Socialist Press no. 88

OCCUPY SPEKE

DEFEND ALL JOBS

Zimbabwe sell-out

PRESS

Pickets at the Speke plant "parliament" IT WAS ALL self-congrat- stooges that the ulatory smules white interests for decades.

and the Bishop (Muzorewa) Methodist priest (Sithole) and The agreement parliament Chief (Chirau) as they new the which 28 seats will be guaran- their "settle- emerged from teed for whites ment talks" with racist leader week first election, Smith last lan Smith's for teed Salisbury. At last, they said, they had Front. these achieved majority black rule.

ror black The Africans were free! select from 16 candidates the The black whom eight white racists they would stooges these opportunist prefer to rule over them.

lead, may be a bil claim to surprised to sav the least to see that this "freedom" leaves ary coup for the Premier Smith and lan

SAIS

laciol fifteenth year in office-now in the Rhodesian Front still the government. It also leaves in being the surviving racist-led and ment. which have oppressed The only police has Smith them for hall a century, anu survive for so long and at least for 11U W

SOCIALIST

* per of the Workers Socialist League * No. 88 * February 22, 1978 * 15p

JOINT STEWARD

COMMITEE

SITE 2

OFFICIAL

Stop black leaders' this new victory is the appall of racists and of the black protected ing bankruptcy has Zimbabwean leadership. Nkomo, joint includes a Joshua leader of the Patriotic Front, 100 In long-time obstacle to a and fight against white and, in the senious called last week's racist rule, eight guaran- so-called internal settlement Rhodesia "the biggest seli-out in history of Africa". the of mass should know; Well, he will be able to he's an expert in sellouts.

himself, fact he

ZANU

leader along WiT! Mugabe, planning The deal is an extraordin- Robert what, if he wily racist were consisten. to call the in his would nave second biggest sellout in the history of Africa. world's longest This is a hoped-for deal of imperialist with the repres Young and Andrew that entatives redson "Labour" foreign British able been Owen secretary David three weeks By A Edwardes Leyland after British Dal. committed themselves to sup- Michael chairman porting this strategy Edwardes drew a stand- from ing ovation the Mini and shops and at Cowley cutbacks his plans for convenors in the Princess are typical of for speed up, rationalisa- this, with the company using tion and the elimination the changes 12,500 jobs, the of beginning casualties are up labour. Convenors to mount up. 3,000 jobs are to be axed afford cannot in the closure of the Triumph challenged by plant at Speke in Merseyside *which manufactures the ER7 sistance a pe sports car and body shells for the Dolomite. of Leyland's Betrayal Leyland And already must they convenors and union bureau- wholesale redundancies. crats under a cover or 1ell the rhetoric are groundwork for a betrayal of who the Speke workloice. have already shown by their closure alleging 16 week strike against speed- been willing to up that they are change of philosophy' fight the employer. Edwardes took over. The convenors know that But union Corporation the throughout moving Beling managment impose speed-up, throwing up thousands jobs. tance of "voluntary" dancy at a mass meeting. this-and redundancy be well minimum.

TGWU

Palmer "meagre": "Men have bottom-end not going to be install a different but equally an easy transfer." regime collaborationist other of Smith, Muzorewa, that Sithole and Chirau the defence key now the Owen Speke, attempt figure an and the internal reconcile so external conaborallonsis the put end to developing liberation war and forestall the threat of a struggle against workers

CO T

and the capitalist racism stewards' system which rests upon it.

clear rejection Socialists the redundancy all must mobilise movement door their strength to prevent the sellout recognition ally government collaborationist development and for the labour movement Leyland to send material assistance to the Zimbabwean freedom fighters. "maximum support' Back page US miners' strike Inside Stalinism and post-war Europe . pp6-7 Amnesty and South Africa...... p.8 .. p.9 Our Policies: Defend USSR • p.3 Chile. Stalinist Combine Commutet Robinson: attempting chal man to divert fight down blind alley "economic arguments" preserving the plant. Liverpool taking action".

the supporting They are doing everything they have ensure that no action ls taken at speke. Longbridge cutbacks in So determined are some of these convenors to stamp out Dallil Leyland's any resistance are that they spear- Pianis the heading moves implement to victimise the elec

TGWU

speed-up as well as throwing ted leadership in the Cowley Plant, known Assembly dedicated opposition to their outlignt sack- collaboration in such schemes speed-up, closures and have this determined One of these Thee •deputy convenor Alan A Siter how fres → is threatened with ex nett fulfil their tasks as spokesmen pulsion from the union. 'participation' with ine 10 coraDorale committees, enforcing mange- government-backed assault on ment policy on the shop floor jobs and working conditions seem to oppose in Leyland demands of union that they educts This is why the supreme cratically repress those forces 'participation' body-the Cars capable of leading Council-was the first on the principled resistance scene, claiming to oppose the The Speke to 1S there that action "fundamental out the manage throw since closure plans and ment's mount a fight for defence of officials were all jobs. down to the serious business of bartering a price Confrontation for the jobs to be destroyed - hoping to force home accep- 'redun- The only way jobs can b all-ou through saved with manage confrontation plant Payments ment and the strik occupied against speed-up continued.

Leyland let it be known must Workers they wanted to cooperate in Leyland open its books to a announced union commit elected trade payments would "losses o above the legal so inal ine TR7 and volomie produ tion at Speke can be relate Richard organiser to the huge profits of private replied to owned componen figures describing the offer as suppliers. The Combine Committe talked were thinking of £2,000 as a must be called upon to mak their words figure and It IS good mobilise genuine support fo Countie ic and to take l Inis action union demand for nationali words the ation of the component firn officials are starting not from TR7 ot ali obs al And Dolomite turn out to the right buy-off to detuse a unsaleable vehicles, demand must be added for The danger is that, with programme of useful publ works to employ the union otticals intenaing e recommend a return to work Speke workforce. at the mass meeting of Speke In the meantime but Friday, the sackings, be failure give of work-sharit programme of voluntary on full pav under the contr will the of trade union committees.

open of bri acceptance w1ll Leyland's buy off payments.

into hea Leyland workers on conflict with the Lib-L It is in anticipation of such coalition government and i that 'left and righ Combine shop Gentaels highlight the need stewards executive has issued and build a principled leadersh its call to all plants to give in the trade union and labo "in the movement. event of the membership in

- INTERNATIONAL'

99.8% boycott in Soweto poll The failure of the any racist government to crush the sland in ine elections resistance to apartheid of the black 10, however, of South masses Africa was shown up in the the working general boycott of the elections in Soweto last apartheid state. Sunday. These elections to were the "Communitv Council, a powerless local authority set up by the racist regime.

in soweto the vast town- would ship" close to Johannesburg, nave live

I TOO

Diacks squalid conditions. ot the these million, 300,000 are and eligible to vote; and chiefs. 126,700 of those are regis- tered as voters. Anu on dese only 492 actually went to the has allowed the polls on Sunday. Chief and No candidates Only two out of the 30 seats contestan ana in 19 of them there were no consolidate candidates at all. The boycott was support- sowero ed by the imprisoned petty- But the bourgeois leaders known Soweto 10 and other opportunist leaders including bourgeois Chief Buthelezi who forbade French left alliance heals the breach Mitterand (left) and Marchais French Communist Party government with the same rights leader Georges Marchais has ano outies revealed that in all probab- minister ility the CP and the Socialist Which Party would reach an elec- people will ratify" Such toral agreement between the first and second rounds of the of course be and the policies ne will election to take Sonertied are none other than the place on March 12 and March the Left's "common programme' 19. Exposed With opinion polls still indic- ating that a "Union of the Left" state could win up to 54% of the programme's total votes, Marchais is mollifying his seemingly aggressive stance vis- interests or the workine cass was best exposed a-vis leader Mitterand when right wing President Giscard attempt to carve out tor himself fellow CP announced leaders a niche and unal oppose the programme should the a possible "Union of the union win a majority. Left" government. Dubious role Dropped Meanwhile line with growing Jacques Chirac has rapprochement, Marchais has now the country orevious stance election meetings, each of which efusing to partake in government has as its theme the dubious role if the received less than 21% played of the vote. while that the nis position is now CP would be prepared to accept #st te Fourth Republic Chirac's message ministerial appointments, but that forward: Mitterand was weak and these should anocatec vacillating then; what is there to accordance with the votes cast for suggest he fogł each party. rather than on stronger now? basis of seats won. Ironically television interview last veiled calls week Marchais was quite unam- ment and his resurrection of the biguous about this past serve to show precisely what want to participate in a a sordid history Mitterand has.

ITALIAN

CP GIVES

Zulu- OI nIs based Inkatha organisation to Durnelezi and the soweto oooose

ROPE TO

racist elections not from the stanapoint or tne interests or and the Class total rejection ot the racisi Adjusted

BOSSES

The Soweto 10 advocate an adjusted form of apartheid wich towns like soweto "black auton- omy and would, inerelore be under the political control opportunistic black professionals The crisis of leadership of the South African proletariat Signor Giulio Andre- Soweto 10 otti, whose minority Buthelezi to Christian Democratic assume a mantle which they quit office would be sure to lose if there government were an independent prolet- on January 16, is to be arian leadership which could given more rope (in the extend the aniu form of extra negotiat- gains of the last two years in ing time) by the leaders strength of the the Italian Commun- boycott shows that the diver- ist Party. sions cooked up by the petty- Not-it goes without say- leaders have not ing-to hang himself, but in yet destroyed all those gains.

vruel to conunue nis erorts Italian working class to another three years of austerity measures. Virtually the whole of the political capital which Andreotti is relying to float new cabinet provided courtesy of the Stalinists.

The instability inherent in any coalition is government being rapidly accentuated In West Germany. Only three weeks after the humiliating resignation of the Defence Minister after revel- ations about the huge extent of illegal military spying against civilians, the Social Democratic (SPD)-Liberal Free Democrat (FDP) alliance blow last sultrea a major week. partner. We our In a parliamentary vote want a solid team behind a prime over increased repressive legis- dooly LITt lation Chancellor Schmidt the majority scraped home by a margin of Prime Minister would one vote rrancois mitterand "apply" Separated gramme! The alliance normally has 10 the margin over Christian Democrat

(CDU)

and Christian Union Social The utter fraudulence of this (CSU) opposition. claims to bein th Under the new legislation lawyers will be separated last week from their jailed clients by a the partition prevent Would passing of objects, police will have widened powers of search including throughout whole apart- Gaullist leader ment block not just a single been touring flat, and the possibility opened up for the state to • d settes retuse Contac lawyer and a jailed client in Francois Mitterand case of suspected terror- government straight- 'Lefts' will be any Four left wing

SPD

members voted against these though, for a 'strong' govern- incasures, wich tollow on a year of consolidation of the already repressive powers, including the build CP leader Berlinguer (left).

Most importantly they Almost have been the main force in Jones-like organising-Jack trade union support for cha economic strategy directly designed to cut workers living standards. Tne ted by Architects the membership Through their control of been 'consulted' Italy's largest Laut union confederation, the

CGIL

they the architects of ing were the fraudulent 'rank-and-file' conference in Rome last week which rubber-stamped sections of workers. three of the bureaucrat's economic plat- Rigged form: three of wage freeze, speed-up and redun• dancies, higher charges for public services. German Lib-Lab government crisis up of the Federal Criminal A Bureau; the establishment of official dock a special anti-terrorist squad; and the refusal of of a 9% wage claim. between lawyers and their The jailed cents in situations ol 'special danger'

SPD-FDP

voted line reber. against this latter measure last The rebuff year, similarly threatening the coalition majority of the coalition.

lollowed bv "lefts' by the rebuff for the union leader- i nis move has undoubtedly been forced ship when workers decisively them, on least by the rejected the compromise

LIOL

conterence of Young Social 62% negotiated ists (JUSOS). had proudly negotiated On February 12, this body elected "left' president, Settlement cooperate with resolved to 'democratic communists' and Bertrand supported the back to the employers to get Russell tribunal investigating yet the violation of human rights offer to 7% which was in the in Germanv end accepted. In an attempt to head off Last week d the rising opposition to his within the norm was reached coalition, Schmidt's govern- in the depressed steel indus- ment has softened its attacks try. on pension levels. Pension cuts lock is being reached in an increasing But even the revised plans tiations which cuts government's norm. increases this year and next- to rises of less than 5%-and Rhine-Westphalia increases in employee contri- engineerna butions (in etfect, a form of refused to offer more than income tax) to almost a tenth 3% response of total earnings claim by the union IG Metall From 1982 workers will aiso have to pay towards their sickness insurance Attacks like this are help- ing to tuel an increasingly week failed to force an agree- offensive militant by the working class against the Lib- began. Lab' coalition aments 57o wage norm-an offensive rejected an outline agreement which is growing despite the on wages and the introduc recent sharp rise in unem- tion of new technology which ployment to 1.2 million or was designed to end a series 5½% of the workforce. i recent sakes 1,500 'delegates' to such hopes: from all three national trade "This turning point binds union confederations (CGIL, everyone. does Autonomy CISL and UIL) voted by a not mean anarchy." big majority for acceptance.

in theory, wage cuts are But fewer than a third of supposed to provide invest- 'delegates' had been elec- ment funds (a flimsy membership bodies, euphemism for larger profits) and those selected sections of and thus protect jobs. who Firings and had given approval of the package But Lama has already had been tricked into believ- supports ll clear ne voluntary and firings-in firms which would not limit the right to 'over-manned'. free collective bargaining by Italian 'Eurocommunism thus lines directly and explicitly with the employers, at the same time as it drops all pretence that the policy of But with his rigged vote will defend either in his pocket, Stalinist CGIL wages or jobs. leader Luciano Lama put paid But the Italian 'social contract is only part of the Communist Party's efforts to keep Andreotti in office.

They dropped lave their demand for cabinet posts in a future government.

and are now seeking only a recognition by the Christian that Democrats their government depends on Communist votes in Parlia- ment. The 'historical compro mise' has now been com promised the hilt. The month ago the first economic bloodletting carried strike for decades was called in support vuln was is now nol even to serve as dowry for the Stalinist chiefs to enter into a employers had properly arranged offered 6%, already in excess the Papal Tories, of the government's guide- but merely as the quid pro quo of a squalid, informal liaison.

for the government was Fear an even Nonetheless, the govern- crisis ha lasted of over a month, with further which they behind-the-scenes 'consulta- tions' this week But the real obstacle to a new coalition is not disagree ments between Andreotti and The bureaucracy skulked the leaders or ine workers but their parties, common : another increase in the any policy agree- Tear na ment will break on the rocks massive working class • 0T hostility. settlement Recent demonstrations- opposed by the CP leader- ship-brought tens of thousands onto the streets of But in other sectors, dead- Rome to march against unem- ployment. number nego- break the Terrorism the important Nortr Under these conditions. region the terrorist last employers have week's assassination of magis- trate Ricardo Palma, claimed by the so-called 'Red Brigage an ok expected to multiply Forced agreement For all the crocodile tears shed by the Stalinist leaders The official mediator last the real effect of terrorism is reinforce the Com unofficial strikes munist Party as a supporter of 'law and order' and to sow And in Stuttgart printers contusion among workers and socialists who wish to build ananave, revolutionary leadership to break the Stalinists' grip on the labour

fatal «Popular

INTERNATIONAL

; DE EX-SUMAR

LA EXPROPIACIOX

NIGINDS

Popular Unity was used to head off mass movement of working class

MIR

The exiled leaders of the Chilean Popular Unity- front the class-collaborationist, popular which Salvador Allende's presidency always maintained an open door towards the large right, in particular the parties of the bourgeois Christian Democrats. ienced hands. In the last crisis-ridden Pinochet months the Allende government in 1973, sections had though they have asked Frei the Popular Unity the Communist to join the powerless Council especially of State. they Party. made their aima the forging of an alliance clear they will not hand back arEn with the reactionary Curstian Democratic Party reaitionary of civilians in the former right wing President forsezable future Eduardo Frei. In the final weeks of the Popular Unity the coup of September 1973, the Communist Party leaders advocated that government should abdicate of Frei and the Christian Democrats. Savage reaction It was a grotesque confes- sion of the way in which the class collaboration of Popular Front government leads inev- itably to the most savage reaction. But an even more horrify- ing illustration of this was to be provided. Christian Democrats would not accept the Stalinists' offer of govern- They did not dare to take power

COOLIONS

wate growing sections of the work- ing class engaged were against bitter struggles capitalists, landlords and the The Christian Democrats, like the whole of the Chilean ruling class and the American imperialists they were closely allied to, saw the clear need to smash the organisa- tions of the working class.

the last two years Supported coup Democrats, deeply implicated in the cumes or lne Junta The Christian Democrats, nonetheless lave therefore, supported opportunistically out by coup carried opposition" "demo- Pinochet and other ship. cratic" generals who had been raised to high military office by the Popular Unity govern- They change. ment itself. another bloody Of course, once the most that future brutal period of anti-working needed to break class over, repression the organised working class.

with independent unions and workers' pontical paries but destroyed, thousands of dead, WOrKers jailed exile, honed who have Democrate always to re-rin Unity" alliance on was based-have arms. The Christian Democrats are now presented "pro- Popular Unity as the and the generals section of the bour- gressive geoisie" their ideas and, even Stalinist and reformist "principles" tell have made it them ally themselves in of defence bourgeois demo the most стас! The Popular Unity leaders All this means that, over sunk deeper into this political swamp last month in Algeria.

Leaders of Popular Unity Christian Democrats came together at a session of moved the international commission into of enquiry into the crimes of to the dictator- the junta to jointly denounce There is not an ounce of Pinochet. political principle behind this Unity would support coup in the They both spoke of what impending political unity.

the back of Luis Stalinist leader Corvalan-released from jail just year in Welcomed ago

OVCI

for Vladimir But that does not matter Bukovsky the -said to the Popular Unity leaders Christian Democrats been ready "We still haven't arrived at and are progressing"" leaders ES building toward.

NTE

embracing class collaboration- ist alliance in exile and oppos- ition willci construct when ment. do Thev stop there. Corvalan talked of the need to build an alliance also "progressive "democratic" Pinochet's army! Sidling together sidles up towards the Christ- ian Democrats, from resisting sidling taneous t Popular Unity. 10 reprinting below joint declaration between the MIR and the Popular Unity Mention of between the organisations are redundant since ment, like others made by the

MIR

leadership, these no provide native to the class collabor- ation of the Popular Unity.

1973, they can only cover up for it. The Stalinists show thus they carry their class collaboration to incide tat of the bourgeoisie. direction of unity". Christian Democrat leader, Fuente Alba, echoed this, supporting: a regroupment of social and political forces in a great pluralist movement the against struggie and build dictatorship future in Chile. *The contacts between Popular Unity and our party Days before the coup are more and cordial Their shameful joint- declaration and The Popular Unity and the

MIR

held (exterior) conversations with the object of arriving at an understand- re-establishment which allows them to action undertake common against the Military Junta.

that They have stated especially those there remain differences free election understanding between the MIR and the Popular Unity right to strike. political and ideological ques- of the standard of living tions on course of the tate Chilean revolution. Moreover, in a number of problems remain countries, the economic Junta, based practical the plane action. we believe that However, these must be settled through a frank and respectful ideol- ogical struggle, always placing the country by the unity foreign monopolies. emphasis on confront the common enemy.

The Popular Unity and the and spiritual Chileans, MIR, taking into account the acquired from experence. the coup of September 1973 tion which everything favour happened since then, have autonomy. 5. To understanding to reached an co-ordinate and push forward national the Chilean people. joint actions listed below: the 1. To combine efforts to isolation unity and understand- forge especially boycott ing of all those who are ready to fight against the Military the and convinced Junta, benefit the only true alternative to must be based on the widest possible unitary base, starting with the unity of the popular people. To strengthen movement and its parties.

the purpose 2. To combat repression Page 3 In doing this they are making a shameful offer to The Stalinist and reformist the class and thus heading capitalist the all- imperialism as a whole They are saying in effect: dictator- military ships are unnecessary because they we will go to any lengths to in govern- capitalism and police not, however, The workle casuad lilt cloak of democracy" The Chilean workers and has reject this peasants must which would spell with the policy disaster for their interests and front policy officers This popular led the Chilean working class to catastrophe between 1970 and 1973 when it paved the way for Pinochet's repression them Call Calls Now as the Popular Unity disaster The way again forward for the Chilean work- the MIR, far ing class lies in the total rejec- this, is simul tion of class collaboration, in the up to the fight for organisation and a revolutionary socialist ilustrate this we are completely indepen- recent dent of the capitalist class.

Duty "differences" It is the elementary duty this state of revolutionaries to fight for that proves The leaders of the

MIR

can revolutionails Left Revolutionary socialist alter- Movement) are failing in that duty now, as they failed in it during the Allende period.

Now, as between 1970 and Between 1970 and 1973 the

MIR,

claiming be

• LU I

independent of the Popular and Unity, nonetheless clung reformists cringingly to its coat-tails and again failed utterly to prepare the prepared working class for the attack which the popular front inev- extreme right itably led to. thing which favours division disappearences, dimanding the real and effes and duplication organis leadership tive dissolution of the DINA, ations, ensuring freedom for prisoners and the shared among all the partici pating forces. rights; to insist on the over.

To promote and strengthen trade union unity throw of the legislation which outside the country around suppresses trade union rights.

the single Trade Union Centre of meeting, of of Chile (the CUT), opposing collective bargaining and the dividing attempt every trade union and duplicating 3. To fight for the defence organisations. of The above agreements supporting their maintenance assume the specific demands, combatting fraternal, loyal, friendly and of the relations policy Cors ene the super- on between the different popular exploitation of the workers, organisations, no interference on handing over the national by any of them in the inter- wealth to imperialism and on nal affairs of others, the rule of the economy oi and the unreserved carrying national and of all the agreements reached. To defend the culture The common actions pro- heritage of moted will lirst de co-ordin political leader- fight against ated by the militarisation and fascistisa- ships, for which purpose they will have periodic meetings and As to the interior of the university country, the implementation of common activities is the stimulate inter. responsibility of the leader.

solidarity wite the To intensify shipain the county in joint Tactical unity political and economic actions against the dictator.

the Junta, ship is at the same time a promoting condition and stimulus so Tone that practice and ideological arms on the granting of loans developing investments which dialogue go international deepening within the and people and its organisation.

economic monopolies, on the (Undated-issued late 1977) export of food needed for the for this unitary work

Page 4 Stagnant production deepens crisis promised Have the carrot "benefits of North Sea wnicn hold could Oil" before ended even members they began? key wage claims. After Dennis Healey's fre- promises of impenaing quent tax reductions and economic the mood expansion, Whitehall has slale calls of oil is not suddenly changed. doubt this troubled Partly no capitalist crisis in Britain.

because the tax reduction Devolution diversion defeated central issues that The Lib-Lab coalition was defeated on its major item of the working Parliamentary legislation last provision of bourgeois week. it was not nationalis- No, Scot and major industry Such ation any an OI banks. or the was not British measures designed to restore of the devastated social services obviously dc the remedy ana caucalion system It was a policy designed to unemployment, from divert away

ABORTION

RIGHTS

Abortion Law The Association Reform (ALRA) has been agitat- for changes in the ing have the since 1937 whether abortion law "entitled" proposing and still are child. that the 1967 Abortion Act should be superceded by a law which enshrines a woman's right to free abortion on demand.

DHSS

on Door" "Open pro- The gramme made by ALRA and abortion facilities. Monday 13 on However, February on was of half-hour long exposition to pressure their bankrupt and reformist MPs politics. Members change the One symptom of this was figures publication which showed that industrial has Britain production remainea stagnant. Lower than 1974 Despite a scarcely percep- tible rise in Decemoel, promises were meant to be a duction in the last quarter of union leaders 1977 was lower Inan earlei out to their as they sabotaged it was during the 3-day week in 1974 and only just over 1% higher than it was in 1970.

Not resolved The government also pub- But also it is becoming in- Isnea lts maex or long berli "forward economic indica- creasingly clear thal tne 1low calming the tors", a kind of economic range weather forecast, long waters the and this showed a decline for concern class-the "devolved" assembly assembly, func- Heath tioning within the framework from which the problems capitalism could reactionary Scottish National- notting ists have made such capital.

chronic mass It would represent nothing falling living more than a vehicle for the standards and other material

FIGHT NEW

ATTACKS!

The policy of fighting for legislation" "positive is also Jackson pointed to the real deficiencies of the 1967 Act: by being advocated certain National elements the that doctors and not women the • Campaign right al Culoust woman moment. promises to divert the not have struggle for abortion rights into the realms Turner parliamentary No obligation from the away the NHS cuts, fight against of expansion There is no obligation put facilities and for workers and the Area patients control of the health Health Authorities to provide service. The experience of the Sex the only Discrimination Act and the solution ALRA puts forward Pay should be Equal Act pro-abortion ample evidence that legisla- Private grant women Bill which will Calliol their rights. law that the third month running. Another more unexpected crisis sign 'of the was the large trade deficit in Janua 9324 million this was manufacturing higher than the average • in 1975 before North Sea Oil production began. the Communist Parties) The government issued its chauvinist warnings about not usua import controls. attaching importance to one month's figures. import Special factors Japanese cars however, last the "special Leyland's own month should have led to British market.

TACLOTS

more exports and less imports Ex-economic Wilson and not the other way round.

the What increased the deficit Nicolas Kaldor, and If this is most profit-seeking avaricious sections of forced on the bourgeoisie in Scotland. These stimulated forces, by the smell of profit from North Sea have conducted a long and well- orchestrated that lite campaign is defeated create the illusion would better To be under "Scottish" capitalism than "British' imperialism" have to vote 'yes'. Free hand MPs joined continued But the betrayals of the Labour democratic in the Lib-Lab leaders indicates coalition, and the refusal of not reformist trade progressive union leaders to oppose cuts, part-in sackings, speed-up and wage diehard have left the "Tartan Callaghan. cuts Tories' a free hand to peddle their reactionary line among sections of workers. However even in lnese men" who conditions, bourgeois opinion unreliable with polls-notoriously vote as they are-suggest that only coalition 55% of Scottish voters would rule back a devolved assembly.

Lib-Lab government's the

GISCISSO

of wage-cutting, policies creating unemployment allu slashing the social services are sored attacking the working, class mise" Bill. and pushing women back into the home and family. anti-abortion Not only has there been a February long of restrictive Private Members Bills appear- 1967 Bernard Braine, ing parliament (the James White and Benyon White

IODOLL COLLOR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978 was the continued inability of wheeled out to put in his ple goods to compete in world markets.

tion to the British economic

MESS

This is predictably leading As Trotskyists we utterly to increasingly clamour from condemn these protectionist capitalists measures. We sav there is no (backed up by the opportun- solution to the British econ ists of the Tribune group and omic crisis. for like measule World solution Last week British Leyland worla called There only the economi controls against crisis created by capitalism which are now supplying more than half of That solution requires the international unity of the share of the working class in the fight fo the expropriation of all th advisor capitalists and planned government, was also th the reality rumoured-make Scotland, then the provisions Devolution Bill a question c Lib-Lal confidence in the government's Bill-calling for coalition government thei those 'left' MPs who claim t 40% of the electorate to vote its policies ar "yes' as a precondition for the oppose obliged vot establishment of an assembly naturally against this diversionary -will ensure that the measure piece of Lib-La worthless attain the 40% figure legislation. on a 60% turn out, more than Break coalition 65% of those voting would Trade unionists The fact that 44 Labour Labour Party members mus demand that they do so, with the Tories couple such a stand with th to institute this brazeniy un- beginning of a fight throug!

provision out the labour movement t slightest • the with th instinct on their break the coalition and for sociali they Liberals mal of to the probleras supporters Wel Scottish, English and workers 'Heath men' refusal to take advan of such an opportunit They found their counter tage Callaghar parts in a number of "Heath only assists crossed the floor by offering no altern but, tive to Labour's betrayals-i the Lib-Lab 40% Scotland, hand against the must workers to it disillusioned But if Callaghan should- reactionary Nationalists.

A recent National Abortion Campaign in Birmingham from 28 to 20 weeks and with anti- abortionists about the possib- impose restrictions charitable sector hitle r cereal spon "compro- Restrictive restrictive blls mus dresstre, but abortion rig defeated through The latest in this string of conceded Bills comes up will not be Parliament on Tuesday 21

ALE

Parliament They proposes. m us of t It is proposed by Tory MP for as parl and follows campaign to stop and reve defeat t the lead of the Benyon and the and to cuts, Pille in attemnting to policies reactionary

NO CHALLENGE FROM

LEFT ON RACE COALITION

SOCIALIST.PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978

LABOUR

PARTY

Import controls- imported Russian steel and is busily engaged importers "voluntary" quolai ing their sales in Britain.

last And Prime Parliament PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report spelled Callaghan connection between such pro- tectionist

HU VOD.

capitalist policies and moves to head OpposIol. Extremism that Warning world unemployment would "encourage Joan Lestor extremism" spelled MPs. who capitalist measures to run the Tribunite for campaigned have crisis-ridden the nationalist years for efficiently. policy of import controls British firms to buy compon- -claiming that it repres- ents made in Britain in order ents a 'left' alternative to to cut impolis Callaghan's policies-have unemployment". had a hard time of it In like But, who recent weeks. Callaghan government has The to actually imposed a ban on 3, 1945 On March dogs" is of Minister Goebels, Observer Enlight- Propaganda and (for reprint signifi- enment made cant entry in his diary: diary in Tne "In England strike fever has reasserted itself. Labour bunker. in the docks and ports stops work for trivial reasons. One does not have to look far to The Daily reasons political detect The strikes. behind. these Kremlin is taking a hand in as Bolshevism the game. Daily Mail has just "The ad- truly sensation made a mission; it says that for two years now I have been the last week and person to analyse the only case of Poland correctly and page unue forecast accurately the way in heading Back Home" England would which What succumb to the Kremlin. "Churchill comes in for criticism of rare severity.

general terms the Daily Mail entirely supports our view- point in its estimate of the problem and accuses Polish monot- Churchill of more onous repetition of the battle outery while the Huns' 'Beat the cry Maliddowly going to the A new depth of class struck collaboration was last week when Lib-Lab Prime Minister Callaghan asked for joint talks on controls immigration Tory leader with racist Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher, revelling in the news that her call for an end Callaghan joins 'leff' unemployment" "world simply would benefit from forcing at present work transferring impose British LU to overseas done restrict- factories. Wednesday in Prospect Minister the Nor did he investigate the oul prospects of other capitalist own similar undertaking classes measures elsewhere. working Callaghan of course makes Cass solidarity of his The British employers. with generally to Tribunites tena in guarded be more in rise their attitude. controls import the argument always forces them political Callaghan with British bloc into a series of pro- bosses. more system Deplored then went on to urge demonstrated This was 'lefts' Joan Lestor and when joined McDonald Oonagh and "reduce wing' junior 'left with minister Bob Cryer to deplore the Tribunites discounts offered on sales of this view, imported cars. avoided any were of Fiats Purchasers explain 110 W

PRESS GANG

GOEBELDYGOOK

a little nothing but Analis reminded the circumspection. that readers it was cold. It warned good to decided has hasty against too of its readers reasons obvious the own) extracts from Goebbels' adherence to conclusion it was trying months last racist draw-that before his suicide in a Berlin deporta- 'solution' of hass The justified. was The quotes have come at a

HOIS

victims themselves supported particularly appropriate time to it! Mail-forced play There is no need to and choose between fascism percentage game. every what it incorrectly diagnosed the blacks of one made it clear single. interviewed -100%-is that it would choose Hitler.

Why capitalism. As in 1945 so in 1978. of victim surprised The Daily Mail enlisted the should we how many express their frus- NOP to poll blacks in Britain search in published its tration utopian solution? results blazoned on its front the enigmatic Daily Mail may The saving up for their air tickets to Go "The Urge proposal. another We have their pollsters dis- bring them propose covered was that a significant Bolshevism-and this time the percentage of blacks of West real thing. The answer for the black Indian origin said there was some chance of them taking workers is the same answer the money and going if they for the white workers. A turn were offered a £5000 induce- - against Bolshevism the to which the Daily Mail and the The Mail has learned from successors to Goebbels stand the following united. Sun's 1976 stories on Malawi The only to coloured immigration had Tory ranks is on whether or Tories take an the viciously reactionary the helped polls, 11% lead opinion 1971 Immigration Act passed rejected Callaghan's appeal.

by the Heath government and energetically implemented by Split Wilson and both Meanwhile the Tory press governments, the task of barring the entry trying desperately was the impression of a further create workers and their families.

"split" between Thatcher and Heath on the race issue. No call no call for new legislation on the issue not whether or slightest bit interested in the issue of immigration as any- thing other than a means of gathering a base ary support for the attacks a government Tory to wage Home Rees pointed out that exist- legislation ing by entorceu government Thatcher's words): purchase offered hire being announceu a at 5% interest McDonald. scandalised Ms Yet even while this indig- end ot voiced by being post-war years" nation was Leylnad British the 'lefts', doing their and Ford were best to compete in the home determined market-by efforts to impose speed up on workers at Speke and their Halewood. Foreign Not a whisper of protest 'our against raised was bosses: the whole fury of the directed remains "foreign" bosses those sneaky their "foreigel -and implicitly, sneaky equally workforce. have must Callaghan followed the affair in delight.

Callaghan with Tribunite MP Brian Sedgemore in the gimmick Latest concerted campaign coalition minister Tony Benn to reupholster his threadbare 'left' reputation is a utopian PHOTO: Chris Daves, Report plan for a £4 billion budget- double the amount likely to be allocated. chairman of the Benn, as largely Party's Labour Policy Com- ignored Home mittee, has put his name to a call on Chancellor Healey to child benefits, pensions raise and health service spending.

Scorned so in the firi He does such while knowledge will be lapped up by policies the Tribune Group of lefts', completely will Callaghan- to Healey the scorned by He which cabinet-of Healey denied vigorously Rees "division" in that the government intended soft" on "play immigration Steady drop Current legislation is pro- is adequate to drop steady ducing immigration, he boasted. sections of black Yet aside from their ritual of the Tories denunciation 'lefts' have remained Labour almost silent on this issue.

Thatcher herself has made Indeed it is very doubtful 1s int *aos: Andrew wiard, Report ot reactol will netu unions. the Merlyn Secretary being now the (in represents, "a policy which is clearly designed to work towards the immigration as Rees have seen it in this country in It means nothing to attack Thatcher for "going tor the at the vote' Alf Garnett 'left' same time Lib-Lab the endorsing government's racist coalition policy on immigration For the Labour leaders as such with are part policies reactionary all-round parcel and attacks on the jobs and living standards of the working class as a whole. For socialists it is a matter oppose principle of immigratios of the enforced controls insis and to capitalst slave on the right of a worker th work and country of his or her choice.

. mus Parties Labour statemer a demand from their MPs and prospe ke this canaidates on tive question. claim that lav immigration oppose must be called upon to follo through policy campaigning practice workers to break the Lib-L coalition, by voting against in Parliament and by taki remove t the fiaht to up Callaghan-Healey leadership Those that-however ta support fully-declare must legislation such of the hounded out movement within which ti of agents act racists. £4 bn. PIPE DREAM million to be allocated t Bo: Enterprise National the body • that 1S al British Ley and British Shipbuilders, carving troying thousands of jobs Rationalise , origi The No-sel ur 1974 to by Wilson in out and rationalise ban sections of capitalist ind been -has always "lefts" who c see it as a means of ar Labour s the fight for nationalisat views The Healey be privileged growing redundancy lis Benn is a member. not likely to be so ent of aspect one other Benn's plan may well appeal £810 extra seeks

NPOST WAR

Page 6

STALIN'S

DEFENSIVE

EXPANSION

EUROPE

Paul Stein reviews "Communist Power in Europe 194449", edited by Martin McCauley, published by MacMillan, 1977, at £10.

events in a period which has In May 1943, as the Red Army was forcing Hitler systematically been the retreat, Stalin disbanded the Communist by Stalinist distorted onto bourgeois historians gives the The first of the reasons he gave was international. hat its dissolution 'exposes the lie of the Hitlerites to book some value. of the But the genesis allegedly intends to "Moscow" cuts it off from any that he effect book "Bolshevise" them'. There can have been few predic- nations and life of other the attempt in ntervene serious explanation Importants momentously inaccurate.

individual chapters The bravort arenared as contri- subject. The essential political Studies. Europe shape London University, was Local in 1974-6. during the period which it covers. Anti-communists At the end of the Second World. War the 'allied' great Most of them deal with powers (the USA, the USSR their countries selected Britain) had a isolation from the European common policy of reconstructing political international apitalist right across States situation. continental Europe-under All of the authors are anti- oviet occupation in the east, communists and several have ind under the Anglo-Amer- acquired their can armies in the west and knowledge partly by working outh. the British

IOT

intelligence At time was services. that What, then, is there in this private roperty, industry land, Togliatti book recommend nd banking would continue workers and socialists in the verywhere outside the Soviet The alliance' for class struggle today? nion. 'democracy' against German Simply the fact that fascism completely collects between two covers Not foreseen broken down and the 'cold details of the policies of the war against the Soviet Union European Communist Parties Few was in full swing. people-and least of during the most critical years Stalin-had inkling any collection of papers This post-war period— 'iron by 10L an aspires of Stalinist details which sharp sa y cast urtain' would divide the two policy in this light on the political charac- ostile, armed and camps, how nappened. it happened, ter of Stalinism and which nat to the of and why. WesL consequently, the leaders of rociously anti-communist the first aim it has Communist Parties would power, some, relative, success; in the ne 1n (many of whom served their hile the countries other two it completely fails.

the political apprenticeships would transformed , Even so, merely to provide that period) much to smaller images would of some of the oi the a verview rather keep discretely buried.

oviet state. main diplomatic and political The best manian fascist leaders referring by illustrated the countries of some indivual described the chapters. Monarchy of the question Take So far was Stalin monarchy. from any intention to estab- 'socialism' Castell The first tul countries ne first two countries the Red Army entered: Rumania and Bulgaria, both of whom had been allied with Germany. In Rumania, where the had traditionally been backed up by the native Iron Guard all seminic fascist movement, King kept Michael was the on throne and given, in 1944-5, a substantial political role.

He was regularly toasted by Stalinist officials as

"TRA

people's king' and continued to reign, protected by Soviet bayonets, until the 'Cold War' well under way. He was forced to abdicate, accident, almost by at the very end of 1947. Wedding He had just returned from London, (where he had been attending the of wculing Elizabeth Windsor) with a prospective bride of his own -Princess Anne of Bourbon Parma-and he seems to have expected (reasonably enough, circumstances) given continue the dynasty indefin- itely. Stalin, though, apparently the line at this prospect drew and His Progressive Highness was seal packing-along witr large quantity Rumanian people's property - into exile (the Soviet bureaucracy never inclined to treat autocrats too ananaly). the chapter by Professor Bela Vago the role of the King and monarchist politicians in alliance with the Stalinists in Rumania are use- fully including sketcued of the details given several above. Strength In Bulgaria, the strength of the wartime resistance and of underground Communist the Party were much an estimated 15,000 members compared with 883 in Rumania, on the eve of the Red Army's entry. monarchy Moreover suspension; the was notoriously occupant, decadent King and Boris, had died atter ing from a visit to Hitler in 1943 But the Stalinists did not monarchy let the simply lapse. They appointed The chief figure on this body was the official 'theor- etician' of the Bulgarian Com- munist Party, Todor Pavlov!

Referendum Only later, when a referen- dum (the first and only free Bulgaria's history) voTe 1n massively rejected the the heir, was Prince Simeon, sent into exile t5 million console 4 wile him). Rumania and Bulgaria were destined for the Soviet "sphere of influence'. In Italy the Communist Party leader- ship slavishly respected Stalin's agreement that the country should be restored to and class old ruling the the Anglo- within brought American orbit. 'Ex'-fascist with the 1943, In July alliance with Hitler obviously Mussolini was noeless. ousted by a palace coup. Victor In September King had not Emmanuel (who against fascism If almost twenty years and a finger government under the 'ex'-fascist Marshall Badoglio flee from were the south, Rome they surrendered to the American and British forces landing on the mainland. But, with Hitler having taken over direct control of almost the whole peninsula, and such and flimsy 'anti-fascist' creden their political authority hals, was virtually and Americans hesitated to give them any sort of recognition Stalin who injected It was life into Badoglio's monarch- ist circus, doing paved the way for the rescue of capitalism in Italy. CP leader Palmiro Togliatti

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978 would have been paralysed, anyway). McCauley's book Dr. includes political many details of this period, but it never identifies the continent- wide process that gave rise to the enormous growth, them: from 1943 on, of revolution- movements right across Europe, which thrust the Stalinist parties in many the head of countries to of events (for lack usually, leadership) other but any which Stalin's then men deceived, systematically betrayed and derailed. wnat is virtually ignored extent to in the book is the which in Eastern Europe, the Stalinists and the Red Army command contained and suppressed the many organs of workers' power that were formed spontaneously as the rule of the Nazis collapsed.

Disorientated By 1947, therefore, the of working most retreats contused imperialism felt strong to the enough resume offensive the Soviet and UnIon WOlC French US launched strategy (the for economic the

CLU

and ought to remain a great soon as he returned from internal. the Soviet Union (which was Allican power nationalist demonstra- the first power to recognise tions for the Badoglio government) inaependence May 1945 Algeria renewed demanded that the entire left were was this accordingly condemned as collaborate with Badoglio and conspiracy' lie the King, postponing pragmatic by the hold which helped back "political questions' until the to I social within France to and himself opposition was war bloody reprisals accepting post. European mainly camouflage unleashed de Gaulle Only by of which this Algiers. By police political the and the Indochina ballot rigging mergers, military command reassert their they In 1946 Communist 'People's Democracies ministers voted for the credits escalate the agression the liberated Almost the Vietminh, clearing the virtually all cities way OI for seven years of the most days brutal colonial war. operation. Immediately after the war, Chapter outlines this policy therefore, of the to be right across Europe supported Italian CP. capitalism. west and in tne a larger movement south Stalinist leaders collab- with the new govern- than the orated Communist and Italy) or ments (France retreated before as in them, mobilis- there di the British-backed civil war to the new constitution ation, and that was preserved of the restore the King and his pro- politicians in Greece, privileges of the Catholic fascist trolled. Stalin cynically sacri- the very fact Church ficed tens of thousands of that the takeover Communists to his agreement with Churchill. country chapter the full CP its zave best support thing: de goverl 11 cill. Moscow of 'One with his nation, Thorez CP chief militant of the working Class. before a number political opponents ated'. French imperialist troops murder Algerian nationalists Battle for Production the politically and In Eastern Europe W dr most advanced, From 1944 the that were socially French Stalinists threw their carried out in the immediate shows how subordinate the role of the working class.

full weight behind the battle period were not post-war done to establish a planned There much much production, abandoning was. In

IOT

Stalinist mobilisation economy, but to ship wartime wage demands, the gicalel resources to the Soviet Union of the working class in west branding strikers as 'agents Europe. The Italian and (even of the trusts' (!), and so on.

sometimes, to recover OI, factories whose so) the French Com- the only France was control over owners had fled and which munist Parties were turned nation of continental Europe sharply to the left to •the serve with a substantial empire to had been occupied by Soviet the requirements of workers. recover. In this task the Com- de The main socially progres- Party assisted Dolley. At the founding confer- at this time were Gaulle with the maximum of the Cominform (in martial land reforms (without ence Stalinist tank enforces Kremlin domination over Czechoslovakia and sent ment and its policies. Stalin war-time carved turope influence' 'spheres

CHLO

Italy and had had Greece, illegal while remained which 'People's transformed Democracies' Dr. and his their approach whole very Marxism. book that from their Soviet Stalin the close of the imperialism was matter of were were to monarchy tive Only LIly could not showed that they have stable political and while conditions military leaving the old ruling classes place, did they move lu depose them Not local State in Eastern power Europe nac Bever purely local or national ques- tion; in the years atter the War it almost entirely ceased to be so. essential decisions The Warsaw, were taken not in Budapest, Sofia or Bucharest, but in Moscow and Washing- ton. exaple An interesting that of the Czech Communist Party, whose Headersa 20 years after Stalinism's defensive expansion into the buffer states, a the attractive terms of the from urgent and refuse. Europe general sight. of the forces policies, acting on impressions prejudices the he about writing on. Party, •power-a plot by the (with bourgeois of the help of genre Its realpolitik. ted unintentional bourgeois allu profoundly anti-democratio doyens "the and Europe can but only for selection. of example, Treatment the revolution discus even any sion of split with 1948) which (June affected world Stalinist Page 7 and the Eastern movement, European states most of all.

As compensation, how- ever, it covers some topics on which little material is avail- able There is informative chapter on the assimilation of 'Baltic states' (Estonia, the Latvia and Lithuania) into the Soviet Union. And there is a chapter on the little-known exception which proves the general rule 'defensive expansion' in of the Stalinist Eastern Europe in 1947-9 Finland Early in 1948 the Finnish CP leadership made a 'left led major strikes and even prepared for insurrec- impression the (held by some of them, the least) that. hacked by to be no political the height with the right wing economic consequent landslide victory tol decade. tnat a stale foreign of Oul Baltic, much less protection, fuss, than the This therefore references period of the lor a crucial European however, like sufficient to nothing £10 justify its all (slightly but the devoted will wish to order it through their public library.

Page 8 Amnesty has no answer to apartheid Under law section which new introduction proposed in South Africa state measures. black workers who lose their jobs and remain dark age, unemployed for three months will be open to population jailing arbitrary or horrifying conditions. 'deportation' immediate Repressive the African to home. lands. accelerate This move; and the logic the process of coralling black workers in the 13% of land repressive mass reserved for them under

HOIC

apartheid, seeks also to more ecologic the policy to the immediate deprivation. needs of capitalism. Unemployment racist features Unemployment in South were already Africa has increased steadily ExaM, 580.000 1962 their logical conclusion that there is a gradual easing tractor they were of police state separate and roll apartheid regime. empowered Despite Soweto, despite the murder of Steve Biko and House of Representatives.

least other political • prisoners since August Rights removed 1976 police custody, defenders of trade with Africa Blacks South try to give the impression of a country gradual end three a dark age elect which stretches back into the spokesmen' to the Senate. (If dim and distant past. this has a familiar ring that is The booklet-Political Im- perhaps because prisonment in South Africa- uncanny resemblance produced by Amnesty Inter- method proposed national -has Smith in Zimbabwe to secure therefore important educative role to white rule there under a sell- though not necessarily play, out settlement). the that one Ine aurnors these minimal removed. For Cape Coloureds Valuable the white Far representatives ano away ine allowed to vaulable section in a booklet 1968. will undoubtably which This is mirrored by the De widely read among the labour strengthening of the movement in Britain is the of the police state. The Sup- Soweto civilian shot down, 1976

IN REVIEW

A Review of 'Political Im- prisonment in South Africa', International Amnesty Price £1.00 from Report. Amnesty International Pub- lications, 10, Southampton St, London WCZE 7HF pression of Communism Act outlines the of the police was introduced in 1950. was largely replaced by the Far from emerging from a Internal Security Act in 1976 -an Act which considerably Line DarDarous extended police powers. leaders of the South African general the laws have regime are driving the black into ever been introduced in response to whatever form black resis- The taking. calice was Criminal Law Amendment Act was aimed The demands of capitalism passive resistance. of the racist It allowed for three year always towarus prison sentences for persons legislation, convicted of offences

HLDUSORICHES

committed in protest against and social any law. After Sharpeville when the The apartheid programme turned passive resistance active the laws became more fore that time many of the direct. the state OI But Retroactive the powers to extend them to did Police were given extensive powerta neat astain placed detain incommunicado and were and without charge indefinitely.

lo eleci three white representatives to the Communism had previous- ly been defined as: any doctrine which aims at bringing about any political, industrial, social or throughout economic change the • by the were empowered to promotion of disturbances or disorder, by more white unlawful acts or omissions or by means which include the promotion of..

Il bears an (our italics). to the 'Prejudice' by lan The Terrorism Act was equally loose with It was not until 1959 that language. included activities which could cause rights were "prejudice to any industry or charade of electing four undertaking" or which would "embarassment to the Cause W din administration of the affairs continue until Ol lne state" The mandatory minimum sentence is five years jail. The wowers maximum sentence is death.

The Internal Security Act of 1976 is probably the high point in legalised gansterdom.

extends almost the powers of the frevention 01 Communism Act and allowed for banning of all and any opponents of apartheid. Under one section of this Act witnesses or potential witnesses in a state trial can be held for up to six months, if the state thinks they will abscond or be intimidated In the 15 months up to September 1977 official South African figures Sala 2430 people had been under the various provisions of these and other overtly More than 1300 people have beer banned since 1950. Torture The booklet outlines many examples of torture used as a casual part the state . In its solemn caretu systemn way, always it seems trying to convince a reluctant and dis- believing audience, Amnesty International comes the conclusion that torture has been an everyday occurance for the past 15 years. But Amnesty International pressed are great. is Amnesty International. If it • We could send its valle reporters to hell it would come back with casing of the their necks. careful and accurate them of account some the with the hangman in full.

boiling in oil and skewering of the inmates. It would build UP a picture of the barbarity the Satanic regime. would then inevitably demand a series of reforms.

Amnesty International stands for the release of all political prisoners, a position sive role. very different from that of a In South Communist. irrelevant. Exploited Our responsibilities Trotskyists to those men and lo the women who are confront it physically. being tortured and murdered, who are being economically exploited and politically sup- quence Trotskyist leadership.

CHARITY STRIPPED

OF ITS DISGUISE

The lid was unceremon- iously ripped off the middle ment spending some of the 'charity' class world by last money sums of Tuesday's BBC 1 'Play for bourgeois Today'. supporters. She is told it makes little sense The Dinner to give aid in the Gulf States- ATter Joke by Caryl Churchill tore into whose The illusion that charity is somehow national excess of that in Britain, 'outside politics", dealing partic Sheiko wee the remainder ularly memorably with the ques МОЛОдО cAr of colonial exploitation and the population exist in grinding "disaster relief" Selby, a young employee of a averty. one encounters big business charity, seeks owner/money lender/grain dealer/ and ways means "selling" supplier in BanglaDesh and hears charity to an audience. how the peasant farmer is tiec Her efforts threaten to lead hand and foot in a system that drawing from polite ensures continued starvation.

attention to the poverty of Ceylonese tea- And she travels to a hurricane pickers to the point of outright "disaster" site, against dortation the swollen monopolies have profits and vicious exploitation of the tea monopolies. tarmers of out holdings onto the hillsides, creat- employers in embarass- ing the conditions for a massive SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978 The demand for demand the release of political prisoners is an nooses around one that must be a part of the We campaign. But to settle the is only a account Dalt What Amnesty Internat- Integrated ional will not recognise is that the apartheid There are conditions when system abhors demands for rights for politic- props up a systen which it tolerates-capitalism al prisoners, integrated into a When the day of the South programme for the overthrow African revolution dawns and of the regime, have a progres- those racist leaders and treacherous collaborators face Africa such reckoning, demands are meaningless and inelr then those who the gallows or colape who fail to flee the country The black workers have will be hurled into the prisons shown again and again that of their own making. they have the will to stand up regime directi. That How then will the demand from Amnesty International to free all political prisoners they cannot do so is a conse- look? The freedom the lack demand is for the enemies of we of apartheid, not its friends.

transfer her to the job of landslide enormous As blithely she contributed by announces that with the charity's aid thing class middle will soon be back "as they were is challenged by a voluntary who points out that it disaster, are that was income caused and that though the problem is a political one.

a handful The same point is rammed home by the Mayor, who proves that everything, every word, shown have the aspect, and that charity cannot be separated from it The play offered no answers.

But, in wittily and amusingly shooting down prevalen middle class myth that "charity" Is a non-political, non-class ques banana w mere rather than driven native dressing for their horrors Tne capitalism valle imperialism and served a useful function.

CHINA-NEW RESPECTABILITY

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978

OUR

POLICIES

USSR

To take 'neutral' position in the struggle between imperialism and the workers' states is to permit imperialists the the not only to overthrow Stalin- ism, but also the nationalised relations property the degenerated workers' states.

This was precisely the impli- cation of the position adopted by Ine Torerunners loudy s Socialist Workers Party when, during Korean War, they the support the workers Terusea to states against imperialist offensive under the of a United Nations inter- cuise vention By the as viewing capitalist two between Struct Inese reneroes

TOM

Trotskyism refused to defend the of October revolution gains these. had already claiming that peen destroved No finger lifted (as Unable, course, first article) to pointed out in the when unese calls were destroyed, the capitalists, state a so-called 'neutral' taking up effect open the way imperialism to. threaten the gains the October revolution finger lifted to mobilise without a class Ture acaiust imperialist threat must be to defend Our policy October revol- the the Tat ears first place defending the Stalinist bureaucracy against imperialism, do knowledge then that it is te task ot me fater- national workers' movement and imperialism to finish off the not with the Stalinist

TOD

ana dedi It can be no accident that the emergence into both the world arena politically and economic- ally of the new Chinese bureaucracy Teng under coincided Hsiao-ping with sympathetic 'China Week'

BBC

TV. The China that was the terrifying 'bogey" i of the of bourgeois the past has now become an Defend the Part Two. • Brezhnev bureaucracy once the imperialist threat has been defeated Soviet Union then Is une hest to ne cetender ne stainis bureaucracy of course is forced to nationalised defend the property relations or the soviet union But this defence is not carried principled reasons. The defend the burcaucracy apparently harmless, interest- ing smiling country wilt stereotyped peasants. The self-imposed isolation of the 50s and 60s where socialism was to be built while the capitalist world was ignored, has now gone. The Teng bureaucracy at least recognises that impossible to disregard the of the caritast economies on China. But instead of proceeding from this understanding to and try strengthen the Modern technology at work in China By lan Swindale nationalised property relations revolution that is a oreconditior because it is on this that their for the establishment of the rule of the working class through its cower ane orivledes rest The biggest asset that Eastern

SOVIPTS

Kremlin bureaucracy is the Europe and baratic Crite.

the parasitic through- caste that will honess ou in the Soviet Unior Out the worio TO Tiont imperial nolas bowe and come to the defence of uses its own bureaucratic methods the Soviet Union. But this is an to defend the property relations on which its privileged position is not use. based these hureateratic Extended methods have time and again, no strengthened position o the enin and the mosheviks. InE woon. out actualiy weakened l International Left Opposition and In the late 1930s, when it was International clear to Marxists that Fourth Lilt between the USSR and Germany al dased enemnserves on ine unatt- standing that the October revol- was inevitable, murdered could survive if the 70-80% of the army leadership as ution only from extended part of his drive to liquidate any Tevolution wett Russia to the major potential cantals oppositior powers of Western Europe and attempts to buy with imperialism through class collab Devona oration economic backwardness of the Union, this Soviet apparent Invaded dav despite creation numerous other workers' states, As a result, when the German could be imperialists oroke une contem Stalinist bureaucracy But the tible pact stalin-Hitler invaded Russia in 1941, the Red nas consciousIv relected course of action. Army without all y Their attempts to defend the experience endersni Defeat was only averted by Gover Union independent mobilisation of the determination of the unmovable class within the

USSR

working the return of capitalism to Russia tor une exten tion of the revolution. which cost ten million lives.

revolution, a revolution his cas political show * Political revolution task removal of the the To on bureaucratic caste which rules one hand destroy the internation- Titt Pover ano oine necessary relations estaoiisnco belvcel stater Stalinism and imperialism for the objective in the strategic defenc division of into two of the USSR world other hand, and, on the Camps Trotskyist party must be built in To invite ine

WO KITIO

class of the degenerated workers the USSR. states to carry out the political The social revolution in Russia capabilities be reduced and workers' movements through- that three technicians stay for out world and give assistance to those fighting to three years the computers are just used for end capitalism, they now seek to work within the rules laid weather predictions. down by imperialism. Despite the intentions of new-found the BBC, it was well worth Hence their admirers among Western TV the films watching and programme directors from 4 February newspaper hacks. Teng Li Hsien-nien, Advances and following of example bourgeois politicians, have The enormous advances become Asia-trotters. that have been made in post- Teng spent the beginning China of February shone through Joris Iven's after being in state visit and even through Burma. Julian Pettifer's The Chinese Li is soon to go to the Way Philippines, where he They showed the great Is to sign a contract for the sale ol developments that could of petrol; begin to be made when the one millon and to BanglaDesh. protit motive is removed as the over-riding lorce ina Japan trade society. China has been transform- February 16 saw the sign- feudal ed trom a divided ing long-term trade country developing agreement between China and industrial society where the which involves the Japan capitalist been Class nas Chinese exporting crude removed by revolution oil and coal and the import- And, although it is not a ing of Japanese industrial socialist society, as claimed, plant. construction materials with the political overthrow and equipment. Peking the parasitic Also Japanese steel experts bureaucracy, the basis for a are already in China advising communist society will on the setting up of a steel laid rolling mill in Shanghai.

Three Hitachi computers Advantages The have been sold to China. sale delayed by British workers watching was the trom achievements ooleculous- mdue the US that these could be China can draw conclusions used for military purposes.

advantages 400 U eventually has been kicking out the capitalist class agreed that the memory here. Page 9 Hungary 1956: spontaneous workers' councils emerged to challenge the Stalinist bureaucracy has already been completed. The impossible without the legalisa- expropriation ot the caoitalists Tion ot soviet bartles WItn has led to the establishment of workers and peasants themselves deciding which parties they recog- nationalised Telallulla and planned-albeit bureal nise as soviet parties cratically deformed-economy.

of the planned economy and the restoration Restore Soviets workers manacement or eroduc tion would necessary the bureaucratic deform correct Now the bureaucracy must be ations of the soviet economy anc removed and soviet democracy reactionary internationa Trotsky argued in policy of the bureaucracy would Programme, this the Transitional have to be replaced by a return to task can oniv be carnito our under the leadership and the programme of the Fourth Inter- War threat nationdi Trotsky's view: "A fresh crisis the capitalist of the revolution in the As upsurge continues unabated, the threat of

USSR

will begin undoubtedly including fresh attacks on war, under the banner of the struggle and other Union social inequality and Sovie against workers states must increase Down with pontical oooreson The fight against imperialism the privileges of the bureaucracy attacks Down with the Soviet aristo.

standards and organisations of the its ranks and orders! and haly working class internationally and Greater ecual ou wages tor al in defence of the workers states is forms of labour! confronts which "The struggle for freedom of Elle last the trade unions and the factory workers in the capitalist west an‹ the degenerated workers states of committees,

TOI

rtoni the east assembly and freedom the the least of these task. will unfold in the struggle will be the defence of the sovie TOr The recener ation and Union and the overthrow of the development Soviet through its bureaucracy democracy. counter-revolutionary policies car It is necessary to retur only endanger the aains of th to the soviets not only their tree October revolution. democratic form but also their class the bour- content. As once ain• Welt permites to enter the soviets. co now it is necessary to drive the Next week: bureaucracy and the new aristoc "Make the Lefts of the In soviets. idly Fight". Soviet representatives of the workers, and file collective farmers peasants and Red Army men.

Trotsky goes on to argue that democratisation of the soviets is Joris Iven's films been used as the scapegoat.

partic The latest leading member the showed alsO changes that have taken place the regime to lose his OI 1972 (when they were position is Saifudin since removed as made) and today He has been Then, account had to be First Secretary of the Party ir taken of the upsurge of the and from all his sinklang youth against the Party other posts He has been replaced by bureaucracy during Cultural Revolution Wang Feng who was First of Even though this feeling Secretarv the Party before controlled and neighbouring Kansu was channelled Maoist the cultural kevolution, bul was removed in 1968. wing of the bureaucracy, it could not just be ignored.

The films showed Authority efforts to eliminate the privil- eged status of Party cadres This goes alongside efforts and the unquestioned author- to reinforce the authority of ity of the officers and leading the Party in the army. figures. A complete reorganisation of the Explained proposed. Particularly suspect are those who have maintain- The bad effects of the leading positions for bonus and material while and are accused of just explained. "blowing with the wind" and Efforts were made to show hiding their true positions.

The

HOW

chucism ana question debate also rages ing were encouraged. around the relative import- I nis penoo nas gone-even ance of up-to-date military if in fact it ever existed as equipment and professionally widely as indicated. qualified soldiers or ideologic- Material incentives, ally steeled cadre productivity deals and What certain is tha bonuses are now the officially allegiance to unquestioning sanctioned method of increas- direction of new Ine • ne ing production. regime is the quality most Leadership is to be obeyed required by the Stalinist without question bureaucracy in China today lo back this up a purge while an independent struggle has been carried out with an for political revolution, and unknown number of killings the of construction supposed Trotskyist party, conscious are needed by China's huge The "Gang of Four" has working class.

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

PLAN FOR NALGO

On Saturday 11 Febru- delegates from 128 ary,

NALGO

branches to the Social opposed gathered in Contract plan London to campaign for calling It ignores special conference. inflation on under wages it was the "rom outsel and Contract Communist Party clear that mention of the Socialist the and stalinists the lower paid. Workers Party had reached a agreement basis

OIL

Amendments and procedures tactics special confer- towards the There was but had failed give to amendments, some calling for ence the movement any clear pro- £10, some for £15, others for productivity deals to compen- gramme. sate for the loss of thousands 'Unity' of jobs in the last two years and so on and on for what in seemed like hours. Stalinists, The high The continued their strategy for 'unity day's entertainment stressing the need speaker against the need for a cical programme. consequence of this One of the number wages was Unlu supported which resolutions solil month rule. called for produc- meeting tivity deals and acquiescence Ritualistic in staff cuts. The Stalinists' resolution, the which was eventually carried, call for dragged on than does no more "in line with the pay rises private sector". and While calling for rejection 11.0| ritualistic in general of control wage and cash limits in particular, it shows no method of fight- less of continuing inflation.

ing for these demands. conference After 10% settlement last to year decision 63% pay demand deal. and after increase, of 'left' talk by fantare boss Sidney union National Weighell, the late last month. Union of Railwaymen is The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to construct a principled revolutionary leadership in the working class in Britain and internationally, and for the recon- struction of the Trotskyist Fourth Internation- al on the basis of the Transitional Programme.

The WSL fights at every leaders of the trade unions and the existing - now firmly harnessed to the Labour Party bourgeois politicians of the Liberal Party in an unspoken coalition arrangement.

Against their policies of class collaboration we put forward instead a programme which independent class interests of points to the the working class, its need to endently to overthrow capitalism, destroy its and state machinery repressive socialist planned economy.

Only in this way can workers resolve today's living standards, mass problems of tumbling unemployment, slashed social services, racial, national and sexual oppression.

For more details on the WSL and its work, fill in the form below. Name. . Address Trade Union/Occupation. Send to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

NEWS

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report

CONFERENCE

The IMG, in desperation at effect of the irrelevance went its own public sector of turn through Social series arounds that must have left makes before them dizzy problem of even coming down in favour of the SWP and their f15. Stalinist the resolution was carried a large number of branches agreed to a series of in the procedure participate for calling the special confer- ence. we should At this stage support the call and prepare resolutions that put forward a serious programme Ior

LINC

of jobs and point of the defence public the came conditions from the sculul. Workers Socialist League Pabloite IMG tried to hand a call for the sliding scale of members and SUDOUlLels in giving take care should TeSDIuLIUl call for the 12- support Tne special conference. Branch resolutions should be phrased in such a way as to support the moves mauc branches Scottish dreary business by the debate which are coordinating the the resolved itself into a battle campaign. If they support the resol- between the Stalinists' resol- ution in other terms they will the SWP's demand for f15, conference that find which they have been making procedures rob them right to propose amendments.

for the last two years regard-

RAIL SELL-OUT NEAR

about demanding British Rail poised on the brink of a fill 9,000 posts that Weighell supple- and other union bureaucrats mented by a productivity allowed have c all. vacant. talk this Now even Weighell carefully avoided discarded, and the annual pay stirring up militancy on wages will only throw in his pre-negotiation bluster not review aside the 63% claim but also, productivity on Instead he talked grandly dealing, will help slash further lobs on the railways * Railway workers are seer as the only major sector of the public sector workers in other than the power workers with the industrial strength to cause widespread disruption in pursuit of a claim in excess of 10% Weighell's sabotage of the step against the claim is therefore

NUR

essential part of TUC moves to enforce the 10% limit now have ensured the that they defeat of the firemen. would little else But expected from have been winger Sid right staunch drivers' Weighell, train Ray Secretary organise indep- General cultivated has

BUCKLON

image as a 'left' opponent of establish a the 10% pay limit. comes But when mobilising his own members 30-40%, for their Call Buckton is as reluctant as any right winger. ASLEF train drivers have called on to strike been March 1 for one day in a bid to achieve the same bonus as offered to NUR train drivers.

protest Such phoney the strike action -though must be supported-offers no more than the prospect of an eventual ignominious sell-out.

All-out action is needed to 10% limit break the regain and defend living stan- Scenes after the sacking of Hounslow Hospital.

STRIKE TO

SAVE

HOSPITALS

necessary tasks. The period of 'consul- However, the Area tation' by was taken. over Authority Health Bethnal proposed future of the union Green Hospital has drawn Tract demanding to a close. The threat to the casualty wards and other services vital to the population of this East London area, now looms with full force. In the wake of the forcible closure of Hounslow Hospital threat well the as as London another East Plaistow, the Hospital Green of Bethnal defence the centre of the stands al struggle to defend the health service in London. Discussion Following a demonstration and various protest actions a been taking has discussion in the committee place hospital of composed of representatives workers, NUPE leader Fisher movement the and the Bethnal Green com- ships of the munity. steps Several necessary defend have been taken response to hospital. In particular a close Bethnal Green. resolution has been circulated union branches to trade which involves asking for physical assistance mobilisation to prevent any efforts by the move equip. the union leaders, ment or patients out of the hospital. the cuts on is widely However, next step this recognised that 1S prepare tne guarantee of success. health service. Smashed up The brutal suddeness with which Hounslow was smashed demon- scabs by hired strated this in a vivid way.

At the hospital itself the of still remains problem leadership developing capable of directing the bitter 5 issues will • be that struggle 10 issues necessary. The step, for example, of 25 issues hospital and the to occupying control enforcing workers 50 issues the comings and goings Authority Health of Area the like, still and officials remains to be taken. At the last meeting of the committee a speaker from the Name. . Workers Party Socialist proposed another petition as Address the next step. Diversion methods, protest Such outside of a political perspec- and only struggle, tive Call SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978 committee accepted The the resolution and it is being step forward trade • union from circulated speaker branches. the Workers Socialist League Workers Socialist The resolution League will or we taking up branches policy fight for that the leader- strike action against the cuts and through this resolution, on readers working calls • service in London the health to support this move It is through such a fight of mobilisation the that defence of workers hospitals can be prepared and the union the inaction leaderships exposed BP fold of the In the wake decision by stewards rep Shell tanker resenting drivers to abandon their £90 a week pay claim, BR as expec stewards have, ted, voted to follow suit.

sector public The meeting last Wednes unions pledge themselves to was much more even!! day in divided than that of the Shel call area-wide strike action any attempt to stewards-splitting 32-28 favour of a reworded manage The fight for this policy, ment offer collapse of the pa the The pollica this enormousl of the strength struggle by of the working class and puts powerful section oi worke. is one of the repurcussions o who have done nothing but talk against the TUC betrayal of the fire wit the spot is the men's strike combined unofficia fight of the the lack defence of the leadership capable of fightin the trade union bureaucracy

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

£1.10 £2.20 £5.50 £10.00 (Overseas rates: write for details).

... issues. I enclose £. I would like.. Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR @horribol

Demand blacking by Power men prepare SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 22 February, 1978 The Garners Steak The House attended by strike union tor council delegates was diverted recognition continues into the back streets of the fourth into its week, West End, well away from the after about 80 people scab restaurants supported One demonstra- pickel while was tion last Thursday, organ- Oxford Street restaurant talk- Trades Council and stee ised Westminster ing. and

VIVALS

strike committee. being intimidated by police.

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard. Renort Cyril Margolis and his son Geoffrey, Managing Director of Garners Steak Houses Support for GEC Storemen on strike at GEC's Stoke Plant, Coventry being are by laid supported those off by their action. dispute through the interven- tion of ACAS failed last Tues- The storemen's claim of £2.88 a week backdated to down and a mass meeting of January 1977 for parity storemen the other within voted to continue the action.

the plant. Picketing of the stores has Response led to the lay off of over The response 1,000 workers, 100 or wnom responded by occupying the workers at the factorv shows the feeling on wages building Personnel Office in solidarity up inside GEC. with those on strike. Low pay in the face of a Computer room mounting cost of living have laid the basis for a real fight The has now and occupation been extended standaras Room. Workers Computer Last week the ASTMS branch meeting storemen should extend that give £200 to support ov coming out along-

VOLE

strike fund. side on Attempts to call off the Canas. A fishall Diary

...YOUR MAN AT THE TOP'S

FIGHT TO STAY ON YOUR BACK.

demonstration.

TGWU!

few trades arrested was outside the The TGWU officials have blacking not mobilised the Other vital to win the strike or the levy inside the unions

SUDDUILCIS

di c hoodly Willance strike. All strikers are on only £6 a week hardship money. The question of blacking supplies vital to the Garners strike to every dispute Caltulle refusal of the Region bureaucrats to implement it is of precisely statement where they stand on victory.

I heir retusa to organise a levy is the signal-familiar to all hotel and catering strikers union intends to - inal ine allow destitution to erode the ranks of the strikers. Blacking Against that the strikers must turn their strength and determination back into the demand union, and adequate financial support. Mass pickets are held every Saturday from lunchtime walls The demand must be for officials to organise from the support for these wider TGWU membership. The scab restaurants must be pickets closed and organised defend the regular pickets from police and fascists. All donations and of messages support snould be sent to the strike head- quarters Henrietta al Street, London WC2. pay fight should be This demand raised on the JSSC which has full support the talks broke the

VULCU

SLOrCICH support last Thursday

DONALIONS

those involved in the dispute sent to the JssC. should pe

GEC

Telecommunications Ltd. Telephone Works, Stoke, from other Coventry. Henry Frolish, former finance officer of the living National Union Agricul- regain tural Workers, gambled away £24,000 of the union's funds.

supporting the Old was at Jalled Bailey for four years after their admitting embezzling owll £24,000

AFTER THE EDWARDEO

MEETING...

TOO BAD ABOUT THOSE 12,500

JOBS, BUT WE CANT MAKE AN

OMLETTE WITHOUT BREAKING EGGS

NOW LOOK HERE, MR EDWARDES, THIS IS

A MATTER OF PRINCIMLE... I CAN'T

GUARANTEE TO PREVENT AN

OCCUPATION FOR

ANYTHING

LESS THAN...

Power workers shop of 10%. have issued stewards Correctly instructions to all power have stations and depots to tary industrial prepare for action. betore any otter is accepted 1 ne stewaras, mecling di endorsed rejec- The the weekend slew dius ton ol lne lolo oner will a £3.60 productivity deal and Chapple demanded that the leadership correct to guard against him.

prepare a fight. At the same time the question power stewaras appeare to accepl that the fight should be over larger bonus payments instead of a straight pay demand in excess NGA pay claim Printers have not of 'unity" suffered the usual fate of sell halfway out through wage negotia- provincial tions-they have been printshop sold before out the hour

WECK

negotiations began! differentials

NGA

General Secretary, Joe Wade, , has withdrawn the scueme would claim which union's have put it outside the 10% NUJ chapels divide Journalists on provin- cial papers are paying the and lose penalty of the absence of an adequate struggle over wages. time the Newspaper Society While a go-slow and work have achieved is still being waged against Terusal Newspaper Society to back- and ten per wage Caree cent 1, the real limit. deal to January question-the size of the level, No challenge at local alicasts hardly being posed Those chapels which have won backdating now engaged in negotiating every diversionary method of trying to win wage increases. that leadership. Bonus nalists Paging bonus, concealed usual negligible effect. and deais the threaten jobs are all _being limit the agreed. Meanwhile those chapels which applied the work to rule most strictly are being year. punished by the Newspaper Society by being refused backdating. Every week the willingness amount of money in dispute By settling a chapel at a political questions involved.

HELLO, O'FISHALL HERE... SHUT DOWN THIS

PLANT? WELL, THAT WILL BE EXPENSIVE...

DONT WHINE TO ME YOU

Page 11 just fighting Chapple. To win stewards the then demand Lne y decided not to trust break the coalition. Frank Chapple, general secre- by mobilising the Unly

EETPU.

strength of the working class of have demanded full consul- through the creation tation with the rank and file councis oi action " in the of power VICINIL y quite station and fighting for other that for their strike workers own wage demands can the management agent in their ranks. Inev are power workers stride towards winning their demands. the First and most immediate- 101 workers is however, Iv the power workers must decide on all out strike action in support of their full wage The power workers are not claim. Wade cuts out limit-under the flimsy cover on wages, despite the union's stance against controls wage orner prin and the 12 month rule. Excutive Com- The original claim for the First the newspaper and mittee decided to seek a joint had

SOGAT,

approach been small enough-10%, a 35 NATSOPA and SLADE. Now all members have consolidation of been told that 'enough Phases 1 and 2, and improved common was estab- ground bonus and a national sick pay lished' for joint claim - 10% plus nothing. But Wade had no intention to members of allowing members to fight Wade wrote: 'The claim was put forward on the understanding that, as part of the settlement a programme of meetings wil be set up to negotiate during the life of the agreement a number of other claims. "The NGA's negotiations also made the would expect to have, during life the wheemen discussions constructive finding a comprehen- their aim of and permanent solution isolating those chapels which sIve to the problem of our lower are prepared to fight directly paid members and • co-opera- openly against the 10% tion from the British Printing Industries Federation and Newspaper Society in encour- aging the introduction of self financing productivity It is the obvious failure of schemes'. leadership of the union that this has come about. But more important is the failure 'Negotiations' other of any effective challenge to aspects of the original claim are therefore being postponed The SWP-dominated Jour- until after the 10% deal Charter' has had its introduced in April. Once Wade has given up without national vote had gone

SOGAT,

shot being fired and against a strike over the 10%

NATSOPA

and SLADE have followed suit 'militants' of Jour- nalists Charter gave up the One of the reasons Wade fight for wages for another

NGA

for ordering members back at Darlington Until a firm revolutionary scab on the journalists base is built in the NUJ, the strike for a closed shop last of journalists to yeat, was that the

NGA

end years of low wages will needed to husband resources never be harnessed to face the for the forthcoming wages

2,500 WORKERS @ $6,000 EACH-

PLUS 10% OF COURSE,

LET'S SEE, THAT'S...

NOW PLEASE DON'T BE HASTY, SIR...I'M SURE

I CAN PRESSURE THE BASTARDS TO GO HOME

LET'S SAY, $1,800?

...$1,600

DONE!!

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

US MINERS

TIGHTEN

THE SCREW

The Carter administra- tion tion is weighing its shortages DOWel options on moves to end sale the 11-week coal miners' striké. strike that has now begun both also to cause increasing indus- trial lay-offs in America's industrial Mid West. effects The Chrysler Corporation has warned that it could be most Carter-uncertain of effect of an injunction At the weekend of 18-19 February, the Second Annual tent proletarian favour of of the Workers Conference Union Socialist League adopted per- spectives for the development gramme in of its political line and inter- wittle the vention both in Britain and Internationa tendency, aiming to internationally. Details of possibilities of reaching decisions and their these matic coreement implementation will be pub- towards fusion" lished in due course. This conference number period preceded by a lenguly preconference discusion the consistent struggle During this period many fruitful debates took place to turn away on such questions as the nature of the fight for the call for a workers government against Social struggle ship in the class struggle Democracy and on our attitude to this grouping, by the national question. of this course ing politica

CUFFIC

discussion there emerged within methods bourgeois politics, the League group, entirely petty bourgeois composition ings and backstairs recruited about and led by refugees from

WSL

intrigue in every orner le that tendency, who-against declared anel -called upon task previous forced to shut down produc- 500,000 workers in a result or electric Ohio- the Mid West and Appalachia could be laid off. worst-hit by ine This Carter has why Ford and General Motors become increasingly concern- a settlement face ed to lorce factory shutdowns as a result the dispute.

BUL

nis options so are severely of the gathering power crisis- cong which limited. have level talks between been intensified by one of the Top US leaders and the winters miners Coal bosses' numeRous have Operators' Association led to a complete dead-end.

No basis 40 hours Emerging from Carter's of continuous talks, chárge Ray Marshall announced that: basis for no uncle further negotiation". no hasis either for the UMW bureau- home the cracy

TOICE

bosses' current offer, which has already been rejected by a of the union's 30-6

VULC

bargaining council and given of protest rise wave -throughout the union. Arnold Union President weeks into Miller only ten his second term of office, has been slammed trom all sides recommending the offer, for imposed which would nave penalties on miners who take unofficial strike effectively abolished cost of living wage increases, medical benefits endangered and pensions, and opened the way for speed-up.

WSL: A STEP FORWARD

sush "Centrist roadblocks" as the the League to liquidate its consis- orientation Despite reaches of "exemplary trace work" and to abandon its including numerous breaches

WSL

constitution struggle tor the ransitional Pro grouping and the loss of one or favour of discussions might other- ultra-left sectarians of two memders have Spartacist been able to маке the struggle for contribution • explore ine

WSL

the leadership program- fought for this •Iscussion go through to the end development of a petty This grouping won to its ranks left tendency sourceois ultid members or the movement as aire this stage our history wat inevitable part of the fight which as a few who have grown tired of has taken up leadership

WSL

ine of the WSL the into turn members the circles of working class. TrOM bourgeois debate and into • revolutionary leader- Necessary By the time of the conference The fight against this tendency largely abandon- part of steeling work and adopting was a necessary our members and developing the reflecting thel understanding our members in secret meet- League intrigue, the memo or care fighting within ne workine clas against bureaucratic leaders to a faction which and for the policies and principles main politica the Programme smash transitiona Miller (right) with Carter men Horvitz (left) and Marshall

UMWA ON

STRIKE

NO

CONTRACT

NO

WORK

Now, despite reports that rejected because: have offered the employers not to impose Inancial penal- dealing clause ties on strikers, and to restore strikes is too restrictive agreements, cost language Miller still clearly feels unable absenteeism to take the chance of recom should be mending a new deal. proposed most bitter Some of the to his first effort and resistance persons was from the executive board of District 29 in Miller's own ment must eliminated." home state of West Virginia.

representing board. 24;500 members, called for In Illinois formly negative". Presidents *This is The discussion-unlike that in movements-was many orne however allowed to run its course until it was abruptly ended when the defeated Spartacist supporters announced their resignation trom the Workers Socialist League and immediately deserted the movement. Strengthened Miller, three-cornered the The membership obviously WSL emerges much strengthened whole experience. experience determined to con- ever than tinue the basic proletarian • orien- national tation of the movement to build wastinglor. qualitative after gains of the down period, and to develop receil necessary Work theoretical their clear for . the reconstruction contract. Fourth International We will publish further details both of this fight and of othe in the development of the reporters: issues issues of our WSL in subsequent theoretical paper „ane

C OT

magazine. same right that caused us all that trouble last year" It is the instability of the Miller bureaucracy that gives Carter his biggest headache in struggling to end this historic strike. himself Miller Though clearly accept any would thing, it is lat trom cellall that an attempt to invoke unle Taft-Hartley Act anti-union would against effectively break an action in which gun-toting teams been pickets have non-union mines Ignored Mid West state governor warned the President have that a court injunction calling return to work for 8 Io1 d days might well be ignored Carter himself has remarke has never beer that the law used successfully against th successfull mies defied the full weight of stat to stag military strikes the height of th attempt And any against thi invoke the basic layer of the US labou movement could sever c damage the traditional collab between unio oration Militant/Nancy Cole bureaucrats and the capitalis the proposed contract to be Democratic Party. This political questiol proposed penalty now stands as a central issu with wildcat in the dispute. With both Democrats an concerning Republicans openly ranger and vague against the miners, condition clarified the ideal for the call for th al t increase wages 111 UMW and other unions t is not enough capitalis break from these and the cost of living adjust- parties and establish a Labo be th represent Party interests of US workers A similar stand was taken But this call is avoided b • UMW officials represent- all the "socialist virtually ing 16,000 miners in Ohio.

around th elements active official strike. announced that rank and file The "Trotskyists" of th response to Miller's proposed Socialist Workers Party hav contract was "swift and uni- articles eve failed in major to criticise the Miller leade ship of the UMW-let alone t and vice presi- link support to the miners t dents of 23 Illinois locals sent to call for a Labor Party.

a telegram to Miller saying: to inform you Independence that the rank and file miners In this they have aped th in District 12 UMWA as local position of the Communi union officials feel that after reading the proposed agree.

Party. And the sectarians of th ment that you should resign League, whi Spartacist calling for blacking and fo Shaken elected strike committees, fa put forward any call f assert the who gained office on only 42% of the vote in a political independence of th bosses' parties. the Yet for all the impact shaken by ha would miners victory He has ordered the union's on the powerful US labo headquarters movement, tar the mo closed political questio be important angry miners is to turn the mass forces pushed their way in to make US trade unions awa views his seeking concessio from Carter and away fro his allies in the bureaucra Now reportedly carrying a fight gun for self-defence, he told and towards Tne construct a party capable , the independe "The people who barged representing interests of the working cla into the headquarters are the bunch as a whole to strike