Socialist Press no. 120

NO COMPROMISE ON

LIVING STANDARDS !

Press ahead with full claims!

END MARTIAL LAW IN IRAN

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

* No. 120 * 11 October 1978 * 15p Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League Fords crack on 5% Ford have become the first major employer climb down over the 5% pay limit and offer free collec- tive bargaining. his retreat. comes arter a solid 2-week official strike, paralysing Ford's entire British operation, has demonstrated the colossa strenot or une orean ised minement tirm hint of gIveH egoersnio The controntation strateay of Ford management and the Callaghan has crumoled within a toriniant The strike itself reflected the the seething militancy within working class as a wole on the wages issue. There is no doubt that under Inese conditions determined action could drive a coach and horses through government pay ane launch Ma OF struggle to restore lost living standards. Obstacle But Fords back even down there are signs that the major obstacle to such a fight is going Ine same Evans-sounding the retreat?

union leaders who have loudly opposition ceciared their wage controls. ment on wages, and the way it any new figure for Phase 4, the has by to discuss pay Tuesday Labour been stimulated very. decision ministers will meet TUC leaders.

roras strucale. DOlCy al a ume wien Both the talks Though seems little action has there ceteateo it incicates likelihood of agreement the wish leaders to alarmed at the massive move- the The pressure of masses continues rise the tyrannical against murderer reaction ot the who calls himself the King of Kings. After the September demon- StratIons. wnen Hieraly came hundreds mousands the streets calling for overthrow Carter, Tvrant-оасква Callaghan Brezhnes Chairman Hua-unleashed a new reieu or terror housands or workers and students were shot down in cold blood on 8 September which come Known "Bloody Friday" The regime declared martial aw diving its police licence to indiscriminate murder. Since then, the masses have continue meir strucce Inrouen rapidly spreading wave strikes. Victims of the Shah's barbarism On October 1, there was a their members hold DAcK outside Fords

TGWU

General Secretary Moss Evans has already begun to sou no National Officer John Miller for threatening that pay talks British oxveen like Fords'. Speaking the to Guardian reporter he said: 1 speak for the executive," insisted Evans, "and when we have discussed in executive and reachec a abcision bargain, I will make a state- ment." "Responsible" Evans went on to stress that would be judgement wnetner cach articulai "bargained employer hac Throughout the whole argu- ment over the Dav Evans has laid heavy stress on "responsible" bargaining in each case This drawing up claims and pressing them not on standards TGWU's the widely followed one day general strike and numerous militant demonstrations protest 'progressive' regime in Iraq with mne •nans cictato snie On the day of the strike the police down and killed shot many more demonstrators including school children.

The Iraqi government had been noidine mne exilea oooos ition leader the Shiite Muslims, Ayatollah (high priest) Khomeini, under house arrest.

Knomeli lert irac to SeeK refuge elsewhere. When he was not granted the Stay attempted to return to Iraq but was refused permission to enter The count. henas now arrivec in Paris. Meanwhile the anti-Shah of forces begun a wave nave strikes-ostensiov emane wages and better con- ditions, which but everyone Knows are oirected against une

BRA

ISSE

million members but on the oroTis ora oarticular caoitalist employer effect

OTIS IS TO

should that workers carry ine cost ot ine •crisis any weak section of capitalism.

The fruits such a policy can be seen at Vauxhalls. wher declarec orotits are ess than In Fords, and where TGWU nego- have led the pay talk Liators down the dangerous dead end of productivity dealing, rather than strike against the 5% pay offer that nere couot productivity deals-which cut and jobs, erode hard-won con- M-sana ouieu oue suoilio play a major role inattempts by union leaders in coming months to head oft pressure on wages the ouolic sector where spending cuts are already slash- ing thousands of jobs and vital services. such a cea woule soe disaster for the one million local authority workers, whose claim for a £60 minimum wage is due for settlement in November.

Alan Fisher of NUPE has arreaoy talked. or breaking the 5% limit. dictatorship. The last week has seen such strikes in the all-important oil industry, in the major state and private banks, in the post office public throughout ana sector ot ine economy. Socialist Press calls for the maximum concrete solidarity to British labour De snown oy movement the struca ling oppressed workers and peasants of Iran In particular the campaig for an immediate end to the military and economic aid from the Labour covernment the murderers of Tehran must be redoubled. Callaghan, Owen and Mulley are the willing accessories of mass muracl n recent months theasoul government has authorised the export of thousands of riot guns ane batons wo cas crenades ano rubber bullets to aid the butcher Shah Such shipments must be blacked by

SICALET LEAGUE

TRA MET

GARNERS DAY OF ACTION

Report-Back page The task is now to ensure that the fight goes ahead for the Tull calm. The retreat at Fords has *shown that claims can now be the slightest compromise workers legitimate pay demanas Strike committees must be elected at once at Fords to fight anv oTTiclaisata miserable 7-8% sell-out. All-out strike where emolovers relect anest demands or offer squalid and compromises productivity oeas une answer must de as d Fords, all-out strike action until the claim is met struggle for this the aboroach workers Wil see ir practice where their trade union and Labour leaders stand on the Issue deTence standards And increasing numbers will see the necessity to construct a orincio es revolutionary ear ship to spearhead the fight against both the employers and oureaucratic fear nothing so much as the independent strength of their mem oers LP conference-p.5 dockers and transport workers at once. We call on all our readers to support the demonstra- tion organised by the Cam- paign Against Repression in 14 Iran for this Saturday, October, assembling Speakers Corner, Hyde Park at 1.30 p.m. Down with the Shah! End British government collaboration with the Shah! Black all trade with Iran!

Callaghan, Owen and Mulley out! For a workers' govern- ment in Iran!

Death penalty threat by Leaders retreat from Sri Lanka The death penalty IS hanging over 30 trade union leaders in Tunisia. Arrested in the wake of the strike and violent uprising of 26 Februarv. 1 20 01 been in prison for Them nad seven months before they came o trial this month were leading orticials in state-organised (General Union Tunisiar Workers), maluele

ITS

Torme the secretary. veteran nationalist Habib Achour.

Although charded with to foment civil and 'change the form of govern- ment', these bureaucrats and totally innocent of any desire to over- throw Bourguiba's one-party The mass movement which drove forward InTO conflict with tae covernment none sharp demands Was certainly makin the world crisis of capital- bureaucracy. wrackee me uncer cevelso.

ed economy of Tunisia, workers experienced a headlong fall living-standards ane ine of the Destour growin or already mountainous unemployment,

(PSD).

especially among youth. i ne the established by resooneer to attacks of capitalism and anti- working class policies tute increasingly overine Witu The working class in Sri Lanka has been driven into retreat or led defeat by ' TO an unrivalled variety of leaders. banned, Ormists socialistsi Stalinists, itically motivated' strikes in reformists, and the private sector. self-styled "Trotskyists" have all taken their turn.

had been directed against a After many years of such LOKeN failures and betrayals, these for 28 September by unions workers are now ill-prepared under the to counter the ferocious Bandaranaike's attacks directed by the reac- Freedom tionary government "Trotskyists". Junius Jayewardene. The strike Elected with a landslide called round majority in July 1977, , the immediate United National Party has the full restoration of food already in croduced major subsidies and of democratic cuts in the extensive welfare service-particularly cuts in food subsidies. Central Power A range of new consti- tutional measures has been aimed increasing LIlO central power of the govern- reducing the authority of the elected the USA a group of right- parliament. wing peers including former The United National Labour Party's youth movement has George Brown issued a call been employed vanguard of thugs to break for him similar visit to Britain.

meetings and beat up militants lactories universities. actually comes largely irrelevant. hara on this offensive The the government is attempt- even if he doesn't come talks implement its new are already taking place repressive labour laws. leaders on al and file guerrillas in Zimbabwe In their entirety, these and the British would reduce the unions to supposedly government-controlled im- David Owen, and reverse many pletely in the dark. gains won by workers As decades of struggle, such as lan 80rBe0] the legislation months ensuring Job around his head, the imperialists security. • 100K over Jayewardene 'announced another form last week that all strikes in the public sector would be vation capitaris Gaddafi's friends Gaddafi with Algerian leader Boumdienne through mittees of the PSD. UGTT, and by organising indep WaS Inis authority, even more than their close links with oT the union and its Gaddafi dictatorship This posed as serious a threat gave Libya, wnick tor Achour and his fellows as it Achour and his clique their base did for the government leaders of power in the endless rivalries 'Socialist' Party Unable to dissipate the mass had been forced movement, were Bourguiba as and attemselves corporate union. to function as a nead it their base was not to be shattered beyond repair. wing or the state, and its nighest officials sit on the leading com- This fatal decision may well general strike along with all pol- rights. But the organisers accented government powers order, with "Trotskyist" Bala Tampoe (general secre- general strike called the Mercantile tary Union) arguing that after control of Mrs. "tactical retreat' this Sri Lanka must be 'better prepared Party and leading time', next and union. emptily accusing the govern- had been ment of using 'unlawful and demands for means' undemocratic wage increases, prevent the strike. The working class of Sri Lanka undoubtedly has the No talks with Smith! As lan Smith flew off to relations. At the UN, Owen pledged himself to issue invitations to an conference on 81l -art minister Lord Zimbabwe. He went to add that he on be allowed hoped that if a settlement could UN forces reached thAn would be sent in to Zimbabwe.

not Smith Meanwhile the Smith regime Britain has military S180080 struggle against the liberation forces. #wortant point is tast in a recent soBech to ThE between Rhodesian Front congress Smith complained that Britain and the Willa Tark labour their houses grinning ours burn re•reseniao as a are left com. result or unair uselessness.

promised that the Rhodesian forces "would hit the settlement Smith guerrillas anywhere." ago begins to crumble members of his transitional government were resperatav toi now convinced the need te into Mozambique increase • ensure the preser and Zambia-"they now want to property get stuck in and hammer them!

Some French confederations refused entry show trial-other: within arrestec deported. these defendants of the vunetne regime determines action one quarter oince Ene Inese enemies class who rule Tunisia. Gaddafi's Trial wher embarrassingly of have been ironed out have cost them their lives. The movement developed into nave once agair working selves class uprising, led by youth practised in adjusting to sudden Bourguiba's government fell changes in climate back on the army to detend it: movement opportunist daily Newsline will rule. ane crushed with the able of . and the readers the tionary basis of what appears to arest ol many nunorees more Now the regime has finally be yet another betrayal international kangaroo court frame Achour and SoCIalISts •Jamahirryah. prominent leaders. been tested auyantcu in Sri Lanka. power to reject the new labour laws and overthrow the Jayewardene govern-

BRITISH

for alleged Germar Potential Proll. ASId attempts revolutionary West Germany, But this from potential can be realised prevented her West German lawyer. only genuinely They have Trotskyist leadership, fight- cant ing with the method of the and hearing of a police officer.

Transitional Programme and This latest steeped in the communist of the wav evaence experience of Bolshevism.

her case has been pre-judged by German The old leaders have all he said. But it is clear that the door is still open to further talks- especially with Joshua Nkomo.

Patriotic Front leaders ThA Smith was at pains to insist to that might become necessary 8008n talk. heads in the sand, f must 'he said. nan eve that the liberation forces are defeating Smith's while army, the weekend it was repor that, far from presenting a solid front, Sithole and Muzorewa other's are at each fight for an indenendent work.

throats. ing ciass solidarity campaign.

The thing which can *No only imperialist Africa. the Zimbabwe masse! campaign TrOm sweeping ashoe Tine ialists is the leadership of the Owen's UN speech and demar Front which, like Smith. combines demagoay with ship of the Labour Party secret talks and compromises.

*No secret diplomacy. Those wish to solidarise Labour leaders with the African discuss with Smith. Masses musi intos, "eanesday 11 Uciober, 1978 Comecon moves in The seal was put on Vietnam's breach with China and her integra- tion into the Soviet bloc last week. representatives of Meeting Ulan Bater Cane internat one nor (capital of pro-Soviet Outer have Mongolia) Executive to witness the the Committee of Comecon- have seen Tunisia and Soviet-led the economic union-resolved to take over concitoRs ine hundred

•DOI

major themselves have capital projects abandoned refused to recognise the validity when China cut off econom- court by giving evidence ic aid to Vietnam in July Bourguiba ThA Comecon also to give Picos ahead and execute the unionists for increased moderni- sing the vital railway line be- or ups vor some oner course o' can count tweenis major sadon uncritical support from at least This major from Comecon-of which smashino ot.the Vietnam has been a member general strike, the Libyan dictat- orship has been indecently eager only since June-cements Vietnamese dependence to demonstrate its friendshio for : OI of the working the Soviet Union and is an step in the Kremlin's struggle for Embarrassing political influence against China in South East Asia.

foreign secretar scurried off to Tunis during the Libyan arms

JANATA

discovered in the T the country, and this little misunderstanding seems to

CRACKDOWN

Achour's fair weather friends snown unem well workers THE 'democrats' of the Janata took one year to repeal the govern- Gerry Healy's ment's powers of imposing expound detention without trial taken them only once er i revolu It has six to recognise

HONES

•ot thi such legislation as a 'neces- clas sary evil', and to advise the of the Libyan government of each state to re-introduce these powers.

Such can do measure little to prolong the life of the popular front coalition, but they reveal with stark clarity crisis of bourgeois rule in India. The pledge to scrap pre- ventive detention' was and found central plank in the Janata's wanting in the powerful and successful election campaign struggles of against the Gandhi dictator- workers over twenty years ship Free Astrid Proll solicitors acting and by the British Labour larrorist leaders empnasises the need for the Labour movement extradite her oppose the extradition moves.

being are in West Germany she Unce tret would face a farce of a show access and then almost certair been told they prison staff-as happened only meer nim the soni Army Factior leaders astonishing and Ulrike Meinhof. machinery Smith with black stooge Muzorewa Inside the liberation move.

ment there a struggle troops against any compromise No secret talks with Smith, mus for a repudiation no demands to intensity tne struddle removal trom the leader For the military victory of the Patriotic front, as a ster The towaras a socialist aim orowe.

Move to smash Beirut SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 October, 1978

NTERNATIONAL -

WHO WILL

DEFEND

FRENCH

WORKERSP

With 1½ million on the dole and 9.4% infla- tion expected for 1978, French is capitalism undergoing similar problems to those of Britain. Indeed key one respect more crisIs acute in France since esti- balance of deficit of 1.2 billion francs for this year.

And the public sector industries expected turn colossal 27 billion franc deficit. This has prompted the re-elected Dourceds draw up administration measures savaze austenev designed cut back the to deficit to 15 billion francs next year. account for 57% of public Increased taxes spending! Spending the unem- Included in this package up by oloved to increased taxes 44% increasing dole money and francs week by coarettes 41] alcohol as well as increased December and income tax. cash cover-up But taxes on small busi- conceal the real SCHemes LO nesses along size of the dole queues. WIll CuT witn cosmetic cuts in taxes on rents and on the incomes Bankruptcy of the elderly and disabled.

Main priorities of the The of public Slimmed down government alocated WOlKS spending programme are the will, however, go aown armed police, real terms if inflation rises lorces. and unemployment. as predicted by 7.9%. Spending on the armed But the response of the forces will go up by unions to these reactionary 24.6%-to staggering budget proposals has illus- Yet blood more was area of Eastern Beirut which they shed last week on the TO independent state. (It was a de mosaic of Middle complex facto UDI of the sort that might East politics with the bom- seen trom muodesian white bardment of the strongholds Ulster reactionary

TASSE

Protestants). of the Lebanese fascists and The main supporters of the rightists in Beirut by the fascists have consistently been forces of the Syrian army.

the Zionist regime of Israel, who On the the have one side Contitude to sudov inem forces which the capitalist press military equipment witn neavy and many other supplies. calling Christian militias'. This helps to account for the They are in fact right-wing importance num cer private armies-the naval encounters during mall the fighting including the Israeli Pierre Gemayel's Phalange Party, bombardment Palestiniar which takes its name and politi.

втисве camps the night of 6 October. tne organi sation of Spanish fascists.

The Zionists at the moment They also include the rather their are concerned with bilateral agreement with Torces under Egypt of the National Liberal Party of that they prepared Camille veteran little for the protection of their reactionary politician. rascist allies ine oyman army Intarvened. years ago save these Defeat groups from defeat by com- bined military forces of Pales The Syrians, Since that time right- hand, though prepared to defeat wing forces have occupied an socials ana rarestinian nation- French President Giscard trated yet again the bank- leadership fronting the French working class The nearest to a militant statement from the vallie Stalinist-led

CGT

which complained that the budget "lacks conviction' and that workers were being made to One sector in which they pay most ale being made lo severely the steel industry, where all the main manutacturing groups currently running up huge losses Chiers-Chatillon with workforce of 11,000, made a massive 644 million franc fascists alists, allon are not willing the fascists and their over treater hold Lebanon. Distorted Iney nave taken the oppor tunity David Ene accords to begin their bombard.

ment of the fascist-held areas, in order • crust resistance with a possible to them. Itue loss as selves. The smallest and weakes force in Lebanon now is that o the Lebanese state of President Elias Sarkis, wuch •robably na as tow as 7.000 troops at 510,000 command against Palestinians, 5,000 1,000 other rightists and around 30,000 Syrians. The aim of the Syrians is to retain Lebanon Walter tney regard as part their empire. SP leader Mitterand loss in 1977. Sacilior-Solliac, which is the second largest steel cor- and poration employs 40.000 workers lost billion francs in 1977. Major shareholder biggest of the Anana. firms. Usinor, with стер 37,000 workers, also lost a 2 billion thumping trancs last year and wants to cut its workforce back 30,000. Over 9,000 steel have already been cut back with full agreement from Stalinist reformist and union leaders Now the government has intervened in an effort to off bankruptcy slave these taking monopolies over 15% of the shares, and the getting nationalised banks and credit companies to take over another 35%.

This will the place goy emmer shareho position shareholder major these private firms, with the The Israelis, for strategic reasons, do not want a stronae Syrian State, just as they are in process the Egyptians on their other flank I Ne Imperialist powers, par ticularly the Americans and the would prefer to sat up a strong. Lebanese state. and have various diplomatic initiatives to do so Their efforts seem doomed Times last However week felt it would be just good to allow The enrisuan. o mamam •cer in their own area', thus accepting the UDI. crumbling the state structure set up by the imperial.

ists and the national bourgeoisie in heede need for male. the need for more tionary policies mobilise the Jewish in way establish socialist united states in the area.

Page 3 French workers on the march task of conducting a massive 2-hour and strike rationalisation the demonstration to the rail- industry way station. 31,000 jobs will be losi When the police banned in steelmaking between now the march, even this puny and 1983 if the collabora- action was called off! tionist course of the union Meanwhile top union leadership is not reversed.

leaders spend days on end in Similar attacks are lining government ministers who offer them no in the ship-repair up more than further meetings.

industry. Yet while Socialist One and major employer, Communist leaders Terrin, closing party down, continue bicker though parts of the group Over their split on the Common over with are lo be taken Programme of their popular government assistance frontist 'Union of the Left' In a pathetic attempt to the working class continues avoid a fight against these show closures the socialist mayor readiness fight. of Marseille put forward Teachers have been plan for the involved in strikes against over the doomed yards and productivity search for companies to run increase and demanding them. teachers be taken on. Marseille workers school Paris was however, took a more direct occupied its prevent route, and went out after closure and reopened strike only two hours occu- Communist Party leaders pation! have opposed the two-year plan-but all they had to AnG alter factory occupation by 27 its place was DIOOOse workers in discussions • detence or Job: further they have now been offered effort to save jobs Union leaders last week alternative work. Air traffic attempted to persuade the controllers.. though utilising inadequate surinals lo relurn lo work in good purusing create order their pay claim while ship- impression with the govern- workers the ment, yard allover country have been on strike potential employers. for three months in their fight on pay and conditions.

Election defeats In the car industry But they cannot conceal Renault workers recently the fact that large-scale showed their willingness to sackings are coming in the 'fight for wages and con- industry tacit or , ditions given any kind even open approval of the organised central leadership union bureaucracy. in the public sector the austerity programme has led closures, longer hours for teachers and pay restraint for civil servants Working class opposition to these austerity measures has registered in OCel series of by election defeats tor the ruling coalition, with the Communist Party and more the Socialist Party winning number of new seats. by-elections arise out of irregularities at the time of the general election and the prominent

MOSI

CP leader Marchais person to be unseated so far And trade Jean-Jacques Servan- flowing militancy over, Schreiber leader the 01 among the suffered crushing wino youth, into political defeat on 24 September. delivily Time and again however the last Communist the union leaders demon- Party 8,000 people- fete strate their inability to 7,500 them youth- defend the interests of their joined the party. These new members will WeT De! In the steel industry their find not a shred of political sole response was to call a or leadership from This gained one-day strike. this Stalinist pally, broad support from other ever sections of and The wUrKeTS France from shop-keepers, remains the construction of indicating the possibilities a Trotskyist party to expose of a serious fight-but was and confront the urcalea as no more than a leadership and mobilise the one-off protest gesture. independent strength of the More timid still were working class the union bureaucrats in the la demands of the Transitional Ciotat shipyard, who called Programme.

GRUNWICK-LESSONS FOR

rage Last year's TUC con- ference unanimously endorsed a resolution in of support the marathon union recog- strike nition at Grunwicks. pledged it general sup- port and heard news of Len Murray's Secret Plan' to win the strike. was to last be ne discussion the public by trade union leaders until the spring of this year when the of leadership APEX-the union predomin- antly involved-formally announced the calling off of their LIte conference. Although ultimately Grunwick defeated, the strike remains of historic Despite the small numbers original action and the ele- mentary democratic principle at stake, the dis- escalated into VuLC trial of national strength between the working class and the sections the OI capitalist class epitomised by factory owner George Ward the National and Association for Freedom. much

BUT

more it saw the that, inevitable test between Ine strike s the leadership and trade union bureaucracy for control and direction under conditions action IllaDs around picketing, the police, and in open con- flict Increasingly apparatus repressive state personally directed by Rees and other Government ministers. for these reasons that Grunwick cannot and must not be forgotten. At this very moment almost identical struggles for • recognition are going on at Sandersons in Skegness and Garners Steak Houses in Central London- the former for 17 months and Garners for nearly half as long. Though no mass move- ment has yet developed either of these around struggles, Lne of the trade towards them union leadership and their unwillingness to implement the policies necessary for an almost exact

VICLOEV

of their mirror image counterparts in Grunwick.

TODAY'S UNION

STRUGGLES

In particular lefts' such and women workers, the as Jack Dromey, Secretary strikers' tenacity courage, of the S.E. Region TUC and and endurance was for of the personified by Mrs. an ear v champion manv Garners strike, now fail to Jayaben Desai, strike even pay that strike lip committee treasurer. service. Despite being forced out The bulk of the of active involvement Grunwick strikers towards the verv end of the unemployed, many obvious- strike through exhaustion of blacklist- and serious she less ing, while the APEX leader- of the remains symbolic ship direct the energy they fighting spirit cynically SO patently failed to put the betrayed by union into winning the strike into leadership. find them other trying to Socialist. Press spoke to jobs. her about the strike and the In a struggle which high- holds for • lessons OURe lighted the working the particular sections of oppression of immigrants Class. threats, but that was not the Socialist Press: The role of reason, it was health the trade union leaders has very weak, the was Deer others wanted to continue the strike's outcome. but I persuaded them We think the TUC con- give in. ference last year, which was Socialist Press: Why didn't by Grunwick Tonner you take the fire- strikers, was very important part in for the strike's eventual men's lobby the TUC OI. defeat. How did you see the meeting in December? decisions there? Mrs. Desai: Because after Mrs. Desai: The TUC con- the hunger strike everyone because ference was bogus who was on strike was sent they promised a lot but did a etter saving that no-one nothing. They could go on any lobby or were only interested in keeping demonstration without from APEX. agreement away. We had trusted the TUC, did then everyone ally unit and had believed they would do would be suspended something to win, but as the lose their strike pay. SunKe went or weiouno cod Socialist Wasn't Press TUC was only promises, and clear long before then where started we the 1Ul leaders stood and the hunger strike outside lengths to which they the Congress House. would go prevent to section taking the kind Socialist Press: The hunger strike had a big effect as it action needed to win? was aiming the right instance, were was Why by the Post- direction. the sabotage was it even. tually called off? men's union leaders of the blacking in Cricklewood and Mrs. We though for the support pressure them would inquiry to defuse pearman change them. but we saw it the mass picketing. was no good. APEX threat- Mrs. Desai: Yes, we knew ened the strike committee these were the people spoil- with suspension and some strike. They had atraid of the the were Police attack mass picket last November tied the strike committee's August 8 hands since the cancellation of the picket. That's why we wanted to focus attention on them and expose them the hunger strike. Their attitude was to get the strikers to give in and them blame them. One day after the TUC conference, the burst Chapter Road. We ran all over the place to them to stop the repair work that was being done, but they deliberately delayed and allowed them to mend it. We Socialist Press: said throughout that one of the main questions was whether the strike was controlled by RO

STRIKE ORLOMMITEY

STOP

ITOP

NAFF!

VAFF!

CUT

CUT

•arK GRUNWICK SOCIALIST PRESS, #ednesday Il Ociober, 1978 Mrs. Desai The strike committee not very experienced and there was pressure on Jack Dromey as well as he was employed and not com- , pletely free Looking back, Scarman was a waste of time and we should have boycotted it.

It allowed support to ebb and only helped Ward as he would not recognise it any- way., and the strikers would never have accepted selective reinstatement. Socialist Press: Looking back on the defeat what are you feelings about the many leaders, such Arthur Scargill, who pledged the strike committee or the support the strikers. union bureaucracy and that Mrs. Desai: the diversion of the mass Everyone. was picket on July 11 affected by pressures; the away officers, the leadership trom the lactories and onto the

TUC

demonstration Once you are working under showed it was the bureau- someone vou have to bea that pressure, pressure from cracy who dominated. the government, from the Mrs. Desai: That was a big

TUC

but it disappointment was When things get critical not the strikers' fault. There everyone after was a lot of confusion and their own jobs. threats. We have a story in our Socialist Press: We have also language, an Indian fable.

been heavily critical of Jack A mother with her baby Dromey's role. on her back was crossing a In particular we have The tide was rising

LICL

taken up his failure to come so she put the baby on her openly against the shoulder. When the water actions of the trade union came up to her nose, she leadership and his support put the baby on her head for the Scarman court and Then the water rose above its findings which would head height, she put the For have sackings. baby under her feet and instance, was Dromey warn- stood on it. ing that the would There are no heroes in sell out? this strike, that why 1S failed Mrs. • Desai: No, but he said Evervone we must fight on our own certain limit, went and we must take decisions.

bevond it PHOTO: Mark Rusher, IFL

STOP

STOP

NAFF!

NAFF!

STOP

CUT

NAFF!

GRUNWICK

GRUNWICK

OHANON

OFFNOW!

GRUNW

Lawyers join strike committee on picket line

Swing to 'left' brings Heffer backs 'law and order' SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday' 11 October, 1978

CONFERENCE ASSESSMENT

no new fight against ''This week has seen the biggest shift to the left at the Labour Party Conference since 1973 claims the latest issue of Labour's tame-cat 'Marxist' paper Militant.

The dubious significance oI 19/3 is not revealed-Dul the clear suggestion is that a aramatic ChiT nOw will taken place which change everything the In Labour Partv is very e reality bul lne Labours. Nahion the faces on Labour's National Executive have changed and two new Trave come on there more prospect before of any organised fight against the right wing Callaghan leadership.

PHOTO:

events The openle the conference itself demon- strated the huge vacuum of Skinner leadership opened up by the defeat of the government's delegate from young Norwood Phase 4 pay limits. Labour Party- Callaghan piled pressure dared to combat Callaghan's onto the National Executive blackmail demand in their Sunday pre-conter- government responsive ence meeting, threatening to the Labour and trade union if they. pressed ahead merelicill with moves to oppose the Nor did the position of the 'lefts" 5% wage celling. change But leading even after the block votes of not left'-whether the unions-responding

NEC

off it-came the movement of the work- the forward insist that class wages had Ing Callaghan did resign. delivered resounding Indeed the the wage control pay debate speaker- policy. "We are never, assaults Grunwick pickets and the rapid build- hope, as a party going at of this specialised squad any time to give way to up of anti-working class thugs, the of the pressures with a vigorous hanging and flogging defence of the police, brigade.' boasting Labour's achievement in supporting So said leading 'left. Eric them. Heffer summing up for "The police are subject

NEC

Tne in lavour or a to the law, " he claimed, to motion calling for barracking from consider- support to "aw and order able sections of the confer- In doing so he nailed his ence who have good reason own colours to tne mast or to know better. "beat them and the torture them" brigade Rees urged workers with complaints against the cullenly m une leadersnip of the Labour and Party police to raise them lIOl epitomised by Home Secre- through the labour move- tary Merlyn Rees who had spoken vigorously in "independent procedures" sup- port of the resolution earlier down by. the 3210 in the debate. ment. Rees. He also by implication wio las master- minded

SPG

brutal engaged in a defence of the une Callaghan Far drawing from strength from this situation, wingers stood baCK meekly wnue callaghan attempted his

ICOLUIC

When WSL lobbyers next day demanded thatlett MP Skinner put Denis forward Callaghan, and all fight for his removal, Skinner offered in reply was speculation as to whether he had managed secure place on the Party's NEC "I tried, and I think I've lost " he declared. deliber.

ately evading any assess- situation ment or ine new opened up by the defeat of the Phase 4 policy. In tact he had not lost. Constituency parties clearly that Skinner Tell 010 genuine left- represent a wing alternative to 'moder- Ashley Jack and due 'left' talker lan velerall Mikardo, who had backed right wing line on reseechor yes 261,000 votes were cast for Skinner and 274,000 for of so-called 'Prevention Terrorism' Act, the torture of suspected anti-imperialist detainees and the savage ill.

of republican Treatmenl prisoners at the Long kesh concentration camp years reand who TOr tWO have been fighting for the restoration Prisoner of ot from Wat stripped Salus them by Labour leaders. Spelling out the national arrogance and contemptible support for imperialism that has characterised successive Labour Rees governments his face against the struggle for centuRes-old Irish liberation, declaring: not recognise and murder, polltical should any demo- neither cratic socialist." should Last fellow Tribunite Neil Kinnock, of whom

•DOM

secured selection to the

NEC

for the first time. that all sevel constituency members on 'lefts of But while the form words used by the 'lefts" is different certainly from those of Callaghan and Healey, the only that way this 'swing to the left' can mean anything is if Skinner, Kinnock and the other self- styled socialists now launch within : the campaign Labour Party the tor removal of the Callaghan- Healey leadership. The conference has proved that these Tories within the Labour Party can be defeated. But it has also proved the of re elance enemies to un e supposed complete the job. In demanding they put some of their 'left' talk into practice real fight the Party, Labour willi Labour activists will be able test out where these Tribunites really stand. doing so, many will COme O construct an alternative principled revolutionary leadership the labour in movement if the right wing and fake 'lefts' are to be defeated. think that Rees or any other the Callaghan member of cabinet was about to listen to opposing views on this, carried" by even if confer- ence, he went on to disabuse them. "We have the sibility. As long am Home Secretary I will carry it out," he shouted, to loud • from right delegates. Despite legițimate com- plaints from a number delegates that ce monon would have more (peen appropriate for a Tory con- terence even for the National Front, it attracted substantial block vote back- ing rom trade union dele.

gations and was carried by a 2-l majority. Page 5

LABOUR

PARTY

OFFICIAL SECRETS-

COVER-UP

Diplomatically avoiding reference the ally Aubrey-Berry-Campbell "Secrets" trial now restarted in London, the Labour conference hypocritical unanimous vote for the urgent introduction of a Freedom of Informa- tion Act. Eric Heffer, speaking for the

NEC,

made a pathetic plea to Home secretary Rees to ensure that such an Act was legislated the next session ment Rees, of course, has distin- with the increased prospect of guished himself jail sentences for the defendants • Ine lasT by rejecting when the inevitable guilty session brazenly Labour's manifesto pledge verdicts are returned the Official repeal Secrets The Labour and trade unio must take up the brougning recaroless movement ABC case where the conference against journalists Aubrey dropped it-fighting Campbelt and tormet soldie aroppine or dit chardes. ane the immediate repeal of the Official Join berry Secrets Act. I hat trial has now reopened Reselection vote DEO. Taurence Soarham, IT fiasco The long-running struggle make MPs accountable to the consti- tuency parties that put them in office was sabo taged by Hugh Scanlon on Tuesday. He defied his union mandate and witheld the AUEW block Nobody

OUT

simoletor vote crucial vote-and would believe that Scanion - who cut his bureaucratic teeth midue d mistake. conterenct orae _oapers- was really confused by the Fascists- proceedings, or that he was in dismayed wher the vvdy chairman Joan conteranci in police Lestor, refused to take the vote duain Scanlon knew full well that the

AUEW

vote would have tipped the balance in tavour oi IT IS UNACCEPTABLE to see _oroposa TOl automatic the National Front protected by reselection of Labour candidates phalanxes of police when ther constituencies march Inrovon the streets dec election it was lared Renee Short on behalf of was defeated by a resolution the NEC. mere 394,000 votes. Winding up the debate Instead cosmetic

NEC

lace reiduons. she went on: proposa virtually rubbe "Neither is it acceptable that the police should be infiltratad with routine 'vote corridence was carried oval.

Though she also called for majority. Home Secretary Rees to take Under recom - tne audinist mendation, reselectior she went on to sucessfully urge proceedings would only take the conference to reject a mot place if the MP or candidate in which recognised the riahi question talleo to ootain a vote immigrant communities of confidence. organise their own self-defence The Labour conference's times of racist violence and three yeal rule now ensure dorice narassment that this question will remain a The defeated motion had dead duck until into the 1980s also correctly At least by condemned that time old age immoration ACts ano the se should have disposed of Scanlor ect Committee Report on Imm to reselection, as an obstacle igration which Labour MP: forcing Terry successor had co-signed a series of viciou: Duffy to think of a rather more raCIST bolIcies original excuse.

NATIONALISE

Page 6 By Ken Williams Since 1948 and the beginning of the NHS there have been massive advances in pharma- cology, the study of drug action in animals and humans, and resultant developments in pharmaceutics, the technology of drug production. By 1969 it has been Sir exam ared Dunlop, the chairman Medicines Commission and Committee of Safety U1. Medicines) that 957 of all the drugs 1n both hospitals and general beer practice introduced in the preceed- ing 20 years since 1949. With the capitalist mode of production and the patent laws, this has meant that all new drugs have appeared under a manufac- turer's brand name. Branded name When prescription written, drugs are described either by their approved (or proper pharmaceutical name or by their branded (or drug company trade mark) name. The chemist is bound to dispense the cheapest avail- able alternative or substitue when the approved name is given. But if the branded name is given on the prescription, then that drug and only that drug may be dispensed. The prescription is then DHSS pricing sent to the office the chemist anu paid according to the price negotiated with the supplier. Chemists their at an agreed whole-

SLOCKS

sale price. Predominance Since there is a predom- inance of branded drugs on prescription chemists do not have cheaper always alternatives so that up prescriptions indi- 100 OI cating the approved are filled with the expensive branded Dalculcu tive that the prescriber may have been trying to avoid.

All doctors and hospital workers are trained to use approved makes for unnecessary extra hospital Wolk branded learn alternatives. Patent rights generally last a period of :15

THE DRUG

MONOPOLIES

Table 2. Overall sales growth-£m.

General Medical Hospital pharmacies Not on NHS Prescription Total sales effectively NHS to ransom during this hold /period and any until patent competition rights lapse. 1965 the drug industry whole was scrutinised by the Sainsbury Committee, 964-66 commissioned by the Labour Kenneth coverment wner Minister of Robinson was healin The fin dings were that the pharmaceutical industry Britain employed about 70,000 workers with a value of total output set at £250 million; this figure included non-prescription items that could then be bought at the chemist. Lucrative market This lucrative market was shared out between 50-60 ranging from

THIRS

like

ICI

Beechams giants and Glaxo smaller firms, very much the orten stuffs and chemical dye fertiliser industries; most of the middle ground was, and still occupied by the subsidiaries toreign owned companies. 1965 the market in Britain divided as in Fig. 1. The way that the size of the has grown is market indicated in table 2. It can be seen from table that no section capitalists were doing badly and that the British section of exploitation of its work- force between the years 1961 and 1965. Many stages The profits earned in this foreign owned country subsidiaries has fallen in this period; this is explained as in the case of all the multi- nationals by the fact that the maximum rates of profit are earned in countries with Cover and aRcierole une most favourable taxation.

Est. 1949-50 1955-56 1965-66 1977-78 35 57 150 [450] 12 25 [75] '[225] 75 ? 250 [750] There are many stages in It also to give was the production of pills, assessment of the implica- tablets, tions of nationalisation capsules and other of medicines industry through crude the under a state materials to partially board and state intervention lan finished intermediates and sections of the final product and its industry. packaging-all essential stages: Rejected Hoffmann Roche make Diazepan in Switzer- Nationalisation was land and market it in Britain rejected-on the grounds under the brand that the cartels provided an Valium, through their sub- "adequate" service to. The sidiary Roche Products Ltd.

NHS, that in general profits This is a typical example.

"fair" and that, given Fig. 1: Swiss owned 14% Other European US-owned owned 10% subsidiaries 49%. British owned 27% about ½ the world's pharmaceutical industry is US owned As a résult of a govern- certain the powers oveT the Incensing

AHLU

produlls. trading practice of Roche control of marketing and following ago, there was years selling melnoas, continued high pricing, the no danger of excessive NHS parent company repaid spending. the NHS £4-5 million on State intervention-the contract for Valium alone.

setting up of a government The Labour government drug company would in 1965 set up the Sains- have to start its research bury Committee to look and production effort from Were questions: into the Scial-was too high? Were as being far too expensive.

prices profits 'fair'? Was research "Fair" adequate? Was dunlicated? It was to look into selling No, thought the com mittee, methods, marketing, provided competi- tion was maintained advertising and the activities "fair" of drug company represen- would be no There tatives. continuing dangers. SOCIALIST PRESS, H'ednesday Il October, 1978

IVERED

CUL

NIVERS

JOBs Hospitals continue to be cut back while private drug firms The committee made a GPs, particularly, products number of recommenda- prescribe There would altering patients' treatments overall medicines commis and collecting their subjec- sion; this would operate a tive of the series of subcommittees; the effect of a new preparation - calling this a clinical trial' Committee Safety OI on Medicines (which would Drug reps used issue product licences) bribe doctors and pharma- Com- Standing Joint cists with free lunches and mittee on the classification films dinners where of proprietary preparations.

shown of the latest develop would committee technologs ments in drug approve the clinical trials of and advances in treatment.

drugs being introduced Advertising would be Continuous pressure controlled of the The DHSS. practice set by in a timid capitalists themselves (the defence of the drug budget Pharmaceutical British issues comparative price lists Association) subject equivalent drugs-while control documents recognising that doctors approved by the Medicines should have clinica Commission. "freedom' to prescribe what the And Commission they think appropriate would also monitor the Is it surprising, therefore of that methods many have their Te reseNtatives who call on GPs habits and reviewed

DHSS

departments officials when to promote companies continuous Enel suotec products. pressure from reps and The Sainsbury Commit- advertising coupled with an tee's major proposal endless tide of free hand vIlc outs? was that in the interests of "healthy competition" It and estimated that average to control prices brand £750 per year of names should be abolished GP's surgery time is and drugs only sold or taken up by drug reps promoted For 24,000 GPs the basis of that their approved or proper amounts to a current figure per year as Halles o1 tio milon one of the hidden costs of maintaining the drug com- Blockade on the back of the

NHS

This was met by a com- This article has looked in plete blockade from the detail the some into the Sainsbury Report as it witu threat their to representative of a reformist rights to profits from a new perspective for the drug supply of the NHS. during and accepted drug the period of a patent. The substitution of The Labour government cheaper drugs-which was the main object of recom never implemented the recommendation. mending the abolition of brand names by legislation - Thirteen later, years has totally failed. what sateguards do we have the exploitative against Justifiable interest in the NHS that the drug companies have been Because of the continu- able to maintain unchecked except by their ing and rapid introduction

OWI

appointed bodies? ments in their effectivenes- drugs improve- or new Very few. The Committee (bio-availability), very often on Safety of Medicines the only drug of choice is that most recently produced produces regular reports on adverse drug reactions. by a particular company's drug companies agree data sheets with the Disallowing longwinded commission and pay hand- attempts to prolong the life somely for clinical trials to of an ageing patient, be conducted on their new therefore often justifiable to the new drug. They have begun The only way therefore recently to try and persuade of controlling the price of

: in huge profits new drugs is to take their of : develooment the

COUL

of the capitalists. Established drugs proven value that continue can be sub- to be cheden equivalents may be used. pro- with capitalist duction these cheaper alter- natives often been nave produced by cut-price methods which could loophole in the market for a 'late coming entrepreneur.

In Denmark and Sweden pharmacists •have up St l and distribution of drugs because of this situation.

Canada there In, mandatory substitution; uduemdk. are banned in Pakistan: Nigeria Similarly restricts branded drugs and there is a iotal iban in Peru. Drug int rests defend brands on the basis that consistent qualit effectiveness can or : maintained win D naea ¡drugs. In the present. ingle this may be true. However, there remains the fundamental conflict tinancial between interests of the producers capitalism and the needs of patients. article can only I nIs scratch the surface of the relationship private ot the (drug companies to the NHS land the cost in terms of the health care budget. The questions raised can Table 1. Branded drugs prescribed.

Proportion of total prescriptions dispensed Total cost of prescriptions charges on borrowed money as a percentage of total sales.

All companies British owned US owned Swiss owned SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday I October, 1978 250 only be by answered workers in tne pnarmaceut ical industry, on an inter- national basis, and by health workers. The innermost workings ot the oneng mechanısms must he exposed and price fixing agreements between parent and sunsidiary com- panies investigated, together with detailed costs of production. We call for elected com- mittees of trade unionists to open the books of the pharma- capitalists in the ceutical industry, to expose these secret agreements and that the demand separate and research efforts are rational- Ised with no loss ot jobs.

under workers' control. The supply of drugs to the health service must then be agreed with elected com- workers and professionals. fighting for this control and distribution the call for the industry must be raised; and the technical skills of workers must be expanded those for necessary management that the capitalists can expro- priated and drugs produced the needs of according to. the health service. The resources liberated must be used for the proper financing and expansion of the service in the interests ot the vast majority of the population. 1949 1971 16% 80% 5% 95% Table 3. Published figures of profit before tax and interest in 1961 in 1965 19.2% 20.7% 14.4% 22.5% 24.6% 23.2% 14.9% 8.7% CP and scandal of trade with Pinochet Recent coverage in the Tory press of the increasing trade between Eastern Europe and Chile has proved an acute embarassment. to the British Communist Party. Not CP onlv has the the active amongst Chilean exiled community but it has also in. Britain consistently used talk about Chile calls preserving a left' face, while relusing to struggle the betrayals by the

TUC

and Labour Britain. previous similar Un em barassing occasions-such as the time when scab coal Pinochet from break the Asturian miners' a pariah state and it should the political and struggle against the Franco be treated as such." physical disarmament of the dictatorshin Spain. The issue is of course not and opened working. ciass "arguments" the door the one of rival to the junta. revelations Irauing links between East Germany but a point of principle in British Stalinists them- and the Greek military junta selves share the catastrophic which workers states should been be expected to take a differ- political positions argued by -CP tactics have the their ill-fated Chilean ent line from capitalist facts. brothers and sisters right up regimes. For the East European to and even after the bloody Minimise involvement events of 1973. Stalinist regimes to carry on And they are at a loss to But this case they with the Pinochet 1n trade explain why the Eastern have attempted to ride the while the workers tiger-and to divert hostility European states carry on movement internationally their deadly trade with fights for solidarity blacking away hom of East Pinochet. actions action is no than HOiC European bureaucracies. the back for the stab in Parasitic A half-page article in the •Chilean working class. Morning Star of September Why doesn't the British This can only be under- 18 entitled "Who's Trading Communist Party demand stood on the basis of seeing Chilean and Aiding Kumania and tast Germany 'the the historic process through Junta?' sets out break all links the gains minimise the level junta?

• WINCI

LN C

October 1917 revolution in involvement the Stalinist Because as Russia were limited by the deformed workers' states in party itself the British CP is emergence of parasitic this trade by comparing it in no way opposed to the bureaucracy-originally to the much higher levels of reactionary opportunist line Stalin- which bases West. Germany, the

USA

"peaceful coexistence' "peaceful itself on and Britain carried out by these bureau- It points out that China coexistence with capitalism cratic regimes the of interests has been condemned by the USSR for maintaining full Internal consumption supposedly building "social- diplomatic and commercial ism in one country of fellow Its criticisms This nationalist position relations with Chile. Stalinist leaders are strictly But also has -an outright rejection of Rumania for internal Lenin's struggle for prolet- full relations with Pinochet, consum puon- off militant anger internationalism —has while East Germany allall CP and among mem bers economic led the Kremin bureaucrats an Itals sympathisers-and not their subordinates These and mission in Santiago the least linked to the fight not been condemned, the castern European states nave for international proletarian put their narrow to own the article admits. solidarity. interests above any consid- Increased For the same reason the of the interests of eration Morning Star article accuses the world's working class.

It goes on to reveal that "US big Such

CIA

and cynicism be Ine Call over 5% of Chilean exports • for assisting the business" fought not by a few moral go to the detormed workers Pinochet coup, but platitudes in the press makes states. But it claims that this no criticisms of the criminal fellow Stalinists, but only compares with 7.02%. role the Chilean Com- by the construction of OI 1972-the last full year munist Party whose "peace- revolutionary parties before the coup. ful road to socialism" led to every country based on the However the article also Allende's involvement lessons of Trotsky's lite-long Soviet quotes ministry popular front government struggle against Stalinism spokesman who claims that 'we have trade ot ant fl l kind with Chile. If this is true. then trade with othe Eastern European countries since

HIUSI

nave increased the coup! At the end of the article Woddis, Jack of the head CP's "international" depart- "My view is that, even if such economic arguments [advantages for socialist OI capitalist countries in trade with Chile] had validity, the political advantage to Pinochet trom trade deal.

the economic advantages to other countries. CP General Secretary McLennan speaking at their last Congress "Chile under the junta is Page T Drop falling Star The Morning Star, daily the Communist paper

COT

Party of Great Britain, last month revealed that crisis is getting worse. a message from the editor Tony Chater announced that it 1s key that the orice wi nave that, well as this, creasec reroershi• needed •This is despite the fact that vast numbers of the Star go to code ano tues odde also receives considerable gov- ernment money from dover The present home circula. 21,000 daily tion copies- several uneasane lass claimed membership of the CP- and to clear up the losses Chater 9.10,000 need they says readers at 14p per copy present state of the CP this is clearly no easy task The Star's tireless support o the so-called 'left' and 'progress- forces the British with in bureaucracy vound most naked expression recently in its praise • this year's elec- TUC Congres: wonderin • WnICH described a move to the loft This opportunist orientation TIme ove TnE years led the CP into an open political alliance with the right wing of th bureaucrac do dis any opposition TOrm that offers an independent road struggle for the working class, leading Stalinists makin lIKE Levane convanor berek kobin son crucial part of ham- struggle the strinalle Phases and wage 3 Ot and of derailing control, strucele reaunadney Even unionisation • such Grunwicks, struggles Stal- Desoutters and Garners inists have Stood In • The Troni of bureaucratic sabotage and confusion Import controls And in its efforts to head off oracticalaction ac alist unam ployment, The star nas cham pioned the reactionary, . nation- alist call tot

IN DOTI

lining up with right wing IUC bureaucrats and weaker sections of the British employing class.

The Morning Star has combined this. record with complete subservience the diplomatic internationa Midd of the oeuvre: anc treachery counter-revolutionary Kremlin bureaucracy As such the paper is no more than an obstacle to the working class in in struggles and a ter militant bankrupt TrOM positions of their leadership! As Trotskyists we welcome the • stars decline. and look forward to its even- tual, inevitable, fall. By Tony Richardson

The Holocaust caused by Page 8 A Review of the four recent television films which were a fictional presentation of the Nazi annihilation of the Jews in Europe from 1933-1945 together with the novel Holocaust by Gerald Green (Corgi £1.25) on which the films were based. Also reviewed is the recently-published book The War Against the Jews 1933-45, by Lucy Davidowicz (Penguin, £1.95).

crisis-ridden• capitalism 14 million people Such reactions generate a lot Holocaust are the self-styled

BBC

Television's ot watched medi todav in britain ano a over toe makers opinion they capitalist world by those like showing of the four fiction- good But Front National who share films about the Nazi they are all largel y beside anti extermination of the Jews.

positions of the SS point protestations arrogane sparked They nave ott Repeated bourgeois good deal of controversy, both political and the christiar Inat to snow allistic, The such films was to remind people question is-what press. they should forget ettect did "Holocaust have on Bishops people's understanding • coura narory oe more discustine of events, only series a. genera- Blind eye Bishops have said it should tion old. which constitute one of the most horific episodes in never have been snown TV critics have sneered at its It reflects the fact that such The chapters "moral leaders want to turn a carly blind eve fascist violence today, just as most their did the 1930s and 1940s the Pope iner asianed Carbonda let liter anne and the Catholic clergy dione

WITH

MOST

Their sup Protestant felows either silent about the atrocities of tascism Responsibility Where Holocaust is to be seriously criticised, however, Inat svstematicalv Tans show the full extent of the responsibility for the atrocities it desertoes instance, only the Catholic priest in the story is an atypical one who was eliminated une naz autor ties tor nis open protests about their policies. Nor than inere more reference to the fact _ oassing that the imperialist nations and Stalin silently collaborated witt the killing of the Jews. They restricted immigration; they failed to publicise the facts that thev knew cooth the imes and the BBC for example had information the 'final about they neve revea ed, Canc thev made political accomodation to Hitler and fascism of name in the stark example of which was the 1939 Stalin-Hitler.pact. Limitation This failure is linked to a general more limitation perspec Holocaust s political irves Its story is presented simply as the Nazis-or even 'Germans -deainst me Jews overall goals ot vaz reaction-of which the black "final of Jewish solution was a leniell but still a part-is hidden.

authors •of Holocaust can attribute Nazi racism to no more than collective cruelty and delusion and the desperate ettort of a capitalis class threatened with economic to split the working class and destroy or callis ations. So the relationship between the genocide of and the Jews tne reoression ot ine wor kina class and the mass murder of its leaders and militants is avoided As a result although the sub title of "It must SOCIALIST PRESS. Wednesday l1 October. 19-9

IN REVIEW

never naopen adain. ine autno makes it difficult to see any link between the events of Holocaust and the • ot brick LaTe men mmons or viewers whil have made the connection them.

selves. This political narrowness vision, the inability to see the racism and dimension is retlected in Gerald Green's one dimensional Jewish characters Jews-predominant- Green's the weiss tamiv-are morally by calling they are liberal professionals (Weiss is bering. Thel son. artistically are talenter gins some and in an e in love with are- girls they almost Nd: sdy self-sacri- course -innocent ficing and beautiful They resist with great valou SUTTer WItn dignity would wrong demand trom a popular novel o TV film a fully rounded picture either of the characters or of cast european Jewish society during the Holocaust Distorted But its special kind ot ideai ism, definitely distorts the im. pression of the events which IetT WiTH Ine viewer reader of Green's novel The Holocaust is converted from a political event ourev moral • question or evil Germans (with few excep- 'innocent' dna universally good Jews (with no The reality was, of course, immense v more comolex And Green has not only per- formed oversimplifica many Lions out ne ways guilty of historical falsific- ation This is at its most extreme ir the case of the Warsaw ghetto to which Dr. and Mrs. Weiss are transported Agents The inhabitants of Green's fictional Warsaw ghetto are all ano sutterer. until they decide, almost unan- imously resist Nazis rrom this picture it would aming sibegine that Nazi among Jew. had paid Gestapc dutmorities agents that the ghetto vva administered by wich Dr. Weiss in the tictiona version is a member) which, Victims of Nazi barbarism in the Warsaw Ghetto al bel cunce ever! Kina' o' atrocious threat, generally administered ghetto accordance with the demands oi ine wazis Conciliatory Inis system, common to all the East European ghettos, was in a willing sense with the Nazis But did represent the conciliatory which cominated the Jewish oglitica leadership throughout most of the period of the Holocaust.

That is not to say that earlier organised resistance would have certainly been successtu buT wha certair years of conciliation meant that when resistance developed, , as 11 ghetto UDrISINC inevitably hopeless-even incredibly heroic resistance in ine warsaw onetto did not necome widespread official (the Judenrat), which controlled a vast bureaucracy and had become corrupt as well as conciliatory, lost its political readersnio in une onetto The new leaders were an alliance of Labour Zionists, the Communis Jewish buna. Party other traditional and organisations of Jewish labour and of the left. versior aomits scarcely any conflict of this kind in the Jewish. community The ditterence exist in his version are between Zionists representing the heroes Zionists who resisted. Both the book and, more emphatically the film point the Zionism toward: red answer to the Holocaust never happening again. And the historical record is this conclusion. Fortunately the same time the publication anic snowind ot nolocaust canotne book has been published which the provides most accessible detaneo nistorical account the terrible events so far published "Final solution" This is The War Against the Jews: 1933-45 by Lucy Dawidowicz (Penguin, £1.95) Ine tirst part of the book is about the origins and course of.

Nazi to linal solution probiem And the second document

The 'Emigrants' who

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NLF?

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 October, 1978 Hitler For that; readers must turn great detail the reaction this programme of genocide by Trotsky's struggle its victims. Fascism in Germany But Dawidowicz's book is an excellent Source book alic inoisensaole this source the detaris most horrific episode of modern This book WaS published history three years ago in the USA and it flustrates the era trutr seems fairly Clear that Gerald of the stark alternative-social- Green major ism faces historical source book. mankind at a moment or acute This accounts for the general capitalist CrisIs accuracy of Green's narrative as Partial awareness as ine order ot the main events is concerned. But it makes his falsification The National Front and other similar organisations now Jewish community unreaten une wore with a new forgiveable, since one of the holocalist manv virtues of Dawidowicz's For book is its open treatment of artistic taults the book and the this question tilms ot Holocaust nave done something to convey Ano IT Is a QuestIon whiCH to a mass those who want to convert the audience the inevitable. conse whol historical record into quence ot a tascist victory either Zionist That partial awareness must simple moral issue would dearly be used Ine like to forget. struddle to moolise the inceben dent organised strength of the Excellent scarce whole labour movement to fight lo revent anomer nolocaust.

Dawidowicz's hitory is not in itself much cessiul Than Green s novel • T TItTIno Ine By Bob Sutcliffe genocide into the broader Nazi political apitalism in its epoch of decay Kremlin class collaboration held back Vietnam victory A pock-marked, poison- bombs dropped, some of the ed, defoliated rubble-strewn untold atrocities carefully kept wildnerness is all that of the

VUL

caoltalist oress. The of undergone by the much nare chies liberation by and the Vietnam three years after civilian South the might of American were brought vetnam imperialism was defeated by together last Tuesday by Pilger the 20 year struggle of the

ITV

powerful worker and peasant masses.

trat exposed barbarity imperialism

TUNI

ot The figures for numbers of under seige. By Ian Swindale Pirate Jenny are currently touring the country with their latest production 'Emigrants'. The play, written by Dublin-born Peter Sheridan, deals with the light of the Irish in the first peasantry half of the nineteenth cen- tury The first Act of the play graphically polliays, through the fate of one family, the ruthless exploit- ation of the Irish peasantry by English landowners. "Good" years The effects of the anar- chic the workles capitalist mean for system this family that, in "good" years, they are unable to sell their crop at an economic price, and face the choice of starving living on the put pay rent. bad years of famine they face the fate of those thousands thousands upon of peasants who starved to death The response of the hus- foot on their estates. band is to bow and scrape But the peasantry histor- English landlord. in the hope that ically has been unable to go the family this will avoid eviction beyond ruumentar The wife on the other resistance and organise as a class hand is completely contem- and their inability te ptuous of the landlord and do so in the case of the Irish his son, 'the half-sir" peasantry resulted in attempts to find individual Misplaced solutions to the unbearable they faced roI And, of course, any hope many this meant emigration that the landlord to Britain. wil but their plight before his profit The second Act, with a is totally misplaced touch of irony is set on the The response of some of the of London- the peasants is to fight back Holyhead Here railway. against their oppression.

navvies are employed

ITSO

Families who the line move into building rail way the of evicted that will British Tacliltate tenants have their imperialist domination over crops absentee ourned and une Te and landlords face the threat of The determination of the assassination should they set contractor to make as much Vietnamese US estimater killed in the struggle vary from • In Just the same way todas two to the Stalinists are acting to hold mere back the Zimbabwe war of liber.

deatus amounted wach. iven • rOoer 8rms Pilger's report, showing the and equipment, could have been use of napalm against civilians, won by now. •the lethal Some oT anti-personnel bombs • dropped indiscriminately But with the revolutionary the conscious use of poisons to kill Vietnamese unbroken, masses plant life and continued betrayals deform unborn these why the •ave an reServe casualties should be so uneven.

either US rule or the absurd and But it did not seriously begin corrupt puppet regime to probe the installed in the South after the why was it that the cuestion: U witnerawal

NLF

liberation The internal problems of US which unprotected con- capitalism-in mounting tinual bombing raids, helicopter BconomiC CrIss gunships and jet fighters?

and internationally combined How was it that US with a growing anti-war move. The imperialists un WErE ment ana ww weredsire astdo ility the Nixon regime questionea control ot the skies within itself-sternamed the hand of against supposedly Vietnamese backed hilt the treedom Stalinist Moscow bureaucracy?

TO NORS

The answer • obviously holds But, the Thieu puppet regime and its mercenary army implications liberation many other began Struceter to crumble in tront 01 countries. continued guerrilla assaults, the Stalinist Stalinist strategy leadership Hanoi 'peaceful with coexistence sant in regulat army torces to imperialism that spearhead the final assault on heroic Vietnamese struggle was Saigon and to assume control of deliberately Starved or arms si

LITE

that it could be used for nearly Pilger's report referred only 20 years as little more than a fleetingly to the dis apparent their of the a carace Nur. "Viet Cong', whose heroic and diplomatic manoeuvres with the could not escape profit as possible results in appalling safety standards, the sale of alcohol to men work and the open of robbery the navvies through the company shops.

Chartists On top of this the Irish navvies face the racialist English taunts of workers and used by the to force down emplovers wage rates. The of the Iwoulse workers from varies individual acts of terrorism -blowing up the first train to run on the line-to the petitioning 01 Parliament. support for the Chartists, and attempts to organise a union. self-sacrificing 20-year struggle- much of it often conducted in astounding 2.000 mile net and under- WOrK wunnels ground stores-made the final victory possible He did • polnt out nowever that the only flag now flying in the south was the Hanoi flag.

The Stalinism Gian The regime demonstrated much more starkly in this than yune understandable retribution it has sought from the one-time paid killers of Thieu's puppet army, whom Pilger sympathetic- ally pictured undergoing 'correc tion' in labour camps. Main fear For the Stalinist bureaucracy -whether it be that of Com- munist Parties with state power in Moscow. Peking whether it be that of the CPs in France Britain-the main tear is the revolutionary mobilisation the working class Such shatter the delicate balance of class forces which their political mater a rest, and Dureaucratic privilege raise the prospect in the workers states of • a political revolutior oust them altogether. The NLF as a popular move- ment based on the masses of Page 9 The author clearly restricts himself to portray- ing conditions facing Irish workers and peasants the nineteenth century the problems involved and fighting the employers rather than using the charac- map out the neces- ters to sary political strategy for the fight against capitalism.

But coinciding as it does with the tenth anniversary of the renewed struggle Ireland for self-determination of the people and the military intervention of British imperialism to defeat that struggle, the play serves as a useful reminder of an earlier period of imperialist exploitation of the Irish people. 'Do You Remember Vietnam?

- ITV, Tuesday, October 3.

South Vietnam has therefore been but completely super- all seded military-bureau machinery wheeled CraTIc from Hanoi And the gains of the Viet.

now names VICTor increasingly prostituted by the diplomatic manoeuvres Stalinist Hanoi bureaucracy now onergetically seeking its own ¡'peaceful coexistence' with thi Bachoary capitalist regimes of S.E. Asia at the expense of anti.

forces fighting there Meanwhile, part of the still of the Moscow Stalinists the unitied Vietnam how Taces the starvation as norrors attempts to reconstruct its econ- omy while denied serious econ- omic or technological assistance from the bureaucrats that previously denied it arms.

The vietnamese revolution was certainly not, as Pilger suggests fought 'for notning • but there is still a fight carried out-against Stalinism, and for the of a conscious

LIOT

Vietnam lege erson throughout deformed rober states of Europe Crad By John Lister

rage 10

INDUSTRIAL

Beware of Fisher's latest 'campaign' The campaign the 5% limit that low pay now gaining momentum amongst ture, authority and health collaboration workers in the London area.

orTicials, drop manning lovels, The campaign, launched by has the meant the leadersnip and patronised parably the Tow and mins other unions scion for pater to industra sections WItH mom dors sector) has as its central de- mands are a f60 a week mini- standards and work conditions that has made and a 35-hour mum basic wadd of council and health week. Several union resolVe taк8 against the the London following the lead given by Ford sumport of the workols. These moves are obviously Not inspiration ОЛВ reaction that is growing in the working class against a further round of by Fisher ward restralut sector workers have tive, the been particularly hard hit by the itself is an embellishment to this attacks living

VICIOUS

multaney and social services working class, affecting only the rancards launched by the Wilson and specific form Callaghan administrations over Phase adams being Initial They are amongst the most of the labour exploited section observations. Torce. many naall workers and council workers earning a basic delegate conference held in July in the region £37-£40 partly to launch wage a week-one reason for opposing the whole of the

WSLI

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 International, the World Party of Socialist Revolution, 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.

The Workers Socialist League puts programme to defend the interests of the working class today against the attacks of capitalism in crisis.

of the programme is the independent political mobilisa: tion of the. working class towards 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- Trotskyism Today Theoretica Journal of th Theoretical Journal of the Containing 'The Poisoned Well' document which dissects the rotten bioc of factions which has now come form the majority leadership of the 'United' Secretariat of the Fourth International.

* WSL British Perspectives * The Spartacist School of Invention * Turkey: the background to today's crisis Trotskyism Today No 3, 60p plus 20p p&p from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 IHR.

NEWS

would give attacking

NUPE

spent the executive members present- Also, cuts in public expendi- oVar handling with willing ethnal Green Hospital occupa from tion and a dispute at the West nave torced a drastic London hospital-leaving onl which five minutes at the end to dis- of cuss low pay! At a march and rally a fort- ending in night Victora private industry. only forty Park East London, workers turned us hear those well-known working militant sections class heroes Fir L, Jam Alan and •workers Dromey Arthur strike action of the Suad proposed 5% limit campaign. Finally, at a 'street rally' in Camden Islington TaST loca saturday a00U workers watched NUPE regional Mike Taylor warn Despite the impression given shoppers-whe Seemed and the NUPE execu unimpressed-that there Tairly 'Low Pay Campaign' be strike action this winter may The reason for the low turn.

out at these events-attracting the struggle only the mallarl determined inspiration directly linked to the treacher.

This is borne out by several ous record of the NUPE leader ship over the past three vears years workers Ala Nure Loncon Division struck for s or day and turned out in tens thousands campaign, against the cuts organ. meetine was march ing class and endanger the gains that have been made.

to expose at every step the misleaders of the working class: the Labour and trade union leaders (both 'right and left'), the Communist Party Stalinists (both 'Eurocom munist and "pro-Moscow'), nationalists who derail anti-imperialist struggles in the forward underdeveloped countries and those groupings which pay The aim lip service to Trotskyism whilst rejecting its basic methods and programme. overthrow of find a road standards, unemployment, denial of basic rights, colonial repression as in Ireland, and the threats of fascism and war. 'Communists' Against - the WSL Revolution together to Essential reading attempting to reach a scientific under- standing of the contradictory role of post-war Stalinism. Contains Tim known ilation. Available from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5

LU I

ARMS

FIGHT FHE CUTS

Ised by NUPE But with no official lead in there fight the stop any • desoite : whole series of similar 'protest restraint. the cuts are intensifying events, However, if public ratner. unan lessening More recently, during last year's through pay negotiations, Fishe made the most eloquent verba on Phase 4 alongside the striking attacks on restraint supporting NUPE's 30% claim- Ford workers only to turn arouno ano ensure that the various sections the demands, NUPE settled one by one within and militants the 10% limit. soctor must force need eronic i nare was no attamor ov the leadership to bring together the specific proposals and with action. striking firemen That coule nave oroken rnase s So now, when Fisher repeats the same speeches, waving his Although all alms. Croakine Cant maranouine his way through the Labour be supported Party Conferenc and the Its now important mat resolu spaces of Victoria Parl tions continue not believe workers Simov do that he has the political ability united intention of doing any- or ine thing about low pay They see the noisy proclama- lost cous one Dromey and are linked to a demand that the jetT-rIsnar leadership soever their fight for nite strike ana workine conal •ЛОТ met

IRKERS

MALIST LEACIN

The fight for socialism is impossible without the fight the bourgeois petty Socialist League. Name Only through such a struggle can the working class Address. out of the capitalist crisis-falling living Red Youth Ion pages 01.75 plus When the Carnival 20p p&p is over... for anyone Wohlforth's little- 'Theory of Structural Assin- SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 Ocrober, 1978 vule

CAUSE

CASUALTIES

PiLL Any A nol Fisher (centre) heading up a previous ill-fated campaign tions: and this is at a time when danger that the bureaucracy will growing massive OnCe • mort

SABOTAGE

which they have no real interest determination to smasn torowon form of Government wage in winning. resolution along these lines nas been passed overwhe workers are to win their struggle mingly Carder General for decent wages, it will only be Branch

NUPE

(containing 2,000 authority

LOH

0V81 Campaign' into an all-out attack workers) or aional man of UPE demanding call for allout indefinite strike Despite the inadequacies of revolutionaries final negotiating date section) demand is not the to turn their vague threats into Similar resolutions should be passed in all the various sections for strike of NUPE, TGWU and GMWU. There is no doubt that pub Unconditional lic sector workers • prepared • follow the lead given by the Ford strikers in the tight agains wate clalm. that breach the 5% limit should wage restraint-and this despite rather than unconditionally, because of and its [U8) owr escarsoli passed dismal record of betrayals.

supporting the £60 claim, as it is But if the struggle is to be then this same leadershit action inal thi should not •be by-passed sections ot tne public most chance ignored but forced to lead an all out strike with the full back ing and resources of the unions uness Inese resoutions this way the Low Pay a date for indefi Che spear must turnec I into action in the claim of the fiaht to Socarutde break Phase 4 there is. a bi

• VIRARE

ThERES

WORKERS

TSACKLIST LEACH!

NOW/ TH

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 Send to: WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

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Sted Towit with issue no. larger format, aloes go for articles and more room for lay out and design.

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 October, 1978 Region 5 witch-hunters start intimidation' scare Following the pattern set Regional F&GP plus the committee will suffer some by their trumped up charges penalty Lister oricia-were able to TOrM hear the evidence submitted.

quence. against the Cowley 9, the But decisions • Members who provide will be taken TGWU Region 5 Committee •v tne bedona committee or The commitee witn any nolo last week launched a full- the basis of its findings-with ful information about this aspect are therefore performing scale witch-hunting individuals being subject "inquiry" aimed at militant disciplinary action, naving had a necessary auty, the end result opportunity defend of which will hopefully bring stewards the export themselves. about an the improvement effectiveness of union Packing Services plant at Banbury. Supporters make it We also wish the Regional Com- clear stewaros Incluele Tormer will Despite this careful set up convenor Colin Carty are being countenance the ine kangaroo court was plain/y cocated disturbed by the that the impede members the have led in the struggles they tooting Those who in Committee. act articular Ene Vve19111 week strike in the plant against accordanct WiLl Phase 3. came from supporters the rules and constitution will get every support the previous leadership Com- 'The inquiry was given tull EPS management, tacilities ov

DIO

orovoKe ols• It is unte committee s and was held on the site over gruntled right wingers into duty, 'however to ensure that action, next day the two days Com- circulated the most extraordin.

it is and AS It ovened. su workers observou struck in protest at the way in ary letter around the site hear.

mittee s intention to carry out he signature of the Regional this function. which the inquiry was set up.

Not content with suggesting No charges that members on the olant may nis set that have been "persuaded" to Impression some kind ot No charges complaints mafia was remain: committee have yet been made against any went on to make the astonishing 7 ne named individual. incuiry I ne committee are interence Inev themselves disturbed to learn that a rumour had been way merely set itselt up to listen from anyone who is being circulated amongst the threatened cared to give it. Committee has no melbos unal members who appear before the Intention oT being intimidatec EPS workers during their strike against Phase 3 Mathers kills conference

SANDERSONS

The Sandersons strike 500 local authority and the SWP and the IMG argued committee have called other workers attended that it was necessarv to torm a National Day of 'rank and file committee' trade union rally at Digbeth coordinate Action on October 27 against Civil Hall in Birmingham on rnase d to bring in order this Saturday. 18-month long dispute Pat Sikorski The was moved by chaired Brian Mathers, TGWU Region !

COHSE.

Mathers. for union recognition to •nowever. was addressed by Sid refused to accept the motion for secretary, the of attention the discussion. Tierney MP, Bob Wright AUEW, whole labour Poole move- code: ot NUPE and a a speakers caretur number of floor speakers who what the

SWP.

ment.

IMG

leaflet failed to take up- mysteriously turned out to be Socialist Press urges role of the Trade was all readers and speakers in ine struggles against There fiery Phases and wage speeches were supporters to fight for galore- -about the horrors control. delegations to this Day bem used name ne need cer workers sal wage, silence as those people who have of Action at the factory minimum week and free collective derailed all struggles against pay in Skegness. bargaining. called capitalism, a decent wage for all, A leaflet produced jointly by Part of the Cowley Assembly Plant mass meeting which voted for a f27 claim with cost of living clauses by threats of anv kind and will continue with the inquiry the interest of our Houses. With such nakedly biased, witch-hunting material being supposed "inquiry", workers need be in no doubt as to the eventual verdict. Needless say one shred of proof has been or can be notese absura undernana allegations TGWU branches must pass resolutions demanding this laresu Trame ue brought to an immediate halt.

Beware Vauxhall pay sell out After their decision call for strike not to action in the wake of management's 5% pay offer, union negotiators 26,000 Vauxhall for workers are now proceeding with talks a possible on produc- tivity deal. The danger growing Inal such a deal wul trade jobs and hard-won manning levels and working ditions for a cash settlement that will appear to have gone above the 5% Phase 4 and a 2b or even 20 hour week.

Without an understanding of the role thest 'left' phrasemongerers, danger that the struggles against Phase . 4 WIF be derailed as surely as all previous ones. The right wing on Oxford Trades Union Council suffered further set- backs the October meeting of the Trades Council. Trades Council President and anti-Trotskyist John Power was unable without a suitable replacement running Council in the ated with Power, the right wing collapsed. rIST motion from the 5/837 TGWU branch, set up in the Cowley Assembly Plant in a vain attempt to drav the 5/293 workers away trom branch and its record of prin. cipled defence of working class interests. The branch motion praised John Power for his handling of Ine rades counci ano aimeo in the vaguest of terms to win tougher measures •the Trade: against mutans ov Council. The Trades Council Exec- utive Committee Report, how- ever. correctiv arqueo that the motion as i stoodmen dedings and recommended relection Trades Endorsement by Council of the EC Report there- tore saw the motion tall.

Health service But the real setback for the ront wine came with discussior resolutions composite from the ASTMS Health Service 783

COHSE

Branch and Stewards call for Shop stewards St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, calling for health service delegate con- ference organise the defence of all accident and emergency departments in London's hospitals. • ne stewaros nave made the call as part of their programme of action to detend st. Mary's trom a management plan to run it down and close it by 1986.

Probed probing this plan, the snoD stewaros nave eiscovered that three accident and emer Workers in British Leyland and in other sections of industry may well have been con- fused last week by mis- leading reports that the British Leyland Com- bine Committee had submitted a corporation wide wage claim for BL car workers. There as much • press talk of week per claim being lodged-but the reality was very different.

There will be no national level settlement pay Leyland this: year-negotia- take place at Nons dre plant level only And only the two main Cowley plants, the Assem- bly Plant and the Body Plant, have so far submitted claims for the review. cue for November i. Page 11

SETBACK FOR

RIGHT WING

643 Branch: "The Council Trades resalves special trade •roanise a delegate conference in liaison with the Joint Trade Union the intent of organising a public meeting with particular refer- neatene• closure of Cowley Road and Longworth Hospitals. The delegate conference is to

• ISCUS!

occuo tion hospitals, liaison with the support committee and a trade union inquiry into the provisior of geriatric services in Oxford shire." Although their past record it is clear that none of the public sector union officials sent on the raee Counci intend to conduct a serious fight hospitals one of her dare o defence threatened vote against the resolution Indeed, the whole

NUPE

delegation-some wulose menders seem making use of Oxford's geriatric service in the near future-voted in tavour of the resolution this month's • Sinaly observer from the TUC (who are Kaboine eye Council at Power's invitation) to admit he would have TUC that the meeting had been a very good one. He bluntly told : was by one delegate from Branch that this was. in stark contrast to the meetings the Trades Council President took the chair emergency action gency departments in the aret down nave been

ROSAN

often due to increasingly shortages this year compared to coincides with This com. by ambulance drivers plaints that it Is increasingly ditticull find accident and emergency departments ready take urgent cases In support of their campaign the st. Mary's Hospital Defenc Committee has also organised a public meeting on Thursday 19 7.30 Octobel School the neAr hospital-where will include local MP Arthur Presiden Lathial Westminster Council, Trades John Recordon.

BL PAY FRAUD

Far from amounting to a behalf of all BI claim on workers, the Combine Cal resolution amounts to little more than an admission that claims have not been sub- mitted right wing and Stalinist-led stewards com- throughout the mulleer of Leyland's car majority The £100 per week "claim" and the calls for a 35-hour week are no more than recommendations to stewards committees which have not even yet met to consider a review now less than three weeks away! Claims Workers BL plant must ensure that their leaders tollow the example Cowley given and immediatel! submit plant

GARNERS TGWU

Demand Scargill act to kick out Mason Four people hundred through Barnsley marched last Saturday in a demon- British stration against imperialism's role in Ireland.

had been selec- Barnsley. the tod the United Troops out Movement, because it is the constituency of Roy Mason, the Labour minister centraly coonda ror ising the war being carried imperialism the out by SIX COULd The contral Theme от tne for the reton a of the demand of Mason, but removal

SUCH

Bish prison political prisoners were status vou raised. delivered the Yorkshire NUM office letter out- lining these demands and calling for withdrawal

NUM

sponsorship from Mason. United Troops Out banner the march included contingents amonast others. Provisional Sinn Fein, the workers Socials League, Big Flame,

IMG,

SWP,

ICL, RCG and Workers Power.

Demands Speaking before the march moved off, the nor reoresor tative was alone in stressing the of focussing demands on Yorkshire • mine. leader Arthur for removal Mason's union sponsorship and his replacement as Labour MP for Barnsley. heard Yorkshire miners chanting "Arthur Scargill water" during walks walking Barnsley today. He claims to be a left-winger. is in a unique position to campaign Tor Mason's removal," he said.

On the demonstration, the slogan

"NUM

alongside kick out Mason" the 30-strong

WSL

contingent kept chant of "Scargill continuous Mason-Troops Out

KICH

OUT

Now!" At the and of the march from heard Ware various irish organisations.

speech Bernard Gallagher, from 50-day hunger strike ThE Long Kesh standing against and Roy Mason in the next election This demonstration must be with followed campaign InrouGgout labour mova for and spoil inton. removal Mason. 'Lefts' Scargill LIKe Sheffied Joan Maynard a particular responsib- have backing

HITY

To owe this demand. At the same time the biggest must be

JO.SIOIO

of Solidarity with Irish PoWs, organised by the being Prisoners Aid Committee.

SOCIALIST

PRESS

OFFICIALS PUT

TO ROUT

The But though they In humiliating isolation, comestreet restaurant. mobilisation response was overwhelming.

back the TGWU Region 1 float, 500,000 Though TGWU's some sections TrOM Ine Regional officials carrying hopes London Region, the remained momentaris and followed by a handful officials that they could union Uncecided socialtsi workers divert the march away from the Party members and supporters of hangers-on, travelled followed the lead along restaurants along Northumberland were to be rudely shattered.

witn ine vast Avenue last Saturday while other contingents on the march.

the remainder of the march Decisive As these sections made their way back to spring their surprise it had been leading turned .the scabs Whitcombe As the leading contingents and headed back to the Street and on the police, who march-mainiy mobilised picket lines. ov tne workers docialist Leadue were comolete un •reeared -detected that the float had no the motley crew of right The 1,000-strong march- intention of stopping, they took left' talkers and wingers, Caled marathon unionisation strike at Stalinists that had headed the accisive action with Steak Houses-boasted unlongs marca continues in the othe hailers called on the body of the direction handful march to turn back and launch a Among them was

TGWU

banners. neariv al trom outsiot Reaional Oraaniser Les Shorter mass

DICKEL

Catering George • Otticer arners Abrahams, and Executive ber Brian Nicholson, Jack sE Region NeTT Dromey. Obstructed These bureaucrats, who have for eight months obstructed the fiaht for full-scale GWU actior

REEDE ATION

to defeat Garners boss Margolis, reaped a bitter reward for their record of sabotage and betrayal.

остевт marked crucial strengthening agave no see prone strike and gave decisive the that the trade union movement will res pond to clear lead on such Issue: A buv-strong mass picket al Whitcombe Street closed down restaurant scared the wits out OT scams wit been among the most their vicious attacks on Brighton kicks off sales campaign An initial auota of 50 copies per week for the new Brighton

WSL,

together branch of the with an extra cutor ov our ton has given 200 extra regular campaign tor reacers a code sen ouT But many other branches are beginning the •camp- only just

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE

DON'T GO INTO

aign, Walen essentid expand the work and

THERE'S NO WAY OUT

increase

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

impact of Socialist Press in the daily struggles of the work- ing class. The leading role the WSL has played in the fight at Garners ano elsewhere has to the regular coverage of key struggles and the lead offer orincipied vve workers. We appeal to all our regular Get the answers in

CIALIST

SOCIALIST

redeers lakt an extia cuty For a each week into their workpiaces clear to sell, and to assist our sales in

PRESS

PRESS

* lead in the areas fighting struggle against next tew weeks Two sales promotion posters policies to defend jobs, wage control, cuts been produced and have wages and social services and redundancies to readers tor 10p are avaliddit post and packing. Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers Lia. negisterco as a newspaper al the rost unlice.

Mass crowds close the Whitcombe Street restaurant strikers. broken las plate glass window was the picket held around to successive vicious •oice chardes before deciding disperse reassemble discretely outsIoe mne hama cer restaur. ant, which had been left almost unguarded. rouen mis secono success ful mass picket was also broken by police, it was followed by oicketino warner: restaurants until 11 p.m.-deci- mating Margolis' trade were pickets ali. arrested, most or them in Ine period after the initial police charges Vindication This whole episode stands as a complete vindication committee's consistent strike

TGWU

mass demands picketing, pari strategy needed to win the strike. It is essential to build on the gains of last Saturday in pressing

MEASUE

SOCIALIST

PRESS

DEFEND

SU TOOL MAKER

DEFEND THE

RIGHT

mir| would like to receive issues. I encore the sum Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Park Hill Dartmouth London NWS JHK A victim is bundled off Police hold pickets at bay ensure that the strike com mittee's call for TGWU action enforce secondary blacking and tor a levy to raise strike pay are implemented by the Region Committee which has incapable o completely winning this dispute. The strike committee should also insist that Shorter proceeds win, nis previous suggestion of d

TGWU

national delegate con- ference on the Garners issue, so that the widest possible section ot the union become aware o this struggle and the role played in it by union officials.

As we to press Party Workers Revolutionary paper carriedd scurrilous attack on the mass picketing-in order • to cover up the abstention from the struggle of their own -strono contin gent. We will. reply to this ir next week's Socialist Press.

Right at

WORKER

the forefront!

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SOCIALIST

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