Socialist Action No. 58, 18 May 1984

Socialist Action (IMG / Socialist League) · 18 May 1984 · 12 pages, 15,333 words read by machine

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

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Page 1 scan of this page

Ravenscraig Wivenhoe Nottingham

No. 58

THE

AS THE MINERS stand to the fore in defence of jobs and trade union rights they have brought down on their heads the fury of the government, the police and the media.

Hostility from such quarters is only to be expected. The history of our movement shows that it can expect nothing but spleen and violence from the establishment when it dares to stand up for the rights of working people.

But when trade union leaders join in with the strike breakers that is an entirely different matter. And let there be no mistake about it: Eric Hammond of the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union (EETPU) has drawn the knife and stabbed the miners in the back.

His statement that: 'We in this union are not prepared to use our strength to bring down an elected government' is a reassurance to Thatcher that he intends to keep the power stations running to help her break the strike. The ISTC leaders have not been quite as brutally frank as Mr Hammond, but their actions over using scab coal in the steel plants have been of more use to the Coal Board than they have to the miners. Meanwhile, with a nod and a wink from some ISTC leaders, crane vocaluls at

SoCiAList

ACTION

Unity can...

STOP

SCABS

British Steel Hunterston

unloaded a giant coal ship last

Friday. As a result it seems like-

ly that TGWU dockers will

come out on strike in support

These people are firmly in

the camp of the Tory govern-

ment, and like the branch of-

ficials in the Nottingham NUM

who are encouraging and lead-

ing their members across the

picket lines they are on the

wrong side of the divide in the

labour movement. Their ac-

tions can only weaken the

strike, and produce divisions

and splits inside the trade

unions. This is why those

unions who support the miners

must now step up their actions

in reply to the likes of Ham-

mond.

The rail unions must make

sure not one ounce of scab coal

is allowed to run the transport

of coal on the roads and at the

docks must be stopped by the

TGWU. Every trade

leader and member who wants

to defend the unions against

Thatcher and her allies in the

leadership of the EETU and

the ISTC must rally behind the

miners. Solidarity strikes,

on the picket line and huge

financial donations are what is

It is the duty of the trade

union left to make sure that

they get the solidarity they need

as they fight to defend the unity

of the trade union movement.

union

aid

INSIDE • ERNEST MANDEL on the Common Market -pages 6 and 7

NEC - page 10 • JON BLOOMFIELD, regular writer for Marxism

view with Tony Benn two weeks ago - page 9

to 5 • Labour women's conference - page 11

ORICAL PECKE

• JOAN MAYNARD MP on the last meeting of the

Today, continues the debate provoked by the inter-

• Miners strike news, events and analysis - pages 2

Page 2 scan of this page

THATCHER'S LONG

Socialist Action 18 May 1984 IN THE TENTH WEEK of the miners' strike, two things are clear: that the NUM remains determined to win, and that the strike is fuelling an upsurge in the class struggle more widespread than anything since the steel workers' defeat in 1981.

In rail, cals, in the employers and the government are facing growing opposition. determined than ever to pursue their fight.

Last week the changing situation was illustrated by the huge success of the teachers' one-day strike, by victory for the Longbridge workers and he trike at nd ASLER decision to call for and the NUR action on pay

Combined with the local government election results - most notably the Liverpool victory, which prepares the way for a real fight with the Tories on rate capping and abolition

there is no doubt that Thatcher faces a long hot summer.

real situation the NUM was also neatly lustrated the end of last week. At Manton

the South Yorks coalfield, a back-to-work call by media-inspired scab was decisively crushed. While at Ramsgate, Kent, pickets charged with obstruction were urged by wives to reject a bail condition prohibiting parțicipation on picket lines in any

part of the country. They hat hay wil ge ore thys have said,

ignore this attempt to ground them.

The fact of the matter is that miners are more determined

united than at the beginn-

ing of the dispute. Then. it

seemed possible that

South Wales and Scotland

vould face deep division

over the strike. Now Nott:

the main area

Tesslace and even

here, between 10-12,000 of

the 29,000 Notts miners

are out, with an increasing

number of strikers taking

part in pickets.

Nipped

In the mining COll-

munities, a remarkable

feature of the dispute has

been the involvement

not in the tradi-

tional role of staffing the

kitchens, but

building demonstrations

speaking at meetings, and

picketing. The slogan

Greenham wolici

everywhere' understates

the case.

The active participa-

tion of women huge

1s a

strength for the strike.

nipped in the bud

Ilas media efforts exploit

the position of women to

SOW alvisions. Scargill's

call for women to join the

picket lines should also be

the signal for the strike

committees to fully in-

tegrate women in running

the dispute.

That the tenth week of

the strike should see the

miners more united and

determined is

remarkable achievement.

The Tories clearly set their

sights on dividing and

isolating the strikers. The

reverse has happened. It is

the scabs who are isolated.

And support in the wider

movement is growing.

Only 10 per cent of

coal trains are running.

Support committees are

blossoming.

the miners

there are no musionis

how long this strike will

last. Rank and file miners

are already talking about a

public sector, the

And in the mines, strikers are more

tough Christmas. In one strike headquarters visited, the picketing rota was for 1984-85.

with 1972 and 74 are no longe relevant. In '72 the strike lasted from 9 January to 28 February weeks. In 74 for about a month.

In both these disputes the miners were able to swim with the tide. The battle of Saltley was the best example of that. This

five years of LIne dILCI Thatcher, they face task of turning the tide.

This has begun to hap-

en. But is has only begun

Victory is possible, but by no means guaranteed.

By Pat Hickey

The Tories

prePared los streete

for massive deployment police and the 2,500 arrests since the dispute began demonstrates that. So does the strategic planning which has mauc power stations less vulnerable.

Inside the labour movement the situation has also changed. The conflict at Ravenscraig shows the bitter fruits of the steel workers' defeat the contrast with the

40,000-strong strike by Birmingham 1972 could hardly be greater.

Even the unity of the miners is much less than in those years. But the fact remains that the militancy

and determination of the

is slowly turning the tide.

The miners alone will

not defeat the Tories.

Even they, the end,

could be starved back to

work. There are enough

scab: drivers, scab ports

and enough police to keep

the power stations going.

And the level state

repression is steadily being

stepped up.

It cannot be said too

often that the miners are

fighting for all of us. They

not left to tight

alone. The 9 May udy 01

action in Scotland was a

step in the right direction.

Such days of action need

to be built in every area.

The British TUC must

now be forcea to acl. to

declare its full support for

the NUM and name the

day for a general strike

with the promise of fur-

ther action. The example

of ASLEF levying all

members 50p week

should be taken up in

every union. And other

trade unionists must join

the miners on the picket

lines.

The impasse at the steel

works and in Nottingham-

shire other trade unionists show Lali be broken if

their support. The NUM

can. play big role in

achieving this if the leader-

ship clearly campaigns for

such focusses for the rest

one no movercal

build round. Solidarity is the key to

victory. The fight for that

solidarity is vital now.

WOMENS SUPPORT GRIMETHER

All photos: GM COOKSON

OH ARTHUR NOT WHẤT THEY DO. FOR THEY KNO FORGIVE T

Out till victory

'BEFORE I BEGIN, I want to make a special request that no miners should stay in Notts beyond August this year.' So said Arthur Scargill in a clear hint to miners assembled from all over Britain that they should stay on in Nottingham after Monday's Mansfield demonstration.

The speech reaffirmed the determination of the NUM to star out until the strike was won. Up to 45,000

people attended demonstration and rally

Mansnield • on . Mon day, overwhelmingly miners and women from the mining communities throughout Britain.

The mood was deter mined. The miners are well aware that the stakes

not the 20 pits WelC claimed McGregor, but 70 to 100. The

was the largest ever held by the NUM

pressive mobilisation

Many miners had come prepared to stay

Page 3 scan of this page

HOT SUMMER

over in Notts to keep up the pressure on those still

work. Scargill pointed out, it was the supply of coal from Notts that was prolonging the dispute

CEGB had only eight stocks. weeks Nonetheless, the strike could won without Notts.

Women

The NUM was not going suluchuct. In the coalfields the support for the strike

MAJOR STEPS have been taken in South Nottinghamshire in the past week to organise striking miners, coordinate solidarity, and take the dispute into the labour movement. At an open meeting organised by Not-. tingham Trades Council and attended by 100 people. a strike mittee composed of the trade union executive and representatives from South Notts pits was set up.

Before this, there had been little communication between striking miners in the area. except through the Voits miners' rank and strengthening, evidenced by the Satur day demonstration in Barnsley organised by Women Against Pit Closures. Scargill pointed out, the women were oilie march, blaying. their part on the picket lines.

Scargill again appealed to Notts miners to support the strike. They too were in the firing line: south Notts north Derby faced cuts of 50 per cent in the

plans, north de.

Notts and Yorkshire cuts of 20 to 25 per cent.

Notts strikers organise

file strike committee, based in the northern part of

the coalfield, where the

Jeft has traditionalv been better organised.

This step offers a real

into to Sothe spote

the South tinghamshire labour

movement. Local Labour

Parties nave been In lne

forefront of organising

solidaritv. and most par-

ties are now collecting the

Getting similar

action in local industry will

be tougher, but it still is a

priority.

Last Thursday the

county held the post

goup Some o held their in Mansfield.

Some women turned

up They organised

hanspo! io une barnsle.

demonstration and

The main burden of his speech

Was nine strike would continue: November or December we will win. You have a leadership prepared to lead, not a leadership whose only interest is a seat in the House of Lords. I pledge that this leadership will not accept pit closures. The leadership will lead until we win.

From the response to this message, it was clear that the membership was equally terentined Maggie's long hot summer has just beoun.

discussed picketing and fundraising.

With the cooperation of the local AUEW the Nottinghamshire Trades Coure mis is une main COLLIC This main reception and distribution centre for money and food to the strikers. ducing material for the

At present the centre is staffed 9am until 5pm. by local volunteers one of the south Notts strike committees. Donations (made out to 'Notts Miners Forum') should be sent to ine Nots NUm Strike Centre, 218 Mansfield Not. tingham. phone 0602

'We're out till

we win' says

Notts miner

SOUTH NOTTS miners

lines.

file miners

blems.

'We need a strike committee in south Notts, and at last we nave got one. Al first we had big problems because we had never done this before. At Cotgrave a

of men came out

decided to go back to lob-

their mates OUL.

'Trouble was that there Was other way! I did a one-man lobbying the

picket as a protest against wrongtul arrest. Now W C have a hardcore of 80 or SU. Some of the people think that they should protect the branch and work. But we put the national union first.

'The NCB and the press try to make out that things are nearly normal in Notts, except for the Yorkshire coming down. But the Notts lads aie also pickeullig. There's about 10 to 12,000 men out here. The NCB is brib ing people to stay in. At

down by LUI ave 20,000 tonnes, but the bonus is only down from £55 to £45.

'At some pits where bonus was only £8/9

609626. Help is urgently needed.

MACK'S

AXE

have had difficulties organising the strike in their part of the coalfield. There are fewer of them on strike, and a high proportion of the branch officials are working. As a result, they have been cut off from all branch resources, and their leaders are crossing the picket

At Pye Hill the branch officials threatened to take the union to court to stop funds going to the strike. The strikers are therefore mainly rank and

have not had much previous organising experience. PAT HICKEY spoke to JIM ROBINSON from Cotgrave Colliery about the pro-

week it's now £30/40.

During the overtime ban when maintenance had to be done on Mondays men were sent home without pay. Now they pay them to sit in the canteen. They also let them off early to avoid the pickets. 'But the strikers out.

We 11U W organised much better.

We have the strike com mittee and the Trades Council has up a support committee. It's late in the day aller nine weeks. We are the frontline troops. ror seven weeks there was not one soup kitchen in the We've lost £1500 in di ca wages so far. The rest of the movement now has to make sacrifices. We need money and food. We need to coordinate our activity.

Some people are talking about Spencer unions. 'There will be n c Spencer unions in Notts.

We've got 7000 flying pickets. We need money for them as well to keep. them on the road. We're having a big effect. Coal GOWn and falling. We're out till we win.

NUM

in Mansfield

An Eyewitness Report POLICE violence erupted at the end of Monday's Mansfield demonstration when local cops tried to arrest a couple of miners waiting for their coaches to leave. Immediately, scores of Special Patrol Group vans were in the car park, reinforced by six mounted police.

One group of police ran past us shouting 'at last there's some action' The understandable

regular police intimida-

Socialist Action 18 May 1984 3

aMiners'

Strike

Police violence

tion on picket lines was released The police tactics were o surround and beat to the ground the growing group of miners and supporters. Many people were unable to get to their coaches for fear attack wielding police.

One Wa. beaten unconscious and Hially by police horses driven straight at them. , it wa obvious the police were taking out their growing frustration on miners who had just taken part the massive, well-organised and peaceful demonstration that day

Page 4 scan of this page

Socialist Action 18 May 1984

Scotland

TENS of thousands

people took

r in Scotland's day

action in support of

miners last week, rith big demonstrabons in five centres aroughout Scotland. Bene, rated in Cracople Over 15,000

marching from Blythswood square Glasgow Green to hear Scottish miners' leader MiGahey appeal to the

Scottish labour mole movement to support the

and stop scab lortaking coal fav cusclale after coach loads of pickets had been arrested on their way there carlier that morning.

Br Our Labour Correspondenl

The Fire Brigades Union was 100 per cent solid for day. They

out for 24 after Strathclyde's Labour controlled regional council

dock their телене. LO pay if they struck. They arrived at the demonstration headlines itself last week. Print workers on the Daily

reply to a scurrilous front page article ridiculing Scargill.

resign, the paper's London edition failed to appear

front page 'statement' on the affair. What on earth was going on?

Since Larry Lamb took over as editor of the Express the paper has chang:

ed. Gone is the boring old conservative (In CVCIy

sense) Express. In came the strident Sun-style populist anti-union

hvsteria.

3y Davy Jones

The miners' strike was

a godsend for Lamb. Since

it štarted there have been a against the NUM and Ars stream of sanders

especially.

TAUT scargul

Professor Eysenck was

w neeco colivare

Siargill with Hitler for ex-

ample.

The print workers in

ine troress nad been

:hreatening to take action

against this bias when last

week's mock Scargill

speech ('The truth that

Sargill dare not tell') ap-

peared. The сору was

typed and prooted but

Big support for 9 May

amid cheers in full uniform.

So too, health workers In uniform were warmly sne beso rete al

best response of railway came TONI workers. Practically the whole of west scotiand's a lelwork grouna loc Wednesday hall 101 May.

The Glasgow Dail Record, one of Scotland's biggest circulation papers, didn't appear UnC

after Scottish SOGAT's demand that their statement in support of the strike appear on the front page was turned GOWIl.

Over 1000 teachers were estimated to be out for a nalt day, closing many local schools. And Scott Lithgow were out, together with Clydesbridge steel workers and Wills Tobacco workers, most of whom are women.

But support was not

Delegates from all Lolal. the main ship yards were on the demonstration, but Govern and Yarrow men didat COlIC out

VICTORY TO THE MINERS

Right of reply rocks 'Express'

In the next few days the editor threatened to

one day and the proprietor, Lord Matthews, made a

signed 'under protest' by

SOGAT The

pilulels.

union chapel and union

senoet. Bill Keys, then

began to negotiate for a

right of reply.

Larry Lamb refused

but knuckled under when

Lord Matthews overruled

him. in today's jingo-

bingo circulation war the

prospect of losing millions

of copies concentrates the

mind wonderfully and

puts 'principles

editorial freedom into

perspective.

Twist

Lamb is no fool

however. Knowing that

journalists on the Express

are not exactly radical he

appealed to them about

econa acoenaclce

from either 'threats' from

Bill Keys or proprietorial

interference from Lord

Matthews. Lonhro and the

despite the fact that they are holding regular levies in support of une mine workers.

There can be no doubt that the Scottish TUC's yards didn't stop work,

Edinburgh rally

OVER 7000 workers marched through Edinburgh last Wednesday in support of the miners on the Scottish day of action.

This was one of the largest denosi doiI Edinburgh in recent times.

Leroy noe liaı 1000 miners and their families.

Despite the much-publicised row over coal supplies to Ravenscraig, the demonstration was attended by a delegation of steelworkers and thousands of worker from industry and the public services.

The strongest contingents were from engineering, transport and

LONGANNE

POWER STATION

Sün

Members of all The Sun

production chapels refused

Sam's to handle the

Arthur Scargill picture and major neadline on our lead story. The Sun has decided, reluctantly, to print the paper without either.

Printworkers refused to print

the Sun's 'Mine Fuehrer'

picture of Scargill last Monday

Observer case were men-

tioned.

When the NUJ chapel

voted not to handle the

copy 'under threat', even

though they recognised the

right of reply as being

jegulllalc. Lamb im-

mediately abandoned the

I Mav London edition.

The Northern edition had

a blank centrespread with

a note blaming the jour-

for the non-

appearance of any centre

SLUI Y Since then events have

4. taken a bizarre twist. Hav-

ing agreed a right of reply

Scargill, Lord Mat-

Inews then insisted on vet-

ting the content! When

day of action has been a big success. It is an example followed throughout Britain, to ensure à successful conclu-

whole labour movement. ine neailn service. At the beginning of the

demonstration miners from other workers of their ex- Lothian told perience when buses and CalE were turned back when attempting to picket coal supplies to Ravenscraig

The Scottish police have started the same tacties that are being used by the police in Nottinghamshire. Eric Clarke, Scottish NUM secretary, told the rally of the police threat to coact LILLN 'advising' them not to hire out their coaches to the NUM He appealed to steelworkers not to accept scab coal and to other workers to help in the strike and support the picket lines.

Scargill compared the role of the Express with Goebbels' lie-machine Matthews refused to let it go in

Nothing could

'his paper . better illustrate who are the real censors and the real threats to the freedom

of the press.

í ne coooe en fect of the whole affair has

been to publicise the no-

tion of a right of reply for victims of media bias and to show that media workers themselves can be

allies in trying to combat

distortion.

Clique

It is because the media

are dominated bv the cil-

que of. Lord Matthews,

Rupert Murdoch and the

like that they so

unreorescutalivc of the

population as a whole, and

are so anti-union. That is

why organisations like the

Campaign for Press and

Broadcasting Freedom are

so important in helping to

bring together media

workers and people

wronged by the media to

challenge its bias and

ORSLOTEON

You can contact the

Campaign fo1 Press and

Broadcasting Freedom at 9

Poland Street, London

W1. 01-437 2795.

A DETERMINED and swelling column of over 3000 marched through St Helens in Lancashire last Saturday led by the Bold colliery band and 250 miner's kids carrying placards proclaiming 'sack Maggie, not daddie!'

There were solid contingents from the Lancashire pits, backed Northumberland 'Zulus' (flying pickets). A sea of red nanters Drocenc support from Labour Parties, Wives Support Groups, wood Peace camp alle there was a Labour Party campaign bus.

By Paul Atkin

Speakers at the rally included Derek Hatton from Liverpool Council who called for the unity in struggle of the council and the neva Coombes from

Keva the threatened Merseyside Met County said they would not rations the police operations: chief constable is going ofi on a frolic of his own, we won't pay , he said

Bev Potter spoke for women from the mining areas «CObIs the

FRED Bilocerhowicz from Agecroft colliery is one of the very small number of miners on strike at the pit. He's been out since week one, and told us about the situation here.

THERE IS an age gap at Agecroft, 45 Ane men are 4 Por oeni. of

For over.

To me the feeling at the pit is that the young lads are taking it off the older

They're hanging on ulcl. for their redundancy.

It's a bribe to get them out, like British Steel and the dock workers. More

Than10ofemen un

for early retirement three or four months.

Mass picketing will be

needed to shut Agecroft

NOt TUSI we want

the whole of the trade

movement out to

IEOI

shut it down.

Lancs miners rally

government for cutting social security by f15 for strikers. She said they were trying to starve the miners back to work, but 'they didn't count on the women organising'.

Dennis Skinner appealed for a long term view. 'It there's too much coal, let's have retirement at 55 and a 35 hour week' , he said. He appealed to COULILY authorities: 'Don't pay a penny piece for Thatcher's political army, let her pay herself. This strike isn't about ballots, it's not about heavy picketing, it's about them and us.

Peter Heathfield, stressing this was already the longest national dispute since 1926, said

"Macuregor has said 20,000 jobs and 20 pits are

but he claims his door is always open. It's not his door I'm worried about, it's his

Other speakers includ ed leaders of the LanCarradine era Harry

from the Seamen's Union, and Tony Mulhearn from

Liverpool Council

At the rally we spoke to some of the miners and

DENISE Harrison, Bold miners' wives action group

WE'RE trying to get col money. All money is being lections TOC( and turned into TOOOR OIner wise we get the social on our backs.

We're supplying all miners and their wives

with a food parcel. We've also set up a plav group to. the young children so that

the wives can get involved in supporting the strike.

Up to now we're get-

ting quite a lot of support, for Wee weeken ore

for two weeks.

mainly trying to do the

same as the men have been

doing. But we're doing it

for the women

There are 40 to 50 of us

involved. And we' re pro

ducing a mass leaflet and

weekly broadsheet of what

we're doing to go to every

wife and girlfriend.

News

WUHiICI from the mining communities about the dispute.

Miners'

Support

Committee

Bristol c/o TGWU, Transport

Victoria S

Tel: 0272 293001 ex 5:

Manchester c/o FTAT, 37 Anson Rd Victoria Park, Manchester

Preston c/o jonm rarkinson, raei Union Centre, St Mary's St North, Preston

Huddersfield c/o Friendly and Trade Club, Northumberland St, Huddersfield

Vauxhall c/o Joan Twelves/Gre

lucker. Alverstone Hs Kennington Park Estate, London SE11

Southall c/o 14 Featherstone Rd, Southall, Londor

Birmingham

c/o Trade Union

Rescource Centre,

Frederick St, Hockley.

Ealing

c/o West London Trade

Union Club, 33 Actor

High St, London W3.

Medway

c/o Vince Drongin. Med-

wav Towns Trades Union

nunei canoaca

Chatham, Kent

Bury

964 Brian Marden, 061-764

Oxford

c/o Claimants Union,

Princes St, Oxford

If your local support committee is noi incluaea nere i means we have no address for it. Send it in!

Page 5 scan of this page

An NUM women's movement

News

is born

THE ROOF of Barnsley Civie Hall nearly came off last Saturday when thousands of miners wives rose to their feet to pay tribute to the NUM. 'Here we go, here we go, here we go' and Arthur Scargill, Arthur Scargill, we'll support you ever more , they sang at the top of their voices.

historic occasion. Contingents of women from every area of the NUM Wales, Kent, Scotland and Nottingham — had piled off coaches to march through Barnsley.

A women's movement that started with Not- VlIC demonsulalloll tingham has mushroomed into of the most

Colle powerful weapons on the side of the miners. Ten thousand marched. thirds were women. The miners marches Dentre

Two women from Nottingham. Annette and Doreen, took the stage after Jack Taylor at the lunchtime rally. There was a particularly warm reception for their news that since they had begun to organise days ago, miners wives from all over Notts were phoning up to ask how they could help.

all Notts

NOT WOMICI were backing

said. But the AMICILE sooner they realised they had to unite and back the union fight the better Doreen agreed. 'We'd rather eat grass than give She coMa hardy Finish for to Maggie Thatcher' the cheers.

Maureen Douglass of Doncaster was explicitly

'Although I've feminist. spoken before in support of the NUM. I can honestly say that it gives me the greatest pleasure of all to speak here at this rally.

Because it is a unique rally • It's unique decause

MOLES

EYE

VIEW

Don't ery

for Keith

DON'T SHED any tears

for Tory MP

Hampson who had his

Gay

Theatre in Soho. All Mr

Hese tine's former aide

got his comeup-

The poor lad got fit-

ted up by a plain clothes

copper. Now

miners on the picket line, Greenham and lots

black people, as well

thousands of gays, will

know the feeling. Time

after time they have

come across pies OUl of

uniform pretending to be

human beings; oniy discover had been framed professionai

puretaitus.

At Scotland Yard

and other police stations.

As many speakers pointed out it was a truly

Yorkshire. Durham. South

with their own banners

shows the great strength of the organisation of women and how powerful women can be

She gave special greetings to the women rom areas where the strike wasn't solid. because their job was more difficult, and said that women's actions in this strike are deal-

blow to the allulilc! idea inal нете simply wives and mothers.

By Valerie Coultas

And she made a CUltroversial insupo ihe 'Please don't the womel vou see nere. who suppor

wholeheartedly by shouting crude and insulting remarks to other women on the streets. All women must be regarded as equals. A lot of women and all they get are the lies

media. job must be to dispell the illusions they government and show them what we're fighting for'. The pattern of

involvement in the labour Novelicil the lads in blue happily boast another about their achievements in logging up false convictions - looks good on their record sheet. Mr

Hampson has no grumbles on that score. Along with his Tory mates at Westminster he has extolled the role of our 'much maligned' police. The pleas of their innocent victims met hisgcon-

When the dog bites

dama.

PUNCTUATED by loud cheering and clapping, ARTHUR SCARGILL told the Barnsley rally:

This demo is actually making history because it is revealing a new phenomenon, something which has not been witnessed before. No longer are the media able to go to a mining village to get a woman to speak out against the strike Our women are not just helping the men in the kitchen - they're

with the men on the picket lines ... I'Il tell you why this lot came from the BBC and ITV today. This novettell SO powerful • they just can't ignore it any longer. The women in our community are on

the march.

'AT LAST I FEEL like we've

the feelings of the

against the BL management at Longbridge.

4,100 to 4,300 cars per week.

Decisive strike actior by the 700, mainly TGWU

worker was sulo ported throughout the Diall. Production of all cars and engines built at Longbridge came complete standstill.

supplies going into plant and stopped engines for the new Montego go. ing out to BL'sr Cowles plant. Fven the East Works, which is notorious for its unwillingness take strike action, came out.

The trim track workers unalimnous. return to work on Wednesday 9 May. The management completely climbed down. It was agreed that any increases track speeds to step up production, would done by taking on new labour.

A PIECE

1 am totally opposed to

any collaboration with

the Tory Government

What about

COLL

NOT

NLE

got a union here again'. This was how one shop steward summed up

victorious British Leyland, Longbridge workers. They have taken an important step forward in reorganising their trade unions

Seven hundred Metro trim track workers had been on strike for a week after the management had attempted to force up productivity. This was in anticipation of an increase in Metro production from

Most stewards regard this as the most successful strike at Longonage four or five years. Bitterness and frustration are now turning into the will to re-organise the shop floor. New stewards are being elected in areas that not so long ago had no union representatives.

By Grant Keir

The Shop Stewards are sure that the management will be back with another attas of this st, the suaof this strike boosted confidence and is much needed victory after a sertes or dereals over the past few years.

Sales of the Metro are running high and the new Acciaim, Maestro and Montego engines are being OF ACTION THE

Are we talking politics or are we talking literary criticism? What new realism?

'This is a unique rally because it shows the great strength of the organisation of women' built in Longbridge. This is the background to the workforce beginning to flex its muscles again. Despite the savaging Longbridge suffered under Edwardes, the trade unons dre suu maladi doc capable of being effective. As the build up to the renegotiation of the two-year wage deal gets into swing over the summer months, successes such these can only bulld the confidence of the workforce. The fighting spirit is returning. to Longbridge. As one shop steward put it: 'For the past eight weeks, the miners have been showing us now it's got to be done' This connection was not lost on the 7oo strikers who gave generously to a mineřs' collection

It would be foolish to

all BL workers' problems are over. However, what this strike represents is a turn-

vote-losers!

Socialist Action

AL

OLE

Longbridge victory!

Wing point. For the past five years, BL workers have suffered nothing but defeats at the hands of the management and trade Dureaucas The united action of the workforce has, in this case, stopped the management forcing through another productivity increase. Upon this important start, the shop

The new realism require. that we abandon al these out dated policies anci-ahem'- principles They're nothing but

But.

18 May 1984 5

WIVES MALIVICTO

CO

NOT

DOLE

stewards' movement can be rebuilt in Longbridge. which can take on and beat both the management and the trade union bureaucrats. This the task facing union militants in BL This strike proves this to be a realistic possibility rather than a pipedream of the left Such chances must not be wasted

° CORMA 5184 #E

... surely certain recent election resultswould, indicate that the reverse is true!

In reality..

The new (realism also 1 requires that we ignore 1 reality!

Page 6 scan of this page

COMMON MARKET -T

WHY DO the European capitalists need the Common Market? In this article, Belgian Marxist economist ERNEST MANDEL argues that in order to face the challenge of American and Japanese capitalism, the European posses need to club logether to co-ordinate both finance and industrial production.

But, argues Mandel, the attempt at European integration — which has the objective trend towards a European 'super-state' has come up against the limitations of the existing nation state which acts as a barrier to political integration.

Moreover, while all the European capitalists have some interests in common, there are crucial areas such as agriculture where their interests clash. Therefore, for the time being at least, the countries of the Common Market will continue to fight one another, but try to keep their market afloat. "There is no honour amongst thieves, but they stick together'.

SINCE the onset of the twentieth century, the productive forces developed by capitalism periodically rebelled against nation-state, as well as against the private ownership of the means of production. Twice, tional ruling class has sought to resolve this conflict in a violent way, through the world wars of 1914 and 1939. The objective purpose of these wars was to try to create room for one dominant imperialist power (Britain,

or the US) to unite under its sway a much broader sphere than that of the market represented

nation-state, a unified domain in which capital could be invested and

draw profits unhindered.

These two attempts failed. The European Economic (EEC) set up in 1958 after the sign-

ing of the Treaty of Rome is the

first

bourgeoisie in Europe to achieve

the same end without wars, essen-

tially by collaboration on the basis

of negotiations.

This historic cause of this change in

method is the growth in the sector of

the world wrested away from capitalist

domination in the aftermath of the se-

cond world war. The antagonism bet-

ween the capitalist countries and the

'communist' states became too deep,

the risk of additional vital parts of the

giobe falling ot tne sonere

:apitalist domination too great, to per-

mit new interimperialist

imperialist competition

operate but within what has proved to

że a lasting alliance against all the non-

capitalist forces throughout the world.

However, the

ween the extent of development of the

productive forces and the

realm of each imperialist power is more

acute than ever.

6 Socialist Action

have the

the interna-

Germany

by any

KohlCommunity

the imperialist Common Market. It was,

La general tendency. capitalisin survives,

tinents.

JaDalicoc

market including

Within of create a common market wals Inter- Canada and Mexico continues of Karl "superimperialism'

contradiction bet-

'national' petition with all the others.

What can no longer be

18 May 1984

Lorraine steelworkers march against unemployment

•West German Chancellor settled by war must be resolved if not by consensus, at least by constant bargaining. This led to the attempt to build the only a first experiment in the context of NO COVCH

As long as this experimentanon may be extended to olier con-

imperialism, unable to hold onto its East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere' (that is, its new colonial empire) after the second world war, is now seeking to create a kind of common

South Korea and Taiwan, or even the ASEAN countries.

American imperialism. some

groups aim — at least historically - to

embracing new

This in no way means the realisation

Kautskv's nightmare of organising the world market peacefully. To the conmarkets would be designed essentially one of these 'common the for trade warfare, for sharpened com-

In the longer run, they would prepare the way for a war against the workers' states to

CONTRE IES reconquer the space that capitalism has lost in these countries.

All inal sucn common mean is an attempt to make a group of bourgeois states into a basis for inter-

competition, rather than each one of them continuing to try to compete on its own.

Interests

The main obstacle to carrying out such schemes is social and political in character (and ideological, What a common market really means is a new federation of old states, that is, a

'supranational' federal However, the bourgeois state is not just a means for upholding the economic interests of a ruling class. It is also an instrument of social and political power, a means for upholding and reproducing

domination of capital over worked.

In order for the bourgeois state to play this role effectively, simple repression is not sufficient. It is necessary to get the exploited to accept the generai

framework of their exploitation as legitimate.

For this purpose, in normal times. the 'national bourgeois state and the legitimacy of the institutions of bourgeois democrac play an essential role. To replace these institutions with European ones takes time, a lot of time. There is a marked desynchronisation between the tempo of the internationalisation of the productive forces, the emergence of supranational institutions of the European Common Market type, and the rate at markets as well).

state.

the

political level

NON AU

rather,

CHOMAGE elements:

sway.

onic coulill y

are only

surplus value. tradition of the

avert

protection

which broad popular layers are coming to identify with these institutions.

The bourgeoisie is not ready to give up a relatively effective instrument of power in exchange for a new one that has yet to be tested. This is the main reason for the slowness in setting up the machinery of European unity on the

there are other factors.

There is not only the desynchronisation between economics and politics. There is also a desynchronisation between the trend toward internanonalisalon the productive forces and the organisational forms of capital, of the capitalist firms themselves. member country of the Common Market, as in the US and Japan, the bourgeoisie is not homogeneous. . It takes the form,

of a conglomerate of four

• Multinational corporations producing surplus value in several countries. These are more and more predominant. But this is a relatively recent develop-

They nowhere hold absolute

• National trusts (monopolies) producing surplus value still essentially in

• Small and medium-sized monopoly corporations. While these

junior partners of the monopolies, they still control a not unimportant part of the production of

They dominate at the two ends of the industrial chain, in the technologically backward sectors, and in the advanced technology sector. In the latter sector, where the risks remain

the monopolies commit themselves only after the little people have blazed the trail, and often lost their scalps in the process. • The nationalised sector, the top levels of which are being integrated into the bourgeoisie, if they were not recruited from it at the start.

Of these four components, only the multinationals have everything to gain economically and nothing to lose from the emergence of supranational states

sector of the bourgeoisie OLLICI runs the risk of losing the benefits of

and subsidies They are hesitating to enter into the stepped-up competition that flows inevitably from the widening of the market

Since this risk is compounded by the political and social risk that the ruling class as a whole has to run, including the multinationals, and since the rela-

[GIL UIL CISL"

UNTF

Page 7 scan of this page

HE BOSSES' CLUB

Education not bombs

ionship of forces bourgeoisie is constantly vithout of the four ponents being able to bring the others to heel, this Cotl homogeneity winin ine bourgeoisie is another major obstacle o making the qualitative leap forward to economic and political integration of Europe.

When the capitalist economy is expanding, every partner in a capitalist business can get a part of the cake. The came is true for every faction of a 'naional' bourgeoisie. every all bourgeois enterprise.

Of course, even in a period of ex-

ELLIBICDECA

ORATORI MONOPOLIT

within each

changing gain more than others.

Coolis European

of the Common

La prolonged depression. became fierce.

'international'

small and medium for mall the

phase of crisis and challenges.

Survived

Market would peared, as a lot

Bills.

obstructing

all sharpening world market. market, the

Many powers taken separately.

not led to its breakup,

pansion competition continues. Some

some grow stronger at the expense of others. But in general everything is rosy for all of this charming society as long as capitalist property prevails. Thus, the golden age

Market was its first decade, 1958-1968. The period 1968-73 represented the period of transition.

When the economic crisis erupted, and especially when it took the form of

For many capitalist firms, the crisis has posed the question of life or death. They face bankruptcy. This applies both to the multinationals and the 'national' trusts, as well as the

business. 'Every himself' is more and more rule. What for capitalist firms also goes for 'national' bourgeois classes and their states. This is why for the Common Market the long economic depression means a long

If the simple correlation between depression and stepped-up competition were all there was to it, the Common

have already disapof people in fact predicted it would. But it has survived. even if it has become prey to numerous

While the crisis is sharpening the competition within Europe and thereby

Ine pursull of European economic integration, it is also above

competition on the the world And on American and Japanese multinationals can rely on states and 'economic spheres of operation' with a far greater weight than that represented

European imperialist

For all these reasons, the impact of the crisis on the Common Market has

to its disapand simple. The reult

intermediary stage between a mere free-

BILDUNChine BOMBEN,

trade zone and a new supranational tederal state

To understand the reasons why the Common Market has become 'blocked' halfway on the road to real economic and political integration of capitalist Europe, the analysis has to be carried further. We have to look at the nature of the changes that have taken place within the European bourgeoisies over the past quarter of a century.

In the sphere of finance capital, there has been genuine success. Substantial progress has been made in integrating the banking systems of the Six (and to a lesser extent, the The financial market has been peanised, as evidenced by the role of Luxembourg as a centre for

BE AND SURINE

CAMPAIGN D

FOR

18 MAMENT # LEAR

European loans. The market for EuroDollars has lost all 'national' character.

'Common' opposition

and Japanese finance capital has increased, with the Swiss and Canadians occupying an intermediate position.

On the military level, integration has made spectacular advances. is no longer any 'national' arms in dustry, except for small arms. the production of airplanes, tanks and artillery has been internationalised in Europe. There are no longer any essentially German', 'Italian' heavy weapons. All such arms Ten). are produced in common. In a nutshell, Euro- this is a drastic change by comparison

with the situation in 1939 and 1945, to issuing say nothing of 1914.

been a ment Market

more anu more Today on the interests represents outlet.

pay the bill.

dustries

American

DCI EEC.

There

That is. Market would

catastrophe.

up French' Or

changed.

French President Mitterrand

In the sphere of industry, there has

very widespread disappointThe hope that the Common would sumulate lein terpenetration of capital, giving rise to

firms like Dunlop.

Pirelli and FIAT-Citröen, has to a large extent failed to materialise. Some new firms of this type have emerged, such a Phillips-Grundig recently. But this is far from being the predominant trend

Moreover, there are also as many examples of associations between European firms and American or Japanese multinationals as between 'European' firms themselves.

As regards so-called North-South relations, the EEC has emerged as a neo-colonialist force (the Lome Ac cords, Lebanon, etc).

Finally, in the field of agriculture, integration has run into a total impasse. Nowhere has a North American type agribusiness emerged, with a sphere of activity (production) extending across the territory of several 'national' states. European capitalist agriculture remains confined to relatively small surfaces, even if landholding continues to become more concentrated.

Competition

the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) no longer looks like a transitional institution geared to opening up the way for real concentration in capitalist agriculture. It seems rather to have become a durable system serving to protect an uncompetitive agriculture

world market. quence, it has become the Achilles Hell of European capitalist integration, the occasion of a succession of crises.

Now all the conflicting forces in the picture have to be labelled as tional', 'sectoral' or "political' special

In the case of West German imperialism, over the past 25 years capital accumulation has become much more dependent on foreign The share of exports in the Gross National Product has grown from 15 to 33 per

And the Common Market West Germany's main Therefore, it is determined to maintain it at any cost and is ready to

It is the main source of financing for the EEC which in reality has become a disguised form of sub. sidising West Germany's big export in-

Likewise, the Benelux countries and talv have seen the importance of the Common Market grow greatly as the main outlet for their exports. Some 70

cent of Benelux exports go to the

Since they are much less competitive than the West German ones or 'third markets', they cherish the EEC as the apple of their eye. For these countries, the collapse of the Common

be a real economic

The pressure of the crisis, stepped.

the rise of protec tionism and sectoral contlicts are still operating. They will continue to weigh on any new advance in European in-

Thus, the fundamental features of the situation have in no way

Socialist Action 18 May 1984 7

Page 8 scan of this page

8 Socialist Action IN A SPEECH last Wednesday Reagan made a savage attack on Nicaragua and appealed for more financial aid to the El Salvador regime from the Senate Reagan's appeal coincided with the results of the rerun of Salvador viously cashing in on the apparent victory of the 'moderate' candidate Duarte, who had been backed by the United States.

In fact, Duarte's elecioral victory was not near• as accisive as commentators had expected.

gave Duarte Haresuis 56 per cent of the vote, and his ultra-right wing oppo-

Roberto son 44 per cent of the vote.

D AUDUISSOn, reknowned

of Salvador's

Header right wing death squads, produced at a press conference evidence ot large. scale US funding of the

D'Aubuisson's largerthan-expected vote was a result of the huge political swing to the right among the Salvadorean middle classes, petrified by the military victories oi ine revolutionary forces of the FMLN. On the other

'Moslem

Salvation of Libya.

Front is in fact reponsible for the attack.

The day before the at-

tack in Tripoli, a former

Libyan diplomat, Ahmed

was kill-

Jorahim Ehwass

ed in a gun fight on the

Libyan- I Unisial border.

Ehwass was a leading

member of the National

Front, and had been

four days

London lust

the shooting.

Ehwass's shooting and the

battle in Tripoli were ob-

viously connected.

Ehwass altO another

leading member of the Na-

Youssef

"0aI

Magarieff, were recently

Washington State

Department officials have

been denying meetings

with either of the two men

It is now quite clear

hat there is an exile force,

which the National public face,

• ront ıc rae

nich is seeking to over-

crow the Qadhafi regime,

precise political cracter of this group but their public tements of Western-siyle

18 May 1984

Central America

Reagan

escalates

war plans

night, Ronald

which he duly got.

presidential election; he was ob-

hand, since voting in El Salvador is compulsory, a large number of workers and peasants will have voted for Duarte, who while a supporter of the dictatorship at least is not the organiser of the death squads.

The sending of more military aid at precisely the time that Duarte has won the elections is symbolic.

In the run-up to the election Duarte made much of his promise open dialogue with the left wing opposition, the FDR-FMLN. But Keagan ana the US administration nave ollie plans During his last term as presiden Duarte bresidea over one of the most intense periods of activity by

The Tripoli killings

THE SHOOT-OUT which occurred in the Libyan capital Tripoli last Tuesday has been attributed by the Libyan authorities to the Islamic fundamentalist

Brotherhood'. But the attack has been claimed by the anti-Qadhafi National Front for the

While there is considerable evidence that the Moslem Brotherhood is active in Libya, it seems much more likely that the National

democracy, albeit with 'a firm Islamic foundation': network is exile based in Western Europe, and particularly in Britain.

Whether it enjoys the active support ot Western governments cannot proved either way; nol appear have encountered major problems organising their antiWesha fi activities from the

By Paul Lawson

And the fact that Ehwass was days before his death uSL on the Tunisian border is at least an indication that the attack in Tripoli might even have been planned in Britain. great surprise to those with would hardly be just a passing knowledge ine CIA and other Western security agencies if it were indeed confirmed

the death squads and a major escalation of the war. No one expects him to behave any differently this time around.

The main thrust of Reagan's Wednesday

speech Nicaragua. Reagan claimed that since 1979 the Sandinistas had carried out a 'reign of terror including the killing of Miskito Indians, persecution of Jews and Roman Catholics, burning of crops and churches and subversion neighbouring states.

ADVOIC with the slightest familiarity of the real situation in Nicaragua knows these accusations to be pure flights of fantasy Reagan's conclusion could

have been more explici: lel us snow lilat we want no hostile Communist colonies here in the Americas: South, Central

North'. effect, Reagan was spelling out that the United States in tends to bring down the Sandinista government ir Nicaragua. that the campaign against

Qadhafi by the National Front enjoys the active support of Western government agencies

I National Front has

the valua rront

seized the opportunity

provided by the Peoples

Bureau siege

dramatically grasp the political intiative by stag-

ing a shoot out in the cen-

tre of as a first

step towards gaining more

Western aid tor their cam-

paign, and de-stabilising

Qadhafi's government.

Socialists should be in

no doubt about ine real

character of the Qadhati

regime. It is a tightly con-

trolled military

ship with an Arab na-

tionalist ideology. The

paraphenalia of 'people's

committees' is a front for

Qadhafi's power.

attempts

by imperialist-backed

overthrow

Qadhafi will do nothing to

aid the Libyan workers

on the contrary they will

only deliver them to their

worst enemies.

Socialists should de-

fend Libya's right to self-

determination. And that

means ooposing ine state-

backed terrorism'

US British-backed

anti-Qadhafi groups.

Salvadorean soldiers fight on with US dollars

The continued military conflict on the Nicaraguan

was vividly shown DOTCCI by last week's shooting down of a helicopter over Nicaraguan territory by Sandinista troops, killing eight people. The Hon duran government claimed the helicopter as one of its

whereas FSLN sources helicopter had painted on its tail! 'US Army commander HH JILY

1101)'. It is not con-

ested that the helicopte

came from Tiger Island of the Honduran Coast. where the US has

Whether anyone in the helicopter was fact American not known. One possiblity is that the helicopter was taking part

Ullali nounced round of exer-

on the NicaraguanCISCS

Libyan leader Qadhafi

organisations,

Honduran border. campaign against Nicaragua suffered a maior propaganda blow last week when the World ruled COUl that the United States should stop any attempt to mine blockade Nicaragua's ports.

By a vote of 14-1 the Court also ruled that Nicaragua's political independence 'should be ful respected and ShOuld not be jeopardised by 1 any paramilitary millary or activities'.

Although the World Court has no powers to impose its juagements, is authority is derived from

who sit on the court pane have to be ratified by both the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.

Labour Move-

ment Conference

on Palestine

Saturday 19 May County Hall, London with Palestinian trade union speakers Delegates from trade union/labour movement

22 per cielegate at the door.

Observers welcome Organised D: PSC/L.MCP

Soviets torpedo

the 'Corporate

Games'

VERY FEW people will take seriously the handwringing sorrow of Ronald Reagan and friends over the Soviet Union 'playing politics' by pulling out of the Los Angeles Olympics. When the United States, strongly backed by Margaret Thatcher, attempted to wreck the Moscow Olympies over the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, they opened up the Los Angeles games to retaliation. every one of the Soviet Union's accusations are true.

Take for example the commercialism of the

Line olympics die

being sponsored by thirty LaOH corporations.

Mars Inc. (manufacturers of what helps you to work, rest and play) viding which enables their best-selling US bar ('Snickers") to be the 'official snack of the Games.

By Phil Hearse

The official food supplier is — you've guessed it

MacDonald's. Coca-

Cola is the official Olym

VICS drink and Anheuser

Busch IS providing

Olympic beer. Privatisalion keagan and I natcher

style is getting a free reign

in Los Angeles

Or take the anti-Soviet Whether the

Soviet athletes were

physical danger is hardly

the point. The Olympic:

were being used as the oc-

casion for a huge anti

Soviet propaganda. .cam-

paign,

Last European exile

groups, leading

members of the US

Senate.

In any case, just why

should the Soviet Union

go to advertise the Uniter

multinationals

when Reagan is waging his OLalC

and

building up his anti-Soviet

war the world

over? Only believers in the

'Olympic

iraudureli

spirit of alleged interna-

tional understanding and

cooperation can believe

that the Soviet action is a

big disappointment.

Today the Olympic are in reality

nothing to do with interna-

tional cooperation but on-

International

they must have known that

And the truth of the matter is that virtually

ly international competi tion and national selfaggrandisement. The number of medals won by each competing country I infinitely more important than the spirit of Olympic

Rick :Gruneau, writing In lne Ven Socialist, explains that while the present da! Olympics are open to only

small elite of highly trained athletes, between the wars 'Workers' Olym. pIcs were organised. Sport was considered integral, part of workers' and revolutionary movement. While Hitler was staging hi 'Nazi' Olympics in Berlir

1936, the 'Workers' Olympics' held Barcelona. Gruneau

of DOll Out. numbers of spectators competitors, culture and sometimes even sporting records, the Barcelona

surpassed the ficial Olympics

In 1924 150,000 people attended the Workers' Olympics in Hamburg. Which involven over 4 waich involved OVC million people by 1930 was to organise sport on a basis which broke from national chauvinism, commercialism and the obses sion with stars and records.

The modern Olympic:

of course will never break with these things, but emBoHe them to tne nth degree. Which is why thi

decision and its allies to pull out of the imperialist Olympiad in Los

Angeles will annoy and embarrass only the likes of Ronaid Reagan, not those

who really embrace inter.

understanding and solidarity the

and workers'

movement the world over.

Page 9 scan of this page

Surplus Value

CONTINUING the debate 'Labour's alliance for socialism, we this week follow up the interview with Tony Benn, and the contribution from Peter Hain, with an article by Jon Bloomfield, a well-known member of the Communist Party.

THERE IS no running away from the crisis facing the British left. 9 June was an electoral disaster and the Stafford and Surrey by-elections warn against over-confident predictions of electoral recovery. The organised labour movement faces great difficulties. Further there is a crisis of socialism itself and what is commonly understood by it.

How is the labour and democratic movement reponding to this crisis? The gut reaction of the centre-right is to head for the centre ground, shy away from controversial policies awkward class conflict. response of the mainstream lett is different. From this firstly there is a clear recognition of the gravity of the defeat. Secondly, there is agreement on the great danger presented by a second term of Thatcherite rule and that the movement's energy tions must be channeled against this main threat. unity within the labour movement and increased campaigning among the people to popular opposition to government policies.

Thirdly, successful campaigning will require the left to address new issues of the 1980s and to promote a clearer, more relevant vision future socialist and democratic Britain. As the recent Communist Party congress put it: 'The starting point must be the definition of the main enemy and identification of the combination of forces necessary to defeat

That main enemy is the government Developing class and democratic struggles, uniting the labour movement seeking out allies in a broad anti-Tory fight is the way forward...'

Similar

That approach creates the condi-

tions for the return of a Labour government. The extent to which that

would be a left government of a new

type will depend upon the success and

popular impact of the left over the

next few years.

What are the points of agreement

with Tony Benn here! (Socialist Ac-

tion, 4 May). The most welcome point

of agreement is on the priority given

to mass campaigning

among the people, with

with the miners as the immediate task.

This forms the most crucial common

bond across the left. Further, the sup-

port for the elected Labour leadership

symbolises a desire for unity to enable

the most effective campaigning

proceed.

But there are substantial dif-

terences. some or wnich nave come

out more clearly in Benn's other post-

election interviews. As this is a debate

there's no point in fudging them.

The Next Stage In British

Politics

The critical point at issue is over

the next stage in British politics. In-

creasingly, Benn argues that the way

forward now is for Labour to present

itself as an 'explicitly socialist alter-

native'. "Ine real answer

found next time round ... in organis-

ing a real socialist campaign' (SA, 13

January). The view that the answer to

Thatcherism is instant socialism

on and duck

The

quarter,

election

and atten-

This requires

arouse Tory mass,

and well as the Trotskyist left.

Firstly, 1959, or a bil

and struggle

solidarity quires a socialist answer.

to

sider

the revealing interview

all is well at the grass-roots.

Delegates at the 35th Congress of the Communist Party of Great Britain also advocated by Eric Heffer (see Marxism Today December 1983) as

It is based on three assumptions.

that at the grassroots the movement is healthy, confident and socialist. The left is 'very strong' and 'deeply entrenched'. Secondly, that historically the Labour Party has been a socialist party which has been blown off course by revisionist leaders since

earlier, DuR WAUSE socialist essence is undiminished and has now been reaffirmed. And thirdly, that the deep capitalist crisis re-

It is these assumptions and assessments that are most sharply contested by the broad left and the Marxists within it. Firstly, Benn in contrast to Peter Hain, refuses to face up to the reality of the present low level of socialist consciousness. Labour election result is still described as 'amazing' when to most of us it was catastrophic. He refuses to con-

Labour's long-term electoral its decline or, for example, why the Sun has a circulation of four million (see

with Bea Campbell, City Limits 20 January) since serious answers to these ques tions would undermine the myth that

Secondly, the analysis is based on a myth about the past. Tony tells us that labour history is so important and he has countless references to refounding' and 'reconnecting with' the

Facing up to the

left's crisis

By Jon Bloomfield

Labour Party's socialist traditions. His picture of a socialist Labour Party which shifted rightwards some time after the war and in which Gaitskell represented 'the first stage of revisionism'. This is unsound historical judgement, with serious political consequences. Benn equates the profound Labourist character of trade union and working class support for the Labour Farty with socialism. A quick read of Miliband or, dare one whisper it, Hobsbawm, should dispel

Frightening

Thirdly, historical experience

should caution the left against extravagant claims that capitalist crisis

brings about socialist solutions.

didn't in the 1930s. And the left must oppose the frightening logic

Socialist Action's editorial (4 May)

which claimed that "hatcherism. Dy

very brutality accelerates devlopment of 'a socialist force ... in-

side the working class' (my emphasis).

As in the 1930s the crisis is deep but it

is reckless to present demands far in

advance of the masses. The vital issue

is to move the working class and its

allies from where they are now.

These and related points have

been made by Eric Hobsbawm in rep-

ly to the discussion on Labours 'lost

millions' (Marxism Today

1904). Il Is unfortunate that benn's

professed desire 'to open up

dialogue movement' seems Hobsbawm 'who isn't even a member of the Labour Hobsbawm shares McGahey, Bea Hall, Paul Foot and thousands of others. Are we all disqualified?

Or, sign of Benn's ridiculous attitude to Hobsbawm. The statements he purports to come from Eric in the interview are lust absurd.

Hobsbawm said that Labour 'could not have won sociological changes in the class structure of society'. It is also time to stop the anti-intellectual smears directed at Hobsbawm and others like 'high intellectual defeatists' (Morning Star, 3 October) and 'intellectual pessimists' (SA, 13 January). Our movement is meant to eradicate all prejudice, not to foster it.

The Future Character of the

the Labour Party

There is a key issue at stake in the debates with which Hobsbawm has been involved but its not around possible electoral arrangements with other parties. character of the Labour Party. Here there are two contrasting views on the left.

March has developed as a broad class and progressive front containing views from the the social-democratic

Socialist Action 18 May 1984 sable in the Party.

SOLICE

support stand by his

with

on alliances. or

Labour Party.

Strategy

the socialist exclude portance Party', fact with Mick Campbell, Stuart

perhaps, this is just another

Nowhere has is playing an

closures.

and other

influence

right.

To

The real issue is the future sober

The first recognises that Labour

right to the

revolutionary left. This has been the basis of its mass trade union affiliation and electoral support. The left must seek to shift the Labour Party in a socialist direction in a way and at a pace which retains these two crucial assets. That is the case that has been argued in the columns of Marxism Today and explains its appeal and at. traction to wide sections of the left.

Hain's call for a campaigning left independent of the leadership but not oppositional is the tactical expression of this strategic approach. The second view is one which strives for a socialist Labour Party now, irrespective of these considerations. In other words the broad church character is dispen.

battle for Labour to 'become a truly socialist party' (John Ross, SA 4 May, his emphasis). The imolications of this view presented most forcefully from the Trotskyist left are that the centre and right would have no place within a future Labour

Ouite where Benn stands in this debate is unclear. After the 1979 elec. tion he vigorously defended Labour's broad church. 'The Labour Party is a very broad party reflecting a wide range of opinions from left to right. This diversity of is a great

of strength and we mus vigorously resist any attempt that is made to drive the left or the right out the party' (Tribune 11 May'

in the interview for the Kinnock-Hattersley leadership and

parlamentalg colleagues 'right across the board' suggests he adheres to this view today.

In which case he must know that one can't meaningfully describe the present Labour Party as socialist or as one which will fight the next election on a socialist programme. Does Tony

"broad church' view of Labour, for if he does his agreement

Socialist Action timate as John Ross tries to make out.

Space precludes more than a word

The phrase is open le very different interpretations. Communists believe that alliances between

and forces are essential to the creation of a popular majority for progress. They are not primarily about making the women's

movements appendages peace or environmental of the

The CP has often been advised to

dissolve itself and join the Labour Party as individuals.

favour entrism. The Communist Par-

ty prefers to remain an independent

organisation with a clear strategy for

socialism; a commitment and ability

to organise class and popular struggle

- with the most extensive industrial

network on the left; a belief in the im-

of autonomous social

movements above all for women's

liberation and peace and journals

which present these politics to the

and democratic movement,

although this is hampered at present

by the attempted hijack of the Morn-

ing Star from the Communist Party.

This approach gives us a clear role

on the left without slipping into sec-

tarian hostility to Labour. Our party

part in the

development of the broadest struggles

against Thatcherism, most notably al

the moment in the fight against pit

We see tremendous oppor-

tunities for the left to develop new

levels of unity and militancy in this

campaigns and to inflict

defeats on the Thatcher government.

Mass struggle is the surest method

to isolate the government, reduce the

of Liberals/SDP and to

regain Labour's lost millions. It's a

strategy which if conducted correctly

win hegemony in the labour

movement, where it would be wrong

to ignore the strength of the centre-

reject the passivity and

defeatism of 'new realism' requires a

left approach able

millions of trade unionists and other

movements into struggle now. Unit!

in that task is crucial if we are 10

resume Labour's forward march.

• Jon Bloomfield is a regular con-

tributor to Marxism Today.

Page 10 scan of this page

The left now in charge

10 WHILE THE confrontation between Labour coun cils and the government grows, Manchester looks set to step into line with London, Sheffield and Liverpool. For the last few years a minority of Labour councillors have fought for the city party's policy of no cuts, no job losses. Twenty-nine of them have been excluded from the Labour Group by a right wing majority for persistently voting against cuts and rent increases. ice right have had a policy law', 'creative accounting'

cuts 'slowly and making while waiting for something anything! 10 turn up. Last year Clir

Suberol leader, expressed the hope

Manchester could avoid the Home Office hitlist by keeping its head down.

A pro-Labour swing in this month's tions took away a third of the Tory seats in the city,

shifted the balance among Labour councillors to the left. A slim majority SHOW supports city party policy.

Nazis

the poly.

The students

from the course.

Students breathed sigh of relief that one of Martin Webster's closest colleagues had been disposed of. But not so.

Last March, Harrington reappeared having 1o PL: Immediately the been

Immediately the pickets were on again

students from the Young Conser-

the Socialist Worker Student OrganisaLUll. and including staff and students from his

Muhamed Irish

Socialist Action 18 May 1984

Manchester City Council

The Labour Party national executive, last Wednesday. voted for a report by Eric Heffer to renstale the excluded councillors and for the Hieu Group follow party policy. This victory is only the start.

By Paul Atkin, Gorton Labour Party

Manchester 'corporation' is not popular. The town hall is a creaking, archaic institution with

ture of Borgia Palace. The city party's intention now

North London poly pickets

TWO YEARS ago students at the Polytechnic of Vorth London (PNL) were shocked to discover a top National Front organiser, Patrick Harrington, was studying for a history and philosophy degree at

responded by picketing Harrington's lectures, with the result that he disappeared

Apparently he'd left the poly. philosophy class.

Since then, Harrington has been prevented from attending any lectures. At times the pickets have been 150-strong.

By Jon Gorvett, PNL Labour Club

With the help of his NF cronies, Harrington has now taken against the pickets On 10 May, the judge

is to throw that town hall open to peopie mu struggle — to bring trade unionists,

VILU council committees and party poncy bust open management cli-

control over the council Labour Group by the party; and to deepen and organise the

's popular base. part

10eg transform the council from a duil. grey agency of the state into a focus for

As Councillor Graham Stringer put it: 'This is a victory for the whole labour movement - the doors are open for people to get involved — we want a lot of people to walk through those doors.'

This should be an example for Greater Manchesten council. current strategy fight abolition is lobbying local business interests, rather than mobilising the working class. declared inal anybody picketing Harrington ladie to immediate arrest. Harrington will have ponce escort next time he wants to enter PNL.

wesoile this, emergency general meeting of students on 11 May voted continue

Now there will be an attempt to

them with

Wales Ical possiblity.

Details available from the Student Union, PNL Holloway Road, London N1 (01-609 1212 If Harrington's action is successful, this will create Support the dangerous precedent

picket! Fight the National Front!

tested against Home

tion.

Muhamed is a social worker, active in the black and Asian communities. These activities are the real reason for his exclusion.

His defence campaign and NALGO, Muhamed's trade union, brought supporters from all over Britain for Wednesday's demonstration. At a rally County Hall, speakers en- Jubilee Gardens near cluded Jeremy Corbyn MP, NALGO's president John Daly, Avtar Jouhl of the Indian Workers' Association, and a speaker from the Afia Begum campaign

All condemned the hypocrisy of the racist immigration laws which let in LOla sued Muhamed's deportation.

While supporters were preparing for an all-night vigil before the High Court

SAVE YOUR СПЕАР PARES POLICY Councils must defend services

Idrish appeal delayed

ON WEDNESDAY 9 May over 1000 people pro-

Office efforts to deport Muhamed Idrish, who came to Britain in 1976 to study at Bristol University and subsequently married a Scottish woman. Within two weeks of them splitting up he was ordered before the Home Office adjudicator and eventually recommended for deporta-

hearing Thursday, came through that tinal appeal was delayed again, for at least

By Bob Smith, campaign treasurer

Insufficient time to

No Police Bill!

June

Jubilee Gardens

Association ete

JUB CABAT FARES POLICY study the documents was the reason given - but it's more likelv to be recent publicity about the excluof Afia Begum and the entry of Zola Budd which helping discredit the immigration laws The campaign still

needs your Keep the funds coming in to help us continue the fight.

• For more information, including a video, contact:

Barry Lovejoy, 30 Antrobus koad Handsworth, , Birmingham 21, or phone 061-523 8923. No Police State! National March on Saturday 19

Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park, march to

Speakers include NUM, Indian Workers'

Westminster

No Witch hunts

By Joan Maynard (MP for Sheffield Brightside)

THE working class struggles going on in Britain today are hav. ing a clear effect on the Labour Party leadership. The local government election results, espeically Liverpool's tremendous victory, definitely influenced the national executive's decision last Wednesday to support Liverpool city council's stand.

Those of us who've supported Liverpool all along, pointed out that any sign weakness from Labour would be disastrous. Although there were two amend-

the original resolution from the local goverment subcommittee, I believe they were face-savers those people who hadn't been laking a strong nic on Liverpool up to now.

They didn't dilute the resolution, they certainly didn't Heaker NEC is now supporting Liverpool's stand to protect jobs and services

This is no time to d otherwise of course. after the great election results and on the eve of Environment Secretary Jenkin's visit to the city. At the very least, our responsibility declare full support for Liverpool Labour coun cil After an hour and a half's debate that view carried the day

That wasn't the only gain from the meeting. Manchester was another.

After a running sore of a row on Manchester council, that's lasted for about two half years — between those abour councillors who want to follow group policy and who want to follow local party policy mended the councillors expelled trom the Labour Group reinstated and the group reconvene its annual

News

The view from

Defend Liverpool

Recently the 'old' group neu AGM without the expelled

We want the full group to elect new officers, and we want to see bridges built for a united Labour Group in. stead of a divided one

It will be interestin to see if our recommendations are accepted. But

behind these excluded councillors is that they have just been returned to oftice bi the people of Manchester on a party ticket of no cuts in services and no job losses. That's their greatest authority

The third victory a the national executive is

we're having another look at the Blackburn expulsions The Young Socialist rep

the NEC Steve Morgan, raised it as an

because 01 the antics of the accuser, Councillor Gregory.

Gregory has left the there are rumours hes Labour Group applying join the Liberals and threatening to stand against Labour in elections These haven't been contirmed yet, but the fact still re mains that he's left the gro We're going to make the party laughing stock - throwing peopl out on the word bloke who's not in the party. Eventually. the discussion was deferred till the next NEC by slim majority, but it will be rediscussed.

All these debates SnOW there's been distinct movement within the national executive The struggle going outside, particularly the miners reflected Wednesday's decisions

What we've got to do now is get a regular supp or money to tae mulles each week. so they're not forced to think about going back to work. That's why the levy is crucial.

Eventually that

will even reach be the people here in parliaKeep it going and well it providing

Page 11 scan of this page

Labour women demand power

Sexual Politics

LABOUR WOMEN in conference at Swansea over last weekend showed yet again the vital contribution they make to policy and debate in the party.

labour movement on a number of crucial issues both on policy for women and on questions of concern to all sections of the working class.

In the debate on employment, Elton, speaking for the POEU,

moved a resoldcalling for: 'a firm commitment to legislating for positive action for

The resolution wullicil. went on to suggest that the American experience should be used as a model.

The motion, seconded by AUEW-lADS. was passed overwhelmingly by conference. Only Militant supporters voted against, having argued lnial

action divisive

Barbara Switzer of TASS, replying the Militant's arguments said: •Women are not prepared to walt undi tne top coo monopolies are nationalised. Nor are we prepared to wait for the revolution.

We want action now!'

Teresa Conway, Islington NorIn delegate, took up the theme saying: *egislation is not enough, but it provides a focus for women to struggle

5 on exe question or

was the question black sections the Labour pm Vestminster Diane Abbot, TONI women's section, put the

most clear v against those arguing was divisive: very hypocritical of people who

Unions should

support WAC

ONE OF the resolutions aimed at giving the women's organisation more power in the party was moved by SUE NYFIELD on behalf of her union, FTAT. her speech.

My union, FTAT, is moving and supporting this composite because it contains one of the simplest

and most straightforward demands at this con-

ference. It is simply that the tatives on the NEC should be elected by women, so

that they can advance the interests

within the party

women's conference.

the constituencies, the trade unions, the YS, the

cooperative and

women's section. Each section except the women's

section is elected by their policy making body.

do the same? At the moment those women in thi

women's section of the NEC are not able to ad-

vance the interests and put the view of women, for

they are elected and accountable to

dominated trade unions at annual conference

who will only re-elect them if they advance their

male views.

Sisters, in the old

landlords used to cast votes on behalf of their

labourers, but then the Chartists demanded direct

SabOtters

decide who best could advance their interests. We

want a similar reform for women in the party.

women's section to be elected by women's con-

terence.

Labour League elected Margaret Bondfield to

represent the views of the women's conference on

the NEC.

fought these struggles before.

ourselves that we — the younger ones at this cond.

- are the first to think of them.

have regressed since then, we want an end to men

electing women on our behalf.

On Saturday conference gave a lead to the whole

have not been bothered all-white Cullference and all-white constituencies for years and years to start saying we're for separatism weve got de JacIO separatism already'

adopted overwhelmingly, retendous despite a recommendation Irom te platorin Lilal be remitted for further consu lauon.

By Jude Woodward

The Militant voted against, this time in clear alliance rightwing in the conference -pattern that 10S De repeated time and again through the course of the weekend.

The debate on Ireland, brought forward to Satur«Her floor, was the enthusiastic of the day. A resolution calling for action against strip searches in Armagh carried.

Militant's resolution for the establishment of the British Labour Party in the North of Ireland was overwhelmingly rejected, showing conference agreed with Vera McChlone, Cardiff Here we print part of The NEC has five different sections within it,

socialist societies, and

Why can't women elect their representatives to

the male-

days rich and powerful

these ves

There is nothing new in our demand for the

Between 1906 and 1918 the Women's

Our struggles aren't new, our sisters have all

We musn't kid

But we

delegate, when she said: 'We want less British involvement in the North of Ireland, not more'.

Mandv Moore replied to the debate for the platOOIl that the problems of Ireland could not be resolved by ting the British Labour Party across the Irish Sea.

sunday s debale was dominated by the debate • Wonels orcallsallull. following a 250-strong fringe the

Women's Action O1l Saturday But before reaching this debate, CUllference confirmed its sup. DOIL •tOI unilateralism; gave wholehearted support to the miners' strike, and overwhelmingly adopted resolution against Wile AUs and calling for the reinstate.

of the six expelled Blackburn members.

Organisation

WAC's demands were all the afternoon clearly passed, as were a SCIO or amendments to standing orders democratising many conference procedures.

Militant again allied with the right in tryinters, but were de cated. ing to defeat WAC on all counts. Women's proach to women organisation Was for 'parity with the YS', in

Eve w LOSU dynamic section of the Labour Partv'. But only THE FAMILY is alive and kicking and doing very well thank you in the Soviet Union today. This new book by two western feminists, Moscow Women, contains thirteen interviews all carried out unofficially. Is is a sad indictment of Soviet society.

The interviews were done in 1978, but the fundamental issues they raised in each interview reflect the contradictions of a society that started out on a new road, and came to sudden halt.

Women have equality - it is written into the constitution oti Soviet society. Both the state, and individual women explain that there is no need or womens movemen because they have the vole. childcare. All these training, gains

are present and visible

But the trap of 'tradi tional' women's jobs remains, especially for teachers and doctors. These are the service industries. The extended family role performed by women, and the fact that

family remains the strong bastion of women's oppression, means these jobs are seen as less important. and women's work' and are lower paid.

Women give a lead to the labour movement

their own 30-odd votes were registered in support of this demand

On conference floor the absolute majority delegates were clear supporters and the WAC slate swept the board in the elections TOT next year's Conference Arrangements

The left ma.

COLLeC jority on the CAC this year contributed greatly to the democratic functioning of conference, and ensured that women got what they wanted on the agenda

Moscow women

But to the heart of the matter — the Soviet fami-

who has wollar given birth to 10 children

the title 'Heroic still nas Mother'! And the concepi of motherhood, of caring for children, is overpowering.

Reviewed by Steph Grant

It's very complicated because the birthrate in the Soviet Union falling, and the officials are concerned. All the women interviewed explain that ine) wanted children, but couldn't more kids it would

going out to work as well as run ning the incomes don't stretch that far.

At the same time woman's right to control her own DO•V mockery. Women can ex nect to have an average 01

abortions in their lifetime - It is use as d form of contraception. There is so much mistrust of the pill, women confuse it with Thalidomide, while other forms of contraception al c completely unreliable.

All this reinforces women's role in the nome șo it is all the more worrying when Anna, one of the women, explains: 'There are almost no differences left. Except in the home

rather than other priorities being imposed.

The one major weakness the conference lay in the debate on Europe Unfortunately no resolutions put to con ference called explicitly for

British withdrawal from the EEC, indicating a fur ther drift away from this policy across the entire spectrum of opinion in the party.

But continuing doubts about une and the possibility of turning this

The women interviewed all thought that their nusband s Joo was more important, that women were peter working with young children, that the division or housenold tasks was fair — men do

washing ur and maintenance, women do the cooking, washing, ironing and queueing for food. Queueing for food is

Socialist Action 18 May 1984 situation around were revealed more than from the the protest from NUPE delega tion that banners at conference did not mention and focussed on the Euro elecLIONS Many successful fringe meetings were held, over 70 women heard Chris McAuley, of the Sinn Fein women's department he Labour Committee or Ireland meeting and a hundred plus packed into a

Moscow Women

MOSCOW

WOMEN

Thirteen Interviews by

CAROLA HANSSON

AND KARINLIDEN

With an introduction by Gail Warshotsky Lapidus

ALLISON & BUSBY

an occupation in itself and

especially for women who WU K

Queueing is a visible exposure of the complete bureaucratic mismanagethe economy. For all the reasons the women touch on, , the family acts as the buffer to all this.

11 crowded NAC meeting

All in all conference showed that, as at Newcas tle in 1982, the women's organsar remains s lat most radical and most dynamic section of the party

Neil Kinnock will have a tough job on his hands if he remains determined in his opposition to women's demands in the party. Women are sure to be in the forefront of the fight to prevent him leading the party to the right.

By Carola Hansson and Karin Lider published by Allison & Busby, £3.9

It's a vicious circle, because the contradictions of the family and the values it represents find their way back into the workforce where women have achieved 'equality' - and so Lyuba explains: 'It's not becaus I'm a woman but because I'm a mother that I'm discriminated against' As far as the outside world i concerned, 'Fathers don't have children'!

The women interviewed are conscious of all these contradictions that bear down heavily on their lives. Their responses to it are varied. Natasha puts it bluntly: No laws strong enough to penetrate the family'. Meanwhile the Soviet bureaucracy refuses to acknowledge the position of women in society: 'Officially, there are women's problems here'.

But the overwhelming Impression t mn lelt with Is one of admiration for these women Lter silent in suffering, caught in a cruel time warp, carry mistakes enteri mistakes made Stalinism.

But it's a sign of strength that women can speak so powerfully. That is a power Soviet , womer do have today, but which must be supported by the collective strength of an autonomous women's

SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL

Page 12 scan of this page

CND'S CAMPAIGN for the 9 June demonstration to coincide with the visit of Ronald Reagan to the London economic summit has got into full swing with the printing of one million leaflets. that such a demonstration is chieftain of US militarism was vividly demonstrated last week during Reagan's speech to the American people on Central America

Sandinistas Nicaragua were a hioody dictator. ship', which among other things had apparently been persecuting Jews and Catholics. whelming majority of the Nicaraguan population who are Catholics and support the Sandinistas are going to find it dif-

work out how they're being persecuted, as are the Catholic priests who alc in the FSLN government!

Neither is there any evidence the smal Jewish population has sufehatever. Reagan's flights fered oi lantasy reached CVCH greater proportions when he accused the Cubans of 'harbouring the people who children with drugs'. Precisely who these people are, or why or how the Cubans 'harbour them no one knows.

Reagan's rantings

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SOCiAList

ACTION

March

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The fact needed against the

amount to indiscriminate mud-slinging against the OI the US in Central America, wiln ine hope that some of the mud will stick. The ground is Dellig prepared for deepening US military involvement in the region, with the specific aim overthrowing the Sandinista government.

The war-mongering of the Reagan regime in Central America is something wnich soula De or col cern to all supporters of CND. 'The Us nuclear battle plans, in particular the new war-fighting doctrine

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called AirLand Battle, are designed to fight nuclear wars not lust on the european continent but also in the third world.

Ronald Reagan's nuclear escalation against the Soviet Union, designed precisely to mise States overall military. superiorty, and hence its military freedom of action worldwide. Thus the overall US military escalation is closely tied to United States ag gression in the thrid world. 9 June will be a major opportunity to demonstrate against the leader of the government which has set the pace ir the new arms race. All our readers should now be making SUIC that their CND and YCND branches, their labour movement bodies are organising transport and preparing for massive

March against Reagan

9 June Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park March to Trafalgar Square

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Give us

Public Meeting

Evict cruise not the

peace camp

Speakers include Joan Ruddock, Cecil Gutzmore (Campaign against Police Bill),

Bob Clay MP, Greenham Camp, Kent

miners' wives.

Thursday 31 May, 7.30pm Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Ave;

Demonstrate against apartheid PW Botha not welcome

There Saturday 2 June

Assemble 11.45am Speakers Corner March to Downing St and Whitehall to Jubilee

Gardens Organsied by Anti-Apartheid

money and

save cash!

and education

tional executive of the

he says: to have an education.' hie arcas

— less rates, less overheads.

istence of our paper.

get the cash rolling from now.

June

Fighting for jobs

BERNARD REGAN is a member of the na-

National Union of Teachers. Speaking on the union pay claim

'Mass meetings on 9 May voted overwhelmingly against management's offer of four and a half per cent and voted for further

'Many of the meetings were addressed by striking miners. Roger Godfrey of the Kent NUM spoke at a mass rally of London teachers where over £1000 was donated by inner-London teachers to the miners' strike fund. Even rural areas like Devon had guest miners speaking at their rallies.

"Further three-day strikes are now planned in the next three weeks. Myself, I think we need indefinite strike action in selected areas. This could prepare the way for joint national action with civil servants and other public sector unions with claims

"Eventually we will almost certainly need a national strike and a united campaign with these other unions because that's the best way we can

"The Rates Bill now going through parliament threatens 60,000 teachers' jobs. We are not just fighting for better wages, but we are fighting for our jobs and the right of millions of young people THE SEARCH FOR new premises is on the way. Now start looking out for the details of money we are collecting and the targets we will be setting for

Come on now, give us a start with your first payments, and we don't care whether it's a cheque, a banker's order, or a grubby old fiver stuck in an envelope. We know that it's a bit novel asking for money to save money. But remember your cash will move your paper into a cheaper building

If we get there then we are off back to 16 pages, whilst staying where we are, threatens the very ex-

So adopt the slogan, every bit of cash you send, yours or any other supporter's, saves money! Let's