Socialist Press no. 136

ALL OUT STRIKE NOW!

Cowley 9: 8 vindicated, 1 victimised

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 136 * 7 February 1979 * 15p union bureaucrats succeed in restricting the struggle for the £60/35 hour week claim to a series of "selective" and "sectional" strikes, the greater the danger that the potential this strength of PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report pay struggle will be dissi- pated. That is the clear message from a week in which manual workers in local authorities and the health service have time again shown their willingness respona to a call tor al-out action. Defying propaganda Defying a torrent of vicious propaganda in anti-unior press and. mass media, tens o inousanes Dublic secto! workers have stepped up their and pressed their leaders action callan all out moetinite Stoooade But NUPE and other leaders soenaina cuts. strained Indeed the fact that public instead sector workers have been forced strikes muscie restrICt divisive sectiona stoooades snourder mine ourden Even where their own feeble speed-up and job loss in cuts so plan of selective action has been far is a major factor in their present militant pay battle.

met oy manacement victimisa tions-as at London's Westmin- Hospital-NUPE leaders Kick out Callaghan nave moved in not to strengtner but to call off strikes in defence To win such a fight the of those suspended and divert Callaghan-Healey leadership, Case LO ALHO

WIO

nave set

OUT

Trom Tne Yet despite this sabotage the outset to boost the profits of strength of the public sector private employers through their unmistakeable. workers Is attacks living oromoted callagnan •The standares

MUSU

"oe removed weekend to admit the total from office. collapse government Those 'left' MPs and union Pay poncy wen he conceded undi icacers wno oose as oooonents pay settlements could go as high government's the abour as 10%. anti-working class policies must be forced to take a public stand Cuts in service TOr or adainst an active cam. paign to kick out Callaghan and But this is far short of the £60 claim. If that is to be won Healey, and to adopt a socialist witnout causino turther massive manitesto tor the 19/9 General cutbacks in service, it is neces- Election. Such sary confront two central programme would planks or government economic nave to be based on mobilising policy: wage control and public the working class carry After more than a year "inquiries" "hearings" of and bureaucratic witch- No. hunting, the (Midlands) Regional Com- mittee of the TGWU has finally dropped disciplinary charges against eight of the "Cowley 9". The eight are: Bob Fryer, convenor or ine british Leviano Assembly Plant at Cowley; Alan Thornett and Tom White, both deputy convenors at the plant: and Ivor o sullivan Braggins, both shop stewards at the factory; and Tony Andy Brown and Dave Pinning-

TGWU

at the members plant.

SUT

Tine Vindicated-Thornett charged has been victimised by the Frank Committee. hold of the District arte the TGWU 5/293 David Secretary -Buckle controversial Branch at the plant, nas been mass meeting removed from office. the plant. charges OnE -Ine

SIX

Anouch this allegation has against Corti was that he caught been substantiated, Fisher through the nationalisation of major industry without compen- salon under workers manage- ment and the establishment or a planned socialist economy.

But it is clear that at present none ot une existine eacers o the labour movement have any stomach for such a confronta- Stony silence Fisher, Spanswick, Banett and Evans are holding back their membersnio. noon desperate.

some compromise TOr formula to them off the hook while the Tribune group of MPs maintain a stonv silence even on Callaghan's most brazen strikebreaking speeches. But pune sector workers inere is the determina tion and the power to through an all-out struggle for the full claim. dust- sections ot London men last week began indefinite strike action and elected strike committees to spread the action throughout their areas. These

SUING

appears that the Regional Com- nat sinaled

OUT

ThIS charge in order to take action against him. The allegation is astounding when set against other events at the factory. months after this particular mass meeting Cort was viciously attacked by Tommy Quinn close David Buckle-on supporter of Ene plant at a trace -Union function. Corti fifteen received stitches in his face and Quinn assault convicted Crown Court. Despite this, no action was taken against Quinn within the union! The Regional Committee decision to strip Corti of office Is oure ano simole victimisation in an effort to save face over the Cowley 9 affair ine same meetinG or te Regional Committee considered findings Regional Export neIG Ine Packing Services factory * must meet together to discuss fight common against sabotage of union officials and common plans to mobilise the membership who have not been called out All-out strikes, combined with emergency cover under the control or strike committees for that no scabbing condition organised by the employers) must be fought for in every area. Councils of action Public sector workers must call on local union branches, stewards committee: ano workers' political organisations to send delegates local councils of action in oraer le strengthen, spread, and organise the strikes and the picketing.

Within these CoUnCIls action revolutionaries will fight for the programme necessary to win defend basic ot the working class interests and reveal the real nature ch nature of workers' existing leadership for a 35 minimum wages noul week. Detend against inflation through cost of living clauses the

LINO

CUTS!or a sliding scale of public expendi- ture. *Demand a recal Labou Party conference! Remove the Callaghan-Healey cabinet! For a socialist manifesto! Banbury, near Oxford at the end of last year. true kangaroo court tradition tne committee removed the shop stewards credentials from Colin Carty, deputy convenor at ine site No charges were ever laid against him-as required by the TGWU rule book. une Megional Committee simply held a general inquiry "industrial relations at the following Week strike against Stage 3 of wage controls. Colin Carty is still not aware of any allegations against him, and has therefore been victim- ised without even the opportun-

COT

saying a word in nis own defence! Indeed he was not even invited the "inquiry" answer questions. These two cases of victim- isation must now be challenged inrougnout ine union. the cam- paign so far on the Cowley 9 has shown that it is possible to halt Who can govern Iran? Back page The Iris Mail Train Robbery.

....p.9 Hounslow Hospital. p.8 Political Revolution. •pp.6-7 H Block propaganda ..p.5

UNITE STRIKE COMMITEES

BUILD COUNCILS OF ACTION!

WHAT!! IN ELECTION YEAR!.. THAT'S AGAINST

OUR CODE OF CONDUCT!!!

WHY DONT

YOU BURY HIM?!

HE'S A HEALTH

HAZARD.

TIN

kangaroo-court "inquiry" Now of nine Biant

OUT

already stand completely vindi cated, with the TWU's local Regional and national

•WITCH

hunters and their flimsy frame- charges exposed for all to defend the Ine task is to remaining two victims. Principled leadership The TGWU conference in July must take the decision end witch-hunting once and for all. Only on the basis of demo- cracy within the union and the of the role of the exoosure bureaucracy can a principled Victimised-Carty leadership and programme fought for in defence of the bureaucratic frame-ups. interests of the union's two million members. ONe •OT Enose vindicated in last week's decision to drop Drop all charges! Restore to charges was Alan Thornett, who office all those who have been had originally been recommen- the victims of witch-hunting in ded for expulsion, fçom recent years! FOr democracy within the TWU! Union DISTriCTseve

FUNDS FLOW IN FOR ECEVIT Zimbabwe: no

COLLAPSE OF FAKE CHILE 'BOYCOTT

Page 2

- INTERNATIONAL-

One million Turkish Turkey and workers responded last Middle East region. wook to a call for a five-

AULE

minute general summit talks, meeting protest against fascist discuss how massacre in the Eastern city political situation in Turkey.

of Karamanmaras. Ecovit, who The strike was called by the from begging 'lett' wing trade union confeder- DISK-which, however atton still supports the iate aid, cash of Prime Minister Ecevit and his generals. The scale of the response- though alver tea WItC • mere That The Turkish the reactionary to fight back against the region. fascist violence. Interestingly The Turkish workers has been Yurther fuelled regime supply oil wy me mas movement in neon- bouring Iran. And that mass movement prompted 1 1E Grate: the imperialist nations to look Deng Xiaoping As (Teng Hsiao-ping) and China, and President Carter smile and wave crowds at only too throughout the US, the last weeks. thoughts buzzing sight through their heads are peasants ragged clothes, more interesting than their statements couched in diplomatic Year New language. taking Carter: "Just think of the untapped market of nearly the bureaucracy. billion waiting peo pic for American technology demonstrated "hunger and ane multar y nara ware If we can open a flood- gate exports China that will ease our economic trouble who have spent with own Peking waiting workers". "Already I need $200 complaints to and meanwhile million in handouts to com- their wits. plete the objectives of the 107 need top to 1985. need to get foreign Write to modernise industry, keep the masses and the American happy with some incentives tion of Independence. they keep off my back Far from and also deal with the peasants being Soviet Union" attention, the What has been said so far by Deng is to criticise the of

SALT

agreements and to class. US-China-Japan call IOr Rehabilitation alliance develop • LU once called and military defence. Worried man is to include the Deng is indeed a worried man. In a 'sounding' done in 1949 Peking by the Hong Kong wing journal Tong the hundreds of Xiang, asking the views of people commune, Cultural Revolution. 1n military unit and a hospital, All these 76% said that constitutional im bursed for all losses.

The "boycott" of looks Chilean goods called. in proposal has been shelved.

December by the US 1S In the union federation AFL-CIO and by ORIT the first place (the Latin American branch of the anti-Com- to use the purely verbal International munist Confederation of Free of some Trade Unions) is turning umons, ana lose wilo fuke out to be the transpar- Gleason think ent reactionary farce talk bovcott which we predicted it "help the Communists". would be. So far not so much as a Both onion has been blacked under the AFL-CIO firmly on the side of capital- "boycott": ism and imperialism in Chile On January 8 the com- and will mittee charged with organ- serious any 1s1ng could

DOVCOLL

agree on no action at all and concrete once again at their strategy for linked also the military strategy.

the whole crucial ecevit s Minister resigned in protest result as a of an agreement to shift US another summit military outposts from Iran to held in Bonn to stabilise And Greace, Prime Minister Karamanlis has warned returned that this change will endanger missions empty- Greek national security But the granting of cash aid nandea prior to tne tall or the Shah, is now to be given immed.

to Ecovit does not mean that beginning the imperialists have abandoned $1-1.5 billion from W. Germany.

their strategy of imposing Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are openly dictatorial multary also to be invited to participate democratic place

TO MA

In raIsino Tunes-ceary showine thactionary of imperialism had administration. regimes Rather imperialists recognise that at this point they unable to implement these plans: the working class Libyan of Colonel Gaddafi- has yet too strong. The fascists however are con.

credit to the tinuing their terror campaign- bankrupt Turkish bourgeoisie in the areas outside the martial Jaderes ¡attitude to the Turkish crisis is law zones already established.

BEHIND DENG'S US TRIP

rights are not respected in Even the families of 88% were dis- those who have died in the satisfied with cultural life.

their This discontent has been money. The hope is that: event over tne "the patriotic industrial- of ists poor and businessmen will apparently contribute particularly demonstrat- the development of tourism ing outside the Great Hall of of services, of exporting and the People while a fabulous of mixed enterprises." celebration was place inside These will be set up with highlights the corruption of help of foreign the capital. Several hundred peasants The hope, also 1S against vicoulder oppression" overseas Chinese to invest their foreigr currency and run such Complaints industries LO tourism. Some of these were people China desperately months in short of foreign currency for their of and surplus trom industry and De dealt with agri- living Cute In order to pay for the Several new wall posters large amount of things being appeared as well, some of ordered now this problem reproduced the French Declaration of 1789 Declara- the poor bureaucracy is at the moment feting the the capitalist of those "landlords, rich peasants and counter-revolu- tionaries, and bad elements" bitterest enemies of the revolution in Particularly favoured are business- men dispossessed during the • to be re- the with the authentic Chilean trade unions. no way sur- The record of the AFL prising since the pro-imper-

CIO

and ORIT is one of the CIA ialist leaders who called it in conspiracy with are divided and with capitalist groups in between those who wanted Chile to destroy the "boycott" to put unions of the Chilean pressure on workers (which Pinochet to restore rights to were politically linked Chile's yellow the Communist and Social- ist Parties) and replace them US dockers' leader Thomas yellow unions linked that to the Christian Democrats.

only Their aim to Call now gently persuade Pinochet to release the straight- legal. jacket on trade unionism in groups remain Chile to selectively benefit Christian Democrat "group of 10" unions and of discriminate against any move in the working class authentically movement for unions. solidarity action Last Pinochet's ycal This fits in perfectly with their call for complete military rule Bur reformist and Stas corners of here ne class continue •T tie workes move Ian ment into support for Ecovit, taking his no steps whatever got or anis: WOrKErS • етепсе majority squads against fascist violence "democratic" credentials endum on increasingly tarnished. 500-600 loft wingers are under arrest, tution. and 16 wing lETT papers nave suppressed Istanbul been only 9,814 fish me be tourish break The CP, forced the Party and the trade Labour unions from Ecovit, and the struggle attempts alk •Basants covernment settlement. The constitution for DaNs rule at present population, the blacks will have to be solved. Chiefs) but However, the West 28 out of the Germans have just discover- in finalising a five year deal with the People's places. Republic, they intend giving raw materials, in exchange In addition top Teng also tried to consolidate his weak ly been position by removing 22 of 29 regional secretaries since come. Mao's death This has these desperate the Peking manoeuvres by ing bureaucracy in the face of needed to fill the demands of the working Public class and poor peasantry mission and show yet again the instab- sioner of Police, ility of Stalinism and its fear development the appointment political revolution that and artorce chiets might sweep aside the para- The draft sitic leaders, their power and their privilege once and for be all. and set a course towards internationalism and workers management the missioner planned, socialist economy.

lank senol which amount five years. qualify „tor Commissioner atte if would take years for him to reach post. The foreign issued that tutional of peopic whole." signatures on a list of MPs Peking workers crowd round wall posters junta tried to sabotage this leaders and by going ahead with rigidly declare the Pinochet regime corporatist orion plantal tae- "clean" on the questions of and total pro- labour rights. main hibition even formal rights to strike and organise.

then it is worth noting who been negotiating Huffing and puffing the dictatorship of the AFL-CIO. Since the AFL-CIO's He . 1S huffing and puffing about American Institute of Free "boycott" however, Labour Pinochet has changed his AFL-CIO's Latin American plans, replaced his Labour minister and made some His name: cosmetic His occupation?

CONCESSOR

labour legislation. The AFL-CIO's client and a director pro-capitalist still unions national especially insufficient and want to negotiate a better interests in mining in Peru deal. But it is probably a move in a diplomatic game at the end of which the AFL-CIO SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 secret deals Smith last week congratulating Smith on the expected success of his campaign amongst the white popula- in the

. YU LE

tion Rhodesian white's refer- And Smith's collaborator the internal Ndabaninge Sithole claimed settlement draft consti- at the end ot his ten-dav visit to Britain that a future Tory government would Out of 67,847 votes cast recognise the internal settle- voted against guerrilla successes have But the Labour leaders vast majority of are engaged in more behind •Smith's benino the scenes manoeuvring. to protect white Some weeks ago Callag interests through an internal han in announcing that he was not calling for the hold.

terms of the draft all-party 1ng 0l approved by ence said that the British the whites in no way lay the government could see its black majority role as being based around 'secret diplomacy'. Not only do the whites, Rhodesian Foreign 1/27th the Minister Pieter Van der Byl 10 out of get Callaghan's responded to blacks ate eat to the decision by saying that ir and they also get 100 seats in the House of Assembly and a guarantee of five cabinet Reserved for whites admini- strative posts have effective- reserved for whites for a number of years to been done through the device of spell- qualifications posts such as Service Com- the Commis- and what procedures are necessary for proto. of army states that a person cannot appointed Commissioner Owen of Police unless he has held future the rank of Assistant Com- the transitional government would deal with any more the USA rather than Britain periods

TOT

At the moment Foreign to at least Secretary, David Owen is in Thus there is no black in talking to Cyrus Vance-mainly the police force who could Zimbabwe Namibia and the post of What reactionary deals immediately they cooking this "independence', and latest 'secret someone was

OURU

diplomacy"? appointed to senior rank it tive Zionists' this office has a statement saying bomb the referendum "no measure of the accepta- bility of the regime's consti- proposals to the blasts Rhodesia as a The Tories are gathering IN THE aftermath of the failed Egyptian-Israeli "peace" talks, Israel has sunk back to its •old methods of guaranteeing "peace" in the Middle East.

methods have "terrorism". name: Besides launching sea, air

ORIT

will and ground attacks against refugee in the camps Zionists have also reintroduced another If that seems far-fetched blowing the homes of, and exiling Arab political opponents behalf During the last week the on Istaeli terrorists have blown President of the up four houses of convicted Arab "terrorists", and have Development, the exiled one student to Jordan. He was accused of inciting Israeli Arab Peter Grace. students to "disaffection' Arab six He is a big-time capitalist have been of multi- sentenced • to internal exile and virtual house arrest.

those with "crime" Their was to resolution of support for the Palestine National Council, the Pales "government exile"

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979

•INTERNATIONAL

It is sixty miles from Keren, Asmara to journey of two hours by road For the armies of the Derg that journey lasted ten days of bitter fighting and heavy losses. march into the evacuated city of Keren cold comfort. Ecti Ders had reached its objective the Ethiopian dictators had not Crushed liberation struggle. Break siege The Derg's first offensive of 1978 had been blocked August. Mengistu, with his Soviet Cuban advisors was then forced to launch a secona ollensive to Dicak ine slege or Asmara wrest control bf Eritrea from the forces the Eritrean Liberation Front and, above all, of the Eritrean Popular Liberation Front. On November 18, this new offensive was launched on scale even Yet in massive than its predecessor.

the Keren battle that primary was une target of the assault, Derg's army was driven back with armies advancing on three and harried again and again.

fronts. In these Some 120,000

EPLF

estimated troops had been mobilised by the captured Derg for. this stage of the destroyed 90 tanks, at least campaign. Their allack was armoured cars spearheaded by 250 Soviet military lorries. largely piloted by LaLLAS. DaTe Russians. showed the scale of defeats which the Soviet officers able to inflict aggressor armies. Beyond the Soviet The Elmoplan led the veneras whO advancing were the

EPLF

campaign, esti- fronts--one, mated that 250 high-ranking west from Soviet officers they had captured from the weEt ELF, and two from Asmara prescill. Eritrean Popular to the south-east. Army Liberation was Was «one second two columns which uwanica Dy lne size or lnis threat, its arms were the EPLF ambushed in the match for the sophisticated valley at HalloW equipment provided to the ine resull was a complete Ethiopians by their Stalinist victory for the allies. was

WAST

ERITREAN FIGHTERS

STAND FIRM AGAINST

STALINIST BARRAGE

Second of three articles on the Eritrean war of liberation by David Whitfield EPLE motif ten days of largest battle of the war so the far. gonowed. of Derg's Dozens the were destroyed, and

TANKS

several captured along with LOt have armoured cars and consider- able quantities of both light

I MOSTIVI

and artillery. and 180 but the column was routed, of Keren late Elaberet had already been sealed. Tactical retreats Eritreans By this time the

EPLE

forces assessed that was on three necessary to make tactical on the south- retreats in the face of an Agordat overwhelming superiority of forces. The evacua- enemy fact LIon oI Keren was 1n already under way. For six days lorries rolled north, taking with them all the military, and Elaberet. other supplies from the city. The last of

EPLE

40,000 civilians were LiNe probably the on the night of evacuated Eritrean freedom fighters 1 Roads Kairways 100 miles

SUDAN

November 27. In other Ethiopian . When the armies entered Keren the next day, they captured a of ghost city The EPLF had made an than retreat, orderly as it had had been done at the same time from Kremlin the towns along the Asmara- flood of supplies. Massawa But this ana in lne past from all the other course front lowns wilch nave lallen to the the Derg's advance. invasion battle. Major blow The dictatorship The loss of Keren was a superiority major blow the libera- tion forces Its capture in 1977 July had been the power. crowning point of the

MIG

EPLE's major offensive. For basically free to the Derg, recapture of guerrilla this key strategic point was an essential step their campaign eliminate the IO struggles of the Eritrean people. the EPLF was not Yet smashed forlorn attempt to defend Keren against siege by land and air.

Its forces withdrew in order, to re-form in the towns to the north and their central base in Sahel. The short-term military is situation obviously far from favourable the EPLF, yet the prospects are not entirely black The towns of Nakfa and Afabet remain the hands of the EPLF, while in October they succeeded once again liberating Digsa which had fallen in the summer offensive. Their strategy now lies in a return to the guerrilla war- fare which preceded une escalation of their struggles of 1976/77. in the WiLe But the

EPLF

returns to this method struggle OI and blaze under new conditions. Fighting Soviet Union imperialism showed the limited value As the battle for Keren aerial November, Isayas raged resisting guerrilla warfare.

Afewerki,

EPLF

assistant declared almost certainly be to con- neil declary 'The face of the war has lau changed. We are not fighting Eritrean the Derg anymore. Now it is while they try to break the the Soviet Union" EPLF's supply-lines The intervention of the run far back into the Sudan.

Stalinist bureaucracies of the Soviet Union and Cuba Sudan has transformed the struggle in Eritrea, It is with their assistance appointment with President alone that the Derg has been Numeri able to drive the EPLF back the highest intó a base-area one-third of controlled six demand from the Derg that uner 47.6 months ago. the Sudan moves rapidly to But the vicious treachery end all EPLF activity withir of the Stalinists has brought its borders. its own contradictions. The So long as

EPLF

equipped almost lines entirely with the weapons it EPLF can maintain guerrilla has captured from the indefinitely wallare Ethiopian armies. high level of activity is on the side of the EPLF.

Better armed The longer Their successes in the last continues, the offensive mean that they are of now far better armed than ever before itself against the Today the EPLF controls its bloody dictatorship a force some 90 tanks Every shot and armoured cars, all cap- Eritrea raises tured from the Derg. ture of that economic and Page 3

SAUDI ARA

Nokfo,

RED SEA

YEMEN

ARA

¿ REPUBLIC

Makale

ETHIO

• Daba

CHANGALI

Sokoro Debra labo words, the political crisis degree Eritrean Popular Liberation nearer to flashpoint. Army is in this respect one The fear of explosion in the strongest armies in Addis Ababa must gnaw Africa by far-stronger even the thoughts of the Soviet Ethiopian army generals as they pace the before the Keren ram parts began its massive Asmara in frustration. Even the palaces of the Kremlin, strength is of shivers

IC V

inadequate to con- doubt and dread must seize mammoth Soviet when leaders forces they consider how much has open beer in their. Juve Ted Ethiopian Ethiopian ally. military has complete and in the air. Civil war the EPLF lacks the defen- sive weapons to restrict this But the war in Eritrea 'is not simply a military war are Like every revolutionary bomb the struggle, it is also a civil war that is fought out in every bases and the refugee camps, to strafe the sphere of society. In the final analysis, the the crops. the Eritrean success Yet the experience of US people in their struggle of Vietnam liberation will deter- be of by their mined ability bombardment fight not just against national oppression, but The Derg's main aim will all the forms which afflict •oression thrusts of the them liberation forces The third article in this series will report on some of which the ways in which the EPLF worked towards that goal in the liberated areas of Eritrea. Already Mengistu has an of the Sudan, and item the certainly be the supply- can be kept open, the Time the war the opposition Ethiopia Derg and fired in the tempera- Mengistu

SPREADING THE FIGHT FOR

ALL-OUT STRIKES

Page 4

CND

LOW

PAY

NUPE

NUPE

says: insusays: 5% insults theLo theL Westminster Hospital staft nurse Gillian Brear speaks from floor at Central Hall meeting The fight for workers control pared to come forward and fight they Wildl What do you think of the NUPE But They policy of selective strike action?

strong leadership. action they advised was all wrong. They should have ad- the orass

TOOTS

strike all-out on basic Trade Union principles.

vistu Officers should be nothind They've just confused every- the people who body work. we are

TOUT

How has NUPE handled this dis- involved should all be unions oUTe when we've taking action; but so far? Westminister Trieo to unite. mme oner unions have pulled away-we start reruse• to negotiate with us Ion action and then we're left right week, and when in the open. come they • To Why do you think the union us lake a cur l wages lo way lur officers aren't calling for all out domestics being empioyed else• action? where! The The NUPE leaders officers running away from a confrontation with this was to go to the government. power, has no I think a confrontation with management government is necessary to the their During win the pay claim. Hospital you done workers are pre- In last week's Socialist Press you described how you have fought strike action

TOI

The NUre Since mas. How has that struggle de- veloped since then? Last week I explained how I had touant Get my • oraner General) and my sec (Camden tion (Cressy especially padershio Division to call all-out indefinite strike action things have nissweek developed very rapidly the general feeling Despite amongst our 4u stewards Tor air out strike. action our Branch decision to took the Secretary only call out the men wro man the petrol pumps at the two major depots.

PHOTO:

So at the beginning of last week there were ony aooul fou this on strike in Camden! men brought things head. Because as the diesel rai out in our austcarts, my mer refüsing to scab on the were pump men's strike Management threatened the drivers home if they send cion i scab Report We had mass meetings on and Tuesday to prepare Monday Tor Strike action. on orries ran cry wednesday the refuse section took come with the the decision orivers support of claim. the feelings of the What were the now? and They were totany tea up or day: and partial one different sections Feelina was very high tha borough whole the should be out on strike

TAI

Interview with Tom O'Regan, Chairman of Kensington, Chelsea Chelsea and Westminster Branch of NUPE, currently on strike at the Westminster Hospital.

cover at the hospital? deserve. We said that really emergency cover would be provided under need headersniD our control. The control of oil deliveries The union should go back to is at the present time under the ano start daair control or tne stewaras, wnich t: enough give the patients comfort safety- -they are actually do the sick people and we don't want to make them suffer. got full greemen with the tanker drivers' T&GWI at tae westmlaster nosoal branch. We the oil levels management monitor with the T&G tanker drivers, they and we let in just over sufficient

GIC

tried to heating of the nosultar wards This is still all under the con- trol of the stewards, and it can answer to be stopped at any time, it there ACAS-which is any infringement in any way by the management. because even wouldn't listen to think that only all out instructions. limited the strike, what have gine us success in this pay claim.

emegency cover emergency John Seymour, dustmen's shop steward at Camden's Cressy Road depot tells Socialist Press about the growing strike wave amongst Camden's public sector workers.

We elected an 8 man strike committee with each member having specific tasks. I've been really strengthenec by the way the men have reac- une strike was ted. ines NUPE members in our depot.

In struggle those you least exoect come torware ana didy leading roles. issued been seen in the DICKet picketing and of the strent charter. the evel ot our organisation Already as well as keeping a However picket line across the depot our let strike committee bas cisions on spreading the strike will not to bring any what emergency cover When allow, Cane one

UD WHEN

other boroughs on strike.

they too took Could those you enlarge on come out aspects? men felt strongly wetne that we couldn't remain out on come out alongside a limb. So the first thing we did was to send 30 blokes down to the the 5% other at Camden two

ISP

The Holborn HOWn leso wal borough or wamaen nas o terust depots, Cressy Road (Hamp. branch leadership it Camden Town and stead) our ho born to urge then co jol ASLEF is insisting on a bonus for its members and the NUR is objecting. What is the background to this . Ine background to dil recen a member rail disputes is the massive cuts in jobs since Beeching. branch of the NUR were 446,000 no nere jobs on railways. By 1973 there were 190,000 In 1973-5 i there was a slight increase of 5.000 iobs. but now incentive there proposals are CU 40,000 more And then there are very arvisive are staff shortages

NUR'S

plan £64 million in saved endorsed 1977-8. Meanwhile nere nove been all kinds of technological

NUR.

ane work chance. Takin

BPS

intensive and oTten mort dangerous £1.74 for railmen, it continues to be new realiv low paid industrv. and in addition we've had four years of wage control. for drivers. present dispute started last vear atter the ioos ot statior porter, ticket collector pay do and guard in rural areas were all time to get even that. job amaroamated inte 'pay train guards' There was action all over the country and BR offered a bonus technological ot bup a turn (re. a duty) im oroved

ASLEF

immediately said they wanted an equal increase DMU's TO! members eTC (diesel multiple units) to main-

ASLEF

tain differentials 27,700 drivers, Then the cierical sections in

NUR

represents the TSSA tried the same thing including 2,000 drivers But the Railway Staff Nationa We think very pressed by tuna unear Love drum only accepted the guards' claim.

strong group Region. The very sectionalised. BR did agree to pay drivers The NUR of high speed trains 25% a dutv tial extra But the RSNT suggested increase a further classification into four not trading grades or train, which the Nor fact BR supported involving the The NUR saw it as a way of with im provine day for an doove Int 1981 so the lowest disagree grade. Again

ASLEF

continue negotiating Meanwhile Then there's been the NUR striking for proposals for a Busniess ver Scheme. The

NUR

formance Research Department produced ThIS passenger and freight tonne to get both unions back the miles table and self- It was proposed as deal and the RSNT again financing trocuctivity 1977 get round the 10% SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 At a mass meeting the follow ing day they voted to come out second way of spreading way I think the directions Fisher John Seymour we ve qot i sections out mela anv workers otner • Inar highways, Ing Sewers your own section are a scabs transport and electric lighting.

strike committee made the decision to You mentioned emergency the highways and fitters 90 • SBrVICES KnOW in to work out droue with trem Workers League Cocast venices out always argued strike management threat- committees controlling ened to send them home if they emercency services retucer to oreak our dicket ne The decision was taken in decision to with management negotiations to allow two dustcarts to empe the borough. nospitals in the had to battle to get workers to will fighting position that the strike The feeling in the member committee decides what emer ship is very strong now against gency cover should be and that cover we But to set the ball rolling a ally give depenas on inere deino m necessary becaust contractors or scab labour used none was forthcoming from our anywhere in the Borough was down earnt should go Any wades the strike funds Now at the end of the week Officials divide railway workers manning oractices are incrediole They include much more Socialist Press interviews single manning, radio controllec a Kings Cross guard who is Train. nave been of the fighting for a long time, the Holloway day work withdrawal rest ing (which most people.de survive), guards treicht trained as carriage and wagon inspectors, spare time flexibility the management's proposals for (meanina a quard could b on the ticket barrier for the last bonus schemes which his shift) marries cleaning by acreed to thi wallace and it was women on six hour shitts with at the 1978 AGM of students during school nolldays The NUR is now saying it is

ASLEF

still 'obliged' back to the insisted on the sas ate be has been What is the feeling among the membership? dog's body job of porter An example was an open and ticket collector rolled into meeting at Unity House in one); €2.03 for guards; £2.28 November, which Weighell wa asker to godress here was Backdated to April it will lot of anger and Weighell, who's keen on support for very enormous amounts of over- Party Labou incalclice leave several times A Scottish railman referred What are ASL EF's arguments?

to the railman's wage of £38.90 They say they bear the brunt change veenen solo there sino suct wage, we have MEL-minimum high broouctivity earnings level. speeds, heavy loads, new form: of traction, signalling, braking The bloke ran up to the plat.

form and shoved his payslip right in front of Weighell only represent of them. The ust lookee over his glasses and denied that grades such wages exist. that Buckton a particulariy whole industry is What about this year's claim?

wants a substan. 35-hour week and we nave a tirm position or jobs for wages made an otter axing or zu u another 20,000 by NUR refused to

ASLEF

started 10% their which they are asking tor all driver: nolLen Murray was brought in round beer handed over to Lord McCarthy The management proposal:

MASON'S LONG KESH COVER-UP

Labour witch-hunters turn to the gutter press.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 hare been any seab labou o far in the strik have NO! Managamen assured the "Camden General" strike committee (which repre- sents all manua workers in tne Borough) that there will be no private scabs used This issue will become tr owever explosive

MOST

statio Brent trai there have clashes combo! • lorry drivers with scoo collecting rubbish who are 50p 1 dumpiny on the around council-owned dump. This refuse is then collected by McGovern's (privat contrac ors) and taken to Hattield to incineration Secto verns men #riday •IcKet and there several violent ncidents until the police arrivec members with arrest unless they allowed McGoverns lorry's to out- numered we took a disciplined decision to back down end scabb the battle to out ing to be TaIS Is colme crucial as councils increasingly contractors scab ultimately the troops to clear rubbish. crucial in It's another way because | believe it will provide the point of contact with other Justmen in stru iggle-Barnet and the tip as well as us : It also demonstrates practice how treacherous anyone to vote against Fisher's … "picketing meeting code •If we only have six pickets as now that half the borough is out the police, have already instruc- anyway. and if we only picket our make sure nowevel, "y all those will. be bers, . we can't possibly stop already on surike to mountd scabbing by these widespread lobby outside urging the rest of the membership to join them on constantora. strike. The next task is to begin to What will you be fighting for in other dustmen link up with the next few days of the strike?

Well 1 believe that the most the atacoate

1OSK

I believe its going to be vital out on strike wie borest been a special NUPE that There has strong strtke commmtees are set up independently of the Branch meetino called tor lues- day at the Town Hall.

IRELAND

TROOPS OUT

NOW!

A campaign against the (NUJ) from admission to the expulsion of socialists from Labour Party is the beginning of a wholesale campaign to rid the the Labour Party is to be local party of all critics of the Oxford this launched in leadership who are prepared to week as the to those who who control the local party anti-working class policies. machine turned to the press This has centred exclusively for help. on supporters of the WSL.

Delegates the General It reflects the growing crisis Council who voted 'in the ranks of the local bureau Ted Heslin-an expulsion cracy who held on to positions Oxford District executive cominimed menoer- the and Council wets this Wednesday launch the wafer-thin majorities. move, called by his union branch.

Anti-Trotskyism Heslin, delegate ¡Labour Partv from the ACTSS 5/833 branch, was expelled by The sole portical Dialor the local GC by 37 votes to 35 of the Oxford right wing in both the policies of Tine anel Socialist League Council is now anti-Trotskyism.

TRA

• Workers and for selling Socialist Press. (See SP135). they campaign for expulsion.

nes devedline le the National Executive. Under 'demo- the tite oi The decision to expel Heslin cracy seek to stifle all Williamson effective opposition. Ken

(ASTMS)

and Peter McIntyre extenos to ore.

PRESS

GANG

An article in the Observer (Feb 4) came to the …Conciu that the Westminster sion strike Mosoltd causer ov the oress ano com plained that management had turned the hospital into "a sort -While this is an exaggeratior of the report hade the clearly Observer reporter beer • repened ov Wa) patients in the hospital were used a battering ram being as the nosoildl As its battering ram the "Have Mercy on Daily Mirror Fisher My useo •One medical cause celebres, marrow i carried a resolution at the patient, Anthony transplant last branch meeting which called Council to Camen A front page article sugges- build a council of action based ted Anthony might be all the labour movement killed by the action without Camden co-ordi- bodies saying how or why. Sun headlined 'Mum's nate support for the strike anc The well- extena it to otner workers i, Army' and pictured a for troops are nee ed brought in. duster on the floor the Last week i and a few of the hospital. According story: to the blokes "'Angry inhhipo tne Divisiona viotners roller Council demanding they call all and went into their sleeves against hospital strikers out strike delion threatening the And obre e res satety of sich Socialist League's initiative children EC on lobbying Fisher The Daily at the mail could not saturday morning. of demanding restoration Stung into action by Prisoner of War status. of growing awareness Because they have the role of savage refused to wear prison imperialism in British clothing or do prison work- Labour's Ireland, including Torture" cells-these their own "Minister for prisoners have been subjec- Roy Mason has attemp- ted to the most barbaric ill- ted a grand-scale cover- treatment by prison screws, up operation, aimed at who have leit them clad in blanket only single refuting the arguments filthy cells, with unheated, of the IRA. inadequate food and little In an unprecedented and or no medical care. brazen propaganda move, have Prisoners been "Northern Ireland the privileges- denied any Office" issued a four-page including exercise and read- MP, ing matter-and subjected to radio stations newspapers, beatings and torture. and TV news rooms, which claimed to show conditions in 'H' Block the Long Yet if Mason's broad- Kesh concentration camp, 350 republican sheet is to be believed, they where prisoners are continuing nave denderalely sel about "blanket' fouling near-luxurious cells their protest could succeed him paring further witch-hunts doubt some infiltrator' but no against Inose rights those are the who Journal recoers make present being witch hunted.

connection the paper intends).

The paper the Free sheet HOu. abour party as savino The "Everyone has right witch-hunters nave these but The Oxford their own people are not eligible tor mem Journa - „Tree •IstriDuLion advertising paper with a history McCarthyism It is no coincidence that on Oxford Mail week's issue 'Mole No. 2 Kicked the same day Out'. After Trade Gouted Trados Council agreeing that Heslin quoted Trades Oxford's leading 'one of War trade paper president John Power •as saving UnIONiSTS' Tine announced to its readers: had taced toreens was accused by violence" and condemning "Ted Heslin that night's local Party cais o boing 4773 Trades Council election. tó Alan Thornett- succI British Leyland's infamous left.

wing 'mole'." As e usua uppoiv arranct of Labour right wingers and the Never a member Tory again press gang up once expel soclailsts (Thornett has never been a within the Labour Party who regard themselves as left find room on its front page for the Westminster Hospital (it was over attacking the given under headline gravea gger. They won teven let us our dead') but made up for that omission inside. With macabre cetal over at heart disease affecting former Spitfire pilot wershaw reportel vallic. Edwards used his own apparent medical expertise to say that nurser assurance. liai should not worry were probably bluff he thought ASKed about the strikers, this poo 'victim' demonstrated his of concern tol humanity: "I'd like to put them all in a set it to automatic pilot plane. and make sure it ran out of fut over the sea." Apart from trampling on the the reportere mall also tound a word or tw‹ for the gallant heroines scrub bing the floor, but spoiled the image by giving more intorma than really necessary angry mum" who The same e oitonisco workers Dack' lash in the Mirror, appeared in in which every home com- fort is available A picture shows a prison screw hosing down "fouled" wall in Long Kesh with a steam hose: it makes mention unest 'blanket' who have men scalds suffered burns and boiling when water was directed at them. It claims that 90 of the 350 convicted 100 and "'murderers convicted of explosives offences-but reference to the fact that many of these were framed up in no-jury Diplock courts the unsubstantiated single police word of a officer, or on statements extracted under torture These courts have a 94% 80% of rate, Convictol which convictions are based exclusively salcancula Callaghan's anti-working cass rally the policies must defence of Ted Hesiin and ant other witch-hunt victims.

a week or a month they could find themselves to be next on the list for expuision.

Power Page 5 the Mail as: Mrs. Beryl Cameron Webb, a lady with a five bedroom flat in ritzy Chelsea, knees, on swabbing the flool with soar and sintertant. something you would find he doing by choice. gold chain kept flopping into the pail i water and cluster pear hel hair Barlus Wate tables, • beds and chairs to scrub them. Adding doubt victims of the strike. All in all it must marte ,medical surprise that :the patients survived their ençoun ter with the demon surgeons 01 Fleet Street. woman had Certainly one been frightened out of her wits by the press stories She had slept two nights at the foot of her daughter's hos Mail: pital "I rushed here on Monday somebody told night the strikers and the pickets might star won't do that .They Mrs. Probabiy Rodrigues...but keep watching They still have hopes. extracted from defendants under "interrogation". are in measures force because British imper- ialism fighting a war colonial repression against republican forces in Ireland Yet Mason and his reac- Labour cabinet tionary cronies have attempted to portray the republican movement as no more than criminals. role of the In fact the real, invading. criminals in last Ireland was highlighted week by news from the IRA that one member of British imperialism's undercover

SAS-

murder squad-the had been found shot dead by them not in the occupied Six in colmes DUl Duolin mountains.

SAS

Meanwhile shot dead 16 thugs who Catholic year youth ola John Boyle last July are to be charged with murder. It post tron Chelea reports that these mortem "heroes" imperialism were brave enough to shoot this unarmed youth in the back of the head, before he the hidden even touched "aiming" at them. This vicious incident is of of one aspect the repressive work of the British army in the occupied , six counties. Remove Mason But it makes even more essential campaign throughout the British workers' movement for action to force the removal of Mason and the right wing Callaghan cabinet, the of PoW the i status the Block to prisoners, and the iate withdrawal of British troops to make way for the self of determination the Irish people as a whole.

PROBLEMS OF POL

Page 6 Stalin Throughout the history of the Trotsky- ist movement the con- cept of political revolu- tion has come under repeated attack from both inside and outside the ranks of the move- ment itself. At each point it has been necessary establish the Marxist analysis of the Soviet Union. Because of the profound contradictions en booed within the USSR today, and of the ques- because manv tions are complicated, requiring a historical under- standing of the evolution of Soviet state after the 1917 Revolution, the temp- tation is simply to rely on surface impressions and to regard them as offering an analysis. Struggle Replying to the question whether the

USSR

workers or a capilalist slate.

Trotsky made the following points: "In the last analysis the will be decided by question of living social a struggle forces, both on the national and the world arena. Doctrinaires will doubt- less satisfied with not be this hypothetical definition.

They would like categorical formulae: yes-yes and 10. Sociological problems would certainly be simpler social Dhenomena always a finished character.

There more dangerous, however, than to for the unrow out or reality of sake logical complete. ness, elements which today violate schema tomorrow may wholly over- turn it. In our analysis, we have above all avoided doing viol- dynamic ence social formulations which have precedent and have had no no analogies. The task, well as the political is not to give a finished definition to unfinished an process, but to follow all its stages, separate its progressive from its reactionary tendencies, expose their mutual relations, foresee possible variants of development, and find in this foresight a basis for action." (Revolution Betrayed, p.256) From 1928 onwards one of the most common forms of perversion of the Marxist analysis has been the declar- The Workers Socialist League bases itself. on the struggle for the reconstruc- tion of the Fourth Inter- national as the basis for the overthrow of capitalism and of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the deformed workers states of Europe, Asia and Cuba. The problems posed in each case are different. Workers the capitalist countries are faced with the task of social revolution- the expropriation of the means of production from the capitalist class through the building of independent organs of workers' power.

But in the deformed ation that the Soviet Union under Stalin was trans- tormed into a state capit alist" regime, surmounted parasitic bureau- not by cracy, but by a new ruling class. Fought nationalism

HELLIT

Rec ity for an lu- tion. the had from tenden al- ism. Lenin broken decisively nd International the of its •Caucasi supported the capitalist Aloca at the of tries World War I. The pointed to the for revolution would from emerge nd the aa nationa he worker And thev see the ism one of socialist revoluton world scale, the of possibility the isolatio let state. In of the of bureaucracy the Soviet attacks workers' states, private ownership of the means of production has already been eliminated. State power however is monopolised by a parasitic Stalinist bureau- cracy. The task these countries is political revolu- tion-the overthrow of this reactionary bureaucracy and the establishment workers' management of the есолоту. This article will concen- trate on the problem of political revolution, and point to elements of pro. necessary to pre- granite pare for it. By Tony Richardson national the Georgian alivaalice affair-Lenin and Trotsky a holding Communist against imperialist attack But today those such as the British Socialist Workers Party who "state alsuc capitalist" position general correctly regarded as outside Trotskyist since tern. movement them declare themselves willing to defend the USSR, China the other deformed workers states against imperialism pressures nationalism- SWP's The split with Stalin's rationalised Trotskyism actually has its "theory" building roots the abstentionist position of founder member began to predominate Tony Cliti on the question of the war between North Korea and the Liary. capitalist Trotsky links South backed by the United Nations. Dangers food and general- ised want. But while a "state capit- alist" analysis of the

USSR

was effec- has obvious dangers, so toc does analysis Which simply latches on the super- of Marxism Union all that are needed pointed out, "reforms" the system drawn The capitalists conclusion -a refusal defend Stalin- Hitler 1939 pact and the political Germany Hungary, and The of the the gestures of the and property renanons which progressive can be pressured to the left by the masses. Neither view is able to present an objective analysis of the contradictions of the Soviet state offer independent road forward for the working class. History Socialist The Workers League is often criticised for directing back to history in analysing the crisis present the world Trotskyist in movement in its understand- ing of Stalinism. But the Marxist method insists the necessity of all phenom- understanding Hungary 1956 their historical context and historical SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 development. and, most the socialist Question important all, grasping revolution was posed on the contradictions scale, offering the worl drive forward that develop- possibility of ending the isolation of the new Only on this basis can we Soviet state conscious inter- In fighting the first signs accide our The vention. fight of development :of une Stalinism there. bureaucracy within the

ILL US

fore taken up in this way Soviet Union-the attacks on the monopoly of foreign and the emergence of 1917 and after Stalin's chauvinis! national Georgian the The history of Trotsky- ism is one of struggle against degeneration of the Lae Soviet Union. Not only are we proud of that history, but it is the source of our understanding of the Soviet bureaucracy as a material force in society, and not simply body of ideas What happened after the October Revolution? Revolution Betrayed 1n Trotsky analyses the back.

ward economy of pre-revol He utionar Russia shows how this related to the small working class, and thus the small number of Bolshevik cadres who had to both run the country and also stand in the front-line in the Civil War, fighting 23 imperialist armies of inter- vention But paramount in the list of factors in the subsequent degeneration of the revolu- tion, Trotsky places the isolation of the new workers and failure state, of tne affair-Lenin and Trotsky revolution to spread into an were intent on conducting industrialised country such holding as Germany. operation looking to the partners of the newly-formed Commu nist International lead Recognising the necessity revolutions in other for an international revolu- countries. tion, the This position is clear in from the outset fought any all of Lenin's later writings nationa- and those of Trotsky at this lism. Lenin had broken time, and recorded also in with the Second the minutes of the demove Infernational when the Comintern. majority of its leadership But when no such revo- supported the capitalist lutions took place, then the class in their "Own" nationalism- coun pressures of the rationalised in Stalin's LuCk World War I. "theory" of building "socia The Bolsheviks pointed lism in ' begat one country the opportunities for predominate within the revolution that would growing bureaucracy. emerge from the war. and Trotsky links the dangers of any form of development of bureaucracy national divisions within the to the growth of shortages, workers' movement. food and genera continued to The lised want. bureaucrat Ana tney see the epoch of imperia- is the policeman who arrives Lism one in which the to control the ..queues bul

TICAL REVOLUTION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 Trotsky and the Left Opposition doing by the Nazis that changed ensures represented. superior share-out for him- this perspective. these tne OI self. The defeat the The the and German working class-the whole apparatus, workers' bureaucrats of best organised are course police, and still Soviet the world means of movement l Union Trotsky saw that time-flowed directly today. the solution to this dilemma oul or the criminaly wrong against German only of the in terms inter- policies these odds Trotskyists Communist Party fought to nantonal revolution Until 1933 he The German Stalinists and the Ine. rea. • Opposition continued naa lonowea the lead or tne the Comintern its ultra-left to argue for a clear alter- of the working "Third Period", which split native domestic policy masses and of the the working class movement bureaucracy. by denouncing the Social Democrats as 'social fascists' cribe or worse than the Nazis, and declaring that it was better and the Souter Nazis that the Come workers' power. they saw in Suicidal This suicidal policy last political Lo recan allowed Hitler power. without token ICsIS- called by the mass first and Lalive the OIl Communist Party. Yet Comin- Tane tion end isolation tern there not the was and the OI slightest response this catastrophic defeat-not the •tallse policies that had led to it. policy of that country up the the had of danger internal degenerated an into thinking instru-

VLODCILY

ment of Stalinist bureaucracy that led Trotsky the Left at it was not and Rally in Budapest, 1956 The want that it was that of the Stalinist bureau- Russia into construct Fourth new, cracy. International. But at the same time while Within self itself they saw the life blood of the this fight the as inter- "consider call for not without revolle national struggles of the lass working class. layer can their Insure Tone They showed how the positions only defeat of the 1926 General through the rejection of Strike Britain and the in conecLivisa• China 1926/7 strugges tion of arose out of the policies of ible foreign the name Stalin newly- 'Western emerging bureaucracy. change had And they showed also become bureaucra- how, by furthet isolating tis be the

USSR,

they also overthrown revolu- of defence strengthened the Stalinists.

tic hat то- nationalised property Political revolution the relations. prate bourgeoisié, merely the This made During this period lass Trotsky insisted on a per- of Stalinist nature fighting pective to ing • bureaucracy. 1s a para- Communist Revolution Betrayed elite which • arties both Russia Trotsky within the internationally. It was bureaucracy numbering at the it is = aftermath of the defeat 6 same time based on •he German working class that Stalin nationalised property obliged order Though acute vened, defender people, would стасу. а inequality: eges of Down who output] Soviet and ranks line a the the cracy: Stalin's away even The soviets had were tion, the had :to working class In Hungarian masses, 1956 defend to in its "defence" defeat, as the the Czech would have the solev In and the differentiation bureaucracy! "exemplary" with the orders and its [this the army] of wages through "Constitu- nominal the of from elected society Page 7 sal suffrage-whereby, lesser China • extent Trotsky pointed today the -opens up the danger OuL. worker's voice was only one that the bureaucracy itself could be swept away by a ot a mass The same period saw the hostile mass movement. Moscow Trials, in which all Political oppression of the main surviving leaders of the Russian Revolution This is why the Soviet were condemned to death. bureaucracy-even Trotskyists to this day at times when it has made minimal see the struggle for the economic concessions to the rehabilitation of these Com- class-has working steered munists and of Trotsky him- of well clear of any relaxation self

PIO

of their political oppression.

gramme for political revolu And today this is the since it points to the behind heavy- right to struggle politically handed Kremlin suppres- within the Soviets. sion of small unrepresenta- New Soviets tive groups of 'dissidents' and a rudimentary would-be While Transitional the 'free trade union'. Programme for the Trotsky in the democratisation and driving Transitional Programme of the bureaucracy from the Soviets, of the the lessons lor a revision of the planned last 40 years make it clear "in the interests economy that new Soviets, or workers of producers and councils, formed must comsumers" giving factory independently of the committees the right to bureaucracy order to control production. through the political Cotty Programme makes revolution. a similar call for the collec.

vivid experience of tive farms. 1956 uprising in Hungar, saw the spontaneous begin- Open the books nings and a glimpse of the potential of precisely such As a step towards tht development and reestablishment of workers' crucial in the elaboration of management planned the programme for political economy warped by years revolution. bureaucratic incompet- Such new Soviets will ence, Trotsky in Rerolution have room the Betral'ed points to the need

GPU,

bureaucracy, the any of the men of privilege.

"open the in come and And, Trotsky Soviet flake capelist 00O* workers in such society". cleat, bodies will decide by thent And to expose also the votes which political parties manipulation or the should as apparatus and judiciary by recognisea entitled to the bureaucracy, the Trans- Soviets itional Programme calls for

MOSCOW

Trials to be "reviewed in the light of for complete publicity". the deformed Similarly Trotsky states. calls for an end to the reaction- those ary secret diplomatic. wheel- will call for ing and dealing by the Kremlin bureaucracy: concessions to bourgeois "The complete diplo- democracy. correspondence of the the Kremlin struggle be for published. Down with secret diplomacy!" elements of pro- 1 nese trade and factory gramme have come down to from the Transitional us Programme and others assembly. Trotsky's writings the The Soviet Union. mortally of But such clearly there thre demands they are not many aspects dealt Trotsky's in witn they analysis-largely those connected with the post-war experiences of struggle and far-reaching and uprisings against the for Stalinist bureaucracy revolution itself. These aspects of the fight for political revolution will Any D11211! along these lines-as be dealt with in Part 2 o1 Czechoslovakia 1968, or, to this article next week. Brezhner with leading Stalinist bureaucrats

HOUNSLOW HOSPITAL:

Has lesson been learned? Page 8 We recently received the following letter from Hounslow Pete Secretary of Trades Rowlands, Council, criticising our article in Socialist Press 128.

AREA M

union leaderships or the TUC, London W3 Dear Editor. ano nave Chiticized Your issue December o their general lack or will to leac carried article on Hounslow a fight against cuts. We believe and rank Hospital which is inaccurate in a number diresoects •ressure 1) The 'occupation' which action-this was successful when 6, 1977 thousands of hospital workers in began October 12, October struck on and was begun as a response to following raid the that You Hounslow. raid date. extend the however between an 'occupation' definition of bureaucrat to the of

GLATC

and and a 'work-in'

SERTUC

Stiller and .2) The 10 NALGO members had their appeals against expul.

romev s conticaly meaning" sion upheld long before you less and quite disgraceful in view of the consistent support which and initiative to beain tuese (not continue) the occupation TheIr secretares by the defence com. gave to the occupation. was taken 3) Refusal campaign for which then became the occupation committee. neenate sake action

WE REPLY:

The on we have consistenty anemo.

November did produce an agree.

to promote action of all ted kinds and have Rowlands' avallist bother the Minister which being contains of our articis, cified justified always stressed … Tne need To proceeded with. The X-ray stronger and wider trade union was binet with some before we left due our important political mistakes of nigger movement adainst actions. cuts before such his own initiated 5) We do not run a national action Since the Hounslow work. car cam balon CuTs The realistic oasis. Deneve in and occupation has played ar

NHS.

We founded 'Fightback' that our occupation and cam- important role in the develop which will continue to oppose done something ment of the struggle against th paign has towards that end. cuts as it nas in ine asl issues raised. particufarly as such errors are dao enouon lo attrioute The Tanure To the occupation re-open Hounslow our Firstly apologise that and the events preceding it have refusal• call for indefinite some careless sub-editing of ou to and been wen documence. mowever striKe article your criticisms indicates nature distinction between the occupa- political are TInE unfounded, Our weak- world of ultra-left tion and original work-in inhabited impotence nesses are categorized as: and abbreviated the account of 1) 'More orotest politics'. A domaiist rress Tha committee. 14 month occupation is hardly Our campaign of course had decisis for anech teg won that 'mere protest'! We have consis. many weaknesses, and we would allegation tentiv cam •cloneo or a Doltica nave welcomee some or our into maon response to cutbacks, locating criticism from any outdated we can only point ouarter Hounslow's firmly Unfortunately, innacurate closure that this information came shallow has done The context ane articit to socialist ares mom a central and influential member of the current crisis and the attempts nothine to oindoint toose wedk- solve it by nesses promote greater Hounslow Occupation Commit- understanding of how to fight class living standards and social

18B TIE

press (four days before SP 128 services. ane stressine the need cUTE for active opposition to cuts was issued). we will shorty de recuee within the whole trade union our assessment of the campaign However, Brother Rowland which may perhaps elicit a more fifth point seems to be based o ane labour movement. constructive resiy iron you.

misree ing article 2) Spawning of illusions in which stated clearly that: Meanwnre trust vou MPs. Which print this letter which will 90 "Hounslow Hospital became Labour towards setting the ones! The tact is inat woule we a national Tocal received limited support from record straight. fight against hospital closures some MPs (which we welcomed) Yours fraternally and cuts in health expenditure.

Pete Rowlands we nave never succestee unar tne BASSISTeR fight against cuts should be Secretarv. Hounslow Trades Council, the Occupa- confined to Parliament or led by Trades Council foganisa in ting the Fightback tion Committee on behalf of Hounslow

MICS

il) Union bureaucrats. We have organisation Posta curation Socialist Press however con never placed ultimate reliance in Committee. fesses itself guilty of two minor nome people don't errors oT terminology, and Committee want to come to the leaders. We apologise but then Brotner howland: goes on to takeus to tosk fur political content score

RED YOUTH RALLY

have no apology to make Brother Rowland: asserts on Sat. 24 February not being into

DISCOS-(1445.

SOCIALISM

AND YOUTH!

St John's Way, Rally-Caxton House, London disco. Tickets 50p (provinces) £1 (London). and Vultu National Secretary, SYL, More read need tastoni EGA supporters-WSL initiative led to work-in 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Communist Far: Bureaucrat-Dromey He goes on to claim to have "consistently campaigned for a political response Ine cut. and to have stressed for active opposition 'the need to cuts..' What was this "political res ponse" and "active opposition"? Does Brothe Rowlands mean that the Committee campaigned for London wide action the health unions in support of their fight? He evades the point • ComoBtery • That comano. rare•

WSL

members, was consis- by rejected by the Occupa- tently tion Committee without such outwards from the Hounslow demanding that hospital, the rest or ine London labour move (and in particular the take health service unions) concere accon deans to col the militant and determined bound 10 occupation was baconne SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 isolated-though hillisc arother • kow anos 29k3 18 1¢ specify which 'left' Labour MP: were feted by the Committee.

no SHole reminding. Russell Kerr MP in particula Tarl quotecter to no serious demanes whatever by Occupation Committee-while by

WSL

member. I expose tH norlowness of kerrs support for aroused no more than irritation and embarr- asinent none orower howards and other Committee leaders.

No demands Far from suggesting that the stuce shome de contines le Parliament, the Occupation Committee put forward no demands That HIKe in Paraly is he cats Parliament against and the policies of the Lib-Lab government! Rowlands And Brother enthusiastr JeTT bureaucrat Jack Dromey makes describing believe the whose demagogy refusal to expose the APEX anc

TGWU

officials created the natascary conTusion to alow Ti betrayal of the Grunwick strike; the same person who, despite South East Region TUC has not consistently mobilised him.

even support of the Garner strike; •Tal SAme person full-time official of

ACTSS

himself has proved wureducat in every sense or tr term. Not blamed Of course our article did not blame Tallere reopening of the Hounslow on the Occupation Committee's un.

Terusal Call

(TOI

Mass picket in support of the Hounslow occupation indefinite striko supporting to make such a charg action would stand the whole issue on its head. Reactionary Rather the of the Tawure Committee to grasp the impor. tance of this policy flowed from their political inability to under the stubborn stand. determina. Benn and Hart included-to ahead with their reaction.

press ary attacks on the working class at the make it necessary to prepare the workers movement to respond The blame for the closure of the Hounslow rests squarely on shoulders Labour ot thi government, Thos lett assist it to remain in office, and public union thost have consistently •nicials who refused to lift a finger prevent the cuts taking place It was the dead weight of bureaucrats decisive in isolating the Hounslow occupation. Unfortunate As for Brother Rowlands inappro conclude insults against Socialist orate Press be regardec they can only as unfortunate and ill informed members have played extremely influential role an Two examples should confirm our members that first took un the tiaht fo Elizabeth occupation the of Garrett Anderson hospital-now open as a result of that Sull initiative •8ne • The willingness of other sections o health workers to take support ing strike action We have also been at the forefront of the fight to build the commitee o order are Shop Stewards Health Service (CLASH), which in turn plaved a key role in tighting toi supporting strike London-wIde action after management ransacked the Hounslow. Assessment We would recommend Brother Rowland consult booklet How to Fiaht the Cut and back numbers of Socialist Press for fulle details of the been able to have on the the and struggle against cuts, now to ugut on low pay i tr public sector. We look forward to seeing the Committee's

HOLLOW

written assessment of thei important experience that if # ience are learned then fuțur struggles against hospital closur more soll foundation

'Free State' frames up SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979 more political A further example of repression in the so called Irish 'Free State' last December came with the end of the marathon Cork-Dublin mail train robbery trial At a cost of over £1 million, total of 108 days were forcing spent through the anes three political opponents of the Lynch government. There were in fact two different trials-both held in the Special Criminal Court where three judges try, acquit and sen- tence the defendant without the inconvenience of a jury.

The first trial ended after 65 days when one of the three presiding judges John L. O'Conner died second, lasting 43 days, ended with the con- viction of three members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party. Osgar Breathnach, Bernard McNally and Nick Kelly were all found guilty of robbing the Cork-Dublin mail train. Breathnach and McNally were given 12 and 9 years espectively Disappeared Nick Kelly, who before the end disappeared Workers demonstrate against Lynch's domestic polictes the trial, has not yet The sole evidence against been sentenced him was that he had been These three and Michael identified by Mr. Conal Plunkett, who was acquitted OToole. whose house was during the second trial, were armed men on occupica Dy charged with stopping the the night of the robbery.

Cork-Dublin mail Osgar Breathnach was 31st March 1976 and first arrested March stealing mail bags 3lst 1976. Neither the bags nor the At the Bridewell he was (estimated questioned by detectives between £250,000 and account for £400,000) have ever been his movements on the reçovered. previous night. Released The rested convictions after 48 hours he was on statements made by tne rearrested four days later.

accused while were Taken back the being 'questioned' by the Bridewell, Breathnach gardai (police). claims he was taken to Throughout the 'trials' tunnel and by beaten up all three pleaded 'not guilty' detecaves said and that con- fessions were extracted Confession under torture. In the days leading up to From there he was taken the to an interview room where O'Conner defendants the beating continued complainea on a number or Wishing to avoid further that occasions was agreed sign asleep confession. Counsel complained However, signed through all the legal 'Oscar' rather than 'Osgar' channels and asked for indicating his disagreement O'Conner's replacement. with the statement s The complaint was relected and branded as an attempt

LOILLCIILS

disrupt the court pro- ceedings. Dead

CATE

However, June 6th on O'Conner failed appear and a messenger sent round to his. home was told that the Judge was dead. Thus the first trial ended after 65 days and the whole thing had to be started all over again. The Irish could state have saved itself time and by continuing

DAOLINC

O'Conner-keeping him use freeze overnight in a deep and propping him up in his chair during the day. Events in the second trial to show that wouldn't have Holdut ally difference to the verdict.

Soon after the beginning of the second trial Michael Plunkett was released. opponents When he Next day he reported the was taken to Portlaoise Prison April incident to a Sergent Cleary on 9th he was found to have who advised him to mind bruises on his left arms and his own business. A vital part of the court's both legs lump and a his head. verdict rested on whether or This was testified to by not Breathnach's constitu- Prison Officer Brendan tional rights had been vio- Breen who received him at lated by his second arrest the prison. whether or ane not his alleged statement, Self inflicted Haut claimed, while under duress, could be admitted as As we shall see, the evidence. Judges chose to argue that the The bench's decisions on inturies were "self- inflicted' the these questions involved the prisoners deliberately injured each most tarcical contortions of legal interpretation other. Supporting evidence that Breathnach claimed he had violence being asked carried lor a at the time was given while in the Bridewell. vul prisoners who anee testified heard having No request shouting and screaming during the night. This was denied by the William Royale Мас- he prosecution counsel had heard someone donald who on "We can work in relays all make the amazing statement night" that ana la stop when you tell 'There had want been us wnat we to know". request to the gardai by When he banged his own Breathnach than cell door he was told "you'll saying he would not say get the same if you don't anything until his solicitor shut up". was present. That was not a request for a solicitor".

(Irish Press 10.11.78-our emphasis) This was too much for even Justice Hamilton, who replied "Would it not be suffi- there cient that was indication? One of the gardai has evidence given he reported to his that Mr. Breath- superiors nach insisted speaking Irish and told that them Mr. Breathnach was looking for a solicitor". Obviously embarrassed by all this the court decided to reserve its judgement on the admissability of Breath- nach's statement. evidence Further of Violence emerged when evidence relating to Nick Kelly was heard. Two doctors Paul Students in struggle against the Lynch regime McVeigh (Mountjoy Prison) and Richard Burke laoise Prison) testified that they had examined Kelly on April 8th and 9th respec- tively and found injuries consistent with a severe beating. Chair on hands Giving evidence, Kelly described the beating he had received which included lying down on the floor while a detective sat on chair which rested his open palms; having his head forced repeatedly repeated tolle.

DOW

punches; blows on the back and at one a cnalr, point having his ears banged simultaneously for ten minutes. • He repeatedly asked for a solicitor, a doctor or a priest but got no response to these appeals. Kelly told the court he had signed a statement to beatings and avoid further that he had identified least eleven of the detec- tives in court who had beaten him in Fitzgibbon Street and the Bridewell Gardai Station Ist 1978 On December the court de- eventuall clared that the injuries to the defendants were not caused by the gardai were self-inflicted. The court ruled that all the statements, both verbal and written were admiss- able that although and Breathnach had been held there unlawjully was no infringement of conscious his constitutional right to liberty. Public interest This statement was con- sidered admissable 'in the public interest Breathnach had been examined by a doctor in the Four Courts who nounced him dangerously ill At St. Lawrence's Hospital, however seen by doctors who found "no serious injuries" It was these doctors the At the end of the Judges' statement defence counsels MacEntee and Sorohar asked for a transcript of the judgement. This was refused-as was an application for the court tape recording of the judge- ment. Astounding Defence counsel Sorohan making application for the transcript, referred to the judgement Page 9 Lynch "astounding'. Judge Clark asked if he really lound it astounding and Sorohan replied that he found it 'surprising' He should not have, for he had heard similar points made trial of Noel in Ene and Marie Murray (see SP 124). Defence Counsel such as MacEntee and Sorohan, who are emploved by state at the modest fee of £240 a day, are in reality simply there to provide lancy lega cover lor wnat only described. as can be judicial frame-ups. Protests The verdicts and sentences were with mel protests inside and outside the court. As the 12 year sentence handed was Breathnach jumped to his "The state feet and shouted framing me. fam minocent.

£l. million Outside the court IRSP supporters picketted and handed out leaflets. During the trial attempts were made to implicate the late Seamus Costello, leader of the

IRSP

who was assasinated on October Sth 1977. Irish justice further issue of Socialist Press will carry an the attempts article on to postpone the inquest on Costello's death. The train robbery case shows once again the nature of justice in Ireland. ..

Once again political opponents of the Lynch government and the Irish capitalists have been rail. roaded into jail after a trial without a jury and on the sole evidence of statements which ther claimed were made under torture As the economic crisis facing Lynch evel more sharp it is more than ever necessary for the Irish bourgeoisie to • remove those who are fighting to destroy capitalism. The Irish state, up to its debt ears to foreign imperialists, £1 spent million latest dirty trick. The sort of 'justice' to be found in Ireland today will doubt come to Britain no the imperialist in army the Nortr wul be used on the British working class By Keith White

INDUSTRIAL

Lobby exposes bureaucracy ment of Garnersi strike recognition. Regional fresh members of lobbied by stewards.

TRUS

of meeting Shorter The Stalinist-dominated This one executive committee of the branches in the Outer London Region of of union NATHE has got a very red couragement, on the claim face. merger lecturers' pay scales For secretary also Eric Williams, Princinal of West Ham Further Education College has just hac group one of his lecturers sacked aCTION pushing through this nappens Inal Only lecturer was chairman of the college NATHE branch.

THE KEY TO THE CUTS FIGHT!

spells

ENNALS OUT.

necessary

NO MORE

struggle against the cuts, drawing on practical ex-

HOSPITAL CUS

perience at and the Oxford Nursery Occupation. 30p plus 10p p&p from the WSL,

A WSL

31, Dartmouth Park Hill How to fight the cuts London NW5 IHR.

SOCIĄLIST:

PRESS *

forefront.

DEFEND THI

SU TOOLMAKES

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DEFEND THE

SOCIALIST

RIGHT

PRESS

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EVERY WEEK!

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2..... Name 5 issues Address 10 issues 25 issues 31, Send to: Socialist Press, Hill, Dartmouth Park 50 issues London NWS IHR

NEWS

Garners sabotage The weakness of the TGWU committee since the strike move- began more than a year ago.

The the working class During Lildl against the Labour Govern- committee-headed by ment and its own leadership Staden Stalinist secrelary is clearly accentuated in the Regional Organiser, and for union been totally implicated in sabotaging the A meeting of the TGWU struggle. Committee for Region 1 was forced to hear Deal with police cans lor action irom the strike As reported in Socialist after Press this culminated in the was TGWU shop with notorious agreement police to limit the numbers was the fourth full on one picket to six ally the Region 1 As the committee

NATFHE MILITANT SACKED

the few Education Committee and received a warm reception.

actively campaigning in defiance But several of the councillors leadership's dis- that Committee dit tor a members o the colege boara 01 Governors, which, on January or grades and < oi 24, voted uphold the the Principal Gistmissal of the Regan, the sacked national John responsible for Lecturer, , had only become chair the claim man the the before week the dullin, sorowing an exolosiol of anger among lecturer I's in the college the way being negotiations were Manored He said "I was bitterly dis- appointed the completely negative reply of the Burnhan The booklet which FE Committee and went back from the lobby branch my out the policies determined show that for all-out lecturer is were a torce to be reckoned with." The to go • for the claim was made at the annua

EGA

the

WSL

Whichever way you look at the struggles and prob- facing lems rOW the working class world-wide, one thing stands out above the need for a prin. al- Right cipled leadership capable of leading the struggle for state power and the establish- at ment of a socialist society.

Socialist Workers League is the only movement in the Britain that tights patientiy and relentlessly to basis ot the basis party, Prog- I rotskyist Transitional ramme. We alone are the movement £1.10 .£2.20 £5.50 £10.00

TGAL

members arrived and found themselves confronted by a renewed their indifference paign against cracy to and turned embarrasment as tney trica unsuccessfully to fend off accusations of sabotage. They denied the After existence of the agreement committee with ponce. The fact that the lobby members that forced the committee to accept a delegation from the strike committee shows how vulnerable the leadership is Because under the pressure from the membership. pickets on January This period provides very the intervention Regional strike. He told committeee that the conference, against the advice Regional of thee or ensible hip. for sacking hedan was that ne hac refused to fill in a new kind of report for students. policy is that thi branch reports constitute a change in police of service land 1 he must be properly negotiated.

few weeks committee summoned Principal's office Regan entered and demanded a negotiation clear evidence witnesses. ane conterence noon win ne branch official present This was refused and later Regar suspenced banned from entering the College premises. youth.

WSL

members The Stalinist maiority on thi Outer • _oncon «ecion is oniv maintained by a slim majority. This may well be the now face Issue to hundreds of pounds We offer a lead! and in practice the necessity for that does not shrink from even head-on battles with the exist a new leadership and for programme of no eders or tre working cids.

demands - whetner these be open rigni 'left' talking Labourites consciousness within the work- Stalinists of the Communist ing class, lead Such a policy has made us friends in the trade union socialist revolution. no For this reason, and Labour bureaucracy, but are smaller than some self-styled Consistenty most powerful lead to workers revolutionary groups, the vol in struggle. has featured in the forefront of pay se figle against st the strength of our the fight movement lies precisely in our rejection of any attempt to find by

TUC

struggle against "short cuts around the necess ar tont to construct.a marxis Unsation leadership in the working class.

fight against the dictatorship within the unions In these battles we set out to prove to workers both in theory rejecting any descent to simple trade union form come every

NOON ARE

or stalinist bureaucracy - Is o1 course essential for the class not only

ALIST REVOLITION!

Name Address Trade Union/occupation Garners pickets, January 1978 favourable conditions for a it co-ordinated cam- The strike committee the bureau- and supporters must intensi- demand an end to fy their against struggle the isolation of the strikers.

policies which seek Isolale the strike Visits to factories must the meeting be followed and up Shorter hurried to the strike demands not confined HQ tell the calls for necessary the financial support and refused to support their cal the pickets support on for a new day of action or Strike committee March 3 and for a national members must clearly TGWU delegate conference.

explain to stewards, con- of the mass not the TGWU leader- and ten Del 27 and role into the ship in the strike, ana win Committee, their support to challenge Shorter was not however in and change those policies Workers Socialist League position to kill off the members supporting the the strike strike will continue to fight they. still to remove all obstacles to had the official support of winning the Garners strike and that the including those bureaucrats Committee had oppose the necessary wito no intention of withdrawing policies.

FINES APPEAL

onslaught of we are course fighting Garners pickets is now takina g through the London labou mounting toll in fines and costs.

movement for decrude nine ago 'o ve made avallable to suppon member fined trade unionists fined for picke Vas ing at Garners. Iso ana I/uu costs despite the three problem And a WSL member founo appeals appers for supporters guilty of obstruction has been • donations to assisi fined a staggering €120. Police our comrades in paying thes savage fines. have even arrested a lo-year ora Donations should be marked alone, as Garner: result of being the most regular Socialist Dartmouth Park Hill. Londor supporters on the picket lines fines totalling

NW5 1HR

internationally transitional In takina up international issues

WSL

Lunt • ПО which, starting trom of Britis! oniv on cation workers to support the Irish •ano liberation struggle and revolut workers londry struddies such es those l and Southern Africa, but to oraso ine neeo to "ran also the necessity for the recon.

Trotskyist though we struction rourn internatone 8s ce cr centre iworld anising party of socialist revolution Leyland, The WSL is not the Sate movement on meet leaders, in the nor the easiest to be a member of. But in its approach the cuts, struggles and accer bureaucratic the only really, serious revol- utionary movement. WHY NOT JOIN US? Fill militancy, and the below for mor any in form concession «aHs. ol branch, who will gladly supply revormis more information our working policies, In Britain but More details

'SEND ME MORE DETAILS OF THE WSL

(Post to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR).

REOPEN LEYLAND CARS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 7 February 1979

PAY CLAIM

Leyland British will meet conyenors and again next Monday to increase in overtime pay.

decide whether or not to press ahead with combine-wide strike. In order these payments, This is in response to the decision of management to ment are disqualify the November small prInt and December "parity" pay- which ments-due under the wage "ifs" and deal accepted by ballot in December-and their decision to defer payment . suit management. line mes nao aceco minimum rates due to come into force on February 1.

deal was The minimum rates Cowley mass meeting-warned of Leyland fraud Near scrape for TUC puppets Right officers of wing Oxford and District Trades Council with the full weight of the

TUC

them behind clung on to their positions by the skin of their teeth at the annual general meeting last week. Power, witch-hunting conn president of the Council for the and a half years, V Casey TOUr vOtes defeating Gerry

UPW.

59 votes to 55. Pat Ward,

NUPE,

former assistant secretary. was erected secretary de feating Peter Molntyre by 64 votes to 53, and another montice sistently defended the MC nevre Tor position assistant secretary of the ability of the right wing to the last President of plan their manoeuvres the "former Trades Council i ne otticers the

TUC,

up by was with a major elected top of the poli as one of The AGM was vice presidents, an election : 109 meetino since in which Alan Thornett (TGWL 1976 and the narrowness 5/293) picked up 45 votes vote, together e aeron was notabie tor ot many or rowers suoooners the sudden influx of new dele- to show any interest in attend- branches solidly gates ing meetings NUPE, which marched into the than delegates-many unem total strangers If the votes of Inose wno have attended the Trades Council ar least once detween (GMs had been counted Have ost ov a street The right wing/Stalinist halliance were so intent nakiro a.Cean sweeo ot the officers positions that they cousted Snape Terry

(ASTMS)

de teasurer, replacing nim witr Gallagher, Stalinist by three votas. anape nos cortarniv no1 broken from the bureaucracy The voted for many of the right wing nominees) but he has con- would provide an £8 a week the are people increase in night-shift allow- now (quite object- rightly) ing union oficials and it-notably os antia national Derek Robinson, Long Small print bridge convenor and a lead- ing Communist Party disqualify to member. manage- Management say now pointing the that payment been the deal OI affected by last year's contains a welter of Drews Lane strike-which "buts", and took place before the ballot statements -and by the road haulage which can be interpreted to was outside alspute-wnich of BL ›and took place in January! Despite these clauses, the This simply rams home recommended to the point by some made the Leyland labour force by plants, notably Cowley, that the pay package was fraudu- lent from the start. In fact Bill McLain, BL chief produced negotiator, the leaflet circulated by the Plant Cowley Assembly Joint Shop Stewards last November to "prove" that the trade unions were aware of all the pitfalls and should not be surprised that pay- ment had been stopped! Full support be There will no doubt full decision when goes meetings during this week. problem the 1ne demands of the strike mean that Power in guaranteed minority al every ordinary meeting 'Disruptive' This could push him towards optional Rule 15 USe The threatens remove 'disruptive' delegates, if he is to succeed in his mission of blocking policies in the interests of the working class ine luc nao taken the ora.

caution of ruling out of order in advance amendments the uj branch which IrON restore fortnightly souant Casey meetings and to allow some challenge to the rulings of the the demo chals The Oxford Trades Council As such he posed a threat to be virtually the only must now unIon Une CoUnerV where there to are now left challenge the chair- and it nas problem soecial •ictatona STaTUS bigaest with the full backing of the une reconstitution in

TUC.

of the the retusal 'Violence' In the event none of the rule council Chances were basseo since there was little chance of a two-thirds majority anything-left or right. • AGM took olace after Power and Ward had circulated outrageous 'annual which rower accusee nis dooon.

ents of threatening him Ward said that violence and Dancy's (the secretarv elected-a1 previous

AGM)

crack-up reality a result of increasing that officers other have experienced trom inose opposed to our elections." Power Iso went into the Oxford Mail on the dav of the with his absurd and elections unspecified allegations threats of violence. formulated by the LCJNC advice This committee calling misled them in the past. only for full implementa- tion of the original package.

The result the OT Foremost package is the implementa- Iraltors 1s tion of corporation level last year gave bargaining by November this year, which is the cul- the management's mination

OTI

designed strategy to it, O Ul workers in BL wages acceptance! straightjacket. This demand should be reopen the rejected issue and The fact is that BL has used double talk, subterfuge standard of and confusion con- workers. suousiy sown Dy tne meala to get a deal accepted when they had no intention of paying.the money. Both the ballot and the ed the should package now be principled declared null and void and the wage claims submitted alll by the individual plants the combine. reopened Workers should reject the LO Picketing rights under fire Amid the Tory press hys- teria against picketing and Thatcher's attempts One cantans the rabble of- the Jimmy Young Show into a Chief frenzy Greater anti-union OT Anderton. violence, last week brought Best further evidence or a con- massive police certed move to curtait basic nostisco demonstration trade union rights. In the courts, yet another em over so that: ing a "temporary injunction" *Only restraining pickets outside his involved tollowing on the anti picket set the Unton precedent *AlI pickets United Biscuits judgement.

authorised and identified.

more still, the maximum York Trailer Companv at North allerton is to. sue nine pickets for losses incurred during three further. days' picketing outsidt the course of acto ates the lorry drivers" strike.

The employer made it clear that the action was not againsi This final the TGWU but against the nine individuals concerned. prove have their noue tne Tirm huge implications

: SIX

PHOTO. Andra

PHO

NUJ Vice President Jake Ecclestone arrested for picketing Nottingham Evening Post: a condition of bail is that he stay away from the Post premises Page 11 oi those who have Deadline among these Robinson, management until December 3 to revise package-but then Repom when they refused to alter A lead is now required to whole establish settle- ments which will defend the living of BL New leadership And this is also connect- struggle for Robinson leadership that government plans for speed.

will fight in defence of jobs up and mass sackings. conditions throughout This task is being under- presenting a taken by Workers the clear programme on which Socialist League. management and pickets in future struggles and amount to a direct challenge to movement spokesman keen to mount such a challenge Cónstable James Manchester rem em bered for the orotecuon for a National Front in Tameside, Anderton last week called for a change in the law on picketing Evans people directly Now Labour ministers are strike could Line Tory campaign Tne against the unions. should be Ministers Booth, Varley and number introduction pickets is laid down-with police secret ballots prior to strikes-in having powers to limit numbers line with Tory ibility of no-strike clauses in the public services, and restrictions Garners limit on picketing such restraints seems likely to be Moss Evans' provision of TGWU picketing code Meanwhile the Tories stand TGWU Region 1 officials who accord in the wings, ready either own back sufficiently restricted Garners picket lines to reacuondr introduce Labouri Do cies their own attacks on the unions The construction principled socialist leadershio ir the labour movement has nevel been such an urgent task.

Tro tomara 'Comm ainst 'Communists'. Against Rev- olution containing the Ifttte-knowen Theory of Structural Assimilation' by Tim Wohlforth, is the book on post-war Stalinism that Mandel and Healy would not publish or discuss. Make sure you get your copy available at £1.75 plus 20p p&p from: Dartmouth Park

PRESS

As Khomeini returns

WHO CAN

GOVERN

IRAN?

"Two governments can- captured) for the first time on a not be tolerated". So said large scale. As Iran's prime

WITSLET

virtually army Bakhtiar, referring to the Ine streets tor inree odys.

returned Ayatollah's ation that martial law would be constantly postponed plans restored "Islamic declare his Wilki •ovs were Revolutionary Council". has stI not dared send a soldier back But the situation in Iran present there is not even one Perhaps the of government-at one developments WILl ally elective aren supplies. over the masses. Bakhtiar's Prevented government itself is little more than a cipher. Most petrol by the continuing control fact ministers nave been unable enter their workers, they have been keeping ministries for because the their vehicles directly are wanted actual

TOWNI

United States. STrATOrS What power remains to the bourgeois state the No bullets army

WHICH

SeIT snowing numerous signs of weakness.

Its bloody but unsuccessful in the government arsenals came efforts actor- auba city strations before the A vato lan strike. Khomeini's return week came onto the streets shouting

DULOUTSIS

officers as well as mutinies ov the slogan: we retuse to make rank and file soldiers. bullets Soldiers brothers" fire, on the sent to the CrOWeS loined Them -taking their arms with them-and these army's authority demonstrations saw masses power now Usine aris nome made The Westminster at centre of fight With sixteen hospitals due to Monday morning in support of the £60 public sector pay claim, the stubborn struggle against victimisation at the Westminster London became the centre of a strikebreaking sive last weekend. Suspended Despite the

NUPE

members suspended clean the private hospital as part of the "selective" Labour government aided by the IOTO: Laurie Sparham. IFL an end to the strike in their defence: Shaken NUPE NEC members visibly shaken Secretary Fisher

CONCE

TrOM they on met instructed the to workErs Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd. (London). Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

SOCIALIST

Khomeini returned the withdrew from Despite a thundering declar- permitted the streets 48 hours most for tes masses streets, with or Intears renalous authorities from many factories with hastily getting organised and unco- Tige orolnatea commitee strikers. going on supplies The demand for the forma. Soviet-type tion trom peasants ane solo ers councils to take up the reins of power in organised becomes way now Le koy lo ecleroine to cain.

Then last week the workers already won, to preventing them degenerating into a chaos which could only benefit the Tine imperialists and to Takind the demonstrations they forward the at the political level in order to head pre-

OTT

Detravars beine which kill our pared by the religious leaders.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khomeini hangs fire-and prays.

bouraeoisie s ano crumbles He has drawn any increasingly resides from strength the hardening unorganised ceterminaton or tne masses London Top level meetings involving Len Murray and Health Secre strike on tary Ennals finally concluded at Nonedy • rebrud with Ennals instructing hospital management to send the disput to ACAS. pressure from Hospital officials Branch Secretary Jamie Morris finally also agree offen- on his own behalf to submit the case to ACAS, and to cal i branch Peturn to work would be voted which meeting on fact that six Picket lines remained But meanwhile the other 16 wing ot hospitals that had voted over union's the weekend in action, a succession solidarity with the Westminster bureaucrat claim were The bigwigs already pani spicket in. hacks of Fleet sought rosaure Tol ConTusion strikes at these 16 hospitals had called off along also been nat a te westminster but 8s vie go to press there to indica these strikes were and General weakening There could be no clearer protected by demonstration of the willingness fight the Saturday and Westminster (ein nation their leaders to hold them back. reter their Gosa Published by Folrose Ltd., for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

laws Anti-Shah soldiers fraternising with demonstrators On the contrarv Khomein mecares is now All this time the scale and the potentiàl zealot and forces. which been uppet at uneasnce in me _course ot ni campaign against the Shah's to dictatorship and its precarious oping mobilisation inheritors. dressed dovers t

IVO

Statement. policy have been issued from ton the one the Ayatollah's base new content Tehran, gramme has been advanced to But the the needs of the holds his hand, mass

HISK

important state- aven The tossed asice ment promised for Sunday was cancelled al shrewdness without explanation. At read v But Khomeini insisting remains opposition to be silent who still the masses carouno ine rebression or me army his leadership, there is no doubt that he has found plenty to say almost the last thing Bakhtiar trouen ener inter class woUld Court basis of dence from his control: The retusing to rules from against heouo tc Such Proll Knornels very таке Tin€ Astrid Proll-the woman form militias alleged by the West German against the army state to be a former member the Baader-Meinhof Building such proceed terrorist gang-has lost her increased cooperation with rank another and tle solsters trom the armı against extradition struggle as part of from Britain. break sive Trade unionists and autnority or tneir Labour Party members their should urgently take up the oppression. fight for resolutions demanding that no extra- dition order be granted for Proll, who has already suffered two years imprison- ment without trial and would face Germany almost death in overtook our prison if returned. ment which Correction - which no wages struggles.

OUR

The February carries a reference to an IRA killing of a suspected SAS agent .The mountains now hear that the IRA have time in this short month.

denied any responsibility for the Socialist Press Englishman named as Albert Lockett. London NW5 1HR. The real face of Labour's immigration The sordid reality of the system of racist immigration/ operated by the right wing Labour govern.

ment was exposed last week as it was proved that immi- gration officers. had been singling out immigrant women for virginity tests.

it the Indian woman bUL "persuaded who was to : sigh a consent form on January 24 had not insisted on keeping it and pressing a complaint , the whole affair would still unktoetorm The headed "HM Immigration Office Terminal 3 Airport' states: "This is to certify that I agree to a gynaecological exam.

ination which may be a vaginal if necessary. This been read •to me • in my mother and Is Tully understood by me!" Not to whites The tests, needless to say, to white applied immi. dins on coded fugitive racists from South Africa or Zimbabwe, but to from the Indian sub- entering Continen fiancees An immigration officer ad- mitteo that whether or mor.sucn was la virgin would woman the religious taken • into imperialist being driven close would be admitted to Britain.

together by their common need Heathrow immigra end the continuing and devel tion • Gatty OU obscene practices tils in com - pletely with their occupation Whatever form their negotia.

and their cord of support for thing is clear- Enoch Powell But this combination longer Khomeini dis- extreme racial and Sexual the greater crimination flows logically from that the immigration laws as a whole by the movement which provide a legal framework he has so far ridden with such for racism. cemonstrators Home Secretary Rees has on the need for •announced That vironity armed against be ended. But tests will now similar and mal development treatment will continue to oper- Khomeini doxinst immorants untu the right wing Labour are te worKIn! the inen dosses. ThE Immigration complete indepen- Acts repealed. steadily meet the demands yet at the same time knomeinı nas caler Donort on sections of the officer caste to support his proposed 'Islamic cannot position unchallenged. In answer • orodosa TOl collaboration with a part of the punTo. Andrew iran, workers musi maneotate

THON

defence and in support militias can basis of on determined offen. from and otticers agents of state Rees

FUND

Well it may have taken us a couple of days of February to achieve it but contributions to the January fund finally target of £600 to reach After months of falling just short this is an important develop we must make every effort to maintain and doubt reflects being growing expressed in the work of the WSL in the current upsurge of fund has opened very well with £141.70 arriving in the first five days of the month. Let's keep up the momentum and ensure that the fund is completed or Donations should be sent to: Monthly Fund, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill