Socialist Action No. 129, 31 January 1986

Socialist Action (IMG / Socialist League) · 31 January 1986 · 12 pages, 15,701 words read by machine

The scan: 129-jan-31-1986-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)

Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Page 1 scan of this page

THICK

THIEVES

No. 129 31 January 1986 30p LAST WEEK lifted just one corner of the truth of the capitalist society we live in. But it did give enough of a glance to work out the rest.

No serious person who thinks about it believes the account which Thatcher gave on Monday Westland affair. Even the first opinion poll showed a three to one majority believing Thatcher had not told the whole truth on the events leading to Brittan's resignation.

It is completely inconceivable that two senior civil servants - the prime minister's personal

secretary press secretary could authorised the leaking of a letter from a government law officer, the solicitor general, without Thatcher indicating ner agreement.

But another pillar of Thatcherdom, Rupert Murdoch. shown concealing and cheating last week. He set up his printing plant at Wapping declaring it was to produce a new evening newspaper, The Post. ne ornon new name Murdoch intended to move his main newspapers there. Murdoch simply lying a characteristic he shares with his political friends.

Last weekend Murdoch confirmed his real intention by unilaterally, and by dictat, moving the Sun, Times, the Sunday Times, and the News of the World at Wapping. He then sacked 5000 print workers.

These people, the Thatchers and Murdochs, are liars and hypocrites. They condemn, hound, imprison, and sack those who expose their actions whether it be on the Belgrano, cruise missiles, or miners who fight tor leir Jobs. ne nateners ane Murdochs collude, conceal, and conspire themselves.

Still worse they do it in the pursuit of policies that condemn millions to unemployment, to poverty and to fear.

During the last week Kinnock completely failed to give the lead which was needed against Thatcher.

* Thatcher must go! * The Tories must go! * All out to support the print workers!

• See pages 2 and 3 for the background to Thatcher's crisis.

SoGA ist

ACTiON

BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM

of the

and have

was also

was

The

AS

ASSEMBLE

Bloody Sunday Demonstration & Rally London 2nd Feb

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM IRELAND PEACE THROUGH SELF DETERMINATION

1pm SPEAKERS CORNER JOIN US ON 2ND FEB

Page 2 scan of this page

Behind the Tory crisis

Socialist Action 31 January 1986 2

SOCiAlist

ACTION

The left after

Westland

WESTLAND IS one of those events which throws into the sharpest light not only the situation within the ruling class but also the tasks which face developments are clear.

First the Westland crisis has confirmed that the Thatcher government is vulnerable. Within two weeks two of her most senior ministers had to resign. Thatcher was brought to the point of humiliation. Serious conflicts which had built up within the ruling class exploded. No matter what

problems this government can be fought the against. It is not invulnerably strong.

That is the first characteristic which must be built today. foremost not an Thatcher, anti-capitalist left. class requires is defence of its interests against the assaults of the Thatcher government. That is the first task which must be understaken.

Secondly this left must be an anti-coalitionist left. The Westland crisis shows that there are serious alternative forces, support for Thatcher - subordinate ones in rul- strategies, ing class terms but nevertheless powerful.

The SDP-Liberal Alliance reinforced by the crisis. With Thatcher weakened more ruling class resources will certainly go into support for Owen. The left, and the labour movement, operation with the SDP-Liberal Alliance.

In fact the line for Labour in the crisis should have been simple. Labour should have put down a vote of 'no confidence' in the government. They should have demanded an immediate general election. This should have been coupled with a declaration that Labour would enter into coalition with no party

with the discredited Tory rump if he so wished.

This was not done but the left must keep hammering away at the danger of coalitionism -

and not simply coalitionism in its simple form of

direct cooperation with the SDP-Liberal Alliance

by politicians, but the deep and powertur sup-

port for future coalition with the Alliance which

is building up in the leadership of the EETPU,

AUEW, and other right wing unions.

Thirdly, if it is to have an alternative way to

win a majority to coalition with the Alliance,

Labour has to totally reorient its relation to the

working class and oppressed.

Labour has suffered among any group since the The most catastrophic

1960s is among manual workers.

drastically failed to

women.

alienated from activity in

policies of successive Labour governments and

politicians.

If there is going to be an alternative way for-

ward against Thatcher and the threat of coali-

tion, the Labour Party has got to transform both

its relation to the working class and its own in-

ternal party organisation.

ing class in struggle, to build on the success in

political activity of the

democratic accountable women's organisation

in the party, to build black sections, to create a

mass campaigning youth organisation,

simply an 'internal" party task but a decisive part

of creating a majority for Labour against the

Tories and Alliance.

party has to be united against Thatcher by en-

ding the witch hunt.

'internal' matter. It is going to be

diversionary and damaging when the Liverpool

enquiry comes through after the Westland affair.

fight has to go on for the type of policies that are

an alternative both to Thatcher and the Alliance.

That argument has started with the publication

of A Million Jobs A Year, with the document pro-

duced on 'Aims and Objectives' by the Chester-

field Labour Party,

Mineworkers Bill and other questions.

unable, to lead the fight against Thatcher.

is the fight which has to be led by the left. If Kin-

nock gets in the way of that fight that is his

choice. Because Westland has shown he canhot

lead the fight against Thatcher. Only the class

struggle left wing of the labour movement can.

left. The chief of the left is first and 'anti-Kinnock' but an antiWhat the working

tactics, and within the ruling class to straight

has been further

must be totally free from any co-

let Owen form a coalition decline in votes

Labour has build up its vote among

The black community remains widely

the party by the The fight to support all sections of the workpolitical levy campaign in strengthening

unions,

is not

Fourthly if this is to be carried through the

This again is no purely completely

Fifthly, within the party and in struggle, the

with the Justice for the What is clear is that Kinnock is incapable,

That

HOW COULD a government elected in 1983 with one of the largest majorities in parliament in British history be brought within three years to the point of debacle seen over the Westland affair? Furthermore why were the resignations of Heseltine and Brittan, and the discrediting of Thatcher, only the culmination of a series of internal political disasters which have affected this government since it was elected? What was the base of the genuinely authoritarian and anti-democratic — even by capitalist standards

- character of this government which came out so dramatically in the Westland affair?

The internal disasters have come thick and fast.

First, immediately following the election, Parkinson resignation.

Then there was the debacle surrounding the bill to

GLC and metropolitan councils which cost Patrick Jenkin his job. This was followed

The decline of the

Tory party

35

The 1983 election was

presented in the press

as a popular triumph

for the Tory Party.

But the reality was the

exact opposite. That-

cher's vote in 1983 was

part of a long term

decline in Tory party

support - as can be

seen in the graph on

this page.

The Tory votes

naturally swing from vic-

tory to defeat.

overall trend is clear. The

Tory victories ale WOl

on a progressively lower

percentage of the vote.

Each Tory defeat sees its

support fall to new dep-

ths.

It is this long term decline of the Conser-

Lies bay brodda on

broadcast Ireland. fiasco over student grants. More seriously still the endless leaks, retreats and ad-

over the welfare vances, state review.

All these preceded the treer the Westland affair. tremendous split Tory percentage of the vote since 1931

Granh: THATCHER AND FRIENDS

vative party that forces

the ruling class to create

new capitalist SD Paries

such as and

creates the basis for ex-

plosions such as the

Westland crisis.

Tory victories:

Year Tory % of

the vote

1931 55.0

1935

1951

1955 49.7

49.4

1970 46.0

1979 43.9

1983 4L4

Tory defeats:

39.6

1950 43.4

1964

1966 41.9

39.6

1974 (Oct) 35.8

Oniy at one time, during the miners' strike, has the second Thatcher government given an impression of unity and coherence.

The press evel invented a special word for these 'banana skin factor'. Sup- disasters the

for unaccountable the Thatcher government had I casulls become prone to irrationa

self-imposed misalla takes.

For the more sophisticated press the greek word 'hubris'

preceding cessive disaster - • was dragged in.

But really the disasters, scandals, and

which have accompanied this cover. ment were entirely predictable predicted. Because Thatcher's 'landslide' in June 1983 was a fake. It was not a product of an authentic

landslide of support TOI

but was • Dally

produced by a completely

undemocratic electoral

system and by the rise of

the SDP

In fact Thatcher's vote

fell by almost 700,000 bet-

ween 1979 and 1983. That-

cher's 42 per cent of the

vote in 1983 was the lowest

proportion of vOLt

received by a governmet

with a safe majority

parliament British

history.

Thatcher's vote was

part of a long term decline

of support the Tory

pare The signine of

significance of

the vote for the Tories in

1983 was precisely that i

meant that Thatcher had

not won mass support for

She had not won sup

port for demolition of the

health service, she had not

won mass support

she

mass unemplovment.

had not won support for

her attacks on democratic

rights.

The government was

disaster prone in many in

stances directly because it

was not genuinely

popular. Thatcher propos

ed abols! GLO

because the Tories could

Arguments for

The 1979 Thatcher cabinet: where have they all gone now?

not win an election against Livingstone. Po increased, and attacks

increased, and attacks on democratic liberties intensified, because was lu support for what Thatcher genuine popular

was doing, and repression was the only solution.

There nothing mysterious in why the second Thatcher government was accident prone. It was because in politics you cannot cheat the real relation of forces. If Thatcher had gained a real popular mandate she could have put through her without serious opposition. But in-

every stage she met popular opposition to what she proposed - and was forced promise. This is why there is the continual complaint in the serious press that the Thatcher government has "lost its way'.

Only on those issues which were absolutely vital and central to the ruling class, above all defeating the miners and weakening

could

Thatcher government ap

For cohe resa dvision,

rest division,

reflecting different

terests within the ruling

class and different

on how to confront the

working class prevailed

within the government.

Thatcher herself necessarily had to

KCCU

these forces together in-

creasingly by ¡allbula

tion and autocracy

precisely the grubby deal-

ings and suppression

whose details came out

Heside resign in so.

Heseltine Brittan.

They were a product of a

government without a real

popular mandate.

nevertheless, looked

powerful? For two reasons. Firstly because of

the support given to her on

every crucial issue by the

Alliance most openly by

David Uwen Secondly,

and most importantly,

because of the total failure

of the Labour leadership

under Neil Kinnock, and

Politics Today

of the TUC, to take the offensive against her.

Above all around the miners strike • but also around the fight in local government Labour possibility deliver devastating. blows against Thatcher. But both cases Neil Kinnock's leadership directly aided her. It is Kinnock and the TUC, together with the Alliance, that have given Thatcher government its impression of support and Dowe The disasters which

have progressively befallen the Thatcher government are not mysterious or due skins'. The disasters were written into second Thatcher government's lack of authentic mass support revealed in 1983 After ! perio of gradua a1101l1 down around individual issues, and an enforced and ge nuine unity when 'CO fronted with the miners, the real situation of the government has exploded. That is what lies behind the violence of the crisis within the Tory party provoked by Westland

The facts behind the Tory crisis

'By far the best book that has been published about electoral politics for a very

long time' - Tony Benn

"The best short handbook on the Conservative Party that currently exists'

Andrew Gamble, Marxism Today

"Essential for any activists bookshelf' -

Morning Star

Available from The Other Bookshop, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP, £2.95. Cheques

payable to IMRS

Page 3 scan of this page

Politics Today

Thatcher LAST Monday's emergency debate the three key developments: a ruling class rallying to Thatcher, increased support going to the SDP and David Owen, and total humiliation for Neil Kinnock. JOHN XOSS looks at these events.

THE UNFOLDING of

ie Westland crisis continues to show with shattering clarity the fundamental forces at work in British politics.

First and foremost, shown clearly over the weekend and in Monday's debate in parliament, was the rallying around Thatcher by the ruling class. It was symbolised by Heseltine's grovelling performance in the House of Com-

when he pledged his loyalty to the government.

Heseltine's approach was backed up by every major ruling class paper on Tuesday.

Not one single capitalist mouthpiece, not even the 'anti-Tory' Guardian, proposed Thatcher

The ruling class

rallies to Thatcher

should go. On the contrary the Guardian wrote a long editorial stating that the entire affair had now been revealed long 'bungle.'

This is despite the fact that. Tony Benn pointed out in the House of Commons, not one

believe Thatcher's account of the affair of the leaking of the letter from the Solicitor General. It is a

of British govercal, known to

only may the content of dovice Trom the government law officers not be made public but even the mere fact that they have given such advice cannot be revealed.

The idea that this basic rule could be broken by two civil servants — Thatcher's press secretary and principal private secretary

without the minister's agreement is absura. I lney nad oeen gullty of such a thing without Thatcher's agreement they would have been sacked instantly. The fact that they weren't sacked Thatcher's own admission of guilt.

With that admission out in public if the ruling class, tion of it, had wanted to

rid of Thatcher they could have done so by a campaign launched on Tuesday morning. Instead every section of the press, and every Tory spokesperson rallied to Thatcher.

matter that the removal O

Tory prime minister would have provoked profound crisis which would have weakened the entire ruling class. question that the Thatcher wing of the ruling class is by far the strongest within British capital.

British capital did want some reorganisation of policies and methods compared to the last months. Thatcher's American policy, autocratic methods, and lack of sufficient mass base to confront the working class in a completely effective way, meant that important sections of British capital

evidently wanted an ad- editorialised: 'Dr Owen justment within the overall arew blood with his framework pursued shrewd and powerful Thatcher. This they will observations.'

- that The Guardian. is what all the talk in the trasting Owen favourably COn papers about col- to Kinnock, noted: 'Owen ICCLIVC cabinet function- al least produced the ing' is all about. rather than the

But the ruling class on- blunted broadsword.'

wattled Thatcher CUl The scab Times carried down to size,

its second editorial the more individual idiosyncratic of her 'Alliance Chance'. policies. British capital did With the Tories in long

either her term decline, and ThatNO L removal or, even less, that Wall cher in immediate crisis,

the ruling class needs to or ner government build up 'anti-Tory'

But if Margaret That- alternative to Labour. The cher's premiership was the SDP, with its firm support main from Mon- for attacks on the labour day's debate in the House

movement and its proof Commons the EEC line, fits the bill key winner was the SDP perfectly. and David Owen. The Tories remain the

The Daily Express gave chief ruling class party. Owen an ecstatic write up But they are becoming too declaring under a photo of weak Dr Death himself: 'David themselves. They require a Owen: He lashed no. 10 in new junior partner. That is tough, effective attack? It the role of the SDP. Heselline

BY TUESDAY evening the concerted onslaught of the ruling class to protect Thatcher, even while bringing her under tighter control, had almost succeeded in reversing roles in politics. It was Kinnock who was put on trial for total inadequacy.

In fact this was largely merited. Kinnock's speech in the House of Commons on Monday was catastrophe. The insult ' windbag' was never more justly earned -and this despite concerted bourgeois campaign against him.

But it is a complete misunderstanding to think that Kinnock's total failure was due to an individual bad speech. KinMOCK had absolutely no content MIs speech because he had absolutely no political line. Labour has had no policy toward Thatcher in the Westland crisis whatever.

This was a crisis in Tory prime minister had been caught concealing and involved in leaking classified documents. She had lost two cabinet ministers in as many weeks. The first opinion poll showed 61 per cent did not believe hatcher.

Government

But what on earth was Labour demanding? Labour leadership which wanted to fight Thatcher would have put down ar immediate vote of no confidence in the government. It would have demandec an immediate election.

Kinnock proposed precisely nothing. At least Owen demanded either that Thatcher go or her top civil servants go. Kinnock had precisely nothing to propose as the way out of the slalon

It is almost incredible, but true, that the Labour leadership could go through the greatest internal Tory

Why Kinnock was humiliated

government removed.

With lead credit

bench.

Merlyn viewed on for

cher.

serious cher.

Dalyell Colette

letter

tion.

Monday's Thatcher's

Right

ther to TENe distancing struggle.

wing line

the

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

without

should be

giving no

Thatcher's Rees, inter-

even give an

merely said

That-

That-

was Tam

he named

the

thereby

that explanation

For the

are not that

right and

from

The local

right would

of the

3 Westland crisis. We were told that Kinnock was be-ing so clever by adopting a "softly, softly' approach This would allow the Tory contradictions (OLE GUL.

Well on Monday the •Tories closed ranks and savaged Kinnock. It was Owen who walked off with what honours were going

opposing Thatcher. Kinnock was humiliated

and Labour damaged with him.

Kinnock is a prisoner of forces vastly stronger than himself - the forces of the British ruling class. They have already assign. ed him his political role.

Thatcher's Tories

to be the strongest party -and walle she may brought into line occasionally, as over Westland, she is not to be challenged on her central policies Owen and the SDP are to be the recognised 'respectable' opposition. Kinbecause Kinnock,

movement VULt the Tory demand election;

declare that undel no

any with the Alliance.

be

Kinnock thoroughly

Page 4 scan of this page

Thatcher gains time in Ireland

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

WORLD

Cruise Missile goes

missing

Canadian anti-nuclear protestors received an unexpected and perhaps unwelcome bonus during recent cruise missile tests in the Cold Lake area which, the US government says, is an ideal site for simulating Russian conditions because it is covered in snow. The community of Wandering Valley, Alberta, were startled to see a missile going by at 1000 feet which should have passed five miles away. When testing ground it went down in almost inaccessible territory and it was three hours before the US Strategic Air Command could find it. This is the fifteenth missile to suffer a mishap during testing.

South Africa - the

world's leading

terrorist

As Reagan steps up his war of nerves against Libya under the pretext that it is the world's LETOL CcIllic. establish that South neighbouring states have cost them more than $10 billion in the last five years. This is more than the total foreign aid these states period. The documents Southern African Development Conterence in Harare.

Reagan backs the anti-

abortion movement

for the second yeal Reagan has addressed the March for Life rally, a mass gathering of anti-abortionists, and pledged himself to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalising abortion. will ensure the resources or covernment are not us. ed to promote or perform abortions,' he said in a radio link up which brought his disembodied voice direct to the rally.

In a telegram to Reagan Kate Michelman, executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League, said 'Your inflammatory rhetoric, as well as the activity of other anti-choice leaders, has created a climate leading to 65 incidents of domestic terrorism since you took office in 1980.' The incidents concerned assaults, in which bomb attacks have been prominent, on abortion centres by the defenders of the right to life' Grenadian Trade Unionist freed

Chester Humphrey, president of the Grenadian Technical and has won his appeal to the Grenadian Supreme Court against extradition to the United States. He is a leading member of the New Jewel Movement. The FBI were trying to extradite him on the alleged charge of illegal activities in the USA during his exile there before the Grenadian revolution.

Chester was arrested on 16 November 1983 immediately after the US invasion under the spurious claim that his life was in danger. While he was being held the CIA organised to remove him from his union post. However when he was released in Mar 1984 it rapidly became apparent that he retained his popularity in the union and he was again jailed, this time to face extradition charges, there is no extradition treaty between Grenada and the USA.

Photo: MORNING STAR

The Washington-based

Hemispheric Affairs noted in its 1985 report that

*human rights conditions in becoming the worst in the English-speaking Carib-

bean. It made special mention of Chester's case.

missHę reacned une weapons

Ic cascu documents

Africa's on

got in the same were circulated at the

Coordination running President

'Together we comprise physical Allied Workers Union,

even though Chester Humphrey Council

Grenada are

LOYALIST LEADERS in the Six Counties will this week be under heavy pressure from the ranks to provide new direction for the campaign against the Anglo-Irish agreement following the results of the 'mini general election' held on 23 January. under a slogan of 'Ulster Says followed the resignation of 15 Democratic Unionist Party and Official Unionist Party MPs and was meant to indicate massive Hillsborough Castle Accords which they say undermine British sovereignty, allowing the government of the Irish Republic to interfere in the North. Paisley Signing the Accord ON 7 FEBRUARY the Phillippines goes to the polls in what promises to be an object ballot-rigging and government-inspired terror. Since martial law was declared in 1972 100,000 of president Marcos' opponents have been killed and 60,000 jailed.

This includes the principal leader of the liberal opposition, Benigno Aquino, who was shot at the airport on his return from exile over three years ago.

Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, is the only

candidate standing against Marcos. Virtually the other opposition organisaLONS are boycotting elections including the New Democratic tront

whose armed wing the

New People's Armv has ar estimated million followers and has opened

Held No', the election

rejection of the

But when the VOLe were counted, it was abvious the campaign had backfired. Despite their parties failed to mobilise electoral extra votes required demonstrate rising hostilily to le British government and in the process a Unionist seat. Newry and Armagh — was lost to the social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

The total Unionist vote

way million SNOIL target the and

mean a deepening of divisions in the Unionist ranks. Whereas the membership of the Ulster Defence Association, the legal paramilitary loyalist orgaisation, has swelled to an estimated 15,000 (about a 3,000 increase since the Accord) and more than 30 per cent of loyalists are reported to believe that strike action would be justifiable tactic to influence the British government; the leadership of the Official Unionist Party is already distancing itself tron the militant and often violent protests of

Philippines' terror elections

lesson in fraud,

guerilla fronts in 59 of the Philippines z3t ones. Unemployment Philippines is now 30 per cent and 40 per cent of the people of Manila, capital, are squatters. 30 per cent of the population suffers malnutrition.

Aquino's assassin, General Ver, has just been aquitted of the murder by a millary Inoullai Marcos caused a bit of a stir as mayo domes at a business lunch that he would be taking Ver, who used to be his chauffeur back on as chief of stafi

Enoch Powell, unionist MP who stood for reselection.

the hardliners.

Whether they are prepared to come to compromise WIll the British government

If they were to offer a deal to the SDLP for involvement

Devors or the new the

powers the • new tergovernmental Conference, and Dublins' inreduced. They would only would reduced. do this if they calculated loyalist reaction against

deal was the decrease and the DUF would not make massive gains. Having been pushec anto the instance of inn

LEC DUP, they are not going to be rushed into opting out oI ine british parliamen

a tactic advocated by many in the DuP. The kind 'grand gesture' echoing the arming of the Ulster volunteers in 1913 to frustrate Home Rule, or the Ulster workers' council strike of 1974, which would not seem viable while the major political parties of loyalism were divided.

Britain's response

likely to be one of the exacerbating. tensions, allowing unionists to froth at the mouth in the Six County Assembly and reassuring the 'integrationist' . wille that they have nothing. to fear from the Anglo Irish

because even the minimal concessions propose probability end

probability the Dublin government more than willing to go

NRESTORE FALLOON

ASSEMBLY

'Many people do not

The explained understand, 'that you not just relieve chief of staff whose leave of absence has caused some difficulty in reorganising the armed forces.'

1 ne 'reorganisation' Marcos seeks is indicated by a recent ruling that no foreign observer WIll allowed within 50 yards of

along with this idea. They have gone up in the opi nion polls ín the South. despite the fact they have failed to demonstrate their he w over the British

But the British government relax. callul The only afford unionist

party to support the accords the e Alliance suttered s a decline at the polls and the cent

expected swing away from Sinn Fein to the SDLP was only of marginal significance

In the run up to the

WHERE ARE THE

WINNERS?

OUT

NOW

New Labour and Ireland latest issue: read all about

leader, eight-page cultural supplement and much

WCIN 3XX. a polling booth during the election. Marcos was forc-

tion because the USA ha demanded he 'clean up his act and present democratic front. Ballot rigging his preferred method of ensuring nothing goes wrong.

Marcos' terror machine is also hard at

International

election, the SDLP re jected a pact with Sinn Fein and I denied that the election would referendum on the Ac cord. It was relatively low key campaign.

To make sure there was

focus for the nationalist discontent ove une ceramantercoves mental conference was

work out behind-the Scene deal get the IRSP-led hunger-strike, in DI ULCOI sentences given to 25 prisoners convicted on the

evidence 'supergrass' Harry Kirkpatrick, called off.

Selective harassment of Sinn Fein by the army and the RUC was stepped up in a bid to disrupt their election campaign. Identity checks were made on all voters.

This was a measure supposedly introduced to prevent large scale per sonation (said to account for 50 per cent of the Sinn hein vote). These measure discriminate against Sinn Fein

largely from young unemployed working class voters

In the whole Six Coun ty area only in Newry and Armagh, where the SDLP's deputy leader Seamus Mallon took the seat, was the turn higher than in. tne elections. Elsewhere nonalsis stayca away. large numbers. It was not seen an election which they had any stake.

NEWABOUR

& IRELAND

IF THE UNIONISTS HAVE LOST-

reaction to the Anglo-Irish Accords, interview with rail

more: send £3.00 for a five-issue sub, or 50p + 20p p&k to Labour and Ireland, c/o LCI BM Box 5355, Londor work. A fortnight ago Ms Aquino's godson Jeremias de Jesus and his driver died in a hail of automatic rifle fire while campaigning near Capas, in Tarlac Ms Aquino's home • Two survivors are vince. tified the bodyguards of the Mayor of Capas.

Meanwhile the New York Times has published extensive documents disproving Marcos claim, on which a great deal of his

Bopular bere, to tale

heroic guerilla leader during war. 'Most of his unit,' says the report, 'spent more time committing atrocities against civilians than fighting the Japanese. Preparing, no doubt, to win the peace.

Page 5 scan of this page

Thatcher threatens deportation

News

GARNETT KORLER is a black South African who fled to Britain in 1983. He faces deportation following a court recommendation last November. Garnett has applied for political asylum to remain in this country.

lis defence campaigr now backed by Man chester Council won a significant victory last Friday when the Home Office was lorcea to reicase mim from Strangeways prison, where he was being held on remand.

Garnett was active in the South African

Port Elizabeth at the time

the youth uprisings there in 1976. was tracked down in 1979 and forced to move to Johannesburg.

There he met and fell in love with a white woman,

A STORM of protest

has greeted Home

Secretary Douglas

Hurd's decision to ban

the planned London

visit of the black

American preacher

Louis Farrakhan. The

decision followed inten-

sive lobbying by Gren-

ville Jenner, Labour

MP for Leicester West,

and Tory MP Michael

Latham, both acting on

behalf of the British-

Israel group and citing

Farrakhan's anti

semitism as pretext.

The Labour Party

black section has issued

a statement on the ban

which we reprint below.

THE Labour Party black

section campaign is appall-

curvine ceason ondone

secretary Douglas Hurd to

Sharron, who is a UK citizen. For this 'crime' the couple were persistently

abused. harassed allu Garnett himself was beaten severely by the police for daring to oppose the so-called 'immorality laws'.

Sharron was eventually deported to Britain with Their child and Garnett followed month later. Ine coupie welc Marcu. believing they had at last escaDcu the horrors of apartheid. But the mar-

broke down and Garnett's twelve-month visa was never renewed. South Africa's police in action. Immigration authorities want to send Korler back to this.

Black section condemns Farrakhan ban

ban from Britain the

American black leader Louis Harrakhan

IMES

CARIRREA

Farrakhan

We believe this is of the

Tory government caving in

to the news media-inspired hysteria against black peo-

The reason given for

ple.

barring Farrakhan was that his presence 'would not be conducive to public good'. This was the

If Garnett is deported he will undoubtedly face renewed repression and torture at the hands of the most barbaric and racist regime the world.

However, as he himself says: 'My spirits are really high. now know that

else but victory will be ours. I also hope for victory in Azania in the near future. I think that if

people there knew about the support they al c getting from anti-apartheid movements here and abroad, it would easily

and Doost unel Hol alc. might bring the regime more quickly to its knees.

'I also think we have to government to realise that work harder the sanctions can't hurt our brothers but same trumped up claim made by the Tories when

exceed Kwame Turay.

Farrakhan is reported to have made anti-semitic salements It such is the

case, we make it absolutely

clear we do not support them.

But we condemn the

home secretary's decision

to bar him on this pretext

hypocrytical. His

government has previously

Play Bhoa, Presidest of

Botha, President

racist south Atrica. and

Klu Klux Klan leader Bill

Wilkinson widespread opposition from the black community.

The hack seculots

campaign is fully commit-

Iree speech l

democratic society. We

decision to ban Farrakhan

can only cripple the regime and will also stop a lot of bloodshed.'

But he is still under a restriction order and the threat of deportation hangs over his head. His hearing with immigration officials is now fixed for 14 February wanchestel International Airport.

'Political refugees from South Africa, whether black or white, should be allowed political asylum in this country,'

Patrick sala SAnti-Apartheid secretary Manchester

'Apartheid has been declared a crime against humanity b the United Nations and if we send people back there we are participating in this crime. will only further • fuel the huge distrust of Black peo. Phe main over mentical

mainstream political process generaly

We as black people have a right to be heard and a right to dissent. Any tampering by government

with these inalienable rights makes a mockery of

democracy

and will surely serve to store up an eventuai erup tion of Black protest, the intensity or wiel Has never

before been seen in this coulliy.

We therefore call on mediate secretara to his

medale v willuraw

ban on Louis Farrakhan.

The ban on Kwame Turay

must also be lifted

Labour leaders should

campaign inside and out-

side parliament to achieve

these objectives if they are

to have credibility with the

black community.

Action 6.30рт, 13e • Join vigil at

rebruary. to 9.30am, 14 February, Peter Street, Manchester. A protest at the airport is also being organised.

• Individuals and organisations are asked to write to the Home Office

demand political asylum for Garnett (please send a copy of the letters to the campaign) and also to affiliate to the Garnett Korler Detence Campaign (organisation £5, inarvaults fl waged, 20p unwaged). The campaign can be contacted c/o Manchester Law Centre, Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester 12. Telephone 061 225 5111.

repression feared

A LABOUR movement

delegation just returned

from EI Salvador

reports that a new wave

of violent repression is

very much on the cards.

The scorched earth

policy of Christian

Democrat President

Napoleon Duarte in the

war against the FMLN is

now be carried over into

the struggle in the Cities

Duarte, who started his

Presidential career : with a

goons call popular base

amongst the urban masses,

has now all but lost it. The

cost of the war takes 70%

of the GNP, despite US

Said running at a

rate of 500 million dollars

a year (more any

other country in the world

bar Israel and Egypt).

Recent economic

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

North West labour

movement

conference on

Southern Africa

by Roy Wilkes

A LABOUR movement conference on Southern Africa has been called for Saturday 19 April in Manchester Town Hall.

sponsored by North West TUC, Manchester City Council, the Lancashire Association of Trades Councils and Man chester Ethnic Minorities Representation Council

Speakers include Diane Abbot, Peter Heathfield,

Nottingham

fights apartheid

ON 28 JANUARY, 1500 people trooped through the streets of Nottingham to demonstrate their opposition to white rule in South Africa.

Nottingham Against Apartneia, organisea by c broad-based committee in-

from black iepresentalive. community

trade students and Nottingham AAM aimed to make a new level in the struggle South Africa and in the solidarity movement here.

This it did. It was the biggest demonstration in Nottingham hilall years predominantly

black and vocal. Marchers called for victory for the ANC, sanctions now, and

WIll bullla, Reagan and Thatcher.

The rally boasted an impr with

St Paul's trom

Apartheid Zone

Campaign

Against all the local

A Clan and ATO

Caribbean

SWAPO.

Paul ANC, brought from

youth in Africa.

1986 hell

El Salvador: new wave of

HIC SUreS have led

drastic increases in the cost

living against

backcloth of combativity

from the Unions that com-

bines economic demands

with political demands for

the release

and for eace talks with

the FMLN. 80 Trade

Union leaders have been

assassinated the last

year. A union leader

disappeared last Thurs-

day. The labour move

ment delegation which in.

cluded

T&GWU and the NUM

and Jeremy • Corbyn MP

met Trade Union activists

in san salvador and snow

ed their solidarity by tak

ing part in a Trade Union

march under a banner in

SHOTS and Spanish

reading 'British Trade

Unionists workers of

5 and Bob Litherland, MP Representatives from COSATU and the Dunnes Store strike have also been invited. * For more information about the conference and for delegation forms write to our movemen conference on Southern

8a Buildings 491 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M8

For phone 061 795 4691.

Sharpeville. This is not Soweto. This is it!'

Gwen McLeod tron Notts Women Against Pit vosures pieugcu nei sup port the liberation

She said that although the year-long

'strike had seemed hillins

massive battle, was nothing compared to the struggle in South Africa It is our dutv as workers and socialists to give what

the South African freedom fighters.

candle-lit vigh aadressed by ANC representative Tambo Zume com memorated those killed in recent years in South Africa.

The day was rounded off with a benefit concert at which two representatives from Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign spoke and collected over £70 for their campaign.

Overall the day succeeded not only in raising a substantial amount money TO. ANC SWAPO and COSATU DUl MOre importantly beginning to draw together

black community, the trade union movement and student bodies, showing the way forward for the solidarity movement.

St Pauls said, , 'Remember

this is just the beginning.

Salvadorian union leader Ignacio de la Fuente. the world unite' They will produce a full report of the visit and take part London Rally on 17 Mar-

ch.

*For further informa-

tion on the delegation and

to order the report contact

Labour Movement

Delegation to El Salvador, c/0 SOGAT 82, 13-15

Borough Road, London

SEI OAL.

Page 6 scan of this page

WAPPING: WH

A BATTLE TO THE DEATH

6 Socialist Action 31 January 1986 CONSTRUCTION OF the Wapping plant began six years ago, in 1980. Between 1981 and the end of '84 there followed intermittant negotiations with the print unions about the new site. During that period Murdoch came nowhere near any agreement about new technology with the unions. That round of negotiations ended and did not begin again until September 1985, only to break down by Xmas. WHEN PRINT workers struck last Friday they did so because iney were in a battle to the death for their own jobs and those of every other print worker up and down the country. If Murdoch gets his way, literally tens of thousands of jobs will be lost.

He has already tried to sack the 5500-odd workers on his own four titles, The Times, Sunday Times, News of the World, and the Sun, who are now

La lavourable climate created by Murdoch's hard-line over Wapping, in the last week alone: United Newspapers, the new owners of ine Express group, nas announced plans for major cuts in its 6000-strong workforce; the Telegraph group has announced its intention to begin talks on reducing its London production staff by halti and the financial limes about to make public its proposals for moving to a new plant on the outskirts of London, with new staffing levels and a commensurate number of redundancies as a result. Unlikely

When the Murdoch presses rolled at Wapping last weekend it was a red rag to the bulls of the press corporations -and every single print worker knows it. That why NGA and members recently voted by huge majorities to take action, and why there is an anticipated 3:l for dustrial action among members.

Murdoch's plans aren't about trimming the fat from a corpulent print industry, they aren't about the prospect of

well-paid Fleet Street having their earnings cut - but they are about the comolete restructuring of the whole print industry, and about leading theon-management relations in this union-management relations country, leaving other workers' jobs equally vulnerable.

It is for those reasons that Murdoch's print workers have no option but all-out strike. And for the same reasons that the rest of the trade union move ment must offer their wholehearted backing. That means:

• mass picketting — which to be effective would have to be on a scale that dwarfs Warrington and Orgreave;

complete boycott of distribution for Murdoch's scab papers, propriate industrial solidarity action by other workers;

• in short, the sort of mass industrial solidarity action by every major trade union in this country that will make

Hule

By now Murdoch's real plans for his Wapping site had emerged. Far from using the Wapping plant to print the new Post, projected to start publication in March this year, and only to provide extra facilities there for his other papers, it became clear that the new plant was tooled up for full production of all Murdoch's titles — and it was ready to run without the print unions, on scab labour. The events of the last few SOGAT

inAUEW

workers

union laws unworkable.

Such solidarity of course won't come automatically. for, and hard. The decision by the NGA and SOGAT, who are calling on all trade unionists not to cross dicker dues. conies lale alu so far is much too little to stop News Inwith ap- ternational in its tracks. More of a lead

is needed.

Afready Murdoch has proved he can print an adequate quantity of all four newspapers at his Wapping plant, and distribute them throughout most of the

Rupert Murdoch has what's going on over Wapping.

It will have to be fought

supported by the lUc Wapping and elsewhere.

All along the road,

pease him and delay his scheme.

strategy.

days have provided the proof

positive. With the collusion

of the EEPTU leadership,

precipated what will be the

biggest print industry dispute

in decades. On its outcome

depends the future of the

print unions, and indeed the

labour movement as a whole.

CAROL TURNER looks at

EETPU cians union.

himself (with the

minate them.

new tional's country. The print unions with the full collaboration of the TUC, must fight for the total solidarity that's needed from the labour movement - starting

Refusal with stepping up their own action al

print union leaders have conceded more and more ground to Murdoch in an attempt to ap-

The events of the last week have conclusive- agreement ly proved the abject inadequacy of such

VIuTCOCI himselt CON mented last weekend: 'So long as Bren-

LEADER Eric Hammond, by his own admission, has no objection 'in principle' to signing a legally binding no-strike deal with Rupert Murdoch. And a nod has proved as good as a wink to the Australian print boss who brought out issues of all his newspapers at the new Wapping plant last weekend - using scab labour, most of whom are members of the electri-

There is no doubt that Murdoch

deliberately precipalcu dispute. After the results last week of the NGA and SOGAT ballots on industrial action, he told the unions: 'I say now that all negotiations between SOGAT, the NGA and ourselves on Wapping are ended.

The nod from Hammond and the da Dean is in charge, I think things will be fairly peaceful. I just hope we don't see scenes like we saw in Warrington'.

After talks broke down last Xmas Murdoch gave the Fleet Street unions

exeption of the NUJ) sixmonths notice that he intended to ter-

This current agreement with The NGA responded with what the Financial Times described as 'the ultimate sacrifice: it offered to accept

technology News new title, the London Post, planned to hit the streets this March. Murdoch rejected the offer.

A week before the strike was called, the TUC stepped in. On behalf of all print unions except the EETPU, Norman Willis met a News International team on Sunday 19 January to offer an

on union recognition Wapping. The condition for getting the meeting was no disruption to the production at Wapping of the new 24-page

HAMM

EXPOS

completion of facilities at the Wapp plant was all Murdoch was waiting to bring things to a head. Now that got both, that is just what Murdoch done. And electricians' center Hammond has been instrumental in massive redundancies now facing print industry. He has given a g light to Fleet Street's bosses to go a and sack tens of thousands of WULKCIS

In December the EETPU po indicated its willingness to sign b on the terms outlined by Murd This brought down on its head the a bined wrath of the TUC and other! unions — but to no avail. Ignorin effect on other unions of signing

Hammond reje TUC 'interference' in the form of Willis letter

During January meetings of RATPU were reported to be con. ing whether to enter talks with the bally recognition deal at Wapping.". (News International).

while, preliminary talks betw supplement of the Sunday Ti which hit the streets on the day thei took place.

The TUC proposals went than any previously made included:

• a 'continuity of production' requirement of an agreement m the need to avoid action which rupts production; • an undertaking to conduct a ballot of members before calling official action

provision for ACAS conciliat which could be triggered unilaten and would ultimately be binding; • recognition that Wapping technology and working methods be used would necessitate flex working!

Yet again Murdoch's reply was a refusal. He announced that talks Wapping were 'at an end. He wo discuss only working at News Inter tional's other two Fleet Street pla

Page 7 scan of this page

AT'S AT STAKE?

MURDOCH'S DIRTY DEAL

ED

print unions and the EETPU called by the TUC last week failed. claimed to be 'ill and unable to attend the meeting', but the electricians would meet Murdoch for discussions week he announced

Last Thursday, only verore ine print strike was called, lne truth emerged: Hammond had been complicit in Murdoch's dirty dealings all along. Thursday's Financial Times leaked the content of a confidential document presented meeting the day before.

On 30 September at a meeting between the print unions, EETPU national officer responsible for Fleet Street, denied accusations that members of the electricians union were being recruited to work at Wapping. The evidence of this was offered to last week's meeting: two fake job applica-

trom an NGA member posing as a Southampton electrician, the other from an AUEW member posing as a Glasgow electrician.

The NGA member received an apGrays Inn Road and Bouverie Street. It was In lal agal Inal une us and SOGAT finally found themselves last Friday with no option but to call their members out on strike.

Security

While the idea that concessions by the unions could avert Murdoch's axe is entirely wrong, the attempt by those unions so to do has brought out into the open once and for all the state of affairs at Wapping. At every step of the way Rupert Murdoch has shown he has no intention whatsoever of backing down.

Murdoch has shown that his real plan for Wapping is to produce all his titles there, with the aid of scab electricians, and so take a qualitative step towards smashing forever the power of the print unions, lodav it cannot tall to be clear to every trade unionist who has followed the affairs of News International that they too have but one option: stand up and be alongside the strike

ONDS SCABBING

plication form, Hammond Southampton AUEW

24 hours

plate-making (traditionally

the electricians union.

The TUC exist' between the EETPU Tom Rice, the

public pronouncements though they are

doch.

their counted on

tain in compliments of the EETPU secretary; the member was referred to the home address of the EETPU secretary for his area. At an interview conducted in the presence of O'Hanlon, the EETPU secretary, the AUEW member was told he would be required to undertake

an NUA job) and to leave the AUEW and join

TUC confidential document concludes that an 'an arrangement does

and Murdoch. The leaked TUC document gives clear evidence indeed that the EETPU's

damning - bear no relation whatsoever to the real situation which exists between the electricians and Mur-

There is more behind this than simply the future of the print unions,

members' jobs and conditions. Together with Rupert Murdoch, Eric Hammond is pioneering an entirely different form of trade unionism in Bri-

"SECURITY?...

NO MATE, THAT'S OUR FÓC."

the future. What that will amount to is more than just pulling the teeth of a few powerful print unions.

Previous issues of Socialist Action have highlighted the reality for unions which lies behind the introduction of legally binding agreements: the decimation of trade union strength, as witnessed in countries like the United States and West Germany; and, along with that, the absolute reduction in the power of the trade union movement to defend its members' jobs and interests.

Make no mistake, that is the real significance of the Wapping deal and the EETPU's complicity. The actions of Hammond are a short fuse on the future of the whole trade union movement in this country, as the SOGAT

PORTAN WHAT EXACTLY was Rupert Murdoch offering the unions in the negotiations which took place before Xmas last year? What would a no-strike deal legally binding on not - really mean? We reprint below a summary of the Murdoch contract given in the special issue of the SOGAT journal, January 1986:

THE draft agreement presented management on 21 November (1986), which we were asked to sign, included the following points:

• No recognition of chapels or branches, and no negotiations with them. • No strikes 'or other industrial action for any reason whatever. union must promptly repudiate any

of the reprinted on these pages graphically shows.

Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch's ability to what he wants is still in doubt.

EETPU is already out on a limb within the trade union movement for going as far as it has. Its traditional 'new realist' partner, the AUEW, itself critical of the deal which Hammond is angling for. But the actions of Ine saru ao lo a lesser extent. lasi week's TUC offer to Murdoch (which he rejected), take all unions down a road that can only end with the installation of bosses unions in every single maustry

"'M AFRAID IT'S BAD NEWS | HAMMOND, YOUR SIX MONTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD HAS'NT WORKED OUT"

CEMEN

industrial action taken by members print

• Anyone taking part in a strike or industrial action will be subject to immediate dismissal with no right of appeal.

• Union officials 'have a special duto enforce this agreement!

• No closed shoo. molovees who are a member of the union can leave it

by

at any time.

• Union representatives in the company will be elected by the members Wul call be immedialtely from office by management it the! are given a written warning for any disciplinary offence

The • No union recognition at all for

• supervisors and management grades.

Murdoch offer

which have strike

get The

has expressed

dirty

history

same Mr number

UNION new plants.

communications

deal

scotched electricians' underhanded,

union. lakel. section' of the

to manage. people reclassify'

removed quired.

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

An article in last Saturday's Financial Times speaks worlds of the events

the present print 'Mr Murdoch has won so far, it "because he had prepared with a precision and efficiency absent from most Fleet Street managements in the past. He has done so coldly and cynically, secretly and deviously, anticipating successfully the moves of the other actors in the drama. This weekend, Fleet Street changed - not by attrition, not by marginal shifts, certainly not by negotiation - by fiat.

The article goes on to outline the

of Wapping. It was Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil who propos ed to Murdoch that he should designate Wapping a green-field site and hence open it up to new agreements with ant unions Murdoch chose. And it was the

Neil who was 'among a of advisers who steered Mr Shah in the direction of the electricians

... to get a no-strike deal for his Mr Shah, approached by the EETPU through Mr John Grant, its

director, and Lord Harris (associated with the Docklands development scheme), like Mr Grant a prominent member of the SDP, began talks and ultimate v reached agreemen in the middle of last year.'

"It is a matter of judgement,' concludes the financial limes. 'how far the negotiations over the past weeks ge nuinely failed, or were assumed by Mr Murdoch to be bound to fail so that his audacious strategy of moving to Wapping with all four titles could be tested

Hammond is implicated up to his neck in Murdoch's plans to smash the print unions. And this fact poses the trade union movement in Britain with a double task. First it must ensure that Murdoch's union-bashing scheme

- by organising the massive industrial solidarity necessary to ensure that the News International workers' strike succeeds. Second, and no less important, the scabbing actions of Hammond must be stopped once and for all.

It must be made crystal clear to the

deader that their anti-union behaviour will no longer be tolerated by any other

Disciplinary action must be That means forcing them to break their links not only with Murdoch and his ilk, but also with the scabs in the movement's own ranks such as the UDM and its ilk. • Complete flexibility of working with no demarcation lines. • New technology may be adopted at any time followed by job cuts.

• No minimum staffing levels either by agreement or understanding. The employer will decide the number of people required for any job, and fir their starting and finishing times. • The employer has 'exclusive right

Management will select jobs 'classify and people, 'hire promote. demote and transfer employees as re-

They will also 'suspend. discipline, dismiss, lay off employees from work' as they see fit.

• All this will be legally bindiag ou the union and the members.

Page 8 scan of this page

Ken Livingstone

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

WITH THE Tories in open crisis, Neil Kinnock's witch hunt is still scoring own goals for Labour.

Tribune reached grotesque heights in its last issue when it devoted more than three pages to witch hunting Militant and other socialists and half a page to dealing with the Tory crisis!

But the witch hunters aren't having everything their own way. Witch Hunt News has been widely circulated. And opposition to the witch hunt comes from those who are not known opponents of Kinnock within the party.

On Tuesday 21 January a public meeting in London brought together those fighting against the witch hunt. Socialists expelled from the party, or threatened with expulsion — Amir Khan, Kevin Scally, and supporters of Devon Labour Briefing - with Joan Maynard, Diane Abbott and Ken Livingstone.

We print what KEN LIVINGSTONE and JOAN

MAYNARD said

It dates

GLC Labour group. tribution to Table will

I don't waiv dow me ones

discipline within group.

If they

basically

their elected representatives.

push through

committee who occause

ward can do.

leil Kinnock

I HAD NO trouble deciding to come on this platform because I have a record of opposition to all expulsions.

back to the GLC Labour group in 1976 when the leadership of the Labour group wanted to expel two members because they were too right wing even lor ine leadersmp or lnc

At that stage the position that the left took on the GLC Labour group was that we were opposed to all expulsions, whether of the right or the left. The Labour Party should be basically a broad parliament of the left, and anyone who teels they've got a con-

Make should be accep-

take the view that individual left wingers bring disrepute on the party. My problem on the GLC is not that individual groups of left wingers bring disrepute on the party, but that we actually have a consistent bloc of four of five Labour members voting with the Tories, who don't just bring disrepute on the party, they ac-

to we votes Now the Labour group here has taken a very clear position that those comrades are answerable to their GMCS, local

internal structure of the GLC Labour

"I have to say very clearly for anybody who may be in

doubt, I am ready to do everything to oppose expulsions,

to make it difficult for any comrade in the Labour Party

whether it's the leader of the Labour Party or a local GMC, to carry these expulsions out."

can carry their GMC they've got a right to put the position that they do to council. If they can't carry their GMC, their political career

is finished. The discipline that we should be arguing for, is the discipline of the rank and file Ovel

There are several things that we can do to actually make it more ditficult for the leadership of the party to

Many expulsions

The first and most easy example is in the case of the comrade on general

has been expelled assoclalcu SUllIC members of his local party with Mili-

Were are several legs WICH Sheffield district party and his local

The witch-hunt will work if no one makes it difficult for the leadership to carry it out. If if becomes difficult for the leadership to carry it out - if it means they have to close down whole

HARRIS

HU1:104a

parties, if they have to intervene into the workings of labour councils - it will become a nightmare for them.

Three years ago when the first expulsions of Militant took place, half a dozen of us on the Labour group discussed the possibility that three or four of us might join Militant quite prominently, and thus present NEC with the prospect that if they expelled us they would actually reduce the Labour majority on the GLC to the point where they no longer had Labour control. But that issue disappeared when the mood wasn't there to widen the expulsions.

But what's quite clear now is that individual right wing constituencies, the 20 per cent that voted for Denis Healey 1981, are being allowed to carry out their own expulsions. Not something imposed from the centre, but waiting for some local reactionary party to actually expel the people that are alleged to have brought the party into disrepute.

I can't give you a better way of describing that, or answering that, than the way in which Eric Heffer answered it at a recent meeting of the

government committee of the NEC. There was a discussion going on about how Militant in Liverpool had brought the Labour Party disrepute, and there needed to be an

Eric Heffer said that he recalled ine lime wnen leadlg Labour coul-

cillors brought the Labour Party into

disrepute because they had corruptly

embezzled hundreds of thousands of pounds of ratepayers money into their own pockets. At that time the Labour Party never felt the need to have an enquiry.

The truth is that up and down the length of Labour MPs and Labour councillors this count y. individual

bring the Labour Party into the most

squalid disrepute. You just

walk about two miles to the east of this building to Tower Hamlets coun-

Wate councillors get up, when they are discussing the

question of housing Bengalis, and say

we shouldn't be housing Bengalis, we

should be housing our own people first. Purges

I have one or two exceptions to my opposition expulsions. prepared to expel someone stands against an officially-endorsed Labour candidate. I'm also prepared to expel people who are openly racist, because they have no place Labour Party.

The Labour Party has never tacki-

ed the issue of Tower Hamlets. It's a

nest of racist bigotry. The London

Labour Party hasn't tackled it because

we've left it to the local party. They've

tackled it by deselecting those coun-

cillors, and so basically 8 May will

bring to an end an appalling period in

the Tower Hamlets Labour Party. But

the national party never intervened.

I ney ve Dees prepared to ignore

racism and corruption by Labour Par-

ty members, and yet they suddenly

turn on a few Militant supporters.

I'm not in Militant! I have major

points of difference about the issue of

positive action to end discrimination

against women and black people, and

on the issue of our role in Ireland. But

we didn't resolve that in the London

Labour Party by expelling Militant.

We resolved those issues by debating

• them at the regional executive, by

voting on them at the regional annual

conference. We resolved those issues

the

NEWe*

into need to

in a political way and that is the way we tackle these problems.

down the route of looking for purges and expulsions, they will reunite a lett that has been torn apart during this last year, and in reuniting that left they will open the way to their own defeat. I don't believe that the expulI'm sions will actually deliver what the

leadership want.

in the

the London Labour Party, result will be a shift to the left, in OI London politics. I'm sure there are points of difference between those who support Militant and those of us on the regional executive who take a different position on the other issues I've referred to. The leadership might be rather disappointed to wake up and find that having member of Militant, their problems were actually regional executive of the Labour Party.

is happening. pulsions of the spreading turther. A been expelled from the Labour Party because he believes in the reunification of Ireland, and the withdrawal of British troops. Now how can you ex-

If the leadership of the party go

DO I "My disagreements with the Militant pale into insignificance compared with my disagreements with the

principle of expulsions."

If you expel every Militant from

Labour Party

comrades

rights?

expelled every

accentuated on the London

We've also got to look at what else

Having started the ex- in Militant, it is now comrade has

pel him and not expel Ken Liv ingstone? How can you expel him for arguing for troops out of Ireland, and

expel Ken Livingstone brought representatives of Sinn Fein into this building so that they could involve themselves in dialogue with Londoners? It seems that expulsion depend very much what position you hold. If you're an MP, whether you subscribe to Militant or not, you're

not expelled. But you are if you're an ordinary rank and file party member. How can you expel a comrade who supports Troops Out?

We also need to look at what can be done in those areas where comrades have already been expelled How can we defend their democratic

The Sheffield councillor who has been expelled is still a councillor, but the NEC has decided to uphold his expulsion. What response can Sheffield party make? It's not good enough just to have David Blunkett voting in minority of 13 to 14 on the NEC. There are things that can be organised

Sheffield. His constituency and district parties can vote not to put a candidate up at the election in May, and leave the way open for that comrade to stand an independent Labour candidate with the support of the local party and the local council

Page 9 scan of this page

attacks witch hunt

Joan Maynard: "You can never contain witch hunts"

leadership. If they do that I shall go and speak on his election platforms and canvass for him.

This sort of action will make it impossible for the party leadership to carry out expulsions.

Then we have the problems in Exeter. That people should be expelled because they draw attention to the lact tnat there are racist and sexist posters in their local Labour club is outrageous. But what is happening in Exeter is not really about sexism in the Labour club. The problem in Exeter is that the Labour minority on the county council are supporting, in an unofficia coalition. a liberal administra tion to run Devon county council. The real. issue inside the Devon Labour Party is not the question of sexist posters in the Labour club. It's the fact that the leadership of the Labour group on the county prepared to support the Alliance in power.

Democratic

Exactly the same problem will arise if we see a hung parliament in terms of the next general election. The issue will come up: are we going to be answerable to our local Labour Parties, who will instruct us to against any coalition arrangements, or are we going to sit quietly by as the Jast Parliamentary Labour Party did in the House of Commons when we had a Lib-Lab pact in the dying days of the Callaghan government.

If there wasn't a hung council in Devon, it the Labour weren't supporting a Liberal ministration, you wouldn't have expulsions. They need to purge the Labour Party of those people who are opposed to coalition politics.

Equally, when you look what's happening in Birmingham, it's not that councillors have brought the council into disrepule Dy television and attacking Party. On that basis half the shadow cabinet would have been from the Labour Party during the period between the election of Mrs Thatcher in 1979 and our general election defeat of 1983. Shadow cabinet

shadow minister went on TV slagging off the NEC, constituency parties, the labour and trade union movement. What is at stake in Birmingham is the fear of the party leadership that black sections could actually power base: that if black people are in a position where they can organise openly within the party, perhaps Roy Hattersley may not get reselected next time Amir Khan

That's the issue behind all of these

Once you strip away the fact someone's been selling Militant,

brought the party into disrepute, behind each of these expulsions are key political issues: coalition politics, İreland, black sections. The purge, if it gathers steam, will actually open the way to a major shift to the right in policy.

And I have to say, very clearly, for anybody who may be in any doubt, I am ready to do everything to oppose

council are

Oul.

vote At the end councillors

ad-

behind

the Labour

expelled

Derek Hatton

cabinet

tremendous break up their

tain witch-hunts.

It was a tragedy NEC members suspension and

can't do group of spreading to others.

How different

was there when

tuency

tion at regional conference.

mined not to do any enowly

In Dudley they

expulsions, to make it difficult for any comrade in the Labour Party, whether it's the leader of the Labour Party or a local GMC, to carry those expulsions

Labour of the day, muly disagreements with the Militant pale

tions

result

sions, I WANT to congratulate those who have produced 'Witch-hunt news'. It snould go to every consultucncy parl. in the country. It proves that there are

amount expulsions going on in the labour movement that a lot of people don't know

"his heer bee possible to were

struggling to try and stop them expelling members of the Militant editorial board. we were assured bv the then general secretary that there would be no further expulsions. Now we know

that only five voted enquiry into Liverpool. Some of the others now realise that you can't confine it to Liverpool. It has now reached Sheffield. You

that kind of thing to one comrades without

the attitude where the right wing have been in-

corruption. started political life in the North East, and I

the CunninghamPoulson affair blew up. My consti-

resolution to the could

Party should do its own enquiry into the North East. I moved that resolu-

It was carried, and it arrived at the NEC, of which I was also a member. I tell you, comrades, they were absolutely deter-

North East. Were they closing ranks behind their friends and supporters?

consulacle. where are trying to save a right wing MP from reselection, they ruled that

into insignificance compared with my disagreements with the principle of expulsions. If this purge is successful, the next stage will be to 'clean up' as the right wing see it - Manchester

Party, and the London ПРОРОТНСКИОТВЩАІРАНОGS as we used to be in London 15 or 20 years ago: a party that threatened no one, challenged no one, offended no one, and when it was in control of council, did nothing.

I see members in this audience who suffered through that London Labour Party, when nothing achieved, when about

were elected Walco massive and savage cuts in housing and education. That will be the enc

of not standing up Chaneng g these expulsions. Whatever is required to defeat expul-

Oil must be know that in defending that position, I will take part in that campaign with the support of my local constituency.

Labour

eekiy

Joan Maynard

couldn't disagree with the EETPU's delegates to that GMC. They are sending teachers. bank employees, and god knows who. Certainly not people working in the electricity supply industry. We were told that we

not disagree with delegations. But in the two St Helen's constituencies and Labour Party there, who have also been suspended, all the trade union representatives to those GMC's have been gone through with a fine tooth comb.

One law operates in one area, and a different one if they want to protect the right wing.

Anyway. what Liverpool's crime? That they were trying to carry out Labour Party policy and to de-

Oppose Exeter

expulsions!

Labour Party.

encouraging democratic debate.'

sent before 7 February.

WITCH HUNT NEWS, now out, has the full facts on the witch hunt.

Published by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, the Labour Left Coordination and the Campaign Group of MPs. Order yours now: 20p per wa. issue, £1 for 10. From

Witch Hunt News, c/o 36 made

Melbourne Road, London E17. Send any reports or and news to the same address.

Get your Labour Party to And I take an order!

fend people anywhere by attacking our own people. Who does it serve?

Comrades, sides in side and the workers' side, and you these have to decide which side you're on.

There isn't any middle ground.

District What swayed

Jabour Party was that i could never bear injustice. The injustice going on the Labour graphically described tonight. Comrades, I've often said this in relation to Ireland and I'll say it now. You can't keep justice or freedom for yourself if you are part of denying it to other people. proper way to deal with people we don't agree with is to try and defeat

Socialist Action 31 January 1986 A PETITION is being circulated opposing the expulsions from Exeter

It reads: 'We, the undersigned, believe that the proposed expulsions from Exeter Constituency Labour Party would discourage inner Party discussion and would be damaging to the Labour Party. call for expulsions to be dropped and for the Party to explore means for

Copies can be obtained from Paul Giblin, 79 Pinhoe Road, Exeter, Devon to whom copies of the petition, resolutions, etc., should also be

Witch Hunt News

them out.

own goals.

Liverpool, We get

there are only two society: there's the bosses'

Tony NEC me to join the

Party has been

We all know that the

9 We therefore Witch Hunt News The gathering witch hunt and hom co tighe it them in argument, and not throw

All we are really doing is scoring

If, on the miners and we had had a united labour movement which went out to the country and said 'We stand with

miners and Liverpool and Lambeth, today and every day until victory is won', then what a different situation we would have had!

We need to mobilise people for continued struggle and identify with that struggle. I want to see the Labour party a campaigning party. I want to see it identified with every struggle that is going on. I don't mean a witchhunt campaign. I mean a campaign in support of working people and not attacking them. I believe that is the way to win the next Labour government Making sure that people know where we stand on issues. Not only where we stand, but what we propose to do as well as attacking the Tories

The witch-hunt won't end with the Militant tendency. Its purpose is to get rid of as many socialists as possi ble, in order if need be, out of the next election, to have that coalition with the SDP and the Liberals.

Benn said that at the last And I can tell you the leader, Neil Kinnock, shot three feet in the air. Now vou can always tell whee you've hit the nail on the head. People wriggle, don't they?

The message I'll leave you with is this: despite all the difficulties, we've got to keep up the struggle, because you and I and many more thousands of people, millions of people really, intend one day to help win socialism throughout the country.

Page 10 scan of this page

London LPYS conference: no road for black youth

Reviews

Femoles tackle

Margarella

MARGARELLA, Frank and Alan book about the miners strike, has now been turned

sto a pantomime. Among those taking part is PAT

THOMAS of the Sherburn Miners Wives Support Group. She writes about the fun they have had.

How strange it is that Te is still as busy and inresting after the strike as

was during it, and how predictable. Never ould 1 have dreamt that i ould be touring parts of or kcalre a antolinlic

all things, yet here l am

'Pauline oule Ily emole' bit in Margarella;

Moles and

loneyiree.

THEATRE

How did I, and Anne Richards, Margaret Femole', gel involved?

Simple, we were just asked.

Through our contributhe North Yorkshire Women's Strike

84-85 book, things just snowballed so that galeiy ae have been working for Yorkshire Arts Circus.

Rachel, the producer decided we nt ne Panto. sere talented enough to be in ll bul gosh, the hard

work and time it involves.

oh no, 1 Hao we Kowl

mustn't say things like that

or it would be back to the Kitchen sink • soa inal.

The fun we've had dur-

in the ehingensa ed 1e

compensated.

mean, now can vou

laugh uncontrollably dur-

out now and available - price 20p plus 12p

Other Books

Copies of the book Femoles tackle Margarella :ir pap. A large selection of books on and by Femeles, or for more information on Other Boois book service, contact: Other Books, Bux 50. London NI 2XP. Payment should be ser: with orders; cheques and postal orders scotia be made out to 'IMRS'.

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

the Moles and the Moneytree, Brammah's brillant children's

Wing (like 1 did) at someone who very serious scene

says 'Aye, our Ohs have OCCil eyepened now, instead of 'Aye, our eyes have been opened now' at the chiel onned pig (police inspector) who müddles the words of his one and only song and the tune as well.

Still, he promised to

fore oe tolloorne oads

the following sal, so some bright spark shouted 'And while you're at it, bloody tune too!' type OUI LIC right

Why don't you come along and SCO when we're in your area? You'll find it's delightful and full

Reviewed by Pat Thomas Sherburn Miners Wives support group

of humour, a look at our struggle sauncal. airytale way. Thẹ songs are cheer conc eculus. uc costumes simple but hilarious, the whole tragic, amazing ycal condensed HELO fifty entertaining illuLCS

Oh the strike, it has a lot to answer It was wonderful discover there was life after marriage during the strike, but been Cycll more WolaC lul discover there's life after the strike as well.

You can see Margarella, the Moles and Moneytree at: Chesterfield (phone 0240 s2 r cels 5-6pm), 1 Feb, 8pm; Mansfield International Community Centre, 14 Feb, 8pm; Sheffield Library Theatre, 19 & 20 Tel. oull•

Coalfield Woman

The review of Femoles tackle Margarella which appears on this page is reproduced from the latest issue of Coalfield Woman,

the newsletter of Women Against Pit Closures. Number three (January 1986) is

p&p, and as big a donation as you can spare! — from Coalfield Woman, c/o

NUM, St James House, Vicar Lane, Sheffield. All proceeds will boost the funds of the women's support groups. Number

three contains news round-ups from the different areas, as well as reviews and more

poems from mining women. are available from Other Books, price £4.50 plus romen are also available. To order your copy of

PO

ON Sunday afternoon of the London LPYS conference rally of about 150 youth launched a mis-named antiracist campaign. This shows that the increased militancy of the black youth is beginning to have an impact on the LPYS.

By Chris Goff, Brent East LPYS

But, yet again, the rally was for young socialists on how not to reach the very youth that have, and will continue, to go into action against their repression.

A campaign is needed around the slogan of 'self defence is no offence' , and which bullds on une Inks black youth have made between their oppression

and that of their sisters and south

Africa. Instead the Lon-

don LPYS conference had

already agreed to a resolu-

rejected the

acts of self-defence by the

black communities in Brix-

ton and Tottenham.

The London LPYS

had furned its

back on those youth that

who

ae SyLa HO HIVbe

are fighting back and

looking for support from

¿Labour Campaign *E-*

for Gay

Rights

RAILH

HALD

Morning has broken...

Heigh. o"..

within the labour movement.

Such support has already come heartedly from the black section of the Labour Par-

which is increasing. its

WIll the defence That is an example the YS should take in how to build support for socialist policies among black youth.

Instead, speakers used the launch of the antiracist campaign to make a bitter attack on black sections. The speaker from SALEP, using Ine , exalll ple of South Africa, said that the black people who organised separately within the Labour Party weré racist.

Speaker after speaker continued this

Where have we heard that before?

The launch of LPYS anti-racist cam

paign saw an open atlack over that the Ys very section

black

should turn towards.

Self defence is no

offence! Support and

build the Labour Party

black sections! Build the

AAM!

Going for gold: LCLGR plans for '86

Fur own struggle"

APIECE f the ACTION

A quick wash and shave and then it's off to enjoy a concert in the Royal Albert Hall!

THE LONDON region Socialists conference last weekend was a small affair. Less than 50 delegates were present, about 20 LPYS branches represented.

As usual the COHference was dominated by MEnTOR Wile carried votes: • against supporting Kingsley Abrams, the black section candidate,

the LPYS London regional committee; • against united left campaign fight the witch-hunt of socialists in the party; • condemning the 'riots

YOUTH

ACTION

SUPPORT

BLACK SECTIONS FOR NEC

A TWO-THIRDS majority for lesbian and

gay rights: that was one

of the goals the Labour

Campaign for Lesbian

and Gay Rights

(LCLGR) set itself at its

quarterly general meet-

ing in Bristol on 11/12

January.

By Peter Purton,

LCLGR Treasurer

(personal capacity)

Buoyed up by the

historic first-ever debates

and votes for lesbian and

gay rights at both the TUC

ane aDoul Party con-

ferences last year, LOLOR

is determined to build on

those successes by driving

forward its campaign

throughout the labour

moveren bind bn pressie

for the implementation

the policies agreed at the

conferences.

This campaign will also

involve deepening the col-

Labour Party Young

and loting' in Brixton and Tottenham at the end of last year;

By Polly Vittorini, Hackney South LPYS

• and against joint work with the Anti Apartheid Movement on the theme "sanctions now', posing instead 'direct links' with South African WOrKCI.

KINGSLEY

ABRAMS

• right the toriex

• Wirets üçt ef fee aen •Printe Mortel/ laboration already deve loped between LCLGR and the black section, the Labour w des Action Committee, and other organisations which supported us al party conference, Labour Left Coordination and the Labour Coordinating Committee.

In the Labour Party, there will be a major drive the number of resolutions and amenuncll. secure anther debate on conference floor LCLGR also plans to hold fringe meetings and have stalls at severar r le rmg regional conferences over the next couple of months.

In the trades unions, new working party will be coordinating work to press the TUC into implementing the nOn-Usti ination policies adopted last year. There will also be drive for affiliations from the major national unions.

Over the next few months LCLGR will also be

It's said to be an exciting new work composed, arranged and conducted by someone who is anonymous!

News

through the South African

Laboul Education Project

(SALEP).

Resolutions which were

passed on the witch-hunt

did evel have any

perspective of fight

against the proposed cuts

in the LYS budget.

This 1s a situation

which must be turned

around Unless the YS

builds among youth in

struggle, and particularly

among black youth, it wil

find itself increasingly

isolated from the left in the

labour movement.

Youth Action, the

LPYS campaigning

paper, latest edition

just out. Kingsley Abrams, candidate for LPYS NEC member; Sparkhill LPYS againt

the witch hunt; Student anti-apartheid

actions; Broadwater Farm and much more.

10p per copy from

Maria Welsh, 27 Landos Courl, Butler Street, Miles Platting,

Manchester. putting together a draft lesbian and gay rights bill lo be usea as a callpalg"" ing weapon inside the Labour hiwvcuica. is hoped that sponsorshi] can be won for the bil from the Campaign group and other Labour MPs

LCLGR is embarking aiso on a majol ment and affiliation drive All lesbians and gay men active in the labour movement should join LCLGR strengthen the camO2121 Socialists everywhere should get their Labour Parties to affiliate.

LCLGR!

Membership: £1.50 unwaged; £4 under £7000pa; £8 over £7000pa; CLP ajfiliations £10; branch affiliations £5. Send 10: Membership Secretary, 17 Osborne Rd, Southville, Bristol BS3. Get your copy Lesbian Gay Socialist, 50p plus 17 p&p, from: Tobie, Riverdale Rd, London

Cormac

By god, what an anti climax! No wonder she didnit want to claim credit for that prece of shiock! Very effective alienation technique, though...

Page 11 scan of this page

News

Teachers' Pay -

stop the sellout

conditions for all teachers.

Teachers (NAS/UWT).

The executive of the largest teachers union, the National Union of Teachers, rejected the deal and refused to participate in the ACAS talks.

The deal has to be formally ratified inside the

See, the DOUV pay. The aid that they ballot their

the deal inside

weeks tal that the pay and maintains That is the way that

be vote

Find join against the and the

deal cent for all year y it will be of about

54,000 teachers Lne

Is settlebe less offered Only tiny handful OI

"y large Da the creases excess the

laiority

not sellout simply because it does not restore

Civil Servants go for

new pay claim

THE CIVIL and Public Servants' Association, the country's largest civil service union

By Robert Johnson, CPSA South Glamorgan DE branch (personal capacity)

which represents mainly clerical and typing grades, held a special day conference on 25 January.

It was decided against the platform's advice to reject government's proposals for a long-term

service way This would have institutionalised low way for thousands of members of the

NO

TANGX

JOSEPI

THE AGREEMENT signed at the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service by the employers and some of the teacher organisations on Friday, 24 January represents a major setback on both pay and

The responsibility for this sellout lies with the leadership of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women

34 per cent

The Willg

Will scab or callisallons like the Professional

Teachers and the headteacher

who have NOT action this

a major on

vice. further

powerful

clear

tual duties and respon

tempt utte together. The new

the as

(Ine Conditions of Service negotiating body). HIS

of

measures will tie

teachers foot.

Ilas union and prevented free collective bargaining over future wage demands. The majority against the NEC was over two-thirds.

Supporters the system were hard put to defend it: even Alistair Graham, the right wing general secretary, found fault in that there was no automatic right to arbitration!

There even an acknowledgement that the government could break

agreement public the terests

is, cash limits come first.

The 1986 pay claim will include a flat rate increase of £15 per week, 30 days holiday

OCI 35-hour week. The conherence JustruCted NEC to prepare for all-out

being taken out of the hands of teachers and given over to arbitration

One of the features of the proposed settlement HOWCYCLIS that dependent and impartial panel shall

by ACAS'. The agreement goes on 'this panel shall control the programme and procedure of negotiations'.

The independent panel will consist of 3 people and

ICEl asle oul its deliberations 'shall be private' to those who participate. Since the NUT has refused to accept : this canitulation. the NAS/UWI is deliberately colluding in establishing procedure which forfeits all trade union negotiating rights and deliberately excluding the NUT from any negotiations.

Not all members of the VAS/UT accept this sell out. There some of their members in Birmingham, for example, are opposed to this agreement.

When the Government is under pressure following the Brittan-HeseltineThatcher fiasco and a real parents movement, the All London rarents Action Group, is emerging it impossible to imagine the stupidity of the NAS/UWT leadership. But it is not just a betrayal of teachers. As the CPSA are about to ballot their NICHOCIS and the workers face a massive attack, this is a betrayal of all trade unionists.

Militants of the Socialist Teachers Alliance inside the NUT will be arguing for the union to keep up all forms of action

opposition to the Executive's proposals to scale things down. industrial action at the end of April and to ballot the memoership ing April.

In 1981 selective action by civil servants cost the government over £600 million. This is what the government willing pay hold down the wages of its lowest paid workers.

The resolve of the

high. menders Last year saw numerous disputes. fing in both DHSS and the Department of Employment. we must use this resolve to put pressure or LItt NEC leadership ensure that the claim 1S carried ward. Branches must keep the while preparing locally for all-out action.

the UDM

THE NUM gained a tremendous boost last Friday when miners in the Leicestershire area voted by ballot to remain in the national union. This though all but 30 out of the 2,200 strong workforce had worked throughout the last strike. The 885 to 490 vote was a body blow to the attempts of the scab 'Union of Democratic Mineworkers' to extend their influence beyond their base in Nottinghamshire.

Following the defeat of the UDM supporter Terry Hughes in his bid for the area presidency, this vote shows that despite the

of the national result

DEFEN

Justice for miners!

national meeting Labour MPs and many sacked miners.

renamed Justice for Mineworkers after

popularising and camp

The Campaign Group

rewritten LICH

Chairperson of Northwest Area Miners Defense Campaign.

Justice for Mineworkers Bill during the Prime Minister's ques tion time on February 27. This will coincide with lobby parliament sacked miners, and the

20,000-signature petition by Dennis Skinner.

The Justice for Mineworkers Campaign will be launching a pamphlet prepared the Campaign Group and NUM during the activities. The January 25 meeting ook a report from the na tional WAPC wachids

paign, of a favourable reception

the NUM Executive. The

incetingustice agreed establish for Mineworkers groups within each region, and to organise a week of actions in the regions leading up to

for Lne natiolal Mineworkers demonSur allull and rally

Leicestershire rejects

dispute, are far from in an

of the keep national, more came to

Tween the coal board. ALLISONI colliery, the NCB

Aware rise,

increase, only to leave the NUM.

the his op.

DOSILOI nalu nai strike, 'This result Arthur

becomes

thur union, the UDM. The vote, is a • vin30 miners the 'Dirty who union

that Sheffield on January 25. The meeting was attended by over 900 people from every coalfield in Britain including branch delegates and national officials of the NUM, the majority of the national committee of WAPC, representatives of the Campaign Group of

formed at a fringe meeting at LP conference as a Miners Amnesty Campaign, the campaign has been

from the Campaign Group of Labour MPs. After the winning of the NUM resolutions at the LP and

Party and TUC conACCELE by Trade Briefing

at the

and decisions through-out the labour movement Ene

The for Campaign's

the NUM: nominees

from

Group Committee. The January also elected (NUM Director).

Nell Myers Officer), Elliot

coordinate

committee

Socialist Action 31 January 1986

Support Phil Holt

for NCU secretary

the Com-

be to elect

secretary

First declare was Phil Holt,

sup.

the left slate control of the NCU

• ex' ecutive who

LIc Courts

against Telecom

MP, John Golding

the WaN general Labour left executive withdrew

Golding suppor JEDI union's

organisation.

tant.

didate is

calcel official hopeful of gaining 'middle IF YOU had any doubts

response

resign and pressure on

and three -including to

attacks on the Labour

'For Bri-

have charting

ween European

our weekly schedule,

Easter. This

needed.

wages,

ground'. His supporter claim that he alone ca overcome right-lef divide and unite the union

Under LUC rules th NCU general secretary wil automatically be seated o the TUC general council.

Coming at a time wher facing be threat or a spl the labour movenent perpetrated by the EETPI and the UDM, the NCT elections pose Britis! Telecom's 160,000 engin eering and clerical worker with the question 'whic side will the NCU line u

Uniting the NCU and the labour movemen as a whole, cannot be don by compromising with th pro-boss spillers, nor D witch-hunting the left

The advice for NCt members straight forward: only by a har fight against governmen and management attack

against their col laborators in the labou Hoveneill unity defended. Advocates

for Phil Holt.

FUND

DRIVE

what you can to help kee our voice heard. Send che ques to Socialist Action Box 50, London N1 2XP.

this wee our Bristo from South Eas and £10 from

received 4,100.00 50.00 100.00 180.00 150.00

50.00 Leeds 37.50

18.00

376.25 82.00 175.00 70.00

545.00

1,277.00 661.30 434.50 25.00 70.00 136.00 8,477.55

Page 12 scan of this page

Support the print workers!

PICKET WAPPING!

las a newspaper with the Post Office d he Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London NI

- Taneridge Lid. (LU), London Da

SOCiAlist

AcTioN

A PROLONGED STRIKE in the print is now

Never before has there been so urgent a need to rally round the print workers. Every unionist worthy of the name

must campaign flat out in sup-

port of the TUC's call to all

unions to respect

SOGAT picket lines.

Murdoch wants to force com-

pany unionism down the throats of

print workers. If he gets his way at

Wapping, And it will make it that much easier

for bosses in every other industry to

adopt a 'take it or leave it' approach

to union agreements.

Single union deals, no-strike

underway.

trade can to defeat the print workers.

NGA and

Event picketing at Wapping.

other sites will follow.

laws should be broken.

clauses, an end to the closed shop, tions -and all the other measures to cripple and undermine the unions will get movement an enormous shot in the arm if Murdoch wins. He will use everything he

Murdoch is determined to ex- solidarity. ploit the Tory anti-union laws to the full. SOGAT has already been served with an iniunction against so-called secondary picketing to try to prevent workers at the wholesalers showing their solidarity. The same action is being contemplated to pre-

To win the dispute, these laws will have to be confronted head-on be called out in

and the lessons of the miners NGA and SOGAT. strike drawn. The miners were absolutely right to insist these bosses

stake.

Picketing of Orgreave propor- distribute his

Only all-out

action can win

this time backed by the power of the whole trade union

- WIll be needea to closi Wapping. The TUC's call to respect official pickets will only be enforced through the sort of campaign need. ed to build such mass actions of

This approach has to be applied first to the print industry. Murdoch's actions will not be broken bi other newspaper proprietors taking nis sales, asis claimed. Ally duvanc for News International will be used as a stepping stone by the rest of the press barons. Rather than boosting print runs, other print workers must

solidarity by the

Railworkers also have a direct

Murdoch's attempt DaUCES by road

threatens over 1000 rail jobs.

The role of the electricians union cannot be ignored. They are running roughshod over Bridlington in the print and other industries.

They are promoting UDM-style

WILH the bosses which throw every shred of trade unionism out the window. yemey are call ing the protection of the self-same Bridlington rules to stop other unions recruiting their members or moving , into those sectors of industry staffed by electricians.

Only all-out action can win the most decisive dispute facing prin workers in decades. The NGA and SOGAT have taken the first steps by calling out their News International members. Victory to the print workers means stepping up that action - now!