCI leader Lambert advocate defending We however were to workers in order opposed to the 1971 split of broaden such struggles, and the IC on the grounds that further a step to it had been carried out in a by Healy sectarian manner During 1976 there was a proper discussion and we subsequently joined land day' declared by the Palestinians against the take- the OCRFI. farmers land by We expelled from were Zionist colonisers, and this 1975 for reasons this national strike do which we not consider to have been fully and in •for, discussed. Subsequently, we achieved, the had a split within our ranks setting up of strike commit- with those prepared to joir tees aimed at defending the OCRFI at any cost, but now workers who supported the supporting the USFI We consider the USFI to strike against victimisation at making the strike more be centrists, and the Healy getting the sup- organisations to have degen- Jewish workers, well outside the erated and at continuing the cam.

bounds of Trotskyism. We therefore cannot see of Trotsky- the continuity ism outside the OCRFI, and SP: How would you char- are appealing for re-admis acterise the different forces sion to it Palestinian WL: We say that Al Fatah

PLO

majority interests of Regular readers will be who want to set up a capit- aware that the WSL holds very different views on the This leadership is pre- continuity of Trotskyism pared to compromise on the which we do not see as basic interests of the masses flowing through the OCRFI.

the right of return of the refugees and the liberation of the whole of Palestine-in return for a deal giving them a puppet

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wedresday 6 Sepiember, 1978 Into the dustbin of history A new face has been found lying on the cutting.

room floor. In the faded company of blighted starlets the features of Josef Stalin have been consigned to cinematic perdition. of raut Neuberg, producer thar discovered that Stali Rad series 'Red current Tv proved an embarrassment Tine featured leading figure been systematically elaminateo from Soviet historical beside Lenin, this mentaries ser cev convenient o odin du In some cases. new figures a time when he was preparing had been superimposed to block Trotsky from excel Stalin out of vital scenes, but into DarT been simply exile. mosty THm and effectively cut. Neuberg that this Censored blanket censorship was carteo out in the mid-sixties by the <remlin bureaucracy, which just eurents di late 1927, the thise before these offered international holders of of late events the originals what were suppos- nao ceen ludiciousiv censored 'cleaner prints' while they Trotsky had been eliminated substituted their new versions.

for except scene at 'Leading role' Petrograd soviet wierd ingenious cutting made him appear in a counter-revolution- The irony of this absurd tale The ary Tole! compica 'October' history question were generally made marked the turning point of the the express purpose of en- soviet film industry lar cune otal revolutonary the early years arter ine heroic pro otion the leading revolution, it was in film above particular to show all that the revolutionary ardour role he supposed to have plaved in the October Revol- ution. Without the central figure they lose most of their point- not to mention •ravina time For example, "Lenin in 1919' 108 now runs for minutes, to the original oooosed version 133 recorded at minutes. Se of the etfiest and Stalin himself coulse most vicious of film censors.

This example of typical Stalin's methods started its course in 1927.

Embarrassment The great Soviet director, been =isenstein. nad commissioned to produce a film the cocorallie cilitiver- A picture that dodged the the Revolu- sarv ori october censor-the real pock- tion. marked Stalin But the finished product for Freedom Aims and Enterprise have published booklet entitled 'Your Freedom Manual' as a guide to activity right wing inside and outside the trade union movement. The subtitle-The Little Blue Book-and cartoons of distorted malevolent 'extremists' place it in the of anti-com- crude. valll munist literature that its parentage would suggest. It's general advice is the left', with learn trom sometimes hilarious results.

For example: "The Left hold demon- often with viol- strations, ence, not because they enjoy knocking policemen's helmets off but because they hope it will get them on television." The booklet is aimed at the disgruntled petty bour- geoisie. "Let's assume you have a a doctor for example" cause to campaign for. How do you start! First recruit The most interesting pas- your friends, your neigh- inevitably on the barco dic bours and/or workmates. trade unions. "Bring sympathetic union officials * Recause experts to help you: a local are very powerful and some- journalist, an accountant, times act in a manner which By David Whitfield of Soviet Russia was expressed in the arts Eisenstein, Dziga Vertov and others revolutionised the tech- niques or cinema as uney sougnt to create revolutionary art.

Never surpassed •Battleship trike and rotemkin Eisenstein presented the revol- the prol- utionary struggles of been surpassed. in his early documentaries Vertov tool tilm as a Ine revolution, screenino The realities of the Civil War and the throughout the cities and villages of the Soviet Union. Vertov's greatest achieve- ment, movie Man with camera', completed after was and the 'October scissors of the bureaucracy only by avoiding-any overt political It ramans a unioue exores sion of the day-to-day reality of a society undergoing revolution- But the bureaucracy consolidated its power, revolutionary cinema was appro.

for counter-revolution. Not even Vertov and Eisen- stein could esc or transcend me naw contations. Personality cult In Three Songs of Lenin Vertov contributed to the build ing of the Lenin personality cult which the bureaucracy used launch the Stalin personality cult. 'Alexander Nevsky® Eisenstein mingled this a sorven Great Russian patriotism and anti-German hysteria which served de à bone do a How to be a right wing extremist Recognise the extremists' tricks threatens personal freedom, it is essential to play your part in your union. "Go to meetings and get The your workmates to. Communists, Trotskyists and other extremists have utionary struggle against Tasc sm. and Prokofiev's most brilliant scores are not enouer to save this film from the status Stalinist crude propaganda dished up as art But now the bureaucracy has turned cut its former head Needless to sav. in censor ing the new regime of stalin Stalinist bureaucrats not was

TCHOUNICI

counter-revolu tionary heritage. The latest manipulations of Kemile nave noi negated Stalin's falsifications of history, but simply comoun oce mnem. been able to grab power because they go to meetings and know the rules. After good advice on how to join a union ("Make sure you join the correct union") our 'freedom' fighter is enjoined to beware "extremists' tricks for stitling democratic debate" of "'moderates" join (Truemid for joint slates presumably) and opt out of the political levy. "don't be a student, intimidated into demos for causes you don't support"; school student set up class collab "a body oration early with of freely-elected pupil repre- sentatives to sit on a policy/ committee with Shason teachers, parents and governors". Policemen are "there to help you" but if not, make your own citizen's arrest.

Stand up to nationalised industries and don't let the Co-op send your divvy to the Labour Party. Following the simple directions in this booklet will enable even the most confused petty bourgeois to graduate as a fully-fledged fascist pig. rage Official view of Stalin Writings on

WSL

the Fourth International Fourth International: Problems and Tasks: The first WSL document attempting to draw an objective balance sheet of the post-war history of the Trotskyist Inter- national, and analyse the roots of its current crisis. Adopted by the Founding Conference of the WSL, in late 1975.

Published as three supplements to Soc- ialist Press. Price 15p plus 10p p&p.

Aspects of the History of the FI: Based on a lecture by John Lister to detail the departure from the Marxist and the majority of the International Yugoslavian 'break' with methodological connection between the positions which led to the 1953 split in march 1978. Price 50p plus 15p p&p.

The document drafted by the Workers Socialist League for submission to the discussion of the USFI pre-conference XIth World Congress exposing the - political bankruptcy and opportunism of both of the previous main factions within the USFI. Pointing out that the common factor of each of the self-styled 'Fourth Internationals' is their departure from the method and principles on which the founded, was this article calls for serious steps towards the reconstruction of the International. Published in Trotskyism Today No 3 1978. Price 60p plus July 15p p&p All available from the WSL 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5

New bids to weaken Garners strike

INDUSTRIAL

No lead on pay at CAV Workers at the Lucas fits had to be negotiated nationally with Lucas,

CAV

plant in Acton whose headquarters are Friday met last to Birmingham. decide whether or not Having outlined what to accept the company's 10% meant to various grades of workers in terms of hard proposals for settling cash, Cockran put the offer the 1978 wage claim. to the vote. Earlier in the year (while Phase 3 was still in effect) Action the unions had submitted an 11-point claim Before the voting, how- to manage- ment. ever, he correctly pointed The out would first ten points that rejection concerned things such mean that the unions may sick pay, long service awards have to take some action to and other fringe benefits.

push a bigger claim and that The eleventh point called this woula involve laking on for "substantial more than just CAV or even pay increase". Lucas management. He claimed workers misguided that nobody "sub- had broken Phase and enough to expect a stantial wage increase" soon when asked how much . the had their illusions shattered Ford workers received last by the

GMWU

convenor year replied that that was John Cockran. of the comedy and enough In his opening sentence was time to get on with the vote. he told the assem bled workers that they had to Despite .the one-sided negotiate within Phase 3.

way in which the proposals He put to the workforce went on to explain were that all of the fringe bene- and the lack of any alterna-.

WSL

The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organ- isation which fights to build a revolutionary leadership that can politically prepare and mobilise the working class for the taking of state power and the construction of a socialist society. The fight of the Workers Socialist League in Britain is a part of the struggle for the reconstruction of the Fourth the World Party of Socialist Revolution, International, founded in 1938 under the leadership of Leon Trotsky.

The basis of this fight is the theory and practice of the Transitional Programme of the Fourth International.

forward The Workers Socialist League puts programme to defend the interests of the working class today against the attacks of capitalism in crisis. The aim of the programme is the independent political mobilisa: tion working class towards overthrow ot the Ine capitalism and its state machine in the capitalist countries.

In the workers states which must be defended against imperialism the task is the political revolution to over- throw the parasitic bureaucracies which repress the work- ing class and endanger the gains that have been made.

The fight for socialism is impossible without the fight at every step the misleaders of the working to expose class: the Labour and trade union leaders (both 'right' and 'left'), the Communist Party Stalinists (both 'Eurocom- munist' and 'pro-Moscow'), the bourgeois petty nationalists who derail anti-imperialist struggles in the underdeveloped countries and those groupings which pay lip service to Trotskyism whilst rejecting its basic methods and programme. Only through such a struggle can the working class find road out of the capitalist, .crisis-falling living standards, unemployment, denial of basic rights, colonial repression as in Ireland, and the threats of fascism and war. For more details of the policies, programme and work of the Workers Socialist League, fill in the form below.

Please send me more information about the Workers Socialist League. Name Address. Send to: WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

NEWS

tive to accepting phases 3, 4 and 5 and so on, a large number of workers voted to reject the offer, which was nevertheless accepted. No will be duvalces the made, however, until shop stewards committee is led by people who start not the needs and policies from of or the moæmæce cnn government but from the needs of the workforce. In a feeble attempt to discredit the strikers and attack the strike, Margolis's hacks at Garners have been logging who turns up on the picket lines and on what days. uncerstand that This information has been passed or to the TGWU Region 1 Finance ano Genera rurposes Committee along with the claim that this information Public meetings

OXFORD

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public Meeting "British Leyland and the Crisis in the Motor Industry" Friday 15 September 8.00 p.m. at East Oxford Community Centre Princes St.

LEEDS

SOCIALIST YOUTH

LEAGUE

Public meeting Wednesday September 13th at 7.30 p.m. Leeds Trades Club Saville Mount Off Chapeltown Rd. A TUC representative was sent to the Septem- ber meeting of the Oxford and District Trades Union Council in an attempt to collect evidence to throw out delegates leading oppos- ition to the dictatorial rule of President John Power. The TUC-in the person oi a nervous looking bureau crat-sat silent among obser- vers until flushed out by one delegate who demanded to know why his presence had been kept quiet as if delegates were 'criminals'!

A letter. from the TUC was read Power out by shows that strikers are oicketino ano the sanoer thai non-union members are being paid out of union funds. isteao ot seizino enis sian oi desperation and replying with a mobilise delegations to the picket Fine ane solve Ine Tinancla problems of the strikers-the

F&GP

Regional meeting last Thursdav has put conditions or thorough Turtner suboort the examination of the strike com- mittee's financial accounts.

LEEDS

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public meeting ABC-Drop the charges Tuesday 12 September at 8.00 p.m. Leeds Trades Club Saville Mount Off Chapeltown Rd.

LEEDS

WSL Social Work Group Public meeting "Regrading" Thursday 14 September at 7.30 p.m Leeds, Trades Club Saville Mount Off Chapeltown Rd. TUC recommends use of 'gag' Rule 15 exhorting him to use Rule delegates and 15 to expel threatening disaffiliate the Trades Council if the right wing did not tighten their grip. No copy The TUC were writing in reply letter from Power, a copy of which he had not kept and was thus unable to read out. But the meeting-atten- ded by more than 80 dele- Power gates-showed little prospect of his grip being a move to suspend standing tightenend orders to allow discussion 48-32 wing move. to A

BOSOI

conne Wol :d stop discussion of Power's being defeated majority, democratic only by the lack of a two- aDuse procedure was defeated, and thirds majority. What the books the refusing) which has now been ot Garners committee • 30 September to strike Wil altereo trom reveal to the Regional F&GP 7 October We (in who's say that the strike com- Nanas Committee left the publich _Keclona MITLet nave running of that denounce any attempt by the Regional Committee times financial wayall ot the running of th materia suboort nas come trom unions than from the the otner strike blackmalling 500,000 membership the over the question of SurKerS TGWU's Region 1. financial and Gesoite Inis. unev were reluc contnue to mont to orce tni forced support the Regional Committee to mobilise tantiv strike committee's flans for within Region 1 for the day of lafter AV Ot Astinn al ita acllon Red

NUSS: WHY THE YCL CAN

OFFER NO PERSPECTIVE

Youth

YES! WE SAY

VOTE LABOUR

Red Youth No. 3 now available price 5p plus 7p p&p from SYL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

:£1.10 5 issues :£2.20 10 issues .£5.50 25 issues £10.00 50 issues I would like to receive... issues. I enclose the sum of[.... Name : Address, to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Send Park Hill, London NW5 IHR Subscribel-

SOCIALIST PRESS, Weinesia; § September, 19?: Westerns struggle needs clear programme Baker had told Representatives of the nationalisation was 'out.

650 sacked workers at Western Ship Repairers of was that the company might be Birkenhead predictably taken over received no help at all when butters or ivewcastie. wno mient provide jobs for 100-150 of the they lobbied last week's sacked Western workers. TUC General Council meet- ing. being directed along inese lines TUC chairman At a meeting in Birkenhead General Secretary David Basnett Labour: Club, last Thursday, Action Committee Chairman at tirst clamed even heard of the dispute, but oilineton reported inal in sorte when pressed of the workers' demands nationalisation of the company

SU DOOM

National Officer Baker. Officer, Ken Recert demonstration at Western Ship Repairers Successful meeting on Bethnal Green

THE IMPORTANCE OF

and the general cuts in the the Bethnal Green shop nealt service, and to lead d stewards in giving a strong strong campaign the hospital action at paign was stressed branches against the closure.

public meeting on Tuesday 'Left' talkers attended the meeting, held struggle must sharply House commun- talkers such as lan Mikardo, ity centre, near the hospital, who pledge their support to and along with people from the occupation, local housing parliament, continue to vote for the economic policies of service workers and a dele- the reactionary

C8IAOE

NATSOPA, the print union, Callaghan those very in the audience. that are Bethnal Green Hospital! Forge link

NUPE

Colin Kenny, from St. the hospital Mary's hospital, contribution from the plat- speaking from the platform, argued form, and speakers from the that the central task of the discussed 1001 stewards inside the hospital steps to be.. taken was forge the link campaign, between the between alicIDIcu closure Bethnal Green Bethnal Green Hospital and

• AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

as Billington But, •ointer the GMWU out. it is not only leadership which otters no assis The Merseyside commit- tance. them that of the Confederation Shipbuilding Engineering and Unions has also failed to provide ¡ne oniv nose lett. ne said.

anything but verbal support.

by a private owner, in tact ine contec leadershie has even gone so far as to advise withdraw their workers picket from Westerns All the GMWU's efforts were However, in soite ot Inell of the union leaders and GWU and of local MP and officials comune Dell, Ine leaders and their advisers from Inal ne nao nol the Militant group were unable stated his full to out torwaro anv dersoectives for continuing the fight to re- Doricies open Westerns. No attempt was made to pir down local Confed Executive member Stalinist, Barry Morris, To any concrete

•OIC

port of the Westerns workers.

Indeed Morris able was get away witn an attack on the Westerns men over their refusal follow Confed orders needed at wnat s: cleariv Westerns is a policy of occupa- yard prevent eltner current owners. Lairos. oi possible future owners such as Butlers from equip- ment. This must be linked with demands for the opening of the or a snovares to com mittees of workers and for the yards nationalisation WitnOUT compensation under workers management.

other struggles both inside and the health out service. A collection of £18 was made, including £5 from the for strike NATSOPA delegation, and hospital union the hospital donated campaign. He also argued that the be directed left- against A Public meeting and a conference have been yet called to discuss the future of the campaign Healey- maintain Bethnal to government- Green as a general hos- policies same pital. closing down On Thursday 7 Septem- steward from ber, public there gave meeting at Globe Town Community Centre in East London. practical the following And on Thursday 14 September, in the showing the link delegate conference for the fight to trade Towe save

ULOS

Hamlets, Hackney and

DICTA CO

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN

THAT WELL GO FOR IRRESPONSIBLE

DEMANDS THAT TRY TO KEEP

Despite attempts to This deve looment is suboroin ated to assure Chrysler workers that of productivity, " he said.

the Peugeot-Citroen AKe• over will open the way to ployees omphasised by and prosperity, expansion a statement made last week taken STeD! bureaucrats to attempt to show by the Company chairman that they have did nothing to provide «eTeno loos firm promise that existing the jobs will be protected. workers roderation, oureaucrat "Our interest main- from several European countries tain activities in the UK but pledged to defend jobs. Wakefield jobs - in danger.

NALGO

members 1n Wakefield. whose leaders with the closure have meekly allowed a series adopted. cuts right wing une also written to Yorks NUM Labour Council. now faced with the need to fight leader Scargill protesting at the closure of the Kecrea- Lest tion and Amenities depart- ment. bureaucrats. The counci plans Any further "dissolve" this department- with a current workforce of be met DV 130-into other about action departments. commit- emergency tee to fight this move has the 3,500- been set up by labour strong NALGO branch, and support this action. public meeting called in Oxford by the the Cowley Community toothless Health Council this Wednesday will open backs. discussion on Area Health Authority plans a brand which close down to both Conference called Newham has been called by consistently Tower Hamlets Joint Shop Committee the health Stewards Bethnal Green Hospital, to called decide future joint action against health cuts.

wide basis, health service, strongest the Conference hospital closures Whilst all The urge we continuing workers and trade unionists to support these events and authorities while we argue for the im- equipment portance of sustained strike casually action in defence of threat- stopping any ened hospitals, the Workers alterations Socialist League has argued empty surgical wards.

• ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

WE WILL NOT TOLERATE

ARE ARGUING THAT WE WONT STAND

ON TAI

UP TO GOVERNMENI DULLING..

• FROM ABOVE.

I THINK THESE TOOLROOM BLIGHTER

HAD SETO

PACE WITH THE COST

OF LIVING...

Page 11 Chrysler-officials run from fight they But the considerations drew up in no way prepared for real fight. The calls on the British. French une uncertant tacineam i ana oodnist Peugeot-Citroen governments to obtain "guaran- the unpreceden. toes of jobs" *, and to ensure that Chrysler Unior Colant. ПОТ become simply sites for assem- bling kits stratody

IMF

called for alsc At a meeting last Wednesday direct government representa- International tion on Peugeot-Citroen board. All this was rounded off witn vague inreats ot industria action" to defend jobs The direction of this policy is entirely away from the mobil- the independent Ication strength of the working class.

independent working class policy must start trom the fight to oper the books of all the firms involved

TRIS

means fight to expose the machina the Chryster UK tions a policy of non-cooperation manacement trouer has beer lishment the books open committees at plant level.

The NALGO branch has Sa8u part the fight, for a fully nationalised motor and com- ponents industry under worker:

LA DOU!

Council dominated by NUM management. The workers to respond to a lead for steps to inceoendent action is snown ir close the department must the strike now in progress at the all-out strike and Luton Dunstable plants throughout the a Central •eSoITE promises NALGO branch, coupled to Arbitration Committee hearing the fight to win other public on September 26 sector unions and the local Their claim is for parity with Coventry workers, and the movement … LO strike is to demand payment now. Oxford NHS fight Phases 1,2 and 3-would Longworth Hospital and the of Road torm an expanded scheme for health geriatric hospital as part care, government spending of a savage series of cut- cuts have now produced a.

blueprint for all-out attack on jobs and services From an original plan in in the Oxford health service.

new general The Workers Socialist hospital-the John Radclitte League, in a leaflet into the will

CHC

meeting draw attention on the necessity for a programme or action by the health service unions to defend existing jobs and fight for the planned expan- confer- sion of the service to take ence of all London stewards place service to be London- Centring on the necessity starting in the for occupation to prevent would give closure and supporting possible throughout strike action support to the fight against the health service and the whole labour move Cul occupation itself is

WSL

members and prevent the supporters will attempt to the lessons of other from removing apply from the cuts struggles and force and theatres. and bureaucrats to declare support for the fight the now or face exposure in front of their own membership.

BUT WE WILL SHOW THEM THAT WE

MEAN BUSINESS!

| IF ANYONE'S GOING TO INTERFERE WITH FREI

COLLECTINE BARGAINING, IT'S GOING

TO BE US

IN THE TUC!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

ISPy

WITH MY

•LITTLE EYE

SOMETHING

BEGINNING

GCHQ;

WITH

ABC campaigners at a recent march through Cheltenham

COWLEY PLANTS

DEMAND £27

a f27 a week a so. vote• Tor This Thursday ja across the board claim despite the fact that the senior stewards meeting will be held of the whole manual workforce of aovocated

VOTI

ward a vague claim for a "sub- Leyland's Cowley Assembly stantial" increase. plant, to pay Body Plant claim formulated by the claim does not include a cost- of-living clause it includes most stewards. demands The content of this Same LITt wall Assembly Plant. claim is tor thi a week Both these claims are to the board would give and be submitted at plant level worker a wag to be payable on November 1.

ot t100) as well as the demand This is of great importance for a cost-of-living clause.

because the Communist Party The stewards are also claim- and right wing throughout Loy- ing a 35 nour week. land cars have been attempting In the neighbouring Leyland Body Plant,

TGWU

stewards to present a fait accompli of a corporate, nationally negotiated claim Up to those moves, no other mitted claim for th had been claim

FUND

worked out in Longbridge and when the Leyland Combine Committee met weeks ago, two CP warek hoolison failed • in his bid to get the principle of a corporate claim даоотва. The plant claim from the THE FUND closed well Cowley Body Plant marks the down this month with reversal of the £472.35 in total of only v toucht for ovine ront wind for August. stewards to This is certainly some- thing just corporate claim. November review has "his afford. Every penny of our revealed another of the weak fund is accounted for in sides Leyland toolroom ot the terms of expenses and that committee. Roy Fraser, just has to be union steward for. nearly one money found from somewhere. thousand AUEW members in We appeal to all readers Cowley has not even formulated a pay claim! and of the supporters Socialist Press to ensure Differentials that raise full we our In other words instead of target of £600 each month so that we can develop and giving a clear lead to Tignt The soc contract, Fraser improve the paper. raig everything on differ All • for the donations ant the Cowley claims could be September Fund should be sent to: major development Socialist Press Monthly the motor industry Fund, 31, Dartmouth Park laying me

BASIS

•TOr breskinc Hill, London NWS 1HR. corporate bargaining and defeating Phase OT Watc control. Even while the TUC to debate a prepares resolution from the Tobacco Workers Union police condemning interference with the labour movement, jour- nalists Crispin Aubrey Campbell, and Duncan ex-soldier and John Berry face an Old Bailey show trial in which each could go to jail for 14 years. They charged under Official Section of the Secrets Act-the "spying clause "-although not even the prosecution claims they are spies. The centre receiving information which "might be, directly or indit- Thursday the This Oxford TGWU District Committee meets and will have on its agenda question of the the Cowley 9. These nine members- the senior including steward, three deputy con- stewards venors and other Assembly the Cowley Plant are threatened with disciplinary various from expulsion sentences from the union to banning from all offices for life.

the District The reason Committee will be discuss-

SANDERSON'S MASS

PICKET

Support the 16-month strike for union recog- nition. Week of Action 11-15 September Skegness Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR..

Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd., London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

ABC CASE AN

ATTACK ON

Call labour movement conference! ectly, useful to an enemy" and relate to a conversation between all three men early in 1977. Not disclosed None of the content of that conversation has ever been disclosed or published though it is clear that it did the include references surveillance agency known as Signals. Intelli- District Committee to discuss Cowley 9 ing this case is because the Regional Committee, after enquiry, carrying GuL decided at their last meeting to ask the Oxiord. District Committee, whose Finance and General Purposes Com- first charges millet the if they against nine, would like to drop them. Weak case This showed yet again the how weak Cast The case is so weak that it is reported that David

TGWU

Buckle, District and the Secretary main witch-nunter

IN LOWI

even resorted to talking the issue out at his own branch meeting in order to stop a being which vote taken could have mandated the District Committee delegates from that branch to vote to drop the charges.

Troublemakers' Buckle's real position in reply to an came out Oxford Mail question about the Edwardes speech that there a mere 1% of were troublemakers in Leyland.

His reply was paraphrased as saying that the union are: aware of the Assassins move in at Heathrow TWENTY PLAIN CLOTHED trained assassins from the Special Air Services were drafted into Heathrow last wook join in the 'double red alert' prior to the Camp David talks on the Middle East The SAS has for some time played a crucial role in under cover killing and provocation in British imperialism's operations in frolanc -under the supervision of Labour's torture chief, Roy Mason: hutu: Andrew wiata, ieport Rees which 1¼ computer, million out of 2 million files are political dossiers from the Special Branch; the ruthless use of the so-called "Prevention of Terrorism 3,529 'Act" under which 'suspects' have been held for up to seven days at a time, with handful and the charged; massive police harrass- increase ment of the labour move- ment, including the estab- lishment of the SPG anti- picket squad, "Dall demonstrations and new gence or SIGINT. laws against occupations The arrest and trial of and work-ins. Aubrey, Berry and Rees Campbell is a determined bid by military and intell- All these developments chiefs reinforce gence to in the strengthening of the Official extend the capitalist state have taken Secrets Act as a device for under the watchful intimidating journalists, civil of Labour ministers, eye and the Home Secretary including movement Merlyn Rees. As such it must be seen The of the extension in the context of the estab- Official Secrets • Act in lishment of the latest police particular flies in the face of Labour's 1974 manifesto pledge to repeal the Act and replace it with a 'freedom of information' Act and last

TUC

call for the year's of charges dropping the against Aubrey, Berry and Campbell. The attack is not simply one on the three defendants offensive of but bart against the whole labour which must be movement, fought by mobilising support throughout the Labour and the Party. These points were stressed last week at successful public 60-strong including a broad meeting layer of trade unionists Oxford

NUJ

called by branch and Oxford Trades Council a few days before the ABC trial itself opened.

Strike action made by Appeals were floor speakers and from the

NUJ

platform Branch Lister for Secretary John preparations to be serious made by the NUJ for strike action in support the and for the Alan Thornett three victims, NUJ jointly with the ABC troublemakers the among Defence Campaign to call at workforce and taking steps once for a national labour to deal with them." movement conference to As we point out in our win support for this fight.

front page article. the •the victimisation of the SU tool In meantime possible delega- strongest makers and the Cowley tions from labour move. case are completely linked.

ment bodies should attend Both witch-hunts aL C the regular pickets of the against those who fight the trial each Tuesday and the social company 12.30pm, while bombarding contract. union leaderships and the is crucial that the Party with already estab- Labou campaign demanding the resolutions lished on the Cowley 9 be dropping of the charges and strengthened if the greatly of the Official the repeal District Committee decides Secrets Act. to proceed with the charges.