Socialist Action No. 48, 9 March 1984
The scan: 048-mar-09-1984-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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No. 48 9 March 1984 30p
ACTiON SociAlist
International
Women's
Day
8 March 1984
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Benn's Chesterfield
2 Socialist Action 9 March 1984
AcTion SociA ist
Thatcher's
banana skin
THERE are few things more humorous than capitalist political columnists trying to make a 'serious' analysis of a political situation. Last week's rush of editorials in the Times, the Telegraph, the Sunday Times and other papers criticising Thatcher for 'dictatorial methods', 'personal remoteness' and so on could have been predicted in advance.
The political script we are being presented with in the press today is the following. 'At the very peak of her popularity in June 1983 the seeds of Thatcher's future problems were planted. She had become proud and detached. mysteriously been replaced by bad luck. Politics TUll of good luck has suddenly and is taking its inevitable revenge for excessive pride and excessive success.'
The reality is completely different. It is Thatcher's failures, not her excessive successes, which are causing her problems. In fact, behind the appearances, Thatcher has now suffered three crucial defeats since June. The cumulative effect of these came together in the last weeks and produced a clear change in politics.
The first setback - strangely enough - was the June election itself. Thatcher had hoped to achieve not only a crushing defeat of Labour - in which she succeeded but also a rebuilding of the mass support of the Tory Party. At the beginning of the campaign Thatcher let it be known that she wanted to be the first Prime Minister since the Second World War to secure over 50 per cent of the vote.
Instead the Conservative poll fell to 42 per cent of the vote - the lowest real percentage of the vote for any government with a safe majority in Parliament in British history. June 1983 was not merely a defeat for Labour but also the end of Thatcher's aim to rebuild mass Tory popularity.
The June election therefore also left Thatcher in a minority position on many issues. She had no popular mandate to destroy local government, to slash the NHS, to eliminate trade union membership as at GCHQ. It is precisely around those areas where Thatcher had not gained popular support that the most damaging 'banana skins and struggles suddenly appeared.
The second goal during and following June had been to eliminate Labour as the chief alternative to the Tories. To redivide politics between two capitalist blocs - the Tories on one side and the Alliance on the other. lhis in turn was defeated both by the overall relation of class forces and by Neil Kinnock's victory as Labour leader and Labour's rise in the opinion polls which followed.
Thatcher and capitalism's third goal was to eliminate the Labour left as a serious force. To 'extirpate' Bennism as a political force as The Times put it. That hope in turn was defeated in Chesterfield last week.
It is the coming together of these three processes that resulted in the sharp turn in British politics that has taken place in the last tew weeks. From June 1983 to February 1984 it was Thatcher who was on the political offensive and the Labour movement which had its back against the wall. Today it is Thatcher who finds herself thrown onto the political defensive.
This does not mean that that attacks on the Labour movement are going to let up. Quite the contrary. The Labour movement is still fighting back against the organisational attacks launched on it. But politically it is now Thatcher who is on the defensive.
The explanation of Thatcher's 'banana skin' is not excessive pride. It is the underlying relation of class forces continuing to assert itself through the tangled web of British politics.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views. These are expressed in editorials. seno a correspondence regaraino subscriouons. sales and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London NI 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 of postage we cannot return or acknowledge unsolicited copy or photographs unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
victory
WHEN TONY BENN was defeated in the general election last year Margaret Thatcher expressed her 'great satisfaction'. At the British embassy in Washington a great cheer went up from British and American guests when news of Benn's defeat came through. It was a cheer which echoed through all the institutions of the establishment. They glorified in Labour's defeat and Benn's eviction from Parliament as the defeat of the Labour left.
Today Tory smirks are on the other side of their faces. Not only was Tony Benn re-elected to Parliament but the Conservative vote in Chesterfield collapsed dramatically.
Nor is this an isolated to fight to remove Kinevent. In Islington recently nock. the Conservative vote also
To put forward that coladoseo favour of the Alliance in a arasticaly assume a political polaris. sualcoy would be
Labour stronghold. With ation and divide which Thatcher's 'banana skins' multiplying the Tory Party • aoes nol currenty Labour is still rebuilding cast. is slowly declining in the defeat
polls as Labour June. By voting for Neil support rises. Tony Benn's Kinnock as leader the mass victory was a tribute both of Labour Party and trad
Labour's increase voted for popularity and to his own party unity The Labour skillful political campaign. and its mass sup
The 'silver lining' the port, has not even remote Tory and Alliance pundits Îy broken out of that mood are attempting to find in yet. the Chesterfield result Is Indeed Tony Benn's twofold. First .the argument that this is a 'tame' Canoaal was ful because he correctly so success Tony Benn, forced judged the political mood compromise with the new
and situation in the labour icaaersup appear movement. He united in "moderate'. Then 'hiding they action with Kinnock, Hat tersley and Healey to
his politics' And second, defeat the Tories ; and the that after all the propor- Alliance as he should. tion of the Labour vote
But no one misunderstood wenl general election, down trom and thus the Tony Benn's own post-
this can hardly be given as evidence of a great Labour
Politics
Further, it cannot be seriously suggested that
Chesterfield showed campaign U1l anything the way in which the basic other than the party's elec- realities of British politics tion policies including are asserting themselves. those such In June 1983 the Labour nuclear disarmament. did he hide his Nor own pereat at the hands ng defeat hands Benn thinks of the future as Tories agonise over Thatcher's failures
political positions. Tony British capitalism. But Benn's victory was contrary to the claims of prepared by Labour's the popular press surge up the opinion polls Conservative Party and by his own campaign. The notion of a Benn not mass able popular The Conser consolidate
move to the right is foolish LATONS through vative's 42 per cent of the
When Denis Healey goe: vote continued a long term to support Tony Benn a decline of Tory support. Chesterfield, and when the This lack of support whole the Labour furthermore expressed leadership 1S forced political reality Thatcher valvarell don't do for out him, of the they did not succeed in winning mass support
goodness of their hearts or of local through emencous government, eliminating enthusiasm to have Benn
NHS, or tor back in parlament. the democratic right to one can really believe that belong like Ine party Cheltenham. On the whole preferred to didae Benn is series of issues clear ma-
candidate jorities opposed to ThatChesterfield. cher exist.
They went to support Benn because, yes. once week's trec call fora day response to last Benn was selected they
of action against the trade even with Benn as union ban at GCHO was candidate; but also very strong. It showed the because they knew full very deep hostility to the well that the party ranks government which exists, would never forgive them and the real will to fight if they gave anything less back against it The strugthan wholehearted sup- gle to defend the cities i: port to the cam- Irawing very wide force paign. behind it. The opportunity
is there to be grasped by To argue that Benn the labour movement. should not have fully involved the Labour leadership in his campaign is to Tony Benn's victory not a flash in the pan but is Benn, say, in effect, Benn should and the outcome of the paron Beit structural force in British politics but have campaigned on the vote in Chesterfield, clear- of British politics. one too strong to be pushbasis of challenging the ex- LUCI of Labour has recovered aside by isting party leadership. Or forces in British politics from the massacre of June leadership or the popular in other words, the key Thatcher, for all her ap- but is not surong enough lo press. task of socialists here and parent strength, is slowly form a government. The Labour now in the Labour Party is weakening. The Alliance is Labour lett, and Tony Labour left is on an up-
News
still a minorit! ward curve despite all the
attacks Thatcher will carry out and the individual vic-
the Labour tories she will achieve. It is
up to socialists to turn that upward curve into a real and the victory in the months to Colic
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Photo: GM COOKSON
held outside the City hall as over unionists converged for a lunchtime rally. • In Bristol.
brigades union took partille acuon
Middlesborough.
employees met.
post ornice workels gave len support
standstil.
At Waterloo station, came out on strike for the whole day.
demonstration, demonstradois condon nas secil
statustill. 1 WU
yard in Ardesier.
dancy joined the Royce, Albion Motors
complete standstill railworkers, and the docks stopped work. thousand trade
on for rallies.
pool's transport workers, workers. aockers.
USDAW, NALGO and UCATT.
THATIHERS
POLAND
• In Sheffield. An overspill meeting had to be
Three thousand trade united in one of the biggest demonstrations the city has seen for years. Members of the UCW, NUPE IGWU, USDAW, NALGO, EETPU and the Fire
• In Leeds. Over five thousand local government workers took strike action for two hours and 1000 trade unionists marched from the Civic Hall.
Five hundred unionists couldn't get into a packed rally of over 600 workers. At another lunchtime rally, 600 ICI
• In Cheltenham. Members of the transport and general workers unions, engineers, firefighters and • In London. Engineers brought Fleet Street to a
No national newspapers arrived in the South West for two days because of strike action at Waterloo and Paddington railway stations.
80 per cent of workers Forty thousand trade unionists rallied in Central London for
one of the biggest weekday • In Scotland. Factories and shipyards came to a
thousand Oll r12 construction workers walked out for the day at McDermott's
Workers from factories threatened with redun-
action with strikes (BL), BL Trucks Bathe Bish Rail ne work was rought to a Scott Lithgow and Yarrow shipyards.
strike action with derio versues having totee laid demonstrated
• In Merseyside. One hundred thousand workers took some form of action during the day. Despite
employees, Fords and Vauxhall HenDers of the
Tuesday
known to
Civil Tealism 'is The
Downing Street
attempts at and
temot for them.
By Bob Pennington
nothing enham.
service union
threatened place call
wal non anel
HIll
norhers
trade
Tories. shut out.
Engineering walked thousands.
Rolls firms took action
rentary shaw
workers Seven 1UI
Aerospace and Atkinson;
Graft NGA! ike Shell
were also out.
In
AFTER CHELTENHAM the word has gone down the corridors of Whitehall to step up the anti-union bashing. According to reports in the Guardian on
the Ministry of Defence is vestigating ways of dealing
plans. Members of the CND, the Labour Party and even the Alliance could be removed from their jobs.
service which are officially opposed to cruise and Trident Of could expect to be banned.
of coming home to roost. The Tsarina of
hates the view
compromise conciliation llavo gress simply increased her con-
Murray's sell out of the NGA only made her more
confident that the whelt-
gamble paid off. The TUC and the civil
leaders unfortunately treated GCHQ
tatters. with the solicitude normally reserved for an intensive care unit and never even
to shut never mind NGA, strike. But that was the only way to stop Thatcher and it was the
show the workforce at GCHQ that
Mass response to
defend the unions
LES MIRRAS's call for orikes and demonstralions on 28 February gare trade unioniss only ene working das to organise. Bat compromide tens of
meeting halls to merilowing.
Dochers, satarers, gas. dectricits and hospital warher united to defend the union.
Por civil serranda, the das a serihe action to delen the Gif HO unions was their bigges ener more civil serrando fahing action than during the 198! national par campaign The Td call wis it green light to thonsnds of national industrial 1101 defean the Tories. thes demonstrado that there in a will do lahe on the
Action in
Manchester
THERE WAS standing room only in Manchester's
Free Trade Hall as 3000 strikers packed in for a rally
to defend the GCHQ unions. Hundreds more were
All train services from Piccadilly came to a halt
and firefighters joined hospital workers in providing
only emergency cover.
WUKCS out their All the major on 28 GEC Openwhere a joint mass GEC shop and staff voted alliull, Woodford British al Cadderton; Seddon ward out,
Goldstone and Gardeners sister
are only part of a long list.
workers and nike Shine rin Carringnts plants Danc
Steve
Trafford Park one
once the largest industrial
Murray - it's
time to go
now in-
with civil servants disagree personally with government
being in a union gave you protection.
course the response on the Day of Action from the rest of the trade union movement was wonderful, particularly in
of the pathetically short notice given by the timid gentlemen at Con-
House. However, this response could only have grown beyond pro test if it had been backing a strike at GCHO and or its own could not be more than a magnificent display
solidarity. The Cheltenham fiasco must be laid fairly and squarely at the door of Len Murray whose policies of 'pragmatic' collaboration with the government now
e ASIEF siri dispute,
ASLEF sorik chehe eham, how much longer can the trade union movement permit this apparently unaccountable man to stay at the helm! of norhers nent on rihe and pached
Fiction 1o . B! Their action on 28 February estate in Europe and now pretty much an industrial waste ane suppolt wa
also strong. For the first time in many years, the
complex which
employs 6000 workers was
at a standstill.
The 1000-strong
Massey Ferguson plant al
Barton Dock Road was
while its 500-strong factory, Central Parts Operation voted 5 to
one for 24-hour stop-
CPO Convenor Taylor, explained that the issue was a basic
• union rights. 'We can't let them get away
The response of hundreds thousands workers last week showed that there is a wide-spread grass roots opposition to the Tories. The rank and file are cautious about going into battles after the setbacks of the years but when they get a national call from
snows Ines , to respond. 1 cau)
busting exercise beaten back and destroved the left in the TUC has got to organise against Murray and company.
Accountable
This means that Murray must be removed and replaced by secretary elected and accountable to the trade union Here the trade could well take a leat out
Labour's and electoral systems.
With the Opinion Polls (Sunday
'doing a bad job' with the trade unions. time for the left inside the unions and the TUC to organise their forces for a fight back.
with this one', he 'and what's more, porting the fight for union rights elsewhere strengthen our own union organisation Ferguson.'
Another Park factory to walk out was Colman Fasteners itself the site of a battle for union rights only months ago, wien organisation was established as a result of a week-long strike.
VOLE! meetings on day and night
produced a 2 to shifts majority in favour strike action. 'We found out what rights mean in the last nine months', said one of the stewards, 'and we're not going to sit by and watch while the ruling lakes inose away from others.
The scope of the action gives lie both to the press's 'greedy unionists' Illage, those who feel unemployment Margaret completely knocked
out of
AUEW What
the half-hearted lead from the TUC tops and union president Terry workers seized the opportunity to have a go at the governent
One striking member steward nor a union activist summed it up: never thought Len Murray. always thought him spineless. But when he something I agree with like striking in defence of the
unions, I'm going to jump
at the opportunity.'
Socialist Action 9 March 1984 3 recent
the are
union-
is to be
general
Len Murray whole movement.
unions re-selection
college
6 March)
GYL SERVIGHNION
now is the
said
by sup-
Massey
Trafford
nine union
mas
of DON CO-ORDINATI
have union
CCSU
government's COMMITTEE
rights
trade and to that and
the the
became
Duffy,
AUEW neither
'T've
much . In fact I've
says
Trade unionists maren in solidarity
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Scottish Labour- fightback!
Socialist Action . 9 March 1984 Ravenscraig steelworks
Scottish WAC
FOR LABOUR Party
this year's Scottish conference strikes a positive note with the NEC's decision to allow the regions to determine how women •will be represented. Four resolutions in support of last year's deciSiOn reserve five women's seats on the Scottish executive will now be withdrawn.
By Anne Kane (Pollock Labour Party)
But the real problem is that the issue of women's oppression hardly discussed. One resolution each on equal pay and lesbian rights this year hardly
such a hearing.
Yet again the party will be virtually silent on issues of particular concern women.
It is hardly surprising then that many Scottish
A PIECE FuE
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN? " TONY BENN DID NOT REALLY GAIN
THE VICTORY AT
CHESTERFIELD"??! WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SIMPLISTIC.
view the five wonel women's seats as a fairly modest concession, com-
paro give me real
to give women a real
choice. HARRIS
Some of the changes needed were contained in
this year's Scottish LPYS conterence demanding: women elect their own NEC representatives, five resolutions from women's conference to go regional annual conference, and one woman
every short list. Unfortunately SUCH tor greater democracy were rejected by the LPYS.
Women's Action Committee so far nonexistent in Scotland. The possibility of real change is held back by the lack of such a campaigning group.
The move to organise a Scottish WAC from this year's regional conference marks an attempt to build on this year's limited gains
...BUT WE PREFER TO REGARD THE RESULT AS NOTABLE SUCCESS FOR THE SDP/LIBERAL ALLIANCE
YOU'RE INSANE! • IN A SENSE COULD SAY IT WAS A REJECTION OF EXTREMIST LABOUR POLICIES.
SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY'S
meeting, in Perth on the 9-11 March, provides the first opportunity to assess the situation, after a general election which left Scotland with one-fifth of all Labour MPs. Labour holds 41 out of 72 parliamentary seats in Scotland.
from 42 to 35 per cent. The Tories can only muster 26 per cent of the vote — which adds fuel to the argument of the multi-party Campaign for a Scottish Assembly, that the government has no mandate north of the border.
The problem for Scottish Labour is that our leadership has been reluctant to grasp Tals issue.
Correctly, it saw a united Tront with me Nadorauss and the Alliance would
the JO CZULLE specifically socialist
for and soluDallallulls tions to Scotland's pro-
blems.
Yet, by sitting on its hands for the past nine months, the leadership has allowed others to make the running Inal's wny Ine best of the 10 resolutions
regional connerence supporting Scottish ASCHOEV are those which chart a vigorous campaign led by labour move ment.
The NUM's resolution starts Wilh Tne need organise 'a movement or resistance lo lory policies' on housing,
industry allu al -maments, led by the 'Scot-
trauc and Ann Pettifor and ensure that
women's voices are heard next year. marks the beginning of positive
sish about Party as a
Labour Party as a whole.
• There will be a WAC fringe meeting at regional conference: City Mills Hotel, 12.45-2pm, Satur-
day 10 March, chaired by
Rosina McCrae
Scottish Labour Party women's committee, with
Ann Pettifor and Frances Morrell.
OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT!
LUNACY!
ONE
COMPREHEND THE COMPLEXITY OF
annual
But this disguises a drop in the Labour votes,
labour movement'. It sees 'the question of a Scottish Assembly (as) an essential part of this struggle
Stirling constituency a lead to te aple of Calls on the Labour Party
the people
a Scottish Assembly F
Scottish Assembly'. the party acts in this way 1 can lead a movement cerlain to grow as scotland continues to bear the brunt of Tory rule.
The biggest number of reconnons — 27 out of 176
call for defence and develonment of the healtr service and the elmedicin
medicine.
Olivalc Scotland has always had a better-financed health service than elsewhere. The recent arrival of Glasgow's first private general
THE LONDON Region Labour ference got off to a slow start with an LCC-type
paigning whose lack of political clarity divided both the trade
constituencies.
This seemed to set the tone for the first day of uninspired debates women and on defence
By Greg Tucker (NUR Southern District Council)
The AGM pledged it: support for the Liverpool council but its Strategy for defence of local democracy was wide enough to gain the support of major cutting councils such as Tower Hamlets. What this meant is hard to say.
Sunday started with a brief debate on Northern Ireland. Though many delegates pointed out the need to make a stand, a lack-lustre report from the
.. IN OTHER WORDS, A RESOUNDING VOTE YOU REALLY DON'T
PSEPHOLOGY, DO YOU?
hospital brought resentment on scale inconceivable further south.
By contrast, questions
of local democracy are less
prominent because
abour councils with
the brief exception
Lothian before they lost
the majority — are nol l
direct conflict with the
government. That's likely
to change in the near
future Rate capping
already exists, and forced
rate
rebate of three pence in the
pound last yeal.
By Tony Southall (Hillhead Labour Party)
Scotland urgently
needs coordinated
fightback
Lauvul
authorities. The Pollock
resolution — calling for no
rent or rate rises, job
privatisation, ser-
LOSSES.
vice cuts or economies
would important
step towards this.
housing is tradi-
SCULUl
tionally of greater concern
in Scotland
Lothian Regional parcalls for rents to be progressively
eliminated and housing
paid for through taxation.
Defending the GLC
executive saw Le tool
withdrawal resolution fall
by a two to one majority.
NGA chiclecut
resolution in support
the trade unions at GCHQ
- with a call to go beyond
the TUC's half-hearted
defence 'within the law
- enlivened the meeting.
Action
The debate of the
weekend, introduced by
Dianne Abbott
Westminster North party,
demanded NEC
support setting up black
sections and positive ac-
tion for black party
She forcefully
member
called for action to stop
the party structures being
used as a vehicle for retur-
ning white men to posi-
tions of power. As she put
it: 'the party needs to be
retaken into the hands of
the people on whose backs
this movement has been
built.
During the debate
Richard Sandells of Vaux-
hall party moved a com-
posite on gay rights. With
one daring to leave
their seats, black men and
BY COMMAC
I'M DUMBFOUNDED! BUT HOW DID MRS. THATCHER REACT TO THE NEWS OF HER ASTOUNDING TRIUMPH?
SHE CONCEALED HER JUBILATION WITH EASE AND SIMPLY DISPATCHED A TELEGRAM...
• TO THE ARGENTINES.. ..REQUESTING THAT THEY IMMEDIATELY RE INVADE THE FALKLANDS!
It demands a programme of new house building and rehabilitation, with no cole mouse sales. tions or warrant sales, and
end tc relief.
Economic ana industrial affairs are weakest part of the Scottish agenda. Most resolu. tions evoke the Alternative Economic Strategy catch-all solution, reflecting movement's as industry col strategy, lapses
Tam Dalyell's work, seven resolutions call for an enc to 'Fortress Falklands' and a negotiated settlement WILl Argentina. None call simply for withdrawal, but four want United States' hands off
and Nicarag Bi
Grenada and solidarity with Salvador
Although the Scottish Labour Party has been in the forefront of nuclear disarmament, none of this year's 10 resolutions offer a rounded affirmation of national policy. they commit the party to building CND and its ac tivities.
women spoke of the pro
blems they faced and hov the party had to be made
change to respond to their needs.
Only a small bloc of right wingers opposed the resolution. But supporters
the Militant gave ideological cover to these backward elements wheeling out a few black supporters to argue that these resolutions were tokenism. it: We must not do what As Russell Profitt some comrades want us to do - give in to the prejudice Hypocrisy and cant must
Scottish YS:
a CND victory
ference, held in Glasgow on 25-26 February,
paigning body.
More delegates representing branches independent the YS
leadership attended than
previous years - a laci
borne out by the weekend's debates. Voting on the main resolutions was very close.
By Cameron Taylor (Dumbarton LPYS)
The first day was run-
of-the-mill stuff. Motions on positive discrimination
and autonomy for women
were cerealed
regional committee's
recommendations
significantly though, by
smaller majorities than
usual.
The mood was dif
ferent on the second day.
Most speakers in the first
debate l delana opposer
the view.
executive
Regional committee was
forced to withdraw
recommendation that the
lesbian and gay rights
News
Amendments from the NUM and others beef-up policy by reaffirming the commitme unilateralism within the to
lifetime of the next Labou government. But Hillhead charts retreat course demanding defence policy around which the party can unite to reconcile 'differences within the party.
This year's agenda is disappointing. . Supporting some of the better resolu tions will ensure that the main planks Scottish
But
and some important issues — like witnarawing Dilis! troops from Northern ireland. and tree abortior on demand - aren't even raised
If the Perth conference and its incoming executive back action around our central policies, Scottish Labour Party can take a lead the fightback against the Tories in 1984 A Scottish fightback must figure prominently as part of a mass movement to bring down the Tories in the coming year.
HANDS
OFF
THE MET
COUNTIES
THE GLC
come to an end.' Both resolutions were passed with large card-vote ma jorities.
The rest of the day was bound to feel like an anti-climax. Nevertheless the education debate provok ed anger as delegates argued against the ILEA policy of compulsory Lausic. teachers. Finally, squeezed l dal ne ca, resolution. were passed on defending London's public transport system.
THIS YEAR'S SCOTTISH Young Socialists con-
was definitely the best for years. It can be the start of a fight to turn the Scottish LPYS into a mass cam-
debate was dropped, and the final vote was lost only narrowly.
Policy was reversed on Youth CND when resolution from Aberdeer South, urging the LPYS to
participate in and build
YCND, was passed despite regional committee opposition.
At the Dumbarton fringe meeting attended by
people, YCND and
Labour Campaign for Gay
Rights speakers stressed
the importance of the YS taking an active part in
HIOVCHICIILS And Dumbarton used the op.
portunity of conference to
launch the first issue of a newsletter for Scottish
members suc cessfully judging by the
120-plus copies sold
All in all, conference was a big success. Our new YCND policy can be used to draw more young activists into the Labour
Party Young Socialists in Scotland.
Page 5 scan of this page
among women.
Although it Is Ollen claimed that women's position society has greatly improved. today's feminist demands aren't that different from those
Women are still fighting Jor Dasic rizus.
The idea of a special day for women originated among women socialsts. In 1910, at the Second Inemmabora concrcue or Socialist Working Women. Clara Zetkin from the German Social
Partv. U1 U posed an annual celebraLOBA Thus & March was proclaimed International Women's Day.
The date memorated garment workers strike in York, led socialist women. In 1917, a strike by women textile workers in St Petersburg (now Leningrad) on that day was the spark which fired the Russian Revolution. This Revolution, started by
struck the most wollicul powerful blow against women's oppression that had ever been struck.
The Russian Revolution wasn't centred around the demands of women, but the need to eradicate special oppression of women to
just, socialist society was clearly understood. The Bolshevik fove cilland troduced civil and legal rights for women.
The first legislation after October 1917 introduced abortion on demand and freer divorce, and removed the category of illegitimacy. A women's department was sel up,
by Alexandra deal WILl women's special problems. Attempts were made to establish collective child care facilities and communal kitchens and laundries.
Progress towards the emancipation of women crumbled as the Revolu-
International
Women's
Day
8 March 1984
Women's
liberation and
socialism
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, celebrated since the beginning of this century, has recently reemerged as a symbol of international solidarity
tion degenerated. The rise of Stalin and the seizure of control by ine bureaucracy he led, resulted in reaction on all fronts, including the progress women had achieved. By the 1930s anti-abortion policies had been introduced and the basic institution of the family was reasserted. The Russian experience shows how socialist revolution can open the road towards women's liberation. It also shows that seizing power trom une capitalist class does not, itself, guarantee. the emancipation of women.
By Carol Turner
Women suffer double oppression: from their dependent status within the family, and their super-exploitation as wage
for women's oppression is Jocaled the which is the cheapest way of reproducing and maintaining the labour force,
sector of the reserve army ot labour. It plays a further, ideological role by providing a justification for the low-paid menial jobs women workers are consoned co The institution of the family divides men from women. used undermine the struggles of both men and women workers. The sexual division of labour within society act as a barrier to working class unity.
The understanding, of women's oppression pioneered by socialists like Zetkin and Kollantai has been eunched ov tae newwave women's liberation of the 20 asu years. Today's. feminists have developed a stronger understanding of&. the depth of the ideologicalcultural anti-woman bias in society After the quiescence of
FEDE
TIONAL
the 1950s, the 60s brought world-wide radicalisation which expressed itselt revolutionary struggles the colonial world, uprisings in the Soviet bloc, and student and worker • struggles in the West. Women
›egan again to openly challenge the structures of an oppressive society. The women's liberation movement America and Western Eurone todav was born at the end of the 1960s, with this radicalisation.
The women's MOVE ment has not always linked
with the organised
labour movement. The main reason for this has been the refusal of the labour bureaucracy to defend the rights of women. This feeds into two con-
WOMEN
'ORKI
VAN VALVE
1 MAC
tradictory trends: radical feminism on the one hand,
of some left currents to understand the progressive role of women's ment in the struggle for socialism.
Radical feminism has
This ped on a desca.
political ideology of women's revolution, rather than
main vehicle social Chance.
Its fundamental tenet is that all men enemy, regardless of class. Despite nuances, this view leads women away from demands that challenge the capitalist state and towards collaboration will une insututions or ine state, in order to achieve reforms.
Radical feminism is exacerbated by the crude, sectarian response of large sections, of the (male-dominated) left. Even to. day, Militant conținue to put forward the view that nothing can be done about women's oppression the revolution, when women's emancipation will ne (spontaneously!) achieved. They argue that support TO wonders liberation struggles beyond the purely economic divides the working class.
The Socialist Workers Party has disbanded its Women's Voice and argues against the 'petty bourgeois feminism' the Greenham peace camp, ignoring the mass movencil oi work. ing class women inspired
example Greenham. Trend
Such arguments from the lett turn realitv head. They feed directly into radical feminism the same trend that Militant and SWP condemn.
More than a century's experience of women's Succe has ground-work for a more
women's liberation
the needs of women, women such as aDorLIOl
laws and the needs women, as workers (such as equal pay and job opportunities).
All socialists - men as well woler everywhere support the demands of the women's liberation movement, and seize ine opportunity explain: no socialism without women's liberation and women's liberation with socialist revolution.
Thanks Greenham!
By Sue MacDonald
Monsignor Kent
harassment Greenham Common.
it) from CND.
that gives they think of a nuclear 'freeze' ever will!
get involved challenge to male-dominated actions, and conferences.
women in them the most avnamic and active camnaigners
in meetings.
ference then reasserted discrimination.
Committee.
The Greenham Common
more attractive with the SDP!
labour movement orientation can work.
o cam us down
can lead that fight —Thanks Greenham!
When asked about fighting the missiles and how best to do it, who do I think of first? Is it
sitting in an office in
Goodwin Street? No! It is the courageous and dedicated women who brave wind, rain and snow and constant physical and legal
outside the gates of USAF
What has Greenham meant for women in the peace movement? For most of us, it has been a blast of fresh air, providing some alternative to the leadership (or often lack of
At long last we have a focus for some action
the Tores more seenless nights thar trudging from door to door asking people what This is especially true in ones CND. Our local groups often have a majority of
- women who are nearly always
The question of sexism and women's oppres sion has been forced on the peace movement bv th Greenham women. It is no longer so easy for men to ger awav with domineering and sexist attitude.
YCND's National Conference gave a big thumbs down to a male delegate who was 'wor ried' about how the Greenham women were bringing other issues into the disarmament movement. Issues nke ... snock, пorror... reminism. our con-
our policy of positiv support women-only actions, and elected four women out of the six places onto the National Committee.
women have also transformed the image of CND. It's been a bit harder for the CND leadership to continue its drive to respectability with thousands of women surrounding Greenham and pulling down the fence! This has made the disarmament movement much
particularly for youth, who really don't want to sit in Habitat houses and chat
Ine women al vreennam Common nave made the job of those of us in CND fighting the leader ship's course that much easier. the Mav 24th in ternation Women's Day of Action showed that a
Womer like Helen John have consistently back the youth in our fight against the CND leadership's attempt
For showing the movement — and the whole
- that a real fight can be waged against the Tories and their policies, and showing women
Page 6 scan of this page
Socialist Action 9 March 1984
Labour
women
LL THE OPINION polls now
real a sharp swing to Labour -
this increase is particularly
ked among women. This trend erely deepens the pattern revealI at the general election — a swing
from the traditional female ajority for the Conservatives. abour has to build on this tendenу, to secure a lasting majority song women. How can this be
In our view the answer is three-fold. he Labour Party has to analyse and
Ical social conomic factors that omen s lives today. second, It llas lo ampion every battle that age against the viciously anti-woman® ory government. And third it has to allenge all the prejudices of male omination throughout the ovement.
Today the 'average' woman leads a pry. different life than that of revious generation of women. amatic rise in women's employment accounted for by the vast number of
ried women who have decided. to " work. In 1961 30 per cent of mar-
women worked. By 1979 it was 50
cent.
Until very recently it was a common sumption that married women would
normally maintained by isbands. This is one of the major asons why many in the labour moveent still believe that a man's pay ould be higher than a woman's ecause he has a family to look after. at today this standard Germaine Greer
The forward
march of
longer applies in most cases.
The proportion families has
living alone.
By Valerie Coultas
Other wullicil
widowhood
structure
companions on women assumed.
While
by the economic recession. the The
'little housewife'
day the number is one in three.
their position of women
independence of 'model' no
of single-parent doubled since 1901.
Women head three-quarters of those single parent families and some are taking the decision to have children while
find themselves heading households due to divorce,
because their Wlac lovers decide to shelve their responsibilities as fathers. 400,000 women are the sole wage earners in families with
the dole. Family dependence on men can no longer be
women's employment has not increased since 1977, women have not been thrown out of the workforce on
Rather the effect of the recession has been to fur- Icaves, ther force women into low paid jobs. hospital
1ne polendal woman Labour voler therefore is less and less likely to be the
inat Jim Callaghan used to patronise. She is quite likely to be a trade unionist; less than one in five trade unionists were women in 1951, to-
It is from this overall picture of the
voters that Ine Labour Party must begin to appeal to
The growth of feminist ideas within the labour and peace movements has a real material basis in the growing
dependence which clashes sharply with
Women workers 1942 the dictatorial regime of the Tories
From here on the Labour Party has to make the Tories pay for their attacks
women. Pay for the attacks on women over equal pay and maternity
pay for the attacks through closures, school clawbacks and a host of other cuts.
Labour can win massive support among women if it campaigns on all these issues, if it defends the Greenham
women trade unionists fighting back against the government.
This brings us to a crunch issue representing women. Neil and Roy can never be a dream ticket tor women Ten women Labour MPs to represent women in the labour movement is a scandal. The TUC General Council has never had a woman member, except through the Women's Advisory and
THE FEMALE EUNUCH, Germaine Greer's first book was hailed as 'a wild book which will enrage many men' and a 'brilliant attack on marriage'. She's done a lot of re-thinking in the last 14 years and shares those thoughts in her recently-published Sex and Destiny. Nowadays, phetess of women's Whitehouse might have been right after all. The book deals with the problems of the sexual revolution and its connec tion with the issues of third world population. This time, MS Greer USCS her iconoclastic dare-devilry to tear down the pillars of thought rather than challenge the establishment.
Her first target is the sexual revolution. Despite all our efforts, it's still squeezing jam into doughnut'. Women have simply made themselves more available to play the doughnut game.
In pursuing this theme, she denies the positive impact of the contraceptive pill and increased abortion facilities on the lives of thousands of women. But
Choice pieterine sedin-
choice, prefering vocate that today's young women should consider practicing chastity.
She looks with favour on societies like South India where the sexes are
reserved seats.
As Anne Pettifor of the Womens Action Committee said in Socialist Ac'positive been operating in the labour movement for a long time now, but it is positive dinner discrimination for women who are con-
trolled by men. Now we want positive ascrimaton controled by womell.
demand t at the Labour Party
the demand that the Labour women women's conference should elect the
Executive. women in the labour movement should be accountable to women male dominated bureaucracy. It means putting an end to 'token' women like Gwynneth Dunwoody who have won their status from the support of 'top men' the labour movement ranks and cer-
Germaine Greer's lost faith
the one-time Mary
and marriages arranged. Women are not objectified even fat, ug-
women tind husbands
She fact that such K denying chains them any choice of sexual part-
By Judith Arkwright
In the course of this book, Germaine Greer reveals her main concern:
liberation of women but the imporlalice of the tamily as al institution for child raising.
Her arguments reach absurd heights when she advocates coitus interruptus as the most effective method of birth control (despite the volumes evidence to the contrary).
She cites her experience of Italy. It is widely used and she believes works well
discrimination ha. movement.
so lilal lucy
ot the Labour NaIt's saying that
not the patriarchy trade
Ul1lU1
bureaucracy.
- not tron
be won.
both as birth control and
sexual pleasure or booth
sexual pleasure
She leaves the facts that the pill is dif ficult to obtain and that thousands Italian women die each year from backstreet abortions.
Pehaps she has forgotten the experiences of her youth when men Do it, promising the 'to
promising they'd withdraw time. «HOu diday Wor ra val as birth many you know who control increases the DOWCI of over women
in the chapter 'Fate of the Family' that Ms Greer's thoroughly ¡ cacuuddl and anti-
ideas are coherently put The claustrophobic nuclear family is the scourge of the Western she believes. feminists would agree. Ms Greer extolls the virtues of the extended family, with
greater spirit of cooperation and its stronger family ties
She ignores the abject poverty of the third world
material background binding them together. correctly attacks the ar-
tainly not from the female ranks.
This battle is symbolic of the position of women in the whole labour
There are hundreds of similar battles to be won, so that not only does Labour take up demands in the interests of women, but that it also ensures that women pav their full role at every level of the labour movement
themselves can lead the fight for womens rights.
Only pressure from the base of the movement can force the bastions of
on this Behind the 'top men' of the labour movement lies the power of the labour
Polite words Will not budge them - only if Labour women confront them head on will the battle
rogance of the West in assuming that the nuclear family is superior and the incursions of the state into family functions Unfortunately, her confused anti-imperialism leads her to apologise for the reactionary political regimes in the countries she cites - regimes which perpetuate these in-
equal esperal se
imperialism. She quotes approvingly presi dent Gaffer al-Nemeiry i the Wield clitoridectomy is widespread and women are forced lo wear the veil.
Perhaps the reader wondering by now if Ms Greer Margaret Thatcher's secret weapon on the family? She could have been. Throughout history, bourgeois sold out women's struggles scene teminism of individualistic solutions to the collective problems women face.
Ms Greer has achieved tame ana fortune without sticking around to see the Dalle her ivory-tower Italiar villa she has lost faith in the women's liberation movement. She has capitulated in the face of the Tory government's reactionary offensive against women.
Page 7 scan of this page
Mother Jones: 'She is the best socialist agitator working among labour unions' said J.A. Wayland in Appeal to Reason.
Alexander Kollantai: Revolutionary marxist and feminist Sojourner Truth: 'Nobody helps me worriurt.
Sylvia Pankhurst she urged workers of Britain to resist British intervention against Bolshevik Revolution.
- and ain't l a
THE HISTORIANS invariably ignore or underplay
historians have not done too well in this field. Many of them have sadly failed to understand the revolutionary dynamic of feminism and do not understand how it can play a role in the liberation of both men and women.
before her death in 1854 'I have nearly the whole world against me. Men because I demand the emancipation of women, the owners because I demand the emancipation of the wage earners'.
women's rights conference
Akron, Ohio, to preacher who claimed women 'were too weak and helpless to have the vole Sojourner said: 'The man over there Savs wolue! helped in carriages and lifted over ditches Nobody helps me into carriages or over puddles and ain't l a woman? I have ploughed and planted ce ố æ c ere ... and ain't I a woman? I
man — when I could get it — and ai't | a woman?'
By Janet Maguire
She wasoe of the growing army of women wIlu were beynld come forward as educators
Whilst the alu ul cascis. oppression of women did not just start with capitalism, was the capitalist system that so radically changed the conditions of millions of women's lives so that women's emancipation and socialist revolution, for the first time became acmevable objectives.
Twenty years after Solourner fruth spoke un to her sex, class and race, the au prune ar first worker's revolution took place.
In 1871 the masses of Paris the
stonmed "stonmed heavens' And in the foretront of that herol terole struggle were women like
vulcte and countless of her unnamed
Louise Michel, SIsters. school leacher, atheist, republican and
• CILIS took up arms for the MontIliaillc 61st battalion.
A young man under fire in the Commune panicked ano wanter o currener She took a candle, placed
Llic mululiol. dump and told him: 'Go ahead if you want to .. if you try to surrender the station I will blow it up.
Like the other women
Communard bat talions she was a nurse and
acuve CurlDalalil. She said our 'duty is to treat
wounded where they LIIC fall and to take up a gun where required. troops Versaille descended on Paris destroy the revolution she insisted must not be defeated in death'.
Cvcli Along with her sisters she
had everything KCW lIc to lose if 'law and order triumphed over 'red anarchy.
At her trial she proudly
A woman's place
is on the
barricades
Flora Tristan, an early feminist wrote shortly
admitted her membership of the Labour and her mem bership of the her republicanism Women's Rights
Group back to France aftel being When was allowed
penal colony she returned with her beliefs HILACL Louise Michel told her accusers: 'I don't wish to be defended. I am devoted to the social revolution.
As the conflicts between capital and labour intensified sO more and more women were drawn INLO the struggle. America names of Mott Gold always be MORO HITeO labour and write their nistory. question House henrinien hearing ton Mother 'I live
do not in Wifal place whenever there nst WIOl.
It is the fray.'
her Philip Foner says: 'As her reputation appeals came from unions witł on SLNKI priso
At th plained: think of old; besides I have, a, lot to accomplish yet.'
Emma Goldman, one of hel conicuivuralics. after working in a sweat SOo duu ula ie alulfortunate marriage, threw herself into the violent class . struggles sweeping America at that time. She was a labour agitator, an advocate of revolutionary violence supportel of free love and birth control saw the , Way feminism lying along the road of the class struggle.
Meanwhile in Britain, Sylvia Pankhurst was the woman of her time who had recognised the connection betweer the op-
pression of women and class society. This is why she broke from the conserVAtIVe Women's Social and Political Union led by nel molnel and sister and formed the more radical and more democratic was London Federation of Suffragettes This split was fully vindicated when her mother and sister joineune wagon in the 1914-18 war. Sylvia refused to dinate either the interests
wolc. OLICI workers to the needs of the capilalst war chlort
After suffrage was won she WIULC. Great is the work which remains to be accomplished!' At first she rallied to the standard of the Communist International and was a founding member of the British Communist Partv but left after disagreements. Thus the intant British com munist Party lost the most articulate revolutionary feminist in Britain and was all the poorer for that loss
Time
Perhans no woman of her time more symbolised the inseperability ot the fight for socialism and the fight for women's libera-
than ine Russian revolutionary Alexander nollanlai. one lelt a com fortable middle-class mar-
ne tor socialisme this
socialism. made exception among women in her SOCa Curce nstoe lne Russian Social Democratic parly suc was no less anl ex ception, being the only teminıst tron 1906 wards in the small women's rights groups that argued for women's sections in the party.
Her feminism never detracted from her revolutionary determination In 1917 she the only leading Bolshevik to immediately support Lenin's April Thesis which committed the party to the taking of power through the dictatorship of the working class. As the only woman minister in Lenin's government sne pushed or legislation like communal child care and sup. ported or orginated all the Acts which would alleviate the lot of women.
Kollantai like her predecessors and contemDorane SUCI Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg belonged to the line of women who stood in the tradition of feminism and the class struggle. But we must not forget that for every well-known woman who is written about and remembered LBere are
of unsung heroines of the class struggle.
One day history must give them their due . When we do that we will help to fulfil everything that Kollantai and the class-struggle feminists fought for.
Socialist Action 9 March 1984 its time had been considered "within the law" ; Clara Zetkin — leader of International Women's Movement
Letter from
Clara Zetkin
THE article by the great Ger-
socialist and women's leader appeared in the June 1913 issue of Labour Woman — a journal for women run at that time by the Labour Party.
The article appeared in the second issue of the journal.
In many other countries experience has shown that a socialist women's paper is a more fertile and powerful serve The conace It is a beacon throwing floods of light on the stormy waters and the rocks on the coast,
showing dangers to avoid and the rigil ways to tonow
Therefore we are quite sure Ellal the Labour Woman will influence most favourably the development of the socialist women's moveMenl in England continue the good work of the League Leaflet* but on a broader and with greater means and torces
The Labour Woman will give a loud and un-
7.
Emma Goldman: She told the courts 'there had never been an ideal. however humane and peaceful which in FOLLOWING falsified voice to all the miseries and injustices that capitanst exprolauon and political thoughtlessness ADESEOY working class to all the
01 bread CulEl and rights women have to fight for because they members of the great family of mankind and without their Wage, without the many duties accomplished by them the social order could not exist a single day ...
Thus the Labour Woman will help to con centrate the capacities and forces of socialist woman for the manifold work they have to do in order to
working class women round the socialist banner and to render them capable HaKtI! heavy their burden and bs
their DUTCHZLIC tellectual and moral
to share in the JUWCID. high tasks of their class: the emancipation of the workers Dy the wokes themselves. * The League Leaflet was the newsletter of the Women's Labour League founded in 1906
Page 8 scan of this page
8 Socialist Action 9 March 1984
The right
to choose
is a
demand
for ALL
women
JUST BEFORE the second National Conference of the Women's National Abortion Action Coalition (WONAAC) in February 1972 Off Our Backs, an American feminist newspaper made a red-baiting attack on the American Socialist Workers party about their activity in the abortion movement.
Their political disagreements were the following. WONAAC
'controlled by the SWP'. WONAAC, by focusing on . single-
abortion rights - ignored other questions related to women's liberation. It said abortion 'cannot stand alone' by itself and it is not 'a political issue'.
Off Our Backs said 'free abortion' should be the main focus rather than the repeal of the Abortion Taws Decausc. Dour wuuica would not be able to afford abortions' even if the laws were repealed.
By Valerie Coultas
Activists in the National Abortion Campaign nere Britain will recognise these attacks. The criticisms made by the women who decided to leave NAC and form the Women's Reproductive Rights Campaign are very similar. These accusations are put forward by Alice Henrv (an Off Our Backs
isue ist in tae el rannd
ISSUC Trouble Strife, new Radical Feminist discussion journal which even accuses VAC of racism. This is not a new debate. It went on in che US in the early seventies. American socialists and black women, like Maxine Williams, took up the defence of a woman's right choose. They showed that it is now, and will continue to be, a vital issue. This is why we are re-printing the arguments o Socaist remuusLs Cindy Jaquith who was then editor LuC American socialist DaDCl .Militant and Maxine Williams founder
member of the a nre World Women's Alliance.
Cindy Jaquith 'Repeal of Tne _ anorlon laws would be far from meaningless DOU] women. These women are the most affected by the illegality of abortions, which forces them to turn to butcher abortionists or
bear unwanted children.
For Black, Chicana, Puerto Rican, Native American and ' AsianAmerican women, aD0r tion laws are used musuTv tre Dracuce oore
sterilisation. If abortions were legal, it would be much harder for racist doctors and welfare boards to exact the punishment of forced sterilisation from these women when they seek abortions.
According to the June 20 1971 New York Times during the first six months of New York's liberalized
50 per cent aboruor raw.
od tona berio ns per ciy
New residents were for Black and Puerto Rican women.
Maxine Williams 'I don't feel, however, that wnle women Siltlllg around room, browbeating one mollel for the ia "racis", sayinea racist» a SRICISL I'm
as some women nave •done. doing damn thing for the Black woman. What is needed is action.
What is hampering it now is not the fact that it is stil! composed of Willle. ane cle class' women. Rather it is the failure curace enough actions that would draw in and link up with the masses of women not yet in the movement, including working and Black Wulllcil
Issues such as day care, abortion, support for the striking reeoione workers, support for laws that imorove working conditions are steps in the right direction.
Women's Liberation must not isolate itself from Tne masser momen the Black, Chicano, or ruerle Ricar Collimunities. At the same time. white women cannot speak for Black women. Black women must speak for themselves.'
L
IN 1974 Scottish Labour MP James White introduced a private member's bill in parliament, which aimed to severely restrict abortions. He was supported by SPUC and LIFE, the two main anti-abortion organisations. They demonstrations mourning 'murdered babies', and stage-managed the publication of abortion horror stories. All these tactics were to become familiar to in the years ahead.
White's bill galvanised the
WOllCE S Huvelleil into action. A new campaign was born - the National Abortion Cam-
By June, it had mobilised 10.000 women and men for its first major demonstration
Abortion on demand is
the four original Ullc demands of the women's movement. I nere nas oeel.
Women's Abortion and
calodl.l since 1971
Betore 1975 there had been a sporadic response
KICK
OUT
CORRIE
NOW
HL
lobbied MPs, held silent
anti-abortion initiatives, but it took James wnile s bill to turn tnesc into a mass campaign. Un mi nare Temusis ia not talked much about abortion. NAC began as a defensive 1967 Agn, to save the Abortion Act By NAC's first conference at the end of 1975: was apparent that the Act was inadequate. conference established two principles: WAU was fighting for free NHS abortion on demand tol
TA
VOMENS
CHOICE
NOT
DOCTORS
CHOICE
RETURM
TO THE
BACKSTREEN
ABORTION
OMENSROM
OCHOOSE
RETURNTO BACK
STREET ABORTIO
IL HORO
NAC:
its history
all women, and it would campaign as a mass movement willin tae womnen s. students' and labour movements. Hence, NAC
single-issue campaign, which set that issue within a wider context by its methods of campaigning.
By Leonora Lloyd
From the beginning NAC has stressed thạt defending and extending the law was not enough.
Womer HUSL have the right to determine their own lives, and that cannot be done without them controlling their own fertility.
Ultimately means complete change in society. But many people can be won to supporting abortion onucilalll and 1r turn learn from their own experience the limitations of this demand.
Abortion on demand is not a real choice, unless there are adequate nursery facilities, maternity allowances, housing provisions, and so on. But not
people prepared to campaign around abortion set this within a socialist context. This reflects both the strength and weakness o e-soue canan people who would not be they can draw many attracted to broader-based Cabadis. but at the same time - they set up
inside the Lalkl the activists to feel impatient
and its future
with the limitations.
The fact remains that, had NAC been single-issue campaign would no have had the success it did within the labour movement. And without success would not have defeated the anti-abortion bills which followed White's Bill. Issues
As the first 'social' issue affecting only women find support within the labour movement in recent years, it led the way for other women's icsues LaKen up More than any other issue
ha helped show the inter-relationship between oppression and capitalism
the impossibility separating out any single asucl.
Between the major attacks abortion James White in 1975, William Benyon in 1977 and John Corrie in 1979
. there has NA Cs activity. turns in activity. But each time the downturn was less, as more women became committed to the campaign. So, when the last attack came - the nu oCEBOUCI the threat of doctors being prosecuted illegal abortions NAC was able to swing into action, leading the pro-choice organisations into attack. The prosecutions didn't take place.
ABORT
CORRIE
BILL
NOWI
Dat C COOKSON
The evidence of continued attacks, together with the growing organisational strength of the anti-abortion organisations, did not prevent divisions within NAC between unose woo wanled lo lake up all the issues around women's fertility and to be
women-only organisa tion, and those who saw the continued danger anti-abortion attacks in and out of parliament and
necessitv of culilcll trating on abortion.
Split
trends in NAC have finaly The conflicting Jente a split, and Women's Reproductive Kignls Campaign was SC up at the end of last yeal
NAC has never rOWCVCI ignored abortion-related
The difference betISSUCS ween the two organisations is likely to be bet-
their methods banalslll
The split in NAC is to be regretted. But it did end over two years of internal dissention, and has led to a new burst or cuunuslasll It is important now that the LWU groups learn ic
otherwise would lend comfort to the forces ranged against us. If une at -aoorosl ceed because of divisions
the pro-choice camp the women's movement wil no1 easily forgive those who cause such diviSOHS
Page 9 scan of this page
"All that is brave and good
Diary
BELOW WE are printing excerpts from a - speech given by McALISKEY in London when she visited Britain along with Kathy Tohill and other members of the Relatives for Justice delegation. The delegation was visiting this country, to expose the present show trials in Northern Ireland.
FOR 15 YEARS I have been trying to explain what is happening in Northern Ireland to people in Britain. Politicians have a standard comment about the level of violence. why the violence exists, and how we have worked with it for 15 years.
I have a problem of
how W C have kept it to the minimal level that it has been for 15 years! It is difficult for me to relate to these people
Photo• DEREK SOFIRS
International Women's Day.
What's on?
Spain Women's week of action with five themes -women and the crisis, the right to a job, abortion,
London 328 Upper St. London N1
telephone 01-226 0571
Open — Mon, Tues, Sat, 10-6 Wed 12-7
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• Haverasement
BERNADETTE They have a problem understanding
because words take on enLUCY different violence, justice, law and order, all mean entiredifferent things to us who live Northern International Women's Day protest outside Armagh in 1980
anti-militarism and violence against women.
There will be demonstrations in Barcelona and Madrid and the Comissiones Obreros are promoting a Charter for women's rights.
Italy Women Against the Crisis coordination in Turin have produced a leaflet for use in local towns. Women from a printing firm will launch a petition against raising
For Marxist
books, posters,
postcards, badges
Feminist literature
... is in prison"
Ireland than they mean to the people who govern us.
When we started out demanding civil rights, an coud ooportunity lo vulc for equal employment and for an equal right to have a roof over our heads, we had no idea that son that we are today-
that are today. But, we got there by a very logical political process. The "supergrass' trials and what passes for courts and law and order in Northern development of, anot development that political process.
In the beginning people said that we ought to do things within the law. We didn't have a natural aversion to the law, but every time we looked like winning, anything What was legal changed it. the retirement age of
Belgium Women Against the Crisis demonstration n Brussels, supported b he FGTB and CSC trad union federations and the Socialist Party and Catholic trade unions.
France Women's rights minister, Yvette Roudy will meet other European ministers. There is a League for Women's kignts seminal to relale the concerns of women to
'Europe and the Future' The CFDT trade union federation will organise forums on job equality.
Demonstration in Paris on 8 March against reduction of working hours, for rights of immigrant women and against the Mitterand government policy encouraging women to have more children. Switzerland Demonstration in Berne on 10 March on the shorter working week, part-time work and abortion rights.
Australia Celebrations in each state and demorsurauous u Melbourne and Sydney on 8 March.
yesterday, became illegal today. We started exercis. ing the freedoms we had within the law - like the Ireecom speech, organisation and informa-
tion We found that if we us-
ed them erectively lney ehavious likely to lead to translated You are allowed freedom breach of the peace' ot organisation if don't You allowed freedom of speech if you use it to back up the
Grue alle ministration. But if you
say fre dom of sinkch te
don't think the system works' then that is no longer freedom of speech - that is incitement. Difficult
It is behaviour likely to cause breach of the peace' and is likely to get your neau smasncu move police officer. Now this may be difficult for white people Britain understand but when we come over from Northern Ireland we are at home in the black community. They suffer, and they know what we are suffering. They know some basic rules about democracy that we know.
ln a demonstration vou always know who is making the demand for justice by the direction that the police are taking. Whether that is in Brixton, Ireland, New York or whatever. If
are standing in demonstration and you can see the back of policeman's head, then you are probably in the wrong demonstration.
CRECHE Britain
• Delegation to Armagh
March, bus from Glasgow Women and Ireland Grou contact Alexis Scott 041 241
delegation travel to Armagh prison return Monday 12 March, details from London Armagh Coordinating Group, 374 Gras y's Inn Rd, WC1. Tel 01 289 3878. • GLC open day 8 March,
noon to 8pm, County Hal
London SE Stalls iterature. ums exao ions discussions. Creche facilities.
• Afia Begum campaign openine or new centre 10i women under threat of deportation and international women's day lunen, o Marcn, I2.30-2.3U 114a Brick Lane, , London E1, Aldgate East tube • National Assembly of Women event on Friday 9 March, 7-10pm, and Sat 10
women and racism, guests include a Cuban sister, helen Jonn or ureennam
When battle commences policemen do not walk backwards when they charthey told us to use the democratic We used it way back in 1918 and we used it when Bobby Sands was dying. Sinn rein nave usea il since There is a problem with ine democrane process you elect people which the government think are not suitable they will scurry like rats into the House of Commons and pass a law saying you are allowed to elect people of your choice as long as vou do not elect people of the wrong type. Entitled
If you elect those people then they will pretend that you didn't. Lovers of British democracy believe we are entitled to want freedom. But they say we must abide within the law and operate the 'democratic' channels. If
Common and a woman trade unionist who has been
TrICON. NAW IX WvtOrI House, Elwood St, Londor
• London School of Economics women's group workshops and entertainment, 7 March, 2-4pm workshops, evening disco, , 8 March 11-4 wOrKSIODs. evening anti-sexist cabaret. LSE Houghton St, London WC2. All events mixed except disco. io March do derage Town Hillingdon demonstration Hall, ring 0895 37361 for details • Birmingham women only event • Marco. with stalk and discussions, videos on E Salvador and Greenham.
AcTiON
Join the
fight for
socialism
Socialist Action 9 March 1984 Bernadette McAliskey canvasses during the general election, Dublin 1982 only that was possible.
They have taken away all our stand on the wrong side of the law. Six thousand peo ple have been processed through the Diplock courts in ten years We have problem acting within the law because they change it all the time and they have taken their politics into the courts.
Legality
We were born guilty. We are part of an Irish community forced to live
state wise ear and right to exist we have
conceded. We ar the Palestinians of Britain. Now the supergrass system is the last link in the chain. We beat internment without trial so they in vented the Diplock courts. We won political status so they criminalised republican struggle. Ten men died for the right to
March through city centre. Contact Birmingham Women's Centre, c/o Peace Lentre, Moor ol, kingway. Birmingham B4. . Tel, 021 643 0996. • Coventry Thur 8 March exhibition and reclaim the night march, Coventry women s centic, Victoria St, Hillfields, Coventry.
Manchester War on Want event 8 March with vide and international culture 3pm to late. Details fron voc east St Mary's • St, Moss Side, Manchester.
Bristol women's centre social event 8 March 1 The Grove, Bristol 1, tel. 0272 22760
• Durham Student's Union event • March wIn ANu speaker and Dr Janet
Name..
Address
Age ... Union/CLP (if any) If you want more information about Socialist Action or to be put in touch with local supporters send this form to Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N1.
we Comes on aeroack
Terrorism in the eyes of the British government is political organisation against the state.
Women
Kathy Tohill and I are referred to by the loyalists as the 'seed beds of terrorism'. This is because we breed them. It is because we are women. We live in a country where all that is brave and good, idealistic and hopeful, is in prison. All that is underhand, petty, mean and dishonest is in power.
Someday we will be free. Some people are go ing to come across to our country and say 'Help us We are strangling in our oppressive legislation stood and watched them use against you.
They won't beat us, brothers and sisters. But some day it is going t choke you to deati
ownsend or ain American women. For information contact 0385
• Brighton Videos or Ireland and evening entertainment, at Hanover, 8 March,. 4.Jv-lale. sunday 1. March, ANC speaker and slides, St Annes Hall, St Neones concent lown 12.30pm. • Glasgow Video 'Carry reeman come an 'Women and El Salvador' with speakers on abortion, employment, peace and violence against women Also speaking, Magda
Nicaraguan women's movement. : Union centre. carilon rlace Glasgow, 7-12 midnight, 8
Page 10 scan of this page
10
out his
terms
LAST WEEK the inevitable happened in Lebanon, as President Gemayal was summoned to Damascus to see Syrian President Assad. Assad laid down his terms for a settlement of the Lebanese fighting, and it turned out to be a settlement which was a very long way from being one based on the needs of the Lebanese masses.
Despite the fact that the fighting over the recent acers nas beer socalcad-
by the Druze PSP militia and the Shi'ite group Amal, their offensive against the right-wing Christian Phalangist government of Gemayal could not have take place without Assad's backing.
Syria, with its 40,000 troops in Lebanon has an effective veto over the activities of the PSP and Amal. Both these groups are financed and supplied
svrians Bút the Assad regime is far from inherently anti-right wing,
'anti-imperialist'. essence Assad wants to be
the centre political negotiations over a peace settlement in the Middle East, in order to push his own demands for
return of the Golan Heights from Israel, and тоге generally for Syria in for the Arab world.
In order to do that he wants Lebanon to be under effective Syrian control which would in effect have meant a Lebanon fnendly to, and reliant on, Israel and the US - cutting Syria out of the game.
Gemayal's Phalangist
Special offei The Other for the photographs, well reproduced on high quality gloss art paper. The picture above shows a child from Biffen Island in the North Available
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY GREETINGS TO ALL READERS OF 'MALE ORDER'
Socialist Action 9 March 1984
Assad spells
present round of
government was of course opposed by the Lebanese muslim masses from a very different angle for the simple reason that a Phalange government means a reactionary, pro-Western government which promotes the terests of the Lebanese ruling class and imposes harsh repression on mass of the people.
By Phil Hearse
That's why the fighting started bv the Druze Por and Amal against the Phalangists took on aspects of a real insurrection with mass involvement to bring down Gemayal, especially in south and west Beirut.
Assad has got the victory that he needs against the Phalange.
SLOW NO
bees vacily fased bim
blem which faced before his troops intervened in Lebanon in 1976. In order to keep his influence and power in Lebanon he needs a government totally under his own thumb. A
macia dominated te
ment dominated various Muslim organisa-
Special calendar offer
WOMEN'S CITY World Calendar 1984 is on at the reduced price of f2.85 from
It's worth the money lust which are all stunning and
and her wortull West Ter-
Forkshp, 328 Upper Siret, London Nl 01-226
de.
tions might go off at a very different the one which requires himself especially
civil Contud Wal against the Phalangist promotea lCW and radical tendencies in the struggle.
Therefore Assad has come UD with his 1CW peace plan which he presented in the form of a series of demands Gemayal. It amounts to *residemayal but stayas President, but abrogate the peace treaty with Israel, symbolic gesture showing WIO
ebanon's new
Masters Ically dre.
Gemayal will then form a coalition cabinet to include figures from Amal and the PSP, and probably pro-Syrian Christian and Sunni Muslim figures, for example Franjieh. government of 'national
will then do its best to call off the fighting, thus giving the Maronite Christian minority a big SLaKe in tuture ment, but a much reduced one. Capitalism Lebanese bourgeoisie of all confessions will still be happily milace, and Lebanon an 'independent' state - bul under the aegis of Presi
a Thera is no doubt that
this agreement will satisfy Nabih Berri, the leader of the Shi'ite Amal. Berri is a bourgeois politician, not
ORDER
Racist unmasked VIRGINIA Gillick became a centre of media attention when she tried to take her local health authority to court to prevent contraceptive advice or help being given to
women under 16 without parental conSell You may remember
all the photos the papers featuring
Gillick surrounded by ner chilaren
But the anti-fascist Searchlight, magazine has revealed that Virginia Gillick wasn't the 'ordinary housewite and mother' the press portrayed her. In 1912 she was active member of a racist antiimimigration group called 'Powellight'.
President Gemayal an Islamic fundamentalist. He and Amal do not demand an Islamic Lebanon,
but merely a bigger share
largest the cosiony! grouping in country. Equally, Walid Jumblatt's *Progressive Socialist Party' belies its name: it is an
with nationalist leadership which seeks a bigger say for the Druze 1 UlCIS
When the Muslim and
ensaces were
the verge of victory in the
1975-76 civil war
arallls the Christian Phalange
the Syrian army intervened to attack them and their
Palestinian allies. It was a hard lesson. The Syrian
dictatorship, despite all its
Arab nationalist rhetoric,
The Women's Reproductive Rights Information Centre (WRRIC) is organising a petition
counter ULIC being touted by Gillick's supBOTICO - which arques for no more restrictions on young women's rights to contraceptive help and advice. • For further informa-
and copies the
PeRIC, 374 GraE 110
London WCI phone 01-278 0153.
COMPILED BY Hilary
Please send contributions to reach Is one week prior to publication. Send Male Order, socialist Acion, 32o Uppe Street, London N1 2XP
is a reactionary dictator-
shipf the Lebanese masses
capitalise on the very great military victory
which have won against US imperialism.
Israel and the Phalange in the recent fighting they
will have to go way beyond the aims and objectives set
out for them by the pro-
Syrian leaders of Amal
and ten iP
Evel some of the
for iste Phalange ad
the Phalange find
Assad's deal with Gemayal hard to take, this agreement is one done at the ex-
pense of the heroic men and wonnel who have sacrificed so minch in the
struggle against
backed reaction in recent
weeks.
Awaiting
trial
A WOMAN who is two months pregnant has been remanded in Armagh prison the North of Ireland. and subjected to physical and mental ill-treatment.
Jacqueline and her
sister Anna were slapped, beaten and kept awake for long periods of time. The authorities rerusea access family doctor and
of nellie allowed to see a solicitor.
made selfincriminating statements
they duress and are now awaiting trial in the no-jury courts in the North.
Send cards and messages of support to Anna and Jacqueline
remaste pris oners, Armagh Prison, N
Ireland and here needs
urgently. Send donations to McCool Family Defence Cam-
Gc/o Box 27, paign, Great Western Rd, Glasgow, Scotland. (From an article hvl oretta Loach in the March issue of Spare
on sale at all gooc bookshops or from 27 Clerkenwell Close, London ECIR 0AT.)
Grenada: 'They
can kill our
revolutionaries
but they cannot
tion on 25 February in County Hall, London.
Labour Party and black liberation
last October.
The NJM Support Group statement explained, 'We urgently need your help at this moment it we are to protect the gains given to the people of rena e ou da half years of the revolutonifi order that the conditions for the protection of such benefits succeed, there first and foremost the removal of all imperialist torces anc their surrogates.'
Delegates heard eyewitness reports from Grenada that support US troops on the island is rapidly evaporating Grenadian people see the gains of the revolution being dismantled.
It was reported that one United States journalist, who supported the US invasion, has been forced to admit that the surviving members of the New Jewe Movement
cenl support an unrigged election.
The convention state-
the Support Group (UK) support those comrades in Grenada who are determined to continue the revolution and who at this time are attempting organise continued resistance to US •COl onialisation and will support them in whatever way we can.
'We are determined to provide them with every assistance possible cluding political, financial and assistance in kind.'
Delegates were told 01
gains the revolution and the stage of the resistance in Grenada.
Support Group speakers will be available for public meetings and Maurice Bishop
International
kill our revolution'
OVER ONE HUNDRED supporters of the Grenadian revolution heard this message from the New Jewel Movement Support Group (UK) at a conven-
Among them were delegates from trade union,
organisations who organised against the United States invasion
movement engagellens Two fund raising pro-
desperately needed funds NJM,, or its successor in Grenada and to aid the work of the NJM supporters in Britain.
By Celia Pugh
The other is to raise funds for the Maurice Bishop and Martyrs of 19 October Foundation, launched from Grenada in January. This money will usea Tol propaganda and education work in rebuild the gains of the revolutions and keep alive the memory of Bishop and the others murdered on 19 October.
A recall conference was proposed for later thi year to consider the experiences of this solidarity activity. • For information and hackground material con tact 4 Sundas Wall, (UK), London N16. • Public meeting with a report back from the re cent labour movement delegation Grenada Irish Centre, 52 Camden Sq., London NW1 Thursday 22 March, 7.30pm.
Copies of the report from Grays Inn Buildings, Roseberry Avenue, London ECIR • Hear Don Rojas, former editor of the national Grenadian newspaber hree West In dian and press secretary to Maurice Bishop tional Book Fair Festival, Friday 6 April, Priory Centre, Acton, London. 7.30pm, admission £1.
Page 11 scan of this page
In the Unions
and the
ON 13 March, Nigel Lawson will deliver his first budget speech. We will be treated to a mish-mash of tax changes, a reassertion of the Tories' intentions to cut public spending and plenty of rhetoric about how their policies are recovery. It will be boring and it will do nothing to stop the real deepening crisis of the British economy
True, output has been rising in Britain over the past 18 months, but it has been doing so very slowiy and hesitatingly. Output
whole economy still two per cent below its level four years ago and manutacturing 13 per cent lower.
By Chris Guthrie
More importantly, this output rise is not enough to stop unempioyment increasing, let alone reduce it. Far more needed to do las. I One accepts the government's crazilv optimistic view tha the proposed Nissan factory will create 10,000 new jobs, then to reduce unemployment to two million by 1990 will re. quire the opening of one Nissan factory per week.
Much has also been made of Britain's healthy £2 billion balance payments surplus last year. Closer examination of these tigures reveals the real British economic
While oil recorded a CuIsis. £6.9 billion surplus of ex-
over imports manufactured goods were £5 billion in deficit. This is the first time since the Industrial Revolution that brilain nas importea more manufactured goods than it has exported.
This deficit is a result of Britain's long term in. dustrial decline and That-
defeat the organised labour
by nicals unemployment.
TWO LETTERS WE got last week really lifted our
being, even it it only a little.
send you a small cheque from time to time.'
Now when you are used to opening the mail and Inding inreatening letters, or prevaricating
debtors, two letters like that brighten the wnole week.
But doesn't it put many
Just recently we have had a big improvement in the fund drive income and
costs. But we
With GCHO workers being given £1000
quit their union, there any readers prepared to send in £1000 to help the fight to defend the unions against Tory attacks.
were sixteen joke candidates in the Chestertield byelection
The budget
economic crisis
producing dynamic
However, higher employment means more public spending on unemployment benefits at a time when the . wants lo rcuuce uc amount it borrows.
Once more North Sea oil has come to the rescue by providing huge tax revenues. In short, North Sea oil has financed the Tories' attack on Lne working class and prevented a major balance of payments crisis.
Ine obvious questiol then, what happens when oil DIOCUCUU! begins to fall in the second half of the 1980's? The answer is disaster :. unless manufacturing can cover sufficiently to fill the gap left by falling oil trade revenues. ass bossble unless manufactured goods Deconle much cheaper countries CADUILS and unless there is a big inmanufacturing investment.
Great One of the ways to do the former is to let the exchange rate fall a great deal, but the Tories will not do this as inflation would shoot through the roof.
The other way is to cut costs by increasing productivity and by lowering wages. Increasing productivity long lun comes back to the need for Hore investinent However, capitalists will OLLY invest it they Call make good profits. And
YOUR PAPER - ITS FUNDS
spirits. Des Stevens wrote in to say: 'I've just read in the fund drive column, you had some more bills coming in — I know the feeling.' He sent in £10, and said 'here is something to help you out for the time
H Smith from Pyle in Wales wrote in 'I cannot send a bankers orders because I am an Old Age Pensioner and not too well off. However, I will try to
who paid out £2,400 in election denosits. most of this the state held onto auerwards. Is there any reader who can send in £2,400 to help us fight with the Labour Party for which really fight Duces the Tories.
West Londo
25.
.0C
this is the crunch point for Thatcher and her friends.
For despite all her attempts to boost profits by attacking workers living standards, profitability remains extremely low. the end of last year, the
Tale manufacturing investment NO V per cent on average, compared to 16-20 per cent 20 vears ago. For capitalists, makes more sense to put Inelr money in a bank and sit back and earn the interest than to risk putting it in a factory. Time
At the same time, Thatcher's hopes that profits would benefit more
wages IrON economic recovery are not being fulfilled. Instead of mass unemployment leading to trade unions accepting cuts in real wages, real earnings of those in work have been rising average over the past year.
I natcher s econome policies have reduced inflation, out tney have nol succeeded raising the
wages. They have succeed-
accicially the decline in manufacturing and in storing up huge problems when North Sea oil begins to run down.
*The Tories have no choice. If they want to solve this economic crisis in the interests of the ruling class then they have to
break up the organised workers movement. And any Labour/ Alliance coalition which tries solve the crisis bv raising capitalists protits will find itself imDlementing the same kind of Tory policies.
Swahampto 131.35 Swindon 25.00 888 K Moore E Saraga G Monk:
C Arthur
underlanc D Draycott
Total £6087.15
Dimbleby newspapers in
country. dustrial disputes.
climb down over the NGA.
The dispute Dimbleby newspapers originates from a strike by NUJ members ovel the company's of TBF printers Nottingham. TBF is a subsidiary, with the owners as T Bailey ForIllall — le pubistiels of the Nottingham Evening FOSL There NUJ fought a bitter battle when 28 members were sacked in a national pay dispute in
Since the NUJ is in
Omangate!
MAYBE MARK That-
cher's mam didn't know
what her boy was doing
in Oman but his Daddy
certainly did. All that
nice lolly Mark copped
for just happening to be
around when Mammy
was 'batting for Britain'
went straight into the ac-
count of a company call-
ed Monteagle Marketing
Ltd at Barclays Bank,
415 The Strand
And of course the
signatories that ac-
count are Mark, a guy
called Steve Tipping, and
daddy Thatcher himself.
Mind you there is nothing
suspicious all
Daddy just happened to
be with mammy when she Oman autorities for Bhi- chatting
tain whilst Mark was
coincidentally wandering
around the place.
When asked what he
was doing there he is said
to have replied, I was
bloody lost as
Daddy says he had no
idea of what went on, ad-
..First1 was a keynesian
Then a supply-sider.
Dimbleby decision
hits at union solidarity
THE DECISION of the House of Lords last week that NUJ support for the strike of its members at
Richmond is illegal is a massive blow against trade union solidarity in this
Its ramifications will be felt in many in-
The reason the House of Lords have been able to impose this decision is a direct result of the TUC's
By Tim Porter
dispute against T Bailey Forman it could well be entitled, even under the Tebbit laws, to take action against paper being printed by them although this in itself is doubtful. But the courts have neatly sidestepped the issue by declaring TBF printers and. Ballev For. man to be two different companies. Thus action Anyone for a G&T? ding in fact he rarely has, and all he went for was the gin and tonics Mr eaglin is asto catering. eagles 'into catering' 'but he doesn't mean they sell cream cakes. Mark's personal assistant, Brenda Sauger explains cater-
Seemalist Action
TAE WALL STREST JOURM:
..Now I'm.a bum.. secondary and therefore illegal.
The ramifications of the judgement are important for solidarity activity in the unions. Now, any astute employer owning a large company can sel Companies a
sallic • tactorv thus ensur ing that any dispute in a particular section will against one employer only A factory-wide strike will be illegal. Action by workers in one part of a firm in support of sacked or victimised colleagues in another part of the same firm could easily declared illegal
The Dimbleby case, left over from before Christmas. courts' rolling offensive against the unions. The
MOLES
EYE
VIEW
ing means 'somebody who can put somebody in touch with
SOLICULt else'. She didn't add that both Mark and Denis knew somebody called Margaret Thatcher very well
Mr Tipping the other signatory Signever in the adage it al first you don't succeed try, try again. Two of his companies, Wizard Design Ltd and Go Gear JLtd were both compulsorily wound up after he had resigned as a director. And untel Oman came along, Monteagle had not been doing too well.
9 March 1984
Next! was a monetarist..
original High Court deci sion against the NUJ was made days after the courts found in favour of Eddie Shah over the NGA Stockport dispute. If the TUC had stood firm and mobilsed in defence of the NUA the courts in turn may have been more Caluous une event, they used the victory over the NGA to
Soul une Dou into SOGAT, and now into the NUJ.
Legal
To add insult to injury the High Court, the same day as the House of Lords delivered juagencill imposed further lega penalties on the NGA by Haultille Eddie Shah £73,000 damages against
NGA the mass picketing in December.
Its liabilities exceeded clines SHUT than £15,000 but its two directors drew combined Eces of £17,000 — despite a pre-tax loss of £8,993 Mark's Mam should realv have a chat with him about people living beyond their means.
By the way if you are thinking of putting some business in the direction of Monteagle Ltd I hope you are not in a hurry their phone is exdirectory,
Moles Eye View is compiled BOB PENN-
NGTON. Contributions should be sent to arrive by Thursday am.
Page 12 scan of this page
THE HORRIFYING pictures of Iranian soldiers suffering from chemical weapons burns have filled British television this week. Even the United States government was forced to publicly condemn iraq for using mustard gas in the Gulf War. Iran has publicly accused Britain of supplying these chemical weapons to Iraq.
British government complicity in chemical attacks, Britain, France and the United States are rapidly stepping up their intervention in the Gulf War.
The British
govern ment has been plaving particularly dirty role.
While verbally stepping up ts condemnation of Kho.
neini's executions and
Session Thatcher has encouraging a rapid up of British Iran since 1979.
British exports to Iran rose to £628 million last vear -
anturing around uve per
at of the Iranian market.
worked with the Iranian around
negotiations on the world price of oil during the OPEC conference held in London last year.
Simultaneously Britain, France, and the United States have beer
militarily supporting Iraq in the war. The French late
ast year supplied Super
6 months 68; 12 months £15 Overseas (12 months oniy)
Europe f17; Air Mail € 24 (Double these rates for multi-reader institutions)
Name
Address
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Registered as a newspaper with the Post Office
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Printed By East End Offset (TU) Ltd, London E2.
ACTION
Hands off Iran!
One of the Iranian soldiers suffering .v..
Whatever the truth of the specific charges of
Etendard fighters and Exocet missile: Iraq.
American and British warships have reinforced their natrols off the Straits 01 Hormuz - the entrance to the Gulf. Reagan, backed by Thatcher, has announcUnited States will use military force to re-open the Straits if they are closed by Iran.
By Alan Jones
Imperialism's aims in the Gulf are quite clear.
Britain and the United States have no objections CULC barbarity of the Khomeini regime in tran or that of Sadam Hussein Iraq. decided on the continuation of the war with Iraq in
SUBSCRIBE
I enclose cheque/PO payable to Socialist Action for f .....
Send to: Socialist Action Subs. 328 Upper St. London N1 2XP.
order to rebuild the Iranian and intensify repression his OWI
But the US and Britain fear a decisive victory for Iran would destabilise the entire Gulf region including the key ally, Saudi rabit Any imperialist intervention in the Gulf war would be aimed not at preventing Khomeini's repression but simply at shoring up US, British and terests in the area. It would help recement Khomeini's popularity - making him
an martyr of 'antiimperialist struggle' and would be actual
obstacle to the Iranian
people taking their revenge
against his
Britain
have few illusions in Kho-
But they
have to fight against any
British imperialist in-
tervention against Tran
and not stand aside from
Thatcher, Reagan and
Mitterrand are playing
out, even Dy lner stan
dards, a particularly vile
policy in the Gulf.
Special free book offer!
Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books: Thatcher and Friends by John Ross
For
Over our Dead Bodies — Women Against the Bomb
Introductory offer for new readers: Eight issues for just f2!
to
employing 1400 workers.
of poisonous gas, closure decision.
Jack Taylor, president of the Yorkshire miners, is asking Thursday's tional executive to spread the Yorkshire action throughout Britain in an all-out strike to put an end to lan MacGregor's threats to accelerate pit Closures
MacGregor's latest 0 as. discussed al the joint management-union Coal Industry National Consultative Committee on Tuesday, would mean 20 pits closing in the next year. They would reduce coal output to 100 million tonnes, a fall in capacity of four to five million tonnes annually.
The action by Yorkshire comes wies MacGregor is under attack from an all-party Committee report which points out that financial
save pits
YORKSHIRE MINERS AREA executive has called an all-out strike by its 56,000 members next Monday
stop pit closures. Over 14,000 from South Yorkshire struck on Tuesday, closing all 15 of the area's pits, in the latest protest against coal industry closures. This follows the National Coal Board's latest move to shut down Yorkshire Main colliery
Miners walked out of the pit last Friday to protest against methods of recording the amount of work done. Management were later allowed back in for emergency maintenance to prevent the build-up
after reversing their original
losses escalated MacGregor's first period as NCB chair.
By Carol Turner
The government will need to find f290 million fund the industry's deact during the coins financial year. This almost 50 percent up the amount originally allocated, ana represent: 25 per cent of all additiona tinance reguired by the government The CONCEICHE pushing hard for even more drastic pit closures The latest plans are further confirmation of Arthur Scargill's claim of hit-list of for closure, which he made last year. Despite frequent
All out to
Yorkshire miners' president Jack Taylor calls on the national executive to take all-out action
official denials, each new move MacGregor and the NCB points in this
Speaking after the Yorkshire executive's
meeting, Jack Taylor said he would asking Thursday's tional executive to take all out action, and for support from other unions.
Crushed between growing unemployment and the
OL COSUIC MacGregor line, the miners must take
their protect wages and save their jobs.
has led the way. The na-
must call all-out national action now. to reverse Dit closure decisions.
← Socialist Action No. 47, 2 March 1984Socialist Action No. 49, 16 March 1984 →