Socialist Press no. 199

PRESS

Letting prices rip-Howe Government figures last week con- firmed that the of living is now cost racing up at the rate of 22p in the pound per year. This confirms the threat now facing every working dass family.

ides ages ards are far lad by Tory standards are being slashed by Tory policies Even the ludicrously high government figure for the increase in earnings- which 20% - fails far behind the they claim now price mcome lax lakel into account. But only a mandal or point in. 20% is actually getting increase? Wate

WULACIS

all towel workers-achieved pay rises of anything near 20%n the other hand millions of workess in the public services and manufacturing industry nave received. Increases-rangue 5% (British Leyland) to an average 12- from 15% before tax.

BUDGET INCREASES

Meanwhile two successive Tory budgets nave denperately driven uo une cost or nig through hikes in VAT, duty on drink, tobacco and petrol, and spending cuts that have charges Chancellor Howe's efforts bore fruit in the form of increases in charges, and rates, rents, drinks, meat, elec- Hallelace Incity, gas, luoe lares, bus lares, ana venicie licence fees. Food prices, reflecting the Tories' commit- Market, the continue Common mice Next month win see a luriner increase In the price of bread and petrol.

And of course it only wage earners is not Howe's last budget also decreed that state will increase by 5% less than the rate of inflation, and effectively cut the real value of cue venents This situation is no accidental oversight by the Thatcher From the outset it itself determined foist the full has shown Diner or tie cconome cuss onlo LIe dacks ol the working class-with tax cuts for the rich, for the police, bonanza for coupled closures, the banks prolits

CULS.

alla stanudras 101 workers. The Tories have clung tenaciously to their policies, which attempt to control inflation through restricting the cash available to industry and the public sector.

CLOSURES

Inis poncy nasrought say-nich anterest rates, la decline production, wave of closures and the threat of ruin to many weaker with the government itself busiv erod.

of the wale rare of basic ackids and series.

a whole range goods and with continued increases in ol prices on a worla scale, such poncies nave simply increasce

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 199 * May 21 1980 * 20p

MONETARISM

CLOSER

CLOSED

They told me it was magic, but this is ridiculous!

TORIES

BOOST

PRICES!

unemployment. There is little doubt that many TUC leaders, in their repeated appeals to Thatcher to "open situation wage increases are no suct d more defend their living standards against inflation- would also favour a turn towards are in no way the cause of rising prices wage controls. Yet the lorv government are not the only Frightened beyond belief by the growing ones trying to claim that the present inflation vOWe rate is the result of "excessive wage demands".

union leaders would secretly welcome the opportunity to declare it "illegal" to fight for yeas of wage controls helped inflict a historic Labour Shadow Cabinet -whose four -as they did when Heath introduced state control of wages. workers living standards and pave the The day to return of the Tories -chose last Yet for all the treachery and cowardice of appeal to the Tories to their leaders, whose first priority is to preserve viability of the profits anc the employers, class show

SAIS OL

winger Michael Foot have joined the accepting the Tory attacks. Union conferences chorus blaming the working class for 22% committees will undoubtedly of demands for wage increases in inflation-and reaffirmed that if reelected they face a wave would once again impose rigid wage controls!

excers on tuo

NAMIBIA

IN

STRUGGLE

Centre pages May 14.... .. Back page PHOTO: Andrew wiara, «por Calling for wage controls-Healey But such demands fall short of the needs of the working class. They take no account of th AI impact of taxation on workers living standards.

seeming through once-a year payments they ensure that trail continuous!! behind price levels Indeed it is vital that the workers movement its own assessment of the scale and pace of inflation as it affects working class families Trade union bodies should elect price commit- comprising workers, housewives and sympathetic expert assistance with the tasi oi comping an ongoing working class cost-or- living index as the basis for catching up pay claims. same figures will also show the But the quarterly or monthly basis to keep pace with inflation runaway for wage agreement to The demand include a cost-of-living clause increases must be inserted into every claim.

PLUNGE

Employers will of course argue that they could not possible afford to pay such increases.

but the reanty is tnal Inrougnout tne presen crisis workers leaders have started out from employers could or could not afford; what the ployment, in poverty and homelessness and a disastrous plunge in living standards and social There have already been too many sacrifices to the present bankrupt and decaying capitalist If employers cannot offer workers a or a steady job, it proves that there decent 'be full-scale class action to bring down

TRUSTI

this vicious Tory government, remove the wage cutting Labour leadership and establish will nationalise workers government that banks and basic maustry and control inmator through establishing planned, socialist Colony. Monetarist gurus Lawson and Biffen

As generals get six months for coup bid Fascist threat grows in Spain Bourgeois law under attack From the streets of St Pauls in Bristol to the streets of Copenhagen; from the streets of Holland to the streets of Switzerland; in Paris, Miami and Seoul, Korea, the pressures of the economic and social crisis of capitalism is producing repeated riots- Page 2

- INTERNATIONAL-

Ever since the belated death of Franco in 1975 there have been daily indic- ations, often of a dramatic kind, that his political heirs inside the Spanish Stale remained very much alive.

There have been 5 years of elaborate collaboration between une democratic sections Suarez cratic Centre Union) and

LIC

endesor me maor workers parties to set bourgeois parliamentary democracy Spain. Success The exercise has been a con.

success the sense steerable 1n that Spain's "peaceful transition from accepted Ilas occl Washington Moscow

ITOM

on peking and by the leaders workers' organisations every- Where large sections of the AlISO political left in Spain; including rotskyist parties such accepted

LUK.

nave ThaT ine Spanish state has indeed under- cracies, despite the daily use of gone a qualitative democratic that despite the apparatus, Clange. immense political present state course the and system is significantly different constrained off als muluence dictatorship constrained like bourgeoisie's though all demo- bourgeois not unconditional Cratic stale iL rests Dartiv the systematic collaboration Dast rule the the apparatuses of the DOLLICaL contro workers oppressed classes granting them organisations witt various degrees of legal rights capitalist state power. In Spain today that situation Also like all other bourgeois democratic capitalist is less clear cut. stales power rests ultimately on Caution the armed might of the repres apparatus-the army sive state and the police The 'democratic' bourgeoisie But in most bourgeois demo- have approached their demo- violent explosions of working class anger that challenge the 'norms' of bourgeois legality.

France A thirty year old unem- In the provinces demonstra- ployed man was killed in tions and other torms oi protest Paris May 13 on when those in Paris were immediate.

police charged a group of In Caen, instance, students demonstrating on through was "cholstrallon the campus of the Univer- the midde of the town atter which about 200 students went sity of Paris-Jussieu in the off University Rector's to the Latin Quarter of Paris. unces anal smashed windows. The trouble began at about A desk was also burned. 4 D.m. atter a a cozen students had overturned a bus in New impetus the rue Linne and set it alight.

Soon after the police entered These incidents come at the end several Lne unversay Camous

TON

three sides to be met with a struggle on the campuses missiles and causing restrictions on immigration and Paris-Jussieu value. overseas students emolement

NOT

one or the universimes Recently the struggles strike and most of the students were working normally: appeared to have reached a new neu with moves comino rom Grenoble co-ordinate actions of the students towards The young man who died, Alain Begrand, was killed when campuses. a root ne had camber onto to died o the he policer He In the last week, however, gave skull. But the for actured continua- Hones, are begun to look even Begrand's death was

SLUD

violence with charges continuing. Nevertheless, whatever the evening Lalel present demonstration of 3,000 people militancy against protest on fire. In all, eight people were In Paris, Nanterre, a few weeks ago, some cratisation plans with caution and have neve anu uncertamty made the definitive steps which were made, Italian German bourgeoisie: after the of their Nazi anu lascist reames. Attacks This reflected the Spanish laws which still involve fundamental political and personal recaol most Those ol west European states. But more than anything. else it is reflected in the nature of 600 delegates participated in an important congress called to dis cuss une solute uo ol a contral- ised union of students. This was the first meeting of kinds the students' its since organisations were broken up by the state in the artermata orIne 19B stilles. May important because of Begrand's aeatn The same day was also the occasion generalised strike priposed changes proct proposed changes social security Deleills Ine strike action was called Korea - The South Korean dicta-, torship reinforced martial law restrictions last weekend and arrested opposition politicians in the wake of massive riots in the capital, Seoul. battled it out with riot police Crowds 30(0) arter student leaders soelec ou demands for a package of demo- cratic demands. bus ces commandeered lost control police police SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

the army and the police. It is almost certain that the trial was rushed through in form that order protect senio! : officers them-still dominated by their Sull DOSES WIld were the personnel he appointed.

implicated in the attempt.

And Iney • retam. many ega which preserved directly from the Franco and which are not even nomin Enat all Y sanctone ov (parliament). In particular the military the police and the magistrature can conduct trials and imprison une

OWI

CONTES

Francoln without recourse to the main In addition to the examples Legal was don. system of the country. • in the case of the Le Monde also reported a shart theatre group 1978. demonstrations 3 months jail bonuca mutants. on mav a demonstratol was knifed to death. One person has become evident recently that in ans Last wounlucu lascisi attack on a cale. And student.

manned by Franco appointees of the Madrid law faculty were close liaison with the set upon with chains and iron military Dals over une last two weeks the civil courts have acquitted Franco's daughter of a claree and ine nave sentenced the editor of El Pai the cous dyi met asperits bourgeois Joglars group restrictions ¡ecdom or expression 10 •0aa Since the trial El Pais has revealed the existence plot massive by the state secret services to trame the editor as a KGB agent • same time a military court, after hearing the rapid and superficial evidence, sentenced las

OLLICCIS

"Operation involved Galaxy" attempted military coup two years ago to a derisory minimum for the offence. CP leader Carrillo by the main, Stalinist-led trade Socialist Party organising differ-

CGT,

but union,

ICS.

supported by the CFDI and evident during 1s Mal others. strike Though there were apparent Giscard the regime ly fewer on strike, the effect of presses home its attacks on thi Ine strike was much diesel lilar whole working cass. the neces for united class action to with transport heavily hit, defend wages and living affecting large power standards increasingly sections of industry and news- cean -as does ane recess or a papers failing to appear revolutionary leadership Unlike the British press, the spearhead such a struggle and media fully listed the scale spc our une necessary cellards on which to mobilise workers in of left division the fight for a workers govern- which was so marked on the 1 May demonstrations-with the and Party • Commumst Miami • The black ghetto areas of and driven straight at their lines -killing Miami erupted in riots last Onc bouccinal injuring many more. week in the wake of the decision of an all white jury policemen to acquit four Now the country's security who had clubbed to death a chief General Chon 10o Hwar black insurance salesman.

has arrested 18 student leaders and ElIC respite gained by The Guard was ALly such called into the citv to seal off a measures certam k are anded to nore: or leade zo-mie dea arter back workers at some as and so tie t President Carter Seventeen people were killed The new Interior Minister Juan Jose Rason laughably dismissed these events and passion' there growing evidence that they are carefully cooranalco within state Torces Tine apparatus of series alarming developments produced last the present Spanish parliament Spanish state apparatus exposes the criminal role that has bees played reformists and Stalinists them- WITh giving a to a state which is still Francoist leaders, for all their fury in the lishment of independent work • Grass ations against the growing peril

PERU

As we go to press results o the Peruvian elections are still awaited. full background article wil appear next week's Socialist Press Giscard and over 100 h raced the the riots, in which racist added their gratuitous violence that meted out to bare Hispanics and Orientals by th forces of the state. _ unemploymen sharpl in the US increast must

Danish riots in defence of kids' playground SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

-INTERNATIONAL'

There More Kindergardens! alterent plans Less police! the area These were the slogans under geoisie, inhabitants which the Norredro—one or une sum area communist of Copenhagen-waged pitched battles police for Socialists and nearly a week. The point of conflict was an thilde proposed inese aaventure playground known as set up by local "he kuiide, years quickly abandoned then uilding site. Most of the kindergardens in Democrats, the area use "the Builder" as an open-air playground because they do not have such facilitie! heard. the few The city Inemselves. one alternative open spaces is a variety churchyard! May Day proved to be a Ecevit's shift dress rehearsal for the imposition of a military/ between fascist regime in Turkey.

ultra-right Salvation The Partv. biggest military the in the presidential elections.

movement in recent nistory was staged, along with 5,000 arrests demonstrations in over 30 cities.

banning convened 1owus such as stanour were actually occupied by thousands of troops with armoured cars Hau veen banned. and roadblocks from April 29 to clashes May 4. tants Among the thousands arrested the entire the general leadership the left successful wing in trade union confederation DISK traditional and various other union leaders.

State forces allowed only the ground for further attacks.

one May While Jav demonstration "democratic" -in Mersin. But even there ther imposed ban flags Turkish other than the Turkish national reformist flirts with banned Ine sene Internationale' and banned The the carrying of pictures of Marx, and vaticult Engels and Lenin. on the opportunities the anti-communist leaders played a hunt key role in this- - organising no counter and failing resistance, even Tally undet Issue an appeal until April 28: "Respect the Turkish flag" when they called one-day Once again General Strike for April 30 experience Day Drolest „Tne May worKers movement repression. the fact that

DISK

trade leaders also failed union defended Dan

HOL

aemonstratons-erectively between workers retreating without a fight.

There was no serious fight to implement the General Call, acon Was chelly res acted to Vire bus striket controlled members Ine •vous don bourgeois barty thi RPP-who were less likely to impose massive victimisations on strikers. Meanwhile RPP leader Ecevit lent his full support the to moves by the right wing Demirel government and the mitary to crush the May Day demonstra- tions. He issued a special appeal to anno especialv supporters cass

ROPY

not to join May Day marches behind "red flags"! also attacked "irresponsible strike call from DISK been one was rejected by the local nave

TOUT

for developing population because they meant from bour- avaluville from the Social ¡acuities. Eventually the Communist vemocrats. one Irom tre vanish Party and a joint Party proposed closing a sandpit by the playground small children the Socialist The bunder to tha People's Party. Only the last of solution' site-une keeping the This was at once opposed as cynical move to split the resis- Party The council then attempted 0 an and lent support for the Social demolish half proposed Builder' They were countered scrap tne playground. I he local unions who bromised local people that their members mnabitants opinions were not not work under police council tried protection to force But officials of the Stalinist- une led union arrived on the site closure or the Bullder. Every

AN ON THE SPOT REPORT BY JACK JOHNSON

MAY DAY USED

FOR ARMY

REHEARSAL

latest and "democratic" bourgeois politicians and parties but only anuicommunism seems betwee to the al andrun through the struggle for revolu-

RPP

lunary programme ana leader- wing National the Turkey this wherenv means NSP will back an RPP candidate fighting for a united front of class organisations Despite this obstruction the against fascist attacks , and for to bring action Demirel regime and establish a attracted 50,000 militants-and other small marches took place workers' ane peasants in and outside cities where they government. between mili- forces several workers were killed -though ir government was suppressing the May Day demonstrations while preparing Ecevit-the darling a ne Commumst rarty and bureaucracy - the vicious enemies of the working ciass, the fascists presented their demonstrations ana a slogan ine Demirel the bitter the Turkish waverine democratic and Call intouch blocs organisations The formation of "Group for the Study of Leon Trotsky and the Revolutionary Movement' has been announced. great deal of material has for deconne the study of the development of the Trotskyist movement New malena appeared American- the published Writings Leon rotsky lor the 30s and in the Ecrits being brought out by the Institut Leon Trotsky in France The newly available closed archive I rotsky une unl reveal a little more on the development of the British and more on the Ecevit Fourte memora te three hours after most of th play housed and playthings ha nearby the soon local people promptly apparatus everything 24-hou back walli was mustarea on tae Dav one been and reinforcements had the barricades! eround drafted in to restore it to its This situation original state the CP and Social days afterwards. desperately Democials attempted to press the compro mise "Kapelvej the solution" social Democratic Cher burgo When master are ordeos for the come plete demolition Socialists, who Builder" leadership A large squad of police and advocated bulldozers moved • it ok them from 9am t policy-but failed 2°.Il took took ah eme area-as local resistance of local workers.

residents blockaded the smashing streets, puncturing the tyres of buses that tried wass •ano "the Builder" using them as roadblocks, wnile barricades were built round "the Builder" the besenged by an strong Driven back and Stalinists The police were driven back several times. Even after clearing working Copenhagen. ine area iney were unable to Trotsky study group launched early period, as well popuar mont poncies movement in Germany, , Czecho- Stalinists and centrists in slovakia and the Soviet Union 1930s, that Here in Britain, work on the oppositior history of the frotskyist move ment, based in particular on the struggle for materials now Warwick in in during the boom after 1945.

Hull universities has onl prope ust beaun The leaflet announcing the history will not only formation of the rescue traditions that have often group puts it as lollows. Introductorv studie been denoelately buned. It will which have lso serve to cast light on th •l lnese materials. already tradional tone mons throw much current problems o Britain and internationally.

belief that also. activity having seen, at has the Group

ITOTSKV1S1

Bet as leady been ben, te written proposed to hold Conserenei September 1980 to show that there was a revolu- research tionary the Left in Britain and the participa- Page 3 Union chief •on Chrysler board "Business unionism" -the term used to describe the of class colla extremes boration reached by US union leaders-took on a new layer of meaning last week. United Auto Workers union leader Fraser became a Douglas thi eno-moder Chrysas Corporation Fraser supposedly on the board represer interests of his 150,000 mem bers in Chrysle who, as a result of the latest plans to save lIl Corporation from bankruptcy are expected to own 15% the shares by But he has already struck up a close personal inendsmip witr Chrysler boss Lee lacocca, and his readiness hand over $200 some bers* wage entitements $200 million in union pension Copenhagen protestors funds to third America's largest augurs product Daal or UAW members in the ne stop thousands of angry workers period. - building leed Chrysler is far f me see materas o rebuo t of the crisis brought on destroyed playhouses and ine rocketing price of oll, th midnight "the Builder" internationa economic Carter's recessionary reconstructed -ana so policies. provide as batton in ted remained during May Day and for severa cash to bail out the flagging firm cleared through the voltually US Congress-only to be thrown Wait and see objections from mogruntled and weary banker me once once more attacked the barricades, the Left Headed by the French Credit had been in the Lyonnais, a group of banks have the struggle refused to accept the terms of "wait and the federal deal, which threatens to stop the to saddle them with a bundle of unwanted Chrysle shares smashing to barricades ed 1983, in place of the cash settle ment which they would prefer.

took them two days to demolish Their objections could still scuttle the whole leaking ship aftermath of these Meanwhile, will battles an extraordinary meeting laccoca • the helm Desot the firm continues to throw was overboard demonstration -a sure suuse to say areat. ne lates sign that both Social Democrats announced closures include a truck assembly plant Have balll- ficed a great deal of support in Missouri, blall class area of in Canada and Chrysler's mai large-car producing plant.

tion of Trotskyists in it.

the A • journal entitled Historical there was real Studies of Leon Trotsky and the Revolutionary Movement is also due to tnal there was a early in 1981 revolutionary which the tittieti the working class work that anniversary … or the the formation of Jec study of this British section of the Interna- help tional Left Opposition interested in partici- pating in this work and joining • (annual subscription building a anu unwaree in contact John movemen invite Dunbar Archer Roac reasons London N22

SBG

that (01-889 7637) the convenol Provisional Steering Committee.

an Inaugura London in "based into the history of the

Conference to draw lessons of steel & BL betrayals Ealing Tories in court move Page 4 The steel strike and the offensive management have British Leyland important implications for The Campaign for Democracy in the Labour the whole of the working Movement is to hold a one-day national conference class in the struggle against in Digbeth Hall, Birmingham on Saturday July 5.

and cuts, closures, Open to delegates and individual observers from defence of living standards.

issues illustrate trade union and labour movement organisations, These two the conference is designed to provide a forum to the scale of the crisis of leader- confronting Tory ship that now Confronts political the situation working class. discuss the And inis same leadership class in its struggle against the working

CLISIS

fought contamed when. government. to isolate the steel strike

IOI

We reprint here an abbreviated version of the fourteen weeks, the TUC leaders of action" on for the conference to which leatlet campaign May Socialist Press extends full support. Further details to derse and militancy class. with and credentials (£1) are obtainable from CDLM class. within working no official call for strike action Godfrey Webster, 169 Barclay Road, Secretary open for the media to witch- the hield was lett Warley, West Midlands. open for those who hunt scale and to minimise which, despite the resoonse-1 the TUC, hundreds of thousands of workers took part in protest the teeth of a media witch- TUC. Workers will now pay the strikes and demonstrations.

price for this treachery as alternative. leadership Wales, the NE Coast and else- must negotiate be built to where and mobilise The case for BL and BSC strength redundancies and closures that action against the Tories.

This workers to fight the Tory offen- could have been defeated.

sive together was overwhelming.

The TUC leaders know that requires a programme of policies the capitalist systlm and its had already Together thev could have won.

the steel workers capitalist and its system divided they would lose. Yet the developed beyond their official Lonel comes in 10 viability" were absolutely leaders-and union have such the expense determined to prevent workine class. Workers are not taken an after United onl further For sourions strike action which could have moved inch workers had vote to capitalist their leaders refused rapidly They revolutionar. matonaus When Edwardes saw know that this such Ene Cal 101 vul. promptly would spell defeat not only for controls-now the platform he

TOLS

weakness Tory fake left the labour he would whose every announced the Leaders ho impos the package on privileged positions rest on the continued existence April 8. industrv or a supposed commor But no sooner was the strike CaDilalisill. interest between British worker.

BL call heated made and British employers can only leaders than the union stee these leaders betray at the end of the day.

union chiefs rushed to accept This is why inquiry's class confine hastily-convened the protest politics which ther report, ' and sell our me strike which start cannot stop the Tories. Only policies BL came out. The very before КЛОЙ from the independent interests have not day of the steel sell-out saw a will lacy lifted a finger in practical action of the working class can answer nationat

COCK

the in health, today's The CDLM stop conference vote for a national welfare or the civil on July 5 will set dockers service yet strike defence concence service. scab blacking the readmess ›ut to ciscuss such a plugiall 101 workers to fight was confirmed the hont ot the lesson steel shipments. by the betrayals in steel and BL again the Even more blatant was the yet -the largest strike action and fight of the General May 14 the

TUC

public sector the since 1920, carnea Intoug Throughoul tRIC and the in wagi round inflation climbs 22%. St Georges fight axe Over called 40 delegates inside the hospital opposition to the re-establish attended a conference called by the St Georges Hospital the hospital pıcket on Support Committee beginning from early June.

London on May 17. through union *Resolutions calling divisions due for com- Georges is St branches anu June 30 when tor a mass picker and day or plete ciosure on strike action on June 30.

the expensive site is to be sold BL traitor Evansi off to a private medical concern.

Branch and I ne UllIU1. Support Committee have put up principled the closure, but now against is drawing near and the deadline 40 workers have recently been given he conderence rice s conference put forward fight Hillingdon designed Hounslow and resolution the final stages oi the closure Despite massive areas. be the staff Some time before Tory "A meeting tition, Ealing's event the organiser, Council is already well on wrote to the Council Dromey, establishing the way them know what was planned. itself the most reactionary in the country.

Council took three

DON'T LET TURKEY

its weeks to reply that the rally The latest long

BECOME ANOTHER

would be in breachof a by-law attacks on he Stream

CHILE

political meetings in workine case came use Delole the courts the day be foret to went day A Workers Socialist League the park Council tried to get when the Pamphlet prevent was to take place. taking place in Southall event injunction they sought Price 30p including pop rally banned would From WSL, BM Box 5277, park NALGO foom organisine officers The rally was manner to London WCIV 6XX be loca had included activities

NALGO

had lobbies, Actually Ealing, nothing to do with organising marches Bill Sirs with Welsh TUC leader George Wright

PRESS

GANG

The Daily Express was in the some ways most eloquent of all the Fleet Street papers in its assess- ment on the Day of Action.

It failed appear not just on the day itself, but the following day also. that had soared The press, so high the wings of dis on as to christen Murra

TOTION

'Lenin' Murray, , was justly ine employers' body that took the on the Day biggest hammering of Action-with the whole ot Please macho sedi purpose of the main actually not of action itself- been the day has been the growing call workers in struggle for trom bring strikes to direct political down the The Day of Action did not promise this and did not deliver lessons draw We from the nearleu call and its determined efforts anger bottle the but have been actively opposing une Council's cuts. This apparently enough for •the good Wab Counci to name them of was merely because the Council's delay that the included the who

LURES

found Denning, themselves unable to grant the injunction. Unlawful They Howevel it would be "unlawful' that to take place tor the raly for local MP Svd Bidwell to address it. Despite this the event went as planned and was ahead Tories, against Workers ine the Tory press saw the day as an attack opportunity concept of political strikes.

The number of workers who struck during the day of action was as high or higher than have been no major union really fought for action on that day and strike instructed their several members to stay at work. The Daily Mall tagged i "TUC's Day of Disaster' and the Sun declared "Its a flop".

Bureaucracy The Mirror, a paper in oper support of the Labour bureau стасу, tried to mitigate its criticism "It was the wrong strike al the wrong time for the wrons reasons Union len desir 12 out of touch with their be but the members. the only leaders The member have The unions are an essential part of society. There's no profit in seeing them attended by thousands of local trade unionists and others.

from Bidwell hual Stalinist speakers George Guy • from the TUC's General Council, who spoke of need for political I action by trades amons Free speech Ealing is the Council which speech is s an come unl "inviolate right". At least that they said when . Wilal hold wanted fascist Nr meeting in Southall Town Hall last Aerence of the fascists led Which Blair Peac police riot in Clearly for these Tories the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

defeated and humiliated defamed Daily Mail thought otherwise. John Edwards shar personal pen for pened t ended assault on Murray that 250,000 had bown the road orm than road from see a soccer tean brook Park to come home with the FA Cup event in tu history 50 years had pulle the man who wa 600 out to see at the head of it". The Sun ran two editorials- one attacking Murray and the "reporters' other defending their who hounded his holiday. the Sun The lessons that drive home was tried believe not politica industrial Пастов end (though presumably the Sun's journalists do believe in witch-hunts for political ends).

sweet there Wal for the revenge moment class it was the brick that the press ran into. On the Day of Action they did not publish right to free speech depends much on who wants to very do the speaking the pokers The fascists protection and movement gets the courts used against Inem The working class are going to have to fight for free speech democratic other allu right Postscript. • Local workers well wonder who is going may the to foot the Ealing Cast 1s cuttering ine wors tion cuts in the country a100 area of publi every ruthlessl being spending suasnca.

Heslin's statement answers witch-hunters Tory crackdown exploits SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

New twist in Heslin case ? A further chapter has decision. Since then the unfolded in the bureaucratic machinerv of the ongoing Labour Party has creaked into saga of moves by Oxford action witch-hunters expel inquiries, hearings and contra- Socialist Press supporter dictory decisions May Heslin was Ted Heslin from the called meeting at Labour Party. House Commons expelled was subcommittee or tre parvs January 1979-and Organisation Committee, appealed against the chaired by Eric Heffer. soon alterwaros It is nearly 16 months since I was expelled by Oxford City Labour Party.

Since my appeal against that decision, my member- ship has become a pawn in the hands of those who the Labour Want to sce Party purged of members uncompromising in their fight for socialist policies.

I have been left in a state of. limbo while a of back-door deals. manoeuvres and intrigues decide my fate.

Instead debate 'policies, » there Has been can balen. memong use or tre Tory press, based on sneers and innuendoes. protest against this and consider That membership for the has devoted to debate on how Labour Party should have to nignt the lones been kicked around for It talks about fighting the long when it is crystal clear but practice that committed no been 1 have Ot socialists. breach of the party's consti- proportion course a large the GC and the local tutus all have pasca mysel party simply on the want to do thing and political rights of the working sickened Whole business. influential part of that But it the local patty months (including two members of elections) Oxford City Labour committed to this witch are sc Party GĆ has spent more time nunt mar a ter consera- tions become secondary to InV exoursion and bans on other socialists than it framing me up.

PTA

Repression against

RCG

Preland, blint ion Hands off of opponents British whom were TOUr detained overnight and charged.

imperialism in Ireland Since then, MacLochlain and being stepped And up. Kellly have been charged with central to the crackdown is "conspiracy to cause explosions" the so-called "Prevention of -though this has not as been backed Terrorism" Act (PTA)-the up by so much as a scrap of evidence in court.

legislation forced through possible obstruction Parliament by the Labour has been raised by police and Luton Government. prevent maristates and delay these two defendants In the six years it has been in obtaining bail. operation the FIA has been used to detain over 4,600 Actor mainly Irish workers-80% them at docks and airports.

In January-April 1980 alone Meanwhile another victim of tho on pre orin not ender the crackdown on Irish people the Irish was Lambert, puppetee bugene brought arrested at the end of April.

charge after released without Falsely charged with being held for up to seven days desertion from the British army and subjected to ill-treatmen ›4 years a20. was intown into a filthy cell in communi- anu mule rosaton. This routine harassment of cado for several hours-denied Irish has now been access to relatives or a solictor, extended to increased police attacks on protestors opposing Taken into court handcuffed between two cther prisoners, h une use orte PA Luton, was not even allowed a shave os 'la patted particular. police in April

USC

come violent attack appeal in tre cock. he was demanding the release of Pro the • eyentually released visional Sinn Fein members Jim astronome Dal or zaa Reilly and Gerry MacLochlain- lne intensed harassment of Irish people and opponents aresume live suboorters or ine On the basis of the report months after his expulsion remains still uncertain as to his Dack Irom this interview, the Organisation has, status according supporters to the latest leaks in Oxford Torv have called for a lobby of the to une Dress. voTed recommend that the next Labour

NEC

refuse Heslin's held Wednesdav Ma expulsion, and instead repri- Lo. and or the parve specia Conference in Wembley onMay nana nor as scoons of this information Puli reinstate ent. press the case for his None has of course been cated Heslin, who, PHOTO: Peter Haman Report Sub-committee members Hayward, Heffer and Maynard I have alwavs seen the issue no that policies and moves to as one oi what me came programme the Labour Party after resolution have. realise union branch for a 10 I Caine special conference of the party everyone arices win me out the right to remove Callaghan what 1nave and demand is that I am allowed Healey from its leadership.

to fight for my views. was Tesolution debated, put to the vote and 1 1C tration (whatever that means- heavily defeated. In the debate because doesn't to apply some twineers reused to Tories) have specifically been discuss the issues and instead mom that vital darte var devoted their contri- from that vital debate butions attacking policies and Workers Socialist towards witch eague and hunts. saying I was a spokesman for

STROOPS OUT

NOW!

IRELAND

of the imperialist occupation of and Labour leaders to challenge the six counties is of these abuses of basic democratic course n rights. part a terrection or the lory moves to strengthen the state Not only did Labour minis- apparatus ters force through the PTA general in DarL their offensive against the the first but Labour spokesmen workine cass. But it is also a response to the strength the support it anti-imperialis policy Ireland struggre Ireland itself them advant tuc connidence or the ponce repressive in carrying through such attacks imperialist ruke upheld ennancec the And, with a few noteworthy complete refusal of trade union Benn: proposed reprimand, not expulsion the WSL. Unle GuestIon or Wad leads the Labour Party and on to be What from ford the ab Le Dou. Party is outlined in my appeal.

No-one has ever accused nor could ever me, not having worked Labour elected or of failing carry out Party (I continued te work canvas for Labour after capulsion, McCarthyite witch hunt is illustrated by since Organisation Committee recommended that my expulsion be upheld. I was encouraged by the January

NEC

reject vote to this and 1ccommen Tensitement wow an i far recommendation been carried out? Simply because Oxford City when-nunters nave beer working overtime behind the scenes use their influence to stop it! talk of evidence is nonsense. It is a second bite at the cherry that they want Bill Conboy, Chairman of Oxford City Labour Party told the GC a pack even of nes about ine letter ne hac sent (without authority) the

NEC

claiming was ex horsemembers one their and loved too mvolvea -union back. and stood nave the PTA to be used against Irish workers is equalv true of the Union National Students, May 7 yet again Which cancelled demonstratior protest against the PTA. Mandate The NUS after a spate detentions of conference dele gates fron Northern Ireland. first been lad a manadee to call a demonstration against the PTA by a vote of the November 1979 conference. That was cancelled ten days before it was due to The second march take bace was cancelled at the very last minute, alter arrangements sabotaged by llau Deen students dershe lean standed it and a mere students were the eleventh-hour cancellation.

unions

AMONS

(other formally committed to opposi tion to › the PTA is the National Union of Journalists. The fight must be redoubled throughout movemen Page 5 simply seeking clantication Throughout this period the press been used about Wildl have had to learn more about what is happening me from of the the ocal

• VICE

than Labour raT Sub-Committee has the chance to stop to put this witch-hunt others alre am not too Inen hopeful of that. time of writing this, still Havt beet 'evidence'

SOWI

neu against me (which is one of the rules of dalla suce as tol that I could not have a wit ness with me, which anti-union at ployers conceut appeal Sub- Conimittee to recommend the NEC to reinstate me. If my as bad as ine rest wine sav thev are then presumably the member the Labour Party wil Maybe they are scared that the membership might start to look more closely at them and start nking what it sees E. Heslin unions must forced to take the fight the implementation of and to torce Labou MPs to struggle for its outrigh Insofar as it offers an arena for the discussion suCI . the June 14 Conference 'Voices for withdrawal" organised by the Committee for withdrawal from Ireland should v supporcu by cabour move even though ment pocled is called without any commit- ment all easi policy or even condemnation o British repression in Ireland =2*5: 34

NAMIBIA STRUGGLES 1

TO APARTHEID STRAT

Page 6 the struggle In against capitalist exploitation and oppression, the working class throughout Southern Africa is time and again held back by a crisis of revolu- tionary leadership. The treacherous policies of the existing reformist, Stalinist and nationalist leaderships recently spot- have been lighted by the experience of working class Zimbabwe. In the context the developing of mass struggle in Southern Africa Jim Farnham looks at the for the perspectives workers' struggle for power in Namibia. The deepening crisis of capit- alism forces increasingly living standaras or the oppressed But in the drive for profits working of the masses, im perism s conlon' ted worldwide by a rising tide struggle, and workers peasants art continually inrust into struggle against capitalist attacks.

period of elsewhere, the tremendous build-up of combativity in class contuary inreatens to crupt u spontaneous mass struggles only time and again in a crisis of leadership. the development Lolllial lu Cannery workers on the beach at Walvis Bay • struggle m sournern the current period is ine and ZAPU, in a desperate bid to reemergence mass black shore up the mighty the stabilty of the Surpais capitalist state. working class in South Africa.

The imperialist Lancaster mobilisation so 197617 armans 1976/7 around HOuse crested ine con ditions for the reformists to black

DOWCLU.

WULAVIS

consolidate the position struggle lorgea a ligntig unily and level of political indepen- WOrKINK cass. and lence that decisively outflanked popular frontist government.

their petty bourgeois nationalist Not resolved But the mobilised strength of working ran Yet the Lancaster House of limits plan resolved the Wuy eous development ana acallist state repression, allowing in imperialism's favour, and the clique of militancy in the working class is

LUISES

bound to rise as Mugabe proves leadershin of the movement. unabe o mumu ine necos tor which he was so assertively voted into power Exploited ction to Muna spoi the spontaneous reaction govern- The crosion of the class inde- mental widespread pendence and unity that nad beloited by the stare to launch built struggle entnusiasmn

TOI

do parenl of the anti-imperialist victory repressive assaull. view will no doubt be the demobilisation of the move- peddled

SWAPO

leaders, ment. popular period of political stale- seeking to bolster the frontist illusions they have Male already managed to sow. class lacking the leadersmp and But the important political move forward programme victory, and the state effect of this mass response will owards reinforce the levels of secure a defeat. unable to combativity building in balance cass Namibia. fore in faber of the working In the last period of struggle, favour of the more the working class in Namibia has as a reemerging workers' Class. faced a sustained offensive orenave the South African state and its waves through the imperialist agents. camp. le. Zimbabwe, the intense Elections Tura queria war couge with the threat of possible mobilisa- tions This set in with the internal elections force-organised by the movement of the working class South government so rech brought alim into a deal with the peery bour cois nationalists of ZANY

DTA

power under the wing of the Soul Alren coon minks trator. This offensive importantly strengthened the position of the South African state, which has been able to exploit the political stagnation comusion • following from the treacherous policies of the petty bourgeois nationalist SWAPO leadership the course of South African armed in Namibia were strengthened by in troops to an esti an increase mated 70.000 allu ranging extension of martial law powers. plunder in Namibia. SA 15,000 soldiers are needed to estimated militants are being held in con- help paramilitary police control the working masses, to contain centration camps in Namibia the guerrilla war in the north, raid once all 2500 arrests we alone, ana to launch massive ralas into over Angola and Zambia hitting made last June in the largest

SWAPO

militar refuge working class ghetto, Katutura and local military and the white capital of Calli Ps. foulsiut economic largers winanoeki The size of the armed state Under cover of the DTA a total right wing forces relation regime, terror squads have emerged —one black population of little over l million, points to the underiyin!

where armed and wrecked strength of mass resistance SWAPO's internal headquarters systematic imperialist and in Windhoek last May. South African oppression anc The repressive campaign Police at a SWAPO rally, December 1978 SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May. 21, 1980.

launched by state and right wing forces effectively LeO. SWAPO's smasher interna organisation But the South African state and its in no way agents nave been able to carry this through forces remains unresolved in Namibia but now it is the working class that has seized the initiative the capitalist Already during offensive, Namibian WOrKer and militants have shown a cleal willingness to take up the fight against the attacks This combat-readiness came to the lore in a wave or strike actions by thousands of min 1979, and in mass displays of militant solid

SWAPO

arity as the in Katutura at the height of the state-led oftensiv But in turning to SWAPO for leadership struggles against workers were offered no way forward. Illusion nation offer only the paralysing illusion army and toe United Magues salvation guerrill Centrato ne rare cr SWAPO leadership is a reformist combinion for rile care development mantary from the day to day strugs on of pressurin reforms in capitalist state and class collaboration. rheton serves to submerge the indepen dent class interests of workers

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

THREAT

EGISTS

Walvis Bay dockers at work in an "anti-imperialist" alliance of the current version of the UN under petty bourgeois leader- plan Namibian "indepen- shipihe strength of the working venck essence of the imperial- class has been exploited-in the ist-inspired UN plan is to secure absence of revolutionary capitalist in Namibia. Marxist leadership -to The South AInCal Covent• ambitions of reformists. ment nas delayed its agreement leadership's to the UN proposals seek- une

SWAHU

hostility towards mobilisations establish ing stability itself. than The

LUSC

Im serans! powers, which recognising the need for new Contorcd a110 inability measures have backed the exmoiteo The guerrillaism to South African coveramenl s defence workers modifications to the plan and its alil militants own direct actions. arallsI stalt terror; and extreme ront wing the political confusion and stag nation sown by i shackled Pressure imperialism-mear lllal LIIe only Inne wnlen STands prese or ing tsing pne the working class and berween advance of the working class potential disaster is Africa undefeated strength. Haliuws oolons oven to moerausm In conditions of a develon The current development of ing strg te, movement struggle, which into workers will be looking question the abilitv of Stalinist ways of taking the struggle for- and reformist forces to control organised Ward wilno UT Tune the working class, shifts imperi- leadership of SWAPO which has ialism towards been smashed inside Namibia increasingly uncat renance on tie reoressive Trotskyists m namba daust strength of its most powerful seek to wın these torces to the the region-the South fight to build the independent African state. strength of the working class.

firm relat vety co cia which the apartheid- base Adventurism capitalist state and its and military This involves a programmatic.

make it the key pouceman dll fight against tendencies to ultra.

im perialist inter- DIOmOLe! armed ests in the region. TeIt au yoil ulisin tuaisst the emergence of oppor- The current verion of the UN plan allows tunist for the setting curus lowares une working class by reformists and Evu-Kromelre widle Demilitarised Zone

(DMZ)

Stalinists inside and outside the length of the

SWARUI

Namibia/Angola border. The SWAPO bureaucracy in originally exile, itself weakened by the une

UME.

proposed by now-dead Angolan consequences of its betravals of 'Marxist" leader Neto, is tó be the working class' independent patrolled by interests, will seek to reassert LIO0DS i

CLTOM

UN force to legitimacy the working

SWAPO

ensure that fighters class as struggle develons confined to bases uise beeindo bethe maip Angola and Zambia impulse behind forengN period before increase military LaStoR acuuls elections. SWAPO in recent idunicnca months. isolation from the strength of the ws KiS AASO clas: Troops many wouiagoous nave peen sense essiv sacrificed. South African troops are to the pressures of left- basese-dute d e crucial elements in two moving elements in the guerrilla of the capitalist state apparatus being outflanked by the Cos am the mie Ninith together class struggle, the

WAPC

vulcauclaly Call expected paratrooper unit (drawn from oroouce aramatic opportunist twists, turns and the 100,000-strong white popul ation) which South Africa has The extent to which the set up, will remain during tran-

SWAPO

leadership is tied sition. The of conaboraton mm Derasm. growing instability can be seen partly in its agree.

the bourgeois nationalist 11 Ull ment to the fundamental points line Icallc their inability meet the demands of increasingly militanl wOIKIng class 02s tightened their dependence on imperialism. The African regime has exploited this Histaullty. talos wto lamala and particularly Angola (where Africa the anti- MPLA forces of UNITA, led by imperialist puppet Savimbi) extra weight the pressure

SWAPO

to yield on turther to imperialism. The counter-revolutionary Kremlin bureaucracv has ioined with the Frontline regimes (par- ticularly Angola, bulk of SWAPO forces are based

OOOI TRON NAACT AIATIMMIP

prop provide a crucial To Tne

MPLA)

the

SWAPC

grip Icauei Nu Ulla SWAPO fighters So long arom ovedh m theonedtbese which the SWAPO cnanence Duredl. cracy-the working class-this grip can only tighten. This carries the underlying danger

SWAPO

guerrillas being used in the future against the working class in the interests the today against militants challenging th treacherous oolci. seauersnip From carefully measured the bourgeois leaks media dilel a recent round of secre diplomacy in Southern Africa and Atticans Tolonial London (where South administrator Viljoen met Carrington and Labour's Shore), South Africa is clearly pressing for more modif- to the UN plan, with Icallons imperialist connivance. Ambitions Under pressure from imper- ialism

SWÁPO

in its weakened set succumb

DOS LION

further-even to the s int of sacrificing key parts its iclolst amolaons. The imperialist powers and the South African government will lose no time in seeking une weakening or the Page 7 South African troops on patrol near the Angolan border

SWAPO

bureaucracy : forces, the immed- Im Der1a 1s1 split it and win iate task facing auemoug co elements to an obedient internal the defence of the working grouping class. That detenci • Caa These rotten manoeuvres in pe carred inrouon ano securer the corridors by the fight to take the struggle ol secrer dtDo- macy .confirm yet again the by developing the inde forward, political bankruptcy SWAPO's leadership programme and to mo bilise the Sorker Anian olgle todad reso unoT balance of forces unstanle African favour interests overtnrow capitalsm workers in Namibia acnaas political CarT vine TOTOUgn Paralysis struggle the

SWAPO

bureaucracy. Only the fight to build the Trotskyist Namibi: ine storea-up milltancy the undefeated proletariat sectior reconstructed burst ready Fourth International • Ilias. Cal sulusgits- LasK acleno une streneio of the work ing class Stalinist, fight s inde emeilisa tion of reformist paralysis and capitalis independently workers the attack, and build it towards the reformists and around demand.

anctatorsmp oi tne proletariat that express their independent *Build the independent class interests and build their of the organisations working political independence. class in the ghettoes and work.

of decaying places to mobilise the oppressed Tne imperialism's frenzied efforts to around their masses indepen. conditions of capitalist dent class interests and agains Stabmty ш aacks on tie soul Alrican/imperanst plans working class and all anti- *Build the armed struggle part of the defence and mobilis ation the

WULKIY

militants military ГО] wit! training to help build a workers' *Fight for and Dowkmme ol democratic transitional demands, including: 1) For a Constituent Assem.

bly tied to the destruction o ine sta ach bupolis armad courts, labour oule senichures nor the buiding independent organs control by the working over democratically elected delegates 2) For a massive programme of public works and services i the towns and countrysut under workers' control 3) For a living wage tied to a slidins scale, determined by committees. For work sharing on Iul Dav lnde Wokes conino . CNatiol aife thnnind es det the control committees agricultural workers

OOO

Deas anus 5) Expropriate the banks, mines, factories and large farms under wiulodl compensation workers conttoi *Break all collaboration with imperialism and its agents. No secret diplomacv : development of a

TROT

• The of genuine aid and pruxtalne solidarity for thè aE DORIS suu i to oe later . up by thi workers move. menAIOnl ment. SWAPO supporters march in Windhoek, December 1978

HEALY'S LATEST

Page 8

FRAME-UP

EXPOSED

French OCI. It's wonderful what you derous allegations. Many of these are hoary old 5) That we are on the point do with a lively and can of • an array of lies shamelessly re-hashed even scurrilous imagination, revisionist groups. thougn long since rebulled of docu- were also handful stolen Others have been especially we ments and the fine art of fabricated for the occasion, with working Hansen. with Joseph SWP leader American the aid of material stolen in a innuendo.

FBI/GPU

"double and alleged raid on Alan i normelt s nouse m Anyone who doubts the 1977 and now clearly furnished agent: and that this made the WSL part of an elaborate series such raw materials the

WRP

by extreme inal offer for the provocations against production or a right wing or the forces of the work of destructive fiction state. should study the six-part serie of Neculess lo say these charges has any validity ir "Thornett's Weasels that tilled Crisis no less than fourteen pages of fact-as a brief answer to each the Workers Revolutionary can demonstrate this article Newsline at the _intend n Party's daily We t 1) The Newsline "investiga- simply to expose the falsity of mere 59 beginning or Appl tion' inal a the allegations raised article The "Newsline WRP members were expelled at anonymous Newsline. son of the ViPS further eaten.

the time of Alan Thornett being investigation wilook in more ceral al tilt for his burgea Irom unepally more important question political differences. ineorv or ine oost-war mistory the WRP, result of its of the Trotskyist movement as Yet this fails to square with own ongoing political crisis, has police/FBI/CIA/ the fact that sub-

KGB/GPU

such against conspiracies Uncastl districts of the the WRP, in which politics play tirade of nes at inis pomt u outside London Kegion werE only an incidental role expelled en bloc by a bureau- The incoherent, articles, Thus the Newsline series sets cratic sweep of Healy's pen rambling and out not to challenge the iconsisecul Using a technique tried and the political positions inougn tney are, raise essentially Tester ov a le or bureaucral inter-related allegations Socialist from Joseph MR leadership are. Stalin Jack workers LcazuC. founders the indeed it only refers to our Jones, the the most absurdly positions in the in organised the branche: 1) That we have consistenti Oxford, Swindon and Reading lied about our expulsion from sub-districts. the WRP in 1974. and falsified Oxford The sub-district Wall off the numerical size of the WSL at that aone commorised 2) That we condone violence (on standard WRP reckoning), within our movement. Rather its objective is to wall inex excess of 100 members: only That we have liquidated off WRP members and sympa- these complied thisers trom aiscussion Wins. into socia pemocracy anu arti Healv's demand that they sign a the WSL portraying communism. declaration supporting polite pro 4) That in our struggle for Thornett's expulsion. liars programme intriguers, the Trotskyist we witnin

WEIC

Handful ¡ne series nas inererore the working for the purera Duck- not of scrious Jenkins) Group-then character the of the British section polemic but of a catalogue ol Swindon headed increasingly grotesque and slan- contained in excess of 30 WRP handful of menuels. with Healy. In Inem staved Reading a 50-strong sub-district including. branches in Reading, and Bracknell was Basingstoke reduced to a skeleton crew of Healy stalwarts. Elsewhere, of the the Battle for Trotskys WhiP members were expelled Loly on poo in shore. Mes Thornett. supporting total casily amounts to the 20( claimed by Thornett time. Nobody ever claimed that all

IMOUS-LETTERS AND FALSE-WITNESS DEPT,

200 joined the Workers Socialist when it was formed a week later. of them -having been Many for some years loyal WRP mem bers were appalled at what they saw as the bureaucratic degener ation of rotskyism itselt, and were anenateo trom revoraton- ary politics. became * casualties of Healy's degencra- wore to tion Gentlemen: the wise. Prof Zoned Prof. gones No figures has falsified subversive, attendance In tact less than half of the tired. * Ahould 200 expelled members came records" Blue together to form the WSL They a Friend, - a True Patriot were olncuoy 'SLL/WŘP members few former who had left the movement prior to the split. The WSL has of course never membership

01915 HERBLOCK

let alone falsified ones the News

UNDERCOVER WORK

"investigators" fall far shor of the mark we e nea guess that we have only /U Under Hansen's leadership SWP exposed FBI provocations members.

FOR!

LABO

questions for the WRin 1902 But let us add couple 1973 the

SLL

highly successful Right to march-with a rally of 7,000 in Wemblev Pool: and a Pageant of class history attended workers and youth The WRP itself was launched in a cat over souv memoers. Unobtainable Where have they all gone? Whv is Newsline almost unob tainable strongoldse what is me current in former membership of the WRP? And- more nayt these members actually done in struggle since 1974? the class the answered Newsines challenge. we awall the WRP reply to ours 2. The Newsline claims that alegatons Yo ence subsC quently made by the disi esteember painst members against ana sub ecleu to a cover us Ihis is a complete Ivewstine fabrication: the allegations-as the must know from their hoard of stolen docu- ments-were I De Doll baseless and factionally motiv- elements who ated Workers the oTeak Socialist League and dissolve its forces into the above Party "investigation" repeats une Thornett opposition that the represented an adaptation to Social Democracy The "evidence" ever produced to substantiate ins absurd claim is fabricated quotation allegedly sulteged by uttered Wildl cribed WRP Central Committee. The working class will be attracted to the reforms of the The Labour government wil come the ruling into conflict with • Workers will suppor class the Labour government's reform prossee RP Control Com- (See ted in The Baille for Troiskysin interim report. reprin ted in p. 153). Parody The "quote" is in fact not Thornett's at all, but a parody his position by Healy's hatchet-man Cliff Slaughter why the WRP to this day has not found a single honest tation either

WRP

two interna documents or in the pages nearly ZOU issues ol socials Piss positions or hose of tee those his captulate to 'hocial De the cracy. Indeed so much are Socialis Press politics a capitulation to Oxtord vocar bemocracy lat Socialist Press supporter Heslin has been subjected to a.

Vanessa Keagrave endorsing WRP sectarian line on Labour government national witch-hunt from enacavour to the Labour • Party, while wol members and supporters in the repeatedly been Have subjected bureaucracy шалаветен allegation The • 4} Thornett and his supporters within the WRP were acting of the French OCI an "Blick-Jenkins Group Ine serves a double purpose for the

WRP.

On hand it the one that the designed suggest whoie oppositon was silipiy a sinister plot-and thus divert from the political attention that Thornett raiser Gustos

WRP

opposition leadership. Bankrupt On the other hand, by false- founders of the Inkie une develop we represented aleratiol unla a capitulaton to sociai demo- crathat is their evidence fo such a claim? It consists entirely of material produced by . the Bulletin Group and its sup- porters. The Bulletin Group's extra.

vagant claim that the were "res- ponsible crystallising the Thornett tendency" is accepted Healy, Coll inem suostanta opposition sections" the documents were written docume me were of theon bei The fact is that in the period prior to the struggle within the Bulletin Group ot docu ooduccu а пилос. ments raising remate criticism of the • methods and positions of the Healy leader.

ship, rocussing in particular on the ultra-left sectarianism the

WRP,

its liquidationist "mass recruitment" campaign in the lebruary 1974 election. and on heav abandoment or lot method of Trotsky's Transition.

al Programme Conclusion Though the Bulletin Group from these formally drew criticisms a liquidation conclusion-that revolution aries should abandon their face the Labour and simply enter party-the Donts raised could not be brushed aside In conflict • the line of both the WRP and the Bulletin vroup founders of the WL struggled a return to the method o Lenin and Trotsky As the two documents were comole. -comorising materia written by Alan Thornett, John SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

YAS

BLACK

& WHITE-

UNITE&

FIGHT

FORCE

LABOUR

GOV TH

RESIGN

Lister, Tony Richardson others-they drew also for two sections cuotatons anu material produced the Bulletin section on the question or Group. -specifically workers control • broductor (composed in the first docu ment almost exclusively, of quo.

Tallons) Hea v's use or Ine tem CorDol to describe reformist leaders It has suited the Bulletir Group at the time and since the role the struggle some early even persuaded WSL members that this was the case-and on this basis organised to wreck

WSL

branches in Reading and Swindon. the reality was political different: the differences between the

: WSL

, and the founders of the Bulletin Group/OCI were sharp fromtht very outset.

WRP

well know: from its ot stoler conclul verv first WS] documents, ine Internal Bulletin-publishe weeks after the WSL wa founded-contained scathing attack on the politics of the OC.

written during the split itself by John Lister indeed Newsline itself And unblushingly carries a quotatior Horrocks, a Bulletin Group supporter who split from Complaint In the quote he denounced the WSL leadership for refusing to collaborate with the OCI, and commelans lild regarded ine leve or areemen with the OCI as "a couple of positions in a thousand"!

facts speak for them supporters of th se ves. Bulletin of huidationist *party entry" into were LaDOU politically toughi within WSL: a lengthy critique of thei by John positions was written Lister and Tony Richardson.

their soone positions openly, the OCI sup orters walked out of the mov neal. everyone us lie postiu.

or ine bulleim roup quoted the series and Newsine file l s linked to the politics o taken the period after this split had taker place! On these questions, there- fore • the WoL has no case. ti ansiver: the positions attacked not and never have been ours! 5) consisten unread running through the unsavoury verbiage of the Newsline article is the suggestion that the WSI endership spenos its entre unne searching for other organisations to liquidate into fevered and paranoic in the view of Healyism, in which the world is largely populated by

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

WRP chosen ally: Gaddafi WRP chosen ally: Iraqi dictators Bakr and Hussein various of provoca- represents. cussion But since opposing is obviously storen Tne and, likely, -a Newsline . know more NOTHINg wildly information Thus and exchang

WSL

discussion the has We would contlast

O UI

engaged "intrigue* •with position "negotiation" be in a list of nature international alicealions What members really know political United States Heav anti- communist and Libyan The dictatorships? has held picture the PLO leader- at the thed ship? Were consulted set of talks other

OVCI

discover on v them of pages in the dark." Newsline? But knows. trie groups have the

WRP

from With criticism and continue nationally. seriously and consistery 101 une the ne in news- to seek that mongering--the

UISCUSSION

IMG-

callulatcu proves to ist movement. can and are principled and snippets ground make further Mon result unev calm

WRP

of one course. Line with simply every rival "spies" "provocateurs"

WSI

1110 to withdraw from all public the struggle in Britain and !!I mternanonally. criticism Pabloites of the the open- every In reality discussions other documen- • was repub- material been circul- lished tary Press in gates One November 1979 of which 13 More s to conference of facts course Faction in Newsline's vewsline

SETICS

attempts reinforce "Hansen the extened ing the of those anti- longing this Ihe party group' Some of masterspy hatch Healy after OnLy sce booted out? But whole

WRP "

We have shows, consistently assU logic. Press of their had tions" Hansen to be case. We have also opposed created. attempts this attempt between leaders and Hansen. Newsline Last ments press Hansen and Healy will not "Attorney shrink in of the FBI"!

FBI,

opponents. never

MUCI

spoken received com- up the with Hansen London WRP's Unruffled ine according "theoretical" Labour Newsline: plices and Mary ments five Alice Waters with Blick, and Mrs

OCI,

close Ther mise

WRP

disregard reality Not only gations are . for what meeting they are:

WSL

rate a Battle mention in their organisation possible innuendo,

NEVER

sular vi sluick

HAPPENED!

•a complet material InTO Tine of spy impression the WSL is a possible that It 1s oi Jenkins, mansen mel Bilck. number group's tactics others: but there was no event had by "come unus Better

TTOM

out" with any the Party without paradeo to ripe such open 'The invitation The however, Conscious the very next column that: Thornett and (Tariq) Ali ever do Corame nee supply the police force with regular speaking engagements.

But the sheer ignorance and Tariq Ali tigation" which revolves which states was October 1979" hacks complain that: "This resolution never for this? the "The WRP/IC resoluuon. discussion, never the WSL. (ure vote b In fact Fourth ly and adopted Contentious position that: the While the WRP they still that the world Trotskyist Their bankrupt demands Ene O1 une lag mented International - Sooner challenge the political assess- of the ments ution, i debate nọt sense Page 9 Healy "Is the members fo violence readers members? saying that the '...? This is police

CODE OT

would like the WRP so • they carry out policy assassmatons. alone: perhaps "network side the and "They like hit-men with a in their back • around gunmer political opponents! fanciful hysteria; left police agents reader: desperate principled ealy's We assured that Newsline's circulation and lies our movement

WRP

call have not com- pletely their Ca balll mucoenaen record and their leadership towards

Page 10 The monumental slump that is under way as a result of the Tories' monetarist strategy for starving British profitability industry into has brought yet another crop of redundancies and closures. alone me loremost vicums in and are car components industries, in which inere is a growing word-wide crisis. BL Chairman Michael Edwardes warned week last that ON or as banned l cutback in the Leyland work- force. And in the Tories' other prime larget or attack, bsl union leaders formally committed to opposing redun- naye Thingt, which is to be run door Port 6,000 Jobs at to half production. turinet sackines nave been agreed at BSC's plant in Cleve-

JOIN THE

With workers by the thousand taking streets to Tory policies there is plainly no lack of militancy the organised working class. ver ine existine trade union bureaucrats and Labour leaders -whether right or 'left'-have offer no perspective those workers orepared

TIONI

defence of jobs, living stan- dards, social services and demo.

cratic rights can only be defended inrouch oolicies Which start from the independent interests of the working class, international nothing to gain and everything to lose rom attemes to restore employing class. In a period where the contra- of dictions the anarchic capit- tore we will Mosure a ne desaucron ou ne productive forces society, socialist nly economy on a world scale offers a way forward. lo acnieve such a persoed tive leadership needed which, in today's struggles fights Please send me moré details the Workers Socialist League. Name Address. Send to WSL: BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX.

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

land. and are almost agreed at wales Another steel plant in Warming- ton is also to close. These go a long sackulas Towards Bol s target ol 52,000 redundancies, accompanied by the other prong une omensive- Donus schemes offering extra cash for accepting increased workload and a slashed workforce car comi ponent Lucas planning 2,800 sackings; Wilmot Breeden is negotiating of 300 jobs at the two Birming.

Dano is cutting jobs with the closure of its Cable St. hampton plant and Cuts • I enora. Textile bosses are pressing home their attack on bid jobs the restore Courtaulds announced two new week factory closures, with a loss of 670 jobs, Dians lor over zu sackings 1n Lancashire and Northern

WSL!

avance WorKers ocvone trade union mutancy protest politics and illusions that capit.

alism can be abolished through parliament The Workers Socialist Leave a ¡ rotskvisi move ment fighting day in and day our such a principled redoesnip in une working class in britain Internationally. we newiy.formed affiliated Trotskyist International Liaison committee. wich tients tor une reconstruction the - ourth and the building parties in every lead country and calls parasitic Stalinist the bureau cracies deformed and degene ted we der rates. invite Socialist ses sCar more cerals or the woL and its work and to join us in the struggle for socialism.

NOW AVAILABLE

Labour movement bulle- tin Ireland with back- ground articles on witch- Oxford and Tame- hunts in 25 p including side. from

WSL

BM Box 5277 London WCIV 6XX. Witch-hant a

"YEOR

WAR!

WHAT

WAR?

The doomed Corby steelworks

JOBS MASSACRE

Ireland. workers must demand that the This spate of cutbacks and employers' books be opened to disaster Closures 101 cit Lauc unon committees Working cass. t must be resis expose the anarchy and proti ted through a determined policy teering that lies at the root of the occupation, supported current wave strukes and blacking action.

redundancies. ane underline the necessity for the nationalisation The demand must be for the defence of jobs through a of basic industry and the banks, without programme of work sharing or compensation under full pay control of workers' management. under elected trade union committees In the fight for this policy NUPE branch fights for real rises London NW Ambulance by the chronic disorganisation of the low pay strikes Branch has passed tne Since have found following resolution on the union's pay policy: optiming baneshaaken out "A pay increase minimum of €75 E. be added to If it is passed this resolution will: weekly wage-this to cancel out port shit fores. This settle.

*Commit the union to a real The • Dresent union basic increase in our wage, protected agains eno to percentage increases ana a minimum wage claim will do inflation between with the waze revicws. une mock anking problems of differentials.

Will be carrico out ov an electe union committee In the *Establish a clear policy for claim winning the claim, avoiding the confusion of "selective action" the Committee baccallye Sunki so wille we mean of all its sections with elected ousiness. union committees controlling *Protect our wages inhetween annual increases.

supplies services". such as this wil build on the enormous strength which showed during the Support battle against the 5% limit.

to. pass reso We strongly if it falls, lution, and, help us yOu support resolution. After prepare for a victory next striking three times against the years conference. 5% members of our wage Signed by London NW Ambulance Branch WUrU

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Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) . SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

TROTSKYIST INTERNATIONAL LIAISON

COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

TROTSKYISM

AND THE MASS

MOVEMENT

Eight days of lectures and discussion on basic questions of Marxism and the fight to reconstruct the Fourth International.

JULY 20-27 1980

•TROTSKYISM AND THE TRADE UNIONS: USA in the 1930s. The postwar struggle to build Trotskyist parties in the working class

*TROTSKYISM. STALINISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

Tos stron for the against Stalinism in the 1930s. period of entry into social democracy in Lessons France and the USA.

"TROTSKYISM AND THE FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL

OPPRESSION.

*TROTSKYISM AND PETTY BOURGEOIS NATIONALIST

MOVEMENTS

"THE FIGHT FOR A TROTSKYIST YOUTH MOVEMENT

TROTSKY ISM AND THE FIGHT FOR NATIONAL

LIBERATION

*RECONSTRUCT THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL

Evening meetings on additional topics, films and social went The school will be attended by delagations from the organisations affiliated is special finvited n is being ended to supporters of members of the

WSL

the WSL to take part in the discussion and learn more about he way and to La stails are available from any WSL branch or from: W VI Box 5277, London WC1V 6X Cost: £12 includinc accomocaton ror we dont days.

cheap meal will be provided at lunch time and there will be a pooled fare arrangement. Creche facilities.

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

For a £2.00 clear

[PRESS

£4.00 lead in thi struggle againsi £8.00 wage control, cuts £14.00 and redundancies Send £9.00 your cheque/P.O. to Socialist Press, BM Box 5277, £16.00 London WC1V 6XX. £10.00 £18.00

LINK NURSERY STRUGGLES!

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday May 21, 1980.

As the CPSA conference last week Thatcher met announced a further 75,000 civil cut in service jobs making a total reduction of 102,000 the jobs since Tories came to power. With the right wing "Daylight' group led by Kate • of the Losinska gaining control

NEC

residency ane clear that there will be no fight against these cuts and no imple- many militant bassel ence: The right will move postal rapidly and balloting reterenda to sack drive the left out of the union first time in CPSA eectons nao been cared out by individual voting in branch meetings iesulting from rule change put forward by the lett wing at the 1979 conference.

The Militant tendency and

CPSA

Tribune supporters the lett wing Darnie wall pals.

TOT

umon benocracy electoral defeat and maintain to ditch was a Lic block vote sysicill. press did • nonen the nory influence the election the Broad Left were defeated because 5. the record On cuts and suspensions, failure to campaign • against the their settlement and way oreanse al grass Since the Tories took office a large number of have nursery campaigns all the sprung up

UVC

to defend the country threatened provision for the under fives. Many or these orew tom une experience of the Oxford City and its occu Oxford valival Class, Nurserv the cuts the last Labour government. The May 17 Nurseries Conference calicu Through The eur Nur erec Campaign Nottingham extremely important minative m onnging tnese lighl- campaigns together ing to discuss the nuts bolts of and how we fight the cuts in nursery provision. this it was completely In called opposite to conferences SE Tuc on provision for the under examole.

TUC

fives Report on the under fives. Both of these. Ike so many concentrated on why we need nurseries, the benefits No daylight for civil service jobs roots level. Though the right won the they were not elections successful in the actual confer.

ence debate. On pay resolution was calling one-day for basseu special pay conterence

• TO CO•

alternatives to the Pay i system. voted favour full officers despite the that tact campaign against it by the right Wing ane

LIDA

quarters APEX branch. Industrial action A motion was passed calling for industrial action in support of Phil Branch Secre- of Department

LIC

Employment Brixton and

SWP

su for takingho who ben had sacked half-day off to attend the anti- Corrie demonstration February. that it clear however, will be difficult to get the new NEC to initiate action: in defence and SWP member Mike didn't help McGrath proposing selective strike action, saying suggesting Nobody's everyone should go out on that indetinite strike and the CP Multant managed to put through a resol- endorsing the ution action the Broad Left NEC over cuts, children and why we must edu- cate community' etc. on these needs totally ignored noth tight to tich of how we are achieve expansion of this grossly maue lale slalt service ane zoe centra oueston of how we now defend it from annihilation. Same experience The majority of the sixty delegates and observers who Attended ete a vet haved in Nottingham strugges an snared experience in defending their against local nurseries either closure or cuts I stdillle There were strong delega- from the Notinand tions Birmingham Leicester, from the Wandsworth Nightingale Lane Nursery occu- The conference felt that this was a very real basis for the start of a national nursery campaign on the necessary that tocussed • Lo acco facilities and demand expansion.

An Al TIE TOР... though resolutions which called over closures were not heard orders Coll mittee also ensured that there time to discuss oppos- was paymen votementary Benefits to strikers familie: Social Resolutions abortion, Securiti

INO.

immigration controls Terorism Act were not heard on Ireland put lorwara by tne mutant support ing the Better Life for All Cam- passed in the face of asanis! • The tondonate In the debate it was difficult to distinguish Militant speakers Icil Wa. On race, an NEC resolution supporting ethnic was passed monitoring in the civil service.

Loskinska rerusea to eject a National Front member who conference delegate was despite the of many delegates. Conference 610 succeed in Civil Service manage- ejecting who had been invited by the Nacas observers It is necessary mount the right wing leadership. It is also essential fight in the the DIUdu ribunited Militant who pose no threat to the right wing. was set up to discuss the immed- of a booklet, Tate

DIOQUCLION

coordinating the various and setting out campaigns, much needed information culled

ITON

Ull questions as how to stanista campaign, how to plan an occu- getting trade union support for these plans. how to fight for strike action to defend threatened occupations and how community action • on thf abour movement. Other questions which would covered would include avoiding demoralisation 11 ana wnen numbers or cam paigners fall. On the question of where the money for nurseries is to all campaigns come stated their absolute opposition saving nurseries éxpense of other services being cut instead. agreed that the welc monev must nOT De louro Di services, increasing rates but by investigating rents spending and Counce what was going in pront private suppliers and the interest rates Vallas

•AFTER ALL, IF THE TORIES WON'T TALK TO US,

WE OFFICIALS COULD WIND UP ON THE SORAPHEAP!

¡THE PRESS HAVE CERTAINLY

Page 11 St Mary's fight closure May 14 saw further of a casualty department in the Also on the demonstration evenings and at weekends.

was contingent that had action by health workers marched from St. Charle supporters from West In the event the AHA post- and Hospital Ladbroke Grove Paddington and Kensington poned Its acason on u

CULS

At a livelv pavement meeting undeterred. some Mary's trade union community fighting cuts at including striking speakers were supported by tw Hospital, Harrow Road. the took part in evalticis AnA memocis wilo vousu lu The TUC Day of Action was demonstration. A mass meetne cuts-while others going in were decide at the other St Mary's Hospital also the AHA's day given a noisy reception. in Praed Street, had voted for on the closure or 1ei acule Deus at the hospital and the closure NUPE secretary sacked conduct" was thrown in as well.

another hospital • shop steward from The NUPE Branch Secre- a member of tary at Selly Oak Hospital the mas

NUPE

CORSE,

sacked members Observes was sacked last week by the meeting was nearly assaulted o walked out South Birmingham District outraged NUPE members. the weekend 300 members from only i co bust it is Health Authority. For not five different hospitals the the strike, branch were also out. given was nis June reason faint- persuaut frequent absence from work on mas. hearted NUP i members trade duties, and, for Monday May transfer to their union! unspecified Jock Cummings' reinstatement good allegation

DO SISECHL

•was law slal Scots teachers strike Glasgow ended in a rally at The decision of the of the the handling by the Clegg Com- Glasgow ureen National Executive of the ware biall The event was organised by mission. the membership are it Educational Institute Glasgow Action the a militant mood. Scotland to launch a series who strike call committer Tuesday last met with a massive the loca of indefinite 3-day-per-week association. , membership, strikes in 100 selected response Irom un Whilst there was nothing in shutting schools throughout the schools marks a major step itself wrong with such a move, country. forward in the campaign for une ourcome was Wlat tilcy wort not granted in return the right for a 20% wage increase Meeting closed speaker on the Scottish teachers. platform A demonstration of 3,000 after a 10 After a year As It turnca oul frustration and bitterness over teachers through the streets of minute speech from Rose President of the union the LTat • meeting members who wanted a speech 1oll d Committee offer of 03% hal The lilallas Callell has been changed / unacceptable

LO LIC

Cuticles proposition oi 14% conatuona even they had been forced into teachers working an extr five hours per week most common bitter Illass DreSSUIC experience that the campaigners from their membership and have Such an offer was bound to spent all their time since seeking lead to a breakdown of negotia- the role of the snared Was tions. avoiding spreading trade union leaders. excuse 101 Time again was pointed out how they had let An emergency resolution There is now talk from the was passed by the conference in management side camoatens down. increased offer on the basis of a

NUT

of resolutions support

SUDOOL

viciniscu 22% cut in the teaching force.

refused to follow up with mem her wileen rosole and cal ing on the NUT to organise all- mean a loss oi . other more anything 1,000 talk of bris strike action against cuts speeches deals CoOKed All talk being the with local authorities selling out ana vicusatons. of the year and and dressed up realistic compromisese

NUS

lne tine fight is to say it is a Teachers Inausula muscle" must be combatted. If parents' battle. Noticeably the trade union That seems to be the line of begin on the slippery slope back bureaucracy boycotted the con all the public sector unions wn‹ and leaverhe fil to us to parents are determined stand back wages terence -witn conditions. Nottingham NUPE official John Teachers must confidently McGuigan. a community cameras wo are all too bitterly aware of the McGuigan, who had himself limitations of protest union movement, especially the on the people called public for campaigns and even their direct sector unions, Nottingham get down their knees action. support. pray For without the widespread their children caucation of trade union claim in right now and face the threatened ov cuts. precictabi defended the role of the union staff making same employers action. strike solid bureaucracy by blaming IVaK and parents become through picketing of schools on membership for being umol demoralised from battling strike! unwing to mont their own for these most *No retreat of the 20% It was pointed out that not claimo acceptance : single • union had organised one vitaly needed services of any any action against nursery cuts for turther details of the national co Anti comet, commit- strin or strikes on an area basis apart from Nottingham NOT 33 Nornys Ave., Oxford. contact Anne strikes in defence of suspended Eileen Crosbie-and immedlateve

... AND WITH 22% INFLATION, THEY WONT EVEN

-SLASHING THE ENTIRE WELFARE

CONSIDER A SENSIBLE SYSTEM OF WAGE CONTROLS!

STATE... SHACKLING THE UNIONS...

I TELL YOU WHAT, AT THIS RATE THERE COULD

ENDING SECONDARY PICKETING!.

EVEN BE REDUNDANCIES

OURS!.

... AFTER ALL, IF HE ORGANISED FROM

WHAT A SCANDAL-"LENIN MURRAY" INDEED.

AFTER ALL HE'S DONE FOR BRITAIN!

MADEIRA, SCE YOU ALL ON MAK ITH.

ABROAD, WHY CAN'T I? I'M BACK

OH I DONT ANOW, OLD

LENIN WASNT ALL

WRONG, WAS HE?

Brezhnev's offer they can't

SOCIALIST

PRESS

DAY OF

DECEIT!

Pay

ACTION

COMITEE

Pensioners join march in Oxford Though last week's diplo- matic moves by Soviet leaders and other politicians appeared to focus on the Afghanistan, question there is little doubt that the behind driving force main the latest moves of imperial- ist and Stalinist leaders alike political the unresolved crisis in Iran. the Carter's wake of avenue. little reference is being made to the issue. the real the come fore: how to restore stability and authority over Iran and the Gulf states?

underlined rebuild the damaged June lages, lo by the dismal failure of Iranian links with imperialism. President Bani-Sadr to secure his also Hoked lo Majlis (Parlia- evident lack of any programme uld Ulity mentary) to answer the crushing material electons Sho winne that little remains of his sweep- problems of Iran's workers January majority presidential election. mountine is preschaser presiding-as revendes State apparatus dwindle, Budget estimates high and dry Further evidence Bani- Sadr's inpotence was offered dec ine obviously related to his veekend attempts to reinforce the central volunteers hyatulall as balalls.

, LIC

nakuan conco moe rrescent began the demolition of the suruggles or natonal minonties, and, by returning the US hos- marbled tomb of the Shah's 'ublished by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Printed b: egistered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Sigmed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socterst tea ondo May 14-designed by the TUC as a day of weak-kneed lunch-time meetings and badge wearing-proved to be a day of mass strike action, with more than 250,000 workers participa- 130 ting in a total demonstrations throughout the country. In inis respect the aal be seen as a substantial failure for: *The government-whose vicious class anu-working policies, far from beating into submission nave tide militancy throughout the labour *The employers-who wound up paying out wages to those workers who cocked in while many cases achieving only 50% production. *The media -whose attenhe watch un! ana Crust anti-Tory movement taller to a stoppage that para the lysed Fleet Street Brezhnev father Reza Khan. They declared that Bani- Sadr's hostility less ot was problem them strength tomb's rein- or the forced con Cete malls! Market Commor counties prepare to make their - in most cases token-contribu- tion to the US sanctions against the fear one maas

LIEC

internal and external under pressure Iranian central government will crack, stalt magent Into lis original component parts.

This fear is also in the fore machine and mobilised more strikers than the first day of the General Strike *The union leaders-whose efforts to use the day of action to let off steam wound up yet they demonstrating THaT behind their members ате тат and incapable of mobilising the potentia anti-Tory movement unica alon I natcher government Yet so great has been the cover-up of the events media o1 14 that tew May rank and file workers will see it in tnis light.

A cross section oI the day s activities offers very different reading from that offered by the capitalist press: *Docks at Hull, Southamp- London docks were hatted.

Liverpool and some *More than half the mines were shut down *Inter City and many local services halted disrupted. *Bus sérvices in many areas were hit. *Thousands shipyard workers, steelworkers and Rolls refuse front Kremlin thinking Increasingly the Stalinist leaders lean une ary struggles on their very door- step pure mad • not contain, would WIlt call prompt military repression they are not to Spread. Soviet armies Any move into Iran to crush such struggles could trigger an all-out confron- tation with the imperialists. An arrangement is therefore seen as vilal lo bluviut duv uale dical stabilising Tine

. STUATION

Iran, to preserve the balance of class forces on which both Stalinists imperialists and depend. Talks This last why week Brezhnev took the lead in pro- imperialists: talks non- interference pact between Afghan and world peace conference and stales Brezhnev's move has caught

FUND

We are still chasing £397.30 to complete our May Fund and we have only gor twelve days mn wilchito la lt we simply canno afford to fall short of our target this month so we are asking all ou readers and supporters to think about making a . contribu- is vital for maintaining Socialist Press an the work of the Workers Socialist League.

Socialist Press Fund, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX Socialist Press 100 Club 19 May, ISt-30; 4na-03 Officials back scabbing Leaders of four major unions-comprising nearly 4 million members-are collaborating in the training of scab labour to break a strike by GMWU members. This scandal has arisen in the dispute over bonus payments to skilled thermal laggers ales or Gran the powel stallot But the issues involved are far more wide reaching Print workers march down tleet street As usual in 110V the CEGB has threat disputes. Royce workers took strike ened to close down the whole BL's Cowley site-with a loss of over 2,000 rant was reducea to less tnar laggers 50% production their struggle Engineering plants in many And as is also now routine in disputes, alvas of une country were lorced major union officials to admit badly reduced produc- have rushed to comply with thi tion. Civil Servants, too as well management blackman teachers joined local strike What is not so usual is that and demonstrations the laggers their Street it- together with workers joined one WILIStOOd London demonstration pressure on them, and refused marches included Otner to back down Glasgow Edinburgh, 15,000 in Liverpool Southampto North West salies 2,000 Calle in Leicester and UCATT have come together an unholy alliance to endorse

CEGB

moves to train unskiller overflowed the samiotic paces workers to scab on ue accors by pessimistic unde UMwE from their 6,500 pressure Len Murray and Alan Fisher laggers on sites throughout the The en of May 14 being have only "first of many days could cause chaos, and asked for the four unions to be suspender or accon acanst rory bonde Trade unionists must insist from the TUC that their leaders abandon such the outcome o whateve efforts pressurise Thatcher the dispute the lesson is clear: a changing her union and bureaucrats are now prepared to begin the serious preparation of General Strike action 1 to bring down this vicious anti-union organise fight against covernment recognise the new forced facts of life. It is reported that Thailand holding secret talks has been Stalinist will lit over Kampuchea which the Thai government has dropped demands for the with- imperialists on the hop. While the Carter demanese

TOOD

and declared itself ready to rocked in its coat stance the recognise puppet Heng imperialist leaders-such other Lord Carrington- Britain's • proposed exchange b are more ready to face up to the Vietnamese should simply the Eastical realities of the Middle cut bacl forces Offering to help to invervene into Thalland growing and economic of imperialism Carrington that recognises military the obvious will now persuade the strength of the Stalinist regime Kremin to hand back thus creating are ConCons l recognise: which the imperialists also that they are offering Pakistan a na offered two choices: to proceed stabilise Iran, help neighbourin! Stales. with the danger of wore war'o they have no desire to see revol- to take up the Kremlin offer of utionary struggles collaboration to stem renewed There are also signs that the Pakistani Either way, the prime the Soviet military machine on of such victims its borders and by the evident the workers and • peasants of the weakness of imperialism in the wore —woose only way Ioward region, Is preparug is through the struggle for the and the rem.lt defeat of imperialism 1 and Stalin effectively recognise the Afghan the building of ism regime Trotskyist In South East Asia, also, the revolutionary: parties. pro-imperialist regimes of the

ASEAN

alliance being are