Socialist Press no. 93

OF Labour MPs alongside five Tories endorsing an openly racialist report of the Parliamentary Select Committee Race on Relations and Immigra- tion is not simply an affront to the workers movement. It is, of course, a scandal- ous attack on a section of the working class which breaches every principle of socialism.

But it is also clear evidence of the utter inability of reformists who the accept assumptions of capitalism to fight racialism. The Labourites-who from 'left' winger one-time ana Trotskyist Sydney Bidwell to Eric open right wingers Moonman and former Fred Willey and accepted question

WITHOUT

the basic proposition of the Report: "We believe that present economic and empovment prospects give no ground for any expectation that there will be scope for immigration in the foresee- able future" "Inevitability" They therefore started out in complete agreement with the Tories in accepting the "inevitability" of continual capitalist crisis, sky-high and vicious unemployment anacks on social services In order to maximise profits.

The purpose of the Report became uncalately restricted to finding ways and means of further restricting the present trickle of black immigration and driving. out as many as possible of those already here. Starting from the require- ments of capitalism in crisis, the Committee could only have produced facialist report. Plenty on dole The fact is that capitalism has less uses now than it had during the 'boom" for new immigranis to Ill low-paid

SOCIALIST

PRESS

* 93 * March 29, 1978 * 15p

COALITION

RACISTS!

Tribunites PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Repor bloc with Tories and who declared that he did not unorganisea loos-unere are plenty of people now on regard Thatcher as a racialist, the dole queues with little but "an extremely of any other woman on

DIOSOCCU

muddled

LOUS

question". employment. Now he has put his name "Good sense to a report which embodies. So if the interests of the nearly all of Thatcher's and not the basic employers, proposals. Its provisions. rights and independent inter- include: ests of workers are taken into end to 'large scale *An makes "good account, immigration. sense" to cut immigration.

* An annual quota for It to the makes sense immigration from the Indian Tories

TOT

anothel reason sub-continent. They desperately need a reac- * A crack-down on illegal tionary base of support if immigrants, co-ordinating they are to drive home their with Social Security offices proposed battery of attacks ana tne ponce on the working class after an * Penalties on employers election victory. who hire illegal immigrants.

Whipping a hysteria about "foods" of immigrants * More black British citizens to be denied the right "swamping" the "national to come to this country. character" offers defend the cheap and easy road to Rather than frustrated sections the immigrant population from OI middle class-squeezed the propaganda of the Tories towards bankruptcy by the the physical growing big monopolies-and back- violence of the fascists sections workers ward of denied leadership by class

TUC

and collaborating Labour bureaucrats. "Muddled" Two months ago Thatcher launched campaign, InIs clearly acting in full know- of the ledge tions of the Select Committee Report. Far-reaching calis for strin- against "illegal" gent achon immigrants and other measures were aired by Thatcher other • Tory and spokesmen. sle wel al une lime was one of the Thatcher few Labourites Palestinian struggle. Deakin, (Part 3).. The Report advocates a big increase in police powers against blacks the National Front wage cutting and mass unem- his Bidwell and racist plovment have created con colleagues on this anti-immi- ditions fertile for racist and "for gration committee have fascist propaganda the unity" Labour Parties sake of added must of their voices to the Tory cam- course pass resolutions con- demning the Select Com After a few initial bleats mittee Report. that the Labourites had been But such protest is not "duped" and "outman- enough to stamp out oeuvred" by Tories, racialism

TO G

Bidwell has now settled down In defending the right of to a dogged defence of the all workers to settle and to report. work in the country of their demanding the and choice, Hysteria repeal of all Immigration Laws. It is necessarv to take Replying to a mild attack active steps to combat fascist on it by Labour Party chair- attacks and and Tribunite propaganda. Joan Lestor, Bidwell declared The labour movement that if immigration is an elec must close ranks against Tory and the Tories issue and NF

TOT

racists and their "take realistic line more defenders. than Labour", then "you can say goodbye to a Labour Defence squads victory" Bidwell's "realism" has ir It must organise workers fact played a major part in defence squads repel to laying the basis for renewed on black LaSCISI aLLacKs and increased racialist workers and their families.

hysteria by Tories and by the Lib-Lab coalition - Front, completely tied to capitalist National and for and renewed intensified policies and racialist legisla- harassment of the immigrant tion-must be broken, along with its 10% pay limit. community by police, immi- officials, *No sackings! Work gration social sharing on full pay. security officers and the *Create new jobs! For whole weight of the capitalist programme of useful public state apparatus. In adding his name to this under trade union works Tory document he and his control. *Restore the social Labour colleagues have joined services! For a cash injection, an unholy racialist coalition.

But this does not exhoner- with automatic compensation Bidwell's for inflation, under workers opponents on this issue. To a management. *Nationalise the man they continue to support udOI Lib-Lab industries! For a planned reactionary coalition, whose policies of socialist economy

INSIDE

DOING THE

'UNITY' WALTZ

PAGE 9

Inside Oxford Nursery Fight.

.. p.4 ..Back Page .. p.8 - Sit-in- to save nursery important move in an against the cuts in education and social services, parents and supporters have occupied the nursery class in South Oxford to stop its closure by the Tory Oxfordshire County Council. 30 full time nursery places and the jobs of a teacher, a nursery assistant ane anciary ioos wer officially axed last Thursday, the last day of term ne occupation was staced or Tuesday 21, two days March before official closure, pre empt any plans the council ma nave nad to close the class early.

At 3pm the parents with friends moved in to collect thei children and locked the doors announcing to the teacher and cleaner intended that they occupy tne class and inviting them to stay and join the campaign. Undoubtedly the Council planning to make moves towards soon as the Court resume after Easter. Response from the local labour movement is strong due to by the the preparations made One its leading Cap tien leading up closure The Trades Council and several individual union branche aireday peacea to aeren the nursery class and are now supporting the occupation and it call for the reinstatement of a teacher, nursery assistant, cleane and dinner staff, as well as the 30 full time places Inside the sit-in, p.4

Zimbabwe 'democracy' farce

— INTERNATIONAL-

Mitterand (left) and Marchais New moves towards Popular Front With scarcely a pause leader Marchais cannot have been blind to these 'dangers'.

breath after the for Developments the election, general second round of the election bourgeois politicians and clearly nave labour bureaucrats of the Stalinists' objective Republic have Characterising the French Fifth plunged back into their experience as example', defend to campaign Spanish CP advised capitalism in France. fellow counter-revolutionaries The outcome of the seeK oUL agreement between the of course election has modified their tactics-but it disadvantaged classes and the the slightest middle classes in particular'.

not made their Will ale 'Historic compromise aims. The results once again con- The obvious firmed the conservative bias examples for this course lie in of the electoral system. the 'historic of Although the parties the right now hold a reduced the perween Christian Democrats, majority of 9l parliamentary seats, they gained only 50.7% the support CP itself to Spanish as against of the votes cast, Francoist government. 19.3 for the 'Union of the Marchais HIll Left. of need this Petty wrangling Already he had arranged to President mCCL Statisticians with 'socialist' d'Estaing to discuss the pro- sentiments draw can Some gramme of the new from these ment and the role of the CP.

¡gures, but they do nothing reveal the ponca. orgi of a series. ;:he results. Socialist meet For the last six months, Mitterand, Socialist leaders of the by visited Parties have ana communist (leader Bergeron engaged constant the Ouvriere, the over wrangling union their electoral :actics Edmond Maire, head ¿lance and the details of the

CFDT

"com- collaborationist played on programme'. part in cementing the 'Union never The CISCUSSIORs of the Left'. principal the :ouched on Demoralisation ssues at stake :tne inclusion 'Left' bourgeois Radicals in an electoral pact with workers' parties, and the more the elections themselves.

signing of a joint programme Giscard has not only between themselves, worked to bring the labour with this alien class but also force. bureaucials position in his strategy for Any consideration of prin- is of course anathema the defence of capitalism.

ciples to the participants in such a unable But the motives of the been bloc. without totally provoking any their base torm of discussion were far thus their value to the bour- From obvious. Certainly they regained geolsic. But now Attle credibility principled leadership fighting and Stalinists freedom to manoeuvre. he Socialists to advance the interests of the working class.

Open divisions On the other hand, these divisions seriously inevitable pen caused damaged the left's electoral With prospects. this bourgeoisie- The petty numerically strong and with file, ionsiderable social weight in Mitterand have follows France-inevitably take the leading political class in any society. collaboration. Seeing the leaders of the working class locked in futile political with rivalry the majority of the content, smallholders, shopkeepers returned from easy. solidly and Giscard's candidates of the right. still ority But so shrewd and exper- at present. Formerly held together by since the shared reactionary sentiments clearly that were nevel revealed the

RPR

is defined, developing programme designed to form the basis of 'negative confrontation all-out a spokesman and between the bourgeoisie his working class. programme has This new broad very with that of parallels many most the British Tory party. Thathcer, Chirac, •hopes to exploit the reaction- 'positive' compromise CP and Italian and the Suarez was useful tip. Giscard govern- This exchange is only one Giscard will also HOTO: Laurence Sparham, IFL Party leader been and has now both Andre Force of yellow trade and the union confederation, prominent Patriotic Front leaders Mugabe (left) and Nkomo This fresh approach is a far significant event than consistently central into a Yet until now they have comply to destroving of support-and Seldom has move "democracy" been towards fraud- transparent. internal the reformists more ulent than the nave greates formally settlement" As the sequel to months of took effect in Zimbabwe 10 calls from their leaders that days ago. workers should halt all indus- After this "settlement" who is trial action to build the cam- Smith! Who Prime Minister? paign, the election defeat has controls the white-led army? A demoralis- committee of whites headed by a racist general! The three black "leaders" who and weakness have participated in this fraud are, confusion amongst the rank along with Smith, members of the Marchais and four-man Executive Council new been able lo which is supposed to cnoose new first decisive steps ministers and make arrangements towards a new level of class "majority rule" elections later in the year Much as the imperialists would Confrontation and regularise this ratify like to deal, even they know reactionary that it has no chance whatever of But the road to a Popular being accepted by black masses.

Front govenment will be far The only reasons that workers On the one hand, still assemble In comparatively parliamentary maj- to hear Smith's numbers depends the Bishop Muzorewa is that, stooge ary tendencies generated by the social tensions the economic result trom But Mitterand is not as yet able to release Giscard from the restraints imposed on his by the Gaullists. policies The workers W nO for the 'Unity of the Left' get their leaders

IDLO

will not tolerate any volte-face into unity with the The vote by US miners 'liberal' bourgeoisie. has some end their to warcials lUU delicate footing in front of strike and accept a sell- him. The main purpose of the contract out quarrels with the Socialists bodies a number of con- to create the was Dest conditions for building a far cessions to the employers broader Popular Front form- is a sign of inadequate where the representa- ation, leadership tion of the bourgeoisie would defeat. than ne greates provided by the puny 'Left' Stringent contractual pro- visions for the sacking of un- Radicals. official strike leaders and $20 Unwelcome effect a day fines on those engaged in unofficial strikes have been run the risk of seing Giscard's Stalinists 110W But UDF and the Socialists forge part of would Tne alliance which officials have agreed to allow exclude them. disciplinary Such isolation would have from unofficial strikes to go the unwelcome to a state Arbitration Review CP the into a transiorming Board. magnet for millant The right to strike is far class collabor- opposition to from safe-and ation. entirely factor in The decisive forces at the pit concerned of determining the success 30 years outflanking these various care under the control of the be the will miners' union are also ended M anoCuvies French working class. in the deal. The general election was a The contract was accepted considerable setback for• partly internationally, but workers reports as to its real contents; sense can an electora. In no partly because analysed setback be of 109 days without pay; but defeat. largely because, with no clear The extent of this setback alternative can be controlled only by the action of a principled leader- Workers union, there seemed ship fighting for the revolu- little prospect of substantially programme tionary socialist changing the to advance the interests of all offer. workers. Smith stays in command in the this deal entrenche. rights and privileges of the whites the and, could Lintedow leaders of ZAPU and ZANU (the verenct smith and muzorewa Patriotic Front) talling present an alternative which they the find credible tanzania. botswand While it is clear that the liber- Lusaka ation war has intensified over the Cavitat Patriotic it is also clear last TeW and Mugabe, that the ZANU and ZAPU leaders Young back deliberately nolalu! outside the conference hall.

using their military trom strength in the war in the hope of crucial reaching negotiated with the imperialists which in this means Britain and the USA.

that some 01 cast shoe-shine more Thal Owen-the David compromise boy of British imperialism-is now patching together Owen and Young on the other.

Smith. combination For two the Muzorewa settlement to with Patriotic Front and the so-called oressinc "front ine states ZAPU leader has already indicated he is ready and Smith At the same for deal wIll feel Muzorewa Muzorewa. position pontical the Malta UMW leaders - kill 109-day strike Arnold Union President who had been bom- Miller, 109-day barded with calls for his resig- nation since his endorsement of the first contract offer, is a which em- strong Carter supporter. bureaucratised So the 1S the that make up layer UM Ws bargaining council. rather than Fear of growing contona with Carter and the Taft Hartley legislation

UM W

invoked the against brought them to give their sell-out support to Contialt Now the task in the union is to drive out these traitors.

in a little publicised The not miners are deal shown defeated. They have US employers can be charges resulting But back down. forced to that also they proved leadership tied to the capital- ist Democrane rally callo.

win workers full demands.

depends As New York city of the balance printers workers port and now enter struggles on wages health oi ree this political lesson must be learned. be The unions must the Democrats broken trom and a Labour Party built on a because of misleading socialist programme the interests of the defend of the effects working class Trotskyist leader- And built in the ship must leadership course of this fight to offer a within the United Mine principied programme and understanding all clear oI wings of the labour bureau.

terms of the Clavy. conference of Britain, the US and US and the Patriotic Front economically they, too, the Patriotic Front will have to reconvene, and then a joint con must be desperate for a deal.

take place with figures show that last Latest year Zimbabwe's national income Last weekend the leaders of per head tell by about ufo.

"front line" states (Zambia, now only about 70% of Angola and 1974. The decline is unabated Mozambique) met in the Zambian expected to continue with the this year. quotas were cut back Nkomo Import with by one-fifth in January and have larter s mat hanging around been reduced by a similar amount Tor the next cuallet The budget deficit is growing As we go to press the outcome uses up more than on this ur it looks very probabl meeting A wage freeze is due to expire the front-line states June in and blact worker. are bound to offer resistance to any and with Smitt renewal of a measure which has one hand and already severely cut tea livin standards. Inem leas The scene is set for a compro- (Zambia and Mozambique) some mise between all the participants problems economic -all, that aside from Tine million black Zimbabweans whose of trade with, and more especially interests can only be advanced by for national liberation struggle time Smith and admits not strong and with the compromise shiontest racism and imperialism ¡wto dont with Rritain the

KID-GLOVE IMPERIALISM

MASS MURDERER SITS ON

SECRETARIO

ESTADOS UNIDOS

INERAL

Carter Last year the

IN PANAMA DEALS

administration signed with the treaties

LWO

Panamanian military of General dictatorship Omar Torrijos about the after that the US government future legal status of the criminals themselves was typical of the discussion of have the right to Panama Canal Zone now militarily "legally" occupied by the Interveric une calies Embarassing should regard its interests as as the revel- United States. Torrijos being threatened. alons about The American seizure and Through his rigid control been, the treaties have Carter's of the mass media, however, become central occupation of the canal has waning political position.

heen a bitter symbol of the Lorrios was able to advertise Vith virtually all his predatory role of US imper- this traud as a great step policies in ruins it looked like forward against imperialism lansm in Lalin America. his only chance to score some and he managed to engineer a It nas been a constant large majority in kind of victory the target for any Latin American dum in favour of the treaties.

Congress political dulliliz Since then, however, the The administration, there- present an an eras! treaties have become fore, set out cynically to buy image. political rack on which both the any Senators votes General Torrijos has been Torrijos and Carter have been who were for sale. more anxious inan most to stretched conceal the anti-working class Increasing Implicit. pain. character of his reactionary In Panama the real nature of the treaties has filtered The prices paid imperialist cover on the ques- were Federal spending programmes through and mass of tion of the canal. Panamanian workers of special interest to voters Nixon had spurned him; now in the states represented by undoubted v reect them as a Ford was cool. But Carter Senators and Lne wavering louna ine Torrijos two new more specific reser- get what he needed for a bit of vations the treaties cover of his own. another reelenaum maonly reserving for the US the right It would be the "proof" of ne will be able to ao lt only to send troops into the Canal through outright rigging Carter administration's ine Zone after 2000 if the canal the ballot. benevolence towards During the were closed by strike action America and other backward "debate' (in reality a service and to keep troops perman- and semi-colonial counties. chauvinist, imperialist ently in the area if the two his would "пес- monologues) on the treaties governments thought it clothing. the US Senate essary or appropriate". (i.e was revealed that Torrios to prop up reactionary pro- Formal change brother was a big time heroin imperialist regimes). Torrijos racketeer and that Of course all this was himself at least knew about Both leaders, therefore, implicit in the anyway and possibly participated in treaties. But it is awkward, «caly someo une trees knowing full well that they the racket. for both Carter and Torrijos, The ultra-right anti-Carter intended to that to buy the interest of the faction the US Senate nothing more than a formal in Senators, take off discrete change in the sovereignty of seized on inis to argue tnal the plain the US could not trust the the Canal Zone. wrapper show the hard- Even the formal ending of word of such a criminal. core imperialism inside L'S sovereignty is not to come Such hypocrisy from In this way he got a bare all for one year 2000. And group who are arch- two-thirds majority

TIME BOMB

month This the Company alone has left Congress. Indonesian Consultative Indonesia billion severa Another source ot grow- dollars ing opposition to the regime People's Congress elected debt to foreign is the Islamic Church. Origin- capitalists. President Suharto to The regime's inability ally had been firm tney another five year term by develop agriculture has left supporters of the anti-com- overwhelming Indonesia the world's munist policies of Suharto.

largest importer of rice, and But there is a logic to the majority. made it totally dependent on development But this should not fool imperialism. munist, military regimes. thinking that anyone Unable to solve the basic protests against either the Indonesian people imperialist domination economic and social problem.

or the imperialist backers of of the masses, they begin to culminated in huge demon. Suharto are happy with his strations against the visit of see every mass organisation, pertormance. Japanese Prime Minister Suharto was the tae even tie must reactionary, as General in 1974, which were crushed a threat to stability. organiser of the massacre of The of with hundreds killed. encouragement the Indonesian Communist mysticism and superstition by Party in 1965 in which over a But the student movement is growing once again with a the state as against organised million people died. religion is part of this process protests wave His has been of fragmenting the masses.

regime against corruption&. sustained in office by huge February 25, five bourgeois press has imperialist grants and loans.

and 55 been people were injured another victim of paranoia Last year alone it received arrested in a battle between Suharto's about $691 million in bilateral aid.

possible On an o sources But even Western enthusiasts March 17 12 high opposition. another for imperialist puppet school students were injured never made more Stales are forced to admit that it is by police. than the most muted the regime in The state has now closed criticisms of the corruption in 103l -and that is some boast. all schools unti the leading tamules of the reign Corruption in the State Oil the People's of terror in the universities, Consultative of the treaties last week. But the more difficult vote on the second one is still to come.

Especially as the treaties are beginning to look dead as far as Panama is concerned. There no question any longer of Torrijos being able to conceal the real content of Panamanian workers and students. The Panamanian Masses want to throw out US imper- ialism once and for all. It is increasingly plain to them that Torrijos is an obstacle to that. So the of Hel Carter's kid-glove imperialism looks increasingly as if it will be to sharpen and not pacity Latin America. Italian politics continues to be dominated almost to the point of obsession by ex-President Saragat what called "the worst thing that has happened in Italy since the liberation". Democrat Leadine caristian Al do or d Brigadis he hands "Red Brigades" of all their demanoino the release members now on trial. There seems little doubt, how- ever. That ine alan runne cidss- with the full backing of the Com.

and of the slave conditions in Indonesia's prison colonies.

But Suharto found even this

COSCO

down the independent press.

No way forward This has led to the form- ation of a liberal bourgeois and religious opposition, who are unable to that terror and repression are necessary to the continued rule of imperialism in Indon- esia in a period of capitalist crisis. These people offer no way forward the people to of contrary Indonesia the to view of the Stalinists who are once again looking for cross class alliances Only the overthrow of capitalist property relations offers a way forward for the Indonesian This masses. requires the construction an independent working class leadership. Carter (left) and Torrijos (right) sign the treaties

CP, SAS JOIN HANDS

munist : Party-are prepared for Aldo Moro to become a martyr to cause strenge power of the tottering capitalist state in Italy. 10 days since Moro's dramatic kidnapping the Andre- otti government has introduced new reoressive measures Maximum prison sentences for kidnapping have been raised to 30 years and accoraing whether the victim lives or dies.

Suspects may be held longer WitnoUl charde ane cuestioned longer without a lawyer being present. telephone tapping now of time limit (it was previously days). *nIs stut elves itaan Dorce less nominal licence than the British police have under the Act. rrevention terrorisiT though in practice as in Britain the regulations are, in any case, ignored. lu looks as i tue state dutner as far as ever from find.

ities are Ine voro "Expert" They keep making dark hints at "international involvement" in Ine kianaooino. reterrina oresum ably to the Red Army Faction ir West Germany national involvement in the state operation. astorte are being assisted by a large contin.

gent from the anti-terrorist squad or the west German donce as wel as a smaller "experts" group of from the British SAS is coperation in repressive operations in Europe is the fruit of the meeting of Home Ministers chiefs are security oralise b Merlyn Rees last year in Britain.

The Communist Party leader- ship has it anything stepped up it: campaign to the repressive •ack apparatus of the capitalist state.

Close collaborator • Leth nte In an spokesman talked proudly "close collaboration" of the -Portugal

AFTER

THE

restoration ot miltarv ranks to a number of formerly dismissed right- wing (including ouacers Spinola), Portuguese In e army has once more been declared "safe" by its fellow imperialist armies Last week the Portuguese received from West army

USA

Germany of new and number tanks armoured cars designed strengthen NATO's southern flank. New

NATO

arms deliveries are expected shortly from Britain. Italian CP leader Berlinguer between him and Interior Minister Cossiga over the Moro affair. Asked about the reform of the police Pecchioli said three reforms were necessary: restore several thousan police agents, at present uselessly employed, to operational service; maK! more worthwhile and encourage recruitment; to set up operation.

al unity between une turee oreseni police forces which not only act separately but compete with each otner Unpaid agents Pecchioli that every added should report suspicious citizen activitat the posite. That then Stalinist policy in the face of the social and political crisis. of Italian capitalism: strengthen the repres- bourgeois sive apparatus ot ine make it more efficient and get the masses to act as its unpai agents. CP Secretary General the trade union federation

CGIL

made it as explicit as possible: state must "ne cemocratio defend itself with the laws it ha and the men it has. We must be those men Despite the widespread rejec tion of the methods of the Re Brigades, there is no doubt tha the spontaneous class reactions of Italian workers • to the crisis will the of the increase

SIZE

between the Italian working class and its purported "leaders" in the Independence The rapid growth of repression which Stalinists are support mori desceratel urgent than ever the building of a revolutionary leadership based on the independence of th class, the rejection working collaboration with the bourgeois •ne goal or such a party mus be not the strengthening but the destruction of the apparatus of

Page 7 41 2IN

193RSS

Inside Oxford nursery struggle The the wall The space on children scarcely reserved for today's paintings the difference. notice now boasts "today's cuttings' They carry on with the Occupation class the nursery as from teacher moves door large Over the group to group. notice warns that noone is to unless they are But a normal recognised the and schoolday. There are more wall opposite a smaller one people around, out of sight states : A Tidy Occupation is in the next. room, the doors a Happy One. are all locked and some of the South Oxford Nursery unfamiliar NO LICes Class look about them. occupallull Supporters pass round occupation rota as occupiers settled in last Tuesday Listed for the axe last week it remains stubbornly open. Parents and supporters keep a 24 hour vigil in the spacious victorian building.

A new waiting list is being compiled from families in the Unemployed teachers area. take shifts on the class.

A 'security officer' ensures that all taking part in occupation are tamular witn the the amendments to Criminal Law Act, commonly known the Trespass ACt has just 30 The nursery building under places. occupation would easily hold three times that number. Willingly imposed But it was a victim of the Tory controlled vicious Oxfordshire County Council package -one oi a o1 Cals through in the Calmed education service. willingly The cuts are imposed by the Tories. But they never tire of pointing out that they are the result of Labour government and the Lib-Lab coalition tuLs install- in annual orucicu ments. Drastic cuts in the number the cracy detused one ol of most powerful opposition to be shown by teachers. Even so they were forced to call a ten day strike of throughout Oxford teachers for several and before derailing weeks struggle. Health cuts are service likewise planned on a massive scale in the county. significant cuts in Already. carried been the Nois have single through without SOCIALIST PRESS, W'ednesda! 39 Marik. iS S uous imprisonment in home and loss of the freedo to work. The axeing of the nurser cut the jobs has already nurser one teacher, one ancillary assistant and as dinner helpers ar such cleaners. so manv lobs the chopped have been witho reduced hours 1n opposition. The occupation is a dire challenge to the long winde collaboration of the 10 C of alt the pubi leadership sector unions. And that in turn is mere a mirror image of the colla oration of the national leade ship of those unions has The occupation national significance It W doubtless spark similar oco pations in other areas, will be watched with horr by the Tories and apprehe sion by the bureaucrats. Campai The Nursery Committee Occupation pledged itself to fight all ci the make nurse a central pla occupation for opposition Appeal It is directing its campa back into the trade uni movement.

NUPE,

NALGO

and t

NUT

are all being asked back the campaign and tra union branches to pledge si provide forces the occupation. Geo

NUPE

official, Anderson, himself responsi for smothering against the cu nilalives shamed Cuts have taken has been plact throughout the county providing a letter instruct.

council services. members not to cut leadership of Again services.

NUPE

NALGO

have occupation leat and An refused to lift a finger to stop states: "We are appealing to Opposition stops at the trade union movement exhortations to the Labour Party for supp point when the Tories fail. action against 30T cuts. we defeat this closu Significance the fight against all cuts a For that reason the occu- redundancies and attacks of South Oxford rights pation womers strengthened." Nursery Class has an impact beyond its The vital direction to- and significance immediate significance for campaien is the demar. and children trade union officials t: parents the filling of the involved. for the For those people clearly it jobs. The is of major significance.

That is the

Callaghan's worldwide whitewash assignment

PRESS GANG SPECIAL

Why is Callaghan spending so much time on a mission around the capitalist world?

His travels found him last week in the USA talking to Carter and a tew davs earlier in yvest Germany with Helmut Schmidt.

If Callaghan's public relations people and nis own screasino syrupy conterences are to be believe dress avuncular because one man save the world from economic disaster. Canaanan s messace simple: the capitalist have high unemploy. economies world trade is expanding ment. more and more slowly it at all, the promised boom has not and arrived. New explosion government an V single country pursues expansion- policies these economic al y circumstances it will suffer a new explosion and intlation balance of payments crisis.

all the Callaghan, 00. sdys main capitalist countries must try to expand simultaneously and so ended Unen smoothly without any one econ- amy suffering inordinately!

Callaghan particular, demanding major expansionary policies from the West German ano dadanese covernments That is the ostensible purpose of Callaghan's crusade. How does it relate to read First, there is no of course, doubt about the acuteness of the the sharp reversal of the upswing capitalist industrial production which occurre in the moce oi 1977. Profound crisis Industrial production is now major country lower except for West Germany, Japan and the USA. This sharp industrial slump is new •root ou tue continuco exist- ence profound capitalist crisis. the result of the It is also emergency austeriTy measures taken by capitalist governments in for their desperate search a cure To Tue CrISIS Callaghan's "theory" doesn't, of course, take into account that Ener •oilcies Wite gathering slump throughout the world are the necessary capitalist policies rause hold "rationalise" capital and which are demanded down wages ever where ov cadilal. Thatcher Racialists everywhere have hailed the MP's select com- mittee report on immigration.

But nowhere have they cele- brated more loudiy or ecstat- ically than in the pages of the daily press. header writers TOUnG cutting edge new their one. veered yet closer "heir language handouts to the officiat publicity the National "hey found a new self assurance in the respectability of their anti-black views. Macabre Turning the pages of the Sun, Daily the Bally Express was like stepping into the Gabone ndu lakel machine our PHOTO: Chris Davies. Report Callaghan and Healey industrial production, most recent Percentage change available month. 10 Compared Compared 1970 with one year ago +33 +4.5

USA

-0.3 Britain

WORLD

-3.1 +22 Italy

INDUSTRIAL

+2.7 West Germany

PRODUCTION

- 1.5 +29 Holland

13 PERCENTAGE CHANGE

- 1.6 France +23

PREVIOUS YEAR

-4.8 Belgium +20 15% 1964 '66 '68

LONDON SINIS

rising unemployment (which has These They are being loyally intro. in fact the direct doublec since Wilson's govern capitalist result of the anti-working clas auce oy amos every 1974) and including government one the ment

LOOK

onces oursues ov the so-caled which Callaghan himself leads.

falling living standards of the last Labour government simply the conse two years Callaghan They Cover-up result of the depressed state o knows, from public spending cuts cuence the world economy. and wage control. Callaahan's "theorv" Callaghan would is a deliberate cover-up for the

IT IS MOL

over their fraudulently like to imply, the responsibilities of his pro-capital- protective West German and Japanese responsibility for unem- ist coalition government.

Callaghan and the Labour ployment and falling living stan- governments which are to damne dards. for present economic leadership claim conveniently that Race for the typewriter neighbourhood. National Front Financial Times would greet the what would any mixture of awe leader find to quibble at in the report with outrage. was a following passage from the Mail?

could and ruonation The Guardian accuses and matched only by say, the intro

MOST

Tall minded meT committee public hanging for in Britain will consider iency' and inconsistency the Committee's suggestions to be ''In its resort to ringing moral was volation expected moderate •ecarations couplea with recom The awe came from the realis- long overdue mendations totally at odds with We sit back ation that the most excessive wild cannot simply Committee outdoes the and Britain ano Inmammator many previous contributors to l expressed in the press had all been unlimited and utterly dispropor- debate" backing by at least five of fiances tionate number arven lun describes suggestions Labour irs, including one ano a Tiancaes sue registration as a proposal fuil of half who claimed left credentials.

continent. It is a commitment menace" end which makes But the Guardian couches its The fact that this report was a spirit our mockery

COT

coalition report between Tribune opposition in terms wnich them immigration controls... and the Monday Club was not appeal to the opportunists selves country cease must describes the and chauvinists missed ine Daily Mail devoted mos system any family from Hongkong of its front page and three and a entirely alien to and Singapore Karachi half inside destructive of the traditional which has itchy feet Or LeTT comment. its leader column aren Hoerties or this country and tattered ano obsolesceni from a single column blister to Key to the Guardian's oppos claim to British home and hospit- à four column plague of boils.

*and called ition ality." British freedoms But not the whole this report ang detended tne ance of the principle Inal Labou Sidney Bidwell and

STOV

MPs and Tories must have a joint expected that a "by self-appointed t was to be approach. allans confused and ill-directed attack sums the effort up in the sookesmen oT Ine coloured com munities those tender yet on the report would come from following terms: "As an attempt arrogant souls who see themselves the Guardian -a at bi-partisan of paper which has problems with which all govern as une conscience ou ine naton.

lone stood tor ine noeral exercise The Mail says that the report of capitalist rule enforced by the ments and all communities have the heart the bureaucracy nowadays to be concerned, it is a collaboration which sits on the windpipe of the disappointment cnoch rowel ana strengin to nis wretcher working class valuable opportunity rhetoric woetull

LABOUR

PARTY

situation of British workers squalid Tory policies-his refusal to resolve the capitalist crisis by taking socialist measure devotion to the capitalist cause.

What really worrying Car aonan ano tue Ladour leader: is not all the damage their pro- policies have capitalist worKers. been that he has not inflict enough. Now after two years of falling real wages the crisis of capitalism in Britain is obviously as serious Figures publisned week showed that increase happened capitalist profits which in the early part or 19// came to an abrupt halt in the last quarter Softened-up This is a warning that, despite the honeyed words of Healey anc Callaghan about the health of the capitalist class and economy. the its agent, The coanition coverd ment, will continue their economic attacks on the working class. Callaghan's frantic internation- al visits are aimed to persuade the capitalists of west Germany and Japan that problem east Britain by increasing their imports then the British working class s can up •e more enemie Sortenda for the inevitable next round of economic attacks. A hint of the severity of these is given by last week's announce.

of the plan to turn 40,000 ment in the steel workers out of work industry. such attacks continue to it will become increasingly crow difficult for Callaghan to convince anyone that the crimes are done " toreloners • when everyone can see it is the Labour Party holding the leaders who are weapons. The Financial Times, the voice ot ine big bourgeoisie, attacks tre hypocrisy of the report What the report means is that as many woultwe photos many of these one are of those many already here should be sent home It would have been more straight.

forward simply to have endorsed the views of Mr Enoch Powell" In conclusion the FT, like the Guardian, the imminent collapse of cherished British tree doms: "Do we really want to move to stricter contros on movement.

phe sake on to ident ocard for keeping out a thousand Asians and getting rid o a few thousand more? How far is it really worth in pass laws? And is it from there That last question is what ha divided the Guardian and the Fi from their trigger happy competi.

tors. It is the same question that Taces int to attacks on the working class ir every single shape and form. all-out frontal attack-the the commitment justified by the circumstances? Has the ability of the class collab.

orators repres Fatig No lead for Labour youth 266 delegates and over 1500 visitors, including some from overseas and the Peoples members of Party youth (UK) National Llandudno this gathered weekend for the 17th National Conference of the Young Party Labour Socialists. The reflects turn out the determination of layers youth fight back against them by the Lib-Lab coalition in an attempt to make workers pay Tor ine dosses crisi found no But they political the platform directior from which uike the conterenc was dominated by the 'Militant' tenaency Consensus Apart from few open reformists such as Clause 4 and Tribune supporters there was general consensus that capitalism nas exnausted ootentia the interests of the class socidis transformation society 'Militant' supporters were

DUL

any unanie to otter clue as how this transformation could b Ineir programme even denie the need to break the Lib-Lab fight coalition and for the remova ot ine oresent ront wind leadership of the labour move of fight for part the socidlist policies Instead of this, demands such as 'the nationalisation of the 200 monopolle unut management Contro Cano placed on the present "Labour' Pressure group And the refusal of 'Militant ana supporters role played the crucial ConTron by the retormist and class collat orationist leadership in driving workers' living standards cultivates the grossest musions " these here res result is that though the Ene eve supporters, revolutionan, movement, in practice it remairs a 'left' pressure group on the righ: wing.

NEXT EDITION

The Labour Party Page of next week's 'Socialist Press' will carry a fuller report and analysis of the Labour Party Young Sor ialists Conference and the politics of the Militant Group.

IN DEFENCE OF

A REVOLUTIONA

ORIENTATION

Against sectarian absten This is the final part of our analysis of the main political issues involved in the struggle agai sectarian revisions of Marxism which led to 22 members splitting from the Workers Socialist League 1 month. Part One centred on the general method of sectarianism and its origins in frustration at the c Fit:: Trotsky First of all, it seems to me that in the regional clarify just what part the orts it is necessary to have taken in the genuine acts shevik-Leninists That is the • struggles of Spain's working class. tral question. A political group that stayed outside occupied itself with actual movement and the especially under ticisms after the events, conditions, would be rejected by the olutionary rking class. *I do not doubt for a moment that the majority of • Bolshevik-Leninists in the regions have partici- even when they ted in all the mass movements, their own them conforming to garded as not from the criticises revolutionist not rposes. heart of the movement itside but from the very elf Trotsky, "The Spanish Revolution", p.172 approach-devel- This rindrous right a dinst anyone took up revolutionary ing the VIgorous the fight regarded its winO prement, pro- "principle" as synonymous and its analysis amme with abstention from workers standpoint of the struggles. I active involvement in Proletarian cadre e daily struggles of the class and the arking Only on this basis has it those hi to lead been possible for the WSL to been the develop its proletarian cadre, ruggles-has and to develop also important ricular strength of the drawn from the layers orkers Socialist League student movement and trom ace its foundation as a a middle class background to prement. the point where Call important role waile giving not an inch to play giving practical and political monist and centrist groups leadership in workers' day-to- we ,:neoretical questions, day struggles, *: always seen the task not challenging the reformists and "winning" abstract scretical debate with such The minority who wished crie. but in intervening on to turn the WSL into no more * arogramme into workers than a circle of critics of the ruggles in such a way as to left self-styled various and Fise their existing retorm- =d Stalinist trade union "Trotskyist" groups, and the Programme into Transitional political peaces. allu a latter day Dead Sea Scroll.

the workers that the outset ice the necessity for a from they faced a frontal confron- cutionary leadership. Firm stand I fighting for this orien- the Workers Socialist 1... aque has continually had to rat not only the oppol- of the a xist Group and the adap- simple trade Socialist une Party, but also ciners •ain petty bourgeois layers it in our own movement. Dur firm stand against áll made 2. or opportunisit Workers Socialist League . ol attracton lot brose ements who reject that road Bu: our insistence that our conduct an ::'n! must and consistent taking the demands Transitional Pro- workers' display tation with the most exper- ienced and tested forces in the movement. And in undertaking such a fight they enlisted the aid of the most experienced and the tested sectarians "Trotskyist" movement-the international tendency (ist). Mouthing Woodel "orthodox formulae of Trotskyism" the Spartacists have, since their formation in 1963, adhered rigidly to the perspective of building no more than a large propaganda group. In this minimal objec- tive they have achieved some success. Rationalisation As a consequence the ist whose movement in having "record" consists issued hardly readable "exem- plary" leaflets and statements almost everything. and having always had an opinion and a comment on struggies carried out by other people.

This grouping has a long- and deeply standing position of entrenched the class from austell!! struggle, formulated into 'theoretical' rationalisation for example, Sparaticst in, No. 23: "We that recognise currently embryonic party organisation must necessarily constitue isen u une torn "fighting of propaganda group" in order, by destroy- ing ostensibly revolutionary organisations, initiate drive and /or TOrWarG regroupment process in order one's build own organisation" organisation" "One's own the iSt itself,

IS OI

COLTSE

with its leaders, which unaccustomed modesty, for the established positions

WORKED

workers strike little apparent logic refrain actually calling "the from Fourth International'. In case there is any mis- understanding term ot ine "fighting" propaganda group, statement goes Tne make clear that no real 1t fight is involved: "In doing so the character of this work must always be regarded as exemplary, rejec- ting out of hand any volun- taristic notion of intervening as a propaganda group into all the daily struggles working class inasmuch this would lead to dissipating and forces one's OWIl liquidating the programme" (Our emphasis). Carrion crow And anyone Cast remains in doubt that what is proposed petty

DO U

geois discussion group whose harry, function sole disrupt and other destrov revolutionary" "ostensibly and, like carrion groups crows, to snatch off sectarian elements to build up the ist, concluding point Then position quite makes clear: "Implanting the organisa- tion in the working factory and trade through union work must be carried without any restrictions out level the programmatic and, at the present stage of constructing the party, can be carried out only in an exem- plary fashion it one is not to succumb to the impressionist SOCIALIST FRESS i::::n Trotskyist and record of the moveme principled

ACUE

RELONSTRUCT THE 4TH

INTERNATIONA

VOLITIONI

Part of WSL. contingent on a recent demonstration in support of Turkish metal leadership in giving wishing to lead or struggles. struggles in a given plant o1 without having Such a standpoint trade union Inele" constructed a leadership there the •iSt fore condemns the everlasting impotence within the instrument party". the working class movement.

recognise this Here we see the classical clearly of ultimatism fact, as they wrote nine years combination and adaptation to oppollun ago "Our strength lies in ideas that characterises the rather than in our numbers sectarall thus we will recruit in general Unchallenged individuals who feel the need for a comprehensive theory While insisting that they and world-view and therefore will only raise the whole of respond more to our power- their programme, the ist go limited ideas than our tul on to make clear that they ability put them InTO will not actually fight for this practice programme until such time as More specifically we can they have "constructed expect to grow largely though leadership as the instrument exclusively among of the party". students, who are interested Yet this approach not only in ideas and have a general- the reformists and leaves intellectual curiosity ised Stalinists world, with about of workers' daily leadership relatively less success among struggles, but denies workers". possibility of ever actually Marxist Bulletin IX pp.5-6.

constructing a revolutionary leadership. Idealist concept Trotsky que ciedl w do that workers cannot be won This is not seen by the politics revolutionary Spartacists as a weakness in through abstention: their work. On the contrary, "Only gradually, only on the basis of their own exper- they manage Ta oldist this state of affairs and con- ience, through several stages, can the broad layers of the tort Leninist theory in order to persuade themselves that it become convinced masses leadership is a strength: that "Socialist consciousness is reliable, more firmer, more knowledge loyal than the old". based history and the class struggle Spanish Revolution, the and, p.362) Tnererore. recunes the class There is little likelihood of infusion into struggle process of socialist workers becoming convinced carried by de- of the leadership qualities of concernons classed intellectuals organised that makes movement as part of a vanguard party" of virtue out

together disparate elements into a single category. This is most clearly reflec- ted in the Spartacists' com- plete inability to offer any coherent Marxist analysis of the post-war developments of Stalinism. Special role RY iSt's theoretical the Stalinism simply work equated with social demo- out precisely cracy-leaving special role played by the Stalinism in obstructing and the of usurping the Calls October the In

USSR.

23: "The democratic and Stalinist are proletarian. bourgeois proletarian tion the working ship, class rank [!] bureaucracy. WOrKer dIc

CULICES

twofold movement ast are simul- character. ast taneously and on- workers' Lenin's "bourgeois ty ey ties " he nt. the Stalinist to "worker of This idealist concept do not workers ideas gradually revolunionary and peacefully since these into the existing spontaneous TAlS class struggle has nothing to channels do WiTA workers' on the that the task is in practice to milluchce Stalinist and movement combat spontaneity classR parties divert the working state movement towards revolu- reformist parties)" petty p.23 bourgeois Stalinist the diy way Trotsky iSt position

BIS

article Centrism and of force workers' ionally, yet with himself as

WICH

school, remains by the state important aside

ILS

his rostrum: then the would be solved." if Communist And Parties as the The * spall idealist Spartacists being own by making touch, did represent exactiy before? The offer class precisely towards this, understanding or any other post-w di (ibid) Stalinism. Yet "vantage the But for can found stumbling their point from the end China in result factors to the This Spartacist expresseu deformed state in Cuba, these "orthodox" Where the complexities of old Batista state, the real world over-stretch Cabildisl the compradors of impérial- the rigid recipies of their "orthodox" theory, the Spar- ism. and the consolidation of deformed workers' state. either invent talists neutral one-with the core of This brings them to reject petit- any concept of a revolution- being Its Ene bourgeois Rebel Army. This programme designed to al y had temporarily regime put the irisn working class- on both sides of the present become autonomous of the the head of the bourgeois oraer.. boraer -al Marxist Bulletin 8 uncompleted national revol- What property relations "petty bourgeois" The Spartacists' adherents would a "not class within the Workers Socialist regime neutral" defend? League treated WSL members dis- classical opportunist the Spartacists Have their docu- covered such a thing as petty- formulation in bourgeois property relations ment on Ireland: which are "autonomous of "it is our duty the bourgeois order"? munists to seek to address the simply national question in No, they have such a way as to neutralise national proven themselves unable to or communal antagonisms in actual develop- understand order to bring to the fore the ments. fundamental class conflicts in The fact is that first of all Thus, developing the Castro regime acted as a society. bourgeois nationalist govern- revolutionary programme Ior the Irish revolution we must capitalist ment, aerenalig relations liberal 10 e Lake acco ull proweily Protestants' deeply felt alien- coalition with from the Catholic bourgeoisie. ation When this course-which nation... document tactfully of The nationalisation included holdings- mentioning the foreign capitalist avoids Protestants' deeply felt sym- was stopped by the defection pathy for British imperialism.

lot the liberal bourgeolsle and by the US blockade, Castro But it proposes a conces- was driven into a bloc with political sion backwardness by advocating the Kremin to delena tne nationalised property the abandonment newly for a the mass Marxist call united

CLO

Contall of and socialist republic in Ireland, movement and proposing in its place the peasants. British troops on the streets of Northern Ireland "more flexible call for: And the Kremlin, driven workers' "a republic their contradictory DV of a socialist federation Darl of the British Isles, in ine preserve ternatonal Socialist framework of the balance of power with imper- United States of Europe".

ialism took the opportunity a dependent Thus instead of taking up to consolidate the Leninist position of fight- outpost in the Caribbean.

ing to combat and divert the The final steps towards spontaneous consciousness of expropriation of capitalism in Cuba took place under Soviet the Protestant working class and raise these workers to the military protection -as had East place the eve revolutorary aulivil taken Spartacists propose to the European "buffer' zone in the tailor their programme to the post war period. prevailing backwardness. The by viewing Abject confusion petty bour- that as geois, The results of this retreat to bring well illustrated by Ine dre establishing a abject confusion of the frugal political sprinkling of demands that garnish the cratically trall in Pabloite conclusion to the Spartacist document. They call for a sliding the Pabloite scale of hours' and 'a pro- And, gramme of public works', but since tact forbids them to call fails to say further for the unification of Ireland Turner Castros under a workers' government belly taking the to social they have to remain silent on supposed to imple- revolution. wno Is ment these demands. Since the demands are raised only in relation to the North of Ireland, we can only be assume are addressed to the ruling British Come lo with Stalinism government! And even while blabbering "full Transitional about the Programme" the Spartacists imperialism. fail to make any call for the of imperialist expropriation plified Spartacist holdings in Ireland or "native' This Ireland position Irish capitalism - since this again raises the issue of the faction uncompleted national revol- ution and the necessity for a planned, integrated economy.

the consider of Ireland as Pull back Gueston and their In their determination to the North avoid being tainted perspectives "nationalism" they pull back spelling the from out leadership of the struggle to the liberate Ireland clutches or britisn ana inter national imperialism ana lo carry that struggle through to the establishment of an all- Ireland socialist republic.

Capitulation capitulation extreme right wing currents in the case of Ireland is of combined by the course the sectarians witn absurd ultra-left posturing A classic example of this was formulated by the WSL "Trotskyist" Faction in their document on in which they Turkey opposed the WSL's call for the formation of a workers' against fascist united front attacks "Trotsky's call for the a united front form CP to the

SPD

Germany in

WITN

cannot be separated from the Left Opposition's self-charac- terisation of itself as a faction of the Comintern. Therefore call lor a united we do not front of the existing workers organisations as an answer to fascist Such the to telling strategy their workers the •ace faith in a bloc of the Stalinist class- and social democrall collaborationists.' The utter nonsense of this sectarian position is well illu- Trotsky's 1934 strated Whither France?, pamphlet (written after the Left Oppos- had ceased to regard itself of the as d Comintern): "In France there are more than million organised

OLIC

OLIC

Generally workers. speaking this number is small. But it is entirely sufficient to make a beginning in the organisation of a workers' militia. If the and parties armec tenth of their only members, that would already be a force of 100,000 men The contributions of the collec. parties and unions tions and voluntary subscrip tions would within a month or two make it possible te assure the arming of 100,000 200,000 working class rabble fascist would immediately sink its The tail between legs. whole perspective of develop- would become incom- parably more favourable."

Whither France?, p.33 We continue in the is: ition of Trotsk! to ai. :.:: united front embracirg:...

workers parties including cu and smal. trade movement. union mobilise the mos to against the powerful force fascist thugs. instead The regale us with 'left' sounding excuses for remaining outside this struggle on the masses.

Grovelling This combination of ultra with left posturing opportunism and rejection of any form of serious agitation in any country in the world is the real essence of the inter- national Spartacist tendency reflected their attitude to immigration laws "left" -where of restrictions on immigration are combined with grovelling capitulation to the worst kind of nationalism, reminiscent of Margaret Tory leader Thatcher. "... on a sufficient scale immigration flows only exacerbate national antagon.

extreme cases could out the even wiDe of smaller national countries". Workers Vanguard, 17.3.78 in emerges also the Spartacists' opposition to the fight throughout the inter national labour movement to complete trade boycott against the apartheid state of South Africa. Reactionary camp By restricting their call to and by a boycott of arms, that a full boycot arguing because avoided should "the result would be wide- spread unemployment among black workers", (W 28J an 1978), the Spartacists succeed in putting themselves the right of substantially to many reformist black leaders They end up in the same reactionary camp as the black bourgeois collaborators who whole appeared in the British press adverts earlier this month Call "sanctions be would that crippling to my people' With nothing bute in either theoretical or practical terms to the figh for the reconstruction of the Fourth International, Spartacists' claims to favour "rebirth" of the Inter- Tne national are so much spurious "inter- Their view of an national" is no more than a with no multi-national sect, the relationship of the workers movement. Principled orientation We categorically reject this We stand for the recon- view. struction of the Fourth Inter- national on the basıs oi a principled orientation to the working class and the fight in practice for the Transition- al Programme. Petty bourgeois radicalism bombastic 'left' rhetoric, , and living abstention from the of the workers suedes has apparently movement been enough to preserve the Spartacists as a parasitic inter- national tendency feeding of: other 'left' groups since 1963.

Trotsky made the poir.: Ludl "at an opportune moment we must purge the organis ation of people who, in the crucial of the

HOOTICI

struggle, are inclined to pro.

thes foundly contemplate navels" (The Spanish Revor: p.172) resignation Second Annual Contere:. the 22 Spartacist sur from the Workers League happily relieve? this task. By John Lister

CONCLUDED

Fire: As General Secretary of the TGWU, Arthur cultivated Deakin an atmosphere of hysterical witch-hunting in order to pass a resolution banning communists from holding office in the union. Deakin was driven on and assisted in this by the wide- spread Cold Var propaganda and McCarthyite purges being conducted by his capitalist masters internationalv. Today, Deakin's successors in the IG WU bureaucracy do not have such external assis- through tance In carrying their witch-hunt of nine left- wingers in British Leyland's Cowley Assembly Plant. Identical desire But in attempting to expel, bar from office and discipline these militants, our latter-day McCarthys di C like before driven Deakin them, by an identical desire to assist the government and the employers in their attacks on the working class. 1949 July Deakin succeeded in getting his witch-hunting resoludon passed by the TG WU Biennial Delegate Conference. From then until its imple- mentation in March 1950 his main efforts were devoted to suppressing discussion on the question and stamping out opposition. Opposition there was. One the surface Three mans illustrating the wav the continents have moved to called an overtime ban Deakinism protest, followed quickly by strike, which began April 21. By the end of the week, 14,500 dockers were on strike in support of their victimised leaders. mass meeting of 2,000 striking Victoria and the TGWU cockers Park demanded that Deakin come to address them, but he refused to respond to this "unofficial body' Scab troops A deputation sent from meeting Transport the witchhunters House found the doors locked against them. The Labour called ent ene the once out more for troops scabbing operations-this time unique- ly to break a strike in defence of militants victimised by union officials.

PART THREE

By Di Parkin By April 27, at the end of the second week of strike Docks Labour signify their undivided alleg- action. hundred and four TG WU Board threatened to sack all branches submitted motions iance to this union". those on strike. But it was in the docks protesting at the resolution- At this point the despite the fact that Deakin that the stiffest resistance to Com- munist Party pulled back had instructed his supporters Deakinism took piace The 1940s and 1950s were from an all out fight against walk our or meelings the TG WU bureaucracy, and times of bitter struggles in the where the matter was raised.

the strike was defeated. over The issue gave rise to a docks. with battles decasualisation and battle at the Trades Union wages, Legal attacks Congress-but Deakin other issues. The post-war Labour remained adamant. Constable was left without government had sent troops Yet his mass a union card. Sacked Into ine docks to scab on a support on the docks forced strike in April 1949. the employer to allow him to In May a further strike in The first to suffer from work as the only on non- Bristol, London and Liver- the new ruling were nine tull union member. pool lost 408,000 man-days officials who time were The and employers in an issue of solidarity with sacked from their jobs by Labour government were not Canadian seamen Deakin when they refused to slow to cash in on the defeat The government again sent sign a declaration supporting inflicted on the dockers by troops London the witch-hunting policy.

their own union officials.

docks. were Amongst tnese nine A Commission of Inquiry Sam Henderson, secretary of was set up investigate Expelled Road Passengers unofficial strikes-and a year Transport of the section legal attacks brought later union-where the Communist

TG WU

bureaucracy which saw the But was dockers to trial at the Old Party had considerable Bailey. threat to McCarthyite strike explusions Committee for Trade authority) which struck the from the

TG WU.

and action Union Democracy was set up blow the sharpest against in support of those victimised to fight these sackings and a leadership unofficial on are not new, therefore. delegation went to Transport London docks, the London New leadership House. Central Lock-out Committee.

In March three leaders of Stiffest resistance Committee-Harry The task for TG WU mem- this Ted Dickens and bers in 1978 is to ensure that Police Constable, were called in to protect Deakin these C.H. Saunders-were expelled today's moves against the when the

TG WU

the Cowlev 9 by the bureaucracy protestors tried to enter the

ITOTE

Council chamber. five others decisively reversed, to executive, and are banned from union office for the Deakin commented on the create conditions building of a new leadership sackings: Lwo yeals "It has been said that we One of those expelled was the union and the a member of the Communist of complete have deprived these people of destruction deprived Party. Deakinism. their jobs. They themselves of their jobs by Portworkers Defence Committee reason of their inability to immediately

CONCLUDED

IN REVIEW

basis of materialist tne Marxism. In this same work Lenin further explains that: "Materialism is the recog- COD]eCIS In selves', or outside the mind; ideas and sensations al c coDies or images of those Movement beneath objects. The opposite doctrine (idealism) claims exist that obiects do not the mind'; objects "combinations of are sensations'.

"BRITAIN BEFORE MAN"

such Exhibition reviewed by our Harth sciences. palaeontology geology and Science Correspondent. (the study of fossils) have *The Geological Museum plaved an important role ir of the Institute of Geological providing evidence to support Sciences, Exhibition Road, the materialist position.

London SWT. Admission free All the relevant data point Mon-Sat: 10.00am- Open: to the fact that the earth was 2.30pm- 6.00pm; Sun: once in such a state that no 6.00pm. numan or any orner creature existed on it. Only five in ine last "In his work 'Ludwig million 4.6 years of the Feuerbach' Engels divides million years since thousand the earth was formed have philosophers into two erect, two-legged primates, camps-materialists great the forebears of humans, and idealists. Engels sees walked its surface, and only the fundamental distinc- few thousand tion between them in the years do we have any record fact that while for the of human history. materialist is Because there is no human nature record of the maor part ol primary and spirit secon- the earth's history we have to dary, for the idealist the look evidence reverse is the case". events of this period in the So writes Lenin in Mater- rocks of which the earth is ialism and Empiriocriticism, comprised Such evidence an incisive attack on a group of would-be Marxists who in always easy discover, like the first decade of this especially in countries SOCIALISI PRESS, Wednesda; is Marie.::s The witch-hunters: Deakin (top) and Jones (above).

of the land is covered with towns and cities or given over to agriculture, the underlying geology is obscured Despite these difficulties scientists have pieced earth show to Lose mer evacace inal parts or brilaln were al various times in geological tremen- history shaken by and earthauake.

COL.

smothered in thick ash falls and molten rock from vigor- ously aluve volcanoes Once, much of Britain was a sandy desert, and at other times it was covered with a great ice cap. All these things are normally associated with distant parts of the globe and not with Britain. There is now a chance for us all to view Britain in a fresh light by visiting a new permanent exhibition entitled "Britain Before Man" at the Geological Museum London. The exhibition is designed to show how the bedrock of been the British Isles has built up over the last 3,000 million vears Five bays lead the visitor from the earliest recognisable geological to events arrival of humans A final section shows some of the im pact of aspects humans on the environment The bays contain a movie, slide shows, models, recorded and dioramas, comicularics all of a very high quality.

"he reconstructed views oi how Britain must have looked time are particularly good conditions Geological in ancient Britain are well illu- strated by reference to parts of world are presently similar 1n geological state. The geological history of Britain is also integrated with modern ideas of Wilal wa. going on in the rest of the world at these times and with the theory of Plate Tectonics.

According to this theory - which is now widely accepted by earth scientists-the top- most skin of the earth divided into a small number large plates that are constantly in motion relative to one another at the rate of few centimetres year, under the influence of forces generated deep within the earth's interior. It is at the margins of these plates that most earth- quake activity, volcanic erup- tions and mountain building takes place. A separate permanent exhibition at the Geological Museum Works" entitled "How the Earth explains in simple but clear terms the ideas behind Plate Tectonic THeory. Although there IS section of these exhibitions that relate these scientific findings to materialist phil- osophy they are thoroughly recommended nevertheless as summaries of which supports the materialist point of view

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 March, 1978 IMG leader Tariq Ali PHOTO: Andrew Wiara, Report CP leader MacLennan "Choose your partners for the 'unity waltz'!" is the essence of a string of Open Letters' and 'initia- tives by left wing organ- isations in recent weeks.

Yet the factor that unites each of the would- be dancers is a cynical con- for programmatic clarity and a refusal to take fight for slightest the principled opposition to the class collaborationist Lib-Lab coalition. At the centre of the floor stand the Stalinists ot the Communist Party. They have launched the latest edition of retormist programme nels The British Road to Socialism with an Open Letter to the British Left' by Party leader Gordon MacLennan. Reformist formulae The letter is diplomatically vague about who the British Left' are, and how the CP has selected 30,000 of them lucky recipients appeal. refers to the 'left" as co-oper- "trade

BIJONSLO.

-tors, Labour Party and Com- munist Party members and hers" (our emphasis). But since the statement : clis to call for Labour to reak with the Liberals, and :he CP is notorious for its with relationships shops and "progressive" ::italists, we can ulaw in conclusions as to who hese "others" may be. The Stalinists' Open Letter orates therman as te formulae sish Road. calls for the expanding and wages" *ising ...creased investment "justry" Lasting approval Each of these demands is capitalism, :: course employers well cher the consistent role = CP in opposing those ruggles that came into with Phases 1 and 2 Social Contract. Derek convenor ....: 11. Longbridge plant, lasting •aucuidi dilu i. from Callaghan, the and the employers by Leyland tool- = the strike-all the time eung of course, the need dais inlaboration is

DOING

THE

"UNITY'

WALTZ

OPEN LETTER

FEVER GRABS

LEFT GROUPS

By Tony Richardson Stalinists not having "anything to say In France the to the people of Gascadden also argued abstractly for wage increases, but combined on the real issues that affect this with practical unity with „nerves "A united left is essential forces in the 'Left Radicals'. 11 luriner aereals are lo avoided", the SWP goes on, Support for Tories calling for the CP to "discuss during the united action In Italy, the Communist campaign" organisation" Party has gone even further file be The reformist platform ano the right, and actively

SWP

constructed, propose proposed by the for wage while "democratisation of the supports united such Cellies giving official support to the Anti-Nazi

ANL"

(the ruling Tory (Christian Demo- League); in the student move- and abortion crat) government-again, all ment they suggest "a united woman's right to choose: the in the name of "unity" rise in Glasgow bus fares, and far-left campaign against the The British CP has nothing Tories and the right wing on to fight youth a campaign but praise for the French and unemployment". racism tascism. autonvily Italian CPs, attempting in its The SWP thus manage to ana orner Issues follow their Yet they do not criticise a to •WIl Way draw a discrete veil over the S WP's example of large-scale class of the CP single point the treachery in tne collaboration. Hence the need reformist programme. Scottish shipyards, where for 30,000 letters. In this way the IMG gives actually both canoe aer Sections of the Labour tacit endorsement such work. positions as the S WP call for a "left' will no doubt greet the Deeply ingrained 35-hour their Stalinists' overtures-only last Week week coalition minister Benn opposition to the demand for Yet it is the Stalinists himself calling for sliding scale of wages to was under convenor Jimmy Airlie "unity" behind Callaghan.

keep inflation pace who have turned the Govan But while the CP has set their consistent tail ending of the pace with the scale of its Yard into the scab yard to workers trade union employers have "unity" appeal, those left disputes; their ridiculous call unle the diverted work from Tyneside, trail after for firemen to picket power groups that Swan sackings stations during the firemen's Stalinists have also joined in.

causing and intensifying the Hunter, strike; and of course the attack on working conditions S WP's analysis that the Soviet throughout the industry. Union is a capitalist and not a . By ignoring such questions workers' state. the

S WP

Open Letter The 'Statement', published indicates that the opportun- in the centre pages ism of the SWP leadership is Socialist Challenge' was deeply ingrained. signed among others, by lead- Their urge to depict their ing IMG members Tariq Ali, "mass" organisation as Robin Blackburn and party cannot conceal the fact National Secretary Brian such politics cannot aldl brogan establish a firm foothold in the working class, but simply Spurious offer a passing acquaintance IMG has with certain layers Since the long • OJOHd militants opposed to the reac- been involved in an utterly tionary moves of their official bloc with unprincipled leaders. anti-Trotskyists of the 'B18 But the SWP's facade of Flame' group and "'mass" Benn representing Vorkers League, this latest party has been workers' should The Socialist Workers opportunist episode fool the sufficient Party come as no surprise. has appealed Ior wheeling impressionists who "unity" with the CP, while But what distinguishes this lead the self-styled "Trotsky- Marxist latest initiative is the way the the International ist" Marxist International signatories agreed to Group's bod ot admirers in nave Group. "Socialist Unity" prostitute the writings of the group- ing have put out a plea for "Statement" Lenin in order to provide a "unity" with the SWP! spurious authenticity for The

S WP

open letter, Hoping that a link-up with then posions, quolng hom published on 18 March, starts Lenin at a particular historic- the SWP could open up their route to from the fact that both CP contact al juncture in 1906. longed-tor Yet in the same article and

S WP

have candidates the working the class IMG last month launched a these people fly in the face of the Garscadden standing they by-election-where the

S WP

"Statement" their paper when Socialist Challenge (23 Febru- that: favoured a united campaign . the internal function- behind one candidate. ary). ing of our organisations, the This is a call for a "unified organisation" and appearance Discrete veil content. revolutionary our press and publications are include both which would irrelevancies. They SWP and IMG. The only two The letter does 110L and parcel of what we criticise a single action of the of programme pall "unity are fighting for and cannot be and mentioned are (ommunist rary. insteads l Chryton from guy tinato democracy" explicitly was rejected by Lenin in the 1917, April Theses in 1n crucial move that helped lay the political basis for October revolution. for change in Arguing the name of the Party from "Social Democratic "Communist", Lenin stated : "The name "Social-Demo- scientifically cracy' incorrect, as Marx frequently pointed out, in particular, in of Gotha the Critique in 1875, and as Programme Engels reaffirmed in a more popular form in 1894. From mankind capitalism can pass directly only to socialism, i.e.

to the social ownership of the means of production and the distribution products according to the amount of work performed by each looks individual. Our party further ahead: socialism must evolve gradually inevitably upon the into communism, banner of which is inscribed "From each the motto according to his ability, each according to his needs".

(note this is ultimate aim).

That is my first argument.

Here is the second: the second part of the name of our party (Social-Democrats is also scientifically incorrect.

Democracy is a form of state.

Marxists are whereas W C kind of opposed (p.51) Lenin goes on to argue for: "a state for the purpose of the to socialism; but not a state of the type of the usual parliamentary bour- geois-democratic republic, but like the Paris of 1871 and the commune Deputies Soviets of Workers' of 1905 and 1917" In other words, the dictat- orship of the proletariat.

IMG

For the now to define the "ultimate goal" as democracy" "socialist more an accident than their decision last year to abandon in practice the Trotskyist call for the Soviet defence of Union in the name of "unity". It represents an opportun- ist adaptation to pontical forces totally alien Page 9 Voting for Socialist Unity last November-unity with whom?

view of of their entrenched Russia capitalist state, as a neither the SWP , the Workers League or Big Flame agree with the dictatorship of the as fought for by proletariat Lenin and Trotsky. The deliberately vague and non-contentious formulation "socialist democracy" also doors opens wiet Unity" frus "Socialist for 'left' Labourites-and trated possibly even more right wing elements too while the IMG's becaust to class circuitous Toult collaboration flows courtship of the SWP, Tne the SWP cuddling up to the CP and the proposing marriage to the defenders the the Lib-Lab coalition, of Socialist election-brokers Unity seem to have found a short-cut. Apparently recent Socialist acquisition of the Unity electoral stable is a Mr Len Valters, who was origin- ally intended as a candidate in the Brixton by election for calling the obscure grouping itself the 'West Indian Block'.

Programme According to the Guardian Mr announced that he will stand as a joint Socialist Unity- WIB candidate. and it has been revealed that the WB and Socialist Unity are at present negotiating an electoral pact.

Such a deal if concluded.

will follow the announcement weekend of pact WB and.. the between the Liberal Party! How long would it then be before the ever-ready oppor of the

IMG

go the tunists whole hog and formulate a that drops statement "socialist" from their word preciatist democracy al" "ultimate of present WSL has repeatedly proved it is not against united actions on specinic questions facing the working class But we will always fight for our programme and to1 the building of a Trotskyist Party dedicated to the over- capitalism. the throw dictatorship of the proletaria: and the

Are Manager McGarry

INDUSTRIAL

The annual youth con- ference of the engineer- ing section met in East- bourne on 15-16 March in the midst of a growing crisis in the section. The fruits from Boyd and Scanlon's record of betrayal could be seen in the drop in attendance from last year.

Of 52 possible youth dele- only about were gales present and with only four localJ unior Vorkers Commit- tees actually sending in resol- utions the scope for discus- limited from the

SOR

was start. Unlimited time The vast majority of these delegates however were indiv- hand-picked by Divisional Committees A handful of regional full time officials were given seemingly unlimited time to speak on every motion by the Executive member in the chair. This gives a good idea of tne Impossible situation manly youth find themselves in.

As the debate got under token Way Ull for the job, training, Late and youth unemployment socialist policies were passed formally, to be passed on to bin or the

LILC

government (which is more or less the same thing). With the election of a man strike new seven committee last week, in the Garners workers Steak House strike central throughout London have begun to assert their independence of the with the passing following resolution at their TGWU Talk of the Town Branch. "This branch recognises ine crucial importance of the Garners Steak House strike in the struggle for unionisation the catering industry. therefore calls the Regional Committee to adopt following policy and to the mobilise maximum support.

1. No talks. no return to work until the employer recognises our union. Mass of picketing Garners Steak Houses to be

TGWU

from all organised branches in Region 1, from 12 noon 10pm Saturday until the strike won. Bi Black in Garners of all direct Steak supplies Houses and if necessary, their suppliers as well. Unresolved The organisation of financial support within the

NEWS

AUEW NO POLICY

FOR YOUTH

during the debate had sharply attacked the record of the leaders and the Lib- Lab coalition and had argued clear constructively socialist policies was bureau- cratically prevented trom Sensing their strength the speaking on the Confed claim right wing moved on to the on the grounds that it didn't with Eddie Wright, offensive concern TASS. youth delegate from an Glasgow resolution gency "congratu- lating" the executive tor its successful negotiations on the Confed. and Ciall that expressing regret early retirement and shorter had working week be dropped! Refused to discuss The reason for them being dropped had already been spelt out by Scanlon in his opening address: "The other points in the Confed claim had to be dropped during the course of the negoulations Employers Engineering Federation refused to discuss them" Conference voted unanim- ously for resolutions on the and week can y Scanlon retirement-and then incon- gruously carried the Will n To sum up, the conference which gency was a useless talking shop.

gratulated the negotiators place for the right wing and who had abandoned these Broad bury their NeTT demands in practice. differences. The only good point was Sharply attacked the passing of an amendment pushed by the TASS delegate The Broad Left split confusion on this issue with and taken up by the Broad Left calling for shop floor action to black all trade with abstaining. The TASS delegate who in Africa

DOLL

HOL USE

and his fraternal address pressure on the government.

Garner's: the strike the officials want to lose been laid for the strike to be the present branch With won and the ground lost over levy clearly inadequate the the last nine weeks made up.

question of raising a regional But failure of the levy has to be fought for as a latest strike bulletin to cam- matter of urgency. are clearly openly these These policies paign 3O T however indicates, in conflict with the attempts policies that their achievement will of the TGWU bureaucracy to fight demand against all those that oppose conscious sell out the strike. Abandoned demand them within the strike itself.

The Confirmation of these orcaloallul conference by the SE Region appeared in the attempts of the TUC and the Greater March issue of the TGWU London of Association Record, which says: Trades Councils provides an "'The firm. has rejected important opportunity ACAS assistance and despite carrying the strikers' demands an offer from the union for into the labour movement members to return to work throughout London. on the basis of reinstatement.

no victimisation and accept- Conference ance of the right of ACAS to carry out a normal enquiry, The is to be conference the firm has not moved" held on Thursday 13 April at union In other

WOTOS

7pm Transport House, officials have abandoned the Smith Square, London SWI.

central demand-recognition the supporters of the union prior to a return the strike, particularly in to work.

TGWU,

should be urged to The call from the branch send delegations to ensure it for mass picketing will now makes a positive contribution pose challenge to the to the strike's success. increasingly provocative Support harrassment of the strikers supporters by Messages of and support Metropolitan Police donations to the strike fund enthusiastically respond should be sent to the strike the employers' calls for their committee at TGWU, room assistance in breaking the 84, 12-13 Henrietta • St., Suake. London WC2. With the changes policy that have taken place over the last week the hasis has now The latest issue of the 'Leyland Mirror' carries a brief but jubilant article celebrating the successful imposition of a 17% cut in manning in the Spitfire Triumph, at trim area Canley. "The agreement has been welcomed as "a consid- erable achievement" by both body and assembly plant director Brian Fox and works McGarry" Eddy convenor Mirror Leyland gloats reporter Ken Brand. of 621 workers 107 out been transferred from have Spitfire trim to work on the Dolomite-while Spitfire pro- levels remain unchanged-in other words Dunno. [aurence Snarham If Birds Eye: the The announcement by Birds Eye management it has withdrawn that dismissal notices given to 1,200 workers at their Kirkby plant two weeks ago indicates that a new turn is underway in the of exploitation by the ployment employers. The management "reprieve" follows mass meet- ings at which officials of all the plant had unions OIl obtainea acceptance or every stipulation by the employer.

457 jobs are to be axed productivity jacked up with and the union cooperation, engineers whose 15-week pay strike as a pretext was used for the sacking threat are to management's accept offer. A committee of inquiry is also to be established-com- prising national union officials alongside Birds Eye management examine naustral Telanons blit Kirby plant. this The purpose of be to isolate and appears to victimise of any still workers wno are manage- resist prepared to ment attacks working All this makes it absol- utely clear notices were no more than a pressure the to union bureaucracy into more forcing energetic through management dictates. The threat of redundancy the of 11% background unemployment in the Mersey- side area- is now being dello.

erately used by employers as weapon to break working effort is be "It's quite an achievement 1P/o extra extracted from the remaining the stewards' part-they on 514 workers, for extra a major part in nac to play of the pay. getting acceptance Small wonder plant reduction". Fox delighted. willing director Far from workers was But he might be wise to begin anxious to help out Leyland to consider if his own job is the Spitfire management, trim section Canley is a saddled There is no doubt that it with section impossible would openly reactionary leader- to inflict such an attack on ship. such a substantial section of without the craven Job in danger workers collaboration of Eddy right wing Convenol This is where plant direc- McGarry, and his hangers on.

tor Fox's job is in danger. "deal" Because this latest 'Achievement' indicates there are two people in the plant effectively speak- McGarry unwittingly management revealed the difficulty -Fox and McGarry they when he told the had If speed up and rationalis- Leyland Mirror: ation continue to be order of the day, Leyland chiefs will have

SOOT

whether it wouldn't consider be employ cheaper to McGarry on his own. Press bosses dig in deeper The crusade by West- Press to prove minster themselves the most ruth- less newspaper barons in is journalism provincial Birds Eye pickets now in full spate. Just nine chapels of National Union of Journalist still being members are refused their pay increase- and all nine are in the West- blackmail works minster Press empire.

NUJ

are being member refused backdating on a 10% rise of £7.09 a week because This new turn is driven on they took action to change a by the crisis of profitability clause on local deals. faced by the employers. It can only be fought by Off pay roll the development of a leader- ship that starts not from the The is designed to move 'viability' "rights' boost the membership of the that the this or other of Journalists, the Institute employer, but from the right carefully of every tame nouse umon worker to a Job, lo nurtured by employers decent living standards and Journalists on the Evening workine conditis Slough been Mail at have taken off the pay roll for Occupation use telephones- refusing Rather than caving in to although their management Birds to sack has refused to describe them eyes inleals the kirby worktorce, as dismissed cipled leadership would have Colleagues on eight other fought for occupation of the imposing local papers are the of the that have plant, opening sanctions severe books of the firm the of the prove reduced the case for its nationalisation failed papers and for the support of other production. Birds sections eve Opinion among chapel members that a strike will be workforce. such a fight the Without wring the back necessary to certain losers are the workers of out employers pay "reprieved" in hardening. une

HO W

factory.

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

£1.10 5 issues .£2.20 10 issues . £5.50 25 issues. . £10.00 50 issues I would like to receive issues. I enclose the sum of i.

Name Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NWS 1HR channihol

Steel: new threat of NUT: tears, not action An unseemly row Labour between two 'lefts' broke out in the Commons last week as Secretary Eric Industry Varley outlined a new of cutbacks and round the speed-up in steel industry. £1 billion cut Is to ne t the British Steel Cor- from poration's investment pro- gramme, cancelling a number of planned projects, combined with a drive to cut by another manning back 38,000 Kinnock the next five

UVEL

from Labour back benchers, years. some of announcemenl

DIU-

duced support from the Tory not to have benches, and mixed reaction of the Lib-Lab —Publishing - jobs face the axe Elsevier, ( the Amster- course guarantee of dam based publishing and emplovment printing multinational, the has declared 14 redun- proposes should remain, nor dancies at the 35-strong can money payments Oxford office of Elsevier pensate for more jobs lost in publishing,

DOOK

International Projects. share Best known for scientific redundancies. technical and publications (North Holland and Exerpta dish, the partwork and (like Medica

EIP)

are illustrated among imprints) book publishers, have threat- recent years set up or taken ened 20 redundancies in a bid companies in the USA over to end a two-month strike (E.P. Dutton), Mexico, Spain, over pay France, Switzerland, Belgium, National Union of Journalist Ireland and the UK Germanv.

(EIP,

Phaidon and Applied Science, among others). Defend all jobs Announcing the 40% -plus "proposed" redundancies the The Friday Easter, the betore company made no attempt to publising are now constantiy being contronted defend the decision; simply employers' that their announcing programme was "too ambit- "natural wastage The ious" and the pro-

DOOKS

duced had been inadequately nave rignuly demanaco lillan- cial and other information to promoted. be made were likely in the LOSSeS future, declared management, elected well as the therefore half the workers 'proposals" nad to pay lor it ana go on This information the dole. be used to support a fight by subseauent homuv NU the the managing director advised members the workforce to divide and defend all jobs,, either a) assist a phoenix to the employer independent of rise from the ashes or b) go "professional" home and look their accountants or the "services' "Easter Eggs" (proposed of ACAS. redundancy compensation).

fishalls Diary

...YOUR MAN AT THE TOP'S

FIGHT TO STAY ON YOUR BACK.

in carrying government through attacks on the work- ing class. David Lambie, Labour MP for Central Ayrshire pointed out that unemployment in his was already -and al ca be worsened by the would steel cuts. "How can he justify that from a Labour government?"

he asked in confusion. Caught in middle Meanwhile the Labour still "left' itself divided tound avocal grasped the the willing collab- role between coalition orators and the verbal protes-

LOIS

Caught in the middle was Tribunite Neil K innock, who had been a part of the recent Select Committee that recom- mended steel cutbacks, but Jarvis, General Fred Secretary of the National secure Teachers, Union of for those resorted employer to cheap rhetoric to try and hide com- the wage cut which he helped negotiate for his which nas of speed-up and he members when

NUT

addressed the In London Marshall Caven- conference last Saturday.

Despite his assertion that reference the NU retused to government wages policy as it was not agreed to by the TUC he nevertheless urged the by more Inan iuu on dele-

_OI 1U/0

gales Mr. J. O'Murphy of the axecutive even claimed that a great victory had been won.

Delegates opposing accep- 'in book tance called for a fight for the full 12/70 for claim with action to be stepped up to attempts at achieve this. The inadequacy of the Elsevier clearly original of weakened the arguments the opposition, although they available to their failed to make this point or to challenge the Executive on re oresculatives. withdrawal of the their rerusal to pur lorward d claim which would begin to should to living standards 1975 levels.

ASTMS

and Elsevier Jarvis turned the fire away from himself by his popular confronting demagogic attacks on press for their coverage of the lawyers recent sanctions adopted by teachers.

WHY, LOOK-IT'S THAT 2

CHARMING MR OFISHALL AGAIN!

HE GIVES UP HOURS OF

HIS TIME TO BE HERE...

WHAT COOPERATION!

sackings who posed last week as an to tne Varley's latest Corporation. opponent of cuts. This point was picked up this standpoint. by fellow 'left' Denis Skinner of the books of BSC and of who pointed out that: "It is the height of hypo- the private steel producers to the for members elected union committees.

crisy who voted for committee closures to come here now in synthetic indignation" why government But it is also the height of cash being for 'left' talkers hypocrisy privately-owned like Skinner to mouth oppos- Duma new ition to the policies of the while BSC is being cut back.

Lib-Lab coalition and the Labour leaders right wing lead the whole while refusing to campaign in the Labour Party oust profit by private break the deal or Callaghan-Healey. hauliers, Meanwhile, steel as ever. remain locked union leaders with abject collaborallul BSC management, dedicated management.

AGAINST

IFL

2,500 teachers earlier this month at an all-London conference against racism and fascism The Sun particular received the brunt of his prejudices. attack was called into In his Secretary's address on Monday Jarvis turned this politicians proposals for their education standards. hypocrisy and for

A GOOD SENSIBLE SORT,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT

I'D DO WITHOUT HIM...

HE SEES THE OTHER SIDE'S

PRESS

POINT OF VIEW EVEN

BEFORE THEY DO.

"viability" of the ree workers must recei They must fight instead for the opening This would open up dis- cussion of such questions as

EEC

and used by

CK N

to Skinner See las even And it would strengthen the for immediate Case policy of dividing the reduced It would expose the way "nationalised" amount of available work in the industry among the whole sector is being plundered for suppliers, workforce, at no loss of pay, taken maulacturers willie

SLOOS

al C bankers and distributors, and provide for a planned expan- sion of the steel industry the need for these sectors to part of a planned socialist be nationalised under workers economy Many crocodile tears were shed but no action was pro- deal the posed will problems. Waffle The salary policy for the 1979-80 Report Burnham contained the same stale formulae as last year and was fuli of meaningless waffle.

the FOr example executive proposed as point 1 "an increase in salary for all teachers to improve their real standards of living" An amendment calling for an increase of not less than £1,000 for all teachers and inflation W di ridiculed by Max Morris and thrown out the recom- NE mendation of the Executive.

EVER

AGAIN

No cover Similarly, an amendment putting forward some policies to fight the cuts, for example no cover for absences of more day and the than establishment in each locality of joint committees of action with other trade unionists affected by the cuts was also defeated. the way they played on racial substantial vote was for Oxfordshire Division However his own honesty amendment would have meant the end of question on covering for absences, a form the subject of the Executive of unpaid overtime, from 1 salaries • • and September 1979.

NOR ME, JIM—A MOST REALISTIC AND

MODERATE CHAP, I ONLY WISH MY

EMPLOYEES WERE LIKE HIM!

WHAT THAT LOT? TELL

LAH O'FISHALLL- YOU'RE BACK! )

GARNERS STRIKERS L

THE BASTARDS TO

HAVE BEEN PHONING FOR

2 DAYS WANTING HELP

Long term plot against Cowley 9

PRESS

Middle East imperialist thieves fall States The United remains 'wholly and un- equivocally committed to Israel', security of the of State said Secretary before his Vance Cyrus Good Friday press con- ference. He spoke also about the sharp differences which have arisen in US-Zionist relations since the latest land-grabong by the invasion of Lebanon Israelis. States What the United and Israel have fallen out over "right" of 1s not about the the Zionist settlers to have a racially-exclusive state.

they Nor indeed are opposed to the herding of dispossessed Palestinians into refugee camps and the occu- large OI lacts Dallull territory by the Zionists.

have disagree- ment with the Zionists then using this territory as a bar- with bourgeois Arab states. But the US imperialists all 'peace' want that will satisfy settlement the pro-imperialist Arab Egyptian leaders-notabry President Sadat. This, they are convinced is the best means to hold back Palestinian liberation struggle ana lne movellents of the Arab masses that might disrupt imperialist oiner wise this of the interests Odil crucial to world oil supplies. The invasion of Southern Zionist Lebanon by TOrCes reached the Litani nas now River-with the exception of the port of Tyre. The been Zionists have enthusiastically welcomed by fascists, and by attacks from harassed Palestinian Liberation forces.

evidence of Damning concerted right wing plot to all their opponents remove within the TGWU in British Leyland's Cowley Assembly been produced as Plant has part of the fight to defend "Cowley 9" militants, the who face disciplinary action the hands officials. Cowley supporters the Democracy in the Campaign tor produced Labour Movement have a nine-page summary of events in the Assembly Plant during the last 3h vears. This paints a vivid background moves by TGWU bureau- to the crats to victimise the Cowley 9- Boo incide the plea three deputy stewards Convenors three 1 GWU mempers convenor-Alan

SOCIALIST

sudden Begin's But out a members turie ution involves no concessions infur- trom the Lionsls las iated Carter and the US ad- ministration. They know that Sadat and their other reactionary Arab As thousands of refugees bourgeois friends cannot sell have hurried North to Sidon "peace settlement" which United and Beirut the least does not at propose Nations has been brought in West some kind of puppet to defend the new "border" Bank statelet for the Pales- Zionist set by tinians. invaders. harsh Words Despite all the claims of exchanged in Washington "impartiality' made by imper- between Carter and Begin was jalists and Stalinists do with alke nothing (Rumanian troops are to be a barbaric opposition the part of the "peace keeping" invasion of South Lebanon.

was aimed force) it must be stressed that Carter's at Begin's bizarre notion that are there to the UN Iorces the Zionist- Israel enforce borders it w arranged borders, and to hold settled by courtesy of Moses back the Palestinian guerrilla God rather than alla President Carter and the fighters. It is no part of the UN's material imperialist might of purpose to defend or support Uncle Sam-to the tune last year of weapons worth $875 the oppressed Palestinians in million. the lea Palestinians who Those Imperialism greeted the them have seen well The US would obviously providing a respite from the be much happier see murderous Israeli invasion.

Israel led by government in more realistic politicians like Determined Defence Minister Weitzman "Labour" leaders like and But the UN as an instru- Perez and Eban. ment of imperialism has never would be Such leaders at any time sought to entorce accept the IO its own restrictions on even dictates of imperialism rather the Zionists, ever since, the Bible. Zionist forces crossed than 1948, Imperialist ears pricked up the borders drawn up for therefore, when international last week, them by this they heard "national imperialist government The major unity". powers today are makilg many determined efforts to secure Statements show a settlement on the basis of capitalist newspapers that sections of imperialism the UN resolution famous 1967 ditch the would 242 passed after • to Begin in favour of and partly drafted by gangster war Labour Foreign Secre- more pliable leaders. then tary George Brown. For the Palestinians these by a squad of 40 right wing shop for expulsion from the union, and repeated stewares. two others, Frank Corti and Tom '"inquiries" and kangaroo courts

TGWU

recommended staged heen vy nite nave banned from office for life.

bureaucrats-all to no avail.

The new document describes December Fryer, Last Leyland's original victimisation of and White all Corti Thornett 1974 Thornett, re elected to leading positions by when Hian refused him recognition as shop floor ballot in the Assem they and shows how the right wing Plant, deputy convenor this led to removal decisivey relected and of convenor Bob But Michael Edwardes and the Fryer from office. Lib-Lab government are imper- catalogue the demanding scale

HOUSIV

by the attack and Tational. on Regional District Officials conditions throughout British • Thornet and all left TGWU leaders and the to exciude Levlana that wingers from positions within the are publicly committed to union in Cowley. organisation that any opposition the plant has must be ruthlessiv stamped out- heen oureaucratic to the McCarthyite ally split twice set up new Stewards witch-hunt against the left wing Shop branches. JOlL and |GWU Automotive Distric sendership in cowiev closed They now accused Committees down; thousands of pounds have "crimes" as having such laughable with been spent disagreement Leviand meetings and the General arranging axecutive developments greal

DUSE

Their struggle can through only be successful the independent mobilisation of Arab the masses —ll conflict with their own bour- geois leaders. Yet no leadership has yet developed within the Pales that movement prepared to spell out such a political line The PLO itself is tied to the Arab bourgeois heads of These reactionaries state. folded have stood back with the Zionists while invaded Lebanon sooner than mobilising risk • a movement against imperialism amongst peasants and the workers which they know could flow of over into the capitalism in their own coun- tries. itself the Israel Within problem is similarly one of for independent leadership the working class-Arab and Jewish workers allke. Thornett ing out of a District Committee meeting, and revealing the size of 5/293 Branch Secretary's Ine commission. As the new document points Fleet St unions in the firing line- Three disputes involv- ing Fleet Street print workers have led to cries "anarchy" from of 'Times' managing director M. Hussey and a Richard call from Sir Marsh, Chairman of the Publishers Newspaper Israeli soldier herding two Palestinian guerrillas Association for members taking unofficial action to be expelled from the union.

NGA

by members caused the loss last week of 200,000 copies of Telegraph while the Sunday continuing dispute of the

SOGAT

members over rates for distributing late London editions papers resulted in the loss of 250,000 copies of the Daily Telegraph and 360,000 copies of the Daily Express. 20% claim Now AUEW members at the Times and Sunday Times 200 dispute over wage claim in order to bring the leveis their wages up le earned on other Fleet Street papers. The complete edition (1.3 million copies) of this week's Times was lost and Sunday Times London and It was no coincidence that editions of the Guardian are being printed while the the invasion took place at the not lasts as Times high point of a strike wave in dispute claim that the that centred Israel management AUE W members "dis- resistance to have working class missed themselves". falling living standards FoC John Osbourne Zionist traditional claimed that the had answer to the internal class been locked out because they struggle and economic contra- refused to do the extra work Israel within necessary for the record 72 launch a further predatory edition of the Easter page war, with its associated pleas Sunday Times. "national unity" for Lower wages, he explained from enforced sacrifice their had led many and workers members to move lo hostility against sharpened papers where they could earr class held the Arab €70-£80 a week more. within Israel's captive Understaffed borders. The only answer to this is This meant that they were construction the unable Trotskyist leadership capable understaffed and handle the extra work asked Arab and mobilising Jewish workers in struggle for of them. Meanwhile the NPA were the destruction of the racist, expected to discuss the deter Zionist state fighting tor a iorating situation at a meeting Palestine which secular discrim- yesterday. religious ana racial On Monday, interviewed ination is ended. BBC radio, Sir Richard former Marsh, minister and now rede the newspaper barons' organ called for the expu isation, sion of union members (ani therefore dismissal from thei jobs) if they refused to gi through "recognise: with long "That procedures negotiated members records in the union, who built their leaders" at the TGWU in the plant He claimed that unio:

TNE

time when it was Company policy officials had "Jost control o to sack anybody caught recruiting their members" into the union, should be put on charges such as these is, in ou opinion, an outrage". Expelled sponsors within the Over 90

TGWU,

trade union bureat includine The branch officers and shop stewards have already demo: called willingness their the full strated such measures attempt facts of the case order to discipline their mer best means of preventing union bers-NATSOPA blow sertou. O'Brien temporarily expelle rights" The conference, Times chapel walch the restricted to TGWU members will NATSOPA in a previous 3 April 8 with renew e pute-but Cowley Community centre militancy among Fleet Sire Oxford.

TGWU

printworkers in the face meantime members everywhere should move the wage culling ponie: branches , stewards Lib-Lab coalition. resolutions in of bodies trade union bureaucrac! announcement that inis resol- the union condemning the witch.

have no easy task should tra hunt and demanding the dropping discipline ot the Chardes. own members.