Socialist Press no. 187

STRENGTHENS-

BRING OUT BL!

GENERAL STRIKE! TORIES OUT!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League, * No. 187 * 20 February 1980 * 20p Pickets block the road outside Hadfields "Sirs losing control of strike." steel headlined panic-stricken Sunday Tele- graph this weekend-point- E to the growing strength I SIC strike committees the week-long seven Marike Mably weakens, so a miscrable sell out settlement they have been pickets-drawing on important NỤM support mobilised down the Hadfields steel plant in Sheffield, and laid plans Droccuure * Manchester Steel and Sheerness.

With engineering firms now beginning to teel the pinch of supplies of steel, this tightening of the dispute and moves in Hildily al vas secure lorry amvers shoDor Tot picket lines will have an increased effect. Meanwhile delegate

BSC

craft meeting ITOm Tine voted 2-1 to throw out ulls miserable deal recom- the pay their

ACCORROTS.

and thus to remain out along- side their brothers and sisters in the NUB and the ISTC. Beyond wages Nor have the Tories failed to note the menacing signs that the struggle now escalated beyond the wages issue, to take ever more exposive the defence overtion 52,000 jobs threatened by BSC management's closure plan.

all-union strike committee has Joseph declared that even if the claim is settled they will remain Meanwhile steelworkers' shouts of "Thatcher Out!", пой strike untu they estabilsh job security. Llanwern strikers volume alongside likely to take a similai '20%-no strings!", have found more physical expression in the they will be backed up by strike Hullmalon or maustry secre from the action 30,000 strong Keith Joseph, pelted South Wales NUM. Wales hounded of South Welsh miners' President of angry autoneds Emlyn Williams has also sunkers ast week. announced But while the steelworkers the efforts of the British and seem escaping from the Weish TUC to restrict action to grip of Bill sirs and the see protest levels-he will fight to union bureaucrats, other union leaders are doing everything other arcaonal poticy is to figh areas the

NUM,

whose their power to isolate the strike 'control over their own members.

STEEL STRIKE

saw by GMWU General Secre- move tary David Basnett to sabotage a strike call by delegates repres- water OYer workers. The delegates had thrown offer recommended by GMMY 19.2 management Out d officials, and called for an all strike beginning Februar

VUI

25, to secure their demand of pay parity with gas workers.

Knifed But Basnett last Friday tervened to knite this correc policy by preventing the dele proposal gates after renewed talks with the employers. Basnett's treacherv could a least parade under cover of the fact that are ales lenin increase ner offer this coming Thursday.

But no such excuse could be tiators 85,000 Leyland carworkers, in the wake of the 6-4 ballot vote to reject strings offer. Edwardes and a barrage of media propaganda had stressed to reject the offer meant to Ltal vote for a strike. still voted to throw out the 5% and the 92 pages of strings: yet sooner than call the necessar all-out action alongside the union leaders trailed along for further futile and With •rawardes offered the another company two weeks to come up with ar improved the pay оттет review due for settlement last November! tere sonny ro enance improved of any such offer being made by But every day that ship: COWS It Tory press and the employers to work on bolstering up the fears, frustrations and demoralisation O1 DL workerS-wO nave been betrayed time and again in recent years by their own Yet with inflation now headed rapidly towards 20%; and management firmly on the offensive at BL Combine where Chairman Robinson victimised-only determined, united most living

JOD.

against this Toty government Now that the LCJNC has delaved action for

TWO

weeks resolutions from shop stewards committees, mass meetings and

TURKEY

ON THE

SPOT

REPORT

Page 3 Sirs-losing control? Turkey coup danger grows Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, was put under martial law this week- end Prime Minister as Demirel instructed army commanders to launch an all-out offensive against left wing organisations uses crack own too. shape following a factory occu- pation in protest at the victim- Isation of 190 left-wing trad mittees-should pour in to thi members, as the new

UHON

negotiators demanding that all- management attempted to called • from establish

DUI

acuo the Monday March 3. union confedera Lascis The dynamic of the steel tion MISK strike towards 10,000 troops, sull with tanks generalised action to defend and armoured cars, stormed the jobs in both BSC and related occupied factory on Thursday- BL but the WOrKerS even after occupiers parallel Tory-backed тасе walt evicted Testaner attack must strike now and leading to running continued play their battles between parl workers which must be developed into and a 2,500-strong police LasK the demand for the trime, with demand for the removal of As bourgeois opposition Ecevit leader denounced In every area strikers must Demirel's *fight for the building of councils Uganda's Amin-army action General draw delegates chief Keran Evrer from every section of the labour demanded angrily into spreading the punishments powers •fight to bring down the Tories, "overcome anarchy". and to remove those right wing Such increased repression Labour traitors that paved their will directed path to office exclusively at the left-leaving The struggle must be taken fascist bands free maintain throughout the up workers their campaign of violent provo- cations. prepared to carry But workers' refusal to sub- through socialist policies in the mit to such intimidation bring interests of the working class.

increasingly close the danger of military lile slackening gnp of Bu coup Sirs on the steel strike is its best a last-ditch bid to crush the hope of success: the task now is This poses more-sharply than fellow the need for Canc ever workers' bureaucrats throughout united front to resist such an Labour and trade union move-

A1ACK

i1lcill.

Page 2 FSLN bans left wing paper In banning the news- paper El Pueblo on January Sandinist the gorall ment has taken one of its most dramatic yet HUes against the left in Nicaragua.

El Pueblo is the paper of the Frente Obrero (FO-Workers Front), organisation which an split to the lett trom the Sandin.

ists in the eariy 19 /Us ana now leads Anti-Somoza armed Popies Militas. not have enougn information to make a rounded political assessment of the FO, auc ie ureucale Danems! moves against it seem to be very directed against any indepen- dent ot the pursuit of their interests.

Severe sacrifice It does foresee giving sub- The Sandinist regime accuses sidies and tax concessions to the the FO of organising strikes of 4,0 most important private firms industrial workers and seizures the they will step hope land 'private anetess produclon now DIODavls 20% below what it was before beasalils. war) ine regime recentiy promul- gated its catastrophic threatening arlu which now sul allill poslalis leve unempioyment estimated at 45% of the labour emancs yeaTs severe sacrifice and austerity from the force. No wage workers and peasants. lurescel •lac tnt nolla of the plan is the main aim CArISImas bonus ol a monin s wages withheld by To Testore pronabie private sector of the economy. gu voilltal. Publication of the plan was through. El Pueblo Tne u delayed (The People), has called for "the LaKE aCCOuTE ‚objections to the original from activé sabotage of the economic the main local capitalist organis- piarr m oraci bring «power Migher Councu RoI back hands of the alii Private Business (Cosep).

accusing The plan recognises capital- of "selling out the prolet- WICEl ists as the economy, atiat to the local bourgeoisie" little Chylaan

ON1CHSIO1

polidy of the Sandin- state control beyond the already Wthe istas seems to be' to go all out to nationalised former property of ex-dictator Somoza, half-promised aid from the plus World the Bane surace comsanes ara a few small US and Canadian ure tre local caritasts vack owned mining companies. to profitability and so to put a Francoists fear army coup The ghost of Franco still publicised plans by coup maverick, adventurist generals walks. Last week the man are somernme or a smokescreen Franco made into one of his for complete staff general most talented political lieu- whose "responsible" leaders are tenants-the present Premier certamty redy sowe bonuica control if the political situation Adolfo Suarez-removed gets any further out of control.

from his command of the le was almost certamiy unue Brunete armoured division Tne t incistence

AMONO

stationed near Madrid a man Suarèz declared virtual martial Euskadi (the Basque law who Franco had appointed Louv omy rour wecks ato as an officer forty years Since then the killing . of. before-General Luis Torres police and military officers by Rojas. the Basq ue separatist movement Torres was sent be E A have consnuco At the same time terrorism üz cove o d against the left by fascist groups Coruna in the far North-west. (Franco had been similarly sent nas been stepped up. sever iert wing Basque nationalists 'have to the Canaries earlv in 1936 bi been murdered this year. the Popular Front government.

But today it is the "liberal Lilis allospicic mounting right wing terror and democratic" Cove anel threats the political question in Francoists which fears a coup from the hardliners in the army Spain today is When will lorres come nack rom enun anu bonce Franco was five months coming Torres was reportedly back from the Canaries coup. He had plotting lemanded that King Juan Carlos lesson of 1936 must be seized by the Spanish working trianco s cnoce lo succccu il.

classfor as head oi state) dismıss suarez the creation of And he recently his ar paraded tanks, unauthorised through attnet woTkers sen-oclence militia against fascist and state tanal ne medi attack! business. *Dissolution the Torres' attempted" coup repressive forces of the state!

the first centamy

HOL

LO Ane *General strike against gone off half-cock in the four military coup! years since Franco's death and *Form committees Spai's move towards a franco.

workers and other exploited and ist version of bourgeois demo- стасу. w opresscu aloues. determination for The publicised. was

JUSI

Euskadi, Catalonia: and other weron ua a e ere nationalities! of 1978. *For a workers' government!

But that and several other Women textile workers march in support of the FSLN firm brake on any attempt by and wInCIs -casaillslu factories and land or to exercise control and manage- ment ot the economy. the vast

BUT

given between the masses by last

ASI ATA DIP HOMOTOAAT C IPOA

conditions they now have ape to live in, the regime is certain growing opposition trom the , #lasses. Twin strategy cea n tn contae tion the Sandinists are employ- twin strategy of building LIk 4 up bureaucratically The Eighth Congress of such as the Sandinis Trade Union Federa United Workers the Polish

LOI

(0i) Ou ele (Communist) Party last and repression on the other week found its leadership in of El Pueble joins the expulsion of the Simon complete disarray, not knowing which way to turn Duval DIduc lasi hucusl as dll example of the counter-revolu- either domestic "Or tionary nature of the Sandinista international policy. sycisal cint. be All the problems can No rest for Bani-Sadr- "The revolution will con- This latest demonstration of tinue, but with the essential the force of the national ques- of aim guaranteeing the non n masoroweo byd development of the explosion within the armed country". . forces themsęlves President Bani-Sadı certainly Turbulent has every intention of pursuing his political course to consolid- For a 2,000 junior week, ale une countel revotullonar officers and technicians from triumph of petty bourgeois_ the airforce and army have been nationalism within the Iranian Tehran Letoll. demanding elected Geocaee CoucHs Full backing within armed forces, the opposition to the government's rigid

IIIUYCS

embassy occupation is now pro- _onicer struciute on mae DIores the full backing of sional' army. ceeding It. is against this turbulent Khomeini-the hyatulall "Islamic "Imam' Whom packeroune students' placed their faith.

working to establish his author- Khomeini agreed that ity and bureaucratic power.

This/ une erease or mne nostazes project is involving a major smilt longer depends on the return of policy in the treatment of the Shah and his fortune to Iran element with complicit Shah's dictatorshio or collabora-

PIT JOT ARM AU1 DAA0O GS OI?

diplomatic haggling over the ting with imperialism terms of reference of the 'inter- Many under arrest have been national inguiry' and the terms released. and there has been a of the 'apology' to be conceded dramatic turn from severity to by Carter's administration leniency in sentencing But the volatile political con- Needless to say, this shift has

«ONS WTH

lenve not newee mie suromossonet Sadr no time to rest in com- Trotskyist militants of the HKS.

placency. Sickening display foods swe huzestas, dMOS. south-western violence flared once again The stalwarts of the Islamic clergy have biercely mn tne Hurl cast: acnouncet these moves by the Procurator- General Ghodoussi. Demonstration And in a sickening displav of religious zeal, the Stalinists of the Tudeh Party have adroitly After demonstration anea mlals oi tne r cuaycol

• CIICS

LIC

in Gonbad-e-Kabus, several days 'anti-imperialist' bigots: of fighting broke *What kind of Islam does Ghodoussi Mr. practice? army and the Pasderan attacked The both the Fedayeen and armed Islam of the disposessed .or the Islam or tne explolers Turkmeni fighters for national SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980

CRISIS FOR

POLISH

STALINISTS

Gierek (left) with Brèzhnev and E. German leader Honecker traced to one cause-the grow- ina faiture of Poland's 'plannec socialist economy' to meet the needs of the m : ot workers and pea in 1 the country. it was Durino the Conoress ,embarassingly revealed that last the economic growth was minus 2%, and that arcadru aortormane wa. obtained only attne cost 01 getting even deeper into debt (now to the tune of £8 billion) capitalist Ine inter atona banks. That failure, combined with an inc eas noiv event political control by the bureau- Polish means that ulaly ruine team stanos cioser to tne precipice than any of the other ruling Stalinist cliques in eastern curoet frightening position obviously in some attacks of vertigo on the part of tne leders dunne tne corcess The worst affected was the Prime Järoszewicz who until half way through the unexplainedly stayec week from the Congress away altogether, while othér •ureaucrats

TOOK

ao vanc.e his absence to launch a whole series of criticisms of his admin- istration behind his back.

Responsibility On Wednesday he reportedly resigned and this gesture tut into ine balance also tne tate o other senior government including Planning Minister Wrzaszaczyk yet

NODOOV

sucdester (publicly, that is) that the real strong man of Polish Stalinism, rary oecrerary cowaro wierer might share some responsibility the economic disasters. Gierek's uret HoUE Ieoort dominated

TAE

.com- aer Congress. And its as well as repressive actions betore gave very Tine wongress evidence of the political plight - of the bureaucracy. The most striking feature of tne soeech is that it oi• no1 explicitly support the actions o the Union Sovie1 Aronamistan. nor elo it utter word against the policy of the imperialist countries. lt did no more than regret the cold war.

This extreme reticence is no doubt a reaction to two things to nostry towaros tne soviet Union from the Polish masses and to the Polish bureaucracy's desper dut nece calt borowing from capitalist banks to avoid the level austerity measures which might spark the political revolution as it began to do in the uprising of 1976. informed esti- week Poland's borrowi mate of need for the coring year seec Rotn ted afa aher CHr to go up. for 1980 Failure to be able to borrov that amount would mean that Poland would have to request rescncou (ostoneC rebavment ot ts deots to: r* capitalist banks That would allow imperial- applv a stranglehold or Polish economic policy. So it is not surprising that Gierek went ddr dn ns voy c concocc ț imperialists and avoid taking the side of the Soviet Union in the new Cold War. At the same time howeve Gierek snowel thd CoUra not afford to be so flexible in his interdan s of ese Kor cim dissidents of the KOR civi neus crouo immeoideiy oclort the Congress. But this repressive gesture verv like trying to lOOK. an incoming hold back since Poland is now awash with more or open oppositior currents of intellectuals, the Catholic church threateningly of all the working class All of these opposition organisations are making thing: increasingly unmioe home for the Polish bureau- what, makes it cracy. tor its lite is the memory ot th spontaneous eruption or work in das unas 1976, the Polish redime comes haro on the heels of crises with many similai features Stalinist in two other ruled states-Cuba and Vietnam Other • Stalinist rulers must be o 1s nuxt7 fearfully asking, themselve W miga happen in thid lett what might happen home, because they di want to watch the discomfitun very fen of them turned up in Warsan hat the rio e to seca lane Most the denacie

COT

observers were persioned off Politburo including members General Giar wio was recenu Choppe as Derenge Minister in Vietnam (though be about to br rumoured o promoted route at the top in ano en again this disaster

ATTE

Eighth Congress the Stalinist leaders of Poland will not be the nury. to summon Ninth!

MASSIVE CRACKDOWN

BY TURKISH BOSSES

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980

NTERNATIONAL

wing Turkish The right government has launched a massive new attack on the of the standards living workers and poor peasants of Turkey in the form of a new "economic package". The Turkish lira has by 50% against the devalued this dollar-and has been accompanied by a 50% price increase on every commodity. series of other moves have also been implemented by Demirel government commands from the response Turkish MF. In exchange government is to obtain a $228 New "package" measures in the "package" is legislation to new educe the power of the Turkish Enterprise Board and National the the mines, oil industry and sections of the agricultural industry. of the most some open Tarkish profiabie sectOrs exploitation by dustry foreign and native capitalists.

will These poverty and top and will ¡educe the living Handards of the working class below subsistence level. The goverment's 3,200 "minim um wage week. But lira Der wages 5-6,000 Turkish Lira per month this, workers face rIon prices of the following order:

PRICES IN TURKEY

Rented acomodation (2 rms, pet month).

Bread (loat) . • Meat (beef or lamb) (per kilo) Cheese (per kilo)... Cigarettes (20) • Eggs (dozen). Potatoes (per kilo). Onions (per kilo). Beer (pint).... The latest increases siti se.

therefore to drive thousands of families into com- working class plete destitution. Prime Minister Demirel defended the measures as neces- stop sary nowever, in order to tur kanker, country 1 ol Turkey. insisted, same Turkey faced inev. inflation per month. Demirel that infla- argued reached 120% would have steps had not In 1980 l c been taken, and pointed to the billion international debts: "If anyone has any different answers to this problem they are at liberty to say so." on to say that it went would be "a great success" fo1 the government to bold infla- 1980s to 50% per year as now planned. "Fundamental change" But Bulent Ecevit, Heater of opposition bourgeois tae la party, The Kirr Dul against the strongly varados. si not sampiy a ser or economic measures but a funda- "mental change in the economy", ne decred the Complaining 200l of the reduction power of the Turkish economy Ecevit stated nis view wal tne administration of the economy handed over been 1140 capital and foreign financial big As news came in of the major clashes in Turkey last week, we received the following article on the unfolding political and economic crisis from Jack Johnson, our correspondent in Istanbul.

Repression aimed mainly at Turkish left continuation of his strategy of subordinating demands of class demands 2-3000 TL strength behind movement the :8TL party, the bourgeois 300TL populist t terms 250TL in order to bolster tie litereses of sections of Turkish capital- . 25TL 1201L plans emites recossunal y . 35TL will of course put Ecevit's bourgeois backers. out ,35TL business-and reinforce the of 50TL hold of larger and foreign capit- alists over the economy. Hollow institutions: Yet Ecevit's ampastus have bees of Demirel and his government's apparatus state threats to democracy ring handed over to the Grey Wolves remarkably hollow [fascists] but now the economy He himself has admitted that landed over to some other few months only wolves!" "Cards on table" In a follow-up speech Ecevit went on to warn that Demirel: introduce extended ecul Latin America. This introduced abolishing country democracy. It cannot be done workers' abolishing wilhol Now democratic rights thee table: the cards are danger is in froat of everyone's But Ecevit's ansaer offered farsad He way workers no called on workers org "to beware of tor dane their stand and take conocial regime, otherwise it will te son late" of Ecevit's diagnosis partiedy correct. There danger of a fascist-military take- over in Turkey. Demagogy Ecevit's call Howere workers to defend democracy is Turkish troops in action mere empty demagogy. is a police/ called on Demirel to form an strike following a coalition to raid on theit factory. army RPP-Justice Party resisted the adopt a common approach

TARIS

workers struggle problems of the Turkish police, ant. broke out, ending in 400 arrests.

economy. government He also agreed with Demirel Meanwhile of sending on the passing of a series of anti- is pursulng a ponc. anti-democratic fascist workers into this factory Lass,, and crush the out legislation. 1U0 It was Ecevit's own previous workers orzansatuls administration that introduced martial law into the major cities Savagery introduced 01 : ballery repressive legislation The killing of a trade union himiself carried by fascists and goverr Ecevit leader successive devaluations ment attacks have also brough through and rounds of price increases.

about another strike, this time In other words Ecevit played by 20,000 workers at the state the firm preparing alcohol cigarette _kev

TOK

present situation

TEKEL.

nUW complaining about, by attacking of the police The savagery and disarming the working class.

led raid on the TARIS factory Now he calls on workers to protests. from students to "defend democracy"! University —in which MuCh Egion rejected out clashes hypocrisy must be armer there were of hand. between police hundreds of students And arrested while Popular Frontist Istanoui police protesting the trade union leaders activity Of wing confedera- workers from one only the tion TURK-IS has so far spoken cotton factory in Istanbul were and renewed arrested and held for days in a on the situation, its reactionary call for an RPP school after they refused to join the fascist trade union confeder- Justice Party coalition. within the next few ation MISK. . At the same time But other workers" organ- government employed 40,000 days the road and construction

AULLAN

have been forced by the stat miraculous labout-turn should be expected from these to join MISK leaders thousands of teachers organisations,

VARONI

CAVATO

have for years clung who took action in protest over alliance with Last year's fascist massacre at Popular Karamanmaras are being victim- Ecevit and the RPP. Even recent ultr ised. alter matum from army leaders and a against Fascists protected new wave of represson the workers movement they still be seen cling to the illusion of defending everywhere-even in the streets democracy through democratic which is patrolled of Istanbul, means. by armed soldiers stopping and Since the formation Demirel's government, repres searching individuals and Cas houses are raided-and raids on have sion becoming reached a new peak: the firs 13 whole days of Demirel's administration common. killed and 497 scen Yet the fascists are always wounded in fighting. protected in these moves by the Closed down state. to repress them in the areas they left-win teachers' association control-though The

TOB-DER

areas sufier the tul heen controlet down, and its leaders are still in brunt of state repression, and prison. The leaders of the constant attacks armed still union are alsu lascisl sallas sign that the prison: they were arrestea 101 1S 10 'Internationale' potentially powerful the Sulta workers' movement has given up congress. The en o tica ulloa The its rights. A huge witch-hunt is contin- surueleto throughout the metal workers union, its leaders uing still in jail, has declared that its against militants in the unions.

have broken 11,000 workers wate nerollatiul government-owned

TARIS

down, and definite there will be a national products firm are agricumulal Page 3 Ecevit strike very soon And there are hundreds of small strikes and struggles going There will be more in the months Colle refusal their show accept

LIOL

government, the fascists and the military the question of questions is under what leader- wretched collaborationist policies of the union leaders an Ecevit's pleas to "defend demo cracy", rine is a da. ver ha .will working delivered up by its leaders to a fascist catastrophe. be no confid- There must the placed in Ecevit o ence Turkish bourgeoisie • Тo cec democracy, Rather workers up the independent lake fight in derence or tner joo.

living standards and basic class oreanusaliolls Defence squads workers defence Armed only way to the the defeat the violenci And there must be a political break from Ecevit. Demand the workers parties 210e tions form a united front, t General Strike to organise defeat the Demirel governmen and carry through the fight to a workers and peasants govern ment in Turkey Mar. 1979

INTERNATIONAL

DISCUSSION

60m

BULLETIN

THE TRANSITIONAL

PROGRAMME IN

TODAY'S CLASS

STRUGGLE

Founding document of the Trotskyist Inter- national Liaison Committee Available, price 75p including postage from WSL, BM Box 5277 London WC1V 6XX

'PEACE PEOPLE'

Tories retreat on Oxford Leicester day of action Page 4

AT WAR!

(the children's aunt) and Betty The ruling class media, Williams to found a movement has been thrown into con- ostensibly fusion over the last week by end to violence. major crisis which has developed within the move- on the movement and the two founders awarded the Nobel Seace reze.

ment known as the "Peace People". Unable to make any signifi- Accusations : into the inroads growing Calll mass base Republican movement, and with Parten v continual of the the movement has been in some.

their growth in anti-IRA feeling by difficulties. 'ordinary neopie begining look increasingly lame, the that suddenly had £80,000 imperialists • piece oi luck in August 13/0 tuillvuls time that all was not well with the campaign so enthusiastically went and cynically encouraged by the and killed by the imperialst butchers. the pavement with mounted dissention has norric consequences. Maguire badly injured and oben three of her children killed.

tragic

SHOCK

real incident led Mairaed Corrigan reasons In a double-edged state- ment, withdrawn its inca! Co close down ment in the House of Com- nursenes. mons last week Education ary Hugh Farrant Carlisle will resign from the council next Secretary Mark offered some good news and ycal bad those some news. lu against the defend and fighting oldces extend nursery education.

the Tory council a national by- The bad news was that fulselys label which the government as a removing the new clause woole statutorv duty of local author- escave. ities to provide nursery cauca pushed through Assurances with full government support.

Carlisle this ACCoTOlE simply "clarifies" the existing Education Act: in reality it strips away an embarassing paign forefront of Dante cultatiult cautiously authorities who wish to abolish nursery education amouncement under pressure clearly from nursery campaigners, 1 to announce a Carlisle went or ano nursery new salezudu dralist nulsoly closures to be written into the new Bill. in plans of the union officials. intonig the ing our caulialy. selge members action. School Carlisle for This would provide authortes give advance publicity • and However notice planned closures, to aHow obecois ard doovals Immediately after the ruling Tory already - rank the and group County men Ders are Council has, apparently under from govern- strike. pressure By Keith White actually are. The occasion of the split was meeting votedf the Executive the which He chairman Massive publicity was heaped Peter McLachian. then walked •and has Out another launch subsequently Larealeic movement. He seems to have some sup- Betty who from

DOLL

left the Executive meeting when the are mentemented. movement's treasurer, since this award resigned his James Galway, has post but chosen to stay with the organisation. have been accusations the founders misuseo une which went with the 'Real life' for some week of charge and McLachlan-a former unionist politician who In the last week the internal into has claimed that at the root of burst policies of the trouble are replaced is still not clear what the -Ciaran McK eown. McKeown derided this split 101 nursery closures » Oxfordshire's and leading reaction- The tenacious struggle waged closure of all 1,500 in Oxfordshire has made keen abparcatly Parents and trade unionists Save Our Nurseries Cam- at the stood this fight, are welcoming the service will now be made per- But they are asking for assur- Thẹ campaign also refuses to ances that both nursery schools are actually see Oxfordshire's £400,000-plus Lasses cuts being made in any other saved, and that all jobs il the are organising The campaign for a mass Parents, .LO0. the in throughout support strike throughout the public of the fight against the cuts Leicester on Many junior February 27 has continued action cam paigns set up there is a growing demand tha to make progress against the a demonstration be organised o local trade 27th to provide a focus for tu action A series of joint union meet-

NUT,

NALGO

United offensive and Nurt, lar trom strenginen stranglehold of the prospect tof with under students at the local Polytechnic left and strike, olalloril organised demanded further

NUSS,

the crucial need now is for co-ordination of the ancillary staffs different groups and campaigns attacken Namoduculd for deliberately separating their against cuts into a singie tne members in education from the offensive, both against and the cuts, and Tories Liic of against those local offocials who the decision TGWU and GMWU to support want to head off the struggles isolated protests lame, the strike opens up the prospect 1110 of generalised school closures, they W716 must be built talking of picket- Mass action Council's ing schools where staff refuse to nine point programme and co- and refuses to be drawn as to his version of the split. : is that a signifi- cant factor in the crisis of the some criticism little thing Peace People known as 'real life' government's failure Pacifism-which ceek. compromise solution to end the completely idealist impose a real world- solution OnLO This has anger as it would like the movement, who indignantly see world to be In the Irish war of liberation • suce concesson il as giving the fort Irish led at struggle against present in thei oppression Nebuoucar movement. There are daily hundreds of situations to De commented on One of these, a central burn- the campaign for political restoration to the republican status blanket in prisoners on the Some sections of the Peace - including McKeown-' People- have felt it necessary to make Oxford nursery campaigners: their fight posed national embarassment for Tories Under, sector-teachers jobs, capitation, the and school meals or transport.

Par tilli The intends to Campaign enquiry launch union into the needs and provision tor coulily through the newly ordinated members formed delegate anti-cuts com mittee, with the immediate ourcauliay the • local forcing em phasis official bureaucrats call a demon- NALGO and NUPE stration through the town on will not the 27th CrOS formed That must be followed by a Public mass picket of county council-

JOINT

County and, to namely and prevent any mobilised immediate announcement of the dates for inter-union solidarity, ine next surIKes the cuts to all other At members the came ime and NALGO of

NUPE

must demand that for the detert government. clearly

COLO

Ou l redundancies and stop negotiat- ing the Tory County Council. Necessary fight Shop stewards in particular from must nedit BM Box 5277, membership for the necessary remove tight ship, directing the understand- SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980

TROOPS DUT

NOW!

IRELAND

of the forces. Legislation and the doubt further details of the will emerge TINe soll coming period. can only hope that the We problems the aroused intens will Peace People's Movement other sections of the deepen and result in the demise of what has been a useful tool and ally of imperialism. • ano cole anti-imperialist

PICKET FLEET ST

BREAK THE WALL OF SILENCE ON THE

H BLOCKS!

Wednesday 27 February Blanket Protest, Fleet Street, 6.00 p.m Assemble outside the Law Courts. Letters will be handed in to the editors of major newspapers Organised by Troops Out Movement Prior axes *job creation' •we have done "I think well" rather declared • Secretary Employment James Prior, describing the Tories' record on unem- ployment. speaking in a dis- He was plans Cussion slash back the "job crea- tion" subsidies introduced by

LADOU

govertinen throwing additional thousands of workers onto already swollen cole queue. Indeed the special employ- small firms of ment subsidy less, 200 26 wecks forer wy extra ful them tzu per week lor to created -will LuIC . scrapped altogether million will be And £140 lopped off the Labour govern.. Fives and their ment's projected budget tor thi use this to cosmetic job creation exercise, artificially turiner the nom lor an expan sion of nurseries throughout the thousands hundred vorkers from on and boosting unemployment figures. the Tories' under aver pruned scheme up to 200,000 be expected workers cases very tem- mos porarly -on te regisicis al al £360 expenditure of some million able anger of rank and file union Thatcher's full-blooded towards the union recessonar poudes conocu li impact of the world Crucial to this is the fight for capitalist slump begin to drive instruction That members

. COISIS

tently upwards it is plain that pickel government this aspect . by other unions in the Sector Action spenaing Is likely to tellal e permanent feature

. NUT, TGWU

on the basis of such fight to link the struggle against sections in struggle can we prepare the way "Fighting the Cuts' (Socialist Press supplement) available 15p (incl. påp)

WSL

London

• WCIV 6XX

position in Labour Benn renews call for SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Right wing regain inquiry By John Lister There are clear signs that has of Oxford member Ted Heslin,

APEX,

for instance, Labour's right wing cocumen beginning regain the calling for a witch-hunt against ing the policies nocturs and Militant hand in the early upper This was not surprising, since oreDosTe cances

LIC

stages of the inquiry into this composition the 110ll the Party's administration.

designed gerrymander an me commee voz uphold Heslin's expulsion was As: the momentum of the inbult right wing mayority voted down last month by 15-8 media against witch ant New section Trotskyists and socialists in the But at the same time the Party's ranks begins to slacken, Committee voted The laughably misnamed Organisation the left wingers were into "Campaign for Labour Viçtory" forced into unaccus- set up les own muuly is also about to table proposals "entrism Labour Party Callaghan in the tomed rosale tu of -both socialists and-to the replacement by and healey nave begun lo give "bankers in a number of direc- wMus by meetings or tne wnole martlal-uy membership when major industrialists and the CIA".

LUIS

and It agreed that veteran taken, the was inquiry has set up three . ne di t subsidiary panels-designed to of (lett-wing) witch-hunter Lord Underhill be ine enable the right wing to draw in women's section of the NEC invited inquiry

APEX

CLV

his stale Both and the of documents from Parliamentary section of the hacer the probose Party and Party porting NEC to include Mis electea Dy the right wing PLP. Militant supporters-but that officialdom. there Meanwhile the NEC's Organ- since remain Right wingers docu- ot the LaLon comunice has vulck iv recommend ments, reinstrenen trev Underhill's name alone. Tro of iba throz rotatine As struggle workers aumen of i sacit 20 Michaci Foot-are and alenatilatobe Party polical right alternative, Party right allaghan's efforts between now 1 с те тете яте весе! oclusively at consolidating his efforts to stamp out the slight- reactionary alliance with the est hint of socialism in the rank the and file muuuy This means that the Party's *panel m une nopes or dealing a lethal parting shot at socialists "left' wing, themselves confused in the Party. asto hes seras pract method of working is If they spear- ao not now head struggle again st inquiry they face the rteam itsell, ana push ancad with the various right wing proposals of a levard muring rank and drav teeth the rank file, who can increasingly recog- and file and reassert the control Foot nise the inability of reformist of the bureaucracy. Tory medicine killing patient! As evidence builds up to support the view that the their toll, companies face grow- British economy is already ing their profit stagnant and teetering on margins. Meanwhile the downturn in the verge of a Tory-fuelled British industry is also reflected inflation, the inflation and balance of payments figures the colossal revenues for North Sea Oil have proved insuficient last week must have made even some arch-Thatcherites colinal des million for the trade dencit wonder where their policies month of January. are leading British, capital- And while imports of manu- ism. factured goods fel last month.

this seems to be less the result Inflation competition from British The Thatcher 18.4%-before many additional govern- increases rents, fuel oultome or a ment in a curious about- lales slump demand for goods prices, puolic sector charges and turn has now emerged as a from both home and abroad other commodity prices make leading defender of protec- themselves felt. 1he estimated trading deficit for 1979 is now put at a massive curb tionist measures-to £2.5 billion, with a further £2 imports of cheap US-made Material costs deficit predicted 10] man-made fibres. It is now certain that the As, , the icy winds of the Tories week got last ne 20% inflation rate be world recession begin to make Lc burobedi reached before felt, themselves the summer-at impose quotas LommIsson 1o looking . on sales of US willi vomi oi course me annı muSt versary of the colossal round. of uncertainty at Thatcher's relent- and ment yarn nylon carpet price increases unleashed by the less policy of stripping aside the yalil Quotas on a third category protection swalita British capitalism by the Wilson- -tufted and nylon pegue o astort the comparative carpets year-on-year figures. Callena nov meet were ruled out by the com Another ill omen for the now largely naked ulissioll Tories however is the soaring move towards trade credite cost of fuel and raw materials danger of death from exposure.

war arises from the fact that US

MOW

hitting manufacturing For workers, solution manual us acabelo vas industry -bringing petro-chemical raw larges mvolves swill mass accion to put suocioised it out of its: misery, and are wiping out Material costs-led of course carry through whole areas of the Jiwasuias by fuel and oil-rose curopean nore inoustrv waic establishment of planned, is expected to lose £500 million Seserie Tne months to January 1980. And this year. nationalised economy. Basnett politics eso ve problems, look for principled, revolutionary leader- sillo

PRESS

GANG

: When Julius Caesar wa assassinated, the job of res his cuing reputation was given (in the Shakespeare version of events) to Mark ruthless, Antony-cunning, and ambitious. His "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech skillfully the transformed Roman masses into would-be avengers. Keith Joseph, on the other appears nano Antony's talents-and should consider changing his script- According to the Daily Mail account of his visit to Wales "He sought out the workers of South reasonable wales IO 1 nave converse with them". Their was not to praise Josenh but to burv him eggs, tomatoes and other But Joseph's ungainly retreat from wares was tenteo ov toc prest moner ale or sub-humanity workers lavolved The Daily Telegraph. in i import controls But at the same time US employers demanding Notecuest measure. cheaper European steel out of the American market. CB at its 1979 con ence su import policy import port controls ilving the face govern- ot the lor ment. But now the growing ten- of sions crisis drivin! even seck ways of defending their their profits against competi-

LOIS

Import controls It is therefore vallculaliy ironic that last week should alsc nave seet ing Tony Benn Norman Atkin Leslie Huckfield and Stuart son - early day Se Guanto motion in Parliament calling on the Tories impose ContrOls Callaghan's unheard plea The decomposing corpse winters' ill-fated of last TUC-Labour Concordat was wheeled out of its crypt last week by Labour leader James Callaghan in a speeen tal was appar ently immediately consigned to dustbin of history by pickets to follow the written guidance given by the TUC last winter agreement government. There that workers were responding their this call- more than lorry drivers anc ally

DUDIC

sector: workers dias ye But will Labour's left ever defence of poor Sir Keith' was . not, even anxious to accord them Leven that much 1, saying ht Was cita "by a relatively small crowd purporting to consist of dis possessed steel workers".

"Bullets?" After outlining short history. of British politicians paper said: "The uneasy feeling remains that even such modest violence nas today a more sinister mean ing than it used to... Is it quite morbid to tear that nowaday: those wno start with eggs anc tomatoes may quickly graduate to bullets?" The Daily Mail was more sun There are worse dangers in political life than being shouted down angry Welshmen having to dodge a few squelshy The greatest threat to us lor woverment not nos is that it will suffer from a loss of nerve.". Keith's difficulties But bir were small beer to tne reaction to the mass picket at Hadfields.

penetration of the British car The answer to the crisis now facing the British car does not li in loining hands employers and wIll managers in a fight to keep out "foreign" cars. Classic example policy does nothing to defend jobs or working ditions in British plants- -W 31010 DL classic enamote oi collaboration leading class closures, Instead, by seeking en ovmen Europe, Japan or elsewhere, simply divides the international national aone lines and assists the tub thump "patriotic" campaigning o1 the Torv government The way forward independent policy, through an Page 5 PHOTO: John Sturtock, «ерог Callaghan the much needed respond with Healey leadership? After several days of mount pickets-which were taunted by the press because they faile -Hadfields was eventually shut two thousand pickets who defeated breaking strike efforts of 700 police The Mail in editions was happily silenced -not by the pickets but Dy pay sinke of beiru menhe Baily Express stepped won? was the label on its front page pictures of the picket.

But the events turned thi press, not so much on the steel workers as on Prior. The Tory in support of the Cabinet 'hawks". Indeed doubtful their most extremi wittile proposals go far enough for the gutter press. the top of the AcrosS Exprese: This is pay y necd page • exorey to act, Pussyfoot Prior Next time someone is sent ti face the steelworkers in Wales or Yorkshire, Prior not Joseph will get the popular vote of the Tor Benn refuses to crisis, and fights through strike action divide the defend all work available for the nationarisation of major Citale industry and the banks without management.

MAKERS OF MODE

Page 6 4. Georg Lukacs Georg Lukacs, hailed by many as one of the From the 1920s to the present day, major con- greatest Marxist theor- tributions to Marxist theory have been made. by ists of the twentieth thinkers indifferent or implacably opposed to the century, was born revolutionary heritage of Trotskyism.

Budapest in 1885, and From George Lukacs to Louis Althusser, early life came In 21S Antonio Gramsci to Jean-Paul Sartre, Karl Korsch under the influence of to Herbert Marcuse, a powerful body of Western German idealist philos- Marxist' theory has been developed, which has yet ophy. receive full critical assessment by Trotskyists Two early works, The themselves. Soul and its Forms (1911) Thế How and Theory are the Stalinist or revisionist politics of the Novel (1914-15), reflect this these writers to be weighed against their theoretical idealism. contributions to Marxist theory?

In the first, Lukacs sees a In this series, Terry Eagleton examines the work contradiction of the theorists named above, as an introduction to between 'authentic' human values a full evaluation of their work.

a sorala actual world. In the second, he views the very form of the novel as a fruitless to rediscover that unity of authentic value and real life which, he claims, disappeáred with the Greek epic. Plunged into despair by the first imperialist world war, haunted by irrational- ist philosophies, Lukacs dis- covered a spiritual turning- point in the Bolshevik revol- Proletariat Here, at last, 'authentic' value had transformed • real history, in the shape of the proletariat. One later, Lukacs joined the Hungarian Com- munist Party, and became deputy commissar for educ- ation and culture in the ill- fated Hungarian soviet republic Kun. He bela escaped to Vienna when the republic was crushed, and began writing become his theor- major etical work, and Class Consciousness (1923).

That must be WOrK placed in its political and intellectual context. Lukacs had moved from Romantic idealist to Marxist; but in Lukacs ways he had simply working class. The working Its world-historic signific- translated the one into the class 'universal ance comes from its objec- other. subject' of history, but does tive place within the capital- The proletariat embodied not know it. universal, mode of production. If authentic. value, Because of its alienation, this is forgotten, then it is as such was to hold it cannot recognise itself as ślide, like Lukacs, itself aloof easy to from the subject of history, and into political voluntarism: mise with sordid bourgeois has become instead the ulti- the belief that all that is reality. mate object-a pure finally necessary is that the modity. "Spontaneity" working asserts its Cass But once the working collective consciousness and realises its enslaved Cass seizes state power. The political results of situation as a pure object, it this idealism ultra- WelC will in the same moment be Ignored leftism, syndicalism and able to liberate itself from somewhat Luxemburgist this condition. faith in working class 'spon- The There are many curious material taneity' -positions for problems involved in that aspects to this viewpoint. which Lukacs earned For one thing, to speak of process are merely ignored justified rebuke in

SECTIO

social classes as 'subjects' at that

NO E

Left-wing Communism: An all is to transplant idealism there is much in History and Infantile Disorder. Class Consciousness into historical materialism.

about In History and Class 'consciousness' the and Consciousness, the proletar- Class struggle 'universal subject', but little iat becomes essentially about the concrete material Marxist' version of Hegel's The proletariat is not institutions-the state, the Absolute Spirit. ideological some kind of 'collective For Hegel, the riddle of duvactusco- individual' creating history; which for a Marxist go to history is solved when this what creates history is not a make up class Spirit, which 'alienates' 'class-subject' but the class society. itself in objective reality, struggle. One result of Lukacs's comes to recognise that the his Moreover, working idealism refusal to such reality is in fact its class not central to acknowledge the scientific history the first place status of Marxism. In Lukacs rewrites this Reacting because of its consciousness; against the scheme terms of the this too is an idealist error.

materialism of much Second International regards Marxism as little more than expression' of revolu- tionary working class sciousness. Its value lies not objective,

COMOTEVE

power; it lies simply in its ability to further the histor ical interests of the prolet- ariat. Relative Its truth is thus relative those interests; and Lukacs able to escape from the conse-

WOESI

quences of such relativism only by a breathtaking bit of mental gymnastics. Marxism may be relative to the standpoint of the work- but the working lie cass. class is 'the 'universal" sub- ject; a universal subjectivity is therefore objective. Lukacs's hostility to Marxism science goes hand-in-hand with Romantic, irrationalist suspicion of science itself His critique of capitalism is focused much less on the facts of exploitation than What he calls reification' fact that, -the because 'fetishism of commod- ities", social life under capit- alism fragmented into mechanistic processes, of Which scientific analysis is Cile Rationality itself becomes form of 'false bourgeois ..conscious- ness, breaking up the 'wholeness' of truly human life into artificial compart- ments. Against this Lukacs offers the totalising' move- of truly dialectical Hivill which will grasp the interrelations society as a whole It is true, of course, that dialectical thought goes bevond reified Ene of: categories bourgeois society. Purely objective Indeed much Lukacs has to say of the the 'fetishism of commodities' which in capitalism prevents men and women from grasping the real, underlying relations of the society, is of considerable value. So is Lukacs's attempt to Hungarian Red Army men fight counter-revolutionary troops, 1919, SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Bela Kun restore the active nature of consciousness against those species of Marxism for whicht dialectics is a purely objec- tive process excluding the human subiec But all this in early Lukacs is inseparable from a nostalgic idealism which at times sees the true enemy, not capitalism, but 'rational' technological society itself. this sense, Lukacs stands in a long tradition of German Romantic conserva- tive thinkers who turn distastefully from the specialisation' and 'mechanisation' of modern society i more 'organic' society of the past.

RN MARXISM

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Hass mobilisation of Hungarian workers. 1919, to defend proletarian dictatorship It is just that, for Lukacs, But trouble still loomed In General that organic society is now ahead. An essay of 1926, Secretary placed future and Moses Hess Communist and the Party, called socialism. Dialectic, giving celebrated perverse dratted and Class Con- History praise to the later reaction- 'Blum" his sciousness was roundly con- Hegel's submission ary party demned by the Comintern the status quo signalled argued for the need Lukacs's desertion of his no lukacs made tne iirst social bf his many submissions to early ultra-leftism craven capitulation foul the Third lICW Stalinism. Period's of More correct But just as Lukacs was as 'social In 1924 he published a abandoning his ultra-leftism fascism'. brief study of Lenin, which Stalinism, Stalin- Diease advanced much more ism was in tbe process of ted -totally correct version the swinging to the suicidal OI relations between party and ultra-leftism of the so-called class than that to be found Third Period. Lukacs from and Class Con- mistory political the iciousness, and so helped to Caught on hop preserve his official standing which he today

TOI

within Lukacs was caught badly international These Communist movement. on the hop. Historical

WORK.

Realism Writer and Critic, mainly in Lukacs had of Nazism. bution the Marxist to mechan- ical signicance. tradition of he argues, its history. bourgeois writers are still abel to societies, Io grasp their inter- which are sharply VIce and socially 'typical'. Totality The great realist novel is rounded thus complex, totality, which penetrates mere surface appearances to flesh out the most historic- ally significant trends under- lying them. From realism static, detail cyclical, despair becomes Much decline tive. But from the Stalinist Ism. For art-form, deviations denounced decadence'. Almost modern art

WIILLCO

arian Stalinist culture, which the copy tradition on culture politica swing, into favour onwards, mere and society relity blurred and what Lukacs percep- also springs form 'dogmat- _realism which all be are as bourgeois of wmote arT- this And revolutionary their by artistic all art faithfully forms of the of the but came back Page 7 Stalin (right) in 1940 For just as the Popular cold once more during the Front betrayals rested on a Molotov-Ribbentrop pact; collaboration• the cold between in from 97CK Stalinism and during the rest of the world • T9Є international bourgeoisie, so war; denounced the Lukacs's literary height of the Cold War; theory insisted essential during the renanted ludicrously harmony between bourgeois termed 'de- and 'socialist' art. Stalinisation' period, an era of 'peaceful coexistence' Lukacs had no great love for the Stalinist doctrine of As Michael Lowy has 'socialist realism' in art; but pointed out recent he defended it, perfunctor useful. book Lukacs, ily, as a 'higher' version of was much that Lukacs his love, bour- was LI Laracu. geois realism more that he stood still and Stalinism Reported him. To Lukacs just Stalinist' is as professor of Budapest That he was indeed a When Hungarian in 1956 he theoretical richness -and what of Nagy's government. The of 1918 One of this vengeance: when the can, was

WOLKCIS

given. Stalinism, smashed Lukacs's the rounded, realist novel grave work of revolutionary of and died in 1971: For apparent all also between Lukacs's: ultra-leftist And no neatly unified :do that. Instead, broke up reassuring 'harmony' What the two break able free never critical of his audiences. culture. adopted On other hand Marxism Lukacs's of bour T10T guard history towards the barbaric of

BASCIST

he criticised the working bourgeois passed the name But he had com the darkest Marxism But If Lukacs humanism, privately, individually rather than from oscared break with

SLUDDOIN

some barbaric remained with the Stalinists, he He out of favour the Comintern to ments ever by this immensely bourgeoisie; out of favour to the 'left'. which disgrace during Period; the back in during the in the

Did Labour's leaders author Page 8 NALGO members spotlight snoopers The current edition of NALGO News, magazine of the GLC NALGO Branch, takes up the fight to expose and combat police surveillance of labour movement demon- demonstrations in support strations. of causes which the branch NALGO members obtained the photographs displayed Suppors which show TV on page cameraș and listening These have included the

TAIS

apparatus in use during a march by ILEA teachers protest- march, anatu ing against education cuts.

abortion rights march, the renewal We reprint below the full text of the NALGO News march against Ireland. special powers in article, with thanks to the magazine for the supply of the Each of these marches has photographs. filmed recorded been and by the police. Each We regard it these legal "GLC NALGO News marches as a selous was of the basic infringement and. peacetul. has received photo- We believe that this prac- rights of trade unionists that graphs of plain clothes tice has grown dramatically they can no longer take part police spies on the roof in legal and peaceful demon- over last year. elieve that its purpose is to of County Hall Island strations being filmed and recorded allow the politica. sections Block in the act of film- of the police (in particular and presumably entered ing and tape recording the Branch) and police records some- •oeca

0AIC

the recent demonstra- security services ornet wiere monitor and build up files tion by the Inner Delegations activities of trade London Teachers on months the unionists, order to be Over recent Association against the GLC Branch of NALGO has able at some later stage to reductions in the ILEA trade sent delegations to a variety Morub! MaUE budget. of and campaigns marches, rallies against UnION "Have' got the Services Security we deserve?"

HOTO:

This unpromising question Party opens up a Labour .Dalen launceu lasi weck will the publication of a "consulta- tion that offers a i startl- ing blend of naivety and dis honesty. The Labour Party of course; is a reformist party dedicated to seeking the gradual transiorma- Report tion from capitalism to what they imagine "socialism rov vee cananer. changes. It therefore fails completely to understand the nature of the Merlyn Rees Whitelaw pontical secrel oo ice • WAOse "abuses" they While in The police force and the appear to wish times of relative stability political the to restrain. etned

JOICES

•oC «d content of such class rule can be Branch intelligence other services are in no way "neutral" convenienu- masKel _Denia Conscious "impartial" elements in rela- flimsy drapes of Parliamentary bourgeois democracy, ton to tae abour movemenl. d.

The "Security Services" are upholders the capitalist

O A PHONA® DHR

and the capitalist class most of political or economic crisis course one „ Tae Sy DLOI wings of the state inevitably the exposes ever- inelr task is precisery to contin and contain the activities of the whereby the minor- Maluwey Teddy resect Lilt Dalk working class, and to observe, ground of the key defenders of ity capitalst class maintains exploitation and control of the bourgeqis rule: armed bodies of •narac. an0 ChruDi ConscIous forces within the working class majority working class. Government policy. We demand an end to this practice generally, but particularly we are concerned about the use of our workplace for spying on our brothers and sisters in orne tauc unIons Spying We want to know authorised the use of the Island Block for spying. We want to know it any trade union members are required as part of their jobs to co- We operate in this spying. also want to know which pollica parly hls alluwer this practice, and it the lett counciilors wno were Insiat time, County Hall at the 'against. the knew that their LuLD supporters outside were being filmed in this way.

Spy's eye view of the demonstration : that attempt to mobise anti- capitalist struggles. But the Labour document fails completely even grasp the Liest worke ortae cadanse sace The document complains and that government security intelligence services. . can also exert influence behalf of economic, eind us on trial -and political. interests particular classes or groups".

The fact is that the state machine-far from being some neutral TOrC. susoenutd only reflect the space-can of the class that holds S lale Dowe cao tas countries the "security services" invariably focus their energies attackm ne laboul move ment: in revolutionary Russia the wake of the 1917 October the revolution. Cheka under Dzerzinsky under- took the task of spying. upon anu reoressne ulose Dr0-l saris and pro-capitalist elements that continued to agitate, for a return • old regime of exploita- LO Vlt tion and repression. giant microphone to record car horns?

The degeneration of the Bolshevik endersnin party under the massive material pressures brought about by Kussan revolu tion brought about conse- quent degeneration in the Soviet security services: as the parasita Stalinist bureaucracy consolid- ated on state grip secreț police so the aCCLya was directed not only agains ro-capitalist, but also again st Marxist forces-in particular supporters of Leon Trotsky anc the Left Opposition. "Right to function" • At no point ever in history been 1 a state machine that Cicalcu Was all lcd. "neutra?, ir sens e aton the ruling class: nor is it feasible long as class divisions exist, . SUCI aH marud machat could ever exist But the Labour document actual Conceles that the British secret police function-and function secretly! SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Police claimed that they were "monitoring traffic"" was this "The Security Services have legitimate functions. We do not aim to destroy those legiti mate capabllties. UI

CANUS

Her oDenoR RCaS. Consistent socialists, on the hand, other must recognise enemy to whom no rights must be conceded, and which can never ve brousar unacI ConCol through Parliamentary means or "the democratic process' Ine abou document cock on to point out that the Specia Branch holds an estimated 1.3 million wetsolla U1. And t ne question: "To what should individuals have antal acces. inel own persona files?' Disbanded The answer that the Special along with its com- Branch, outes

UECS

LaoDil- equipment, long-focus cameras and networks of informants and orovocdlcus Siuul alsdanaea is plainly ruiea out I instead Labour seeks merely to offer the pretence o

Chix: is this as far as the ise a file on you? SOÇIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 GMWU will go? Last October Mrs. Brar, a sweet factory brought in

GMWU

membership forms. Over a hundred fellow workers joined the union to organise against poor condi-

WOTK

tions and appalling wages.

The women. Who were main v Asian and colon't sneak English, particularly exploited. They were paid 95p an hour, Toe men were date elk The management refused to despite appeals trom officials ano so unt GMWU members (90% of the workforce) in the factory took the decision for strike action.

far the strike has been on €10.50 tron. 18 weeks. Strikers receive E

GMWU

atle dire need of PHOTO: Charlie Augusto what contributions they can get to supplement this trom other "Welcome" Ine strike committee now. consists of District GMWU ver Officia McMullan Monammet test isnoo stewaro and worker at Chix) and Anwar, steward, shop Asian women at Chix: Key to picketing but not on strike committee by one all the available sou es Gerry McMuilen was at pains Been orensee by the Gu to point out that there should Job Centre has agreed not utilities The and supplies to advertise Chix job vacancies.

Seven

LIK

SURICS,

committee and that the women Gerry Dunkers adoressing (the majority of strikers) were the source of supplies -in partic- the mass picket last Wednesday welcome on it. ular sugar and glucose. declared that: cannot speak any Workers in the British Sugar •cen out inere English, and haven't weeks fighting. The GMWU are Corporation nave blacked Chix turned up at committee meet- as have BSC's lorry drivers.

determined to take this strike Another vital ingredient far as it will ge glucose Tunnel Mohammed Yasin said that the women strikers had family and women workers". TrOM retinery i ne for their picketing position of the

TGWU

Tony O'Brien, speaking from is that they won't cross activities dirvers GWU National Executive me was ditticult to said: wnen The estab shore how many as there then 'We will ine Is not inspire When working. will deliver. to identify members with this had Aired van Glucose has been spotted by curtains drawn. chance being delivered at mid- blow on the whole of the night to Chix. trade union movement. Further proof the

-GMWU

Obviously Discrepancy Region

TUC

Torolon must put the strongest pressure The van oicks everv scab up from her house, often with a the TGWU to instruct drivers Introducing a speaker from child, who is then looked after occupation, to Diack Enix compietely. A 24 TIRe Meccane hour picket may also be neces- O'Brien said that: i a lactory creene "Their ins. s or course vet turtne sary struggle our proof that employers will only The GMWU must also and we structle to agree workplace nurseries the fight against all attacks on steps to impose ertective black- on joberepay or union rights it is ing source-Tunnel the working class whether force and works to their itself is mainly organised by the advantage.

GMWU.

i nere : nowever A fair degree of blacking has It is necessary to cut off one definite discrepancy concern fort is mocracy" while George Brown was then a lead- in fact the document hvDo.

apparatus critically refers to the fact that: unreatens "Between 1961 workers rignts remains intact And why doesn't Indeed the document goes January 1962 MPs Labour the document look at the record endorse Lord Denning's George Brown's request. MIS of Wilson and Callaghan govern-

WELC

definition of a ments in their dealings with the subversve asa person contem- say that • secret police? plate the overthrow of a govern- "That, "by And way does the panel inal means drew document 1 Home Secretary Maily declares the Labour former Party, fairly clear definition.' kees COlO presumadly testify at first hand as to how "Unlawful" wingers' telephones But we have recently seen tell the working class just what that Denning regards all kinds of steps-if any -he took to curb / things-from solidarity blacking the Special LIlk Branch against the labour move- to songarty Sures-as ful". Can it be imagined that the ment? capitalist class would ever regard a General Strike, for instance, as Collaboration If this formula remains challenged, the fact is that this latest blallly leaders will continue, as campaign completely

LOON T

dishonest cover-up for a contin- they did government, to lend their full support to squalid "anti- •une LouS harassment, surveillance and dis- working class activity by succes- Labour only revolutionary left but also colaboralon will une MOs wider-layers of trade union and reactionary elements the Labour militants. state machine-the what the officials were declaring over the loudspeaker mountec cram cortine ane won tney were prepared to commit them selves to in an interview. McMulian was asked Chix struggle meet Grunwick as and sate late Garners. He Grunwisto they had 900% outon stronger position strike as opposed to 30% at Grunwick Grunwick the workers were sacked; at Chix they remained still employed On the other hand, i he said, at Grunwick post was the only key going in and out supply while at Chix there were several raw materials and sources ot storage It was then pointed out that ine kev sue•vrwas water ano electricity supplied to Chix through GMWU members in the Electricity and Water Boards sure v Gerry Mevulan was serious about the intention Ireland the secret police, strikebreakers army Britain, and Course murderous anti-picket squads Grunwick, Southall and elsewhere Rather asking Tory than Prime Minister Thätcher what steps i she Is takine restore political control over the Secret socialists should be mobilising the labour movement in mass struggles- "unlawful". ouist Thatcher and establish wurners coverineit smashing the Secret task andarmed Services, disbanding the forces and police. parapher- nalia of the capitalist state.

But if you fight for this line in the Labour Party auicklv find that "Rig Brother' Jim and his right wing cronies decide to compile a file on you!

By John Lister Mary-Ann Todd joined the mass picket in sup- port of the unionisation struggle at Chix sweet factory in Slough-and spoke to union leaders.

of the GMWU to take the strike "as far as it could go" then they would instruct their members to ott

CUT

real strengths of the trade union Injunctions "No"" réply, came the "that's out of thé question after the experienct GrunWiCKs I he trouble is it causes injunc tions from the courts and you see there's a legal obligation to orovide water ane electory.

It became clear that there wasn't much hope for the Chix strikers it the proposed Emplov ment Bill goes through (changing the law on secondary picketing) if this remains the GMWU line. Anyway McMullan if w got the went on, even supplers to tre to • the water turn board contractors to turn supply back on. Wouldn't you then organise defensive strike action GMWU Water and Electricity sections. replied Bro. McMullan we wouldn't get the members got realistic, there's no need for extreme measures We haven't approached the utsities and i don't think wt will-the waterworkers have _enough problems on their plate Anyway we ye at ine moment concluded Bro McMultan community relations using ACAS commission "We them all the time but so far the employer isn't responding!" Several arrests By now, at the back of the tactory the police were doubling their numbers in anticipation of arrival of the van full of scabs. There: had already been several including Mrs. arrests, Brar and the District Official District Official was acquitted; Mrs. • was fined Brar £10 for shouting "abusive lan. guage and insulting behaviour toract that was due surprising towards police officer since sue soeaks no cnolish.

While a handful of pickets waited for the van back of the factory the mass picke front the stationed entrance. Bro Anwar was asked water mas oickets shouldn't be moved around the back to stop the scabs 'No". a puddle with Tully avoiding his immaculately polishec Italian-styled shoes). keep the mass picket the front of the arounc building: we've got sta all the oress cameras are! Further pickets will take place every Wednesday. A national mass picket is planned in a month's time. More information from, and messages and donations to: M. Anwar, 271, Good- man Park, Slough

WOMAN WORKER 5

A paper of the Workers Socialist League Available, price 18p (incl postage) from WSL, BM Box 5277, London

WCIV 6XX

Page 9 Racist Sparts slam Afghan people The ultra-left sectarians of the International Sparta- cist Tendency have always combined their adventurist ultimatums to the working class with gross opportunist deviations. But they have taken a sharp dównhill plunge with the public- ation of lead article in the issue of American latest their "worker. Vanguard. article sets out uphold the Spartacists' Pabloite line on ine soviet invasion ot Afghanistan-which attributes a the progressive role to Kremlir • Stalinist bureaucracy under the opportunist slogar "Hail the Red Army!' politically anaiyse the latest switch of strategy by US imper- ialism in its fight to contain the liberation struggles and revolu- •tionary aspirations of the world's working class the Spartacists profound|v oroclaim that: country are insane running this "The people And in what no doubt passes for Marxist Spartacist circles, Vanguard goes on to announce that: "Nev York entrepreneur Crazy Eddie would be better in White House than Jimmy the Carter." But from this initiat premise the tone actually degenerates, to the level of outright racialism leaders The Stalinist were entirely violat national ronts of the atonans argues Workers Vanguara because of the backwardness o the country and its predominan tly peasant and nomadic popul- ation The lead article this "Trotskyist actually caper includes the following passage: "Somebody had to clean up toward the 17th century. Dis liberal counting hauteur Alexander Cockburn, writing in the Village Voice (21 January) caught the flavour of the place wo an nave to do one day but pray God let it not be over Afghanistan An unspeakable country filled with unspeakable smugglers, who have furnished the worst airs and eras over to their leisure hours some of penetrate the occidental world.

yield to none sympathy thost Russian jackboot beneath the but if a country deserved ever Afahanistan Nothing but mountains filled with bar barous with views mediaeval as their muskets, anc Such a position is, of course, an affront to any international- or socialist. *T Is not now ever ot or anaracter tor to Spartacists, and bears all the hallmarks having been by.

WILLET

•James Robertson, who eater not long ago included a string of similarly sweepind and reaction ary assertions on various nations and peoples in a barely coherent world report which singled ou "a nation as of goat fuckers" Pronouncements like this are they acciden

IVO!

are .the drunken or ill-con- sidered outpourings of a deeply degenerate cult statements more reactionary than those that expected from any but wrig daskst cements in to , they reflect the working class way which all the imperialism Ism nurtured in the petty bourgeois the Spartacists-a sect wholly divorced from the American labour movement

Page 10 York and District Trade Union Council held a public meeting on cuts in public last week expenditure as their part of campaign aimed at combatting the draconian cuts proposed by Yorkshire County North Council. Secretary • Tates Connell de Grook announced Joanna that the 1979-80 cuts in the budget "saved" £ 1.7 million and this would increased to a total of £4.6 million in 1980-81! Local speakers from Child Shelter Group, Poverty Action teacher loca neau

OUL-

men the already having-the cost of the school meals rise in Lilt Dro ecled transport Wold menn that an: agricultural worker with children would spend one three sending his children to school and paying for their school

JOIN THE

With workers by the taking thousand to the 'Tory streets to oppose policies there is plainiy no lack of the militancy organised working class. Yet the existing trade union oureaucrats no labour eacers -whether right 'left'-have offer those no perspective fiqht workers defence jobs, living dards, social services and demo.

cratic rents i nese can only be detended which through independent

MUCH CSES

or tne working class, whichas international class, nothing. and everything Lo coll anemos to restore the profitability of their "own" employing class. Tine anarchic cabit- closure and destruction or the closure destruction society SocialIs banned economy on a world scale offers a way forward. leadership tive needed which, in today's struggles fights" Please send me more details the Workers Socialist of League. Name . Address. Sena to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX.

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Badges no answer! meals! It has been proposed that school meals should no and in York sutional be subject nutritional lessons or scroor cuuuren dave been axed as a 'saving' although baths stand empty as the large parts TOr still have to be heated and maintained. Latin In general education, a horri- fying the shortages resources listed. One teacher said that it and technology teaching replaced by Latin as the money science equipment out for and materials! real tragedy, however. lack the total of any was for fighting these measures from Alan Fisher and Alex Lyon MP them, these two Between made it crystal clear that there

WSL.-

workers trade union militancy, protest politics and illusions that capit- dilsiy con be parliament. Workers The Socialist League is a Trotskyist move- ment out to build such leadership in the working class in Britain Internationally, affiliated to the newly-formed Trotskyist International Liaison Commitee wrich monis for tae reconstruction the Fourth International and the building •ances in every country lead the struggle against imperialism and against bureau- une parasitic stanist cracies the deformed and degenerated workers' states.

Invite readers Press seek more Socialist details of the WSL and its work and to join us in the struggle to socialism.

RED YOUTH 18

Monthly paper of the Socialist Youth League

NUSS

Articles on Week of Action; anti- fascist activity in Leices- Tory ter; steel strike; anti-union laws; review of new Clash album and more. Available, price 15p including postage, from BM Box 5277,

SYL.

London WC1V 6XX. Tuesday 850 Last workers Osborne Hadfields, the casting factory in Sheffield were told that the factory was to close. On May 9 the first redundan- of is no way that social democracy He fell into the trap will halt the of the crisis of talking about the Tory cuts of last half of last year-these capitalism of which the cuts are cuts of course were all planner the effect, cause. he Lyon seemed to believe that the Labour government-a which seemed if enough people wrote to their lact slipped Mr MPs, schools would not

LYU SIU.

closed -and that if we all can Higner enomy cons •bution was notable for its higher Lanco mention of the the government invest

COLO

more industry, we'll have words 'strike economic growth and Bingo! no in challenging the Tory govern- more cuts! He too seemed to think that if we hand out enough leaflets, Fight on marches, enough enough badges, petitions write enough letters the government will see Manvers une error of is ways alla lestore all the public services it is in the process of cutting in Its monetarst policies. closure Not even The current occu pation of Georges Hospital threatened London, which Fisher's

GMWU

Manvers own NUPE members are taking a leading part got a mention.

members last week decided fears obviously Fisher that the closure of to opppose such policies might catch on and then herd have to do a bit ofe Manvers Main coking plant which the NCB intends to than utter platitudes about with shut down. • need or cange sexien ones behin Labour MP for Dearne he enthusias and the Wainwright Vallev and The enthusiasm • size, said he will support the fight to of the 600 jobs coLecuon JoL bIe the plant. save the campaign at the meeting showe held in a local • alton en I ne is a club was • attended .Ду about take action half the workforce. terence Canet They voted unanimously living-if the only lead they hav fiaht the closure-which would kind offered by Messrs. is the also affect other local workers Fisher they depend coal gas from who well spend the money down at the plant for their own Jobs the pub. Back fight Local races Councs have said they will back the fight.

The to keep the plant open shoute oe taken into ne York the NCB the NCB (who are carry- 'In our over oc are allowed to win this it will put Laune sparnam, Ir 1 them positior of the coal Close

OLIC

Walls industry. Support should be called for and particularly from Yorkshire pits who South strength snower strike in 1978- only to be pushed back to work by Scargill. Fisher

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Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Private steel closure cies are to begin, and by July divide the worktorce so tha work can be transferred to other 25 total closedown: plants. Management have told They have been told that the like Cottons reason behind this is the reces- WOrKeRS sion demand for that it is in their interest tha castings Osborne Hadfields closes with sales down by. 50% in the because it will create more work last two years. Osborne Ha fields, months Tor : the otner the largest group But in reality the crisis of Tounery owner group, has lost £2 million capitalism is forcing firms to thi few months ago smaller Wall • Torware I Osborne Hadfield workers for foundry the Weir against closure, and occupy group in Cumbria resistance f0 wore on call on workers in Cottons and Weir's biggest factory Pump putting workers on Valves Carthcarte the cole There are three other foun Glasgow struggle by immediate blacking dries owned by the Weir grouc of all transferred work. The main one Cottons the Weir group the others Group Leeds; are

JING

their profits fron who make underrane Chiyu the nationalised industry about 400, and Holbrook nationalised without Precision Castings near still compensation part Sheffield. All planned steel industry. making profits. This is now being used to BAC pay strike Workers at British Aero- on the 7 a.m. day shift not to Thes met instant CrOSS. space, Southampton, are lorry driver mem success wilcu out on strike in support of their 20% pay claim. drive through. After building a series of ½- The strikers confidently day lightning strikes culminating Wednesday's walkout, disrupt • mete v production las the next few days. This fact has over sou menders or tac wille

ÁPEX

collar union APEX unanimously escaped 110 L rejected a management offer not oniv withheld whe have official backing in lieu of yet for ..57 another secret ballot but have indefinite strike action.

14 February arranged

WILL

manning the management next Wednesday to pickets were review the situation. the be name lawra an attempt to persuade workers Shipyard sell-out working Shipyard workers face a for in the iobs conditions of fellow shipyard combination of bad news workers and more bad news in their 3.000 more jobs are to agreed abysmal pay review axed on top of the 6,000 redun- last week by Confed dancies already announced.

'And an October payment is negotiators. debencen

I OTOVE!

Bad news is the fact that the productivity and working. prac deal offers only 11.5%, plus a on a yard-by-yard basis £150 lump sum-at a time when already signed up their members Unior inflation is certain to top 20% later this year. for increased flexibility.

sell out-opposed by But worse news stil is that the white collar engineers anon the £50 million pay deal 1ADD-mus ne tought on tne entirely self-funding-meaning shop floor if jobs and conditions are to be defended. unat une mercases dle lo us valu

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

GEOCINIST

For a £2.00 cleat

PRESS

lead in the £4.00 struggle against £8.00 wage control, cuts £14.00 and rodundancies Send your cheque/P.O. to £9.00 Socialist Press, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX. £16.00 £10.00 £18.00

OPEN BL's BOOKS! SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday February 20, 1980 Why the lay-offs? British Leyland last week There is no doubt that the acute crisis which BL has faced announced lay-offs and pro- TOr num ber VeRTs in some of gramme worsened sharply recent their plants. months. . world-wide market for In Oxford, the main area affected, Princess and Marina cars is shrinking. Almost every manufacturer faces problems. In MG tracks are to be lald off for one. month beginning comsou er ov February 25, and the Maxi for small size, its lack of investment over the ten years and its February weeks fron with two more weeks at a later ageng moact lange. date. But deliberately exaggerated the crisis in order to This will total almost 8,000 workers lad of. Crcale ut almusoe to ule. When the Maxi and Princess workers from walking out when they face pro- the ballot result was known.

workers cuts trom 18/z per hour yalse Stampede omn fo nd v ae dov to' 12 respectively. Edwardes also hopes to Both models will be stampede union enders -wind produced Tane lack see the viability of BL as their rumin at diliper sur. addition, some 2,500 responsibility -into avoplus the pays case. laid off at be workers are media initially Rover and 1500 engine shop of 50-60,000 splashed figures Longbridge. Both workers at lay-offs-"for months TR7 and models at Canlev. the than weeks"-though the lay- the Dolomite are to be laid off.

be likely more than a traction of this.

Full pay Edwardes has. now claimed this "paper This will probably total was sim ply talk" but he significantly made "TOnar TorKeT. They will receive full pay for no attempt Tenne mem di the time the claims were made.

the first week and after that the WCCk baly- No facts ment, which is £73 for a grade 3 production worker. The major feature of the lay- This decision appears te have off announcements in the plants been dictated: timing, by the rejection of the

COHE CE

aNACIL 5% pay offer substantial any factual information to back BL's. claims lay-offs of matority 41,422 agalls were necessary because of "fall- 28,623 in a postàl ballot.

(The 129 spoilt papers were ing sales Plant "directors refused a fitting testimony to the bank- give any information on stocks.

ruptcy fraser's call

OTOYI

patens and calt til The 6,000 BL craftsmen cialmed 100.000 ballot cars in stock. But no breakdown was given as to the nature of aale Iculaib. Ambulance pay vote Ambulance drivers and industrial strength last throughout the country are drivers walle!. ambulalce received a relatively high award now voting on whether to from the ' Clegg commission- accept a derisory 13% pay 23% stages. around deal. out tne vnore vawe or ce 'At" this stage it is difficult settlement has been lost against inflation. Ambulance drivers, to preaict wnich way the voling come, th ere is a grever he ine but whatever the out- aone oLIei

DUDHC

teto weroups, are back where univ, they 1978-loW paid. antEceSs alunest The offer itself is a complete lance workers …tre bureal- cratic way in which the package fraud. has been presented to them by Evenly split tc owa urdon necolatuls Folliwing enormous low strikes last The 13% is based not on the wave of pay with whole of the comparability winter, ambulance drivers only tirst Tre note ront orte acuot.

award.

DUI

half. In London, £2.30 is deduc- public union leaders sector effectively blocked the formul- ted from basic for current *é oc cę ez unc oo autlo year at the respective annual These two deductions mean that the 13% is actually nearer conferences. Because of their militancy 1U0. Gesall

AT THE TOP...

UNION DUES

NEEUS

,AVE JUDO

'PRODUCTION

FICHT

UNEMPLOYMENT

NEWARD

SHORTER

HE

UCERS

WORKING

WEEK

Still victimised-Robinson this stock or where it was held off announcement was rushed It is clear inat BL s L,OUl Into print une munue cuwarue. distributors are heavily stocked.

saw the ballot figures. Even local plant where the bulk directors

DUL

I Winy. had lav-offs , idea what was going on … the ате planned. there is little evidence of factory lor 4õ nours arterwaras. held unsold stock-usually the *The Robinson victimisa- BL knew that the issue tion: sign o1 sendus overorouu dull the stilt hung in the balaste ardd BL hiding are eltnel information hiding the shop stewards unsold cars. campaign Longbridge support of Robinson was having planned build programme cuts on the sone cileci. and Princess after the lay-off are Imminent collapse No lgure. have been given to substantiate " Although the lay-offs hardly in management terms the even affect Longbridge they hope necessity for major cutbacks of that the spectre of the imminent this order. will have, an COlasst

UL DE

There are four reasons other impact. figures why the lay- than sales In addition a strike this week this lay-off pay OtIS would disqualify time The batlot result: The lay- many of those about to be laid off on full pay-something the officials are acutely aware of *The steel strike must affect production in BL soon-and if there to shutdown well stage it Edwardes may as tactically ao va mtaceous time *Management need to close To add insult to injury, the me ack a ome oce package contains an increase in order to carry out engineering annual leave entitlement, but to and lay-out changes. pay with the faceliit Marina (due IoI . Tor mis amowanc workcls forfeit 66p a week long service launch in July) supplement-which they means They also have to : clear the carniy to pay for the propa sed suffer actually Ict jus track cune uy occuoicu oy lc Maxi in order to retool for the holiday increase! Honda Bounty, production of . Not satisfied with negotiat- now hope to bri ing such a poor ded u isotdtion.

lorwara to next year from the membership, the In addition Castle Bromwica bor ensures ite io antted est convenors have now cleared the accepted transfer of the Rover body to ensure instructing branches to decide the Cowlev Body Plant-Iollow by secret on a simple ing their complete acceptance of accept or reject basis. the closure of the Castle Brom- The results so far seem to be wich Body Plant fairly evenly split, at least in the This work will be integrated London Camden the Maxi/Princess build Ambulance NUPE Branch, one ne ca d tavas mean hads does not cavr se This of course oi the largest stations in have overwhelmingly country, reiected the ofler. with oniy sI sales cuss votes in favour of accepting.

What it does mean is that

NES! TAKE THAT

MASS MEETING, O'FISHALL?

So HOw wAs IMt

LABOUR NEC FOR A START.

AND THAT WELSH T.U. C. MOB...

GENERAL STRIKE INDEED!.

(INFILTRATORS

-ALL OF THEM!

NHAT?

CRAFTSMEN

IT'S ALL A PLOT

DOWN THEIR

US OFFICIALS!

OrFICIALS 70

STAY ON

STRIKE!

OFFICIALS ARE

whilst all thest factor involved there insufficient information to hand to make a definite assosslll Cili commanactocs What it does show is how urgent is the call for the opening of the books ef BL and for al information to be made avail. .able workers and the trade to , unions. Whatever the real motives company, the media have of the ne uner enect aerı out leadership-the Leyland Cars Joint Negotiating Committee.

They • mel manacement has -3 months Friday November 1 annual wage review date. And once again they avoided ballot, calling atter immediate action STrIKE sapport of the claim. They gave the mapagement a lurtner two weeks to make a new offer. the two weeks have After ciapsea the trade unon side of the

JNC

will meet to decide what action to take against the company. Now the JNC has taken this whole combine secsor mat a strike decision is takere menilere week period when this twc expires. Ihe JNC already nas autnor ity from the convenors to act.

commiices hesitation 500 D • die commences neoaie dilc the two week period. As we go to press, we learn that West the Birmingham AUEW Dis- Committee trict has finally decided to call a of strike in defence Derek Robinson-but only after putting it to a mass meting at Long- bridge Deliberate delays by the AUEW EC and the District Committee have already given the management and the media -two weeks to whip up an anti-strike mood in the workforce Yet the AUEW enquiry Pland he are sonsibit the

' UDO!

Robinson's defence by immediately issuing an une.

instruction quivocal strike action. In shirking this responsibility and offer- ing the company still more scope for anti-union propa- have ganda they now further endangered trade unionism in BL.

AGAINST

FIGHTING THE TORIES?

Page 11 Camden council caves in The facade of resistance Tory erected by tọ

: HIL?

'left" Camden's :Labour council has dramatically crumbled. The Labour Group meting saw last Mondd Tali cal The f75 de - ever. tront weer NUPE wage claim was rejected, and in a reversal of policy, the Group voted to increase counci rents. It had been rumoured that would a pay the council den unar woua dosor musl all of this year's nationa! settle ment into the existing "Camden supolement" (£17.50 on top o last year's national settlement) won in struggle last winter pressure trom a Uncel 100-strong NUPE lobby, .coun cillors decided to award the 13% settlement in additior nanonai to the , "Camden' supplement". They made it Clege whole the triat award will bi ' como deducted from the supplement this April! The over rents cumadown Was mere tamar about-turn: that the mere rumour surcharged by conc mar ot the District Auditor if it failec was enough to to put up rents oress throuah a tl. rise By the • next full COuNCi therefore Camden meting struck Laooures vill blow at counci workers standards, raised rents for the three anc time years 35% itolemented • Sal increase. So much for the 'fight' against the Tory cuts!

ACAS

Nemand hat the hestaton fraud ends strike Workers at F.H. Biddles, Nuneaton, ended their pay last Friday after an strike intervention from ACAS. The previous week a TGWU OTmela Soersuad strikers to accept the offer of arbitration which had come, he

ACAS

Camee. a ute reports of the strike in the newspapers" Only seven voted to reiect the ofter of arbitration The seven were proved correct last Thursday when the Tev ine management led to a deal which represented little advance on the •nelar diler In response to a 25% claim management offered a 15.5% basic rates plus a Hicreas! productivity deal guaranteed for three months practice because of the strike this will be omy ust over Iwo montus The deal depends on main- taining levels of production above the rate necessary for last year's bonus payments-some thìng which some workers doubt is possible to achieve There was a great deal of opposition to the deal whict oniy-went throuah by 60 vote to 39

- AND JUST WHO PAID

FOR THOSE EGGS AND

TOMATOES THROWN AT POOI

SIR KETH AND SIR CHARLES?

... ANDWHEN GAMWN WATER

STEWARDS VOTE DOWN

THEIR NEGOTIATORS AND

GO FOR ACTION, THERE

MUST BE SOMETHING

GOING ON!..

NEVER!! YOU SHOW ME AN OFFICIAL REALLY

FIGHTING THE TORIES, AND I'LL SHOW YOU A TRAITOR

. TO HIS CASTE!.. NOW COME ON

- HELP ME GET

PRESS

CORRIE

DOWN

But not yet out! ' of Opponents John abortions and unwanted nancies-has created conditions Corrie's anti-abortion bill, battling against the odds, appear have struck clear majority of further blow at Tory plans by 80% to attack existing abortion bearing age Its rights, extensive Though the Commons voted correctly maiority last Friday by a large debate on every Bill: this has to reduce the upper time limit for abortions from 28 weeks to certain swulle 24, this fell far short of Corrie's Corre but also raisea the pros- Being oathed out The Rack o initial proposal of 20 weeks and his "compromise" offer of 22 weeks. Only a tiny percentage 01 24 week limit, too, abortions take place between and the existing 24 and 28 And weeks. would remain ir OrtC out lilal inte

VITA

movement volo now nave to be excep- cases allowed above the pressure-througl upper limit. PicKets

VICOUS

In any event it now appears lation is totally destroyed, and strength feeling the fight that mobilised the Bill- carried, which lor an end to number of legal abortions by up tions and

NHS

and lead two-thirds massive increase in backstreet abortion on demand. Anti-union Bill tightened The apparent "victory" move is itself dictated through sheer expediency. "moderate" of so-called Undel Employment Secretary ling conditions of class struggle, the leading James Prior over Cabinet advocates of all-out lilat any hasty altelllol lu liane the unions officially with the controntation damages claims from employers unions has resulted in new could resul proposals for legal attacks actions in which union bureau- crats would be forced to act to on union rights. defend their funds from attack.

this PrOT halt these week new "reforms" which will crats-of whom IST leader Bill reduce legal immunities Sirs is a prime example-battle •econtary

DICKOUN

lo retam control over encu rall up pickets to the danger of civil and lle. they action for damages. ready individual moderate This far from tender mercies of British Clas "justice" The logic enough to Prior. opponents are material forces. economic plight of British capit- desperate that would delfberately provoke The organiser working inflicting the way to an jobs, righis g Cabinet maioritv week opposed to such a gamble: out as long as the Tories remain in once trace union nais wai under "hawks" and "doves" alike.

Cabinet "hawk" Howe Published by Folrose Ltd for

SOCIALIST

preg- is opposed by all adults, and child- wollicis opponents have moved amendments and full aspect of the plainly not only

MPS

CaSE would fall, Socialist Press has argued Act that next week's elections in Zimbabwe are nothing more the labour 31021 maintains the than a trap. resolutions, Mugabe Header lobbies-to and

ZAPU'S

Joshua Nkomo piece oregis have led their followers into this trap, which threatens taken by up not on these traitors but on the and Labour leaders people they have betrayed al. ecarestric In the last week the imperial.

cuts which offensive against Mugabe's provision of tree Governol declared his readiness to disen- franchise whole areas of Mugabe supporters it ne seems kely lo the election; one of the -McGahey present sharpen- know Some 4,000 steelworkers joined other trade unionists It a sualt us coull on a vigorous demonstration through Motherwell last Saturday, to a rally in the Civic Centre addressed by same bureau Bill Sirs and Mick McGahey.

Delegations strikers from Yorkshire and come wer orove contingent of Welsh and willing to abandon militants allu little "20%!" chants and "Thatcher Out!" But there was no call from of this is clear member But his Tory Communist Mon itTory for action to «riven down government- From the dire was seancely mentoned in his tub-thumping speech.

Promising pickets to aid the measures-measures steelworkers' drew response ware winet pledged: of the surencer "Make the request: well be class, in the hopes. of there!' more on Bill Dis locussed the role of the Tories angrily all-out war on declaring that the had touch cactly not explaining their options, the been wane out lost how Tories had come the make such an assessment the Yet he did refer to sacrifice of 167,000 jobs in the attack-from both industry over the last ten years.

do not nezessarily represent he views of the Workers societist Leue Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Security forces caught red handed!

ZIMBABWE

ELECTION

FRAUD.

leading candidates Enos Knala full has already been prevented from ation" by ters ot other that he election. AN??, meet • querrea in the Chindzi area have been the orders of Mugabe himself banned; on Mugabe's several attempts was life; and leading supporters of his have been killed. fore, when tridl ZANUIPF) rents on the campaign against • Killee when by imperialist Governor Soames security that this which organisation has some marked with responsole forene overviel slogans-was their ow?! ing majority of ceasefire viola.

tions which have occurred since a Methodist ine cication began later Thẹ capitalist press has been hours 'We'll be there!' Chapel

SUOUTO

connected

SCOUTILY

credit them. "Violations" "We have given up enough jobs" This would , he added. other alleged many The Tories trying violations" grind the trade union movement The am bertalst and into the dust. he warned.

Mugabe's ZANU(PF) forces.

steelworkers are now forefront of the struggle against the Tory government.

ZANU(PF),

Tsune rac That worker. have taken he year to struggle despite grovelling put in by Sirs anu collaboration

ISTC

and that now so alarms the bureau- cracy in the steel unions and the wider labour movement. determined fund. McGahey Anvil Printers Mugabe at mass rally on his return to Zimbabwe Rhodesian soldier of allegations of "intimid ZANU(PF) of suppor- • parties and claim:

WIDO

have stayed in the bush are there or Muzorewa particularly emear. assing for the authorities, there- tne assembly camps and relusing announced to come is are no disguising.

bombers There major isquiet . Their the ranks of LANdiPF) over the last week were in fact members ceasefire decision. forces and the It is the weakness of Mugabe in thi tace ot this oppositiol pro-Mugabe than which makes him a less useful option for. : imperialism nev were kureo in tront or Presiden mission and two Zimbabwe. went off bombs More to offer oiner barts or tne same cirv—a a Prebyterian Church and at a mainly white corttrol members, representative. ano as such has more to orrer- hence the increasing number of statements in his support.

But this is not to say thai Mugabe poses a threat to imper- intencino to din. ine dame on nationalist forces in order to dis- ialism. Indeed his involvement Tne ceasetire and election preparations have played in disorienting and gad. 'easeare politically disarming his suppor- ters. attributed They are now suffering the oress consecuences-reoression increasingly The elctions obviously what become more particularly those Socialist Press said trom beginning-a dangerous fraud.

remaining outsid

FUND

£296.40 is the sum we have to raise in the next nine days if we are to raise the Socialist Press February Monthly Fund total of £750. It's a large sum to raise and requires a response by readers and supporters of the paper if we are to make that target on time.

At the same time, the f3,000 Special Fund has slowed to a trickle, with the total at present standing at £716.15 We want to raise half of this fund by Easter which is only six or seven weeks away now.

So again, a big response is called for to raise the almost €800 which remains outstanding on the first half of that • All donations for either fund should be sent to: Socialist Press BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX