Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

Cammell Picket Stop Scab

Socialist Press no. 16, 3 September 1975 · scan p. 7 · about 827 words

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of the meeting was the programme proposed this as the only pro gramme that could mobilise the, working class against the cuts.

Revealing their utter contempt for the working class, the IMG opposed accepting this programme as. the.

programme of the committee on the grounds that it would hinder the development of a broad united front against the cuts. The IMG claimed that while they were not opposed to the demands presented by the WSL, that what was needed first was a series of actions around the slogan fight the cuts.

Indeed, the IMG's own 'Programme' did not include a single demand that would show the working class how to start fighting the cuts.

When the WSL programme was put to the vote it was rejected with the IMG voting it down along with | everyone else. The IMG programme was not put to the vote and an alternative programme scrabbled together at the meeting was accepted.

Carvallio The announcement last night of the replacement of Goncalves as Prime Minister by navy chief Azevedo will further weaken the Stalinrule. The storm against Goncalves' appointment as Armed Forces chief and the reported threats of anticommunist rebellion amongst troops in the North show that this compromise will resolve nothing.

In a situation where changes take place hour by hour it is possible we could shortly see the open intervention of fascist military band: now being amassed in Spain and doubtless expecting to find many supporters in the large numbers of reactionary Portuguese now return. ing home from the African colonies. Also in the wings are the CIA and other agencies of US imperialism. At the moment however the strength of the working class remains predominant and in the short term there should be a heightening of the revolutionary struggle. Portugal is thus the cockpit of the European rezolution at this point in time.

Over 1000 building workers representing all sections of the trade - from ship repair to the new Liverpool underground railway - picketed against police action and in solidarity with the sacked Peter Lind workers at Cammell Lairds shipyard, Birkenhead.

Scabs from the new contractors, Wimpey, who have (supported by customary police violence) been breaking the picket lines for weeks were "given the day off". The arrogant boast of a Wimpey spokesman was: "Our men have got the bit between their teethand are determined to carry on work and not even lose a day" turned into its opposite when faced with such solidarity and determination.

Sites that backed the Action Committee's call included: Teaching Hospital Site (Liverpool), Skelmers dale building sites, Nuttals (Liverpool) Townson (Birkenhead), IPI Ship conversion, Stanlow Oil Refinery, in this situation. Such a party must ight, without qualification, against the bourgeoisie and its agents in the state machine, in the army, and in the workers' movement.

It must fight to strengthen and develop the workers' committees which are now growing up in every factory and place of work, to the point where they ‚can challenge for power. It must sęe these committees set up armed defence squads against the threat of reactionary vio lence.

At the same time a Trotskyist leadership must join the struggle to strengthen the sailors' and soldiers' committees, and the tenants' committees and ensure they act independently of the control of the military authorities and the landlords. Joint meetings on a reg ional and national basis must be Cubitts (Arrow Park) and 1 others including Liverpool Cor tion workers who took the da in support.

Jim Saddler told Socialist. how the police broke his whilst arresting him on the p line "Four of them grabbed then one of them seemed to my arm in a Judo hold then I t a snap"

Other comments came fr member of the Peter Lind Ar Committee: "We've approache the Labour MPs on Mersey Heffer included, and they've i nothing for us and yet the gor ment owns 51% of C. Lairds sh "The union officials are use they haven't even been dow the picket line - they suppor no way"

Jim Saddler added "I n realised that the right to work so closely linked to the righ picket."

The picket must be follo up by the labour movement in Merseyside area.

within which the majority wor parties, the CP and the SP, 1 break from the AFM, take con and enact policies to tackle daily problems besetting wor the peasants. The refusal of AFM, Soares, and the Stal leaders to allow such a governa to act will strengthen the 1 for workers to form their • organs of power and a new lea ship in opposition to the bour state.

The fight inust be derek to win over the peasantry to side of the revolution and organise them joints sin workers and rank and file soldie Oniy on the bas of sur programme can concrete subst

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ists, but will not provide any sol- ution to the instability of bourgeois

← Contents of Socialist Press no. 16, 3 September 1975