SPD backs strike

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The Social Democrats of West Germany seem to have got the idea from somewhere that their party has become alienated from its traditional supporters.

At a special congress last week they took steps to correct this unfortunate impression.

Perhaps these reformists sus pected that workers might have become disillusioned with the SPD after experiencing years of its union-bashing and other attacks on the working-class.

Certainly prominent trade unionists featured strongly. in their list of candidates for the elections to the European parlia ment.

All were of course" leading bureaucrats, who will now be able to carry their practice of class collaboration to a new, international level along with their companions in treachery from the other states of the EEC.

Lucrative

One of these candidates, now guaranteed a lucrative seat in six months time, is Eugen Loderer, president of IG-Metall. It is his union which organises the steel-workers currently on strike in the Ruhr.

As further evidence of its sympathy for the struggles of the working class; the SPD conference passed resolutions supporting the demand for the 35-hour working week and condemning the use of lockouts.

But a move to instruct parliamentary deputies to introduce legislation banning lockouts was rejected by a large majority.

Powerless

Among their other arguments, the 'moderates' pointed out that the SPD is powerless to make such moves, locked as it is in a (thoroughly reactionary) coalition with the bourgeois liberals of the Free Democratic Helmut Schmidt and his colleagues put on a brave show in Cologne and made the best they could out of the flimsy tatters of moth-eaten, hand-medown principles which were the only costume they could borrow for the occasion.

But the audience of striking and locked-out steel workers was not noticeably moved.

After more than two weeks of the struggle negotiations are under way between the employers and union officials.

Despite fervent declarations from both sides that they cannot forsake the principles which are at stake, it is clear that they are moving towards of the dispute.

No illusions The strikers must have no illusions that Loderer and co. will stand out for their full demands this time, rather than dish up the usual compromise and sell-out.

They must demand an end to secret negotiations with the bosses, and call for the election of negotiators mandated by, and directly accountable to the strikers.

•Pressure must be renewed on the SPD to break its coalition with the bourgeoisie and impose the bart on lockouts.

At the same time the strike has to be extended to the whole steel industry, with demands on other trade unionists for effective blacking and full support for pickets.

Same problems

The steelworkers of West Germany are facing the same problems as all other workers in the steel industry internationally.

Their struggles will be aborted if they do not take up the fight to build a new leadership with policies and a revolutionary programme in opposition to the attacks of Schmidt and the betrayals of Loderer.