Socialist Press no. 133

STRIKE COMMITTEES

MUST CONTROL

STOP CALLAGHAN'S TROOPS SCABBING!

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

17, 1979 * 15p Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League No. 133 * January

SUPPLIES

Industry is grinding to a halt; panic buying is beginning each day brings news of new strikes and further lay-offs. Millions could be laid off by the end of this week. The government is in a major crisis. Once of a section of workers, the pent-up anger and again militancy determined to make up for three years of rigid wage controls, has made itself explosively felt.

This time it is the turn of the lorry drivers, who have pressured the TGWU Executive into last week's unanimous vote to declare their strike official. In giving official sanction for all-out action after rejection of a 15% pay deal, the TGWU leadership is once again stoking up the wages section of militancy that has spread like wildfire through every workers ever since the Ford workers crashed through the govern- ment's 5% limit. There is no doubt that the example of the lorry drivers action-the scorn for the employers' 5% and 15% offers; the thoroughness and tenacity of the picketing; the solidarity shown by other sections of transport drivers; and the indisputable demonstration of the poten- tial power of the working class-stands as a major motive force behind the growing moves now among public sector manual workers and nurses for all out strike action on their £60/35 hour week claim.

And it is in a bid to head off similar militancy among train drivers that and railwaymen ASLEF leader Ray Buckton a prospect of holding back ine lorry drivers is seeking a 10% produc- and determine struggles in the public sector.

tivity deal with British Rail Under the guise of ensuring than management, rather "essential sudoiles Tome issuing a principled call to Secretary Merlyn Reps chas established a network of high rail unions for the otner "Emergency P joint action on a substantial bowered regional Committees"-reminiscent General Strike-combining wage claim. the But emplovers large civil servants, police and army while and small whimper and moan at officials. impotence in the face of They the renewed carry and threat of army strikebreaking.

the orivers StrIKe, join the Tory press campaign for Power of strike against trade union neW face additional rights, workers But the power of the strike dangers within the labour move- is shown by the tact that these ment itself. are under instruc On the one hand, they face tions first of all to approach the trade union leaders who wish at local strike committees to drov all costs to preserve the reac- supplies through. Callaghan-Healey tionary nearly every instance government in otrice, ane wrie including urgent supplies. are prepared to compromise the animal teed ano meaical struggles of their are already being picket memoers todo so. through aloved control by element of Restricting pickets the strikers is an essential dever- This, too, shows the impor- opment, through which workers was nIs cancel tance recognise OT such struedles Tor unt clearly last week when TGWU Can development of their General Secretary Moss Evans Dower clas. and grips , coming that he had no objec- ability to control society.

working class, •eclared union with the inadeauacy of its old Any attempt tion to the use or army scabs, leadership. and took the first steps to officials to disband or weaken the public sector restrict the extremely effective, the operation of With these com workers (spearheaded by mittees must be resisted.

Wate largely unotticiany orcanisea

TGWU

workers in the North West) now flying pickets. many cases with the the officials have proved themselves On the other hand so incompetent at organising the take a similar scale of struggle if furious at _abour covernment strike that militant workers have they are to win their tou/so the collapse the Dav the crying week policy, is clearly prepared to use occupied DISTrICT

FOUR

link the lorry converted them into ad-hoc neea is both troops and police violence strike headquarters. drivers strike committees and against picket lines it unis overs

GIW

OFFICIAL

LINE

stewards bodies public sector of councils WITh Tull-ScalE action. Such councils of action offer of drawing means Ine DESt together on a local level dele- from all the organisa- gations. working class- of the strike committees, stewaros committees, union branches, workers councils, Trades political parties. tenants associa- tions and other working class in the fight strengthen and extend the pay strikes. Throuah councils of action pickets against military strikebreaking and joint com- mittees to control the distri- bution of essential of the running supplies emergency services can organised. With political questions orouent to ine tore ov une lory offensive against picketing Callaghan and Healey discussing measures to stem the bossi bie flow of wages struggles, councils IRAN Page 2 Jan 22: Come out and stay out! Back page PHOTO: Laurence Sparham, - provide an arena in oT action which policies can be argued out to both develop the strikes and expose the role of the Labour and trade union leaders Even now Tory politicians are declaring like Peter Walker tor suboort to cardenan agamis the present pay strikes-fearing government a Tory conditions returned uncer where it could not govern.

"Left" wing Labour MPs like Dennis skinner, who is making statements demanding Callaghan torce ine lorry bosses to pay up must be called upon to take up serious fight force Callaghan-a proven scab-out of the Labour leadership.

Political development Were such a fight to take place the Labour Party it would open up a huge political development in workers movement in which the whole question of an alternative pro- gramme capable от остепат. workers' interests could raised by revolutionaries.

But if Skinner and his lett fellows continue to shy away reveal for all o see their talil fight, will from such to otter any real challenge to the open right wing. would surprise. We have always insisted that a consistent struggle for the interests of the working class from only come Can revolutionary party aiming al the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a planned socialist economy The need for such a party now stands in front of worker Wages jobs or conditions. Workers Socialist League offers a programme and a perspective for building it.

NOBODY PLEASED BY

Page 2 Eugen Loderer When takes his in the 'European Parliament, he will certainly making speeches, fired with urgency and fervour, on the need for a 35 hour working week to destroy the evil ot unem- ployment. And every well-paid Social will loudly Democratic deputy nIs •assion dna rhetoric. With good reason.

For Loderer has record secone to none intense to this demand. As President of IG-Metall, he was the individual most respon- stole tor selline out ine strike Dy steel workers which centred on the call for a 35-hour week.

Loderer who Wvd. controle• me imitation or Int strike as employers throughout rushed to impose the industry with Ine dividing the union members.

'Victory' And end was at the Loderer who procialmed as 'victory' the deal which stated that wage categorically contracts were base• on-a 4u hour week! After a strike lasting with 57,000 Titan

SIX

weeks, members called out in tne late stages, the union's wage bargain- ing council voted to recommend employers' federation.-a 4% over 15 wage increase anna med shifts for workers over 50 and as night work. compensation labour laws West Germany 75% majority just before the union neeatu autnorisco even so 25% majority secret the compulsory IG-Metal! call eno l The suiKe! But Loderer was narrowly spared such voted to reject the deat, against 43% Wno agreed the terms of Ene result is SUCh scarcel when a massive pro- surprising, portion of the membership was iccuel i ship's willingness otter the employers any fight at all.

Was last i IG-Metall's delegate conference that the union bureaucrats were they argued defeated when against the policy of a 35 hour week. Stockpiles gone The final sell-out came just the hick time. dispute was about to take on far their importance. Micabal stockonie: Dele laulaty employers in the announced industry had already •lans tor snort time WoT Kind would Such escalation almost certainly have forced the Chancellor, social Demociate Helmut schmidt, to intervene expose supposed and the neutrality of the state in indus- trai dispules internationa character of the steel crisis has produced the same effects throughout the world. as capitalists demol lo cope with a slump in demand and a crash profitability by Ino dosine soced-up roundati- cies and plant closures. 35 hour demand In response to these attacks workers in many jobs, raised the countries nave demand tor a 3bnour week was, this situation which made fearful event the strike such stee particularly neighbouring France and Belgium. while have DUl put up concerted resistance to movement for shorter

GERMAN OFFICIAL'S

STEEL SELL-OUT

the 35-hour working week, demand by itselt is, as we have always argued •nace•vate basis for the fight of the work- destroy unem- class ployment Ine stee strike also raisec other major political issues.

strikers exoose•une cocus characte one major foundation of the supposed recovery 'economic Far from indicating a return 'industrial the of •oom steel oraer. last summer can now be seen clearly defensive of oiner capitalse: for the tiley Strike The West German 'mini- but bourgeois calms That the end of their crisis have now lost all credibility.

Support from Schmidt Far more important, though impact on was On television Heimul Schmidt himself was forced to for strikes, declare his a part of the 'democratic process', while he pleaded for a The week 8-14 Jan- uary was scheduled for a full meeting of thé International Bureau of the Organising Commit- tee for the Reconstruc- the tion of Fourth

(OCRFI)

International in Paris. The OCRFI is the inter- national grouping based on "Trotsky- the French large ist" group the OCI, leaded by Pierre Lambert. Healy was formed atter the OCI split in 1971 from the International Committee which had until then been jointly dominated by OCI and the British Socialist Labour League headed by Gerry Healy (now the Workers Revolutionary Party). One of the complaints raised at that time by the

CARTER, KREMLIN

SWING BEHIND

IRAN PUPPET

In the southern Iranian Shiraz week

CITY OT

demonstrators set fire to the headquarters of the hated secret police, SAVAK. They were showing "promise' contemo Ine the new Shan c rume Minister, Shapour Bakhtiar, that SAVAK was to be replaced by mocer security ootice The events of Shiraz also show new signs of the way Ene masses are estau lishing, their own authority in the cities of Iran Agents killed There are growing reports of

SAVAK

KnOWI agents. And in the olitieras and numerous refineries, "agreements" with reports of the bourgeois or religious oppos- ition leaders to raise output, the refusing . to al c produce more than a tractior of Iran's oil needs Despite likely approval of the Bakhtiar government by the fake "parliament" ano tne Shah's forthcoming "holiday", capitalist and.imperialist author Schmidt with Callaghan-maybe discussing Loderer transfer bid?

ity has continued to weaken. Despite the verbal and 'participation' by Bakhtiar democracy' Employers concessions made settlement. Inolo• responded by arguing nantly Locerer is worker eirector masses in the streets are their Inal Ine

JOCK OUT

supervisory board insistently contribution InIS same Mannesmann-a steel producing the Shah! process. calling "Down with Down with Bakhtiar!" TIrm i Banned But the growing disruption Both imperialism industrial peace: West Stalinism have rapidly changed of Germany must be raising many Lockouts are banned by law in France and Italy; in many in the last Week. doubts tne mines European countries bourgeoisie whether other • and his companions still Reactionary Loderer not dare capitalists ou But them against workers. retain tnis cower. The Carter West Germany they are fully Within IG Metall, opposition coministrdliol land perhaps legal under the repressive labour to the leadership has grown and has welcomed made) the hans necision laws drawn up by the imperialist conso scate• over the last vear.

leave the country and has given allies when they created the despite • fierce attempts at • full backing to Bakhtar's reac and bureaucratic suppression.

redera tionary regime as the best short.

structed The union movement Words term hope against revolution. • fascism to act as a destroyed by publicly Carter has warned for the problems of the class But

LOU

Granal milary At the special conference of working class will not be solved stage coupet to manen the SPD in December, the fiery words resolu lett Soviet Union has con. passed tions were talkers, more ally imper 35

10IUVV

support of the hour olovment will be abolished by ialists. use of and limited and condem ning in acecuate Having all last year demand for a 35-hour week.

condemned the mass upsurge as But the demand that federal proletarian Cilsis leadership demands the building ceouties take immeatate the US backing for the Shah was to ban heavily of Trotskyist revolutionary was lOCKOULS modified) discovered that in the Trans- defeated. fighting for Dally ran inere Loderer himself, as president ment for freedom, democracy largest trade working class against every form of the world's and national independence" and capitalist attack union, is not just an aspirite Moscow implicitly politician. advance tis struddles towaras lne Through the West German internațional victory of socialist packing bakatiar Both imperialist and Stalinist state's machine or maustridi Major split in OCI's 'International' from the Organising Com- OCI against Healy was his Reconstruc. mittee or tne tion of the Fourth Inter- refusal to implement demo- the national without any type centralism in Cialil of political discussion, and Lambert running of the International under the accusation Committee. Trotskyism; these methods being "provocateur guard• only are dogs of fascism" organisational questions but Statement The POR has walked above all principally out of the OCRFI with the political aspects. following declaration: Readers will be interes- The which have norms "By of the ted therefore a mandate

CLO

come to be imposed in the split last plenum of the Centra learn that major OCRFI do not permit any Committee of the Bolivian took place last week at the Trotskyist struggle genuine

POR,

we make the follow. OCRFI meeting, after which the following statement was ing declaration: For these reasons the Considering the methods issued by the Bolivian Parti this

POR

Ouvrier Revolutionnaire employed in the discussion organisation" Obrera with Politica Obrera and in

(POR);

Politica 9.1.79 this of the (Argentina) and the Comite very meeting Further details the de Liaison des Militantes International Bureau by their issues involved in this split Trotskyistes (Chile): characterised [verticalisme] emerging, and "1. The organisations verticalism unable report Politica Obrera and Liaison and the substitution of ad- are to any Committee of Chilean for formal statement on the question by the OCI leader- Militants political dis- Tratskyist the necessary cussion, totally foreign ship as we go to press. LCMTC) have been expelled SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January. 1979 Bakhtiar ¡pacers are lookine on in norror and for the moment relatively "stability" collaoses in ian Ine Us nas dismantied and removed some of its and espionag military equipment in iran and has bee giving new public displays support for King Khaled the Shah- Arabia and oduul protected Sheiks GuT tremble before the rise of the Iranian masses while oower continues shift towards the Iranian and students peasants the constructen ta thou a revolu- construction the consequence absence of a revolutionary pro- and leadership become rapidly more apparent as the would-be bourgeols ano religious leaders of the oppos- ition to the Shah prepare to try to divert and usurp the power o the masses to prevent it from Iran. destroyle capitalsl Carter with Khaled The Ayatollah Khomeini has secret) appointed (StI "Islamic government" of which he would not be a member but tne main power in im DaCK ground. He has hinted that he will next 'return to Iran within the tew days, probably intending t with the departure of the Shah the same une bourgeois National Front leader declared himself Sanjabi has ready • first post Shah government divisions among the both ••portunIs miseduel: emphasise the need and create he opportunity for the building of a revolutionary leadership.

Such a partv must be basec full democratic rif des, ands fes democratic rights, the des- tyranny ot the shah's Tructon and the dissolution or mis armed and secret police, the formation of workers, peasants sudents do anton sorters committees which could form of workers' and basis •ene covered And in the imperialist coun tries like Britain the fight must De steobee uo or union-orgall ised blacking of arms and other supplies to the dictatorship. which is The Shah's army undoubted preparing political coup and a bloodbath still nght moment, physica will L11E means to carry it out by the US and by Labour traitors Helmut Schmidt Europe like Callagnan owen Mullev, and Judd They should be thrown out of office.

Kampuchea conflicts delight imperialists SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979

- INTERNATIONAL

At the end of Decem- ber 'the Pol Pot regime Kampuchea in (Cambodia) permitted something which had not happened for nine years. of foreign party capitalists tourists-mostly Thailand and a few Irom journalists-were for 4s minutes to visit tne ancient world-lamous temples of Angkor-Vat. The tour was a conscious.

concession ary Thai dictatorship from Pot hoped for whom Pol against material support Vietnam's expansionism. This late. was loe visit to Angkor-Vat was the In spite last. hypocritical The lightning invasion- Czechoslovak by the Vietnamese army this would be and the scarcely more than Kampuchea's symbolic forces of the affairs", China Hanoi-sponsored support of the imperialists Kampuchean United Front and the debate went ahead.

for National Salvation The Soviet (KUFNS)-had already begun. ment of the debate until a Occupied Terresentave United puchean And within a week the National ancient temples along with the whole This, too. virtually by the China-US-Britain axis occupied Kampuchea waN Vietnamese troops in a and left the by Kremlin- Soviet diplomats with a veto full-blooded of backed invasion. any lesolution only, and somewhat humil- The Pol Pot government iating, way out. and forces appear to nave completely collapsed. Transparent with The vice-president, and Chinese diplomats technical assistants, Were ialists is transparent. They Thai in for the voted helicopters and then put on planes to Peking. take place let The fate of Pol Pot him- back states draw blood from each self remains unknown. One other. of the numerous rumours But circulating in the last week suggested he was cracies comes another that he was defence of the historic gains Washington! What now seems almost imperialism. the Peking certain 1s inal Kremlin bureaucracy intends to limit The its immediate reactions to a verbal serious set-back to political and harmless indignation 1LS South-East United ranting in of expense Nations. Comic opera to tne recent ties between China and In the first days of the imperialists. invasion the Peking regime seized some disputed islands bureaucracy close to Vietnam and since the has reportedly agallisi then Kampuchea the massed its troops Moscow border. But the main theatre of ition to shifted has 11S number of 12,000 miles away the to relating UN Security Council in New dence York, the world centre of bureaucracies political comic opera. Kremlin leadership. the Chinese There Stalinist bureaucrats with their long-time protegee, the hysterical Prince now Sihanouk. been lave their exploiting growing alliance with the imperialists to inflict some public diplo- defeats the matic Stalinist Russian bureau- crats. Debate China proposed Security Council debate on "unprovoked the of the aggression" which Vietnamese, could speak for Sihanouk Cambodian regime the had which a week belore released him trom Hua dancing in Rumania detention. ASEAN heads of state in conference Nonetheless, the Soviet- of vehement Soviet and Vietnamese success in Kampuchea is already being.

protests that the Chinese exploited by its "internal bureaucracy to boost for unprincipled search got the allies among the reactionary the anti-com- regimes Association of munist Wak Nations East Asian to demand postpone-

(ASEAN).

the Kam- of Front for could •alvallull was relected spluttering their In mid-December one of the many bizarre rumours The tactic of the imper- circulating in Buenos Aires of was that train loads contest . to coffins being empty were and then stood sent to the southern part of the workers' the country. were presumed to bel They the self-interest of for the dead of what was then the expected war between the these two parasitic bureau- Chilean the militarv dictatorsnIos Last week both sides signed of the working class against a declaration committing them- selves to setting ine issue peace- be fully. fairly confident that it has What is the issue? It revolves been successful in extending around ine two, countries val in claims to the possession of three influence small islands Asia at the which separates channe Peking and south american mainlano trom making a decisive response Tierra del Guego islands cementle The no the but themselves Importance they would be used as a bench- mark the division The Romanian Stalinist the between waters countries. of invasion the by pro- Oil exploration Vietnamese-in line with its recent oppos- Moscow on That division, incidentally, other issues decides where Ocean ends and the Pacific the indepen- abstract is not that the Stalinist It which the issue r •t course. trom nearly caused war

OUT

ine consequences of the division for and fishing exploration rights. could have being forced to pass Argentina throuah Chilean waters to get access to one of its important naval bases. About a vear ago. an inter- national arbitration panel headed by British Queen, awarded the islands to Chile This was widely suspected of being a reaction to Argentina's British colony of the the alkane sianes. ano lt Wa rejected by the Videla junta in Argentina the vieeld nowe ver gul implicit support of Carter and as a result of US diplomatic rela- the tions between Pinocnet s regime Chile and the Carter admin- straton Republic of Kampuchea.

ASEAN

The Hanoi be can now accelerate its

• ASE

Indo-Chinese with Laos (which it already dominates) and Kampuchea.

This, entirely an construction, the from of possibility States Socialist China revolutionary socialist unifi- cation of all Asian countries and of the world. recent events in Indo-China has

THAILAND

the bitter contrast between nationalist the the bureaucratic all called who rule This body last and emergency meeting. Slates which potential weekend to discuss the implications of the growth the unification of Vietnamese power. strengthening of those states which could be pursued by separate regime has up in Phnom Penh an authentically revolution- veell see

KUFNS

but ary leadership. by 1t Is tne clearly a puppet of Hanoi.

has socialist, the country ALiSU been rechristened unity, Tne Miracle' intervenes to stop dictators' war •Peking which regime mediate towards • 51 wartill the butcher Tne muritary tyialtts labour movement ever since he coup of Cardinal Buenos had devised The Argentinians have also pleaded the justice their formula, of with the Peking bureau- cause cracy, but to no avail. Peking Argentina trading of of Argentinian being firmly camp in the An enormous amount of its new with territorial trade now the Kremlin, bureaucracy and CP has When the Argentiniar supported Videla's bloody anti- call involved, Videla working class dictatorship since

CISOUTE

the dav it seized power in 1976 has clearly receded. But it is not only into Buckingham Palace, the White "political miracle" the House, and the kremiln Crists has City that the alle intruded, also without losing face more recently InTO evel more holy place of the Basilica A war St. Peter's. almost complete breakown of dister st tions between the dictators in and the mobil was mid-December, isation and deployment tor wa strengthen of the two armies, Gor-or a least Earth-arried ind to nak on elected official timPope John Paul 1l, as part of their own junta. Page 3 expected •to plans for an federation however, would be Pol Pot threaten to bureaucratic cratic cliques destroy all the gains made distant workers' states by a revolutionary by the United in which they vie rivalry the of Indo- with each favours of the imperialists.

as a step towara. And then they fight out capitalists' their forums like the UN so that inter-"socialist One of the lessons of the imperialists' become the been that it highlights sport. The masses of workers rivalries of and peasants in Kampuchea and Vietnam can point the parasites the way towards destroying the workers the gigantic bureaucratic socialism by demanding the exists for immed- and mutual unconditional and of all withdrawal TaLe Vietnamese troops from Kampuchea and by building independent each area Instead of revolutionary workers and peasants' internationalist , to combat tne ruit sovIets the existing bureau- of the bureaucracy. both his rapidly increasing political rumours Videla's and Pinochet's immin- involvement, sent nis nuncio te between the catholic •ent repacement nave been temporarily scotched by the war scare and the safe deliv Like a divine Kissinger, the between: erance. shuttled Aires and Santiago until They have also tried to use complex crisis to stifle more wide- the through the spread oppositions could at least agree to negotiate propagation or natlondi ler vour and which involves some horse- Pinochet has been netogiat- the ing for support Isi dies of some maritime Caristian "corridor" to its naval base, and whom have been THIrtino with the Stalinist-dominated Popular demarking water in which disputed island would no longer doesn't seem inat much has yet come out of these talks.

Videla, however, has been more splitting successful. in an expert! Fake "revolutionaries" Without even asking for it, he was given the support of the "revolutionary" peronis guerrilla group, the Montoneros Montoneros anders end of last year that in the event of a war between Argentina anc they UnHe Videla So these fake "revolution- aries come bourgeois nationalist colours There can be only one revol- utionar boston towares Inest two military dictatorships, both tried to which have destroy the leader. onysically ship ot the working class-ln independent mobilisation of the the complete working clas overthrow of the dictatorships.

Main obstacle far from And in a war, that position settled but the possibility of war would take the • Torm OT revot- utionary defeatism and the out- Catholic newspapers hailed a dictator- ront sabotad The truth is ship's war effort by Ine work' prosaic. Both sides • were ing class on the look out tor avolding wal It is the bourgeois nationalist reformist and Stalinist leaders in would have brought - Argentina and Chile which are the grave danger of intensifying the main obstacles to the mass the internal political challenges • of this revolutionary against the two hated dictators.

policy. The menace of war, however matter generals were using the crisis to their own fragile political positions. Both of them were being subject to increasing members o from

Mason's repression Your legal rights stand in The self styled "national- ist' Fianna Fail government in the Irish 'Free State' has stepped efforts up its protect British imperialist occupation of the Six Counties. Recent weeks repeated statements by Time vinister Jackynch and Foreign Minister Michael O 'Kennedy calling on British imperialism take an tive" finding political solution. •'Kennedy' has even done further and last month tacitly defended ConCitions Tine 350 republican Kritich prisoners 'H' Block of the Long Kesh concentration camp and in Armagh jail. PoW status For over two years these refusing prisoners have been weat orIson

CIOTRIO

prison work in pursuit of their demand restoration TOr rowv status siniooed from then. by Labour minister Mason a result they remain clad Only sincre blanket. unheated, unlit cells, and sub- jected to beatings and abuse by son sleWs the struggle was simply being mend for pre paganda purposes- me went on TO succest inat the consistent, widespread reports of ill treatment systematic LOnC

AEST

risorters wett "The existing law is excessively solicitious towards accused persons". So Sir Thomas says Hetherington, Director of Prosecutions, his in Royal submission to the Commission Criminal Procedure This same Royal Com- mission has already witnessed the reactionary rantings Metropolitian Police Sir chief David McNee, demanding a whole of (Donce he admits powers, already exercise Lney illegally. Anti-picket But of course after hearing few months ago from Sir David's notorious predecessor Sir Robert Mark that the police, weighed with anti-picket GWIl and assignments escort the National Front was too busy to fight crime, it should come as no surprise to hear from a top civil the law servant tnat itself now apparently stands in the way of "justice"! from anne military repression of year the six counties of Ireland are beginning to percolate through into the British legal system. "Suspects" Hetherington focusses attention in particular on revising the law confessions extracted from "suspects" under threat or inducement. Such confessions should be ruled inadmissable only Lynch gang backs

ASACTON Срам

SUMERICK

FREE LEGAL CONTRACEPTIOW

NOW

Fighting for democratic rights under the Lynch regime- Contraception Action Programme demanding free, legal contraception now.

untrue, stating that "any Armashria charias provided evidence of ill treatment of any Muiri. provided kind" extensive documented accounts him and "pursued and who has that blanket pursued

• SUCTI

reports

OUT

past". protest is: Perhaps O'Kennedy should left them be • referred to the recent report protest against •v wo wo concressmen woten come station conditions deprived them of the ordinary described Block worse those necessities of life.". meted But of course O'Kennedy is not interesteo in ine lacts.

DUT

Or maybe he should consult .in curbing the latest republican the way of their ustice" result of, and subsequently proving confirmatory of, an otherwise inadmissible con- fession should render admissible." traditional As for the formality whereby police are obliged to caution "sus- pects" before launching into interrogation, and to cease interrogation after a suspect has been charged-these should be scrapped, he They are, in his words: "a hindrance to the interests of justice and ought to be abolished." Rees if they were of a sort "likely Clearly, then, in Hetherington's to be rendered unreliable in view, une consequence of that threat" "interests of justice are or inducement, he suggests.

identical to the interests of The the police in securing high- any confession being ruled inad- speed convictions, regardless missable under such of the rights of their hapless victim-be he bank robber, conditions bically minimal, with the scope for dope smuggler, picket, police frame-up correspond- unemploved vouth or anti- ingly increased. fascist demonstrator. Hetherington also wants view obviously offer shared by Home Secretary further pollce a encouragement to beat up Merlyn Rees, the who won "suspects" applause of the entire Tory by that: with press and the his spirited defence of the "Tacts discovered - a march last month organised by the offensive against British imper- ialism and minimising its impact on the militant workers' move ment in the Free State' An• ne anxious to drawn between : savagery Block lot ture. •ruta treatment ot brisoners of war in the 26-counties, where frame-ups, forced and wet tou. morisonment trial virtually equal the repression of police at the Labour Party conference, and who has 'McNee's proposals for increased police powers. New submission These proposals have now been extended by the new submission by Association of Chief Police Officers, who favour new powers to compel wives and husbands to testify against their partners, introducing

IRELAND

STROOPS OUT

NOW!

The nulin the Norin The Same a w or The Lynch government was years ago-the oppression of the hasty the

IRA

irish condemn people British can alcu im perlalisin seeking government unristmas-out • TOrM to cover its tracks by striking a . established the British "anti-British" oppressors let alone one set ur note. in the confines of the artificial while steering well clear ot any call for a united Ireland six county statelet- sectarian Lynch knows full well that people. CIVISIOn ane reoression the Irish working class by the Withdraw troops British military _ of occupdtion The vorth is an essential elemen' The only "political solution' in the survival of his wretched any way out bourgeois which offers that otters torture, barbarism oppres recore ares or oott to imper sion the immediate with. ialist exploiters , and record low living standards to the Irish establishment of a workers and working. farmers government which mus reply Mason's Carry

•OUL

typicalycactionary statement Irish and foreign capital and the that the language party ending of all forms of national the occupied religious and sexual oppression political "still the Counts in a united socialist irelanc retoric of 10, 5u or 100 years These latest desperate joint Lynch offered only the efforts • both Lynch and most timid opposition vasor …to contain Tne current easy Tor a person ir IRA offensive shows that they Roy Mason's but she fact is stand in mortal fear of such a criticise others, development wat te sonucans in the Nortr Now •time therefore of Ireland have no forum within for the British labour movement which overtly its voice heard, and to make represent their people Taise deliane • wouid like wa the oriTisi TOl remova government tried to establish an pro-imperialist Callaghan-Mason form govern- and gang immediate with- ment" of British i from •rawal

I TOODS

reality Ine Ireland problem in the six counties is to give their evidence last in the defence argue vast these defenders of demo. cracy. they argue, take a 'subjective view' • in defending existing rights, since they make their living from court hearings.

The police, however. we are led to believe, are com- pletely unbiased and objec.

tive in the matter! "Impartiality" similar 'laughable With which is hypocrisy typical of British bourgeois "justice' DPP Hetherington feels obliged to wind up his proposals by laying claim to "impartiality": "I believe that my inde. from political influences is a factor 01 considerable importance it confid. maintaining public ence in the fair and impartial administration of the criminal law." Clear warning As an integral part of the state machinery the ruling capitalist class Hetherington Police-encouraged to beat up suspects no more politically "impartial" than the "right of appeal" for the the leader of the capitalists' prosecution if a defendant is main political party, acquitted, and stringent Margaret Thatcher police checks on jurors to exclude These pronounced new criminal convictions. moves to the right by the clear The size of jury majority spell Sualt worker secure warning every and youth: if a fight is not should reduced, the ACPO continues. taken up now against the nght wing Labour govern- should ment and for the overthrow attentios ispitalism, then even rights you will be court. enjoy should be denied ther rea ¡areatened!

WING THAN CALLAGHAN

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979 'Maggie in a Muddle' the headline of was Labour Weekly follow- Thatcher's union- ing baiting interview on the

ITV

Weekend World' programme. editorial mildly chastised the Tory leader- Ship for "falling to Jeann tne lessons of the fall of the Heath Thatcher doubt would only listen to the wiseacres Transport House future Tory governments could sit more firmly in the saddle).

Discomfiture At a time when the right- wing traitors in the Labour are contronted by growing mass move- ment in the unions against the wage-cutting, anti-work- class policies of the Callaghan-Healey gang, it is to be expected that even a like Labour Weekly paper will feel a little discomfiture at speaking too strongly on anti-unionism of the Tories. In fact, in a shamefaced No be the contradiction had thus recognised, There have been dis- read: agreements (!), particularly over pay policy, and there problems on the di.c industrial front at the

PRESS

GANG

Military beds in the emergency centres; star- the ving animals on farms; rotting food at the of ports; waves in the panic buying shops; owner drivers turned back the picket lines: -with carefully selected of parade images the press continues to mount the atmosphere of crisis and impending doom. The front pages seem to for written be much posterity for current as consumption. Headlines are extended; the sub editors search for a new expression of calamity; Labour rats are dragged out of the wood- denounce

WUNK

pickets. It is at times like'this the that capitalist press comes into its own. Radio brought back Robin Day and turned over its news programmes almost

THATCHER IN BID TO

SOUND MORE RIGHT

increased their turn moment, but nothing like have the problems Tories towards reliance the the would create" and the state

COUL LA

confront the The message is simple: machine LO the working class must sit abour movemen. As Thatcher's bv and watch as troops are such, proposals prepared to organise picket- are a declaration of war on the working class.

sual Thatcher would be Suct "worse' Crushing blow There is of course no that Thatcher's Were she stop able lo the ravings represent social security payments to response of the Conservative strikers' families, force in leadership Party to the ballots for strike militancy of the decisions, remove the right increasing to strike for key sections of working class. keallsing the of increasing inability the workers, and remove the union leaders to hold back 'legal immunity of the working class action against unions (i.e. make it possible control the Tories for employers to sue unions wage * This of the exclusively to increasingly strength reactionary demands for working class comes in the be realised by the curbs on the right to strike end to and the right to picket. press. The Daily Express ended Even as the press week with "Charter harangues the transport last for Moderates" which sung drivers, the newspaper the praises of the Tory front owners keen their fingers crossed that the picket lines bench, but which recognises will make an exception for the facts of life-that such newsprint. The papers grow likely measures are more Labour smaller and shriller by the from the govern- day et despite the confident ment and the labour bureau- "Obviously the idea tones in which the news- picketing paper editors print their 'peaceful persuasion' has become editorials they seem unable to keep up with events. sick joke in many The demands by Tories "Obviously the

TUC

for asked repressive measures should be to crack down intimidatory against strikers are on overshadowed by the fact picketing. But if not the law should the defined that forced to turn to the TGWU tightly and precisely and the police bureaucracv to make deals ordered over supplies. intervene when things get turn is over- out of hand... "Meanwhile, shadowed by the action judging from Healey's committee Chancellor many cases to ignore Evans' remarks, it could be that dictates and decide for the Labour government will themselves which lorries will come up with its own solu tion--if the be allowed to pass and what Will allow it party machine constitutes an emergency.

LABOUR

PARTY

for the damage to profits class. industrial during action), In fact workers would the this would deliver a crushing have Vely blow to the independence weapons that it is at present of the working class move- using against Callaghan him- ment in Britain. self. Thatcher was interviewed Prepared ground by a tawning Yet what Labour Weekly Labour MP Brian Walden- cannot say is that Callaghan who did nothing to disguise has done everything possible for his enthusiasm state to prepare the ground tor attacks on workers. If a Tory Walden, like Prentice, such measures. the government is returned to distinguished only by power in the next election it that he has not been fact will be thanks to Callaghan, affinit to open durantee affinity Labour's right and the working class move would • have wing to Tory measures. Yet, LO Tel entirely upon its own organ- also like Prentice, he was beat back allowed to sit in the Labour ised strength to attacks of the ruling Party leadership until he the Futile gesture by "Low Pay' traitors If you refuse to beat them, subsidise them! That must be the perver- ted thinking the behind decision by leaders of public PHOTO: Laurence sector unions to place whole adverts Labour page Weekly the government's 5% pay limit and supporting the so-callec 'Low Pay Campaign'. Labour Weekly of course has tirelessly touted the 5% policy in, week Day out, and echoes every lying and reactionary statement by Labour leaders about increases supposedly wage In the same issue of this causing inflation.

CARWORKERS

CONFERENCE

THE CRISIS IN THE MOTOR INDUSTRY

Called by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement Saturday January 20th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Digbeth Civil Hall Birmingham Full details from CDLM, c/o 37, Birchfield Close Blackbird Leys, Oxford Page 5 decided that he had no further use for assocation with the labour movement.

Today more clearly than ever, the fight to kick out this breed-Callaghan, Healey and their lackeys- imperative the an labour movement IC defend itself on any front.

Labour This what Weekly, not to mention the 'left' Labour leaders wale claim to oppose the govern- ment, will not and dare not say As • this consequence task of exposing and driving the traitors falls to the Socialist and Workers Socialist League.

reformist house journal its chief James Callaghan presents his New Year message, flatly opposes all forms of pay struggle: "Let those who possess industrial muscle or mono- Dower resolve not to

DO V

abuse their great strength.

and "ndivida greed disregard for the wellbeing of others can undermine and divide our society. It is not for Britain. "Let reso ve. of practise greater sense responsibility for eachother and for those in need-the sick, disabled, handicapped, "And if we are to mean this, let us be prepared l money-and put our our taxes-where our mouth is.

Not a word of course about those need including the low paid who in the midst of crumbling social services savaged by Healey's spending cuts, have the arduous task of actually caring for the old and the sick. On the contrary. last Callaghan, winter it was by Labour supported sent in the weekLy troops to smash the fire-.

men's strike. Now he is lining up these . uniformed scabs to break 'any strike undertaken by low paid workers in the public sector. Callaghan's Audiosing treachery by placing huge adverts _ in Labour Weekly (paid for with union funds) does nothing to win the £60/ the struggle for the 35 hour week claim in the public sector. But does speak volumes of the politcal line and limitations of the public sector union leaders, and the need for a new leader- ship labour in the me as a wore

THE BIRTH OF

Page 6 International. Burnham- The Schachtman split from the American Socialist Workers Party in 1939- 40 revolyes around three major questions- none of which can be separated from the others. These are: the question of ot kussia: the question the party; and the question of philosophy. Whilst of none these facets can uitimately be separated from one another, neither can they be under- by initially

SLOOU

examining them in turn. Background rirst it is necessarv to little background give information the participants. James Burnham, professor philosophy, had come into the Trotsky- ist movement in 1934 when Communist the League fused the American with Workers Party to form the Workers Party of the USA.

had been leading advocate of the fusion on the National Com- mittee of the AWP. Pressures make themselves Together with fellow professor Hook, he collabor- ated with Cannon in efforts to view the continued exis- to speed the untication tence of forces. Cannon his In soupet Union, and the post- History of Soviet A mencan Trotskyism points out that wall extension property relations into East- wanted events showed, ern Europe, unification with the there is no need to fight for rotskvists because he was the then taking a step forward, little getting bit more parties to radical; he wanted to put his political revolution. toe a little deeper into the proletarian politics while firmly bracing himself with his other foot, extends to imagining Such on the bourgeois shore." Max Schachtman in some sense or other the Martin Abern on the other hand had been co-founders "left" of the American Trotskyist Soviet Union movement with Cannon in itself. Schachtman in particular had made drives those that defend it important and valued into a compromise and even contribution to that move- colaboration ment in the early period.

Stalinism. Pressures that in a two-colour world The attitude they take to of 'blacks' and 'whites', the the Soviet state is one of the Soviet Union large- 'white' most rigorous tests of revol- utionaries. Failing to In analysing the contra- dictory reality of the Soviet incapable Union, two conflicting the

USSR

AMERICAN

MARXISM

1978 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the emergence of the Trotskyist movement in the United States. The Socialist Workers Party which today claims to represent that tradition offers no more than a hollow mockery of the fighting spirit of that early movement. This article is the last in a series of seven being published by Socialist Press which examine the early history of the SWP, the party so central in the 1930s to the launching of the Fourth cracy. Leading advocate of this anti-Marxist, revisionist The first is the tendency position the post war in International rourth nationalised Michel Pablo. relations Public opinion But the opposite pressure as proof that on the revolutionary move- Russian ques- ment on tae of inde- tion is that from imperial- revolutionary ism and bourgeois "public opinion", accomplish particularly reflected within middle class around the elements In or Compromise revolutionary movement. Noting correctly view often aspect of the Soviet Union- 1LS "coressive regime in which the working bureaucracy real political or a 11v section of it in the power-this current finds will reform itself in accord with the view of imperialism, that As a result such a view the USSR is a dictatorship which cannot be defended Searching for with some argument on which to shore up this position, Its basic starting point is bourgeois certain petty forces have historically taken refuge in branding the is-by and USSR as no longer a dener- ated workers state but one in which the gains of the grasp its 1917 revolution have been nature, Il 15 of understanding reversed, and a state capit- alist regime instituted. 1L0 vulcau- Cannon in 1938 position Revolution And despite mations, assault. took 191 / , the means relations. tion profit. parasitic that new social order Among

WOTKINS

the revolution Trotsky's Betrayed tion clearest The signing of the Stalin-Hitler Pact The Stalinist bureaucracy clique did emerge. from this standpoint, is seen not a parasitic ruling vaste resting on nationalisea property relations, but as a special form of ruling class.

workers' state. Here, too, the attempt to Hor view the world in terms of two distinct only colours, "black' and white?, leads to of those opposite, oppressed by them. false, view that the USSR is totally 'black' In the period of the Cold War, when capitalist anti- Yet propaganda Communi reached its high point, this "state analysis There caollanst provided the cover under Trotskyistsounder tone Schachtman Trotskyists under Marxism Cliff broke from forces and refused support expression in North Korea against imper- ments. lalst allack Stalin, Workers' state Union That today lives group the working on as the British Socialist Workers Party. It is this "Stalin-Hitler Pact" group which now most resembles the positions of This Burnham and Schachtman, throughout anu men eusa to ceren‹ the, USSR against imperial- capitalist countries. ism The "It Left Opposition in is the Russian Communist SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979 Party and later the Fourth workers' state in any sen Soviet inte International had stood by a whatever World that the October vention (in War l created will be wnowy suborollalt the general workers' state in Russia.

imperiali to character of the conflict as the defor- and whole, and will be crimes wrought by Stalinism defence of sociali of it remained-albeit degener.

ated-a workers' state to be ‚economy." Trotsky in 'Again defended against imperialist nature otte US repli again more OnCe The working class having seized power in November this criticism ownership Burnham and Schachtman "When production emotion

OTI

• Д1 from the bourgeoisie, estab- mechanic considers an aut lishing nationalised property mobile in which let us sa gangsters have escaped fro police pursuit over a bE Bureaucracy road, and finds the fran bent, the wheels out of lin A new social order began motor partial to be created where produc- damaged he mig longer for justifiably say: "It is not automobile-devil-knows It is not the place of this what is." Such examme LNe would esult die reasons for the growth of a technical and scientif bureaucracy upon , but it-would expre the legitimate reaction the key factors the mechanic at the work were the decimation of the the Let class, continued suppose, however, that th scarcity and the isolation of same mechanic must reco dition the object which I book Revolu- named "devil-knows what gives the is". In this case he will sta But account. with the recognition that ruling caste, a bureaucratio damaged automobi And it before him distorted and bent the form and content of the workers' Different state, so it became at first unrecognisable as a So the Soviet Unio Trotsky argues, is a worker working the sense that state in does not control or benefit damaged car remains a car from the social organisation For Burnham indeed is states, Schachtman, however, ti approach was different As the Stalinist gangste Alignments perpetrated yet more abus as the mangled machir nonetheless there and moi became MOre are gains contained within it unrecognisable-they final which must be defended threw up their hands i were other horror and said "It's not pressures on Burnham and car anymore. They were The whole time they ha caught in the pav of class been looking not at th which found its contradictions beneath th new interna- surface but at how tional manoeuvres and align- appeared to them and no it appeared different. in August 1939 sought a bureaucratic means Cannon analysed the "defending" the Soviet position thus without mobilising Struggle for a Proletaria and class, Party: notorious "The crisis signifies th our ranks t unleashed a great external social pressure. wave of anti-Soviet hysteria More specifically, we sa western the crisis is the result of th Ene pressure of bourgeois-dem Burnham declared: cratic opinion upon impossible section of the party leade regard the Soviet Union as a ship.

like the remained ume of war." The Instead white' reality. They comprehend Soviet that The was their which the Marxist In Soviet defending

ILU

longer from Soviet Union. . Ine which are rapidly in this insisted 'black and their of nature unable to that because entered mean that the in explicitly method of that the was euner had turned else 1il defending, the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979 Trotsky uses the analogy with a trade union. "The unions of Great Britain. the France, United States countries support .the counter- CODICLe Y politics of revolutionary their bourgeoisie. from labelling them trade unions, from supporting their progressive steps and from defending them against the bourgeoisie."

Thus we understand the dua nature of trade unions On the one hand they are the form of organisation of the working class. istorted On the other hand they are simultaneously hampered, warped and dis. torted by their current pro- In Dewalse. Icactional y leadership. aspects exist These

TWO

We side by side. support the trade union movement the - WO Scanlon, support even attack by one state set wet the state-yet.we altars that such leaders recognise ally with the bosses and state against us we the fight within trade to the them by who for that the instance should urunwicks do with the

APEX

unions sell them leadership out! for this Precisely we Date 104001l For this also, the diction, defend the the political the from in real world. ultimatistic, "purely" normative to its liking. Sectarians, i.e. people their imagination, They say: workers' it". will Each They will history ideal Page 7 theoretical organ The New For is ideal party and ideal unions.

International, and embarked until this enough to happy independent carees they will, like until They an moment arrives, are along non-Trotskyist lines".

are like be allowed air their much as possible, pout suddenly, their lips at reality" Burnham's detection whole from this new party a mere Trotsky He the party. process of month later is a fitting fact were development the which-to epitaph be driven "Of the most important the earlier Russian example-the motor dandies" beliefs beel still find: • Wile wai associated with the Marxist the broke down. He upon things movement, there is virtually of production and which I accept in its the basic elements Cannon traditional form." historical planned economy He goes on to say: victory. •With the public press "Experience and further means that it will This of the study and reflection have not have to begin from the Trotsky I have convinced me that beginning. That is a tremen- American intellec- been and Trotsky wrong dous advantage! this right score. Only radical dandies, centralism dialectical materialism who used to hopping the clock are the public though scientifically carelessy lom lwig lo lw-e meaningless, is psychologic- lightmindedly dismiss can press ally and historically an such a possibility. and integral part of Marxism."

not instrument discussion Burnham stood all on its and outlook American too under the head dif It parity is, Yet from this major wave his political fight in early hand inestimable years of World War 2, we material can reaffirm the significance ber the force fundamental and development. tance of dialectical material- Trotsky the discussion 'In ism philosophica which method upon we The continue to stand "radical official method the majority, was method Which rejected the scientific basis of Marxism, rejected view of the historical materialism. Fourth photograph. The motion they by are still but "A the in party laws of according the motion. was New for his of static, snapshots lished of the motion Committee. the this Whoever rejects whole Schachtman So to Russia Only method "At the dialectical materialism were one an diction and within the public majority other of minority at attack aul lilligs And Burnham- whim." this particular take Schachtman position? the did Schacht- discipline Anu bourgeois man, not agreeing innuenced the ruling pressures Burnham. class Schachtman and their co-thinkers present reveal. fore a seres Ol questions remain struggle TOdays Fourth the reconstruct of its and rounding programme. Trotsky's polemics and against in Marxism Defence of the most the Marxist ments on method analysis-a by The Battle of Leningrad-defence of the USSR was an immediate question thought capitulating to anti- with his philosophical start- Burnham argued that: that Soviet hysteria, capitulating ing point, '. so far as politiçs "unimport- to an anti-Marxist rejection philosophy was it is the programme never been resolved, and of dialectical materialism ant"? and the empirical conse- and capitulation to Burnham-a university quences that follow from it Menshevik ideas of 'freedom professor of professor fundamental which are of discussion' rather than philosophy, lived and relation to the theory of the democratic centralism Secretamat. breathed in the sterile anti- state, rather than the theory The • behaved Marxist atmosphere of the the dangratal en fundamental relation to according to Bolshevik totally petty- bourgeois milieu. principles ot democratic "But there is no sense at centralism-only demanding Schacht- and assemble all in wnieh claiecucs even not simply minority man were content to debate that the if dialectics were not, as it loyally by majority in propagandistic way scientifically meaning- within this arena. decisions and to confine its less) b fundamental "111 and opposition within the Cannon's concern to politics, none at all. of the SWP party. that majority "An opinion on But leading

SWP

was the building of a prol- dialectics is no more funda- member George Novack put Trotsky had etarian party. mental for politics than an written in 1937: it: Euclidean opinion on non minority "The bloc "Predominance geometry or relativity intellectuals could not comply with the physics. democratically fighting present-day inevitable the first of development of arrived at by the party. of that party period "After the organisation. relusing lo Process "It is at the same time a a political which politically for big handicap to the political motion to the in the of the there- convention Burnham education more any analysis of social gifted workers". 1940 Trotskyist Inter- fore and Schacht- organisation the national. reality Burnham Workers Party, stole the it to be always in a process did not accept this Workers Party of movement and change. view. Nor did they accept •Socialist

How we fought BL's Letter: Don't forget Daniel De Leon Page 8 Eighteen months •Moss Evans and the leader- ship of every major union forced national a secret ballot on the workforce of Leyland Cars. This ballot, aided by massive campaign favour of a 'ves' vote secured a claimed 97% turnout and a 2-1 three majority favour company. "accentanc wide corporate bargaining of plant-level bargaining, place wages the "Parity TOr same job in every Leyland plant.

A common November date for annual pay reviews in each factory. The reason the ballot stipu- as tae start ot cor- porate bargaining was to give impression that this major Chance was not to be rushed.

But in reality the other two points stood in contradiction to 1979 culoudle bargaining. 'Parity' deal This is because part of the 'parity' deal involved the several lump sums to leviane workers during 1978 while the grading structure which "parity" was to be based was worked out. These "splash" payments were worked out on the basis of thought in 1977 that they were complete acceptance of the new voting corporate grading structure. bargaining in 1979. the maiority If the November 1978 pay or convenors knew tull well that the company planning review na orouent some oiants larger pay increases than others, force ina earlier, the calculations preparatory 1978! to the introduction • Darly i neir collaboration with this fraud was made easier by woura nave been messed up.

In reality the company had company's 'participation' to ensure a convenors were increase off through lavish Lion wiet ТОГ November 1978. and privileges, and So while Leyland workers persuaded that had they Lenin Conolly Sheffield though the SLP, certainly after before, South Yorkshire not was Isolatee. tiny sect. Dear Comrades, He was amongst owner While recognising the neces- things, one of the first Marxists sity for condensing such a broad го отвак сла no ot Lassafean "Birth of American major sections of the one as the Marxism" (Socialist Press and movement and 127) the USA, recognising hat and fuse OrO such ominission, •dou DOxi "Dro-trace union" factions of the early SLP Graham Bond are Inevita • el nevertheless makes into coherent organisational glaring in error his article. One of the and political unitv.

MOST

in oortant eary American socialists if not the Party most important, did not even De Leon joined the SLP in warrell passing mention. refer to the head of the Socialist 1889 and he also the first was Labour Party, Daniel De Leon. Marxist Lake implement Engels' observations more you also print a on the necessity to 'Americanist When painting by Diego Rivera, which the movement' (then dominated features as it's two most Coltrai 98rman-amercansi Do Leon and attempted to forge she SPite Over years DeDeS De Leon Of two, i Is De Leon a voucary who contributed

MOST LE

HOT

SUCCARd approach, much earlier oncome socials movement. not but in other period, the Leninist on v the a conceptions parts of the world as well. vaul organisation. As the of the leading figure cratic centralism, party control SLP until his death in 1914, De of its publications and party Loon wielded much influence, discipline. "common which 'parity' would be estab- interest' with lished, then add a 5% Phase 4 management. 'noeed to• convenors soeni increase ane ootal acceptanct of the period on a corporate level. the whole the ballot to November 1978 in Leyland orant witt tálks with the exception of Cowley on the propose• craoino structure prepared accede manoeuvre. was done by "National Negotiating But Cowley there had Committee"

(LCJNC)

set been a principled opposition to atter the ballot the im position coroorate The company plan bargaining which concentrates was the hands of national work out the new grading struc power in rates of pay union officials remote from and „Ture l ano tne Certain of De Leon's ideas Fraina, LouIS ino again bear resemblance Frainer), a former NEC member of the SLP, was a protege of De some of the writings of later Leon's, and as you quite rightly Lenin-his theory of the laboul aristocracy as expounded in point out a leading early US Pages from Roman History" and communist. the tunctioning and role of thie J.T. Murphy of the Shop Party (See Stewards Movement, James evo utionan "Reform and Revolution") pre- Conolly, Gramsci and others empt, albeit in a crude way, the were all influenced bv De Leon later theories of Lenin. in one way or another (which doesn't rule out negative Syndicalism influences). Lenin reputed 9. John number of observers le.g. 1905, the Around year in the nor to wave as ve col founding conference of the ouch the remark That Lenin ww, De began though De Leon was the only Leon Marxist add anything to since embrace me callosooly ousn (which probably marx Tar as i can see. originally borrowed from the based only on hearsay. America sness aco International Trautman and and contacts France). Also the international probably for thi De Leon Inal we Leor sphere, was well His advocacy, bAst known. advance of his contem dorarie development and popularisation in his analysis of the growing of industrial unionism routinism and accomodationism StUCK many parts Chord The of the Second international. As world including Britain, Ireland, early as 1903 De Leon criticised Italy and Australia. the Gainst cial Democracý walls dy Ince natonal ceased to socialist the of world" • never Tini Dresden Congress"). In the same article he also describes Kautsky as one to "run with the hare and Dark with ine nounds -a tar sighted observation one considered Lenin broke definit- Kautsky only some avelv WIth 11 years later. Sectarian attitude There much more that could be said of De Leon. Faults nost hate without a doubt he was a great.

pre-1917 Probably his greatest single fault was 8001 American Federation , Labour. Eugene Debs This and other OFTOrS SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979 Cowley workers vote overwhelmingly for the £27 claim answerable to the shop floor dily war liculdi piant. • Opponents the plan pointed to which way curbordet Darainine would Turiner weaken the oosition elected shop stewards and convenors, while strengthening • grip of appointed full time OTTICIalS And they pointed also to a clause in the 19// ballot which specified that "normal bargain-

INDUSTRIAL

WORKERS

UT THE WIRES

diminished his contribution to the movement, but nevertheless

"ONE

and _without him the voice American would movement have developed differently.

That you not even mention such a figure is a gross ing arrangements" should remain in force in 1978. On this basis a fight began for plant level claim Cowley. The right wing leadership in the Cowley Body Plant attempted to head this off bi passing a resolution at the 5/6l

TGWU

Branch accepting corporate-level claim

DUT

neignoourin! Assembly Plant a claim for a €27 week increase protected ayallls and hour week, 35 submitted at plant level At first the company attempted to divert the claim to Matonal necolations "Inevitability" But the submission of the was coupled with the Claim launching for policy plant lèvel 01 claims by Cowley delegates • on the Leyland Cars Combine Com- mittee while fighting for convenors To acoot this Doricy meetings Leyland and stewards began to be calleo in Birmingham Ine ao-noc 'Leyland Stewards for the body 1978 Review meetings The first of these once the „contirmed that leadership of Midlands had the inev dill ¡tability" of a corporate claim.

But it also revealed that al groups claiming er a revolutionary • leat Leyland workers also accepted this as "inevitable", on the basis that they did not feel SIrOnO enouan to change The first argument was therefore whether should we thi 1978 reviev duaniaol and wait for 1979 to come round or whether-as the Workers League outlalls mender. your part, perhaps if talling or vou publish this letter it will an some correcting way balance and is important WOrk Indortant often neglected revolutionary.

Comradely greetings John Cunningham

great ballot betrayal SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979 гр 150 'argued-we should carry out a determined fight at once.

This ad hoc body then rocker a series ones ne held further meetings in which of fight strength Lowiev was useo n persuade members other demand their plants convenors submit plant claims.

.aSO demands the Cowley the ot claim the Leyland DaLUe i Combine committee hao mean- while led to a reluctant accep- position, Ot the Cowley and agreement an claims would be submitted: Resisting moves And Cowley itself in management The Assembly Plant climbed down and undertook to reply to the PHOTO: John Sturrock, Report tri claim at orant revel

TUEN

re bouncer inside the Body Plant, where the stewards changed the previous position and submitted similar plant claim. But the same time the Communist TOnt wineers and Party members on the National Joint Negotiating Committee (which made sever national otticia s and a clear majority of non-elected "dele- gates) were resisting the move.

for plant bargaining. So reluctant were they to claims that submit olde level in CP-led Longbridge the claim itself was only he Mired seven November Koninon days Ine the sett ement cate. at movers and never argued against meeting held during the lay-off.

Jaguars claims actually went in principle of corporate bargain- The decision took into account atter the review date; and otner ing, three outcomes or presentee anv chanende possible to the company's routine argu- Drews Lane •ants never even submitted d claim! The strike might have been that wage increases big The company gave plant- firm would orive victorious, one fee way ! bankruptcy. almost automatic action resiles To Cams on October. In each case the offer Cowley. Indeed Harper himself had all 5%, conditional was " nere mont nave been a Deenor years uo to mis neck plants accepting it. quick return to work as a result in the 'participation' set-up, and of weak leadership, after which had accepted all the other plans Strike action a strike vote in cowiev would of the company, thus confusing still be possible. That afternoon a mass meet- ine worktorce *Drew Lane might be ing was This weakness of leadership cared Drews defeated after a long period of Lane Tractors and that after 2½ weeks of meant Transmissions plant, and a vote strike action cosine ine nole solid and devastating action, the of Leyland. This would have strike was lost. brought a difficult period.

taken. At: Cowley, on the other the The militancy in this plant had hand, the leadership intensified Cowley mass meeting was to put was because their •lanne• ane predated a serious the plant through fight. A stewards meeting had traditiona crope review eate This the had been put back a month, been called following while in Cowley, for instance, it insistence of the AUEw, whic company rediv. ano a mas threatened to split the member- actually peen brouent forward from February. ship it this did not take place week reply came This strike stemmed directly Back-stabbing But the immediate layoffs and solely trom. the princibied fight for plant bargaining caused by the Drews Lane strike But at Longbridge the back- from Cowley made an ence one Call impossible-since the plant was

ITS

еттест was im mediate Ene Communist of Derek Drews Lane supplies the whole already closed and most workers Party, in the torm of Leyland Cars and the follow- Robinson, was taking shape.

receiving 80% lay-oft pay at the held on At a Conny sentence Friday Cowley were already being laid The correct position taken • ovember perore any off. leadership in these lay offs began, Robinson put a by not for strike action resolution But the weakness of the circumstances Was Wake •verbal stnke was mat tre diant leader- clear une comoany unt ship had not prepared the the Drews Lane December 1 to come up with a support members for the kind of fight better offer. • are to meet on return This was no more than involved TO WOrK Convenor Arthur Harper This was passed at the mass conscious move to isolate the

SPEED UP

REDUN ANCES

I REGRADING

Drews Lane strike. when that strike came to an the problem of proceding end with the Cowley claim was a airicult one

WSL

members and the Assembly supporters favoured the completion Plant of procedural with management scheduled for two •avs attene eturn to work. in order to prevent a split with the

AUEW,

and for this to be followed bv a mass meeting Determined In approaching such a mass meeting it would be important to take into account the impact on ane members or seema Ent Drews Lane strikers-the most powerful section in Leyland- deteated. A perspective going beyond simply a strike in a single plant presented Cowley had to if action was to take place We favoured combining this with putting , Robinson his December spot at mass meeting, by calling strike actior Cowley for date demanding Longbridge come out with us. But the union bureaucracy and the Communist Party were Drews determined to use the Lane defeat to force through the company's original plans the im mediate v return twas cared, at which a work meeting uracine structure was aureed well as a 5% national pay otte and a deal offering parity pay- financed ments increased 7,000 jobs. The speed-up and job cuts for also welt Erie nationally agreed increases in rates, substantially premium night sil allowances, which vinenc been withholding. The NJNC agreed to put this to a national ballot. A meeting convenors called, and endorsed the plan by Robinson then called off the 5% PHOTO: Laurence Sparham AUEW leader Duffy meeting December Longbridge, facing

TGWU

Cowley stewards Assemblv Plant with prospect o' total isolation. Leaflet The next-door Body Plant would even

O IT

Assembly Plant in a boycott of the ballot. There was no choice out to co into campaign for a 'no' vote Once more the lead Levland workers came throuat a leaflet from the 'Leyland Stewards for the 1978 Review' This leaflet focyssed on way been backaol foisted on the workforce showed all how seven -none work whom Leyland-had cast their vote in 'yes thus OT lavoul tipping the balance to 13-12 in favour. this And it owed how recommendation been han rubber-stamped by a hopelessly unrepresentative meeting at which each convenor -whether elected by thousands or a handtul of members-hac one vote Throughout this struggle we as Marxists have seen each battle only part ot the overall wal in terence or workers inceden Evans Page 9 Trans dent interests We recognised that there was a strono chance or yes in the ballot. And even while campaigning for a 'no' vote w to fight the prepare results of a possible acceptance loss jobs the contentious grading and structure Even before the ballot in the Cowley Assembly plant a mass meeting was held to urge a no vote. Mass meetings convenor Fryer declared that he would defending support any section manning standards, and would oppose the grading struc

WSL

DOTC

supports. In the Body Plant mass meetings of production workers ano TorKITT truck orivers were held to oppose the structure and section most have fought any speed-up As a result in Cowley only a handful of the required number of job losses have been achieved.

Conclusion fight In short the against corporate bargaining in which we played a leading role created the conditions which the in Drews Lane workforce engaged in a 2½ week strike The defeat of that strike did SImO restore company's position. 20,000 abstentions in ensuing ballot, and maort or nose vote snowed that growing numbers workers have become wary Ene corporate • barcanne cack creating fertile conditions age, for a fight against attacks on

…ODS

Workers' attention has also been drawn to the way in which the be pay deal was rallroaded thregors while int through officials and Fords and elsewnere settements oT uo zO 15% have been won. The crisis now faced by the the conually means inat worker. are. increasingly aware that they will in reality : only the bare go increase shop floor is rising once again.

But most important. of all, Ent strutole. acainst •согоогаті bargaining and speed-up has smoked out not only the right wine retormist oureau crats and convenors but also the Stalinists Derek Robinson's televisior interview welcoming the result of the ballot spells out the practical role of Stalinism to the entre ceviano worktorce The real lesson of the ballot betrayal is the urgent necessity to build a revolutionary leader.

Shie Levang n odoosition to all shades of 'participators and collaborators sane task undertaken by the Workers Socialist League

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

WALK OUT ON WAGES

A pay strike by 2,000 increased offer of £3.35 on the basic rate and a further GMWU members at the York- «zov in a producuivity acas Leeds plant of -but this was rejected by Imperial Metals shire stewards. production halted Their objection was not a has refusal since an overwhelming negotiate productivity deals, action vote for on but a speculic objecuon lp Monday 8 January the of the deal on Management had initially offer. offered a miserable £2 per Their stand was subse- week basic rates endorsed by last quently the claim for response Monday's mass meeting 28%, a 35 hour week and firm's But the YULe improved holidays. Kirkby plant on Merseyside

GMWU

Talks with a wafer-thin 46 majority out produced officials of a 1,000-strong workforce an

BOOKSELLERS' STRIKE

more than three Gerald After Shop manager of sporadic strikes Bartlett. a notorious anti union months witch-hunter, has insisted that the TGWU/ACTSS members issue should be London's Economists decided by a ballot of the whole Bookshop decided last com bany cender ale manoeuvre correctly rejected by favour of all-out Friday in the retail members since strike action in support of ceocranically anu their demand for union organisationally separate and traditionally been dealt with recognition. on its own. The management of the magazine Economist and The latest attempt to under- The School mine the moves #inionisation have been the announcement of holding out in

CLOTOIS.

association and manage spite a statt the Union navine majority support among the ment •osTers. • renoiscent bookshop's dozen staff. those nearby on the windows of Why you should join the WSL strugale to arasp tne need for Quite frankly, we're socialist revolution. unique! this reason, though we We're the only movement are smaler a some set exc that fights patiently and relent- 'revolutionary' groups, the WSL has featured in the forefront of lessiv

TOI

THE T

Dunloine struggles in British Leyland Trotskyist party capable • Way mobilising the working. class in against the sale of jobs by TUC leaders, the struggle for state power the struggle the cuts, in against Ine estaoisument or a socialist society. unionisation Strules, In doing so, the WSL alone the tight against oureaucratic dictatorship within the unions does not shrink from head-on This method of approach •ares win une exisume recoers - whether or the workina cass - relectino anv descent to simore these be left' talking Labourites or Stalinists concession Dur caulialo or the communist carv. counter-revoluonary reto mis In these battles we set out to or Stalinist bureaucracy - is of course essential for the working prove to workers both in theory ano oracace me necessity to Class ПОТ britain out a new leadership and aransitionai internationally. of In taking international programme up which, starting issues the wL points out not acmaros only orobiems and Ke The onlication or british consciousness with were sork- workers to support the Irish liberation struggle and revolut- workers class,

MORE

DETAILS

Please send me more information about the Workers Socialist League. Name Address. Send to: WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR a similar voted to accept deal and are still working.

pickets Leeds however. that ensured no zorres nave been out of the Kirkby gates, and efforts have been made to persuade the workforce to reconsider their decision.

ASTMS,

Members of

AUEW

and UCATT in the still Leeds factory are work-their pay reviews being negotiated separately the supportug strike financially. Garners Steak Houses declare its aims as mentine for demoliacy and its members as 'proud to work here' A campaign into the publish- ing and print unions for black- and deliveries and ing, supplies help on the picket is an urgent priority. Financial support should Miller, c/o D sent Helen Students. Conen The Union, Houghton st.. Londor WC2, from which address can be obtained. Ionarv struddies such as inose in Iran and Southern Africa, but also the necessity for the recon- struction anising party of socialist revolution.

The WSt is not the biagest mor is it the easiest to be a member of. But in its approach to both theorv and practice it is the only really serious revol- utionary movement. When look at the struggles now under way the problems faced by the wor- Kinclass vecessity or d principled leadership is urmis takeable. NOT JOIN US? Fill below for more the torm details, or approach your local who will gladly supply stanch. more Intormatton programme, policies, and per-

THE KEY TO THE CUTS FIGHT!

ENNALS OUT.

NO MORE

HOSPITAL CUTSI

Last Monday saw a by determined move striking social workers in Leeds to step up their two-month strike. They came out on along with November social workers in Sheffield, joining concague. London, Liverpool and Newcastle in the struggle for claim which regrading stands in breach of the 5% pay limit. Successful Initial moves to picket Merrion ( House, the main local government office in Leeds, were extremely successful. Refuse workers refused to cross the picket line causing piles of rubbish to. mount and Public Health authorities to close the staff canteen. But at the point where the closure whole ol tne building possibility was and General Finance

WOR

OW! Blundell Permoglaze is a paint company with factor- ies in Hull, Birmingham and Ireland plus throughout the country. ror aont time tais com. pany has paid low wages and has to defeat consistently managed a Vi us emoroyed to substantially improve their lot. This has been changed recently in its birmingnam Tac tory at Tyseley • Birmingham factory - The 60 shor employs approximately floor workers and 30 staff. staff of The are members ALso une waite colar sectiol of the

TGWU

and In ther have separate negotiations accepted a poor pay rise of 9% shop

TGWU.

membership and have recently settled for pay rises of The booklet which spells out the policies for all out necessary struggle against the cuts, drawing on practical ex- perience the

EGA

at and the Oxford Nursery Occupation. 30p plus 10p p&p from the WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 17 January, 1979

LEEDS SOCIAL

WORKERS STEP UP

STRIKE

5,000 a ballot Committee of the workers, and for for supporting action by the NALGO branch under the of Communist couriers who circulate guidance Party member Eric Cowin mail within the Inteld acted to that the offices. ensure strike committee was takel over by a majority of non- All-out strike Already the partia blockade of mail has beer 24-hour picketing successful quite blacking of invoices and The committee then cheques has begun. voted to lift the picket on But after two months allowing the the refuse members of out, some canteen to be reopened Leeds NALGO Steps • have now been coming to the view that an taken to repair the effects all-out strike Tanne of this setback. these partial and inade. Last Monday full 24 measures quately prepared hour picketing was imple- offers the most, if not the picketing of mented, anu only, effective way of sup- the Civic Hall-the main porting the social workers.

administration centre O1 Leeds Council-was begun. Plans also been nave made to call out local residential Social Workers demonstrating in the early days of their struggle.

Paint plant wins 14% pay rise By the Blundell Permoglaze work shop stewards between £7.20 and £9.50 which continued and also the work in terms of percentage 13% to rule was beginning to bite.

this time that was 1070 This is a significant victory the made threats mandeliolet for agroup of workers who have closure intimidate the shop stewards no great past record of indus.

trial militancy. with veral abuse claim was The original pay stewards response this was to implement the work 25% and was submitted before to rule all the more strongly and Unristmas Before the holidays the to gather The sudoort oT TE an offer shop floor by carefully explain.

. replied with cumary ing to each worker the impor

WTOSITINOS

This was promptly turned Tance or Carving on is actor a general meeting of On Friday January down at 5, ine o7 13% to 15% but with strifer management offer dhu d volt taken to commence a work to rule and overtime ban from attached Wednesday 3 January 1979 These included staggering tea breaks so that production would woon oU. гетим work after the holidays on 2 January •e continuous anone the factory was found to be in a work floor when directed by the state WItA from burst pipes and complete conditions Swer unanimously rejected by the lack of heating workforce and vote was ne snoo stewares ceciced to call an immediate general СОТІНЕ

HOUSTO

action until all conditions were order to vote on a meeting in dropped. …one „cav strIke in orotest di these conditions. The reporting these results were subsequent vote was surprised to find that manage unanimous and Incre was al immediate walk out. ment immediately detect This action absolutely withdraw these offending conditions shocked management and result of The history this of this sort had ever occured in are examole any of the factories of the how if the working are given a strong and principled rermoolaze Darnis croun lead. thev can win disputes anc It was atter this snow ol strength that negotiations substantially improve their lot.

GARNERS STRIKE FACES

OFFICIAL ATTACK

In the next few weeks the first leading up of the Garners anniversary January 27 the strike of movement can labour expect a torrent of lies and from the distortions London Region leadership of the TGWU. where their 12 In a week has montins tradericky resulted In massive picket lines, the Regional leader- arrested supporters PHOTC: Andrew Wiard. Report ship has been Cascaraoly manoeuvring to split the Strike Committee and intimidate them into silence over Regional Sacre.

Staden's notorious agree. tary police limiting the melT the picket ne nantes lo sin A week ago last monday, te Strike summoned Regional suffered a ferocious attack from Secretary Staden. onsiaught began with This Party Communist Staden member) committee for issuing a bulletin mass picket amel THe his December secret agreement with the police 1647 TGWU branch meeting at the arrest of had led to end of March

WHICH

Ine pickets including Staden's picketing fellow CP member, Brent Trades always Council chairman Tom Durkin.

Strike Committee. Deal with police had been sown, the Strike Com- eventually He stated his nosition that agreement with the police the Tine the

TGWU

will taden would stalle would noT SUDDOn arrested on a picket line with more than six people on it.

planned tor Januarty 27. This, he said, 'included Tom

APEX

that or anyone Durkin future the Regional Committee and full time Grunwicks, (meaning Stader Strike Committee official Les Shorter) WoUld official for block apport decision picket planned for August 8.

by them- nolicies not vetted selves intortunately repeated the threat that the "union would reassess their support for the strike after the committee 27th. tactic is the traditional correctly and Staden's «teement one or a bureauc als They hope to gag the strike committee, control propa- that no one turns ganda, ensure up on the 27th and then as evidence MaCK support for the strike. The police Staden has learnt trom the bitter experience mas. October Last pickets on 17 week this that December tion has never been

SUUTCON

control the Strike Com- clear evidence witnesses. however, he This Time, Strike managed to split The Committee with the discredited police arrested Strike

SUDDOTI

chairman Rachman, who argued that the Strike Committee itself had always supported the police supporters on hmit or six. This is a lie. From the Strike face nOW meeting and their Committee hundre•s oreores. Of hall

UNION DUES

ON STRIKE 4.

GARNERS HUKKERS

NINRICOGNITON

SAY

NOW!

police. last 1978, mass The significance week's meeting is that Staden has for admitted been the policy of the has first time that there agreement with police and that enough confusion he is stickirs lo. Staden to split We 3-3 on publicly against amas. 27th and try mobilisation nOW the labour exploit his successful manoeuvre 01

WOUL

calling off the mass picket movement the fact that he has sold right picket arbitrary limits imposed by the He will use the same pretext leader Grantham police. 1977 Those on the Strike Com in August up the the mittee prepared to take arguing leader- backed the fight against thell call off the mass ship to win this strike must now on differences resolve Strike Committee and continue Staden, their fight for a mass picket on this manoeuvre came too late to Garners Support January 27 must be seen as a basis TrOI continue

TOOT TOT

leaflet, backing the mass picket national TGWU delegate confer- condeming ence and a major demonstration with

FINES APPEAL

onslaught on We are of course fighting Garners pickets is now taking a the labour Loneon mounting toll in fines and costs.

movement for anaquate tunes to be made available to support a strike alone trade unionists fined for picket member was TRee €35 with £100 costs despite the ing at Garners. is now three problem urgent. Socialist Press therefore A WSL member found guilty appeals supporters ana fined for donations to assist was these our comrades in paying staggering £120. And on Friday 15-year old sarace nines Donations should be marked Garners Fines Appeal, and sent members alone, Press, 31, Socialist result of being the most regular Park Hill, London the picket lines, varmourn fines totalling

NW5 1HR.

STOP WORRYING..

..BUT THERE MIGHT STILL.

JUST ROLL ON

BE A FEW WHO WILL TURN

OUT ON JAN' 22ND...

JAN 23RD | SAY!

AT THE TOP...

ROW-PAY ACTION

COMMITTEE

HUH! LISTEN TO THIS ONE: "STICK IT

OUT FOR THE FULL CLAIM AND SMASH

5% LIMIT*

ERDA

NUJ

provincial papers voting as we press on a 14.5% from offer paper Society. The pay graded to give rises as low as £5.17 to some trainees Crucial lobby The date against the Tizzard, Hammersmith London, management 24. 200 lobby ceotanine at the hospita nas by the Defence which reinstatement. The sacking which coincided chairman at the London Hospital on March 3. The Strike Committee must the (who TAKe

CUTKIN

sonally protested to Moss Evans over the Region's treachery) and ing action on pay. the call for supports demand ne the London District Committee mass pickel oroatened Communist Party and the London Association continuously 15788t8 Trades Councils. action particular cracy chairman Mick McGahey, who joined the circulate week, last London wide should state openly the attitude his organisation on this ques.

TIOn The struggle against low pay is reaching a high point the London division of in ana was

NUPE.

by the Executive. Already At a delegate rally called by resolutions the London Divisional passed Council Thursday vanual y after strike action, Hall speaker the strike speaker from the floor called for made indefinite strike action from 22 aside the sweeping January. strike committee. 'selective timid proposals action' made by the NEC. indica. a clear Wal tion that the strike on the 22nd its laurels on bring London's public executIve services to a complete standstill, plans betray by includino after the Ambulance drivers, winO nave where in the region of 5% scornfully rejected maintain plea Executive's transform emergency in one cover anto foruhave already begun a work ine Tony incr Members •I committees rally, of the stacing

HAVE YOU HEARD?. THE TGWU

HAS CALLED AN OFFICIAL STRIKE

AGAINST A 15% OFFER...

HAVE THEY

TALL NE

RAVING

WHAT THE

MAD?!

HELL IS MOSS

PLAYING AT?

WELL HERES ALAN

THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN'S

AT LAST... MAYBE HE'S

BECOMING A DISASTER!

GOT AN ANSWER!

WHAT CAN WE DO?

NUJ ballots on 14.5% offer £18 plus for and members on up journalists some senior were almost offices went to accepted, certain pay recommendation despite News- the reject from nego- deal which is The majority of journal- would receive half the ists £20. claim-which is still the biggest increase they pay seen. The original nave eve offer was 5%, raised later to 7.8%. But the strikers-after six faced a seconc weeKs-also challenge. had Union negotiators refused-correctly-to put any offer to the memoci- the Newspaper while of the appeal Society refusing to was sacking of Bill guarantee reinstatement of steward journalists and Princes Hospital in sacked in the dispute. set by has been Bill Keys, general secre- January tary of SOGAT and chair- for of the TUC Printing man Committee the appeal Industres 24th on the summoned botn sides to • been called and drew up an meeting agreement which guaranteed committee within the right to management hospital to fight for Tizzard's sack A clause was accepted by

NUJ

that the negotiators with the sack. the Newspaper Society ings of the branch secretary and urged its members nearby strongly amidst a huge to reinstate sacked workers -a phrase which will come press witchhunt, must be seen as a major attack on trade union- cold comfort to the 28 Health Service- Nottingham Post strikers timed to disrupt the forthcom- sacked and several trainees sacked up and the down The campaign itself must be include the country. Moves are to be made at dismissed militants at the Wesi London and the fight must be an FoC's meeting in London Try the up torre taken to have this on Wednesday bureau Charter to sack thrown out who have the power and calls are being prepared branches, cal to continue the strike-even confer- stewards deal was the wage ence and organise action for the accepted-until the victimis- reinstatement of the three trade ations were removed.

LONDON NUPE ON BOIL

immediate recall meeting of the attended by about 400 delegates Divisional Council and fight for was fought for by militants or indefinite : London Divisional Council, • oTTiCial call opposed at every stage strike action, which it nas int power to do to this call response the The Counci demanding throtonout Tine that the NEC call for indefinite branches will be immediate, and spread to other quickly have successtully on the 22nd unions. official in the London area and have established an inter-union it ts ones not taken ve will not only be a serious danger now the public sector pay that the Divisional Council rests blow fo and allows the claim-with repurcussions in all to continue with its four unions involved in the will also endanger claim-but

TIE

the future independence of lay allowing the action to fizzle out 22nd and settle some bodies such Councils from the full-time

NUPE

and set officialdom The concrete task ahead is to fight against the the militant mood of •ack strike. bureaucracy firm all-out principled lead in the fight for NUPE lay the £60/35 hour week claim.

must force

...AND THIS IS A STACK OF

BRANCH MOTIONS INSISTING

ON ALL-OUT STRIKE

ACTION FROM JAN 22ND!

HERE WE ARE LADS... AT LAST I'VE GOT THE RIGHT

WORDING FOR THE SETTLEMENT SPEECH!.

Pe THE LEADERSHIPS CAMPAIGN

FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM

THE MEMBERS, AND WE'RE

THEREFORE FORCED,

RELUCTANTLY TO

SETTLE FOR ONLY.."

JAN 22: COME OUT

AND STAY OUT FOR

THE FULL CLAIM!

There is now a massive of militancy public amongst as we prepare for workers strike action on our £60/ 35 hour week pay claim on January 22. Throughout the country, orance atter

COHSE,

TGWU and GWU is unanimously for a com- olete stoppade on the 22nd. and the demonstration London attract tens promises ousnes i workers. workers who provide essential services to the com- local councils the neath service ano eaucation we have suffered a drastic tal In living standards over the last successive yeals rounds or pay polcy But now section have Fought and that Fords other the 5% limit at its weakest stage.

We can win This is why we all know, that our combined strengin can win decent wage and smash government through for restraint anu But this wave ormatoe conceals many dangers and clear choice all (TO unionists and serious militants in the public sector Is the 22nd going to be a strength, carnival day out in London witn a few drinks and lots of rousing socothes. Or is it to be the start of a determined programme of strike action to win the full claim for a £60 minimum basic wage and a 35 hour week? Every worker who has ooserved deverooments the firemen's Strike ano Grunwicks that knows Callaghan-Heale easily can survive Throuon series of one-day stoppages and actors allots Emotional speeches Along will come the usual

MPS

with emotional Labour multan! stacies

FUND

Another good week for £132.50 the fund with arriving in the office in the last week to bring the total for January far to £235.63. However, the tendency is for the momentum to begin the to wane month proceeds, so let's see if this month we can maintain the momentum and collect the full £600. All donations should be Socialist Press Monthiy Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST

PRESS

By WSL Public Sector workers

RESTORE & CUTS

and SAVE JOBS BREAK» th the

SOCIAL

CONTRACT

The branches which somehow never end up in that more indefinite strike come out on any real rignt against waragnan or Healey. action, Ine ouicker decisive will be the victory.

But at the same time the government preparing massive strike-breaking force of Strike committees army scabs "volunteers" Mian Striking branches must com- ambulances, maintain services and phyiscally attack picket •the to tom ocar surike com mittees to organise picketing

HICK

and raise money on a local basis. and half Token sto paces These committees measures are not sufTCenT

SETIRO

break the resolve the should tient TO suDDort Trom local Trades Councils, Labour government workers' and the powers of the state.

rarties make preparations organisation. of They must combine with an all-out strike striking lorry drivers, journalists sections decine or une cag

RR SOLD OUT -

"highest" that this is the Last Monday the increase that can be won 1n

AUEW

accepted on a firm that relies on govern- behalf of their 30,500 ment orders. It is quite noticeable that members at Rolls Royce there has been no press out- an increase basic on cry at the decision of seven rates of 1.8%. to accept on behalf of This is a 5% offer which 30,500. has the increase in overtime rates taken out of it. This because the The 1,500 workers at goes the bosses' Barnoldswick who have decision been strike for eight way along with the weeks have goes

NOW

pect televised statements of John ordered back to work; and Boyd, the General Secretary the rest of the

WOTK-OICE

of the AUEW, who said that who have been on an over- strikers should get back time ban in their support work-no matter what have been ordered to lift it.

The Executive has said Then Cats Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

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

and social workers TOrI independent councils of action a full-scale preparation general strike. Moves along these lines are already being made in areas o London. Those Labour MPs who must be claim to support us cane• von to out mel wuras Labour Party to drive out Callaghan-Healey leadership which is determine to smast our strike. That way those are only oretencino to su•bort us can quickly be exposed. Our own leaders But the biggest danger such a public sector strike lies in our own leadership. The Executive bodies of

NUPE

other and the three unions nave been lorceo to • Call a Day of Action on the no through fear of losing control •the membership YeT TAl: ver moment when workers are responding call enormous their are preparing a marches They historic sell out. They have refused to make tne antic a national strike, and have made no preparations for action after the Te than is ura ng to pay more usual ay to sections wito fendin or raising strikedespite the levies and the much publicised of injection funds into the SO called "Low Pay Campaign".

The sign of betrayal came when Alan Fisher appeared on television last week CP calls off Peru general strike Communist The Party dominated trade federation the union off last

CGTP,

called week's three day general strike after only a day. The details of the back- ground to this action by the Stalinist bureaucrats are not yet known-in particular the position of the other unions which supported the calling of the strike. The CGTP is said to have the other "consuted" but unions There report of their reactions.

The mineworkers' union, Victor

ENTMMP,

led Cuadros took part in organ- ising the strike apparently few miners took action Nonetheless, Genaro Ledesma, the leader of the dominated "Trotskyist' alliance parliamentary 90%

FOCEP,

claimed that of union members in the had followed the. country strike call on the first day If that is true it suggests that the CGTP leaders may have called the strike off to into avoid getting situation where the working class would be challenging the very life of the military itself dictatorship along with its nationalist allies of

APRA.

government It was the which trom a week Delore the strike recognised it as a and death question of lite for its dictatorship. The already practically individual mythical rights which remained were com- pletely abolished Union leaders at all levels as many as 800- - possibly were arrested in the davs before the strike including the CGTP General Secretary Gustavo Espinosa the and president of the Maoist-led parliamentary the SE

UDP,

as well as numerous local militants. And the government brought its troops onto the and announced saying that he didnt expect to shoot all would win the full claim

GOWN

all in one which до". which means he is already demonstrators would almost cer- orepared to settle al tre Calcul offer above 5%. tainly be included strike pickets All for 50p? Several deaths of workers and numerous injuries were So, is allowed reported on day one of the # ne succeed the whole strike could strike on January 11. The strikes, enou• winnine an ancrease mass mobil- about week-only 50p Assembly el isations "Constituent than the £1.50 already elections of last offered! showed that the year Make no mistake. Ine public sector union officials are already politically and financially bankrupt military junta was their future speeches close to collapse-that given Damne te taure or ine serike the miserable settlement decisive revolutionary altu mind, on us, the they have in leadership the memeersme! ment could destroy it Ther tight his teach to. Last week's events make fight treachery. that such There must be all out strike it clear at least revolutionary leadership has • 22nd action on ine with no return to work until the full not yet been sufficiently claim is met! built. Build local strike committees But the regime cannot and councils of action! draw much comfort from The strike against low pay is the events. a strike adainst the curs. and a In search of inter- victory will be the turning point will be national loans it health in the tight to maintain forced to go on intro- and social services. The role of Fisher and other profoundly unpopular policies bureaucrats in hold such as ing back this pay fight spells out the sharp rise in the petrol more clearly than ever the need price which nominally build a principled socialist off sparked last week's sectol general strike with policies to defend both the Within a few months it interests of the membership and will face the choice of public services Ene themselves against cuts and attacks fulfilling its promise to give carried out by the Labour democratically way to elected president or to re- impose a new military dicta- See also: Cartoon, p.11 and torship which could be Labour Party, p.5. More nothing but a on industrial news, page Il.

bloodbath.