Miners Vote to Ban Fascists

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The NUM at their confer-. ence last week called Callaghan government to ban the National Front.

A further motion moved by Arthur Scargill, Yorkshire NUM President, which called on the TUC to oppose attempts by fascist groups to infiltrate the unions, was passed unanimously.

The voting on these two motions Scargill clearly reflects a groundswell of feeling within the ranks of the NUM against the growing threat posed to the organised labour movement and immigrant communities by the various fascist organisations.

Any initiative taken by the trade union movement against organisations like the National Front is to be welcomed. Nevertheless it is necessary to point out that workers cannot rely on either the Callaghan government or the TUC bureaucracy to take action against the fascists.

It is precisely because the Callaghan government is cutting wages, slashing jobs and attacking the social services, aided and abetted by the union bureaucracy, that enables the fascists to capitalise on the frustration and demoralisation this causes iamongst sections of the working class.

And it is a Labour Home Secretary who ensures that hundreds of police protect the fascists whenever they come out on the streets, while trade unionists like Des Warren remain in jail.

Workers must rely only on their own organised strength in order to defeat the fascist groups and drive the racialists off the streets.

If Scargill is serious about the struggle against fascism his task is clear. He must lead the fight to overturn NUM acceptance of wage-cutting and attacks on the social services, so that the fight for an alternative leadership in the workers movement can begin and the fascists isolated.

At the same time he must fight to commit the NUM nationally to support the setting up of workers defence squads in order to defeat the fascist attacks on the immigrant communities and labour movement meetings.