Strike Action Hot Words to Stop Cuts

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€1,000 million in new spending cuts, along with the long series of savage attacks on jobs and conditions which have been made by this reactionary Labour These attacks cannot be defeated by gestures, by protests or by 'left" rhetoric. They can only be defeated by all-out strike action by the unions affected, calling for the support of the whole labour movement defence of jobs, conditions, the social services, health and education.

ADMITTED

While Healey and Callaghan arrogantly admit that the cuts are made entirely in the interests of the capitalist class in Britain and internationally, not one trade union or Labour leader has so far presented any programme to defend the working class.

The lefts' have criticised the cuts - but give no lead for action to fight back.

They act as if a few words and votes will change the minds of the But every attack so far has shown that its policies can only be defeated by the mobilisation of the full strength of the working class.

This has to centre on strike action, based on a programme of demands which fully defend the interests of the working class. irrespective of the requirements of capital.

SACRIFICES

The sacrifices which Healey offered up to the capitalist class last week involved major reductions in spending on the health service, housing, local authority spending, food subsidies and pensions for disabled housewives, as well as increased charges for school meals, dental treatment and spectacles.

Healey admitted that the measures would give another huge boost to unemployment (he admitted to 70,000 redundancies, while the Tribune group estimate 200,000).

This was only a day after the latest figures showed that the number of registered unemployed was almost 1½ million. -Three days later the government gave the details of a further €100 - million of previously announced staffing cuts in the civil service. And its campaign for more immediate cuts in the "overspending" by local authorities has been stepped up.

STAFF CUTS

Callaghan urged in the House of. Commons that authorities should cut staff as well as services because, he added cynically, "the purpose of the staff is to provide the services."

There has been no shortage of words in opposition to these policies - from some of the trade union leaders as well as the parliamentary 'lefts' . These words will now be tested.

Unless verbal opposition is backed up with action then it is sortin behind than a smokescreen which to hide betrayal of the interests of the working class.

The Tribunite MPs have correctly argued that Foot and Benn should have resigned from the Cabinet in protest over the cuts; but what will they do themsleves to oppose them?

AMBIGUOUS

Their threats to vote against them or abstain in parliament have been veiled and ambiguous and are only made on the assumption that, because of Tory support or neutrality, there is no danger of the right-wing Callaghan government being defeated.

Keeping this anti-working class. government in power at all costs remains the reactionary and cowardly objective of the Tribune group.

Voting against the cuts in parliament, however, though a necessary step to be welcomed, would not defeat them. That requires a united and uncompromising response by the working class in the form of strike action.

Will the Tribunites campaign to mobilise the mass following they have among certain sections of workers in support of strike Cont'd on Back Page Chronicle PHOTO: Courtesy of Camden Chronicle.

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