Socialist Press no. 242

LABOUR LEFT

SOCIALIST

PRESS

* Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 242 * 9 April, 1981 * 20p

BENN'S

STAND

TESTS

Tony Benn speaking at the Blackpool conference witch-hunt against the left Squawks of rage from within the Party, including Party head- Labour expulsion of supporters the Houses of quarters, ot tne vintant tenaency. Parliament, Tory And in the absence since the the January conference of a and top union press clear line of struggle for the leaders are no bad thing.

Party's left wing, the "Solid- They generally mean that arity" gang have seemed very the right wing is under much To set une pace ui events. attack. week's squawks Last Splitters arose after Tony Benn had wel ane uruy

- SCL

among Labour's right wing Indeed from the outset it Tribunite 'doves' and has been the right wing that Lavvis. the vultures of Fleet Street.

towards directed nas stand decision divisions and sputs mn ue Healey for against the part-Callaghan, having Healey leadership of the been Evans deputy disrupted has defeated on policy and con- for support is directed not so CaTTV TuUCLy the country, arguing that the the attempts by stitutional questions the nant.

SAST

adopted by last much to them as top bureau the "centre and the fakers early October, resigned. are but to the rank and October's conference crats, Group to Tribune immediate membership in the

OTOVOKE

publicly inrenresentauve Ile cobble together leadership election under the The raud- attacking them, and seeking branches, and to the dele- •Inity pretence of political ulent old rules. and expel gates to this summer's union witch-hunt of

PLP

the basis right wing from the Party went ahead with that elec- socialists Conci cicvs. hollow anti-Tory retoric.

This is an important and order to "reverse the trend".

Benn's stand is a direct despite the appeals of In declaring himself as a poșitive step towards broad- the Party NEC for them not the growing ening out the whole debate chauenec Deputy canoneate

HOI |

•LITC

arrogance of the party's

P TA1TP IOM 100 0S OD 01

procedures leadership, Kenn is -nOU acmoctalic right wing-now regrouped four-cornered fight in which much new and the fight on policy and and organised in the ludi- the press backed Healey. programme beyond struggle in the Labour Party: demanding mis-named "Labour the lote ho n em let Atter Labour Party itself, into the CrOUS V Solidarity" grouping. wider trade union and labour leftward moving members of outcome the Party a rally ing cry and movement. conference "whatever the Clique around and the Foot

ISSUC

First step outcome fight back against the right right wing, after having been Having dried their tears winle iters of Shirley defeated, loss at once declared particularly It is the first step by a their intention to overturn Willlams, owen ana co., unis angered those who are fight- prominent Labour shady clique of shadow me decision. ing to reverse the Wembley winger to build a left wing and *The most virulent right spokesmen is feren ce decisio n sine he current in i the trade unions caolnci opponents of party wing union bureaucrats nas cort socialist and

TOW

DL COSU

anu orcak turr ue custorl policies sampa c onstinstional democrde election under the new rules ary polii th harty to abym plie manoeuvres ana back- constitutional -to take place the very day stage deals that characterise the Party to form the changes agreed at last year s before Foot and. his bureau- between SPD-leaving behind them a Tela LuHsiys Blackpool their bid conterence ana cratic cronies make Labour leaders and union their large them special conference at

DOCV

to overturn those rules. bosses. thinkers. Such a-turn is a particu- *Since then Healey and 'And" he has annoved Dennis Healey in partic- lar, embarrassment to left been grabbing union leaders, by making it Shore have u ar nas cone even rurune taking bureaucrats such as quite clear that his appeal and called openly for a new press neadunes and tourng Non Heffer Moss Evans of the TGWU and Clive Jenkins of ASTMS who nave reDeateary postured as strong support- ers of Benn. they have the

NOW

choice of breaking from their right inghro Tưng

TUC

coneacues their oracuicar

SUDDOLL

behind Benn's campaign, or standing before their own members as allies ot Healev and ine rant win!

But it is not only th rade union leaders who finc themselves put on the spot hv kenn s stane. une same !

also true of the bulk of the Tribune' Parliamentary group. Once clearly the left of Party, the the Labour been E Toune group Hlas more and more overtaken by the growing leftward move ment of the party's rank and file. Clinging to its friendly relationships with the right the union bureau- wine ane craçy, the

DUIK

PAGES!

BACK

Tribune group has remained InKCU trappings of -raruamentary democracy: dozens of Trib- unites joined with the right wing condenl

OUL-

come of the Wembley Con- ference and pledge cam- Dalen Tor Its revelsal Now the Tininites outright opposition to any serious fight against the right Wing epitomiscu reactionary statements Irom John Silkin, and the rumb- Eric Heffer ling threats from to stana agalnst 1on

DOILE

in a delberate move to sput the left wing , vote and ensure Healey's re-election. of left wing SAn OTILV Labour MPs however-prom- inent among them Reg Race, Michael Meacher and others -have lent support to Benn's stand, and begun themselves turn towards mobilising the necessary movement in the unions There is no doubt that Benn. for all his correct and wide-reaching •criticisms the right wing and of the record of previous Labour governments Ilas

SCLIUUS

political limitations. 'Alternative strategy' n Darucuar ne. dion with many of his fellow lefi MPs, and the Labour :Co- Committee отel0a110! remains committed to the so-called "Alternative Econ- (AES) as a omic Strategy solution to capitalist the Crisis The AES certainly con- lains some progressive pro nosais-including the exoan sion of state spending on useful public works But at the same time it is STrONG V Inrectea nationalism, with its strident demands for import controls capital to protect. "British' ist industry against "foreign" capitalist competition. Such policy wrongly CIreCTS BrILISO worKers seek a common "national interest" with their

OWI

employers. And indeed the AES 1s seen by its supporters as a reforming and capitalism restructurug Articles on WRP; El Salvador; Anti-Apartheid; CND Diltal Ttnl tsts. for the establishment of a plannea SocIalISt economy on the basis of nationalisa- tion of the banks, land and maor mausu y Press Socialist for this opposes the reason

LIVE

-economic Duraleey (though occasion our fight partial and trans demands well Ico lal Illd) orne us uto a untea Iront with supporters of the AES).

Disagree And we also strongly dis- agree with Benn's position of for ODDosIg

LIC

immediate InCuStra acuo down the Tory government. Benn believes that this is premature step since is change the character ol the Labour Party ana its leader- ship uch a view introduces e false separation between 1

:TONT

WILDN

abour Party and the devel opment of the class struggle and flows from as a Wilulc still kenn s rarnamehial perspective of the fight for socialism. Bui despite these limita- tions, Benn's campaign against Healey offers to rein- StruggIC 101 socialist policies against the right wing within the labour movement in the next six months. At long last a left winger fight to has taken up defeat and remove the right On this hasis SOCialISTS should extend to Benn their firm but critical support.

calls on Socialist Press renders and -SuDDOrLeS Labour Parties and trade branches to utilise to the full this new opportun- in fonich basic sam which basic issues policy and programme ca oe dedatea ou Benn has set the ca among the pigeons: it is up socialists make sure and some within the labour movement as a whole.

Stop WRP bid to gag labour

SPECIAL FUND

Back to 12 pages: help us to restore all the cuts. Page 2 movement press Socialist Press readers threatening court action will know that last against SO. thev were deter mined to prevent that paper week's issue was reduced from being published at all.

in size to eight pages. Kennave lacerore suee They may also have a further writ against both Litho and SO deduced from the for page numbers and the lack of L call cl a Dedi funds to defend the case explanation that this was a last minute change. Circular But what they will prob- ably nI0L KnOW And she has issued a alsruption or our newspaper further writ against SO sup- John porter bioxam ticulally ¡lasty excuse the text or a circular lo censorship and intimidation seeking carried original • rent une Revolutionary Party led by libel suit. Gerry Healy. Morning Litho were also Acting in her capacity as until this week the printers Central Committee of Socialist Press. member or me war. actres.

But according to Morning Vanessa Redgrave recently Redgrave's Litho Printers issued a writ for libel against awvers tou tel represell both Morning Litho Printers tatives further that

WIILS

i to and sean Maigamna would be issued in respect of Socialist Organiser. The writ alleged libel in respect of an every reterence ic calll any paper ine arce I socialist orcurtiser printed by them. entitled "'Gaddafi's Legion to Knight's This threat proved to be Foreign And week effective. last Rescue renusea page Socialist Contesting print Press (this week's page 9), necessitating ine last-minute deletion of two pages out of testing the libel suit, and ten defending his article.

BUT

Morning Wealth Printers, became through their involved solely This monstrous abuse of commercia re duoesno wili Socialist Organiser promptly Keccrave s published a attempt to silence 9001) N Socialist critics through

WRP

Organiser movement the threat of action in the capitalist courts presented us the WRP. with a problem. Not content with cuts we have been forced to This week marks the we depend on

(LWO

12-page return to Socialist Press and with it Firstly. we monthly partial restoration of €2,500 raise The the cuts we were forced Special Fund launched last continual rapid to make at the beginning The week. of the year. rise in confronts us ways. With The extra two pages costs in rising continually week mean that in particular distributing producing increase our coverage Socialist Press: and it reduces and of industrial the living standards of our local struggles ability agains supporters and thei councils implementing Tory to contribute to our fund.

massive rent and cuts and Tate Expand work which nas been unavoidably curtailed since we cut back Yet we make no apology to 10 pages last January.

in appealing to our readers start. •• we ve Maut d and supporters to come for- But unfortunately yet position ward with the and publish Red outh sary to complete this unu which will. apart from ward Human worker as compitic creditors, ensure I separate papers, ing off ou the successful return to l2 whenever these will production page piDukatons appear they cash spare as uke four of our twelve hope. leave some must there- neiD VUl national work within "emplete the res International Trotsky ist ta: papers The factor which suckles) help cop our aranted can return to 12 pages is the tight to ll the the SET 2n3 Healy (joreground) with Corin and Vanessa Redgrave As a matter of principle we could remain sient about the WRP's outrageous actions in recent months.

Yet it remained with Morning Litho, was Healv noW free to and call lay "police agents" in vewsine while legally blocking our right to reply In this situation we have han no choice nut to cnange printers. We are grateful to East End Litho for agreeing notice. paper. determined we are hold the price down to 20p and with new larger page getting money. So we hope this will make ease or our reducis and supporters ser Socialist Press hostility the Tories growing ane lime and a major debate about to within Party polities should imblement terre will Labour government be every puttiluis coming weeks are mores trade • meetin t and Ine unempioved demonstrations. Extra copies we appea to our raders supporters to take the and presented and help us increase the circula- and influence Press the Socialis: donut movemen. each week to sell. Contact Board statement chance to discredit left wing The arrangements make a return general and Mutilits -and Trotskyist in particular an increase in coverage. This will enable exposinto he Wes rightly said that he has no wish to go into the courts on world attempts to suppress the issue but it dragged int court by wing papers and gag its will the wRr ne have no choice but to defend Collins Certainly the the WRP appear actions of _ine VICTOrS ITOM most sinister. In taking such a case would be the to court the WRE enemies of the working class Malcallld can hope palm Matgamna but it is certain that such a the WRP that a labour move.

legal confrontation ment inquiry investigate the oner ine mass media a new your local Socialist Press selless belove it you a the seller or to us at small. The Special Fund runs write 18-the beginning of the WSL Summer Schoo ke fo recerve ? lew extra copies tion each month if you like!

Meanwhile urgently Donations should be sent £750 • the firsi neeo to raist of our Special Fund. So far Socialist Press Special Fund have £457.00 leaving us we BM BoN 5277 €293.00 to raise within the London WCIN 3XX next few days. Why not send us a dona- If you have a bank account why not consider filling in the Standing Order form printed below.

Standing Order To (your bank) Branch a . (date of Ist payment) Please pay or Northampton Branch, Code No. Bank, To Cooperative 08.90-73 the sum of f (in words of the Workers Socialist League for credit to 5023090153 and make similar payments Account number (state frequency) until this order is on the (date). writing. charging such payments to my our cancelled account. • Signature. Date SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April, 1981 Socialist Press Editorial charges he has raised and the In Leicester, WRP dele-: WRP's claims the con- gates to the Trades Council trarv. We have no doubt thai bloc rave rommed Healy will reject such Tories and the right wing to proposal. push through the abolition Why is it that the WRP led local struggles walcarenses to take action Tetegraph inst the against the cuts, to defeat a its witch- articles, insists rades counci otticers toi movement seeking to obtain a state ban Taking opponents into the bosses' New National Front courts? acmonsuanon. amo to secure The answer les the election of a WRP sup complete departure by the Trades Council porter

WRP

from any vestiges of Secretary principie And outside the BI • Ca factories in Cowley the WRP • Sabotage recently distributed a lavish leaflet with Its activities particularly purpose oine since the beginning of 198.

brand Alan Thornett as a bear all the hallmarks not of "scab" and a police agent political campaign work but -to the delight of manage sabotage ment and the right wing. systeillall against the revolutionary left The WRP are inordinate- in Britain. fond of branding ly After years in which the opponellts as provocalculs "agents" WRP had tolowed a deepl and

MOS

sectarian path far from the grandiose campaign along labour move mainstream these lines has been aimed at leadership the Healy Ine enure American

SWP:

and by decided to take part in the two Lambeth cuts confer- of lines specious LUI Luvue has been cults Lilt widened to include Tariq Ali Kut nev. die so on ge Socialist basis of a major political the

ING

and the right, involv- lurch to tress curtor somn Lister.

ing support … lor swingelng rate rent increases, Censorship the sale support for connel nouses. suDoorL IoI We workers' ask the "commun- and the councils" and opposing movement : revolu tionary confrontation with the Tor еттт make mer which party government bent dis On these issues the WRP clearly correctly and soundly was screute consul ing and bankrupting thei defeated, particularly at the opponents? What politica January conter is now playing exactl party Since then we have seen the kind of scabbing, sabo- provocateur would be proud Healy's savage retaliation taging scandalously to of? attempted the SWP with The Newsline is just com the pleting yet another Nationana because are took the correct stand during week of action unsuspecting garda gave hard-earned opst • boss lale livicasco . cash Suspended "build the party Did they know that such Since then WRP members funds are being used along and supporters on Lambeth side Redgrave's wealth ' to Trades Counci have fought to remove Vanessa Wiseman …anour movement ores from her position as Trades It is high time they were i told. We pledge ourselves to President-arguing Council alongside that since her victimisation fight by

NUT

Trotskyists the WRIte real politics of the means that she is suspended Irom union membersno. sne • all supportis is not entitled to be a dele- heav gate! This outrageous

WRP

attempts sabotage the • a revolutionar building has even neen British opposed by local headers labour movement. of the Communist Party Trotskyist International Liaison Committee 2nd International Summer School 19-26 July 1981 Sessions on: Crisis of Imperialism; world economic crisis; Stalinist crisis: Central America; and Reconstruct the Fourth International For more details write to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX

ITALIAN CP: WHERE

"OPPOSITION" MEANS

Steel bosses profit from US

« SOCIALIST PRES

day 9 April, 1981 supposed It might be that when a political party which was vehement about its opposition to govern- ment policies found itself in a majority in the parliament it would vote to bring down the government it professed to hate. tive to compete with the various Not, however, when the "autonomous" movements concerned Is the ooposiuon DarLy among the Italian Communist Party!

Dioyeu dra sluucils. That was exactly the situa- These movements tend to be parliamentary tion in a recent erratic but in some caly, 618- -but like session wien persed. some areas, government forces were have

LIC CLY

depleted through the decreasing presented a real challenge to the state authorities. level cozen Ms. Naples today is the scene of The Italian CP, however, see- orotest cannonstalons ing that it was in a majority on and occupations of public build- an important issue proposed the of unemployed ings by groups adjournment of the session until and homeless people the next day! unemployment ine the twice the of 9% and Goodwill of the city s national arviase This is one example, among youtn is lalling to tina any work many or tae arre coner or lat At the same time the chronic Communist Party's continued of "opposition position nousig

CINE

NaDies las been made suddenly more acute centre-eit the migration the Christian Democrats. "opposition" followed Despite Last vall til" quake. the Christian Democrats know That tney can only rule with a of goodwill certain amount Upheaval Party. from the Communist crats are only too well aware "Three after the that in the short term it is only said local CP earthquake, secre- CP's "opposition'

WICH

Tary naples saves them from an acute social is in a vast and confused social crisis on a nationwide scale.

upheaval. CP's stance the In Naples itself, the CP has Because opposition the least a most militant and oppressed to maintain at modicum sections of the masses. radicalised rank and This is because in Naples the mil casualy file and to offer it some perspec- CP itself (along with the C. Larry French, presi- war drive dent of the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company and chairman of the of the Shipbuilders Council of America is obviously a big name in the shipbuild- The second reason Larry ing industry. French is getting famous is thạt Ite, he's been getting in major Lalely, spokesperson in the news for two reasons. one ins muusury Is oromoLine enor- company has been locked in mous spending increases by the battle batkers Locathe21 in San go, with Iron- Navy to prepare for war. The Reagan government has quickly adopted the view that willed denas been irving to bust through frame-ups and with the the Navy will vital cooperation of the union's inter- tool of American imperialism.

nationa has recently Lilal DUl nas receivea an the militant local under trustee- increase of $9 billion ship. budget from the admin- 'We like this one... How far away are the school, train station, church, grocery store and nuclear missile site?'

SUPPORT!

ELLAL

VOTANO COMUNISTA

Socialists and Republicans) part coalition between coveramen of the coalition of parties which itself and the Christian Demo- -a government embodying govern the municipality. crats- upheaval 1s however, therefore Happenin "Opposition" is a shou what can happen the whole logical continuation of the same of Italy if the political control • Doncie class condoranon and policing of the labour move over ine masses Is lOSt. national scale, there- which under fore, CP opposition ment serves the curcumstance oi the CP bureau. interest both expressed the them se ver cracy and of the Italian capital- "historic compromise". The change, , however, shows "Opposition" that econome appearances in direct contrast to crisis in Italy makes it increas- the CP's earlier plan for ingly contain the Reprinted from 'Labor News', of the paper Socialist League (DC) of States United the of America. phased programme of increasing istration to buy new ships and aircraft, which is a 40% increase naval ship construction. Small that French over wnat the Carter administra thinks this, since, noted von nad reomested 1981 Maritime

NASSCO

president French Reporter

NASSCO

has just has been leading the shipbuild- received $19.8 million in order ing inausuy s campaign to inject new funds into the Navy which Ten tankers to comply wit the shipbuiders. will sign contracts with Department of Navy codes for ships in use in time of war and says trench. Now "what the Reagan administra- things are moving rather fast. By February 27 the tion ought to be backing is a Reagan regime announced that among une new military "advisors" being sent to assist the military government in El Salvador will be an advisor from shaNd til Salvador nav, US and vessels will be used to patrol the Gulf of Fonseca (the sea between Nicaragua and which savador. passage way of the alleged arms supply pipeline to the Salvador- tan revommonames The US Navy will also be indispensible American when imperialism Litt comes for Reagan to dispatch thousands of troops backed by vital quickly becoming the Vietnam of Central America ¿nt mans o workers ac students who soon be thrown into the national (and menacold movement oppose this war will be looking for ways to concretely stop this brutal intervention against the By Henry Phillips

MAMALLAR

Italian CP demonstration WOTKing confines of the traditional post- war political structure. And аттет "opposition" is exhausted there is no further logical step possible that the Italian CP will the licw it would have to demand more from Christian than the earlier version. there remains a size- Salvadorean masses The talin Salvadit by hip.

Salvador ments IL.WU should now be combined with the growing campaign to the right

NASSCO

shipyard workers in San Diego to strike over safety issues , and to halt the attempts of Iron worKers to put the local under trustee.

ship. 'For the workers at NASSCO the stepped-up war production meant the deaths of two

WUIKCIS

jailing on trumped-up charges of three NASSCO workers, and attempt the union. nuST anti-war campaign should also be brought into the NASSCO shipyard. As part of the defend Local campaign 627, NASSCO workers should address the entire anti-war movement and direct it against Ine supyara owners, ine way.

and the Reagan government.

should workers VICare lo coordinated demonstration against the war and drafi that has been called on May 9 in At this demon- san Francisco stration and at the San Diego shipyard the following slogans should be raised *Strike and insin the War killings speed-up at the NASSCO shipyard ships to El Salvador supply opera- tions in El Salvador. *Build a Labour Party i California against anti-demo *Free the NASSCO Three! Page 3 able section Christian oI ine leadership believes that in the end it will be the of necessary step the government. the Even strongest oppon cuts allusi openly admitting that there the future • 1I bullet •tons one les on a m monocolour Christian ority Democrat government. "Non-political" In the absence of the immed iate possibility of military "non-political over then othe solutions are being mooted. The latest of these proposals ot techno crats-a so-called "institutiona government" -to be led possibly • the president of the Senate Amintore Fanfani, the veteran of the right wing of the Christian Democrats politicians-by the small but influential Republican Party fos Wal The cente • ne government a more indirect way, by includ ing CP echnocrats The currency of ideas of this kind reflects the despair much of the bourgeoisie about then SULULIOl problems of rule in the present parliament. Refused encour- ine ideas are also aged by words of President of • the Republic, ing point blank to dissolve parli ament and call early elections: "We've had enough. I am n longer willing to dissolve parlia- ment. I have already warned: bandmen natural causes. Don't expect m to dissolve it again. I will go to lengths, even

POSSIDIE

they seem absurd to send the government back before parlia- must assume amenaterment is responsible Pertini nor any- one wise can scude me arce o Italian parliamentary politics.

Meanwhile, problem unresolved. government's survival still -depends CP not because the CP votes for it in it won't on any important issue vote against it unless it can certain in advance of losing the vote! • No. 1 Nov. 1979

INTERNATIONAL

DISCUSSION

BULLETIN

60p The Transitional Programme in Today's Class Struggle I'he founding programmati document of the Trotskyis International Liaison Committee. Available, price 80p including postage, from WSL, BM Box 5277 London WCIN 3XX

Islington left sees light at the Page 4 end of the tunnel Important developments months within the islington have been recorded in the North Labour Party are of such long and complicated story Byzantine complexity that it is almost impossible to give a brief the Islington North OI Labour Party over recent stever, de main the weeks. amounted to ine battie of over ten years against a right wing group which v namoran and nis cronies, atter years of effort, recruited been more aucuseu more people into the Parti evely tomn or sharp practice from packing meetings to com- 4ilu Into arnated bodles ilke the Cooperative Party. pletely illegal wa pulsions --ana ¡huci eise desdes. Defeated Occasional reference to these been Socialist Press over the years 1973 wily durine the period in membership over 400, when g caier lan le entre constit- uency party of South Islington.

lila villy the National Executive As à result of this, they have and to reinstate Keith Vaness finally pro- ucicalei une Comrade Vaness. Who spoki v nanoran group tactic of the Un une Issue al a conterence ot pro- the Campaign for Democracy in O 'Halloran-ites was at first to Labour Movement, Wa. teluse to accept new members expelled by the right wing for When this failed they tried the "crime' of other When they had right MP, Michael wing control of

DOOKS

O 'Halloran. they have then produced their Readers of Socialist Press own very doubtful people members, might pernaps be excused for lor some contusion about what has women s secton happened since that time.

They have secured affilia- tions from

TGWU

branenes wnich nave not been Dustbins clearly agreed by the branches them selves If they have seen London's When thev stil lose as New Standard meetings of the

GMC

recent emerged with the view that the they have tried prevent campaign consisted searches meetings trom taking decisions through the dustoins of When it seemed certain that photographing them they would lose, have wallacis. going into meetings, and sending boycotted meetings as happened poe spasei cetter, threatening al une al teore s wara A‹ru child of Michael and at the recalled AGM of the soasuc O 'Halloran.

GMC

Those who find these Then they have cried "foul' fantasies difficult to believe will to the media BUle have been able to see a more pleading 'infiltration' alleging sophisticated poison pen letters and any other in à recent issue of fanciful inventions that occur to Story the New Statesman them. Here they could have read an to explain that a small group of had broken ultra-right wingers Lo ser lestives up as 'Social Democrats'. This, tried to explain as part of the the Wiliiams/ Jenkins/Owen 'gang' In some ways the New Statesman analysis is even more fanciful than the routine witch- hunts of the ordinary capitalist The account appeared to be unaware the character leaders is Jim Evans, current Mayor of the lead a borough, who tried walk out from a recent GMC (at winch ne nad lost the vote) by to a delegate who squaring up moved next business Another of the oroun is Pat Owen: recruits in Islington Shearan, former bouncer and the Gresham hallagel during the selection of the Gile In the summer and described in the New States- ma! as 'chunky' and 'approach- candidate, the majority of the Executive attempted to impose 300 -al itasi IwU Boycotted of whom soon afterwards joined the Social Democrats, while the right were

DOSS

defender of "traditional Labour winters in advertisements bought When this list was rejected in its entirety at i

GMC

meeting. le local strator durcile. a tried paper they being boycored Dy trade ally unionists the moment turner selechon ou becmnne d because the round challenges to their proprietors opponents on the GMC involved in the dispute at the Since decision could be camaen Journar These people are quite mades ocav ine matter went lo the London Regional Council of allerent trom the claret-swigg- There the Labour Party Ine newly formed Social Demo- aureca eventumiv lo select slevu cratic Party Bundred the prospective GMC candidate. lucy nave nor cor mek oust Bundred, though Comrade not on the original right wing gravy trains. short list. was actually nomin- wineels ated by every ward and has the more much

SUCRON C

InTO tinier gravy trains, the mayoral StrOng support oi ine current chains of office and the fame' GMC majority of getting their grinning Visages into the local paper. He has since said in an inter- The view in Socialist Organiser that events over recent ne sees the challenge to th Tories as a major task for Labour ULC Ine necessity to be prepared to defy the law in order to do this.

The the following selection ol steve bunared in of 1980 the aulumill desperate for the quard supporters of O'Halloran When it came to the branch AGMs in January, it gradually became clear Late wolo great difficulty retaining nave control. they Ward locked the doors as part of their desperate effort to hold on I s. teorge s ward they did not turn up. In Hillmarton, which they unexpectedly unouge a motions ot no conto- they ence

G.MC

delegates before they had Lost election Meanwhile they rapidly increased their trade union delegates The Constituency Secretary Morgan Lear suddenly. became delegate from the acredited lawu. though his membershir of this union was not previously known He had long been known to be an architect

NALLO.

for the Islington Council.

Despite all their best efforts, however. the • Halloran group get a majority in the 016 1 nOT AGI of the GMC. They lost the election for President by one or two votes and community activist and left winger Maureen • Was elected. At the initial meeting once it had been established that bi this vote they were in a minor- ity, they prevented the meeting taking further accisons When the GMC was recon- vened with of the the Labour Party national avent realised ine u halioran they would opponents clected to all were the positions since all but two or three O 'Halloran-ites failed to turn up considerable significance for the in Islington, abour auraitelle mutueluch! national political situation.

The old which has run council the has suffered considerable defeat Thus council leader Gerr She cice has been voted Bill Bayliss, his lieutenant and former leader, has failed in his efforts to retain control in the Cooperative Party, arily closed down in the course of the battle Social Services chairperson huarev pass nas pen race with mass demonstrations and strikes in ner department no us asais culs dur also arainsi the dictatorial methods of carry- ing them oụt. The crisis has caused the old The extreme led by right, Evans, Shearan and o hers, has defected and une soca bemocrate rary as à desperate and almost certainly unsuccessful attempt to retain some pontical suppor Shamefaced have gained the I ney secretary

SUDDORE

Morgan Lear, who • is agent the the GLO elections. Other parts the O'Halloran have in Mamelacca war up to some election mectings By J. L. Mahon OFFiCIAL

STRIKE

TGN

and to address some of the envelopes for Steve Bundred's GLC election campaign anti-O 'Halloran group is not in For most of the old guard any way politically homogene- they have been concerned with ous. efforts to hold onto The real political fight will some ol within the now begin within the Party inel positions Council, which are now under This will doubt take no threat. For one thing , the GMC will Un recentv ne anont Group was fairly evenly divided need to continue its support for The defection of Evans and Co canclaature Southgate- Bundred in the Greater London licalls llia une Bayliss group can no longer be Council to the point of develop- certain of dominance the struggle to bring down The group uni~ nanorat has been portrayed as extreme It will be necessary left wingers and supporters of completely principled in thi Militant. baltes, despite a Beside the fact that there are virtually inevitable Warley: rigging reselection fight The

COLICI

of the Labour Party's right But this minute did not maintain wing to their a pedr on une cacualea writen minutes which were sent out to domination are once again GMC delegates and approved at being demonstrated Ine next ulie meeting Warley East CLP Efforts that made to stop procedure Many delegates to the GM( in warley tast were amazed to proveu unsuccessill discover . when ward Clearly ine right wing col branch cluded that hostility to Fauld' union meetings politics within the local labour euo suomu nommanons tor prospective MP by March 21 bureaucratic where No GMC meeting had agreed oeuvres could maintain his seat to start the procedure for resel- capitalist with derelict ecton or le Mr, or approved a timetable highest infant dantolice seems right win!

MOTEAUE!

ane Faulds, Andrew lowest percentage of pupils reaching higher education. Conne vern ensure that the reselection took who will defend the interests oi the people of Smethwick raises

GMO

membership case the the question of leader- composition this vear was less Sille sympathis end a workers movement Though many in the local • ena , a completely talse minute written into party are aware that Faulds has minute book claiming that the the stumbling nothine to offer Diock remanca me ck o ans reselection to clear what accueill SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April, 1981

MURPHYS MP

DE WORKING

Strikers protest at O 'Halloran's political positions in 1977 efforts made woer are reselect prospective parlia mentary candidate Iculac O 'Halloran There is also an opportunity now to fight not simply for the defeat of the group on Islington Council, but for alternative policies This include identification tenants organisations and trade union ists locally the development of suclalls une torin coming local council elections, and the selection of candidates fight prepared to the the light wing localy and the Tories nationally.

individuals policies are needed to replace him Lack of time prevented any serious campaign . to win nomin- c lour potenta alternative candidates As we go to › press it seems alm os certain that the stam peded reselection procedure will the GMC to result in a vote by Faulds name for one selection conference on Apri

WOMAN WORKER

March-April issue still available Price 20p including påp from WSL, BM Box 5277, London

WCIN 3XX

Wide support for anti-nuke conference: now turn towards labour movement action. Renfrew tenants fight SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April, 1981 Over 700 delegates at the CND conference on March 28-coming wide from variety of union branches, trades councils and Labour Parties-confirmed the spread of the anti-missiles the campaign within workers movement. the floor •beakers

ITOM

reflected broad spectrum disarmaitint -agine positions ideas from appeal school youth to pe taught the ideals of peace and goodwill calls for (with politics), Cass ge metroes co over- throw capitalism and smash the NATO alliance, with an outright ally nuclear disarmament the Soviet Union. Allaun positions between compound the confusion by increased spending ex venes lial allial ted the most prolonged applause arms mcreasine cuts from there pending to the level of othe services. He pointed out that begun under precious little enthuse countries! was

TGWU

Organiser Labour -but over

HOL

orallorin National speakers. lisation of poorld politics aby

KON OCC

some later socakes ponteu oul the world what proceedings clue Frank Allaun MP said NUPE, as a major public sector nuclear weapons and stressed union, was prepared to do about of trade union Culleyou

101 LILE

CUlt

LIC

ference from involvement in CND. The

NEC.

They wished, he said, to Bill Niven of AUEW/TASS fight to No clue the implement the Party's need to trans- last October's conference Bu thain thal fight, the from armaments to socially use- back

TGWU

heading this ful products. He challenged the soon Labour in fight, any soccell gave clue as lo But he stuck firmly to the concrete action that the TGWU maintain employ- eccental line resolu- leaders are ment prepared take, Other speakers from the Lion. win calcu lor unlaledi Illall Lne occasona of conference speeches. C14rm2ment wnue making no

HOOT

Take ite my call for Britain of NUPE delegate George Will expecting a right wing Labour

NATO.

And emphasised government like those of Wilson went Al all By Donald McVicar The and rents rates John Docherty. tory government torever. struggle in Renfrewshire in The bitter mood of tenants Where does the movement Labour-dominated go here? The the West of Scotland is daily from slep countu was aram expressed al a must sure v be a massve cemon.

gaining momentum. mass meeting Linwood last sortion three Paid on e Already thousands week. with tenants have signed pledges that Already infuriated by the youth, the unemployed, , Talbot they will refuse Closure at lalbot. ut calls workers and all those lacing Ine of mind to onslaught of the Tory govern- mcreasco renas. rates an hun- were in no. trame drette charges being levied by listen to the weak-kneed explan- ment. the District Council. the ations Labour The Constituency Party come out more wnce tenants musi long been Tom McNamara, Secretary clearly this issue. Going on nave defunct, they have to of the Renfrewshire Federation sprung record as being opposed to the life again in a mood of defiant ot Tenants. increases is not sufficient.

expressee me ree militancy. ings of the meeting in his denun- The demand greater In the Glenburn estate ciation of the treacherous role accountably r abou com Paisley a quickly-called tenants' ot the Labour Counci who mis cillors to the Party can only be excellent guidedly thought they would meaningfully pursued by the response leading to the estab. buy off the revolt by local Party lishment of an organising com- changing the initial 50% alongside the Federation against ICnI mittee which drew over 30 to its the increases. first meeting. Mass campaigning on the rents plus about 60% on with leaflets stickers, the rates Approaches already underway. speaking on the same plat- campaigning leaflet form, George Grant,

AUEW

released by Glenburn Tenants onvenor at Babcocks engineer Fresh approaches must also Association gives some indica- be works. exposer me ехтепи to which the tenants were being them support mood in the area tenants when it refers to "the cringing the milked moneylenders action by relusing to process the acquiescence the Renfrew interest administrative business essential WhO. charges on loans. cream off over to the implementation of the 4 02 0% the Tory onsizugi:" ====3 inteases it 3-t on: Federator has "Take heed, Renfrew A further meeting has been displayed energy and initiative District Labour Councillors..

Linwood and for planned for throughout the campaion. con- irrespective of the outcome of broadening without. estate the meeting this week will be and is no doubt considering pro.

WHen Le struggie. groundwork is sor →+ i that will starter yos Reg Race British imperialism withdraw from NATO Some pointed to the danger being missile targets and the peddled by the

TUDDISI

being Tories on Civil Defence against nuclear attack. Boycott and black They called for boycott and black such arrange- ments and also to black work on missile installations nere were anti-missile within unions and factories and to use the strength of the labour move.

ment to oppose the war drive of capitalism and imperialism.

political weakness Une the leadership does amongst At need Linwood meeting the Councillor present was able, albeit in a very ham-fisted way, to take advan- tage of the fact that some lead.

ing figures in the Federation have publicly stated their willingness accept increase in ine witn the averag wage increase over the past yea • a rates increase in line with On this basis the councillor could argue that little separated that now positon

STOM

taken by the council. His claim undoubtedly exaggerated. but the fact that it can be used at all betrays a weakness the position adopted by some of the Feder- ation spokespersons The position of the Federa- stated tion as 1n thel rent rises. No rate rises. " of "No move away from that stance at this point in the cam- paign would do nothing but weaken and undermine strugge. A clear statement 01 ¡he Federation's firm position on this issue would strengther movement politically and draw fresh layers of tenants into the struggle. Anti

BIRMINGHA

But when one speaker attemptca to polnt out tne links between the war dirve and by allowing unemployment WOlKe Jeans occupation to use half her time to describe the there, the Ight chairperson. Olive Gibbs refused the request After prolonged and slow handclapping, Gibbs forced to relinquish the micro organising com- Drone to The mittee who called for a vote.

Defeated Gibbs' defeated then lett the chair and walker out of the conference. The Lee Jeans speaker then described the background to the occupation, and declared support for the Jobs not Bombs Dave halsworn Irom lame side Trades Council linked the drive present war of Thatcher involvement of Britain in Ire land, and condemned the TUC's The other major dissent was the weetner me resoutons shona be taken at the conference. The organising committee opposed this but the vast majority of delegates voted that wity be laken Our policies Socialist Press pamphle outlining programme of action against the Tory offensive. Price 451 incled Box 352. post BM ItOl London WCIN 3XX. Page 5 By Basil Hinton Anti-missiles march We then heard Reg Race MP to the campaign's success-mem- bership

NATO

secrecy zovernments presen non-accountability the Parliamentary Labour Party and when Labour government The conference ended with resolutions being taken on such

UDOUSILIOI

NATO and the Warsaw Pact, for a European Nuclear Free Zone, and other confused positions Dest resoluton. pointed out the need to buil the campaign within the labou called for movement ana aco demonstantion in London sire massive October. Rallying call rallying call Ins was the for . delegates to take back to their branche. allu Orgallisc politics of the pla form it hs But from judge bovious unal a sustained lignt must be mounted in opposition to the bureaucracy in the unions right no will moth the 0I Labour Party who pacitist sentiments but any • concrete orientation to oppose the Reagan/Thatcher war drive

EL SALVADOR:

BREAK FROM CAPITALIST

"The world political situ- ation as a whole is chiefly characterised by a historical crisis of leadership of the proletariat." In the more than 40 years line of the since this opening

LOISK VISI

Transiona

LIO-

gramme was written, events in have confirmed every country this fundamental position over and again. Today is El Salvador which demands most the crisis of resolution Leades El Salvador the masses

POLITICIANS.

are Waging heroic struggle against Duarte's savage imperial.

1st backed winary classma A great feeling of solidarity with the Salvadorean oppressed has developed working class. Concern Growing class hatred for the im peraus outchers as comoned with increasing concern amongst workers over the future course Every class conscious worker and bases itself on the interests of the world's working class must night to turn laese leelings mnto action. And the policies the leadership of the struggle put under

MUST

revolutionary criticism, guided urgent need to draw lessons for ne crucial straggle.

that lie ahead. In 1979 a mass uprising in Nicaragua General smashed Somoza's bloody dictatorship, giving a powerful impulse struggles and dealing a heavy America blow to imperialist control.

In neighbouring El Salvador, Duarte We publish below the text of a resolution on the civil war in El Salvador adopted by the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee at its meeting on 28/29 March in London. a revolutionary upsurge spear- The chronic economic and the way for the strengthening of class capitalist reaction (Chile!)

heated polncal crisis or lue tanng clas.

gained further strength and the forward drive of mass Only working class, strale opened up the possibil- struggles against armed with a revolutionary pro- necessity owners, the bosses and their US- military dictator building a fighting alliance of nacked evontonary SOlELIOT Romero interests of the masses. the masses and carrying through The mass the face rising movement, with militant front and reconstruct society chanenge tner bower ano

WINDS

profits, the imperialists in the interests of the oppressed.

US • TAnKS was striving with their allies spontaneous fighting strength together and The treachery a CORES O seizure of power. towards the tried to head off the of the leaderships (with the äsents. mass movement by kicking out Yet the leaders of the mass exception of the BPR centrists) Romero October organisations and guerrilla General

UVEI

UCIODC.

disorient the and replacing acted deflected the mass annies new bourgeois-military struggle and thrust movement-but it did denect not ment which promised reforms from demobilise The responses ranged from already developed a powerful open scope and momentum. Treachery Stalinist PCS (which entered the new military government) to the Determination LITt dili petty bourgeois nationalist forces to The working masses surged consistent perspective for mass forward revomtionar molaton mination and against the unstable govern- toppling the 1980. But were ther Janual! The reactions of the Stalin unable spontaneousl To brea ists and petty bourgeois leaders the obstacle of misleadership to a revolutionary situation flow and establish their own govern.

tom uner class conaporatons utionary of ment politics. The leaders of all the mass ly stepped Although masked by various organisations were forced under shades of rhetoric. their politica aimed at line in• practice always directs I the lets on the ore nanc an TO CaN TAS towards the search allies attacks of the bourgeoisie terror. the "democratic the other into an alliance (the this sections of the bourgeoisie. and forw way towards limiting the struggle to the new • bosses masses was or the exiling daye capital- "democratic but united generaliste urgent a minimum democratic programme. Ist SyStem Lias. antagonism. were developing into civil war. Every the masses "Solution" the tion for th serious conflict raised and power •Yet in realitv (as confirmed demanded an answer most recently in Nicaragua and Crushing poverty and in Zimbabwe) not even the most wert bu sillie The dett and determined mass accular y strengt ing can be secured while capitalist towards direct property, in whatever reorganis capitalist challenge 1 It onto the Salvadorean masses stood at the tunneles masses drov economy, and while production head wave remains geared to profit struggle America *so Tution is not ollay incapable collaborationist had alread Already committee: crisis and deepenmg econonic of abolishing poverty and suffer- worldwide

UVEL

ing, but, lulling and struggle, imperialism was driven and begun Revolutionary militia training in El Salvador orientating the masses, it opens cowaru. lina aespeldtt

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¡IPRATeS Cred pros

Turn anti apartheid fight towards blacking Page 8 action It is welcome news that, the international despite economic crisis. me mies- national campaign to isolate the white racists of South Africa is gaining ground.

On April 21 the British Anti- Apartheid Movement held mobilising conference, attended by about 300 delegates, to plan campaign one-year implementation Britain for the of economic sanctions dealist capitalist-apartheid South Atrica This could become a very important campaign ln subourt of international solidarity With the oppressed majority in South Alrica. In socials tress too we continuously advocated the implementation of measures the 447 economic Dialki labour movement against South Africa's economic i will be a number

KUT

there of problems to he overcome l this campaign is to contribute to Botha the weakell.

MIDDI

regime and the South Alical.

BOSPITAL

Some of these problems are in no way those Anti- lead the and Apartheid operate will t for was noticeabie at the mobilising instance that there was a relative conference absence of delegates from union representing manual Oraleiies industries worker. which have close economic rela- tions with South Africa. of the h.ne Dredaulity union delegates were trom une unions such white collar NALGO, the civil service unions and the bank and postal workers unions. Key Industries A successiul campaign will have gain mass SuDOOrl among factory workers in key industries. And, , at the pressing of some of the delegates, the conference Anti-Apartheid demonstration London 1978.

speakers send agreed a plan to from AAM and from the ference. A number of the dele- union congress of South Africa.

consistently most SACTU, to speak at factory gate sales -allu those who were members of the and union branch meetngs Communist Party- lOrWülU he industries most concerned in conception of the fight for arouse more support economic pressure against apar-

OTUCI

tor sanelions wrong was also a noticeable was deepiy then wick There and which, if not successiully of the groups till challenged, will make the cam left who revolutionary paign at best impotent, at worst badly these represented proletarian step away days at most mobilisations on

ITOIN

internationalism Southern Africa. To our know- first place the sanc- groups represen- ledge the only, which one tions wett seci ted would be primarily carried out whose supporters several governments of states were delegates, the RCG and the by the primarily rather thur

WSL.

the direct blacking action of significant influ- the Given labour movement. ence which it is possible for the 1o Movement Anti-Apartheid Sanctions have, and the urgency of the which sets lasKs And that will mean sanctions perform, the absence of revolu- casier which 101 Tionary socialists from this arena the South and present time is a very to evade. African overacul serious caul. though states might have even to play some role in a successful Internationalism sanctions calpag Only if the labour movement control onto that a campaign It means halls possibly they which could be of great benefit sanchions become effective 10 the oppressed This point is linked closel!

Africa South which many wrong direction because of the to the central roll United delegates saw Lill relatively unchallenged intiu- Nations taking in the operation within the anti-apartheid sanctions. Such intervention viruggle of such forces would remove fürther. from and the Communist Party stage working class. control retord of the Titud danger was very parts of the man! gonarent l on South mobilising con- Nations for abald of the By Bob Sutcliffe Africa is of course appalling- because it is basically an organ- dominated by imperial- Isallui ism on isues does d nych on what issues major aoes reactionary force those agree that it should do. the African countries intend in the forth- UN coming meeting General Assembly to take man- South sanctions against uncer me special clause constitution walce forbids the Security. Council to block a resolution. this will not make any significant difference The fact is that already there has for some years been a man datory arms to South Africa. film

BUT

this shows made Granada clearly and terrifyingly nas nol South Africa being in stopped to manufacture a InC

DOSTOR

nuclear shell plant, which give it one of the most advanced and dangerous military technologies in the world. Bulwark bourgeois realit! states which dominate the lI to imple- are highly unlikel! ment sanctions against capitalist From neen or the the Africa: recen Reagan regime iniperialist nations s they tole supporting bulwark agathrivolution'

ELLE

TEE

ARTHEID

In spite of what many of the

AAM

delegates would like campaign of think. a successfu out sanctions cannot be carriec within the confines of capitalis la W The experience of the UCW mentioned significantly even by its delegate who spoke in the TUC's last week of action Africa is the best illustration of that Illegal When UCW members tried to place an embargo on telephone telegraph communication with South Africa, the courts told them it was illegal and The UCW leadership. behind them the TUC, cravents backed down meaning that in week concrete absolutely action contributed overthrowing apar- nothing its weakness theid. If anything brought comfort to the racists Many AAM delegates argued in effect not only that effective not need sanctions would challenge capitalist legality bur they could guin the also that support of a significant section of the capitalist class. They argued the need tor it campaien. based argument which the not placing the centrat independent actions of the working chess and the intestion bl SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April, 1981 control and take over foreig capital in their country Such possibility was not delegate to mentioned by any the mobilising comerence A campaign for international solidarity which sets out armed with arguments and narrow sell-interest will not achieve strengthening proletarian internationalism, the direction of will lead. ir reaction and disillusion Of course, the CP argues that widespread there support for sanctions and there- , to recognise fore it is necessary self-intereste T08 T aCt. arguments noT Illake Lull nationalist sent the class but Itcalls • and add to those they

DOISEC.

sentiments. Material Hardship Of course, as some delegates recognised on March 21 there is a problem involved in al cult policies- which ww bring some material hardship on those The who implement Lucils answer is not to cheat and dens that those hardships will occur but to present other policies to deal with them This means thal campaign for effective sanctions against apartheid must be linked with the struggle for

WUIKCIS

throughout industry control the fight for jobs and wages and conditions.

ERATIO

successful campaign sanctions must be backed by the correct demanas on hose quos tions; it will not

• LOST

difficult, because struggles more it will weaken the capitalist class as a whole at one of tie piror worldwide strength-in its South Africa For this reason it will also be . essential to centre lie campa-s" against apartheid on for action supporting building action in relation Ic South ous struggles Wills workers African watertal be involved during the proposed AAM year of action. The fight. of South African decent wages anc workers for for th hetter conditions and struggle for democratic with the elementary most racism with any indeed rights is every day creating new socialisin international other progressive demands.

needs solidarity actions in support of This refusal to centre the campaign on independent work- specific struggles. in sonne ways end to statis Opportunities worst some ways the most negative aspect Too many delegates at the whole position its nationalism.

AAM conference were unwilling especially from

SUCCEELE.

Party to admit that and to act upon it.

Communist from important for revolu- argued, as they often have done the workers' move- before, that if there was resis Tomares u the tance to sanctions from workers ment to seize decisively on the grounds that they would opportunity created by for a sanctions AAM's plans cause hardship, the AAM should make sure sanctions would campaign opportunity is lost to British benefit ihat materially demo that tom air protectica workers. proletariar In the first place they say, if demonstration which impose trade international not South Africa major • blow at apar- strikes a sanctions against then other

ATTICAT

COUL

Inera The dates so far propose sanctions s be eins will impose will even in thpral 25: Nate. this Kritat allu National Day of April more harmful to British jobs.

Boycott of Consumer

SONE

and signing African • products of sanctions petition. Disinvestment Month of Action on June Shell and BF They also say that if British October 15 Day of Action firms are prevented from invest- then they on Barclays. ing in South Africa October 24-31 Trade Union capital bacl will bring thel Week of Action home and invest it The detailed content of this thus providing jobs for British campaign and whether it will be workers. a step forward or backwards wil talk as it the capita actions belonged to Britain rather thar settled b socialists. in the unions and the anti-capitalist plan AAM over the next few month: which programme, , part would be in support of action •he workers in South Africa to

A LABOUR INQUIRY - NOT

SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April, 1981 a Central Committee A writ has been issued by Vanessa Redgrave, member of Gerry Healy's Workers Revolutionary Party, against Morning Litho Printers Ltd and Sean Matgamna.

on the WRP by Sean The writ alleges libel in respect of an article Matgamna entitled 'Gaddafi's Foreign Legion to Knight's Rescue', published in issue 33 of Socialist Organiser.

The writ is being contested by Sean Matgamna, who has additionally appealed both to the WRP and to the wider labour movement to prevent the case being taken to court. He has correctly proposed that Redgrave take any complaints she may wish to raise not to the bosses' courts but to a labour movement inquiry. Socialist Press is, as an act of fraternal solidarity, reprinting the statement on the issue from the Socialist Organiser Editorial Board.

We condemn this utterly unprincipled use of the courts by the WRP against the labour movement press. And we endorse the appeal for funds to the S.O. Labour Movement Press Defence Fund.

When Julian Lewis and Paul McCormack tried to the law courts uSe as a weapon in their fight to control Newham North East Party, they Labour were condemned throughout the labour movement. The act branded aliens them as within our movement. Ulti- it did mately them more harm than good. The WRP's attempt the against Socialist Organiser free an attack on speech, on nice comment anu or free debate in the labour move- ment. shows what little confid- ence the war nas in ls ably to make a political response I shows me war to nave much contempt the principle the bour- geois state out of the affairs of une labour movemenl as lau tut mysteriously funded Lewis and McCormack the WRP choose Why does this course oI action: because SO's outspoken comments Gaddafi them central threaten their But the Youth Training an option, though it does exist project or lne moment. They are making a concen- by a political in law. Centres are run trated to rebuild support of general party, a party wich or tne last Is par for the WKr in Lam beth 20 years gained its only problem probe capitalism maps eatedin formai equality an enor to regain some from credice of the rigay wing and tot recrung poncany law young Allaloit the right wing and service tion: the Youth "The law its majestic 1 Cu purpose section of the left in Lambeth.

equality forbids the rich well Training Centres is as a means of steal bread, drawing young people into Foredoomed

DWI

network the centre of which neeD is the WRP, for food." They what Weet they have behind Ted Knight's unknown force most foredoomed policy trying labour fend off the Tory cuts drive by hiking the rates and the up Let awards the labour They are Now they support Knight's 10% general cut-the proof umil of the bankruptcy of to vulnerable positive oner young people ment sanu-lory boucy Meanwhile, Newsline, snarl- concertu the ing at the left, makes its charac Thiraly, Matgamna writes necessary and was a for anglicised unavoidable the that we are sancer version John "Thatcher's people" A News- line editorial equated seriously Mariov not formal the Socialist Workers Partv with the NF because both oppose rate rises in Lambeth. movement Lambeth and will be impudence perhaps areas And WILl characteristic of them, the anecica by or not te serious socialist çarried immedian point of can be an

0I. SU

paper. heard public expressed by the attack Bryr Davies for daring to vote against Knight's policy! this coin Bludgeoned they pay for their alliance with don Our be Knight and his right wing allies.

WRP is suenced une Ted Knight and his comrades We not lightmindedly do attack or condemn socialists or have views how to fight the Hones mose who call maemselves sociat

DIOVOK

disagree with. ists (or anyone else!). SO can have and will Sean add consider- these defend issues times ably the of the many But Malkallla s dI LICIC and his politics is and character of the thing. People

WRP.

Youth Centre for Who brand The left as the equivalent of the NF example-in to In the second place, it is an for opposing Knight are clearly of principle Wildt s Wildl. something altogether different.

The WRP has set up one of their so-called Youth bludgeoned Training into silence by Centres in Lambeth (the other Ms Redgrave's money which is behalf of the is in Liverpool). being They are who peopie These offer night-school leadership even though of free WIRr an any broad and her money gives her an enorm- youth very broad and non-political basis, Redgrave and ourseives are, course equal before the honesty the article Honey rom business. in menuctor and so on, hour courts. But the libel laws are a

MSUCCEE

instructors without so on, run desons ooron. Nonbered strikard ever has, tim reaity, sach selves shoR selves tell lies ictercle to pontes olne. the compulsion Healy lies s call years because Tanis partles the politics of lies and of the double of ation faction, conscience • They are not oromote , did Leon insist again principles of revolutionary politics was to tell the truth to the labour movement and to the masses. subscribe to Trotsky's principle. And we will fight for Fifthly, while the WRP uses the courts and the threat of bankruptcy to present SO with the option of paying out a lot of or denying its opinions money by issuing a formal apoloov that would be a lie, the WRP's own press spews out libels against its socialist opponents of such volume and at such speed as to deserve least a nomination for the Stalin

SINC

mendacity With utter lack of scruple it uses the lidel laws to inhibit relies the Its critics and on scruples of those it libels to keep it out of court. It has used the threat of the courts against working class newspapers before. Yet it is not uncommon • tot : Newsline

THE BOSSES'

COURTS!

complicity murder murder! youth workers canue. For there were no occurrence NeW Fourth [the mean repeatediy rollules allegations the * (emphasi added!. killing struggle not counter Lilt Three or days later a line rushed editor Alex Mitchell to New His York. on the not was that: wherever (Newsline, SWP (USA would of john was 'campaign' which the the campaign of the US WRP to get the police the to Killers, whose ringleaders', the insisted were the SWP's leaders!

This is typical Newsline fare minds So press reminds how important Trotsky's principle about the tionary politics and the fight fof the truth is. It does not suggest to us that we should apologise to the WRP. Page 9 For all these reasons we have decided fight the case SO would • not choose to spena time and effort on this. There are far many more important things. But We c not consce be an alternative to We ask trade union branches and Labour Parties to condemr Redgrave's Vanessa and the

WRP'S

use of the courts against the labour movement press Tribunal For socialists, the only proper tribuna for accusation.

against labour movement newspaper tendency 0I labour movement inquiry taking out the Mere t

WRP

already writs, ha: drawn us into a costly proces. usually

THOU

stains oul stretched resources. So we are starting a fund to pay for our cerence We ask our supporters send • us a supporting donation And we ask the SO groups to discuss what they can do raise money to cover the cost of the case Appeal for funds

LABOUR MOVEMENT

PRESS DEFENCE

FUND

Send donations to Jon- athan Hammond (Hon. Treasurer], c/о 214 Sickert Court, London N1 2SY. Cheques pay- able to 'Labour Move. ment Press Defence Fund'. Name: Address:

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday 9 April. 198/ The strike by NUJ members at Perga- Oxford press. now five weeks old. In the last week revera things have happened to take prominence wilch it deserves. MI Robert Maxwell,

AS MS

Lavour rally all member. is now Chief Exec utive of the largest printing publishing group zer wale une rory. ores. renorte on the miracles' thai Maxwell is working with the Printing bankrupt British Dialls lik las just taken over, by which is Lee Jeans: sitting tight As union officials and convenors across Ite

COLLI

supervise wholesale closures and redundan- cies, the determined occupation of the Vanity Fair plant in Greenock is still going strong after 2 months. The sit-in by 240 women and 10 men has become the principal focus for the jobs

MIS-

leadership and confusion allowed a mass meeting vote occupalo carried at the nearby Talbot plant at Linwood. Wage earners Husbands of some of the VF alt mace redundant Linwood. Indeed 75% of the women now sitting age 20) are the sole wage earners their households, area of near-total industrial devastation. Ely raised for the ins widely occupation- -but more always needed. Donations and support Ilitosales sent the c/o

TGWU

treasurer, Bougham St., Greenock, Glasgow marches banned

THE PLAGUE

• state bans now marches has spread to Scotland with three month ban Strathclyde area. The ban was imposed to hunger striker Irish Bobby Sands and a Loyalist counter-march. And like every other such ban prohibits all labour movement mobilisations in we area. Foot backing for Pergamon strikers the 3,000 allies. the strikers success have been The most important of Earlier in the week six of workers who these the strikers were present at due to be put on hone of the reality dole, nothing Michae pot tae ender of the Labour Party activities ference to witness confer- On a visit to Oxford last unanimously pass suriaces in print

TOF

Ine retuamon затитови resolulion supportine strikers, the 'miracle'-work- regional Labour Party rally.

and condemning Maxwell for Foot his attitude to the strike ing Maxwell appears talk stopped The Chapel wil now be ahead Since they went on strike outside the rally. pressin

IOT

agreement covering national publicity and sup- over port which their case cries ailu wakes 117 C This ago inev nave been Tolowed sacked, and the the ineller approact General Secretary to which ompany is now interviewin Donations to the strike

NUJ

o till their job Mr root himsel • all messages but in then none or rem- memoer. nas responded support should be sent to statement and a serious res- He will now be looking

NUJ

Pergamon ponse their the dispute and seeing into claim c/o 5, Union Street, Oxford.

wildl Vali support and some important went into une rauv. ne wisned Joe prefers Tories "I must So said miners' leader Joe LaDoul ad y previously." Gormley last week times it is better to talk He was the praising to Tory Ministers than to "Left wing?" "sense now seen bv Tony Benn." the government on the ques- of pit closures in Does this speak volumes the on the "left wing" Thatcher WanC our Inc wave himself so which utormlev government strongly opposed. WinE Wilson extreme Addressing the confer- and Callaghan governments ence of the Electrical Power previously? with Gormley cosmeers Gormley declared that-as if appreciative his appreciation of him persuaded by rhetoric see why he and it Is easy ratner man lie brosocels an all out miners' strike, the many or mis lelow tul bureaucrats remain then ed tof office. opposed action to Tealised it was import- force ant to usten to wnar we nad to they were After all-if say. these nice listening. I felt it Tory Ministers were brought was just as to talk casy octados tormalev might wind up actually talk- Ministers as to some or mv own colleagues the ing to Tony Benn instead!

Gormley FBU leaders plan strikes to save pay agreement Fire Brigade Union November 1980 pay 1977-78 strike. sculle ment, which employers leaders to plan a joined a mass lasty eek not the full 18.8% series of one day strikes Illass due utal the summer if local with 13% in November ana a their agreement and authority employers further 5.8% this month. drastic cuts in the fire service Management maintain their refusal to made by many local authorities reinstate the pay want Ture agree- pay agreement was pay reviews to take place in effectively broken the ment which settled the April making than it more

AKCH

years aca would remain in force until Gorbals nursery April 1982! The compromise deal was eventually accepted only the casting vote of the rBl na nonal chairperson on ine eve of the first of a series of occupied one-day strikes. No strings Parents this weekend rolls" are themselves related Executive members insis- occupied the threatened to the tact that 760 council houses in nearby Crown St.

Moffat Street nursery in are left vacant and uninhab.

months after the setlemeit only Glasgow's Gorbals itable damp. berduse district in a last ditch bid Meanwhile Glasgow working they ale lorcca to lace up ic the fact that the pay to halt its closure by the women alc ment-linking Service lorced to shoulder the full Labour council. burden of oppression -home.

wages "upper quar- Plans include the axing lessness and a chronic lack of male manual 150 nursery 'St and Balates se child is no longer facilities are Put ition: Moffat allu • DE are blamed on restored through industrial closures "falling rolls": the action, beginning in July.

"falling With the campaign of selective strikes and general disruption by civil service workers now into its fifth week, the effects on government becoming revente more and more apparent. Thatcher's response has been • the cosy understanding the Tories Fleet nave with editors to suppress inform- and the ation create the Treasury is rosy In addition "D' to this Notices have been used to he more scuriosensitive more security-sensitive areas of disruption. civil the week

LAST

service passing of the pay reve demonstratans and and the demonstrations rallies. 250,000 members of the civil service trade unions This showed the unprecedented, militancy and determination of the rank US miners 160,000 US coal miners, members of the United Mine Workers of America, are on indefin- ite strike for an improvement the terms of their 3-year pay contract. recommenda- tion from UMWA President Sam Church and from union's executive to vote for acceptance, miners voted 2-1 in a ballot to throw out the bosses' offer The deal axes their cost- of living protection, offers them 5% less than miners in western" • US*-coalfields. an arrange- allu suchinces Page 11 Civil servants must spread the struggle for the "negotiations" which and file that has existed *rom the ourseT nas peen Each the call quarters is the imposition on made the response is strong no strike clauses tor many ana the union ieadersnip nas cv servants little room to manoevure to This clearly reflects the shock expressed by Thatcher engineer a sell-out. and the lories at the ablis Neverincess le is cied bureaucracy that tne •I civi service need to make its move soon disrupt the government's financial heartland the service unions its only Dul Wild the

CPSA

and

SCPS

that worrying tor ine bourgcolsh there has been any history of is the way in which detence establishments, sid titll. turned on key questions ano var bases nave been In such conditions any hit In a period where the war union leaderships the drive is gathering pace and Council of Civil Service CND is on the upsurge it is Unions will crucial to demonstrate the llay. weight amongst the member- of organised workers ship to disrupt the war machine counteract this, from within. lessons the acevss must noor lo keep 15% as the only accept- present dispute therefore able deal, and to prepare the reach much wider rank and reject any the wages conme struggle. ation of the Pay Research is with this in mind Unit in of annual place an that both Turers and claim to be decided by a leaders hope to special pay conference. restrict its scope and dura- A further potential area PHOTO: SWP Militant ment that levied a $1.90 per strike possibly longer and ton royalty non-union certainly harder the Lilal stoppage Dalu union pension fund to be Many miners see • this last Cutalusi their particular acever tran door to future destruction of objections to new.con- the union by artificially cheapening The miners are the firs big section of workers to be in a position to wage war on Hard had Reagan administration nego ans Ult already forced back whose employers from a number of workers include a demolition on condi- on health and safety 101 tions-including imposition legislation and $130 of a seven-day working week million cut in the compens: company-by-company tion scheme for miners alle instead of industry-wide pen- suffering from Black Lung.

hit back chance to But the fact -that US seems to have been regarded miners are prepared to face a as i go to flees.

POLAND: KREMLIN'S

COUNCIL OF WAR

PRESS

15,000 protest racist law 15,000 people Over the national joined Arguments demonstration against leaders among government's the Tory Poland's independent new racialist Nationality union, Solidarity, trade Bill last Sunday. the terms over The demonstration, which last Campaign organised by General Strike call took Against Racisi Laws, at a time when evel lifted. official figures confirm ThAT is But by employers clear minority Increase decision has served groups is getting worse. postpone a more direct reck- A new survey shows that the militant between racial unemployment among Polish workers minorities has risen by bureaucratic rulers and 82% the last in Warsaw and Moscow.

•SEOULUTE

year-more than double the national average increase.

Brezhnev An estimated 1 in 5 black шоткет эте now witnoul d The threatening iob as against an overall aver- Polish age figure of 1 in 10. against being made by the tne emil For the Weekend ied a pea sudden Nationality Bill offers with rekindle opportunity weekenu decision oi Brezhnev to go ir further racist and Tires to attend the Czech person restrict the rights congress in Prague. Britain and party minorities Pact manoeuvres around Poland were stepped 'Tap on!" prolonged up. indefinite penou. German reinforcements were have declare "politically -Whitelaw informed militarily" about the tasks" they Dal called on to periou Tory Home Secretary And Soviet troop move- on the Polish border successfully ments Whitelaw Reagan regime as a possine interpreted last were opposed move week for legislation to prelude to a military inter- unauthorised restrict Certainly the telephone tapping. da war natchel MPs voted 262 to 175 to with the pitch, delete an Opposition clause churning in the British Telecommuni- political attacks on Solidar- Bill would and the reformist KOR

CELIULIS

have introduced fines of up dissident movement, brand- £5,000 and ing them as "counter-revolu for phone imprisonment tionaries" and "anti-Soviet of interception tapping or and implicitly castigating the mail. Polish regime for tolerating replied Whitelaw their existence. restrictions on suca activity could endanger the Party congress lives of police and security informers--who presumably But what depend concerns the phone taps for their survival.

huge Also deleted was a call on pressure, the Polish Stalinists Home • Secretary have been forced to convene to year a Party Congress for July 20, on and to pledge that elections warrants issued for authoris- for a new central committee ed telephone tapping. will be conducted by secret pledged ballot with an unrestricted whitelaw amary however that he would only authorise tapping if it were list of candidates. he brosock "necessary" sale overturn of Polish party But the debate lan bureaucrats by a radicalised Mikardo had pointed out the membership alarms not only extent to which mail is inter- Brezhnev but also the most cepted in London, canne elements than less Polish leadership. their mail have One of their most vocal addresse intercepted on a permanent representatives, basis, with many more on an Oiszowski, ad hoc basis. Published by Folrose Ltd for the Worker

SOCIALIST

* of the Polish delega- continue head Czech congress of tion to the deep in dis and no doud! cussion with Brezhnev ano Stalinist brass in Prague 10D under in the last two days. is little doubt that week's would be a lead- Oiszowski for a Moscow ing candidale replacement uppet leader Kania in any Polish becoming moves to crack down on the this Polish masses. only danger remains very immediate The and Ical Polish workers must be pre- movement pared to defend themselves their organisations allu against a ruthless Stalinist attack. And the workers must Eastern simply noises mobilised not unions Polish workers the but to take action to build their own Solidarity-type unions and their own parasitic Stalinist rulers.

have Solidarity revealed now that aill from strike down backed threat action martial law East representatives the Polish bureaucracy, been "This time it looked as and if it wasn't a bluff," declared "com- spokes new Solidarity would be the man, Janus, Onyszkiewicz.

this not

DUL

of Solidar- unanimous view ity leaders. Gdans‹ shipyaro worker Anna Wr'entynowicz fir ire last summer's sit-is struggles, was dismissed from he: post after propagan- urging the strike to go ahead irrespective of the 1ith hour deal with the government.

out And press Karol Modzelewski resigner at the deal protest both it had been and the way agreed. day published, Bobby particularly Kremlin is the "borrow electors pollucal prisone of a whole- for political prisoner irish prisoners olwal. Sands' Lit unlike the strike by Stefan last winter. Brezhnev has been at the the othere so saline eagle do not 52 rondone Poted Base So offst Leagu ondon E2.

Allegations that Lord together Mountbatten dis- with press harons cussed plans for possible coup in Britain in 1968 have not been inery in any way answered by revolutionary evasive the government statements Wilson in the last week. . Lead- Labour MP The bitter's for full appeal official inquirv has met tirn opposition from the Tories.

But the Prime Minister of the day, Sir Harold Wiisor has now said that he regards affair as a plan for a

SUPPORT HUNGER

STRIKERS!

and systematically sciously eursda paper is kept out of the British press paper it has been ignored AlIU Sands and trade union hyarish Labour leaders who tacitly will have been 40 days openly support, hunger strike in the British continuation H' Block of Long Kesh. the six imperialist rule over Northern And he will be seeking to counties the votes of the Ireland, and the battery and repression needed to of Fermanagh State uphold such domination. South Tyrone by standing as "Anti-H Block/Armagh" Alongside candidate, against a Loyalist candidate.

Yet the struggle by the His campaign-backed by for the right Irish people by three strikes politically to determine their within fellow republican prisoners- alongside future runs own restoration struggle of the Bruisi status to Utt against the class Thatcher government. strike, nuncer Irish force prisoners not only moral bel 53-day drawal 7 Long Kesh men 'their support been con- material ila. Inquire into British coup plot! coup to take over the mach- year of seormy aid struggles throughout Europe. has never raised the matter for debate within No. about movener. have other ministers in his the Tories may well wist workers movement

OWI

into the whole affair

SUPPORTS THE

HUNGER STRIKERS

Newry demonstration backs hunger striker After a very sow shall struggle. in Britain. to the campaigr This means waging a fight at last a national demonstra labour called tion has neet movement for resolutions, London for Sunday April demonstrations and halt the to LO We urge readers to fight and effort imperialist maximum for delegation immediate the WILl Labour • Parties and from of British troops from Ireland.