Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

[The Building Workers Charter organisation is holding its…]

Socialist Press no. 32, 21 April 1976 · scan p. 8 · about 315 words

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The Building Workers Charter organisation is holding its 7th Annual Conference on Saturday 24th April in Birmingham.

This rank and file grouping of building workers is dominated politically by the Stalinists, as is shown by the circular inviting branches to send delegates.

In It, the cutbacks in the building industry and the continued imprisonment of Des Warren are detailed, but the only policy statement is that "Rank and file policy is needed to bring about change"

This meaningless statement leaves open whether this should be a right-wing rank and file policy or a socialist alternative. Knowing the way the Communist Party continuously covers up for the lack of leadership provided by UCATȚ, T&GWU and other building unions, we can see why the phrasing is left vague.

The general reformist sentiments of the Building Workers Charter offer no perspective in defence of jobs or conditions.

The only way forward in the industry is the fight for a new leadership around an alternative programme of no cutbacks in social services, a sliding scale of state expenditure in the services, the institution of a programme of public works to employ unemployed building workers together building industry and land without compensation.

for the release of Des Warren, instead of the usual bankrupt Stalinist pleading for parole, the delegates must not only demand national strike action of the leadership of their union but also initiate strike action themselves as preparation for drawing in trade unionists in other industries.

The experiences so far with the Labour government have shown that no other action can seriously hope to force Warren's release.

Workers Socialist League| Public Meeting A Programme to Defend Jobs Sunday May 9th, 7pm. "The Lion', The Wicker, Our Policies to Defend Jobs and Wages Thursday April 29th at 7.30 John Barnes Library Camden Rd, North London Hull Trades Council Demonstration Against Unemployment Saturday Ist May at ll Kingston Square

← Contents of Socialist Press no. 32, 21 April 1976