Socialist Press no. 246

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 246 * 14 May 1981 * 20p Affiliated to the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee

LABOUR

COUNCILS

FACE TEST

ON CUTS

councils are takina place in "Joy in Midlands as other areas as we go landslide buries ruinous Indeed this is the major Tory policies" was the question now controntina the joyous headline to trade unionists Morning Star article on socialIsts whose Labour back into the county last week's local election halls. results. There can be no doubt was a dramatic anti-Tory landslide, Which crashing from them

OTTICE

county throughout the country, including the orize all une bi calci London Council. Barrage But it remains to be seen whether the new CoUncIs will bury Tory policies. he never enain barlaye of cuts in education and social services, and hostility To or cover ment golicies of mass unemployment com- Labour bined instal malorities in all or ine maol urban authorities, and topple Tories in such strong- nolds as enesnire Lanca- shire, Berkshire and Warwickshire. Labour candidates running manifesto well to the left of ThaT OuT To ware in uneasu General Election secured a majority on the GLC in the teeth or a nuge rea scare orchestrated by campaign the New Standard. The election of Social- The most venomous ist Party leader Francois attacks had been aimeo at Mitterand as President of Lambeth council leader Ted France brought This personalised Knight. of cacophony witch-hunt combined with the sabotaging, vote-splitting and celebratory car horns the Social Demo- CITOrES the streets of Paris cratic Alliance the and last night. of Knight's unpopularity Socialists and Commun- support of Stance Tale increases, served to secure ists rejoiced at alike his defeat. defeat of a savagely reaction- the Giscard • strenomenco position of the Labour left 51.7% of the vote against 48.3%, bringing to an end 23 was underlined London remove years of right wing rule in the vOTe Andrew Macintosh in favour France. Ken of left winger Mitterand immeelatery the new Labour announced his intention to stone as leader of the GLC. dissolve the Similar challenges Assem ov ano call the parliamentary elections right wing control of the hopes of overturning the newly elected Labour

SOCIALIST

* So far not one Labour to press. council has taken a TIrm in defiance of Hesel- stand tine's savage programme 01 and spending cuts. One after another they Cont'd back page are just contempt. Concannon, spokesman on Northern Ireland. ult the one kesn concen- tration camp with its notor- ious 'H' Blocks to house the most militant anti-imperialist fighters; strioope unese orisonerse their recognition as prisoners o1 war in Irish liberation; *not supporting the continudlion this stance Thatcher Ken Livingstone Sands Giscard ousted! present right wing majority of the Gaullist RPR and the seems likely that he seek an these elec will prepare for Marchais cheering Lions oy immedidle Torces steps to raise wages and the Stalinist leaders family and coalition of allowances, making gestures in the direc Inat would Turiner raise the tion implementing his hopes promise of a 35 hour week.

worker and small farmer. There is little doubt that the Mitterand hopes in this way 35-hour week to win sufficient Parliamen- Tary suboor to enable nim to rule without the involve- Communist Party ment of noUr week. ministers in the covernment Anti-Soviet and tinance nouses still in National Tresn slice in Mitterand, who conduc- Citroen car aiant ted a viciously anti-Soviet Bobby Sands' death

LABOUR'S

SHAME!

Some Labour leaders hunger strike: Concannon *not content with warn- beneath dead. Tories not InOS Ine One is Don afford the republicans any Labour's publicity for Thatcher's strike by reporting on sands condition; Labour's *not *Not content with having even COntent tO issue last minute statements designed to sabotage Sands' successtur election campaien.

Concannon has to go one step further-and walk into the cell of the dying man to *not content with having tell him to his face what he already Knew. Inal Ine leadership Labour remains struggle for committed to support with content a natener! The interview lasted one Presumably Sands The

THINULC

government while his not mince words like vermin starves iation; result produced an immed-

SION

accommodation iate slump on the French stock exchange and a surge Moscow, would far prefer to alliance with colO orices. rrench workers should not assume "progressive" demands that Mitterand will be man to line up wit in a any hurry to implement his pledges. workers' parties Rather than wait for the every French legislate socialist Party socialist policies, the French wor in crass should prepart the necessary mass actions to press home their He has come to power demands in pursuit of jobs improved standards pledged to implement a 35 living and the liftina of legislatior nationalise unc top nine industrial groups that perpetuates racial and nationalise all those banks sexual oppression. must firmly Ane une private hands, and take over any attempted oppose Peugeot- alliance between Mitterand ano ine capitalist barties But though the election Drive the fascists off the streets!

COVENTRY DEMONSTRATION

ALL OUT ON MAY 23!

Assemble Edgewick Park, 1pm March off 2 pm, to Coventry Precinct Called by Coventry Committee Against Racism Supported by ANL and NUS nationally Catholic population of the Hours later, Sands was six counties. ney nave the of socialists and Labour leader Foot backing the rose to nis teet in me moust CommUnIStS Commons echo world. and The Portuguese Socialist sentiments has pointed out reaffirm the Party paper OPposItIOn leadership to the that the rish orisoners are prisoners' five demands being denied rights granted even By doing so. Foot knew pontical risonels quite well he was effectively under the fascist Salazar and sentencing three more repub- Caetano dictatorships. Lech Walesa, lauded by lican prisoners to death.

the British Tory press for his Near to death fight for independent unions in Poland, nas declared nis Francis Hughes, now 58 support for the demands of days on hunger strike, is now the hunger strikers. blind and near to death. But the british tabour Rav McCreesh and Patsy leaders stand firmly with the O'Hara are seven weeks on Tories, opposing any con hunger strike. cession to the prisoners.

like Sands are neir ru tAless Commit demanding elementary rights ment to imperialist rule in of prisoners of war Ireland has scandalised some *The riaht to wear their of the Parliamentary Labour own clothing Party. *The right to refrain from prison work; Motion *The right to free assoc- MPs have Labour *The right to full remis- sianed a motion criticising the government's "intransi *The right more and 32 TO gence": signed prison visits and parcels.

anotner motor calline

COI

the Tories to make conces heir struddle and inelr the visible sions to the hunger strikers the The response is pitifull late and pathetically weak How many brave republicans must die before socialists in the British Labour Party to the need to wake UP political struggle for status, troops out of Ireland and self determination for ine misn oeopie! No more Irish martyrs! Condemn Concannon/ Foot! End the bipartisan policy! Political status for Irish PoWs! Troops Out Now!

panish hunger striker dies will probably well known , as I Bobby Sands. week Rafael ed while on hunger happens sauvation oul ol skull after a fall in where the hunger takıng place. a tall his physical weak- weeks of fasting. one of hundreds of mworkers the Spanish of Allualucid → death in protest material penury. demands this be more simple- Work! -ry day those basic further from being • as a whole une mated) unemploy- has now tisen to lalucia it is much the underdevelop- me siump nts In 8. 0 two ways: local unemploy- and workers grows thousands tens to the developed north are forced back. same time the Ine modernisation of agricul- tarm labourers tuil out of work £10 a week estimated that 90,000 heads of families in Andalucia completely are out of work. A nO (over 300,000 people) do not have a steady job. Some some work in state organis- ed public works programmes -at a wage oi about £10 a week Even this is better than unemplovment pay to which virtually noone is entitled.

The peasant workers concluded the only way to gain a hear- ing for its demands are the nanger strikes. To date, however, there all that sign at Is no the slightest attention. And this fact is leading to the rapid build-up of social resentment south which is constantly expected erupt into violent mass mobilisations. At present the Francoist ment ano _The appear to regard this little more than a sub-plot to main drama which is lona and the Basque country in the north Luc last lwo weeks nave seen a terrifying intensifica- tion of the threat of an all- military the wake ornew terrons atacks on officers of the armed forces. May allll) general was kmea in madric two para-military Civil and

SIOL

ucau Barcelona.

GRAPO

Al rst lais was taouanu to be a continuation of the ETA-militar, campaign the basoue nanonalsi orsal-

HUGE TURN-OUT

FOR SANDS

No banners. No more than just a grim By John Lister placards. No leaflets. No mark of respect. from Belfast The The political

NOOC

ques. confident: everyone message underlying the posts Painted H-Block knew it was the biggest-ever funeral procession for slogans adorned every yard

CATADER

Bobby Sands was of free wall space the North minority republican against by rammed home simply by tricolours fluttered from British imperialism and the the colossal turnout of houses and convenient poles Orange state secaran the whole support from , bars and pubs All shons. machine. Catholic community were closed the length of the of Everyone felt that Sands' Falls Road Belfast and the six coun- struggle, far from closing a chapter the struggle, had ties. Hos helped

PITS DU

Long before the service pital failer to turn up for population and open new procession or the work: elsewhere too many possibilities had thousands assembled Catholic workers

SIDPORT

work to attend the funeral demonstrations in the USA, Traffic was at a standstill of a street after naming -with the sight, con army Sands tactfully tions of the Thatcher govern.

centrating only prevent ment by Socialist and Com munist Now octar Europe-helped to reinforce Suffolk the view that Sands' struggle estate had not been in vain. eporters suggested th fellow • H-Block prisoner Francis Hughes now travelled from Dublin. Hearl Hunte Obviously hundreds had als.

strike; McCreesh supporters come from abroad. But of and Patsy • O 'Hara also sever the the 70,000 strong turnout it week. that lined every yard crowds was clear that the , bulk har with Joe non come from the six counties fast to of the 3½ mile beginning procession Shoulder to than 10% -more the 100 •eau more shoulder often three four entire Catholic population.

waiting to join hunge deep, "And they keep telling us strike there . that waited in pouring rain were a Bobby Sands hac movement complete cross-section of thi support!" will slacken the pace of the Catholic working class-small number fight. exe aimes children, skinhead youth, women on the route of the Anc Sands' Belfast teenage girls, and men march on hearing my English funera. shows that there is women young and old. that the no sign Catholic accent flags hung from But the show of suppor people will let them fight Back windows and lamp for Bobby Sands proved to cott isation. ilise" Spain. tenced to a total of about army personnel and severe v The police, however, 150 years in prison. general closely inllter e of ETA mittar en taist . ot course, this is If

GRAPO

really does associated with King Juan true nave pointer iner inger a GRAPO-the October Carlos. exist of GRAPO Anti-fascist Resistance group Revolutionary socialists Tnen 1TS latest acts Ins tune Ine government responded by clearly aimed to be offering the critical of a deliberate vroup. are which claimed responsibility resignation of the Interior retaliation for the sentence strategy of Provocanon tow• for terrorist attacks since of Sanchez ards the military. vinster. me connement ou And if they were the all army It claims to be the armed "for barracks their acts of provocateurs ther Autonomy

UWII

Recon- wing of the Maoist they were almost certainly salely and tne calling, alon!

structed Communist Party.

designed to give a pretext for with the Socialist and Com- But revolutionary social- There was then consider- munist Parties mobilsatior oi a two ists also call for a massive

LEIC

UDCI

able fascists which took place in protest speculation, the left as to whether destroy following few days terrorist against provoca- in presie Francoist army

GRAPO

of tions" was group which slogans favour of the rights to full • welc soulcu Francolst provocateurs- calling on the army to seize The leaders of the two au lololl! 10. Lile main workers' parties have, oI at least naa been inıll powel basque Ireedom ignters are trated by the far right. ever since the present acute struggling and for the inde- And that speculation has pendent mobilisation of the Devotion after these new attempted military coup of resumed clas February less power hunger of the Spanish and less capable of saying or But whatever the nature The Cela dame ac military and also • against the of GRAPO doing anything independent- pollucians ove caci

UCD

its latest activities is easy to other in their rush ly of the "democratic" bour- and its reactionary policies.

link killings, to not with specific condeinn the geoisie The Socialist and Com- Now thev have reached decare mer devolon d cac munist leaders have no right generals the military high command Francoist and the grotesque depths of call- to condemn the attacks on but, British bour- working class ing à strike- -the weapon of as most any the military as of the oppressed COIs vavers nave Coll Dal they do nothing occalsi mention, with retaliation for days were defence of Francoist Within prepare the resistance of the anti-GRAPO action by the assailed by a new crisis wnen generals. defend with the

UCD

those of the slalt laurichel

ALORS

rights der April 30 daring new attack in Madrid they chorus that the killings oppressea nanonales.

GRAPO,

which a bomb placed on of army officers are a provo leader cation designed to the roof of a car killed three "destab Maria Sanchez Casas was sen-

Vote for fusion with ICL

ITALIAN ABORTION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday May 14, 1981 Trotskyist new some 300- organisation strong, combining the of forces present ine Workers Socialist League and the International Communist League, could be formed by the end of July. The decision to work for a fusion confereneé of the organisations was made two at the Fith Annua Confer- ence of the Workers Socialist League last weekend une debate on lne se on the final day of the 3- day had opened conference, with a report of the exten- sive political aiscussions and joint work that had been the conducted between members. symballisers anu supporters of the two organ- isations during the last eight months. It is seldom safe to of predict the survival "left- Italy's tottering centre " coalition govern- than a ment for more few days ahead. It would be a bold person who predicted today (May 14) that it will last beyond Sunday May 17. Because that is the day wher vote wo national referenda on abortion. Al present. Ine aborton law in Italy (introduced in 1978) permits abortion for a vaner ol reasons up to days pregnancy but must be approved of by panel Needless to av bureau. cratic delays and sabotage Catholic doctors reduces by doordon mills even severely. The issue has explosive been brought to a head once again successmi demand for next Sunday's two referenda. One, Ine small Radical Party calls for the replacement of the 1978 law by ine unrestrictea rignt to abortion on demand. The second, sponsored ine ute reackonary Movement for Life "the Italian equivalent of SPUC) calls for abortion to be legal Only cases severe danger to the physical health WSL Conference report -

TONNENJ JUCINEY

LEAGUER

WORKERS

SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

SELF DETERMINATION

IPS OUT

FOR THE

• OPS OUT i

VOW!

positive develop- origins and evolution of both tabled the Workers 1 he ICL and WL has meant that League men a une a scussions- which number of initial Committee provided for some dierences or meinod disagreements had been sub- Be resentation had yet to and lui lies resolved. And stallial y from the fact that which a joint platform docu Dollical both the WS and the ICL questions-in particular ment would be drafted and Common policy objective une SUlt talle Slatelicill mitted themselves Markel. an on lue can ic arawn up declaring on cacn struggle sectarian withdraw Soviet troops from side the areas of outstanding against Afghanistan and Vietnamese the disagreement. Isulation Ilass This task is facilitated by movement, kampuchea and set out to

LI000S

intervene the there remain disagreements.

the fact that the IC has struggles 'In But already endorsed the British organisations will die urgalise workig class. nave now uneview documeri While the ICL has been that such differences can which was adopted by • the properly and

WSL

be . conference most successtul in winning a periphery supporters decided by a majority vote such contentious mast policies those fighting within a fused organisation.

issues need an immed And the working docu- and demo differences of method of ments stating the position of clau ine work and day-by-day Labour Party, ine wol nas onen each. sae wowd be arawn continued to orientate firm- tation can only really to be put to the vote at tackled in the course of joint ly into the trade unions and the fusion conference Darlicula intO struggles Draculal against cuts and closures in policies can be put to the begin work on the organis- the public sector. test in practice. ational details of fusion and resolution The the rains or a chociall

REFERENDUM

duties which arise from their Pope would shut up and not or the mowner Italian politics being religious faith, on the other

TOCK

DOCI

"historic what it the issue is it something else latent compro- is, the to mise altogether for Pope only one about the rights oi the The Christian Democrats, put women ur a volver coc relations cha chal rare. with daily appeals to mas are taking Pope meetings-of to alter the official position on the votes John but are saying it is an issue taken it upon himself to lead which trying to alter per essence scies is a campaign against all abor- aws or our revuonc. 101 rights. He is making Such mealy mouthed essence almost daily speeches on the opposition reflects the same as the CP's position since they accept the embarrassment of te Issue. be paid Cr in the lace or ine progres sive initiative of the Radicals for political peace and com- Blatant appearance of anu Church true 1TS This, of breaks reactionary colours. Couise. the spirit of the agreement The CP wants to appease under which the Vatican is this reaction touen is rank not supposed to intertere in and file forces it to condemn politics The l tene 243K) state. that the …une result Is this case the violation CP recommending that the shabby compromise the religious parties have all feit calling for a reierendum by obliged to pacify their angry ~ vote to boun une Teler supporters by ive add reactionary restro polestio important and reactionary law of mOsI protest- -though couched 11978 intact. compromising extremely the Terms -na. LIOlE. Embarrassed leaders of the huge Italian Communist Party The the Catholic capitalist Ch the wally Christian 'L'Unita', Com- newspaper Party secretary gen- Democrats. are munist embarrassed as the CP by the said enrico Berlinguer. the following: abortion reterenda "We already 1 hey have been forced to coat on statements like publicly recognised the com- pete Teturn to anti-clerical intol- Church's pronouncement against abortion as such. But erance" walll the depoliticise the issue and on thing to call on 1 the whole probably wish the Out centralist constitution. resolution agreed in outline by arcady the

ICL

a, weekly 16-page Trutsky- ist newspaper, to produce a magazine while working to build the broad-based and to produce its own quarteriy theoretical journal.

i an accradona level the joint organisation will be the Trotskyist Meter de as are in the fight for the political reconstruction of the Fourth internatrollai Aller a It denate.

WSL

National fusion was carried without amendment with only one vote against resolution, addressing promise. But the conditions of this compromise are now so com plex and involve so much suppression of the real needs dill flatlal even Chi win the rats. coali- tion with the parties (Socialists and Republicans be long before it runs into Page 3 WSL policies on Stalinism upheld In a lively debate on the contradictions and crisis of world Stalinism, a brief document endor- sing the

WSL

Conference report existing positions on Afghanistan, by John Lister Kampuchea and nuclear disarmament was carried by a large majority. A vocal opposition had argued in that we particular should adopt calling for the withdrawal of from Afghanistan and some of the sale colll argued for policy of disarmament of the Hutical Soviet Union to run along side the call for nuclear dis armament of the imperialist _countes differences with the ICL on From a different stand. the of work another of point, group and amongst women, comrades had argued agains.

endorsing the interventionis call for the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from method developer by the WSL, was also carried declaring Kampuchea, Cale by a large majority Ins wou oven me ox e There is obviously much an imperialist-backed right more still wing regime. plisnea belore we can com plete the ambitious project Condemned ol consolidating a tusion o equal-sized Trotskyist But speakers from the

TWO

argued in organisations. majority strongly

WSL

cerence policies. In particular they upheld of the our analysis During the course of thi conference, over 100 s-aay consistently members and condemned the invasion as a sympathisers of the Workers by reactionary • Socialist League took part In the debates. nised that in the new situa On third day the tion the invasion has created entire conference stood in a withdrawal wous enabe use imperalst respect for comrades Gar backed guerrilla forces Thornton and Joseph Tosti, conduct a pogrom of lettists and pos tragie circumstances since new threat on the very the last conference. borders of the USSR itself.

The speakers sat despite tasternal degeneration in the hands of bureau any the Stalinist mid-1920s. The fusion is the most property natonacer substantial attempt so far to secured find a principled basis tackle problem of the divisions in the Trotskyist •over umon-and un an evel distorted more form, the movement in Britain. nationalised economies The discussion has been the deformed workers' state by стеле unce ine war unde avoidance on both sides of Soviet military protection any attempt impose represent historic materia. "moratorium" differ- - 01 ences or "agree to disagree" which must be defender formulae that have marred against imperialist attack Drevious fusion bids and laid the basis for further splits.

Agreed combined forces of The organisation And as long as imperial the new and ism holds vast arsenals of increased malend resource. nuclear weapons, this means generated ine

TUSIOT

should offer new opportun that the workers states too the must have. such 1 weapons if ities to take Trotskyis they • io deter a military onslaught Trade unions Lae unempty, ed the black of the GEne the black WSL's positions on Stalinism unemployed, however were agreed almost communes. amon

WOIK•

ing class women and the urammousy -h women's movement. the last contented na on the : conference And on an international level the lusea organisation s lass struggle I r Orall commitment to the recon- One section-outlining for the • first time a position the Fourth the Cultural Revolution International should giv impetus to the work of new Unina -was rererrea bac Trotskyist International to the WSL's Stalinism Com the mission for further work Liaison Committee Our policies Bi Socialist Press pamphlet outlining programme of action against the Tory offensive. Price trom Londan WCIN 3XX

FIGHTING THE POLICIES OF

GISCARD, MARCHAIS AND

Page 4

MITTERAND

Are you standing in order to win current you represent, to put forward your views and to lated by Socialist Press from measure your mnuence, Le Monde 20/4/81, Patrick you have precise political aim in this election?

Jarreau olecusses Arlette Laguiller, right-for Certainly candidate which pay deary every French Presidential. Election seven years-to have an hour her policies and campaign.

television ten minutes Socialist Press called for a time is going to help us make vote for Laguiller but I am ideas known, round and for socialist candi Oul myself adoressne date Mitterand electors. workers' party candi- placed urging them to vote date in the second round.

for me, to express something We do not support the What? Well, for themsleves. begin with my candica- ture is a candidature of the candidates Left, against Giscard right, Chirac, who are very directly the representatives privileged, the rich and of all who are not suffering

LOSE

from the crisis. show Also, another face different to that of Marchais ana Millerana for You cannot

VOLC

without Mitterand warning; that giving his would be to approve ol record in governments past conducted anti- policies. workin be cass would giving • nim a Dlalia will not since with the deal arecuy workers. It would the go-ahead for back- foreseeable sliding betrayal also have te. have ove d Marchais, to say wand play to him cannot the hopes with workers with impunity. tolerate Marchais' towarus workers not the immigrant the Russian support he gave leaders for their intervention into Afghanistan and that he perhaps will give Cell, tomorrow, for their interven tion in Poland offer another of the face which nothing to do

COHH

and socialism and by Stalin represented been development Brezhnev on the one hand effect and Mitterand in Francany Schmidt in Germany all the but i nave diways the other. distinction between the right the S we surpass greatly and the left. 600,000 votes before several million workers vote wat of id no standin tot for me, this would be a real warning everybody. Mitterand round, but it would be polit show that the electors would enough of being wrong to refrain from have 1210 as halfwits taken for TOOls. whom you can say second round like during the you Elections election period tell without society about ing them the express what you are going to do you can only do that truly in during the seven year term.

the first rouna by. candidature For a woman worker, the At the time you announced who speaks that you had woman, last November, had gathered the 500 promises of Ilave sters of the right and of the signatures needed to go for- ward as a presidential candi- left. 1974 we called for a In you denounced Calc Mitterand general vote for in you do second round. that Today you say dature intend to not left, but and you draw a waite diu parties over political the and b and ten monopol clearer distinction politicians of the left and would right. How has this develop-

YUL

ment come about? Thal you wait wing by approving think there has I don't forward. political positions put tor.

this Laguiller ward by interview, nor those of Lutte with Ouvriere generally It had been our intention The lin: to call for a vote for Alain date. in the Krivine, -official section of the Secretariat the of the International-but in the first Fourth see those Krivine failed put to the electoral test.

the 500 signatures of elected The bOS required by French electora law the candidate to yo ment of permit other of the candidates of politically to me the big parties. canalente not. There are Certainly politicians, viters. Do you think that all made fifteen part in a struggle those people identify them. Nobody with the Communist 1974, selves there is today Party or the Socialist Party sciousness Sometimes they vote for election these parties second one or other of other because thett alternative We want to give of another possibility except in the changing voting for the left. are not going out you Coulu something, anel against Giscard. hoat Mitterand voting for the hope workers, like HtHC. you are stand- many elected. ther ing yourself to give this hope They these elections working certain certain Icasl Are objectives. What are they!

to say tnal peopic I am not standing to give enough of trick- Mitterand's content much. the people in Some left think that li in the extreme Mitterand is elected it will be then, candi- Our automatically the of breakthrough always been But we cannot workers, etc. y by she bie the opposite. for sure, and I myself Know that have the fight for will be there not like to think period. only be left It does not seem right one or excluding the left radicals of the MRG Our call for a vote for the This would transform the LCR or the LO does not ol course mean that we endorse molitical situation by raising the positions of either candi- enormous hopes and expec- tations among French peasants, and It means that we agre with many of their criticisms to demands on the Beatino Com government and be met within the cannot munist Parties and want T capitalist system. In this way criticisms aired and •centel struggles by the increased Our position remains that French masses we call for a joint gover SP and the CP Giscard with Prime Minister Barre to base all ment of all and the negotia countries, Hity, lo its ond is elected carried out elected

TONS

plant by plant, company by in a great enthusiasm company would take who You see what that means, it will depend on the balance know what can of forces. the con- myself forward so put of million. first round, the the some- electorate If I get lots oI thing, that the you can say to yourselt that so that there stronger, something that is TeeI will be many who say, after the conscious the elections, that they will ness of unter or Mitterand not passively accept the situ- vote ation, whichever candidate is vote simply and not at elected. and vote of nope illusions. Have people got s illusions? change-at want a class in ine Are you simply proposing a they going to demand s protest vote against much following a victory o "politicians" you the left? I don't know giving a content to the warn- ing that you want to address First, in 1936, it did not to them? quite happen like that. And I say that all the politici left victory ians are in the service of the Goes lead bourgeoisie struggles? No, you can see them all a warning. We give know very well that they are will necessary to be the 35 hour week; Hallas, affairs • n* the norgerle Mitterand himself says protect their profits... the agree- that it will need SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday May 14, 1981 Marcha Mitter only served in colonial w All, including Marchais? not at all to defend territ has Marchais no and besides that, in the chance of being elected; it is it was beaten by not a problem They are peoples who were driven going to continue effectively enthusiasm to the give lancoat. themselves the forc not M None of them-and Poli dissuasion neither for Marchais have none-which s they touct -will Russians intervenin exampe army's They agree with giving 20% of the their belief income of the State budget. insurrection. popular than FFr100 mselle wary have millions, have alill themseves that it is not producer e sophistic of one used of weapons. import oil Feis millions Besides another use for that these gentle money spent on the veat -SO themselves what else • do you propos enjoy met have caris used to make arms programme-neither others despite what the! i by real pay which have several i outstripped -but referendur the military budget? Dassault and the others. a programm would be possible with this : have the surplus demands for following buy mone We must hav agriculture from the farmers eecuons example and feed the third world.

wil right minimum necessary to fight for i , fight toge will have to working not only rune What type of defence do you all popular propose don't exploit For 60. years the French who that one. in existence army has been if elected, defend the country. are Communist minister 1940 what JUlE an army-no good at all Since then the army has

TURN TO ORGANISE

THE UNEMPLOYED

SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday May 14, 1981 WSL Conference report The Workers Socialist League conference docu- ment The Tory Offensive the Prospects for and

MATCHER QUIL

Trotskyism was carried, with a number of amend-

JOBS NOT

ments, by an overwhelm- ing majority. It spells out a number of

UNIFORMS

the pontical and materal problems that stand in the successful way struggles of the working class Thatcher defeat the government. And it examines various sectors of struggle and out- lines a programme of policies designed to mobilise maxi- mum action by the working class and create conditions for the building of a new, leadership the workers' movement. Impact attention Particular given to the impact of unem- ployment the workug Class the 2½ million For officially on the dole, for the tens and hundreds of thous- ands of married women and other "invisible" ployed, unemployment is an explicit or implicit penalty oppressive for challenging management reality: one which fuels des and demoralisation, wages or union rights. pair from the them Against those prepared to organised strength of the fight redundancies, tary" unions and drives many to redundancies "natural wastage" desperate seek

ITA HI

ers increasingly-like Ansells individual "solutions". in Birmingham and recruitment

ALLY

threat brisk among the closure or wholesale sackings unemployed youth: other and the replacement crime on a less organised and officially- strikers by sanctioned basis. For others dole queues. clinical Unemployment the despair leads to the larger as a threat because depression -even suicide.

it has appeared unchallenge- For those still in work, hangs able. Jobs have unemplovment massacred with virtually their heads as a daily threat.

hangs every mass Ios alle union leaders, meeting vote; it stands as an Opportunities from Labour's crisis The crisis of social cibly planned, thus acting to turn workers away from the the split democracy, crucial need to develop their within the Labour Party ordanisation and mobilise to and the situation fight for their interests."

opened up by the con- the itself, the document-drafted tinning leftward move- before the split of the SDP ment of rank and file attention party members was weakened •osition major topic addressed in right wing over the and the

WSL

conference the leftward the shift The party. has spurred It was also the subject of of recruitment amendment tabled a lengthy

TO CES.

The ov the 1OT discussion the general line of which was some adds accepted by the conference.

material and underine. the capitalist why Forcibly planned the channelled The document included into opposing of reforms in the Labour Party.

critique outline 'Alternative economic Strategy peddled by many Main dangers left Labour's wing penins is hot It points to the fact that

AES

not put the reforms that have beer forward as part of a strategy won have yet to be consolid- to ena capitalism, out fattier tends to create. the illusion can be for- And

WORKERS

DO NOT NEED YOU

• WORK- NOT

WAR!

#TORTS OUTE

Massi Pet forward to lead Not ployed conditions, : document goes on le derend exith thbs, and the look both the fight free transport and the fight to organise the unem- the building of useful ployed through Unemployed Workers employ- isations-thereby vi must it . new jobs-but they crucially, and vita of total we must unemployed Unemployed Workers as democratic self employed. workers off the organisations of the unem- ployed which • all side can focus lor tions _ the unem loyeu whether they be youth, members driven or those beet lines out of industry. the ano services by redun- public sadlions by tenants-thereby and oi those Similarly areas. crucial against violence and establish threee main important dangers: a) that the right class wing will join with the "soft and win Tribunite out the

OWIL

democratisation decisions; unions, soft Lefts will Party bury the struggle against the right wing in a wave of anti- la tendency Tory comatoly the counter-acted of Sente unemployed Benn's campaign by and 'that way in which against Healey); and Cl ployed workers' Marxists will succumb to the the to and mimic the Left, abandoning socialist their own ground.". To these amendment dangers the amendment calls nackoround for these changes the bullding ord Class struggle tendency the labour and Party the NHS: right wing have movement; a Tight Tor trdue democracy using union hospital Benn's campaign as a Tocus- democratic and the buriding of an quate Marxist Party to offer coming enderstio struggles. serious. Sụch tasks will be high priority of the WL and by the organisation ThE

TUSCU

after the July TUSIOn mine conference amendment vuLs

INBARTON

• the ment demonstration in Glasgow

NHS

for The unions only call what- workers' unions take immediate demands ever for strike action or even picketing prevent mass for teen mavey on put

AHA

raids travel public extension which put ena lo St. Benedicts. work-in public by council direct labour organ- And at Longworth -SUlalcl Oxfordshire--the creating COHSE leadership took ove Cal say role in linking the two months to the as poster, and has to much done nothing to promote national campaign support Picket lines We must be clear from the outsel bureaucracy whole UWUs can organise their hospitals would rather see demon- closed

GOLCI

by wage a fight against the Tory and struggles placing and their resources at the service even move manoeuyre must be analysed sections from this understanding, and labour movement in struggle.

certain 'the rare multant stalements made by individual bureau- of branches in this crats, must be ployed workers could play a campaigns role Other sections Lavis. in the estab- fight against local the lishment of workers' defence rate/rent cuts and increases, the struggle agains!

squads to protect die savou movement and ethnic minor racist and fascist growing ities against fascist attacks.

UWUS

can themselves element the struggle at local level support for from trade campaigns councis and Labour Parties-creating con- developing for leaders over the rights of th in the centres by selves. unemployed them- NHS cuts The document goes on to draw the lessons of struggie defeat the Tory cuts in "Among the threats to the occupations, of isolation from Name . the Ne way and rom necessary supporting Address action is perhaps the most This is the tactic utilised Send to: WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX trade union bureau- cracy to weaken and under- the struggles Pag John Lister reports on the V Conference discussion on pers tives for work in Britain.

violence, the fight to defend of

UCAT

lead the against rights Committer attacks employers blacking work the Tory government, and sites, and seeking out the fight for : solidarity action means to cripple the Re in tne british labour move ment to support the struggle Having adopted a le British military rule fus aralls in Ireland. amongst women at the conference, this year sa War drive cussion on women's c gon tocus on me cues positive discriminat the hor the first time resolution in lavour ol WSL document incorporated tive a section on the fight against narrowly carried-and Thatcher/Reagan place nurseries drive and unilateral The relationship be on the one hand the fi nuclear disarmament. Recog- nising the size of the growing the wo to mobilse.

CND

movement, the docu- ise and recruit workin women in the workpla ment points out that: "The leadership of CND and on th lies in the hands of however The need lo • The more petty bourgeois the pacifist middle class.

women's the mov anti-missiles movemen clings to the analysis that was •200 accursed adopted document "Two problem super Ene out that: which must opposed and dis- "A equally combinatol armed. Such arguments have found an echo from many and programmati middle class together with our abi diverse n.oved class lead working forces that towards the campaign-and and carry the state capitalist fight in • the labour from offers the But this should not deter means to alace alle us from intervening in- this developed women fro for class arguing feminist action to halt the war drive, banner of Trotskyism and for case unilateral Revolutionary p countries anc capitalist Tint defence of the USSR.' And it instructs the WSI Pointing to the p and problems National Committee to step ities up work onust finde: next stage find concise against the Tories ar must home fight for a workers ways Ou. the basic message-that to stor 00I all vill the missiles it is necessary to concludes: period is to develop, 1 "Our task in the stop i natchel, Inough Illas Tories. te bring down the action raise the and strengthen that question councils Chock

TENI

i Lial Cak development of missile site reach the broades of working clas layers women and youth no Lionshor veil detence and tions for Tory offensive; from

IUE

hardened bunkers nucleas war must spearhead the h publish the secret material in the mass revolutionar of tomorrow." possession on preparations already made to class repress suprivor of a muctear strike.

Missile sites We should fight for other trade unionists to follow the

JOIN

THE

WSL:

Please send me more details about the Workers Socialist League.

Coventry-all out May 23! Drive the fascists off the Page 6 streets! A demonstration in stration umbrella the centre of Coventry organisatior 1ha1 encompasses everyone from on Saturday 2 May to religious tric oldlinisls the racist protest groups and even Conserva- tive Associations. murder of Satnam Gill, The anti-racist Defence the fascist and keep Committee made gangs out, provoked the largely of black youth whose no strong organisation in it: me vanions one me Laboul fury of the local press make and militancy place, Council that would oretel reject their defeat rather than risk and police force. Them Ine around gangs IFiC formulae of pacifist protest.

their Besides making a number unemoiove• vourn uatexis ally Lilica comfortable positions. all over Coventry.. of arrests they accused the Commitment anti racist Commit- tee of trying to cause a race and surgert Common fight The first steps in making huge growth of unemploy- ment in Coventry there is no Right wing Labour coun- links with the labour move Revolutionary leadership cillors and the race relations doubt that the BM and other ment have TaI been Saturday 9 May. achieved rally needed on tascist groups have chosen it to break down major target for their the isolation demobilise the response the black youth and workers hree rebel councillors alves struddles. so Trades Council represen- The task for those who are being built they can Iney Welc the the same time take up the

IWA

seek to intervene forced to admit that there and the In •Tative were the had been thirty racist attacks amongst the speakers from struggles or the working class common audits! the platform who expressed with revolutionary right wing leadership and the programme and a perspective Tory government The move - crucial ment continues to grow des- It.is anti-tascist struggie lor winnine tose suruggies Is 'Coventry Left' around these of the of both of enormous. manucuvico is because the need struggles. these the autonomous organisation of full strength of the to build the munity and the labour move- Cultural orcastions some movement Coventry labour of which organise the physic- workers detence instee une labour movement is really There are two strands in must de farlee to del sidory Coventry. against racist terror. members in the community.

urgent in the development Ine The fight must be taken The Coventry While the old network of All of the struggles that movement. Labour Racism the Anti Nazi League are going are being unions Against almost defunct and there is blocked by a leadership in Party, colleges and schools, that has called the •emon.

XPRESS

Press Burn Belfast! IRA terror plot exposed Gang Billie Jean King, per- set out to damage her in the haps more than anyone way left open, instinc- olly Press else, was the person who tive v tolne a sido weapul she announced her turned ladies' tennis into pernicious law suit. women's tennis. be nice report that Mrs King told the Over a decade and a half media Zoom lenses, that shemade a where to she proved herself the tough- and led the way

TOT

chori sinterent players nomosexual

OLIC

relationships and went back Gang and heights to ner tenns. She helped organise what Of course that did not Mrs King is trained player happen. now KnoWIl physical and fought a some- solitary battle spins, loops and cross court smashes, with- prize money equalise LIt the prurient hypo- offered to men and women stanlu crisies players. made her popular She declared the affair with outer mistake' and had players who saw professional of Fleet The editor of The hypocrisy her Lte becoming a passport the strength of tennis stressed Street's supposed shock was Aktuelle, defending him- to a life of comfort-but not relationship with obvious by more husband and her 'normality made the self half-heartedly against to the media wno guaru uve.

The Star, the Sun and the coverage the fictions and prejudices of of "gross the charge trial. salcullcill a society in decay. intrusion' said his maga- their lead story, There was nothing partic- the viro Tailor made 'Billie under the zine had behaved ethicai- ularly proletarian Billie Jean King. Indeed her ly-it had removed all Jeans ve-t olonue. The Times, dividhis case-which reflected no less Drit- struggle politics references the carried it on an inside victims into ient, rising t10e unt headline the bugged royal from movement in the page women's unut movement 'Billie conversations! Jean king admits to United States. having had a lesbian affair.

which This epitomised the con- arcared above Daily Mail filled The aspirations of the petty the royal flict page the bourgeoisie 17kal m bourgeois. TeDOTI allu Duil!! emoletes she was disliked by pictures, calling ner and their quard dogs of int

DUE

"sensational admis- tried too

IRA READY TO

the media. press hard. She was not submissive

BURN BELFAST

All played made mince- Joke tre dainty down reports Bank raider fitted made Outrage, shock he royat the past sukide attempis In

SUV

the isranhood seven will The ba" - jestiked her s0== c= = S: 0u:0220 - 159155 mansas #€ 5r0*17505- ToE

ISEE STE

ELATIO

=: witch sa.e The unio 1. 0. Ang's success. begans at nara on the dole queues and at everv work dace tor worker defence groups Work must be done amonest face the anti- Cantl olack working class violence of the Them Toother ane anise their defence inside labour movement. back especial must not be left to fight isolation alone. because in they are very open to attack by the fascists and the police. United strength Bristol and Brixton are black ootent symbols resistance, but that spirit directed into the must bE avour movemen strength of ¡ne united black youth and the labour movement is the only force Press Gang prostitutes and 'innocent women' has been tailor made for the gutter. is no surprise therefore that the cheque finc books of rleet street nav been through the waving Sutcliffe's letter boxes of relatives. The subsequent row between the Daily Mail and has caused consicerablt inside the editorial offices.

Best defenders Daily Mail and the The millionaire owned Test tic defenders press are the west of the system on which rests. Thel always efforts are not appreciated. It is rather as the Queen, strolline in i palace grounds, came across guard beating up an intruder The monarchy actually to come supposed into contact with the nastier that Janis that will drive the fascists on the streets This demands the build. ing of defence squads which oldu sections of the working class, and must include white "Don't lies believe Do listen and rumours. to your local clergymen, and other councillors community leaders. We will making it be our that business to ensure the news media get the listen to them facts. SO too.' That was the most ironic part of a lengthy statement by Northern Ireland Ministe and the Humpney Akkus, nearest he has yet come to admission that he appears on wil control what television and in the press P to the ha can Lea death in Lone Bobby Sands, the Kesi elected Mr Ine could not afford to let live statement was : Atkins' fantastic account allu in wnich ne aleged illal Lis Provisional IRA were set to Catholic homes down

DULI

and blame it on Protestant ly accepted as tact by the accepted as fact by the Atkins said: one area of Belfast the Provisional IRA are con resi- en alla dents to other the sp td city, burnin emptied louses and by throwing the furthe others, Damne fuelling Already they have actuall intended haces andres evacuees owners have been ordered to evidence at all wa this claim, or fo given for alleged plan send children out to fight the events (subsequent Conce showed yout! needed no prompting). Yer the press was obed. letter SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday May 14, 1981 youth and the unemployed Detence squads that car cater noon instanty te crush any attacks whether the they streets shop keepers. papers-the Star, the Express and the Daily Mail, gave no headlines that their hint in these cramas were not estau lished fact The Star said: "Burn Plot" Express Belfast Belfast! _Terro

DUIT

Plot Exposed"; and the Mail

"TRA

ready burn Belfast" Without a hint of irony the papers go Atkins speech in it much presenting fact mochieror including plea not listen to was the opening war by Fleet Street

TTV

regain some ground for the News mampalalon also evident on the day of the funeral itself Republican funeral Beifast has ever sear was given equal time on BBC radio reports with the coupl of thousand who gathered 1 Belfast city centre to aste Paisley's denunciation the IRA. it limited elect The limited only is possibly the which most virulent ant-s pape in the country, published poll showed a clear suppor overal troops. Two months ago the NUS held a conference at which • were assured media workers that no censorship existed ir inclan Since then the past two weeks has seen an trated campaign to down Sands' election Bobby and funeral death 2190 divert attention with totally fictitious scare stories the real face of ine ree bress

SOCIALIST PRESS, Thursday May 14. 1981 Jackson Tory

JOBS IN

now having a disastrous working the еттест оп class. Over three million men, women and young people have been thrown onto the dole as a sacri-

ANGE

fice to the employers' profits. those EETPU yet tor

IN POST

for fiahting members socialist alternative blatant class collaborationist policies of Frank Chapple this year's conference plat- torm has produced the most

& TELECOMS

politically gutted agenda in recent memory. 136 resolu- tions actually the standing orders commit- tee, this means that over 550 branches have either failed Jackson believes that On Monday 18 May to submit resolutions or have the what important 1s the Annual Conference been bureaucratically disen ballot box and parament- franchised of the Union of Com- ary democracy. If the latter case is true munication Workers will Yet there is an alternative then this clearly reveais di open in Brighton. by the Chapple services and living standards.

smother any In that same week the to leaders Yet, like other Committee Stages fiohtback seeking to detend Ene such Jackson Live British Telecommunica- the independent interests of lead to the UCW leadership.

our 450,000-strong rank and tions Bill will take place.

The pay award for postal The Bill ends the state file workers this year is a reflec- why Posts and for none of these monopoly tion of that lack of leader- demand general Telecoms, ship: 20% was the claim and will aLoW resolutions operators to obtain strike action to bring down private 8% fiom 1.April and 1%%, this hated Tory government?

licenses to run specuric posts 1 November is the and telecoms services. where are mose resolutions recommendation Assets or parts of the two calling for concrete defence members to accept! businesses could be sold off of jobs and an end to debili- The circular outlining the unemployment? Why by government directive and tating agreement the pension fund will be split has Chapple barred recent pay, awards given to with elected delegates cratically public other sector to inis conterence! the exception or drut ne (most of them around abou Because like any other middle management union) 7-9%) as an argument that should be postal workers. Appropriately Abril vleased at what they ve been had been the day chosen for offered. union But no mention • is made officials of the UCW and of the firemen's 18% or the

POEU

to campaign against 13% secured even miners' the Bill. without industrial action.

Central lal. was held at And Jackson reman. tombs er. silent on the way the Tories with a lobby LoveLer backed down over lob losses Parliament. when the miners began lo seemed to many rank take unofficial action! and file members a bit late in source the day to campaign agalst inevitable -especially power oursue or rarmained brinihe might can

UCW

Executive when the That Culls many ways pic and oi ne maeDenucile empted the legislation. The 13th Annual Con- working class. reorganised They have The

UCW

men in ship of ASTMS will ference the union structure, Chant- start with its debate on neeos a educisille its holding ing union to show Them special conference to discuss economic policy. and agree on reorganising the the future for The first motion is to union's structure, and setting and telecoms mem- the and postal endorse Reorganisation up one -with "Alterna- Party's 1s a dismal

UCIS

Labour Committee that Strategy" deal living, tive -conomic with issues requiring action by the minute, jobs being with amendments split the postal side and in and and given away delete import controls

IUSL

Telecoms. produc- called volunlary right amenaments to delete The Bill new tivity deals with a gun nationalisation. surorise to the union leaders of the one's back. section The campaign The Executive hopes to agenda for the first day wil with the split in operation avoid controversy over issues be on unemployment and could have at this year's conference by unemployed *nuusury the rights started immediately atter the report passed) special producils members which election of the Tories. that will take up most o will extend

AS VOS

It might then have had an conference's time. correct position on retaining effect on what went on in the major unemployed meinders Parliament There are important rule debates is bound to be on UCW General Secretary which will increase new technology changes Jackson, speaking secure control It ' is essential to the cemocratic said that despite April rally, the TUC and Labour Party an agreement that Tories conference delegations the union odds mean the loss of jobs. would vote for the Bill and 4.00 for pm Welce! pay no attention. reduction in the and 5.30 pm on Saturday He argued that the Tories week and extra leave should are expected delegates bedy noted be a vote digest and on UCW mem- he secured ov

•ISCUSS

them and disabled, voted bers as a priority before any motions on Unt union members should on new state benefits, the NHS and hul lick 32 paragraphs of the make sure next le technology takes place. hey don't.

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

BREAK CHAPPLE'S

GRIP ON EETPU!

-Threatened ballot EETPU members in a move to break ranks during the Confed engineering strike.

vate health care for some of our members, adding further to the demise of the NAs -Encouraged scabbing at Grain Isle station in a dia to slidst tilt GMWU action there. rights to £1.8 10,000 electricians million chenetit during ine steel strike Chapple has also declared his support for five years of Thatcherism the even extent circularising members not to support the Action last TUC's Day Chapple May. Indeed, under Callaghan's parasitic union reader Labour Chapole fears loosening his vice-like grip on the policies signed the Concordat have resulted in the osion 'dry run' for Prior's anti-union nave resuited notoriou jobs for thousands Employment Act. been EETPU members And he has solitary trade All this goes to show that almost workers face a dual assault sub•orter tor Ine redctronary on their hard-won gains Campaign for Social Demo- and the

SDP

Not iust fron • Thatcher's Cial government of the rich but tocusser main eneroes autocrats on opposing socialist policies from union disu the possible like rrank Chappie wno navt junked pretence to any return or a Labour covern organised ment. representine

EETPU

Internally the labour by the sheer magni- tude of their betrayals. stands revealed. as the mos bureaucratised and affilia. undemocratic union Striking hos -kranged

TUC

pital workers as "terrorists" allu Labour Party. during their pay strikes low Not one of its 120 full- courtily national from the shutdown time otticers Ene Cardiff branch). to branch lever is elected y ASTMS must back Benn 25% before delegates recover Annual Report. from the hangovers induced important by the mayor's reception the event on Saturday is a CND the lunch break meeting in previous eveniny will I'm addressed by sure someont will be which out that ASTMS has point Tony Benn. 25% pay negotiated a This meeting is important nOT increase tor its membership not •onl becaust On Sunday afternoon question of nuclear weapons amendment is essential to all trade union- Enere sar positive discrimination to ists, but also because di suite . This will be one of in the conference the the few times women's rights their emer- NEC will move calling for a have been discussed betore a gency motio lot of the delegates leave on for Denis Healey the Monday morning deputy leader of the Labour the Labour Party not be reland rarty contentious the

ISSUE

conference. conference not hecaus Battle there will be agreement, but the because This is probably going to agenda! be the biggest battle of the of the duty because at least conferect socialists three divisional councils have Ireland raised and discussed submitted already This conference season is cal! resolutions emercency close too ing tor a vote tor benn, who Sands MP and the accurately Bobby represents more of deaths ASTMS policy impencine other on Sunday block for morning the NEC are hoping us to strikers with to pass a motion which will get away ignoring the issue any longer subscriptions increase BL Workers Fight Speed Up the rank and file None them are accountable to us and Hank The appeal. committees nave doolisned The notorious

JIB

by Chapple, enforced

DUT

charter' National conference contemp- resotution: tuously ignored by our exec utive Militant branches such as birminesa ano London Central have now bureaucratic experience closure, with elected mem- bers banned from holding denial of political This rights can only cement Chapple's vice-like grip policy and This gang who hold sway within the •EETPU must be challenged and beaten on the of demand for a tull returr power to the rank and. file.

Back Royal Pride!

ELEVEN

strikers at the Roval Pride furniture plant in Manchester have been or strike since February 27 in a which begar malor strucuit as a pay claim but escalated into a fight for recognition of their union, FTATU. demonstration nas been called in Manchester on May 1o. And donations and messages of support should the urgently sent Royal Pride Strike Fund, 31 Anson Road, Victoria Park, Manchester. Pergamon fight on

CONTINGENT

from the 9-week old strike of NUJ members at Pergamon Press will lobby the TUC Oxford, Commit- Printing Industries ToIS week demanuing print union support. So SOGAT members

NUJ

picket navt Crosset

NGA

lines both inside Pergamon heeded have elsewelc oticiances solidarity blacking strike continues The need struggle against Pergamon's union busting "socialist' boss Robert Maxwell. messages Donations Cane of support should be sent to headquarters, the strike Union Street, Oxford. Page 7 LAST WEEK BL manage- ment Longbridge increased Metro production Trom to to si cars oer nou!

And, as they are doing all over company, they the attempted to use the change in line-speeds to worsen the manning standards The result was that some of the workers couldn't keer Managemen' resource by invoking the disciplinary procedure two against these workers. received first i ne written verbal, then This action is, warnings. followed by ine rocedure suspension and then the sack. Both day and night shift walked out demanaing ine withdrawal I of the warnings. Communist Party led works committee then negotiated 'compromise: Ine warines would tenant but the shop stewards would be allowed their job to talk This was rejected unan- imously. by the would not return sale uncy until the warnings were with.

drawn. Teachers fight sackings Solihull teachers are at the fore. once again front of action over jobs time compulsory -this redundancy. Solihull Last • reoruary Council announced cuts of the educa £2.4 million tion budget authorities announced would mean a loss of 150 teaching Job: The reachers resoons Was it asteded by to me Council attended forced the authority to rescind the Cule Now once again the Tory authority is planning redun- claim is dancies which they teachers' way ove award of 7.5% in the Dorset, 17 her the borouah …axe in secondarv schools and 15 in primarv cuts include _i nest conity neas as welds bids.

room teachers. The NUT's response was port for a package of action includes withdrawal which liahtning. half day and one-day strikes and prolonged strike action This is the first attempt the country makE redundant teachers remains to be seen whethe Teachers will put itself at he National .Union head of this action in view of continua claim. uncle that recuneat issue on which are the the union will igh *A for Labour

• VICTOR

Nottinghamshire council elections has county ensured the reinstatement of who Crosbie, teacher Eileen was sacked by the education authority when it was Tory controned teach a nursery class without adequate assistance stand against the cuts result ed in a campaign within the local NUT against her sack.

1499 The Labour Group have announced that she is to be reinstated.

PEOPLE'S MARCH

SHOWS THIRST

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

FOR ACTION

Launching into action from a 5,000-strong rally at Liverpool's Pier Head, the Peoples March for Jobs has attracted wide- scale support on the first leg of its month-long journey to London. It is the biggest initiative kind since the 1930s. of its 500 marchers formed the initial contin- Others will throughout

JOULC

Sheffield workers join the march strong marco into London at Win and ser have brice of the end of the month. Thatcher Chancine There were stoppages of organisers have brought _course work Indeed the heavy repres •attorms cominated ov tul it made its way through the time union officials. and by entation wureau- North West, and a strike by bishops and vicars. crats on a March tor Jobs Is 4,000 steel and The rally itself a travesty, since these chameerne when the march featured three clerics, the workers wurcaucials reached the crisis-hit town of Bishop of Sheffield, Cardinal the wholesale oresiced over Sheffield Monseigneur S. Sullivan and slaughter of jobs in both the 10.000 Sheffield trade the Reverend Frank Thewlis wilvalk dru Sector unionists joined the march Movement. Christian Socialist But course every which applause bureaucrat has a left' speech arew through the town centre and Each brought his own Tor protest rallies culminated in a rally at the irrelevant platitudes the unemoiovment City Hall addressed by York- movement that has cuts shire miners' leader Arthur developed despite the Colin barnett Scargill. obstacles placed in its way has taken the posturing one But while the trade union by religious superstition.

stage further, asser tie and labour movement have But of course praying for that sponsored Mrs wiil be provided jobs is simply expected to to the • nore ooen answer union if they fail to join the the lne maren. and strike action exoression has proved the politics the march feeling on the But what is more to the Issue LaDou! leaders right who seek unemployment, Ine Dersuade point is a tangible lead from Civil servants vote to strike The conference of the and COmouTer centres action to defeat the overn revenue collection biggest civil service union ment's rigid stance, the right And wing led CPSA executive is strike the CPSA, voted today follows on a 118-3 vote by teeling the heat for an all-out one week the conference of the Inland Annual elections have Revenue strike by civil servants in Federation retlected a shitt to the left "any intensification"

TOR

' of a bid to press home their the union's various the pay tional leaderships, granting and the pay demands. strucate results ot the national execu.

Leaders of the Society of large tive poil, to be announced majority, was carried despite Civil and Public Servants tomorrow seems also likelv the vocal tomorrow 'tabling opposition of the are lo show neavy losses by the union's right wing-led Exec- resolution their right wing. conter. chica for an all-out 4o week Il-out It commits the union to stoppage beginning at the civil servants would certainly fighting for a total stoppage end of May. the stre the Bet g show of ports and airports and of With pressure building up on benefit offices as well as of But from the prolonged, ranks tor decisive le strike could

FIRTH BROWNI

both union leaders and MPs and councillors for industrial jobs and services and defeat the Tory As the march progresses, it is clearly forming a focus anti-Tory aria the frustrations of a working call action against the Thatcher government. However Labour Party unem- demonstrations ployment have already mobilised 200,000 on streets against Tory policies For the People's March to go one stage uriner s necessary firmly and consis- to raise the necessity for mass action to drive out the Tories rapidly hit millions of claim- ants denying them vital state benefits. civil Cleariv servants irritated by partial actions and by the lack of support from the labour movement, that

SUCH

•esperate remedies are the only answer to their problems Rather blame the trade

SITIKAC

unionists should focus their CrITICISIT

TUC

leaders who have left the civil servants to fight alone while themselves retreating from any fight to defeat the Tories.

TE WARDST

- Labour councils from page 1 have imposed obedientiy rent increases are increases.

council house sales cuts closures and voluntary o compulsory redundancies- Camden including Counci which Ken Livingstone sits They have become simply a stalking horse for Thatcher's policies, implementation of Now the electorate has spoken. Voters have shown that they relect Tory bians to slash their public services and look to Labour to bring about a change. Confrontation This can only be done in confrontation with the Thatcher government *ne support exists to confrontation but

SUCH

the leadership ТаГ

…TOO

Labour councils many remains in the hands of right wing line scrvers with union cora coration bureaucrats, seek only maintain their own positions power and privilege the within existing slalu. quo The fight must stepped up for the account- ability of Labour councillors to local parties, TOr Call paigns to build mass action against the cuts, and for fight for Labour councils to spearhead generalised action to bring down the Tory government

RIPPER TRIAL

AN ATTACK

ON WOMEN

We publish below -they completely thrown off the track by the the text of a leaflet tape and the letter. distributed by the -they questioned Sut cliffe English Collective of and each nine times time let him go. Prostitutes outside -they ignored informa. of the trial Peter tion trom Sutcliffe's friend -when the last victim's Sutcliffe at the Old handbag found was Bailey. search pursued wasn because "it was a cold night, very windy and difficult to 'We are picketing today against the • The weather orotect see anythine handling of the ripper has never stopped them case- arresting and harassing pros oyune court, me porce and the media. titutes, how come it stopped The Attorney General Sir them that night? At the moment you'd Michael Havers (prosecutina said of the ripper's victims think the villain of the piece that "some were prostitutes, "cold" and "nagging" was a wife our bernaos the saccest oari Yet 13 women need not of this case is that some were not. The last six attacks were have died if the police hac done their job totally respectare other blunders did This they make that the distinction between public doesn't "respect- about? Cano Know and "innocent' Why is there an interna investigation into been mad Ronald Gregory, the police and the Chief Constable of along by media-the murder of prosti- West Yorkshire? Lut women sects irelevanu and unimportant. This attitude towards Other people high already rosulutes mucH une sant placer nave as the rivers allowed ring their concern expressed carry MPs murdering have already women for five years Home •emanoe• Tne Is the Attorney General Secretary orders an inquir into the police handling of restricted himself une case

WE DEMAND:

orostITutes clean up the streets" 1. A public inquiry into have been more acceptable?

une police nandling of the case. The public is entitled such criminal comment: and the acceptance meolas to know how the t4 millio!

allocated this case was •i mem are an incitement to to murder women. spent It is disgusting that the ‹. A puolic apology Trom families the Attorney General to the VICTImS and are treated with families no respect the prostitute by the court the police and victims. the media An end to discrimin- Prostitutes parents have atory sensationar meata and coverage. All human life is charen . 100-1 children are now motherless "respectable" because of the ripper. end to bias anc feel to discrimination against pros must uney their mothers insulted titutes by the police and the hear and villified in court and in Courts must they 5. Compensation for the oress. feel about Sutcliffe's rela- their families- victims attu tives making a lot of mone especially for their children- for telling the story of their from the Criminal Compensation oar Injuries mothers' murderer? have been • 118

COO ICE

inexcusably biased and incompetent: Published by Folrose Ltd -nothing was done for Socialist Workers the first two years and four BM Box 5277 League,

WCIN

3XX. murders when alt the victim.

were prostitutes Printed by East End Offset Ltd E2 Signed started London pay alletion when une firs articles • not necessaril woman was represent the views of the respectavie killed in 1977. Workers Socialist League

FUND

A collection of £139, including a donation of £10 from Winsford SYL at the WSL Annual Conference has brought our Special Fund up to £1191.00. So the money continues to come in very slowly after an initial strong response. While there is still another two months left to raise the total of £2,500 we don't want to leave it all to the last minute. So if you haven't contributed yet to the fund, please don't hesitate. Send in some money today and help us push on towards our target.

Our address is: Socialist Press Special Fund BM Box 5277, London WCIN 3XX