Socialist Press no. 230

Show of strength as police bust squat

PRESS

Trotskyist International Liaison Committe Who runs Poland? That is the stark essence time off work of the latest confrontation Hence between the new union, pressure on Solidaritv leaders to Solidarity, and the Stalinist carry through a confrontation bureaucratic regime Russian while Warsaw. Poland's borders While the government rules warsaw stalinists warn that no out concessions can be made. ally Concessions According saturdav working ine eaders or the day neck wis no loss a working class "declare" leaders. the implementation of a live day week could cost up to €2,500 million a year in The gaunuer nas. been utput thrown down. Will the govern-.

500,000 workers ment pick it up? If it fails to do Reluctant so. une conscuuences lay be as grave as if it does. Solidarity was built on the base of the massive struggles by tion: the bureaucratically mis- managed nationalised economy mouse workers which eruoted last summer and brought the delays, boylesubis and layouse.

already the brink of a country New ine covernment was lorcea involve a cut in the worktorce concede a 21-point docu- of 1.5 million economic and productivity. political concessions to workers' acmanus. une or mem was di economy-some to duon In to Western hock ene to saturaay workma Since then only a handful of and bankers points been the implement a five-day week at conceded in practice. Meanwhile une worsening shortages or con sumer goods and even basic Lech Walesa foodstuffs and medicines in the detailed consultations with

SHODS

Have Made rove ano owner church leaders -has been so reluctant to press wage increases appear irrelevant. Living standards are this-or any other falling even while nominal wages are going up ant aemand at uns bolnt caus in PoliSh workers who ToughT ettect to secure independent unions than the reform of the present now look for material bureaucracy their and the

SLURRICS.

DUL

Polish workers and the strength most tangole can tual uncy can PHOTO: Andrew Wiard (Report) Dress rehearsal for Kilner House eviction: police evict Huntley Street squatters, 1978

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 230 * January 14 1981 * 20p

POLAND ON

THE BRINK

hope to secure in a beleagured they felt in last year's struggles have achieved a momentum economy 1s actional which Walesa cannot completely working class ConLOl the This has flowed into political field well. The British mass media now echoes bureaucracy - - even tanks wait WIul

ODCLI

CLILICISI

and une bureaucracy, WITh television programmes presented by media Solidarity workers wearing the Warsaw Daupes Solidarity's own newspaper are lost being pressed forward in open require an extra challenge to the state censorship ane dictatora suooress on exercised by the opposition Polish regime. Time and again workers are This is clearly an exaggera- taking strike action to force the of particularly hated Stalinist in local bureaucrats government management posaratus of the police state is More more government DIans coming under attack. improve Power But it is true that the Polish The political power of the Stalinist bureaucracies in Poland, the other East European Union stales. anu soviet This is why Solidarity leader rests not in itselt as the -now off for more capitalist countries the the private ownership of banks, fac- Tores. ane oIner means production: it rests solely ability of parasitic He knows that any signific- caste who administer the nation- alised economies to suppress the the removal rather organised independent strength the working class. bureaucracy's the demands of the DoWer assent and political criticism is destroyed, * the road is open to the working class overthrow the Stalinists take control and of the nationalised industries in the struggle for socialism.

New loans nise this all too well. This why, despite the huge military economic and political problems that would ensue there is ne doubt that the Kremlin leaders would sooner Poland- and some Warsaw leaders sooner invite • Them in than witness a revolution in Poland could that rapidl extend hroughout East Europe and th USSR itself. The capitalist leaders recog nise this, too. This is why they are Taling over unemse ves to offer new loans, cheap food and renegotiation of precipitating major struggles in Poland.

But workers Tne movement does not grasp this Solidarity lacks a develope Trotskyist leadership that preparea to spen out a revolu- tionary, internationalist programme for the mobilisation throughout

WUIKCIS

LIC

delormed workers states in the the overthrow and the bureaucracy workers' councils. In the Poland meantime teeters on the brink: the brink ol mass succe ane mae Drink of a possible Kremlin invasion.

On Sunday last the before by squatters of Kilner House, a large block of flats in the Oval London in South leave. belonging to the GLC, cele- brated the 100th day of

POLICE

their occupation in protest good as nis word Against against the GLC's plan to there sell the flats. Losistance Unce The celebration took place not inside the flats but outside •block) had been destroyed by police axes. because two davs earlier the 100 squatters been had removed by a huge force of took place with only two police.

SUP PULLO!

Can have been ite obstrucuon, and a nignly indig short of 1,000 police with axes, riot shields and other equipment was later to drive out the 30-40 last ditch released. squatters wno neid out to the ponce end behind an internal barricade take ume to check the squatters on the upper Hoors The bust was not unexpec they were ted-indeed the timing had been building and leaked from a source inside the away GLC. And it followed the abor- offence. Women and the unions Page 4 Red Youth

FOUR-PAGE SUPPLEMENT

Negotiating the 21-point Gdansk agreement Bureaucrats must crush independent voice of working class tive attempt a couple of weeks Squatters were insultingly the under-Sheriff of handed a piece of naver as they of the concon to serve a court orde eit with the address on the squatters to get them to nearest homeless aid agency; but they of course He said he'd come back with cheques for £19.000 to £23.000 which would have allowed them Anu ne Was to uy the had whichme thei such a large force had become their was little point to physical the barricade Auter ine pouce. vandalism however, they will need a lot of anu most or me doors or Ene and before will buy at any anyone unem price. So the rest of the eviction And the GLC direct works arrests branch of UCATT has already 1101 salu its menders wu back une work. nant Evening Standard reporter The squatters and their diplomatically supporters to block

HOW

HODC

Tory did, me sales nowever council is, they hope, defeated in the May one the coe alled to de be one already they have made allowed to leave a saucall protest deanst une Was LaKen scancal ol nomelessness and on an alleged motoring council house sales.

1980: Year of French crackdown Page 2 The has new year brought no respite for the Israeli government with one and political major scandal following another.

Prior Christmas the government narrowly survived a no confidence vote by 57 to 54 votes resulting EDe announcement that the inflation level was around 130% and fore- cast to TIst average of 160%. The economic downturn was political complemented bribes by the minister Affairs and further by mayoris of aggravated the Palestinian LIlE Illay uls The expulsion even provoked criticism from man! including milit- Lionist sources arist Mosse aval This reflects firstlv a recog- difficulty nition the repressing the resistance of the Palestinians and secondiy dis best to agreement combat that resistance. polls A Fl opinion show that the Tabnur Party leader Shimon under Would win aner its election Teres future and held in the neat indeed the possibility of the Begin-led roalition holdins out November have never until Leaving further blow the Zionist establishment was dealt by the release prior to ‹ hrist mas, of new statistics showing that in the face of 130% infla- tion. Israelis have been leaving the country in aroves 33,000 more Israelis left com- the same period the preceding according to the Centra Bureau of Statistics 40% drop in Jews AISO d moving Lne so-caled sale of Israel, against the previous year, was recorded.

Against this background the West Bank has witnessed massive wave of Palestinian publicly displayed nationalism strikes and Inrousn strations, many centred around the expulsion of the two mayors attacked by and most viciously The noost occupauon 1vlces However the rousing welcome for Mayor Bassam Nablus on his return Shaka of West Bank lasl

WEEK

chowe that his bobbar ee!

refuses to be cowed by Israeli repression. Insidiously Big Brother has used 1980 to gnaw away at everyday rights in France.

The list restrictions brought in last year to curtail liberties is an eye-opener *Identitv checks made legal *Phone-tapping put on a more organised footing police cells extended. *Press censorship stepped UP*State control of the media reinforced. The new measures contained Liberty. which was adopted by and will when they become law, make it obligatory for to reveal identitiy when- ever demanded by me ponce tol whatever reason. A refusal can mean imprison- udys lu months and fine from £120-£200 would need to go • back 1Uu regime in 1943 to find such draconian police French police carrying out identity check under new laws powers Not even during the Algerian Economic crisis war did France possess such a legislative arsenal. also be remembe ed as a black year for all those "marginal -immi Consuccu polltical relugees, inde pendence fighters, homosexuals, remand the conucinca shakes Begin Political discrimination blatant 1Cic away from the French Presiden of Shaka lost both legs in a car the future viability the June Jewish state itselt is in question explos last shortly atter a meeting with the the governments poncy or then minister g more settlements on he West Bank has stoked Pales threatened Ezer weIzman, who with violence dullig tie meeting. the economy This week has seen the Begin defence bill. coalition government rocked by Defence spending a new scandal over an attempi riot and Police Minister of the to hold up and Interior The desperate nature of the tvesusauon Culin Strikes in the last few comestic econom tion in his ministry. reflected in the decisions Burg dismissed, months in South Africa December to attempt to curb for insubordination, the Inspec- have demonstrated the con-

TOT

teneral ol ronce leaulg tinuing determination and petence accounts or stol the investigation! or in with, the combativity black of the further third the budget working class and the deep- Brink foreign serviculle of political ening crisis deot most on wich Is incurred The economic Crisis for military purposes. control facing the capitalist bined is clearly WIll There some truth class. 110n a01 in the loke about whether the of the ruling Likud politicians At The eno or october. ove country nas an • any or has brought 1500 workers at the Wilson army has a country. Rowntree sweet factory in East the brink of collapse-a Journey realities Harsh economic London came out on strike nastene a qne boldness oi lie pointed the knite at the have Palestinian resistance. The strike erupted in ine Sacrocanci coerence award wake of of factory promised to Ministry and these are the same 60,000 struggles in the area teachers of between 3( Zionists realities behind the and 60%, Over the last few months.

which is successa the Israeli Labour Party would provoke an avalanche of militancy has fuelled a dramatic offer no lead to Arab and can growth of similar claims has added further Jewish workers tion in East London industrial pressule The Middle East-and in Finance Minister Hurvitz has the •area neer use o1 Ine this ways resigned following the cabinet South African Allied Workers Palestinian guestion is centra and Union Carong Workers on. Food pay the award and decision to problems and ot Us this imperialism in general. unless This reflects a national situa- reversed as we go to press, it will In the immediate future we quite possibly destroy Begin's • Ton ol me grown or workers organisations. tiny parliamentary majority.

for Somes pind hit retried The whole Wilson-Rowntree There can be little doubt restricted some which organised that such a collapse Palestinians, would statelet for the

SAAWU,

walked so-called 'Labour return

OUL

hoerally sprinkled wilh warmed- with solidarity solidarin dishut entorking section government over right, platitudes about human This might in turn herald some attempt at a shabby land conditions Management responded by offer to thè Palestinians as "Buy off" sacking the workforce, who alternative to Begin's view that joined the ranks of hundreds of the biblical land of Judea anc can Samaria (the West Bank) should oner workers sackeu In iccell forever be a part of Israel.

strikes at Collondale Canneries Ray-Lite Batteries, National ecor

OLICI

omic of the military Industries and other Converter answer the talestinian demand Rapid for national self determination.

Last London lactories What it represents is a recog- alternauve Kut the determanno cal buy Some advocate organised unity of the Wilson nition by sections of the Lionist the political off" in the workers broke Rowntree estanisament Inat shape of a restricted state as the attempt rehire repression, relying totally on the employers' not be a to guarantee 01 armed may Cnedoest way workers selectvely to doubl and block Soviet influence with aid from the secret police).

financially viable policy.

the Middle East A mass meeting was held In sifting the genuine sup- Embarrassment The Amrcan towasno mn sonual• ity with victimised East London port Irom lis opposite, socialist: must fight for the overthrow of workers. Wilson-Rowntree Jewish must be workers the Zionist Israeli settler state.

were forced to retreat granted sufficient concessions to

DUSSES

basic in struggling on this prevent tem entering une arena question they unconditionally, a week after Will to combat 160% inflation and Party or the tritish tory Part friends the Israeli Labour the sacking. threatening the therefore This bosses' retreat was soon collaboration on which Zionism une red asgrace 101 DEIL Iollowea by a police attempi to anu une isidel slale Iesl wil find break working class com- workers is that unev Many pro-Lionists cleariy see precious few such friends in the bativity. Begin's determination of the leadership of the ranks Fifteen East London trade agreement which prevent any British labour movement either!

were detained by the eventually lead to a small Ilay secret police Palestinian statelet, Factory committees in the embarrassment at a time when tial elections advocates of inde- pencence • autonomv colonies (representing still barred wall Case access to coma teno Infamous Also the document "Security ane ribert is con tained the . provision to hold those awaiting deportation at Arenc. This was pealed a fere ene where avad" immigralas re enca the place ated When the new infamous document becomes law also give even less guarantee of those on remand and those charged The prosecution to be given more powers and tne righ of prisoners to appeal is to be greatly curtailed measure provoked reaction even among There protest demonstration of magis- Hales ane er or tre neces legal authorities have denouncer the text The temperature has hotter • since about ma Novemoe.

with the growth of 'presidential- ism' Giscard has meddled interest not only acquiesced in these attacks personal liberty but has often laken an active part in pressing

NEW STRIKE WAVE

IN S. AFRICA

area organised a mass meeting ir protest. Faced with the threat of working class anger escalating Victimised trade unionists. state backed down All fifteen were released on the day of the country's

OLO!

vehicle industry, black workers have continued to take up the weapons of organised strength ana class connicence lorceu l the course of factory struggles throughout last year. They turned to Have advantage Theit posses concern to maintain full produc tion during the current boom ir ven sales Last November, there was a two-day strike by • 4,000 black workers the giant Datsun plant in pretoma The entire black workforce came out in support car dispute assembly workers ove a savines suncle Management called in armed police, claiming that workers damaging vehicles and equipment on te assembly line Successful But reports indicate that the united mobilisation was success- ul n securing me demanas o] the assembly workers. The most recently reporter strike action involved WOrKerS In anote SONa alle important strategically section of the black working class Last month, drivers employed by stooped Jonesole

WOIK

The immediate cause workers' action was the victimis- of ation management herow over But the underlying build up of militancy related to ongoing wage struggle. This had earlier sparked strike in July by 1000 Putco drivers Johannesburg and in organised then Transport and A Tel member workers inion Transport Workers Union (member of th Fosatu federation). SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday January 14 1981 them through Ine government censorsnir of the press has become an issue prosecution of the directeur o Le onut jacuues rauvel the procur ator of the Republic of Paris started the proceedings Peyrefitte, demand Hiall of the Penal under article LLO Code This holds a punishment o One monu.

MADISON

ment and of Jou to 50,00l fine for "casting dis action a legal • an bicultur decision unde concinons besmirching the authority has long Mond been a thorn in the flesh of the govern ment, continually critical or lts policies and charting a some- what independent course suldy have been the repeating of the material carried in satirical the Canard Enchaine about Ene guts bestower Giscard d'Estaing and his famil by the butcher Bokass • of this article of the une use Penal one has created a or backlash and is the source of the discomfiture government The prospects for 1981 must be one of struggle to make the implementation navorkable anesto get these allacks out-along with them

TOTOWN

Giscard himself who is now trailing leader Mitterand in the opinion polls. The July strike had won Important concessions. drivers' full wage demand had not been met Drivers were determined that the return to work was on the of a rapid settlement of their wage demand by Putco.

The bosses aimed to defuse workers' militancy by a long series of diversionary negotia- meeting in In August, a Soweto drivers demanded action to force increase Hesitant union want leaders acted to noo back strke i se thin tharess" could that it could action jeopardise the made in negotiations. Crisis The anger of the drivers finally exploded in the becem Der surike The outcome of the strik remains unclear from the infor available Socialist mation Press. But what is clear is that strength and Ine united militancy of the drivers have thrown Putco bosses into crisis me we semicane or t strike is that it emerges at a time of escalating militancy and in the working class …communa the Johannesburg are and around induding range rent increases of 75% Meanwhile the President and General Secretary of the black

MWASA

media union workers nave been served with banne orders in Soweto. All these strikes show the and fighting determination moose men of we work ing class. Workers show time their readiness and again struggle despite the bitter hard ships imposed by a vicious class enemy. By taking this determination forward maebencell working class politics, workers able build their defence against each attack and mobilise their strength for thi socialise revolution

FASCIST LINKS WITH

MOBSTERS EXPOSED

Bolivian workers resist SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday January 14 1981 Over the last two years a been implicated the Ben Barka affair and who had played number of Basque national- have been killed al important part In mauntain IStS UI ing contact between Spanish French soil, while it has neo-fascist circles and profes- sional criminals in the Marseilles seemed to be impossible for police solve the widely suspected crimes and unmask the that Zurita, who had carried out killers. French number services Now however the killers are Covera CRE Wals involved in the Pierre Goldman known. It is clear that national neofascist organisations killing. Few were therefore surprised laye when Zurita, the profes- mOD Irom alres. sional criminal to ted in October was set at liberty carry soon after. out Thett Nouvelles Litteraires' com- have been

POUT

called to appear in front of the ments noncaly Assize Court in Pau. It has been have been a little imprudent two people who had carried out mnev several murders on behalf of the ottered to Spain, had been mysteriously wing num 1n killed. while t'rench being widely Ol ine VAs served to keep the two sides in contact. ted that Lurita knew too much to be arrested It was French gangsters who While evidence continues to carried out the Hendaye killings accumulate that the • worldwide of neo-fascist groups. alter lascist croupnes is being oult means substantial who Kulers. • One of the brains behind the financial and other forms of Zurita, gang was Irom full cass. will lau the ur s morning siar recentiy "cocaine' junta After six months in the Bolivian dicta- torship of General Garcia has proved totally incapable of consolidating its rule and reaching an agreement with the leading imperialist powers over how the country should be made safe for the banks. IMF has again once refused release the final $17 million of $85 million an standby Joll arcel regime November wherer 1979. At that time only obtain the loan through a devaluation peso and widespread the increases in the prices of basic necessities. Within five davs of forming government was met net i che blockades general strike roads by the increasingly radicalised peasantry. Garcia his cronies want to lay their hands onthe oi this money unev Will encounter similar nave response from the workers and Miners at the Siglo XX mining camp peasants and this, despite their Pact or not, reflects the Bolivian repression Constant barone bourgeoisie's political confusion since the July coup, they are not yet prepared for. is recognised by the Kremlin, but continues to be shunned by Postponing repayments the White House. This impasse may indeed be While the IMF has attempted once Reagan takes reso ved to ease the generals' path to the office. But it is only the tip of implementation of the iceberg of problems for the vicious economic attack on the working Country s Capitalisi Class by bostonme ceot rebay- Class walc further three political faction whose wealth ment

TOT

months, the fact remains rests on peddling huge cargoes Garcia continues to face a move.

ot cocaine who are not centrally concerned une working masser suffering a major with resolving the fiscal crisis of while setback, has not been decisively the state through the traditional defeated. mlietai Bolivia's exporting sector. massive There growing evidence dictatorship's options that the mining SLUI Is narrow once tre of pontical crisis coup brought tin which nas failure production to its lowest level pare continued take concerted action, epitom- for nearly 20 years ised in constant haggling within This fall in production is the the cabinet willel constant and aero the Andean workplace resistance by the Is leaving savement page cover Buse, Henri statement zenera secretar police union FASP. who had earlier revealed that very large •roporton or une Row Danted fascist grouping

FANE

• were shat there claimed major effort was a fascists Trom me CAor give our support Whie we to any trade union in expelling rascists and other enemies of the working class, tne case or ponce unions is somewhat special Trotskyists the we would always point to treacherous role munist Party in France at ever since the Second Worl WOIKerS struggles away from the crucial of destroying the apparatus of the state. The Stalinists' efforts to portray the French police capable eliminating. racism and fascism within their ranks serves al this slace omy lo aiverl need attention FrOm the explain to workers and racial the minority need to defence Dulla oreanisanon. independent of the state.

mints ration othe he national disintegration leadership, have formed local branch resis coot tees, 10st which are under important for leadersie example, the massive Siglo XX-Catavi complex. Wandering around While the bureaucrats of the

COB

arounu trying to pump up social demo- cratic backing Hernan bankrupt bourgeois

UDP

comrades organised a 48-hour strike late in the year which was supported I al une maor centres. nor this action militants have continued be and shot, provoking further sabotage of production. WUS proclamation trom Panama has announced another strike to take place in the next weeks, annough It appears is not the result ThaT coordination between national leadership and the rank and the icaucis leading the erectivel resistance. it would not be altogether out of character for a man such the general secretary the told a millar interview published in a national time "leave working class • It: insight of the armed forces that that the coup had given him I had never properly appreciated Delore to • vacuous populist rhetoric once out the country traitor, who told the Bolivian

WULATIO

res stance ween even ane veteran CP bureaucrat Reyes refused to similar make statement because i have Illandalt Page 3 Marc Frederiksen, chief of the neo-Nazi group FANE from class" will elevated to a generalship une working now no doubt throw in his hand Yet the junta continues to plagued by win due s This bourgeois coalition has rebellions, call abusive phone been stripped of the Cl now irom subalterns and Ent support it had up to October pected appearance of tanks ir following Union's the main square of La Paz the decision to recognise the Garcia otticers have stillul dictatorship home in laken selling unsurprisingly, their barracks while are. reports of CP militants ignoring lackeys contest for the party line and supporting Cuter or tic cle • made m mafia-style execu- 1esistallet committee. series tions in Santa Cruz. one more rebudanor vile state same rame, the UDP's At the Resistance total bankruptcy These schisms will continue by its vice-rtesdent. Jame a and worsen as the proletariat in. He set and month. revealed efforts thwarts CEnt coalton: orman • •piective runochet-style crusning ofte was to get support for a coup by working class that Garcia 'moderate would promised in July. who The then guarantee fresh elections formation of the resis the whose cost 1 tance committeer •and implemented would include the see state in day trike a deaths of hundreds of Bolivian the recovery workers and peasants, has served the workers forces-in amance extensive disenchant- peasantry which has Lo caust Last 18 moneys Attacken charac ment inside the : MIR itself, the been attacked militants of which live out thei daily lives conditions that Dal la Hake a lolar mockery or me!

manner 1.16 peasant have globe-trotting leaders' cynical sustained their support for the strategems. of the working class Nevertheless, Garcia is by no and lost the radicalism 1IU. means safe the vary in. CrIsis oline his army Natusch regime. colleagues view of this and the con- The instituicional of 'grupo tinued diplomatic activity of the officers we packet elecuons 1 5 0e nomena ace o and parliamentary rule has been international solidarity must be broken up and dispatched realised through wullsiall! distant Carisons will repudlation or deas with imper dictator and . drug addict ialism and struggle for the inde- Natusch has finally been pendence of the working class.

TURKEY SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

Defend democratic rights in Turkey

PUBLIC RALLY

Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 Thursday 29 January at 7.30 p.m.

Speakers from the Labour and trade union movement.

Women Workers and the Page 4 Unions Sarah Boston national member the executive of the Association Tele- Ann McKinley and Bill of Cinematograph, Techni- •Women vision and Allied MacKeith review the Trade Workers and cians. Sarah Boston appears that she was Unions' by for the 326pp, £12.50. TesoomsIUIC Patterns Discrimina published 1975 which Livll the position examilicu women witnin tne Inausuy and within the ACTT. Some of the report's findings six of the were ww0 ca -lt ll union's members were women, but only one in seventeen of the in film and shop stewards; 60% of production wullll members were to be TounO just three out of the 150 grades covered by the union. Commenting on the post-war reaction against the report ment slalcu. "women ... in skilled grades have now .geen 2 mOSI entirely replaced by men. The and men's bclweol women s jods nas oecome more and more rigid in the last twenty years. And the author comments: "This COlE much through about blatant discrimination, although employers were guilty Somne 1t out torouan an acceoallcc both the union and the employ- ers that such a situation was an acceptable status quo" (emphasis added) If the Bibliography included representative this

DOCK

offers a very useful introduction other to ine su oect. omny book of similar scope is listed.

Women Workers starts with chapter "women of toda of the 19th century in a displace pushful entitled Their Proper Sphere at and Home". men in every walk and protes Separate organisation Baisillie from Edinburgh saw the issue more clearly One of the main strands that two belwetl runs through alternatives-that get une carly nistory of worker girls in our ower or leave then trace union- fight to join the ists their disregarded or employers to us the trade unions-in extnnc aolsc us. until 1918 that early 1800s wasn't

• NU L

UlLY membership of both sexes advised policy separate was organisation but tried to estab- Sy ye or the strei les in agreed. cally y cali It was the textile unions that ways-women taking acuon io.

became the pioneers of mixed increased wages were replaced scab men or young boys. based on the raje tot the joes, negotiated umuons. Employers were willing to and not a rate for the 'sex of the use women cheap as they started demanding worker'. until The Women's Trade Union higher and equal pay. The senarate union organis- League, restructurea In une lale helped organise women ations on sex lines nenented separate the problems of solidarity and many also the sexist ideology organisations (because there!

women's place is "in the nome otner way). un clcll ulllls and in the new general unions.

played its role-especialiy During the 1890s the women times of economic crisis.

grew from unionists contrast to a nese alc to 70.000. In taose days examples SuseIes wilcle Women's took the lead UNon in had a series of articles industrial were Reriew on the views of trade unionists male trade suoDorLCU on organising women. unionists. John Hendry, GrO nISe l Mill and Factory Scottish the Dockers' backing Workers Federal Union made an open attack The most telling case is of Women, as we in Scotland women workers at a vinegar and "kittle cattle' and if any- say, are one has lingering doubts on that pickle factory in 1896 who were • point which he desires to dispel, assistedben ine Doearly daysatso Women in the early days let him spend a TeWi

WECKS 1

women of today, organising work amongst hadlke ine his cure will tole of nh uthon ureaucraly women, of the union bureaucracy complete. must take into broadly speaking, (although Women, account the petty bourgeois and from a Trade Unionist stand- point are bad su bjects. This is liberal layers Eney Vallic from-instead of today's social due not a little the depen- dent and subordinate position uculuclals). are given the has been so long woman nxamDie. betrayal and sell-outs by them upon as her look LaluIl and the women's fight against proper place. they must be *She is difficult to get, and them. Yet though the ways of beinh got isationalt to keep.

one' of „navced of mihtinge questioned as a tactie back National Union Inal Denod 'Bookbinders and Machine Rules breakaway forming Special Conference. considered 'unfair labour' to be unlons would certainly women doing men's jobs at rates argue for challenging the leader- ne ow me ans lale ship and replacing it with those Rero ution to omm asemae fight and not Section of the union resulted in preDareu breaking away from the official delegate vote, one a divided trade union movement. arguing against: Sarah Boston makes one of the most important observations in the book when she states AGan ceebEtul v risusityenimendans oo tere of the

WULACLD

stand in 1920 Strike wenleld remarkable excesuoll. men and women workers united on class (our emphasis) lines."

makes point Diit la lc. that

-TEUE

altolicl nts given in trade union curcie the role women played in 1926 the fact that th main y due women

TUC

only caled oul railway clerical workers. issued workers bulletins that period report during action women taking without any lead or instruction from the bureaucracy. Divisions encouraged and women increased -and were the encouraged)during 1930s. of the economic One the most Letll examples of that period was in General Secre- when UPW wrote in his tary or lae annual report: "Division, segregation, deam and redundancy most ol au our preselt ds der traceable the policy es e e dcl women. At the UPW's. 1935 confer- ence a resolution for the immed- implementation equal lala but in the next was passed pay resolution further nreztn deploring the increasing ratio ot to men employed by the women demanding a Office

LOSL

halt to the trend Male and no doubt some delegates attacked fascist women as the cause of the econ and amie eriis ane ussoll Hitler commended

CTO]

their defence of the male! Th resolunion was passeu. The union bureaucracy's role 1935 fostering racialist shows and sexist unrougn wvvll luuay Yet UCW leaders attack only left wing delegates and activists -for instance disciplining members took solidarity action over Grunwicks. Mary Macarthur with strikers at Millway in 1914 Also when at a recent con- ference one woman delecale ship othhe -en nged eo UPW-managed to speal ger lo une rUsuuil there calis. wolt- wett whistles and even sexist remarks from the union's executive involve- 1 P C ment women Iullint employment in the two imper- ialist wars focussed attention on the whole range of issues related to women's rights. The number of nurseries increased from 100 tc Britain 1,182 between 1939 and 1943 During the second war, women's membership trade unions increased threefold. role in the The _centra decline the nrOVICOr nurseries, without which "equal "equal opportunity are meaningess, was played b!

the trade union leadership.

1946 the government cut the grant to local authorities to estani cay dlsc 1lll 100% to 50% (in wartime two thed& or nurseries ace long in longer the day Burscrcs hours than nursery schools).

1948 while the govern- in isacting the wetfure ment was state legislation, General Council opposed calls of the 100% for the restoration grant, and advocated private day based nurseries and • ractory nurseries that tie the mother to the employer. is no doubt in the anele General Council minds of the it would be thạt doing glave injury to the life of the nation persuaded were

1 WOMCI

forced to neglect their domestic duties in order to enter industry particularly where there are young children to cater for."

The lead of the TUC bureau- in enforcing cracy Doleeol, about the role ideology women was in direct contradic- tion to the economic neeas not only of married women to earn but also of capital for wage (the 1940s and labour more 1950s were years of "labour shortage"). This contradiction is referred to by Sarah Boston and merits further study The book concludes in 1975 chapter "You'll Have with the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday January 14 1981 Unemployed women tex tile workers in 1952

EQUAL DAL

CJON

ET

BRUTAIA

3R/

'EQUAL"

EQUA

PAY

PeTroN • NC

VITA/N

HIND

White collar unions' equal pay campaign 1954 Their opposition was based to do it Yourselves" The latter title illustrates one on lwo Dilieiyics 1. that women should have, main emphases of this of the book-the documentation of the like men, any • the r1ght to ao job and to work the hours they role of the leadership labour movement official wisned the way to restrict hours back the development nolelng organisation not was of the fight for women's rights legislation. At the TUC in 1968 Tne The League was attacked on despite the General Council. fact that it was TUC the sastpa yeo espenece ha policy yet experience has press for equal pay legislation, shown that trade union organis the merits of volun- was arguing methods of implementing atlon nas gainea beliei protec laly tion for women workels lhal equal pay. statutory provision TUC General Council this Battles question opposed a call for support inpused actin to secupe guat the the League and berween

TUC

dominater Ene DeIIOU pay nd. in November that year when the Factory Act and the women's officer, p Pramece and saing Restrictive Practice Ethel Chipcase, said to a confer- through ence on equal pay: Boston believes that the women "If you want revolution you justified in being quite must do it yourselves. bureau. suspicious of the

TUC

To her dismay, women did.

giving wnotencarcu 1968 was the year that women measures which support machinists at Dagenham hours and jobs the restricted brought Fords to a standstill women could work and do. gives a valuable pay, This book ovel radine alll dispute that a andmark the struggles account the history of the struggle for women in trade unions, of the women's rights. influences of feminism, and the the pay suudl record or leading Igules, uaut policy of the TUC since 1888 unions and governments but there was a lack of commit women's rights questions ment from the bureaucracy then pay, grading, training, socialise health care of allu loudy children •allt Webb, Fabian, contraception nene t believed for instance that wage The author also has an eye rates based on sex were justifi- for the record or orominel avic leaders like Alan Fisher Mary McArthur's comment NUPE who failed in an attemp!

about the employers' attempts to avoid equal could have sald ia 1970 about to water cown a resoluliol ul equal pay at the 1963 TUC anc neen Boyd of the AUEW Equal Pay ACT—ouu was ln lal I never want the women of made in 1916: this lose I work was aceepted pay fon

• COLIIU

femininity. equal work was accepted • never wall lu performing the hard pras ice ey ever reco need as and hazardous job heavy, dirty scarcely ever recognised as common lo Some simple adjustment which is thi equal. -a twist women in certain non-capitalis was made to machinery. countries." drill, perhaps, was replaced by a But of course in restricting flatcutter and purely trade declared the work was not the the argument to a union eve t ales.

HC H

same." machinery macht a kinis created : ") An example of attitudes on of trade unionism legislation the early days could well lessons for walc! Liaut nave bureaucracy nostule women today. au thor denies the need for a In were nao the necessary debates on the question, and the discussior and Protective nouttca orocramme ane ordan Wonell League (founded isation to defend and advance in Pro eenl the rights of both women and 18/4) which naa a misture o.

trade unionism this book middle attitudes runnin never tnciess should be read by all revolution through it, had the controversia aries: order it from your loca o sosuc ally 1a al Ht, tt wowd de l250 mel legislation which Testiciel hours women could work or the l . would jobs which women could do.

spent.

"Sandinista": -now for 'Permanent Revolution'! Pictures to set you SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday January 14 1981 The Clash have always it is an album And a021n. riddled with "political' songs.

had a reputation as errant single "Call up?, The new lefties. the time of written Right from the time of the imperialist war drive, sotaKs tr album, son White itself with lines like, first

IT'S U

Opportunities, you not to heed the call up' Career Burning' 'Equaliser' Other tracks Kot.. and began varut politicisation urban

VOUR

to later songs like English Civil -all to the sound of a positively shimusical r gae backing; the War. album 'Guns Miusitaly., occupation has been superb, going way beyond the Witn une tensions of capitalist of the

TIT DUT

towards a compelling rhythmic society. within which sparks of they played the first When Carnival, Joe Strummer,

ANL

sound lash like electricily rom singer, appeared wear- guitars, violins, sirens and bells.

the lead Punk it ain't, 'progressive' it

NUSSU

sort of 1980s undoubtedly is-a White In Ireland they were stopped Album witnoul the padding. and searched by an army snatch- for a tripie also 1€5.99 for a tri squad, held for an hour face- down on the ground. Dargal.. album -and of the other

MOST

aealers all

MUSC

have it at £4.50 to £4.99 -it is The Clash band value, preached a politics of rebellion.

encount So their new album appears title At the time of the London under Calling' album Strummer made a tribute to the SLN lorces l it clear there would be Nicaragua, even map of the country in the sleeve off Clash albums, and that too 1s a political decision. noles. smiling the pictorial book illustration; On the face of it Glen the Wit une ara wills Baxter is an unlikely artist way the captions never quite fit exhibition in the verbal wit of to have an pictures; themselves one of London's art even cautions especially the Chol galleries. Amazingly, underused verbs; and finally the present he has exhibitions in the prosaic contrast events in the drawings and twU. His pictures are illustrations somerme: wandlose prescilla tion-as with the series on Fruits which

SEOTY DOOKS

FaireS of dur Dang World in Danger or Great exist. They are nearly all drawings, sight The overall eitect 1s a kina reminiscent and girls inspired cure cocce nusuauons lo.vuys much of form as of content. story books of sometime earler this century- -especially those of 1 think that it 1s probadly the 'ripping yarn" variety.

this com oinaton which for me at least makes Glen Baxter's drawings quite He is a very skilful üraughts- side-splittingly man; but the main point of Glen funny. The only you way Call Raxter's nictures is that they are find out if you agree 18 for hilariously funny. and see thei Or rather, to judge from the The books-'Atlas' contrast between embarrassing WOrKS my own mirth and the grim con- If, having done so you don't find them funny then centration or some omel visiors at all, hilariously tibiy to somet the there is nothing I can do except exhibitions, incy ale syllbalilisc to say more since It is hard dren baxters cawings Can be seen at the Anthony Stokes funny is infinitely more difficult Gallery, Langley Court until than saying, why it is tragic WC2 (perhaps dramatic or boring. next week and al une insurace humour Contemporary Arts, Nash iren baxter s particular and special because it the Mall, London SWI House, various kinds combines unti January 25. ncongrully. There is the anachronistic By Bob Sutcliffe style-the pastiche of pre-wal was a copy of Trotsky's Perman- but ine ponues lelaut con offer ent kevolution Iuseu LuCY political flesh on the basic bones third world- mixture of militant of Clash consciousness' ism - Washington doubting the sharp edged urban syndicalism of The message 1s clear anti-imperialism -as the bosses, detend youl - 11901 interview 'Sounds' indicated don't be conned oy suck -but at the moment clearly politicians, imperialism is out to that is all it is: a gut reaction John lennon had that in even manage to swipe uney 1969-plus all the good at stalinism over Aignalistan- the world. He intentions in "If you can ting an Aignan 20-bedroom rebel/that Moscow bullets apartment specially air-condl missed/Ask "him how he tioned to protect his valle about and vote communist furs, giving of rare anu-rengious Conce lul New York gospel song. donations Police Department But when it comes to means

OU Y

bullete esson et Sandinista - the lvrics slide into the mist. so lesson of the Clash talk about Chile, but and of Nicaragua incidentally - finger point therefore, is that spontaneity li unperausill. not enough clue as to any here is no The Clash owe it to them- Amende s TOdu selves to make that leap They mention Poland obliquely with the the Iney ve music check Goll d for the words Rome' but again for politics all 'Sandinista' is an excellent are left with is paint strike we Permanent Revol- on the door' album. DuL ution' would be an even better Sandinista is thus a signpost title for are record! without direction. In all honesty what the Clash needed for Xmas

GREAT

FAILURES

OF OUR

TIME

No. 6 The First Parachute

THE

Please send me more details about the Workers Socialist League.

Name . Address. Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX.

PRESS

GANG

Tom Litterick was social democrat who meant what he said. He believed that radical sincerely measures within a capitalist constitution could bring real and lasting gains for the working class which could end in socialism. He • was amongst

CMOSI

of left MPs until his election left defeat in 1979. a handful allies he steadfast stood out of Tetori so-called Prevention Act; he opposec workers' participation at Britist Leyland; strikes; and he was a savage for Healey/Callaghan of the Meanershle He made a keynote speech at the post election Labour con- ference in 1979. They said Jim fixed it for me: Jim certainly would Ilx 11 Longbridge And almost his last pontica to chair a meeting of his act was defence of the enshitvictimised Oak constituency Longbridge stewards That does not make revolutionary. He Litterick belief tied the was lalduy Parliamentarianism and gradualism could reform capital- ist oppression out of existence His were nolties watch mus ultimately swiftly ditched. that means Titterick's death choice never faced him in its starkest form. These were not of course the points that appeared in the skimpy ohituarler appeared in the capitalist press.

Litterick received only a few Guardian.

SOTT

Inches l Third or fourth fiddle on Times obituary Tom Literick, former MR for Bir-

JOIN

WSL !

By Colin Morrow mingham Selly Oak, was one of that hand or unmentonaole within the Labour Party. has one extra 1 11° reason for hating Litterick. Last year several papers pala out damages substantial in after publishing witch-hunt stories about nis private lie Litterick and his wife split ago when Litterick up four years with Pat started a relationship socia pondent of the Times. Mrs Jane Litterick had the break virtual collapse over up and was convicted of arson after setting

SHORT

Lal Healey's front door. Such crack-ups are tragic but not uncommon and are fed b bourgeois notions o. DossessIol and ownership within personal was the signal Tom's death for the press to take its revenge Mrs Reporters called on her grief- record Litterick stricken ramblings has four years nursed her sense of loss and that pent up resentment poured out expression cical staunchest the ownersolD bourgeois moralist could nave wished The Daily Star led its front interview headed age with a and subtitled 'MPs widow with his wrangle hertored mistress, His 'mistress' in fact did her Sensitly 15 out any wa bele, sensibly statement through her solicitor.

But the rantings his former wife were served up as a funeral fusilade over Litterick's grave. 'evils' of adultery sample of the was recorded as t his death, she (Mes told *ATter solicitor of his Litterick] read in the times that he was to have a private funeral.

A small entry in the obruary column no flowers donations to be sent to the CND. had forgiven what tha had done to me" said woman Then I read that. Mrs Litterick It was too much: "Now I am making it clear move heaven and earth to will back and have it body cremated in Coventry dis- LitteriCK S Tunera was by photograpners and cree to women in camer two women in pictures ot his life' and reporters regrettin that there was no punch-up Even in death the capitalist for a class loses no opportunity detence of its oppressive bour geois institutions. not too squeamish to on the living and the tramole dead to do so In they canno! Litterick. To have earned harm unyielding hatred of gutter lory press is perhaps one epitaph of which he would have approved

Labour's right wing prepare a Page 6 break Foot: if right wing pull out who will he lean on?

LETTERS

'H' Block deal Dear ce assesseit ra On the hand is der the assessment (in SP 229) government determined of the end of the hunger strike

SCULC

ovel far too the Provisionals and to demor- opinion sanguine the alise who the gains made support nationalist struggle. Lile Long Kesn Victory There is no doubt that a deal exactly described that Implementation of the agree- (rish strikers ment would have been hailed as Force Concessions) was the leaders enormous

VICTOTY

IOT

ine hunger strikers, despite the fact the hunger allu

ILLICE

form been hatched at the Gent nad meeting between Thatcher and •special category status.

implementation Haughey in Dublin.

SITS

depended on a complex series of 'concessions' which Not unforseen ended have will wearing prisoners But the failure to implement their clothes, abstaining that deal was not the from traditional forms of prison some untorseen breakdown' government is of free assocation and education «une pulled two ways. Its inter- rights. national reputation is damaged therefore it the agreement 1na1 concentration was not implemented. It had the mOST extensive camps in Europe. An end to the same degree of predictability as and protests suree would thus be in the interests of conjurer and the three •card trick. Militant scab on H' Blocks The march of course was for Dear comrades, Nearly 100 people marched Donceal howevel through Bradford on 20 Decem- Militant would not support that ber to mark the victory' either, preferring to label these of the republican anti-imperialist allu women munger sunkers in tne batte 101 status. attempts to ing of . the orer Prominent label the H Block as was the InCI gent from the Workers Socialist 'criminals'. The Militant amendment was cazue. wnicn was larger than tiny contingents from the laughable-it contrasted support SWP and WRP. for the march with the immed- However the most striking late sending of a telegram trom lactor about the march was the une trades cornel to the nome batile to mobilise support for it Secretary and the

TUC

asking for earlier in the week. humanitarian conditions in the ablocks. Not laughable however Bradford was the obvious Trades Council to support the had gone on between Militant maren was dereaed 2U-4 ov ar ana the most reactionary dele amendment put the gates on the trades council in by tendency suppor- the getting amendment passed. ted by the right wing. Ior al y worker want? the

SUDDUILCIS

to lignt lory poncles not only for Britain but for Ire all trades councu argued that the march could not be supported because it "has no labour move- complexions-right, left will be allu Coni! SCel support lor une rrovis- ional IRA' By John Lister The election of former "left' Michael Foot to the Labour leadership, the left- ward shift in policy at the last conference, and the prospects of democratic within the Party retorms have helped produce a resur- of its popularity - gence reflected in a 24% lead over Tories recent In one opinion poll. It is hard to imagine a for more stupid time the IRA military command to embark on a series of bomb- ings in Britain. In recent months the heroic The British government will continue to seek an end to the n block protests-out on terms much more favourable tough image. The H Block prisoners are by ail accounts divided. and angri anthe nom and soporters south Ireland confused aril some extemi cemoraised. cne prisoners however remain stead- fast: only has come off the dirty protest) It cannot be the wish of ans single au -moeraist • Tn81 hunger striker should have died Yet the support which built up behind the was campaign uniparantuca n bote ne nor and south of Ireland in the last seven years. , The ending of the hunger much of that support without achiev- ing its aims Talk of renewing the hunger Mass support be turned on off like tap. Indeed. although action was limited. the fact that strlkes took place in the north and (on a larger scale) in fear into put real the Thatcher government. _rOT une Provisiona encer- just secondary tactic. suspect that from the point of of Bobby Sands and the new provisional leadership, the real development • 1101 nunge. was not the strikes STIlKeS demonstrations the fact that the British government necouared

WILD

Provisona Recognition by the readershin. enemy has always been a bigger feather in the Provisionals' cap lant Organiseu support amongst the trade unions. The •Provisionals have now launched another bombing cam- prove as counter-productive building anti-imperialist movement as have all previous can Dalens Tenacity bravery are and indeed qualities of the republicans British tration camps. Yet the outcome separated one rikes tomo be separated from political limitations oi a petty bourgeois nationalist movement.

If the British government did not know before it knows now- the Provisionals are more pliable wan ne workme clas. Yours fraternally, It is in these unfavourable conditions that the Party's anti- sucidust wing Is lorcea le chances contemo ate reversing the decisions of last October's conference. Shirley Williams has already effectively David rest of her Gang of Three hanging what around see happens at the Party's Special Conference before weighing or lol to cirtooeana drift off into the political limbo Anso alled "Centre Roy still eating ainners with significant people while search- ing for the cash to float such a party Meanwhile more mainstream right wing MPs have also shown

IRA BOMBINGS: A

BACKWARD STEP

struggles of the blanket men of of War Lone kesa or rrisoner status-brought to a high point by the 53-day by hunger strike Iepublican prisoners-had to the attention wider of the British sections labour struggle for political status of course had railied mass in une msa repuba! But Britain where even in the labour movement is back- . on the ward : issue it had brought discussion 1010 , the rigged no-jury Tulle Diplock courts and the political . seven men vould be willing Following the deal that British policemen, already revelling their sky-high salaries and the "licence kill" implieit extended to them by the inquests into the deaths of Blair Peach and Liddle Towers, will be well pleased with the extended powers planned for them by the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure. Labour Movement Conference ( Media Censorship and Ireland convened by National Union of Journalists Saturday February 28 Birmingham Details from Ron Knowles, NUJ, 314 Grays Inn Road, London WC1 theur rcadiness to solit i thi they refuses toe their woule the Labour

TATE

political line Roy Mason Party-the Illas. mem oersie baticial Labour cand- and union against an financial support the desertion of Valt •Il ne is no the reselected for another term.

right wing would torce apparalus into tne nands of the Cut and run 'left'-at time when the Thatcher government itself And Mike Thomas, the Mani- divided and totally des- Licaly festo Group Labour right winger pised by the electorate predicted The Social I1Om Democrati that anything up to 50 Labour Alliance predict a new "social reactionaries might be b party could 1caly launched the vul allu soune. Spring socialist Socialists should Labour Contaminer urge policies or called to account for right wingers it-anc their actions the viess nonne • 1120 The . tor a solit is

_LADOIT

being made bi the right wing- socialist, internationalist policie with rather ambiguous support that can • resolve the problems of from the Tory press the working class. eyes the republican entee me nunger strikes. cadersi were on the Tory government's turn to the mobilisation of the fulfil willingness its workins Class ll! the the struggle against 111Cill imperialism. ressance or mne danket men to any sell-out. But these profound short The bombing campaign cuts curlines must noi de aowed l right across this development. A stand in the way of the fight for bombs solidarity with the Irish struggle Teenie Tire militarily irrelevant targets and in the British labour movement a failed attempt to assassinate à picker or bowilng stree has been called for Sunday 18 almost politician offer nothing January by the Ad Hoc Hunge advance the struggle Strike Committee drive highlight imperialist the UuI ¡clusal to moiemen their agreement with the repub- reand our mev ave the lor press further ammunition to licans and endorse the blanket their men'se ive de meands of the republican movement and 1 cautis LO SuDDOn this the inose wilo aerena EnTe DICKeT the Irish people to self-deter- for the restoration political status to Irish repub They underline the refusal of lican prisoners More police powers civil liberties campaigners is that In particular they would get there is no proposal to strip ine wiat DOWe

SLOD

accused of their existing right to people se venices arrest anv- one remain silent in custody and in sea ich the le of finel, hod court. search the Tories laying ther home But with ground to strengthen willout warrant lol weapons o.

The apparatus of the state there car stolen property The police themselves woul doubt that the Royal be put a control offers golden printing to further extend "suspects" as young as 10 years police powers. old The only proposed restraint

NATIONAL CHILDCARE

on police handling of suspects is

CAMPAIGN

disciplinary The ponce internal Constitutional Conference procedure, the farcical existing complaints Saturday 24 January 1981 by "investigated" Douct 10 am. to 5 pm. themselves!) and the possibility that aggrieved Wolverhampton Poly take complicated and expensive Students Union civu court acuot Conference fee £1.50 Inere is a call loi courts to exclude evidence obtained by (unwaged 75p) "inhuman degrading treat- Faute Dais la cac ment '-but once again the onu: proof up on the Surrey Docks accused! Proiec Dockland Settlement, The one small "victory" for Redriff Road, London SE16

Support grows for Xavier SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday January 14 1981

NUPE

from members hospitals including Queen Eliza- workers in London-he is chair- most of the main hospitals beth, the Homeopathic and the man of the Area Health Com- in London are supporting National.

WULATIN

on him. the mass picket outside expectec to ave met suDDon anticipated 1,000 follows the sacking Great Ormond Street on workers will take part. attempt to completely disregard 13 January. has been Ine men oersne tne • grievance proceaure That is the day of the appeal incensed by this blatant attack Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The Conway Xavier-chairman of on union organisation had for three porters to strike Their shown by visional was Lilal Council-against his dismissal by the management honour spontantous strike by the the hospita many ment Great Ormond Street workers grievance procedure when onway ancillary These porters are in the same

WUINCIS

summarily dismissed This reac- Great Ormond Street itsell will union branch as uluse al uical very be on strike Ior the day, inciud Clearly amazed manaze- Urmona street who ing and

GMWU

ment the immediate pre- correctly decided to take solid- Xmas period. arity cio members. They will be joined in this Although Xavier himself is a following this prin- Was apied stand tat management Scots teachers face redundancy threat The announcement by said that there will be no redun- tor smaller class sizes, aiming at official dancies in 1981, they have made endorsement at the EIS, Scotland's biggest

AGM,

no picase for cue lulure y cal s Call teaching union, in its annual focus for a fight against redun.

ave regions nave stil not review of staffing, that the announced their intentions for dancies. Any such resolution the ahead and this must cannot be open ended but must year authorities aim to reduce also vul leavies on cu zualu.

the number of teachers by A major strategy in any cam- smaller non ov the union or 15,000 . over the next ten paign against such redundancies classes by a definite date.

must be the demand for smaller In the meantime any redun- years is anxious news lor Scottish teachers. Class sizes. thus nor omy savine annies must do tray trick jobs but also promoting better with action industria. pretext of fall- Using the education for the pupils opposit scale to ensure freive such changes Demands for and secondary sectors, Then contract o service nave conduct as intention is to cut the teaching been advanced at conferences of campaign against redundancies 1,500 every year over orce by the in isolation. The Lie next uccaut. have been firmly resisted by improbability any O1 It obviously impossible such fight by the present leader- une that this can be achieved with.

including the increasingly pro- Sule encaosuated chief negotiator, response out redundancies and, although recent Strathclyde Sarget eden authories ne Keir Bloomer Pollock, the union's genera the suvivlaly, reactionary Education Bil protest Lancs school TOTi action by Scottish teachers What huge campaign did the man nave in mina, you may ask Wait for it • a two minute each meals fight classroom show the depth of our teelings.

problem Desolte The such a silence entorcing upon the pupils, the likelihood of the meals staff School bureaucrats supporting 1orits recalm ociore such c school meals staff, but suggested Lancashire are prepared to forceful demonstration is rather individ- slim. strike to defend their jobs leaniels ually. and the meals service against The problem of how to get by the Tory cuts planned the oi parents Was county council. posed -out most parents are also trade unionists, so to This was made clear at a the campaign through the trades public meeting on the issue last Parties would nave that elect. official Neville Margaret Jones, member of Davies also made it clear that he the willing to lead such a Campaign Committee was not suzested strike school Licy meals staff to show the parents, would be That teachers and trade unionists in they had no experience of strike action. supplyle lums Wilal ll would be like without a school meals "Rigged 'inquiry' won't How they will ever gain such service. reinstate the eight" insisted experience explained! The meeting agreed to start a was not last week's Socialist Press' they petition against the cuts.

was suggested Lilal trade support lead article, underlining the seek

IOM

Neve unions in the industries which Campaign use

NUPE

The sell out terms on which the supply the schools with food facilities for sending out letter strike at BL's Longbridge the Campaign with and to help and utensils for preparing school plant had been brought to publicity - -but The teachers present saw no avoided the question of strike an end. hope of the NUT or NAS/UWT action. Since the tortuous Wiel the "indepen- proceedings of

SUBSCRIBE

dent inquirv have our prediction to the letter.

the one week they were in theory rantgat tons, alica unel ine to Socialist three pathe seen only three the eight workers victimised by management after stoppage Press Rates

SOCIALIST

Two poorly attended

PRESS

marches took place last Trial sub (UK). Saturday to the . £2.00 oppose Six issues . Longbridge: new sell-out closure Scunthorpe's

RIGGED INQUIRY

Normanby Park steelworks.

Six months. . £8.00 One year. £14.00 The first,

• WON'T REINSTATE

• orgao v une Scunthorpe Steelworkers Action

THE EIGHT!

Europe: Committee heard Stan Sheridan the South Yorkshire .£9.00 steel Six months. strike committee and John Le Rest of world: Irom the consett Action Com mittee warn of the effect the Six months... ..£10.00 closure would have other Plants I bile area-lumnng scun torpe into a gnost town Write to: Socialist Press, BM Corin Redgrave of the WRP 5277, London WCIN Box pointed the 200-strong out Strike now to stop Edwarde 3XX. rally that the blame for such a moved against Xavier. At least one of those disci- plining Alonna Colquhoun, Group Personnel this Officer, has tronan Deme a member the

AHA

when NUPE militant Bill Geddes was As well repeating their attack on trade union ation in the run-up to the wage Call. Hanazoncut is alsu Coll cerned about tine undermining of lower levels of management by those involved union activity for example navier. Longworth solid After six weeks of work- in action, staff at Long- worth Oxfordshire are solid in their determination defeat

AHA

plans close the 35-bed hospital.

Yet despite the fact that their action is currently the only Ds aralist COHSE leaders he NH. Cut have gone no further than for- declaring struggle mally official. They have done nothing to help ublicise struggle nationally, and failed to comply witn Iccuess mom ure occusa Longbridge inquiry' stalls for time Metro track. Management have taken the precaution of completely the charges and 'evidence" against one of the accused WorKers But they needn't have bothered: the evidence is irrele- mony is competen fixed. It consists of two BL managers, one AUEW official- whose union is committed to smashing one the strike-and

TGWU

official, and is presider over by an ACAS official Nor is this ALAs man any impartial observer. 'Arbi- ескол несто о в many of British Scunthorpe marches closure must be nailed firmly on the union leaders who make ual notning car. be done. But all Redgrave could propose was the one cross-class o1 the wKr S "Community Councils" Socialis Press supporter Dave Ayrton the stressed betraval of umon educas wre

HAST

ver denperatel the steelworkers and refused to fight to bring the Tories down.

be action should

TOURIT

TOT

nOW arouno Ene demand for a General Strike to bring down the Thatcher government. he argued deputy head porter. The DHSS, in 'fact, sent out a secret memo lasI arrest of a unit administrator picket line St the local 1s alsc DelICuICIs. nc Curse branch chairman Personnel Officers were asked to send information about manager? staff in union activities.

Despite witch- the hunt against Ormond suno nas micreased over ine asi couple of weeks workers have resonded. Raven, Where leadership has very much based himsell or Serving the Christmas dinner at Longworth tion committee to guarantee full SuLKe Day LU sections lilal lake supporting action to defend the locally the work-in has provided at long last a focus for action against the cuts, and won broad backing the labour from

MOTORS

SUDOOT!

trade unions and Labour Parties important, and are particularly the corallon. occupation funds. 1 ney Barbara Russell, Koau.

LUNWUL LIL.

Oxon. Leyland! super- vised the victimisation of Alan Thornett at Cowley in Service BL "1979, and Derek

DIVISION

Longbridge last kobinson al year! Meanwhite Longbridge COn- Communist Party venor member Jack Adams, sits back 'inquiry" last hoping that the long enougn to acluse tne anger of Metro workers at the sacking of their stewards. to this Otis answer betrayal is a fight within the stewards' movement and unior branches Longbridge BL all out action to reinstate ine eignt No such pall to ation ame from platform afternoon by the Labour and ISTC bureaucrats. audience of Datill some 400 •cated the ureal. crats negotiations on redun dancy payments "Judas money" and mere were calls 1or occupa tion John Lee from Consett was refused access to the platform coole cuces don Le cowu. nut ne used ine mike rom int floor to proclaim the need for a union leadership-to rous- he cueers and doviause Page 7 the mobilisation of members not either the good on sense of the appeal board or or inings like industral iribunals He has been successful union negotiator and has beer Dar COr ditions there than at many other hospitals will for Call paled extenaea strike action in real Ormond Street his appeal fails weakness that no Was vote was our ar me neat are Committee either for strike action January Grea Ormond suppor strike action after Xavier's appeal This must be put right at its next meeting. Sit-in stays firm 65 journalists in struggle to redundancies Mac Donald Futura. a subsidiar the giant

BPC

publishing their continue with occulauor

(HOO

office. The fight officially backed needs financia and mora SUDDOrT BACchapel should be TOns amel sent to the

BPC

NUJ

Book Branch, Acorn House, 314 Grays Inr Cheques London Wel made payable to MacDonald Educational NUJ Chapel. Meanwnie mere was a noos.

for occupations last week when determined action by the NUS who members of • оССИ pied the ferry Ulster Queen in Liverpool brought restore the borcencis bringing a reprieve for 600 jobs.

Pay: from back page. living and the claims submitted Both groups of workers are strongly placed take strike action. Bu both race leaders territied of defying the 1ory government Amid these display of left' rhetoric, bureaucrats are "compromise" increase will be offered by the employers.

Andir strike against Tenacious Callaghan's pay limits headed a wave of wage struggles in 1978- 79. union negotiators nave sel out to keep their hands "clean" while doing their best dissuade members from action.

Dy belselves rejecling ine wage-cutting offe but making no call to and action the problems, they have cleared the decks for disgruntled but leaderless work- force to accept the money on the table.

DULL

none or these retreat. will halt or even ease the Tory offensive Redundancies day; cuts in social services and health continue to escalate; and iving standards continue to fal back, the working class needs a leadership that will start not from the problems of the employers or their own fear of Tories, but from strength and independent needs ol une working cass Socialist Press will continue to seek every avenue to pursue the fight for such a leadership.

PAY: THE WINTER OF

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX. Printed by Morning Litho Printers Ltd (TU), London.

PRESS

GMWU

After the adoption by councillors. 800 delegates on November True, Group in defending its services 1 of a fairly comprehensive still to programme of action for the Labour councils, fight against the cuts, the Carlyle Lambeth Steering Commit- cuts up and down the country.

But the prospect tee is planning that the huge recall on year, January 17 focus on the coupled with cuts in spending, fight that oint for the struggle against ne HIKe programme into practice. I orles The problems in that fight have been the must that Clay news eums unear iwo weeks Cross' Labour Group itself LabOul has voted 20% ane surcharged by teastory supplementary rate government pensate for "overspending" and implement rent increases.

Tory financial penalties.

MOW out councinat Wage cut will show the spirit as the Clay Cross coun Only lour Labour counci-

VULS

are waging a principled Hors fight against this move. take action on the cuts risk their jobs: should amounts wily 1he rate not be prepared to piace them.

10 a wate CuL 10] workers Lambeth. And it thies in the tact se ver on the me no on hal of the call from the November 1 basis demand that union bureau- councils to con- crats mobilise conference increases, TenT ane cal unions to take strike by the at the recall conference correct- attempt ly emphasises the need to focus against any lories to send iceives cl commissioners, or to surcharge ColnCHors and

SOCIALIST

CE30

1GMV

say PHOTO: Ian Mackintosh (IFL) M W Mass demonstration against Callaghan's 5% limit: 7½% insults low paid too!

Labour councils must stand addinst Tories

TGWU

Tabled by Leicester the Lambeth Labour 5/287 Branch it reads: This conference resolves to: the left of many 1) Circulate all Labou which councils, Labour out Tory District Labour Parties inform.

ing them of the policies adopted of further November 1 conference the Calle (nO тети possibly even supplementary rate rises this financial 1 year, and no rent rallying lala

LESCO

cult bellsale covement cuts. organise through the Z) 10 There are repeated warnings Steering Committee avoid "another labour conferences -referring l viscuss a unica crect acuon Countu tilat was ouster rent and rate strikes to oppose any attempt to working class policies chit tade

JULY

But precisely what is needed action prevent closures, cuts in services and same fighting redundancies with line the policies adopted on Novembe 3) To call on Labour coun Local autority workers who cillors to publicly councilors of public acuuls accuse services." We Socialist utto back supporters this resolu tion. action Lambeth Labour … in them LUll opposes une rate macrease ne monon to be discussed bull cavour unions. At the same time the fight Trace registered as a newspaper at the lost Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League.

Our offensive.

WSL

trom London WIN 3XX. As the National Union of Seamen began their selective strike action in pursuit of manual workers are now their wage demands, their recommended by ассерт struggle stands out beacon amidst a tide of He en are of non betrayals. And now That tide gathered pace the moment a non oc any convenors British Leyland deliberately steered even claiming more their £ 1/ 72% same Jay Call Onlo une rocks • an the chances of BL council worker colleagues!

wrecked workers giving a lead Meanwhile to others throughout the public Airways, and private sectors then, foghorns (since retreat have been sounded aground on the by wage freeze union after bureaucracy another. DA workers are Launched The Tory government arro- launched their 6% gantly pay limit in the public sector while allowing past in the form of the 13% ten- month deal for the miners The 6% was today's nigure equivalent of the decoy lights Cornish peasants

WILL

which once used to lure : cargo ships to their doom on the coast. Because cemancin o public Hiticase above sector union leaders have beer for strike during the action Week of Action in 8-page Socialist Press. February is pressing ahead We don't like it!

IGWU

Member Already we UCATT and AUEW are pledged have to to strike for the whole first articles week of February -with emer this week's Issue. Cover. 11lc also bad to picket the Town Hall, calling on political leaders however • have bran-m me cabour *artv an the Tory Party. said they wil onlv strike if the lay council concedes hour attractively week-a bizarre excuse for avoiding action. GMWU members have yetto the while NALGO is voting decide possible. You can temp should on a sectional basis The high point of the week is expected SOnt be the demon- apporter save or moto 4 from rebruary Clapham Common the fight to Party Headquarters Labour Socialist Press to 12 pages each Road. The marci week. begins at 1 p.m. pledged a to do branch ha The Local Government in Crisis Conference is open to delegates from trade union branches, shop stewards CLPs, Labour committees, groups and trades councils.

For further information ring 01-274 7722 ext 2066.

policies Socialist Press pamphlet outlining programme of

THE TORIES!

THIS WINTER!

action against the Tory including Box 5277,

DIV

BETRAYAL

shown to be more than willing month wage freeze on January to leave their members stranded 23; Whole of the a par one he Two million local authority being to be financed through produc- the t % pay unions strings been , a miserable cursed ov union leagers which is barely half the And in BSC, union leaders to impose a themselves offered NUPE's Ron wage freeze on their members in Keating has gone even further exchange for less redundancies.

he has made it clear that health BSC chief lan MacGregor on serie anna more than not the other hand wants more: he than demanding both wage freeze unel ana sackings Meanwhile in the gas and British water industries union leaders, Steel and Rolls under pressurt

ITON

Royce trade union leaders have members, are sending up distress allowed their members to rur flares. sandbank of The pay offers of 9% and 7.9% respectively short of both the rising cost of Planning a one-day strike against their six Continued page 7

FUND

readers have offered us monthiy So here it is. Your first donations. could raise additional 160 D‹ month beginning money we could start the stockpile work of restoring the cuts We impor- that ensure Lilal We have o bocals rress pewween ker cut short our analysis Youth and Woman Worker con tained 12 pages developments send a donation- We have less or pledge a monthly sum to help out us reach that figure? Could you pages Socials ores to sear eat : more o We are keen to ensure tha cut in size forced upon us lo a worknee or mend • the latest surge in inflation Our paper is the only con sistent weekly temporary Britain. Let us raise its circula and readers needs of the international The money fight for socialism! Send your pledges, restore the wullduell 1O. Socialist Press BM Box 5277

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