Socialist Action No. 13, 10 June 1983
The scan: 013-jun-10-1983-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.
Page 1 scan of this page
DEFEND THE LABOUR PARTY! DEFEND THE
AS WE go to press, the result of the general election and
MODERN
TIMES
JUNE IC Let's bomb Russia
THIRTY FIVE years
of right wing domina-
tion were over-turned
when the Broad Left
won control of the
Post Office Engineer-
ing Union executive.
The left took 14 places
out of 23.
Last week's con-
ference voted for im-
No. 13
UNIONS!
the fate of individual candidates is unknown.
But because of the treachery of the right wing Labour leaders and resulting campaign fiasco, no commentator gives Labour any chance outright victory. If this is SO it Signal the most tremendous attack by the ruling class on the Labour Party and the trade unions.
Thatcher may have won a major battle, but she has not won the war, and war is what
Left victory in telecoms union
mediate industrial action a re-elected Thatcher government were to reintroduce its Bill to privatise British Telecoms.
'You can skin
onion layer by layer, but you can't skin a tiger
wasn reaction of Dave Ward,
exclave
10 June 1983 30p
SoCiAlist
ACTION
will be declared after 9 June.
Both the Tories and the Alliance have promised legislation that would cripple unions and financially the strangle the
Party.
Their along with the rest of
of the ruling class,
make sure that Labour government will with left policies never
wins a general election. Only by the most determined action to smash up these unjust laws can the labour movement beat back this attack.
But this question of leadership. The TUC has been on its knees for the four years.
member and Broad Left supporter, to delegates" determination to take on the Tories.
Forward
an
Conference voted to finish business early to allow delegates to campaign for Labour.
The victory of the lett
betrayal of workers in struggle has been abetted by Healey and the whole right wing acting in con-
the cert to smash
Labour's campaign.
Labour Foot and his lieute-
nant, Neil objective, have acted as the right's
loyal is to throughout.
need more leadership of this type.
But the voice of the left has been absent.
with What Labour's SWaN paign were not policies like unilateralism and withdrawal begs the EEC, but the type of
determined that would make such
past policies credible. Their left must now start to
in underlined
fidence in the industrial action sub-committee the union, called off action taken by the Westminster and City
also branches.
Westminster
secretary Colin said, 'they have no confidence in us
rapidly build leadership.
Callaghan,
The victory of the left up in the POEU shows it is possible.
Kinnock, laboration
right supporters Alliances We don't urgently need
to be built up with those who have the most to gain from policies: with
wrong in struggle; with women
cam- fighting to defend their rights; with black youth fighting from the sion; with Irish people
fighting British occupaleadership tion; and
mediately with CND to The stop the 1983.
and we have the fidence in them'.
the union which had dominated by the right
wing its sponsorship witch-hunting MP John
branch Golding.
Talbot appeared to to reject the outgoing ex-
ecutive's
Ken Livingstone (GLC)
such a All political col-
with the
has to stop.
socialist workers
police repres-
most im-
missiles in By Pat Hickey The vote represents a
around traditionally tion amalgamation with
- exemonrea D sror. te
for arch voted
Conference went on
communications recommends dustry
What next after the
election? niA
Dave Ward (POEU Exec member) Monday 13 June, 7.30pm, County Hall, London SE1
Meeting organised by Socialist Action
supervisory union, and instead unification with the UCW to create a rank and file union in the
Page 2 scan of this page
2 THE RIGHT WING of the labour movement have sabotaged the fight against the Tories. Trade union leaders have sold out healthworkers and the railworkers. Now Healey and Callaghan have stabbed the Labour Party in the front with their support for retaining Polaris.
electoral chances than have it form a government committed to left policies on any But their actions have to be seen as aiding a concerted and systematic Labour Party as a mass force in British politics.
This goal today unites Thatcher, Jenkins, Owen, Sieel and every capitalist politician. In a speech last week Tory Chancellor Geoffrey Howe explained that we cannot expect to stay in power forever'.
By John Ross
By the time the Tories do fall they hope to have
made the necessary
preparation by eliminating
any serious opposition
which challenges basic interests British
capitalism particularly
relating mucical
strategy, British member-
ship of the EEC and op-
position to incomes policy.
If the Labour Party is
unable to put itself in line
with these requirements
then the whole party must
be qualitatively weakened
* aliminated as a govern-
mental party. Callaghan
and Healey are determined
to roll back the gains that
left has made. The
resulting division and
weakening of the Labour
Party has played into the
hands of the Tories and
the Alliance.
Additional help has
come from those journals
which have posed in this
Labour's friends
campaign.
Daily Mirror
declared from the beginn-
DEADLINE for resolutions to the Labour Party CUL ference and for nominations for leader and deputy leader - is 15 July.
Walworth Road has moved the date back because of the election. Hit So if you want to hit back those who torpedoed Labour's campaign, and want to defend Labour's socialist policies, you'll get your resolutions through wards, unions and Young brillie Socialist branches in time for the Labour Party's General meetings this monthwhich means straight after the election.
If you don't, your Party may well be stop-
Socialist Action 10 June 1983
The right wing,
incomes policy and
electoral suicide
vital strikes like the
The right wing would rather destroy Labour's
central issue.
campaign to remove the
ing of the campaign that it
was opposed to Labour's policy on nuclear disarmament and on the EEC and
called on the Labour
leaders to declare themselves openly for an incomes policy.
The New Statesman has advised tactical voting
which could only detract from the campaign for a Labour victory. It too has consistently been in favour of Labour proving its capitalist credentials by declaring for an incomes policy.
Incomes policy has been the touchstone for all those who want Labour to
Table 1. Average Real Wages 1973-83
Tory government 1973 Labour government 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 Tory government 1979
1981
Labour Party conference
Red Alert!
Sped from sending any resolutions.
Labour Against the Witch Hunt has already circulated its affiliates to Wall them of Contact danger. secretary now to sure special meetings are called ference resolutions, call meetings of the eit to discuss policy, and to make sure your GC takes conference resolutions on its agenda.
Socialist Action calls on its readers to put down resolutions with preamble that puts the squarely on Healey and the right for their sabotage wing of Labour's policies and election, and prioritise: Witch Labour Against the Hunt's model resolutions, Militant supporters to be reinstated and for the
resume its role as a reliable support for capitalist rule. And yet incomes policy has always meant electoral suicide for the Labour Party and indeed ally government which has introduced it.
The SDP/Liberal Alliance still refers to the period of the Lib-Lab pact under Jim Callaghan one of the best periods of Boo wonder inUnder are
Under the WOlUCI successive phases OI in-
policy pursued by Comes the Labour government
of the UBUCI the name social contract the Labour Party went from electoral victory in October 1974 to being 25 per cent behind in the opinion polls November 1976.
Lowest
It wasn't strikes which caused the unpopularity of ine last ment strikes in 1976 were at their lowest level since the '50s - but it was wage controls. The reason is no mystery. Table 1
the
Average Real Wages
106 (last 3 months)
104 101
102
107 108 107
110 (Ist 2 months)
Greenwich amendment
to the Labour Party con-
stitution
• Resolutions along the
CND® has
been promoting,
reaffirmation
unilateral disarmament
and for the Labour Party
to join in ana conduce
campaigns of mass ac-
tion against the missiles
• Resolutions rejecting
wage restraint, either
statutory,
volullary
and condemning those
Labour leaders who ad-
vocated during the
electior • CLPD Women's Ac-
tion Committee's model
resolutions positive
discrimination, and
resolutions endorsing the
Labour Abortion Rights
Campaign's at
the exclusion of
Labour's policy on abor.
tion from the manifesto
The Labour Commit-
tee on Ireland's resolu-
for nonCalle
recognition of Prior's
Assembly.
ment of real wages during the last ten years.
As these figures show,
SLabow goverl ment under the direction of the right wing succeeded in cutting real I wages in
consecutive vcal from 1974 to 1978. Real wages in the last year that Labour was in office than when it was elected. Given this record there is no why millions workers, especially in the South East and West Midlands voted for Thatcher in 1979 'and may do so again. Fallen
Of course, the effects of the rise in real wages has to be offset by the effect of unemployment and tax changes which means that disposablę income available to families has fallen under the Tories. But while Thatcher has
SOCIALSE
Greenham
Peter Shore, pushing for a social contract suicide pact with the unions
created incredible pools of misery among the unemployed, une pard, women and young people, marv oradose in work art better off under Thatcher lan (nes were under the wage control policies of le last governell.
Disaster
Not was this for the Labour Party but it is a fact that no party pledged to introduce wage controls has ever won general elecuon in Drall. Cver) single government apply ing wage controls has been defeated in a subsequent election.
The conclusion is obvious. Not oniv has the right wing sabotaged Labour's chances in this election campaign, they have also imposed policies on the labour movement which have led to electoral catastrophe in the past.
Over 170 people came to hear Socialist Action's election message at a rally in London's County Hall last Wednesday. A tremendous ovation was given to a delegation of 12 Peoples Marchers who explained that their fight was to kick out the Tories - whatever the TUC organisers said Other rousing speeches came from Helen John from the
Common peace camp and Cecil Gutzmore from the Police Bill campaign on the dangers of a Tory vic-
1. Governments introducing incomes policies Government Date Incomes
Policy Introd.
Labour 1945-51 1947, 1949
Tory 1959-64 1961
Labour 1966-70 1966, 1967
Tory 1970-74 1972
Labour 1975 Oct 1974-79
2. Governments not introducing incomes policies Tory 1951-55 No incomes
policy Tory 1955-59 No incomes
Labour 1964-66 No incomes
DolIc!
Labour Feb No incomes 1974-Oct 1974 Tory 1979-83 No incomes
Dolle the Fourth International (see page 13).
News
British Governments Since World War II
Result
Labour lost 78 seats in 1950. Govern ment fell in 1951 Tories lost electior of 1964 Labour lost election of 1970 Tories lost election of 1974 Labour lost election of 1979
won electiot of 1955 Won election of 1959 Won election of 1966 Won election of Oct 1974 Well ahead in opinion polls tory. John McAnulty spoke on the election in the North o Ireland (see page 4) and Alain Krivine finished his speech on fighting the right in France with a stirring call to build
Valerie Coultas speaking for the Socialist Action editorial board, warned that after the sabotage of Labour's campaign by the righ wing leaders, the battle would start in the labour move ment directly the results of the election were announced
Page 3 scan of this page
Peoples March boosts Labour's campaign
LONDON WELCOMES the Peoples march for jobs
News
OVERCOMING all obstacles the Peoples Marchers succeeded in rallying a militant anti-Tory, pro-Labour demonstration of over 50,000 people last Sunday. The press and media concentrated its effort on playing down the undoubted success of the demonstration.
Slogans of 'Maggie out! Labour in!' echoed through London's streets. Nearly every participant in the demonstration and most Peoples Marchers sported red Vote Labour' stickers.
As the marchers left Battersea Park on the way to central London they were emotionally applauded by union delegates including big delegations from the local government officers, fire brigades, miners, printers and civil service unions.
Even torrential rain on the route couldn't stop the tide of anti-Tory sentiment. At the
»hoto: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA
Hyde Park rally the demonstration listened to Michael Foot and Len Murray who both praised the marchers to the skies without mentioning that both of them had tried to prevent the event even taking place.
As Murray spoke chants of 'TUC off knees. Fight Fight Fight!' went up.
One of the central problems in the political direction of the march was highlighted when Christine Palfrey, one of the Marchers, insisted against all the evidence, that the march was 'not supposed to be a campaign for the Labour Party'
But she received loud applause when she said that the marchers were angry that they had to march. 'It's not a pat on the back we want. We want a job.' • Interview with Peoples Marchers page
frch tjob:
Peoples
march
for jobs
YORKSHIRE 8 HE
'83 BASIDE ON
Peoples march for jobs
SCOTLAND ON THE MARCH
'83
long distan
artving
Socialist Action 10 June 1983 peoples march for jobs
SCOTLAND ON THE MARE G
Tory rally bays
for blood
plauded calls of 'Let's bomb the Russians' 'Let's kick Michael Foot's stick away'.
The exhortations came from Kenny Everett, one of the show-business stars who were at the rally.
Other personalities who spoke from the platform included Steve Davies, the snooker champion, who spoke of the importance of "potting reds";
ynsey de Paul who composed a song called Tory Tory, Tory and Margaret "hatcher
The rally, which was clearly Intended as a media alternative to the Peoples March. succeedea in its objective. Stories and pictures or te raly recelved massive coverage compared to knocking reports of the Peoples March.
For Thatcher the rally finished a weekend in which she inusiasticall embraced her Victorian
values When it was pointed out that nineteenth Britain had a darker side she said that her forebears had dealt with those problems.
3 185 A RABID rally of 2500 Young Conservatives last Sunday at the Wembly Conference Centre wildly ap-
and
'As they prospered, so
they used their money on
voluntary societies,
she said. The secret Tory
agenda for tae asmantlin!
of the welfare services •2.
increasingly Chinted
Thatcher's statements.
A Tory victori would
have to be fought from the
very beginning by the max-
imum possible action to
prevent that agenda being
carried out.
Kenny Everett
Page 4 scan of this page
The election in the North of Ireland
Gerry Adams campaigns for Sinn Fein in West Belfast. Would Socialist Organiser support Sinn Fein in Loyalist East Belfast?
4 Socialist Action
IRELAND
UNFREE
Sinn Fein and the
British labour
movement By John McAnulty (Peoples Democracy) WHAT THE working class of Britain and Ireland need is a mass revolutionary party of the working class. What they have got is the British Labour Party and Sinn Fein respectively. In both countries we have to spell out the next steps to advance towards our goal.
In Britain revolutionaries call for a vote for the Labour Party, in Ireland a vote for Sinn Fein. The British Labour Party is based on the organised working class, but no one would accuse it of being a revolutionary party.
Sinn Fein is a revolutionary without a developed programme for the organisation of the working class. gramme is being developed in the The enthusiasm and dedication of its workers in this election contradict its own recent policy statement that only the military struggle will defeat imperialism. Meanwhile the Assembly in the North continues to justify partition and provide a basis for a restoration of the old Stormont parliament.
The Southern capitalists reply for a New Ireland — defined its purpose in the first hours of its existence by the council sat Nicky Kelly, falsely imprisoned by the Southern courts, was on hunger strike and be. ing treated by the Southern government as the H block strikers were treated by the British.
The constitutional amendment on abortion being put to referendum in the South would have the effect of welding into one weapon the ideology of the church and the power of the state.
At the same time we have witnessed a massive economic offensive by the Southern labour movement for higher wages and against the taxation system, union leaderships to defuse protests.
The Northern Ireland Congress too are trying to sell the right to strike in exchange for a flimsy guarantee that minimum wage would apply there.
In this election only Sinn Fein are any where near to addressing the root of all these problems the imperialist Democracy are confident that electoral gains for Sinn Fein would heighten the debate both inside Sinn Fein and between Sinn Fein and the revolutionary socialists.
The return Sinn Fein to methods of mass struggle.
In Britain it seems that the managed to lose the election for Labour. All the elements of the Tory programme — smashing the welfare state, muzzling the unions, women and ethnic minorities and the cold war offensive state in Britain.
We will have an interesting situation after the election where a Tory victory in Britain will be offset by a Sinn Fein success in the North. If Thatcher is willing to take the risk of moving the Irish question to the centre of the British class struggle then an offensive to extend the power of the Stormont Assembly could be the perfect mechanism for the stepping up of state power.
In any case, the left in Britain urgently needs a political programme which is anti-imperialist and Dreaks the mould laborators. Ireland is the touchstone of developing
10 June 1983 party, but one
But Sinn Fein's proclass strugale. the Council
excluding Sinn Fein. As against the attempts of the traditional
Britain
domination of Ireland. Peoples
pressure of working class struggles could
right wing has
attacks on
depend on advances towards a strong
Labour's col-
ADAMS I
election isherie Ta can dide castandie on the
election Muriel 'Labour and Trade Union Group' in East Belfast supported by the Militant.
ing the campaign Muriel replied: 'The army do not bother with the Protestant areas of Belfast. They are in and out of the Short Strand area of my constituency ... We go about our campaign very politely and quietly... and we've been very well received.'
It makes you wonder how anyone claiming to be a socialist can fail to denounce the presence of an army of occupation their constituency - but if your main priority is
favour Loyalist areas Muriel making sense.
Every political LUlllmentator from the Sun to
DUBLIN
"натрірана Ah, door-to-door canvassing! This it's all about! KNOCK
KNOCK
candidate
When asked if she has suffered harassment durthe Financial Times knows that what is at stake in the election in une North Ireland is the battle between the pro-imperialist Loyalist parties and the Social Democratic hand and in Fein on one Labour Party the one
But Socialist Organiser has followed in the wake
ESTMINSTER
SDLP leader Hume dreams of Westminster
A PIECE OF THE ACTION
beg your pardon...
Oh, yes.... of course...
Ireland.... mm-m-
of the Militant by declaring that there is no difference between Sinn Fein and the SDLP, 'they only differ in their methods' John O'Mahony goes on to assure us "It is simply not true that the SDLP is not concerned for the unification and dependence there is On that level there norning to Croose DeLweCli the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
Demands
O'Mahony then goes on to note truthfully, but inexplicably in the light of his own analysis, thai Sinn rein is tne clearest expres sion' of the legitimate demands and aspiration: of the oppressed Catholic
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years
community. Catholics should therefore vote for them As for the Protestants O'Mahony considers that it would be a giant step for them to vote for ... the Militant!
O'Mahony tries
evade the duty of socialists absolutev unambiguously that they are on the side of those fighting British imperialism whether through the mass struggle, the armed struggle or the ballot box.
British socialists are finding an increasing dience in the left of the labour movement for the argument it the British ruling class which is responsible Advertisemen
I WHY SOCIALISTS SHOULD VOTE SINN FEIN
It's not an election issue.
that a war... yes... thirteen oppression... yes....
News
tarian divisions in Ireland,
buttressed by partition.
The fight for national
independence and TOI
socialism go hand in hand
question you are ducking
the main battle against im
perialism and its allies
whether they are in the
Loyalist parties, the
capitalist parties of the
South the collabora-
tionist SDLP. Quiet
Socialist Organiser in
their ridiculous ecleticism
unfortunately have taken
another faltering step
down the 'polite and quiet
road already trodden bs
the Militant.
* SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
FROM UNITY AT POLLS
TO UNITY IN STRUGGLE
NO MORE
PARTITION
SOLUTIONS ERL
ORGANISE
IN THIS ISSUE:
CORMING"
The worst thing about canvassing for Labour 4 martine members or the Labour Party!
Page 5 scan of this page
News
THE POLICE Bill is yet another sign of the Tories determination to strengthen the paratus of the state. MICHAEL MEACHER MP about the Bill and its consequences.
objections to the Police Bill are
• the reintroduction of SUS with indiscriminate stops and searches in the streets • denial access to solicitor for up to 20 days • the introduction of the right to search homes and office of people not even suspect • the introduction of a police right to intimate body searches — which is really repulsive.
Outery
After the against the Bill, the Tories have given way on some questions which effect the middle classes and professionals - journalists, doctors, lawyers and clergy.
The concessions mean police will be unable to search the premises of these groups without the agreement of the High Court.
All The most objectionable things about the Bill first foremost working class people. Labour repeal the Bill if it becomes
Labour's policy has three chief elements.
First, police authorities should be elected to bring about accountability of
police. Second. the police complaints procedure should ve gename-
independent the police should not be able
Tamil feminist on trial
NIRMALA Nithiyanan-
lan is a memper or lac
minority Tamil popula-
tion of Sri Lanka, and a
well-known feminist
writer. She was arrested
1982 and charged Sri ballika s
Prevention of Terrorism
Act (which is based on
our very own PTA).
Nirmala was held in
an army camp with male
prisoners and a 'confes-
sion' was extracted from
her. Her trial has just
started. For
Tamil workers, many of
whom labour on the tea
estates, have been the
victims political
violence instigated by the
The Tamil
'Law and order'
- a euphemism
for repression
repressive apLaura Mitchell spoke to
to investigate themselves.
And third there should be less emphasis on SPG-type policing which causes trouble in the first place The existing cosmetic police liason need genuine accountabiliLy • The problem the moment is that the Tories are making 'law and order'
Tory law and order. That means holding a lid down consequences of Тогу economic policy, the generated Dy mass unemployment. 'Law and
MALE
ORIER
Women's League is call-
ing on supporters to pro- Photo: MAGGIE MURR
test at the trial and the treatment of Tamil women by sending telegrams to the President of Sri Lanka, JR
dent's House, Sri Lanka.
TWL can CO• tacted at 42 Sickert Canonburi St, London N1. Tel 01-226 2367.
Compiled by HILARY Send contribu. tions "Male Order Socialist Action, 328 U pper sireel, London NI bAr 1o arrive not later that Thursdav a week prior to publica. tion.
authoritarianism and repreony Benn once said
Tony the SPG were agents of Tory industrial policy the Tories create mass unemployment then bring in the SPG to crack a few skulls.
Killing
I'm convinced that the law courts will never convict a policeman or prison officer of the killing of a prisoner custody, however comprehensive the evidence
as in the cases OI Barry Prosser,
Kelly and Peach showed. If they weren't killed by police who else could it be?
TRA CONDON
Doom preents
144 Women reclaim Soho ON 28 May over a thousand women surceu onio Int "streets of Soho as the culmination of two weeks of action to protest against mate corence lowerd.
What we stand for
pamphlet
The policies that
Socialist Action
stands for in this
election and
beyond. Send 25p
plus 16p postage
for your copy to
Socialist Action,
PO Box 50, London
N1 2XP. Vigil called against apartheid execution Three black youths are
due to be executed for their part in allacks On
police stations in South
Africa.
The execution of
Simon Mogoerane, Jerry
Mosololi and Marcus
ACHER
reclaim the streets of Soho and show that they were angry about what went on behind the bright lights and daccle.
Sitten negro: as on
Colin Roach's father joins picket demanding a public inquiry (second from right in photo)
We SLAND
'Motaung has been set for
the morning of Thursday
9 June. There is a perma-
nent picket of South
Africa House, Trafalgar
Square from Wednesday
9.00am to the hour set
• for the execution.
BARS
wont be ruled by men, we
won't be fooled by men, we
more' accompanied by
shouts of keep men off ihe
Socialist Action
Roach inquest
opens
THE INQUEST into the death of Colin Roach opened this week at Clerkenwell Coroner's Court, London. Colin died five months ago as the result of a shotgun wound sustained _entrance oi Stoke Newington police station.
Public
His family and friends have been waging a campaign for a public inquiry into the circumstances of his death in the light of police brutality against black people in Hackney.
Demonstrations for an enquiry have been follow-
Hass arrests police and a steady stream
by -Satrada
Crisis in tersel
Mass murder
stop fight
in Quatemala
• 10 June 1983 5 Lte
COVER UP
of defendants from the campaign have been appearing magistrates courts. Prison
Colin's father 2ad mother were the first to testifv at the inquest. Hi father testified that on the day Colin died he was hap py and optimistic despite the fact that he had beer released from prison out! two weeks earlier.
He had only hoars before visited his sister in hospital she having _a baby and had posed for family pictures The continuing refusal
of the police to give a fur-
account cumstances of his death will be at the centre of the six days of the inquest. eMai Fortnightly news review of the
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Payment in French francs if possible. Persona: cheques to PEC and mail to: IV, 2 rue Richar
Lennir. 93108 Montreuil
Page 6 scan of this page
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Page 7 scan of this page
The 1983 Peoples' for Jobs was perfectly timed to make unemployment a major issue in the general election and to mobilise the labour movement against the Tory government. in both of these respects the march was at best only partially successful. To why this was the case REDMOND O'NEILL VALERIE COULTAS asked a group of marchers for their views and experience of the March.
Why do you think the March got so little publicity from the mass media? Ton There has been a press blackout on this March. They tried to ignore it until it was no longer possible to do SO. bul l inink Il is part or a more general policy by the downplay unemployment.
Twelve months ago unemployment figures were released it was front page news. Now they ig nore them. The press accept the Tory claim that unemployment evitable, and what's inevitable, is not news
Unemployment raises too many questions they can't answer. leaders of the labour movement have havent taken ap the real argument, them that unemployment is a result of the decline of the capitalist system, which now can t even provide millions of people.
Unemnlovment is too hot to han. dle because it calls into question the economic system which creates it. So they ignored the People's March to downn av unemolovment. During a general election the press understood that reporting unemplovment and our March in a big way could only help Labour.
The Times claimed last Saturday that a small turn out for the 5 June demo would prove that Michael Foot was right to oppose the March in the first place as a diversion from the general election. Do you agree?
Tony Pe He is years old and Preston. years member of the EETPU. senior shop. steward and. then venor, herront Cairo Oldham, until he was victimised and sackea inree monins ago.
TONINO:
Ine biggest intervention unemployed have ever made into a general election campaign. It could have made unemployment number one issue and dealt a real blow the Tory Michael Foot and the TUC opposer the March at first because they were frightened of being accused of undermining parliamentary democracy.
They don't like mass tions because they might lose control of them. Both the March Labour's campaign suffered. twenty-odd Labour Party turned out for 5 June and we only saw Michael Foot and Len Murray at the end of thirty days marching.
But surely the March could have put tremendous pressure on the leaderships of the TUC and Labour Party to pull oul all une stops to against unemployment Tories?
March
But
learn
and Mick
and the OK. Evervone
press to
the
mcclulles
is in-
Bombs.
However
The we political slogans were banned.
work for
Mick Foley, March in Leeds.
One tormer
J00
Kerryur
went nowhere near
Manchester.
port and meetings.
We weren't allowed to
leges and workplaces. To For example in Preston
whole March
and he was a
conMill
on our rouLe In
which was telling
the for our reception in Bath.
had to have a broad appeal.
Paul mobilisa- At Horwich
chanting 'Tories Out! and
Only the whole North banners
March meeting where
Millington. shall. demara"
mobilise and the 10L.
they are frightened
We had different experiences. Our leg from Yorkshire and Humberside
East Midlands started off • went on tactory and pithead visits drumming up support We re-routed the March three times to give support to workers in dispute rom the start we showed the culprit for mass unemployment was the Tory
We held daily March
At Huddersfield we voted to start using anti-Tory slogans like Jobs not
These got tremendous supwith the main March in Northampton when we joined up
were astonished to lina that all
up aged 29 joined the He is a member of shon ore ward He was made redundant from his last
experience was different. joined in Manchester. They seemed to re-route our leg to keep us as tar possible away from the factories. We
Trafford Park which is the biggest industrial estate in
I was shocked by the lack of sup-
small go out and build that support, in factories, col-
6,000 workers stopped work to support us — one of the best welcomes on the
- but no effort was made to have a meeting with them.
I was on the South West leg of the March. We were told that we couldn't chant anti-Tory slogans because people would then see us as hooligans. They made no priority of getting out to the labour movement on our • leg. 'hev didn't even let us march through Plymouth, one of the biggest towns
Bath the marshalls told the police to remove a Labour Party van
people about the March, even though they knew that Bath Labour Party had virtually paid
Ton we were on the main leg of the March. From the start they said we
someone started The marshalls the Whole North West continger In Manchester shouted anti-Tory slogans. We held a
the marshalls al guea tor a ban on poncal slogans. Thilington. ine West Midiands mar- minority. Alan
There are limits 1o 1==- Lenar 213:7
'leaders ignored it...
of any mass movement...
Tono we continued to chant anti-Tory slogans through Manchester and Stockport. But then on the Saturday in Wythenshawe the marshalls called the police to halt our banner (we were leading the March). They physically stopped us and got the Scottish contingent to take over the lead, though March policy was for region to lead in their part of the country.
The next day, in Altringham, they expelled three Liverpool marchers for chanting anti-Tory slogans. waited till we were outside the Mancnester arca in order lo prevent us going to the trade unions and explaining what they were doing.
Ker They expelled people to intimidate Ine rest or us. Ine stewaras usca so-called March discipline to smash us down and demoralise us People were scared of getting beaten
if they didn't do what they were told.
They accused us of being petty and whipped up all kinds of insults ike calling us queers' when some or the few women on the March asked for women only accommodation. Mick March in Nor hampton we couldnt When leg joined the main believe how low down the marchers Were. he stewards were incredibl petty: They even asked to see our identity cards before letting us into the toilets, when we all had yellow shirts on anyway!
Then our leg of the March morale was sky high. But the main leg seemed to be demoralised.
The next day when we marched into Northampton for a rally the marshalls told us we could only use official slogans. On our leg anti-Tory slogans and 'Jobs not Bombs' were official. We'd voted for them.
So that's what we shouted. happened next was Increame 5pm on the Friday afternoon crowded town centre a North marshall and a o try to pull down the East Midlands banner (they were leading the March) and shove them off the March
I hardly believenheir eyes. There could hardly believe their eyes. was nearly a physical fight. They were prepared to discredit the March to force it to stay 'non-political'. Ian Denison is 23 years old leaving Bristol Polytechnic a year ago he got a summer job as a driver. Since then he has not worked.
The Communist Party stewards banned trade union and Labour Party banners from coming anywhere nea: the marchers. In Milton Keynes her called chro
Tred yards Derina.
cycl
the
They
been on the dole for 12 months.
ranti's on the assembly line. that she was on try to
on the dole
smacked. The Yorkshire March was near to
entire castern Leg
people refused to march.
and trouble
Nobody moved shouted trom the
we rejoin the March.
everything possible to meeting taking place.
What shouted for us:
At 'unt we have a maren meeling in a West Party
heard the slogans, Merry Marchers',
disgust.
Things only day, when Roy Rix the chief marshall of our leg assured us there would be a full inquiry into the whole way the March has been
Photo: SOCIALIST ACTION disgusted as the rest of us.
March in this way!
have okayed
After
chief
They tried to use the Scottish
by creating a sort of elitism They were the 'real marchers the rest from Leeds. Liverpa?!
-= CP =
7==
Socialist Action 10 June 1983 Mick
"broad they
ridiculous McLennan's Margaret hour week.
organisations them from Kerry Wade is 18 years old. She has
Her last job was a temporary one at Fer-
Before YOPS working for £23.50p per week. She gets f25 a week movement to
By this time I was completely gob-
leg of the mutiny. On the Monday leaving Milton Keynes, the
of the Marct together with others, a total of 140
The main marshall told us 'I can see all the trots
makers at the front
and the marchers back 'We're all solid'. Only when the marshalls promised a mass meeting that night did To"That evening in Luton they did
prevent We were kept waiting around for hours. Marchers were sent off on various pretexts. Feelings started to run high, especially alliance. their
when word got round that a steward had broken a young woman's foot the day before. A woman jumped up and
'We're not moving
Later Jack Dromey a South East TUC official opened the meeting. He said there would be no discussion just a vote on twelve slogans the marshalls were proposing. When the marchers
like 'We are the , the entire Eastern leg and many others walked out in
As a result Dromey won his vote. Manchester.
calmed down the next
now? run. He was as
Who was responsible for running the
To"Well, of course the TUC must
everything.
Communist Party was in control of the March. They organised it to make sure they controlled the transport baggage and generally the logistics o the March. For example Lenahan was
marshall, but he chaired most of the March meetings support us
hold tingent against the rest of the March ostracise
and Mar38222 _CaC
= We 00E atte :: 20 Peace because they said that would i
7
narrow its appeal. They used heavie and even the police to prevent th March becoming anti-Tory.
They had to change that in Lon don where it was impossible to impos their line any longer. They kept March as far away from the Labou Party as possible.
Now you can see the result of thei
approach Labour Party leaders off the hool and they did nothing to mobilis Labour for 5 June. They isolated th March from the mass CND move ment so that only five or six CNI banners turned out on 5 June - - whet we've seen that CND can mobilis hundreds of thousands.
Ton What did they get in return? No one SDP banner, not one "Tory we banner turned up on 5 June. By tak ing the class struggle out of the Marcl
weakened and weakene Labour's election campaign and go ridiculous Tength Thik too ido
lengths Gordo pathetic appeal Thatcher in the Mornin Star asking her to meet the March.
They say it does not matter wh the government is all they want is government that 'makes unemplo: ment its first priority? It's obviou the Tories would create jobs if the could get away paying £30 for a sixty
They're using unemployment to try to smash up une working clas
that are preventing drastically cutting wage and increasing hours.
I never argued for political slogans for their own sake. The purpose was to open out the March to involve the marchers in going out into the labour
build a tremendous mobilisation against unemployment and the government whose policie are designed to create it.
It was part of that fight. The lack of democracy, the bullying, the use oi the police, were all necessary becaus inere was no olner way the Com munist Party could force the Mar
There has been a conspiracy silence surrounding this March The press ignored it because it embarrasec
Tories on their weakest sid unemployment. The Labour leaders ignored it because they are frightened of any mass movement that mign escape theioconunis
Communist Party both by keeping the march away from politics and the Labou Party as possible, in order to promote
OWl grand Akin cy vens one comes tro
He worked as a printe until two months ago.
What do you think should be dow
Mi There should be a full investiga tion by the labour movement into thi March. Future marches must be buil
together unions and the Labour Party To"This March was paid for by work ing class organisations. It is a disgrac that a March directed by the Labou movement should be prevented by th CP from coming out against the Tor government and building support fo Labour in a general election period
The organisations that worked
along the route shout full enquiry into 250 the organisations responsible March mus go ec unempioyed io ite 23
Page 8 scan of this page
Why Labour let Thatcher get away with murder
ON BBC's
Prime Minister
almost resorted to tears.
Obviously it's not likes to be questioned about. good grounds for being wary. Belgrano was to our ships'.
islands,
government orders.
tion which the British ship was going to be two days later!
By Bob Pennington
Argentina made by torpedoed Peruvian president settlement.
told his boss what the score was.
quick patriotic
cashing in. and guilty
government's record
Labour leaders tried to outdo the Tories in union jack waving issue will go away.
Srinlist Action 10 June 1983
Nationwide Gould questioned Thatcher about the sinking of the Belgrano. As the
alternatively squirmed and hectored it became obvious she was lying through her teeth. Again on 2 June when journalists questioned her about the circumstances surrounding the ship's sinking and the loss of 400 lives she
subject She • On Nafionwide she had refused to admit the
sailing away from the Maivinas and insisted it was 'a danger
In parliament her government had admitted it was sailing away from the
and outside the 'total exclusion' zone when it was torpedoed on
The justification for this murder on the high seas was apparently that the Belgrano was 180 miles from the posi
There was no military justification for this act. However, a political motive did exist as the proposals for peace with
the Peruvians were Belgrano.
Belaunde
Without doubt this been made clear to Thatcher's Foreign Secretary Francis Pym. He must have
But the Tories were not in favour of
settlement. The wave hysteria engendered by war had turned the tables in the electoral stakes and the Conservatives were
Tories are guilty of slaughter of lying to the electorate.
Labour had the chance to lay bare the
But following
Denis Healey's outburst it is not wrat that is coming out of Labour's election headquarters over the Malvinas, but an embarrassed silence and a hope that the
Diana Most
that the belgrano issues in
nian sent against the instead
Weekend cheer-leading
she
has
explained:
however
The Terry
had
of
the
Photo: PETE GRANT
LADOUT Tories would Malvinas the election realise the Irony of Healey Thatcher over the Malvinas when they remember him saying after the Argenti-
invasion: "The Navy should be
OI lo Int Shore welcomed the invasion on ITV's
World. Michael Britain's • Labour's front benches.
Meanwhile Labour's mis-named international Committee wanted Thatcher to get tough with Argentinians. It
"The government negotiate from strength when dealing with fascist dictatorships ... The International Committee forgot to mention
that was REVOLUTION YO LI
THATCHEROU
REAGAN OU
BRALIST ONE
candidates belleve
Again if the become Perhaps they attacking
Argentinian dictator
Petel
Foot was • action from
should
Ine previous Opposition to the war came from a small minority of the labour movement
Labour government who had been the ›iggest suppliers of weaponry to in
nilitary junt
Now the chickens have come home to roost. perialist adventure the encouraged chauvinism working class porters. But encouraging and flag waving is never anything but s
ong-term loser for Labou
The natural par and nationalism is the Party. Inevitably benefit of Labour's sickening pertor mance and from then on have led the opinion polls.
Labour has buried the chance to expose Thatcher's lies and support murder. Supporting your own ruling class has never gained anything for the workers' movement.
REVOLTION YOUTH
BRITAIN CU
SOUTH ATLA
BOCALST CHALE
• By legitimising Britain's im
Labour 'leaders inside the and among its suppatriotism
of imperialism Conservative they reaped the
Page 9 scan of this page
CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT CRISIS LOOMS FOR CND
CND's GENERAL ELECTION campaign has been a flop. The CND leaflets and posters a picture children with the legend 'in the nuclear election vote for them' lacked meaning or cutting edge.
While CND was correct not to endorse any political party, the determination of many CND leaders to avoid doing the slightest thing to aid Labour's campaign been at best ineffective, and at worst looked at times like endorsement of Alliance candidates. ( EP Thompson reported to have endorsed the Liberals at a meeting in Oxford.
CND branches were confined to eatletting, questions to and meetings with candidates. along with the peace canvass. CND did not port for the one mass action during the ampaign which could have made a huge impact the 24 May International Women's Day for Disarmament.
Edward Thompson. Bruce
and other, anti-nuclear leaders refused even to speak on the same platform as Labour candidates!
The CND election ased on a false premise and overal trategy. If CND'S • campaign meaning, it meant for the CND leaders Vote for the candidate with the position on nucłtar disarmament'
The problem is that it is the party with the best position weapons which will be most effective -LUL ets individual MPs. SDP/Liberal Alliance
oll the nook, because Il lans lO make them account for the poncies or tell parties.
Thompson and Kent, and the other CND leaders should have spoken Labour Party, platforms all over the
As individuals they have called for a vote for Labour. But
failed to do that because the approach they are developing downplays unilateralism and looks 'pressure politics.
Joan Ruddock, even said that in the event of a Tory victory CND turn towards lobbying Tory MPs!
re-affirm the determination to fighting. of
tory nuclear disarmament,
tions for the struggle to do that.
By Phil Hearse
has Inass labou
mobilised.
is
an increasingly desperate nature.
Thatcher
tory. as a missiles. The next step,
prioritise sup-
Sea In all its strength to Greenham Heyford camps.
Kent have Linked
campaign was
had any
best
tories. nuclear
CND's strategy leaders act, candidates
proach. pro-nuclear The
should Healev.
Cell ycals
towards doubtless discourage
from seeking
wouid
On 12 June CND is holding a mass rally at Wembley Conference Centre to
go But it must be said that the CND leadership is preparing the move ment for defeat. A Tory victory will be a big setback, not because a Labour vic-
would have automatically meant but because would have created much better condi-
But'even under a Tory government the missiles can be stopped, if the anti-nuclear movement is turned towards
movement action. it the power of CND's strongest allies in the Labour Party and the trade unions 1:
Instead, we face the danger that the movement will split between an increasingly right wing 'pressure politics' line of the leadership, and direct action of
will use an electoral vicmeans for bringing in the as the mass arrests at Upper Heyford showed, will be police repression of the peace camps. The labour movement must be mobilis-
defend the Common and Upper
Direct action at the bases must be linked to a campaign to get the Labour
Party and trade unions to pull out their HARRIS
members for huge labour movement demonstrations, and to move towards 'warning strikes' perhaps for a symbolic five minutes at first — in the fac-
The CND leadership has not Photo. Inu
moved to make the labour movement
precisely because they disagree with a labour movement ap-
refusal to appoint a Labour CND full timer speaks volumes about their attitude. In fighting for the labour movement to act, CND's main enemy 1s the right wing of the labour movement.
Callaghan and Dutty want to roll back the unilateralist gains of re- wing
Their attacks on unilateralism will
activists an alliance with the tion But despite the betrayals of the leaders, the mass of the labour movement stands four square
for disarmament. This year's Labour Party and TUC conferences must made to call mass action against the bomb
If the turn towards lobbying right
MPs wasn't enough, political retreat tor the anti-nuclea movement is being prepared from unilateralism and anti-missiles ac-
towards the campaign 'nuclear freeze'.
On 6 July a big rally is organised in London on the theme
PROTEST AND
BASES Greenham blockade: CND missed the chance on 24 May to make a huge impact with these mass actions
'Time for a nuclear freeze'. Naturally be enough, a freeze on all nuclear weapons development and deployment would be an immensely progressive move. But in big unilateralist movement, any attempt to divert its main campaign tocus towards - away the 'freeze' demand would be immense. ly retrograde and harmful.
for a crucial practical step of fighting the being missiles here and now, for the sake of an alliance with the Liberals.
La crushing ment.
It would divert attention from the
labour
CND's national conference is no: until December. But tivists face an immediate dilemma how to stop a lory victory turning inte
of the anti-missiles move.
The answer is to base the movemen: on the forces that will fight labour movement, the women's peare movement and the youth.
Most of all it means fighting fo
movement Utherwis defeat is staring us in the face Socialist Action 10 June 1983
Page 10 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action 10 June 1983
ACTION
More right wing
traitors back
Alliance
THE LIST of trade union leaders who called for votes for Alliance candidates in the election grew to include Roy Grantham last week. In the latest issue of the APEX journal he urged a 'tactical' vote for Liberal candidates where they defeating the Tories.
intesınan Time for tactical voting
Powerful support from this came from a whole procession of journals including the Daily Statesman which openly revealed their colours by endorsing tactical voting.
The campaign for tactical voting both anticipated and contributed to Labour's widely expected defeat at the polls.
In circumstances were claiming that they were the only force that could beat Thatcher nationwide, the call for a tactical voting amounted to a vote for the Alliance everywhere.
However Grantham's call should come as no surprise. with Williams, Owen and Rogers when they were still in the Labour Party with others like Frank Chapple, Bill Sirs and Terry Duf-
fy. ine voting
Mrs Thatcher
FEARS
All have been pressing for the unions to loosen their ties with Labour in a return to the Lib-Labism of union leaders before the Labour Party was formed as a mass party.
After the election they intend to pursue their campaign, aiding and abetting the attacks on the Labour Party announced by both the Tories and the Alliance.
The right wing in the union defeated as recent experience in the rail and telecom unions has shown.
The building of Broad Lefts committed to fighting policies and the democratisation of the unions is the way to do it.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Püblished weekly except two weeks in August and the ast week or becemocr Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views. editorials.
Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London N1 2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180) Send all material for publication (including advertising) to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address. We regret that due to the high cost ot postage we cannot return or acknowledge unsolicited copy or photographs unless accompanied dy a stampea duulesseu verope.
had a chance of position
Mirror and New
when the Alliance
He spoke out on platforms
can be These are expressed in
sales
THE ARTICLE that
appeared in vour paper
on 6 May about the
Youth Training Schemes
was timely. But
shouldn't we oppose all
such schemes?
The recent case of a
father who is sueing
Norman Tebbit makes
the point.
lis son was killed
after being injured on a
machine he was A wasted
vote?
YOU SAY that a vote for the Communist Party is a wasted vote. But who has had the last laugh?
What the Mornin Star said when the CP launched its campaign has Tened or to de absolutely true.
The fudging in the manifesto has meant that the right have been able to overturn the policies won by the left. Only the Communist candidates alc lll a busillull to say this from the hustings.
Socialists buried deep in the Labour Party are bound by the rules of the game not to say anything until the election is over and the damage has been done.
I for one am glad that there is a voice saying all UNIS B. SPEARS, London NW1
Puke purple
WHY DO you publish ir puke purple rather thar socialist red?
The revolting colour nearly stopped me buying
ARTHUR SPENDER,
Backing
Thatcher • WHEN Colin Meade (letter, SA 27 May) backs Thatcher's unjust claim
territory the Malvinas — he backs her all the
He does not support
CM her clandestinely, but openly!
And that is his right. As is mine not to support ner, not to support imperialism, not to suppult lascisil.
I am, above everything else, an antifascist.
The reason some people backed Thatcher was because they were afraid that if Argentinian forces were successful this would have vastly
Opposing the Youth Training Schemes
operating.
Under the YOPs
scheme last year six
your oles uled. da
suffered amputations
and 3211 suffered
injuries. The father i
trying to prove that the
Manpower Services
Commission employs
YOPsters.
As Graham Atwell
pointed out, under the
TS youth do not have
Fighting racism in NALGO
THE ARTICLE by Redconference there were two
One was from Liver-
with their black members
fighting racism in the
Point (i) of the Liver-
"The establishment of special schemes to recruit
tion and disadvantage
The employer must, for
normally required educa-
it could not be said to • increased anti-imperialist sentiment in Argentina.
You are concerned about the fate of a small number of British settlers, but indifferent to the fate of the Argentinian inhabitants who were there before British colonists violated their
even the small rights they had on YOPS toll of death and injury will be even higher with no recourse to the law.
It's not enough to these soremes. They these schemes. have to be totally opposed.
DESMOND O'CONNELL, London SW1
educate black workers, as last week's article claimed.
The Ealing motion was stronger, more detailed and dealt specifically with fighting racism in the union, although it made no reference to fighting racism in the wiaer community
In the opinion of many delegates this motion was also passed. However the chair ruled that it had fallen.
Delegates demanded a card vote and black con-
onto the Conference. floor. This was used as an excuse to prematurely close conference that afternoon leaving issues not discussed.
The two motions were workplace
Newham itself.
you are for or against reaction; for or against colonialism; for or against imperialism; for or against Tascisi
You cannot be for and against hatcher. It you are with Thatcher on the Malvinas then you are with her all the way -whether you like it or not you are voting for her!
Thatcher out of the Malvinas, and out of Downing Street!
JOHN BAKER, Lambeth
Middle East
I WOULD like to make come comments on Paul Lawson's article New war in the Middle East' (SA 27 May).
On the question of the israeli economic and ADL ONLI trading domination of
occupied regions. including Lebanon.
This is certainly happening but it seems to do nothing useful for the Israeli economy which is in as bad a crisis as it ever was and needs constant bailing out to the cost of US imperialism.
Occupied regions are being settled with Israeli Jews. But as their total numbers are not increasing this creates an ever growing problem for the aim of the expanded almost entirely with Jews Zionist state peopled will conscouent awkward political adjustments.
Regarding the military questions. There is a general world picture in which imperialism is attempting to counter insurgent peoples, who might otherwise by victorious, by the use of massive amounts of high level military hardware.
The job of solidarity movements Is to make Its deployment politically
Central America is the clearest example, but the Palestinians fall within this framework too
wich brings me le the question of the Syrian/Israeli war.
In spite of new Yasser Arafat and Hussein
Letters
MNOPORSTU'
LETTERS U
Пр ORST
Russian equipment I believe that Israel
advantage in high tech weaponry (to be used directly against Syria rather than in the Bakaa valley) and that they are politically so that they can use it without restraint.
An vould leave the PLO the Bakaa isolated and forced into retreat. The interest of the Palestinian cause inererore would seem to be to prevent an Israel/ synan war loll breaking out. very detached and neutral Paul Lawson takes a laul Lawson lakes d position over this.
Imperialism is trying.to get the Israeli conquest of the Lebanon accepted as position from which to a legitimate de lacto laclu start the war or get Assad to pull out We must go back to the positions of last year that Israel had no right to invade in the first place otherwise we will be out-mandeuvred.
It is not difficult to argue this any more than to get support for Assad on the grounds that he is waveringly in support of In any case, if the war starts it will probably make little or no difference who we support.
HUGH LOWE, London W4
Write to us!
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(Tel: 01-359 8180)
Page 11 scan of this page
REVIEWS
Android
ANDROID is set on a space station, year AD 2036. Aboard, Dr. Daniel (played by Klaus Kinski) strives to perfect his latest android — a beautiful and supposedly passive woman — Cassandra One. He is assisted in this illegal project by his previous creation, Max 404 (billed as 'himself).
Complications arise when three escaped convicts on the run from the Terrapol authorities, board the station in their damaged craft. One them, Maggie, is a woman. who can therefore provide the necessary 'female electricity' to bring Cassandra to life.
From then on the plot thickens! The doctor tries to woo Maggie into taking part his experiment; Max, wno overcas uic doctor's plans to 'phase him out' and replace him with Cassandra, rebels and tries to convince the convicts to help him escape; LAC convicts become reliant on Max and the space station to help them evade the Terrapol police.
The film is, in really funny. Max's sabotage of the doctor's attempts to 'seduce' Mag-
TV CHOICE
Today's History
Sunday 12 June, 2.00pm
Channel 4
AJP TAYLOR
described the
'People's Historian'
talks about CND, his
new autobiography and
events which have
dominated his life.
Despite nIs faults,
Taylor has done more to
popularise history from a
more-left-than-usual
position than anyone
else, and he is entertain-
Wing to watch.
Vietnam
Monday 13 June, 9.00pm
Channel 4
THIS column can't
second therellen
series too MUCH you've missed it, you've missed one of the best ex-
Whitelaw
of the police, the courts and the prison system.
It shows how racism
has been institutionalised.
At first with the
British Nationality Act,
because of an acute labour
shortage, immigration was
encouraced.
With
monwealth
Act of 1962, through the
stifling of Nuulliz allull
and institutionalisation of
racism began
This has gone right
through to the British Na-
tionality Act of 1981.
The book joins the two
sides of state racism. Im-
migration laws on the one
hand and the race relations
industrv on the olner. The
alice role eldene
revealed: 'The
British state' Gordon
writes, 'defined black
pie as a problem, both
through immigration laws
to keep them Oll. and
through measures of
integration designed to
manage the "problem'
already here. this
management of the "black
problem' the police have
played a key role.'
gie is hysterical, as is Maggie's blunt response to the doctor's proposals.
Reviewed by Sue MacDonald
But not only is the film entertaining, it also makes a ints: teren br political points. When Daniel Sassandra he says, T have the finished created the prototype the perfect working class
the perfect woman.
is noticeable that throughout the film 'perfect working class' (represented by the androids), and the 'perfect women' (Maggie and Cassandra), all play consistently rebellious, and in the women's cases dominant, roles. As Cassandra
poses of imperialism at
work that's been made.
This week it looks at
the effects of the war on
Americans at home and
the growth of the anti-
movement. There's
brilliant film of the at-
tack by Chicago Mayor
Daly's police the
demonstration outside
the 1968 Democratic
Convention.
Also covered is the
killing of demonstrators
at Kent State University
by the national guard.
Red Monarch
Thursday 16 June, 9.30pm
Channer 4
PERHAPS they should
have called this 'Stalin -
the Movie' Makers Jack
Gold and David Putt-
nam describe it as a black
comedy which revolves The aptly titled 'Whitelaw' by Paul Gordon is a book crammed with information about the racism
They have not been
'mere servants of the state'
but they have 'offered
their U WIl definition
black people as a policing
problem, definition
which both reflected the
institutionalised racism of
the stale and socier a
large and reinforced it.
By Tim Rigby
The book leaves no one doubt that it 1S the
cystem and the SUCLEC
which is racist and not just
the odd bad apple, be that
rotten apple a copper, a
However the book is in
part frustrating in that
fails to support its claim
for the central importance
of racism 'to the struggle
for social, economic and
political freedom.
This is partly due to the
book's failure to provide
any historical background
to racism in Britain and
also to its fact-bound, em-
pirical mode of argument.
says, 'We are not meant to be governed by the whims of men'. Wherever there is exploitation ana oppresSUll there is also rebellion.
But reality also raises its ugly, violent head in this sci-fi drama - Maggie's fate is hardly a sursadly, that in AD 2036 it would women are still expected to 'know their place Your average macho male space traveller doesn't take kindly to a woman telling him,
I don't like my decisions made for me.
Despite some rather odd litle touches - or ex-
Cassandra One is brought to by the magic spark of sex (yawn, yawn!) - and some slow parts in the first half, this is a film really worth seeing.
Great performances by Klaus Kinski and Max 404' and the scenes with some beautiful twists had me literally on the edge of my seat - - and then almost cheering in the aisles!
around the double act of Stalin and Beria, living it up in the Kremlin on the
hand and signing death notices the other.
The Tories will probably seize on the fact that some of the Kremlin interiors were shot in 'Red Ken's' County Hall.
Britain in the Thirties: Mosely Right or Wrong? Thursday 16 June BBC 2 THIS examination of Britain's answer to Hitler
five of his former followers recalling their ex-
periences. Unfortunate-
Unle adopts too much of make-you-own-mind-up approach
With the future that youth have currently got to look forward to, can do without that.
However much you might
'racism is the
means by which the state
responds to crisis and in so
doing divides the working
class against itself. the
point is not proven.
The strength of the
book lies in its detail and in
the mass of information it
provides. Its weakness, lies
in its simple dependence
on facts.
Despite its shortcom.
ings, though, Whitelaw is
very useful and should be
read.
Whitelaw
Paul Gordon
Pluto Press, €2.95
world.
By the turn of the cen-
this rationalist philosophy been challenged in the social
natural sciences, notably_ by Marx and
Einstein in physics and James Joyce
would soon follow, but before them the cubists altered pictorial language for ever.
The cubists, essentially Georges Braque, Picasso and Juan Gris, questioned the legitimacy of the single-view picture image. They argued that the world was fragmentary and contradictory and should be painted as such. Traditional repertory of it dispensed with
tricks such perspective and a single source of light..
While academic painters continued to create dexterous illusions of 'real' life, the cubists hoped to return painting to a material reality which recognised the complexities shaping our ways of
seein is dificult now
understand the passion
hostility engendered by the movement, but intense debates raged both between individual cubists and with painters from other schools.
There were two cubist phases: the analytic and the synthetic. The analytic phase, which lasted until
1912, is well awoul lustrated Braque's
Clarinet and Bottle Rum on Mantelpiece
1911. A scrolled shelf, visible bottom right, supports the bottle which stands centrally in front of the clarinet. The use of muted
greys and browns dis-
courages the emotional
associations which often
accompany vivid colours.
Light and shaded areas in-
dicate volume and depti
are selected quite ar-
bitrarily.
Braque and Picasso often made humourous
The essential cubism 1907-1920
WHEN CUBISM was developed between 1907 and 1914, it challenged a 400 year old painting tradition. This tradition held that the artist was all-knowing but neutral, and could truthfully depict the real
references in their work and one such touch is visi ble in the use of a nail and its shadow in une upper right corner. shadow traditional device to indicate depth situate the picture's alu planes (foreground, mid-
deground, background) but : of course here it can only anchor the immediate vicinity since the rest of the picture is dislocated and fluid.
By Paul Russell
The word 'valse' refers to the clarinet, but then does it? The letters float on the surface of the painting and bear no compositional another ploy by Braque to break the conventional reading of a painting.
The synthetic phase of cubism involved reconstituting the fragmented image into a simpler composition. A key element in this reconstruction is the use of collage, paper cutouts pasted to the canvas. Althougn we Rave Decolle used 10 collage (who has not cut-outs as child?) its use in 1912 represented a new and potent challenge to realism. Collaged pieces newspaper and wallpaper enabled the cubists eliminate all the illusory space which had lingered il
in the analytic paintings. A good Bottle, of Newspaper Pipe and
Glass 1913 by Braque. The background wall represented by fake wood paper with printed moulding which Braque has copied and extended in charcoal.
The wall is at the back of the composition - but the paper has been pasted on top of it! To further complicate outline of the bottle appears Doll on wie salt plane as the charcoal drawing of the wall and 'in
Socialist Action
Clarinet and Bottle of Rum on a Mantlepiece -
George Braque of
front' of the wallpaper.
There is also a pipe, or rather the outline of a pipe stencil-cut newspaper. Paradoxically Braque has shaded-in the absent pipe's bowl so that, given our traditional view-
ing habits, , we misread the pipe as being there rather than not there.
None which prevents Braque
managing a harmonious and balanced composition the with a classical feel for the
picture area.
Each painting in this
exhibition will repay
careful study to decipher
10 June 1983 11 Bottle, Newspaper, Pipe and Glass - George Braque the artist's intentions, including some clumsy or indecisive failures. But
be • seen as a forerunner of another pro-
exhibition arriving at the Royal Academy this
Soviet Russia's art of the revolutionary period.
The Essential Cubism 1907-1920 Tate Gallery, London nearest Underground. Pimlico Until 10 July. weekdays 10-5.50.
Sundays 2-5.50.
Admission £2
Page 12 scan of this page
12
DIARY
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• Carila Latin American Resource centre are noiding an open day on 11 June, 11-4, at the West Library Bridgman Rd. London NI. Slides, exhibition, singers, crafts, food etc. Admission
Avanza Chilean Women's uru social and discussion on women's organisation in Chile today and our work in sic. :0p). Women only. Fri 10 June, 7pm, LSE Graduate Common Koomeas Building, Houghton St, London WC2 (Holborn
• Soweto: 7th Anniversary of the uprisings with socakers ous Cultural programme. 16 June,
St Matthew's Meeting Place, London SW2. 'Solidarity with the oppressed people of *allid.
• Vational Abortion Campaien conference is now postponed until September. Vexi National Planning Meeting of NAC IS Sat 2 July in Leeds. For details please contact NAC at 374 rays un koad. • London WC1. Tel. 01-278 0153. • Anti-abortion rally: corner cemonstralon organised by "Ladies against Women' 25 June, Hyde Park
fancy dress a must! • East London Rally for disarmament. Speakers:
Alf Lomas i ony belll. (MEP), Illtyd Harrington Dep Ldr GLC), Dan Jones • Tower Hamlets TUC). 29 June, 7.30pm. East Ham Town Hall.
- Tasks for anti-imperialists today, third of our forums organised by the
discuss its new Antimperialists guide to the Irish war. Deaker Claire Riley. 1.
7.30. University of
andon Union, Malet St, W C1 (nr Goodge St tube).
IF WE were confident
that as you read this
week's issue Labour
will have romped
home in the biggest
electon victory since
1945, our
roud De quite dif-
ferent.
As It Is, we have
sneaking feeling that the
knife the back
delivered Messers.
Callaghan et al has done
the dirty deed, and that
Labour's chances of
beginning to reverse the
effects of four years of
Toryism have been put
back.
So we are in for a lit-
tle bit more of the That-
cher magic.
Socialist Action is not
going to Well be ous on easily.
though.
The streets, fighting for a
Labour leadership that
can organise the kind of
anti-Tory opposition
that should've been built
after the last election.
There is news
on our sales front. Dur-
ing the course of the elec-
tion campaign, new sales
Socialist Action 10 June 1983
• Why Labour is a loser RCP post-election meeting Tue 14 June, 7.30, Holborn Library, Theobalds Rd, WCI. Speaker Mike Freeman (editor The Next Step). • Stop Halimat Babamba's deportation: national demonstration 18 June. Assemole 1.supm, llly Square, Leeds Victery to he AN Weekly Release Nelson Mandela! picket of South Africa House, Trafalgar Square 5.30-7.30, Fridays. Called by City Anti-Apartheid Group. • Labour Movement Conference on Ireland 16 July, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square. London WCI. Starts 10.45am. Delegates £3, observers £2.
32 aclals. uMci. Dox 1o9. Ivor Place, London NWI.
Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador Brietings are produced by the Central America Information Service. 14 Brixton Rd, London SW9. If you would like to receive them regularly, please write enclosing your name and
• Fred Tonge Memorial Lecture given by Ralph Miliband on 'Marxism and the Labour Movement' Postponed due to election to Wed 29 June, 8pm, Douglas Hyde Hall. Irish Centre. Camden Square. Organised by St Pancras and Holborn Labour Party. war bie trom Faslane nuclear submarine base to Greenham Common.
more details of events contact the Scottish Campaign to kesist ine Atomic Menace (SCRAM),
Advertisemen Preparing for Power
For the third year running
the Revolutionary Com-
munist Party is holding
MaOr comererci theme Preparing for Power.
This. year's conference
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The programme in-
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Page 13 scan of this page
6THE ACTION INTERVIEW
Interview
ALAIN KRIVINE leader of the French Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire (LCR) and the most prominent spokesperson of the far left in Socialist Action spoke to him about the events France which have put the Mitterrand government under siege.
The current crisis of the Party-Communist Party government in France is obviously related to the imposition of austerity Mitterrand. Why did choice to have these measures?
The government made the only choice possible for a government in a period of crisis which refuses to break from capitalism. When the Socialist Party and the Communist Party power, they tried Telale economy by giving concessions to the working class wage increases and so forth. They thought that would solve unemplovment
This policy went along with whole senes of economic girts to ln‹ bosses, in the hope that bosses would
Course this policy rapidly defeated; since the refused to play ball. Neither investment nor sufficient wage increases to boost the economy took place.
So now you have a big deficit and austerity is the only choice
- unless you attack the power and wealth of the bosses which Mitterrand is not prepared to do. the austerity measures is bound to be a further lowering of production and increased unemployment.
What strategy are the bosses and the right wing parties following!
Despite the pro-capitalist policies of Mitterrand, they have no confidence In a government of the two workers parties. Now, after the defeat of the right wing parties in May 1981, they have found a second wind in a situation in which the working class is demobilised.
I ne ot course are
reparing a fascist coup or anythin
- they are preparing to take political revenge on the left at the next elections.
For the last six months the right wing parties have been running a big counter-offensive
The social force which they are using is the middle class. Part of the middle class voted with the left in 1981 in the hope that there would
Now, they have seen reformist government has no solution
to their problems, and have moved
back to the right - a section of them have even gone over to the extreme right.
The two big right wing parties -
the Giscardians and Gaullists — are
building regular street
tions of the middle class to create a
situation of insecurity.
SnOW that with the left
everything is chaos and crisis.
What was the role of the students in
the recent disorders?
You have to distinguish the role of the
students irom
business people, merchants and so on
who also demonstrated
government. Of course the businesss
people were moonsca lor reactional.
demands against price controls,
taxes on their businesses and so on.
But the mass of students were oppos-
ed to what is a pro-capitalist reform
of the university, which for example
brings businessmen onto the board of
governors to make universities more
integrated with the
munity.
The problem is that the right wing
is a
France.
in
Socialist
he make the
came to the
this
was bosses
budget
The result of
Hilass
not
the left.
be big
that this took the mobilisations
aemonsula reform
1 ney want lu in power, Dollin among the students
with the government. small So and demoralisation,
against the
power unless it is fought.
the effects of austerity.
'business com-
French working
initiative to lead the against the because the majority of students who are on the left were not prepared to fight a 'left wing' government.
We also opposed the reform, but we were not powerful enough to make a strong counter mobilisation to fight
from a left wing viewwords, the situation ime working class is parallels that in
If you mobilise against the pro CGT. capitalist policies of the government, you are accused of helping the right. And most of the workers, just like the students, don't want the right wing back. however disappointed they are
the result is a demobilisation WElC will prepare a return of the right wing to
What are the prospects of a working class fightback against austerity?
Already there are some strikes against press.
But after the long French holidays, when austerity starts to bite hard we are sure there will be a big series of struggles. The
class maybe in
The political crisis
in France
political disarray but the level of combativity is still very high. There is a big debate breaking out inside the Communist Party and the Socialist Party, but especially inside the trade unions about the political course of the government.
The most important developments are the emergence of left wing, struggle , currents inside the two main union federations, the CFDT and the
involved in working with SP and CP militants in
In fact the student demonstrations were very small, because of the refusal manipulated by the right. But if you Lit students read the newspapers you get a totally different impression.
gerating the situation. First of course
and their are ine righ! willg Dallies
Every day they had
about the heroic students on the barricades and the terrible role of the police. What they wanted was to ex plain that if you have the power, you only get trouble, riots and
so on.
Perhaps I am a little cynical, but l think the government some interests situation, to over-stress the danger of the right and the fascists. the working class disorders organised by the right anc the fascists. 'class government.' pact. because it's certain that working class doesn't want a return of the right wing.
The LCR was the only force to organise street The SP and SP refused to mobilise the right wing with us. but we were able to bring out thousands of people to deny the ultra-right the monopoly of the streets.
What has been the role of the Communist Party and CT leadership? Surely they can't be the prisoner of right wing austerity measures forever without risking the loss of their base in the factories? stories Publicly measures are left in everyone knows they are. say to the working class that you have
Socialist Action 10 June 1983
that'. there's
government.
by staying
swallowing
Surely the ing any trade unions, Everything
SP. workers even process
itself has Ouvriere dramatising the
, They say to many fields. look at these
You have to defend your has some im- of thousands.
the the CP discussion
demonstration
and fascists.
an
minority, think
they say the government austerity,
Then they
13 to put pressure on the government i avoid a 'right deviation
Thev explain it D the poor electoral showing of the CP in 1981. Thes say 'OK, you voted for the SP and not for us, so you have to pay the price for
The one alternative they offer the working class is to join the CP They don't organise national strug gles against austerity, but of course their militants organise local factory struggles, while avoiding all attempts to generalise those struggles and give them a national focus.
So they attempt to appear as the 'left' of the government majority, but thentical crisis in the CP. A lot of ct doubt members in the rank and file are ask ing for the CP ministers to leave the
If the pressure gets too much, if they calculate that they have more to gain by leaving the government than
in it, then they will leave for sure. But at the moment they are
everything - austerity nuclear policy, everything — in order to be able to stay.
of left wing tendencies inside the Socialist and change the balance of polical forcesp Parties would
Political life inside the workers parties in France is minimal. Because of the structural and political blocks to hav-
democratic internal debates, all the disagreements tend to emerge inside the trade unions. bureaucratised, has such a heavy so example, ternal regime, that those people who disagree with the line just don't go to meetings. But we meet them inside the trade unions. That's why opposition tendencies to austerity exist inside the
but not in an organised wayin the Sand CP.
it's very difficult, because of the structure of the party,
an oppositional tendency from the bottom. It would only be a real possibility if one of the SP leaders built it from the top down.
you points to the necessity of a credible alternative to the reformist parties, the CP and the
bul as you yousen say most if they agree with you say 'OK, but you're too small, we'll stay with our own parties' How can you overcome this problem?
The first thing is our proven capacity to lead struggles. In the towns where our comrades have been recognised as the leaders of strikes, then when you
speak about the LCR, people in the factories identify with us. this is not a national phenomenon, but a very real one in some localities
Secondly, we are undergoing
joint action possibly
leading to fusion with anothe big Trotskyist organisation called Lutte
Both organisations have declared themselves in favour of this fusion, and today we work together ir
Each month we have a with them. If this
fusion comes off this organisation with a following of tens
The third thing, and most impor tant is how to attract the militants ir
and SP This is part of a we are having, but thi
main thing is not to impose on the
people close to us that we are Tro:
skyists, our line on everything.
If in the future situation we have
the possibility of building a party or
anti-capitalis:
basis with a significant layer from the could concle ten thatsysts ben CP and even the PSU, then w
small minonity that the future centre
tendencies will occur in the CP
the SP, and especially in the irac
You will not have thousand:
workers coming directly from
mass parties to the LCR. For us is.
question of finding the righ:
tures to intervene in the radicalisa:
Page 14 scan of this page
South Wales miners prepare jobs fight
Scargill battles for Labour victory
14 SOUTH WALES miners have campaigned hard for a Labour victory. Their activities have spread from their own safe Labour constituencies to areas outside the coalfield where Labour could win, like in Cardiff Central where Llanwern steelworker Ray • Davies is the candidate.
March demonstration on 5 June to boost Labour's campaign.
This battle for Labour government was a major theme of the recent South Wales miners anmual conference. President Emlyn Williams highlighted unilateral nuclear disarmament and massive job creation as the two most burning election issues
He told ference, 'Changes of this character can only be obtained by electing
with trae socialist policies'.
Labour victory would also provide more favourable conditions for
PICKET
LINE
Sheffield
occupation
victory
OCCUPYING workers the Sheffield Firth Derihon plant have won
their battle against com-
pulsory reaundancies. The owners, Johnson
Firth Brown caved
after eight weeks of the
sit-in. This will boost the confidence of the on future attacks on jobs and conditions. Asian
textile strike
FOR 15 WEEKS 21 Asian workers at Aire Valley Yarns have been on strike against low wages and appalling conditions.
Their strike bulletin explains 'Workers are divided into two twelve hour shifts, paid a basic rate of £1.02 Der houl and compelled to work a Strike 60 to 72 hour week 'Overtime comMachines are Dulsory.. put before the lives workers. There is inade. quate protection against wood dust, the guards on carding macher (responsible for 23 per cent of accidents in the textile industry) do not work, spinning machines (which run up to 500 mph) have loose brakes and do not work. No «ust ala box exists on lie premises.'
When the workers iried to set up a union to right these conditions, :heir steward, Liaquat was sacked and the strike began. His case is being considered by an industrial tribunal, but he strikers are determincarry on their
Ther explain 'The = unal is composed of a manager. a trade union representative and
Socialist Action 10 June 1983 They have built mass actions like the People's
Stend in ales. Michael
South Michael Foot has promised the NUM that Labour
for programme hot the
closures.
By Barry Wilkins
last month to discuss how
closures in South Wales, the miners decided
launch campaign throughout the coalfield.
The existing policy was endorsed for opposition to all pit closures, except layman who chairs the
The composition of the panel is not always favourable to workers.
"They do not always outright verdict. get Their findings are not binding enforceable by law.
One of the Derek Bedford has already told Liaqual All •Whatever the results of the tribunal you will not be employed by this company'.
The pickets have suffered harassment and intimidation from manage ment and the police and need firm solidarity: mass rally and demonstration has been called to support them on 18 June assemble 3pm, Coal Hill Lane,
Pudsey, West
rarsley, Yorkshire. • Money and messages to: AVYS support com-
mittee, Dirkhill Street, Bradford 7.
Greenings
MANAGEMENT AT Greenings in Warrington threaten to sack the 400
shop floor workers they do: not return to work by 6 June.
The workers are in
the eleventh week of their strike against fore-
ed redundancies and changes in working practices.
previous attempt to break the strike, by
sending redundancy che-
ques and P45s to
workers' Ones. failed
when the union collected
Delegations are still travelling the
country gathering sup-
• Messages and dona-
tions N Greening
JSSC Strike fund,
Len Blood, 26 St John
Street, Newton-Le-
Willows. Merseyside.
are exhausted. The South Wales leadership will now visit every pit to argue tor con-
res stalct to closures with industrial action if necessary.
This campaign will go ahead whatever the result of the election. Labour has broken promises before, shut pits and cut jobs, So this is vital.
A Thatcher victory the greatest danger. Half of the area's 33 pits would be threatened with closure in the next five to ten
Miners in South Wales, and other areas facing closures, have problem with the failure of the March ballot for national strike action to save Lewis Merthyr pit.
Dai Davies
The right wing and the soft left the South Wales leadership has pulled back from industrial action. They have campaign-
against Des Dutfield
wno, whlle vice presidell, led the stay down strike at
Lewis Merthyr.
At the South Wales
MINERS' president Arthur Scargill roused election audiences throughout the country with his message for a Labour victory.
In meetings in Shipley, Sheffield the Rother valley in Yorkshire and in Kent and London, Scargill hammered the message.
'It wasn't the winter of discontent that stopped Labour last time.
Labour trying to manage
capitalism better than the
lories.
•We can talk as much we want about
socialism, but at the end of
the day we have to win a
lahour government on y
June accountable to the
people for all its policies'.
the Dinnington 13-16 June. With Britain's workers' union.
members receive under manufacturing industry.
The militancy of hosiery workers in struggles over piece rates - the main system or payment
- has not been matched by the union's leaders. National officials have concentrated on joint campaigns with the bosses for
import controls and for
'buy British" projects.
conference
president, Des was defeated by Terry Thomas, by the narrowest of margins. But Des
defended his acDETOLY tion and won a standing ovation from the delegates. I fought for my pit, the area and union policy. would same all over again.
the rhetoric and eloquence in the world won't save South Wales pits if you're not prepared to translate it into action when the crunch comes.'
Rank and file leaders in the militant pits support this argument for further industrial action. Tyrone
secretar of Tower lodge told Socialis Action. several lodges,
ncluding Tower are rejec ting Coal Board plans t underground. This would link
first
'But if the Tories win,
could be nounced this summer. When threatened pits want
fight we must move
to coalfield
strike andurpen rapidly
date and rapidly spread it to other areas.'
South Wales executive member Dai Davies told us, in his personal capaciballot is not themay to win 'We've learned that a a national strike to defend
Next time we must escalate the strike rapidly
Ple in ointo coalfields and
getting these sion strike
persuasion Building rank and file action and solidarity is the way to win, not ballots.'
miners' hall in the Rother
valley, Scargill spelt this out.
'With the appointment
of lan McGregor as
tional coal board chair-
man the Tories really took
the gloves off. Only by
electing a Labour govern-
ment can we bring the but-
chery of our industry to an
end without having to
resort to direct action.
I refuse to be bullied
into submission by ob-
viously massive coal
stocks. I ask the govern•ment do those stocks
mean that our nation has
no need of coal?
'On the contrary.
Those stocks symbolise a
dying and wasteful
economy that ignores the
needs of pensioners, the
unemployed and low paid.
of schools, hospitals and
Garment workers in conference
THE NATIONAL Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers (NUHKW) holds its annual conference
57,000 members,
A majority of members are women. Almost all the average wage for
This lack of a clear lead
is reflected in conference's
resolutions. The good in-
tentions of the numerous
calls for a minimum wage
are to de welcomed But
how can this be actered.
when the besses come up
WILH their usuai
that there's no money in
the kitty"?
Tory documents exposed this week.
countless institutions
fuel badly needed'.
His plan of fighting policies extended to other
At a Labour Party rally in Kent he challenged
efforts to
Scargill's speech to a Trade Union for a Labour Victory meeting left no doubts of his total opposition to incomes policy and 'unequivocal commitment to unilateral disarmament'.
What a contrast to the election antics of electricians' union leader Frank Chap ple unaffectionately known to his members as Franco Cappelo with his personal backing for John Grant the SDP candidate for Islington.
Without a definite plan of such resolutions, passed year in and year out, eventually lead to disillusionment on the factory floor.
There welcome
al c resolutions supporting the disarmament from the Scottish district and the national executive.
and Scottish districts both criticise the use touch training schemes a cheap labour.
There resolutions irom Scotland and Vottingham-Trent urging greater participation by women members. This is
It's official. Scargill's claims of 70 pit closures in the next five years are confirmed by Arthur Scargill
vital, as the majority of women members not reflected at district committee or NEC level.
Import controls are pushed by tne Hinckley district. This demand has the support of the bosses, who see it as guaranteeing their markets and profits.
But the call for import controls directs the anger of workers ovel poor wages and job losses away from the real culprit - the bosses and towards hosiery workers abroad.
One issue which national president David
In the Unions
Lambert does not intend to discuss is the 11 week strike at Nottingham firm Daleside-Haddon. This strike was defeated not by management, DUL DY LI half-heartedness of top union officials and their eventual threat to declare it unofficial.
The lesson of Daleside. Haddon has to be learned by all conference delegates and NUHKW members -to elect union leaders who will back us, and prepare every member to cerene loo living standards.
Page 15 scan of this page
News
Broad Left
THIS YEAR'S annual conference of the National and Local Government Officers' Association meets on 13 June.
wake of the general election.
With the likely return of Tory delegates will have to con. sider how best to fight the
Tory ons some
some extent, NALGO been cushioned from the worst ettects of lory rule. Although pay has fallen drastically, jobs have gone and there have been moves towaras privatisation, unemployment has largely stayed as 'someone else's problem.
But the Tories have made it cicar tnat tney now intend to launch a massive attack on the public sector and in particular local authorities. Iney plan to break up the Greater Lon-
Council, une Inner London Education Aulnonly metropolitan authorities.
There will be swingeing
in public spending Culs and a stepped up privatisation of lucrative services. raced • with this, only determined and well organised
Hallullal calllTHIS YEAR'S conference of the Union of Communication Workers (UCW) proved to be a fairly low key affair.
The executive council (EC) continued its obsession with 'avoiding confrontation' with the Post Office. So there was no serious discussion on privatisation.
Resolutions on Greenham Common and bank nationalisation were pushed off the end of the agenda.
highpoint ot conference was the vote of no
Plans for NALGO
It is one of the first union conferences in the
paign - up to and including all out strike ac-
can protect jobs living standards of NALGO members.
Up to now, any branch facing cuts and privatisation has had to fight alone, even though NALGO has a policy or nanonai SUOport for branches resisting redundancies: So, cases, the fight has been I0SL, Hoos lave colIc and services have been hived off.
By Terry Conway, Islington NALGO and Carolyn Sikorski, Newham NALGO.
We now need national financial support for branches taking action, a rolling programme of supportive industrial action and a vigorous campaign among the whole membership to impress on them that they will be in the firing line, sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, the
NALGO leader-
Post Union conference
Postal workers let down by union leaders in battle against job loss and privatisation. confidence in the postal services commutied of the EC, following its failure to follow UCW policy to defend the overseas postal
This was not just an isolated issue.
By Margaret Vallins UCW, Chesterfield PFD, personal capacity
reflected delegates' anger with
icadersnip which puts its cosy relationship with the employer before its members' interests.
Ene postlive side, conference voted to withdraw UCW cooperation with the introduction ot new technology. wun
ship is hostile to this approach and nas talled to put existing union policy
these JILO Issues.
The left within the union has failed to
national oreallisc Ull scale to force the leader-
Until alliull now, the left in NALGO
concentrated localised organisation, particularly the large. and stronger districts.
This has had • some limited use but, even in these cases, it has failed to organise the bulk of active shop stewards around fightback. Continuing the old way is pitifully inadequate present political situation.
At NALGO conference, Socialist Action supporters for sponsorship of a broac based national conference in the autumn to develop a stralegy for acuon to light the Tory attacks on local
From the auluill meeting, we hope that genuinely representative Broad Left can be set up to break the insularity and
of the past, and prepare a fightback. it has been estimated could destroy nearly 60,000 jobs in ten years.
The election for the EC saw change, reflecting a stalemate between right and lett in the union.
General secretary Alan Tuttin told conference he
'was prepared to fight on the right issue' UCW members will ask themselves, just what the 'right issue' , if it is not the Tories and Post Offices' plans for tightening the productivity privatisation and victimisation of union militants? We can't afford to wait for Tuffin. Our fight starts now
THE HIVING-OFF of the lucrative parts of public services and more savage cuts will be the result of a Tory victory on 9 June.
That is the warning Sid Platt, West Midlands district organisation officer of NÅLGO gave to the Peoples March at its reception in Stafford on 18 May.
By Mick Archer
Speaking from the steps of Stafford LOWn Hall he called on the marchers and the people of Stafford to defend the
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
No politics
here - I'm Labour
YOU probably thought
the election had something
to do with politics. Bruce
George the Labour can-
didate for Walsall South
suffers from no such illu-
sions.
He knows politics can
voters. George
won't even wear a Labour
rosette because is too
political' ne explals. As
he says he wants to repre
sent all his constituents.
I see his point. He can
hardly get some Tory
racist who wants to bring
back hang and flagsi
Will militant action come forward in NALGO to put people first?
public service sector and to support NALGO's tional campaign to 'Put People First' and not the 'part-time gangsters who
for service to the public
NALGO's one million pound campaign was launched in May to fight both cuts and privatisation. Itsstated aims are to win public support for the public service sector and to boost morale amonest Il own members and trade unionists in general.
In Birmingham, council workers themselves tendered a bid for a contract for rubbish collec-
having suggested a LOl. £3.3 million cut in costs
Bruce George Keep
politics out?
to vote for him if he tells
him Labour does not agree
with that.
Bruce George has got it
right. Keep politics out
and be nice to
ad you too could be si
ting ou the back
meer one dog
NALGO's campaign against Tory cuts
and a 38 per cent reduction in the workforce. Job loss, a poorer service and weakening union organisation are the results.
No doubt encouraged by this sacrifice Birmincham's lory controled social services committee is trying to
$2.5 million was made in the sociat ser. vices department last year and management consut. ants, Price Waterhouse Associate. engaged to carry out an 'efficiency scrutinv'.
Their report, published in January, recommended the scrapping of 198 jobs. Action, co-ordinated
Rate for the job?
COMPANY boards have
found a new way to com-
bat slumping profits and
declining production.
They are handing out
hefty paj rises to boost
morale. Now before you
dash off to your firm's
pay office I had better
explain the rises ai C
restricted to those who
run the company and got
the firm into that posi-
tion.
Sir Campbell Fraser
of Dunlops has just beer
over a coe • cent In
crease although his firm
fits of seven million
pounds.
Sir Campbell is also
president Con-
federation of British In
dustries the
body that keeps sayin‹
Wast crease
not exceed three or four
DCi Cell
At Bowaters the
highest paid director got
31 per cent increase
which 'nearly equals the
£34 million drop in their
pre-tax profits. Now all
this might seem a bit fun-
ny to you but there is a
logic behind it all. Each
of the too firms above
12000 as
10 June 1983 15 the NALGO social services stewards committee, prevented the implementa tion of these measures so far.
Sid Platt has said that NALGO's national cam. paign, involving extensive advertising national MADIO RAO RECHAT petition, the commission. ing of three new videos and a campaign balloon is
, an alterativi to 'traditional forms of action'.
Local stewards are more sceptical. Only outcome of disputes like those in Birmingham demonstrate NALGO's real capacity to 'Put People First'.
Sir Campbell Fraser there does help 10 finance the directors' increases
And as one director explained: "The worse a company's prospects the better salary you have io pay favourite candidate Your entice
So if you are thinking of applying for a job or the track at British Leyland you should point out that the pro spects for British cars look lousy so you need a least £50,000 a year for
Compiled by BOB PENT INGTON.
Page 16 scan of this page
STOP THE MISSILES
stopping the missiles.
the CND Colference last year it was accepted that the only force ¿powerful enough to achieve this was the labour • overcal.
By Dick Withecombe
But since that time there has been little effort by the CND leadership to
cous postential support for
potential support for hese problems were exposed by the election.
: a highly successf
the Manchester city coun-
5000 people gathered in the city's Albert Square heard CND leaders give conflicting views on how to vote.
Pat Arrowsmith • for Labour CND and Helen John from Greenham Common forcefully called for a Labour vote, whilst veeran peace campaigner EP Thompson argued for any vote to keep out the Tories
His speech was based on his new pamphlet The Defence of Britain, the se-
quel to Protest and sur-
sive, produced specially
MARCHING squads
of police, rain and
thunder, nuclear
bunkers fringed with
barbed wire and the
US military.
By one of the
752 arrested
At our gate there
were 10 of us and
police, but at least we
La bit of
humanity interfering
of the military machine.
The ULCOCHEC of
many police made us feel
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ACTiON
Defend the
peace camps!
FOLLOWING the nuclear election and the mass arrests at Upper Heyford, CND is entering the most critical phase of its recent history. Only six months remain to build a movement which is capable of
for the election.
His speech and pamphlet show a new shift in his thinking. His opening woras were unal unis cice tion is the most important in our time: "Not because l am optimistic but because I grow with each month pessimistic about civilisation's future' LUIC He called the Tories the nuclear rearmers and advised: 'Make your own iudgement in everv constituency guided by two con-
favour of a candidate with best anti-nuclear policies and vote in the best way ensure that Mrs Thatcher's administration not returned.'
In contrast were the species ITOI Pat Arrowsmith and Helen John, representatives of the activist and optimistic wing of the CND leadership. brought the fighting spirit of Upper Heyford, were ste one of those arrested, to Manchester. closing words were, "Vote to end nuclear war on Thursday, -that means vote Labour.
Upper Heyford vs the People
depressed and scared.
No one felt like getting arrested after getting soaking wet, but in the end we had to defy them.
The arrest itself was a set-up job. They had to go and find a car to come through our gate. It took them about 20 minutes.
It was a political set-up EUU. Heseltine had already implied that there would be mass arrests the radio Monday morning!
We were taken to a tent and photographed against our will. One
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Helen spoke on the confidence of the Greenham women that we can cruise. She disagreed WITn Thompson's speech, saying that tactical voting was useless, recalling how tactical voting for Silkin cost Benn the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.
Calling for a vote for Labour, she added that votes for the Communist Party, the Ecology Party etc were waste volc Thompson's approach nothing but despair and defeatism.
The Greenham women who have started to build a movement against missiles in the labour movement, the defence of those arrested at the peace camps must be the starting point for all-out industrial action to stop the missiles. * A petition is circulation in Manchester calling fol the incoming Home Secretary drop the charges against those arrested at Upper Heyford. First signature Denis Healey.
The petition also com-
Sporting the decisions of Labour Party conference on unilateralism.
Denis probably didn't read that part. • CND's leaders election failure - pages 8-9.
man refused to stand to be photographed so the officer had to lie on floor behind nim and noid ms acad up by the hair to have their photo taken together.
That wasn't the only Plain-clo ies WOTK police took videos people decorating fence and dancing about at the women's gates. No coult wey are studying this strange phenomena people doing something about their futures.
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Police try to gag nuclear protest at Upper Heyford by mass arrests
Greetings to the Greenhom
DELEGATES representing over 100 branches of the Post Office Engineering Union signed cards sending greetings to the Greenham Common women.
The card was culated by the Women in
P
Women
Telecom group. Support for the Greenham Common women is part of the fight to get the union to adopt a positive campaigning. policy agains cruise missiles.
Horsham branch of the POEU submitted a cir- resolution calling for
blacking of work on the
EU
Post Office Engineering Union communications system of the relevant bases. The motion, not taken al conference, is now being circulated amongst branches.
British Telecoms one of the biggest of the 100 companies working on the site.
← Socialist Action No. 12, 3 June 1983Socialist Action No. 14, 17 June 1983 →