Socialist Press no. 159

PRESS

STRUGGLE FOR POLICIES

AT TGWU CONFERENCE

EVANS DUCKS

PAY FIGHT

WITH TORIES

"The Tories would love carried unanimously. itself for nothing more than seeing all bargaining" and our troops rising up out of "government industrial their trenches; wage baroanine the banner of private or carrying industry, through fixed percentage claim and formal incomes forward into marching ams in te bole services. like hostility of barrage lambs to the slaughterhouse Strategy of public opinion. was Moss Evans at the This But in his TGWU Conference spelling out Evans was the determination от иле ледает- strategy ship TGWU to avoid a wages struggles full scale confrontation with the rapidly develop Tory government over pay massive Inflation, he said, has been launched on all Tronts against the deliberately created the working class by the Tory ories- is a lidu. covernment a bait, a test to see how He determined. our industrial strength is doing" struggles that do erupt should kept individual firms and industries The last thing he wants see is the spread and generalisa- udy political controntation with tre Tory government. are those of social democracy- seekinfu PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Repor the working class framework of capitalism. Call militant individual profitable firms-such Fords-the prospect of action uniting alterent sectione of the working class and forcing the lores out That frontens i Bankruptcy standing of the cy of the capitalist system on a world salt Evans provocation" deliberately engin- eered by in the speen which was diso heavily flavoured with rhetoric anv consiceration

TGWU

would of oil, salo would act Tories "responsibly Ene on the profit- attack the And by "responsible" claims concerned. clear reference to the debate to follow-on next ot living clauses-Evans Insisted Such a solution the

TGWU

should give negotiators any concern problems of what they snould Include claims. We don't want to "tie their citticuties are Claims hands", ceciareo should each formulated at local level. instead Trom interests of Executive i he motion.

SOCIALIST

* Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 159 * July 18 1979 * 15p Evans from an alriut contrie shrinking declared trom untertereo collectivi Tories, opposed the

TALION

WILL

intervention essential to prepare Tor sucr confrontation and to create the wetter down public sectors sanctions, natcher covertment and his fellow policies or cash While Evans

TUC

bureaucrats struggle in the main troops kees trenches, and to send individual sections of workers over toe to fight the one by one top major speecn ories chone. socials le clearly laying out his fight programme tot the unite the coming controlling demands to struggles and direct them at the WHil in the face of task bringing down the being onslaught government. Spread the unat This means fighting for the isolated within development ot councis through which delegates action committees Trom can act jointly with representa- into strikes tives of other trade union and int for the spreading ans ane nant tor une soredarric for all Evans' politics, generalisation of strikes.

struggling And within the labour movement for for piecemeal reforms principled revo utionary the leadership capable of fighting Wittin and Evans every level countenance those bureaucrats,- orede nothing than the mass strikes movement of the working class.

of office is one Nor does he have any under- utter Dankuot Rv describino inflation as "a Tories avoids or ine sodline mounting the world recession that have forced all-out class

WOTKITC

committing himself "viability' of capit- alist tirms ne turns nis back on d the crisis. reject the whatever increasingly the capitalists, whose Stan Conference chairman The Pemberton - forced to call the crisis of their own system of tellers for vote on cost- out start of-living clauses. toe noesencen the working class. Big support for cost-of-living clauses "This Conference complete contrast to the line of believes that the defence of Moss Evans arguing against con- fronting the members" living our committing TGWU against inflation can dards to any policy on wages only be achieved by TGWU sought TGWU at negotiators including a cost plant level of clause in wage living wage packets by building cost of in claims, addition living clauses general increases. To ensure which would increase the fullest protection, such

TUIT

inflation claims should be based on figures calculated by elected Union committees of members." This motion, moved by Alan Thornett and seconded by , Tim from U sullivan, botn delegales the Cowiey Assembly made history in the TGWU.

count Tellers were used to the votes for the first time in years in union over normally the platform Wittle sup- commano. overwiel port and has only been voted down once-In 1977 when Jack Jones Wal detreated Social Contract. A large number of delegates reman convinced mal Cald Stan Pemberton judged the vote wrongly in declaring the motion lost in the first vote. Appeals against this ruling immediately led to tellers being in movine Thornett said organised. obscured the But in the tive minutes or so required to organise tellers, large numbers of delegates who were provocation In to bars ane ted room volic!

back into she halk to ushed hall vote-- into monts particularly Iranian having heard withoUT devaluation debate. They heard only the plat- pound'. form's recommendation to vote against. this second vote open trasoce mation was lost by 348 votes to Conservative the The debate had stood in Next issue August 1 The Workers Socialist League Inter- national Summer School means that we will not be publishing an issue next week. Socialist Press 160 will contain a feature of the workers in Namibia and a review of 'Pig Earth' by Terry Eagleton. at over 20% the gains ot the Alread wages struggles of the beginning been taken had the 20% of the average wage by £16 a week. these conditions, under said, he was amazed inal tr Executive General Cane negotiators opposing the motion! Opposed mandate the and industry At the 1977 conference Jack defend their members Jones had opposed a similar motion. He had argued that pay into agreements restraint woule nail wages by He was clearly wrong. price The only answer workers can is to defend give themselves against it who had been MPs, he said awarded a £5,103 increase ove years, had been given an two inflation proofed deal, living clause their

COST

would be worth an estimated €2,000 over the next two years have CosT ot livine Clause: become the property privileged few, said Thornett.

enough goo tney wert for MPs and top they good enough for the working class Committees Seconding Tim importance of the stressed the general motion increases were linked to cost of Thornett could wages be clauses living Alan the motion successtulv detened Mike Eaude trom bristo Evans

VOSS

NHS, stressed the importance of real nature part of the motion calling it a Tory secone for cost of living which caled clauses to be based on figures from the world by elected com. worked out crisis of capitalism and in recent the from mittees or workers said ] natcher s state revolution ane ments about taking the price of the 'green petrol out of the government's official figures shower trit He said the full implications importance of this part of the of the new oil prices had not MOLfOn estimates put Con't back page, col. 6 inflation reached by the end of the year

Nicaragua junta set to continue capitalist rule

IUSC 4

-INTERNATIONAL-

'We studying the are political and diplomatic situation to see whether our military position lets us be without flexible more hurting our principles or endangering our victory."

so said Madio sandinista on 11 July: As the National Guard fights tor its lite in Managua and the Rivas the southern town provisional Junta established by the FSLN is showing every sign of coming to a settlement with imerlsls thoroughly acceptable to both Somoza and Washington. Ferocity extreme terocitv witn which Somoza has pursued his cutacl saturation coomoind Ine quarters of Managua confirmed itself, has National Guare Ine MOSt deeply loathed section of Nicar- The dictator, society. ayuall ooviousy Touched Lite of his butchers Canc he is in a yet recognising that nobeless situation repeatedly otterec nsesa- nation over the last ten days on Guard is the condition that the maintained and given tirm guar Masses resist Islamic reaction A new stage has opened up in the struggles against the Khomeini-Bazargan fight regime and counter-revolu- impose tionary dictatorship in Iran.

* he revolutionarv quaros on the black Islamic republic are of continuing campaign with violence ana repressiun, increasing arrests ot opposttion forces. The mullahs' crusade against and 'vice' has rolled 'corruption' TrOM sencina orostitutes to inelr death before firing squads.

The bourgeois and clerical leaders are pressing ahead with their ettoris to reoullo tor their own uses the armed forces of dictatorship which the Shah's were snattered auring Ine revolution But now face grow- they ine resistance trom une masses they seek to oppress. Thursday, revolutionary guards' fired on a demonstration Abacan

OT " S.VUU

araos demanding autonomy for Khuzestan, of the Arab minority in Ira.1. iarue this Utner mutants

TIOM

struggle for national rights have launched a widespread campaign oT sabotace But probably the most dangerous threat hanging over pazarudn s cabinel alta Khomeini's 'revolutionary council ' news the nuroisn natronarsts nave visilea Khuzestan in a bid to link their national self-deter- mination with that of the Arabs aven

SUCA

democratic movements will find their aims rejected by the 'revo.

iutionary leaders struggle win ine inelr demands will be successful only if it is integrated into a struggle the ranian workino class to Khomeini and allies with their and bazargan move Torwaro soclalisu revolution in Iran. eliminated', Now the Junta, which Lo Taf Tidk offered full guarantees of safety that this July proclaimed to officers and men and given oraetoran cuare wouo nave lc

ITALY'S SICK

JOKE PM

Pertini's gain an advantage by opposing President a Socialist/Christian Democratic of Socialist appointment Craxi certainly cover mierl. Party leader Bettino Craxi

WON T GO

on witnout ar leas Premier-designate CP abstention if not support IS But within the CP the Crax of the graphic ilustration impasse of bourgeois rule in aolnement nas roouced new and to the leadership a very Italy. alarming division. For Sig. Craxi is not a leader Obvious Ine iaroest cramenlary party (the Christian Democrats); of the second largest {the Many sections or tne ranr CP); but much and file of the party are asking smaller third largest party.

the obvious question If there i

I NIS

TISSL

Siesl ex d-i a cocait premier then wow not ordinary appointment comes a government composed of the about because of the following Socialist Party and the Com Christian the Party IUTEs t Crats don't have a parlamentary interests of the workina class?'

Last week, ,in a widely pub- mao tv tae them lor gets soles tin licised speech party it gets seats unless Central Committee. Partv Secre tary Enrico Berlinguer went out GoDinel altei LITese Democrats Christian not of will reject what Vva y concede; and none of the other "left alternative' careo une 'impossible' and 'dangerous' Centre Dar tie whi suborl benevolently abstain unless the because it would be provocative CP does the same. Ine oourceo sie ano coule They cannot lead to nothing but civil war.

KITOVY

It is clear that Craxi attoro to let toe cr equally gains of opposition"' to a bour- will not so much as consider tht which in the geois government though ett aternative• even oee demine Cabitalst CrISIS own party are also pushing destined to be massively unpop- as it unleashes attacks on

IOF IL

the working class. Craxi, like Berlinguer, knows thạt even to admit the possibil- Impasse ty d coveramen or worers parties would find an enormous flare-up demands from The impasse seems absolute, appointment of right- working class clas: ano the avalist lnk wing Socialist leader . Craxi has which the colaborationism Stalinist and reformist leaders cel talmly say is the only way to avoid civil prospect of even a short- late term way war fact seems to have Avoidance ocebenec Ine SOllT #alune main political parties. The Christian Democrats are Frontist collabora- deeply divided. Popular tion the tne one nand are inosi Witn ntaln. cao laisl unwilling to let the Premiership party way the orincio e to party for the which they fight to avoid taking pass to another responsibility fighting for wst time since lne wat Un the otner are those who Ine interests oi mne ciass mnes willing to work with Craxi claim (though with less and less are conviction) to lead. given rigorous conditions about Craxi Ine oo icies or nis covernment.

While the CP might hope to has produced a crisis in his own them the option of joining the new army arongside : mutant: of the FSLN. Socialist Party, a large section of which is opposing any sociallsu participation in or covertntier. with . Christian olalal psoeciaiv case when the Socialists nominally head the government but would realitv oe astan eno cratic prisoners. Italy's latest, more than half io ke is tha serious oticds Craxı …can on v torm a govern ment if the Socialists abstain!

The joke points the extent to which parliamentary democracv as a whole s unaoie toae arone problems bourgeoisie which mic cas y in sedrcn oi sofie aternative But it also highlights a situa for a the slogan tion in which Docidist rariv-ommunist carti . government is a powerful pole around which mobilise masses in cerence ot iner inter.

ests and against the class collab- oration the Stalinist and reformist leaders Indian Premier Desai's resig- nation after a mass defection of ministers from his Janata opened up a new coanuen nos period of political crisis in India.

analysis, see the next issue of Socialist Press. Basque truce - What has become known as the 'holiday war' , to have appears ended-with a compro- mise. The politico-military wing of, the Basque national liberation

ETA

two weeks nas exploded 16 bombs Spanish

TOUTS

TESOTIA

though with scarcely any casualties. ETA(p-m)'s demands originally for the were 100 removal bascut from political prisoners Soria jail to another prison in Euskadi. while The government, refusal to starting

WILE

has make concessions, ended up wat nu awi the armed police from the immediate guaralg or tit Basque prisoners and with prison replaced them officers. It is objectively a very minor and tai (concesson ETA(p-m)'s from meeting demands. But it seems to have been by ETA(p-m)- accepted Sandinista guerrillas from the under. pressure bourgeois-led Basque Council which This is the part of the settle.

General ment proposed on July 10 trying to negotiate an auto- nomy deal with the Suarez WIll

TOS

mimea ater annorrent The Nicaraguar Yet the Junta has But in spite of the trivial further proffered concessions concession 1 nature ol lne wAiCh oenote boncie has undoubtedly intensified flagrantly capitulationist and its the political crisis which the politics unashamedly national issue has Basaue capitalist created for the regime and Appointed thrown fuel on the ultra-right growing The entire rebel ottensıve campaign for a full will be brought to an end on the military reinstatement of Francoism oasis ot somozas resionalion lc his congress, the establishment via a military coup. appointed government of an Right propaganda wIlle and Reconstruction for such move was also vatIond the strengthened last week by a •abolitions oi oresent These are the half day strike called by the Workers' W omnaer _cea corresoonos Commissions (but opposea almost every detail the Socialist various schemes trotted out by by the UG1, against government plans to vance in recent weeks introduce anti-strike me ay toe dunia new which the US insists two repres- Haws conservative entalive interests are accecrenects ine increasing influence of the CP Panamanian, and venezuelan, Rican th LOsta recines Ove Tercerista wing ottne mayors' from politics Iviar xIst wind: Sandinistas The question is not whether outburst should stop but the fighting under what conditions the fight ing should stop. t une cvnica Nine Parisian Mayors-al manoeuvre the bourgeois members of the French junta is implemented the masses Communist Party-have wille oresenteo.witn a recime that is actively courting the made a joint statement in support of imperialism and L'Humanite the party's committeo to the deence от е daily paper, dealing with the major part of Somoza's state "boat people". a val dlus They correctly point to the infrastructer with the politica hypocrisy of the French govern infrastructure also ment which is at present trying strenathens its ability to defend to drive out North African anc imperialist capital. otner immigrants whie stin same time appealing to the Break Parisian Mayors take more anti-communist Vietnamese.

Now more the than ever however Having saic this. 'intransigent' sectors the the Mayors then make a series

FSLN

and the Nicaraguan of outright racist • statelttells Marxists must break wt [ne tnemselves bourgeois parties and deepen Instead of demanding the the political and social struggle right to travel and any sociatisim • Wilnin lne civil id tigge fire coese where. unat war munist would fight for; This mobilisation must be Stalinist hacks say: directed against both Somoza "We have already from 20 te the politics of the junta ano immigrant workers in which, far from .=: living areas ortheedst housia towns, gathered in special alliance with the Ihdasts, Dresarino Ta KI DoWe i

DIOCKS

Ineir chiorer behalf of the parasitic reformist sel che, chetren, Both Franct bourgeoisie on its own terms.

French The de feat both Somoza makes it more essential and immigrant." Echoing all than ever that the fight is taker 'worst of excesses recent Nationa V• or use construction ot tact.

these ory committees and soviet-typ rront oro acanca Stalinists go on to say that the bodies alongside the SerUClE Vietnamese would 'worsen the a constituent assembly in Nicaragua. unemployment situation

Nigerian elections: a bid to stabilise capitalist rule SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979

• INTERNATIONAL

Since January 1966-less

NIGERIA

than after its SiX nationalist movement had won formal independence' Britain- from colonial Nigeria has been ruled by military dictatorship. Niger The ban on political parties is now litted and this month sees a series ot elections caicuf- ated to provide bourgeois rule Siskesto with a more acceptable "demo.

KANO

CraLIC SKIN

SOKOTO

to The transition civilian government in October will be waltica v ste duprelc sion imperialism ano the

KADUNA

indigenous Hauc hr although it is certain that ohiadun,

BAUCHI

bourgeois vartv Win tne elections fonly bourgeois parties have qualified to contest them), Mirh.,

IT IS OV

no means certan inal

NIGER

PLATEAU

the Nigerian masses, whose

ABUJA'

some extent pcosule promoted InIS move Will consent to submit to continued

KWARA

DYO

«Miskurdi bv cvc vc vvc

BENUE

intendee ov iner own electeo representatives.

ANAMBARA

Disappointed Lagos•

LAGOS !II

_IMO

BENDEL

The people's expectations of

CROSS RIYER

civiian government are bound disappointed-fo: electon continse vi lu's

RIVERS

essentid roit

INC

military: to weave Nigera eve closer into the rotting fabric international capitalism as source as d Vildi imperialist agent in Africa.

Gulf of Guinea Vague promises of weifare state made benetits have Deci!

TI VC

Contestine bardes. necessi ty of producing but the capitalists ettects of the international capitalist Crisis will ensure tnat thormilitary so ernmemis antid working economic pontica poncies reman at ine head of the agenda. Stalinist and reformist laooui ledoers will

• •UDE

enthusiastically connive at the to convince the masses attempt that civitan reoression worth suffering for, and that a to military rule would be return, ine awu consecuence or any fundamental challenge the of any for a solution the appalling overty oi tne masses. deceptive and Such treacherous be must and the vicurousiy opostu tiont taken uo tor a brogramme and leadership based on class independent interests Ine oroletarat ano strategy wel flanelll revol ution. Coups This is the only way to carry forward the struggles both the industrial workers and trie masses Tleo the crumbiing subsistence-farming system.

The dictatorship goes back through varous coues counter couos ane attempted coups to its origin in the instability of post moe sendence covernment. The emerging national bour- weakened by geoisie, compe-

LILIOT

Detween sectors (particularly between the tradi- tional the largely rulers Islamic nortn ano ine newer too bourgeoisie of the south-east) was confronted soon after inde- Obasanjo pendenee wy une proportonaty leader!" Then sma ok increasing/y militant resulting Joint industrial working class which Committee used Ihe treachery of the labour

ACTION

had expected something Hiore leaoersnid during this strike UnILY conadorate with followed the established government-chaired reconcilia- tnan auracks on its liwno stan 'independent' Nigerian pattern tion to sell out caros trom the government. First, mass pressure forced a strike, before retreaune General strikes in fradile unitv on the maior unior structures •neindr

CONSTITUPNT

federations-the Stalinist Widespread political

CUCKY

ico Ine •osine control Nit Lan Trade Congress duestions c onitical Union economic dissatisfaction difione and prompted political slogans Labour Unity Front. ane vorKers anter zne STrIke and imod lia eding the Balewa govern- Stalinis® Lit reTormist UniTec Labour aocravated Ihe oronlems reciit Nigeria and the ing from the internal dissensior coneress Nigerian Workers Council.

of the ruling class-which came 250 amis Chad

BORNI

To.inl:, i!,!i Cameroon Yuil.te

GUNGOLA

695 Mi elections of 1964.5. genera Countrywide protests anc followed blatantly rigged election in the Western Region. These conditions provided group manev dissident majors .in January 1966 which succeeded magn.if- centv in cestrovino ine covern Prime trostera anin ig gral Regional Minister Premiers majority and senior army officers). Martial order The army commanders, how- ever, regained control, and the remnants of the Cabinet handed over to General Ironsi the task of imposing martial order on the country. This initial experiment military politics proved unstable struggle an ol nol solve The between the rulers of the North and the ibo bourgeoisie. i ne vortnerners wert convinced that Ironsi's moves to centralise the country's adminis- tration wert ensure dominance ot tne ibos tnrough the consolidation of his own Inter-tribal antagonism was fostered. anti-lbo rots and broke out in the North. Then, July 1966, Northern army officers staged co nerac which eventually brought Gowor regional power. led. the military army leader, turther massacres of Ibos took place In tne orth, to deciare the secession ist republic of Biafra im dertarsm took agrea interest in the resulting civi! France thirsting for war-witt Didian on. olilan lookino r preserve its traditional mono- of imperialist exploitation the area, and south Africa • Rhodesia and Portugal exulting in the prospect of a splitting-ur Africa's potentially

NIOS

Jovvertur nation meanwnif Biafrans and mistong Nigerians died. the bloody defeat of the 1970 sancoslsls Gowon was left in power with army as the base an enormous TO1 ni. oltidd moves diminish inter-state K anenter rivalries conflicts and withn tne rutine class strategy was to His overall stabilise Nigeria develop- imperialist agent in ment as ail Atrica ana a site tor imperialist exploitation Gowon's rule lasted only UnT JUV Ild His government proved : to control prices and to accelerate infrastructura Incustria cevelooment ant despite mounting opposition to he military governmen programme for cancereo me hand-over civilian govern- ment in 1976 Killed One of the first actions o1 new government under the Muhammed General Murtala was to set a new oste tor nand Murtala Muhammed was coup Killed abortve seven months later and was succeeded (there being shortage of generals in Nigeria present ruler Olusegur the Obasanjo The central function of the military regime is revealed in the mass legislation passed workers' democratic restricting But the strenotn ano willino to fight of the Nigerian Hess working class has been equally reveareo •av ody struggles In 1970-1 and in 1974 illegal mass strikes took place ceriance om ine reoressive lavs securing large wage rises- though not large enough Sec Urt accentl standare living tor workers, with intlatior at an annual rate of about 30% These strucotes Stalinist and reformist leaders played the treacherous role at Ironsi Which thev are so adeot-retus ing joint action over economic demands when they can help it.

anic suboroinaline interests to their own and to the of achieving dna capltallsu economic growth. Whenever economic strikes threatened to move bevond the narrow economism HIm TS oT these leaders are quick to insis FUnCuon Trade Unions Dr. Otegbeye, leader of the banned Stalinist Socialis yvor kers rarıv anc otihe Nilu waxes eloquent on the necessity of a "natural front of the army, wor kers. larmers ano orooressive businessmen" as the only way forward. Adventurist Anybody, he suggests, "who of a revolutionary situa- Ta KS tion in Africa is an adventurist" (DI Otegbeye is no adventurist at present he is appearina on the platform of one of the major Page 3 bourgeois parties). The Nigerian workers, who so often been betrayed b!

nave the bureaucratic @sunity well as the reformism, of their leaders, have to tl det fight against the type of on their unions by the bourgeois state in 1977-78 Banned The whole trade union was reorganised and structure federa

JOU

TOTIFIC

mons dannec ano reoiaceo ov e sponsored (and Labour controlled Nigerian voneres. Recently this NLC. revealed itself as the true heir of Nigerian and trade unionism (corrupt ourecuc aue Lo a oecrce Wilic! would astonish even British workers) collaboated when witT gover nment s tales austerity programme-which freeze and makes wresn allacks on worKers living standards National President of

NLC

Hassan the anti- Adebav( des iveu working class Souocet desirable and the best interests of the nation. forced

DUT

mas. eressure even sections of the NLC leader- ship and government with the Coroll an ultimatum semancino somi concessions to sweeten the pill help the NLC to and to main. Ine vestiger credibility. Treachery The ultimatum has now been dropped favour joint doreement to necotiate on tn demands. This latest evidence of the treachery of the Nigerian labour ecoers revedl. aramaticaily once more, the urgent need for workers to struggle for indepen.

•ent rade nons as wel as to an independent political party which will fight for the workers own interests are ripe for conditions workers to break leaders who have so conspicu so frequently ously, and witr such contempt betrayed them. They must reject the favour- e cerian metnoo oT covern mental Wages Commissions and to to prese io r rises in line their independent assess- ment or ther neeos The bourgeois civilian government that comes October will bv power in means find working class crushed by 13 years of military repression -despite Ine generals best efforts. Militant And in schools and univer- sities, too, has there been a milanr response to Ine dovern ment's attempts to make body but the bourgeoisie pay the deepenina of imperial 10. ism's internațional crisis.

Government oi endrings and restructuring Course. a ne post military auen or pers main tain discpine se hale ma ntain ascioine nave met with staunch resistance In 1978 when universities were closed responst student riots, students took to the streets they were joined by wor Kels colestic acainst risine tooo orices The military dictators again used their teett and many wére kiled or injured in the sava( reoression repressive epresipe to crus thel force InIS remain to Struggles ot workers and voutt so long as imperialism reigns in Nigeria-whether the govern- ment wears generals' stars on its shouiders or not.

fails to call for Troops The of the organisers entirely peaceful tional Tribunal on Britain's Presence in Ireland, held in London on 7-8 July, could have under the Prevention of Terrorism Act if the police authorities had so wished. ane wiee-rancine dowers open to the police can be used to declare such a conference as "giving support to or turthering illegal Ine Interests organisation. This was one of the many facts that were hammered home to delegates from the labour and movement cast presentea to nolct britist imperialism in Ireland. The British government failed to resoone to Can invite tion to present their defence.

Lawyer Kieran .But McAnally, from lawyer ine co counties. presented the historical account using British govern- ment documents. outlined extremely well the relationship between the three British parties involved, moerialism. irish nationditsin and the plantation settler group in the North. He also scotched the various misconceptions which surround the Irish struggle. Republicanism irish Is not parochial. orew Insoiration from the American and French revolutions. Irish were since the АЛа, already tignting british aomina• tion centuries before Luther came the scene, could шлететог

TAIS

nol nave been based religious McAnally highlighted legal duplicity or britisn govern• ments as well as the brute force, economic exploita- foot cost, media • storion ano cultural deprivation. For example 1783 the signed Ken unctation

ACT

Westminster gave ''for right to any so-called for learsiate Ine people

UDI

This "forever" seventeen yers-until the 180 lasted Act of Union! He likened the movement Colonists the amon Smith's NOrTO in l/oz to lan UDI and claimed that apartheid first introduced in Ireland.

was not South Africa. Ernie Roberts chaired the first day and reported that only voted Labour against the continuation of the Powers Act the previous Special dav in Parliament. careerist Fitt

SULP

Gerry had revealed in the debate that 29 complaints torture had been maoe since ine •iscussior on the Bennett Report and that systematic clearly Tormed in leorar Darl British oppression The constituency Hacknev North anc represerts. Newington, put stoke forward a motion on Ireland to the Labour Party Conference.

Special conference It calls for a Special Confer- Although on Roberts continuay stressee une neea to tina ways ot Tighting tol British labour movement, he failed to give put here forward a depressing view of the difficulties. Tribunal exposes British crimes, but Out PHOTO. Laurence Soarham (IFT: Ernie Roberts But before blaming other people. Roberts himself needs to answer why he voted for the Callaghan the Parliamentary long- Labour cary alven standing record as a torturer and H Block The lovine socaker whose was

LIV

ritzsimmons eldest son is in 'H' Block at the Long Kesh concentration camp smuggled one reac letter out from 'H' Block, where 350 Tory 'outrage' at the late night

BBC

TV interview with a member of the INLA cause the final is likely to of BBC resistance collapse to demands for total censor- ship. Already

BBC

has promised to review its policy- been 99% which tor years nas total censorship/1% token 1% is now likely detiance. That to disappear. The press played has Judas role in the affair, turning ine bbu with savagery and refusing defend the right which it claims hold most dear-freedom to publish. Cant Although the part owners and most senior editorial executives this freedom' is total hypocrisy-like cant and avowals of chastity in a brothel the -there is same time a genuine contradiction. Bourgeois democratic rights were not given to the press; they were taken in defiance of Kings

IRELAND

PHOTO. Andrew Wiard Renow Republicans are 'on the blanket' fighting for the restoration political prisoner status-some

TOF

inlet years ne attemots to criminalise the prisoners by and brutalise enormous • Decial supplements and bonuses were shown to be insufficient the overcome unbreakable spirit of the libera tion fighters. Censorship Evidence was given by other An early press conference of the Tribunal: speaker Phillip Flynn, Irish union leader •rosecuton witnesses under une headings: censorship; repressive legislation; economic and social; Act of Union in 1800 it sought 5. That Britain can only rule to its reassert in Northern Ireland by commit wowe JOnCE allo was passed Ireland and that its "richt to Ine oreones ot intarnationaly nem con. It stated: recognised Human Rights rule in any part of reland wa: Britain on the in breach of her prior committ- Charters and with genera following counts: ment and renunciation. of breaches the rule of law throughout the presence Ine creation or tat period of rule of Britain Northern Ireland statelet was British rule in Northern Ireland has brought about by Ireland persistently encour- constitus a mine cars er policies of and navi

SUDHA CH

natona are use that the methods used to resulted in the death ot count less Irish men and women, the flagrant disregard the it crime democratically expressed wishes denial of their human rights and tuTe internal seace or economic and political peoole in the 1918 Ireland. In inelr exploitation. General Election That Britain And that in the event you 2. That in 1800 by an inter- sponsored and planned the satisfied that the charges nationa TOrT namely bribery. and been sectarian state wherein the insi mentioned 200V€ have the were deprived of the clearly established against the coercion exercised against people right of effective self-determina British the prose government, then me sendent wisd ment, Britain reneged on the

LIOT

nationalist cullet ves vou to conciude Renunciation 1783 where- that the only effective remedy Minoriv In the north ot reano were deprived of basic human these for the I voluntarily wrongs by it has • renounced British and relegated Torever edislatt

TRINTS

Government for the people of Ireland; by the status of second class citizens.

stitute its international relations

PRESS GANG

Bolting the lid on the Irish war and Governments. was accused of being a torturer, The right to criticise and the The impact of an appearance and protests from film is so strong that one publisnec on Tant Le resort rarliament are hard-line Tories. two examples such rights ot does Specia criteria, but we believe that, on won in struggle. Widow very the public This material origin ensures within the press-and can be reminded directiv of the That It was a week before the row within TV and radio-there terrorists by the _патие от Еле earnest

WITT

normal methods television for whom the denunciation Daily reporting. Telegraph, followed swiftly by ves is taken serousiv Thatcher's broadside widow. ATter trom Neave's polests Pressured against the

TMA

Commons-backed by Labourite to tell her the programme was It was that element withir Rees-the Telegraph. the had nevertheless who

WU L

the BBC that pressured for the Daily Mail and the Mirror all led switched on on the subject. interview to be Trethowan full was Sir and l was to tal pressure ludl Already his boss, BBC director lan Trethowan, chairman of the general, bowed. Board was renouncing his decision promising a review of the guide- and saying inat ne nad clearly lines 'misjudged emotional Trethowan, who thinks they impact' the broadcast by boasting that to. HOTO. Chris Davies. boasting that that thin seam of defiance for Shown

TOU,

interview. with terrorists ten years. The programme was showr Too little late at night and without ans 'trailing'-a deliberate decision Trethowan. It was In a letter to the Telegraph, according to Trethowan said: seen ov oniv asmar avolence The immediate reaction was 'We are, indeed, more often accused of attempting too little muted. Most papers gave the gist Rees of the interview, in which Neave in this field of reporting.

STROOPS OUT

NOW!

with Ireland of or •a basis mutual exualty do respect an recognise the right ° fighter in Irish people tion in accordance with Article nern cont Covenant on Civil and Politica Rights." The impact of the evidenc on re striddle in the kritich labour movement for immediate withdrawal of troops was less ened nowever, not only by a small attendance, , but also by a failure of the indictment, amid to spell Tedd poraseology out the simple demand: Troops Out Now! Without building support for demand as the centre of TInIS campaigns Ireland amount of well intentioned calls 101 and rollical Rights. can hope to succeed. The Mail headlined Appalling Error bv BBC"• the Mirror "Terror Quiz

BBC'

But even the threat of prose- cution under the PTA of BBC sufficient persuade the press not to subbor them. The gutter press managed to avoid while uncl large stories slamming running the BBC and-in the care of the Daily Mail I-exhuming inter ven condemning interviews with IRA members The Guardian-in one of the leaders

MOST

meav mouther even they have published-gave a defence of the BBC which was worse than the attacks Accusing BBC of errors the and lapse guaran salt that such interviews should not be banned-so long as they were rare events the authentic cowardly and whining voice of liberalism.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979 The Leicester April 21 Defence Committee has called a demonstra- tion on July 21 under "Drop the slogans the Charges-Disband the

SPG

Meanwhile the stream heavy fines imposed by Leicester Magistrates Court nas continued and a third Bill joined an act Hemmings and _Yorkshire Martin miner Hughes in The Defence Committee distributing leaflet spelling out the implications of these sentences, not just

LOT

labour movement as whole. Paramilitary The police and the SPG, backed up by the courts, are increasingly no more than a paramılıtary force used for smashing strikes and Dreaking ment demonstrations. That is why the SPG was used 750 times at industrial disputes last year. That is why their snatch squads were out force the Grunwick pickets. However. the campaigr against the charges and for the disbanding of the SPG clear principled needs perspective if it be 1s to from the carried forward Leicester demonstration. of this As the Tory government over wages, public sector

JODS

cuts and anti union legis- lation hit home, they will constantly bring the working class into conflict with the "forces of law and order". labour movement, whether at Leicester Grunwicks, the picket line occupylig Labour MP Joan Lestor failed last week warrant for the arrest of imperialist stooge Bishop Abel Muzorewa. Ever which covers window aressing che real face of oppression the government rushed through Order Council Muzorewa which gave the Knewne before he came to count on Britain. Lestor and the Anti- Judll Movement were ADartheid delighted in that the govern. ment move proved to them that Bishop Ine was inceed what they had argued all along-'an enemy of the Crown'. point I ne

MOST

Imoortant about the Bishop's visit is not wether or not ne is an enemy PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report Lestor Defend Leicester anti-fascists Police bundle off anti-fascist on April 21 factory to defend jobs, must Local "left' MP Jim Marshall expected reject the rule of Tory class justice and its apparatus of address the Leicester rally courts and uniformed police after the demonstration and it is hoped that a delegate thugs. must organise from Yorkshire

NUM

will defence of our meetings and ALICTUr picket • lines from attack huge is turn out tascists or the necessary if they are to be police. pressed into taking the fight for these demands into the Concrete assistance labour movement. The workers movement also be prepared

HE USL

offer practical of assistance members

MOBILISE FOR

who The Diack community

LEICESTER

need to defend themselves

VICTORIA PARK

against fascist attacks and 1.00 p.m. police harassment. Saturday July 21 We must , demand workers' inquiry death Blair Peach, murdered Southall by SPG thugs. Bishop above the law! or une Crown in strictry legal blacks trom leading positions ir terms-he in sense the judiciary, security and friend of the British Crown, a public services. stoode or imperialism and visit of Muzorewa Is more real traitors are raise bring pressure designed traitors particularly on Nkomo to bring art unlust Within Ine adour movemen him Into an all party conter. like Callaghan and Owen who ence have fought hard defend Nkomo's response, the imperialist interests in Southern moment matcher decide. formally recognise Muzorewa's ATriCa. The Tories shall simply regime we continuing talks in public impossible for her to do so the here that they have taken over same way we nave done It in the government past by intensifying even further trom the Labou which carried them out shows that public in 'Rhodesia-Zimbabwe'.

the armed struggle he sAAs something to be turned off and Ano more imoortant still is the fact that these 'public' talks for diplomatic are in no sense public. Behind ALCS OT JOan LeStol are and the anti-apartheid move. scenes ceals oein o cooked in the constant ment over the last few days have round secret diplomacy no way nerped ine working class to take independent class Which continuary coe. between imperialism, the Smith- support Muzorewa the Front masses. In associat- Limbabwe Line states and the Patriotic sonearly with appeals to jail enemies of the

CONT

The strategy of the imper- Crown' they confuse and ialists be continues around disorient solidarity move splitting the Patriotic Front ment. at best winning both wings to Joan Lestor would be much a negotia dse ament. employed better campaigning attempting Callaghan and Owen for their orepare

THES

pressure to bear the in imperialism's for plans Salisbury regime to remove the Southerr

ATTICO

Tne mobilisation of workers to black constitutiona grantees or of whites which effectively exclude supplies to the racists. The utter contempt of 'the Labour leadership for ably women's was rights expressed last Friday in the miserable 98 votes rallied against the latest Tory anti- abortion Bill. Corrie's Private John Members Bill, which plans to rascally restric women: legat abortion, swept through its second reading with a thumping 144 majority. Opposed Amono inose sudoortino " was former Labour leader Sir Harold Wilson But Callaghan too nac cone nis or co ensure 11 a safe passage previous week's Parliamentary Labout rart meeting he had opposed plans McDonald and Jo Richardagh MPs Oonagh to uriouster une corre •it ou the order paper by talking the night tne reen business can need fan! that was should not be seen as taking an official "pro-abortion" line And in the event the • 'fili- buster failed to get off the arouna miserable turn out of Labourites to oppose Corrie's plans icallulary certain leaves no room tor anyone to conclude that the favour even defend leadership ing inadequate, Int existing, rights to abortion. Fifth attempt With the Third Reading of the si que in seotem der ano a hefty Tory majority in Parlia ment only the most concerted effort bv the labour movement fan attempt real this, the attempt restrict 1967 Abortion Aci The proposals in this Bill are Corrie-not -according but on television he made it clear that his inten- tion is not for safer abortion but : less abortion. calls for the time limit during which abortions can be bertormed to oe cut trom to to 20 weeks Late abortions, currently less than performed, loccur for several reasons-some Page 5 Force TUC to fight anti- abortion Bill! facilities available existe through the NHS b) for publicity and educa- tion contract live knowledge; for early pregnancy diagnosis, counselling; outdalent abortion cimics iree . on the NHS; and against any legislation : whether orivate members oill • calls upon the Council also General Council to organise a national demonstration against Wiard. • any restrictive legislation Detore Patinam no final vote is taken on it in

MPS

that Car C aware or me werent or teenno f the labour movement against such legislation. (Our empha

• SIS/

Callaghan Resolutions medical tests foetal Supporters must at once put aonormaty cannot oe carried out insar pregnancy. resolutions through their unior Also cases German branches to go to tner ivational Measles mav not be detected ol Executives instructing the TUC even occur until late in the first carry out the Women's TUC three months Uther licy alsO Chance-ou more agonising for those women who forced to seek late di t

COLON

In addition, in some areas women edav entitie to eart abortions are obstructed doctors and the lack of NHS facilities. also insists 1 he Corrie Bill that at least one doctor referring a patient for abortion has been in oractice tor Tive vears. inI is not required for any other operation The all final blow is that referral and counselling agencies must be registered. This blow And within the Labour Party charitable doencie. • well free support groups provided by the taken up fight must be NAC and women's groups, since MPs against those reactionary would find it difficult if Eney ThaT aosentee nemselves • TrON not impossible to register. the debate last Friday or even would extra Corrie's supported mediaeval require Workers women's attemois restrict In the tace ot inis dire threat to rights women's rights the TUC immed.

GMCs must call their MPs to into faltery account. ano call • also Con Labour Party NEC to demand Women's Conference: three line Labour MP's to oppose the Corrie Billor whip "In line with TUC and TUC Women's Conference policy for Its third heading a woman's right to choose and Those

MPS

that declare against restrictive legislation on themselves favour of such a abortion, this calls conterenc the campaign Women's Advisory launch for the uDor Committee to press the General of reactionary removal Council to support campaigns: Callaghan Healey leadership that a) for amending legislation clearly opposed the slightest with a view to improving the fight for women's rights.

Massive demonstration for abortion rights earlier this year

WILL IMG 'UNITE' W

SWP CENTRISTS?

Page 6 In this short series it has been impossible to make a complete critique ot the of Socialist politics Workers Party-this been an initial contribution.

We have shown, nowe ver. that in to stalinism. pet tranenl revolution. economic Leninism, and theory modern continuity Trotskyism, the SWP has little or nothing in common with revolutionary positions. International The Marxist however, clearly prefer GrOuD an orientation the

SWP

towards the Trotskvists o ine workers socialist League That this is the case be

IMG'S

seen slaice positions and its mitia reructance to take seriousiv the discussion of our document the Well-which vvds wrendreu spechtically

TOI

Ine World Congress ore-iatr discussion which is taking place PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Report alcooll. Syndicalist In August of last year the

IMG

centrar Committee discussed its orientation to the

SWP.

The resolution woleh was trame savs tat the o "represents syndicalist break from revolulronary Marxism. i.e. Trotskvism "Nonetheless, since the middle the

SWP

has detended a basic class Struda e orientation and has been able to polarising, there is a real chance of these divisions being resolved revolutionary between ourselves and the SWP of the most advancer HotIniCls layers of the vanguard." as a whole in the coming period.

The SWP, says the resolution: "But such an outcome will require "combines that we strrengthen to an aulem or to ov. pass the struggle in the official Ine maximum

QUI

bractica organisations-in political collaboration with the favour

SWP

and same time militant vanguard action and the discuss these political obstacles creation ot party tronts in the trade unions-with a minimalist to fusion in a fraternal way with of demands upon the object of overcoming them." the official leadership. difference in view is inIs vul t cne door, Enen, go all of weaknesses not cental pottica it concerns basic the Ine apparently don't

SWP!

These centrai political •robiems really

IMG,

facing socialists in Britain today.

nialiel Ine "The SWP's does they are not yet not oec ause lead 'burning issues around which today CrOSs Has- the lines-it leads it only to abstain wasil socldtorces in tne from real struggle against the class struggle are polarising.'

bureaucracy. What, we might ask, about bankruptcy the years of principled prepara

OUT

when the of this leftism is exposed before ghion the time when pree

TON

the SWP comrades in the heat of for the time when paring social forces basic major torns in tae class struggle, imune cids. the absence of a correct grasp of around the surpaale olarise the united front question of power? transitional method can produce Actual betrayal udneerous lurc to concuia- bureaucracy in tIon with the practice through a tailing of the What about the actud betrayal by the

SWP

of avciayt cnsousness Ene the Class. Irish people in 1969 when the second issue. of diver- British troops went into gence is the question of socialisi Ireland? inner party demo. democracy, Was the IS/SWP's failure to cracy and the question of the cai tor their withdrawai not a Fourth International. direct result of the SWP's ref- differences around conflict usai to WIln une con- these key programmatic issues trade sciousness Kritish which present obstacles unionists and the Catholic pop- Ireland - venumne ano lastina TusIon Sur cadres with those of the with ls lack or anv oersoective for the Irish struggle? What about the SWP's Real face asedatul roie oniv last vear in covering up for the jobs sell-out at Speke? Strong stuff! But the real Ine situation becomes even lale oi ine vos autituoe to tof

SWP

seen a few lines can be worse as the resolution goes on.

further on, when the resolution The principal illustration of che SVP's supposel •anorv slates. nedrlny "But since these program- turn is given by the IMG as the differences Anti Nazi League, a cross-class matic have not propaganda become vet toe noutarsnesue DaC TISE around which the basic social vigorously opposed to workers forces in the class struggle are defence squads against fascism.

According to the resolution, the ANL shows an atempt Dy the SWP to turn to left unity!

The resolution suggests that the SWP is now more vulnerable oressure enter create further swamps such the

ANL-

-this time specifically NUT, CPSA untons and NUPE. Swamp The NUT is a good example of the IMG's attempts to create a political swamp. Here there is not even the of a fight for transi- oretence demands. The Socialist ltonidi calleis hildle welll as lal d arguing for token strike action around the

NUT

claim pay while the • much smaller torces ot ine vol were able as resuft their fight to bring to

NUT

conference mandate from at least one NUT associa.

tion for all-out strike action.

The same had adopted the sliding scale waues as tIs •onCV. The IMG's real politics dove- tail practice with the tail- enoism oTune ovvr on many occasions in the trade unions The

IMG

show cal evidence ot any serious portica fight against the sort of line which their resolution correctly in the extreme (for •enounces the

IMG)

language quoted above It would of course be wrond the impression in this to give arti cle that ahi ais unitsion enthusiastic about tusion witn toe ovvr Orthodox whieh reject5 that plie exists sizeable inere section and preters an orientation to the Trotskyist groups orinodox' such as ourselves. The main spokesman of these comrades Jonn IN!

NYF NON

IN ILA

Anti Nazi League on the streets of Ilford Strawson who put forward an (whatever those are) might well resolution at the won alternative revolutionary CC debate Marxism! While this resolution did not But while Strawson's opposi.

characterise the SWP as centrist, tion is fundamentaliy flawed, it did argue that the

SWP

had for the

IMG

memoe broken from land this is not intended to be • revołutionar an insult) the pages of contra- viar xIsmn and was a building the revolutionary dictory 'theorising which partowever, the method which characterise the contributIon. from the IMG majority leader- Strawson to attack the ship on the SWP must be con- user majority view was one which, fusing in the extreme as we shall see, lett him open to attack from forces who are even Gyrations more enthusiastic about the SWP than are the IMG leader- shiPihe Lesser mortals than the top substantial criticisms intellectual gurus nave creariv Strawson puts forward are con- grown the ceaseless Tirec on the whole theoretical centrater nO1 gyrations contained theoretical basis of the SWP's the SuCTl cocuments centrism, but resolution quoted above Isolatec They prefer to go straight to exampies oT ts consequences Examples cited include the heart of the matter. Korea, Ireland 1969, and thi impatiently they demand to SWP's for know what differences exist it suDoor Portuguese PRP which signed practice between the IMG and with the Stalinists in Portugal the SWP. in August 1975 In tne c‹ cebate a groun •i IMG members from Birmingham put forward a resolution which Incapable at least has the unusual merit of straightforward and Deino The strongest section of his honest in its total capitulatior to the politics of the SWP critique is where he shows the

IMG

good eve bccce r ovnœ zęz against the bureaucracy-citing bleating about the fact that the amongst others the example document received only Uite Speke (see Socialist Press 158).

include vole -iae aUInors objection to important IMG members with a simtarv their self-proclaimed Leninism record iw ohld argue that.

concentrates vue! M inte WouFd aru ut Ental unel SWP's feeling widespread totar lack ot interna aruicurate democracy, the IMG-and one which Strawson is incapable flows logically from the leader really coming to grips with hov sni s own Dositions the oooost OrIT SWP because he, too, , wishes to ment these comrades argue give them some credit for "class immediate fusion with the sirucare DOS LIOns I Cano course, the launching of the The only barrier they see to ANL-of which he strongly this is the neea tor aoreement on internal democracy. doutoves Worse still, he makes the They able to point tó are ludicrous diversionary point weaknesses IMG's that the SWP as a whole 'undel characterisation the

SWP

OT favourable circumstances' which they see, without the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979 Slightest qualitication, as revc Embarrassingly for the IMG leaders. inev are aso able te whole marshall series examples-such as the fact tha the IMG's sister party, the LC signed the same document the PRP in Portugal; the lack o orientation duLOnomO! groups in the history women s of the Fl; and the SWPIUSA) wrong line on the war in Angol ve stransoc in those listed Strawsor relation to the British

SWF

tha accisivt deTInIn. organisation outside revolutio are Mao ime. also able lo snoi that thi ovr s particular bran centrism is different that of the • PSU in France , the

POUM

Spain guarala. Uperala in italy Massive Their overwhelming rational isation for demanding an orier tation to the • SWP is that it ha crossed class lines; that massive compared with

IMG

; and will continue to grow even hold out the hop . inev that the SWP will spontaneous!!

confront the Communist Part) rather than , continue to attemi to join up with it or go round it "Just as we annot beat' th

SWP

by building around : SWP mus outside of it. establish a route to the base o the CP their case, to destro it." We have cited one example (Socialist Press 158) of SWP's actual dooroach Ur-tota capitulation to it ove the Speke closure. We add that th SWP's appeal to the CP for joint candidate in the Hamilton by election and recent call Rank and File organising by the a for joint • committee conference the Stalinist The IMG supports the last | these policies anyway, , clearl having no understanding them of sel ve: InorouanI counter-revolutionary role Stalinism Il s diso interesting to no while during Spekt ThaT closure crisis Socialist Challeng e ge nerestic ras teu corre question arECe Strawson tenaency don't think the authorship is a accident Incidentally it was recentl said of this article ibv a mo usually disgruntled IM( Thàn member) that was one "I rotskyist articie. Socialist Challeng appear since it commenced publicatior But back to the Birminghan resolution. Majority What the Birminahaı IMG oppositionists propose a the political basis for this join organisation with the SWP?

words Ine comrades: buila mil orginali n gia we simply • ViG s Dollics con quick win a majority, and in which t SWP's politics can be rapid disposed of?" Their answer is firmly 'No!'

for reason this apparently their belief that th experience the

IS/SW

tradition should be with the tradition of the FI!

TH final part in Keith White's The series of articles politics of the British Workers Party. the break up the organisational aspersal capital would ThIS represent a big set-back to revo- politics country. stand we tor revolutionary two

TUSION

traditions, a svamesis rather than obliteration of one by the other • it follows from our charac- terisation revolutie as in thisation. s

SWP

The document single mention transitional programme; indeed of there is not even a mention the programme united organisation should be for a heavy emphasis on except choose What com dues call "the united front". this vague they tert appear to mean firstly rank and file groups which 10 L dominated by one organisation; actually seconury the the mass of oraanisationis class and forming ren unions not denying the and thirdly class basis of the Labour Strawson No wonder called this document 'dreadful an official reply and called for from the IMG CC. We not know whethe such a reply has been drafted or indeed whether comrades still hold their 'dreadful' positions. What we do know is that the CC meeting which voted down almost the also voted that no unanimously reply should be written. We legitimately suggest this was a that confront hese вду пом 0 reluctanct focil- flow from the IMG leader- refusal to seriously Snio s Ovil confront the SWP. muddled concept of for principled basis being around sins outstic formula of 'whether an organi- examining the Socialist sation has crossed class lines'.

opened tne •OOr init Birmingham document-and possibly still worse to come.

contribu- he most positive tion to the CC discussion was a 'A small entitled question method: the MG and the SWPIUK)'. ism. Its the head with the the

IMG

of the SWP manifestation the for its nature. essentially

SWP

of the pragmatic leads which are utte now that the small, but will melod The correctly points to the The theoretical the movement-the I rolsKyisl Programme, and the party. voting also States une to call goes or

BUT

Inen way uggests I ne

SWP

the schema leadership refuse the

IMG

will ensure, make mem dersitio. May-June 1968 in France-IS adapted to these events by becoming 'Leninist That document received two votes. We would certainly not agree with all the tormulations if this document, but its general thrust should How, the SWP? ne 1950 and systematically the tenets revised 4 rotsKylsITt and now t nas ship, Without a from the subject trails behind •ureaucrat the present react to the Cal none it bed to ble and betrayed opinion Korean masses opposed ehis in favour of 1960s Until nos Luxembour became a popular cause, it suar When vietnan ported the solidarity movement It adapted to the lay events in France in 1968 by becoming Leninist It adapted to the syndicals!

the 1970-74 Tory covernment when svno carism untenable Labour, Right to Work' and turned to pectora camociolis When these tailor it is Talled the

ANL

launched returning to syndicalism.

SWP

centrist The organisation because it set: face Flast the storid to by ot world party of socialist revolution.

SMASH,

SCUM!B

NORKERS

WORKERS

LEAGUET

DEFENCE

COPS PROTECT

•FASCISTS ~

PULD WORKE

FENCE

VADS

Socialist Challenge editor Tariq Ali WSL fights racist attacks through fight for workers defence squads.

SWP

from the is no accident that the differently because the IMG still retains a from Red in the MG ShiTt formal committment Weekly to Socialist Challenge- Trotskyism and the building of premised the need unity has the Fourth International revolutionds resulted in a retreat trom the struggle for the Pabloism transitiona programme inadequate that struddle was l with we not acret the first place their argument that the USFi is IMG's issuing of 'Our The International - Fourth October which we believe to have been commor Ground 1977 marked an important step destroved as a single organisil from the transitional by the politics dvvas programmit raDioisin This document contains not We see our task as the recon- one transitional demand: and it struction of the Fourth Interna- the excludes specifically basis tional of the deforme.i transitiona meinod degenerated workers state. programme. from imperialist attacks.

reconstruction present fought for by the WSt Not a programme through the fiaht in the world Trotskyist movement evaluation of the experience of of this year the in January IMG and the ISA (International Socialist Alliance) issued a 'New Trotskyism witt Tine who Revolu- re-directing Yea! resolution building Unity socialisi Challenge 4.1.79) Internationa ThE towards a correct course in that of occasions Un the resolution stressed inal For us, therefore, significant a programme and one VVaS out but the had to be worked only signatories ole conside inal can with provided 'the basis tor develo TroTsKVISI joint work in order to test agreement on theoretical This however, does that mean that the mass of the SWP viability of underpinnings out in oractice le building a unified organisation.

programme membership and evel method here is one in The "revolution- leadership positions- aries' in the sense that they fight TAe or callsa livi Sluuy concerned try to come to agree- •combare Inf in their own way TOT LETt revo joint work lutionary overthrow mich progressively whittling down the will • for practical Caullaltsill theoretical Cano programmatic unIty until distorted Barrier very

LVVU

citterent bositions emerces It does mean that the SWF The whole jettison the resolu- programme is a barrier on the road to the avoids programme from tion overthrow of capitalism. and thus finish seizure It systematically miseducates „start lo practice on which the unity is and diverts those who find their to be forged will be and indeed feat- way into its ranks subject to already all talk of the sdy struggles which members to pressures

OT THE

equips possibility ot the woole ot un which the comrades will D

SWP

coming to revolutionary involved diversion vat Xism The IMG are travelling down this basis, and best) because it is irrelevant at the road to centrism-this is an this stage that we seek political unity inevitable result of its present why at present any orientation. approach tor unity is to bree

IMG

CONCLUDED

We approach the illusions in the SWI An organisation like the SWP could only won-anu doubt the possibility anyway- Now in English, by the building of a determined rotskvist alterialive Those memoers wilo joined that organisation to fight building French and revolutionary party will have to compare the WSL's theory and their with Increasingly as the WSL grows, will win SWP members no we soft diplomacy Spanish! but our otterence. a sharp principled and The fraternal battle with them Poisoned.• Trotskyist TIONI TOl will party create problems and Well in the SWP of which we will be able to take advantage.

The Poisoned Well Manoeuvres Price 20p plus 15p p&p From WSL, 31, Dartmouth We cannot say now manoeuvres will be Park Hill, London NW5 tactical necessary. 1HR We don't however STaL the position that "unit) from so well base our work around it".

TROTSKY ON 1905

Page 8 1905-available in Penguin Books. "The events of 1905 formed a majestic prologue to the revolutionary drama of 1917.N In that first great revolution, the young proletariat of Russia Surnall audial the Tsarist ferocious might of ¡he Tsar emerged victorious from those struggles. But the triumph of reaction was beset short-lived. Govos cand haunted the revolutionary the power working class. Defeated in this battle. and thrown back into a new period the Russian workers had, however.

•gains through made vailan e revolutionary upheavals of 1905. Ine courage determination and discipline to be found in the class had beer major •rover

THIS

confrontation between the and ruling its future class gravediggers. Tested Working class cadres and been tested in leaders nad had been revealed in a sharper light. Above all, events 1905 offered crucial lessons for revolutionary strategy-lessons could and grasped which by Marxists who formed the vanguard of the conscious workine-class Trotsky was uniquely placed perform this vital task. He played a key role int the revolu- Ton as tne ego toure in tre St. Petersburg Soviet. Before the outbreak of the struce Haudreddy begun to develop the traditions of the communist movement by analysing the specific conditions revolution the socialist Russia. His intimate experience of revolution Itselt and enriched this which understanding vvd theory exoressed the permanent revolution. Legacy The book 1905 was produced to pass on the legacy of those revolutions ne struggle of the Russian masses their oppression by the against Tsarist autocracy, and Trotsky's own revolutionary contribution the science of historical that materialism, had been developed by ivarx and engeis.

Together with the short work Results and Prospects, Torms an essentiat incrocuction Trotsky's the essence of theoretical work and expression revolutionary practice (hesults and Prospects volume lit published i generally published one Revol- 1905 is constructed in two the second deals with parts: the aftermath revolu- ot the TIon. While Ine trst oresents the background to the first Russian Revolution records cevelooment Trotsky opens by analysing the and political economic conditions of Hussia uncer ine yoke of Tsardom at the dawn of the 20th century. rirmiV ano concisely. shows specific the characte, of the Russian state, and the features which distinguished it trom the oicer more SoWV capitalist states of developed Western Europe. of 150 •colation million 5.4 million people, of land square kilometres Asia. Europe, millet H Within this vast space every epoch of human culture is to TOWn TOM Tne revol Leon Trotsky was born in the Ukraine 100 years ago in 1879. His whole life was devoted to the struggle for socia- list revolution. Trotsky was the leading force in the St.

In 1905, Petersburg Soviet. In 1917, he fought as a Bolshevik for the dictatorship of the proletariat, and became Commissar for Foreign Affairs after the October Revolution.

With the outbreak of the civil war, he built the Red Army. After Lenin's death, Trotsky fought against the Troops fire on workers in St. Petersburg, January 22, 1905 barbarism Tine nortnern forests, where people eat raw fish and blocks of worship modern social capitalist city. relations ot the where socialist workers them- consciously recognize se ves as participants in world politics and keep watchful in the Balkans events debates in une german Reichstag. The most concen. trated industry in Europe based most

TAP

backward culture in Europe. The most colossal state apparatus the worke makine every achievement of modern techno.

logical progress order retard the historical progress of its own country. In these early chapters, Trot- and which produced forces solid The ContracictIons picture, and brings the surface the hidden class relations ano anaton sms The worsening he brios be peasantry and crisis production analysed as the outcome of the conflicting interests of the nobi- Lne slate and une IMOUSLi bourgeoisie-and Trotsky rial Nicholas II seeks scientific advice on how to deal with the shows how this crisis in its turn demands for a constitution intensifies those conflicts and of revolution-as orives them inexoradiv torward bility to disaster. liberals thought-but, the on contrary. made revolution Ene Analysis only possible way of develop- Under these conditions, the For the first time, Trotsky provided a Marxist analysis of vast mass of Russian society was increasingly drawn into violent the role plaved by capitalism in its highest stage of imperialism conflict with its despotic rulers it expanded into regions But this superficial unity of the opposition contained major previously undeveloped by the classes profit-system COnTICIs be tweet At every stage, this develop- diametrically opposed interests between the bour- ment presented rela- geoisie and the proletariat tions WIIn Ine central state apparatus built up by Tsardom.

it was his understandina of this conflict which lay behind massive growth Trotsky's theory of permanent with its vast and suffocating weight revolution summarised in a preface to 1905 repression, is also presented so *. This high-flown political reveal its true expression defines the thought signinicance "the administrative, military InaT The revolutior financial might absolu although directly concerned and with bourgeois aims, could not continue existing despite and stop Short at those social development, not revolution i could not solve its against immediate, bourgeois tasks onlv did not exclude the posst- bureaucratisation by the forces led by Stalin.

expelled from the party and exiled from Although the Soviet Union, he organised the International Left Opposition, and then fought for a new, Fourth, Inter- carry forward the banner of world revolu- nationa to tion which had been betrayed by the Third International under Stalin. He was assassinated in 1940 in Mexico by a Stalinist agent. To mark the centenary of his birth, Socialist Press is publishing a series of 16 articles to present many of Trotsky's major writings.

peasants in a backward country could be resolved only on nee rauond scoe in ne arena of a world proletarian revolu- tion "Having, by virtue of Ristorica necessity courst The narrow bourgeois democratic contines of the Russian revolu tion the victorious proletariat would be compelled also to Wurst nationdi confines, that is to say, it would have to strive consciously Russiar LITt become the prologue to a world revolution." Armed with this revolution- class Trotsky ar y 'andisis. and grippin give a suit -moving and 9 ping account event the revolution: of the Winter Palace and storming of the the mass strikes of October and November ine beasant rots ano the mutinies in the Fleet; the Tsarist led the pogroms by 'Black Hundreds'. Shift Throughout the natalive stresses the snitt in reationshir between the classes and the rapid fluctuations in th workers-and of thei ine except by putting the prole enemtes Bestriding all these events tanat in powel and central to the book, is the And the protetarial, onc having Would not be able to rendis power hands of the St. Petersbur creation Soviet of Workers' • Deputies confined within the bourgeois framework of the revolution "On the contrary, precisely in order to guarantee Is victory.

the proletarian vanguard in the earliest of its rule stages would have to make extremely inroads not only into eudal bu also into bourgeois property relations. "While doing so it would enter into hostile conflict, not only with all those bourgeois groups which had supported it curino the Tirst stages OT revolutionary struggle, but also with the of the masses peasantrv. with whose collabor ation it-the proletariat-had come to power. "The contradictions between averwers gover maint and an overwhelming majority SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979 By David Whitfield the major achievement Russian workers in 1905 oIsKv cives a tun accoun of its formation and workings assesses its historical signi and #calice "The Soviet's strength was determined by the role of the capitalist arelarial society. Soviet's task was The not to transform into not to parody parlamment organise equal representation o the interests of different social "vous. our to give unity to lim revolutionary struggle of thi proletariat. "The principal Soviet's hands was ThE political strike-a unique to the proletariat, which TnE class _ot Wate labour homogeneity its ot composition eliminated class internal friction willi Soviet and rendered it capable of The sit. Petersiative Soviet Petersburg Tsarist was crushed by reaction; leaders were imprisoned and exiled (Trotsk) reports or ine trials, nis owr experiences exile and his escape). The revolution lanter acneve lessons BUt the ot i thi 'majestic prologue' were learned by Trotsky and other revolutio April theses April Theses with which L thin central to the won the • Bolsheviks to consistently TIOn In no so ener them to lead the proletariat to victory in October lost I nosE jessons nave nothing of their power and importance since then. the theory •Ine ano permanent revollitio compromised betraved struggles or worker. led by forces which are unable grasp the principles of scien- tific Marxism. are ever hostile to its methors Today the same dange confronts the oppressed masse: of Nicaragua and Iran in their struggles against revolutionary immeeralism the end be an ai nism an ourceols natonansm.

it shows a way forward for the working claunt break trim irs counter-revolutionary leadershio l ano move witn independent strength to the seizure of state power and the building of a socialist society Barricades in 1905

I WANT TO WORK - BUT WHAT

TRADES COUNCIL MEETING

FIGHTS FOR CLEAR LINE ON

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979 Of the inept dreamt bodies by up tired 'liberal' reformists the Equal Opportunities Commission must be amongst the most cynic- ally diversionary. 1975 Set in monitor the workings of the Equal Pay and Sex Discrim- 'ination the Commis- Acts, sion has kept its head wel down in the sand as wage control and public spending a hollow cuts have made mockery "equal oppor- tunity for women' The EOC has the power «to investigate and make recommendations any- thing that may put at a disadvantage including educational practices. Hence the publication of along with this pamphlet, two alternative reports by Robin academic hacks Simpson and Peter Moss. i Sant to Work but What About the Kids? starts from the basic principle that be capitalism must presérved at all costs bul that if we all close our eyes make a wish then we and might just be granted one or two reforms. Trades The Oxford Council's confer- one-day ence on Day Care for the Under Fives attended by over 50 delegates eager to hammer out real policies for fighting the cuts as a basis for extending nursery provision. ine conterence was ine out Oxford City Nursery Cam- paign. It had been launched as the result of a resolution to Trades COUnCIl Trom Tne cowley Assembly TGWU 5/293 branch.

Predictably the right wing Trades leadersnios Council and the Oxford Labour Party chose ignore the conference. ine conterence was openec Ted Eames fight who set the for nurseries in ine context ou bast future cuts public spence TUC speaker, full time research worker robert barnes. gave a basic introduction to the TUC's Charter Under for the rives. 52 nurseries Whilst Barnes referred to the effect of the cuts (including the inreatened Closure nurseries in Clwyd) he gave absolutely soever of any TUC plans to tight ciosures and lot losses. Later, when it was forcefully pointed that out the recore on ooposino oast Culs Dy both Tory and Labour govern- ments was one of treachery and repeat the bureaucrats' stock answer-that union

ABOUT THE CUTS?

DONT

CUT US

Laurence Sparhan mise choices for both sexes

TUC

makes the and which make it feasible, Charter on the Under Fives for parents who wish to do (reviewed earlier in Socialist work and Press) seem almost revolu- so,

LOCOME

family, tionary by comparison. me come a The pious public lives.' opening reference set the tone

IOT

1s

CLU

"the present shortage of day what follows: "The Commission would facilities" but the vale like to see the implementa- effect of the cuts is care- fully skirted around. tion of policies which maxi-

NURSERIES

NCH

1BLY

CTF

Ann-Marie Sweeney and Ted Eames campaigning during the nursery occupation membership to blame and that with occupation, can possibly The oTTic ais can reverse ine cuts "educate" them! She showed how the leader- the

NUT,

NUPE

and Ann-Marie Sweeney, speak- ship Ino tor the Nursery Cam odiet. NALG na• sweated to under• showed clearly how fighting for mine the militancy those is a fundamental part sections of members willing to make a stand or ine strucole against women s oppression. Atter worksho• oscussIons She brought out the history on the needs of children, cam- the unions, work- South paigning in of the occupation of the oxtore Nurserv last vear. stress nurseries ing the importance of a consis cuts ano unionisation or colle the organis. the conference tent orientation Norman

(NUT

heard Connie

CLOS

Wol Kill Education) She the Nursery give then drew out of the detailed account lessons of the campaign's tight to win supporting strike action Importance oT nurseries lo und the only tactic that, combined development of children socially Johnny Byrne reviews I Want to Work but What About the Kids, published by the Equal Oppor- tunities Commission. Mingled with correct demands for flexible hours and all-year round provision child care are OI Tacines which proposals go directly against the interests of working people. For instance, the EOC is state clearly against free education-"day nursery care provision must be avail- parents can able at a price realistically afford" only briefly report on the unsuitabil- touches ity of playgroups for work- parents: and it advo- ing cates the setting up of work- place nurseries by employers Some of the EOC's find- similar ings are very points in the TUC's Charter.

of One the better sections spells out the need if discovering some for a unified administration deeply hidden truth for the of nursery provision, ending

EOC

time the first even the present division between announces that millions the Education Department women are being lorced te and Social Services. stay at home because of the School age lack of it is when the However, The report also brings in report comes to its recom- the need for facilities mendations that the nature cater for school-age children of its is exposed. parents, and needs of working children a service for •school-age day ot extended and noled schemes should be made avail.

able. and educationally. d) nursery centres should bi She was followed by sot up to combine education, VICe President Trades Council, health and welfare care, Gerry Casey (UPW). Casey, like facilities for the under fives.

Ann-Marie Sweeney, places

TOCUSSCU

on the crisis of capitalism that should restored and the and he cuts produced where ot ar all out fight to build a revolu- full support for trade union leadership in the work- and community action hurdly ing defend the Cass nursery places, bureaucratic misleaders. by occupation and necessary resolution supporting strike action f) that committees trom the urganising committet

OT TRANE

unionists and parents be given independent fight 01 recu

TUF

accus. accounta aspects gate local authority spending on social services spending by both education, to open the books of local government central and expose Contasy oretl alrao Lies the profiteering g) that local trade carrie. on unior the expense of the public sector.

branches, Labour Party wards and community groups be urgec strong Aile

TUC

political discussion ine torow resolution was passed 'nem Charter Campaign can provide (the Oxford ing Nursery "This Oxoro i races Colnci speakers, conference declared support for h) that Trades Council and the following policies to defend NUPE locally be urged to under.

and …axiens. nurserv accior can sal n which delegates urged to childminders nursery nurses and student nursery workers.

take back their branches

HILO

and other organisations In addition to this resolution al that a statutory duty br loca the agreed placed conterence produce with full report full free circulate motion, tr facilities available Central government must under.

the financing of all such conference in Reading and to take establish links organisa projects. Ciwyd will b) we oppose The raisine

LIONS

the school entry age to six an affected by the complete shut down of all nursery provision in demanc reinstatement rising Tives Into Shades That area facil es that all state pre-school Socialist Press urges all its should flexible readers fight for the above to have an• extender nours to meet tre •oticles in otner areas Page y of working parents, though demands again the are totally inadequate The additional document "Day Care for School Age Children" by Robin Simpson mainly concerned with showing how cheaply such care can be provided. the The nearest Work I Want to report comes to discussing funding is to say that: "We recognise that the making proposals will require, considerable re.

allocation resources" Priorities In other words the EOC falls straight into the trap of arguing priorities A further major omission is the lack of any real refer- day care workers themselves. and cua-min aers nursery nurses in particular are amongst most exploited and oppressed of all women workers its by own Ever standards of woolly-minded would have one

EOC

would thought the have more than a paragraph their position Perhaps the most funda- behind nental assumption the EOC's work is that the family unit must be main- what may. Threat Inevitably the huge in the number of uncrease women going out to work 1s threat to the seen family as an individual unit the EOC attempts to So make liberal adjustments to the relationship between the of needs working women and the needs of capitalism and the family. This is why whole of retormists sectons Stalinists and bourgeois feminists, whilst claiming to have illusions in the no

EOC

continue boost it and demand that it be given more teeth

EOC,

whether its powers are increased or not will remain by very nature a watch-dog not for working women but for the ruling class, and this report way forward for offers no women who want to fight for more nursery provision.

Workers Socialist League

MANIFESTO

VOTE LABOUR

SACK

CALLAGHAN!

THE CRISIS OF CAPITALISI

• STILL

AVAILABLE:

• Wanes

WSI

attitude the plus

WSL,

01 Hill, Londo

NW5 1HR

London

NHS

jobs to be axed Following the proposals for a massive series of cuts to the health service in the Westminster area of London, hospital have taken steps to defend threatened hospitals and wares. At a mass meeting at St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Kd.. Is on ine list tor almost complete ciosure workers voted unanimousiy the closure, and pledged to continue working in all toreatened wards and departments, not accepting jobs elsewhere. Strength Other hospitals in the area tollowed suit during last week and similar meetings are planned in threatened hospitals through- out the Kensington. Chelsea and throughout vestminster

AHA

the coming week. The growing strength of the OPPOSITIOn To cuts ane ciosires in the area was demonstrated at A A on Wednesdair lobby of meeting 11 July, implementation where the the proposed cuts was finalised. though the

AHA

aven decided at the last minute Health Service take the item on CULs oT Ene shire agenda; between 150 and 200 are workers turned up to the lobby.

"natural wastage". lobbyers were mainly from Hospital, Marv's dation the Harrow Road, and contained large cross section of Hospita Authority at statt, includina doctors and a month. large number of nurses. only Hostility Dele price increases, The size and militancy of the

VAT

increases lobby showed dusolute last vear s Hostie to any turther cuts in the rea, and frequently took up ment. chant "Оссиру Mary's! No more cuts!' Despite the scale of oppos-

AHA

ition, are deter- We, tne mined to go throuah with their to pay in lost jobs. cuts, which broaramme include the virtual closure of health service. Harrow Road and St. Columba's hospitals, and closure of wards in virtually every hospital in the area. responsible to nobody. The final implementation the cuts has been deterred to attack the Jocal two meetings-an emergency meeting of the AHA on 21 Juli Service NW meet no The unanim ousy to Regiona Health I names Defend Authority on 23 July estanlish "nis is the area that is likely occubat or first major battles to see the standards against against the Tory cuts de-manning the service Isolated Groanise work with Despite the strenath in hospitals so far, obvious weakness has been that the Authority announce al failure torce the job losses Liaot union teddership to give a strong lead in fighting the cuts.

news of the intended cuts and Isolated occupations are in the fight against great danger or being picked oft regular dunetin. individually by authorities, These militant confidence by the anti- must be union mood or the lory govern.

absolute refusal to work below ment. established manning levels or to Victimisations of individual jobs ever militants a! t Caras the Resolutions from all threat- wno leave. ened hospitals must force the leadership of the London labour Freeze movement organise an all conference of health Finally, if the _oncon service delegates and prepare a continues programme strike vacancies the unions must reply defend the London with a freeze on patient admis- action National Health Service.

SIONS

hospital is threatened, the only back that action with an wide indefinite strike in support until the unit is saved.

INDUSTRIAL

UNIONS UNITE

IN ACTION TO

DEFEAT CUTS

Thatcher-knows all the best cuts in last winter's pay dispute At least 160 jobs in the created sorte the divisions locally and nationally by in Oxford- the union leaders' be cut by Califie there were selective actions many individual hospitals where This is the grim recommen- union branches did take Management Team is action. control of the hospitals themselves Ine Area Health the end of this The response of the pres and showed The reason? Wage awards are Inev dread Inis contro funded; As the private only the first 8% of this year's for firms, whom press sink into porticians speak, deeper crisis, it is only a matter and none underfunding are of time for the Tories before an being met by the Tory govern-

NHS

capitalists which the 'cannot afford' is abandoned to tender mercies of private Waiting lists meaicine us this means But tor must fight for the books of the working class, are longer walt- Health Authorities to be openec an even less adequate now to show to all workers and To cap it all, these cuts are be carried out by a Health Authority that is appointed and ene coming Joint Trade Union Committee of the Health Jas resolved jobs and every Unit ano safe manning attempts a stoppage of essential patient cover, to attend a lobby of the The JTUC is also demanding The JTUC itself is to publish them decisions concretised into left vacant Get the answers in non-eulacement or statt management

PRESS

retuse It the closure of anv unit o policies to defend jobs, is to occupy unt working and to area-

NEWS

And forgotter But a Labour traitors, the the mass struggles Tory government. ouch consumers of the Health Service how it is being sapped off all the time by private capitalist firms supplying furniture, drugs, racial and equipment, building: ShOUC Workers acCeNt cuts imposed by unresponsible revolutionary while these And it firms continue OUTi solidarity Health service! It is our Health Service: at whether in Ireland this crucial

VVE

lake contre or rose it The complete inaction of the oman in iran union bureaucrats in the face of Ist rourth international int previous Labour covernment imposed cuts have shown what will be their cringing avoidance ot a fight against these new cuts Yet our strength, , organised League. in the unions, is well capable of Control essentia fight is to force the union mis- leaders to harness this strength.

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE

THERE'S NO WAY OUT

GE CUIL

Trial sub (UK): 10 issues, only. Six months One year. Europe: Six months. Rest of the World: Six months...

SOCIALIST

Name. fighting Address wages and social services Hill, London NWS 1HR. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979

JOIN OUR FIGHT-

AGAINST TORIES!

Returned to office after five years of Labour betrayals, the Tory government has immediately begun wielding a sharpened axe on jobs, conditions and social services. Trade Union rights face imminent legal attack.

Prices are already beginning to rocket upwards.

Plum sectors of state industry will be handed to the Tories' protiteering big business backers; and the pay rises to police and armed forces mark only the prelude to increased state violence against pickets and anti-fascists, and an intensified army crack down in the accupied North of Ireland The Caltaghan-Healey leadership nas made it ciear that i will opppose any perspective other than settling down and meek.

ly accepting five years of Tory devastation though they have once more dusted off their near.

speeches, Labour's "left-wing MPs have continued teader, too, have set ight to establish l han leaders, to establish a basis for collaboration with Thatcher and the Tory cabinet, parallelling their anti-working class alliance with Wilson and then Callaghan • working class das experienced and overcome such and smash through Callaghan's reactionary wage controls in a series of monumental pay battles last winter These experiences are not dead. They point to the way that jobs, social services and hard won union rights can be defended against renewed Tory attacks principled revolutionary leadership is needed if the the TUl collaborators and their hangers-on ir Communist Party are to be exposed and pushed aside, and mobilised Inat can deteat and remove the a leadership must fight day in and day out for a pro gramme of transitional demands which, starting from today's conditions and today's consciousness within the working class lead workers to grasp the necessity for socialist revolution.

And in taking up democratic demands-such as an end to sexual discrimination, l must snow te cuca roa that must be played by the working class as the only consistent.

class capable of leading the struggle for the emancipation of mankind. must tight on an international basis-mobilising fo and anti capitalist struggles. anti-imperialist in Southern Africa • or eisewhere through out the world, and drawing strength. and political lessons from revolutionary upheavals such as that which ousted the hated This means fighting for the reconstruction of the Trotsky- This method of approach, rejecting any descent to simple trade union militancy, or concessions to any wing of the labour bureaucracy, is the method fought for by the Workers Socialist The next period will see major class struggles in Britain. A principled, Marxist leadership is essential. Our movement though strong in programme remains small in number JOIN US and take forward the struggle for socialism

SUBSCRIBE

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TGWU HOT AIR ON

Talbot trial of strength SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 18 July 1979 The 28th Biennial Del- of the Conference gate General Transport and Union ended in Workers Scarborough last week with Whilst Evans and the Execu- the new left' leadership of tive. tabled a motion calling for Kitson Moss Evans, Alex "unfettered corective and Ron Tadd struggling to ing". establish their authority on proposal specific the union. wages • IN Ene living clauses, The platform was a marked Similarly with shift to the left when measured proposals for anti-union legisla- against the past six years when tion. ine executive Jack Jones pursued a right wing motion attacking the Tories: colaborationist, class ObCITC social contract polcy Conservative But the swing to the left was declared intention largelv a paper exercise.

KITSOT

Workers at Chrysler UK's Chrusler to cover the supply of Ryton plant have now been Alpines from there. The lack of joined those by Bagington and Stoke plants their backi no for a 20% pay in a strike rise. tne The strike has followed 90% policy ot rejecting pickets trom votes at Ryton and Stoke, non Chrysler plants. plus report ano SnOd steward: membership still STONe face management deter- into the passed mined to hold out u nour dickets are in opeld- tion at Stoke and Ryton and continue been home or in local hotels. pickets successtui A handful of mounted at the Gosford Green rail-head (where components are Linwood) and the To understand Lona Lawford transport depot.

Unfortunately the important comiortaoie trere blacking Chrysler cars from ATter not yet been attempted to serve high the continent has -des- carried out ine cocks pite the fact that the Ryton them-they were read out ovel composed of the gate. strike committee, The convenors, the convenors. has been charged for two . with this task over weeks! which decided particularly nIs picket outside the gates.

the cnrvsie Im bortalil Alpine also produced in This paved France where production IS at under capacity Cane would be comparatively éasy for of last week management (fiballl

UNION DUES

UNION LAWS

activity through Trao: legislative measures penalise the families of workers Daradl- involved in industrial action": on wages, they opposed a defend wnet ColICS proposals on how to defend the form of cost of trade unions against the Tories nothing to say on what the Tory Inev lad THe lavo snoula do, simply Laureu d "Conference urges the TUC "This Conference notes the ! to mobilise maximum trade against those Government's ras stanco full and pledges to. restrict MBcsurb the support StrONOSU possible defence of basic trade union rights" Do nothing ''If As delegate put it: one do nothing tha uc cecioe them tult suport about the 1 GWU win give Equal Pay. simariy Opportunities-Nursery atacies was Women, the resolution largery emply words Alan t nornett bolntea oul in the debate that then solutioe COntelu severity ot lory cut. ana niu to confront proposals on them. The Tory cuts would drive back into the women tamnil! was the root of the unit which said oppression of worleh Although the motion I caled for women to be brought into union, everday lite or Ine Todd clerical staff turned up at the demanded and cales leadership from aventuaily Dorice suctcuc the convenors is also illustrated in escorting 40 senior manage- ment through the picket. •owM will now from management over va nademen at Ryton and their attempt to widen the crack anc as we go to press the convenors pickets called toI CALIa strike started the and clerica when mancoement picket was established inside the turn for work on Monday gates-total controi or the prant hands of the As vo mas oven assurac workers, forcing management to that its members would respect the picket line. WOrk eltnet The strikes at Rvton, stokt and Bagington extremety senior are important for four reasons.

ment staveo inside tne widuit lur the ese uia rinde nee purp sest

CISII V

une v SiOv take they were not willingess workers defence livin! action efforts standards despite a week management management and the local press court writs on the pickets who refused toh mah whip up the tears aroline viabilitý which the to strike doses however, strike also marks the were not prepared to fight it out high point of the reassertion of Ryton workers their power by and last uesday neid a meeting to take the torlowing Ine atteats ana feaull dancies of the last few years. the an for Thirdly strike • the wav assert their #mnortant test o serenee vl Chrysler UK's new owners 'riaht' to access and on Friday bought Peugot-Citroen who ano eA WHAT THE HELL CAN

WE SAY TO TAKE THE STEAM

oUT of The thy bebwlt!

AT THE TOP...

YES, I THOUGHT THAT AI

BE STUPID, THEYRE

ST.A BUNCH OF WILD

TIos, DUJ

• LOOK AT THIS

"recognises that occupations -including work-ins, sit-ins and are squatting tactic for our movement in the workplace, in collegas; and creation offences no tne and the police with were confronted working people who they attitudes levels sexist tactic to detend their interests which were reflected in the way Conferenca: the BDC itselt was organised General Executive On Unemployment, nBOUg full support give Hours the tion of Campaign executive-supported resolution Trospass Law and to affiliate attempted to occl Unel" it; to distribute ployment entirely terms

INO NCLON

the 35 hour week, for implications of this law; and to Calls longer holidays and early retire- mobilise ment. attempts to Defence of jobs law." There was not a word about motion move since Harry Urwin in 1977° jobs or opposi- the detence 01 defended the tion to factory closures Closuree uthe Duniop Speke, Made bill dovance the Dunlop, Speke, mentation must be within the union. chairman factory, conterence Stan Pemberton was himself a example a powerful living union's refusal to confront the employers in Ie shlenlest way in defence of jobs. Economic curo dol Community resoiutol wahid marked swing to the left from strikes complete line Tine Joltes with sup erc following rat re EEC following the referen- •um decision The motion declareo oppos- loom ition to any attempts in further economic union monetary with the EEC and for a furthe referendum. Criminal Similarly Law the executive- resoas supported motion: Leyland British ment gave statement to employees, payments parity implementation and level Chrysler International's Euro- comoany sdy. Tabor, the companys name to.

nolcinos not being Both sides are trying each other priate action to complete out and a deteat wouid open the way for more manage- exercise." men ovrenver Fourthly Strikes. are going to torce the would be an import- ant stimulus to other workers to to do this in August. take militant action n derenct of living standards.

TGWU

Senior The company has offered 5% incentive-bonus anu di proposing be based on down.. are quarterly They than have weekiy falnicl production figures. This allows combine senior for stoppages sto ruin workers' want . to tiont bonus -more dictatorial measures chances the easily. Workers at all three plants which bargain independently about ready to oppose any IIUS l attempt by conveners wnieh incided settle for less than the zuo The will is there. It must sustained and developed it Peugut/Citroen is toe be beate l.

if the comediu impose their Grade Structure.

And the must 'bankruptcy' figure: challenged through the election trade committees to demand full access to the firm's Wil! ouTle books shutdown.

MIGHT AS WELL SEE IF THE

(I'LL BUY ONE OI

STAR HAS A LADE WE CAN USE.

JUST

iDTRIE: CoNs ira ro IONI

FROVOGAIIOND

- JUST WHAT WE NEED.

WELL I SUPPOSE I ALWAYS

WAS A BIT OF AN "EXTREMIST.?

IPCS

shows muscle important and condemns now criminal Over the last three weeks the ot of the the majority courts "most the adopt this members of moderate"' of unions, the of Professiona. Institution Council Civil Servants have been Criminal the engaged in "extreme" indus trial action. to all branches 60,000 of them, government the nature and technologists, and have engaged in one-day strikes mombership selective longterm strikes and a against any WOR TO TUlb implement The impact has been consid.

erable. is a leftward All processing of drunken driving artnic.to Criminal Trespass forensic science laboratories has Its imple- stopped. etrieaty e the tor ional ging Tougnt to electricity to the national has been closed the bullets and ammunition • tor tne carmv ne BL been held up at the Ordnance racoles. Devonport Dockyard has ceasod operate and Polaris submarines are going to saa with missiles opera oniy nalt inel tional The air conditioning of thi Houses of Commons and Lord has stopped. the selective picket British and

S•TITIS

Vut BEu Library …Loncon brought chaos. • results of these actions . ne rallies and On Tuesday of last week comoined

INULA

marches have brought nen Mand.e bof s heir strength to awareness out a pointed the

IPCS

member: Tine all their The point of the industrial action is twofold relating to 1) to ensurhe scientiste and the scientists tinked directiy to the pay of the of their grades contentious grading scheme.

administration general civil service response to the break- ensure the down of negotiations at national technologists get in their pay plants the MOSt settlement 'extra canel sale of the average they have on top «While ioint arranaements at offered. either plant or central levels are poen is decided maintained, kv nervireody by comparison with private ment members will take appro industry Civil Service This vear the Department has departed from In other words they say they its usual custom of offering SCHiCHC in orde averags through unilaterally. They hope nord tuau tu to allow tor ine Tact tnat tney could not get accurate income In response to this in Cowley architects, anr thr Stewards nave etimate called a meeting for the Tuesday and quantity surveyors who ar in partnerships after the two weeks works shut an attempt to split invited other the union, the Department Stewards who the scientists their full given tne company. clalu The national executive COTu Body Plant mittee of IPCS accepted this- Cowley weakening the struggle of the TGWU stewards, represent

LUUS

immedately passed a resetutiers 5,000 mem bers ine Technoloclss. The NEC nave urgod tne work 1o rule to continue throughout the membership but commeno to menees a complete withdrawal of labour are now restricine tro soroclivt strike action to the technology attempts grades IPCS has proved in the last Already in Cowley a number of stoppages, overtime bans and three weeks that it has immense industrial muscle. work to rules nave taken plac and there is no doubt that these It must use this muscle te after the win the tachnologists' pay claim.

BUT THE NEWSLINES GO

I THIS IS NO HELP..ITS

THE SAME ORD LINE AS

LA REALLY GOOD ANGLE!

IMENSLA

TIRAQ

COMRADES!. DON'T BE PROVORED - INFLATION IS

A TRAP-A PROVOCATION - A BAIT-

DON'T FALL FOR IT!

TORY JOBS MASSACRE

SOCIALIST

PRESS

The Tory instruction to British Stee Corporation end its to management million per current t309 year losses and get into profit by next March has unleashed a jobs Mossare at Shotton and Corby steel- works. The premature cosure the plants will throw 12,000 thousands and steel WorKeTS others supoly industries the ever- lengthening dole queues kou ciaims unat each Diant £40 million per year. loses leader Dul these attemoted chartengt or to initiate any kind workers' steel industry -which is wracked tosses and crisis torouenoul the capitalist world. Warning Tories Indeed far from starting out and interests 01 trom the neees Trades Confederation Beader Bill workers, Iron ano steel sirs nas nursed Tories that their who escie oes- truction of jobs in the industry ott militant resis- those jobs. No strikes or occu- tance. 'It will be impossible to pations have been called Tor. the management talk hold because them. "good savings through Pressures upor us" he bleated the hopes of persuading keeping" are certain to ficat pull back. intensified shop floor speed-up Torieş to workers remain- pointed out even for those or nas that government cash limits on ing in the industry. threaten as many as 30,000 Nor witne But it has with the steel industry: Joseph os fu lue next year meeting with the currently offered no strategy to dicta August 12: march for Troops Out of Ireland the formation of Since political The restoration Socialist the Workers status to republican League our members have and for their release. We call for the self determin- taken part in many demon- ation ot the irish peopie as d called against strations whole. imperialism But we also call for an Irish and fought inside workers republic and for a revol- Ireland utionary struggle of against The the organisations lass bourgeois government of Lynch the working class to support in the soul, them. ary force of the Roman Catholic by no means Church. our oolicies The demonstration called for coincide with the demands the nationalist August 12-the Un anniversary of the sending British ireland differs marked- troops to Dern We call Tot tne mmeatalo withdrawal of British troops, for ly trom any of the demonstra

FUND

Another good week for the Special Fund has put us in striking distance of our target of f2,500. Our first-ever London Summer Fair (complete with escapologist!) made £140 and readers and supporters have responded well to our appeal for donations to the fund. So the total now stands at £1932.55, leaving us £567.45 to find.

An all-out effort is now needed that we to ensure complete the fund on time by the end of this month.

All donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Special Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd (TU), London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office

HITS STATE FIRMS

Enterprise Board to National spell out government plans shut down whore shipyards did off many other sections of industry 100,000 further jobs could oe at risK H firms ranging from International the Meriden Computers MPs And white local we have previously sup-

TOONS

ported. sponsors starts list of Lords and progresses through Cyril Smith, Liberal MP to a variety of Labour 'lefts' and As the list lengthens it grows more radical. Brendan Gallagher Young Com signed it. the munist League, riame ane the SWP have all signed it. The International Marxist Group have signed it. TKe sponsors' number of points- makes one of them reac. every singie tionary. It states that the troops went into Northern Ireland "to arrest a situation where civil order had broken down" and that "it was that this intervention assuca would be short term" That is untrue. went in to defuse the emerging replacin

•POSITION

working class areas of Derry anc Belfast. stayed on to break movement that DaeN and through shootings,

LOTLUTC

repression. In ten years it has not succeeded. The statement says that the cost of the Tas a burden been to the nation- reactionary aisle arountel It ends by declaring support for Lynch's call to 'bring the the negotiating _unionist table'. All the sponsors nave signed beneath a sentence which London NW5 1HR. , 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, Dennis Healey making needy EnE dreds whole of the country an assisted area! These attacks on jobs industries alongside state massive jobs losses flowing tron local authority nealth service spending cuts. They point to the fact that Tories the are consciousl

OTO

pool of unem. creating a huge ployed in a bid to rationalise British industry, and to drive levels _in general down wage The Sunday Express revealed that the covernment t to a concerted crack- launch unemployed workers designed to ano voutn-cleariy force them taKE jobs or face the loss of benefits.

they hope the this way soaring unemoovment toure can be turned to the profit of -and that des employers- Tory perate unemploved workers ear Bill Sirs be mobilised to oreak striKes Tories responding are, Corby and Shotton whine about the massive consciousl the need for government grants word economic crisis or caoll tackle unemployment They cannot be per- Joseph planning suaded to change course. £200 reaional , aid nedry million. Class action Such is the crisis of bankrupt the British capitalism that Rather in the fiaht to open the books of the state industries •ories araue ther now TaCE concentrating and the private monopolies, and grants on the most through work- remaining defend all lobs sharing on TU!

WOTKET

be mobilised in united must class action to bring down this reactionary government. Factory and plant occupa- redundancies prevent and closures must be strengin ened and extended through the of councils action, bringing together public sector workers, trade unionists from and workers' industry, wilvalt political parties of *Open the industry! Reveal the utter bank- says "We share this view and call and the of "capitalism, Government on the British need tor a soclalisi commit

ISAT

economy! withdrawal from Northern redundancies! Work Ireland. sharing on full pay! No closures.

This statement is entirely the Occupy threatened plants!

policy of Cyril Smith and ele ments of the Liberal Party . It is *Unionise the unemployed- Trades Councils must campaign a betrayal of a principled • tiqh1 to recruit from the dole queues for defeat of British plan of useful TOl workers public works refuses to associate eac ared. The WSL *Prepare to kick 'out the itself with this platform. But w Tories! Drive out the Callaghan- fighting bring onto will bi possible Healey leadersmo: nont fol the largest Lute socialist alternative! contingent on our policies and policies the against The demonstration is likely to be large. Many of those who come out for the first time onto a demonstration which they will consider Brish presence in read t not share The reactionary of the organisers or positions break from be won to may them. The demonstration will alsc be seen by the 3 state as a threat will therefore objectivery-despite gramme-weaken the grip by raising the imperialism workers mina. many possibility opposing thosi ot policies. We call on all our supporters the banes or here hind of reaction, banners behind the policies Joseph defeat of imperialism. Healey's gifts to wealthy The changing fortunes of the very rich were detailed in last week's report from the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth. The figures show tha although the holdings owned by did change significantly tron their revenue shifted dramatic.

all y As the economic crisis of capitalism bore down with greater severity, the share of the 1% fell weatr owner from 30% to 22.5% in 1974.

Restore profits But as Wilson. Callaghan and moved restore capitalist profitability through attacks control and other wate on working class, decline was reversed. In particular, the fall in share prices was turned, and by 1976 the top 1% had regained a com- of 24.9% -one fortable share quarter or total income. The bigger the parasite, the his debt of gratitude to 'bigger Tine leaders slavish service to his exploitative

HILOCOLS

TGWU...

From front page European he countries where trace had not only achieved unions cost of living agreements but in some cases had achieved agree- ments bound to a trade union index Tommy Riley, a lorry drivers delegate from Liverpool, , also the motion, saying supported Inat Inere must be orovision lo re-negotiate as wages were eaten away by inflation Surprised Docks chairman •National Ports Stewards Com added further support mittee He said he was surprised the platform opposing

TRE

motion and would be interested hear their reasons, for doing Moss Evans, , for the Execu pointed Thatcher's tive proposal to cook the tigures as a reason to be careful about this demand. He argued once again against "tying the hands" of-negotiators specific demands, and appealed to Alan Thornett to to the execu- tive where, said it would get a sympathe debate ingen "sympathetic hearing"! Thornett stressed that one of the reasons that the standard of living is higher incurope lnal Britain because many workers are protected by cost of living clauses He stressed again the impor union based tance trade appealed ane delegates to support the motion of the vote develop shows important ment in the TGWU. One-third Four years ago When thi demand was raised in the TGWU it got only a handful of votes. In 1977 it got one-third of ime conterence sme are resented ont of the most effective challenges

TGWU

platform conference in the history ot thi uniff this demand is developed and fought for reviews come ve

TOI

sections the working class, it could trans.

form struggle form the wages strual basi wages for defending the working class against inflation.