Socialist Press no. 189

BL convenors must call strike on pay.

I-day protests won't

PRESS

BL Friday this Radford plant in Coven- try to make a decision on the annual wage review. After four and vacillation, ballot in which BL workers voted by a large majority to oejet manh ime e oy .WItn strings, they are to decide Edwardes. Tens of thousands of workers from all over the country will march in protest at Tory policies this weekend. The huge demonstrations will reflect mounting anger at the end- less barrage of public spending cuts, anti-union laws, runa- way price increases, closures, sackings, speed-up and attacks on benefits and basic rights unleashed by the Thatcher government in the nine months since they were elected....

But even as they march behind their trade union banners many workers, will be wondering about the next step in the fight. Bitter experience has time and again proven that alone-nowever impressive ana representauve or tae workug cass- •inot deet covenmmens And the Fory government has not embarked upon its savage policies by accident or mistake.

Everyone of their on the working class has one aim in allacks view• o weaken and alvide te orgarised Jabour movement and to increase the rate of exploitation of workers throughout industry in order to raise the profits of private employers and bankers.

Mounting evidence oi a runaway recesoaNe oosy that the course is set for 2 million unemployed and that production this year will actually fall comes as no precisely through such measures that they romaoe sacuons or bavare HOUSt making ons stion as f ha tiost odi ce-in ord er as the Post Office bonanza ior the strongest elements of the capitalist class ine controntaton now taking place industry is so crucial for the working the thousand axed with the seen. jobs colaboration UNO IederS Iecogaise unal uness a stana 1s taken now tney lace a further 50,000 sackings combined with a massive cut in real wages and a wholesale attack on hard-won working conditions.

An unprecedented wave of revolt from the ranks forced the steel union leaders to take a stand on wages-while trying to keep the jobs issue separate. The steelworkers have now been out in the forefront of the fight to defeat national strike offers the perfect rallying point for joint action by the millions of public sector and other workers seeking a means of defending jobs, wages and services.

UNION LEADERS

Yet what have the union leaders done? NUM and NUR leaders- whose face mass sackings through steel closures-nave

H1CHOCIS

TUC General Secretary joined with Len struggle for General Strike action against the steel closures in Wales, and the calls for such action to be extended nationwide.

Leaders of unions in British Levland have stalled for over three month onrials path o nece, ard trise aeronin aie pheir sultir, 5%-with-strings elsewhere renoes Thatcher's axe crunches into vital services, mobilise strike action alongside the steelworkers.

new anti-union bill, with its far-reaching moves Even the Tories' rights and alanst une. Cosce sho•

HICKOLO

have failed to stir the slightest fight from the TUC leaders: instead they have. merely voted not to accept money to run postal ballots- wsc luc law is basscu: But the Tories are not invincible. Determined strike action by other sections alongside the steelworkers could defeat this govern- ment and force it from office. Such a fight would also create con- «HOH OT OTKeTS O Take on ana cercal tne igal wing saboul eaders whose anti-working class policies allowed Thatcher in in the first place. The fight could be pressed home for a genuine workers «cen os ane cervicer Callaghan knows this: that is why he is opposed to any such Murray and his fellow bureaucrats know it too: that is why

ARIATO TANO1 O DAANL AR SCAAT AAT AMI

weekend and one which they hope to confine to a "lunchtime" in two months' time! But given a lead, workers are prepared to fight this government.

In each delegates from trade union and labour movement alvd DOCt: steps now to form ocai councus of acron, to support the steelworkers and take forward the fight for General Strike action to bring down the Tories. And those trade union and bdbou leaderș who oppose suca angat must de romoved

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 189 * 5 March 1980 * 20p convenors meet what action to take. The Negotiating Joint at the Committee make a are to ecoendHd c crucial they venors-but are not rèvealing beforehand what that recommendation is to be. of months secret But it seems likely they Edwardes mend nodction. laid watereed 15,000 workers in various pages plants precisely GiRue that the leadership of the mass demonstrations Tories: it is hope to torce the least o une wan coce cowmmos and sell off profitable to provide a profits in the steel class. Steelworkers, who have

LICL

•Muray to sabolage ine public without attempting to worKes cnocady acuo -onc on d :B Tindons remiicalral et politically defending the "viability" of rest with 0 gIO. vulggra eto chine oie the meeting will have repercus.

sions far beyond BL itself bership. steelworkers strike locked battle the with they have Tories in which would break that become increasingly isolated. struggle against *If the JNC refuse to government. beat Tories

GENERAL

STRIKE

NOW!

NOT SO FAST-

YOU'LL GET YOUR CHANCE

WHEN HES FINISHED!

Fighting for a General Strike Pages 8 & 9 TUC knifes Ireland conference ... p.4 Terry Eagleton on Sartre. .

...pp.6-7 Steel .p.ll give a lead or recommend A united strike would be no action the decision will a major step towards build.

the ing a general strike to bring convenors. They must reject the vacill- aown te loncs ation of the JNC and vote If the BL convenors vote for no action or for partial for strike action in line with the mandate from the mem- action the Tories will be greatly strengthened. 'The Leyland Action 100,000 workers in Bt Cars Committee is calling for a of the lobby isolation COIaIOr conference and are calling and open a new phase in the steel workers to join them Tory the in that lobby.

FIGHT

MINERS

THE CUTS

Mass resistance to Soviet invaders NATO forces put onto Stalinist The Soviet bureaucracy has received a body-blow from the mass strikes and protest actions which took place last week in Kabul. masses ot the bourgeoisie and working class of Kabul showed themselves to be a mos1 mnanmol unconvin ced by the Soviet bureaucracy's self-proclaimed defence oi the nabora materests or arenamstan against reactionary forces.

To the contrary, they are showing glowile maltanl nostilty to tne actions or tne soviet almy The Moscow bureaucracy has been forced Lo dullel buc intensy T01s oDpocition. desperately but unconvincingly blame it all on "terror- trying to ists and bandits" pala oy ine CIA or China or Pakistan.

To believe that last week in Kabul it would necessary to accen tat mosi orme Dobud tion were imperialist agents.

Imperialist agents There is no doubt imperial- Socialist Press has condem- followed was ov une Ist agents or all kinas are active ned growth of the demonstrations Sovie alvasioll Aighaiban: but Kabul, and throughout unti! hundreds Afganistan

ITOM

tne ouTset. it is not neces- Bormard analysing the involved. And the Suite also Sal y UstoYel wl polianse have Oi Ve snooKeeves was toled agents To ino tne. sources Kablh, the majority of workers in of thé account alici cicels opposition to the Kremlin's government. any wunarawal of soviet troop: tanks. in the face of a mounting imper- employees. The repressive policies of the guerrilla For its ialist backed struggle reachonan Moscow Stalinists. and their this Tnetoric by extreme ngut wing lorces Kabul puppet goverpment expresey ne • striving of The only likely . outcome would be consolidation of a create tral oocosiion every day petty bourgeois alle on a growing scale. proletarian masses of Kabul for

VICIUS

It is not'a communist oi a democratic and which would perpetuate oppres- *Thett basic Its opposition. proletarian-led material interests to which they șion and exploitation in Afghan- most comeren secuor is crear rightly see the Stalinist bureau- from which *stali, vaillas. animated by: profoundly reac- cracy as being totally hostile.

point, tne cia coula ana would tionary Islamic ideas. seek foster interventions across the border into the Soviet dus easets CaT IOr Against repression War" against Soviet imperialism, UnIon ILsell.

IU DES

The shouted Trotskyists side whipping up the Muslim pooples with the of Soviet Central Asia into anti- wow is cal. masses against the Ical wilaly And . the tact that soviet TeOreSSIOn tne ve carst dur uspies tanks and helicopter bureaucracy, Ts ot tais reaso mial we fire on unarmed. crowds within the mass move- do not join the clamour tor *oe cal instala ispon Kallie communusi anu they fight ilcll "the Afghan revolution" inev.

the and call gramerne democratic #Islvau itably fuels such reactionary transitional demands. which can Afghan workers and beasanti ideas within the win workers, peasants to organise their. own and oppositon mittees and soviets figh1 ur Daln DelTy •ouTeeo se Iron But revolutionarles must see reactionary, religious misleader- aconesiut Ine Kussial trOOD. behind the verbal clothing in ship. against the right wing guerrilla which the the uppusi lul covered. sovier occiDacicn In "fact Radio Kabul speaks, like the opposition, in the name o sain. Good Moslems "We are good Mosiems", the war footing declared last Stalinist radio 'We are not against thi wetK. masses". can hardly be The masses blamed for finding this hard to Deneve The first mass demonstra- The of war-mongering In an attempt to rival the the Soviet Union tions against military presence of the Soviet the imperialists is not just anu a stnke or tne pelty boul- sabre-rattling vurcaucracy -m Luno old ecu geois shopkeepers of the bazaar empty, pied Eritrea and South Yemen were reacted to by Soviét The imperialist threats. at the mouth of the Red Sea, leaders and NATO generals aulnoitCs the US imperialists looking arrests (500 accor- nonarecs or have launched a concerted телет aces ae r smal to orfidal figures ins udins Djibouti Cy Repupi ot their small children). campaign put Aden military forces on a war Tonowed ShOOTIOC Lie hials alla tac 1ssalst1lkicl demonstrators, which reported- footing. pendent but stil a va ssal of te- a renen colonv. now ly left 300 dead and thousands and US fleet BrITISN move- wounded 'rench state). ments in the Indian Ocean have The declaration of martial taken place at the same time as law on Friday February 22 did Baltic Sea not control the situation.

Bitelso apuliall acuvil among the pro-imperialist states But the imperialists have not on its shores. Beyond stopped short with threats direc- deals with ted agairıst 'Islamic Illitary actatorsao ol of the Middle East, and General Zia in Pakistan, the US states Soviet Union beyond them now propose Tne NATO has surged forward with trade SI0U 'aid' renewed towards exchange for military facilities

YUUL

Sea in Kenya, Somalia and Oman.

and BalTIO HOFM-West frontier of the Soviet Union.

capitalist Increase aid sidulasuiy orescrycs ils uculid Vance's visit- (preferring to approach war receni 1TV Western Europe has on the highly profitable basis of resulted in rements from the bellig- supplying to other arms French and West German imper erents), both Denmark and Nor- way have been members Husts in barucuar uat unev wul greatly increase their

NATO

ince 1949. (Socialist three states as well as wrongly. referred press to 'neutral' Norway"-apologies, rakslai alu lulkcy. wule tucy consider deployment of military Ed Yet both these states Karmal forces in the air. are CIA-backed Afghan rightist rebels bands, and for the complete

DIPI ENTAL TO HOMPIIGOIOYA

nolomes ame Drivate enteronse without compensation the control of elected -commit- LeEs At tne came time it' is nece.

sary demand full political including rights the right frec assemnor and SOCCeI both the anti-imperialist Afghan Red Army soldiers. programme of agitatior should be taken up among the Red Army rank and file-many oi whom come themselves trom Soviet Central Asia-to press for maximum links with the Afghan hlasses. lolllalil soldiers committees and soviets; and the election of officers.

Such an appeal could begin tne moblisencu Army resistance to the counter- their bureaucratic from leaders • ane . commarders. ane to the support of rank and file soldiers fight the for political revolution in the Soviet Union. of NATO with the HemocEs specific agreement that atomic weapons foreign military bases would be allowec on their territory in peace-time fears of encirclement now move. nave been announced to provide new and facilities modern other

NATO

powers-doove air-borne strike Tach!ale across the Soviet border-while a major NATO exercise is taking SuNIu IecUls ol nortnern Norwav The Soviet bureaucracy has responded these threatening developments with aldil arlu anger tnat nas causea conster the Finnish bour which has successfully struggled second Sn CE imperialist world war maintain detente with its power- castel nc noour. degenerated workers' state.

Vigorous statements Finnish neutrality and concern have found little echo amongst oune ocanumavlal securons the bourgeoisie. The govern- 'ment in Iceland has specificalls stated that it will not lake all) action to close the NATO base at Keflavik, despite the floods Trotskyists defend the USSR against imperialism.

• BuT as the in Afganistan events make every day more clear, the olalns ourcaucracv—a being an adequate defender of the property Soviet its policy perl DV

OI DIOOOY

repression. That is why today the tasks of fighting for democratic right.

.and the material needs of the Afganistan and the masses in acrend relations from The imperialism are both inseparable U1l1) bul arals from the task of political revol- ution to overthrow the Stalinist Moscow bureauçracies and everywnere eise wnere tney rule It is possible to agree : with the letter if not the spirit, of •Radio Moscow's nouncements of the week: Phe most reactionary forces in the joined in a campaign against the Aighan peopie One forces ThOSG Moscow Stalinism itself. But there was : evidence last week rae soviet Dured oa cy an roty no onro ned its inability to control the Alenan oo bic clearly Kreznner his statements to open the door at least gingerly to Carrington's • OrODosaI 10] apreco carve up ("guaranteed neutrality") of Afganistan between Moscow and the imper alsts. Under such a scheme thes Moscow's troops mus could withdraw unonenned retrea Delore uncontrollable mass movement but as part of a new reactionary Derweet SEanSu anne imperialism to divide the world and i trample on the democratic menis ana malena micrests o.

the oppressed masses. Such a deal is still only on the horizon and it is undoubt- towards' a renewal of full scale cold ! war have received a massive ost dl cl tast two monus decoute ine war moves both Washington and Moscow public continue to declare • er oener m acicie Pakistan's General Zia of rhetoric from one coalition partner-the Stalinist 'People's Alliance' part, the Danish

T OT

Tnei Social-Democrats, their have minority government Huciey srolescu arallse ucicas ing "defence' spenaing in rea Their arguments are not principle, wulse vasar out on tne ponuca annculty ol boosting military spending when they about impose further cuts in social services Guerrillas capture Colombia embassy Last week's capture of the Dominican embassy, together with the US envoy and diplomats of essel the M-19 standing, by guerrillas has greatly upset the Colombian regime of President Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala ns snar oecause tne influx of the press corps has begun to yield reports that give ołomnbid .

MUCI

'parlamentary demo vaunted cracy" and reflect the escalat- class conflict this wortant DOUEn Amenicar state. Between 1975 and 1978 real wages declined by 22% and, official statistics accorolne (n milons ot thed only 4% (7 millions) received only of national income--leaving 56% Tor tne orner 1977 saw the first nationa Strike in Colombia's history anc estab isnmer Tne National Trade Union Confeder ation

(CNS

uniting the four major woales Dut mas ober continual repressed and the working clas organisationally very weak The M-19 guerrillas do not however, come from the prolét.

aria1 The group is largely com- cose• oi oisencante mem oers of Colombia's rapidly expanding profesional middle class M-19 is an odd amalgam of dissident Conservative and Com munist Party members formed in 1974 Scores of its militants were captured last year, and M-19 I now bargaining for the release of their comrades 60,000 GUT In people passed through Colombia's jails with the govern.

ment admitting to at least 4.000 oo itica or.soners It is clear that only organised mass action on the pari of the workine class can nat tne con solidation Colombia's 'Con stitutional Dictatorship'.

This difficulty has highligh- ted the long-term planning 01 the latest NATO manoeúvres.

was in 1978 that the imperialists 'defence' aricci Hici bast spending by in real terms annually, but it is only now that having Hicasuic Visiore impact, wmien is empna sised by their anti-Soviet tub- thumping wake of the the masloni ol Alenaluslal .imperialist strategy ratowards directed clearly maintaining military threal against the Soviet Union and th deformed workers states Its cannot be and the fight to defend ignored, the Soviet Union against imper.

alist attack must be taken up by workers in all capitalist state uchlaniu wililuiawd LIOl unilateral disarma- NAIU and ment. Last' week's rehabilita- tion of Liu Shaoqi-the "capitalist once-reviled roader" former state presi- dent-and the unleashing of new wave "Vert" marus es purges against the important step the consolidation of power Stalinist Deng right Xiaoping.

TITO: THE STALINIST WHO

"BROKE' WITH STALIN

SOCIALIST PRESS, W'ednesday 5 March 1980 Tito was undoubtedly a major figure in world Stalin- ism-one whose develop- ment was in some ways the role he His life and the Yugoslav Com- played mumst rarty "ICr) ana also had Iugoslav TevO UtI0N | an impact the Trotskyist revisions Wholesale which still survive to Marxism, this day in the fractured remains the post-war Inter- V 1 U uilil naulonal.. were orgmany basea on Tito and the YCP's apparent break from Stalinism and lead a successiul revolution.

Peasant family These events, and the super- ficially plausible 'ex planation ol them ov rorces witsmm Trotskyist movement who aban- doned its basic principles, called theoretical development Irom tnose iroiskyısts wno con• Tito with Churchill and Eden tinued to uphold the view d nehqiveca o Stalinism the other bute sae) e states) entirely keeping reactionarv role that Stalinism playssip Broz Tao came from a Josip Broz Tito poor family-a pround whict which worked to aparatis or talm scon in the advantage

SUSDCO

anyone oi micole cass or inte lectual origins. the Communist join after Party 1920, from the Soviet Union where he had experienced the 1917 revol- prisone war. From the mid-1930s, Tito with Kreznney Comintern agent, Worke• as a bud YOP, theo was ini to army based entirely unite all the national forces. The Popular Frontist allidass was total leaders of this movement always alliance- "The Yugoslav nation' of Stalin's osartay a result 1 acel cae ol ure noer? purges, ra tind the disasoi us police tirbao s ascist iny dera the tion of the country from —unitea against tne loreign Nazi and the invader. repression For all this later display of wta cis

OUICI

micless or barcicura Period". political and social groups and

DATOTISH

of the YCP to the Nazi invasion classes... April 1941 had fact been Pro-Moscow we must emphasis more blatantly CYCIl LIcacllc once поте на н ous. the Movement National Until 1948, Tito was loyally Because of the Stalin-Hitler Liberation of Yugoslavia have pro-Moscow, the

YCP

completely non-aggression pact, single import- perore trem One committed to the USSk as the

WCIC

Ovuzcu lu alsuc dRalllsl ant ame aaainst tie occipiers an eder lace deand T~ ConIr- o caicm any uprising agalst tne werman It is important to stress this occupation. federative cratic Yugoslavia, because of the revisionist Fortunately point them, this

TOT

anlu mao d theories that portrav lito as a our enemies accúse us-the aim valt Was DIOKCH WO IonuLs revolutionary of later when Germany invaded the of introducing Communism."

polcill Stalin.

USSR

The reacuonaly dlcullclll The cross-class character of Tito was always a tirm advo- interests Tha1 ine Tine netest" of thbe pur abe elas cate ot the ronular aront. the Ine arm movemen ao er Comintern from the political wing the National strategy working class interest Liberation Committee mid-1930s onwards. was made wu De lamar o aone wc comes into conflict with reform- HIs ovaty to tnis counter- •am m numerous acciarauons.

revolutionary policy was partic- Take this one for example: ist Stalinist and bureaucrats ularly evident during the war, National "The LiDeralon today. Movement .. . endeavoured to Much has been made of the wnen ne oult wo a nuce rartsan TILC International Summer School Eight days of classes and discussion on basic questions of Marxism and the fight to reconstruct the Fourth International.

Sunday July 20-Sunday July 27 e Summer School will be attended by delegations from 1 organisations afiliated to the Trotskyist ternational Liais Committee, and is open to WSL members and supporters.

More details available from: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX disagreements that Tito had with during war Ene period. It is true that Stalin and his immedlate cronies wanted litc Partisans even ana ine further with the Popular Front 500 guns In particular, they wanted WoltV oerween mue rarusaus alu the Cetniks, the so-called resis- tance army of the exiled bour- Tito obediently made efforts link up numerous with the Cetniks and was very keen to follow Stalin' instruc- At one he point 500 guns to their leader, Draza Minallovic, as a gesture oi good will The problem he faced, which the Soviet bureaucracy couldn t fully comprehend, was une hostility that the Cetniks dis- played towards the YCP of Was Mihailo vic, in ine emigre covermment con sess od theo deniais or Com- their denials

DOUNISI

ans-as gicale. enemy than the Nazis! Civil War They therefore collaborated witn the Nazis and the quisling Yugoslav government against the Partisans The guns Tito sent to Mihail- were turned against the ovIc Partisans and the "national liberation" struggle became, des pite the stalinists enorts, a civu war. The actual process of trans- forming "uRoSavl

IILO

deformed workers' state far from being a "revolution led by non-Stalinist the forces Pabloites of the claim fact, based on demobil- was, in ising the working class and resurrecime une dovrgeois state forms which had been under- the establishment o mined by „LIDeranoI commuttees throughout the country This process is described and The Therry oW Shucttras analysed Wohlforth's essay Assimilation. The period reconstruction of the bourgeois sidlc oca ul. Willl Dal and the emigre between 11o bourgeois government, was shorter much than . other the ounle. contines wnere process was similar. The overturn of property rearons Was carted oul muci more quickly than Stalin was happy -.but it was carried abov under the Iron VUl conroi or tre stalast leaders in the way that Stalin wanted throughout the buffer zone 1948 split 1 1C subscu ucn petween a tne y ugos a and the USSR is often evidence that cited as further

SHITO

war not aa dat aa already become a revolutionary.

In fact, it was an expression the national oressure: which continually threaten the superficially monolithic Stalinist nock "theory" Once the of country" "socialism one several countres sinteresas ur national! the particular interests of cracies are bound to come into conflict. The extent to which that conflict breaks out into

SOUL

oculance

LIIC

authority of the USSR, depends on the economic, , political and, utrilalcly. maryl cssurc rival national bureaucracy can brin tos TCP had a Tito's strong inaepenaent base u was this which enabled him remain in power in defiance c he Soviet Unio The success of the Partisar movement and the early consol- idation of the YCP's state powe huil Vast control. The regime was also popular -it was seen as the liberator of the counte

IIOI

domination and fascism. Whatever the bureaucratic stifling of democracy that took place in ine lyqus ana 193Us.

this was minimal compared with the state repression of the war pre-war vears ane monarchy. Mass mobilisations played no part in the overturn of property re atons. * 0 z d méc ation after 1948 was useful as military inter- protection against the Soviet bureau venton cra the development oe 194% since Cotnaalsll would require a separate artici to be fully analysed The Yugoslav bureaucracy forced WOlt CuLCIse une defects "socialism' the

USSR,

order to rationalise Page 3 Tito signing 'Treaty of Friendship' with Stalin in 1945 and counter the Kremlin's virulent attacks made on them- selves Yugoslavia, however, from 1948 onwards has increasingii corecto relc ard. Thin has alists for economic aid. the gradual factor in ld ul abandonment or planning economic controls and the of introduction foreign capitanst Investment The results are to be seen in raging and

COTONO

agravated balance py ments deficits debt charges intervennoi capitalists into this socialised economy is an important part of santes the property relations through out the Eastern European bloc Tito uilchiatwunally. as a grand cherished role an in tic c which fulfilled the establish- was ment or une non anonea move ment. course, the whole concept of 'non-alignment' is : utopian dream, and the develop- this "Third World' movement has contirmed that it independentiy Canno t nover between two systems of imperialism and Stalinism Under Castro's leadershio i hovers towards Stalinism while Tito's influence it accom- odated with imperialism une verv act „ał cois move ment contains such clearly aligned countries as Singapore is all cs press ul ol tae Dararuplc or une waoe roeci Tito leaves behind a country in dire economic straits, whose oi capitalist intlu murouucLIon ence is reaching new depths wth the conclusion of new deal with the bEU ine tensions oi nationalisn in this federal state could be major contribution to instability i me monuos ater o s na departure. of both eyes the imperialist and the Stalinist worlds are fixed on Yugoslavi- because of the uncertainty its future after the surrounding ucall dominated its history for nearly 40 years. development which both most want to avoid is anv mobilisation the working class and peasantry independent • оите cacy. ate. ara and the imperialists

TUC MOVES IN TO

KNIFE IRELAND

Page 4 A blunt threat to dis- Trades affiliate Tameside Council from the

TUC

forced the cancellation last of a labour move. Saturday ment conference on Ireland.

Fury over The

TUC

smtervention terrorist represents a bitter blow against crucial conducting invite

LIOS

struggle to take ine issue orle land into the British trade union Reds behind conference Tameside 1 ne had been witch-hunted in. Tne and national press for local severa days. Forged This began with a Daily Mail article claiming tal entative of the Army-the organisa- Liuclaljul tion that claimed responsibulty for the execution AuCy Neave-would be present. promptly this

DUE

was denied by Trades Council Secre- David Hailsworth. tary He claimed that leaflets referring to INLA had been forged bi The the National Front. One of the speakers, he said the Irish Repub would be from …ican sochilst rarly Meanwhile in the House of Thatcher made Commons "deploring" fact statemenl that the conterence was lakis place. Tameside's Labour-con- stepped council then into the affair, and banned ine the hall which conference from had been booked, and from all council property. The organisers refused to and announced that capitulate. the conference woud to antau at an alternative location.

The AUEW hall was booked: Council officers only to be withdrawn as a result of a meeting of the local District ulated another called off. Committee. Throughout alternative hail was found Front, National It was inen inal the come- received the final blow. TUC officials phoned the Trades even encouraged by had mistrucecu against the conference. them to cancel the conference face disaffiliation from the A nO OCal far from

OIS.

1Uc. blow the pro- polin order to involve asi + of policies imperialist Labour's right wing on Ire- land was struck last week- work of inic subcommute end with an overwhelming vote at the Party's London tal conference for the Region month). affiliated organisations following resolution: calls *This Annual Meeting on the PLP to commit itself to a policy on Northern Ireland.

withdrawal policy Annual Meet Northern Ireland. from able party "bipartisan" sterile

DOSCUEC

request. in fact not led to a which has political Northern Ireland. Furthermore, The motion, the decision of the welcome up a special sub- London

LOOD

CONFERENCE

Ulster talk-in banned

BUT IT WILL GO ON BEE

AT A SECRET SPOT'

We set up meeting not for the goes ahead... bid say Red- to bar Fror terrorists, terror talk' National Front to march in protest Irish talks now at secret venue

TYRE & EXHAUST

DISCOUNT

CENTRE

MOST MA DISCOTYRES

movement against the labour faced with this threat and a Front, approached the reaction hostile press, most of the Trades Manchester chief wrongly capit- James Anderson, asking for the and the conterence was march to be banned. has estab- the week ine - Will lished a reputation for his huge its activities and protection of previous reported predictably marches une uress. fascist rejected this request. for march council- organising the ence to an open were laken London Labour calls for withdrawal seconded mittee and review party Hackney and Stoke Newington was carried by 1012 votes

CLP

order to involve as many party members as possible in the to 101 on a card vote. Though falling considerably short of an explicit call for the call on the NEC to ensure that: immediate withdrawal of British 1) The sub-committee meets and right troops the Sel Icast determination for the Irish commitment to invites CLPs and Deose. to sub- pil counti withdrawal from the counties will be resisted by mit evidence and views on party the Callaghan-Healey leadership views sumall sd re mene avand , support 1o1 made avail. resolution shows however Lial the rank and file of the labour members movement is far from convinced of the right wing case. Far from convinced moved by th Political Com By Socialist Press reporter Rally can go ahead Urgent talks on 'terror' As Irish Rally march Front meeting insists Ulster Extra police on duty for NF march vins an ind cap air meeting in Ashton and ine situation explained to them.

speakers Some of the scheduled to address the confer- ence spoke briefly to the 70- strotradest Council Trades Treasurer Ellicott said that he had Bert not been informed of the special meeting that had finally called off the conference: he favoured it going ahead. alled of a hear pied is beer "It In the he declared where Plant included other SpeaKer. representatives of the RCI and distributed on the morning the IRS In SWP speaker, or behalf of the Anti Nazi Leagu wille called on inose present 10 g members, implying into the town to confront the had fascist march Alan Thornett said that the ponsible action of the TUC was a heavy 10. of TGWU members." blow against the struggle to take role question successfully Circ Ireland British imperialism in out or tne protest movemen on the irish and into the working class and trade union movement. providing leadership is given.

was typical of Unfortunately He said it the kind of witch-hunt which by the trade union leaders descends on anyone trying take the question of Ireland into *Iney are protest Tne unions Oxford trade unionists had faced attacks from hotn Ine and the trade . right the issue is unt entitle they when union bureaucracy witch-hunt supported had it," stressed Thornett march through the town calling Ireland and Despite for Troops Out o political status for Republican fight prisoners of war. Thousands posters hac movement been distributed by the right of the wing intiting violence against working class them.

SOCIALIST PRESS

Anaerior The fascist march Police hold back anti-fascists Assembly Cowley union bodies and Thornett sponsor deputy convenor, leaflets were Partie national labour movernell conference centring on the role the plant election brist party of British imperialism in Ireland Communist that those Alter the speecnes ine meer moved into the centre of ing supported the Sinn to confront the NF Fein march were somehow res march. "mass execunon were Halfway they there attacked by the NF physically But this witch-hunt had been several anti-fascists were fought. Experience showed that national. chauvin- injured The NF march of about 75 was heavily guarded by police working class could be fought- who looked for any excuse equal number chauvin- Ine anti-fascists who heckled them.

ism starts with and is reinforced anti-fascists n. te eno four were arrester prepared Councils and other against the actions o 1lauo union bodies should pass resol- imperialism in almost any other utions to the TUC condemning part of the world. But as soon as • role of British the threats to Tameside Trades which effectively Council imperialism in Ireland they will amounts to a ban on discussion anyone who raises of British imperialism's war in Ireland setback the Such gag the must go on to hold this moves to must movement and other labour challenged and defied each conferences area by convening local confer- Ireland to bring home the facts ences on Ireland. Irish war to the British

NEC retreat strengthens SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 March 1980 Callaghan

LABOUR

PARTY

Mason in the firing line The extreme right wing approaching 200 full

NUM

Roy the politics of Mason, strength and Labour's former torture ovalzill s llass Dast bear Was Drouent chief in Ireland, have plainly Mason's backers. been an increasing embar- And NUM spokes- assment to Arthur Scargill simply Havt Talked "bringing Mason to heel" and in recent years. denied attempting remove Mason is an NUM sponsored him as local MP, it is clear that MP, whose impregnable Labour and the new political MaSON Scargill's headquarters seat leadership Barnsley are already set on a collision course.

lown ol Darescy. retreat

MOUS

Vulnerable from the fight this to brazen defender British So no matter how left wing and staunch and stance Scargil supporter the Callaghan- Illullan himself might choose to adopt Healey leadership. in the

NUM

and wider labour There is now talk of further morever he foes he is that- that knows by Yorkshire POSsIbe move NUM against the notorious gang

WILCICYC

able to the obvious and embar- of right wing

MPS

in tassing question- what that teed off the yUL doing rid of Butcher solid Labour trade

VOTE

Mason? union sponsorship. Socialist Press and

WSL

-though long have been supporters among overdue-must be welcomed and those w110 Have revealed y socialists correct to mobilise the rank raisea precisely this issue. And finally Scargill has file of the Labour Party and the made i a concerted and struggle against Lorousl mOVO so-called leaders and Ene Mason halls Barnsley represenatives Conspicuously, Scargill has same time it is al unt essential to fight to ensure that manoeuvre but to mobilisation those who replace the right wing of broad support in his prepara- base themselves Consistent last tions 101 Friday's ucience or tne maependent clas.

interests of the working at wnich the right wing were all but obliterated and op all forms of The AGM saw not the usual nationalism and class collabora.

5U or so delegates. but a turnout

LON.

HOTO: Derek Spiers, IFL Scargill Mason By John Lister the bureaucratic machinery of the Labour Party inquiry lumbers into is increasingly achull, that the, right plain wing Callaghan leadership have been able regain the upper hand against a con- divided fused and 'left' wing. Indeed the growing prospect oi an al-our near derween en and right the Labour within Party, and warnings from right wing that they will spitting tne tarty sooner than tolerate a socialist programme democratic memberSI nave brought a retreat nv of NEC members who number have previously voted with the

ICLL

Key among these is shadow Education spokesman Neil on the inquiry whose majority com- Kinnock. motion to the front bench by mission as a whole. the inquiry Callaghan last year can now be is being run in such a way as to swamp very aspect of it work scol as a slewa mastersuoKe vith platoons of hardened righ It is now Kinnock who most ably sturdy defence wingers co-opted from the trade of union and Labour bureaucracy succession right oI Wille fro the Parliamentary the PLP-in DOLICIeS Labour Party. ular a réfusal to pledge Labour ViciouS Tories Notorious education tulswill satisfaction members into believing that this outcome will be matched by pleasure really wants a fight at the

NEC

who decision to scrap plans to inves Kinnock moved to split "entryism" into the last weanesday the and secured the Party's Party agents if and othes, "bankers,

NEC,

industrialists, the defeat the enemies Labour move. HOVe Huckfield onto the Party's ment. followin the Such an investigation would inquiry, enforced obviously have incriminated and resignation of IGWU Deputy General Secretary Alex Kitson.

embarassed dozens of promin The proposal, made including Labour right Heffer, was defeated

COMESE

Healey, whose connections with votes to 9. And though this still leaves nominal left CIA-funded are

PRESS

GANG

The two most potent create. symbols of imperialism are British press did not ane probably a B52 bomber and ignore this incident. Yet Coca Cola. columns, in their appar evaluation In Zimbabwe-where even whether this was a ''free and the name has been chanded to fair election" were concerned protect the guilty-B52s have only with whether Mugabe was been by conspicuous their supporters Interestine the absence. Coke has however beer their puppet Muzorewa. working overtime The elections tor British imper have proved happy losin or or me wire races best state. some of their advertising campaigns have proved expensive flops. ror examole one colden rule when bombing churches and leaving messages from yOul opponents is not to biow your.

self up in the process. Forgotten Another rule is that if you do bion. yourself up you should

SUNI

obliterate the evidence-and in.

criminate your opponents.

Both these SHe Fures were forgotter • oy une security torces which allowed their crack forces recognised the architects of the bombing cam- Pa This has tendency to produce the opposite effect wuzorewe trying

OTTEN

YOU

were

WHO'S NEXT

FOR A

TGWU"

STOP TON

notorious: While abandoning this venture the planned investigation witch-hunt Millan right wing are tendency, the plainly hoping to achieve this urging Underhill 1 publish his notorious and ageing report and other alleged "documents" polite" letter will also be medall groups to mvite tnem to publis details of their aims, , organisa meantime the NEC has yet another about-face on the long drawn out Socialist expel Press suoborter Ted Heslin fron Oxford City Labour Party.

Witch-hunting At its last meeting the NEC voted 15-8 to reject a proposal from Organisation Control of the elections, both the and campaign voting, was firmly in the hands of the white anodesians and their British Tory surrogates.

"Independence" The pres build up of the friendly British bobbies' so incon•ruousv entrance to the polls did a little divert attention from the armed soldiers inside the polls.

" ne calito police volun teers saw _almost 50% of the entire British police force volun- teer for une job. A nigh propor tion of those selected were from the various 'special' forces) With all editorial signals set 'free and fair" the Coca TOr Cola handwashing saga wa. calcury oroken To snow a HEre and to bring neependence sense of suspense into the Ot all the corruption double and intimidation the voting state organised for the election •e une least relevant issue ot the Vermit dest however lend bald and unconvincing narative. Page 5 DY CUToo ' a Confused and divided -Labour lefts Committee to uphold the expul- sion and referred the matter back for reconsideration The Organisation Committee then switched

MOSO -AN

submitted smsappeal proposa proposal that But meantime right wingers in the Oxford CLP were launching frenzied witch-hunt appeals to the ing

NEC,

repor- claiming that Heslin-whe has always declared himself to be a Trotskyist and a supporte of Socialist Press -wab actuall d member of the Workers Socialis 'League. " Deprived It appears to have been on the basis of these fresh aleca initial tions-not raised in the expulsion-that the

NEC

last Wednesday voted once more to • case back to me organ isation committee for them to thinked in Heslin thus remains the Party, to which he was a from his union branch delegate Needless to say such harass ment is reserved exclusively for Colagnan Gadosep while the

MOST

extreme men wineers are allowed to peddle their reaction- • views without Labour Parties should take fight to defenc the right of Ted Heslin and all socialists remain within the Party and to r or for theirs, espions, witchhunts, expulsions, vals or prosciplions Steamroller If this fight is not pressed home perod between and the Conference in now October it seems increasingly that commanon . right wing pressure opportunism will steamroller in a whole battery of measures to restrict still further the limited democracy

• GODOU

desperate attempt rarty preserve the stranglehold of the right wing leadership over ine tank and luc Kinnock

MAKERS OF MODE

Page 6 Sartre

MARXISM

To Jean-Paul Sartre is act in accordance but one's anything probably everyone's own authentic self-to pass identikit picture of responsibility for one's Left intellectual. actions to God, the state, Philosopher, critic, novel- moral or political codes-Is be convicted "bad ist, playwright and political to Ol faith'. Sartre dominated theorist, Hrench intellectua Me I01 Cancelled out decades; two almost single-handedly, he invented a whole philosophical move- But one individual's free- ment-existentialism-which dom tragically cancels. out through Europe in another: human relation- the post-war years. are power i 1960, now. in struggles, each convinced Marxist, Sartre published his Critique of as an object. Dialectical Reason, and Nothingness Being says nothing directly about massive Marxist theory which, what- the crisis of fascism and ever its glaring faults, reveals there can but unclansul. his formidable original- all be no doubt that the tragic ity. vIsion ll projects belongo lo a - disillusioned petty-bour- Experience geois intelligentsia who convert an historical catas Sartre's first political trophe into a metaphysical experience came with the condition. French resistance during the Existentialism was Second World War; but part the philosophical death throes of bourgeoisie- there is little evidence that the making history. he was particularly active, the final collapse its The title 'existentialism' grand rationalism, which signifies a belief in a bee cae exist. be found in his detected order everywhere can ence' rather than 'essence': Wall philosophical the universe, into work man has no given, unalter- Being Nothingness agonised, nauseated vision and able which he essence of the isolated subject adrift (1943), the founding docur be faithful, but

STRUN

ment of existentialism in a purposeless world. engaged in the ceaseless (Sartre's early novel, The philosophy of Being historical project of produc and Nothingness Nausea (1938) is a powerful ing, and transforming, his of this con- unrelievedly tragic. Between dramatisațion dition). human consciousness and It is above all by action the material world inter- that this is achieved: venes fatal gap Progressive features tentialism marks a break nothingness': individuals « With the passive specula- for the self-comple- But existentialism must tions of traditional bour- • also be viewed dialectically.

tion of things, their geois idealism, vehemently freedom lies in their inab- To dismiss it as mere petty- asserting the 'need for man ility to attain it. bourgeois decadence ignores 'define' himself through Man, famous its progressive features-its active engagement with the Sartrian phrase world. illusions, its 'condemned be free' for the scorn This view, developed by absurd, 'human Sartre in Existentialism is a 10 ear meaningless world where he nature', its humanistic belief (1946) still Humanism, the autonomy must assume a crushing res- and radically unhistorical, and ponsibility for all his action.

responsibility.of mankind in so idealist. It remains the dream of action an historically impotent intelligensia, represented. by the protag- onist of Sartre's impressive trilogy of novels Roads to Freedom (1945-49). 'Free. dom' the obsessive theme of all Sartre's work, is still conceived of individualistic- ally: it demands commit- ment, but commitment in an absurd world can only be arbitrary, without rational basis. Heroism It can thus easily degen- erate into a form of roman- academic 11C neroim fantasy of engagement. for Sartre's concern action, however, propelled him out of the study into unholy alliance with 5. Jean-l French resistance forces march 1944 Stalinism Up to 1952 he had been severely critical of the Com- munist Party; the review he Temps Modernes, aimed to a "numanistic leti alternative Stalinist to dogmatism and philistinism, and vitally contributed the development of socialist cultural and intellectual work 1952 In however, appeared the infamous The Communists and Peace, though still keeping which the

PCF

at length arm's managed the impressive feat of apologising for the Nazi- Soviet pact. Justly ing Stalinism historically necessary (even 'this blood- stained monster, Sartre is a form of social- writes, ism), and asserting that the SOCIALIST PRESS. nesters: M: causes of the proletariat and the Soviet Union were 'in- so anked Sartre's political dilemma was the classical one of the petty-bourgeois "left' intel: lectual. Full commitment to •Stalinist discipline was un- thinkable, not least for philosopher treasured individual freedom aDove all, and who saw literature as a supreme affirmation of individual autonomy. Audience But for a writer to write all, he needed an and audience: since thai could no longer be the des- picable bourgeoisie, it mus be the working class. class WorKIng were captivated by Stalin- ism; so the free-wheeling intellectual must embark on his fellow-travelling For their part, of course,

PCF

welcomed the the support, and could occasionally swallow the criticism, of such an appar 'independent'. august Jean-Paul as intelectua Sartre Sartre's courtship of the CP did not materialise in Revolted by the marriage crushing of the Hungarian Sartre upilsilig sharply Stalinism, against even though he had been silent on the 1953 Berlin insurrection and deeply ambiguous on korea Maoism he has In recent years been embroiled in the Maoist fashion flirtations able on the French intellec- tual 'left'; but in an inter- view a few months ago he he announced anal longer considered himself a Marxist.

OCIALIST PRESS, wedresiar 5 March i9sü ist troops in Budapest, 1956 RN Sartre's renegacy is part of a wearily familiar story.

of But the tragedy

LUC

the of an It IS important Theorel- ician except Trotskyism -is merely dis- and "idealism'. Sartre provided

WILD

significant SUllIC its struggle Marxist is directed scelerosed under towards Stalinism, of existentialism,

CHES

individualism is relevant. For practical, all above philos- Concle ophy, 'human abstractions nature' but and situation are in this introductory In volume his to massive Critique Dialectical of Reason, Sartre attempts to August 1945: French Stalinists entered the post-war bourgeois government.

Sartre, is still a brief, pre- carious moment. points of historical From the 1920s to the present day, major con- At crisis, which was tributions to Marxist theory have been made by CaNN • previously 'serialised' (nega- thinkers indifferent or implacably opposed to the tively bound together) can revolutionary heritage of Trotskyism.

become what fused'-positively united by Althusser, From George Lukacs to Louis revolutionary struggle Antonio Gramsci to Jean-Paul Sartre, Karl Korsch But it is a moment only: to Herbert Marcuse, a powerful body of Western that such Marxist' theory has been developed, which has yet freedom will petrify into a to receive full critical assessment by Trotskyists inertia and enslave- new ment. themselves. How are the Stalinist or revisionist politics of Obvious these writers to be weighed against their theoretical contributions to Marxist theory?

Sartre's remaining petty- Terry Eagleton examines the work bourgeois are In this series, tenacick nowhere more obvious than of the theorists named above, as an introduction to in this. a full evaluation of their work.

The endless dialectic of freedom-through-practice and consequent alienation is almost law of nature. concrete The historical aul Sartre causes For mainly ignored dic Sartre, it is just somehow in of the material the world that it gets in your way, frustrates your drive to 'pure' freedom; all of his work rests upon a profound duality between conscious- and matter which is ness bourgeois inherited trom philosophy and is simply unacceptable to Marxism. tentialist la Famille, Moreover, brilliant as the analytic history Lne Critique's analysis of social they remain processes are, ialism, for the most part interper- analysis really, as a sonal processes: the trans- Flaubert's actions between individuals time, in football crowds or at bus- of exploration Flaubert mere movement beloved of bourgeois himself densely stops detailed of his sociology. fiction. Qverlooked This energy synthesis Any They are not analyses of better aneexis fundamentally deter- the fullest example of mining laws and structures tentialism 1s The basic sense of class society. of the two Marxist Sartre, as many humanist', is able to illum- the ways in which inate work, But if Tall individuals act, produce and Critique Dialectical he reality; but transtorm largely overlooks the central 'it can insight that class Marxist in revolu- by laws society operates indepedent of such action phrase, laws which, as Marx pointed • 991 ity, Sartre here of the Sartre on "behind the out,' Paul Valerv French backs' of individuals. It was of practice, this insight, in greatly dis- no aboul ll, individuals torted form, which the so- ectic but not petty bour- 'structuralist' called For Stalin- Marxists of the 1960s tried be needs free to develop; and the rise of their develop- cover about Valery other structuralist Marxism than that of signalled waning Tne is enough bourgeois; Sartre's influence. reduce his Sonne Trotskyist revolution a kind materialist feel can content version alice ot the class with the neither the Marxist and humanism' of a Sartre isolated Georg. Lukacs, or with the subjective no w 'Marxist structuralism' of a Louis Althusser Sartre, endorsing and alien- It rémains to develop a judgement, rich and BOe Marxist theory capital- what is rigorous enough to analyse unique the laws of class society in specijic Valery, to any objective way, yet to an cultural book. and Sartre's •also Incorporaic crucial with the really concern 'expression' of the class ated, be lived experience' of history.

Whatever other value his It is the process it at least work may have, itself, human has the value of alerting'us been practice less than. a that as yet unsolved to three page study problem. Yet freedom, for of the novelse Letter: Lukacs and the party Your series of articles on the 'Founders of Modern Marxism' valuable if WIll prove prompts further Trotskyists on Marxist in the context ot the revo lion action of which they are a part would thi in the hant of . Eagle like to comment on cac ton's article believing important that we arrive at a correct' understanding as a Bolse vis all too few years This understanding is all the more important-and difficult- contradictory because of the have been made that allans on Lukacs We have, for example, ultra- accusing History and leftists Class Consciousness of justifying the Stalinist party, while others notably of late, the (most Stalinists) suggest Althusseriar That rees Luxembour su and voluntarism! This argument is one which Cde. Eagleton, though a Trotskyist, seems to support And while this was undoubt- position until edly and History Class Consciousness two essays, for example, Lenin and other works the early "against, it, stressing the need for a Leninist party. This is a vital counterpart to and Class onsciousness: tory Consciousness: that Tner proletarial, and Olly it, Is a revolutionary class; :the emer gence of proletarian class con- revolutionary sciousness1.c consciousness- mouga recutes conscious Marxist leadership.

The stress on the subjective fight part of Lukacs factor' is against Second internatula orthodoxy which saw socialism through the develop- "laws', and hence menu

OI TOR

Marxism merely that historical Lukals saw laws are social, not natural law: be that by that the revolution has to men and women- Ine workine Class Nonetheless it is not correct to say as Cde. Eagleton doe that One result of Lukacs' ideal the scientific status of Marxism regards Marxism as little more than the expression of evolutionary working class col ciousness. Its value lies not i its objective, cognitive power, i further the historical interests of simply ability the proletariat". Lukacs Certainly sees Marxist theory as the expression Page 7 needs and consciousness of the of the revolutionary class, as the revoltoras countes vall as a tool for action, and not value-free', 'scientific' academi research. Certainly he saw its value as lead the being its ability to working class to revolution But that is surely not ideal- for the ism -it easor WSL, for Socialist Press, and fo Cde. Eagleton's arțicies i is pre precisely Decals 'expression" • of Marxism that it class Ine revolutional: scientilic status'-though has not in the Second Internation- al's sense of 'science' acknowledges this status: he says, example, that hi too cal mate a scie doubt scientific method by comprehend the events of the their true and to grasp Dahl nature. "In contrast to the historical methods of the however. it als US yiew the present historically and hence scientifically so that w beneath penetrate perceive the founder historical forces which in reality control events 'Historical materialism has for the proletariat than that of here ore я мисі method of historical research. 1 is one of the most important of all its weapons." (p. 224).

Comrade Eagleton correctly points out the presence of Hege rather oversimplifies he suggests that matters the

• BOOK

..01 Hegel's 'scheme What Lukacs got from Hegel he was largely inspirea t by got what Marx repeatedly claimed to get from although dialectic. here it that dialectic becomes (for both Marx and Lukacs) materialist rather than idealist. for the stress 021 M which Lukacs placed on the of historical dialectical nature the reality • 21001 allal livd importance of the Marxist dial that History Class ectic, remains important weapon of the prolet- ariat in its struggle for human liberation. development of theory of alienation and reific , for its theoretical under- alon standing of the : of the proletariat and the one origin as a eo it stres stress role of the party, theory and practice, History an Class Consciousness deserves and demands the attention o the Trotskyist movement. Yours fraternaly

LONGO

Lukacs

FIGHTING FOR

Page 8 How can the Tory offen- sive be stopped? This question, arisino time since the Thatcher and again government was elected with a hefty Parliamentary majority May. come right to the has forefront with the development of the steel strike. Tory offensive Embodied in this class battle are so: many runoamentar cues tions: the Tory offensive against living standards; the particular cutbacks in the public sector, their plans to "hive off" profitable state industries; the jobs arising threat to TrOM policies; the moves towards savage new anti-union legislation, enrorest and above all, the crippling crisis of working class leadership as TUC leaders have attempted stage each restrict shackle the fight against these attacks. From the moment Thatcher Workers Was eleceo Socialist: League and Socialist Press have spelled out a general 'No Compromise with 01 - the and hories rresare Bring Down Thatcher' have focussed on the Jono-term necessity to orebare generalised, mass mobilisa. tion of the working class in strike action if this Tory goven.

ment, with its gamut of reat.

repressive policies, tionary and are to be defeated. deep the economic crisis of British capitalism, and drastic are the steps neces sary em pioyes • hope to resolve we nave there is no prospect that token actions or protests - nO matte now sincerely motivated or on how large a deflect this bosses' scale-will government from its course.

Serious campaign Callaghan's But of course driven on by the same galloping crisis of capitalism to the last in its efforts to ram home a tourn o1 wact controls, and further rounds of public spending cuts against a militant working class Even now the Labour leaders are refusing to pledge to restore Tory cuts or immediately repeal anti-working cass ipois ation The answer is not therefore call for the replace- simply • to • another Callaghan-Healey government.

Socialist Press has consistent- ly argued that neither the nor men we or te esc Labour leadership cole offer a socialist programme that requirements of meet the Tne workine cass For this reason we have called for political struggle be waged both in the trade tharaever of the risting fadeat true political ano cene concions for ould-

STRIKE

Toppled by mass action- Heath in 1974

BLIC SERVIES

END LOW

2,000,000 public sector workers stopped work for one day against Callaghan: this did not win their pay demands ing of a revolutionary leader.

once by reformist trade union and Labour leaders-who development In the unions we nave raised such a demands to expose and fought orotound Inreat and position of power and privilege removal of officiais Tor Ene within the labour movement convenors wno start not tron defence of. the jobs and nas Deer living standards of the members slowly and partially recognised however by "Marxist" groups of they are supposea to represen but from the problems and the British Lett 'viability" of employers. On the agenda Labour Party Ano in me we have called upon workers to demand that those 'lefts' Yet as the Welsh TUC- the that profess oppose uncer particularly pressure from steelworkers Carladnan-mearey icader sus mount a serious campaign for and sections miners removal throughout the Labour and trade union move- ot closures ment, ana to lena tnew weign the call for mass action to the bring down the Tories. Issue or mess At the same time we have bring down Tories was to expose. the vacilla foultil. inadequacy of the lefts'; these stand to 1 to back their refusal to launch such a fight; and their lack of any bureaucracy serious alternative programme as to that of Callaghan Bill and a cence and the right wing. But while such policies and pect struggle- appeared to be far ahead of mes times perspectives joined the of dire ¡eve or strucoe ano conscious- was imminent ness in the working class, the steel strike has shown the kind for the

ISTC

call out they concitions members in could become a material factor 'lefts' emerged Labour Cartifi in advancing workers' struggles.

and anti-Tory making Material possibility soeeches-all genera

TO I

From being simply a part of our strategy for combatting the But the forward movement lory government, and as sUCH objective worked • the working class brought towards, the General Strike has immediate for

TUC

bureaucracy in become very clearly a material possibility in for tress, struggle to control the member- We- for this reason ship brought the demand to the fore- After the House of Lords reversed the Denning ruling, Bill of ronT

WOTA

around the steel strike. Sirs war more CoWn D) The possibility of a General executive in his bid to give private steel firms a "stay Strike has been recognised a1

A GENERAL

execution" _ano nis instuction. were ignored by the mass picket that closed down Hadfields.

Craft UniOn were voted down in their efforts to impose a 14%-with-strings sell out settlement: and elsewhere in the public sector GMWU leaders have been rebuffed on pay deals from cerecare. workers; gas workers and ship- yards. Again and again in recent have been weeks • conoltons created orive weet between the membership and leaders, ; and to their reactionary raise within the steel strike the prospect ceneraised 66s. ahus combine the issue of pay hit the dire he 000 combine the issue ThUS threatened jobs, and the fight against the cuts and other Tory attacks Yet in the. midst of this situation other groups on the found themselves tert Have roundering and contused -otter behind the level of steel workers in the course of developed their struggle. Placards such tor instance nas beer with Socialist EnE Cas Workers Party. SWP in a of towns has joined number demonstrations MICs placards calling or а general Seriously thicate in they advocated seriously The nearest the for such come arguing Socialis Worker of Januarv 26. in which (on an inside page) John Deason takes up the warning statements made by Sid Weighell and Bill Sirs: "Instead of one-off, one-day stoppages we could stop the Tories for good if all workers SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesdar 5 March 1980 John Lister looks at the situation in which the Workers Socialist League argues for a General • different attitudes, of Strike, and the very other groups on the left.

ally managed by veteran Stalinist Kevin Halpin, proved no bacte Deason's words, But this brought no

SWP,

who failed to resume Deason's call for a General Strike, even in the wake of the Denning judge ment. Instead the Socialist Worke lead article 2) carefully (reb. call for generalisec avoided any action by other unions now to defy the courts and defend the steel UnIOns • Torie: "ne last time tried to crush the unions in the courts during Heath was early dovarnment seventies. "Five dockers' leaders throvin jail. Mas: strike

CHILL

action treed them "The power to defy Denning lies with the rank and file.

emonasis aocco. school which hearing socials The same attitude which headlined on the TUC's March 9. Sundav demon stration, declaring that: "This, of course won't sto the Tories. But it is etter tha nothing." (SW. Feb. 9) Inside, on page 3, was buried correctly cor short article the 'treachery and actuate And what cowardice or many or our trad struck Todewer leaders" whose better time to do it than NOW directed manoeuvres. were when the steel plants in South cancellation of th Torcing • The shu dowi Yvale. ате March 10 Welsh general strike hunorece or vino dickers are call, and making the valid point blockading the movement of steel?" , the enthusiasm for ‹ Welsh General Strike against the Different time closures and against the Tories is correct state obvious aim-how else can w ment wa WIth shake any Tory government delays Welst

TUC

General but such a generar ourke- whether in across Strike which wales Britain+ has _could of the SWP happened. Deason aftert Socialist Worker ha since shifted its sights to the far needs, to be more distant target of May 14- made to bring the March date forward. We will have to fight and on Februarv 23 the Dape carried a report on a Dundee within our unions to force. our strike shop stewards vote leaders to fight-every inch of the way." action on tnal day, pontig ou even while SWP mem- that: Yet raise this kind of posite

OCT!

were senine • This on the this kind action in streets, , as the head of to raise Defend Our Unions Commi Fee

SWP'S

every other city. т that nancen then the TUC General Council well find a General Strike was involved in mignting Tor completely different line at the Trel nanas Far "stopping January 26 conference called Trom Socialist Tories for good" tne Liaison comme true Worker Defear from arguing for appears Far from arguing the March 10 General Strike to be • other cities for one day!

brought To rwaro Tar TrON Inconsistency arguing against "one-off, one- day stoppages; far from calling A similar inconsistency has Together toke the Tors tor workers

SITIKE

been shown •by the Howeve International Marxist Group and Deason meekly endorsed good their he ir has chays been the CP's appeal to the TUC to

IMG

always call "a one day general stoppage organisation whost ' impres against the anti-union • laws" or sionist method of analysis leaves 14-more three behind them struggling "fuse" monias later!. with movements of the working class "Protest" From such a position, no sincere the inten matter how and : File of IMG And the Mank TiOns memoers must invariably fail to offer a resolution called simply for: "a campaign of protest and political lead workers in struggle astance aramnst Ine new laws The 1000 strong

LCDTU

Thus growing wnile Conference itself, bureaucratic.

currency of the term 'General

Thatcher: wil! only be stopped by general strike action the final paragraph: rubbed off more strike' has for 9 March, but easily on the IMG than on the tronice SWP, they seem unable to work at the TucHed to be shooted demand in particular should be leaders favour whetner Tories" January or simply ton (headlines "halt the Strike call Here the orV oTtensive completely 31, nas clearly actually at this become an moment empty, •emand. clearly down strike to Ine Dill Tory govern- bring down editorial ment been this last way

TOU

negligible. government. True they have against Prior but centralisine movemen nothing Tne entect the TUC leaders previous ine steel strike. added). with Murray Gormley, prove Basnett, steel union leaders, negotia- "logic TOrS

IN OL

worked and main a General Torestall Strike. Any which, like tails to start The appears confusion, unaote of the cuestion Ist. orotest Should General Strike and the call be taken asually in the

SWP

the call TOr tU y , and used to objectives, reter one day token vvorkers consIs be recognised General tently argued Strike: but full designed the Tory 1199 Class government. they WIth claim, develop- would the class enemy: down, The tortured argu- to defend ment this tives of the the the alie probably Live. The continues focus on out the Porios crass lapse as the aim of a

HITO

•rotest • Ine

TOI

the ruling "Only Sunday class of the followed elections and then tues day and factories and streets the and then Friday -and every The week until the offensive inability recognise the consciousness would brought a General Strike that remove etecte. covern Within such fight for duvanice not struggle beaten nack TiNE improved by the of ConTusIon The ability of any future The immeasurably Action itself admits: general once strike i underway, only. particular but is why. Witch ceneral strike working class such time nas dispense with Tne usta - effectively to a long The to argue fo • campai Workers And. call for Strike bring down general election: "But if strike, nowevel tionary or replacing a Callaghanite the strike. The Act" (in "stop The objective Tories it in advance. is yorkers central of not recog- nise tnat Enan boltic a capitalist Tory) coverent with the the the release of course, that 1968 French ended general sinke. might be steel mass there is at the hands the mass ot Workers

LUIS

LItt into a general steel strike Thatcher ano open conditions for up entirely Ine removal anu French Communist Party workers on May Day parade hero has new stepped to Georges Marchais, French Party. of Stalinist politics France, not But of possess, which needed out inis and sional exploit his political own ends. in sideshow the rights launched by in one The sense, venture, more and is away of the crowds. on the unsuspecting by press last Wednesday. ing literature made plain, directly associating Carter's rights crusade. On contrary, Marchais and the Soviet deformed Stales (the countries') human rights. by Page y French CP joins 'human rights' bandwagon Marchais' that themselves 'the and again policies of the

TILS

revounonar, and bloody but that 'human Sometimes pursuing the on includes and bourgeoisie this 'communist' Stalinism conception that the rights the survey organised with emerge ariat. discoverv that has imperialism far Stalinism seeking human more and wacky forces Stalinist (i.e the Iran, and tael compromise the 'historic and in and generals

TISES

coup, they refuse united and •Vlld Cambodia. adjustments turn to support Marchais well bourgeois and his RPP game and the from conscious ignored entirely one altogether Te arenci bureaucracy of oultages mention they the counter- of interests both inside nationally. must look and beyond hands which rights' has been control of must (i.e. bour- allal out the class Political revolution The French Stalinists within merely the imperial- the have found ists' hunting cries when they prate about the abuses of 'human rights' within the Soviet Union We completely COl demn the suppression of Soviet democracy the and repression of opposition by the political dictatorship of the ruling. Stalinist bureau- cracy in the Kremlin but degenerated workers state of the Soviet Union against any and every attack from the imperialists. It is not Helsinki agree- ments that will end that vicious and corrupt dicata- but the struggle torship, that will waged . by • Di • for Trotskyists political revolution to overthrow the Stalinist and bureaucracı restore the dictatorship of full its une prolelanal revolutionary power.

JOIN THE

With workers by the thousand taking to the Tory streets to oppose policies there is plainly no lack of militancy the organised working class. Yet the existing trade union leaders turcaucal. ano cabour -wherner riont jet - nave perspective Lote those prepared fight 5 ares sociai services ano cemo- cratic rights. These car only be defended through Trom ne indecencent interests of the working class, which, international class, nothing.to gain and everythinc ooce tom aremors to restore the profitability of their "own" employing class In a period where the contra.

anarchic cabit. alist system force the wholesale closure and destruction force! produclive

COCICLY

SOCIalIST •lanned economy on a world scale offers To achieve such a perspec. tive ledoersnie which, in today's struggles fights• Please send me more details Workers Socialist of the League. Name Addross.

WSL,

BM Box Sena to: 5277, London WC1V 6XX.

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

ASLEF leaders run from fight Buckton

WSL!

advance WOrKeTS Trace

UNION

militancy orotest politics and illusions that capit.

alism can be abolished through barramen Socialist he worker. a Trotskyist League ment fighting day and day

OUT

Dune such a orincioled leadership in the working class in Britain Internationally. te newiv.ormes Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, which fights for.the of Fourth internationar ano ine ouneino of revolutionary parties in every country lead struggie imperialism and agains bureau: Toe parasitie stalinist cracies the deformed and degenerated workers' states.

vve recoers ou Socialist seek more Prece details of the WSL and to join us in the struggle for

RED YOUTH 19

Monthly paper of the Socialist Youth League Articles include feature Education, Further on Ramones, unionisation of shop workers, NUSS, Punks on the match, steel strike and more. Available, price 15p including postage, from

SYL,

BM Box $277, London WCIV 6XX. Three months ago, when public sector trade unionists arrived to lobby the Tory County Council in Leicestershire over the cuts, cussion of the contract-for only 15 minutes! immediately Wal reminded speaker after speaker that the EC had not past and that stood firm . in the members nao ate conmoence in thee sinaker phe fedare speaker Plans for the reorganisa- that Pullen's verbal condemna pub- tion of productivity tion of British Rail, worthless had alread y lished in the BR document

ASLEI

for agreed UlEC "Into the Eighties", reveal a mem Ders onomo rasor future for the Another speaker referred to need for "strong leadership country's 25,000 footplate the eighties, which we have workers. by no means had in the past".

BR sub- management has There is certainly a willing.

mitted proposals for BR's plans on the ness to the forthcoming negotiations part of ASLEF members. which include single man opera- But what is also clear is that tion of all trains; flexible work- Ray Buckton and co. are incap- ing and the abolition of mileage abie or providing tne necessar.

bonuses. leadership The objectives of Sir Peter Redundancies Parker and the BR Board, driven Enev are The inatene Single man operation, , on its sou meni are so far-reaching own would mean redundancies without hardline resistance Tor guaras ano orver s ass stanes

ASLEF

(firemen). But with the intro- appearing as a union duction flexible working, declaro that ASLEF were alch, speech, tasks formerly the responsibility oi shunters wono de taken wo mn te made unon moverent l by drivers themselves and would urging the TUC to "pull layoffs result among staff ¡chance action called responsibility for the driver.

bonuses, Without mileage

ASLEF

It is time for the for money paid longer leadership pull its finger Lial Journeys, tnere will be a markea out and mobilise strike actior decline in present. wage levels. against BR and the Tories.

BR are not even prepared to Lak abou ware increases unui the rest of its contract demands are met. Any increase woula de con ditional improved produc- tivity- redundancies Bollermakers® 258 and proposals raced with these 220 GMWU members build- the execu- from ing an oil rig at Hunterstoun of

ASLEF

felt compelled of Ayrshire have been suspen- Call Illas ded from work without pay London area members. The attended by by their employers, the over two hundred, was Chicago Bridge Company. assistant ao resse general secretary of the union, The men are receiving no Don Pullen. benefit.

OUL

after a lengthy his- test case on this has now been rulen. torical outline of the past taken up of the restructuring railways The immediate issue at stake the safety arrange- acciarca executive ments-particularly unsafe proposals were totally unaccept- men heights, which they are relusing Aftèr 1½ hours of talk from to use. The other issue raised by the TIne chairman stewards on the site is that ship- opened up the meeting for dis-

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SULLILDIIRES.

2,000 support Leicester lobby their efforts were jeered at striking teachers who had by Council leader Geoffrey travelled up from a mass rally at [although Gibson. local NUT the leadership was On February 27, the same потае bom avence Gibson , hac All told over 120 schools usnereu one-day strike as were hit by the obviousy shaken. nack into n.

palace of glass and rubber plants voted for once with their feet tcallicis In fact, but for a last minute students surged forward to halt ban on picketing by the Execu his prepared i statement to Inde- tve ot the : NU • 12 10 that most of the union's nearly poucal eco 4,000 members in the county wo hundred police were or demonstrators hold back more would nave been oul 2,000 who laid "Paralysis" lo county nar acmanons the abandoning of the cuts and Tory the resignation of the

NUSS

members, however Council leader. succeed did picketing one The doors were barred at 12 school bringing students and noon, over two hours before the out. scheduled time for the counci Yet, despite this massive meetng. ana tne puonc galers lobby the strike and declared 'open" only to failed to stir Leicester Trades ticket holders! Council into action Having held a Conference on responded with chants rebruary 9 which In-Tories Out programme to fight the cuts proceeded to block the under and launched an anti-cuts com ground cal • ратк entrance m at which could ulaw effort to stop councillors from sneaking into the building.

exacly tne sort of spontaneou movements which sprun up around the February 27 strike 120 schools hit Trades Counci appears to afflicted some nave been The bulk of the crowd was strange "paralysis". who had made up u1 varells. No was made to atleme organised two large demonstra- publicise either the programme tions to County Hall from or the committee on the day.

different parts of the City, and The immediate conclusion must De traz une maort orta so-called 'left' executive of the Council having satisfied demagog! ITom selected aDour Mas on y February, and having satisfied

WOMAN WORKER 5

their consciences b the passing A paper of the Workers of a suitably 'left Socialist League nave now proceece to do wia all 'lefts' do when the struggle Available, price 18p (incl actually develops: left it!

postage) from WSL, Despite this retreat. wsI BM Box 5277, London members contmuer Anti-Cuts Com

WCIV 6XX

paign for the in a special Public mittee and Sector' Bulletm issued for thi de carrea de led or hor how programme trade unions and action groups could join The Bulletin also argued out

SAFETY FIGHT-

in the what next steps struggle should be of the occupation teachers sente action a st phe need por a stepping yard workers at Cammell Laird enquiry …abour movement The Bulletin spending. public ana raurtield vovan are aolg construction work for the same also carried an explanation rises are not thi Ancical com Dall al c wnly Tate answer to the cuts. the £2.90 an hour earned by th Mass action men on the site. also pressing for a further f1 une stewaros The task now for public Leicester want at least hour rise-they seclo must be to build action around will the Trades Council Programme similar jobs on sites like Nige Bay and Kishorn and forward demand botn An mborlant sico Council and the Public in this struggle would be the Sector Action Group get off th formation of Joint Shop tence and begin a fight to mobil Stewards Committee embracing ise mass action to defeat the stewards from all the rig-build- Tomay ya win be a major tes sites ing with a common pro. gramme wages and on for both. conditions.

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!!

SOCIALIST

For d £2.00 cleat

PRESS

lead in the £4.00 struzzle agaist £8.00 wago control, cuts £14.00 and radundancies Send cheque/P.O. your to £9.00 Socialist Press, BM Box 5277, £16.00 London WC1V 6XX. £10.00 £18.00

ACT NOW TO STOP

Fords on the warpath Cuts struggles- united A conference this coming trade union fight against the Saturday called the offer Oxfordshire Campaign all portally

LITOUCH

Against the Cuts and spon- programme and coordinated fight. sored by Oxford and Witney Trades Councils offers the

DUL

shown that the chief obstacle to possibilities of developing a struggle united struggle against cuts 10 U host of attacks launched by campagners adopt correct policies the Tory government and determination of right wing and local authorities. The general declaration local and national level to block against The CUtS that nas launched the conference action on such policies. attracted from backing local Dracula

ASTMS,

Saturday's

TASS.

CPSA,

COHSE,

fore, Vike those and TGWU as

NATFHE,

NUT

conferences hospital depend on the extent to which well as student umons. support campaigns and the Save the fight Our Nurseries Campaign. such bureaucrats. Ailu

WOEKSHOD

VISCUSSIOns covering aspects of the political NUPE fights climbdown Trade unionists disgusted at the Labour Group's Camden: decision to back down have responded sharply to the ignominious among Its climbdown on the cuts by cant me umors cam ot borough's Labour. This decision means that Labour council, which is planning Councillors are leaving their low paid to raise rents and rates, and rapidly mounting inflation.

to deprive two-thirds of the This GMC Council workforce the the retreat of the Labour second half of their Clegg the face "comparability" pay award -leaving them far short of Labour Group. ine for stand then a NUPE's claim a £75 minimum wage. wcen over the pared neity wand it The retreat took place in the under Porgy face alleged threat of a 01 an allack. Tory surcharge we call on the Labour Group to overspending. Councillors reconsider its decision and to grant its low paid workers an Lavour mcrease. particular, argue that they "keep their and protects them from inflation.

"right" the Furthermore, this GMC Issue on wilea to contront the l ories.

those Labour wilo under threat of surcharge Refuse to fight are not prepared their commitments on rents and Camden workers But can _culs allu lo be a mately time for se chillove- resign and make way for Coun- "right" time for such coun cillors clors, wno reluse to light what amount to direct wage every worker, council tenant been passed South anu ratesaver m une area

GMO

Holding fire the removed right wing councillors struggle the and Comley Betnal inevitably lead the same coun GMC for culors into extensive cuts in the and pay cuts. services they now claim they This are dedicated to protect.

those Labour leaders who refuse These points were raised last to fight week in a motion to St Pancras interests of the working class North Labour Party GMC from and for full scale motilisation f Camden's, large

NUPE

General resistance to the Tory olens: : Branch, which declared that: flust uc "This GMC is shocked and next period. Chall

AT THE TOP...

I UNION DUES

and cuts should • necessary demands for a experience against the Nine weeks into the National strike-and ally steel recognise and after weeks of bitter clashes -but the as pickets have battled to stop strikebreaking supplies trade union bureaucracy al of steel moving in and out of stockholders and major steel users-London dockers conference there- last week finally decided to of other cuts black steel shipments! elsewhere This is a fair example of the way in successfully which the steel strike ha: taken been let to soldier on without in the trade unions against any serious attempt by union the power tal taey nave to seal ofi scab supplies on a local and a national level After the initial fanfare about international sonualit and trans Irom menworkers unions, the utmost con- port fusion has been allowed LeSter over handling of steel by TGWU and other union members within Britain itself. In some areas lorry drivers have eventually extracted official TGWU instructions to cross ocker ines. e sewnere matters are nowhere fight low clear-cut. And so diverse is the pay huge network of

SULA

holders that to picket them effectively is nigh on impossible for the steel strikers In addition the failure of the mercy Or dock sea! imported. steel has clearly con- strongly opposes tributed to situation where, Group after nine weeks of strike action legal threats scarcely any "pickeling, fee that unless workers manufacturing reverses its industry laid off as a result are question mark is of the dispute. StoCKs in many Council's pre- areas have been replenished and its "no production scarcely beer when accica.

ACCOTOMO

agree Ene east calls Councillor. to by The spate of sackings at Fords' Langley-as reported in Socialist Press in recent prepared weeks-continued with the sacking week of A similar resolution bas also last St. Pancras steward from the body-in- and one ward has white section of the plant.

Dismissed for 'sabotage', from the accusation was orly laid three supporting rent rises days after the alleged incident, immediately after th: drive out section supermendall was grillta al a management meeting for not 401 CIle reaching production levels.

The of a efficiency drive Fords following disastrous, laken lorwara In lu profits in America and 'agree

WHAT'S UP,

UrSHALL-OUrE

LOOKING VERY DOWN!

WELL I CurCe THI

MECCANO OACUPATIRA

WILL TAKE 224 Or

TOTENTALLY OMBARASSINC

WORK TO UNDO....

THINK LEN'S GOING TO BE ABLE

TO HOLD THE LINE AGAINST STRIKES ON MAY 14TH

HERE HE IS ON

Ine JELLY NOw

STEEL SCABBING!

on This vial dispute is cabbing scale of the scabbing ing: these enormous-and extends even to the NUM, whose members' jobs done so little also risk alc LIUl

DOL

closures. There General Strike are widespread ange claims Tories, that scab steel is bein used by 1 orksine mmers. an Inc the absence any firm OI official directives this this embarassing no doubt also true in almost every end Such publicised and the union leaders must responsible forced to answer for mass lobby their failure to black scab steel.

Co Conors Leaders of them in ritest Coventry unions meet tomorrow (Tuesday), supposed- alongside the steel strike discuss further measures And other to halt the movement of steel unions fighting must also be Much steps however peared_ should of course be welcomed.

mobilise in strike action.

dants made in last year's pay sed Reports at a National Ford next Workers Group meeting confir- med management offensives at it took threats al une olans. missal Walk out ICLUDE LO WOrK The stewards' The sacking of the steward meetin that at Langley followed decided with only walk-out by both shifts of his meeting two

SCCUON

Management immediately Friday- -strike laid off the entire plant-at five statement provocation, designed to direct steward an that thestek backied The was undermined,

HOVE

back cu management, but an opportun- right

STUBBORNESS OF THE STEELMEN..

MAY 14TH?. OF COURSE ITS NOT A GENERAL STRIKE

TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT/ WHERE AF

HOPE BRITISHERS WILL TAKE LUNCH-TIME OFF...

DOLDLEN!

But steel workers should also BSC's latest • Even ploy te be suspicious of such a gather weaken the strike has been met leaders, who by a ludicrously inept response to strengthen the from ISTC leaders. management "ballot

HO SIO

spreading to other sections in a about a ballot ' is a transparent against fraud, since It is obvious tha must now be examining workers wit do on the 14%- Cand more detemined move to bring with wins ande undances dispute to offer simply throw • away the form — male wide ec cos But instead of simply calling quen tendenciec and give renewed impetus to the on members not One enders have ased the tho strike, steelworkers should send spoil their "pay the steel workers" ourO Conver the BL writing meeting at Radford on the bottom When only a small number Friday. calling respond to tor strike acuon by Be worker: (trace umoniss this pathetic call, this will undoubtedly public choosites Tory attacks as

ONC

monasement "DrOOT that the union bureaucracy are upon to "unrepresentative". ity was missed to build organi- paigned against the recommen opposition to the lay off.

dation, seeing as an oppor- day, however, • the grow many lines refused to start work • strengin or tne let in the plant. instant Two-to-one vote cases to cci d The vote of both shifts committee, the 2-1 "Illas. Incends went same morning, strike action and against three dealt a blow to the authority o votes against, to recommend to a mass the alli trade unionism at Langley.

action militant I nreals by

SLCW

ards to resign following the vote demand rem the sacked have now to be opposed effect of such a step would be committee's position weaken the workers and however, by thus play entirely into the hands wing stewards who ot management

...AND NOW-NOWOF ALL TIMES

BLOODY

SCARGILL

HAS TO

MUSCLE IN

ON POOR

OLD ROY...

AND THERE'S MORE GOOD NEWS: THE LABOUR

IS GOING TO HUSH UP ABOUT THE C.IA- AND G

FULL-BLAST ON LORD UNDERHAND'S REPORT

DRINKS

ON ME!

MECCANO LEADS

No peace in Zimbabwe

SOCIALIST

PRESS

As we go to press the

JOBS FIGHT

giant Airfix Industries seems likely to approach the High Court for an injunction to enforce the eviction of occupying workers from the closed Meccano factory on Merseyside. move follows a vote last Ihursday by Guarter on Merseyside with scarcely a Meccano workers have given strong workforce to reject the finger lifted opposition: a lead: they must now go all out redundancy pay" everywhere else the

JOIC

LO DESE

ments and fight on in defence of and union possible This means support. bureaucrats has been to head they Maintain the occupation!

The occupation has lasted workers from away mounting right through 90-day statu- the challenge to the "rights" of Defy the bosses' courts! period-which was tory notice the employer that is involved in *Demand official

GMWU

itself only forced upon an seizing factories, support-full strike pay and full- arrogant Airfix management, plant and equipment. who at first attempted to scalę national blacking of Airfix SaCk An appeal from the Meccano goods and suppliers! with only the entire workforce occupation to Merseyside hours' notice on a Friday after- labour noon. *Open the books of Airfix!

sector unions fighting Tory cuts, Elected trade union committees and to the broader trade union No backing must probe the financial movement nationally could have produced But nad a dramatic efiect in mobills Meccano! Show the the action taken io sse s lace without any official back- for the nationalisation of

лCCE

Yet Egan has failed even to without compensation,

HE TO

ATTY

cerned -the GMWU-which has appeal unde innker mana for General other offered members not 'a penny piece as seen Strike action strike pay to on cowe une attempt even to raise a local job-slashing Tory government!

in this contemptuous stance financial support the towards fighting to *Build council of action defend jobs in an area delegates huge drawing the of But for all the time that has GMWU was whole Merseyside labour move been lost, as long as the occu- Iouowed by the AUW. APEX ment to delena and strengthen pation remains unbroken it which paid out hardship occupation court money, possible to demanding it back from suck 1s noW an millialive. those demoralised members who have accepted redundancy pay- jobs! Win support ments! The GMWU official-former If Egan is serious about the Mecca congenic Mike he fight defend jobs he spoke demagogically bicak Irom ns past recora and at They Will have mass the struggle to win declaring that backing to evil us 01 any go down and promising rom nationally and mobilse GMWU workers in the area.

of the GMWU But as part Failure to do so on his pear bureaucracy •Egan must know confirm Full well that th struggle has been As we go cold-shouldered Inal ne is no more to press, than a left talking bureaucrat.

third largest, union, reports. are predicting that

COUNTY'S

and that his display of militanc ZANU(PF) leader Robert is solely for local consumption.

Mugabe will emerge from rever attempted. the Rhodesian elections direct the solid determination of the occupying workers into with the largest number of right to loice Basnett and the seats in the new 100-seat declare Assembly. the struggle official, to mobilise supporting action If this is true, it will be a against other Airfix plants and remarkabie outcome trom operations. which the whole election weight of capitalist propaganda New employer has thrown into ettort concerted as a violent "Marxist" Instead, attention has been 1V 10209 extremist establist the focussed on the al Diall search "respectability" of Nkomo and or a new capitalist employer to time hath ticked edy story, ine gangsterisn muzorewa time ticked Provocations struet the Meccan area the Meccano • оссира- Morewas minosesian crate tion has been of one ray security engaged in elaborate campaign of bombing 10 coco or a soc o factory closures carried through and frame Mugaoe and LANU(r) And armed members of

CASH NEEDED!

Muzorewa "auxiliaries" were allowed a free hand to terrorisi and intimidate political oppon.

, while guerrilla forces loyal herded into asseD prints and Nkoma were The Special Fund is giving us some cause for concern.

thus. effectively neutralised.

With less than £800 in so far we have to raise £700 in the Such was the evident bias of Governor Soames and the witch- next month if we are to keep on target and raise half the nun danst moate that there £3,000 fund by Easter as planned.

seemed little doubt that, if the This calls for a very special effort by our readers and imperialists had felt able, the With development of and supporters. the our international nave gone TUrTne rigged the beilot itself to work and the purchase of a small prințing press we produce victory for their urgently need to raise this fund to enable us to carry out allianc of Muzorewi

CHOSEN

our work in fighting for the reconstruction of the Fourth and Nkomo International Mugabe's that through the establishment of our own option appears international tendency. • to have beer All donations should be sent to: But moves by Mugabe in the Socialist Press Fund last few days underline the fact BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX that thougl wallars

ROL

rollabie as the imperialists woulc 'ublished by Folrose Ltd to the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Printed by Anvil Printers, London Registered as a newspaper « the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist Learu

MECCA!

wish, , intention of henas. no mobilising the black masses of Zimbabwe kind OT

LINC

to secure strucales necessary their basic demands Even before the count got pro Was claiming his wish. if elected, to retain Lt. • General Peter Walls as supreme military commander Anone nas scent ine asi weeks "Marxist" persuasion, and refut- ing claims that he proposes a programme of nationalisations.

So South African while faces axe capitalist leaders implement a call-up of Citizen Force their "'leak' and possible invasion of Zimbabwe therefore, it appears increasing!

likely Mugabe's menT •scorising a close regime will make such an invasion unnecessary. The • and their allies may grin and rub Ther hands with relief at these developments: but Mugabe will not finelso casy to literess mus who have mass on supponers plainly voted for him hopin Some of the group of fascist youth who took part in the National Front demons that marched under massive police protection through Brixton last weekend.

Corrie Bill Defenders of women's rights seem on the point of witnessing the gratifying • spectacle of John Corrie's reactionary anti-abortion Bill sinking with all clauses in the House of Commons. Corrie's initial bigoted insis tence on retaining the whole of his vicious Bill-which would have made , up to two-thirds o1 illegal-has existing abortions factor suFficient its major undoing. enabled It tabica lot the measure to be talked out of the available the Commons timetable The only lingering hope fo the anti-abortionists is that time might be found by hurried treat- private

SNOT

member's Bill on updating child maintenance payments The foundering of the Bilt is clearly over- related whelming evidence of hostility to it among an overall majority adults, that survey. that three Shower one women oi child would be prepared to Corrie restrictions if faced with an unwanted pregnancy. It is plainly little to do with organised any principle the stand against thi right-wing Parliamentary Sled Labour Party, which has consis- tently refused to but down nree me whi on Mrs to v1 line. with Party policy on abortion and agains fight in The Parliamentary defence of abortion rights ha been carried by small handful of Tribunite left MPs.

Indeed only 346 out of 656 MPs were the present Commons last Friday for the •ebate on te orre kı! The absence of large bers of Labour

MPS

on this crucial issue must be challenged unionists and Party members in their constituencie and those that support Corrie or tall to vote against anti-abortior measures must be removed.

I that he will press through an extreme, Marxist programme.

wu casis wrackee imperial ist firms aching to move in and exploit the resources labour torce in Lim babwe Mugabe's 'honeymoon" period with his followers will not be unduly prolonged. exposed in he emerges their eyes as an agent of capital- ist exploitatior could well neca to can quite soon on in services of General Walls to save his skin.