Socialist Press no. 145

PRESS

BL PAY

STRIKE

SHATTERS

ELECTION

TRUCE

The strike by half of This requires the British Leyland's skilled nome ot comoanv-wide oarcain.

ing pay workforce, begun in the placing them in from teeth opposition OT national union oTticias. the the employer, press, To union leaders and Labour wages to a common level is self ministers, is a blow at the Tinancine. Leviano. witn Ine Tull backing of union officials and of election plans the convenors has for three years capitalist class. Deen dangung They, like their servants in carrot wnlle oressina tor oroduc Labour leadership, wanted tivity increases and cuts in the the workforce. voting to take place with strikes Meanwhile as the -Wnicn are open evidence the class issues invoived-tucked wades neatly out of the way. plunged 4,000 craftsmen militancy has risen. insteda. halt production colid Britain's major car firm, while toolroom committee-which led a four-week strike two years ago 4,000 workers at the Perkins engine olant aso enaade —into a tant corner. militant action on their wage Having Tried and demands. now "National interest" alliance with workers the new Levi ano Crati The more workers fight in Committee has found itself still this way for their independent denied class interests. une more une management. by mvth cultivated both Management. tor its Callaban and That het ot omis has eased some of the produc tivity criteria to common exposed-and the more the elec Davmens. out reTuses to dea tion emerges in its real context, separately with the craftsmen La a le leaders on hove best to a debate between Tory and or to pay contentious five-grade national Turtner atack workers living pay structure is agreed. standards and, drive up profit- Several other ability. oar uiculariv oroduction workers and fork-lift drivers at Cowley- t means that everv abour candidate can be put on the are so hostile spot by workers and called upon structure that they have said to deciare wnere tnev stana on these struggles to defend living standards, and socialist policies opposition Callaghan's platform of perman.

ent wade controis But the Leyland strike also has major implications BL relation chairman Edwardes' plan of linking up with the Japanese firm, Honda, a desperate answer to une motor crisis OT the British industry. Tamed Honda clearly want to be assured that the Levland work.

been tamed, shop- torca has AUEW leader Duffy- floor organisation weakened, threatens Fraser with ana leveis or exoiontaton ariven discipline under rule.

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 145 * 11 April, 1979 * 15p PHOlU: Anarew wiare Keport Callaghan thev will strike if it is intro duced. But pressed by fight memwers МОГе money, The Cratt .Committee now defied a monumental and vicious witch-hunt-much centrea cawaraes description ot-raser 'wrecker'-and called the strike, supported by about half of BL's forcing craftsmen. The strength of the strike is conditions and the hands o* Ene cratismen s willinaness fight for wages, their refusal to link pay to increased produc- that adjusting

LIVITV.

ano tneir determination io negotiate for themselves and not leave talks in the hands of oTTiciais. But their weaknesses are also parity" They fail answer Leyland threats to close down sections or tne tirm. And their failure to name a value o specific pay demand has left the on the shon hoor has open for the employer to control, wage use their strike to force the new grading structure on the rest of nis nas oriven Kov -raser's the workforce. the scale Certain/y on strike scabbing The technicians and every let-out, on its strengthened by first an chouneets ady skilled Tocetner with ne threats to sack otner skilled men at Llanelli and lock-out at BMC Service negotiations with cowie sugcest a determinec company bid to stand firm part, Upen the books the "parity" We say that the threat to close factories must be answered me aemana • Lal •L osen the money until a their books to elected commit- tees of trade unionists to expose the profits being made off their sections- backs by private suppliers and the banks. If the motor industry under grading capitalısm cannot maintaın Its workforce, the is the whole industry should be compen. nationalised zwitnout sation under workers' manage.

ment This, not Labour's talk of investment, is the only perspective to jobs and move socialist a piannca economy. Picketing Meanwhile the Craft Com- up the mittee must sharoen strike by "no reversing picketing" and decision, naming a clear Tigure tor their wage claim. The key question remains . the building of a revolutionary in British Leyland leadershio and the labour movement as a whole. Court points pistol at unions The Court of Appeal last principe unal a union snoule unleashed a further week attack on trade union rights ootalr inoustria strenath" when it upheld an interim This injunction against the would, it accepted by the trade National Graphical Associa- movement, unIon. close the door to tion and ordered the union in whole areas of industry.

to pay £80,000 costs. The injunction bars the NGA from pursuing its national cam- ACAS, of course, not oan or blackine dovert sements from firms whose adverts con- recognition, but, union tinue to appear in the anti-union Nottingham Evening Post ne NCA ane SLAbe are to make an employer concede.

fighting for union recognition at the Post, while the NUJ is fight the reinstatement of 28 - eca precondition journalists who were summarily sacked by taking part in journalists' the ine maeoendence o the traot pay strike (see page /. unions. Weapon gagaie oi press oarons ano anti The Court of Appeal judge- union employers ment s a maor weaoon in the brought hands of T. Bailey Forman, the third InOCenL management at the Post. But it dispute, which ne telt could be nas mucn wider. ane even more the serious imolications tne NuA Three points stand out in the Forman Lord as anti-union activities" uacement den vereo Denning, Master of the Rolls: fight for union recog- ana contronea almost exc usive.

nition at Nottingham was not in ly by the capitalist class, is weapon nis vew. a ude oisoute. ane therefore the union was not attacking entitled to immunity for its strength actions. of course raises the question solidarity action in support of struggles union recoanition cannote wuled ill al. went to proclaim "It would be contrary to That. Dasts

LEASLL

Socialist Youth League members from London and Oxford marched on the demonstration against SUS organised last

LPYS.

Saturdav by the 'Lefts' collapse on Labour Manifesto Page 5 NUS and NUT Conferences ..Page10 Labour's Betrayals • Pages 6-7 USFI Divided on SE Asia •. Page 8 seek to outflank ACAS and seek by recognition astounding declaration effectively unionisation Lord Denning No powers succession of precedents which Threaten oasic union riants only Courts the diverts from action to enforce UPW of the right to black mail as unt outh • Atrica mai Grunwicks; the NUJ has beer orunwick case orovea. oevono doubt, has no powers whatever denied the legal right to black rress Asociation coov in sue Denning's attempt to suggest port of NUJ members on strike that involvement of ACAS is a there; and TGWU lorry driver taking Reg Fall was even barred from industrial action to force recog- drivers o KeLIna ATerow orrv nition is thus a major attack on outside United Biscuits January's haulage strike.

The NGA is ideallv placed to *He went on to describe the fight this latest attack. Its power enormous- -and that had UrINL worKers nave ione oeen action part of the backbone of the party" labour movement. seen as not really about recog- Handed over nition but simply an attempt by But sooner than shut down to camace ballev for "what it regarded and Ine r'eet treet. oresses calli or fight, on the labour support, and in reality the press, owned Labour tedaer. detene ine unions, the NGA bureaucracy them tamely handing €80,000 and basic union rights Treecom ane of the trade unions. to une oosses ocurts Nothing could point more Tools of bosses clearly to the bankruptcy of th present leadersnio or the trace Far from the NGA "pointing unions and the necessity for the a pistol at the head of innocent construction of a revolutionary the courts, as tools of leadersnio. even Ene mos the capitalist class, have over the elementary rights are to be months established a defended. Perkins blockade

WORKER STR,

THE

MASS

and picketing huge barricades outside Perkins engine clese plant at peter emergence borough signal front of the big the pay engineering battalions The industry 7,000 manual workers are on strike. Achina from three vear wage control, they are dem reinon package oth in week

• TOSBON

increase anei nave anteno neier ed an e eo management 3,000 white Collar ane skilled staff were advised by not the management to cross elaborate barr caces THaT blocked the five entrances to the plant on Monday morning.

Pickets are saying they are prepared to stay out six mon ahs But long before necessary. provide THaT TAIS STrIKe COUlO 1 the initial baptism of fire for a anti-union Tory govern new,

FRANCO'S MEN SLEEP EASY

Page 2

DESPITE ELECTION

REVERSES

Within a few days the "there will be no purges in the City Hall". Mayoralty of Madrid. And there are clear signs Bilbao and Barcelona, that the PSOE and the of all Spain's major will set out to ensure they industrial cities will pass the cities

HO I

but search out some from the hands of alone, sort of coalition appointed Francoist agreement with the UCD. functionaries into those of people persecuted Share of spoils and in some cases The CP (which has more imprisoned by Franco's the PSOE than dictatorship. in only one city) is insistent- The new incumbents will ly demanding a share of the be in the main members of spoils of office while the the Socialist Party (PSOE): PSOE remains aloof. the Communist Party and in Already there are strong a few cases Basque or other indications that the masses, nationalist parties. especially in Euskadi (the Premier Adolfo Suarez' Basque region), expect the Francoist Democratic they representatives have Centre Union (CDU) won elected use new twice many positions against the central as the PSOE in natonalv government of the UCD. Spain's first municipal elec- And the new Suarez tions since 1933. government announced and ratified parliamentary Majorities vote last week against

PSOE

CP Dasu ult But the PSOE and CP nationalist votes, has shown won majorities of together preparing for that councillors in virtually increasingly conflict the big cities. with the masses. these councillors municipal As ¡ranco's who will elect the

SHOW

mayors step into well-com- mayors. pensated retirement, his But of Franco's most trusted servants still hold on officials can still rest easy in to office in Madrid. their beds. Because the prospective Fascist general Enrique Mayor Madrid, OI Tierno Galvan has said time The hated 'Francoist Minister,

PSOE

civilian Interior the lime again will be "gradualist" and that Rodolfo Martin Villa, has New clampdown on Chinese opposition "It is forbidden to normal operation. trouble by Also, central committee provoke documents were being resorting to demagogy 'leaked'. among the masses or to The crackdown has been hurl false and defama- aimed particularly at trying tory accusations". to head off a repetition of the last three year's demon- "It is also forbidden to strations on April 5. put up posters, wall news- This year the anniversary papers or orner piacaras of Chou En-lai's death slogans on the walls of the with the exactly streets, public buildings and Day of Celebration of the with the other places, Dead. exception of places reserved Supervision for this use". "Forbidden in all circum- The demonstrations stances are posters. notices.

Tien An men Square went albums, magazines, 000KS. •heavy ahead very photographs and cards police supervision. which go against socialism, The end of the so-called the dictatorship of the prol- "liberalisation" period has etariat, the leadership of the also been characterised by CP, Marxism -Leninism and arrests of oppositionists.

the thought Mao Tse- OI Four the activists in which reveal state Rights Alliance of Human

SUCCLO

4 April as were arrested on "Clean up" they putting of the centre Peking. This communique, France adopted by the revolution- Agence Presse correspondents who committee of Peking, was followed by city- witnessed wide "clean up". had got as far as copying "The follows similar down enemies measures taken in Shanghai have begun to democracy attack" were dragged away month The text dru. reveals that there has been a by the police. great deal of agitation. They claim that they The were insulted and accused numerous occupa- tions of offices in factories of "poking their noses into Chinese political business".

and government bodies by angry workers and peasants It is estimated that about involved the threatg, their dozen been replaced by an exper- ienced fascist General of the Francoist police force, the Civil Guard. Forces And the Armed Ministry the Ionals hands of General army Gutierrez Mellado Suarez' strategy to die-hard show the more of sections the military hierarchy that their recent thoughts, and occasionally about staging TOUR Lary

COLO

Francoist jauthority unnecessary. He ensured that has Franco's Generals-for whom no one cast a single vote in Spain's recent orgy "democracy"-remain in the most powerful posts of the government. The is set for Slate immense new clashes between the regime and the organised working class. government new preparing launch economic attacks solve of the continuing Crisis Spanish capital; to resist any serious attempt by national minorities to gain the right national self-determina- tion; and to meet resistance these policies by the LU traditional Francoist of batons and measures bullets. That, despite Tne Socialist and Communist mayors, is still the reality of Suarez' "democracy". Demonstration in support of Hua in 1976: now opponents face clampdown liberalisation campaign are in prison. Many of these groups- are six and there now "underground" journals cir- Peking-have culating correct to make begun criticisms of the CP leader- directed ship and have against the bureaucracy. Some, like Ren Wanding, have even made accurate assessments of the motives of the bureaucrats: "If the authorities are taking up the question of democracy, it is because of the present economic diffi- culties in China". PSOE leader Gonzalez Butcher hangs butcher While capitalist heads of court. He had marked his period state wrung their hands and a massive soake bribery corruption and trembled at the prospect of embezzlement, along with upheavals in future mass

TO LUN

alic Pakistan, President murder former politica opponents, brazen ballot Bhutto was rapidly and furtively hanged last week In 1973 the total of Bhutto's orders of military on the political prisoners was estimated at 20,000. Bhutto's "Defence of President Zia. Pakistan Rules" allowed whole.

Bhutto was an ideal candi- sale arrest without proof, and care

TON

jail without trial. dictator Zia but by a workers were given blanche harass and bartt incident, the 70 year old former President of the Multan Bar was stripped naked in public and beaten. Only party These tactics helped ensure that Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party remained The on mu political party in Pakistan But when army leaders, headed by Zia. staged their cour in the mios ot mas crudeles against Bhutto's ballot rigging in 1977, this political monopoly to pecame as much anadity Bhutto as a source of strength Because while the Zia regime risked mass resistance IT it chose to execute Bhutto, , as long as he alive he was seen as a remained opposition It was this fine calculation which Zia's long delar cause before giving the hangman the go-ahead. Since that point mass resis- ranc dictatorship triggered by the xecution, has produced pitche demonstrators Wallid a ne hawalpinal, Lahore and Karachi. the forefront of the •emonstrations Steer thousands of militant women, subjected to intensified repres sion by Zia's recent reactionan Islamic decrees. In reply police have helped The clampdown must the emergence of club also be to do with the right-wing gangs wielding who have joined them in violently with- recent attacking anti-Zia forces.

drawal from Vietnam which served to highlight the inter- Economic crisis national weakness and con- fusion of the bureaucracy.

coverame com There that 1s evidence pletely isolated from any mass some of the recent protests support, a raging economic crisis Chinese against the

WELC

Tueillne invasion of Vietnam. the ever-present probability of national doubt. having contain There then, that the new clamp- structres _Tue saluchl. other oppressed nationalities down is not a sign of new- within Pakistan's imprisoned found strength and unity of imperialist drawn borders. Lia's but is a the bureaucracy main hope of survival now rests panic reaction to its grow- total absence 5. the any ing crisis. independent leadership for the toiling masses. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 11, 1979 Turkey cashes in on Iran crisis The overturn of Iran as a of imperialist power bastion ne castnes

• TOCUSCO

the growing attention chronic economic and political Western bankers who previously scorned appeals for Minister Prime trom TaKE fresh interest in propping up the tottering economy the signing Last Weci of a 5250 million loan from the nervous Saudi Arabian regime eager to avert mass struggles i crucial become strategic country. No doubt imperialist chiefs will hope that a large chunk of Such oar bishing Turkey's armed forces: describes American report the air force as "barely 50% operational".

IRAN...

Cont'd from back page vote, with 98% of those voting in favour of the "Islamic Repub and only the abstainers being political absten-

LIOTTS

dem agogic and Ene fraudulept poll the Ayatollah Khomein declared the the firs Unt effects of which was the reac. tivation the revolutionary courts over which bazargan's covernment nas no control ou which it managed to persuade Khomeini to suspend a few weeks doc In the last few days at leas the Shah's 30 former officials of regime, including Minister for 13 years Amir Hoveyda, have executed been are some signs that I nere this all be 7 might once again turned by the reactionary raneou, against "moral deviants" and "communists" have become the standard scapegoat •T ine same aummonites. how- be protected from ever this by their increasingly abjec grovelling before Khomeini and Islamic redcLion, called for a yes referendum vote immediately after Khomeini's ceciaration Republic" the Tudeh's mighty Leonid Brezhnev patron defended the and fide •nant sent a telecram conoret ulating the Ayatollah on the occasion and assuring him of the Soviet Union's friendship i ne counter-revolutionary role of Stalinism in Iran persists beyond the fall of the whose the shar • dictatorsnip Stalinists helped to prolong.

The left-wing Marxist- Leninist and islamic guerrillas the liberal bourgeois National Democratic Front Mossaded's arandsor ano virtually all nationalist organisations in Kurdistan, the 1 urkoman region ane elsewner called for a novcott ot the peo tions. (which makes Bazargan's claim of 1% political abstentions notauv unperevadie. But despite that correct position none of these organisa.

Tess car owe tae rectionny leadership needed even more urgently by Iranian workers and uneir allies Such leadership

ORY

can come from building a Trotskyist which can fight for democracy and better conditions struggle for the working class. to take power.

IRAN REVOLUTION

CASTS A LONG SHADOW

SOCIALISI TRESS,

Heanesaa! 11 apri.

-INTERNATIONAL-

Nobody should guerrillas, strengthened by the Iranian events, are believe that the treaty combative, and recently signed by at a time when the Israeli Begin Menachem and government can use this as Anwar Sadat will usher pay some dIl excuse in an era of peace in the to its northern East, front. Middie or Further Israeli incursions where else for that into the Lebanon be can matter. the Israeli expected In fact, the effect is quite government beats a tempor- likely to be the reverse.

Since the downfall of the front. of Iran political and Shah Cheap labour military alignments the 1n Middle hast have been in • Meanwhile, asrael the melting pot. officials have expressed Fear of further such mass their wish their the movements has been

VOCI

and step up force driving Carter, Begin ports wall. economic links with Egypt.

'and sadat closer into each This will guarantee a new other's embrace. flow cheap labour OI IOl Every despot in the area, Israeli and (and there are many), has vanilalso market for their products: also suddenly begun to feel This of extens on nervous of his position existing Israeli policy in the Luxury aled. Temuniscent of South African The Saudi for regime,. policy decided the instance. stans. aftermath of the mass over- Egypt, on the other of the Shah that it throw hand, is now at the receiving couldn't afford the luxury end of increased aid from Saudi troops the OI the US, and also stands to Lebanon, and immediately benefit from increased trade began preparations to bring with both Israel and the rest them home. of the imperialist world Fighting between South that Egyptian given and North Yemen, neal government can now break neighbours of the Saudis provided the immediate Teason Likewise Syria has begun preparations troops from the Lebanon and re-position them opposite Israeli troops on the Golan Heights. Redeployed Here, immediate was furnished by reason "separate peace" with Begin, a natural con- clusion of which will be that Israeli troops are redeployed from the Egyptian away front (where they are being by replaced American weaponry given as part of "peace' package) and used against the other Arab The net effect of all these movements, if troop carried through will be to leave the Lebanese govern- ment exposed and without army at a time when rank and file Palestinian formally with the notional '"Arab Boycott" of all com- panies which with Israel. remains to be seen whether, other not the the regimes reachionary area can hang together long enough to implement any sort of boycott against Egypt. Sadat at least must believe that, it ther can, he stands to gain more from a deal with the israel and Us governments than pursuing does

TOM

policy of half-hearted con- frontation. Meanwhile the fear of an extension of Iranian the revolution has created some strange bedfellows. driven the has Ba'athists of Damascus and Baghdad back towards each other in search of comfort.

Understanding has forced the Iraqi and Saudi regimes to renew their military understand- ing. The first fruits of that strengthened agreement have already been their defence of the reactionary Yemen Arab Republic. US envoy Vance with Saudi ruler Fahd protect Above all, that fear exchange, Egypt presided over against the effects of any every session League's the other movement Baghdad summit. Arab states. The Arab leaders knew The Palestinian liberation and how the example struggle will not be won by support of the Iranian revol- any number of boycotts or "ution would spur on other actions from the Arab determination of the Pales- nationalist leaders. tinian people to win their The workers and liberation struggle. peasants of Iran have clearly shown the way-only mass Detest mobilisations tne oppressed classes can lift the They also knew how of imperialism in the VOKe deeply the masses in their Middle East own countries identify with But already those that and struggle, how workers and peasants who violently they detest the formed the driving force of treachery of Sadat. the. Iranian revolution have The Arab League had to come conflict with be seen lo ao somelning their new leaders. But that the they know boycott of Egypt is no more Bigotry than a fraud Before he signed the The latest struggles of peace women, the struggles of the healy; already pledged his lifelong and Aulus. service imperialist oppressed, national- other powers. democratic When the Iranian forces have all rights, been withdrew from Oman, Sadat opposition to the religious immediately sent in Egyp- of Khomeini bigotry and tian troops as a gesture of the bourgeois nationalism of good faith to suppress the bazargan liberation struggle Inevitably such leaders Dhofar. will • attack and betray the Every minister masses whose strength Baghdad knew as brought them to well powel Sadat that the US imperial- The problem is not con- ists and their allies would, fined Iran; it the central problem which faces whole the inter- national working class. Just the Middle within "left" East, the bourgeois nationalists Baghdad slaughtered thousands from Iraqi miltants the Communist Party and brutally deny the Kurdish people their right to sell- determination. Support for Amin •The "socialist" regime of Gaddafi's military dictator- ship is even now protecting with its troops that butcher Idi leaculunal. Amin. Arafat and the petty bourgeois nationalist leader- ship of the PLO itself struck blow huge against the Palestinian revolution when it surrendered bases in the Lebanon the Arab League United and the Nations As revolutionary Arafat with Khomeini munists we do not attempt lage 1 conceal the true character of such leaders Unlike the 'Marxists' of the Workers Revolutionary Party, we do not latch on aspects of their certain words or actions and ther give them uncritical support. Solidarity We, of declare course our unconanonal sonaarity and give full material support to all those people fighting against imperialism.

But we recognise that the needs and aspirations of the workers and peasants in the Middle East be won call only by a struggle against traitors within. the such fight for a new revolution- ary leadership. Our task is to build such parties and the Fourth International. liberation of Pales- tine will not be by won Arab League boycotts, but by mobilising the lasses throughout the Middle East basis of a socialist programme that can meet their needs. Palestinian The revolu- tion will be led to victory by the bourgeois leaders nationalist of the but by a new Trotsky- leadership ist armed with the programme, method and experience of the commun ist movement.

STILL AVAILABLE

WRP leaders junk the old Trotskyism Price 45p plus 15p p&p from WSL 31, Dartmouth Park hill,, London NW5 1HR.

Tory return will not IRELAND The nauseating spectacle of Labour's entire National Executive standing for minute's silence in honour of dead imperialist spokes- man Airey Neave last week fittingly summed the up Party's unashamedly tionary position on Ireland.

Not one of the NEC-which includes ageing Lrys chairmar and 'Militant' supporter Phil Frampton-has alfy Snown a almander OT SONOGrITY with or concern for the dozens Irish workers gunned down, nanarcus tortured Trance us or soned Roy Mason's brutal military terror occupied six counties of Ireland. Long Kesh The

NEC

has remained unconcerned at the supremely valiant three-year struggle 400 republican prisoners in the Chancellor While Healey's 1979 proposed Budget was turned by events into simply a routine "care maintenance" and placed before motion dying Parliament, the same will not be true of the real Budget that will follow the election. Indeed if the Tories come to workers will swiftly taste Tine Ditter realty undervine Thatcher's cant about "spirit of enterprise". already partially Milan Labour Chancellor haunches Healey will be carried through ruthlessly yan the fist. One the first moves of likely Chancenor-to-be ceotrey Howe will be to slash the 83% rate of tax paid by top managers and directors. Howe aid Irish struggle Lone nesn concentration camo who are fighting under the most appalling conditions the restoration of Prisoner of War from them by

STATUS

Mason in 1976. And there has been no sign

TONT

Ine members for the repeal of the so-called "Prevention of Terror- detain charge over 3,500 mainly Irish people Squalid record This squalid record of Labour's oppression and repres- sion Irelane na. al reall begun bear fruit the widespread hostility to Labour among Irish Workers-a which Party have with be thes Liberal not been siow Have exploit. The Young Liberals clearly hoping to net added votes for colleagues Theft 2o UT Britain's second-string capitalist Thatcher's man sharpens his axe The Tories Intene to

CUT

as low as 60%- this rate to huge cash into well-lined extra manacement dockets. But scarcely any cut likely the basic rate Inconte roTe

TACT

actually affects the working class. The tax oerks for too bosses will most likely be paid for by increases,

VAT

other inerrect LaXES wic or course are paid by workers in purchas- ing everyday The first Tory budget would almost certainty also •eclare new, savage programme of cuts public spending, which will begin to bite none a year tales 6 CT only promise being made Tory spokes. They men to taxes. cUt about precisely which areas public spending they will cut in

SUCT

concessions. But we know that two areas spending and the police and Torce ano order : apparatus-are not only immune but cuts destined added racerve milons government money. £1.5 billion cuts. Already Howe has declared that the government's spending procramme • on Tod amount to will in associ initial cuts hion billion, Inrowing Thousands more onto the dole queues and destroying health eaucation, nousing ane socia services. iation has declared its intention party nave oven notice or demonstration August stand candidates calling for a British withdrawa Labour marginal from North Irish people cres. ano • Uroe Prominent Liberal politicial elsewhere to abstain. Cyril Smith is among those that The Irish National Party has have already signed the deciara- also already complete a mant tion to festo calling for a British with- Pardoe has also drawal-but combining this with Liberal donn spoken favour of British reactionary and cen stand. I nere is speculation that tnis two-faced and populist policy - Labour movement while Liberal leader Steel holds PHOTO: Derek Soeire TFT. fine existing britishn The way forward in the inap a factor an the big min big swing struggle to torce British troop: towards the Liberals in the Edge out ot re ano centralv reouirer the mobilisation of the British hit ov election labour movement in opposition Shysters Callaghan-Healey-Masor eno ersnio But To allow the reelection of a while the Liberals Tory government-however struggle to tart up their party's this group of corrupt,

MUCH

result Labour's policies-would not shysters only impede this : struggle but other political groups are inter- Mason would undoubtedly, in the wake vening on the Irish question of Neave's execution, maintain join with their English brothers against Labour in the General and even strengthen the repres- and sisters in the fight to return = action. sion in the six counties The Irish Civil Rights Assoc a Labour government and build the Irish worker. sociatIst alternativ must not be diverted off into Labour single votes, but issue protest leaders. Get officials off our CO

KNITTEE

Dear Editor, This is my analysis of the Letter fight for the £60 pay claim brothers and working in the Health

PHOTO

Service, especially the hos- fulfil their declared commit- pital workers. The ments ongoing action, If this is so is it not time which we had been told, we to have some other tier March backs H Block prisoners would be for a 35 hour week and four fighting was officers with the to llalse branches? weeks holidays. I would like to comment Even when officers do condescend to on this at this point. meetings with shop stewards believe that even though the "official bodies" and secretaries they try to the shop make stewards said they would fight strong like children who

LOOK

and hard to try get and naughty these conditions, shoula not be so they seem and listen to to have lost sight of these Papa. things. I feel the time has now At this point of time, arrived, that we who are the eight to ten weeks after the union should tell our paid Day of Action, our Nor any employees to "stand up and should there be no W are illusions that these cuts will be be counted" and take bewildered at the turn of tc in any way compensated by any forward the policies which events since then. increase in red wages the members asking I firmly believe that we Inflation is already them to implement. way upwards, and will rise faster have now been left in limbo, or some place known it is also time for certain still under the impact of the lay officers to run the price increases to come; and the as 'no man's land', and that Common Market's lunatic agri- branches for the benefit of the paid officials of this and policy-which all their members and not other which Cullural unions were for the chosen few ¡ ories will detena to ine involved in this dispute have will ensure spiralling food prices misdirected the members of Branch Secretaries Tor the foresecaole Tuture.

believe in what they their unions. indeer the more exposed is From the beginning, we about, they realise must anarchy and colossal waste of the EEC agricultural policy were not given clear that the Branch to which ally indication to where they are elected must come which last year spent 25 billior destroying mountains were going. first because members put "'surplus", foodstuffs in order to their trust in them As personally high-the keep prices more they feel they must concerned, whenever am Tenac ousy too rores come ou wheel and deal and spread tried to get information or a in its defence. themselves in other areas, from any of direction our Sabotage then tor the sake of them officers I simply could not members, they should relin- Last week saw Peter Walker get ally relic of the The General Office -a surviving Stockwell may quite easily Labour leader era-amine the widespread popular hostility not have been there. EEC in Britain, accusing to the

NUP

them of sabotage' tor campaigners to Tory £60 For days on end I my- revive the hope and the visior self tried touch to get with any officer at Stock- in the 1975 referendum. well, and persistently Translated practical this told they "not avail- means that the wait able" they Will continue were British workers to help foot the where. huge bill for EEC's wanton will be denied readily the every respeçt the officers. election of a Tory government If not, then we shall in would represent a maior setback all probability get the usual for the labour movement-a set back five spiel, claiming that they prepared by are 'overstretched" and so busy treachery ana TOrY under a Labour government.

they find difficult -to

TROOPS OUT

NOW!

Labourite calls for death penalty

HARRY

GUUKLAY

Labour MP for Kirkcaldy has his election campaign launched the death penalty for terrorists.

In a hysterical outburst he declared that: "One must accept that the like madmen. In such cir act penalty capital would aunt hment more fitting than an attempt al rehabilitation." backs!- quish their positions and resign. hen at least else who would have the mem bers interests at heart might get the chance to do something constructive for them. I will finish by saying to these people, stop climbing ordinary the backs of on working people to further your own interests If you can't help your members, then please move on! Yours fraternally, Tom O'Regan NUPE Branch Chairman, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster South District Health Branch. The record of the public sector union leaders during the recent dispute has clearly shown their i nor the full claim lead serious fight worker Socials League is convinced that rather than appeal to such 'eaders' to make wak Tor west Wito fight, only a most determined effort to expose these bureau. crats in front of their member. syne programme around which the can mobilised the conditions for will creat their removal.

END

LOW

PAY 1

NUPE members lobby during low pay struggle

Manifesto-proof of SOCIALIST PRESS, K'ednesday 11 April, 1979 'left' prostration If the British working by-election over tne ast tive class now faces the acute veas dilt are: tree cosective oar danger of the return of a gaining: any Tory government, a major reversal of public spending cuts; share of the responsibility anz commed de cree coe unions against legal attack, and must fall on the shoulders any pledge to abolish the House of Labour's spineless "left- •T LOreS wing". In are: further job-cutting After five Labour collaboration between years or tamery choroine ever sochatic fedcers Unton oTcas ane wage cut employers; empty pledges closure alow- ing Callaghan's Tory policies to and education; talk of alienate demoralise unwor Kawie COntOST repression inousanos voon mnousanos turther ane Labour supporters, the "lefts" continued direct rule over the occupied six counties of Ireland; last week put the seal on their acnievements acceDLinO Calcal pieoces Taise Chia Callaghan's anti socialist mani- festo. grants; defence Labour's Echoing the disastrous doDaiine recora. Vus SOn manitesto which ushered in 3½ years of Parliamentary road the hated Heath guer miele, „oe voonzn eo con dso nas be paraphrased as "Life's better course never pretended to be a under Labour; don't revolutonary party In nace ot tae inceoendent It offers workers only more mobilisation working of the same policies that have class struggle class tor slashed living slatiudrus.

OUS.

laterest ConsisteREv argued |for peaceful, parliamen- social services andl cem ocratic rights, and lost by election after tary reforms within capitalism.

economic DU l capitalism, CrISiS of britISO ane of the entire Labour leadership to preserving orolllduiily OT VaLe industry, now means that this reformist party is sent into the 1979 election uanautldl stripped of even the promise of Chris Davies. any way thave tee ms. "lefts" have not come out openry in opposition to this? ase press reorts of Fri drs "Clause meetine

PHOTO

vanitesto oratt went oreai lengths to suggest that there was Uvel Conterls even

SUOGAST

TOaT catiaonan mace some-undisclosed-concessions!

Yet in essence there Is Healey approach real •iTterence Tory policies create housing crisis Five of years anti- cocoavc or vate socialist Labour government enterprise-in particular the major building contractors, and have wrought havoc with alany UTI One matetlais housing. suppliers whose profits continue saw less starts and, indees rise while more F81011 new houses than any time on workers find themselves unaoie since the Heath to affard a roof over their covernment. And only 130,000 houses were heads. completed-the lowest total for force . ne struodre

C TO

une five years promises coe itte The first two months airterent show that the figure for both starts ane compierions was um lower than the same period of 1978. employers' federation, 1 nC Tne vationa councl ot bulicing Material Suppliers, expects the marked downward trend least three continue TOr years. One reason fall tor this back cuts The dovernment in spending on housing the public sector. would of course bf t nest stepged to he oe res or pledged sales council housing and cut public spenaine on nousina. Bult another reason is tnt galloping prices of houses on the private market, which have shot up almost 33% over the lasi price: sof pushing the ave ge house over €20,000 mark-preventing many working families from class ever hoping to buy • house Building society chiefs now expect house prices to rise by another 20% in 1979 The • housing crisis is just fruits anotner OT The Soitter of Labour's five vears Heffer between 'left' and right wing retor sIs. Dotn stano n c ol the independent strength and mobilisation the working Class.

DOLT

rUdu exclusively socia ism' parliamentary road standpoint, From all y socia Ists Labour Party "rock the boat" or challenge Callaghan on tne eve or an election Is seen oy both 'left' and right as unthink- ablé sabotage Labour's chances at the polis reality such a struggle would thousands of Workers seekin d mont adinst Callaghan. Tory logic But of, course while the logic of Callaghan and right wing is unashamedly consistentiy Tne lOrY oaC O1 defending and canitallsm making profitable-through class the mieeriamism coffaboration in place or tory axorooration ot tnese protit hungry giants and for workers' management of the huge fund monopolised buil ding . ThE societies and used to perpetuate capitalist stranglehold nouse _oulfolno inse•erao e from the fight to kick out the crypto-Tories in the Callaghan.

neatev edoersnie

LABOUB

confrontation-the 'lefts' have no such coherent position.

becaust Eney the mobilisation tull-scale Forcking class i roriaties to the forcible exprooridtiol Capita mültant se tron ny from militant workers the 'lefts have atem oted

COOK

"alternative" position which is different little trom actually that of Callaahan "National interest" Their continuous nationalist cal tor moon Contos to sove jobs" in Britain at the expense of workers in other countries in entect nes ncH u• alonesidt the weakest sections the employers and creates-rather as The Royal Family have Ganeonon mes to create -ne illusion of a cross-class "national come out of the current pay interest"., round worse off than NUPE call for additional 1 nel members-they spending through have received a mere 8.9% ! é vơnà cvc cõo continuation the aso The deal, negotiated without Wilson/Callaghan strategy the huge subsidies for orivale extra to take her moustrv—wnicn can oe carried onoual state income to E2,134; out only at the expense of social services. husband, Wid No alternative 'aarns' wages, from the state gots an extra £4,500 to take hi With no alternative strategy.

£98,000 He . dy vaar. mother gets £200.000. a rise of and no coherent programme, lefts' can £25,000 and her sister £64,000, do Hotan oul a rise of €5,000. decisive con- collaose at eacr frontation with Callaghan.

Their capitulation on the All in all. members of the Manifesto .Contrms • once aocin Windsor family will get an extra that the 'lefts' offer no ready- €211,500 this making year leadership alternative total of £2,609,200 or the within the Labour Partv roughly eruvaem

COT

strugale to defeat. the NUPE members' full wages for Tories, return a Labour govern- 3 40 hour wook. and fight for the removal of the royals has Non of the Callaghan Icaueisni ana received f1 on

SOCOURTOTANY

Ine oulloina Can ( a ternetive comparability exercise, which socialist leadership must there- surely could have been set up- fore be carried out against comparing income with manv of these left' fakers.

the Shah of Iran.

PRESS

GANG

When the toolroom a complete Leyland shut- down is disheartening. workers launched their Fraser has therefore been strike which ultimately subjected to a witch-hunt sparked off the Labour/ comparable only to those : Liberal coalition usually aimed

SLEIK O

1977, sections of the leaders thousand times more radical. Tory defended press Edwardes handed the them in a backhanded press the ammunition, say- kind of way. ing "I have a very real query Fraser Seeing in the toolmaker waetner lever for the Tory policy uf "paying our key people more" (usually meaning by this and protes- Walla-ens sional staff) the press gave them a curious image, half hero, half villain ok Report In particular Roy Fraser was pointed out as a reason- able man. Pictures appeared oi him mowing his lawn; articles about the ordinari- of ness his house and domestic life. Today the stakes are higher. The takes place as the capitalists hope to govern in their own name under their own flag. The prospect of coming into office in the middle of Fraser Page 5

PARTY

Royals lose out on pay What? Only 8.9% representative his colleagues, or a wrecker" This started the attacks.

Long articles printed warn- ings from Leyland onlt manager after another about the collapse of Im meO the company. articles claimed (THet that the strike is aimed at finishing off the

AUEW

well as Leyland. Fraser has been presented as the cause of the strike, man a tulties. determinedly dragging un- willing skilled workers out on strike. We have serious differ- ences with Fraser (who has actually called off the strike times who would no doubt settle for a wage structure) reacuonary but he must be defended against these attacks. By lying over the support the United Craft Organisa- tion commands, has used campaign of propaganda to strike going

VICYCILL

ahead.

LABOUR'S LONG CATA

Page 6 PHOIU: Andrew wlara, Report The present Labour government first came to office in March 1974, after Heath's hated Tory government had been driven out of office by the miners while attempting to impose a third phase of statutory wage controls.

correctly saw the Heath government-with its Workers social service cuts, soaring prices and rents anti-union laws, and mounting dole queues, as the main enemy.

But five years of Wilson/Callaghan in office have proved that the reelection of a Labour government is not in itself a defending the working class. The essential means ol question is the exposure of the reformist leaders in the eyes of the movement and the construction of an workers' alternative revolutionary leadership.

catalogue just some of the major turning Below points in which the pro-capitalist role of the Wilson- Callaghan governments has been starkly revealed.

March 1974 Wilson and cigarettes. No tax on government elected, pledged wealthy. Income tax up. to carry "a major shift in the balance of wealth and March 28

AUEW

fined power in favour of working £47,000 under the Indus- trial Relations Act-bringing people and their families' But his cabinet includes total fines against AUEW to Roy Jenkins, Reg Prentice, Williams, £217:50 to recompense Con Callaghan Shirley and Healey, along with the management for Mech "lefts' financing Spanish holiday supposed Benn and Foot. Foot wel- for three scabs and their Tory families! comed by "most imaginative choice" Still no moves by Labour as Employment Secretary. government repeal Tribunite Stan Act. Orme given key job in repressing Labour NEC asks govern- £7,000 squash Irish working class. on Clay Cross surcharge Wilson's cabinet March 6 councillors who defied Tory Housing Finance Act-to no welcomed by millionaire merchant banker Rupert avail. "I do not think we will April 1974 Labour govern- find ourse ves thrown mto ment agrees to sell warships the of to Pinochet dictatorship in terrible

NOT OT

pulling Chile. nationalisation of the Common out April 9 Threat by Industrial Market." Relations Court The Financial Times to seize entire assets of AUEW pointed out: "Labour is faced with retaliation for its refusal to pay £47,000 fine. the unpleasant task Foot still makes no move trying to induce a sharp re- to repeal the Act. duction in rea incomes over the next 12 to 18 months in April 23 Foot, speaking make available for the balance of only 6 days before AUEW payments." assets due to be seized. tells union's National Committee March 12 Wilson's Queen's to go to the Tory Court! Speech drops all Labour's May 8 nationalisation pledges and Anonymous donor decides to keep Tories' Pay pays AUEW fine and costs Board functioning along as national engineering with Heath's Phase 3 strike call receives overwhel- pay limits. Tories Liberals ming response. Strike called an a off. But NIRC scheduled to express approval. million specific hèar claim for £3. Speech evades proposals to repeal Tory damages against TGWU' on Industrial Relations Act and july 15. Foot belatedly and Housing Finance Act. inadequately to moves Shrewsbury 6'-Building repeal I.R. Act and replace pickets jailed by it with new laws. workers' Tories on frame-up charges -left to rot in prison. End of May Nurses take up industrial action against conținuation of Tory Phase March 26 Healey's first Budget confirms Tories' laws-attacked by pay "irrespon- £1,200 Alan Fisher massive munlon sible, amateur adventurers".

public spending cuts; borrows $2,500 million Eventually their action "special case" rise in from international bankers. secures £500 million allocated to late July. food subsidies-propping up Jüne 1974 Irish republican profits while giving illusion of lower prices. Michael Gaughan allowed to Budget also raises electri- die in British jail on hunger* city charges, rail fares, cost sooner than transfer strike of Jail telepnone, Con- nim fectionery, petrol, alcohol counties. June 12 TUC leaders support volun-

…TOT

tary wage restraint to follow the end of Heath's Phase 3 -the "social contract". October 1974 Labour reelected. November 1974 Former Labour minister Stonehouse vanishes cloud of criminal fraud and scandal, to reemerge an open Tory.

November 12, 1974 Healey's second budget: "aimed improving profitability and liquidity in the company's sector and shitting resources from con- sumption into investment and exports." Total financial benefits estimated at to companies £1.5 billion in 1975 November "Preven- 19/4 Terrorism" of tion Act rushed through parliament in the wake of Birmingham pub bombings. This 'emer- gency measure been year. 3,500 renewed each held. mainly Irish people dozens banned or deported, under it. November 1974 Chrysler announce redundancies for 7,700 white collar staff.

January 1975 Imperial typewriters announce closure -3,000 jobs to go.

February Industry National A1lE Enterprise Board-centred on class collaboration and "participation -with penalties for trade unionists "confidential details to their members.

March 1975 Troops sent to scab on Glasgow dustmen's TUC formally ahandons • Shrewsbury 2. Ryder Report on British Leyland. Apri 1975 Budget outlines £1,000 further million cuts 1975-76, and £3,000 million more for 1976-77.

Taxes

VAT

up; up; alcohol, cigarettes and road tax all up in price. Subsidies on food housing and to nationalised industries all cut. April 1975 Special Labour Party conference votes 2-1 to campaign Ior a no vole Market the Common referendum. Wilson ignores Andrew Wiara, Report

END LOW

January 22, 1979: biggest stoppage on wages since 1926

FIE

T

FIG

E

THE I

OL 3 JOB

IGHT

IE CUTS

AVE

DBS

it and throws Party machine campaign into 'yes' along- side Tories and Liberals.

Anti-market 'left' minis- Heffer Hric by Wilson.

BSC

management demand 20,000 redundan- cies: but shelve the scheme after union leaders sign deal speed-up and worsening of working.con. altons. Unemployment reaches 950,000. June 1975 Railwaymen's strike unreal produces Juk pay settlement. Healey openly threatens "Tory policies" if a to use new, tighter 'social contract' not accepted. July 1975 Unemployment climbs over 1 millon Jack Jones railroads fraudulent scheme for "flat rate", "voluntary limits through TGWU con- Within hours Healey has declared state control wages-top in- OI crease to be f6. He says: "We must accept a 10% cut in the standard of living and public expenditure. The is to crawi to the

IMF

accept the and terms they upon SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 April, 1979

FIGHT

FIGHT

HT

THE

STO

LOTS

THE CUTS

cert sen

FIGHT?

4)

NUPE SAIS

FIGHT *

THE CUTS

Fili con

SAVE

THE CUTS T

THE US V

JOBS!

ATS

SAVE BE

SAVEN

JOBS ES

JOBSI

The huge November 17 1976 march opposing Healey's spending cuts us." -and the cuts proceed. Wilson resigns-and not one of the 37 abstainers is July 1975 160 Labour MPs and 14 willing to run for the leader- ministers sign defending Prentice ship, leaving Wilson's hench- motion against moves to oust him as men Foot and Benn to pose MP for Newham N.E. as "left wing" challengers.

Political status stripped August 1975 Closure plans from Irish prisoners of war "tough steel industry, textiles by torture and to slash chief Roy Mason. over 4,000 jobs. July 1976 New budget on September 1975 Clay Cross Phase makes eve councillors sued for £1,000 million more cuts £63,000 for defying Tory Housing Finance Act-gov- August 1976 Phase 2- ernment refuses demands to 42%. lift the fines.

TUC

September 1976 October 1975 Government threatens to expel Seamen's accepts Parliamentary Select Union and threatens Jone. Committee recommenda- organised

TGWU

strike- tion restrict NUS proceeds Dreaming threatened strike against Phase 2. NUS leader- ship, despite mass working class support, climbs down.

Chrysler boss John Riccardo to pay £35 million to get rid October 1976 Labour Party • comerence votes to enor public spending and wage controls minion to persuade Chrysler to stay on-with the loss of November 1976 Courtaulds plan to axe seven factories, offers "letter of cutting 4,000 jobs. defeats in intent" to IMF in exchange B-elecon Labour strongholds Walsall for £1,000 million loan. and Workington. December 1975 Equal Pay 17, and Sex Discrimination Acts November :1976 Massive 80,000-strong dem- come into force-little onstration against Healey's impact im proving women's relative rates of spending

CUTS-

restricted to one-off single furthering struggle pay for equal rights in employ- issue protest by union bureaucrats In not ment. instance have union officials January 1976 Unemploy- for strikes or occupations to ment tops 1½ million. Result: thou- stop the cuts. sands of jobs and important February 1976 Talks begin on Phase 2 of wage control.

services lost. December 1976 Strikes "Prevention of Terror- ism" Act stepped up. Frank against 42% pay break out Stagg dies on hunger strike limit in Midlands engineer- ing plants Rubery Owen and prison in the six counties.

Salisbury Transmissions- first signs of a big wave of 37 Tribunite March 1976 resistance on pay. 'lefts' abstain in a vote en- dorsing Healey's January 1977 Court rules £3,000 million package of that UPW has no right to black mail to South Africa cuts troducine tempora defeat. the Start of new legal offensive But then troop loyally into the against unions, at first spear lobbies to support a vote of headed by

NAFF

and confidence the tacitly endorsed by govern- govern- ment's "economic policies" ment.

LOGUE OF BETRAYAL

lice clear route for scab vans on Nottingham Evening Post picket line. Now the courts have acted to ban solidarity blacking.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 April, 1979 February 1977 Former CIA Phillip and agent Agee journalist Mark Hosen ball deported without trial charge by Home Secretary on prompting of CIA. Aubrey, Berry and Campbell and amnested charged under the Official Secrets Act. Foot 1977 February Wave of anofficial strikes against Phase 2 reaches BL

DANELS

Longbridge including and

LOWS

INTO

strike. Threat to sack all endorsed by 3,000 strikers, bcanlon. leads to spontane- pus moves towards national

AUEW

by skilled anKe men. Scanlon howled down by toolmakers. March 1977 Callaghan forms coalition aliance with Liberals through get Parliamentary vote idence and proceed with Phase 2 and Phase 3 of wage control. April 1977 Major unofficial trikes Phase against Heathrow Airport and Port Healey lalbot steelworks. inveils Phase 3-a 10% earnings crease 5% on the neaning only asic rate. 1977 ammer Escalating olice violence aralils! runwick mass pickets. June 1977 Mason February 1978 Thatcher announ- ces intensified repression in launches offensive her occupied Ireland-SAS immigration aimed murder squads enlarged. whipping votes lavist from middle class and back- July 1977 TGWU confer- mood offers her joint talks on the ence, reflecting working an for Phase

TITOWS

Jones' 3- NEC reveals plan Labour its "orderly return" to free "left-wing" plan an for collective bargaining. unemployment to cut it to 750,000 by 1981! August 1977 Queen visits the occupied six counties, March 1978 Labour's Secretary General Ron congratulating torture cmeis and military rulers. Hayward that: boasts Labour is the party of law September 1977 Total ban and order'. demonstrations on marches in Tameside All are prevents anti-fascist mobili- banned in for two sation-to followed by months to anti- „De similar moves elsewhere. fascists. Owen's reactionary March 1978 Anglo-American Labour 'lefts' plan • 0] Tories in preserving capitalist stability join with racist in Rhodesia announced. proposals from the Commons Select Committee Hounslow Relations October 1977 on Race and Hospital work-in ransacked Immigration. by management vandals. May 1978 union leaders 2,000 police nothing. break up May Day demon- trades council. The Leveller Peace News October 1977 Labour Party and The Journalist fined for conference another naming "Colonel B'. No challenge whatever to the Lib-Lab May 31 1978 The Daily Liberals Telegraph pointed out that: decide to break coalition deal after the end of Phase " the left does not want to chance its arm by endan- gering the new-found unity July 1978 Police pay to go in the party in the run-up to up by 40% as a reward for the election."! strike breaking activities- November 1977 Merlyn but Phase 4 revealed as 5%.

SPG

Rees's thugs Grunwick August 1978 rampage against Metropolitan picket-25Q victims police chief McNee calls for mass need medical treatment: swinging new police powers 113 arrested. -favourably greeted by Home Secretary Rees. November 1977 Firemen's Callaghan strike: calls August 1978 Government scabs for eight weeks. tax increases on North Sea anill y - "left'

TUC-

and right alike- monopolies-supported holds back by Tories! struggles allow firemen to fight alone.

Then openly accepts 10% August 1978 Chrysler crisis limit. No. having soaked up £162 million of government January 1978 Amid revela- cash, the British operation is tions ot big business plots flogged off to Peugeot- finance coalition endangering more jobs and between the Liberals and remaining secure Labour, the Liberal Party private nands. votes to renew the coalition deal, September 1978 contident Bingham Coral excludes socialist policies.

Report, though a whitewash makes it clear that Wilson and subsequent government ministers knew of manoeuvres by British firms which ensured sanctions- busting oil supplies to racist Smith in Rhodesia. regime No action by Labour 'lefts'.

September 1978 Callaghan pulls back from expected October election. September 1978 Owen steps up public support for Shah Iran after thousands of demonstrators by troops. September 1978 Ford strike leads massive wave of offensive struggles against Phase pay to be followed by bakers, journalists, lorry! drivers civil public sector and servants October 1978 Labour Party Conference throws out 5% fights remova Callaghan-Healey leadership.

Reselection MPs blocked by Scanlon flouting AUEW mandate. Tribunite 'left' Heffer sums up for NEC motion, support grealer for 'law and order'. November 1978 Queen's speech debate sees attacking trade Callaghan unionism. Lib-Lab coalition deal with aster Unionist d replaced squalid promising additional MPs to Westminster from the "province" and Scottish and Welsh Nationalists, with for referendum. November 1978 Trade Sec- Edmund Dell resigns to his merchant -to return banking job! November 1978 Thorpe lifts the lid on the nature of leadership- Callaghan's chosen coalition partners-and with the Labour leaders. December 1978 Callaghan defeated in parliament in bid to enforce sanctions on firms which pay in excess of Page 7 PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report 5% limit. impose permanent wage In new precedent, court signed by rules "secondary blacking" TUC leaders with of'Press Association by NUJ date whatever from their to be illegal. members. Strength of January 1979 February 23 1979 Civil lorry drivers' strike action Servants stage Day Tory whips press into Action Callaghan Owen frenzy of anti-union propa- and Foot among the are Callaghan joins in- ganda, ministers who ostentatious- declaring his willingness to ly cross picket lines. lines. picket is

CLOS

followed in this 'stand' by February 1979 'Shankill most of his cabinet cronies.

butchers' jailed: one turns Court rules against out to be member of "secondary picketing" of Ulster Defence Regiment. United Biscuits by transport drivers. Another firm seeks March 1979 • Devolution damages from "secondary" referendum brings massive

DICKENS

Wales and bare January 19th majority Scotland Picket killed by scab driver new crisis lorry Labour's deal with national- Scotland. ists. January 22nd 80,000 public March 1979 Furore grows sector workers join a huge

RUC'S

over systematic demonstration torture of republican "sus- Lo don to back their £60, pects" in Castlereagh 35hour week claim. Though interrogation centre. Public.

"selective action" they of Bennett ation Report confined to by their leaders followed by Mason's claim breaks through the 5% limit, that it "clears" the RUC!

settlement, worse off than a March 1979 Devoid of any year ago pretence of socialist policies February 1979 Barbaric reforms electione tan Callaghan "virginity tests" revealed to launches be carried out by attack on costs of Common immigra tion officials at Heathrow Market agricultural policy.

on Asian women. March 28 1979 Collapse of February 1979 Court rules squalid deals with national- deport Astrid Proll- ists and Ulster Unionists alleged terrorist-to West brings government to brink Germany of defeat in where she faces Parliamentary vote of confidence: brutal and imprisonment tipped death hands of over the brink by

SDLP

hack Gerry Fitt and Inde- prison authorities that have already murdered members pendent MP Frank McGuire of Baader-Meinhof gang. who over abstan Callaghan's refusal to sack ,February 1979 Mason butcher Mason publishes four-page broad- March 31 1979 International sheet to "answer IRA cam- Day of paign on conditions Action on abortion inflicted republican rights. Healey's cuts have U11 prisoners of war limited right to abortion on in Long Kesh concentration camp the NHS. Tories would cut

SAS

WO thugs back further still TO charged with murder of 16 April 1979 Building on year old John Boyle last precedents of rulings against

UPW

NUJ

TGWU,

y cal. and court fines NGA for black- February 1979 The Concor- ing advertisers who continue tat appears. This is a TUC- to use scab Nottingham Government agreement to Evening Post part of Tory implement policies struggle for union recog- against union rights and to

'United' Secretariat Page 8 The Militant has some- thing different to say about what's happening in Indo- With this modest claim, the socialist Party understates remarkable position on the wars in southeast Asia. An anaivsis does not decome 'true' simply by differing from the assessment produced by the bourgeois I Flat entirely secondary question.

Marxist analysis of any political development is rooted In a scientitic understanding 01 the dynamics of world history and the class struggle SWP's lengthy argu- But the ments The • recent contlicts between Kampuchea, Vietnam, and China are not grounded in this method. " ne "theoreticians of the

SWP

cavort before their audience like a band of trapeze They seem constantly on the verge falling to the ot with a sckenino thudi swinging from one dizzy perch idealism the next they CUTCt desperatev orthodoxy that prolongs their antics and contortions. Is magnincent, our It's not marxism. State capitalist The Pabloite leaders of the

SWP

who claim

LUDG

under tne bureaucratic dictator- ship of Fidel Castro, is a revolu- tionary' workers state Ler! under the Kam ouches. bureaucratic dictatorship of Pol Pot, became salutaritarist dubious realme. origin. Ine merit _•T InIS position, based, in essence, combination of petty bourgeois molar reversion at ine atrocities the Kampuchean Carried out ov Stalinists, is that it enables

SWP

leaders dodge the thorny problem of analysing a war between deformed workers' states. But if the SWP has "some- thing different to say" , then the same is true of all the sections of the so-called 'United' accretariat or the rourth inter- national. Each one different According to extracts from their pushee in inter- continental Press/inprecor (Feb ruary 12) every one of them has something different to say- comolete:y different analysis of this major war! Thus Britain's Taria writes in Socialist Challenge.

While the Vietnamese were tearty involved in removing the [Por Pot) resome, where is ne doubt that the Cambodiar United Front for National Salva bon does have local supsort. " But his Swedish comrades the now ragime has broad sup.

The German intera: ora Marxist Group describes the war as one between "non-capitalist states"; the Spanish Revolution-

COMMUNSI

Love ILLA goes further and talks of: "the time since the invasion Czechosiovakia. in divided over Indochina wars 1968 that two workers' states have confronted each militarily in a war of occupa.

Strangely, comparison, the LCR goes on to ecrero the invasion The Mexican Revolutionary Workers Party far guarded, however. and talks of Kampuchea as "a country where capitalism being swept was away No scruples whatever are to found the Japanese section, however, which enthus- iastically hails the invasion and the establishment by Hanoi of a puppete nance or the do ПОО- chinese nevo uton Demonstrating unmistake- illusions ably its supposedly "Drooressive' of the Hanoi Stalinist cnaracter the Revolutionary Com- munist League claims that: «une emercence or a trater. unified force in the three Indochina advance iberation struggles Khmer Rouge refugees in Thailand after Vietnamese invasion Pol Pot in East Asia'"! The RCL suggests that this (of Stalinists) "unified Torcel should now: "jointly grapple with the challenge up Socialist Foderation includes the Indochina, which perspective of winning tionarv victory in. halland.

score sheet of the various

USFI

sections and sympathisers •voted in anercominentar rress shows the following: open sup- porters of the British, Spanish, Danish, cot, sections; those ano Mexican conversely calling for Vietnam.

of Kampuchea (implicitly) -German, belalan. Australian, Swiss and French sections; while those taking non-committal neutra included position Sweden and Austria. None agree This sorry line-up certainly confirms • having something different to SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 April, 1979

(VIETNAM

By John Parker

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

say" Kompong Indeed none of the

USFI

groupings argue the same line a Gult the SWP contusion and disarray of Pabloite forces is once again shown to be at its greatest when major events actualiy demand a clear Drome response and analysis of Stalinism. Scale of mies For the

SWP,

100 however unt Kampuchea as allalys!. state capitalist regime has distinct advantages. It enables tnem, as is the Pabloites, "take nabit October Revolution and its later sides"'- unambiguously namese backing bureaucracy acted bureaucratic assimilations, while defend its own control of those Stalinists Vietnamese it negotiates s for its survival with without dropping the veneer of the suboressing the forces of imperialism.

"orthodox Trotskyist" criticism troublesome independence of its of the Hanoi regime. objective pressures neighbouring fErs parasitic at work in this situation which colleagues have brought, for instance, all, the Vietnamese HOOVe No proof Romanian bureaucracy into Stalinists moved to pre-empt conflict with its Kremlin spon- the dangerous possibility of the sors as it struggled to preserve Kampuchean Militant was now able to ano face of graine working clas claim without a shred of pron!

against the bedsants rising up the Vietnamese Stalinist ot. growing working class barbaric repression unleashed by That militancy. their bureaucratic masters bureaucracy: Similar pressures have borne "militarily aided indigenous Above all Hanoi feared that the oppositionists Kampuchea CPs along Pot regime's vicious european against capitalist, the road of 'Eurocommunism' methods counter- might produce towards revolutionary which government a casinous oder responsi Vietnamese could inspire , the workers and threatened condooratol wite their own revolution". bourgeoisie in hostility to dicta- peasants Vietnam And, retrospectively, a glow- torship of the proletariat in the challenge their native Stalinists ing light was shed on the recent soviet Union and the deformeo counter-revolution- true bureaucratically Stand aniered this treat with fashion, parasites oroces. workers states organise assimilan which Unresolved assimilation military mion Ine southern Vietnam

INTO

• Te To present such develop- deformed workers state already pliable dissidents the existing in while a ments as being in any way pro Kampuchear bureaucracy thick shroud gressive is a complete betrayal draped over usurp the political opposition to vw c of the struggles of Trotskyism Pol Pot. ine mationalisations in Kampu against the cheAt each stage, the SWp was bureaucratic degen. action has served to elation ana counter revolution consolidate their political dicta.

within the first workers state.

torship within Vietnam. But the positions held by the cynically-by the factional need At the let it

USFI

to remain true to its past errors.

'Eurocommunism may ever temporary have their origin in the partial process seem to have brought from i ne Mistonical unresolved conflicts south-east Asia, are is contied inflicted by Pol Pot, ove Stalinism uity today reshaped marked new the post-war crisis of the Fourth to contorm with the distortion!

obstacle before the workers and International already accepted by the SWP in peasants of Kampuchea in their The positions adopted task of that alse a fion its 'analysis' of the origins of the deformed the invasions in south east Asia workers Trotskyist Taska the outcome of the Eastern are also Europe Asia leadership with a clear analysis and - same confusion. above all-Cuba. nature and role There no progressive war Stalinism is essential. Such a invasion leadership Lurid scenario content Tine can only be built in launched by the Vietnamese the struggle to reconstruct the bureaucracy. The Hanoi Stalin. Fourth International Once the Chinese bureau- defend basis of the method and prin ists were not acting to cracy had entered the centre.

gains the Vietnamese ThE the stage with the Transitional invasion 01 revolution against the threat o Programme. Vietnam. then a further line ci tood on or meenalism argument had Kampuchea. There was no such strengthened. immediate threat. Concluded

SWP

t ne accoroinav .Un the contrary, the Viet produced a lurid and unsubtle scenario in which US ism featured as the marevolent Trotskyism order-by Strinos undisclosed route-to destroy the gains revolution ror all the truth benind this picture , the SWP has carried its Today

TROTSKYISM E

denunciation US lorelen

TODAY

the pitch of hysterical paranoia. Beneath their frenetic anti- Itoenaiset. leere ups the vown.

ing chasm of the SWP's abysmal failure to understand Stalinism, post-war a culary development Articles include: Of course it is only. imperial.

*Mandel's dance with ism which Stalinism. long-run from conflicts between *The US SWP 40 years the workers' states. on. *The Significance of the Contradictions Transitional Programme. But that is not to say that every such conflict springs from orchestrated by the Pentagon. The rivalries between di teren! sections nationa the Stal nist bureaucracy spring inevitabiy Available, troIT price 45p plus 151 postage from WSL, 31, essentia Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS İHR character contradictory Stalinism as a force resting the distorted une

NATSOPA chiefs lived it up on members' subs Accountant's report tells of Swiss SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 April, 1979 The Governing Council of the print

NATSOPA,

union, is taking legal advicè on whether the to sue former General Secre- Lord Briginshaw tary, for the return of money owed to the union from property deals conduc- and wine bills ted while he office. This step follows two investigations by auditors into the financial affairs of the union which show that property deals lost money

PUBLISH

for the union while making

HUSSE) C

DAMNED!

apparent handsome profits eport for former officers. Other cash was placed in two Swiss bank accounts Wiard and the union also appears have been dealing platinum ingots, Krugerands and gold sovereigns. Some of these deals were

NATSONA

made without the know-

NOT AT

ledge execunve counci.

ANY

Expensive wines

PRICE

Investigations by union members also showed union cash spent on foreign travel, wines and dining out at the Savoy. So far attempts to raise the in the matter openly union have been blocked by the General Secre- present tary Owen O 'Brien. Last O 'Brien labelled those who were NATSOPA members march against Times closure threat demanding to know the £255,000 in two separate truth about the financial deals. of the But on each occasion, on 'wreckers' objective whose the same day that she signed was to destroy NATSOPA. the buy, Ms His attitude echoed that

CORLECI

Dawes signed separate of Lord Briginshaw himself contracts to sell the prop- who, five earlier, erties to other warded off inquiries by comPares for more. Characterising them as "vin.

The total she received dictive and anti-socialist was £338,000 which attacks'' launched by €83,000 more than she had "Trotskyists". paid to the union. Two articles have now the appeared-one Higher prices Observer, the other by Christopher Hird This was not simple mis- Patrick Wintour in the New judgement on the of Statesman-based on one of the union leaders. In both the accountants' reports the eventual buyers Cases which has been circulated to had offered to direct buy the echelons of the from the union at the same

LUD

union. higher prices that Ms Dawes

NATSOPA

Meanwhile received. officers chapel the at Nor did Ms Dawes keep Observer, who successfully the money for herself. opened some of the union She paid £78,775 into a books to their scrutiny, trust, which in turn paid it been from Joan Wing, Dance national further investigations, officer of NATSOPA —who threatened with disciplinary happened to be the 111CT action by the union, and common law wife of Lord banned from talking to the Briginshaw press without She, (Wing), made out authority. personal cheques to Brigin- O 'Brien walked out of a shaw, Arthur Davies, London tant secretary and Alf meeting after it refused to Skinner, the accept ruling that the financial secretary. could matter not be dis- £80,000 lost cussed. According The vew To sum up this slightly Statesman and Observer the bewildering deal, the

UNION

duallors report tom вакет ' lost more than £80,000 Sutton includes the follow- through not selling directly ing deals. to the eventual buyers-and the vast majority of that was channeled back Property into the bank In 1972 officers! Briginshaw was of union accounts authorised to sell London Briginshaw told the properties in Black- accountants that this was a friars Road and Meymott "shadow' move to create a Street. with separate funds During 1972 and 1973 in case NATSOPA's assets three sold were seized under the to a Ms Christine Dolores Industrial Relations Act.

for Dawes total of If this interesting expla- bank accounts, property deals

NAT

VATSOP

NAPS

nation is true it is a pity Presi- that neither the then dent, Lloyd nor the special committee set up to investi- gate the possibility of form- ing a shadow union was infotmed. Swiss banks. Over a number of years almost £16,000 was paid into Swiss bank two When accounts. it was Britain (in brought back to suitcases in cash!) it should have of shown profit £4,844 due to the higher value of the Swiss franc.

Only £1,102 be can traced as having gone back to NATSOPA as an 'anony- mous donation'. The according Briginshaw, was used to pay the Swiss agent "political and trade

UNON

purposes" He said they had been considering 5p opening home convanescent Switzerland! Nothing this council and other cash has been traced.

Union officials Officials' salaries kept secret from the The menDers machine chapel room that oncers discovered O 'Brien earned just under His y cas. expenses bill for only two months was £1,300. Between them, Un101 officials claimed £3.000 expenses in January 1978.

This £117 included wine bill and trips to Malta, including for O Brien One and his wife. to Giving what appears be the standard NATSOPA explanation for foreign O 'Brien said union was thinking of open- Pension Fund. In 1977 the Pension Fund showed a deficit of £781,000. One quarter of its assets were used to supply officials with cut- price mortgages. It's speciality seemed to be lending money officials buy houses which they then sold back to the pension fund. On thar occasion the was property then left empty by the fund and then sold at a loss. The result: well satisfied

INATSOPA

officials.

BAD - THE

The pensions for officials

NATSOPA

of 5% from made up their salary topped up by 19% from the fund. Brigin- shaw gets a pension of £400 a month, inflation proofed.

Examined books Skinner received

TSOPA

£22,000 golden handshake when he retired. None of this would have been revealed but for the ing four convalescent homes of determinatior the in Malta.

NATSOPA

machine chapel who had by this Skinner, officers at the Observer.

time (1978) retired, still According to the New appeared to be on the pay- Statesman they account, O 'Brien roll. made several union car and a car allow- union HQ demanding their ance. rights under rule to examine the books until finally £12 a bottle banned by O'Brien Wine and restaurant bills No doubt was their were paid (six bottles at £12 frustration and anger at this a bottle). Bills were claimed move that led them to take from the Savoy, De the union to court last year Quincey's and Simpsons in which gave them the Strand (more conval- the right call in escent homes?) accountants. _ PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Repor London 18

BRADBURY WILMINS ON

abr

NATOOPA

NAP - THE ANATSOPI

ATSOPA

NITY

Tic: Niwser

RENGTH

PUBLISH

ATSOPA

HUssAy GoEs: / NATSORA

DAMNED

NATSOPA

NoT AT

ATSOPA

MORE PRESS Y

ANY

NOT AT

_NOT

NATSINATSOPIATSDEN

• PRICE

LES

PRICE

HUSS HUSSEY

NAPA NAPPING

Page 9 Owen O 'Brien But the of that now be step should ciear to inem. In place or a broad campaign throughout the union to expose the

NATSOPA

corruption there will be a court action conducted by. the union leadership individuals. The independent mobilis- ation of the membership is essential in this struggle to clean up the unions and a turn courts breach of principle which could have disastrous results Corruption and class collaboration go hand in hand. Collaborators accept the the capitalist; polic OI corrupt dealers accept their methods of making money. A campaign urgent inside

NATSOPA

linking the financial wheel ing and dealing to the sup- democracy the union and the policies of job cutting accepted by the leaders (not least at the Observer itself where one fifth of the members lost their jobs). This broad political cam- paign drive the leadership cannot allow any place for Tory. courts. At present the press is relatively silent and witch- hunts have not begun doubt because the employers always have found Briginshaw and O'Brien reasonable to deal with), But that will change. At some point the will turn on the union whole and the courts will be itching intervene in material way to attack the An independent cam- paien within the union itsel to bring out the truth must belaunched Accountancy must become the servant of the membership not its weapon The weapon is the member- ship itself. The Poisoned Well NOW OUT! The WSL diacuaalo document adopted son to the Usf! Xith Workd Congrese, Prios 20p 10g from WSL 31, Der ark Hill, London NWS 1HR.

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

Last Monday's strike of The NEC had tried to over 450,000 civil servants UnIUTT members was a historic day of action for the British workers' movement-bringing strike and the torward into udy struggle thousands of white bership at the Library collar workers who had branches present never before taken strike down action. Alongside the

CPSA

and McColl.

SCPS,

which had formed of the action so lar. ine nand nevenue statt reder.

ation (IRSF), the Civil Service and the Institute Protessional Civi Servants

CPSA

rs came outi Even the elite First Division Association-only fe resentine Concordat more than CIVi. servants £10,000 per year-joined in the best time strike. said

O SOUTP

place "Every MP must be tne action took despite sabotage attempts General Bill secretary McColl Civil whe oraanised the eleventh hour secret meeting front line between Prices secretary Mattersley ane wive oT Ine nine union General Secretaries.

At this meeting •Hattersley To now with more in April 1980 to 9% now, and teases in Aug increases in August 1979 Split ranks •The five General Secretaries swallowed this offer and split ranks with the larger CPSA and SCPS on the very eve of the 2 found ADrI strike_out impossible convince their to accept Hattersley's members sen out oroposals CPSA and Threats from the SCPS to pull out of the Whitley Council strublurt, by the executive com- otter mittees of the five unions led WHo doint doreement between all the unions to press for an improved offer. pressures on these bureaucrats was provided by the scale of the response lo ine strike coin Leeds over 4,000 civil servants walked out, large mounting picket lines on inland Revenue oTTICes. OTTICeS the Health Ordnance and • Survey, only possible, British Library at Boston Spa a 30-strong picket was where Tor dil. assembled. Demonstration, demonstration ot 750 working civil servants marched through Le 6, 5A. Lo a mecce acoressed

IRSF

ours.' and Speak and of the Blish Lirath Garth

IPCS

CPSA official Diane Warwick attacked arumsiness over the pay deas, government's Bill ane the manoeuvres Ot Party. McColl. But she offered no lead on trade union how detend civil servants against suspensions arising trom solidarity action and attacked unofficial strikes. Garth rrankland read out a telegram sent by his section committee that morning to the IPCS National executive, con- working class. demning the secret deal and. calling for an all out fight on the tull pay claim explained that the problem of leadership demands which, was central to winning today's consciousness Ene claim.

NEWS

Fight sabotage of se Civil Service claim leave in une cark or the claim-ottering no tigures or information: but the last union meeting had voted 200 to 8 tor over stopped work-97% of the mem- Frankiand urged other Ipc.

to consider emercency motions to the union's conter.

ence demanding the removal of Concordat but he aso pointer out that CPSA leader Thomas McColl's betrayal is parallelled Ken weeks ahead: whether Carlagnan or Thatcher is elected, only the actualv sianed ane most determined action will win "The General Election is the their justified 25% pav claim fighting showed that civi

QUI

ADri Frankland. servants have the "muscle" put on win: but the evells OrIOT spot over our claim. His speech shows strike „that they nave i leadership reluctant to in the Key political lessons must nOW of resistance on pay. therefore the searned weeks of struggle to come.

WHY YOU

SHOULD

JOIN US

Whichever way you look at the struggles and prob- lems now facing the working class throughout the world.

one thing stands out above all: the necessity for a prin- cipled leadership capable of leading the struggle for state power and the establishment of a socialist society.

The massive revolutionary upheaval that has now toppled the seemingly impregnable might of the Shah of fra restions aced alone by its states the restrictions placed upon it by its Islamic serves as a vivid reminder that socialist revolution is not but essential if the apparatus of capitalist repression and exploitation is to be destroyed once and But such a revolution requires a conscious Marxist leadership. And the fight to construct such a leadership is inseparable from the fight in the day-to-day struggles of class the principles. internationally for method, and demands of the Trotskyist Transitional Pro- gramme. The Workers Socialist League has time and again proved to be the only movement in Britain that fights patiently and relentlessly on such a perspective.

We alone are the movement that does not shrink from even head-on battles with the existing leaders of the work- ing class - whether these 'leaders' be open right wingers, left' talking Labourites or Stalinists of the Communist Of course this policy has made us no friends in the or amongst the anu cavour bureaucracy. opportunists and centrists of the British 'left'. But it has meant that the WSL has consistently offered the

MUSI

powerful lead to workers in struggle.

The strength of our movement lies precisely in our rejection of any attempt to find "short cuts" around the necessary fight to construct a Marxist leadership in the In each struggle we set out to prove to workers both in theory and in practice the necessity of a new, rev- olutionary leadership and for a programme of transitional starting, from today's problems and within the working class, lead Teachers face pay crunch The Easter Conference of Union bility study' of Teachers begins at the week- stacee increase Cle. Pay will be the number one teachers issue on the agenda. Teachers I ne unior remains a demand for an overall 35% increase in salaries (though struggle At as usuat. werentee to benetit the well-heeled headmaster and whether senior teacher scales against the Tormula younger reached at the ceneraly crassroon teachers) and Co Jarvis The 35% represents the sum sure things stay that way necessary merely to restore. no in the increase TOe buying power o teachers' salaries backed by the Houghton Allance and the award of 1975. and File' offer no serious clear that trer Jarvis and the NUT tops have restricted Inel intention 'radical' vilalevel more seriously tignting tor an increase which remotely approaches 35%. i ne burnnam committee which negotiates teachers salaries has improved its pitiful 7.7% offer to around 9% declaring this to be White 'unacceptable' necessary" (!) and producing Only the of glossy vur unties The

LUSTICA

the teachers' case, not a single move has been made towards action.

break clear fuil and even mre wretches contin gency the National figures plans of most radical of which tought al t WilnaldWa

TO T

lunch-time activities and selec- tive half-day strikes-have not of nine salaries been implemented. ore-conterence tions nstead peacers-who have paved the way for defeat Socialist Press their allowing members to cross bicket lines in ine duoli Conterence sector low pay strikes-are look- appear in next week's issue).

ARALIST LEAGUE

DON AREA

DIRUT THE 45

BERNAT

SODALST RE

workers in struggle to grasp the need for socialist revol-

ULION

This is why the WSL has featured at the forefront of pay struggles in British Leyland and the public sector, in the fight against redundancies and closures, in struggles against the cuts, unionisation fights, and the fight for democracy in the labour movement.

This method of approach • rejecting any descent to simple trade union militancy or concession to the labour bureaucracy, - is of course essential not only in Britain but internationally. taking up international issues in the labour move- ment the WSL stresses not only the obligation of British workers to support the Irish liberation struggle and rev- olutionary struggles such as those in Iran and Southern Africa, but also the necessity for the reconstruction of the Trotskyist Fourth International as the organising centre of the world party of socialist revolution The WSL is not the biggest movement on the left in Britain; but its approach to both theory and practice make it the only really serious revolutionary movement.

WHY NOT JOIN US?

Fill in the form below for more details, or approach your local branch, who will gladly supply mation about our programme, policies, and perspectives.

More details Please send me more information about the WSL.

Name ... Address Send to Workers Socialist League, Hill, London NWS IHR SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday I! April, 1979 CP winds up student Broad ing for some kind of 'compara Or • some kind ot with a ten promises which they can present Left as some kind of 'concession' to section of dit professional workers who as yet Williams Shirley expertence or mass announcement a 14%

COT

the NUT Conference- increase in the student grant is timely on two counts. acceotao e pay has been Firstly, she no doubt hopes eleventh hour, that the announcement of the want to make increase (consieeraoiv The various 'left' oppositions student votes; but secondly union, such as the IMG- just

NUS

before 'Socialist "cachers conterence at which the Broad SWP's 'Rank will be called upon to pt.T defend their record the native to this betrayal, and have wast ycal campaigns election versions of the The increase, which is always bureaucrats' essential strategy.

presented to the members of the accompli over One day which they no control, compares with a 26% claim.

In a recent election address an STA candidate for a nationa The other major demands of office issued a manifesto calling the NUS grants (for campaign full grants Tor one car nationa strikes li for a stuoners ove the age of 16 and for an end to the means have been Workers Socialist League teachers have campaign.- ignored. April ea tor a poncy which represents Nevertheress the with conference the grants issue will be by national two main inflation one formally on the wages based on the union's own agenda and ine otner not The first is the debate on the Where this policy has beer Constitutional Review receiver •ne broad Lett are trying to response, but it comes sixth out introduce which will changes strengthen the Executive's hold courtrolls prioritisa NUS at tune expense ni and weaken the mem oers democratic structure 'Confer- loca student unions ence Special will be distributed report will the proposals ror instance if adopted, will restrict the free dom organisa discusal at races cheer at each eiscussed More difficult It will be more difficult to call an emergency conference.

At student loca level. unions will be encouraged to invest decision making powers "Studen: Representative So wisen these breed the sovereignty general meetings WSL students will be cam- paigning at the NUS Conference for rejection Constitutional Review Body report. NUS cannot be turned into a militant and democratic unio by any amount of constitutional tinkering-least of all when this is directed by the Broad Left.

likely to second a greech is The second issue which interest at the conference is the announcement of the demise of the Broad Left and its ment by "democratic a new allance This move, which ha already been announced in the Morning Star. is the culminatiol "democratic Ine stalinists strategy" in NUS This "strategy" consists building • an ahance with in order to hold back … orles militant struggles to outweigh the left une past this has mean wholesale the adaptation Tory policies (for instance the union studen autonomy embodied in the Constitutional Review). Votes for Tories It has also meant Broad Left members voting for Federation Conservative students more inor. Executive cancicates elections thus guaranteeing them a place. ine steady nontwaro shixt ot the Broad Left as its "popular front" policies have developed nas alienated many student mili- tants and caused splits within its ranks. The establishment

COTTIS

, which drops new organisation any pretence of will socialism, undoubtedly That the conditions creating 31, Dartmouth Park for a fight to build a principled revolutionary leadership among students

Support Garners May 5 TGWO Region 5 plots new SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 11. 1979 Action Day As the Garners union avor acuon ano • naond delegate conference recognition strike drags on through its fifteenth month explicitly the leaders

TGWU

ot the Region 1 have moved more The pitiful obeniv than ever to the the General selling out of the struggle.

stands as This week the Strike com- mittee's demands for a May 5 sabotage the rights. At the Dunlop Trades Councils the chairman, Tute da ou o sava -buck "It the an excuse to call off the dispute the shouters and hecklers (at the hyde Park passed March) gave excuse." witch-hunting: back- 'We are certain committee who have a political axe to grind". the in a shrewa move, Strike The

TGWU:

General Executive ThA Regional Council last week threw the last Monday ball of defending Duniop's surtner Day of Acton on May d threatened Speke plant firmly back into the court of the local "Action Com- mittee" GEC voted to orticial backing to anv actior taken by the "Action Commit- tee" to save the jobs. •iT taere Soule De no mis take about the motives behind this almost unprecedented blank The last thing the

GEC

wishes in the midst of an Elec-

CION

Cam odiol occupation of the Speke plant The TGWU Region any serious industrial action Committee has the scheduled ciosurt, on a new witch-hunt. They feel confident that Thers of the s local convenors, and GEC chair- members Pemberton. olall WIle "Action Committee' Reagan and John Groves. neacs inf will continue along the futile During the road of token protest they have tese two in an occupation Tollowe• so Tar Indéed this Committee has in Broad shown itself willing to occupy laCK their official, Alan Law.

male rodes. Loneon sice streets offices, Radio Merseyside studios-occupy with Midlands road

ANYTHING

tran kedO doomed factory! out of the dispute. Needless say such attracted have woule nave from Incritical oralse Party anywhere in the country. vocalisi wworkers wild last year extolled the very mass that knited Best organised meeting any British Leyland's Speke plant.

The facts are clear: Dunlop are largest will certainly close in one week organisea in tne country, would have been a severe blow untess Ine

ACTON

_committea uses the power now in its hands to the strength and unity of the a full-scale occu- organises Speke. It was calling solidarity strikes

TGWU

by the Midlands lorry drivers.

throughout Although members the tyre industry in their support.

the union Any other form of "action" planned publicity stunt without at this stage is no more than a the authority of hollow fraud.. move

AT THE TОP...

UNION DUES

the rejected by the and treacherous Election' the small coin of every

WITU

WiStBs fight for basic Stalinist dominated Saturday Coles, excused a ooking tor them good and a TGWU •epoate conter. ence on June 16. He followed up with classical The campaign for the Day of Action and the Conference and well of other aware initiatives drav the support role of the autention IMe TGWU's traitors should commence immediately. Committee,

TGWU

taSk

COT

aver Branch to rally ThA Committee decided round Garners strike at this proceed with a critical moment. Branches should expulsion of mittee for the expulsion embarked Reagan and Groves is a flagrant •/version TrOM the rea which is the undemocratic and divisive actions of against two Alan Law 5/35 drivers' Mick side to the moves as well.

birminonam. lorry drivers' Revelations were involved of the TGWU St. "By chance" the protest two members moved against leadersnip trom not tae mostraminent in the but arranged a phoney deal those behind the happen to be nau lers the Midlands lorry drivers revelation. Alan LaW S election malpractices, and the this deal the Midiands cover-up deal in which the 5/35 automatory Sol Into ou ds d best settlement agreed price tor silence At its last meeting the 5/35 voted to condemn the branch Iatest Witch nunt sorte determined by local ATTOrTS But since the 5/35 members officials to prevent this.

and best But there is a danger that the this campaign against the expulsions may waged through press exposures which would only the InTO nanos correctly thrown out regional leadership. What is needed is a defence the occupation of Ene which can focus on the politica non elected Regional branch the ecretary Brian Mathers and the the Regional mecion o committee, ano

MMM... SO DUNLOPS ARE CLOSING DOWN, EH?

THESE WRETCHED CLOSURES ALWAYS ATTRACT THE

EXTREMISTS... IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU, STAN...

WELL BOMBARD

MPS AND IMPORTANT

PEOPLE WITH LETTERS

CARDS. PETITIONS.

RESOLUTIONS !. WELL

DORINUNTHE ROAD

AGAIN AND AGAIN!.

union members ham Post. topner role-carew, reinstatement demand that the Regional Com- provincial strike last December. back the Day of Action and Delegate Conference. Assaulted *Support the May 5 Day of "Support June 16 TGWU Delegate Conference.

information from the Garners Strike Committes, violent eviction 12/13, Henrietta Street, London WC1. gation assaulted, Region 5 Secretary Mathers (left) and Chairman Davies-on the witch-hunting trail again reasons for the continuing series make any of witch-hunts on which they ine embovers nave embarked All their witch-hunts hunts are must designed to destroy any centre within the broad perspective of mem Der power which The neec could hamper their freedom to existing leadership of Region 5

..'YES, THE LAST THING WE WANT IS A LONG

WRANGLE OVER A FEW THOUSAND JOBS!

DONT WORRY MOSS, I CAN HUNDLE IT-

BUT ITIL NEED SOME UNUSUAL TACTIS..

WE'LL MARCH, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

WELL SHOUT OUR SLOGANS AND EVEN TAKE

VER RADIO MEKSYSIDC.

Page 11 Nottingham adventure ended by scab violence At lunchtime last Satur- pushed to the floor before they day some 30 NUJ and other were beaten up An ambulance subsequently occupied took

NUJ

Regional Organiser the offices of the Notting.

M. Bower to hospital suspected broken nose The delegation demanded to Ill prepared meet Managing Director Chris to press toI the .28

NUJ

Ill-prepared organised members sacked for joining the violence ana lec ournalists briefing into this adventure by Bower and NEC member Aidan White Ine dere gation avoided being drawn into Apparently first agreeing to an all-out brawl despite repeated assaults and withdrew shouting a meeting, Pole-Carew rounded up 15-20 scabs and security men the slogan heinstate the co and led them in carrying out a The eight policemen present, who had announced they would Although none of the dele- be observing that no more than' many "reasonable force' was employed being eviction disappeared at the first sians of vence Militants angered this violence organised against trade UnIOnISts

MUS

nevertne es recognise that this adventure was a diversion from the policies needed to reinstate the 28 anc vicious anti-union Com oat employer with a long record of suas union orcanisation ang forcing through new technology on his own terms Sheriff Pole-Carew is im, addition in employer «Charde

OT TAE

News paper Society's New Technol- ogy Committee and wa recently Sheriff doented . 01 Nottingham Saturday "mass but

NUS'S

had uralisa tion censuree less than 100 were mobilised.

The

NEC

has half- only heartedly pursued a campaion of pickets, and, via print masc unions, blacking of Nottingham Evening Post and ol companies advertising in it At a meeting South Midlands Area Council orsly five aays earlier it was notewn ea all delegates that the

NEC

was calling for a mass picket.

Conference Some amad oranche provincial newspaper chappell haven't even received the Now, two weeks before NUJ's Annual Delegate Meeting deals they like with these points at conference and •to support calls for strike action Any fight against the witch- throughou therefore come newspaper chapels There emergency out the throw Coventr branch to this effect

. LIKE THIS!

THESE WRECKERS ARE CALLING ON U5

TO OCCUPY THE PLANT! DON'T LISTEN

TO THEM-HEVE GOTA BETTER WAY-

ELL SHAME THEM INTO

ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR?

Freedom fighter

SOCIALIST

PRESS

hanged The South African racist in fact one of a long series of state last Friday claimed •ollica kanes in bouth Atrica including that of Steve Biko last another victim-Soloman ycat. Mahlangu. Shah's friend He hanged despite worldwide protests TrOM- amongst others-the United imperialism's left- Owen. Nations General Assembly, the talking errand boy land triend of the 'Shah' of Iran) who tours Commonwealth Fres cent Giscard d'Estaing France, Southern Africa urging the liber- West German Foreign Minister TOTees come British Foreign negotiated agreement with Jensenei and imperialism also has the nerve to secretary David Uwen Mahlangu trained African National Congress free- He does so because he thinks this much-publicised judicial com Tenter Ene events of 1976. murder does nothing to help the In June along with two com.

his imperialism interests rades returned South own 10era imade Was carried out without his protest.

Atrica and they were interceo- ted by racist police. been clear have One escaped, another Mondy trom the start that it soloman Mahlangu's life depended on the Motouna snot two of ine waite police dead. mapped out by The AntI aparted movement Tortured and the African National Congress then he would inevit- Mahlangu also but ade no. was arrested later when he tried The south atrican covern grams. But this kind of respond to tele The our we no ener Motloung. He was tortured, protest tried and convicted of was the focus of the ANC and and refused the right of appeal.

AA campaign. Mot ound rece vee severe Independence brain damage as a result and held police torture was start from untit to plead solidarit must Despite the fact that this was the independent mobilisation of officially first political alone working class which Ine has the power required execution veal „TOl Mahlangu's judicial murder was Stalinists back Islam "At present we need : struction of the bourgeois army (which largely collapsed in the powerful army more than of

TONI

LTIt we need bread". Shah) is to control the ligning That was the view last week of national movements growth Premier Mehdi for self-determination. halflati bazarcan —a man wno is eerson- samic redimes tear o ally not short of bread but still the break-up of the unitary state desperately bodies is magnified by lacks the fact. that armed men under nis controt to rocerner inose whose national impose the semblance of capital- ity is not Persian make up the the revolutionary majority of Iran's population In the past week new nation- His chief need for the recon alist demonstrations and armed

FUND

Our £2,500 Special Fund starts with £110.00 in the first week including £25 from supporters in Denmark and £10 from supporters in Mozambique. Although the end of July may seem a long way off the weeks will quickly pass and no time should be lost in taking up the fight to raise the target. Meanwhile the regular £600 monthly fund must not be neglected. The March Fund closed at £602.93 and the April Fund has got off to a good start with £179.90 in by April 9. London and Oxford supporters are running regular totes. The winner London April tote is o' the card number 102 and this week's Oxford tote was won by card number 343. All donations to the Special Fund or the monthly fund should be sent to: Socialist Press Fund, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

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

A first step could usefully the launching of a campaign for South African Embassy and a campaign for and South African nunoreds secret agents operating freely in this country. Nothing to say No comment on Mahlangu's judicial murder could without refer- to isation which trained him.

The ANC has s nothing to say work solelialic prepare necessary The mobilisation black workers around an independent workino class orooramme The focus of their 'strategy' is elitist, more often than not coventunist. arme strucole.

The flower of the black clashes with the regime have been reported from Kurdistan in the west. the northeast a state ol virtual war exists between the Turkoman people and Dazaryan s depreted army Military means The regime, saying it accepts a degree 0i autonomy but separatism nas unreatened use "all necessary military means" to crush the Turkoman revoll MasS action in suboort of national self-determination has also been reported from Baluch.

Istan Ine souin east ano Kuzistan in the south. Bazargan also needs his army to assert the power or nis capit- alist regime, concerned above al!

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

Public Meeting Labour's Record on Ireland Thursday 19 April 7.30 p.m. Lyndhurst Hall, Warden Road, Kentish Town Pass law offenders in South African jail country, guerrillas out nobeess military acts Africamust be posed first orath Armed struggle South of actually organising and politically directing workine ciass For the ANC it is seen a both a catalyst for sparking of struggie and as a Torm ou sure' on the South African statft Soloman Mahlangu is not To nave cleo in van then those like him, those prepared to give their lives free masses TrOT Capitals ane raels oppression, must seek another That road is the building of a South African Trotskvist marti on the basis of a struggle around independent revorationary programme. to rescue the profitability of capital in Iran. This means opposing mount- ing militant demands tor jobs by the millions unemployed Iranian workers disu attempting to shift the balance between the feeble power of his official state apparatus and the enormous strenon or nis datror Khomeini who bases his would.

be religious dictatorship armed "Khomeini committees this interna battle power was boosted Knomeint's oncum in treat weren endum which bazarcan •es•iTe earle publicly-voiced doubts, Wd. obliged to adopt as his own.

announced, a 92% participation here bazardal Cont'd page 2 col. 6 Leicester Trades Council Mobilisation against National Front march No platform for fascists April 21, 1975 Assemble at 12.00 noor Victoria Park at London Rd., Leicester. Prison thugs get off with a warning Brutality by warders to such Prison warders who known organised a mass beating of Sorisoners wel alla widely practiced Hull prisoners-including The was sparked riot several Irish republicans- after the beating after riots at the jail in 1976 prisoner. Inmates of the prison broke were told they were men of into offices opened theil character had and good who files, revealing that false reports made a substantial contribu- sabotaging any hopes of tion to the prison service parole. was burnec and were freed last week.

down and warders were kept at Eight warders were bay than two days more convicted consolac one army ane daace armourel prisoners, nearly three assault cars were called to the prison.

after the beatings took aftermath the 120- warders took tuel revenge Real crime sineline OU prisoners for beatings in their But the judge at York Crown cells and making prisoners run Court-Mr. Justice Buchan-told a gauntlet of boots and fists and these trying force prisoners • Inues unar ter ea cre was that they had "played into drink tea with urine in it.

the hands wicked would Thel Cover up conviction. sentences determined cover suspendec followed beatings the Once between four and nine months- police investigations started fou little more than a warning not months afterwards, prisoners to get caught again shuffled Officers tne

F TISON

country to prevent them being Association immediately made a interviewed detectives • received for the warders to keep plea threatening phone calls and, their jobs. warders occasion, prison case nas parales wit" threatenec prevent the

RUC

brutality partly getting in to see the governor.

revealed in the Bennett report; Of the eight thug s eventually state s • saborova convicted had is the same in both cases.

of Long wareer Kes anothe had been a boy soldier, a third No political status had the police force, a Touri Had beer al was uses to keer the police and a fifth had by many IRA prisoners convicted been in the navy. of bombings and other offences out denied donticar status

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE

THERE'S NO WAY OUT

WAGE CUTS

CUTS IN PI

EXPENDITURE

Get the answers in

SOCIALIST

PRESS

fighting policies to defend jobs, wages and social services

SPECIAL OFFER

10 ISSUES POST FREE!

If you would like to take advantage of this offer fill in the coupon below. Please send me 10 copies of Socialist Press. I enclose £1,50.

Name Address. Send to Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London

NW5 1HR.