READERS WRITE Demo to defend

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I am writing this letter to you via Leicester because I see a vivid necessity in applying to join the Workers Socialist League.

My application is in the absence of any other left group with an equal programme either of political directive or practical involvement.

'I have made an estimation of the current situation in this country and my conclusion is one of neither elation nor despondency.

At one time I had considered writing to all left groups and parties with the intention of seeking common ground and finding a realistic common approach. But it is obvious that the direction of many of these left groups is one way, and that is downward. ' On the contrary, the WSL's direction is upward.

There is a necessity to join a group or party of the left because it is the only way that a person can participate in the national struggle for a Communist state.

Initially I found it very hard to accept the word 'communist' because it has such embedded connotations and has been so maligned by the capitalist classes and governments.

This can be got over by studying what communism really means and to what extent those governments who purport to be communist have seriously let down those who they govern or who support them. • Having accepted this, I have drawn the conclusion that the appraisal of communism that the WSL makes is the only one that is true:

fraternally Leicester London SE24 November 1980 Dear Comrades, In response to the growing physical,: legal, political and propaganda attacks by sexist youth, fascist organisations, the police and the forces of the right generally we have called for a mass demonstration in Manchester on February 21.

Specifically the situation is this:

1) From reports coming into many male gay and lesbian publications, switchboards, gay centres and gay groups including informal reports in bars and clubs the level and severity of street attacks has risen considerably over the past six months. As a result of the political and economic conditions we appear to be moving into an 'open season' period.

2) Police prosecutions of gay men for carrying weapons have increased.

3) Though we have little evidence as yet (because of the considerable caution and secrecy involved) we have every reason to believe that the rights and security of children living in the homes of lesbians and homosexual men are being considerably undermined.

'4) Police activity in the area of police/employer cooperation is also expanding, resulting in suspensions, kangaroo court "investigations' by employers and sackings of lesbians and gay men. " 5) The number of employers and public bodies who will now openly adopt policies banning homosèxuals from their employment is rapidly rising.

6) Finally, police prosecutions of gay men for chatting-up men (importuning, soliciting), holding hands, kissing, hugging etc (breach of the peace, insulting behaviour), making love (gross indecency), leaving known gay 'establishments (obstruction),, dancing (licentiousness, having lovers who are over 16 but under 21 (corruption) are all on the increase.

The principal objectives of this demonstration will be to raise the awareness within the labour movement of the seriousness of our position and the implications that this has for the movement as a whole.

And to sound a warning to the authorities that we cannot and will not meekly accept this devastation in our lives. ! Consequently, we will be calling on all socialist, labour and progressive organisations to join this demonstration on a national basis.

The precise slogans, route and form of the demonstration will not be decied until the Joint Committee convenes in Lancaster over the last weekend in November.

But "what is certain is that the demonstration will be in Manchester on Saturday 21 February.

We hope that the League and your press will support.

Yours in struggle, Richard O'Neil Noise Collective

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In the wake of the Hunterston sell-ou Strathclyde unions unit fight the Tories The fight of the Hunterston shop stewards against the abject sell-out imposed by the leadership of the Boilermakers Society and the STUC is now being broadened into a fight for leadership in the entire Strathclyde Region trade union movement.

On Monday 17 November the Hunterston JSSC called an emergency conference of shop stewards in the region to explain the lessons of the dispute and call for the formation of a Strathclyde Action Committee.

Around 90 delegates and abservers from 36 organisations -including JSSC's,. Labour Parties and Trades Councils attended the conference in the Partick Burgh Halls.

Opening the meeting Ronnie Munro, convenor of the Hunterston site, outlined the history of the dispute and the important parallels between Hunterston and other disputes such as BL. Sullom Voe and Lewis where workers have been viciously attacked by management backed up by cringing union officials.

L NEWS Following him, Abby Courtney, a leading shop steward on the site, told the members of the conference that their workplaces too will be under attack from the Tories.

He then made a call for, the formation of a Strathclyde Action Committee of shop stewards to fight against the Tory attack which threatens us with the prospect of three million on the dole in 1981 and a cut in dole money in March.

Pointing to the lack of leadership from the trade union and Labour Party bureaucrats who were responsible for isolating and demoralising sections of workers in struggle he said that the power of the trade union movement lay with the shop stewards and that they had to unite to give leadership and expose leaders such as Dutty.

Speakers from the floor outlined their experiences in the oil related business in the shipyards and the bureaucratic manoeuvres of their leaders and graphically illustrating Courtney's observations that despite the fact that the oil industry is very profitable, the crisis of capitalism forces the bosses to launch an attack on wages and conditions.

Eddie Daelstrom, an observer from Rolls Royce AUEW made a contribution on the union leaders, saying that they are allies of the ruling class -but militancy, is not enough to defeat them.

A fight must be taken up to force them to call action leading up to a general strike to remove the Tories.

Four speakers from the platform then spoke on the battle tion of the churches, the CB. and local authorties-both Labour and Tory!

Speaking against this, Sammy Barr from Govan Boilermakers and a leading member of the Communist Party said that the union members must use the cracks in the employing class to line up with the dissenting sections of the CBI!

He was backed up by his fellow Stalinist George McCormack, convenor of the Rolls Royce plant, who as well as backing the STUC's call to the employers, tried to turn the conference towards the Stalinist-run Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions claiming that it had fought for years around issues such as Hunterston.

This obvious attempt .to divert and tarne the developments was rejected by the conference.

The resolution reprinted below was passed by a majority lead against redundan- fight cies.

*Call a conference in Ayrshire along the lines of the Falkirk conference against unemployment. • Link the struggles in Hunterston, Ardeer and Stonefields.

*Approach Glasgow SOGAT and build a joint campaign for a Strathclyde Council of Action linking shop stewards and Labour Party constituencies in the fight to remove Thatcher.

"This conference warns the whole labour and trade union movement of the dangerous implications of the deal signed by union leaders to end the twomonth dispute at the Ayrshire Marine • oil platform construction yard at Hunterston.

The deal involves loss of at least 300 jobs, victimisation of the shop stewards, a 'phased return' for the remainder of the workforce who have to apply e to include: welders doing the jobs of caulker burners, thus doing away with the need for caulker burners; and a plater has to do his own tack welding, thus reducing the welding workforce.

In addition, charges are being brought against 48 members arrested by police in what our Committée has described as a 'military style operation' against our peaceful picket line.

This attack is in line with Tory anti-working class policy which is causing mass redundancies throughout Ayrshire and the rest of Scotland, using legislation to undermine union rights, use the police, army and courts against trade unionists, and install dictatorship. WE CALL FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTION:

1) Shop stewards committees, union branches, trades councils, to send resolutions to express alarm at the Hunterston developments and the repercussions for the rest of the movement. Branches of the Boilermakers and GMWU to demand complete reversal of the agreement and full reinstatement of all jobs, conditions and shop stewards. ! 2) That delegates from factories, yards, and workplaces form a delegate committee to forge a united campaign linking all sections; facing closures, redundancy, public service cuts, etc., and those resisting wage cuts such as at BL and public