Socialist Challenge No. 108, 9 August 1979
The scan: sc-n108-aug-09-1969.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challens A DECADE OF DEATH IN IRELAND BRITISH TROOPS E
Inside: Communist Party and International Marxist Group
OUT NOW
hoto: G.M- COOKSON (Socialist Challenge]
THE No CUTS says To
See pages 4 + 5
debate 'troops out now'. Pages 6/7
church.
Park Place.
George Sq. £9 return.
HUDDERSFIELD:
George's Sq. Phone 642245. NEWCASTLE:
Station. Phone 735979. PORTSMOUTH:
Union, St. Paul's Rd.
(near bus station).
COACHES TO THE DEMO
BIRMINGHAM: Departs 10am, Hall of
BRADFORD: Departs 9am, Richrood (by
CARDIFF: Departs 10am, Student Union,
EDINBURGH: Departs 10pm, Sat 11 Aug, Waverly Bridge. Phone 2291861.
where.
GLASGOW: Departs 10am, Sat 11 Aug,
Departs 9.30am, St.
LIVERPOOL: Departs 8.30am, Pier Head.
MANCHESTER: Departs 8.20am, Albert Sq. MIDDLESBROUGH: Departs 7.30am, TeesST Poly; 7.40am, Stockton Odeon. Phone
Departs 6.30am, Central herself
NOTTINGHAM: Departs 9am, Salutation
march'
Wish Ireland. 12.30pm, TO off, Conley. Magdalen St
Departs llam Student hone 819141 Manchester.
SHEFFIELD: Departs 9.30am, Hammer Lane
WREXHAM: Departs 9am, King St.
now.
No. 108 9 August 1979 15p THIS WEEKEND is the tenth anni-
once more onto the streets of Ireland. This year is the eight hundred and tenth anniversary of the first British invasion of Ireland.
The last decade, like many before, has been a decade of death and of torture. In the last ten years over 2,000 have died, countless more injured, thousands have been interned without trial, thousands more sent to prison by kangaroo courts.
The burden has fallen heaviest on the Catholic minority in the northeast six counties of Ireland. It is they who have suffered most, and today the guns and torture weapons of the British 'security forces' are pointed in the direction of the working class ghettos of Belfast, Derry, Armagh and else-
For its part the British working class has said little and done less about its government's occupation of the North of Ireland. Not so the British ruling class. Only last week a magistrate in a London court described January's 'Bloody Sunday' march in London as 'highly provocative'. He fined a demonstrator who defended
from a fascist attack, commenting that some patriotic people might be offended by such a
Last week, too, the Tory government banned the use of Trafalgar Square for Sunday's demonstration marking the tenth anniversary of Brit-
troops' new involvement in
The latest information Socialist Challenge has been given is that the National Front is planning to attack the London march. NF transport has been arranged from as far away as
The 12 August demonstration was called on the basis that Britain should declare its intention to leave Ireland. Socialist Challenge believes that this demand does not go far enough, and we urge our readers to march in the 'troops out now' contingent.
But wherever you march, be on the streets of London on 12 August. Whether its the last ten years or the last eight hundred and ten, the conclusion is the same - Britain out of Ireland
All out 12 August!
Assemble Marble Arch, 2.30pm.
Page 2 scan of this page
Hands off Zimbabwe!
OUR POLICIES
C'apitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trade unions orter solutions inal are in the interests not of the workers hut of the capitalist class.
Socialist Challenge believes that
two vial tasks confronting revolutionary socialists arc:
• To build broad-based class struggle lendencies in opposition to class-collaborationism in the lahour movement. These should
non-exclusive grouping together militants holding a wide range of portlical vitas.
• To begin lo fight for the creation unified democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can.
application 01 united front tactics, hegin to be seen as alternative hy thousands workers engaged in struggles.
Such an organisation should be based on the understanding that:
The struggle for socialism seeks to unite the fight of
workers against the with that of other oppressed layers
women, black people, gays struggling for Sheration. This socialism can on s beachieved by creating new organs • power aro delealing *l al necessary means the power of the capitalist state.
Our socialism will
infinitely
more democratic • than what exists in Britain today. Tu rients for political parties and currents that do not take up arms against the socialist state. The Stalinist models
Moralism' in the LSSR and Fastern turope have discredited socialism in the eyes of millions of workers rods out ute We are opposed to them and will offer tuli support to ail lighting for socialist democracy.
The interests of workers and
on a norio scale. capitalist nol _created a market. it has created politics. Thus we fight for working class unity on an international scale, this units will in the long run be decisive in defeating both the imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships sustain in latin America, Africa and Asia.
l immediate pies dramand ni
immediate withdrawal British troops from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their uwn future.
The Communist parties in Europe are in crisis. Seither Haroconmunist the pro-Masern wings hase any meaninglul strategy for arerthrow of the capitaliss sale. den resolationars voridisd parties
than 1l l HIT I L betore. Tralitions more lavirable Thans preceding three decades. Bad such parties Can built referding sectarianism and seeing ailernaddemocrars nod as a losury but as a sital necessit. This ancans the racht do creamise lackons and
I son agree with these principtes and he involveel indisities bes Socialist ( ballenge
torms belo and send it do ers.
intermation abound artistics in aus
• I weaked libe additional liferaure ari enclose Sep do casset costs.
Name....
Address...
send lo bocialise ( hallenge. 32% 1) per . 000
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
EDITORIA
approach to Zimbabwe,
characte
major alterations 'Zimbabwe-Rhodesia',
and
Around of elections. through The outburst
of much tae Indeed, the
query.
bosses
their
DAYONE
10.30-1.30pm
Perry Anderson
be 2.30-5.00pm
Workshops
all
Alan Freeman, Gunther Minnerup
7.30-10.00pm RALLY world.
those Voice of Leon Trotsky
DAYTWO world world 10.00-1.00pm
IS LENINISM OBSOLETE?
Beyond the Fragments
• they Workshops
International
Frank
2.00-5.00pm CULTURE AND POLITICS Francis Muthern THETRADE UNIONS TODAY
nor
speaker
the
are "ser the
DAYTHREE
10.00-1.00pm
BRITAIN John Ross
Workshops
in Eastern Europe.
Bailey
2.00-5.00pm
EUROPE
Creche facilities Refreshments available
£l a session. £5.50 six sessions excluding the rally l for rally
London
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street. London NI 2XQ. IN THE WAKE of the apparent agreement reached at the Commonwealth conference on a common
the Rhodesian Herald asked its readers whether Margaret Thatcher might be a 'Labour Prime Minister in drag'.
There is no doubt that the position adopted at the conference represents a majorshift in Tory policy. A government which up until a few weeks ago was loudly hinting at its intentions to lift sanctions and recoonise the interna settlement' is now committec
the constitution an all-party conference involving the Patriotic Front guerillas, and a new
of indignation from right-wingers like Julian Amery is a good index of
Thatcher position Ags altered. new package virtually indistinguishable from the Owen-Young scheme on which the Tories poured so much scorn when in opposition — hence the Rhodesian Herald's bitter
The determined opposition of all the black CURRENT ISSUES OF MARXISM
The Debate on English History, Alternative Economic Strategy, Bahro's Marxism Speakers include: Perry Anderson, John Ross,
100th ANNIVERSARY OF TROTSKY'S • Speakers include: Pierre Frank, Tariq Ali, the Dodie Wepplerand two of the authors of
Class Analysis and Political Strategy, Kattsky and Eurocommunism, The Communist
Speakers include: Robin Blackburn, Pierre
Richard Hyman, Steve Jefferys SWP, IMG Workshops include youth and revolution TWO TRADITIONS OF MARXISM IN
Workers Plans and Workers Control, Women
Speakers include: Hilary Wainwright, Dave
THE REVOLUTIONARY LEFTIN
Chris Harman [SWP), Tariq Ali [IMG] i for all the sessions except the rally t including the rally] if paid before 1 September. VENUE: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square,
Page 2
across the bows'
more than the Tories could afford.
victory.
Tory
"publie security' during the elections?
conceivable that a Tory
Fill in the form below:
Name...
Address..
Editorial: 01-359 8180/9. Distribution/ Advertising: 01-3598371. African states to the recognition of Muzorewa, and the increasingly unstable complexion of his regime as internal opposition to it mounts, undoubtedly forced the Tories to think again. Nor should one underestimate the significance of Nigeria's 'shot
in the form of the nationalisation, which deeply worried the Tories' big business backers. A major international fiasco at a time of serious domestic political difficulțies is
Owen-Young contradictions, unsettled questions and dangers.
The present scheme reproduces all these and more.
As soon as its practicality is discussed the most mportant problem immediately arises — who wil nake up the armed forces and be responsible fo
Moreover, on what conceivable basis can any British government claim to 'act as the guardian of Zimbabwe's right to self-determination? And is it
government, so busily attacking living standards in the interests of capital Make Cheques and Postal Orders out to 'Socialist Challenge'.
people? need for mass great as ever.
21-23 September 1979
MARXIST
SYMPOSIUM
at home, will permit a Zimbabwean government committed to bettering the lot of the Zimbabwean
There is little reason to believe that the present proposals will be acceptable either to the white minority or the Muzorewa gang in Salisbury. Each has too much to lose from any serious tampering with the status quo. But it once again creates the dangerous spectacle of a common front between British imperialism and the neo-colonial states of Africa dedicated to containing and frustrating the liberation struggle of the people of Zimbabwe.
The only way for the labour and solidarity movement in this country to pick its way through the minefield of manoeuvres and ploys put up by the imperialists and their allies is to refuse to accept any proposal which places limits on the right of the people of Zimbabwe to decide their own future. The current scheme falls clearly under this heading. The
action to keep British hands off Zimbabwe and to aid the liberation struggle is as
Page 3 scan of this page
Mass picket, Wandsworth 13 August
By Colin Talbot
A GRUNWICK-STYLE confrontation is scheduled for
Wandsworth Monday.
The Wandsworth Trades Council has called a picket for that day at Bellamy House,
sites where the Wandsworth Council is attempting to ban picketing. The mass picket is the type of action which would be banned if Prior's anti-union proposals were to become law.
But Wandsworth Council has not waited for the new legislation. Two weeks ago it was granted an interim injunction against Lou regional organiser of the union UCATT, banning him picketing. the two sites council's plans to abolish works. At the interim nearing, Justice Park said Lewis was 'not likely' to win the full Lass
The dispute between UCATT and Wandsworth Council dates back to May 1978. Shortly after the election of the new Tory council, plans were announced to reduce direct works to a "skeleton maintenance department':
THE appeal of housing activist Piers Corbyn, sentenced to Imprisonment under tne trespass law for resisting the eviction of squatters from Huntley Street last August, will be heard Knightsbridge Court on 14 August.
The call for Piers' sentence to be reversed has been supported by several prominent labour representatives. including Latham, Chairperson of the Greater Luv Labour ran caesare Labour of the Parliament; Doug Grieve, Secretary of the Tobacco Workers Union (along with three members of his executive); and Trevor Phillips, President of the National Union of Students.
A demonstration of support for Piers outside the court planned, and if the sentence is upheld daily lunchtime pickets of the prison he is held in will be mounted.
I would like to join the march/have
Name
JOIN THE
Address
Campaign, Send to Right to Work
Sisters
(phone 01-802 0978).
265a
London
Seven
London
Battersea LILONS
Tory-controlled
Lewis, building from the direct
that he thought
Court picket, 19 August
Piers told 28 days
Never under the trespass law threat to SUCCIE groups.
movement Arthur on afterwards if I lose.
EEC General threatened carry on and extend them.
Piers'R
1S being basis of a phony
appealing.
MARCH
more information about the march
Socialist Challenge: 'One hundred and fifty rehoused for one in prison isnot a bad score. But my
the first imprisonment - 15 a all occupations by trade and community
'For this reason it's important that there is a big demonstration when my appeal comes up and that the fight goes
Whatever happens, no one should be deterred: the only way to defend occupations
with evictions is still to
co-defendant, was found guilty on 2 August and given a 28-day sentence suspended for one year. He was not even present at the eviction and was convicted on the
'verbal statement' drummed up by the police. He is Knightsbridge Crown Court, 1 Hans
Stop the chat
and fight
back
Liverpool
Blackpool, 1-5 September
A total of 800 out of the 900 jobs were to be cut. To carry through their cuts the council banned the direct works department from tendering for any council building contracts.
The two sites in dispute - the one at Bellamy House, and one in Upper Tooting Park Road contracted out to the building firms Croudace and Turriffs. A third firm, Bovis, is also involved because it has accepted a contract. from
Council to over management of the direct works in order to carry out the cuts.
Turriffs were awarded the contract at Bellamy House. They are being hoid 30 pepa cmen or than COIL DOC EI housing mate. Work on the site is due to begin
on 13 August in.
Workers the direct decided to picket the two sites in a bid to save their jobs and foil the council's plans. The Tories then appealed to the courts, saying that the pickets are in furtherance of a political rather than a trade dispute. Lou Lewis was singled out as the full-time union official organising the pickets
Resistance this attack traditional union rights has marred by the equivocation UCATT national leadership. The day Crescent, SW1, 10am, Tuesday 14 August. For leaflets and petitions or to pledge support for the prison picket contact the Huntley Street Defence Campaign, 55 Innis House, , London SE17; tel. 701 5691 or 267 1456.
Will I get paid my dole money?
Before you go on the march just tell the dole office you are going on the march and ask for a holiday form. You will get your money paid to you as normal.
What about food and accommodation?
The marchers will be sleeping in big teres we have hired All food will be provided free to all marchers. We will be collecting the money from trade unionists up and down the country.
What sort of entertainment is laid on?
Big dances and discos are being organised for every town we will be in. Several punk rock, rock and reggae
offered their services.
While we are telling them that we've got the right to
have a good time. It will all be free for the marchers.
jefer dourvis
after the court hearing, See alien are to words said that would through the courts and 'will of course obey the interim injunction'.
This statement Woods' announcement in the union's were
are 'supporting picketing that Wandsworth'.
Wandsthe UCATT's regional
sponsible for the Wandsworth area has pledged 'maximum assistance' for the workers and promised to continue picketing the two sites. the esti- It was with just such attacks on
trade union rights in mind that the 1,100-strong 'Defend Our works conference on 22 June
'Code of Conduct' for disputes. The first point of that code is 'no crossing of picket lines', which is exactly what the mass picket at Bellamy House will be out to ensure on 13 August.
The pickel starts deserves the support of every trade unionist in London.
Wandsworth would not just save 800 been Jobs, it would be a massive warning to of the the Tory
ahead with its anti-union laws.
North of Ireland. marching to demand that the British
the paper.
Socialist Challenge gives coverage to Ireland. much claim to be called socialists if they aren't prepared to •eampaign against British imperialism's opera tions just the other side of the Irish Sea. We've backed up regular consistent
regular reports of what the British media want to cover up: the army's role in Ireland and the campaign in Britain to get the troops out.
Socialist almost alone in playing this role. And we can't do it in a vacuum. First off, it's pretty useless written if the printed copies rot in our offices, or in our supporters' front Our thanks this week to:
Swansea IMG Myles Shelly Alloasupporter A Genn-Bash KPark KPFOrTESteT A Raisdo
B Drummond Anon MB Hackney IMG Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
UCATT
fight issue
with
Viewpoint that UCATT to the full the is taking place at
council re-
5 AN
com Unions' 7N0 adopted a
7am and
A victory in
government not to press
OUR FUND DRIVE
ON SUNDAY demonstrators will be | rooms. We need the papers to be sold marking the tenth anniversary of the troops being sent onto the streets of the
They will be
withdraw from the country. Socialist Challenge is supporting the demon- Socialist stration, and specifically the 'troops out now' contingent. All this you can read and find explained in this issue of
But this isn't the only week that afterwards,
We don't think people have use of it!
takes resources. this belief with coverage of Britain's Irish war, week in, week out;
Those
Challenge has been
getting articles
week or two.
Anon £32.50 John Cranwell 2.00 25.00 ANOI George Grime 10.00 K Tidima: 1.00 Preston MAG 200 Swindon MMG 20.00 .00 Brent LMG 5.00 15.00 AnOn eek'stotal 100.00 Cumulative rotal
Code of Practi
I No crossing of packen tina:
I For dote
rank, & for
king by traditional canion and
procecuraa... no enforca
• to be per enoure that picken lines Fician! to
Support calls made by strike
Rank and File Code of
Practice: 75p per 100, inc.
postage, from Defend Our
Unions, 265a Seven
Sisters Road, London, N4.
to get out to people who are perhaps unhappy about what's going on in the Six Counties but not yet convinced of the case for getting the troops out now
So we want you to make a special effort with this week's paper, to sell
Challenge Irish We'll have bundles available on 12 August. We want to have a mass sale then, and we want supporters to take papers back to sell to people who hear about the demo
who ask them at work what they did at the weekend. The paper campaigns on this issue - — make
Second, our regular Irish coverage
To be more precise money. A member of our editorial staff has to be working on our Irish coverage every issue. Producing it is a question of putting the resources of the paper behind thestruggle to get Britist imperialism out of Ireland
, resources incredibly slender. We depend on our readers to keep us going through contributionsto our Fund Drive. So - show usthat you agree with us on the importance of Ireland by giving our special summe fund a massive boost over the Dea
'In memory of Joe' 10.00
40.00 2.00 100.00
Oner dies Loadce ING
South East London IMG 16.00
8.00
£11.472
Page 4 scan of this page
Lambeth-Southwark-Lewisham: a fight for the whole NHS
LAST week the Tory government suspended the Lambeth, Southwark • and Lewisham Area Health Authority for its refusal to spending cuts in line with government policy. 'The authority insists that such cuts can only be made at the cost of jeopardising the lives of people in the этед.
Sociatist Challenge spoke to Janet Maguire, a health worker in one of the hospitals on the firing line — Secretary ASTMS Janet is also secretary of the Campaign against Health Cuts Southwark and Lewisham. How serious are the cuts demanded by the government?
Southwark The Lambeth, Lewisham AHA is one of the largest in the country. It is responsible for three of the country's biggest hospitals Guys, Kings Thomas's.
These hospitals contain some of
country's top doctors surgeons highly fields, such as heart surgery, kidney transplants and neurosurgery. Many of our patients come from all over the country to get treatment they could get nowhere else: in some specialities as many as su per cent or palents comic from outside the area.
These hospitals are also responsible for training a very large number of doctors and nurses who then go to work in hospitals in every part of Britain.
So the hospitals in besides serving the local population, play a central role in health service. The cuts in Lambeth will therefore affect the entire service.
What's more, the only way to save the £8 million demanded government is to cut into some of the
most essential services. It would mean, for example, that the authority would have to place an embargo on buying new This would directly at the special role of the Lambeth hospitals, for the specialists
would no longer be able to keep abicast of LICW developments
medical technology.
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
impose drastic
like 1,500 are at risk.
In practice it closure
Guys.
branch,
down.
for an orthopaedic operation and artificial hip
teaching
and St
and specialised
By Dave Bailey
by local authorities are Ine department
Lambeth, Consider these proposals:
GPs the national responsibility
planning clinics.
more lor laboratory services. strike
visitors can be reduced.
This is
At the same time, because the health service is so labour-intensive, the only way to make really big cuts to cut the number of beds. Something
would mean the of several of the smaller hospitals in the area as well as reducing the number of beds available in the big teaching hospitals. You can get an idea of thescale of the cuts if I say that 1,500 beds would be equivalent to one of the three large teaching hospitals closing
The result of cutting beds is that waiting lists will grow ever longer. Patients already have to wait two years
- an for example. In outside maternity, a couple of months ago, we were sending mothers home within THE cuts currently being considered
not only inhuman — they are a classic case of CULS false economy, as a detailed study of the cuts being proposed in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham reveals.
Many of them are simply a case of
SUIT other of the welfare
• lant on more. drug. for drugs patients, to save the hospitals' drug
GPsto give more family planning advice, to save the expense of family Result:
Other health authorities to pay ine use of area's
Localcouncils to take on more Dirts responsibility for the mentally "sick" so that the number of beds and health
buck-passing. will
Page 4
FIGHT THE DITS IN N.H.
DEFERL
COMMIT
BODK BRANCH
two days of their giving birth. Seven days is normal practice.
Of course, the beds won't be scrapped. When beds have been left standing empty for a while, they'li be offered to the private sector, so as not to 'let them go to waste' : So the cuts will result in a transfer of desperately needed resources from the NHS to the private health sector.
Will people die as a result of these cuts?
Yes, they will. Take for example heart pacemakers. We have 1,500 patients from all parts of the country fitted with pacemakers.
To make economies, the AHA has discussed the idea that patients living
the Lambeth/Lewisham/ Southwark area should no longer be provided with pacemakers.
Cuts- the real waste
increase frustration and misery but without saving government money at all. Worse still, many of the
are utterly Consider these examples:
Tougher controls over meals to patients on the ward (i.e. substantial meals). Result: recuperation time.
One Lambeth hospital recently tried to economise on an expensive
Result: far more expensive kidney transplant operations had to be done twice.
Fewer beds and longer surgery
waiting lists, including abortions.
more women demanding maternity and post-natal facilities.
Fewer family planning clinics.
Result: more abortion and maternity
required for unwanted
Recruit less agency staff. Result:
more time wasted hunting through
ever more chaotic medical records.
Cut off the heating and ask staff
many areas, Kent for example, there are no facilities to fit pacemakers. This means that people could die.
Other proposals going the rounds
like cutting back transplants or other patients with kidney failure — would have even worse effects.
And of course growing waiting lists mean people treatment will die before they can get attention, particularly the elderly. Why did the AHA decide to refuse to implement the cuts?
The Labour government AHA to keep their spending within 1977-78 levels, while proper provision for inflation. AHA tried to avoid making cuts, and ran up an overdraft in order to meet its to wear warmer clothes. Result: more colds, more time off, less work done.
The social services have already been cut to the bone. Any further cuts can only be panic measures which, by accelerating breakdown and chaos, will permanently damage the services less thev are supposed to provide longer damage could only be put right by fat greater expenditure in the future
The only way to ensure efficient use of resources in the interests of the working class is to fight the cuts NUPE shop stewards in the City and Hackney District have called for a day of action on 13 September and a mass • lobby on that day to demand that the local AHA follow the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham and reluse to meiement lunder cars NUPE shop stewards Hamlets and Newham are considering taking similar action.
This, together action against the cuts, is the sort of acuon neecca lo services from cumulative breakdown.
HUb DOCKEIS
SINTATUS
"overspending'.
on kidney
treatment
needing all kinds of
However,
firm collaborating
asked the to take over.
not making
The
How in from bodies.
groups.
This
trade
example of dic being in the area. in Tower September
with industrial
authority. save social
obligations. This is what the press call
What broke the camel's back was the refusal of the Tories to make allowance for the extra expenditure that will result from this year's wage rises and their jacking up of VAT. In effect, the government is financing its Budget with the lives of NHS patients.
The rebellion was led the Labour councillors on the AHA.
Shot Labour Party members on the AHA are standing
Stan Hardy, for example, is with the Regional Health Authority who have stepped in
Most serious of all is the fact that while Labour was in office the AHA itself drew up extremely detailed plans for cuts, though they were hesitatingto implement them. These plans will now fall into the hands of the government.
are local health workers responding to the news?
People on the wards are furious. Many of them are talking about occupations and work-ins the moment the first cuts are imposed. Support has been coming
many labour movement NUPE and COHSE have condemned the government. We also
support of local tenant
The Campaign Against Cuts in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham was set up in late January to organise the fight against the cuts. It has the official backing of the three trades councils in ine area and numciou.
union bodies, both in and beyond the NHS.
We have printed 20,000 leaflets to explain the meaning of the cuts. These
distributed the hospitals and major shopping centres
We are organising a petition, and a big public meeting for 8
But what we must prepare for are occupations, sit-ins, and a campaign
non-cooperation WItn
We've got to build up to industrial action by all workers in this area to stop these disastrous cuts.
Page 5 scan of this page
By Stephen Marks ON FRIDAY 29 July 1921 a march of thousands formed up outside Poplar town hal in hast London. In front of the brass band and the union banners was a group of men and women in official robes and chains. Above their heads flew a banner 'Poplar borough council marching to the High Court and possibly to prison tosecure equalisation of rates for poor boroughs'
The Labour councillors, led by Daily Herald editor George Lansbury,. were prepared to go to jail to win their case for rich London boroughs to share the cost of social services and • other rate burdens with poorer areas. They won their struggle after a month in jail, and have been an inspiration ever since.
Noreen Branson's new Poplarism 1919—1925 (Lawrence & Wishart, £7.50),. provides us with a timely opportunity to examine the relevance of their struggletoday, when
socialists look WILD degrees of hope to left Labour councils to give a similar lead in the fight against the Tory cuts. The first contrast with today that strikes one immensely readable and moving book
the deep overwhelmingly working class councillors of Poplar had in the local commuly.
Mass support
Before deciding on protest which led them to jail the councillors called a delegate meeting of Poplar trade unionists which voted to support men stana. tenants (which in those days meant tenants of private landlords) were organised to start a rent and rate strike should the government empower other bodies to collect the rates council was refusing to levy.
Noreen Branson writes: The mere fact that the Poplar Labour group felt itselt subect to the local partv itsef resulted in an participating electorate; one which put a cross on a ballot paper every three years and then
... and won
which read
book,
their battlę over the rates.'
treated them
poor relief, and council this wages
which the
factor in their government power,
the rates
And local pay) by ruling that the
could not allow
Poplar in the matter of wages.' After Chamberlain,
rather than
forgot In
KES OF THE IMG SAY:
SHASH PRIVATH KACTICE NOV
DEFEND THE
When Labour fought
about it in between...It was really the mass support of the electorate which had enabled the councillors to win
This meant that the government
with care on two subsequent issues where they defending workers' living standards:
workers'
Some of the reasons why Poplar could 'get away with it' for so long no longer apply. On the issue of rate equalisation and poor law, a major
victory was inac ine did not then have the wilen It now nas, to suspend alLY councillors and put in a commissioner - as was done at Clay Cross.
On wages for council employees, Lord Justice Atkinson reacted to their minimum rate of f4 cluding equal
councillors themselves to be guided 'by some eccentric principles of socialist philanthropy or by a feminist ambition to secure equality of the sexes
long battle Neville the Tory LENSICI charge of local government, brought in thepresent law giving governments the right to suspend councils. But as a sweetener, it provided a once-for-all suspension of the penalties on Poplar
then
FREE
THE
MHS
government has lost powers, and the mass base of the Labour Party on the ground has diminished. Today local Labour parties are often so weak that small groups of leftists can win control of a council without necessarily having the base behind them that Lansbury and his comrades had.
All this means that in today's fight. against the cuts the role of workplace organisation and trade union strength is much greater. What is surprising in the Poplar story, even after making allowance for the high level unemployment, is that there was no industrial action in support of the council's stand, or any suggestion of
But this does not let councillors off the hook. If they want to prove their view that the Labou Party is where socialists should be, let them follow the example of Lansbury. In the words of Noreen Branson:
"The significance of the Poplar councillors during these years was, that as one of the first groups of socialists to achieve majority, they were also among the few who refused to remain confined within the limits of the system in which they found themselves. They believed that it was their responsibility to bring about major changes in the conditions of life of their electors and in so doing to help build a movement which would one day lead the country to socialism.
orih
WORKERS
WEALT
By Dave Carter Assistant Secretary, Middlesbrough Trades Council FIRE brigades in County Cleveland are to receive less money for breathing equipment; and school children in the county are to receive no further road
proposed last week by Tory-controlled Cleveland County Council. Other cut include fewer disabled, fewer home helps and care attendants for the old, specialist teachers for the blind am disabled. Children will be further hi • by end to language swimining lessons, grants for. school uniforms : lighting is also to be reduced.
The police, probation service are to be spared th cuts, though the kindly promised to recycle wasteBy Dave Burn Islington NALGO
OVER 400 members of the Islington of Branch of NALGO took strike action for a half day on 31 July to protest against the level of cuts being planned by Islington Council. resulted Labour nurseries, social workers* teams and the Housing Department being closed for the afternoon. A rally and lobby of the council were held.
advance of the Tory government in implementing cuts March it chopped £4¼ million fromits programmes to keep the rates down. working Now it is talking about axing a further 10 per cent from all its services in response to the Tories' 5 per cent cut in the rate support grant to local authorities.
taken away from needed services to the people of the borough. The council is threatening to
HEALTH
DOCTOR USTE
NOT
HERITH
Tory Cleveland
wield the axe...
the Tories
These are just two of the cuts cutbacks.
holidays for the when
and fewer
classes, Councils. and school milk. Street
magistrates and
Chief Constabi
mand so does
Labour Islington
telepnones lo
This action of libraries, Party council
constituency
Islington Council has been well in
BLAST
NALGO, conference,
This will mean a further £6 million
the desperately
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
RE
defend
THE our
health
ice.
Wall Eder
paper and make police uniforms last longer. The Labour opposition asked
"reconsider', and suggested an increase in the rates Instead. The Tories pointed out that it was Callaghan who introduced cash limits on local spending and started the
Cleveland county councillors were greeted by a lobby of 70 protesters
they last Wednesday. Children, housewives, NUPE staff, community workers and local trade nnionists joined the lobby, organised by the Cleveland Cuts Campaign and
County Association of Trades
It will be up to these bodies to broaden the campaign in the coming months to draw in all groups affected by the cuts and to draw up alternativ policies to those of the Tory counci and its lap-dog Labour opposition. close libraries and swimming pools, cut the housing programmes and axe jobs next year. It has already shown its callous attitude to those in need by stopping the provision of emergency
housebound , chronically sick and disabled people
Already the cuts have caused a deep division within the local Labour
, which holds 50 out of the 52 Thirteen local councillors and two out of the three
Labour parties borough have sponsored a conference against the cuts for September (when detailed plans for cutbacks will be under discussion in the council).
which is backing the and the other council unions will be attempting to push the ngn against Ine culs into high gear Os September. They will be demanding that the council stops carrying out the Tories' policies for them and starts fighting the cuts. A programme of action will be drawn up to put some weight behind these demands.
Page 6 scan of this page
TROOPS OUT NO
MIN THE FRAN IS T8
BRITISH LABOUR ANDIRELAND
1969-79
A new pamphlet by Geoff Bell with cartoons by Cormac, which
allalyses bipartisanship over the last ten years. It is available from The Other Bookshop, Upper St., London N1, cost 40p + 10p post. Bulk rates available on request.
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
POLITICAL PRISONER
LONG KESH
NO MATE 63 AN O , 328
Page6
comrades
whole.
country.
not now.
HOL JOW.
Ireland, situations
withdrew
British forward theoretical
yet? steps
YES!
I'LL make the assumption that most
present hold a common theoretical viewpoint, one based on
Leninist concept of: self-determination for the Irish people as a
Many, not only on the left, pay lip service to this principle and say, yes, we would like to see Ireland one
Labour, Liberals, even Tories would probably say, yes, in the long term, we would like to see a united Ireland. Then they add - but
Similarly with the case for troops out. Most people say, yes, we think that the troops have to get out...but
For the bourgeoisie the usual argument - not just as applied to
but in other imperialist - is predictable: there would be a blood bath if troops
now, the natives aren't capable of ruling themselves.
But what is the argument the
Communist Party - puts when says that the view of Irish determination applies...but not just
For an answer, let's examine what the British Road to Socialism says: 'a democratic solution, based on the implementation of a Bill of Rights, the end to all repressive measures, the withdrawal of troops to barracks, and financial and other measures to begin to tackle the appalling problems of poverty and unemployment These
would which sectarian strife could be ended
and British troops completely..."
Iwill quickly go through a number of these points.
Morning Star of 9 March 1979 to find the following on the Bill of Rights: It would mean. an end to torture, internment and beatings...an end to discrimination...it would mean the security forces would be made to
people behaviour.'
So if a Bill of Rights was passed all these nasty things would cease. But even today there are forbid torture in the North of Ireland yet we all know that torture goes on There are laws discrimination; discrimination continues. There are murder by memeers of the Sprevent are meant the murders go on and the murderers get off scot free
if these previous European Courts and cannot preverit what is not supposed
happen from difference will a Bill of Rights make? I would like clarification on that
so too on withdrawal of troops to barracks'. I would argue that this is a meaningless formulation. There is house between Ireland You are either for the British troops staying in Ireland, or you are against. British troops were stationed in Irish barracks in August 1969: As soon as Callaghan said, onto the streets you go, on they went.
Another point made in the British Road to Socialism is that the British government. should and other measures unemployment. I would like to see theBritish government pour in billions of pounds to wipe out the 12 per cent unemployment rate and the one in three poverty rate. But to imagine that British imperialism that is to spread the most amazing illusions as to what the role of British imperialism in Ireland is.
So what does this amount to? It runs: if a Bill of Rights is passed which wipes out torture, the troops are withdrawn to barracks, if all these taken and if this ended sectarian strife, then the British troops could be withdrawn. To lay down those sorts of conditions for troop withdrawal is to put off the day for that withdrawal way beyond the foreseeable future.
What is the theory
withdrawn
We can turn to the
problem
Ireland their
laws which
which forbid we at know
taken - but Sometimes
Stormont, laws and all the rest
happening, what
the advocacy of 'the
very
halfway and Britain
of the
give "financial
to tackle
evidence
would ever do
conflict.
in this way
of the financial measures are
national unresolved.
AS
behind this
argument as to why British troog have to stay in the North of Ireland? is found in the British Road t Socialism's phrase that its aim is t create conditions in which sectaria strife can be ended'. In other words,
"sectarian strife' which 1S th
We all agree that in the North o
WOKe fight workers workers march against workers, vot against workers. We have to ask wh this is the case.
Some say it is a religious war, but don't imagine many here believe tha so I won't bother answering it. Other say the conflict is over the desire of th Loyalists to remain with Britain. T answer that, all that is needed is to cit the different stands Loyalists hav
on the link with Britain they have independent Ulster, sometimes, VI
semi-independence. 1914 Loyalist leader Edward Carsoi even threatened to make an allianc with Germany against Britain.
So why are the workers in th North of Ireland so illogical as to figh each other? They are not illogical a all, for what they are fighting for ar
real, practical and ver political things.
Political in the sense that they ar fighting over whether the Irish peopl have the right, the immediate right, to rule themselves. The Loyalists say no the Republicans say yes, the Britist government says no. This is the basi.
conflict the unresolver national question
Let us take this one step furthe and examine why this question rouse the feelings it does. As Marxists w look for a material base. I could quot figures showing how Protestants hav proportionally more jobs, better job Delter nouses than Catholics. All the
is there government figures and I needn't labour the point, but such is the material base of the
The border, the undemocratic nature of the Northern Ireland state, guarantees these differentials
And because the conflict is posed
- the national question as it fundamentally affects both sections
working class the Irish working class will remain divided, as they always have been, while the
question remains
proof, members of the Communist Party should examine how their own programme has fared We are told that the CP-inspired
Page 7 scan of this page
W222
Better Life for All Campaign has attracted 300000 signatures North. But there is all the difference between getting people to sign a piece of paper and getting them to do any then boas what he ares nine.
When campaign brought onto the streets the tens of thousands who have marched on H Block, for "Brits out', or even behind Orange banners? It never has. Even in Britain, where the campaign is officially backed by the TUC, only 200 took part in the last march.
Or we can look at this question another way. elections the party standing 'Better Life' ticket - Official Sinn Fein - received 4,000 votes for two candidates; the single *Brits candidate, Bernadette McAliskey, got 34,000 votes.
The reason for this is illustrated by a conversation I had when Socialis
'Better Life', unlike marches, had been given permission to march in Trafalgar Square. press officer at the Department of the Environment said to me: they to do with Northern Ireland, that lot?" And then said that permission had been given because the march was 'non-controversial'.
But if something in the North of Ireland is non-controversial it is also irrelevant. And 'Better Life' demands for civil rights irrelevant because the answer to thos. demands has been given. It was giyen in August 1969 when the Loyalists attacked Catholic areas in Belfast, in 1971 when internment was duced, in 1972 when Britain killed 14. unarmed demonstrators on the streets of Derry.
By that time it struck most people in the North of Ireland, or at least most Catholics, that to ask for civil rights from a government which was doing all that was no longer relevant. Catholics lost it. Sculla was over, This is why movement to get the Brits out has spread as it has in the North of Ireland over the last four or five years.
The difference between the two positions being debated is simple. One says that when 'sectarian strife' ends British troops can be withdrawn. say that only when question is solved, only when Britain gets out, will "sectarian strife' end.
What divides the people of Ireland and what divides its working class is Britain's presence. To round and say, well at presence stops the Irish fighting about it, is like saying that at least in South Africa apartheid keeps the blacks and whites apart.
I do not claim that the immediate withdrawal of British troops and the breaking up the
which that inevitably lead to would immediately solve everything. But it is true that the longer Britain has stayed — during the last ten years — the worse the 'sectarian strife' has become. The longer Britain has stayed the feelings have risen about its right to stay.
Accordingly, if the removal of troops would not immediately solve everything, that removal fundamental precondition for what we all want to see — the unity of the Irish working class.
All pictures were taken from
Camerawork: Reporting
Northern
publication from Half Moon
Photography workshop. Avail-
able 119-121
Road, London E2,
work costs 60p, plus 15p p& p
European
the
Out'
The
'Oh, are
- the
- are
intro-
"THE greatest hanging Hritish labour movement. trade
and the
the particular,
on in the North of Ireland.
the We the national
cies murder,
then turn least that
concerned, clear: that is,
partition can lead to the achievement
would objective. And
to keep Ireland divided in 1921. especially
London or
history and independent relatively easy.
also particularly
nurtured and kept on system, this mass of Unionism
Roman complex.
Camera-
that Britain mast withdraw,
SHOULD British troops be withdrawn from the North of Ireland immediately! That was the
NO!
shame which see on the shoulders of the people and the union totemen find the particular, is its persistent ignoring of the problems the Irish people face. In them.
its persistent ignoring of the repression which has been going
For 50 years our labour movement has tolerated Unionist repression in
North of Ireland, and particularly in the last ten years it has for tolerated a crisis which has meant accepting officially sanctioned poli-
torture, harassment, and systematic brutality used against whole sections of the communities in the North of Ireland.
As far as the Communist Party is
our aim is absolutely achieve the independence and unity of Ireland. But it's one thing to state an objective; what you also have to do is to work out ways and propose activities which
of that one of • big problems that we have to overcome is quite clearly the forces that were able
If the barriers which had lain in the way of full Irish independence in 1921 were to be found in the City of
the Parliament Westminster then I think our job — to compléte the unfinished business of
achieve 32 county Ireland would be
The difficulty is that those barriers
itself, in Northern Ireland.
They lie in the system of Unionist discrimination, in the repression that that successive British governments have
alive. directed political influence which has made the keep struggle for Irish independence over Above the last 60 years so difficult and
Simply declaring "troops out in this particular context, simply saying
that the majority of the people of Ireland have a right to rule their own country, is no
answer to the practical realities and political influence of Unionism in the North of Ireland
What we need to discover is a programme of political action social and economic change which, as it is implemented, can enable the
OI Northern Ireland, ultimately of Ireland as a whole, to
capacity to oppose British rule and the effects that rule has for
That means, important first step, that they also must find the desire to end British
Yet at the moment the political basis on which the union has rested
the last •six decades stronger, in many senses, than it was 20 years ago. There is no doubt whatsoever that if one compares the political map of • Northern Ireland today with that of 15-20 years ago, reaction now has greater support in the working class.
To say that you won't overcome this situation until you have thrown out Britain is in my view to say that you won't be able to throw out Britain for a very, very long time indeed. For Britain isn't going to from the North of Ireland until it is made to go.
Of course the British government faces problems in Northern Ireland. For a long time it has wanted to replace the one party rule of the
which Unionism represented with a system which more akin to that which operates in other developed capitalist states. has wanted to replace repression with what you might call political massage of the masses, but it has been unable to mould a centre force out of the sectarian monster that it has helped to create in the North of Ireland
The government tolerated right-wing Unionist violence on a horrendous scale. They have done
because Unionist right-wing violence and murder, whether
against Protestants Catholics, helps to intimidate and
divided the working all, they tolerated right-wing Unionist violence because to have opposed the forces of the UDA and UVF to any serious degree would have been to release forces for working class unity.
What about the struggles of the Provisional IRA? Is it winning its was
CHRIS MYANT,
of the debate. for national independence? True, the IRA is very Westminster would suggest that there has been IRA and activity - in particular its campaign
of bombing commercial targets and its tit-for-tat response to the sectarian and killings by the right-wing
Unionist organisations helped to re-establish night-wing Unionism very political force
working class.
The IRA, in my opinion, would do more to further the cause of the Irish people by ending its campaign than by continuing it. At the present it is a cover behind which military, the RUC and the Unionist right wing are able violence.
In condemning the policy of the IRA I am in no military repression which is place there. opposed that since the very start. But just to withdraw the Army and leave all else as it is will not constructive change whole. conditions in Northern Ireland by which the working drawn together in unity, in action, in struggle for common objectives and common demands. has There is no other basis on which we is can create the kind of mass movement
which will be required in Ireland as a It whole if we are to end British rule
there.
Northern Ireland can struggles building up from below in the context of the social and economic crisis which bedevils all the people of Northern Ireland.
The issue in the last ten years ha en how much effort the right win and the British behind them had to put in to keep that unity from growing and developing. us is how we can get involved in action alongside Irish workers in that real class. life
North of Ireland.
It is my firm belief that the working class in the North of Ireland, as a whole; in its majority, can be won for freedom. of len it is ende united freedom. When lt 15 working class will be Ireland's surest weapon; far more important for the
Speaking for immediate withdrawal was
GEOFF BELL, a member of the Editorial
Board of Socialist Challenge. Against was
assistant
Morning Star. Below we print an edited version
much. stronger than likes to admit. But
even a dead.
sectarian may that has and cement as the main in the Protestant
continue
against Britain the British that to hide their Ireland now.
democracy in. • way supporting the taking That's Communists have means of lead to any in Ireland as a
Our first task must be to win the
people can be for that altering the
those independence
shifted
And even a casual visitor to broken
putting
The issue for We
working class struggle in the
that
united
have to be.
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
editor of the
Davo
struggle against British imperialism than a few hundred members of the Provisional IRA few shops blown up in the centre of Belfast,
few hundred soldiers shot
Significant though those figures
appear to be it is a cost imperialism is perfectly happy to bear if it means the Irish people remain disunited and if it means the same exploitation of the labour • power of workers in the North of Ireland can
And it is this reason — the view that the working class as a united political force can be Ireland's surest weapon
- which is why the Communist Party doesn't simply say
•Britain must withdraw from To say we want the troops out means you also have to say, right at the beginning, we want
no magical formula to solve the problem. Rather it is a
providing the people of Northern Ireland, and through them the people of Ireland as a whole, with
capacity by which they cal struggle effectively for that change,
independence and unity. balance power Northern Ireland in favour of those forces urging unity and through that
forces urging national
When it is achieved, when we have
• that balance opinion gly: of Unionist right-wing ideas over the mass of the working class in Northern Ireland, then we will be able to achieve the objective which we all want - the troops out. In that we are not merely saying that the Irish people have a right to rule themselves, we are also
forward policies and programme of action which will enable them to exercise that right.
don't say that when sectarianism ends then the British Army can be withdrawn. What we say
only when we begin to overcome sectarian divisions in the working class, only then will we be able to build - the workers of Ireland and the workers of Britain together the kind of force which will throw the troops out. For thrown out they will
Page?
Page 8 scan of this page
Carrington caught in BP oil slick
Muzorewa runs out of time
ON 23 July 1903 a British military force overwhelmed the defenders of the West African town of Burmi. By his act they brought the Sokoto Caliphate the most independent state in the region under British domination and laid the fondation for the colonial state of Nigeria.
Last week Nigeria
Their of (etcilar expeditionary force Petroleum unceremoniously booted out of the country.
If Nigeria's action compounding of business politics, it's not necessary to go too far to see where they learned their lesson. For the last two decades of the 19th century, southern Nigeria was ravaged as a freebooting army under the flag of the Royal Niger Company opened the country up for British
When they ENA0e staunch resistance in ine turn or te century army simply took over their free enterprise crusade.
Nigeria's . takeover of BP greeted by Lord Carrington blimpish indignation. regret the timing of this action', he was reported to have spluttered to the press.
But 1903 is long gone. A thousand
backed up by four machine guns and a 75mm. would not fare very well against the 250,000-strong Nigerian army. does the present state of the British CUlUILEY make economic
By Richard Carver
BISHOP Abei Muzorewa's lacklustre performance as the saviour of white Rhodesia is arousing growing concern in British ruling circles.
The 'internal settlement' remains unrecognised by the worid. parliament elected in April is torn by disputes. The Patriotic Front guerillas continue to do well in the war. All this
convincing the Tories all-party agreement is the only way to guarantee a pro-Western settlement.
Muzorewa's latest DSLUIC
been to renew offers of an amnesty to defecting Patriotic Front guerrilias. But the problem is not military one at all.
During the elections the Rhodesian state had some 70,000 people under arms. These are supplemented
some 8,000 black auxiliaries party militias groupcu detachment of the known as Pfumo Revanhu (Spear of the People).
The white forces have recently received up-to-date arms LICHLO from South Africa armoured cars, troop transporters,
cruisers and arlE ammunition — as well as US-made Huey helicopter gunships which saw service in Vietnam.
The Patriotic Front, meanwhile, has no more than 12,000 guerillas ip the field 2-3,000 ZAPU, 8-9,000 ZANU. Their largest weapon is an armour-piercing rocket.
The real problem for Muzorewa is that his government is. waging against an entire population, shown by the ievel of morale within the security forces.
Black conscription has proved a farce, with only a handful enlisting and widespread urban Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
important
took its
that British
with began to meet the north at the British
was with 'They will
advisable.
Maxim
cannon hationalisation
Nor weight.
warfare
against the draft.
La licence to plunder.
The results. Most
personnel. An
that an
the country May engineers, has accountants and draughtspeople.
really problems.
This party going down to defeat.
impact but did problems SeCtEvorees
party members.
consign- Although
and
Splits and
Before Chikerema the rated departure
last year.
as were planning opposition sarty
is in exile.
protests. may deal with
SOUTH-AFRICA
The fact of the matter is that, despite all their bluster, the protests of Carrington and the Tories over the BP General
cannot go beyond words. Even these don't carry much
Carrington has insisted that there
The only black soldiers enthusiastically committed to less the present regime are the auxiliaries — and then only because it gives them
lifting White morale is no better. Many of those who endorsed the 'internal settlement'in the white reterendum In March have not stayed around for the
worrying the government is the flight of skilled
estimated eleven hundred highly qualified people left
between December and GOCEOR nurses,
The remaining whites cannot have been cheered by Muzorewa's political
Reverend Ndabaningi dilnoie, one orlne signalonies lo llc 'internal settlement', denounced the election as a fraud the moment he saw
His sour grapes had little international
create domestic which culminated in the killing of 183 pro-Sithole auxiliaries last month and the arrest of 100 of his
Sithole and his supporters have now finally taken up their parliamentary seats, Muzorewa will be worried that thev mav iink uD with James Chikerema, who recently defected from Muzorewa to set up his own Zimbabwe Democratic Party.
expulsions from his party are nothing new for Muzorewa.
most celebwas when • Justice Minister Byron Hove was expelled
Purged with Hove •was Reverend Arthur Kanodereka. The
launch an nen samoae ekd was assassinäted last December, Hove
But however ruthlessly Muzorewa
opposition, his Page8
is no truth in the Nigerian charge that their oil is being used to supply South Africa, in contradiction with the UN
Assembly's call for embargo. But BP openly admits that
supplies oil to South Africa, denying only that it comes from Nigeria or the North Sea.
In fact it is public knowledge that
increasing isolation makes it less and
likely that he will unconditional Western backing. Even Thatcher must finally be aware that
sanctions Colstol ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo waiting in the wings
BP
IWE'RE BAG ING SOUTH AFR
BP
BP 15 approved 'swop allows it to exchange both Nigerian
and North Sea oil for oil from other countries, which is then sent to South Africa. The hydrocarbons bubbling through the Shell/BP
may not have Nigeria' stamped on them, but one
miracles. The biggest drain on the gain economy remains the war, costs some $1.Sm a day as well as disrupting agriculture and transport. work Add to that the
obtained for £2.50 subscription wackeis on ine Ist
- L9 A ANbCO U.
ilso mihe
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Mes for he wike3 THE WORLD GOES SAME, Durham Strong Word:
IKAP-CU
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thing is sure
into the UK.
BP's
Ilav. regime.
cent of its oil,
essential economy.
and as well. kollallc them
operating a governmentagreement' which
refinery in 'Made in South Africa. which
fact that the
mare rete
rbookmara
The Bookmarx Club is now ani established method for socialists to get the best of new socialist books at a big discount-and delivered to your door HOW IT WORKS. You send us £4.50 for which you will receive the books on List A below plus those on one other list of your choice.
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- they would not be there but for the Nigerian oil flowing
Moreover, there is no doubt that
extensive investments and operations in South Africa provide
support to ine apartheid Between them Shell and BP supply South Africa with over 40 per
and their refining is essenta to ise South Atrican
to the South African
BP's operations in both Nigeria
South Africa alt inextricably wound up with those of Shell. The Nigerian government should indeed 'think again', as Carrington has asked them to - and take over Shell's assets
That is the only way to prevent the use of Nigerian oil in a web of dirty deals to ensure that the South Africar police and army have the sort of fuel reserves necessary for such operations as the invasion of Angola.
Nor should the blow to the oil
be softened by payıng "comensation'. They are hardly on the breadline given thei hold over the international transport processing and distribution of oil. BP has almost shrugged off the Nigerian move, saying that it will buy Nigerian oil on the commercial market.
The money raised by the take-over of the oil companies should go to those who need it and have suffered from the companies' conduct - the freedom fighters of Zimbabwe and majority of urban blacks are now reckoned to live below the poverty datum line and it becomes clear why Bishop Muzorewa has little political
THIRD QUARTER …… 1979
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Page 9 scan of this page
By Dave Kellaway
NICARAGUA is in ruins. More than 30,000 out of a population of two and a half million have lost their lives, a third are homeless, without work. It is hoped to salvage the coffee crop, but the cotton yield is expected to drop by 75 per cent — and cotton usually accounts for a quater of export earnings.
Somoza burnt three-quarters of the factories, gross product is expected to fall by 15-20 per billion dollars, and an estimated 2.5 CCIL. The foreign debt
dollars aid Is immediate purposes.
Despite the devastation, the people are displaying the enthusiasm born of a truly. popular uprising. food distribution and brigades are everywhere.
At the same time, the leaders of the provisional government (made up of the Sandinistas and
figures) flit negotiations with the Cuban workers state, the US state department, other A HUNDRED militants
picketed the Centre on 28 July in protest at recent repression directed against Tamil-speaking minority island.
Northern Sri Lanka main concentration of Tamil people is centred - has been under a state of emergency and curfew, backed up by a full-scale military occupation, for several weeks. There widespread arrests of militants and a
of suspicious deaths which bear the mark of the security forces.
A special anti-terrorist law has been rushed through Parliament to deal with dissenters, and there is every reason to believe that these attacks on democratic rights will extend beyond the Tamil regions.
Reconstruct
Nicaragua —
but for whom?
Moral acuucial.
and 750,000 are nationalised,
tirst days) financial Somoza's land Nicaragua's
national hands of state administrators.
1.3 landless peasants.
IS
needed Economy
Clean-up, the LICW production
imperialist and have been ruled 'progressive economy has been between investment independence'.
Picket protests repression of Tamils
from Sri The Tamil Ceylon Tea
on the political United
where the UNP government.
have been their national parliamentary
the Sinhala autiorities
have long
Latin American states, and European
Government measures have flowed thick and fast. The banks have been
partly to stem the flight of capital (250 million dollars in the
and to stabilise the infrastructure. All of - 30 per cent of best has been nationalised, but will remain in the
Only fallow land will be given to the 60,000 3U01L
Somoza's capital has also been taken over, and some people estimate Latin
government HOW controls 60 per cent of the economy:
nationalisations of capitalist interests mixed proclaimed which the state will regulate foreign
national SELF-
DETER:
MANUREN'
people have historic grievances against the state dominated by the majority Sinhalaspeaking population. The main Tamil and
organisation the Tamil is the
official opposition to the right-wing
But many younger militants who support the cause of an independent Tamil state (Eelam) are looking for more effective ways of fighting for
rights than the of the
TULF. Some of them have begun a campaign of armed actions against
While the Tamil people in the north
been settled in Ceylon, those in the east were brought into the island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to run the British-owned tea
Sandinista militants parade through the streets
for elections, government statements remain cagey. municipal elections could take place
Full democratic rights organise exist, and the purging of Somoza's supporters will be by civil trial without summary execution.
These changes are big gains for the Nicaraguan masses, and will inspire the mass struggle growing in other
American countries. government leaders continue to insist that Nicaragua will not be another
In fact US officials are said to be pleased with the moderate tenor of the new government. Their aim now is to try to keep it that way by using aid as blackmall. - TAMIL SPU
PEOPLES
CHOOSE
OWN
plantations. They are among the most dispossessed people in Sri today, stripped of most civil rights
working under conditions. Current governmeo policy aims to 'repatriate' a third of them to India.
The Tea House picket was mounted by a committee of Tamil, Sri Lanka, and British anmed itself TheS. which has now
The Committee Against Repression of the Tamil Speaking People in Sri Lanka'. Its demands include: the ending of the state of emergency, an end to the killings and torture of Tamils, troops out of the Tamil areas, and an end to incitement of racial hatred in the island.
The committee is planning a major action for next month's Britain of President Jayawardena of Sri Lanka.
FSLN
A big interventionist role is also But being played by international social democracy, which million dollars from European imperialists social-democratic image to profitable effect in pursuing investment projects in Nicaragua.
Nothing could significant than But International's envoy — Mario Soares, did most save capitalism in 1975.
The Sandinista leaders argue that the present coalition with capitalist forces is needed to consolidate national democratic independence, required by the special conditions of Nicaragua
tremendous makes socialist measures impractical, and that the need for international aid and the danger of intervention also
However, the anti-imperialist tasks and the work of reconstruction which grip tne masses today can only be carried through within a perspective. The very dislocation of the economy requires a centralised plan of action control and popular mobilisation.
Capitalist moderated by a large state sector, will be unable to meet the needs of the masses, especially in the trough of a new recession which will drive for profits even more insatiable. From the British Argentina Campaign NEXT WEEK Britain is to receive a visit from an Argentine training ship
— the Libertad ('Freedom'). The ship is on a goodwill-cum-trade mission to step up interest and enthusiasm for Argentine products and the Argentine government, a government which has been described by. the New York Times in a recent editorial as perhaps 'the bloodiest in the world'
This government, delegation of New York lawyers, is directly responsible for
pearance of at least 10,000 people Lanka
since it came to power in 1976. It was appalling also, supplier of
dictatorship in Nicaragua, right up
until the last days of that bloody war it waged against its own people
The visit from the Libertad is part of Argentina's
'godfather'
case), a friendly sponsor to defend it main in international forums. From Britain it is also looking for help with nuclea technology. So Britain's Minister of State with special responsibility for Latin America, Nicholas Ridley, has been having cordial chats in Buenos Aires with the Argentines.
One immediate result of his visit visit to has been the ambassadors will be were withdrawn in 1976 after
has secured 2.8 the EEC. can use a which 'protection'
be more the Socialist
choice of a special
the man who Mobilise Portugal for
For
stage of
They say OUL •a s real dislocation WOrKEIS
This would demanding calling throughout alignment
socialist build Britain.
based on
development, even
make the
Argentine mission
to London
Argentines
Islands.
Cinderella. will
back there.
After found a recent
• the disap-
with Israel, the most faithful
appropriate arms to the Somoza
Argentinian house'.
search a (or godmother our
Maria
Jose Paez.
Dock Road.
announcement that
restored; they 01-229 1750. the st 1979
As for the need for aid and the danger of intervention, one need only note that a third of the world today is organised in non-capitalist societies
can provide aid and against imperialist intervention - though so far Cuba red hetto take any sates appea
take any steps could destabilise detente in the US sphere of influence.
socialists everything must be centred on the demand for a workers' and peasant government, for the Sandinistas to break with the bosses and mobilise the masses in order to carry
land reform, develop control of industry, annul the external debt and set a date for a constituent assembly.
have to be linked to ala without strings, working the world, class SUBULL and an
with the workers internationally against imperialism.
This also underlines the need to
Nicaraguan solidarity The focus must be defending the gains of the uprising against imperialist sabotage, demand ing no strings on UK aid, getting labour movement delegations to visit Nicaragua, and generally organising the fullest debate and information. For all resources contact: Nicaragua Coordinating Committee, 20 Compton Terrace, London NI.
had protested at the Shackleton mission to the Falkland
So all the signs are that Maggie Thatcher will be only too delighted to play fairy godmother to Argentina's
After that, no doubt she award her seal good housekeeping to President Pinochet of Chile, and send a British ambassador
that, perhaps visas for Somoza and the Shah?
DAVE KELLAWAY of the British Argent a Campaign adas:
organising welcome for Videla's ship and exposing the truth behind th
Navy's friendly "oper We will have material showing how naval training schook bave been used for the detention ano torture of militants, many of whor have subsequently disappeared'.
Among the thousands who have disappeared are feminist leader ARms
Pifferelli and Trotskyis militant and trade union convenor
Everyone who has some should assemble at 2pm on Tuesda 14 August at the end of West
more information, l
Page 10 scan of this page
Commonwealth Conference
Abortion-
• the date
IT'S definite — the TUC is organising
national mass against the anti-abortion Corrie Bill on 28 October.
This absolutely unprecedented step
gives us the best opportunity ever to
build a really mass demonstration. It
encourage women the world to call on their trade union federations to show similar support lor women's struggle to control their fertility. It shows that the years of campaigning for support from the labour movement have not been in vain.
But the possibilities mobilisation will only be fully realised through consistent local work. TUC being flooded anti-abortion letters and many trade unionists have. yet to be convinced of the case for a woman's right to choose.
Local campaigns will still have to take up the fight in union branches and trades councis to convince all trade unionists that they must turn out to demonstrate their support.
And we have to push the TUC to do more than just ișsue a call. The labour Hoveler! the organise trains from the major centres to London. They did it for the A group of trade unionists supporting the campaign are producing a leaflet *10 reasons why trade should oppose the Corrie Bill'. This will be available through the NAC offices.
Local campaigns can use the TUC call to gain a hearing in many more trade union branches and trades than previously. Letters TUC informing them of the call will be sent to every trades council and all affiliated unions. This will give a good opportunity to propose sending. a speaker to the branch from the local
suDDort for donations and other help.
winch support on the locall trades council Community Council, Brent NAC has called for a broad campaign against the Corrie Bill. Both the trades council and the CHC will be providing facilities to send mailings as possible. A public meeting is planned for September. In the meantime street Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
TUC names
demonstration
movement.
around
MPs to vote against this Bill.
This would
for mass so-called "free vote',
The with
women childbirth and children into the world. • hese are the sorts that must be put to the TUC.
prepared
resources to
labour movement as a whole.
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Forced
childbirth
A WOMAN'S RIGHI TO CHOOSE
leafleting and
unionists local show.
Ormsby accoupporter are taking councils Teesside
from the
to actively support
and mobilise for
activities,
will feature
Health
Badges, stickers,
widely
(01-278 0153).
states
Industrial Relations Bill — we must
demand they do it for 28 October as well. They should produce thousands by of leaflets and posters for distribution inside and outside the trade union
TUC policy is for 'a woman's right
to choose, free abortion on request'.
Union-sponsored MPs should be told
to support TUC policy on this. The
trade unions should use their strength
in the Labour Party conference
ensure that the party commits all its
put an end to the ruling . and ensure that all Labour MPs vote in the interests of women. No one is going to force an MP to have an abortion (especially as
most of them are men anyway), but
their vote could force thousands of
endure pregnancy and bring unwanted were of demands The call for a demonstration is excellent but if the TUC is really in support of woman's right to choose it must be
take those actions necessary to defend the interests of women and demonstrate that defence of abortion rights is important for the
severely petitioning will be organised along with a stall at the
Local activity is also taking off in Cleveland, covering Stockton, Red-
and Middlesbrough. up the Labour for Thornaby, Ian Wrigglesworth, who voted for the Corrie Bill.
The local Association of County Councils have committed themselves
TUC policy in favour of a woman's right to choose
the 28 October demonstration. If you want to help phone Liz on Middlesbrough 242685.
Brixton Carnival on 2 September
reggae bands, punk bands, singing and dancing by the ethnic groups in the local community, food, sideshows — and a NAC stall!
posters, leaflets, speakers notes and general information available from the NAC offices at 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1
bunker.
Page 10
THE Southall Defence Committee has sent the following telegram to the
leaders of the independent
at the Commonwealth
conference and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Similar tellerans are bisses,
other organisations,
inciuding the Indian
Association.
For centuries British imperialism has had no hesitation in poking its nose into the affairs of other countries around the world wherever interests stake. As
government's nationalisation of BP shows, those days of unlimited imperialist power are over. It's now high time that the British
class's record towards imperial subjects at home should also come under international scrutiny. ON behalf of black people of Britain we appeal to you justice. Southall, the largest black area in the country, the British police went wild. Thousands were beaten up, bundreds
arrested OuT anti-racist brother from New Zealand beaten to death by the Special Patrol Group.
There are 342 political prisoners in Southall today. We were arrested for daring to demonstrate against racism.
Racist trial flops
JAMES Anderton's Manchester cops were humiliated last week during a short-lived trial of two Asians.
Nazir and Munir Ahmed arrested in July last year after six men broke into their house in the middle of the night. Thinking the intruders were NF members the Ahmeds attempted
defend themselves but beaten The six
Mayhem at NF bunker
By Andrew Jenkins IT'S night of the long knives time in National Front, Scandals, expulsions
splits are threatening to turn Britain's most prominent. organisation into a state of mayhem similar to the last days in Hitler's
Southall appeal to
black
Workers
CHLDREN
(DETAINED-
END We are now being denied a fair trial by white magistrates. We have lost all hope in the British system of justice. It seems to us to be based on hypocrisy and cant.
was We appeal to you to take up our
case at the Commonwealth ence. We urge you to send a team of inquiry to investigate what happened in Southall. We want you to instruct your High Commission to
turned out to be plainclothes cops and the Ahmeds found themselves facing charges which could have meant years were In DiSon
After over a year's delay the trial began in Manchester on 30 July, with the court packed out by supporters of the Ahmed Defence Committee. But were faced with thoroughly contradictory men police evidence, the judge stopped the
26 The background to the crisis is a dramatic decline in the NF's finance and membership. Most regions have registered less than 60 per cent of last year's membership fascist The political divide in the NF's
national directorate finds Fountaine, Anthony and Andrew Brons on one side. They
SCRAP
The:
IMMICKATIOA
LAWSY
observe followed The
confer-
attend
problem.
Webster.
the working class. still has
embarrass fellow directorate if he
up with Webster.
expel Webster, ended chop.
directorate, police.
Oldland's son.
worries. porters are
have яу money, Some
Andren are currently Reed-Herbert
courts when we are being tried and
the procedures that British white establishment thinks that it can trample over our human rights because of the colour of our skins. Any support from abroad will only help the cause of anti-racism and anti-fascism in Britain.
Solidarity with the African people! No sell-out in Zimbabwe!
trial on the second day. He ruled that the Ahmeds had no case to answer.
Manchester's Chief Constable, James Anderton is fond of saying how good relations are between his cops and the Asian community. The Ahmeds' trial has shown how that, when it comes to race relations Manchester, the police are part of the
argue that the NF has to relate to the extreme right in the Tories. Martin
on the other hand, insists that the NF has to keep its base among
poorer sections the white
But these political differences have become intermingled with questions of money and 'personal behaviour' -Martin Webster's in particular. One of the reasons behind moves to oust Webster is that if he goes a large sum of money will apparently be available for the NF'scoffers.
But if Webster has few friends he
influence. One rumour currently heard in fascist circles is that Webster has information that could demided if the decided public. Certainly it is not friendship which has caused John Tyndall to line
But Tyndall was on Webster's side at last week's crisis meeting of the national directorate. The move
led Fountaine, with Fountaine facing the
Fountaine has hit back by sending a letter from an ex-member of the
Gerald Oldland, to the The letter makes allerations about Webster's behaviour towards
But Fountaine is still expected to come off worse in the power struggle, and if his threatened expulsion goes ahead it will add to the NF's financial
Fountaine and his sup well entrenched on the board of 'NF Properties', the only part of the Front which appears to
elements in the British Movement are hoping to profit from the NF's troubles, but the BM has its own 'credibility' crisis - its members
selling news-sheet entitled 'Adolf Hitler's contribution to the promotion of European peace'
Page 11 scan of this page
HERBERT MARCUSE 1898-1979
By Michael Löwy
THE WRITINGS of Marcuse, who died last week aged 81, made a significant contribution to the massive youth radicalisation which reached its peak in 1968.
Here was an almost unique instance
leading ideologue of a mass (student) anti-capitalist upsurge.
Dutschke and the leaders of German Socialist Students considered themselves his disciples, as did the Berkeley protest movement, Angela Davis, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, • the Movimento Studentesco in Italy, and others.
Of course, most of the radicalised students in the 1960s did not read his writings, and he was almost unknown in France before May '68. But the fact that some of the movement's leading cadres were influenced by him meant that many of his ideas wider circulation among the mass of students.
One reason for his impact was probably that Marcuse, friends from the Frankfurt Institute
Horkheimer, Habermas), gave fuli and open support to the students and Thet ils. bil lne mail ining that their feeling and intuitions so
Ine problems which concerned Marcuse.
Negation
What were the elements in his philosophical, sociological political conceptions which appealed to the voune peone who. trom the anti-war demonstrations in the USA
Paris barricades, desperately, trying to fight capitalist barbarism?
Negative philosophy. According to Marcuse, negative rational thought must be critical, subversive. and destructive towards the" given state of affairs. rejection and condemnation of the irrational character of the established order.
negates and criticises existing social reality, not from abstract standpoint point of view of the potentialities present in the reality itself: oecu cocos given social reality in the direction of anther historical structure which is present as a tendency in the given reality.'
Negative thought is therefore rigorously opposed to the positive method which, from Auguste Comte TOILeTGaCReCEEEn free' social science in the USA, is a . one-dimensional way which bows to the given facts, takes the established order as the only possible framework, and itself with the immediate empirical avocal AlICe Positivism
Linguistic philosophy — which, as Wittgenstein said, "leaves everything as it is' - and 'operational' industrial sociology are two classic analvsed by Marcuse Dimensional Man. He thev are committed in advance to the existing framework, and that, in their procedure, the range of judgement is confined within a context which excludes any judgement of the context in which the facts themselves are presented.
This critical onslaught positivist thought is one of the most interesting aspects work, helped generation of students to fight the hegemony of bourgeois
The critique of dimensional society (from Germany to imperialist This application of his method to advanced capitalist society dates from the late 1930s when trying probably to analyse some of the reasons for the Nazi triumph Marcuse
• WIlle Essay.
Herbert
Rudi the (SDS) achieved a
and
were a protest,
the an
from the
'The transcend the and 'value
of thinking
Hedonism', burning political issues.
Marcuse
SIMIL and aspirations humanity,
framework.
examples
essence, is untreedom.
Oneshows that
and embrace them
OI facts compulsion.
given order.
on
Marcuse's
but requires
academic
community, one- UUI] of the Nazir
America). whole society,
negative participation
administration of the whole.
same conceptual tools to 'On based
which dealt with some
stressed first that capitalist society and alienated labour
GATOR needs capacittes and the horizon of their demands. Capitalism itself creates the by deformed and mutilated needs which can be satistied within the gien social
The quality which characterises these false needs, their
Insofar as their artificial needs are satisfied, people think they are happy
the system that willou CACIC Individuals see their interest only in geting along with the
Terror merely supplements the illusions of the governed.
Marcuse insisted in the same essay that the liberation of humanity and its true needs is not an abstract moral act
that the of production be at the disposal of the
the national reorientaproductive process towards the needs and wants of the
and the active of indiv bo the
In the 1960s Marcuse applied the
Panther mass social
conformism — US capitalism, which, despite its liberal appearance, showed itself capable of crimes no barbarous than those of Germany. He defined the advanced industrial society of the USA as a one-dimensional system ideas, aspirations and objectives that, established universe of discourse and their couleu. transcend action are either repelled or reduced to the terms of this universe'. Freedom
In this system the productive commodities but also the need for them. It produces the false needs for wastetul and status consumption, as
various artificial, aggressive and competitive needs. And through the manipulation
and consciousness, dominant powers thus prefent the
opposition.
The freedom of this sogléty is a false one. The people have the illusion of a free choice, but actuálly they
which
commodities, political parties, presi-
al c prevailing system. Thus emerges new kind of totalitarianism -not on terror but on manipulating the COCOAIRSS
affluence and achievements — which eliminates or less integrates all fundamental qualitative fascist opposition to the regime.
One-Dimensional ends nide ly prs misi soote! critical theory possesses no concepts which the bridge the gap between the present
and its future; holding no promise and showing no success, it remains negative. loyal to those who, have given and give their life to the Great Refusal.'
This reveals one of the thain theoretical flaws thought: the absent 'bridge between the present and its future', which is of course the social change, the revolutionary subject. In 1964 Marcuse's view was that the working class had been integrated into capitalism's affluent society and was no longer revolutionary change. main mechanisms for this: (a) in the sphere of consumption, the raising of the standard of living; sphere of production, the increase in white-collar workers and the decline are in blue-collar jobs.
In relation to the first point, Ernest Vande stressed 'Whatever the increase in consumption of the working class may have been, neo-capitalism hasn't modified in any sense whatsoever nature of work in a capitalist society
show
proletarian
ICU LESC,
strata minorities radical
potential revolution'.
After '68
talist society significant
mid-1960s.
conditions
the Observateur: more
working
vital
capitalist values, By MIS
tnse tid amds
technological
Man (1964)
society could
Thus it wants to remain without hope
in Marcuse's
SE24 OLN.
agent of radical
ren. LArU moverents alsd
the agent of
He saw two
Contains period which (b) in the
1968:
curren
the basic
Socialist Challenge 9 August 1979
as alienated labour.' And in answer to the second argument, it is easy to
that intellectual labour FeLICI semi-proletarian condition (as he himself was later to
Marcuse's position, fact, amounted to a stalemate in the 1960s. On the one hand, he saw "marginal'
students and national - as provag e ol opposition to advanced industrial capitalism. On the other hand, he admitted in 1967 that 'the workers are still and always the only
of possible acclli for Eisenhower-
and largely
Marcuse
and
French Nouvel
incorporating
proletarial If the class become
need for fundamentally freed from and penetrating and by his Arrowsmith. Organised by SE London UTOM.
MG national Latin America fraction meetin
ameron women'a diroun' Nc27 2 History of Trotskyism in Latin America up to 1963 (open to sympathisers) - — finishes in time to join Irish demo. For details phone 01-852 1671.
featureis full length interview with Kieran Nugen
of the blanket protest s include: the Trish and the British Working Class, in which Joh Nuceta calans be cobac,ayl between th ITSO StruCuJe ana Cne struggle of the , DILLIS
sick, on sin Fis an tad o eie,.
campaigns. 24 pages for 25p (plus 10p p&p) RC( Publications Ltd (SC), 49 Railton Road, Londo
NDS OFF IRELAND! 1
Him: The Patriot ( Imperialism in treland Speakers: Hands Off Ireland, Provisional Sin
Spcakers invited from Sunday other liberatios . 12 August.
op wwe Assemoy rau enity riouse. Cus‹ Kono. LonGon wr uneares cupe. custor Aomo ba aDi avance 'LABOUR'S MISSPENT YOUTH' by Jac
Which led to the "Keep Clea lo [nt (SLL) breakawav and durine which th • YS was th seedbed or al the oresent dav tar-ert arous A Workers Action supplement; 25p post paid WORKERS ACTION No 148 contains the sixt publication of the i910 debate in the languag
: Germa Democracy between Kautsky on socialist strategy. Covers all the mai Issues now rasc• oy ln CrOCOE ULSE
FILM GROUP requires two administrators for
studio management, etc. Must be unemployed. 01-352 053
Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Rover -
By Pat Hickey Deputy senior steward, Rover SD1 Plant
SHOP STEWARDS at Leyland's Rover SD1 plant at Solihull have overwhelmingly management plans to axe. 1,445 jobs at the plant. The four-year-old plant is the most modern in and assembles the 'European Car of the Year', the Rover 3500.
Management blames market, stagnant productivity and inefficiency for cutbacks in production from a line rate of 1,850 a week to 1,250. Current proposals are for one of three assembly systems to be closed completely and for job cuts in all areas
Registered with the Post
Socialist Challenge
MAPLE
BL management on the offensive
British
rejected For example,
British Leyland are 50 per cent.
static
viable at Many shop cutbacks _are
Office as a newspaper:
Management are using cutbacks in production to go on the offensive on staffing levels throughout SDI. The cut in production is about one-third, but proposed cuts are about 42 per
the two issue. remaining systems line speed remains the same but over 150 jobs are to be lost. In some areas the proposed cuts
Management have also refused to reveal their forward plans for SDI. But it is obvious to all that if SD1 is not Less so at 41,00 cars per week it is still
stewards feel that temporary and once management have smashed the unions
Published by
on the question of time study the plant will be expanded again. Mutuality on industrial engineering standards has been a major obstacle to speed-up and management are using. the opportunity to attack the unions on this
But the cutbacks in SD1 cannot be seen in a purely local context. The crisis in the car industry is world-wide and the fight to defend jobs and conditions is only beginning.
With unemployment heading for 2 million and 50 per cent of school leavers expecting to be unemployed this time next year, every job must b seen as the property working class and not just of an individual.
Workers Action Committee a member of Oldham Textile
LAST FRIDAY, in the Lancashire town of Oldham, dispute started over the sort of issues the British trade union movement was meant to have settled in its favour in the I9th century.
But also involved is a cancer which remains all too present in the latter half or the with exploitation of immigrants exploitation involved is part and parcel.
This is why the name Maple Mill consciousness of every trade union militant and Britain as the struggle to be won in the coming peeks
Maple Mill is owned multi-national Courtaulds, year made a profit of £64 million. One beneficiary of those profits was the Oldham Provincial Textile and Allied Workers Union, because. that union has financial Courtaulds. It is also the main union at Maple Mill.
That is one explanation for the gross exploitation Mill have suffered over Compulsory overtime, 12-hour shifts with no meal break, speed-up - that is what working at Maple Mill has meant for the largely Asian workforce.
department workers are doing the work done by 35 several years ago for the same wage Indeed, some of the workers earn f2 less than they did previously
It is the Asian workers who have suffered most. In one department Asians are meant to do twice the work of one white worker — a worker who is backing the Asians' demands all the way.
The Oldham Provincial Textile and Allied Workers Union has largely ignored the conditions of its Asian members. When Asian workers raise complaints the union tells them to put them in writing knows that most of the Asians cannot write in English.
If a worker takes an interpreter to the union officials refuse to talk with the interpreter present because he/she is not in the union.
All this finally came to a head last Thursday when three Asian workers
department were management to do the work normally done by tive
The three asked management to be allowed to phone management refused white workers have free use of the phone. contacted it told its members to work
Name
Address
'Socialist Challenge'. whole
Relgocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1.
tions.
meetings, refused industrial Eventually they century: the racist
the union
demands recorded
tion', by the who last
investment workers come;
workers at Maple • the yèars. context
16 Asian Such
for
selves.
textile
even though it An made with
workers were
Those told by
WOKEN AL
although
wnen the union was final Brompton Lancashire.
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according to management instruc-
The next day, after a series
the still to operate the speed-up. staged a sit-down protest in the mill. When the workers leit the factory the strike began
On Saturday a white supervisor came to the factory gates and said white workers could enter the factory but Asians could not. Sadly, some white workers did go in, although others are backing the Asians
The Maple Mill strike committee has now formulated a series of
which testify the simplicity of their case. They include 'an end to understaffing', 'proper cleaning of machines', 'meal-breaks in accordance with factory legisla
*reasonable temperature anc air-conditioning in the mill', and 'no sackings or victimisation'
Over 140 workers, mainly Asian are now outside the factory gates. The struggle they are waging has to be seen
context peasant background from which many of the
their lack of union experience; the disgraceful treatment they have received : at the hands of their own union.
But at the same time it has another
the recent growth of anti-racist activity in and around Oldham, culminating in the defeat of the attempt to deport Abdul Azad.
activity has enabled the previously isolated Asian Community to link up with other anti-racists
The anti-racists have been asked
- and given - help in the fight against the conditions at the mills. And the Asians have gained enough self-confidence to organise them.
A recent meeting to discuss the exploitation of Asians in the local
industry was attended by representatives from eight other mills. Already workers at another mill are discussing an overtime ban in support of tbe Maple Mill strike
obvious comparison can be Grunwick, and already Grunwick strike leader Mrs Desai has promised her help in the strike al Maple Mill. In the end the Grunwick
defeated, but their methods of struggle and the lessons of the struggle remain relevant.
lessons JINE be applied to start organising the largest possible show of solidarity with the
Maple Mill. Already Tameside trades council has backed the strike. That example needs to be followed hundreds of times over. Messages of support to Mr Ishaq, 26
Street, Oldham, Printed by East End (offset) Ltd, P.O. Box 82, London E2
← Socialist Challenge No. 107, 2 August 1979Socialist Challenge No. 109, 16 August 1979 →