Socialist Challenge No. 105, 19 July 1979
The scan: sc-n105-jul-19-1979.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
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Socialist Challenge ANGER MOUNTS
State repression • NAC demonstrators arrested by police
• Anti-Muzorewa demonstrators arrested
Photo: LARRY HERMAN
by police
• Trade Unionists will be next
• Unite against the Tories
No. 105 19 July 1979 15p AN EFFIGY of London's police boss David MeNee was burnt by demonstrators in the middle of Sloane Square last Sunday. This was the culmination of three days of cultural/ political events to reaise money for the political prisoners of Southall and demand an end to the police cover-up on Blair Peach. For four hours last Sunday the Royal Court theatre reverberated to the anger of witnesses from Southall, playwrights, singers, musicians and socialists. At the end a giant 14ft of McNee was effigy... was lowered onto the stage. It was decided that since the events being depicted had started on the streets, that's where they should end. The audience carried the effigy out onto the streets and burnt it to cinders. When the police and fire brigade arrived the Metropolitan Police Chief was nowhere to be seen.
DEFEND THE SOUTHALL PRISONERS/NO COVER-UP
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Red alert for a slump
Against state racism, for
OUR POLICIES
Capitalism is in crisis. of the labour Party and the trade unions offer solutions that are in the interests not of the workers hut of the capitalist class.
Socialist Challenge believes that the Iwo vital tasks contronting revolutionary socialists are:
• To build broad-based class struggle tendencies in opposition
class-collaborationism labour movement. These should he non-exclusive grouping together militants holding a wide range nf political views.
To begin to fight unified creation democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can, an application of united front
heein to he beel as all alternative by thousands workers engaged in struggles.
buch en orpanisaton should be pasce on une understandig tal.
The struggle for seeks 10 unite the fight of against the with that of other oppressed layers of socief! — women, black people, gays struggling for liberation. This socialism can only be achieved by creating new organs Or power ano deteanne witn necessary means the power of the capitalist state. 2 Our socialism will
infinitely more democratic I than what exists in Britain loda!, rights political parties and currents that do not take up arms against the socialist stare. The Stalinist models of socialism' in the USSR and hasiern rurope have discredited socialism in the exes of millions of
We are opposed to them and will oner run support fighting for socialist democracy,
The interests of workers and
on a world scale. Capitalism has not only created market. has created politics. Thus we fight for working class unity on an international scale. Ihis unity will in the long run he decisive in defeating both the imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in latin america. Africa and Asia.
immediate withdrawal f
immediate withdrawal British troops from Ireland letting the Irish people determine their own future.
The Communist parties in Europe are in crisis. the 'Eurocommunist the pro-Moscow wings have any
overthrow of the capitalist state. we'w revolutionar, sociatist parties are more necessary before. Conditions more lavourable than over the preceding three decades. But such parties can onlv be rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracs not as a luxuri but as a vital necessity. This means the right to organise factions and tendencies.
If you agret with these principles and want lo he involved activities be Socialist Chalienge supporters in pour area, till in the
• I am interested in information about activities in my
•I would like additional literature and enclose 50p to cover costs. (Delete it not applicable)
Name...
Address.
send lo socialise Challenge. 328:4 I pper so, london Nl.
Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 2
EDITORIAL in the
characler. which
1974-75.
According for the
and
throuch
before the oil price increases.
of
socialism
bosses
interest rates -new serious recession in
their
over the past year.
The
world.
all those
By Davy Jones
world
world
over the country
•Paul Holborrow,
solid achievements of
anti-fascist forces in the country. The ANL, Holborrow,
and
vigilance against Tories were going
inflation to 20 Neither
nor could not ignore them.
the most persistent theme. than ever
by sion.
the branches
in
Dearden, Anti Nazi League.
Martin pointed
more
escalated since 'But', he said,
children
children have
Labour was in
Sue Dearden
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street. London N1 2XQ. JIMMY CARTER's new energy and economic policies announced in the United States on Sunday were merely a tiny indication of what is happening in the world economy today. The capitalist world is rapidly heading into a slump
will be even deeper than the one of
the official version, this recession is due to the Arab oil price increases. But this is simply propaganda. It was revealed at the Tokyo economic summit last month that the world economy was moving into a recession long
The American economy, by far the largest in the world, is actually predicted to decline in output in the next year. Inflation in the United States is already well into double figures.
The economy of West Germany, another of the decisive capitalist powers, is showing exactly the same picture. The inflation rate there has doubled in the past year, and West Germany's Central Bank has moved to sharply increase
- helping to push the economy to a 1980. In France, unemployment has increased by 18.5 per cent
The effects of this international slump on the British economy are already begining to be felt. Manufacturing output this summer is already
ANL conference
THERE were nearly 300 delegates from Anti Nazi League branches all
at the League's conference in Londón on Saturday.
from the steering committee, spoke about the
the ANL and explained its strength being based on the fact that it was a coalition of all
according 10 had still to maintain the Nazis. The to push unemployment to two million and
per cent. Thus the conditions in which fascism thrives would continue to exist and the ANL
There were 82 motions before the conference on various subjects — the Tory attacks on black people being
Some delegates expressed disquiet that most of these resolutions had not been composited in order to permit a more meaningful and constructive discus-
As it turned out, there were few differences at the conference itself and the steering committee accepted over four-fifths of the motions from
In some ways the two most useful contributions came from Ian Martin, secretary of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, and from Sue
secretary of the Oldham
out that the number of deportations had certainly alacrity
the Tory victory.
'some delegates have
expressed their horror at the detention
Harmondsworth detention centre prior to deportato Since the Tories came to power 49
allacks been deported.
However, in the same period when
Coalice. power prior to the election, 66 children were deported.'
explained how Oldham ANL had worked to defend Ali (174),
FIRST WORD+FIRST
rising rapidly towards two million.
credibility of the
black self-defence
1971
ACT
Abdul Azad. 'Some delegates,' she argued, 'have implied that the ANL is for some reason incapable of working within the black communities.
'In Oldham we involved the local Bengali population of the
with which we took up th Abdul Azad case.'
Jumerous delegates stressed th n the coming period it would b
multiply the measures taken by Oldham ANL in order to defend black people against the Tory
Conference elected a new steering
The following elected in order of votes received: Avtal Jouhar (196), Vishnu Sharma (193), Maurice Ludmer (185), Tariq
Paul Holborrow (170),
Editorial: 01-359 8180/9. Distribution/ Advertising: 01-359 8371. lower than last year and has been falling for three months in a row. By the end of the year inflation will be nearing 20 per cent and unemployment
The slump has started to undermine the
newly-elected Thatcher government. Hardly anybody, except the very THE Abdul Azad case was referred to many times at the ANL conference on Saturday. Here Azad is seen demonstrating on 7 July outside Risley Remand Centre in the North-west (6) Simon Meditch prain Denis Skinner (164), Harris (145), Ernie Roberts Audrey (118), Miriam Arthur Latham (113).
Views about the conference were mixed While most delegates pleased that the necessary resolutions ad been passed, there was a feell at with better preparation it mig have hee ace on phe state of the AL ie been possible
the localities.
The two speeches which were bes were and Amanda Leon. Sharma explained what defendants in Southall. being victimised by the courts and a
Rising
also confusion and demoralisation.
than she had wanted. recession will see to that.
Peter (137), Miria 11 jain in a ner
Karlin (117), 1 am
were the foyer outside.
support more
far Vishnu Sharma
with the Margaret They were be judged.
WORD+FIRST WORD+F
rich, anymore believes the story about Howe's budget making them better off. Even the opinion polls show the government's popularity sliding downhill. This opens an enormous opportunity to struggle against the government, but at the same time the economic crisis is a significant threat to the working class movement.
unemployment, falling living standards, continual slashing of the welfare state and basic rights can create not only struggle but
There is no doubt where the most decisive struggles of the next months will take place. Thatcher is being blown off course by the economic recession. From a tactical standpoint, she is being foreed into a far earlier direct confrontation with the working class movement
If Thatcher wins in these struggles, it will be a tremendous setback for the working class and oppressed. If she is defeated, the backbone of her government will begin to be broken.
The outcome of the class struggle in the next months will be decided by the fight against the Prior anti-union proposals, together with the battle to defend living standards, jobs, and social services, and the fight to defend other basic rights such as abortion. The world economic
campaign was vital. Amanda Leon insisted that the campaign to bring Blair Peach's murderers to justice was of vital importance. shocked,' she said, "that there are delegates to this conference who have been signing the appeal in As ANL members you should have been already campaigning to get broad public inquiry and disbanding the SPG The tasks facing the ANL in the coming period will, in some ways, be more difficult than in the past. It will be on its ability to organise mass
Margaretions hainst apole
Thatcher Willie Whitewash that the ANL will finally
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+ABORTION+ABORTION+ABORTI(
shoulder to shoulder
THE anti-Corrie march on Downing Street on Friday immediately after pro-abortionists heard the result of the Commons' vote. Inset: the police arrest two of the
HOME NE By Dodie Weppler 'IF YOU happen to be a spinster in your mid-fifties, suffer terminal disease and are the victim of multiple rape, and have been exposed to German measles, then you may just have a chance to obtain abortion if Tory MP John Corrie's anti-abortion Bill becomes law.'
That's how Mel Keed from the white-collar union ASTMS described the Bill when she spoke at a packed protest meeting in Central Westminster, last Friday Common's debate second reading was taking place.
Despite sweltering
several hundreds of us squeezed into the hall to express our anger at yet another attempt to curtan women's right to abortion. hundred were turned away when not another inch of floor space could be found.
Radio
Rose Knight, campaigner who had an hour's radio țime in London earlier in the week, made no bones about what Corrie is up to. On National Abortion Campaign, carefully explained the devastating effects of the Bill.
"Those who are behind the Corrie Bill are dishonest and liars, she said, "They say they just want to the Act. But let's be clear. If this gets onto the statute books. provided for in the 1967 Abortion Act will be repealed.'
Sheila Abdullah Liverpool asked the meeting: Corrie merely concerned tidying up the Act as he claims, then why doesn't he introduce legislation to ensure safe, early NHS abortions?
"If there are any abuses today, it is the great stress women are forced to bear for weeks on end until doctors, and not women themselves, decide what is best.
Mel Reed was the last speaker of the alternoon meeting, chaired by Reverend Tom Robinson from Liverpool. A round of applause greeted er's announcement the TUC has taken the decision . LO call for OIL demonstration on abortion.
Results
At 4.30pm, after the vote in the House of Commons, we filed outside to hear Labour MP Jo announce the results.
Cries of 'Shame' went up when we heard that only 98 votes were against this disastrous Bil: while 243 predominantly male MPs first step towards forcing thousands of us into the hands of backstreet abortionists.
It took only a few minutes for these dreaded, but expected, results to sink in. Spontaneously, we took to the streets to march on Downing Street in disgust. Bearing a huge papier maché Knitting needle and a five-foot model of a coathanger, we noisily chanted in defence of our rights to a receptive rush-hour crowd.
Police guarding the Downing Street were showered with scores of hangers when we arrived -a'symbol of the backstreet. militant mood, and two sisters from Haringey were arrested.
We decided to regroup, and march back to Caxton Hall evening rally was scheduled.
We'll be marching
against Corrie
an
Hall, as the
the Bill's
heat,
under
pro-choice
John behalf of the
she
"tidy up'
the measures
from 'If with
which was
that historic October of MPs who
interests.
Richardson Campbell-Savours
House: 'How can
cast abortion?' against the
took the socialism'.
backstreets.
Minster,
"individual
gates to
His vIews now Margaret Thatcher's.
It was a last Thursday support for Corrie's measures
where the clear
demonstrators. Top: the announcement the press overlooked.
There, Jeanne Saint told us about who the debate in Parliament. The handful
defended the 1967 Act included the former Health Minister, David Ennals; Jo Richardson, and Willie Hamilton. Other Labour MPs failed abysmally to defend women's
The member from Workington,
asked we be against hanging, against fox-hunting, and for
In his view, this would go very 'principles of As Jeanne Saint DUL IL *Following his logic, socialists should be in favour of women dying in the
Dr Gerard Vaughan, Tory Health explained the problems of Corrie's Bill at great length. It is badly worded; vague; other measures can be taken first; and so on. Then Vaughan concluded that abortion was a matter
conscience personally would be voting for the
coincide with She voted for the 1967 Act; abstained on all further effortsep curtail abortion rights, and
press-released her
action JCLDDCLLIVE emerged from the rally. Ann Cesek,
works for the General and Municipal Workers' Union, stressed in a personal capacity, that while the TUC's decision to call a demonstration in October was to be welcomed, it couldn't be left at that.
'We have to go away from here, united and committed to campaigning for a definite date from the TUC October is the day NAC favours -and then it'll be up to us to ensure that the march is the biggest yet.
As Toni Gortin from the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign put 'We're thinking of the scale of the
British embassy in the Hague.
from Portuguese and Amsterdam women.
GENERAL. SECRETAXY: LIOMEL TELEPHONE: 01-4036 0030 222ly 12, 197 anti-Industrial Relations Act mobilrules.
of the evening came from Mike Tait, who successfully resolution in his Transport Workers' union branch (TGWU/ACTS/1418) calling on his union's executive to join - 27 in the mobilising committee for the demonstration; to donate £20 to it and to ensure the union's sponsored MPs abide by Labour Party policy. it: up to take up the campaign. 'It has involved more interest and SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE MESSAGES of solidarity with women of this country are arriving in NAC offices from around the world. On Friday, to coincide with the Corrie Bill's second reading, Dutch women mounted a picket at the
Adela Faccio, the prominent abortion campaigner who went to prison for two months after helping to found the Italian pro-choice movement, sent a telegram of support to Friday's rally.
Spanish women from Madrid said in their telegram that 'No law can force women into reproduction'. Messages were also read out
A campaigner from the West Australia Abortion Law Reform Association attended the rally and gave verbal greetings and support.
TRADES UNION CONGRESS, CONGRESS HOUSE, GREAT RUSSELL STREET, LONDON, WCEB,LS
FROM THE TUC FOR THE PRESS
TUC CANPAIGN ON ABORTION
TD THE
CURRIE
ANTI-ABORTION
BILL
FIGHT
FOR A WOMAN'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE
One of the most encouraging signs reported.
proposed
'We've A branch sub-committee was set
members Students.
Association,
and midwives.
is the action.
Ine need
PRESS OFFICEA: Brendan Barbe!
RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION
Photo: LARRY HERMAN
than any other issue taken up in the union in the recent past,' Mike Tait
Judy Watson ended the meeting with one of the strongest speeches we heard all day. "The fight against this Bill is even more important today she said. "The Tories are attacking all of our democratic rights - the right to picket, the right to demonstrate, the rights of immigrants.
got the women's movement behind us in our fight. We've got resolutions and a f100 donation from the National Union of
'The Labour Party and the TUC support our aims. The British Medical
the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricans have made statements. So have the nurses
"The support is there. All we need
No manoeuvres in this Parliament will stop this Bill. So we'te going to leave tonight with a pledge that during the summer months well be on the streets, in the shopping centres, on the estates, at the union conferences with one clear message —
to march shoulder to shoulder on 27 October to throw out this Bill and to meet this and every other attack which the Tories are committed to make..
Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 3..
Page 4 scan of this page
Two take up their case. Now read on
By Geoffrey Sheridan
representative that she has been sexually assaulted by a senior member of the
He makes inquiries and discovers that two other women have complaints about the behaviour of this member of staff, behaviour and lewd language:
The union representative raises the matter through the appropriate channels and expects a proper conducted to determine whether there is
What he does not expect is: that he and another union official who becomes involved in the case
*the staff and that this legal action will be backed by their own union; that both
unsatisfactory form of inquiry is held; and that when this finds for the senior employee, the women are effectively told
Unless one has an unusually cynical turn of mind, one would expect none of these things, yet this is what has taken place within the Labour-controlled Brent council in North-west London.
How events took this course, about which the Willesden and Brent Chronicle says the council has "blundered badly'; how a top official of the National and
union in the West, came to be criticised by his branch for his handling of the case; seeking to back the members involved,
It was during a conversation with Dr assistant secretary of the
secretary alleged that she had been the
victim of serious sexual misconduct on
the part of Adrian Beckett, the council's
Lewd
Beckett, whose salary is £12,000 a does those detes the en
those
officer. All three complain that Beckett. employees, one a senior administrarye has used 'bullying, lewd' language to them.
The first report,
assault, was made o
January of this year, and while it was
made to him in confidence he considered
that its possible implications for other
women employees • necessitated
form of official union acuon.
After consulting two other branch
officers, it was decided to inform the
town clerk, Ken Betts, of the nature of
the complaints but not the names of the
various employees concerned. Betts, the
council's chief officer, responded
the suggestion that the women should go
to the police, which
consider to be the best move.
This meeting, on 24 January, broke
management representatives present that up WIEn assurance
there would be no victimisation of the
complainants, and that the matter would
be left in NALGO's hands.
The three union
Women workers sacked in
alleged sexual assault case
Complain and
be damned
Complaints against a senior officer of Brent council included sexual assault, forced kissing,
fondling, and continual propositioning.
union representatives attempted to
management was simply
economist,
Evidence
the issue in
tion. NALGQ's
Amends that
and disciplinary problems.
new meeting with the town clerk. faced was
solicitor. that a middle-aged responsibility in the case, women
intimidatory, and is not an infrequent
of alleged sexual.
Parks.
some
with Sup
Parks did not Arthur Steer,
from national executive,
representatives development:
Age 19 July 1979 Page 4
involved at this stage, which included the branch treasurer, were not happy at this
They considered that passing the buck, but they agreed that Mike Parks, who is employed by Brent council as an
should obtain written statements from the women and refer them to NALGO's district office.
Whatever Parks' reluctance to pursue
this way, the union's handbook offered him ample justifica-
* Job Guide Representatives and Stewards' recom-
evidence 1s carefully collected when dealing with grievances
But it was then that Parks received the first hint of trouble. A senior member of staff heard what was happening and informed Beckett. Parks, worried by this
arranged another
His fears were not groundless. At a hastily convened meeting with management at which the branch secretary WON present, the town clerk intimated that two Parks could now face legal action.
Parks reacted with understandable anger. He was the only person who was doing anything about processing what he regarded as serious complaints, and now
with threats. Parks consulted a union colleague, Jeff Lever a member of the branch executive, and they decided to seek advice from a local
Mike Parks' next move was to send to
had been offered at the 24 January meeting, in particular that the women
If Parks had considered that top management was anxious to avoid any
view. Betts refused to accept the letter, passing it on to the branch secretary.
The reaction of the branch secretary, Arthur Steer, was a little surprising. apologised to the town clerk for Parks' letter, and wrote to Parks taking him to
in His letter added: 'I would point out that an exchange of views or advice sought between union and management rightly so, but in every case the unofficial and confidential nature of the exchange
is honoured and is not disclosed by either
learned of this letter wondered how their
the NALGO branch, and the town clerk,
councillors, could make such 'unofficial
who in addition to his
senior pesitión in the Brent NALGO
branch is vice-chairperson of the union's
did not consult the
branch or its executive committee about
his letter to Mike Parks, nor did he carry
out such consultation before giving the
support of the branch to the next major
IF women workers such as those above were experiencing sexual
harassment at work, how confident could they be that it would be
seriously investigated and that they wouldn't be victimised?
Adrian Beckett, against whom the complaints were being made, writs for defamation against Parks and Lever. These writs, which are still being pursued, have the backing of the legal department of NALUU of Beckett is also a member. The union's legal officers have asked the women for an apology and the retraction of their complaints.
Astonishing
all situation. Instead of receiving official union support Cisure complaints had a just hearing, the three women were now out on a limb. And the
union representatives doing their best to give them support were now obliged to defend themselves against a legal attack funded by their union.
Within a fortnight, events were to take an even more unexpected course. On 22 March, the leader of the council, John Lebor, announced that an inquiry was to be held into the complaints, and notified Lever, Parks, and the two complainants still working for Brent that while this was in progress they were all to be suspended from work on full pay.
The suspensions came into immediately, and although Beckett was also suspended, the conditions imposed on the complainants and the two union representatives can scarcely be squared with civil liberties let alone the rights of trades unionists.
A letter from the town clerk informed them that they were not to visit any office of the council; not to communicate with any member or employee of the council, past or present, except for their union representatives whom, it was specified, could not be the two union officials now suspended.
Such action was unprecedented even of Brent council's
procedures, CECILIS which previously
involved suspension of those against
whom allegations of gross misconduct were made. Yet it was not opposed by
Arthur Steer, the branch secretary.
Suspended
In fact, hoe infe mapproached to
officials who approached
represent some of those
they could do so
capacity'. Steer
NALGO's official machinery in motion by she cobaiki wiltin thet
conflict within the
İeadership meeting or the branch executive on 30 forcefully erupted
March. Steer had convened the meeting
to discuss the possible expulsion of Parks
and Lever from NALGO
In the event, a motion was moved
which declared the actions
Mike Parks and Jeff Lever in pursuing
the complaints to be 'unauthorised' and
instructed them to 'conduct no further
communications behalf
branch?.
Steer made no
ensure that Parks and Lever could be
issued
present to defend themselves. In the view of a number of the branch executive
court, and 26 of them walked out of the which 30 March meeting as a protest against the
the resolution by 23 votes, with three
into the complaints were announced at astonishing
secured statements from two of the three that their
present evidence in person to the eight counciliors who sat in private to conduct who were
the inquiry. The procedures adopted by
suspensions which accompanied it that
solicitors used by many trade unions.
effect own suspended that
had
branch
taken by. branch.
would be consider that motivated by the fact that Lever
arrangements to
up their case.
What was left of the meeting passed
The results of Brent council's inquiry
case'
While the council's chief solicitor had
some three
It is perhaps worth noting in the Treasurer,
NW6.
1S a senior partner in Thompsons, a firm of
Wembley, , tube). allegations were unfounded. Beckett was allowed to return to work after two
reinstated after a five-week suspension, but the two women senior secretaries who remained in the council's employ (the third had left in disgust for another job) had to accept re-deployment to
were to be sacked at the end of May They duly refused, on the grounds that allegall acceptance meant acknowledging that
But on 16 May the union fightback had at last got underway. A meeting of the NALGO branch executive declared 'null and void' the earlier decision by a rump of its executive to criticise Lever this and Parks. The vote was 28 to 15, with
This reversal came a day before some
from metropolitan district council expressed instructed the district council's officers to investigate the handling of the whole affair. The meeting also called for the complainants and the union representa-
furious response from the 800 members of NALGO's Brent branch who attended a special general meeting on 24 May.
Arthur Steer had made no secret of his version of the events. As far as he was concerned, Mike Parks and Jeff Lever, both left-wingers, had gone out of their way to look for the complaints to use as coerce part of the left-right battle within the
wrong, though, to Steer's position was had stood against him as branch secretary last year, securing 492 votes to Steer's 513.
The 24 May meeting was to provic crucial support to the two women and th two union representatives who had take
There was overwhelming support f resolutions condemning the suspensio and the proposed sackings; calling for proper inquiry along judicial lines in! the complaints, and noting 'the failure the branch secretary to act positively defending the interests of all memb involved in the present major grievan
The battle for the branch's deman continues. A defence fund to cover ti legal costs of Parks' and Levers' defen has so far raised over £700, part of whi was collected at a Rock Against Sexis benefit earlier this month attended
hundred Brent NALG members and supporters.
The address of the fund is: T
42 Pandora Road, Lond
A demonstration is to be held outsi Brent Town Hall, next Wednesday, July, from 5.30 to 7.30pm in Forty Lat
Middlesex (Wembley
Sexual
harassment
at work
WE ARE not in a position
comment on the truth or falsity of t
of sexual harassmel
made by women employees of Bre
council, which were the prelude to ti
course of events detailed above.
Such harassment is, experience for women
work. In Britain, there has so far bei
little discussion and still less action
issue within
movement. But there have
significant moves in North Ame
We publish here major exce resolution adopted
a convention of the British Col
Federation of Labor last Nove
More than 1,000 delegates, ґер
ing a quarter of a million C
workers, were present. The reso
was submitted by the Feder
women's rights committee
Sexual harassment is di to define. It may range
sexual innuendo
priate times, perhaps in the g
humour, to coerced sexual re
Harassment at its extrem!
when a male in a position to
influence, or affect a women s
career uses his authority and p
the into
relations, or to punish ger re
Because the male is in a pos
authority, as a supervisor a
therefore, may be at great
objects to the behaviour or!
Contd on page 5
Page 5 scan of this page
Communist Party say 'Our banners will be there'
International Tribunal finds Britain guilty
It is this context which UCuC. badendes cae gravıly orure yroulelet • sexual Harassmenl.
A woman cannot freely choose to say yes or no to such sexual advances. The fear of reprisal looms formidably for many women when deciding how 1o react to refuse sexual demands may jeopardising her future or her career. Like rape, sexual harassment has been a hidden problem, treated as a joke, or blamed on the vietim herself.
Because ola long silence on the subject, i feel üncomfortable, embarrassed, or ashamed when they talk personal incidents They are afraid that it will reflect badly on their character, or that they will be seen as somehow inviting the propositions.
When women do speak out they
accused of 'misunderstanding' superior's intentions.
A study conducted on this subject in 1975, showed that in 50 per cent of
registered no action was taken. In one
COLDILLS Were repercussions resulted.
wannel
responsibility to protect them from
Unfortunately, in many instances they do not believe that anything can be done or that the union would be willng to protect taelmovement must clearly demonstrate that it is not prepared to allow any of its be intimidated coerced. To this end
the recommendations:
Internally affiliates adopt policies opposing harassment.
Stewards and officers should be to degl with problem in an effective manner.
The membership must be advised that the union is oooosed to sexual harassment and that union officers zu ereasene uraca lo manue uc problem.
Externally - negotiate language in collectiye agreements to provide protection against sexual harassment.
* Develop separate procedure if necessary complaints to ensure protection for une leHLien.
* Insist that the employer issues a statement prohibiting sexual harassment on the job and post this on bulletin boards.
pamphlet women of their rights and warning male supervisors of the repercussions of incidents of this nature.
Sexual harassment is not a joke. Il's an issue that will not go away. The labour movement must recognise the seriousness of problem effectively represent our mem-mbers bers who are its victims.
Employment Protection Act
SECTION 51 of the above Act is meant ATOICCL trade representatives from victimisation -
it not under Brent's Labour council
To mean
history of Wany wucI
By Geoff Bell
about harassment.
'There will be
demonstration
that demonstration.
CP will
basis that the
withdrawal from Ireland'.
Were demonstration's demand, the
the labour movement.'
welcome step solidarity initiatives in Britain. This will.
re ablI
march.
The CP's youth the women's following
should
this type of
By Steve Potter A LABOUR
government
of Ireland. •The first
grievance for these
hearing YYaN
on 7/8 July.
advising
closed doors Mason's attempi i0
policy ot movement by "criminal'. and The Tribunal
hundred jurors, observers.
give repression in applauded Dy
evidence lo the tribunal.
hearing being in Paris witnesses like
Prevention of Terrorism Act.
possessing birinday trial for nine months.
vears on ine sole evidence union prepared statement, forced to sign undęr duress.
Alistair
12 August demonstration
CHRIS MYANT, assistant editor of the Morning Star, declared last week:
Communist Party members taking part on the 12 August
and there will be Communist Party banners present on
But Myant went on to say that the
the Sponsors demonstration, which is called on the
British government should 'commit itself to a policy of
N vant exo ained at a 'troons out' debate at the Communist University on 9 July: 'We don't consider that the
key and central key and central demand which should be raised within
Nevertheless, the promise of CF presence on the London march is
forward for Irish
the first Communist Party members will have joined with 'troops out' supporters in a joint protest, although CP members wil nol, presumabiy, De part of lat "troops out now' contingent on the
section, the Young Communist League, has gone ole siep turmer tan tue sellor party and agreed to act as sponsors. So has the Connolly Association, which also
las 0 lil British quilty flagrant breaches of human rights in the North
hearing of the Internationa Tribunsl on Artain's Presence in Ireland was held in Paris at the beginning of the year. The final
held CDSENEH assembled in London's Conway Hall
Party The tribunal was launched iwo years ago to break the 'wall of silence' surrounding British policy in Ireland. The tribunal aimed to lever open the
established by Roy cover up the renression in ihe vorih, through his
isolating the Tes s alCt Chatacicrslg
was chaired by Labour MP Ernie Roberts. Witnesses gave evidence to an audience of a
assessors and
The courage of Lily Fitsimmons, a Belfast mother, in coming to Britain
first-hand evidence of North. $ u.y Alistair Logan, barrister who presented part of the
One of the reasons for the first was the fear Lily would be prevented from coming under The
Lily Fitzimmons told her story to a hushed tribunal. She dwelt on the case olT ee SO WIo was mEcracu al the age of 16, released at 18, charged
This 19th dISLIS and imprsoned without
He was finally sentenced to 15 of a which he was
Logan immediately
has links with the CP, and the New Communist Party.
Individual sponsors of demonstration now include ERNIE ROBERTS MP is leading a campaign for a specia! Labour Party conference on Ireland.
He anneunced this at International Tribunal on Britain's Presence in Ireland.
Roberts, who chaired the first day res ponsibrite ings. spoke of 'the responsibility the organised working class to speak Ireland'.
His own constituency
in Hackney North has forward a resolution to the next Labour Party conference which notes the 'wall of silence" surounding the role of the British Army, the Specia) Air Services, and the Royal Vister Constabulary. The resolution instructs the party's national executive committee to cail a conference Lreland.
compared this sentence to those given to members of the Ulster Defence Regimeni charged with offences.
One UDR soldier, David Stone, charged with the same offence, sentenced to vear's imorisonment, suspended for iwo years. Logan grimly remarked, the British state looks after its own.
Another impressive fealure of the tribunal was the evidence given on the historical, social and economic background to the current British intervention in the North.
In particular Ciaran McNally, a lawyer from Dublin, gave a witty and powerful presentation of the history of British policy towards Ireland over the past three centuries.
À member of the jury, made up of delegates from trade union labour movement organisations, requested that McNally's speech be published as a service to. the whole labour muvement.
Similarly thorough reports were
Micahel Maguire on the glvel Dy economic and social discimination in the North, and by Eileen Fairweather on the special burden which British
IRELAND -TEK(ZARS O
members of the House of Lords, 14 MPs, and Alf member of the Hurooean Parliament.
the The full list of MPs reads: Cyril fonT Smith, Joan Maynard, Stan Thorne,
the
on
Labour
put
imperialism imposes on women in the North. similar Publication. . of the
and findings of the Tribunal will be of vital interest to
was Ine labour movelcht
It closed with a call by one of the
AS organisers for an all-out mobilisation
for the 12 August demonstration in London.
As Ernie repression has not gone away. Since the publication of the Bennet report on police interrogation methods on 28 March this year, complaints have been registered with the Ulster Office by police surgeons in the North
that there is now ever more reason for the labour movement in this country
and to say 'Britain out of Ireland now!'
Copies of the findings of the International Tribunal Wilsham Street, Enclose sae. Money is still needed to publish the proceedings.
Maguire, Frank Richardson,
another sUHSUIb
attracted wider
number of years.
the
movement
its full support:
concentrated
Lomas, •a . Labour
University on
Challenge. proceedings International Roberts noted,
RECELCI
The findings of the tribunal mean
Mary socialist Democracy
important from: 47 including relationship
London W11.
unlemaliulal. •aralle
David Alton, Ernie Roberts, Frank
Syd Bidwell, Leo Abse, Dobson, Clive Soley, J0 Jock Stallard, Kevin MacNamara, and Reg Race.
Bob Wright, the assistant general secretary of the Engineering Union, is
of the many individaa
The demonstration will mark the tenth anniversary of the sending in of British troops on to the streets of the North of Ireland, and already it has
support than any previous initiative on Ireland fer a
There are prominent sponsors from the women's movement, such as
Spare Rib Collective; from the pacifist movement, such as the Peace Pledge Union; and from the labour
at least seven trades councils have given their backing.
The International Marxist Group has called a national mobilisation of alt lis mennders ane League of Young Liberals has given
now needs be on realising the potential of 12 August, both in the sense of building the demonstration in general and specifically bulding the uroous outlew contngell.
*The debate at the Communist
"troops out' WIJl published in a future issue of Socialisi
People's Democracy
NEXT WEEK. The Irish revolution-
organisation People's just held its conference in Dublin. A number of
taken, decs on. one regarding PD's with tilti Fourth
A full report of the conference wil H), next week's hata
Page 6 scan of this page
FIGHTING 1
An official of the print union NATSOPA is arrested outside the Grunwick picket line in 1977 (above) as mass pickets assembl
We can
defeat
Prior
By John Ross THE PRIOR anti-union proposals are
core of the Tory attacks on the working class and oppressed. Thatcher and the employers know that their policy to increase unemployment, hold down wages, and slash the welfare state and basic rights, will lead to a massive fall in the living standard and conditions of working people.
If the working class has the means it will fight back against these attacks.
The Financial Times summed up this situation for the employers in its editorial on the budget:
'If the problems (of capitalism) are to be tackled at all ... this involves not only a change in attitudes, but a change in the balance of industrial
Years in which militancy consistently
WOLL trained people to respond to a militant lead...
*Breaking this psychology has in fact been done in some enterprises — means bringing home the realities of risk and reward... Elsewhere it could be a more brutal matter of resisting defeating militancy. This prospect for the near term.'
Brutal
It is to carry out that "brutal matter of resisting and defeating militancy that the Тогу proposals have been put forward.
These proposed
single picket line in the 1972 and 1974 miners strikes would be illegal under the new proposals. Every single strike which took place to free the Pentonville Five or defeat the Industrial Relations Act would now be against the law. solidarity with the pickets Grunwick would have been illegal.
Any time a trade unionist went down to a Jelow worker s pickel would be illegal. The trade movement would be faced constant threat of literally hundreds of frame-up trials, not dissimilar to those used at Shrewsbury against Des Warren, Ricky Tomlinson and the other building worker pickets.
Every single trade engages in any serious fight to defend Jobs, wages, or fight the cuts is under direct attack from these laws. They are in some ways an even greatst threat than the
KEITH JOSEPH: Responsible
for launching the most vicious attack on the welfare state Sioce...une last governmen Tory government.
against these
Act.
use union proposals than the victorious Industrial Relations Act.
Proposals
same proposals as 'Concordat'
Secret ballots,
British
position.
has
gains have
- which fightback the
and
is the... laws constitute
Every
Code ot Practice 1s a
Every act of
Prior proposals being passed. outside
Lessons fine that union with the
the Shrewsbury picket trials:
unionist who
movement industrial Relations Act under fbe last doouncis, and important shop stewards
moto: G.M. COOKSON (Socialis
What is clear is that the fightback
proposals. will be even tougher than that against the Industrial
Thatcher JUSt determined as Heath and far cleverer.
At the same time, the trade union leaderships are even more reluctant to
power to smash these they were 1972.
Callaghan is urging them on by his call to leave opposition to the Labour Party in Parliament, and by his opposition to industrial action tor political ends.
In fact, the Duffys, Boyds, Chapples, and Jacksons who dominate the today are the very people who opposed
struggle against the
(Report)
The TUC put forward many of the
the lories. in its
with the last government. ANDREW WIARD
attacks on union democracy, opposition to strikers and pickets are the very means by which the self-confessed right wing maintains its
Boyd, Chapple, Duffy and the rest will put up no serious fight against these being extended by the Tories. How then can the fightback be carried out?
The first valuable initiative in the
Code of Practice adopted by the Rank and File 'Defend our Unions' conference held a few weeks ago. While criticisms could be made of this or that point, the Code is a good basis for waging a fight in the unions.
A fight should be put up to get it adopted by every possible trade union organisation from local to national level. Militants supporting its policies should for it ether in the various unions to fight
But the real problem is how to move into activity those people who did not attend the Rank and File conference. The
good initiative because it can reach out to these forces. But it can only play a really effective role if it is also part of organising opposition to defend the unions and prevent the
Here real lessons can be drawn from the fight against the Industrial Relations Act, and also from struggles to defend trade union rights such as that against the conviction of Des Warren and others in
Dozens or local committees were se up to defend the unions. Some were local Liaison Committees for the Defence of Trade Unions but the most effective were those set up through authoritative local
Prior's Bill would make both illegal.
the d ode official union polics.
do crossing of picket lines
no enforced secret ballets
enrare that the pichet line is dhserved.
Dul
settlements.
committees. These were often set up out of local conferences called by the labour movement. To fight these proposals the maximum number of suci trade union defence committees needed again. They can help organise action to prevent the Prior being passed and to defend those trade unionists under attack if the proposals do become law.?:
JAMESPRIOR: Supposed to be 'soft' on the unions. He is now in charge of pushing unions. Prior will attempt to give legal backing to Callaghan's Concordat
THIS IS NOW VITAL
TENTathe Code of Practice for disputes, adopted at Rank and Filt's 'Defend mur unions conterence last month with the obiection of campaigning 1o maht
2. For the establishment and defence of 100 per cent elmed shop, and for sanction to be applied against any individuals breaking the staged shrop. ?. Lor tall rant and tile derision mahing be traditional democratie procedures
• ribes loberun he dlected erike comminers and pictires to be protioned al whicheres tocation necessars to win the dispute and in sufficiens numhers in
All appeals for blacking, and financial assistance tor disputes to he carried
support calls made he sirike committees for mars sympaths pictor.
To selllement of disputes without full reports hack to. and decision making hy, the members concerned - no enfarced "arbitration' or entorord official
the forces of the Tory
are needs, be proposals
tote: GM COOKSON [Socialist Challengel
TUC. effective
the
against
It is to building these committees that
and File that Act. conference and all other militants should be turned. This can also help provide the basis for the national conference which
called in the autumn, voted embracing all those prepared to take action against the anti-union proposals.
While the fight against the anti-union
laws has to be based on the rank and?? of the trade unions, this is in itself enough. The weight which is neede defeat the Tory proposals means that fight has to get the official trade tai movement, upto and including the TU OKC HOS
It was the threat of a general str which freed the Pentonville Five It
all-out strike by the Engirk Union which ended the NIRC. This of action is now needed to deft Tories' proposals.
Leadership
But obviously this type of won't come about overnight f larly with the present leadership
How can this be built fo action waged again proposals now?
The first fight is to commit pa
: to call industrial action
forthcoming Bill. •The" national strikes trial late
the Industrial helped build up massive opposit
They also helped t measures on the TUC, such as for unions to register under the A
The TGWU conference, ha
for maximum resistance to the proposals. to be put as a specific call tot and every other union to call action to prevent the Bill bes
Page 7 scan of this page
HE TORIES
MARGARET THATCHER:
Her speechwriters are inclined
Shakespeare and CS Lewis to soften the blows, but to no ayail. She is determined to push brough social, legal, and political measures which wit pring her into conflict with the most oppressed sections of British society:
Grunwick factory (right).
Secondly; with a big campaign by unisations such as the LCDTU, Rank
i File, and other militants it is possible
•weat east some demonstrations andustrial action against the Bill — as done with the Industrial Relations
Thirdly, a campaign has to be waged chand that the TUC names the day industrial: action Mion proposals and policies. Ôn 1 May 1973, the trade did call out two million workers in against Phase Two of Heath's es policy and against the National al Relations Court. raided the campaign for the much decisive industrial action which brought down Heath.
Jay should be set for extensive tal Faction against also the cüts, nd attacks on wages. This would awn the slipway the campaign he present government. ments would be: using the Code campaigning, trade union ces in the localities; building a national conference thefor unofficial official industrial
Such a fight the Prior proposais cated just as the onwas it is the most crucial the trade unions today.
hoto: ANDREW WIARD (Report
By Tom Marlowe EVERY against the
the Tories
week
titled:
Royal
Standing Conference'
the Prior rising unemploy- conclusion
figures which
defence - the South of Ireland 1n the proposals; and
and 1974-76, report is that started during
Industrial
Many worker ever wanted to defend the ability of trade that unions to fight effectively for higher living standards was spelt out last
soberty worded government-commissioned report en-
Commission the Distribution of Income and Wealth. it will Report No 7. Fourth Report of the
The neport press because of its
in the national press because of
that during Labour's period of office the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer.
But equally striking were the
testified just how unequal a country Britain remains. Indeed of the many countries for which figures are available only one
had a less equitable distribution of wealth.
The figures dealing with the last 1974-16, Over one suggestion in the
but the suggestion the process which these first two vears accelerated during the last three years
TIMOTHY RAISON: Minister for Deportations at the Home Office. He spends most of his time ayoiding phone calls from MPs who discover that their constituents are being
The gravy train which never stops
of Labour's administration.
By 1976 the Commission found the too cent of th population held almost a quarter of the country's wealth, to be precise 24.9 per cent, compared to 22.5 per cent two years previously.
If this trend is continued the Tory budget is one guarantee that
- this means that by 1984 the top one per cent will own one third of the country's wealth.
In strict money terms, from 1974 to 1976 the top 20 per cent increased their wealth by the tidy sum of f51 billion, and this is repeated whichever page of the Commission's report is
For instance, • as far as land ownership goes, just oue per cent of the population owns 52 per cent of all land; and as far as company shares are concerned, the top five per cent own 80 per cent of all shares, listed and unlisted.
There are sections in the report which also display the ineffectiveness of Labour's equal pay legislation. According to the estimates reproduced, the average earnings of women
sham. CM. COOKSON [Socialist Challen
workers in 1978 was f51.8, compared to the average male earnings of 282.
But either average is chicken-feed to that which the managing directors received "median total remuneration' of a managing director and £40,990, an increase of over £10,000 in just three years
The Royal Commission agrees that its figures are not complete, nor are is estimates exgct. A numher oi tax dodges, 'fringe benefits', hidden ownerships and undeclared mean that the inequalities listed in the report are an underestimation.
Even so, the report points to two unchallengeable conclusions much wealth is country, and how few benefit from it.
This is perhaps why one of the first acts of the Thatcher government was to disband the Royal Commission and prevent it issuing further evidence.
Given the growth of inequality under the Labour government, Jim Callaghan won't be offering many protests about that particular cut in public expenditure:
office.
By Mick Costello, Industrial Party
by the
internal procedures,
will be magistrates,
trade union balloting.
referred.
Proposed lation'
last week.
their trade unions
year. The these objectives.
year was
of shifting
assets
Industry.
how produced in this
justification
repeated
down the unions
Star
MICHAEL HESELTINE: It is his job to push through plans which will make environmentalists yearn for the days when Peter Shore was in
What the
CP thinks
organiser, the Communist
THE TORIES have decided to take the teeth out of any industrial action taken
workers. They want to ban solidarity action, interfere in the unions'
and destroy the basis of closed shop agreements.
Industrial and trade union practices
regulated by and the High Court.
Certification Officer (remember Heath's Registrar of Trade Unions?) would vet
Tory leaders will draw up 'codes of practice to back up the series of laws they have proposed. These codes will condition the decisions taken in the High Court to which more disputes would be
The Tory proposals for new labour laws are designed to turn the clock back to the beginning of the century. This is the true meaning of the gently-worded 'Working Papers for Consultations on
Industrial Relations Legispublished by the Conservative Employment Secretary on Monday of
Any tolerance of these opening shots would be followed by more laws to remove workers' rights and ham-string
Yet the Tory documents actually have the nerve to invite the TUC to 'formal consutations' on how to bring aboul
The main thrust of the proposed legislation is clear. The union leaders are only invited to join in talks with the Tories on the dots and commas.
It should be obvious to everyone that these Tory proposals are only the first steps toward implementing the Tory aim
the balance of power decisively in favour of the bosses.
No wonder it has been welcomed by the employers' Confederation of British
TUC general secretary Len Murray is correct to describe the whole thing as a major challenge to the existing rights of workers and their unions.'
That being the case, there can be no
for going into 'the consultations' with the Tories about the wording their laws will have on the
The TUC General Council, based on
past decisions reject anti-union legislation, has a mandate to refuse to enter into discussions to chain
*This article is taken from the Morning
Page 8 scan of this page
Rail cuts —higher fares, less jobs
TGWU
conference's
militant
sounds
By Patrick Sikorski
11 . SEEMED as Transport and General Workers' Union's 28th biennial conference last week had taken the slogan 'Unite to Fight the Tories to heart, such was the unanimity of the delegates' decisions on the resolutions presented to them.
But to look at the voting figures would only tell half the story. Delegate after delegate found themselves speaking resolutions which they said did not go far enough. All calls for action had been composited out of the resolutions. This was almost entirely due to lne strategy of the Communist rarty waose posinon is tHal the Moss Evans' leadership 'progressive" and who therefore waged no fight in standing Clearest
The clearest fight against the platform, on a resolution for the adoption of the sliding scale
wages, showed both potential for building •a class struggle opposition in the union
sections of the membership to mount a real fight against the Tories on the basis of policies which give clear socialist
This resolution was moved by Alan Thornett Leyland, Cowley, who member of the Workers Socialist League.
For the first time in the memory of many delegates the chair was forced to concerte the use of tellers. The proposal was lest by only 89 votes.
AS WEll as the fact that a consistent fight for the sliding
wared by the WSL for several TGWU conferences, another crucial factor was that the left
united against plattorm.
Countered
Mike Eaude from Bristol Hospitals, a Socialist Challenge supporter, and Tommy Riley of Ine wr both countered the Platform's arguments that the sliding scale was incompatible with the restatement of the unions commitment to unfettered free collective bargaining.
They pointed out that all wage claims are based on an estimate of the rise in the cost of living and that the platform did not say that the demand for a 35-hour week would cut accross free collective bargaining.
On pay, Moss Evans'
to maintain free collective bargaining was matched by his firm refusal to set any figure for pay rises, even for the low paid.
doubt Tories thankful that the TGWU leadership shows no inclination to mount a national campaign
protect members'
Relaunch
The fight to build against the Tories and the leadership WILl helped if the proposed relaunch of a rank and file bulletin Off
Record independent militants and sapporters of the IMG, WSL
the from
By Bob Pennington THE TORIES have calmly and coldly set about the destruction of the welfare state. That is the only conclusion to be the
from the mounting information about their plans for cuts in social expenditure.
The latest to get in on the act Health Secretary Jenkin. plan •is simole straight forward; the National Health Service will no longer be subsidised to provide medical aid for all. says, NHS will go partnership with private health schemes.
Patients
The exact details of the proposals have yet worked out, but involve patients being charged for the treatment they receive, and it almost mean faster, better for those who can afford it. But the Tories are not just out to destroy the NHS.
living
By Martin Eady, NUR London No. 7 (personal capacity)
LONDON Tránsport fares will rise by 20 per cent this year to cover their paltry 10.3 oer cent union offer for rail taff greatly already agreed increase for bus
workers. The rise in fares is part of a deliberate strategy to split the workers who operate the service from the workers who use it:
London ransport chair
Tories say cuts
for all -
a except the rich
estimate the CULE between 5½ to 7½ per cent -
drawn will mean the loss
13,700 residential places for the elderly and handicapped.
Patrick Home helps
and are dependent on home-helps will have to get by as best they can. To make sure that they do Instead, Jenkin
'pamper'
Into aged, the Tories will cut 'meals on wheels' by f4m. these introduced it means thousands of older people hospital — a difficult thing to do when the be run-down! Other services for could the elderly and the disabled will also be CIL sheltered housing. will treatment Councils
by the lorv shires start statutory schooling at six and get rid of pupils at 15 if they person Ralph Bennet made this clear in LT News of 22 June. He claimed that workers' full claim of 17.3 per cent would mean a further 10 per cent increase in fares.
and an
the have pledged to phase out all operating subsidies to London Transport in the next five years.
A vital element of this plan is to drastically
FREEZE PRICES
NO MORE GUTS
The Whitehall bureaucrats have a job.
Cabinet's pro- That's
which vary
of up
the physically regulations, postponement
Some 72,000 people who
after. Maybe won't get the poor and
"savings' are an invite
going into 26 July.
NHS is being Cheer back, including
The Association of County
which is dominated annual 'do' for 200 WAILS on the Tube. meeting the ral National Railwaymen's
OHHOU SILL
The Tory government and business performance
Council British Scheme
reduce the
not all. The Association also wants changes in the law to allow libraries charge book borrowers, and a relaxation of fire precaution
including the of the stringent rules being proposed to cover homes for the elderly.
But the axe is not coming down on everyone. Maybe your grandparents won't get looked
children your educated. Perhaps will burn dowr before an understaffed, underpaid fire service can reach it. War'.
However, you might receive
from GLC chair.
Robert Vigard County Hall for the evening of
Just to introduce a bit of cheer in our drab lives, the Tories have brought back their
guns al £100 a head, which of course is paid for by the rate payers. number of jobs — particularly
This is why the Union of selves agreement to discuss a productivity deal is an
The unions are seeking a
similar to that which operates
Rail. Under this tivity deals mileage passeligel would be related to the number LT of staff employed and bonuses paid for any improvement'.
THE TARGET for Sir Keith Joseph is 100,000 assorted jobs
in industry.
Hit hardest will be the areas in which unemployment is
already highest. Merseyside,
Glasgow.
According to 'leaks' published in the national press,
Joseph aims to:
• Cut — 20,000 jobs in shipbuilding. The yards most likely
to be either drastically run down or closed entirely are those
in Glasgow, Belfast, and Newcastle.
• Cut - a further 80.000 jobs in shipbuilding support
industries will be go by the board if the shipbuilding industry
is pruned as Joseph is demanding.
slice approximately £200 million off job creation budgets.
Hardest hit will be the temporary employment subsidy
which one estimate reckoned saved 200,000 young people
from the dole queue.
unemployment which will suffer. Total job loss will be
100,000 plus.
THE TORIES are aiming to eliminate between 150,000 and
200,000 jobs in education. This is a consequence of the cut in
educational spending of £550 million, outlined in Geoffrey
Howe's budget.
The National Association of Head Teachers has said the
cuts are 'the most damaging attack on educational standards
perpetrated by any government since the Second World
The National Union of Teachers' view is that a cut of the
magnitude now being proposed 'would destroy attempts to
maintain a reasonable education service'.
All levels of education face the axe, but the most
favoured targets could be nursery schools,
schools, and polytechnics.
There will be one exception — state aid to public schools.
The government is committed to spend f60 million on these
training establishments for the ruling class.
The job losses break down this way: 70,000 teaching
posts will disappear through
teaching and non-teaching posts in higher education will go
the same way; and 50,000 teachers will be sacked.
Workers therefore encouraged to associate them
with management's attempts to improve profitabutv and are set against their fellow workers whether as passengers or as unemployed.
For management, product-
mean one-person operation of trains. Wille mosi
workers oppose inis, willingness of the union leaders to discuss the possibility can
the North-east, and - regional aid to depressed regions. Joseph wants to
Again it will be areas of highest
FIGHT
CUTS
IN
EDUCATION
secondary
'natural wastage'; 15,000 weaken their resolve in the face strong management offensive fighting lead mean explaining that workers should unite against the Ton • anc management offensive with policy against productivit deals and fares increases fo maintaining living standard and for an immediate reductla in working hours without fe of pay.
Page 9 scan of this page
IRAN+IRAN+IRAN+IRAN + IRAN+ IRAN + IRAN + IRAN + IRAI
By John Leadbetter
THE revolutionary upsurge toppled the Shah, dented the elite
and severely disrupted ДЕУ COrUd. the functioning of Iranian capitalism was glall mobilisations.
These built up gradually in size, strength, and combativity, ting in an insurrection on 9 February ın lenran. The insurrection spread rapidly to other cities. crumbled, and the military apparatus rete ed severe doy.
The weakness of the left and the collaborationist character of most of the bourgeois oppositionists had left the Mosque as the sole centre opposition to the Shah's regime. The exile Ayatollah Khomeini was known as an. intransigent opponent of the Shah. He became the ideological leader of the masses.
Victory immediatel esimed be masses was iccess of the masses. a victory for his brand of Islam and the defeat of the godless Shah. In the tirst flush ot success many reiorms were promised. More to the point, the level of mass expectations reached the moon.
The Iranian ruling classes and the army chiefs understood that opposition to Khomeini would be colmicr-orouuculvc. here was possibility of a rapid return of the Shah, even ine saving monarchy. Overnight they became
Muslims and temselves before the Imam.
Having lost the Shah, the ruling classes put most of their eggs in Kbomeini's basket.In the brocess oi transit some of them were broken.
The government Khomeini was entrusted to Bazargan, but it was Khomeini's will that was law. Ihe initia clashes between the Imam and his loyal retlected the divisions and among the rulers. Forged
But gradually a certain unity is beginning to be forged as Khomeini moves over to accepting the need to ECCU SUUCI apparatuses of the ruling class.
The Iranian strength was derived from the Shah and his reign of terror. The fall of the Shah weakened them considerably: and they decided that only Khomeini could safeguard their interests.
contradictions,
persist. Khomeini's natural addiction
to religion and Islamic codes runs • COMEC to anv torm constitutionalism. Moreover, a rigid application of these codes is bound to backfire.
The execution of torturers, and ex-Prime does not amount to smashing dobralus of the old execution of homosexuals. ers, and prostitutes is an outrage and a
WIICN
culmina-
The monarchy
the masses.
The bourgeoisie of
rule, but it
centrai
was any
prostrated
reality except
stabilisation of the established by
order: The
possible in Iran is utopian. thai
Bazargan
unease textbook
the fall of the Shah.
NOsuleci
traditional
seeds bourgeoisie's main
phase.
grasping present situation, democratic reforms for
regime. oł bovge In the
relations,
closed down imperialist generals, Ministers used the imperialism in the Arab Gulf.
stale. The
adulter-
disgrace. Moralism is no substitute for the material living conditions of
wants. stability more than anything else. It sees Islam as a useful tool for perpetuating its
regards Khomeini's fanaticism as counter-productive. In bourgeois salons there is open talk of "what we will do after the old... dies'.
But all the desires of the Iranian capitalists cannot be transformed into
through regime. That is why the choice in Iran temains between a socialist transfor-
the A TONANOA-INO O DIP DONEI
existing social notion that lengthy bourgeois-democratic interregnum is
Iran and its OCUSC evolution over the past year offers a
vindication Trotsky's theses on the permanent revolution. This can be seen clearly by evaluating what has been happening in Iran since
What was the character of the in Iran? It was essentially a struggle for democratic
sedsest a gronan anti-capitalist
La growing antı-capitalist radicalisation, especially in the last
However, and this is decisive in complexities of the the substantial which masses fought and died have not been granted by the Khomeini-Bazargan
sphere of international Khomeini has broken all links with South Africa and Israel;
bases; and made it virtually impossible for Iran
central relay of
These are popular measures, but they contradict the internal strategy of the regime, and the attempts to get
Iran - the state of
the revolution
the economy going could well see a sharp move back towards strengthening its ties with imperialism.
It is on the home ground that the decisive battles will be fought. The struggle of the nationalities for their democratic rights has already led to sharp clashes between the Kurds and Arabs on one side, and Khomeini's partisans on the other.
In both instances the mobilisations of Kurds and Arabs have forced Khomeini to retreat. In the case of both the Arabs and the Kurds the grouping which has been to
forefront defending national rights has been the iranian Socialist Workers Party, which is the Iranian section of the Internationa..
It's because of the SWP's actions
support of oppressed nationalities that the
government regards the question of Trotskyists wcle arrested. nationalities as one of the explosive in the present period.
Its fears are not unfounded. The nationalities were denied basic rights by the Shah. They participated in the anti-Shah only themselves confronted with religious obscurantism. Their partial victories
will only strengthen their resistance.
On the economic government allowed the formation of
unions and workers' committees.
Many capitalists left the country in
disgust, and in a number of industries
there were elements of
control.
On 6 July, Bazargan nationalised
the assets of 51 leading industrialists,
but many of them had already fled
with large reserves. The preceding
month saw the nationalisation banks and insurance companies.
What is the nationalisations? In our opinion they are being carried out as a last ditch attempt by Bazargan to stabilise the country - by utilising the state (as owner) to confront the workers on two levels: to tell them these are now their industries, and that if they don't mass believe him to use the forces of the
state to confront them.
Outlawing of owned industries will be the next step. Most of the nationalised industries their are tied hand and foot to big multi-
nationals, and capital, the state will deal directly with Fourth them.
counterrevolution they Iranian 'rightful owners'.
continues to rise. It stands at 3 million and the worst sufferers are the Kurds, 1110S
Turkomans, and Khomeini wants a 'charity foundation'
Socialists argue
find
The central struggle was for free elections and a popular Constituent Assembly.
the demand has been consistently denied
PHOTOGRAPHS: masked members workers' Khomeini's Imam committees
"keeping the fighters who helped overthrow the Shah.
Republic".
rignis in
bourgeoisie
of VULVs.
purpose of these Rights
Un
workers'
attacks.
and leadership rection. largest Khomeini, publish
strikes in pamphlet.
instead of private
the extreme
if the Fedayeen successful can be handed back to their
At the same time unemployment
the Arabs
to deal with the problem.
In for different
demand of the
This maintain
Fedayeen.
Above of
Below last forever.
by all sections of the ruling class. Khomeini has dealt it a blow by winning a referendum for an "Islamic
So today there are no democratic structures — either direct
or indire hationhecoun r democratic
nationalities, representation, women, and workers'
industry, there are no acceptable solutions IN sight. The
knows full well that conceding these rights would pave the way for a permanent revolutionary
the left, the pro-Moscow Tudeh Party has tail-ended Khomeini since September 1978. Before that time it was engaged in a struggle to 'democratise' the monarchy!
remains the best-organised party, but many of its members are seriously disoriented. The party failed to fight for women's rights when these were under severe
'The largest group to the left of the Tudeh is the Fedayeen, Their prestige
strength accrues from their of the February 1NSUTThey have spearheaded the demonstrations against but have put forward confused and ambiguous formulas on the bazargan regime
.A process of political differentiation, however, is beginning to take shape within the Fedayeen. A tiny indication of this is the decision to
Mandel's The Leninist Theory of Organisation as a Fedayeen Trotskyists
The Iranian Trotskyists represent left of the workers'
mobilisations, but have presented their own independent class positions through their weekly paper Kargar (The Worker).
They are in close discussions with two major workers' groups on national level, and their intransigent defence of socialist principles has seen a big growth of their influence.
public confrontations . with Khomeini's ideologues, the Iranian SWP has acquired a national identity. Its growth will depend on its ability to build a base in the factories and
non-sectarian though principled prientation towards the
Iran is literally at the crossroads The divisions within the ruling class have given the left a breathing space but this period of instability cannot
The next six to eight months wil be decisive for building the strength of the left if it is to be able to resist attacks and even, if necessary, to go on to the offensive .*Iran — repression grows, page 10. Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Repression After Somoza. austerity or Socialism?
AN+IRAN +NICARAGUA+NICARAGUA+NICARAGUA+NICAR/
in Iran
By Saber Fallahi
REPRESSION against the left is now a major political issue in ran. weeks ago 200,000 people demonstrated in Tebran against kidnapping of the Mojahedin guerilla Sadati by members the committe.
The Imam committee Sadati of being an accomplice of the Soviet Union. He was kidnapped two months ago. For 20 days there was no
started to leak out. He had severely beaten, and was being held in a secret place.
At first, the Mojahedin tried to get Sadati released through negotiations with the liberal Ayatollah Talleghani, and then through representations by lawyers and the like. All failed. they turned to mass street action.
The massive public meeting took place in Tehran University. with demonstrations of harassment by armed right-wing Islamic thugs took place. But this time it was different because the demonstration was composed of people from the Istamic movement.
The Mojahedin Islamic. Formed in the early *70s, they were among the main fighters against the Shah. Hundreds of their militants were imprisoned and tortured. Many were executed.
So when the right-wing injured the sister of the most famous martyrs of the Mojahedin, recar Drolners, Were was a miyaly surge of anger in the crowd.
The mother of the Rezai brothers spoke condemning the actions of the Islamic thugs, saying that they were a stain Islam and condemn the repression being carried out by the new Islamic republic.
This demonstration significant since it coincided with a change in line by the towards the Bazargan government.
Previously they had not criticised he government. Now, aiter the case of Sadati, they have come out with strong criticisms of the Bazargan
Meanwhile, international action is still growing for the release of the 15 members HKS Workers Party) in Karoun jail Ahwaz.
Both the Mojahedin People's Fedayeen, guerilla organisation, have cautiously sapported the call for the release of the HKS 15. This is development because of the lies and slanders that have been heaped on the Trotskyists inside Iran.
It is in stark contrast to the actions of the pro-Moscow Tudeh which joins with committees in attacking the left, and fuily supports the repressive actions against the rest of the left in Iran.
The 15 were imprisoned as a result of their support for the rights of the Arab-speaking national minority in Iran. One result of the international campaign is the release of Hojabr Khosravi.
Howeyer, the other comrades are still being held without formal charge. Telegrams calling for their release and I CLE EULE TONES AIR workers' movement and the left in Iran should be addressed to Bazargan. Prime Minister, Iran; and to the Islamic Revolutionягу Council, Tehran, Iran.
PICKET IRAN-AIR
Saturday 21 July 73 Piccadilly, London W1
Defend Iranian Left!
Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 10
IWO By Dave Kellaway
the happen to me'
Imam
accused
of his right-wing
Guard desert business cronies head, loot as possible, to Miami. been Either US/Sandinista
imperialism.
Victorious
As usual the left, gangs of
the provisional government. Complete details
mainly
conservative figures
strongly
ment was rejected
Partly commitments, on limiting
thugs
the four
Other include capitalist economy and relations with Cuba.
on of forces
doubly
Mojahedin
different.
impose this agreed transition. role of
(Socialist
in Somoza.
and the the other main.
major
party,
Mehdi
Tehran,
'WHAT happened to the Shah won't
— Somoza, May 1979.
Sitting in his bunker, the cornered dictator complains about the failure
neighbours support him. His praetorian National
in droves, and his with as much
Somoza will accept approved transition plan, or the FSLN will defeat him in a week. Unlike the Shah, Somoza did provide one last bloody service for
His genocide prevented an early
Sandinista insurrection.
This made the social conditions for a radical solution more unfavourable and gave the US State Department vital time to change its policy and negotiate some sort of agreement with
of this aaree ment are not yet available. An earlier US proposal to include several more tration
in the governbut concessions have been made in this agreement.
exchange for aid there are guarantees reprisals the National Guard and on forming a regular army, as opposed to allowing full rein to the armed committees.
probable concessions maintenance of "restrained'
Of course, written agreements are not the same as the political relation
on the ground. and i Somoza's latest reported bravado is to be believed and he does fight to the end (or at least to the last man but himself) the outcome might be very
An alternative variant might be a US-inspired junior officer coup to
As this first victory draws near it is important to know more about how the new government will meet the expectations of the masses who have done the fighting to get rid of
Kemel George, Colombian Trot-
skyist leader and co-ordinator of the Simon Bolivar international brigade, interviewed three members of provisional junta — Sergio Ramirez, Violeta Chamorro and Robelo - on 21 June.
You recognise that there is a massive economic crisis and the people are in great need. How is your government going to deal with these problems?
VC: With a great 'austerity'. This is very important for Nicaragua. We are at the bottom of the barrel and we have to reconstruct the economy with total austerity.
Will the people support this austerity?
R: It is important make a distinction. It's one thing to have austerity within a national crusade of reconstruction and another to have poverty without a corrupt regime.
The basic elements in this task are: austerity, efficiency in the adminis-
of the resources of Nicaraguan people, and the unity of all sectors - in order to avoid all
LONG AS YOU HATE SOMOZA' SIMON BOLIVAR BRIGADE this form of solidarity:
Hondurans. I feel it is necessary to support them...
you hate Somoza. 'It's strange.
really Trotskyist. I now
all forms of solidarity
sectarianism that in a given moment may ruin a process that has cost so the many lives.
We are going destroyed country. begin advantage, despite everything -will be able to build right from the foundations and to Nicaragua We will need all the prestige won by the people's revolutionary struggle to obtain hunger. To carry it's important to maintain the prestige and honesty of true unity that we find in this government.
Are you going to pay external debl?
R: Yes, we recognise international agreements. However, in our case we will need a certain restructuring.
Will the government collective bargaining and the right to strike? Will it convoke a sovereign, democratic, and popular assembly?
'I FEEL NOW A MILITANT OF THE WORLD REVOLUTION' 'IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT NATIONALITY YOU ARE AS
On 12 June, the Colombian Trotskyists of the PST (Socialist Workers Party) initiated the formation of an international brigade. Nearly 700 Columbians have since volunteered from many different tendencies.
Forty fighters have been in Nicaragua on the southern front for several weeks. Here is what one of the young volunteers thought of
'I feel that there, further north in our continent, there ar comrades fighting — it doesn't matter if they are 'Nicas' or
'It's not worth thinking whether one is a little Nica or a little Columbiano. What's certain is that any nationality is okay as long as
You feel like any ordinary Nicaraguan peasant or student, and because of that it doesn't worry me too much if they kill me like they have killed so many others...
'But at the same time you feel important because you know that the fate of the world revolution depends just a little on you.
'After I took the decision to go to Nicaragua I felt for the first time
know seriously what internationalist, to be a militant of the world revolution.'
The Fourth International has called on all its supporters to build
with the Nicaraguan
these assembly,
to take over a
We will have to democracy But there 1s
give new
build a new
confidence
work. massive aid to stave off forward this plan
hundreds
Somoza's
return
permit free
Will
SR: We
we don't want
For
The form
first
The
fighter, like any
passively
necessarily 'national unity'.
Hugo it is to be
Working
people. foreign debts.
set Solidarity
donations
134, London
01-226 6747 Coordinating
¡ SR: Yes, definitely, will accept
labour rights. the it is a necessary step we must take in the process of a return to
Nicaragua But this requires an electoral infra-structure.
Our people have a profound lack of confidence in what elections have meant before. Part of the process of reconstruction wil get back
in democracy Nicaragua. It will take time and hard
Once the provisional government is set up, what will happen to all the
and thousands of armed fighters? What role will they have? VC: These young people are fighting for one ideal and that is to overthrow Somoza. After that each one has the right to follow their career to
their schools and universities, to the studies that they have lost. Those who are soldiers can remain in the army.
you establish diplomatic relations with Cuba?
would like to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, but
to give excuses to Honduras and El Salvador to attack
this diplomatic relations are not the first priority.
of national 'austerity' proposed and the willingness to pay debts to the same imperialists who helped to destroy Nicaragua in the
place express the 'social democratic' solution favoured by the majority of the junta
Constituent Assembly is vaguely supported and the youth in arms are patted on the back and told to go back to their studies
Whether the youth, particularly in the northern towns controlled by the more socialist FSLN tendencies, will
accept that advice uncertain. The economy's dislocation and the need for foreign aid doesn't
impose all-class Blanco and the FOCEP electoral bloc, based on independent
class solutions mass support for a detailed refusal to pay
The Cubans didn't tell the youth to go back to their schools, and they
: up armed committees for the defence of the revolution. Fidel also gained support from the workers' i states to rebuild the economy.
notes: An appeal for funds for relief has been set up. Send
Central A mencar Human Rights Committee, PO Box
NW1. For speakers film, copies of Nicaragua Libre, tel
to: Nicaragua Comminice 21 Compton Terrace, London N1.
Page 11 scan of this page
WOMEN ORGANISING+WOMEN ORGANISING+WOMEN ORG.
SENTS+EVENTS+EVENTS+EVENTS+EVENTS+EVENTS+E
were lechnically an exercise,
and fantasies we shared.'
male supremacy.
W
media, have operating double many years.
The job allows us to live our own lives in a SOlally. scAlalY. and liberated way than the large majority of our sisters; "wille we actively propagating views which help to ensure that our sisters remain tied to the f'amily, economically dependent, inteilectuaily stifled, and firmiy in the usually romanticised role of second class citizen.
Since this article is mainly subjective - my concention of women in the media from an actress's view point — I have less authority to comment on the role of a woman writer or journalist, although having shared a flat with one of the latter, I can vouch for a similar duality of roles.
Financially, the working actress more or less has parity often — particularly if she is bracket - greater earnings than Counle Dalt.
However, when opportunity acting is a non-starter; not due to prejudice, but to lack of material. For centuries authors have been predominantly male with a 'male eye view' of the world. exceptions they see women in a subordinate role, and quite definitely as a minority in a. male-dominated world
When I was at drama school 20 years ago there were seven male students for every three woren -
ohr sevision drama sane ne renera
or television drama. thought to be a reflection of the real world and its attitudes, that is a revealing statistic.
The other statistic that was bandied abour was that for each vacancy for a woman drama world. there were a hundred actresses: and for each man's job, 16 actors. What price equal pay when the vast majority of actresses are on the dole queue! issue of home and children versus work outside the home, in many ways advantages over woren structured jobs or professions. Because work is spasmodic and the hours irregular, an actress can often spend a lot more time with her children and enjoy both them and her job, but because lack of compromises have to be made
You can't tour with small children unless you can afford to take à childminder with you, and you can't work a 12-hour day in a major theatre company or in repertory unless there are nursery facilities and a childminder at home. While there is union pressure to reduce these working hours, it's women with childcare and home responsibilities who suffer most, and it's -! women members of Equity who are fighting the hardest on such issues party on childcare, of which I'm a member.
Sadly, it is the political touring companies which are least able to employ woren with children, although Monstrous Regiment, feminist company, pays a touring childminder - a big step in the right direction. In the major companies, of course, there should be nursery
TRIES Sp per word. Display f2 per col Inch.
Friday before
OUTHALL TODAY, Hackney
Campaign ARIST
on Mon, 23 July. Speakers from Southall Dai Library.
nis Organisation. «omloter 210g Hackney
WORKERS Groun/Workers
nt public meeting. Revolutionary perspectives i Britain and Ireland. Fri 27 July o way Hall, Red Lion
olborn Tube).
siebam) requires a solicitor. 3 years pose HEATH
following
able: housing;
weltare:
mit io anete Da
mily Rond
enquiries.
79-1821.
'Although the women's workshops at the National Theatre
amazing togetherness and ability to organise.
We explored female role playing, how we experience male
role playing, our fears and joys at being a women, the myths Margaret Ford on how women in the theatre are combatting
OMEN WORKING in the theatre, or indeed in almost any area of the been overtly standards for
financially
participate in
culah y he whe kis in actor, stad
in the her male
COlC to equal
women.
much
a ratio that was supposed to reflect
'art" is generally
Reid. in the
you When it comes to the
in more rigidly
child-care facilities workplace.
Hays. . The union has a working tolueillllg
JEWISH SOCIALIST$' publicaton.
LCWIS
Racialism public LOmOTOW! the Jewish community; an autonomous Laston lane. group witni the ett.
Black Ase yolorak
Power LunmLicc
public meer working class Centre Hatal laws.
areas immigration; Whitechapel High Street.
Harmondsworth
Saturday July.
Evening:
we rapidly discovered the most
Actress at work
facilities, which is what Equity has called for.
It's the roles that actresses are asked to play
and how a casting decision is finally
which show most clearly how this society views
To play a romantic role you must have good
looks and a good figure; you mustn't be too
small, too fat, too thin
tall, otherwise you might dominate your male
counterpart. I was once told by a director that
I'd never be able to play romantic roles as I was
too tall and therefore
'feminine'
To be funny and acceptable as a woman you
must not have any of the attributes of the
'romantic" female; you have to be a 'character
lady', in the manner of Hatti Jacques or Beryl
To play a housewife and mother you need to
look homely, and not exotic or off beat in any
way; whereas to be cast as the 'other woman
must not look homely.
sexually free women present a threat to a
society which demands that the 'good' woman
be primarily wife and mother,
ensconced in the bosom of the nuclear family.
While men, too, are stereotyped in this
society, the structure is nothing like as rigid as it
is for women, and this is reflected in the media.
Male 'hero'. figures are extremely
terms of looks and physique, but whatever their
looks they are nearly
having an amazing ability to dominate women.
At the National Theatre, where 1 worked
for two years up to last January, a group which
for the first time 12 months ago marked the
beginnings of theatre women organising in their
The National at that time was presenting the
public with some very interesting and dynamic
There was Granville Madras House, a tascinating study
economic and sexual repression of women in
1910. Edward Bond's The Woman
the male myth and how far it is responsible for
war-mongering capitalist societies.
Planned for last winter was Barry Keefe's
Chorus Girls, a virtually all-female production
women's powers
Group: London A HOSC mutereslea contad nuwi dy leicaune aluzoooęwoleress or writ
Manchester M75 7ST. A socialist group within WORC rove Whitefield
Jewish
arrested anti-racists! Leicester 2 Side) 7.30
LIOt LI arges! Release the jailed anti-racists! Disband the SPG! Called by Leicester 21 April Defence *No Malinatty Aacks Acti benasi oocaxers semn lomoson DiDak 'Dasu uncwiam weremce commee H Nawal t
ExmOIOI De anio Hoentel Centre!
Supert ubo nd System. Join Marshal Hall, Social
You Willall
Upstaging men
made rans': chorus girls.
- and certainly not too
not really Unmarried.
firmly
After varied in script.. always portrayed as
an exercise,
tenacity
Barker's The
of the invited them exemnee
planning elsewhere.
spiritual,
Chriştchurch Industrial Estate, :27 Blackfriars Road. London SEI. 8om. Adm: fi: food and anuk avalable.
•PATRIOT GAME' Thurs 9 Aug,
• LULaly teab CommOn Adm: 75D. Organised by Soutt London UTOM.
"TOWARD
BSSRS
groups.
E hibi Road London SW7 Bat: BSES Unit, Princes
Road,
ROOM AVAILABLE in North-west [rom 13 to 28 Aug (inclusive). Reply to Box 186€
Madras House' and 'Brand' at the
made by the Women's Film Co-Op.
all-women cast and is directed by a woman. intellectual, and physical - and why these powers have so often been relegated to 'also
It was mainly through a series of workshops on the latter that the seeds of a National Theatre woren's group were sown. workshops, organised by Bill Gaskill, director - strictly on a woman-only basis for those working at the National - - proved to be imaginative drama workshops
We explored female role playing, how we experience male role playing, our fears and joys at being woren, the myths and fantasies we shared. The grand finale of the series was a five-hour workshop (three hours of which were unscheduled — they couldn't stop us!) on how we were going to occupy the National to demand the right to perform Chorus Girls.
This was the play for which the workshops were being held, but which its author secretly planned to be performed by an all-male cast!
At this last workshop I was elected as chairperson and I had to eject Bill Gaskill and Barry Keefe when the women overwhelmingly decided that we couldn't possibly have men as witnesses to any decisions we might need to take. Eventually we decided to allow Barry Keefe back in — as a hostage.
al. we had every intention performing his play, and if we had him and his
Although the workshops were technically
we rapidly discovered the most amazing togetherness and ability to organise quickly and efficiently. Politically, we couldn't have been more disparate, but we were all women, and women who were being oppressed and fighting back with an efficiency
that would have left revolutionary groups open mouthed.
Ai one point, a dozen of the 'heavies" walked in saying that Bill Gaskill hac
to come to our workshop as observers. Politely but firmly we asked them to go. Beligerently, they refused. The result? We simply vacated the room and continued our
Barry Keefe's reaction: 'But surely you've given in to the men. You didn't even attempt to defend yourselves.
BIG FLAME Summer
ALUSI i neme speakers on Alternative Heath the Megaral. ternative Technology with socials. Cost £30 adults, BF Summer School, 122 Vassal Road, Londor Clapham sW9.
NOELO
BOOKS for Souther internationalist activity. Or send any books yor lesperatel call sode 102, Socialist Challenge, PO Box
London N1. 10.30am,
FILM "The Patriot Game', 7.30pm, Thur London July at the West Indian Centre. Carmoor Rd (off . nalersaze Kal. Manchester unwagea). Organised by Manchester UTOM.
She has performed in a wide range of plays, including 'The
National, 'Oh, Lovely War!', and the film 'Rapunzel Let Down Your Hair'
She is presently appearing in 'A Quieter Sex' at the Orange
Tree Theatre, Richmond. The play, by Sheila Yeger, has an
ICL.
director
Switches in there!'
of his script.
That,
redundant,
. current play on the Vietnam war.
These the
action which prospects.
entertainment industry have right-wing executive The monthly
media are of Entertainment November
who
and second class most supremacy of a white, male, capitalist society. theatre's
the London WC1
know.
School 28 Julv . 4 SOCiaISt Aternative'
workshops films. EVENTS £15 under-16. Details. needed for this vital field o before publication.
Dooks lor boulhen Alica, Dox
Mare . Street. E8
26
60p 140
What a Derisory laughter. 'Nonsense,' we told him. 'That's a typically male attitude, possession of territory at all costs. That room couldn't have mattered less, but time to organise did, so we
And organise we did. Even though some of the women were appearing in Macheth that afternoon, and often had to disappear to do a See stt director of Mackeh Decan.
Macbeth became somewhat frantic and was heard to say: 'But they'ie still all talking, and I've got three of my
The result was a delay in starting rehearsals on Chorus Girls. Barry Keefe was so excited by the last afternoon's workshop and the women's detailed planning for the occupation of the theatre that he went away to do a major re-write
unfortunately, continues In January, six months after our workshops were held, most of the women involved were made
including me. The reason the National didn't renew our contracts? It was bęcause the theatre was producing several heavily male-cast plays, such as Dispatches, the
Although the actresses' consciousness had moved by leaps and bounds when we were discussing ideas, it is quite another matter to persuade them to take a militant stand when it comes to detending jobs. In a situation of 80 per cent unemployment, there is - • ironicaily •perhaps — an extreme reluctance to take any
might prejudice future job
But the seeds of the women's movement at the National Theatre and elsewhere in the
taken root Equity's women's sub-committee has battled on, researching both the amount and quality of work available to actresses; attempting to fight
workplace nursery facilities; ‚opposing sexual stereotypes in the industry, and calling for free abortion on demand. And all this ir spite of growing opposition from the union's
meetings of the Feminist Incauc wroup gain mercasing support, ant women from this group and elsewhere in the
organising Women conference 1o be held in
Women in the media need to be involved in the wornen's movement because as long as we continue to allow ourselves to portray women
degenerated eithier sexually intellectually, or simply absent from a 'male world, we provide a justification for the large majority of women to accept themselves a
citizens, never challenging the heterosexual, Feminist Theatre Group, c/o Julie Hollidge, 95 Barnsbury Street, London Ni. The Women in Entertainment conference is on 25 Noyember at
Architects Association, Bedford Square, If you know someone — perhaps yourself — who you think might make a good subject for Socialist Challenge's At Work series, do let us
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE
advertised in this column. Deadline: 5pm Friday
HACKNEY SC group meeting: 'Defend Charter , with speaker from Labour Focus on Eastern Thur 26 July, 7.30pm. Britannia pub,
OLDHAM SC group meeting Thur 26 July al ne smete n textucs The Gardners Arms, Middleton koad, westwoou
Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 11 "•
Page 12 scan of this page
TUC backs October Hang whom?
By Steve Potter RESPONDING to an appeal by the National Abortion Campaigu, Trades Union Congress has issued a call for a demonstration against the Corrie Bill in October.
In a statement to Friday, TUC general secretary Len Murray said:
'The proposals before Parliament today will seriously reduce the ability of women to influence their own lives. As it is, the availability of abortion is heavily dependent on where a woman lives, how much money she has and whether she is fortunate enough to see a sympathetic doctor.
'No women contemplates
inating her pregnancy Nonetheless it is essential for women to retain the ultimate right to refuse to
pregnancy
TUC firmly Abortion Act 1967 as it now stands. With the present provision of NHS abortion services in many areas, the effects of Mr Corrie's proposals may well be a return to the horrors of backstreet abortionists for
The decision of the TUC to call for unprecedented. Nowhere in the worly demonstration has a major tradé union confederation called mass action in defence of a women's right to choose.
However, much work will have to be done realise the potential in the TUC call. The first signs of this came when the TUC call was greeted with a deafening silence by the mass media.
Moreover, despite many of the excellent paper positions the labour movement has taken on women's rights, the gap between these words and action has been marked.
NAC has understood this and has called for a 'sympathetic lobby' of the TUC General Council meeting next Wednesday, 25 July, to ask for the date for the demonstration to be set for 27 October.
NAC has also put out a call for all those who want to make demonstration a big success to join a
Photo: LARRY HERMAN
ROSE KNIGHT
Registered with the
Socialist Challenge
the second reading (see page 3).
the press last
restrictions on the 1967 Act.
Bill is a reality.
termlightly.
supports the
inadequate
absolutely
tremendous
I6 weeks.
defence of women prescufio settiny
servict free of charge.
the abortion services.
CHT THE CORRIE
VTI-ABORTION BILL
national mobilising committee. The call came at a rally called last Friday to oppose the passing of the Bill's
If Corrie's Bill is to be defeated, it will require mass action of tens of thousands of people on the streets. It will need a fight for every Labour MP to adhere to party policy against any
The TUC pledge now means that the possibility of defeating the Corrie
But only if every 1053.
What Corrie's
Bill would mean
CORRIE'S BId. passed its second reading la-i friday in the House of
Commons with 243 votes cast for it and 98 against, If it secures a successful
third reading it would change the 1967 Abortion Arl ht:
• Restricting the grounds for abortion. It will be alvest impossible to get a
doctor to do an abortion unless: the woman's life is in 'grave danger, or
there is a 'substantial rish of "verious' injury in the woman's physical oo
mental health, or that of her children.
These three words will make it pracis ally impossible for ibe majority of
women to obtain an abortion.
• Reducing the upper limit to 20 weeks. The present ume limie is 28 weeks.
A 20) week limir would mean that doctors would not perform abortions after
the With wrek to allow for error.
* noman wouid liferally have in de dring atter this stape to pet an
abortion; the only exception will be if the foetus is 'severely handicapped'.
This meansthat, allowing room ineerror, ahortions will not take place after
• smashing de aborios charities, Corrie says that there run be no
financial lina beinren the referral agencies and the clinics where the
alertions are parterard. Thes will paralyse the charities. A quarter of she
"omen's senires will ate be the in ine prosion which ass you will
necil a goverament fence and a doctor on the premises to perferm
pregnane! tests or give abortion advice untess dou can aftord in ofter this
• Widening the conscience clause. There is no evidence that doctors or
nurses are being forced to perform abortions. After Corrie, health
NATIONA PRORITE
CAMPAIGN
Published by
Prat hoice minto fies to one list pledge into thousands.
Join the lobby of the TUC General Council on Wednesday 25 July. 9am, Congress House, Great Street, WC1. For information on the October Mobilising Committee write or phone the National Abortion Campaign, 374 Grays Inn London WC1X 8BB. Tel: 01-278 i shorting inse do so to the charities.
use "unsympathetic staff" is an excuse lor inadequate
By Bob Pennington THIS WEEK, Thatcher, a large group of Tory MPs will vote to re-introduce hanging.
The idea of tying a rope around someone's neck to judicially break it, will be preached as a deterrent to violence.
Russell In well-bred, plummy accents, the hanging brigade will give chapter and verse on bow hanging will save the lives Road, unprotected.
These bumanitarian homilies will be uttered by the same people who support Pinochet and Videla.
They are the ones who will defend the gentlemen of the SPG against the outrage over Blair Peach's murder. None of them ever called for the hanging of those gunned down unarmed demonstrators on that Bloody Sunday in Derry.
But the hanging brigade is inconsistent.
A FEW weeks ago we sent out a questionnaire to the paper's local groups of supporters. know how and where you sold the paper, what political use you made of it, whether you organised around it -and in general what you thought of it, politically, journalistically, stylisticall Mostly we're still waiting to find out. far, from groups in Middlesbrough, Preston, Swindon, Wolverhampton, York. There's emerges from them, but it may be a misleading one.
For Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough, students were a big part of their sales during the term. But for all five groups the bigger part of their sales were elsewhere.
Preston, for example, 25 copies each week in pubs, which no one else was doing on the same scale. Labour another source of sales.
Everyone agrees Challenge is a accessible paper than its predecessor, Red Weekly, and easier to sell.
But the five groups had criticisms of the relation between the paper's Editorial Board and the localities. What some realise less is that the resources that go
making Socialist more accessible paper and that are neeced toincrease haison between the Editorial Board and the depend on the money coming in.
All the comrades who've replied so far sol of tem their pel a routy. national average. Bút only Swindon Name.
Address 'Socialist Challenge'.
Relgacrest Ltd.. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Printed by
M.
its innocent and the hang us.
other
paratroops who for their won't
not They want the state militants.
OUR FUND DRIVE
We wanted to
seem to discussion circles.
We've only had five replies so
pattern which
our York and problem fund-raising
sells up to following
meetings were Anon PJV that Socialist Coventry IMG more popular and S. Smith J. Lyst
P. Atkin D. Power comrades. appear to W&L LP Supporters Challenge Anon Swindon IMG
localities
Week's total well above Cumulative total
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Domestic: 6 months, f5; 12 months, £10 Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, £10 per annum. Multi-reader institutions: donble individual rate Ienclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of.. Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to Complete and return to: Socialist Challenge, 328 Upper Street, London!
their state - to be given the right to legally murder their opponents.
Capitalism is based on force. Behind every law stands the means of
enforcement, be it the police officers with their powers of 'sus, th deprivation of liberty, or the rope.
I am not sure whether it is 'better' or 'worse' being incarcerated bebind bars for life, or being hung. What am sure about is that we must oppose giving our exploiters the power to
There is no doubt that they will use that power - like they use all their
powers to terrorise and intimidate the exploited
Today, they will argue that they want wat power to terrorise lne Ir8l people who have the audacity to fight
freedom, although they Tomorrowthey will want to use i as. quite
weapon against many other had organised regular fundraising activity — a bi-monthly social.
What emerges most sharply is that even groups which sell a good many papers only organise round the pape to a very limited extent. SC groups
mainly limited to
The potential of local Socialist Challenge groups to organise activity to build the paper, to develop new sales, to raise funds, to discuss round and send in articles about local events to the paper, doesn't seem to be being realised in practice.
VIew this is the same as those of sales and 1 ne replies to questionnaire show in their diverse way the things that can be done, the potential that is waiting to be tapped
Our thanks this week to
contributors our combined fund drive:
£10.00 30.00 20.00 2.00 Paul Philbert (Denmark) 1.00
5.00 Outer West London IMG Middlesbrough IMG
Hemel Hempstead IMG 25:00
£182.90
£10,505.26 East End coffeet P.O. BOx . 82,
← Socialist Challenge No. 104, 12 July 1979Socialist Challenge No. 106, 26 July 1979 →