Socialist Press no. 234

COUNCILS WIELD

THATCHER'S AXE

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 234 * 11 February 1981 * 20p onal Liaison Committee Camden's ruling Labour Group declared war on its Rates up; workers and tenants last Wednesday night. unions, tenants and With s Labour supporters massed on the steps of the Town Hall demanding "No cuts in jobs or nothing wagos. une Tents rates" Group ue

TOOK

decision which in effect hands over power in the borough to cuts; the Tory The that the auditor -lacl taking the Court, over the H190 settlement, used by Group leader Roy Shaw nol as a lanyme poltror resist.

the Tories, but as a stick with which to beat the Labour rents up; Group into capitulation. Alienated Shaw, Mills and Bethal, the right wing leadersale or une blackmailed the centre Group. cuts in jobs, wages and huge sackings rent increases in an attempt to appease nese une s auditor wac had threatened further surcharges on all three issues.

Labour have now avenates mnemse ves trom unions and tenants organisations in the borough They hope that if they keef thei clean, the High noses Court will find in their favour. The Group voted to abandon the Estates Management Do elect Labour bite home, Programme and to slash the counchis are councils to defend the housing budget; they against a dilemma. Either voted slash jobs and to reduce the Direct working class or to act as services raise rents, servile lackeys of the Tory or they take Lavour worKloIce ov over oUU

MUS

through redun- steps full- voluntar prepare government? dancy" in a 12-month period.

scale fight against the govern- This question, following hot And, having thus condemned ment. Obviously Tory on the heels of the battle for thousands councus arr accountability of Labour proceeding connue mn suo-standara counci

LOISI

The leadership at the Wembley con- housing, the Group rubbed salt urden of cuts onto workers.

But most Labour councils, too, voting a terence. Is now a maior isaie within the workers' movement.

are in one way or another pass- As Thatcher's spending cuts ing on Heseltine's cuts rather Alongside a £2.50 rise in 60% rate now makes it virtually impossible for Follow Polish example! working class lamules to altord to live in the borough final twist of the knife came with the vote by 19-9 to dosoro me remaningameer Supplement" on council wages the manual workers recent Polish workers have had suit. a stimulus to tollow an independent union Last week for instance, This 10-day strike means no Day rise in their own for less than for lowest paid 200,000 . The But their actions in

WULACES

workers! year. oi Bielsko-Biala recent months • have many removal cu minateo in the Betrayed lessons to teach the well- the provincial Communist Party secretary, the established British labour The Tories have transformed oca ponce cael, and a squad movement. of local bureaucrats. local Camden Despite the continued exis mo au instrument with which tence of a bureaucratic to savagely attack working class living standards. And this is only state and une ever-present threat mallon. speecnes and negotla- of Soviet military tions with government officials the tirst of manv such attacks if Polish live to at least 80 struggles have brought there is not a political fight the downfall back. une •Цетек By accepting Heseltine's covernment Wholesale phone ana lannoy systems purge local Such actions have taken a terms for officials and management.

heavy toll of Stalinist bureau- ana aeciaing to cling on at all For British workers seeking a crats. An estimated 30,000 costs, Camden's council betrayed working class inter- way lorwaru acalst une savage Dalasites une state bureau- administration and сгасу and local management inatcher attacks by local councils have been booted out of their Continued, page 7 employers, such struggles should privileged positions SuCE * than seeking mass support for a tight to defeat the Thatcher offensive. And ublic sector union leaders, who have done nothing defend jobs and services, are sitting back in silence as Labour slash back councillors workforce. Yet never before has there been such seeling nostity to government in the

LOTV

unions and on the working class Police have challenged: strikes have forced une release or poutca brisoners and ten days ago a threatened general strike forced an agree- that Solidarity can now publish a weekly paper and have access to television coverage- challenging the rigid censorship and political repres- sion on which Poland's bureau- cratic rulers depend to preserve their position. Of course une economv is suostantialv ditter.

ent from Britain. It is based not on ownership and private profit, but upon nation- alisation-albeit une control of a reactionary and parasitic bureaucracy What frightens the Stalinists Warsaw, in Moscow and estates: never before have the never before has there such an opportunity to mobilise Last week nundreds of loca authority workers in Lambeth took strike action against the Tories. Their action has been isolated by the refusal of union officials and Labour councillors to fight by their side. But it shows the way forward. Else- hroughout Eastern Europ hat Polish workers will politi aly overturn tne bureaucracy and seize control of the economy themselves-triggering further struggles in the other acto med workers states. This also frightens Thatcher the Common Market leaders anc US imperialism. That is whi they are looking for ways to prop up the tottering Polish leadership through food supplies. ana chead They know that a political revolution in Poland would send shock waves of struggle through- out Western Europe Meanwhile they rely on the grovelling and spinelessness the Socialist and trade union, communis rarty icauersnos to keep workers in line at home.

As Polish workers square up Cuts conference

PAGE 7

RED YOUTH

SUPPLEMENT

Camden council may be at the sharp end of the con- frontation at present, but other Labour-controlled councils are faced by the Tories with a similar situa- tion. South wark, tenants' leaders are talking or a rent strike against a thumping 32% *In Glasgow Labour coun- cillors have rebuffed Heseltine's they increase demanes That rents by 70%-but are proceed. ing to levy a savage 31% TeNT crase nuel working class supporters. *In Lothian (Scotland's "Lambeth", councillors have maintained services 1979 levels bv increasina rates the council faces a demand that they spending 31%- £114 million-below the leve needeo to sustain services The scale of the rate increases needed to avoid cuts is now so great that they musi provoke growing resistance *In Paisley an angry crowd of over 200 tenants has twice police in attempts clasnea with to prevent the Labour council 50% increase housing budget. ine -measures were approved ast week ov 3 2 in a council meeting heavily Labour council so tar taken a firm stand in rejecting any rent increase at all. such a stand. cannot isolation. maintained Other Labour councils must be forced stand alongside Dundee, and the udae unior ana tenans movement must oe put on a war-footing to resist further Tory attacks. Such is the financial straight- jacket the Torie: imposed by Inal Labour councis nave oniv choices-either they

TWO

attack the and living standards of their working clas: supporters, or they must tight to mobilise a mass struggle to challenge and bring down the Thatcher government. where tenants are preparing for tent surike acuon-tnat must 1r turn be spread into the unions.

Wee to Hese Heseltine's attacks must be Force Labour councils to put down Thatcher's axe and take up the cudgels to defend the working class. And force those councillors refuse to fight to make make way for those who will! Gdansk strikers for renewed battles with the Kania regime-including the fight for recognition of Rural Solidarity as a peasants" union - British workers can offer more than abstract support: they can follow the Polish example and fight for the overthrow of the Thatcher government.

Page 2 workers Chinese in tivity onto Wuhan, the Yangtse have River, tried to form crisis of Polish-style independent in tastern Europe trade unions according to reports in the city's Chang- Soviet jiang Daily. determination This is the first indication developments of eh of the chi ese, at grass roots propaganda sladowo tn develoomenls r ulanu. cratic developments widely repor- whit wave ven ucu own workme class ted throughout China, since last summer's and controntations ing the demolition of the cult in suoscuueni ormalloll bondarity According the Chang- find themselves caught in jang. Daina web of small number of people tion of history to throw the nation who wich iney into neal anay rom chaos attempting admit that the the leadership have ơ1 c và dv dóded dentitled

WILII

'indep- iree „rade „ne anc levars endent student unions'. These either people have ulterior large mULLYCS extrellely ignorant." The extent of such real moves Chinese amongst of Chinese perhaps Similarly,

WUIRCIS

UESL

mastaled nowever. Dv une raci that the Peking 'People's Daily' felt it to devote an necessary editorial to the matter. n a ern wmo o trace unionists the "trade unions announced, are workers organisanons noer roe leadershif called on all workers Communist Party lalusalls

„MO A

initiative'. Such developments clearly reflect the problems facing the Chinese ieadership. stalinist Against of background Gang of 4 trials of the show alu LC ducHoL oi lc biesalt leadership to heap the blame for China's appallingly low produc- Longbridge-the victims of Stalinism after the event, Wise statement of the sacked stein- Longbridge and statement of CulYCUl Party leading Communist aTOS Jack Adams meeting the ne ver reported in the Morning headline was "Bl Star of 31 January Howarded Jim Sanders went so condemning the outcome of the inquiry into the boss victimisation of six workers Edwardes including four TGWU shop inar by me Longoriage striker: •''Unless a "It confirms ou sperience ment-union join1 that inquiries save iustice and fairness! sacked slew slus. sackec and suspendeo workers giant occ aec But if this is Adams' exper- strike Collie. did ne himself resumed." ierice, why pro• trom the plattorm of the In reality any

DUSC

crucial mass meeting at Digbeth Hall: on January that oi victimisations Metro workers should Шворі Tna1 Adams TGWU and AUEW officials, had wcia nouv a mne bac ot a return to work? carried through the first step Why did not focus his the eventual energies on opposing what donment of the Longbridge 8.

Instanty econoe as a or. Half page did not the c me mula lor deleat: And why munist Party's daily paper LIU ILu-

PADUSC

Ted cal ciun-Dulascu rigged inquiry? namure Tne aric e came bozc ! The answer that the CP with the threat had. no intention of carrying strike acton, was row Bolivian military in La Paz Chinese Solidarity? the 'ultra leftists', urgent plea that "workers and CAS ocane e animnow stall memoers snould resist The stands as a mirror image of the tond ancocato budreoies tendency adore the Soviet bureaucracy aliUll Uly llave a odon y et it was brecise v the anti.

TOT

mult -milioner manoeuvres of the Chinese masses who have seen their bureaucratic leaders feting bureaucracy and their reactionary Caloll • Ine anu colliullsl Nixon, Heath Poland for and ureg purposes which Thatcher. and For the workers peasants of China there remains allulles backlog 32 Having gone as far as initiat- business sinçe the •tumsnet Mao victory of Mao's forces order to legitimate their The death of Mao in a period new oze e carese sauniss the massive world imperialist cris ol esd on the at hdathe re-examina- establishing are driven to publicly wolkes Sule ro ons ans existing trade bureaucratic deformities.

become But, as Poland, Chinese closely workers will need to develop a tne ally OVeI that the! „ew re o ov ave actually begun to alienat their challenges to bureaucratic dictatorship are to the political overthrow Dul uls murcales me extent to wico te onese masce re vurcaucra ana mne estabas. also now questioning the history ment of the power of workers?

councils. Stalinists' Deng with Japanese leader Fukuda on the horns of a dilemma of its sacked stew- own crealloll "Its dilemma was how to The day following the mass extricare itself from an intran- Star's Sren DoSKOn wilOw aDDer workers place conces. to have made any sions trade Kesone far as to workforce. How to retreat with oll tenero Sir Michael Nothing further cold bf was vesterday put on from the truth-and the cynica Stalinist hacks on the Star knew Lilis dll dulls. promised manage- Adams nad ln reaty aven inquiry produces management a whole month the which to dissipate the militancy 10I that had maintained the action Birmingham DLUl le luluay Dicak. dlu action will be create conditions Ine nest ram home the sacking of all four trade union- TGWU shop stewards. with the slightest experience Hypocrisy knew at once mocene

WILI

quoting Adams' hypo- complaint about critical octlayal arlu audll simply confirms its complicity mm ue cnlue seu-out Longbridge stewards victimised not only by Yet again on January 16 a Edwardes but also by the Com- Inulilst larly. "caught News has just reached few commodities. Britain of the arrest, torture At the same wage-freeze-except and threatened execution of mantary five union leaders from the Siglo XX-Catavi mining year ago region of Bolivia. However, it is the cass These men, elected in a mass action . with inside mine at a meeting n unions are illegal, are widely supported when in Siglo xx their lives, precisely hh uanyck ano tne Decoust Iney reoresehi • Int Paz and Cochatanita. resistance of the Bolivian work.

They were mandated draw up and present a series demanos the Tace voreover. regime's 'economic package 9 January. basic programme for This measure removed price Cianoeste liaat suosicies trom a rance oT basic IrACLA) resulting the " (Masar), the PRIN increase of the price of bread by Bolivian CP 100%; от 300%; 01 petro scale cooking oil by 100% ana domes tic gas by 50%-to name just a The name of Bourbon two weeks ago. these days is less associated Juai Gallus with monarchy than with cater whiskey and chocolate bis- the man selected aE seledo Calv d utive, cuits. But one of the old family of oopressors remams l orlice not power -King Juan Carlos of Spain, dictator : Franco's appoin even ted successor shrouded in IsCIl. are Lasl weck. security banket more eneul. which is deeply ing than any even the Basqu country has ever seen, the Kin

DATONOI AI II CAPT AA UACC

numerous other questions and for him troublesome Basque provinces was ordered Jeering right and the military not apo nim some anter him Workers strike in some woltol protest; there were demonstra- advance oi the UCD Congress tions and jeering in the streets and in the Basque now controlling Guernica the events from a little behind Her e or cnı! staged a noisy protest which scenies prevented the King from speak plans If the

UCD

I01 ten himiu les. unev were lorcloly ejectea Dy Basque police the end on a couple of parlamenav maont tion occasions crowd few ol d lead to either •gathered AnOneO aTolaC King and displayed something approaching enthusiasm -whici general elections would be the state-controlled allowed media to present the visit as a success. In reality, however, it high Majority lighted the Spanish ruling class's CALce CSS o autory nara Juan ato na! left behind him a governmenta new military be theo crisis which remains s unresolved would not bitterly divided ruling party, the ol ne unac cena rranco but of the majority of the top Únion arme man ne Jem octali Centre

(UCD)

holding its long may be lelayed second Congress i planning as a first sten to move against Euskadi new leader to replace Adolfo country). Please send me more details about the Workers Socialist League.

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

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981.

BOLIVIAN MILITANTS

TORTURED

imRo or toe state or siede hee pte thr ise dom of the press and restoratior for of all trade union, democratic now receve ust ana numan rignts. under three times their pay of a be seen remain. particularly wnethe Thi working Bolivian CP will carry out this taken • tne rea , selecir stoute selective Meanwhile the five leader now face charges being and Huanini mine "subversive delinquents" which military law, makes them malor tactores OT La liable to be shot United front An immediate campaign for the maior partie the release and guarantees tol of the left have now signed a TresI comrases a front for launched in the British labour movement. UnIOn Ascensio Cruz; : whereby the um i ney alt MIR and the Octavio Carvajal; Pablo Rocha German Mercado; Gutierrez are pledged to fight Ricaldi and Florencio Gabriel.

vor iuuro wade increases. sucino wages immediate of all political prisoners,

KING PAWN OF

SPANISH GENERALS

The right is using Herri Suarez who resigned as Premier Batasuna's "insults" to the King as a pretext to ban all politica .has not yet appoint as Premier

SUDOUE LULE

DIA,

the exec- radical, militant wing of Basque Sotelo. nationalists. That This is because of the oppos- would mean banning one fifth parties supporto ter mnon to calvo sotelo expressed by many sections of the UCD.

electorate-somelnin, which could only be done b martial law in Euskad imposing In respect as in man realten imminent break-up of the UCD others spain is wel on tne wa split over econ to becoming another Turkey.

omic policy, regional autonomy, CP attack wiener to permit abortion anc Almost certainly Juan Carlos on anti- the extreme , and racists authority, Drawing the logical t ne extreme rant ano the military, it seems, who are lesson from their recent the 5. attacks on the immigrants the French Communist Party Inen ulemal have not become plain. have now taken to violence pos be ne premie wil against left wing organisa- tions pledge to defend the wolllall rights of imigrant workers —2 S1112 which in principle could A gang of four PCF members : a Socialist Party attacked three VeTOUS

NIC H

• botn ol wnicr situations to which Heu te lne corcimeney o the right and the army would be one or it airas rala, a, result, one oi the natlona ing frun as hospitali d suf ti from broken jaw. There is every sign that any 's that th 'offence' com- arted by the mene n in Spain to be seen posting leaflets urging

WULA HICICY

SUD DOIL I01

tne ignis oi immi grants and electoral opposition to the PCF No doubt that they it will soon be alc ulecessal! anse mme ceman‹ (the Basque for workers' defence against the Stalinists.

JOIN

THE

WSL!

MUGABE FACES MORE

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981 His 'honeymoon period is over

OPPOSITION

In recent weeks Zim- Prime babwe Minister Robert Mugabe has taken JIM FARNHAM looks tentative steps to deal with at the background • to of the mounting some recent events in Zim- opposition to his leadership.

babwe. In a move wnich underlines the increasing tensions between Mugabe's government and

ZANU

LOIS

Elle Darly positions of wealth and power bureaucracy, he sacked ZANU ecretary-general Edgar Tekere tor careensts from the cabinet. Rank and file members of

ZANU

ZAPU,

and lower At the same time-no doubt rank leaders more directly in an attempt to appease Tekere supporters connected with the masses.

Joshua demoted growing more and more Nkomo, who impatient come was joint leader of the Patriotic against the fact that changes in Front with Mugabe until the ancaster House election Lne barnamentar move of Nkomo's majority he first mave Deer a most powerless in the face of the big

ZANU

bureaucrat capitalists, existing state Richard Hove. was renew the wideranging military/police appalalus all to soviet guyell powers of Smith's state-of emer- menT organise betweet Mugabe, the bosses, the civil gency laws (in torce since UDI service tops and the army in 1965). In taking these measures, generals. which aimed at consolida are whie oronerry remains private while the ting his own position. Mugabe capitalist state remains intact, is only exposing his. teames instated which homised une economy geared to production for profit Mugabe's class collaboration and The expectations his position in government can which Mugabe's only mantanca Unt "socialist" rhetoric increasing expense the amongst the guerrillas, the low- To try to maintain a hold pala Workers. The arnoless the peasants and rural poor, have in people

UVEI

no way been met by his bosses Mugabe is forced to take measures to try to meet at least some of their demands. Opportunist elements within He knows that the mobilisa- the petty bourgeois leadersnips of ZANU and ZAPU have mani- tion of the Zimbabwean masses would pulated this mass discontent and any majoi unraten ne very lounualions of have come realise that his government. Mugabe's policy of collabora- forced therefore to capital and ensure that changes are brought the tion. with b1g existing dooul ourcaucraucany allu not produced an abundance of administratively without any

CHALLENGE PRESS

CENSORSHIP OF

IRISH WAR

BBC

In 1976 the us to strive to euminate distor- tion. news suppression and cen- screened a talk-in called sorship What Do You Think Of It Any critical examination of So Far. The subject of the meeth coverase arctand imposes a considerable respon- programme was television's sibility on us. record over its first twenty- In fact, I believe, that if we five years. are • atmous doom boress freedom coverage of the war in During the course of that should, more Northern Ireland programme Jonathan Dimbleby voiced strong criticism of what inan any omer issue, give us he called 'a high level cover up' cause for concern. As far news of violence in of trish news. Northern ireland is concerned respondee lo these remarks with an unprece- une principal source or mola- dented 500 letters to this late tion is the Army. The Army akes news very seriously.

night BBC 2 programme. statements have been Incy ported Dimbleby's criticisms. carena alored even coctored year later the

BBC

to serve a military purpose. The You Coveras a in 19bmsi good bombing programme the Jury the British debated whether public was being told the truth examoe or me ammy manual- about Northern Ireland turing news. Responsibility at the tim 05 typically The verdict of its which middle aged and middle class audience was, by a 2:1 majority civilians died, was claimea by 'empire loyalists' and five years later a loyalist was convicted of Some will say that it is not surprising that media coverage is The crime. what it is. In one sense I agree; But the Army's story at the time was that intelligence infor- should not be surprised by mation indicated that the bomb practices which benine those Was anKA Dome constitute censorship': transit' which had gone ott But this does not exempt us the pickup hadn't been able to reach the bar because of from a responsiblity to try something about The lt. neavy NUJ Code of Conduct commits area. mobilisation which could rapid- ly pass out or ms contior Having nationalised the five newspapers Mugabe now main almost the propaganda organs under his control.

no doubt that will use This

COMETO

portray every measure he takes progressive and But in each reform that he carries out, in response to mass also torced to DreSsule. ensure that lt aoes not antagon- rel the capitalists on whom he In reality, he carried through papers entirely within the framework of business trans- ab lulis. government Purchased must be raised for a workers' programme or aid based on te They were purchased with needs, demands and struggles of generous compen on to the workers and South African capitalist owners pedsants The fact that Mugabe used The fight to implement such from the a programme requires the mobil- Nigerian government for working class in The Isation of deal, brings ou trol control once she The in which aid hat i the levels control over way and government's governes, as part of the strugge erected received. Useu under the control of capitalist governments can in no way be for a planned socialist econom elied the inter- upon to serve under a workers • government- of the only form of government cols In this' case. aid that should capable of promoting the inter- have been turned to the needs masses of the working eStS of the Zimbabwean masses, was une word used to compensate monopoly the Inside demand must be raised in the capitalists. class aid working aid to the needs and interests of of the needs turned to the Zimbabwean people, profits of the demands a fight in Limbabwe capitalists and the privileges of and in the aid giving country for the ZANU bureaucracy. the cursuity. The Worting cbs for up In the international working working class class. particularly in the imper ialist countries, the demand committees

PRESS

GANG

NUJ

NEC

member Simon Collings argues the case for a full dis- cussion on media sorship. It was the week of bodies of armed men. Ine story was clearly aimed First the inquest into the at undermining IRA support in the community. all ele McGurk's was a Catholic bar.

revealed that embassy As well as managing news murder is a glorious thing- the also manages lour so long as the right people Close

HATSES

surve ance are doing it. journalists is kept up at all times SAS-who® The have and journalists may run the risk names like 'H' and 'L.L.'- Time Out journalis or arrest. Ron McKay was arrested under had cantured the the PTA on his way back fron and ushered the hostages to Belfast in 1979 safety. also the convales According to journalists. relationships with evidence the cantured mer Hardly provincial then proceeded one by one office in the country doesn't twitch' as if going for to Have a reporter on Its stali wild and get drilled grenades has been given the Army guided tour of the province. witn up to i shots in lne back.

NEXT WEEK

After some hesitation Pressure on journalists and a tongue lashing from Westminster the Coroner Labour Movement ("You must consider the Conference implications to the country Media Censorship and of verdict unlawful Ireland killing is recorded") the jury convened by National recorded justifiable Union of Journalists homicide, Saturday February 28 The press had field Birmingham day with their real life Details from Ron Knowles, action men. NUJ, 314 Grays Inn Road, The Sun recorded London WCI drooling account of the last Pro-Mugabe guerrillas: their courageous struggle has resulted so far only in a bosses workers and peasants to assess uner needs take reques lo the international labour move- ment, and for control over the distribution This struggle for control requires a struggle against secret alienal Hanu business secrets and for workers' control of trade. Demotion At the present time, the oppositon to mucaDe is crowin on every front. The demotion of Nkomo should not be seen as a final split ine paracularly harsh treat ment meted out to traditional ZAPU supporters by ' the ZANU. has dominatec served to rue toe cre ances ane unrest amongst them Nkomo has been opportunis- tically exploiting this situation sight their victims must have had, revelling in the fear- of these psychopaths. Artists' impressions filled the of the pages papers of bowing these heroes. this Somehow, despite there was an atmosphere of disbelief even in the gutter DIeSS Cold blood Murder in cold blood is hard to disguise But Ian Paisley managed to upstage even the creme de la creme of the British with his 500 army men waving arms certificates on a hillside. Ever the Daily Mail was moved to ask: "How were his men able assemble. • even at. mid- night stormy night, the security forces knowing?" hat answer no doubt lay in Paisley's evasion of the duestion the 500 included RUC and Page 3 his ease entrench his own hold over no rolans we leader ship position in a powerful and relatively stable nachine which cannot gnored by Murabe-and whic seem increasingly attractive to him in the future. Forced more and more heavily machine, Mugabe is nonetheless apable of the zig-zag of any embattled class collaborat Every reform he is forced to and

BEAUST

terencer extended the independent strength the working class. Through building and relying on men own class suengun. ano fighting for own class Their interests against Mugabe and his bosses' vill call build a Itus actence capitalist reaction and lead the the struggle the only solution in thei and workers peasants' government, based on the independent örganisations of the working class. UDR "security" forces. of. being spectacle threatened with firearm is at first sight certificate but comic on second thoughts sobering. Paisley was not saying less than 500 guns but 1 OC What he was saying was not only could he provide 500 armed men but 500 men who were armed with the full permission of the state. Ironically on the same day Atkins announced that he would not ban the UDA despite open radio admis- Andie Tyrie that sions by the organisation carried out sectanal assassulations The true nature of Paislev's demonstration wa of course covered up by the if it press, asking was 'stunt' There were no editorials demanding the dismissal of the journalists; no demands for immediate arrests. Paisley may not quite But he is a the

SAS.

be viable alternative.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD

LOOK BACK TO THE

Page 4 "The Tories had better do something about unem- ployment or else it will lead to social unrest ..." "threats" Thus run the of union LA0OITEeS ahtlf. arade leaders. But what exactly ao lney mean by "social unrest"? ine worker ninei Chat anie meais an oncseas inn that this means an increase Id le welliar tions outside Tory Party Con- ferences. However, the TUC leader- ship and the Labourites know "social

.SOI

unrest" mass unemployment predeces- much time trying

SULD SU VILU

to stop it in tae 1930s. Jarrow marchers Ah! The Thirties! You mean those heady. days when Jack Jones went off to fight fascism And those orderly marching men playing har- peaceful ducilcas crusadc lo Lonuoll: that's not a very well. September 1931 the Labour cabinet openly declared unem DOSIUOl (they'd been doing it secretly for by ages) National Government coalition The CLoner Sont Liberals. Ramsay MacDonaid quipped will duchess in Britain "Every wane to Kiss me LOmaIL ds nc from Labour Prime lead National Government. vicious attacks ncreasmnuy became gorenment po stay.

WorKers

1VTH9

MPO RErOS Postmen, ana hers so dieit rank and selvalllo, policemen nat EnCa wages cut. On 12 September 1931 naval their ratings (not officers) had which meant a 25% cut in wages CIL bu Somne audy for some sailors. Fleet davs later the LITCe at Invergordon mutinied. They refused to obey their and held officers, mass meet- ings. 1hey managea to oblaln a smaller cut in their pay in the end. Aseanwhile, e mass demonstra- TInS aneoveu became an increasing feature of daily life in many cities.

unemployed were particularly orcanccd Une National Unemployed Workers Movement

(NUWM),

led by Communist Stalinists trom the Party. Street fighting Whitehall was repeatedly the scene suceuizlili between police and angry the unemployed workers qualify for dole, lo even to submit WOIKe Ilal derad Nedis WHCIe end the acor of his furnitue the value of his furniture from could subtracted Camn Many families starved. Most unemployed were medical underfed, and since care ovale tica.

•LEC!

couldn't afford to pay Ior the treatment of long-term illnesses IKe LuDeiulosis. 50,000 m ciober yol Gren.oyed ralied at Glasgow They banned from

WCIC

marone TATOnaI . LiC C1L Yi centre, and as they were form- ing ranks they were charged by mounted and foot police with batons drawn. unprovoked attack pren peck es tore us rese iroe.

WOrKeTS tore up tne iron railings around the Green use as weapons. The battle extended through the city cemue una e - night. day sporadic next figh ting continued parts of the city Lord Trenchard, head of the Metropolitan then Police. meetings unemployed Labour licah axetnees m ondon. This very fierce

DIUYUKCU

daily figh ting around hlcly saDulll bAcilances avel Loncon The dole was cut by 10% in 1951. October two November Among other allaCk Nodle ULUCers were given the rigtt to vist.a claimant's home at any time

THIRTIES!

Police arrest woman demonstrator, 1931 (top) and street fighting (October 1931) and interrogate any member of the family or neighbours to find out information. resolutions were Many vøce ov vącc von døcns calling for strike action to force government to abolish

TUC

Test-but Means soon put paid •urcaucracy any such militancy. called y 1932

NUWM

in May day conference attended by 657 delegates Petition million-signature petition Parliament opposing the Means Test : and benefit cuts was duncneu. presenteu on the arrival of a National Hunger March London autumn. The petition also called for restoration of the cuts in ane social services. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981 JOHN BALL explores a little known aspect of the impact of the recession of the 1930s on the working class in Britain.

police from other parts of the моте workers were sao: dlE country arrived the armed , police and Hoop repulsed by A large march that evening were occasionally went tom a •anK Touai uC sucer nunocE. town and back the park n The àd doà dren càn once again police cades were built and trenche sere es drople had Over 50 launched a baton charge. were dug the WOrKeTS

LOLOWDIY

Glasgow example tore up Belfast Trades Counci callec sai late in t inhtin. fighting went on for a General Strike. That night another wounded worker died. Falis Road and the 1 11! Shankhil-the poorest Catholk Hospitalised and Protestant areas-were the scene of particularly hard fight- Thirty seven policemen were and the ing between the • slalt hospitalised. workers Tisen aemanding :.W.f Next day the police marçhed want bread!" More Illi Lary Lommalol troops arrived and Birkenhead and into reos. The funeral

SLODDOU

TOOI

demonstratior was held with working class areas more fighting as a result of the dead worker police took 2½ hours to pass througt working ralced streets. Dellasl smashing windows, assaulting Only after the shootings and people who they violence against the have involved and been class did the Government even- arresane omers , in-making very bis Lually The whole of the NUWM concesson sonne branch . committee was arrested.

people got double the old rate The night another raid, but the worker! stretched across the streets and Gains through force dustbins and other missiles were n croma ubslas wituows Gangs i of armed Orangemen went three (on TO1 successive nights. Lorry loads of Tinicher couldn't defeat .by using sectar- police would swarm into tene- to divide the united ian "Joot". break menIS JookmeIor ing nis urm, and arms and

WORKHSCRN

legs and shouting une ot the most interestin parish-fed lessons for today is shown by MP Sir • Stafford Cripp children and valorica woncn (MP for East Bristol) who sai ex-army invalids alike. The next day. the workers n ne cotaraons gained their increase in benefit What are we to cv to fa unemployed of Bristol who 21 September saw much the to Birkenhead? We who point same thing happen in Liverpool • daily On out ar pest ba fighting will broke out at Ham in Eas that Them chioa y horthe nothing by when 20.000 marched

CLORUOH

achieve only against the Means Test. wall tiona action met by the argument: "But what happened Belfast in Birkenhead?' Is anyone goin unemploye 3 October saoy don. on i4 worker who is told by .a COH "respectable" Croydon. munist that the + wol October West Ham against saw fighting North onleas mne nexı cav rere conce ons nave yol dec In Belfast 2,000 unemployed given as a result of force!"

work senk stock for more self same reformist relief struck re ocooe ors in arguments trotted by ate mOney Labour MPS This gained massive working as Ine) suruggit and usemploy ed, Cathnics and support from employed convince workers that coey should acy I accept Tory cuts ir rroteslarr and •living socia service cars and bate ns at airst, bed The standards until the next election batons -in 1984! wnen Deate When the TUC leaders say thousands of stone throwing The numbers on the Hunger * no țeten do țaé de workers they opened fire witi slogan is ambiguous. Perhaps it March • were limited 2,500 rifles and wounded many, five workers went back is high tim because becomnodation the problems ol them serously of the class and food sonne Suutait Barricades went ane s metno s 10a1 Con ronten of others who had curfew y ali Uctober euforced ¡nousdnd. capitalists in that apero an Wednesday applied to join the march had to one press home the : to brin be turned down Lne wounlue wea.

DILUSI

1932 down the lhatcher government September troops were called in. 10,000 Birkenhead unemployed marchec 1o me oCes oI une Assistance Committee Hln lc Our demanding increased benefits boots, coal and public work at policies ancic umon maes The PAC even agreed to send c ting Tor the the government a telegram abolition of the Means Test, but as the proces Socialist Press pamphlet sion marched away the police attacked it with batons and outlining programme of action against the Tory Maue sevelal dlesl .organised

NWM

offensive. demonstration for 15 September against Shis end demand rote relegaint Price 45F , aldinox 52a7.

E THI

WSL

ILON

une arested London WCIN 3XX Strong reinforcements

The politics of SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981 childcare from their and When the TUC Report capellas make supporting strike sure the Under Fives was • on action was tought ior earlier on published in 1978, what in subsequent nursery suuggies Many for child seemed to many as an started in the 1970s. care were insignificant struggle to Many this wa! defend a nursery class of 30 DrOugnT IN10 contacu Lne first time with the trade union full time places was taking and labour movement place. uninhibited This was in Oxford, where EnemseLves hureaucratic restacuons or plans hearing meetings. They demanded hearing for the struggle.

formed the Oxford City Nursery Nightmare Vithin three months tine Campaign adopted a programme which incuded. ouleI it times were bad enougn in efforts failed to stop the closure those old bad days of the nursery class a call election of Thatcher 1978 оссиру.

STEE

and were forced to do Drould inis Iney in March 1978. It provoked a Callaghan the Labour publicity which blaze leaders union officials at first tell over themselves in erroris to pose as militants. One exception was been

NUT

official -who the local the the fight from une party outset.

NUPE

officials, under. ine leadership of Stalinist Divisional George further went allu Vically suggested a were more cautious about their betrayal. as an They reached the point of supporting almost promising

NUPE

branch offensive strengthen the meeting actually called. family instrument immediate discussion on such a strike and urged a district exec- mall lail utive meeting sion of material Guided by Anderson, the decided that the 100S I Collected against the TOrM system, even cuts should at the heights post war circular! proved Eviction offer The eviction of the occupa- han was ventil Carrica oul She evetin fas helped by a ITOm novicual models eviction helped offer full employment even to the restricted number of women Vice Chairman-in his

NAILUU

able to seek work outside the role as solicitor lot ine councu.

The closure took place in the home. Labour hypocritical The gathering world reces- midst capitalist sion throwing covernmen crumrs urgue uic protection expansion producton into stagnation anu facilities their decline. are being Whole industries and cash Culo driven to the wall, and workers Limits were forcing to close.

defend But the fight to the Thousand are Campaign did driven out of employment nurseries collapsing firms slashed end with the eviction. An 10L public services Far from offering the slight- Oxford occupation and parents supporters est men oom ente co iberating and the from country urging others to learn the home, the capitalist class Is forced to seek means for driving the thousands of women out of organised avour movement. alu simultaneously tine Ine isolated family unit as the target ganda. It is no that in the wave of public spendine by facilities cuts ¡ilally needed WelC hospitals and school meals services with children Dy lilosc of the force women

10ICE

alla alSO allu more duties on the one mucu was in where county called the Oxford City 4711011

TIVE

oars Tne attracted over parents and supporters. was formed to 1120U trade were union wings to divide campaign Lne successar carried this months later. Outery The campaign split and the TWo nursery campaigns ued the struggle each -one through the trade union and labour other relying on the law ing to the 1944 Education (which has since been amended to facilitate more cuts).

The that the two campaigns provoked nauonany had the effect of embarrassing the Tories politically and orders local Tory the Group to back off. But nurseries are still seen as an easy option for any council Labour whether con- Since May 1979 many councils nave closea lacunes, though some have put up fight. stronightingale Day Nursery Wandsworth for example wa. Last in a series of articles by McKinley Ann history and political background to the fight for childcare facilities.

occupied from March 7 to May 20-1 13 1980. Labour Coventry Tory council to that they spending cuts Nursery the services means

CUTS

startne and when was faced with Was Eileen put this because position

NOTES

ham-letting without a nursery fight. continued teach sacked support.

NUT

throughout the the strike.

NUT

over teachers

NUT.

to assess action. In APrimembershere Notingham Who dead theM. been members, selves to come ou indefinite strike and if need b face the sack alongside Eileer prevented Crosbie They were from taking such action. of Atte seven betrayals, the result of the in January 1981 at last ballot what the NUT came up with had been planning Ior over e year-a negative and demoral- ised response! The other development in Nottingham around that time was the formation of the Save Page 5 Fight for NUPE'S Under-Fives Charter " Fight for a national plan for under-fives services, "Fight for a massive expansion of education and day care places.

"Fight for an end to low pay in the nursery service.

"Fight to restore the cuts in nursery beilding.

* Fight for under-fives facilities to be available on demand, free of charge.

• Fight to base the expansion of services on nursery centres.

"Fight to abolish the NNEB and create an integrated training scheme for all under-fives workers.

' Fight to provide pre-school facilities with flexible hoørs to meet the needs of working parents.

"Fight for local councils to draw up a development plan for all under-fives services.

* Fight to change the low on childminding and registration *Fight for one Government department to have responsibilit for under-fives services.

National Union of Public Employees NUPE campaign poster: not backed up by action cracy whose inactivity has sacri- ficed nursery workers' Too hi Nottingham, but also creen crosole m aspedis. is to help on a consultative bast at the nursery-with the NUT's aproval! but all nas not been gioom The Leicester Nursery Cam- paign led a successful fight last y cal lo udy lulscl council TrOM closing ang the deliberately running down the staff •Demands that NALGO take the fight meant that staff were I to Ted end the council looking at the forced the plans Teview' to ClOs NUau Nursery Important links were made 1980 between Nottingham Wands worth and Coventry Campaign anc • Terreshing Nursenes Action Conference was held in Our Nurseries Campaign. This Nottingham May altracted Walk. brought many other campaigns whom had voted Tory 1979! together of what action was needed to They helped fight against fight the attack cose two much needed day nurseries. The fight resulted in the orientated the trade unior paigns coming together to write collectively booklet Nurser- labour alla lovellell ies: How and Why to Fight for specifically NUPE anen July 1980 the National on the Corned carch is topposite a Campaign We motels 11ke closing holding up assorialulls țimes. tor Nurserv • taucation ana fre Playgroup Association Because It sees the need for • women Tories offered L work anu endi orcer то кеет To work l sana rom me need the nurseries • as a for expansion of nursery facilit- "community with and the need to defend what £8 cost ru sees ine necessity to Faced with this, the fight within the trade union and campaigners labour movement as a necessary Lagel step to achieving some of these get the The Campaign is to discuss child what care calling supporting and 1112 needed. The kind of truly social- actont ised chia care to wnich mn « renort on the nof Fives recommendations aspire take the • back into cannot be provided under capit services , which is both unable and 1981 unwilling to expand the produc This they do. tive forces to the point where Since then domestic labour in the indivi dual family . Tacillties, includin Labour Party meetings unions childcare: and the TUC to get money fron * Nurseries - How and Why instead of asking • Then • 21110 demanding that they fight the to Fight for Them' is available cuts and mobilise against the from NCCC, c/o Surrey Docks Child Care Project, • Orles. Dockland community nursery Settlement, Redriff Road, the solutior seen as London SE 16. only

NUPE

for the Wandsworth nursery campaigners

END STATE REPRESSION

Page 6

OF GAYS!

On Saturday 28 Febru- for example, have a formal meeting places such as gay pubs and clubs. employing policy ary a demonstration is to be openly people in jobs They use the law to prevent gay held in Manchester against involving contact with gay sex of and the the state repression -which can mean ant DeoDie. lesbian and gay people. holding hands and handicapped. thiging Shat heterosexuals can hing homose valis The for consent Attacks on gay peopic nom sọ that still 21 various quarters have increased recently, but the state plays a When people are Ine sate ano Is acents contin violently attacked. the police ually interfere with the sexual- central part in this repression.

blind eye, oi else ity of young people. either turn a une camalen orcanseis dre people suffer at victims while the focussing on The way lechians unt school, and in their homes from and gay people are discrimin- attackers get off scot-free.

ated against and harassed by the Gay people are systematical- being keep UnCI discriminated against sexuality secret. man convicted for from education employ- This discrimina ano emolovment. gay with to the bedroom, to hos- tion open and deliberate, having a ment, by industrial person can be sent pitals and prisons. and backed up prison. or mental hospital, .Ine police continually narass and intensifed gay people on the streets and at Clwyd County Counch

BLACK PEOPLE

ARE HERE TO

STAT

MINF THUGGERY

WILL NOT

TOLERITED

BE five hundred About Accrington anti-fascists con- of fronted the thugs the National Front last Sunday, 1 February. A hundred or so NF 'sup- porters', mostly 'bussed' in and under the protection Marie abundance 'boot through arrogantly Accrington to a rally College of Further Accrington Education annexe building.

adver- tised as a public meeting, to

PIE

READERS

trial Dear Comrade,

WRITE

Am I right in assuming from your article pposed the PIE tria correctly hat Socialist Press also support paedophilia? TR Oxford WE

REPLY:

Neither We welcome readers' letters on s Press, Bo BoX 5277 to les at Socialist Press, Socialist Press nor the Worker Box in length. Write Socialist has League any London WCIN 3XX. position for the artige in se do against 233 philia. As issue is one which raises "special problems McAliskey controe py pose of ther art our purpose was not to advocate the case for or against paccopnua Dul 1) l ppose the conspiracy trials o coverage leaders the Paedo po e pose mateon Eschange; 2) persecution of oppose ›aedophiles; and 3) to challenge and oppressive Dear Editor, reactionary Press onlv two paragraphs were I was disappointed on read- sexuality devoted to the attempted assass- towarus ng issue N january to see no ination and no tribute was made which the mont wing opponent Press of 21 McAliskey's of PIE are seeking to reinforce.

Bernadette attempted Socialist reas e milds onti te debate reference to years Consistent

WILK

assassination of Bernadette and including her principle Michae veausker ov tre uvA.

leading sexud 16 relations of any kind involving which took place on H Block- January. Armagh hunger strike campaign coercion. would have expected

AVISO

Provisional's return to a policy socou cres ro nave a maol article on the assassination civilians obly isolates theo from bombing shooting and/or McAliskey's attempt

ABORTION AND POSITIVE

the anti-imper- Tite working

CRISS

LEGISLATION

ialist struggle, especially as both sothie 1 feel nothing further the irish the capitalist press and all the that it was un-

NAC/LARC

other left papers had covered necessary to devote most oi the Labour Movement Conference article the the story in ceou London March 14 If an article was left out for republican movement. space Yours fraternally letails and registration fror much would have Marie Campbell relevant to our understanding of TU Liaison Committee c/o 374 Grays Inn Roac the

TISH

strugale nave included it rather than the letter *Comrade Campbell

LOCO VI

from Joe Quigley on Ireland valid criticism, will endeavour to redress the balance printed in the same issue In the next issue of Socialist reinforced by violent attacks • 1rom oner DrisoncIs the colnties Ireland, homosexuality remains , illegal, despite a ruling that the European Con- law violales venton on Human kignis Britain, sex between men supposed be legal betweer never peen mean nowever. the demonstration organisers the formal point out,

DOSILOI

NO U

Ult Iliali problem: "The as such is not at the centre of Ine coerweet and lesbian people and the The attack on us is an state.

TORY COUNCIL

BACKS FASCISTS

candidature • of promote local «Fuhrer" David Rilev in : District Council by election be held shortly. bruccolois attempted to enter this bublic meeting, but were prevented by thugs and and threats of volence. The senior police orTiCerS insisted, however, that the seven be allowed to enter the meeting.

that the hall was full, forced an and Culti protestors witt bielll On seeing ThaT Thert room for at : least a dozen more public" the senior officer in charge insisted that the seven be allowed in.

The NF stewards and accom- panying thugs still refused entr that it the seven di Lucalel into they meeum! "would not get out again" The police officers 'then to requested speak Riley and NF national chair man Andrew Brons subsequent- producing a arrived letter the lory-controlled Lan cashire County Council to show that the meeting was in fact a "private' rally. Police warned of British Movement-members of which have recently been convicted .on charges from murder ranging through arson to possession of of armoury systematic- weapons-are ally acquiring firearms. warning Crallky

UNEMPLOYMENT

National Demonstration

GLASGOW

Saturday 21 February •11 am. Blythswood Square called by the Labour Party attack on us for being who we are: not necessartly for what we do: our most Dasic nguls nave little guarantee They must be fought and see demonstroi z8 a cocca tion of our willingness to fight, and opportunity an • show their support, essentia The Campaign Against State Repression appealed support for labour and • the 110Lk trade imon movements gives it ful corais support and appeals to readers fight support branches. Further details from CASR c/o Gay Noise London 3aa or telepnone Vi 582 2461: This fact was later confirmed Peter Evans who informed the fact even college building LIlI been booked under the "Repres entation Act reoDie allows for the use schools reduced fos public meetings prior to elec-

TONS

The application to rent the approved by the Tory control- led council and endorsed by nors was for the use

C OT

building as a rally for members, not for election and ebviously purposes: This amounts to Tory of the NF and deliberate withholding regarding the true nature oi tne meeting. women streets the way to fight fascism, despite the legitimacy given by "au thor- The formation worker and youth into defence squad: Asian and coloured drive ine streels, Is

TANTO

TTOM

absolutely vital. BM violence The fascist thugs of the *from the lunatic left': it is the declared major opinion Police Review. intating not organising street now, violence for the. ground

DUT

orebarlle armed ana annormed gangs to launch violent attacks minorities and the labour movement Police Review estimates the BM's membership 2,500 and 4,000 "but these do include the line political convictions by booting lone Asians the police vulat uistulos the prospect prompt the labour move- ment to respond by establishing armed workers defence squads wan nome castro workes is that the BM has been able so far to wage its attacks without organised about movement response. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981 Strike call in school meals fight 60 school meals staff at a public meeting in Accring ton last Tuedsay 3 February called for a demonstration and protest to Mark Carlisle, Tory Education Minister, on his to Blackburn on visit Friday 13 February. NUPE area organiser Neville Davis is to call on NUPE schoo!

meals staff and on the GMWU Will • Ilayc NE Lancs Karenens support a one day strike call.

call comes the committee organising Meals Cam- ancastre scroo paign, who convened the meet- and from Neville Davis himself School meais staff are repres- ented on the organising com mittee and have raised the issue industrial action NUPE branches to support their fight for jobs and the schoo meals service Tuesday's was meeting arranged because of the demand trom the at Dubie maceune o 6 January to confront members Tory controlled cashire County Counci educa tion Committee The minority Liberal and Labour groups sent their educa- tion spokespersons group anl leaders to the meeting, but the council with the group brave lone exceptiol Ull councior, boycoutea une meel ing Parents school meals and staff were understandably angry uns reouke mon elected representatives and a further con- frontato 7,000 people in NE avel Lancs have come support the campaign and sign a safeguards petition demanding 310] The campaign will be orgar ising a demonstration for Frida the main entrance of Blackburn College Technology and Design Further information messages of support and dona Lancashire School Campaign, C/c Meds Marlowe Ave. Baxender Accrington, Lancs, Tel: 025 395753 Glasgow cuts fight Foresthall on the north of Glasgow is a east side vast Victorian home. part of thi century it was used as a work- house for the families who longer able to pay off debts.

Today it is used as a home for the mentally ill, single home Jess aire cerames That was up • until recentl • the AHA announced that and main block Dornoch the facilities closed in April with the loss of 250 job kind en has a kitchen has an import not only in the ault loic lo blay CHoresthal Que ao n te mes on wheels service in Glasgow and also the schools service The two main unions, NUPF and

TGWU

have said the patients wil not be movec ex The staft have received sonp from Glasgow Distric ALGO and are seeking support drivers In order to prevent the AHA from removing patients the staf Main ocuy

DOLLOCIE

• nome • The sores ato kitchen facilities and extenc all unions in the their fight to Glasgow public services

Camden cuts ... from page 1 SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 11 February 1981 They lost by only one vote But the a bid cut spending know that Ical financial y cal

LIOTC

anat lejecuon is soon ukely to une ories be reconsidered. Having Shaw explained clearly that into a major their motives were to save thei erener workine alasse expense of the class: take workino but it was absolutely has currently held up by What been achieved, meu Ders terms of saving the These Icoossal le Building Department Tory policies making certain are 10 U unolacdbit reported auditor " "gain lo me bIstcu camden's Conference Policies to stop the cuts Called jointly by the Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement and Socialist Organiser Saturday March 21 10.30 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Islington Central Library, Holloway Rd London N7 Details and credentials from CDLM, 169 Barclay Road, Smethwick, West Midlands Teachers Lambeth's attacked action on

AIRCKA

spending In what can only be seen demonstration as an election-rigging exer- 1,000 candidates for three on cise, mainly officers of the Inner Lon- from Teachers Association workers don Labour have been suspended. by national officials of the Town Hall staff.

NUT.

The three-Dick North, Bernard Regan and Dave Picton suspended, along -pave been with the tor seth ort tat ione analis suppill dnu cul. demonstration on Wednesday 4 February. right wing NUT leader- ship- -which nas done Io cle

SLOD

culs-sprang InTO after the Lambeth aCTION voted general an impressive meeting on January 19 to sup- port a nall-day strike victimised teachers- including Vanessa Wiseman, Central Keton President of walnootl remain suspended Albert Hall, CouICu-will until a disciplinary tribunal is MPs convened-after the elections. Harry alla

NUT

members working class alil public down the Tory SeCtOr workers Snolle protest at this brazen attack on Canavan militants who fight the cuts.

attack NEC, and the processes for the

AA M PHYTO1

party seem to be pressing for- ward moge leaders appear to wish. une nostilltv stand for from the vast majority of Labour activists -as reflected Williams overwhelming Wrexham CLP to In the wake of the pub- CSD-supporting lication remarkably oI a list 100 unimpressive OI steadily increasing pressure exer- and an evident sponsors ted trom slowing in their tide of fan mail from reactionary well- the Labour renegades in time to wishers, the right wing Council for Social support in the local governmen1 Demo- accols. cracy has begun to founder.

At the back of the minds of Williams has at last the central "Gang of 4" nittev annonced her eagerly the worry that resignation from sympathetic newspaper coverage L Loll Camden leaders A major development took the Mint Shop Storaary place Monday LIlt oresenu package or culs Will not satisty Committee representin forced the Council •and

NALGO

ULAN

met and adopted a policy of louval Lute demanding no vuls, tu tent micrcases, no and more concessions-including lale ses council houses, Unlike the Lambeth unions

• NALGO

the

JSSC

is pledged to assis tenants Il oreamsug renT ang implement _moves lo lale SuIKeN. will Following last Wednesday's will from package of opposiuon cuts, an emergency unions and tenants was ano eac union intends hold its membership. They Fébruarf the Town Hall on 1ss day ratifies the Labour CoInci will also propose series suend surkes--mne of which will be on March

ETNI

4 (the day the new rate is to be fixed). These policies are seen as the first limited steps to provide a focus for a united labour move- valparg!. ahallls l gureillel aDol? agents in the Council. The tenants associations- dormant since Heath's Housing Finance begin- rici-aand Ime lo oreamse Tenants' representatives 28 meeting on January an angry refusec vu a noasmna Committer question whether they wanted flat rate rent increases (which would hit ow-rent tenants nardest) or a percentage rise Instead, speaker after

LAMBETH RALLY

the post march rally that a week of Tories against the santia surike snoula de organ- by the TUC against the Iseo local attack councillors.

CUYCII

drew Cornee than h toil w ring of around had more than a hollow February 4, from coming Ulle Witu . flau from striking ducked confronta- Smnlal tion in Lambeth by drastic rate the Direct increases. Organisation and This

DOLLL

War SarOngs the borough's white collar waken up by vanessa wiseman speaking from the local Trades Council Speaking atter lony Benn and Lambeth Labour council leader Ted Knight told

LEIL.

Stirling jobs demo Over 1,000 trade union- Social Democracy, calling upon ists, youth and unemployed "chancers, 102 1 bunch opportunists marched through the streets careerists qult the Labour Party and the of Stirling last Saturday in labour covemen] The march was attended by demonstra- tion against unemployment.

delegates ilially Lidut unions and CLis. plus a substan.

The march, organised by the number mobilised by the Federation

'LPYS.

Trades Councils ended in a rally 30 #employed youth on where local the march had already marched Dennis canavar Alloa before Ewing SEvell mues rom called for the demonstration began action to bring The 600 people Sverilll. Albert heard how made LlC sca LAlle Stirling DIstIll COUnCI Council for given the fullest backing for the Gangsters flounder and hours of sycophantic radio and may tels on HerVINS begin to ebb unless they main- towards a than its tain momentum total split But such free publicity his pressure takes the forn sur- one lane ot seethinc

SECES

nave attractec every thing they little practical suport DISnEY to the splitters. Reactionaries call on their MP 1om Ellis A claimed 8,000 letters from the other hand there is middle class reactionaries ago nad gone up I UlL 10,000 Party GIberal weekater engulf containing only £5,000 in dona- tions. This is scarcely enough to du bious electoral Roy Jenkins in claret for a week!

NOI

walktness bonua appeal be much enhanced list 100 political has-beens, the Ieams • busuessmer and parasites published in the speaker attacked the council for i proposing to raise rents at all. A The fight series of motions calling on the Council to closure of Hvi vase were passed with massive major- Journal has ities critical stage. Finally it is crucial that the fight against Tory allaw. vulv s kormo me noi decisively on Party itself for Labour The Camden Left continues attract lett • WIts paper have Party aulas inane • L110011 the journalists refusing to tenants leaders including final pay trade union shop stewards.

at the crossroads. At its last meeting it adopted a clear strategy DuL Donce 101 corTonk waert

WIL

ane …ores Ito succeeded last next week's Duo isner ing Prior's Socialist Press1 . Its members • are pledged to win

SUDDOLL

StrategK Party, trade ime ae (aDouT nalists last week unions and tenants associations.

The fight for this line in the siLIUs Labour Partv has changed dram- one-day Despite atically since Wednesday.

Camden journalists taking supporting Removed from oftice Islington The task is to remove from office those councillors who voted for cuts. demands. unose nime ett counculor‹ This who courageously voted against

NUY®

the must now publicly break from the majority of the fighters in Camden. Labour Group The rally must ally themselves iney strategy for with the Camden Labour Left and the nalists, union exceDT • trade • vallioaltn and help rally the mass support and FoC Howard Hannah needed on a local and national level defeat Thatcher offensive. shib has representatives until taken a definitive decision suppoll-wic that they will refuse • vote by In a lignting speech. which brought the meeting's best surprising. ponse, she used her own victim- There isation • Ior going against in a meeting of 300 Lue maret and defying the NUT national The group the kind of sacrifice leaders as Camder which has got to be made if a England-owns lead is to be given. Nuneaton, The failure, she said, of the bury Rugby Lambeth council stand and Haverfordwest in Wales.

against rate rises had opened the and

LUUI

reactonares fascists allowing them to whip uis rate demands they cacid lato uclanas mey couro not meet. hold on Council finally last week after five years.

march. Saunois, speaking tony dent for the past year, announ- behalf of the LPYS called or :ed just befor Labour councils to refuse to implement Tory cuts va sio vol cal die wo o included speakers UCW member Gerry Casey. from British convenors Leyland's Bathgate plant and BF winger at Grangemouth against Soanes every year since Lynn Menere secretari the TUC installed the right win of Trades Council Haitk ihe cs. nind the ting bye out- lining future plans of the registered old Trades Council callbal-il. estad- Lett wingers centres for the Ishment Marie board unemployed in the main towns beat Pat of the region. VOLe Guardian last week. Meanwhile Rates the Labour Party itself the departure these already tordes weakened the right wing-pull- ing the carpet out from under "Campaign Labou Victory" Which was disbande Trial sub (UK). last week. Six issues. Tom Bradley follows Williams Shirley Six months. trom the NEC, the left vote wil botna weiland the cond right One year witch-hunt 112111 wingers their regain lost Europe: authority will be worsened still Six months. further. these : conditions Labour Rest of world: Party members and trade union- Six months... ists must press home the fight to defend and extend the gain Blackpool the and Wembley Write to: Socialist Press, BM conferences-ditching right wing Box

ШО КОННО IPOTTAT

socialist policies to mobilise

TIOT

action against the Tories.

Page 7 Save the Journal! meetings have against the already been held with members the Camden those papers and joint reached membership meeting has beer called for Thursday. members should be Print union leaders are it nest Con Colards pu aic pressure on the called turn made the point of turning their backs demand key

NGA.

blacking of the sister papers.

Supporters urged Notices to iournalists on the it Nuneaton here a rew priet weekly dawn picket now run out-with to off. The fight is wolkers continue to reluse cross the picket. But Camder cam of thei at Nuneaton- must turn focus , the papers are printed drive not to create ilusionar enforc- to ees we the faime ot the hostilill expose failure number of pickets, and arrested print leadership

. ULLC

And London provincial jour- support. reversed their and caled off a . serier supporting strikes In these setback the and thos action StaKe on the Hornsey Journal and the brief Gazette nave But they have lost direction in the relative importance of 30,000 water workers As found their pay claim yet again apparent at the following a march of 300 delayed time-wasting anti-cuts ballot negotiators 17,000 ambulance drivers heard brought no an insulting 6% offer at the start the Camden Jour of their pay talks. amoe tot pickets from editor Eric Gordon Meanwhile Civil Service Meanwhile the NGA leader have united behind a unions refused to meet NUJ 15% increase- demana Ior they have which even if conceded in full would, after civil Icare sign is a cen servants falling well behind the rise in the cost of living.

Under those conditions the • London provincial jour- nalists not to continue with one As the National Union of strikes in support was not Seamen new sicals to se step Its selective strikes : was a majority of 30 evidence that was lunter the General Council of British owns the Shipping is beginning to crack Journal-Heart individual . papers vloyes make settlements with the union.

Leamington, Ban- Midlands Right routed The right wing strangle- Richards

(SOGAT)

A MIT

Oxford Trades became Treasurer when anther wun decked the indignity member Tony collapsed Galache o ocea Stalinist Mick Soanes, Presi- Alan Thornett (TGWU) and Peter McIntyre

(NUJ)

wert : the crucial vote elected as vice-presidents The right wing and Stalinists had mobilised, doing stanang and nanaed over to their annual tour of the graveyards to has stood against right turn out their delegates.

John Power and then But after five years of trying to obstruct every struggle in the party was finally

LUWI

He represents above al over The short of time WIll passage between elections and the the end of the mccul was ounciu Campbell (CPSA) ated bi wingers sinking Ward (NUPE) by room. in ones and

ITOH

tre for Secretary twos.

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.£9.00 ..£10.00 5277, London WCIN Strike now to stop Edwardes

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one who initially The final betrayal of the putting ine sackings to a Joint Longbridge six victimised management/union and clearly workers-four of them shop.

action for their reinstatement- stewards-took place betore tolnd it no easy matter to com- the eyes of millions of tele- plete the sell-out. vision viewers last week.

Kev last Friday were: The initial betrayal had, of course, takes ol Di, behind the small "ne closed doors Digbeth Hall, the neetin alled with pressed

VULC

Was night through to cal off the strike their support by 1,500, Metro workers. workers the night shift Then, last Friday, those with video were aoc to Hualis watch action replays of Long- Jack Adams to speak directly to the mass convenor • strike resolution meeting. ceremen 1 was carried-in just the same way as he had done to halt the struggle disadvantages and difficulties of wares last deale unat makes it twice we wwo remaned committed months that this leading Com- official support if Ip Tories strike a mos helped the *Adams'

DOW

Lilt

SUURRIES

working class. • sTewards' Given the barrage of media called for all out strike action to and he six. Adams instead called fo however, the strong all-out 46uUi reduced the victimised workers was tively stating of remarkahle nothing short guilty. Adams-who had been the whom engage in "moonlighting" Catholic The minority for murder squads such as the trapped under British rule "Shankhill Butchers" in the six counties of forms of sectarian violence.

Northern Ireland face formidable of barrage Paramilitary repression. as if And unere is me be amy ol the SAS There are streets almed state enough, allu tnere is also sabotaging threat services. snooping, and murdering. para-military rosuvialull. Notorious British ation. There is the sectarian RUC Humphrey Atkins whose brutality, weekend

LOILUIC

anle Once that it should continue legally are internationally notorious. carry out mates UDR-many Andy Tyrie publicly describes as the UDA gunmen on the streets Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers

SOCIALIST

LONGBRIDGE

The trap snaps shut propnsed went first to a meeting drawn lie wilde than the workers on the Metro opposed whose four stewards were strike the

SIX

VILLE SCU

Despite all these obstacles and despite a company manoeu- factors in the outcome vre of awarding bonus payments attendance of £23 the week before and £15 which had been the week of the meeting, the and at a time voting was very close While Edwardes has achieved attendance his victimisation has not repeated were from dealt by the blow dealt by defeat of the call for refusal to allow action to worker cerene tomme

STOCK

Robinson. The workforce remains strong. could have been But ther *Adams' insistence upon the 20 ders spongly or a pared fight strongly strike volt. alla cal d the vote Thatcher/Edwardes offen- sive in its tracks. The Tory hand in the victim- refusal to put the Isation was made quite clear the committee-which previous weekend when Thatcher pointed to Edwardes' uccessers from the iL work- lorce effec- sentence sins But tne communist rarty Is that they against bringing down the Tory such action does government: *The fact that the motion ful did fl will call Tory blind eye to Paisley provocation "terrorism" against anti-imper- ialists and Catholics. and other As Ian Paisley's mountain- showed Collecte guns and carry out their their the violence support of the Collatedla weight of this • were not His 500 supporters brandish- the ever- certificates-while Paisley posed remained silent on how Ulsterr Defence many or will are acludly Mchl "security forces" of Ders or Tie UDA is a legal organis- the sectarian Orange statelet.

torture one Loyalis only last nearly to Bernadette deal decited assassmate and Michael MCA IRKeV because what leadér they denied firearms certificate for self protection willie

LOVASSI

squads operate with British the republican approval, who seek to ghettoes are Dro scribed and viciously persecu- is licensed to kill- subject politica Elle Utile. Jai ana sentences for much as possessing a weapon. Path as there lever of however strength last week part a prelude only the forthcoming local elections.

far : more an attempt to It Is LIe anatche developing any further political links with Haughey government in the 26 feels counties -welch offer the or a which the Loyalist monopoly of power in the North could Socialist League, BM, Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX.

Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office: Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League and more every week. can help us solve. Bankers Our address is: road" to socialism. As a loyal CP member Jack Adams will doubt receive no another Order of Stalin for his Long- weeK brior and thou whoe flood must draw bitter lessons and previous sell-outs oy inel con venors and officials. A fight must be launched to build the kind of leadership that defend shop Call and lead the struggles necessary to defeat Thatcher. Longbridge This Saturday's conference Birmingham marks an important stage in that fight. We urge readers to attend.

"Star' role-page 2

CONFERENCE

saturday 14 rebruar 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Colmore Circus, Queensway Birmingham Open to all trade unionists and Labour Party members be eroded And it is a threat to those Catholic workers who are barue once more To monitse behind the strugele the of republican prisoners Long Kesh atlanding pollica prisoner status. Thatcher government has cynically retreated from the Willi ena to • The 3-0 LOng yest hunger strike just before Christ- mas. renewed Hunger strike COHSE officials to wind up the 11-week old work-in at Angered by this and by the Longworth collapse of various steps towards Oxfordshire, de escalation protest, Long Kesh banker on Monday declared that prisoners have unanimously to reject a new will further sell-out deal. necessary. dispatched supporters have been by given three weeks mobilise •panswick the of requests from mas. ood and South which forced conference

NOTTA

the Tatins toith Tories conduct question of the prisoners. support of the occupation to bi Without Ene confusion of republican policies the hospital or in the last few occupation committee who have uncle or a liev Call leone mont paign of bombings and military floor the action will be ho this weekend Belfast alil Maudous into ‹weive narrowin Dublin Block/Armagh Committee. British socialists in the trade support unions • and Labour Party prac reconore tical solidarity with the H Block supposedly be made available at struggle Oxford's Churchill Hospital against imperialist rule.

Morning Litho Printers Ltd., Londor

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The February Fund has got off to a good start with £209.25 arriving in the first week of the month. However, if we are to come anywhere near to completing our £850 Fund in this short month we are going to need that amount And if we are to even begin to restore the cuts that we have been forced to make in the size of Socialist Press then on top of this we are going to have to raise an extra £60 a month from our readers and supporters With more and more Labour councils facing the crunch on the question of rate and rent rises and cuts in spending, and Socialist Press supporters in the thick of the battle to force these councils to adopt a no rate, no rent increase position and confront the Tory government, we urgently need to restore Socialist Press to its former 12-page format.

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Socialist Press Monthly Fund BM Box 5277, London WC1N 3XX Longworth sell-out rejected ity Hospital would at last bi effort by opened: this has been delayed as a propaganda ploy by the AHA " A joint inquiry into Nro Hospital, provision for the elderly, to dis the vague possibility of a bit the cuSs dust new hospital. as staff voted "Top floor patients at Long worth would be moved down.

stairs-bringing overcrowding and safety hazards

COHSE

pack leader but even betore this age could be presented to the Longworth COHSE members the union's had for id t industrial action in seas al • the • Golent! Hospital were only a tempor. measure-anc the "offer", was therefore troubling visit completely spurious with Ine plan wa: further negotiations are TO SaVe une

TOI

planned. hospital from took Longworth Help on the picket line continues to be urgently needer negotiations-at the supporters maintain a 24 hour guard the occupied hospital.

COCO ANE

donations should be sent to: wrytra ceratric bods woul Barbara Russell, bread Cottage, Farringdon Rd., Lowworm. xon