Socialist Press no. 41

ARM AFRICAN

KILLINGS!

WORKERS

As the black revolt in Southern Africa grows in scale and intensity, attaining now strike in South Africa itself, general regimes of Smith and Vorster move to still greater depths of brutality and savagery in their efforts to repress the liberation struggle. 80% The strike has been successful, the massive showing basis for the revolutionary move- This sup- ment in South Africa. port is despite the intimidation of barbaric the South African police one picket was shot dead on the first day as part of the or une strike police moves to stop picketing of utionary stations and roads out of Soweto.

CIVIL WAR

This has brought South Africa of of the to the point of a civil war considerable scale. Every major and And the Indeed demonstrations. mass kline latencing so fate 200 revolt in mass killings. leaving so 240

COLL

- 33 of them in two days of repression last week. This links up with the news that United Nations observers had confirmed that Rhodesian troops It was massacred an entire refugee village black African of 600 men, women and children guese in Mozambique - lyingly claiming prolonged it was a "guerrilla camp' Amid this carnage, and while presiding over huge wave of under Vorster's Police Minister arrests, Jimmy Kruger Friday that after 300 years: "The black knows his man place, and if not I'll tell him his Mozambique place."

BLACK POWER

the The unrest, said Kruger was the result of the "importation" of The Black Power ideology from America, but the white would overcome it. Southern And (reluctant to admit the slightest political independence of and South Africa's black majority) hearts of the Kruger hinted that there 1s a "white brain" behind it all.

Yet for all the bloody reprisals,

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

END RACIST

a new scope with the three-day the white racist shootings, beatings and floggings to they carry out against the rebel- ling mass of black African youth and older workers, Kruger and the regime he defends confront not just a series of local skirmishes but the accelerating momentum of the full-scale revol- liberation struggle Southern Africa. This is what makes Kruger's words seem not so muen a state- ment of confidence but more an attempt to shore up the morale racist white minority Canute-like they attempt to hold back the tide of history.

the new upsurge of Southern Africa itself now be as partl world-wide revolutionary process.

KEY ROLF

OLUVECES.

the resistance of the masses to Portu- colonial rule waging liberation, wars hich played a key role in puttin he fascist regime in Portugal itse acute strain conditions for the overthrow fascism in April 1974. This overthrow in turn resulted in the granting of independence.to Angola, which and was followed by the sharp struggle But while by the MPLAin Angola to oust pro-imperialist forces of UNITA and the FNLA (backed b both South Africa and the CIA).

defeat of imperialism's allies in Angola has had an immed- impact of on me Africa, strengthening every fighter for black liberation striking fear into the racist minorities in Rhodesia and South Africa itself.

And this forward movement in will in turn strengthen ana nots m soum Alncan cilice or the new. even more repressive wage rates, continued on back page, col 4

FORTNIGHTLY PAPER OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

NO 41 * 25th AUGUST 1976 * 10p

JONES' TUC

WAGES FRAUD

But this, together with tl Cine and Television Technicia

(ACTT)

resolution, which calls c the TUC to "reject the secor stage of the Social Contract ar the abandonment of free colle tive bargaining for another year is the only resolution to po! sharp opposition to the pay lim endorsed by

TUC

Speci Congress in June. All other resolutions are can ful to accept this deal, while th

T&GWU

amendment which claimed to call for free collectiv bargaining next year in

OTT

arrangement declaring that free-for-all" wages would "injurious" "weaker member to of the community". In reality Jones' position wage control is identical to that postal workers' leader ToI Jackson, who has swung the UPI into a position of actually oppo ing free collective bargaining.

The struggle for even such basic trade union principle as fre circumstances collective bargaining must ther fore now confront the trade unio bureaucracy at national level.

continued on back page, col

TIM

DOLE

5РАМ : TRAITORS FALL OUT

Thieves, robbers and crimin- condition often fall out among them- And that is just what is fes. -ginning to happen among treacherous leaderships of exaggerated Spanish working main states- iss parties. the means, The broad class collaborationist utionary Coordin- Democratic the

'TIC.

founded earlier this year, right." оп, ad comprising Stalinist, reformist, and bourgeois parties, entrist raining at its seams. of its is not because any

SUNIS

has attempting to put are working class. arward a principled asition, but on the. contrary, Suarez working class the squabbling over who a dinner.' by the ones chosen De tR cist government as the policemen the working class. the installation cratic regime

POSITION

participation recently been the It has until Since osition of the Democratic Coord- ation that the Spanish Commun- disguise Party should be legalised.

munist Party, The Popular Socialist Party has the Socialist explicitly and indulging arty (PSOE) implicitly abandoned The leader of the position. opular Socialists, Enrique Terno Falvan, is able to speak most freely them underfoot. ecause his party has virtually no The nass working class membership.

tions that In the last few months Tierno Galvan has оп many

DOCANOHN

penly mixed with members of the who plan to September ascist government (and he has been einstated to the university profes- from which he was dismis- orship ed in 1965). Now he says that: return is permitted. of the Com- "The legalisation

LOCKHEED

RIPPLES SPREAD

The Lockheed bribes scan- lal continues to threaten the stability of bourgeois govern- Bernhard, ments in several countries.

Riviera In Japan, former Prime Minister Tanaka is only the most prominent whether of 17 politicians and businessmen.

VIL

with the bribes connection affair. Tanek an 1904 beegnuse of othet ment. 1974 because of other Minister of having shady deals, Is ackustu accepted nearly £1 million to use to implicate his power in promoting the sales of Calo Lockheed aircraft. Hira Hiyana, former chairman of Lockheed's Mambui Trading Corp. Bernhard. Japanese agent, is also among those charged. The scandal has thrown Japan's tright-wing ruling Liberal Democrat- to get it changed! crisis just as ic Party into extreme are about to face a general.

they election. A move is afoot to dump the current Prime Minister, Takeo Miki, The been energetic who has too to rooting the parties general CorrUDtioN The LDP leadership have always amassed their wealth by means of of bribery Serious investigation neml certai- influence prime "HAlIN ly uncover a whole series of 'Lock- heeds'. and is Millionaire Tanaka already 1S 20 Its free bail of, for him, a paltry on from the £400,000. who, If he ever is made to serve the even here maximum live-year. penally bribery, it will only be after years class of and wrangling in the appeais courts. Meanwhile he continues to sit in lower house of the Japanese the lavidature marrily trentecenting the

INTERNATIONAL NEUS

munist Party is not an indispensable for the opposition to negotiate with the government."

The obstacles in the way of such negotiation, he now says, have been The opposition, he "has no interest because it lacks a revol provokmg which situation might produce a counter coup from the

FOLLOWED

The leader of the Socialist Party followed Tierno Galvan Last week he into the fascists' den. met the Prime Minister Adolfo and reported afterwards that this was 'not an interview, just The result, he said, was: "an identity of views, namely Santiago Carillo, General Secret- truly demo- with the агу of the party, in Spain Rome that his political the parties, Communists included."

the party's fascists in way Ibarrur, atmosphere. their COlsIi° plate the legalisation of the Com- If allowea mo this can only mean that the Socialist Party leadership is deceit in barefaced order to justify its headlong rush to make a deal with the fascists before te workıg cass ocsıve la pcs egime has issued instruc- the exiled Stalinist Communist of the Party return to Spain 1 st should not be admitted to the country. But those leaders themselves are now begging the regime to accept their guaran- "good behaviour" if their interests of his constituents'.

Last week Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and her consort, Prince cruelly disturbed were during their holiday on the Italian that the long news awaited report by the Commission Bernhard had taken from Lockheed, had been handed over to the Dutch govern- The report will be published by the end of the month, and is likely Bernhard up to the Abdication by Queen Juliana is already being mooted. The contents leadership of the report were no surprise to Workers Revolutionary Party He had seen it weeks before its been have delivery and had in fact spent the most contorted and unprincip- summer trying through his lawyer led positions in their relation- ship with the capitalist press The question is, did he succeed!

the during

UNDER HATS

matter of days been Italians have more from one successful in keeping things under other. their hats. During the run-up to the election the press was On Sunday received fairly quiet about the involvement CovIdde Democrat a former Christian Times. A short, ical article in the 'Afticus' column minister in local Lockheed much-wanted. P lezder Co sepe Cana r A parlamentary commission has finally been named to investigate, frame expected to make a sleepy leader of the US Socialist Workers start after the August holidays.

Party) as members include GPU at the time of the murder of seven Italian Communist Party Leon Trotsky. continue not surprisingiy, WRP's rally that evening their Stalinist policy of collaboration instead challenged in forcing the setting up of an indep- paper, endent workers' enquiry - the only Sunday the way in which the real issues involv- written in such a way as to suggest ing Lockheed and similar cases of that Hansen Trotsky, and gave no clue as to his corruption could be tackled.

Carillo said they would be prepared King and the Prime to meet the Minister. also said They have of bases presence American respected Spain ougnt lo De long as the Americans don't meddle in Spanish politics" There is now, therefore, an open the competition between paris tse att ohest workers' •that competing for collaborators with fascism'.

and re formist leaders all that democracy say that can be something through negotiations with fascists.

MURDER

They are forced occasionally to utter reseryations

T.NTS

faced with such events as Tierno Galvan week's murder of a member of the Party Socialist hy the announced painting political slogans on or the rearrest (five days after his return and that of the goverment's President Dolores

ULUCL

would "relax the political 'fraudulent 'amnesty'), of the Basque Communist Party.

But daily evidence the country, such

HEALY ENLISTS PRESS

AGAINST HANSEN

of the present political work. Instead the

WRP

were calling a post-rally news conference forced into the - to which only the capitalist press was invited - not a single workers' was informed it was even OVDen taking place! At this news conference, Healy, last. week. In a resuscitated together with they yeered Robins Trotskyists Harold to the extreme George Vereken, repeated the call previously made confines of the WRP's own move- 15th August they in the Sunday ment and press national enquiry" into the circum- completely uncrit- stances surrounding the murder of Trotsky by Stalin's agent in 1940.

publicity Rather than campaign within the Hansen hobie to ensist te class movement Tory

KICUNC

"'accomplice" of the to spread their press

BAGCISAO

There is no doubt either that knew by Monday that their This useful advertisement of the they accusations were baseless. Hansen's was not full reply, published in the atest their any way by Intercontinental Press gives irre- the Newsline, even though futable evidence that, Times article was be said for may of the SWP itself, murdered security actually allegations made by the WRP are SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th Aurust 1976 the fascist merciless repression by state in no way deters these leaders and single-minded from Itenl increasingly desperate efforts to that the militant and in divert the "as working class movement from the diréction in which it revolutionary is heading.

HELPED

Illall are The Stalinists and reformists are working still being helped by the class parties which claim to stand to Stalinist their left and to oppose negotia- tions with the fascists (tor example, gained Revolutionary Organ- the Workers

ORT,

the Communist isation, Movement, MCE, and the Spanish Labour Party,

, PTE).

"left" statements mean Their all as long they nothing at when the Democratic Coord last remall - an alliance with people ination who claim to be leaders police for working class but whose armaments walls, not forward against are GUlELILE fascist dictatorship backwards against but are turned of a leader class the mass of the working itself. of 150,000 march through Bilbao without foundation. By Thursday, however, the WRP busily the real face contronted by weIt of the allies whose help they had enlisted against Hansen. witch-hunting centre-page spread giving à detailed account of a week at the WRP cadre school in in the Daily Derbyshire appeared and the flimsy Mail and exposed "security" within the WRP itself.

within the The pointed out that reporter she had simply filled in the form 'inter- and applied for a week's tuition at the school - and had been able to stroll around and see: a delegation of German youth along with WRP members! they The almost farcical zig-zags and gutter sectarian antics of Healy and the have sanderous leadership nothing to do with a real concern for "security" They centre on the need to hold together a degenerating, bankrupt party which long ago gave up any serious fight for leadership in the working class wilatere the internal *A full article on the Hansen the case will appear in the next issue of Socialist Press.

IRELAND : RUING GLASS DIVIDED

SIALISI PRESS, Wednesdar 25th August 1976 class is deeply The ruling will not be collaboration, strong divided over what strategy to enough to expand beyond the branches restoring British of industry located in pursue in England, because, says the report: domination the North- over there Britain East of Ireland. collapse of optimism about North- The Party's Conservative Ireland which has resulted less ern research department has just issued the much overplayed economic a report that sees confidence in the withdrawal than in a reduction in Northern Ireland economy on the the general fund of good will which brink of collapse. in the past led to an acceptance of «The industrial policies of the the special case argument.'

government have drained the present plain language what British industry of the funds and Conservative Party research depart- confidence necessary for expansion profits for. ment is saving is that and investment. This is especially Northein Ireland capitalists have in past

UAUCIHADILL

Northern Ireland." subsidies that the British that capitalist ment has economists have been predicting as paying subjects. of the Healey-TUC a consequence Faced with the undefeated resis- The Workers Socialist League The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to build a revolutionary.

leadership in the working "left" class in opposition to the betrayals of both and right Labour and trade union leaders and the Communist wing Party. In the daily struggle to take the demands and principles of Trotsky's Transitional Programme into the trade unions, the WSL has been at the orefront of the fight for the sliding scaie of wages full pay 1975 T&GWU Conference were the only alternative to Jones' £6 pay plan and the wholesale acceptance of redundancies by the bureaucracy. In today's fight against the TUC's 4½% pay cutting deal with Healey this demand for a sliding scale of wages (rising according to the rising cost of living as assessed by trade union committees) is the essential basis of consistent opposition.

In the Health Service WSL comrades have led the struggle for a sliding scale of NHS spending, for the start of workers' (beginning with opening the books of the Health Authorities), along with the fight to end all private practice. Perhaps more important we have led the growing call for strike action to defend the NHS against. the cuts and to implement these policies, fighting those leadership who substitute the words for the action.

in London this policy has already won a big response with the one- day action against the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital when 2,000 hospital workers in the area struck and 400 marched to lobby MPs against the cuts.

In local disputes also, WSL comrades have tested and developed the demands of the Transitional Programme, putting forward in every case the only real opposition to the Stalinists and the right-wing. Our struggle "open the books" demand in the motor industry and against all forms of "workers' participation" have won mass responses.

At the calling for unity of mpt yed and unemployed throught forward a policy to fight unemployment, the fight to mobilise the trade union movement.

The

WSL

the only movement that fights consistently for transitional demands, going beyond mere trade union militancy to pose the political issues to workers.

In doing this our comrades have been forced also to lead struggles for trade union democracy against the bureaucratic manipulation of the Stalinists and right-wing.

But our struggle for the continuity of the principles of Trotskyism is in no way a task confined to Britain. It requires an attention and involve- the international struggles of the working class and moves to ment in rebuild the Trotskyist Fourth International.

So while many interventions in Britain have developed the League's - grasp of Trotsky's Transitional Programme, there has been a consistent drive to deepen and enrich the movement's understanding of the history and the present crisis of the Trotskyist Fourth International, as an essential part of any serious initiative towards its reconstruction.

We urge all readers who agree on the need for revolutionary leadership and the demands we put forward to find out more about the WL and join our fight in the labour movement.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

tence of the nationalist population the Government is less willing and able to continue these hand outs to bankrupt capitalists. unbroken nationalist report has resistence mind when it urgently concludes "the problems of Norther Ireland should now be given more special consideration than before."

STAGED

number of incidents staged by the in clear defiance centred on trying to put the law "ailure to protect Ge try fit from the leader of the Social Democratic Labour Party whose electoral sup- strategy for a restored Stormont. It that Party's past never to talk to the British while man behind the wire that makes Gerry Fitt's home.

in West Belfast an annual target for anniversary of internment.

British Army hoped for an incident, such as his death that would have pressured Rees to abandon his low profile policy. Belfast on the Bawnmore estate for instance that even the been forced to complain behaviour and indiscriminate shoot- marauding members of the Ulster Defence Regiment. "The Struggle for Socialism second of the Workers London meetings on the inter- The growing appreciation of the central importance of Spain to the world revolutionary movement was reflected in large this meeting not only British trade severagroups but also mile ants anin discussion emphasised of the utionary content captured six stone-throwing youths, Great William St. so that it took place at a spot where newsmen and cameramen were well of twelve year old Majella O'Hare shot in the back as she walked to What at first appeared as the work looks instead to have been a more was clearly for Majella's murder to blamed on the IRA, was the killing of the three Maguire

ALREADY DEAD

wheel when the car hit the children, the fact that the manner of the streets, ensured the slaughter that took place, none of this detlected Catholic anger from the Provision- For too long they have known contempt by a Provisional leader- ship that has sunk more into the sectarian bog of indiscrim- offer their audience, in the midst of TAne nationalistic fare of the iniquities of of a programme alike

100 AT SPAIN MEETING

working class and the perilous class practiced collaboration by the workers' leadership of the main parties, the Communist and Social- ist parties.

OPPORTUNITY

The situation not only demand- ed gave historic opportunity for the creation of a could be built only by struggling for programme of transitional inside the demands mass move- The development of concrete solidarity with the Spanish struggle discussed and priorities were agreed. First, demanding through trade and other Order that the Labour_ govern- isations Page 3 that demands the participation of the people themselves in driving the British out of Ireland has created conditions that allow 10,000 people the Peace march to attend direct their anger and not at the real cause of the violence - the British occupation of Ireland - but at the Republicans who, for all their wrong policies, are actually fighting against imperialist aggression. Republicans who harrassed the march and denounced the marchers "Brit obviously lovers"" correct •as iar as the leaders and would-be leaders concerned. are indeed the objective imperialist logic of such a move- ment.

IMPASSE

But for the mass of the marchers no pro-British sentiments were felt The Irish Times expressed. expressed the impasse which Provisional to policy has led their nationalist supporters Describing himself as a life-long Republican he said that the scenes of Provisional IRA members hijack- ing and burning cars earlier in the reminded him of Nazi week had Germany. He said that the Republican movement had got away from the people and he added: "Tell Rees to get off our back dling you out of your own car and half a dozen Brits coming to your door. in the It was probably to keep the pot As Majella started out for Church the Army attempted to incident at a nearby cemetary where a party were laying flowers on the grave of the victim Indeed this was the story that they put out at first but one they had to withdraw when not only the local people denied any shots other than that of the Army were tired but even the RUC challenged the

HUNKY SOS

which they see as too slow to save a co Tory spokesmen real This must however bring them into contlict with a centrepiece of Rees' strategy, the slow restoration impartial police force free of polit- say that evidence of cases in which the Army is involved they hold out little hope that a successful prose- by Joe Quigley other ties between Britain and Spain, that all arms In Particulal exports should be banned.

Second, fighting to bring Spanish workers in Britain into the trade unions and through the unions to combat the bureaucratic restrictions and threats of depor- tation imposed immigrant workers imposed by the British government. This would simultaneously strengthen the struggle of both Spanish and British workers against fascism, capitalism class collaboration of workers' leaders.

The WSL welcomes cooperation from section Labour 41l movement in implementing thest demands and all the other forms of solidarity with the courageous Spanish working class: which beyond the mere words of the trade

FREE JAILED

SOCIALISTS!

rage 4

ARGENTINE

Argentina is a 'free territory' for the forces of repression. Not only has the military dictatorship which came to power on March 24th this year, arrested and murdered thousands of workers and but it also allows members of all opposition parties and groups, the murderous fascist bands, the 'death squads' such as the Argen- tinian Anti-Communist Alliance (AAA), to operate unmolested, kidnapping torturing and murdering workers and bombing their homes. or more comrades of the PST now In addition it has welcomed to security forces jail and all the orner zu,ove Argentna the now in jail in political prisoners other Latin American dictator- especially those of Uruguay Argentina. ships, and Chile, allowing them to search The release of all these prisoners kill political out, capture and cannot be obtained, as many sup- refugees from those countries.

of solidarity with the Under the previous anti-working Argentina to struggle in appear of Isabel Peron it is class regime appealing to the imagine, by 5000 estimated that there were murderous dictatorship of General political prisoners in the country: Videla. said to now the number requires the largest possible 20,000 and growing rapidly.

mobilisation of the working class this movement

THOUSANDS

VERONICI

the world. this throughout The number of kidnappings and country the trade union movement must force the Labour government murders reaches many thousands. While the to use all the strength at its disposal the dictator- against clashes between the government and the guerrilla organisations (the ship. Peronist Montoneros and the Peoples Revolutionary

BANNING

Castroite Army), with the recent recent along of Bloups priests have received most publicity that the it is important to realise the repression has been bulk of British banks must be prot against the workers' movement.

At the national level, many trade from lending money to the regime, unions have been taken over by the Givén abject collabor- state. ationist policies which their leaders have pursued and in many British diplomats should either cases continue to pursue, it is not this which has most decisively weaken- ed the workers' movement.

giving assistance Much more damaging has been systematic repression of local the trade union leaders in factories and local committees. It is at this level that the regime is attempting to parties forced to leave the country behead the workers movement.

temporarily should. be allowed to

PARAMOUNT

This kind of repression is para- practical terms. It is what the "left' mount in the dictatorship's plans to Labour MPs and those who claim to for capital- make Argentina represent the, working class must ism. minister, The economics So far there has not been so Martinez de Hoz, educated at Eton the United States, and the much as a word from the Labour owner of Argentina's leading steel imple- company, attempting to ment a policy of economic 'stabil- isation'. has made criticisms of the political What this means in practice is enormous cut real with achieved begin through inflation, which for astronomical abated, now reusal to allow any wage incaeases.

and a Such a policy can onctibe impo she the destruction But at the same time we are in fighting strength of the workers.

agreement the words with requires not only policy Gonzalez a member of the Ernesto but also borrow- savage repression

PST,

National Executive of the from the of ing dollars millons speaking at the burial of some advanced capitalist countries.

his comrades murdered by the Peron in

LABOUR GOVERNMENT

1975: "As always in this hour of grief Britain for He recently visited and indignation, we remain faithful this purpose and received a friendly from the workers' movement, strug- welcome members gling against the trade union leaders Labour government, triend of so the which hold it back and tie it to the butchers throughout IdLY and against the world, which helped him to borrow prans of te bosses, elitist guerrillas who contribute to significant sums from British banks.

On this page we print an appeal and promote its demobilisation "We are not looking for our own by the Socialist Workers Party of the Argentinian for the way of Argentina vengeance, that of the sympathising section of the United Fourth Inter- We continue to have Secretariat' of the guerrilla. confidence in the mobilisation of national, on behaif of two members the though today of that organisation who now stand workers even in extreme danger of their lives in they have not succeeded in respon- the jails of the barbarous dictator- ding as a whole to the reactionary offensive." shipe give our complete support to That response to reaction cannot addition be left only to the Argentinian this appeal. we emphasise the necessity to fight for workers; they need the concrete and practical solidarity of the world these the freedom not only comrades but also of the other fifty working class movement. tative in Europe of the Argen- tinian Socialist Workers Party is currently visiting Britain as campaign to save the lives of two Party militants currently being held by the Argentinian military regime. ent trade union leader from the city of Cordoba, was the PST candidate for Vice-President of the Republic murder squads that operated during afterwards, in January was arrested and charged with illegal association and possession of subversive materials."

recently smuggled out of prison he described how several of his fellow nrisoners were being removed irom turning up the following morning as supposedly resulting from 'clashes between the forces of order killings (17 altogether) had mnitially involvement with guerrilla groups, This has given rise to the gravest

LEADER

Arturo Apaza is a trade union the leader engineering among workers of Buenos Aires, particular- ly known for his leading role in the opposition to the official Peronist trade union bureaucracy. played a prominent part in He

PST ENVOY

SEEKS SUPPORT

1975 the general strike of July against the Government's austerity olan. In April of this vear he was among a of workers taken group into custody by uniformed soldiers at the factory where they work.

For the past four months there of his where- has been no abouts or welfare, despite persistent enquiries by his family, his fellow workers, and even his employers.

Workers The Socialist Party concerned for the fate of gravely these two militants, given both the political climate in Argentina since which the coup and the attention intransigent the Party, defender of working class interests has attracted and independence from the extreme right. Over the two years preceding the coup almost all the regional offices were subjected Party bomb attacks, and a total of 15 Party members - for the most part activists were trade union right-wing death murdered by squads. military Since the coup the of has created thousands

TCHILE

political prisoners, them allude PST members murdered by right-wing death squads. Top: Anna Maria SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1970 Jose Francisco Paez Argentinian workers' demonstration than 100 members of the more Socialst workers Party one Party member is At least and presumed dead after arrest brutal torture. The Socialist Workers Party is.

mounting a world-wide campaign to Argentinian demand that the Government 'guarantees the life of Jose Francisco Paez and issues news of Arturo Apaza and produces him immediately. has Already this campaign gained extensive support from trade democratic groups and throughout . Latin time nica, the Federation mcluamg Teachers in Colombia, and a group of 30 MPs in Colombia, headed by Senor Villar of the Bordo, leader left-wing of the governing Liberal Party. In Portugal, the National Assem- of support for tussed mands, these demands,

84D0UL!

proposed by a group of Socialist MPs. expected that many figures from the trade prominent umon Britain will be adding their voices to this campaign. Guzner Lorenzo, Adriana Zaldua, Dicki Povedano (Carlos), Hugo Frigerio.

Bottom: Patricia Claverie, Lidia Agostini, Roberto Loscertales, Oscar Lucatti.

AGAINST NHS CUTS

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976 A national initiative to lead the cuts in the Health Service crucial. It was for this reason a positive step forward last year when some 400 trade unionists came together at a conference convened by the Medical Committee Against Private Practice, and formed the National Coordinating Committee (NCC). At the conference a programme to defend the Health Service adopted, including. the fight to set Union Trade up Joint Commit- tees in each area within the NHS, the fight for the books of the Area Health Authorities to be opened to elected trade union committees, and the demand for a sliding scale of state spending to protect the NHS from inflation.

DEMONSTRATION

In the Spring of this year the NCC called an 800-strong national demonstration, and have organised a number of lobbies against private practice. But the central weakness of the NCC is that it mas not actively intervened in the fight against hosp- ital closures or cuts at local level, even where hospital workers them- selves have begun a fight back.

A new and obscene propa- ganda has been campaign launched in the hopes of forc- ing additional unpaid effort out of the Leyland workforce.

Spearheading b the campaign, hand-in-hand with Leyland Cars managing director Derek Whittaker, is Derek Robinson, convenor at the Longbridge factory cand member of the Communist Party!)

COLLABORATION

Indeed the whole scheme rests complete collaboration of the trade unionists who have thrown in their lot with manage- ment by Leyland's entering 'workers participation committees.

The christened campaign, "Quality 77" , is being directed by a sub-committee of the Cars Council, the supreme participation body in Ryder reorganisation of Leyland. And the step setting up plant level sub-commit- tees to publicise the campaign on the shop floor.

FIRST

It is the first major project so far undertaken by the "participation" machinery, and, true to form, stems from the thinking of management.

But this has not dampened the of the the so-called

TILLERISI

LOBBY CALLED

This produces some glaring The National Exec- inconsistencies. utive of NALGO sends a repres- entative to the NCC - yet during the strike against recent one-day the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett hospital in London, Anderson

NALGO

was the only union that scabbed on the strike!

ONLY

Yet the NCC despite its obvious limitations remains the WIly national body fighting for action against the cuts. It is essential that the affiated bodies should take up the fight to break the tendency to left talk detached action which now Irom characterises the bureaucracy of all health service unions The NCC in short must form the arena for sharpening the fight for leadership against the cuts. Only in this way can the. committee move from protest to action. At present the NCC is pursuing democratically elected manage- two campaigns - for a lobby *The the Labour Party Conference on Workers Socialist League 29th September in Blackpool, and a supports this lobby and calls on all that petition for submission to members and supporters to give it conference, which calls for the backing in the laboui move- 11114 implementation of last year's resol- ment. ution which rejected cuts, called for sation opts actional

NHS

isation suppliers, extension of the service under

PARTICIPATION'S FIRST CAMPAIGN

SPOT THE

MANAGER

IN NEW BL QUALITY

DRIVE

of them eagerly gave statements breathe quality improvement. If the endorsing the scheme to a manage- quality of the individual's perform- ment "Special Report" broadsheet.

ance arality of too end product will take enough then The ideas and sentiments emerge care of itself." as identical with those expressed by management - showing a clear eagerness to force other carworkers

DISCIPLINE

out of a job by cornering a bigger share of the anarchic world market other In words for Leyland. the joyful "quality" campaign is to be pushed Conspicuously it does not even seem to have occurred to the so- along by a hefty dose of discipline called "representatives" of Leyland - imposed of course by the fore- workers the men, industrial engineers and super- query cause of intendants inferior quality cars. so dispropor- dit There is not a word about the tionately well represented in the "participation" set-up. constant pressure for speed-up; about the elimination of compon- But the real tone of this ent inspection, inadequate manning reactionary charade can only be levels, or the increased exploitation judged by comparing the state- in the component industry.

ments made by management and "union reps". See if you can spot the difference. The answers are

MAJOR

upside down at the bottom of the PAS From the shop floor, through All of these have been shown to be major factors in the finished car the offices supervision up by the investigations of the special managing director, if 121,593 of us Open the Books Committee set up within Leyland cars control quality by Leyland's Cowley Assembly we will be home and with a ary Plant Joint Shop Stewards Commit- ecure future tee after management allegations of (B) 'I have been asked why I an "shoddy work" backing 77 specificate eat an and backing generally Instead the whole brunt of the drive for "quality" is to descend on is simple ensure that next week, next month, next year, and the backs of individual shop floor workers, as David Simpson (produc- for many tion director of Leyland's body and have a high standing against our pressings operations) showed when competitors and the security that he said: goes with it. Our jobs are riding on TI NCC demonstration But at the same time the fight must be stepped up. for all-out strike action to stop the cuts now being wormed in by NHS adimin- Istrators in many areas.

QUALITYZ

NEEDS YOU

TO PARTICIPATE

One of Leyland's new posters however a very competitive one, and the customer is looking not only for the right vehicle, but for quality and reliability which is beyond question." (D) "I am realistic enough though things will not change overnight but given the right spirit and endeavours I am convin-.

ced we can produce the right goods to see our competitors off (E) "We have only one right and the that 18 right to compete, through quality and availability, for of our customers. alegance The world does not owe us a living.

If Leyland Cars loses one customer, • Cars one employee may lose a job. That is why we need Quality 77. It is not a gimmick - meal ticket for today, tomorrow and the future."

(F) "Without you we don't stand a chance. the will for quality is developed with us all, we can grab that vital bit extra of the world markets give ourseives the reputation we undoubtedly deserve." 1ods nox pa -tasaddas ээкораика,, Laotall (3) : anyDuasaddan a coama, spania (a) -sandad дакораша,, 224D21ЧM (g) iage 5

BLACKBURN

MARCH

SEPT 11th A Workers Socialist Leagu contingent will join the anti racist demonstration in Black burn on 11th September. The recent electoral gains mad by racist and fascist parties show that the danger of these movement winning a foothold remains as lon the labour movement mobilised against them. Drawing strength from ever betrayal by the TUC and Labou government, feeding off the frus tration felt by the working clas with confronted mass unemploy ment, falling living standards anc inadequate social services, racis and fascist groups have begun to win a degree of support even amon some sections of workers.

At the same time in seeking to spread their influence, the fascist continue in to engage attacks on immigrant workers.

CLASS ISSUE

The task of revolutionaries i both to defend those being attack ed and show that these attacks an breaking is the organisation abou class issue. Fascism abou working class as a whole: от individuals who have started thi tormation of vigilante groups hav taken an important step forward i breaking from the reformist posit ion of appealing to the police, th capitalist thein 'state, to defend selves against fascism - which itsel s just another form of capitalisn But, unlike the Internation Marxist Group and other groups w do not say it is simply a question o "Build labour movement self-defence" CRea black

IOI

(Rea Weekly front statement page 10.6.76) or "Only the defence of the black communities by black themselves are any guarantee for protection against • racist attacks' FIMG national leaflet): We of course support the righ of immigrant. workers to defen themselves whatever necessary against racist and fascis attack. But we also have a politica responsibility to attempt to direc these self-defence groups toward calling on the strength of thi organised labour movement as whole so that the most united clas attack can. be launched agains fascist provocation and violence.

If black workers and youth hay been the first target of the fascists will •Fascists have already attacked meetings Ireland. WSL members and supporters i areas affected must therefore propose at their union branches trades councils and Labour Parties that a fight is waged for worker defence squads organised jointly between immigrant and trade union organisations. Where possible, we must fight for this within immigrant organised defence squads by attending delegates from the trade unions and they unify with trade urging that union 3, dies their particularly councils, fight against fascist attack.

ACTION

But the task of physical defence must be accompanied by a fight for à programme of action to mobilise the united class strength ot the working class defence of jobs in and wages; *No state control of wage For a sliding scale of wages linked to the cost of living as assessed by committees of trade unionists and housewives. *No redundancies - For to work sharing on full pay.

*No to closures - Occupy, open the books to establish the case for nationalisation without compen- sation under workers management For a programme of public works

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

THE INTERNATIONAL

1914, world war drove a sive wedge into the Second it rational, splitting "defencists" and reen olutionary defeatists". defencists (or 'social chauv- were the large majority, a wave of fervent patriot- giving support to their 'own' • class in the war, abandoned ocialist principles on which the national had been built. of the

DULLAN

ing class was suddenly subord- I to the needs of national self- ace and solidarity. o the left of the social chauvin- food the socialist international- who were an anti-war grouping, subscribed whom many 11 to pacifism, regarding as a recondition dily pationary struggle. arther still to the left were the of socialists who 8oup sed that the Second Inter- defunct and onal was a not be resurrected.

CIVIL WAR

call the was to

LENE

wat ci war in • 0 219| 111(0 leading country lo miel- mal proletarian revolution.

o this end they called for the tion of a new, Third Inter- continue the original tions of the first two. The of this prominent memOCI declared was Lenin, The Second International is overcome by opportunism....

Third International falls the of organising the proletarian for a revolutionary onslaught the capitalist governments, I war against the bourgeoisie countries, for the capture of cal power, for the triumph of enin. Collected Works, 4th 20 pp40 41). series of international socialist Zimmerwald, rences held redand provided a forum for and his followers to influence sides in different rejected

FINAL PART OF OUR SERIES

Revolutionary German soldiers in 1919 - the placards denounce Social Democrats Ebert and Scheidemann International. The defeat of the German the summer of 1915 Lenin Empire in 1918 drew Lenin's close In and Zinovier wrote their pamphlet to attention Which they 'Socialism and War' in Germany which appeared to be on the verge of revolution. pledged for Inter- national "purged of opportunism became apparent that the of the new International " but nointed out and Germany, that home of the oldest immediate necessity. an "Europe's and strongest labour movements, greatest mistortune and danger is that it has no revolution- was of decisive importance.

GERMANS,

Lenin, CW, Vol 28 pp155,160.

The Second International, now a Zinovier and Lenin were degenerate political

COCCUOR

prepared to remain in the second reformists and traitors bankrupts, nternational as its extreme oppos- Kautsky, had centred around Karl ition until the Germans were ready called for a conference to convene to form a new International.

in Switzerland in January 1919.

The Zimmerwald anti-war This provided the impetus for movement contained two divergent Lenin to ahead for the press political trends, reflected foundation of the Comintern.

on side by the International Socialist The First Congress, originally to Committee (ISC) representing the be held in Berlin, was switched to majority, Moscow following the murder of and on the other its non-official and Karl Lieb- Rosa Luxemburg counterpart on the left; a bureau knecht, and op ed on March 2nd consisting of Lenin, Zinovier and of that year. Radek. The essence of the programme Second Zimmerwald The the platform of the was Inat Conference in 1916 represented a International would be drawn movement to the left in words but partly from the theory and practice the conference was unwilling to cul of Brasherism and partly erman ties with the Second Inter- programme German 'Was Will der Spartacist League that Zimmerwald contained Spartakusbund?' ('What does the virulent right-wing Spartacus League Want?").

which 10218 deserting the cause of internation- Basically, be invited to the to alism, and despite some evidence of Congress the parties and groupings maturing in the socialist a split would have to: 1) separate them- ranks many countries, this selves from the social patriots; 2) Zimmer- that the convinced him rally to the socialist revolution and wald grouping was worthless and dictatorship of the proletariat, and was now useful only to gathei 3) adopt the principle of power in information. the hands of the Soviets and not bourgeois themselves

TANTALA

APRIL THESES

parliamentarism. groups and In 1917 the February revolution Thirty-nine parties, served to underline this. In the trends were invited to the congress; tenth of his April Theses, Lenin put the invitation stated that the forward the call for "rebuilding the congress: byl taking "must establish a common fight- THie iniative in creating a revolutionary ing organ for the purpose of main- International, an International taining permanent coordination and against social-chauvinists and systematic leadership of the move. against the 'Centre'." ment, a centre of the communist The completely changed intertationa. subordinating situation in which the Bolsheviks interests of the movement in each found themselves during the period country to the common interest of 1917 the international revolution" between October February 1918 helped determine ("Invitation First Congress Cantion 11" the Allied At the Congress, delegates blockade prevented some from attending; however 51 arrived, representing 33 countries.

STALIN ABSENT

Communist Party The Russian was represented by Lenin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Bukharin and Chicherin.

Although Stalin's name was included, he took no part in the in fact there meetings no record of any involvement by him in the first four Congresses.

Stalinist historians rarely refer to the early history of the Comintern would draw because to do so attention to the important contri- Bolshevik of the leaders later eliminated by Stalin and his agents. The First and Second Congresses addressed of the International the manifestos to working class. These addresses were by Trotsky, and were unanimously adopted by the first of these, Congress. the Trotsky emphasised that: is to purge the "Our task movement of the corroding admix- ture of opportunism and social- to unify the efforts of patriotism, all genuinely revolutionary parties world proletariat and Ente thereby facilitate and hasten the revol- victory ution throughout the world."

"...advanced workers have from the very first steps of the organised socialist movement striven to unify it on an international scale.

Communists, united in ...We consider the Third International, ourselves the direct continuators of the heroic endeavours and martyr- dom of a long line of revolutionary Babeuf to Karl generations from Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.

("First Five Years" Vol 1 p43 and 53).

STRUGGLES

Between the end of this First in March 1919 and the Congress start of the Second in July 1920, struggles many being waged throughout the world.

A wave of strikes was sweeping March the Hurong' SOCIALIST PRESS Wednesday 25th August 1976.

Some of the (to be formed, overthrown August). In the Russian Civil War there were a series of setbacks and gains, the Red Army regaining Kiev from defeat at Poland but suffering Warsaw in August 1920 The Weimar Republic was estab- lished in Germany. However, the signif- International making icant gains at this time with the of of the organisation

SECLIONS

in world revolutionary movement many countries. The manifesto presented to the Congress emphasised once Second again the crucial need for unity of the world working class against its the bourgeoisie. common enemy, Trotsky pointed out that: proletariat is being "the thwarted in its international revol utionary much by the half-destroyed barbed-wire entanglements set between the countries, as it is by the egotism, conservatism, stupidity and treachery of the old party and which trade union organisations have climbed upon its back during the preceding epoch." Years" Vol "First Five p153). This is a damning indictment of the Democratic 100121 such countries as France, Germany, Poland and Britain, were WIld adhering to the chauvinist policies of the decaying rubbish heap that was the Second International "To the disintegration and chaos of the capitalist world, whose death threatens destroy all agony Communist human culture, the International counterposes united struggle of the world prolet- of private abolition ownership of the means of produc- tion and for the reconstruction of world national and economy....' (p158).

21 POINTS

The Second Congress of the Comintern decided on more detailed conditions of entry setting down 21 points to be adhered to covering such things as propaganda, the rejection of all forms of reform- ism and centrism, rejection and social patriotism social- pacifism, intervention trades essential structure of the the Party, and other points amount- ing to a comprenensive fist expand- ing Lenin's original suggestions in great detail. The period between the end of Second and beginning of the the Third Congress was one which witnessed the decisive victory of the Red Army in Russia; and the the New Economic beginnings Policy following the Kronstadt revolt in March 1921. detrayal or the In the reformist leadership working class led to large scale defeat in Autumn of 1920.

This was followed by a similar Germany of the "March defeat in action" 1921. The capitalist 1n world appeared to be entering period of stabilisation; this change different aalte adopted by signalled need the International. Trotsky recognised in his speech the Third Congress the to Comintern that the post-war due to massive horrowing and the circulation of

SOCLALIST PRESS Wednesday 25th August 1976 last Leninist mintern - the Congress. Thus. crisis, was abandoned by the ued to distend, Stalinists after 1926. The nature of the Comintern slump." itself was to be radically altered as p255). Stalin consolidated the grip of the political bureaucracy. The line adopted led to numerous defeats; destruction one the next Congress was postponed levelling out in upswings for four years. can De onv of This merely demonstrates the contempt that the Stalinists showed towards the international working class. ("First Five Vol 1, On top of this, expulsions took p260). Communist place throughout While giving impression est members. stabilising' the economy actually directly we the lists of delegates the first four that, after Lenin's death all, with one exception, Trotsky that "The were also is situation more and expelled Communist I10U more favourable International." the therefore Comintern to cratic but an expert tactically. ed attempt to derail the revol- At the centre of this was the "theory realised that the revol- of As Trotsky said his 1928 work, taken masses, Third • LO After using the united that is, Lenin, organising the "In which is the programme of transitional of world demands. The Fourth of the hegemony Communist not a single This proved o be the Congress. ing solely mainly from Trotsky, Lenin, together conditions condences prepared the the Republic ituaton of the "An communist ation, and programmes their amalgam common these. Pathfinder The united edition). Important questions discussed, along anion tactics. Trotsky did not consider defeats already sustained Germany in act until the (1923), China and elsewhere were events, but the product of attention fundamentally political vas, approach. 'socialism in one country" The "theory" had its roots in the social layers represented by the bureau- the cracy peasantry, "experts", etc. Conspicuously officials, managers etc. first Stalin and Bukharin in particular, * the four like believed that socialism could of built at 'snail's The one This pant inti-Marxist Trotskyist Left Opposition arose in was 1923 to oppose the political domi ¡romulgated until the Fifth nation and wrong policies of the -ongress of the bureaucracy, 924 but made clear the achievement of full communism that this theory could was impossible in Russia without revolution in one of the advanced inti Lenin had Western economies. and bureaucratis- the Nationalism pat the form of Stalinism, ation, lossibility worked together to ossify the of revolutionary What resulted was International. steady chain of defeats for the international proletariat.

nationalist blicy of the bureaucract of parties

DEFEAT

he Communist risis in the In particular, the tragic defeat of reflected crisis now the German working class in 1933 followed the split in the German workers' movement created by the The slogan, Stalinists who branded the social- | Europe "social fascists" (after democrats as stated "quite correct"). corruption Communist and discussion that formation national, which 1938. "The Death national" is whole the proletariat" in the treacherous Communist forward International That the Russian harr Stalin Radek Bukharin Zinovier had been powerful outside not a ripple of the was Fourtl Inter- Capitalism e CoStalinist Stalinist worldwide the Fourth fighting body. lesson of and the Page 7 Discussion Article

PROBLEMS OF

MARXISM IN

PAKISTAN

We publish here the first of two parts of a discussion article on the history and problems of the Marxist movement in Pakistan.

We do so not because we are in complete agreement with the views expressed • indeed there are several points with which we have consider- able disagreement - but because we feel that discussion on such questions is of importance to those within the Trotskyist movement who take seriously the need to build the Fourth International with sections active in every country. The problem of programme and perspective for revolution in the colonial considered and tackled by and ex-colonia countries Trotskyists if we are not to descend to mere abstractions.

we will theretore publish this discussion article and foliow it with our points of reply - while inviting also our readers to contribute to tne discussion. Letters or articles submitted to Socialist Press should be kept as brief as possible to avoid any necessity for cuts.

In 1947 Pakistan inherited It seems that Comrade Roy's only one Marxist tradition and was soon to be found The Fourth. Congress was that was the Communist Party wrong. last Congress Lenin attended of India. before his death in 1924. After Communist Party which this came the dominance of Stalin consisted of few dedicated who was the person least likely to Marxist intellectuals, whose dedi- take seriously anything except cation very conveniently turned Russia's security and the creation the worst kind of Marxist of Communist colonies. 11t0 led to a complete dogma which In Stalin's view the national isolation from the masses.

bourgeois movement in India The basic of this 'turn- showed better prospects as an ally over' was the famous Comintern than the young Communist Party which did not provide either ideol of India. or tactical guidance to the ogical Stalin wanted the communists of Communist Party of India.

India to upon national Even at the Second and Third Congresses of the Comintern indif- ference was displayed by the lead- ing Marxists including Lenin. At the have been allowed minutes for my report [on Indial.

As this theme cannot be dealt with any long- adequately even in an hour, I wish to employ these five minutes for an energetic protest. The way in which the Eastern question has been dealt position with the this with at Congress is purely opportunist, and worthy rather of a Congress of the Second Inter- ment. national. It is absolutely impossible an to draw any practical conclusions ideological and a total whatever from the few sentences which the Eastern delegations have been allowed to speak."

CPI

Muslim with a population religious ideals. the Muslim League, the play against country were imperialism.

CHIL

abstract of metaphysical nonsense. few Pakistan created they thought, in enable the with Lenin traditions of because they done was wanted to the to cope with East. to the many which have He said: crept into the life of humanity International, the Communisi no industrial and more than 85% production. the flag of used to hide So the Muslim part of the CPI was left with only one possible ally - the progressive' middle class. But they didn't have much luck Roy said: even- •with them the they 'We tended to present Marx. In reaction that, simply to the strong religious values of that economically society, they preached (or at least and socially appeared to preach) that being an we could atheist and immoral is a pre-requis Inera au ite of being a communist Subsequently, the CPI proved to a general mistake. highly adventuristic and too ambitious in its approach towards a religious-feudal society.

neither politically, Its members were destined to nor socially. This Eastern question remain grumbling spectators in that rapidly changing political situation.

greater than the assuming hv FAIIZIA RARIO

Page 8 200 Year Anniversary

THE NOTORIOUS

ATHEIST

David Hume -•died August 25th 1776 by Adam Westoby

FIO

hundred years ago notorious atheist toc'y pas ed on into immortality.

avid Hume, who died on August 25th, 1776 Edi burgh painful illness) long and at different times tutor, staff wa: civil diplomat, librarian, oft er. at and historian. of the greatest * was: aso one soldest of British philosophers, anc one of the intellectual grand- 0411 its of Marxism. par died he had lived, in a and spi uncompromising ful hostility to all religion and che stition. SUi Edin- vo famous universities, distinguished Glasgow, but i and refusing him jobs. the selves by An: scarcely was he in his grave bef ie clergymen were queuing up vilification and abusive Hegel neap pan onets on it. he heard a man was religious, he what most riled them was that concluded he was a rascal", adding Hure's philosophical scepticism 'it was a most unreasonable only their feeble that with stood not we should exist for fancy that but his own painful and polemics, ever ling ring death. A little before (on the 4th July Boswell visited him near ames 1776, the day the American the end, hoping that illness would of on religion hav. altered his Declaration Independence) Hume had summoned his close and the immortality of the soul.

Eut Hume replied that "he never friends (including the economist Adam Smith) to a farewell dinner.

had entertained any read Up to his final hour "The religion since he began to of his nature Locke and Clarke", and that "when gentleness extreme

TELEVISION

REVIEW

heart strings visibly throbbing - on sill Brand' - ITV's revol- the verge of chucking it all in and uti of the nary soap opera going on the road with a progressive -ing heroes of Westminster un: folk-group and theit clinging mped to the inconclusive But before that point the makers of its first series last week.

en of 'Bill Biand' have painted on the further dollop- of twenty- screen a rich panoply of Parliamen-

SOI

thing weekly Party life, full of tary and Labour ised later this year. pr colour and incident. it it is worth remarking on the of its hero to cal adventures

VOTING

Bill Brand MP, is an intelligent lightly naive little lad from a bu Scarcely has he arrived at West- family ing-class whose roots Brand finds himself minster than unk deep in one of the voting against the Labour shire cotton towns govern- public spending tuency with a solid Labour only to be deserted by the Tribune group at the last moment and left ing Brand's naivete is no to face a lone crucifixion: at the -ap - it stands him in good hands of the Chief Whip. when he goes to university Bloodied but unbowed he en takes a job as a lecturer.

returns to be rescued from a right- his wing motion of censure in

ELECTED

constituency party by manoeuvres most rabid support- ot the i we (through the eyes of the wortly ers of Prentice and Jenkins (you of ITV's series, Trevor and see, the right :hs) pick him when he has Late LU neither of them above bit of een elected as Labour member hanky-panky with notice of meet- home town ings and so on!). ation - and is on his way to go. He's add his vote to From then on its al town to offered a junior ministerial job by •I's very slender Parliamentary David Last (a slender alibi for -гу. Michael Foot), is at this point that the fur supports a lactory occupation against sackings in - gently at first, then with home town, punches a Tory on the : and greater vigóur - to fly.

nose in a scuffle after opposing an Billy Brand in his • you see, on the Prevention all-Party policy of hearts is really a socialist batever else the Parliamentary of Terrorism Act, tangles with the Catholic Church and assorted doc- Party is about (as Brand abortion, acts as errand- Ty but dramatically dis tors

OYEI

it is not socialism. boy the tell the Wilson-figure suc- all a terrible mis struggle after elected the House cumbs to heart-attack leads a to Kant never weakened either the firmness of his mind or the steadiness of his resolutions" wrote Smith.

Nonetheless largely hostile crowd gathered at his funeral, perhaps expecting the coffin (which was buried during a heavy rain- storm) to be struck by a refutatory thunderbolt. They were disappointed. But the which allowed philosophical ideas composure survived him. His scep-

BILL

BRAND

- and generally mixes it with the best of them. There also (as usual with Griffith's plays, and obligatory for a TV series at peak hours) an erotic agonies and which the ecstacies of his political reflected. Lancashire ranch Backr at the young Billy is busy divorcing his middle-class up-tight wife, while retain trying desperately of their misplaced 'affections two children. This he does with the narrative of a left-wing mistress, is simultaneously being who recruited to gay liberation.

And counterpoint to these delights develops with his buxor, Tribunite, London land- ally-charged relationship which falls short, so to speak, of always the horizontal. But it wasn't what was in the that gave it its content, but series rather what was missing.

NO FLESH

There were two "characters' who took on form of flesh never Tories and the blood - working class. that the Tories were always there merely as backdrop to Westminster the scenes gave Il unintended realism - without the series politica 'balance' it nonetheless reflected the fact that the historical bicat of British politics

LUIS

right through the Labour Party, and that the most intricate and senious is a point in ticism turning bourgeois philosophy. He took Locke's empiricism the view that the senses are the - and drove basis of all knowledge tea with conclusions, than to care than

COGSOIN

had ever dared.

EXPERIENCE

He denied there was any reason innate in man, arguing that all our feelings, thoughts, and our moral arise directly or indirectly from experience and are formed through habit. Up to Hume's time, philosophers and mapped the had described human mind, always discovering in universal elements "moral sense' and so on "reason',. which were generally used to justify the immortality of the soul.

and Trade Union to the Labour This bureaucrats. element of the series is true. But the working class whose strength and offen- itself sive battles are the cause of all the goings-on Parliamentary never a walk-on part better than bringing in the milk, patting Brand on the back for a left speech and so

VIL,

REAL

At no point did Griffiths dare take real crucible of British politics, beyond the narrow circle of fights and intrigues within cracy and into a struggle for polit- ical leadership among the mass of organised occupations - though the plot gave him opportunities to this. It was a prudent decision of Mr MP Griffiths. Brand could not have done anything but plausibly of evaporate the In strike. And that would have been a bit of a let-down.- *Bill Brand' has been widely greeted as good political drama by Taria Red for example Weekly and a favourable notice in the WRP's Newsline.

ANTI-COMMUNIST

It is nothing of the sort. Like Griffiths oMGerry earlier plays Gramsci and on example, Healy and the WRP - the political standpoint is that of sophisticated anti-communism. Griffiths disclaims any explicit political position. The place of his central character ques to ask tions provide But not answers. Brand is incapable of anything but rhetorical questions. The political moral of the series no doubt, reason why such interminable length) may discovered in song that is sung softly the offices of the Labour in whips in the House of Commons: 'Every moderate has "lefts' Upon his back to bite him And every 'left' has further 'lefts' And so on ad infinitum. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976 Karl Marx Hume, the archempiricist, put philosopher's "soul the analysed it with logic and crucible, roasted it with irony, and discover- ed - that there was nothing perm- anent or absolute in it at all!

And he went further, to point out that neither logic nor religion give "proofs' for the could of man's natural world crustence God's

TOI

ity of the Supreme Being, in order were at all concerned in the matter, our infallible; because it is not possible external world be prove the existence of that Being or any of his attributes." clergy. It is easy to understand why deathbed, hoping that a moment of sharp progressive jolt. wrote that it was Hume who first interrupted my dogmatic slumber' - and thrust him on to the "critical in which he tried to contradictions of formal logic and showed the way to Hege!

But in our own day Hume has been tumed to baser uses. alarmed by the power of materialism in the hands modem OT have bourgeois philosophers his brought back into fashion regarding the material scenticism world, hoping to find 'logical' bolt- holes for idealism. Bertrand for example, Russell, speculated (and only half in once jest) that there is a peculiarly hot chamber in Hell reserved for those who have refuted Hume. In real life, though, Hume was He no anaemic modern sceptic. himself pointed out that philosoph• conflict ical scepticism ran into with day-to-day practice and all! that consistent sceptics would in a total lethargy, till the "remain unsatisfied, necessities of nature, miserable put existence end to their all Hume was born too early to resolve this contradiction between But even in theory and practice. death he kept his feet firmly on the When the doctors diagnosed (by poking substantial abdomen) the 'tumour swelling in my liver' that was finally to kill him, he wrote: 'This fact, not drawn by reason ing, but obvious to the senses, and perceived by the greatest Anatomist admitted Europe, must be unquestionable, and will alone account for my situation."

And he added: Thomas, the infidel "Even St.

FIGHTING THE US

UNION BUREAUCRACY

We reprint below a feature article from LABOR NEWS the paper of the US Socialist League - dealing with the questions of SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976 - by Jim Hays Millions of rank and file trade unionists are becoming hostile their completely to union officials. These officials take the workers dues and refuse to defend the workers on the shop floor. They the unemployed ignore and unorganised. They frequently hob-nob with the bosses at country clubs, drive fancy cars, and hold fleshpot phoney.

KEYCHELON

resorts like Miami Beach and Las Vegas. They vote themselves big salary hikes but negotiate contracts which fail to meet cost of otter cret living increases.

WAGE INCREASE

Teamsters' The convention recently voted the union bureau crats a 25% wage increase.

file discontent and so fast that the capitalist growing nedia is beginning to take notice NBC Nightly TV News has been running a series on corruption and the gangsterism Union following the "disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa" Teamsters don't have to be told how undemocratically their union Recently in St. Louis, all 50 run. UPS drivers voted at a strike meet- ing not to return to work.

But the bureaucrats in Chicago said "back their work. flunkies in Local 688 had to con- duct an eight-hour meeting before they could the membership wear down to the point that it would not wildcat the next day.

OPPORTUNIST

this case the opportunist Local, known opposition in the as UPSurge-Teamsters for a Decent.

Contract, aso advised the member to return to work after consulting a lawyer. Teamsters for a Decent Contract now become Teamsters for nas Decent and follows the Union leadership of the newly-formed

PROD

(Professional for and Health) Council Safety organisation headed by former NLRB lawyer Arthur Fox. Fox agrees with the conclusion of the NBC. News Special broad- casts that only the federal govern- like ment, through laws the Landrum-Griffin Act, can reform the unions.

RACKETS

The Landrum-Griffin Act came out of the McClellan Committee hearings labour rackets in the U11 late 1950s. The Kennedy brothers got their big boost on road to the White House by running a public vendetta against then Teamster President Hoffa. They were not concerned with Hoffa's Mafia connections but his negotiation of the first central states master contract. which could give the union power to shut down much of industry in a strike.

When Hoffa finally went to jail he left the union in control of Frank Fitzsimmons, let the mobsters have even more control and backed Nixon for President in exchange for restrictions on Hoffa's parole. Revolutionary socialists oppose using the bosses' courts and lawyers to free the unions of corruption.

Once the government gets a foot door, use that to In Ene will control all the unions' elections and affairs. Workers must organise on their own to clean up their organisations independentiy of big business control, no matter how benevolent- ly it is disguised. In 1958 the right ward-moving Indenendent Socialist League principle raised in the fight against bureaucracy in the labour movement.

Ed Sadlowski Max Schactman favoured the McClellan hearings the Left Wing Youth Opposition, led by Tim opposed Wohlforth, the attempt smash ment's

LIL-

Teamsters' Union.

PRINCIPLED

In this principled stand, he was supported by the Socialist Workers Party, which was then still a revol- Today tre sPand In a campaign fund appeal letter and Wolforth Victor Reuther written for him by have changed the of the

UAW

bureaucracy, inel views on role of goyernment courts and cops.

Sadlowski makes no bones about For example they favour calling the fact that his campaign will be Mayor on Daly's modeled after the successful Arnold cups to proceel blacks against Nazi Party violence Miller campaign Tony to replace Chicago's Marquette Park.

, Using Boyle as head of the United Mine- the same logic it gives uncritical workers' Union. support to Steelworkers' union

MOVEMENTS

reform candidate Ed Sadlowski!

Rose's. articles the Andy SWP's Militant Miller formed the Black Lung newspaper suppor "Sadlowski's fight for a militant Miners for Demo- movement and democratic movement.' Justice and used Depart- (April 9th, 1976). ment law suits and investigations In SWP shows to get elected in 1974. this the how far it has gone along the path to move the promised becoming the labour bureau- the coal union's headonarters to cracy's advisors and attorneys.

fields but it is still in a plush Washington office building.

Mine safety under Miller's

WON,

is not much better, regime as by the Oven Fork Sadlowski's supporters recently witnessed March. Moreover, disaster last won some local elections in the "demo- Mid-west steelworkers' union.

Miller showed his true cratic" by colours crushing During the campaign to get their massive miners' wildcat walkout man Jonn Chico elected President of the Southworks steel plant Local (see taNt Trend Sept. 1975). Chicago, Sadlowski's supporters Despite all his talk about ending called in the Justice Department to "tuxedo Sadlowski's unionism, supervise the election and went to campaign appeal does not chalienge court to get their supporters on the I. W. Abel's negotiation of the ENA union's ballot-counting committee.

no-strike agreement. Next Sadlowski will challenge I.W Abel for the

NO PROGRAMME

of the Steel- presidency workers International Union.

He has no programme to get jobs Abel was elected to office as a "reform" for the 100,000 unemployed steel- candidate against David McDonald in 1965. workers. He has not challenged Cleveland Steel Works US Steelworker Abel's chauvinistic protectionist "foreign about propaganda imports." He supports continuing labour's ties with Democratic Party's the fat. cat politicians. Real union militants should take advantage of the opening created by Sadlowski's fake reform campaign to fight for a class struggle programme concrete in the USWA and other unions.

*SOCIALIST PRESS FOOTNOTE.

The desperate level of violent the retaliation resorted US to extreme right-wing in the defend the union bureaucracy indicated by the gunning down on July 26th of Ben Corum, a 52-year old steelworker giving out leaflets at a Houston factory. Corum was hit in the neck by the bullet, fired from a passing car.

He is one of a team of supporters of "Steelworkers Sadlowski's Fight Back" movement who have been travelling through Southen States organising the fight against the bureaucracy. A campaign is now underway to mobilise support in the local labour movement against such attacks and to strengthen the campaign for union democracy. Page 9

FOLROSE

BOOKS

THE

BATTLE FOR

TROTSKYISN

workers press

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Documents of the Opp expelled from Workers Revolutiona Party in 1974. with account of the expulsion Price Il plus 20p p&p

OUT NOW

THE

TRANSITIONAL

PROGRAMME

The Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International by Leon Trotsky Now dallable in a with glossary as? intro tion by Alan Thornett Price 30p plus 10p

BEHIND

THE

SMOKESCREI

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TROTSKYISM TOD

BACK ISSUES

"Fourth International Problems and Tasks" "In Defence of A Great olutionary: James Ca by Tim Wohlforth... "The Post-war tion of Capitalism" reply to Wolforth's on Cannon. "The General Strike" "The Significance Transitional Programm P& All these titles are a from: Folrose Books 31, Dartmouth Park London NW5 1H

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Page 10 As announced in the last edition of 'Socialist Press', the government have decided on 46,000 sackings in the Civil Service. "savings" These are to commence in 19rr. and are to be spread over a two-year period.

But despite this the government have decided to get dowa to the nitty gritty of cutting posts now.

Already 708 posts are earmarked for the government in one department alone this year the

DHSS.

The excuse for this is the government's claim that the work- load on the Contributory Benefits side of the DHSS has decreased in the past year. But this claim is entirely hollow based the 1t

MULTIUEN

methods of computing the work done throughout the department.

clear of how example thoroughly these worthless provided by the fact methods are 1975-76 the workload that in on Supplementary the Benefits side was the response of the goons

BUSES:

Tom Shields, (centre) Secretary of the T&GWU busmen's branch At mass meeting on Thursday 19th August, Coven' crews voted not to try bus allow an extension in one-man until a better offer is buses made on shorter hours. West Midlands Passenger Trans- port Authority want to increase one-man operation and have offered a derisory £1.04 per week productivity bonus. and fifty One front loading buses will stay off the following road crewS decision. The drive by the WMPTA to get a little work for inst шиси шоге extra money had been aided by the confusion caused by the busmen's leaders. For some time bus crews have been demanding a reduction in the dinner break in order to bring the down to eight hours working day chirty fire minutes.

NEGOTIATIONS

At the end of June a fall stop- page took place followed by one- day strikes which dropped were while negotiations took place.

An overtime ban was then intro daced and this was withdrawn meeting just as was really besianing to bite

FIGHT AGAINST CIVIL SERVICE SACKINGS

JOBS CONCEDED TO CPSA

involved initialiy slow, but meetings, the after CPSA eventually broke off negotia- tions and threatened minor indus- unless the 708 posts were restored. of the TEne government offered to restore 436 posts, leaving an outstanding deficiency of 272. The CPSA rejected this offer on the 6th and again

ALEUSE,

threatened minor industrial action unless al the posts were restored on the Contributory Benefits side within three weeks.

CPSA

further demanded The that the government create 1219 the additional posts Supplementary Benefits side workload arguing since • the 1021 increases had been underestimated by this amount in 1975-76, it was reasonable similar underestimation in 1976-77.

The government's resoonse is to be announced at the end of this month. The WSL welcomes any demon- stration of opposition to the cuts.

But we must point out the inade-

NEWCASTLE SELL-OUT

COVENTRY STANDSTILL

was disgusted at the the he way action had been led and after the was circulated meeting a petition calling for a further meeting to discuss a motion ofno confidence in the T&GWU busmen's branch committee. leadership Clearly a new needed one which can build on of the crews in a the militancy positive way. The overtime ban had reduced both rush-hour services and take home pay by one-third demon- strating the need for a basic wage high enough to get rid of the need for overtime working altogether.

OFFENSIVE

With unemployment running at 14,000 in the city and inflation reducing the value of take-home by the week, the next mass pay the offensive against the employers. Extra workers must be taken on in order to introduce the 8 hour 35 minute day - with no overtime.

A substantial increase protected against inflation by automatic cost of living increases must at the same time be fought for to compensate for the loss in take home pay.

Elected committees of busmen will be needed to draw up plans for the CPSA strategy for of quacy these plans for redun- fighting dancies,

CPSA

extend its The non cooperation with policy of teams (which Audit and Survey. government intend to use to provide figures as the basis of new position, cuts) into permanent and must set about the election of union committees with full powers to inspect all government documents pertaining to Civil Service manpower. These committees must then proceed to a thorough investigation of the workloads in each office, levels throughout the Service.

On the basis of these committees the CPSA must begin a fight for a sliding scale of public expenditure and as the way lo expand the present Social Services.

Only by utilising strength to the full in a fight for this programme will the CPSA be effectively able combat the present reactionary policies of this Labour regime. The fight to defeat cuts in public spending in the North East which reduced mean services and a growth of the massive unemployment in the has received setback area, through refusal the of Newcastle busmen's leaders to solid continue and extend strike defence of action in jobs. Since the Tyne and Wear Passen- Transport Executive took over ger in 1970, both jobs and services have been severely reduced.

RESPONSE

Recent attempts to introduce further one-man operated buses and new schedules, without the agree- representatives, ment of union brought a strong response from the sulting in a mass meet- workforce, of the 1,200 workforce last ing week. Tom Shields, T&GWU branch secretary, though forced to make militant noises against the employ- ers' arbitrary action, , had previously shown his completely unprincipled and reactionary position by calling for a solution through the ending of free fares for pensioners and in demanding a 'fair' sacking policy to white-collar workers as include well!

CONVINCING

At the mass Shields, with the willing assistance of a local T&GWU full-time official, had to hour spend well over an in convincing them to return to work on the basis of a worthless agree- from management that the "reviewed" in would be one month. refusals to give a strong lead in defence of jobs acts only to confuse and demoralise and prepares the ground for further attacks under conditions more favourable to the employer.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976

T&GWU OFFICIAL'S JOB

BETTER

THAN

WORKING

JOB PROTECTION O

KEEP

GNU HAVE

SCORES

WHERE

ARE

THEY

400-strong lobby of T&GWU officials in Oxford: An interesting insight into The whole cultivated image of the self-sacrificing the criterion for selecting the union man would be endangered. appointed officials who have But the interview also Malal complete control of the day to contains the key to Hulett's success day running of the

T&GWU

as an applicant. He is clearly equip- 'Oxford ped to follow in the line of diehard appeared in a recent Mail' interview with a newly anti-communist district officials who have for years done their appointed Oxford district make life easy for the utmost to emplovers in the Oxtord area.

According to the report, he: "also expects to help to improve the image of the T&GWU within With the sympathetic ear of the Leyland, and sees important to defend the status of the union and defend the to figure of the of majority scab Institute of Joumansts) th members against minorities.

new T&GWU official, Mr Geoffrey Hulett's concern for the feelings of Leyland management and his driver, revealed the true level of his careful of the abstract terms "maiority' and "minority are the hallmarks of an experienced witch- hunter, determined the working class down to the lowest possible level of militancy and class prospect

EXPOSURE

self and win increased status (not to mention more comfortable working The way the interests of conditions) could be fulfilled with- the

T&GWU

members can be defended is by the exposure of the role of these bureaucrats.

"considerably less" The practice of simply appoint- than the £5,000 a year he earned ing full-time union officials in the

T&GWU

and other unions must be brought to an end. The member- ship must have the right regularly to elect and, where necessary, full-time officials, to recall with even for Sturges to report without elections held in branch meetings comment. and he Careerists and self-seekers must be driven out of official positions This is hardly surprising, since by ensuring that no official earns more than the average wage of the any mention of a cash salary would members he represents this being subject to the scrutiny of the the other perks and benefits that go membership.

BOOKS!

OPEN JAGS

David Holloway sh quoted in the Coventry shop steward Paintshop workers at Jaguar's Brown Lane, Coven- Evening Telegraph as saying: try plant are now demanding a "We told Whittaker that, if Mr public into the he disowned decisions made by enquiry decision to 'site the new paint- previous Leyland management, we saw no reason why future manage- in Birmingham shop rather ment would not disown any assur than Coventry. ances he gave to us. present the paintshop Holloway is absolutely right - workers are banning overtime anc attention but while he directs have threatened to step up action simply towards a 'public enquiry' Ist if the enquiry September he does nothing to cut across demand is not met. management's ability change to A meeting this week will decide plans, or tell the usual lies about whether to impose an all-out strike the 'needs of the company'.

or guerrilla stoppages. The stewards and local MPs say Leyland management claims that are worried about the future they because the original decision to site Coenre be for the The key of Jaguars fr Coventry the paintshop was demand must therefore made before Ryder the decision no Leyland's Opening

'LEFTS' NAIL PARTICIPATION

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976

SHORT-TIME

T&GWU and

AUEW

400 members from one of Clark- son's Nuneaton machine tool factories remain strike on against continued short time working which since the New Year has cut the earnings of some piece-rate workers by over f20 a week. Uncertainty as to the company's long term aims on the introduction new automated machinery has added to the determination of the Clarksons workers demand proper works agreement be signed and arrangements made to compen- sate for loss of earnings.

Clarksons, which is part of the giant Thorn group, secins to nave imposed the short time working 1n Nuneaton as a result of a secret decision to work ¿AlLeLA schedules nationally and even inter- nationally (the group has links in Japan, Germany and Brazil).

FIGHT AGAINST

LOCKOUT

Management have imposed lock-out and used scab labour, police dogs and in their fight against 27 ASTMS members in the Computer Department at Smiths Indus- tries in North London. On top of the onslaught from management they face sabotage

NON INO OUHEO OEECAS

While APEX members within the plant aie imposing "black' in the ASTMS members support of locked-out by and management, shop stewards at Heathrow Airport have undertaken not to handle the factory's products (mainly speedo- meters and tachometers for motor vehicles), officials refused to give weekend official permit even to other

WACHS

ASTMS

in the members plant to support the struggle by a 'black".

BLATANT

This is despite the fact that the from struggle ( results blatant management attack on basic trade union rights. After refusing to honour a verbal agreement on manning levels. local management took the offensive in defiance of a written agreement for Following talks between T&GWU officials, contractors of the £200 million Newcastle Metro represen- project and tatives of 250 striking tunnel- lers from the city's four sites, agreement has been reached to call off the action. The dispute began over eight weeks initially over the sack- ago, ing of a shop steward but subse- quent y develoning into for wage increases from the present £135 to £200 a week and for a separate tunnellers section within the T&GWU. Flying pickets had won strong national support foI the action which in the last week has spread rapidly to involve workers in civil power stations and CACCIy Water Boards in Whitley Bay, Gateshead, Lancaster. Warrington,

• INDUSTRIAL NEWS

STRIKE AGAINST

WORKING

This is the workers oly way for the can account company's sudden switch in the New Year from a period in which up to 10 hours a week regulat overtime was being worked, to the introduction, with no agreement, of a 32-hour Quite clearly there can be no Clarksons workers

SECUIY

without full access to the hidden figures and information on which the management is operating.

Stewards must demand the employers open their books to trade union committee elected for the purpose, and must call for the backing ot other workers in the Thorn group to force the opening of the books of the group as.a against the. Accusations whole. Party Communist members On this basis the demand for and right-wingers who head work-sharing on full pay must also be advanced to protect the living "participation" com- the top standards of those faoed with short- British Leyland's mittee time working. Cars Division were made at the BL Combine Shop Stewards Committee last Wednesday.

Delegates claimed the Stalinists and right-wing were being used by Leyland to introduce management

RELF'S

Jenkins a closed shop, sending in non-union members to load tapes on the com-

STRIKE

puter.

ASTMS

members responded with a go slow. After a week Smith responded with a lock-out.

GOES ON

Dismissal notices were mailed at the weekend and ASTMS members arniving for work on Monday 16th found August they had been sacked. The official strike by TASS members employed by Chris-

DOGS

topher Relf Ltd. in Redditch continues now into its sixth When, nonetheless, they occu- pied the computer installation, they week. were driven out by police backed The strike is both for union with dogs! recognition and against the victim- A basic trade union principle is isation of two TÄSS members by at stake in Smiths - the defence of the management. Despite am cacce o toę !o attempts by scab lorry membership and disputes pro- on drivers to break the strike and the cedure. efforts of their supporters in full- Trade unionists in all connected time

T&GWU

Relf's positions, industries and especially the goods (they package slace parts) motor industry should follow the completely lead by Heathrow given workers British Leyland the outlet for ana mpose ai lmmeulate black.

90% of the firm's business.

The ASTMS members involved While this support main- (all Hendon Branch) are In tne tained there seems no likelihood of.

also appealing for contributions the winning the dispute company to the dispute fund. but

TASS

is now for ppeaun should All. donations be financial support for the striker c/o Don Hodge,

(ASTMS

Dispute Such support and any communi- Smiths rund, (nicklewood). should sent to: CaLUs Chelmsford Square, London NW10.

Cannons (Office Secretary), 11, Tharles Street, Redditch, Worcs.

TUNNEL WORKERS MEET

DEPTHS OF TGWU BETRAYAL

A significant aspect used artintt em bidon (a tactic dispute has been the activities of used against Eldon Square the T&GWU bureaucracy. The full- pickets) condemning the strike, time officials, no doubt using the McLean has argued that Labour experiences they gained by their government policy would

HICCE

scabbing involyement the to concede the claim

LIAT

pay prolonged and bitter Eldon Square would jeopardise the completion of building workers strike the Metro project. last yea. have conducted a vicious campaign "The claim against the action. is a breach of the Goverement's pay code and under Gordon McLean, regional organ- iser of the union's construction the White Paper anybody receiving Government section, has used slanders, claiming which .that the majority of workers have breaks the code could have that assistance taken away from them.

been pressured Intc

SEVIOIL

of violence to themselves "We have £140m. being pumped LiTed and their families. into the Metro by the government Following a vote by the tunnel- at the moment and if any of the Metro companies agree to the men's lers to action meeting addressed by a

T&GWU

demands then that grant is liable to convenoi from Dartford, McLean be stopped". said that the T&GWU national leader- The volverur wolo De- reported to the union's Executive ship itself has been at the forefront foT interterg" Tyneside of agreeing pay cutting policies and affairs. obriousiy pled ged policy through "participation', and were then forcing it on the rest of the Combine. The clash, which split the Com- mittee, came in discussion of the of next stage management offensive the attempt to use the "participation" set-up to force corporation-level bargaining ware conducted by national union officials. Speaker after speaker attacked the decision taken by a manage- ment-organised of Cars Division convenors held in June in the Longbridge works.

CORPORATE BARGAINING

This meeting voted to set up a sub-committee to equalise pay review dates move which would, in effect, establish corporate bargaining in all but name, since it would not only remove the only obstacle practical corporate bargaining, would mean also that management could make single offer on the same day.

The national officials wolld Lnen become involved if it was rejected Heavily under attack was Eddie McGarry, right-wing convenor of of Coventry •loar almar defended the work of the trifu advocated corpor- committee and ation-level bargaining. the words of the Special Products Division representative, the setting up of the sub-committee in the Cars Division had "cut the ground from under the feet of the rest of the Combine." The spokes- man for the Truck and Bus Division said they Id' "resente the move presened and theit own

WOIC

position"

PASSIONATE

Peter Nicholas, leading member of the Communist Party, passionate plea MoGarry's défence, saying it was necessary to "move with the times" and that Measured Day Work "did not turn out as bad as many of us thought." In answer to Truck and Bus Division stewards, who argued that the Combine policy of opposition corporation level bargaining agreed unanimously at the previous meeting) had been violated, Stalin- ist Chairman Derek Robinson said:

MORE DETAILS

Please send me more information about the Workers Sori League. Name. Address Page 11

OUT

Leyland workers "You can argue against ou decision in Cars - but what you cannot do is change it. He proceeded to rule that vote could be taken on the matter.

Observing this battle and the resultant deadlock were 'left' two MPs, who had been invited to speak the end of the meeting Tribunites Audrey Wise (Coventry West) and Tom Litterick (Selly Oak).

TLUMCTICA

Wise made the point that the whole process of decision-takir g in Leyland "shrouded was mystery" telling how she had tried as an MP to find out just who does make the She decisions. pointed out the difference bet. een such a set-up and the nation sed industries. Litterick stated that nothi: he had heard had changed his iew that participation was based o.

the "fraudulent premise" that it reant "participation in decision-mak ng", when reality it means "P: rtic- ipation in someone else's decis. ns.

The impact on the platforr: was visible when Litterick went i. to say that as far as he could see 'ere was "nothing in participation « ich would conflict with the workines of a fascist state." Robinson leapt to the defer of the united right-wing/Stainist alliance on "participation' , ar that: "it's not that we like every ning about participation, but it w the only way to save liquidation." *For some more of Robir in's choicer statements on particip "Spot the Manager", on p

Page 12 labour movement. The Conference is open to all trade unionists, but the branches, District the Conference, and to give financial support:

COWLEY ASSEMULY PLANEI

CLOCE

MOTHE

SO POPLE US PUB-RE

over the pest Ice conths there have been seyeral unofficial reetings held on now dee, or without the sanet, of tre Senior trade Urson representativels) and the Chaseny. Inds renresents a very As e Coupany we cannot tolerate the position where el roaps of esployees in an attenot to the lost wages these stoppages are causing- The purpose of this Clock Notice is in brine to the attertion mirority that, in future, aretings on tze proceeded against in the Discipline Posedure with a view to their disassel for promoting disruption within the Plent and theresy causing fast producelon.

The Conpany feels that 1u declaring this policy it it acting in the interests of the very lerze majority of emioyees.

The Leyland clock notice

EXTEND

TRICO BLACK!

A mass picket of several hundred workers at the gates of the Trico-Folberth wind- where screen wiper factory in West wipers. London marked the begin- of the 14th week of ning bold solid strike action by 500 support, workers demanding women strikers equal pay. The which followed meeting outside was attended by nearly all of the

1U1CI

strikers and showed a stubborn refusal to concede anything to the company or to appear before the Tribunals Pay' Trandulent Houal set up under the legislation.

action. it became At, the Sane A Ne clear from the announcements at the meeting that support whole struggle continued grOW from union bodies all over the country with of donations and support. Despite such support it is clear there are a number oi gaps in tne blacking action within the motor fresh appeals were industry, and sundaes. SUBSCRIBE to Socialist Press

EUROPE

6 basier. 12 issues • fA 24 issues

REST OF THE WORLD

.....21.s0 12 jesues 24 insee. I would like to take out a subacription to socialist Press. I world like

NAME.

ADDRESS

CONFERENCE:

WAGE CONTROL

& UNION DEMOCRACY

DIGBETH HALL,BIRMINGHAM, SUNDĄY OCTOBER 24th, 10am - 4pm.

The newly-formed Campaign for Democracy in the Labour Movement - an ad hoc committee of trade unionists - has called a Conference in October as the first step in the fight for democratic procedures in the committee asks in particular for trade union Committees, shop stewards committees and Trades Councils to send delegates, to sponsor All enquiries to Kevin Lee, Campaign Secretary, 44. Devonshire Rd, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham 20.

LEYLAND BACKS

CON VENOR

After a week in which strikes took place demand- the ing that the case of a young authority sacked Worke Union June 20th be reopened, management have retaliated uction." with statement threaten- worker who organises right-wing meeting on the plant with- out the agreement of the Official, Parsons, extreme right-wing conven- or Reg Parsons. The statement, a major Leyland, by British The takes the form of a virtial joint: statement with the bureaucracy TH1 w

T&GWU.

it before It points out that: would "As Company we worker who cannot tolerate the position under the of letter? where small

FUND

made to car workers to black both Trico products themselves - and possible; those. products of the month the fund now stands at £300.53. used in place of Trico windscreen While local leaders put on a have received are: front, denouncing Oxford Tribunals and appearing to rally £15.60; it now emerges that the Hemsworh, 19 North

WILY

per week strike pay, dependent on London, donations for anything Coventry £11.40. With the end of the month we urge all Yet the AUEW district officials have made only the most tentative our readers to send us a donation moves to win financial support or and help ensure the spread of the blacking target of £600. The strike is a crucial one both should Donations for the equal pay fight and the Socialist Press Monthly Fund to 'defend wages 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, and conditions in the motor and London NWS 1HR. components industry But the building of a principled political leadership prepared bold- the workerse movement for workers' support must be central in such

HULL

Thursday September 2nd Hul! Central Library 7.30pm

SHEFFIELD

.£1.15 Sunday September 12th • £2.30 Prince of Wales .24.60 Division St. 7.30pm 23.00 56.00 aclose £. Wednesday 15th September Fred's Cafe 4,30pm.

...TUC FRAUD

Elsewhere on the agenda there is the EVasIOll. refusal challenge

TUC

to plicity in the attacks carried out by the Labour Government.

On the question of the cuts in public spending services, affected unions provide a of words to refusal of their officials to fight defence of jobs, conditions or services. Indeed the only policies put "alternative" forward as an the cuts centre on a combination of nationalist import controls and still industry through Interorise Board The bankrupt charade all went Bright on thereinre week at Brighton offers no way lorward to working class

END RACIST KILLINGS ...

that students, show of employees in an attempt to perspective negotiating of reforms with the racist and the ment is now being rejected the perspective of the overthrow the Trade of white rule is beginning to gain acceptability. conservative, collab- orationist leadership aim of the protect the earlier deleats and demoralisation Today there is a historic oppor as well as tunity to build a evolutionary leadership which can channel the strength of the mass into the fight to apartheid regime and the capitalist officials exploitation it protects.

the world workers This faces where they movement with a challenge need to use all its power to bring 0. HI published? tangible aid to the offensive of the defend black students any peasantry in Southern Africa.

Conspicuously Labour government, busily attack- ing its own working ilent on the growing repression it South Africa. They do not wish to "interfere in the internal affairs of another country:

DUTY

We say that when it comes to the struggle of masses throughout the world the laboui movement has a duty intervene to the maximum on tne side ofs he fightine suestion of question With one week to go to the end why supplies takes arms The importance. South Africa has Among the latest donations we been carried out Assembly, £21; PSF £12.25; £10; Birmingham, £ Veteran Trotskyist one week to go to Finch died Sunday on August, aged 54. member of the our monthly movement since the 1930's, Harry was well known throughout the Midlands labour courageous and principled work- be sent to: ing class fighter. After working in Birmingham where he is best known for his leading role in the 1956 Norton

WSL MEETINGS:

•PUBLIC MEETINGS: "Wage Control and Union Democracy"

NEWCASTLE

Friday August 27th Bridge Hotel High Level Bridge 7.30pm

BIRMINGHAM

Sunday 5th September Australia Bar corner of Bromsgrove and Hurst Street 7.30pm

WINSFORD

DAGENHAM

Sunday 5th September Red Lion Hotel «Unemployment and Union opposite Fords works Democracy" 7.30pm SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 25th August 1976 Cont'd from Front Page: Instead a programme of action is needed, combined with an all- out fight within the com- unions to drive out the TUC bureaucrats and assert democratic control over the full time officials. and the social Such programme must include: disguise the *No to all wage control - for a sliding scale of wages to protect living standards against inflation *Stop all cuts in public spen Social service and demand speth- strike action to defend the ing be linked to tising prices on a sliding scale. *No redundancies - work- sharing on full pay. private the -National *All full-time officials to be elected from branch meetings not appointed OI *Drive out the careerists officials to be paid therefore no more the than the average wage of their members. contd from front page the old for general demand govern- Government, end all and trade and financial relations with South Africa; we must therefore emphasise the need to impose a total and immediate ban on all arms supplies to the racist regime.

rested on Government claims to enforce the The interpretation . movement defeat the bullets which kill black workers, they are fired from British-made Leyland Land Rover - a favourite - the vehicle with the forces of repres and

RE-ROUTED

British These arms •and equipment must instead be re-routed to the • class guerrilla forces fighting imperial- Ism. The fight must be taken up locally and nationally within the trade unions and Labour Party to forthose cherish. MP's Those who claim to oppose apartheid, and trade leaders Jones who union. the oppressed speak against the Vorster regime to now have the the level their real prove commitment to the African work- ing class. such Any retreat by them from this on fight to materially aid the struggle traditionally for. black liberation will only strengthen white racist reaction.

wIth Dist

HARRY FINCH

Harry Motors strike, Harry was active on 15th the Coventry District Committee of the AUEW well Trotskyist attended Memorial was held last Friday Meeting August 20th by the Workers Revolutionary Party which of Harry was a founder member.

The Workers Socialist League and the Socialist Press editorial board send condolences to Harry's family and friends.

OXFORD

Thursday 26th August East Oxford Community Centre Cowley Rd. 7.30pm.

LIVERPOOL

Friday Ist October AUEW Hall Mount Pleasant. 7.30pm.

SKELMERSDALE

Tuesday 14th September Quarry Bank Community Centre 7.30pm.