[A Programme to Fight Unemployment and Short Time…]

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A Programme to Fight Unemployment and Short Time ELECTION The results of the Portuguese election, for all the confusion and compromise emanating from the leaders of the Communist and Socialist Par ties, represent an important blow b the working class against capitalist policies and, above all, against any attempts at a right-wing or military comeback.

The very small vote (7%) for the most right-wing party running, the Centre Democrat Social Party (CDS), which carried the approval of the British Tory Party, was a clear signal that not only the working class, but most of the peasant and the middle class, will have no truck with the political formations most clearly compromised by association with fascism.

The Socialist Party and the Communist Party together won a clear majority (55%) of the votes, and a clear command of the Constituent Assembly. At the end of the election, therefore, the main obstac standing in the way of a governmen of working class parties was one of their own making - the fact that both the Communist Party leader Cunhal and the Socialist Party Icader Soares had signed a treacherous electoral 'pact with the chiefs of the Armed Forces Movement a fortnight before the election.

The road to power for the Portuguese workers' movement lies not through a bourgeois parliament which is just a front for AFM rule, and handculted by the major partie before it is born, but in the strengt! ening and unification of the organs of workers' power which already exist - the committees of workers, soldiers, peasants and tenants in the localities.

fund From the first edition of Socialist Press, where we analysed Benn's Industry Bill, under the headline "Jail For Opening the Books?', our -paper has exposed the betrayals of the reformists, while fighting in practice in the workers movement for the demands and principles of the Transitional Programme.

Our paper is already winning a ry favourable response from many new readers. To improve it nd move towards weekly publiction we need your support.

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Socialist Press, 1, Dartmouth Hill. London WS TER. the anti-working class racialists of the National Front were allowed to march through the centre of Bradford and hold a meeting in St. George's Hall.

A counter-demonstration was called by the Trades Council but having done this, the officials apparently considered that after this their responsibilities ended.

Though 7000 trade union members were mobilised in 1972 against the industrial Relations Act the Trades Council did nothing against this potentially greater threat to the working class movement, (not to mention Bradford's enormous ummigrant community).

The AUEW District Committee that week refused to consider the proposal of a delegate, a WSL member, to take up the question. As a result only one trade union banner appared on a counter-demonstration of 3000, together with the Indian Workers Associati and a large contingent of students All political tendencies within the working class movement were represented including a section from the Workers Socialist League. Even the sectarians of the WRP sent a small group on the counter-march, though they disappeared before the arrival of the fascists.

The Trades Council having abdicated from the organisation of trade unionists against the fascists tried to prevent even a meeting at the spot where the counter-demonstration was called.

The anti-fascists marched through the centre of town and eventually were followed by about 400 National Front members under heavy police protection. These were allowed by police to punch and kick the anti-fascists with impunity, and a number were injured.

The feelings of workers in Bradford were shown by the housewives and pensioners who went to retaliate by weilding their handbags at the fascists. A clear call and determined organisation from the working class movement would draw out a response which would make it impossible for the National Front again to show their face on the streets of Bradford or anywhere else.

In Swindon, AUEW District Secr etary Les Thompson has called for the town's labour movement to prevent a planned National Front demonstration through the town on Saturday, May 3rd. His statement, the direct result of pressure from WL members, must be followed by the full mobilisation not only of the Swindon AUEW District Committee, but all anti-fascists in a counter-demonstration on May 3rd.

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Printed by Trade Union Labo The Annual Conference o ASTMS, the white collar and technicians union, is being hel on 10th, 11th and 12th May i Bournemouth.

The agenda containing motion: and amendments clearly shows, as far as members are concerned, that the economic crisis, particularly inflation, together with the defence of democratic rights, should be the dominating factor in shaping union policy. The Annual Report from t) National Executive, however showe the role of the reformist leadership in protecting the Labour governme in its defence of capitalism.

The report gives an account of the union's achievements over the last year - quoting many large percentage pay increases, but does not mention any form of cost of living clause in any agreement whic has been won or even fought for. So most of the pay increases will have already been eroded by inflati Once again this shows how far the NEC is from the requirements of the membership, which has submitted many motions calling for realist threshold agreements and sliding scales of wages on an index decided by trade unionists, as opposed to ti Retail Price Index.

The section on the Health Servi exposes all these contradictions. It also shows that the NEC has in no way tried to fight for a free NHS and the ending of Private Practice. From all over the country, howeve: motions have been submitted calling for t "ocking of private patients and more action by the NEC. A large number of Health Service branches have already started a black on private patients, and have taken a stand openly opposed to the Labour Government and its lack of action, yet the NEC does not even mention this struggle in the Report.

To break the working class from its reformist leadership is an obvious necessity. It is already coming into conflict with the limitations of this leadership on the whole range of daily trade union struggles.

The success of this ASTMS conference will be measured by the extent to which the madequa and betrayals of the NEC are expi and fought by the delegates.

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hose threatened with closure o meet in order to draw up a plan of useful public works tr create new jobs after their fir have been nationalised.

Such a programme, which must also include a sliding scale of wages to compensate for inflation, comes into immediate conflict with capitalism's measures for survival, and the reformist trade union and labour leadership, posing the need for new leadership in the workers movemer' BIRMINGHAM Digbeth Institute WEDNESDAY 28th MAY Speaker: A.Thornett

BANBURY

Town Hall FRIDAY 16th MAY Speaker: A.Thornett

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