Blockades No Answer

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The recent blockade by small fishermen of large numbers of ports in Scotland and the North East is the latest in a succession of protests by small producers against worsening economic conditions. Last year, Welsh farmers picketed the Bristol dock' against the imports of cheap cattle, and more recently angry egg producers picketed the Plymouth docks, turning back a consignment of French eggs.

The fishermen's blockade was called off after government promises to review EEC fisheries policy in general, and to consider the possibility of a price floor for fish imports, together with an agreemen! by Norwegian fishing companies to raise the price of frozen fish exports to Britain.

No "solution' which results in a raising of food prices can be supported by the working class Nevertheless, the problems of the small fishing fleets are real. Over the last twelve months costs, including fuel, insurance, and wire cables have risen in the region of 20%. However over the same period landing prices for fish have fallen; in some cases as much as 50%. The nost important factor in this price tall has been the increased exports of cheap frozen fish to Britain by the big Icelandic and Norwegian fishing companies.

This fall in price has been of no omfort to the housewife, however, since the retailers and distributors have maintained and even raised shop prices, lining their pockets at the expense of the small "ishermer DEMANDS The actual demands of the small fishing boat skippers varied from arca to area, but generally included the demand for a curh on all fish imports from outside the EEC: a fifty mile fishing limit around the coast, and, significantly, no extension of the National Dock Labour Scheme to the fishing ports. This latter demand highlights a clash of interests between small producers and the organised working class.

As the recession gathers pace, small producers find themselves trapped in a vice. On the one hand the rising prices of suppliers, and the increased reluctance of the banks to extend credit to "shaky" small businesses place the latter continually on the verge of bankruptcy. On the other hand, to the extent that they employ wage labcollision with the organised workers small producers come into seeking to protect themselves against inflation and redundancies.

Extension of the Dock Labour Scheme to all ports is essential to defend dockers' jobs and working conditions. At the same time it would of course increase the costs for the small fishermen of landing their catch. Here can be seen the basis of all sorts of rightward political movements of small producers, and at the same time the ludicrous nature of nay simplistic progressive anti-monopoly alliance between workers and small produc ers and traders which is the favourite tactic of the Communist Party on this question.

It is nevertheless true that the way forward for fishermen and all other small producers lies with the working class and nor in seeking the "goodwill of monopolies like the frozen fish companies asking them to agree to moderate their price competition a little.

OPEN BOOKS

The interests of the working class and the small producers come together under a programme to ope the books of the industries that supply components and materials and feedstuff to small producers at inflated prices, falsely citing what they claim to be "excessive" demands workers. anpolicy complaints about the cost of production, of transport and trade, the only answer must be "Show us your books, we demand control over fixing of prices". In this struggle small producers must seek links with the trade unions and housewives. Monopolies which are thus exposed as obstructing the defence of the iving standards of workers and small producers must be nationalised without compensation.

The nationalisation of the banks and insurance companies and their merging into a unified state bank is the only way to guarantee sufficient credit facilities. The expropration of the banks in no way mean nationalising deposits - the state bank will create much more favourable conditions for small depositors than can private banks.

Such a programme can of course only be carried froward by the strength of the working class. It is in the absence of such leadership that the small producers will turn to the sorts of protectionist measures that were attractive to the fishermen and which will not only be strongly resisted by the working class (especially where the price of food is concerned) but which will be no real protection at all for fishermen in the face of a world economic recession.

The British Leyland Joint Shop Stewards Committee has called a conference of shop stewards from the motor industry and supplier firms for Wednesday 23rd April in the Digbeth Institute in Birmingham.

This is an important initiative and must not be limited to speeches by bureaucrats and fake lefts - Jones,Scanion and Benn have been invited but must be a forum for the widest discussion on a programme for the defence jobs in the motor industry.

The WSL will campaign this conference the industry, policy and urges shop stewards from all car and component factories to attend.

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Thusday

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