Socialist Challenge No. 118, 18 October 1979
The scan: sc-n118-oct-18-1979.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
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Socialist Challenge SHE HAD NO CHOICE NOW SHE'S DEAD
DEMONSTRATE SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER/ASSEMBLE 12.00 SPEAKERS CORNER, HYDE PARK FIGHT CORRE'S ABORTION BILL
A WORD of advice to Tory MP John Corrie. If he has not done so already, he should send a telegram of congratulations to the Manchester consultant surgeon who seven months ago refused Susan abortion.
For that surgeon anti-abortion Bill is demanding all doctors do in the years ahead.
Susan Bradbury had a brain injury as a result of a haemorrhage she had suffered at the age of ten. NO consultant.
Susan Bradbury functioning kidney. No abortion, said the consultant.
Susan Bradbury had a heart complaint. No abortion, said the consultant.
Susan Bradbury had a lung disease. No abortion. said the consultant.
Three years ago Susan Bradbury gave birth to a child who died after five days. No abortion, said the consultant.
Last week Susan Bradbury died in child-
Her husband says that the consultant TET SORETO sign the requested by Susan. consultant's action judgement, not a medical one'.
A statement from the National Abortion Campaign points out that over the last ten years incidents like inis nave become very rare'. But fif the Private Member's introduced by John Corrie becomes law tragedies of this kind can only increase'.
The case of Susan Bradbury answers all hose wno cia enteenno me woman concerned, and only the woman concerned, to decide whether to have an abortion.
It is a reason for extending abortion rights, but John Corrie's Bill goes in the opposite direction — cutting down the time limit for abortions curtailing
28 demonstration opposing takes place in London. Susan Bradbury cannot be on that demonstration. You can.
-Dalour an
did Corrie's
abortion, said the
had only one abortion form as says the was moral
Bill and drastically the permissible reasons for
October a TUC-sponsored
No. 118 18 October 1979 20p
10 THE
CORRIE
ANTI-ABORTION
BILL FIGHT FOR A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
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Clydebank- 3,000 jobs at
OUR POLICIES
C'apitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trade unions offer solutions that are in the interests not of the workers hut of the capitalist class.
Socialist Challenge believes that the two vital tasks revolutionary socialists are:
• To build broad-based class struggle tendencies in opposition to class-collaborationism in the labour movement. These shond be non-exclusive in grouping together mililants holding a wide range of political views.
• In begin in fight for the
unified democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can,
application of united lactics, hegin to be seen as an alternative 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 guainst the bosses with that of other oppressed layers of societ! — women, black penple.
struggling liberation. This socialism can only be achiever by creating new organs of power and defeating with all necessary means the power of the
Our socialism will infinitel! more democrand I than what exists in Britain today. with full rights for political parties and currents that do not take up arms against the socialist state. The Stalinist models of 'socialism' in the USSR and Fastern Europe have discredited socialism in the eyes of millions of workers throughout the We are opposed to them and will offer tull support all lighning for socialist democracs.
› The interests of workers and
on a world scale. Capitalism has not only created a market. if has created world politics. i hus we fight for working class units on an international scale. This unity will in the long run be decisive in defeating both the imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in Latin America, and Asia.
In Britain it implies demanding the immediate withdrawal British troops from Ireland and letring the Irish people determine their own future.
The Communist parties in Europe are in crisis. the 'Eurocommunist" wings have any meaningful strategy for overthrow of the capitalist state. de revolutionary socialist parties are inore necessary TART helore. Conditions today more nobe an over preceding three decades. But such parties сал only be rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracy not as a luvury
the right to organise factions and tendencies.
If you agree with these principles and Han! 10 involved activities by Secialis C'hallenge supporters in your area. fill in the
information ahout activilies in my aren. • I would lihe additional literature and enclose 50p 1e enter anita.
Address.
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 2
Editorial character. through
of be
all
By Alan Turner
world.
those
the United States.
has lost more manufacturing jobs. world
person in six is without a iob.
Singer's boss, Joe Flavin,
Africa
CRAFTSMAN Neither Michie stands in Singer
Street, Clydebank.
the Singer railway station and the Singer Cafe.
And he away from the huge Singer
ever
are plant.
of the road for both them. after 23 years for by Charlie and 97 years for the factory.
This means Lily, and his
David.
four worked at the sewing in machine plant - Charlieas a sheet metal worker, Lily as a clearer and the boys as operator labourers.
was paid off. Now Charlie,
more 47, and his sons face the
industrial scrapheap. the Michies, Avenue, numb with shock.
Charlie said fully: Clydebank and Glasgow
families have worked at Singers.
"When
1956; it was looked on as a
stake
ESTABLISHED in 1882, with 2.5 million square feet of space, Singers, Clydebank, is the world's largest and oldest operating factory. Twenty-five years ago it employed 16,000 people, and exporting 80 per cent of its output to
Today there are become 3000 workers, 1200 of them women.
In the past five years, Clydebank
than half of Unemployment has increased by 45 per cent and one
the
Today the 3000 workers of Singers
redundancies. Tories flew in
The end of the
road.
Charlie | job for life. whole families together.
Just up the road from
might get work away from home. looks sadly within travelling distance of Civdehank prospects for my sons are Forit seeins like the end nil. of
And for Charlie's wife, 20-year-old Charles anc
This time last year, all
Then, this April, Lily
And likethetown itself, of Dickens.
Clydebank,
sorrow'Generations of
I walked in in
from New York and informed trade-union leaders that the plant would be shut down next June. It is the only factory of 28 around the world which Singers plan to close.
he workers at singers are angr
stunned by the news. officials are saying that Singers will
Ine biggest campaign for Scots jobs since the UCS crisis seven
All nine unions the backed by the STUC and TUC, are expected to unite and put the heat on
Tory government. The Scottish Secretary, George Younger, has already made it clear that the
will not intervene to save the future children still at school?'
There were 60, ot. Abbeylands Road,
working Clydebank, Singers 32 years — 31 as a I'm a craftsman and shop sicward
He said: - there's nothing worst of
industrial :They have left Clydebank But the people numh apathetic.'
go *owny: experienced death before in a human being. Now I am seeing it in a — John McFadyen, Convenor, Singer Shop-Stewards Committee
| to Scottish workers They voted Labour in the last election, unlike mans England. Scotland remains a labour stronghold and the Tories know this Many workers detect in the attitude of Union Singers a multinational's against a part of the world where there are strong traditions of trade-unionism John McFadyen, plant, Singer's stewards, experienced death before in a human being. Now I think I am seeing it in a Tory town. At a meeting of shop-stewards last Monday it was agreed to fight the closures.
In reality Singers could become jobs. This hardly comes as a surprise ! the focus of anti-Tory resistance in
'And what's going to be for two
Fitter Benny McAteer
has been at
'This is the series body-blows.
SOME commentators likened the conference at Blackpool to a National Front rally. William Whitelaw urged a taste of harsh military discipline for 'youne yobbos'. Julian Amery accused Thatcher and Lord Carrington of selling our their beloved kith and kin in Rhodesia, Michael Heseltine received rapturous "social revolution' of handing over council houses and public land to private enterprise. And Thatcher capped it all by claiming that 'millions of workers
in fear of union power' - and received a statulug ovalon
No one can be in any doubt about the Tories strategy for defeating the movement. But how should we respond? It is not enough to huff and puff as the Labour leaders do about this government bringing its own downfall at the next general election.
There will be no defeat for the Tories in the nex election if there is no resistance to Tory policie now. Five years is a long time to wait for leadership when faced with mass unemployment and attacks on democratic rights. We cannot wait for the Tories to fall → they have to be pushed
Nor is it enough just to push on the 'rally round the unions' angle. attempts to delay giving black people the power in Zimbabwe. We have to fight for without loss of pay to ensure the unemployed find jobs. We have to fight for a choose whether to have a child. We have to build a movement that can get Britain out of Ireland. We have to fight the Tories on every front.
workers in
the rest revenge
Urgency ot
said: have
people in
this
Closed since
1974
SOME of the local firms closed since 1974 are:
John Brown Engineering — 1000 redundancies; Goodyear Tyres Weir Pumps Beatties'
Sun Ventilators Equisite Form Stone Manganese Duncan Low Manlove Tullis Brockhouse - 100: Colin Hunter - 70 - Total 3.720.
There have 4.000 jobs lost at Singers since 1974, and Marathon.
John Brown Engineering and the Marathon rig vard stand almost alone. The company founded 128 years ago by the man who invented the world's first effective sewing machine, Isaac Merrit Singer.
Tory Party
applause for his
British trade union We have to fight the Tory
work-sharing
woman's right to Scotland if the mass of workers are involved in the struggle and a decision is taken to occupy the plant. But this occupation needs, of necessity, to be co-ordinated through the STUC with
of Scottish industry and a national campaign planned to force the Tories to nationalise Singers.
Singers is a major test for the British labour movement. The fact it is situated in Clydebank imparts additional urgency. More than 6000
La working community of 30.000 will be out of work by next summer. For the Tories at Blackpool
didn't mean very much.
Scottish workers it means everything.
- 700; - 600; Biscuits - 600;
- 200; 150; 100; 100; 100; Engineering
also been
1000 at
was
cheap and
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Sexual freedom yes—sexual violence no
POLICE broke up a march against the Corrie organised Abortion Campaign last This is thelatest in a series of attacks in Cardiff democratic
U1 l including the arrest of Pat Arrowsmith twice curing делега campaign, harassment of anti-racist and housing campaigners, and the arrest of three Irish solidarity activists.
The police claimed that permission bad not been obtained for the march. but in fact they were notified of the route over a month ago and raised no objection. Perhaps what upset them was the obvious public towards the 150 marchers, represented a large number of unions, women's groups, and
Several coaches will be leaving Cardift bus stofon at kam on October to take people to the TUC demo. Phone Cardiff
MERSEYSIDE Abortion Campaign is chartering a 400-seat train for the 28 October demo. The includes a Merseyside-wide week of action of meetings, leafleting of factories, and displays and open air meetings in the shopping areas. For campaign phone 051-728 7849: Train tickets from the Trades Victoria Street (051-236 1778).
CLEVELAND National Campaign is holding a public meeting against the Corrie Bill on Friday 19 October at 8pm in the AUEW Hall, Middlesbrough. Speakers Leonora Lloyd from the NAC steering committee and a local trade unionist. For details of coaches to the demo phone Middlesbrough 87616.
SOUTH LONDON campaigns in Southwark, Lewisham and Wandsworth pooling their resources to organise a
display advert in the South large.
Photo: ANDREW FRYER
Action
against
Corrie
Cardiff Saturday:
Bill. rights
week: Tuesday 23 October,
Tenants' Hail,
25 October, 29-35 Lordship Lane,
sympathy doctor. who Monday 22 October political Matthews Centre.
MP and Jan Makinley (NAC).
cavalcade and march for
43470 for rights onl
and Piccadilly.
local build-up
Mitre Hotel, Manchester 1.
petitioning,
details of the
NAC Council, Poly,
Abertion holding Thursday, Victoria Hall,
include
their skit Corrie's Dream.
anti-Corrie on local IV Lambelll, are
London Press immediately before the demo with signatures of organisations and individuals opposed to the Corrie
In Southwark the campaign is organising wee open meelings next
Tenants'
Hall, Rockingham Estate, New Kent Road, SE15; Wednesday 24 October,
Camden Estate, Peckham Road, SE15; and Thursday.
Information Centre, Goose Green, SE22. All begin at 8pm and will feature a film, campaign speaker, and a local
Lambeth has a public meeting on
at 8pm in St with John Tilley
MANCHESTER NAC is holding a
abortion Saturday 20 October, assembling at 1lam at All Saints (by the Poly) and going to Albert Square
Tuesday 23 October, ASTMS is holding a public meeting at 7.30pm on abortion at the
Trade union involvement is also reflected in NUPE's decision to send a coach from Manchester to the demo.
Other coaches are being organised by
and, it is hoped, students at the University, and UMIST.
HARROW Campaign Against Corrie
public meeting this 18 October, at 8pm in Sheepcote Lane.
Speakers include Jo Richardson MP and Dr Berry Beaumont, and Rights of Women theatre group will perform
SWINDON Against Corrie members managed to get a 40-minute broadcast
on iu Uctober: the dar before their public meeting. The trades council is supporting the 28 October demo, but local NALGO and NUPE bureaucrats have blocked discussion
ONE DAY last month a man went into the University of London Union building in Malet Street, put an 'out of order" notice on the door of a tourth floor toilet directing female students to another room along the corridor, lay in wait for his victim, and then raped her.
This was the last straw for women students at University a number of rapes and violent attacks over the last eighteen months. Fed up with the inaction of the college authorities, the students decided to occupy the administration block on Tuesday . of last week.
Their demands are for well-paid male and female. improved lighting in the dark corridors. are asking for student control over the hiring and firing of security self-defence classes for female students.
Sir James Lighthill, the college provost, at
A 50-STRONG picket of Hackney
Hospital last Saturday for abortion
day-care facilities was the latest in a
Set up three months ago out of a
Women's Voice public meeting, the
campaign has an informal structure so
that anyone who wants to get involved
can simply come along to one of the
HAC's first activity — which still
petitioning against the Corrie
This has been particularly successful
encouraging', says HAC member Jane
Watt. 'Virtually everybody will stop to
of the issue in their branches despite their unions' national support for the
ISLINGTON shoppers had unusual entertainment last Saturday when a motorcade to publicise the 28 October demo went by loaded up with balloons, posters and singing women. Two thousand leaflets were given out along the route, which covered all the
shopping areas Petitioning Corrie Bill takes every Saturday from 10am at Chapel Market, the Nags Head, and Archway - help always welcome.
WAKEFIELD now has a NAC group set up with the support of the trades council. It has organised leafleting on Saturday initiated vigorous debate in the local paper, nd is holding a public meeting on Monday 22 October with a speaker from Leeds West CHC.
particular focus for campaign is local Labour MP Walter Harrison, who voted for the Corrie Bill at its second reading. A picket of his surgery is planned. One coach has
rapists,
talk to you, and it's not difficult at all • to nersiade them tosion the petition — even those whe are personally opposed
Jane is a member of the Civil &
proposed a motion that her union branch support the TUC-sponsored demo on 28 October, and has used the TUC and other leaflets to firm up
through Hackney sent a motion to the September trades council meeting urging support for the
council has paid for a mailing to all its
so far been booked for the demo -details from Wakefield 890649.
CAMDEN Against Corrie starts a week ofaction on Saturday 20 October SUlt with mass leafleting of estates and markets. On Monday 22 October there is a public meeting at 7.30pm in Friends House, Euston Road, where speakers will include Ken Livingstone (Labour Party), Jill Rakusen (CHC),
place representative from NAC. петоте October, there' Il be a cavalcade round Camden with a rock band on a float and the play Corrie's Dream.
every Monday night at 7.30pm at the
Contact Sue (359 8288, day) for more information.
Hornsey Labour Party and Haringey the NAC public meeting Tues 23 Oct 8pm Rokesly School, Rokesly Ave, N8.
THE National Federation of Law Centres has voted to ask every law
first ridiculed the demands. According to him, women are not strong enought to deal with
so they should *wander
But now the authorities have been forced to take the issue more seriously, they have decided
by issuing ID cards and bringing in the police to personal alarms at £2.60 apiece--which don't work, as a student demonstrated to the press.
The media have had a field day on the law and order angle. First prize must go to the Daily Telegraph, which mused on the 'poetic justice of students, campaigners for society, now suffering the effects of 'sexual liberation' on the 'brutal and dim-witted'.
The college authorities and the media want people to believe that rape is on the increase and that the solution lies in turning colleges into
to-abortion will support a woman's Newington Road, N16. The speakers
steering committee, Against Workers InDIAN
7pm in the
Neighbourhood
by the trades
Hall. (AUEW, (NAC), from round disagree.
satisfy their sexual desires, potential rapist.
But the only challenging the view belong to men.
no.
Assemble UCL, Malet St,
an all-night vigil.
will be Isolde McNeil from the trades council, Leonora Lloyd from the NAC
the labour movement by organising & contingent on the 13 September local
support for the anti-Corrie campaign still relatively untapped in Hackney, and it is to these that HAC will be turning its attention after 28 October. The next meeting is on Monday 29 October at 8pm at "The Factory', 50
centre to affiliate to the Campaign Corrie Contact Lega Against Corrie, c/o 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1.
NAC/LARC trade union liaisor committee meets October at 7.30pm at the NAC offices, 374 Grays Inn Road, WC1 - all trade The central Campaign Against Corrie activists meeting is on Thursday 23 October at University of London Union, Malet Street, WC1.
WANTED: accommodation for Scortish supporters travelling down for the demo on the night of 27. October. Offers to NAC on 01-278 0153.
EALING Campaign Against Corrie is holding a public meeting sponsored council on Tuesday 23 October at 7.30pm in Ealing Town Speakers Sally Grove Trico), Teresa Smart • Maggie Renn (Women's Voice), and a local doctor.
walled fortresses to protect delicate female
marauding outsiders. We
Male students are just as likelyto berapıstsas are outsiders. In a society that encourages men to view women as commodities there to
every man is a
Self-defence classes and better lighting systems can make colleges safer for women.
• long-term •solution that women's - bodies The Telegraph gets it quite wrong. Sexual freedom, yes. Sexual violence,
A demonstration has been called jointly by NUS and UCT. to carry forward the campaign
, London WC1 or Thursday 18 October at 6.30pm. Followed by
Socialist-Challenge 18 October 197g. Page 3
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MISLEADING speeches from politicians are nothing new, but the sixth Baron Carrington is promising to elevate them into an art form.
While most speakers at last week's Tory Party conference relied on the old methods of I not saying what they meant or nor. meaning what they said, the Foreign Secretary managed to overwhelm everyone with several layers of ambiguity.
What IS Zimbabwe? Nobody knows — certainly not the • daily paper which told us on its front page 'Early end to sanctions hint by Carrington' and unen secuson page Secretary rejects calls to lift sanctions...'
Now, however, we are in a position to clear up their confusion. A worker in the Blackpool refuse department found document: SHO anea Carrington's original draft speech, obviously rejected because OT ILS bécame clear that opacity was to be the order of me day.
...flay the bastards. Now, in the course
6 6 or the debate some people have suggested
that I and HM Government have blood on our
blood that we have shed is black blood.
When our chaps...er, the Rhodesian army,
invaded Mozambique VIR
Lancaster House conference, did we condemn
this as an atrocity and violation of international
law? No we did not.'
Irliul that it
coincided with a British diplomatic initiative.
The last Conservative
which I was proud to serve (This bit will baye to
go. Maggie T] turned a blind eye to oil supplies
to Mr Smith. British arms continue to reach
Rhodesia in large numbers. Gentlemen, what
more do you want?
I know that some of you are worried that it
may detract from the dignty of my office for me
to sit down and parley with terrorists. Well,
first I can assure you that I sit no closer to them
than I can possibly avoid and anyway I také
very little notice of anything they have to say.
What SuLC of
appreciate is that these terrorists are actually
winning the war. This is rather unfortunate, but
it does mean that we are faced with two clear
choices: we can either abstain from negotiating
a settlement, which ultimately means surrender
to the terrorists, or we can try to buy them off.
By Tony Southall
RECENT Marxist political commentягу on South Africa has been written mainly in exile by Communist Party HeHek. book independent revolutionary, Hirson*, which deals with the 1976 Soweto revolt in terms of the complex inter-relationship of colour and class, is therefore an importani event.
Although the title suggests that it will simply deal with 1976, Hirson's book goes a good deal further. The first half contains a detalied account of the development of the segregated education. system and oppositional movements within it (chapters 1, 2, 3, 5), the growth consciousness movement in the 1970s (chapters 4, 6), the development of the opposition through wave 1971-74 (chapters 7,8), and the immediate lead up to the Soweto's students (chapter 9).
The central five chapters examine the revolt and its effects in the rest of the country, and the final two attempt to analyse the overall effect of black consciousness both on the revolt itself and within the more general history of the opposition.
*Year of Fire, Year of Ash, the Soweto Revolt... Roots Resolution (Zed Press. 348pp. £3.95 paperback!.
Sacialist Cleallesge 18 October 1979
Tories, sanctions and Zimbabwe
What Lord
Carrington
meant to say
things.
Tory. policy on sanctions and
that 'Foreign
this exclusive fragment
Irankness wneu The only
the eve of the
We only stated the simple inconvenient that this
administration in
more
with me.
members have to Baruch 20th century attempts to show
1976 uprisings.
But stress
students is unconvincing: known that the throughout
black sational structure.
the strike ever, is that the ideas consciousness revolt of forming the
revulsion the throughout the land' (p. 277).
African was of fare more signticance.
jointiy by the
the ANC
Page 4
Now, you may be worried that these are rather blondthirsty chaps straight out of the trees and they're not going to be bought. But what you have to remember is that behind them are some rather more civilised types who are a bit more in tune with the way we British do Kaunda, for example, he eats out of Tiny Rowland's hand and can usually be relied on to deliver the goods. And old Nyerere, who wold have expected him to turn up trumps like this? Anyway, if they cause trouble, I'll just remind them that I do also have responsibility for our overseas aid. That usually does the trick.
The other thing you have to remember is that these terrorists can't really make up their minds among themseives. They want to appear reasonable so they're doing their very best to agree to my proposals — and, God knows, I really haven't given much away. I mean, even Muzorewa agrees with them:
Some of their lot are worried they've gone a bit too far along our road. So l just plant a tew press stories about impending splits, get on the blower to Lonrho and wait.
So you see, I really have got the thing fairly sorted out. I'm quite a bright chap really, not that there's much competition. To those who my competence • 1 say introduced the three-day week, then? (Couldn't you find a better example? MT].
You see, the trouble with you lot is you're too damned sentimental. You think I don't care 1 about my kith and kin? Of course I do. It's just that I can see a bit further than the end of my nose. Look at my interests in southern Africa - RTZ, Barclays, Sch... you knów who. Are -you really sugesting that I'm planning to sell anyone out?
What you have to remember is that it is black labour which produces the profits. If black workers are happier when it's a black hand holding the whip instead of a white one, then that's alight That's why I'm a Conservative. 1 realise there are some things more important than the colour of a chap'sskin.
I go along with what Andy Young said on the telly the other night you'd invite to dinner perhaps, but he's got it all up there. He said that the West had the choice of aligning itself with 4m whites in Africa or 400m blacks. It seems to me like common sense. Finally, on lo tne Well, if you want a straight answer all y 9 can say is... [fragment ends]
Three crucial themes run through the book, each of which merits some ANC discussion. Firstly, it characterises the black consciousness movement as no more than a logical extension of the petty bourgeois nationalist current that runs. through the history of the
opposition, that it had little influence over the development of the
UI1 its lack of beyond organisational links with the Soweto pupils
1t IS Wel Overclll tried its brief extende operate as far as possible in a way that would enable it to survive banning This meant no tight political/organi-
What does show through, how-
of black dominant consciousness . of the youth involved. Their identification with these is nowhere more clearly expressed than by the fact that atter Steve Biko's death 'in a wave
schools .emptied
Related to this is Hirson's attempt to imply that the influence of the
National Congress (ANC) example is his statement that the 23 August 'Stay at Home' was organised
Soweto Representative Council (SSRC) and
desperately
this: who and so produce not the sort of chap
of sanctions.
Isietsi Mashinini's denial that the
were involved (he was then SSRC chairperson) is dismissed as "incomprehensible' (Pp. 251-2). the only evidence given for involvement one anonymousiy
And the ANC's asTured racl. weakness is admitted by implication in the comment (p. 20 chat "ehe struggle • was not laken lno factories or the mines because this was
the capabilities of school and there was organisation capable of undertaking such a task'.
Soweto
i- roots
of a
revolution ?
The lack of involvement of the workers is the third point stressed by Hirson, and he is correct to emphasise But that there was no way in which 1976 ANC Colle have become revolution without their mobilisation.
It is however contrast the students' with that OI experiences in the 1973 strike wave 'took them far consciousness' (p157), or to complain other (p91) that when the Black Peoples'
Convention took up solidarity with
local events.
the ycal of
WOker questionable to
development Wolkek WILUSE
overthrown
beyond...black armed
important
Was Mozambique
•Angola, Soweto revolt?
conclusion In
of
the struggle in Mozambique it merely denionstrated its inability to relate to
Did the students. who fought the armed cops on the streets really have a lower level of consciousness than the
who won some economic concessions in overwhelmingly peaceful strikes! Does demonstrating solidarity with a movement that has
colonial rule through • strugg e not reflect an understanding of the nature of the eneiy that is faced?
‚ 11 nol the example of and still more, Hirson's own admission (p. 167), the defeat of the South African army in
that helped to fuel the
There is, to sum it up, a disturbing ambiguity about this book. Despite its implied allegiance to the ANC and
'that there litcle likelihood in the future of any purely pcaceful campaign being successful in the face of government intransigence, and political movements which hope to introduce radical changes will have to find military training and military support', Hirson never outlines his own perspective on the luture of the South African revolution.
this sense the book ¿ unfortunately fails to come to terms with its introductory rationalisation ao. z tnat onis a reas understanaię
1976 will help the forces of socialism and liberation'.
Page 5 scan of this page
Sectarians and failures
By Geoff Bell
THE NEW BOSS
appeared as witness for the Loyalist fanatie lan Paisley? This is one conseouence of the shake-up in 'security' in the North of Ireland undertaken by the new Tory government.
OUT has gone Kenneth Newman, the Chief Constable of the RUC. Newman's resignation was announced some time ago after the public exposures of the RUC's Castlereagh torture centre. Newman is off to teach his skills at the British Police Staff College at Bramshill near London.
OUT as boss of the Army goes Lt-Gen Tim Creasy. When he was appointed as General Officer Commanding Creasy brought with him a record of overseeing torture in various other campaigns — notaDIy in Oman.
IN comes Jack Hermon as new Chief Constable of the RUC.
IN comes Maj-General Richard Lawson as
Gay rights verdict
expected
B: Barry Prothero
WITHIN the next
uropean Commission
Rights is expected 1o
Vorthern Ireland Cia!
INIGRA
against LIER British
Whichever way the decision goer the
case has direct implications for the
gay
number of European countries.
NICKA brought an action hefore the
Furopean Commission
his paramnal rights and freedoms had
neen mojalco no ine retural i ln Brill heweremont toedlend the l'h"
de! lis the Porth if
ireland.
sexuals aels between consenting adult
men in private, but it applies only to
England and Wales.
The question of homosexual law retorm in the worth of Ireland came
to the fore during the last years of the
Labour gosernment. In an attempt to
cling to power that government made
L'nionists. These included
undertaking nod do press ahead with
of gay rights, despite a
Ine retorm
recommendanon to ine contrary
the Northern Ireland
Dundee
By George Kerevan
APPROXIMATELY 150 supporters of the United Troops Out Movement demonstrated in Dundee last Saturday calling for the disbandment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, British troops to be withdrawn from Ireland.
The march, which drew support from UTOM branches in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh, was
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Intercontinenlal Press/ Inprecor vol
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out much cheaper at fll for a vear 48
or £3 for 10 weeks. Cheques or
should be made out to
inental rress ano sent to: IF/l, PU
Box 50, London N1 2XP.
North of Ireland's new security chiefs
of the Royal Ulster
defence
Northern Ireland,
Advisors Rights
month Because
human I'nionists. the announce disguised its attitude on gas
irom Rights dio intend to government.
the commission
in a large which it
alarmino implications tor
Ireland.
that the denial
hesith and murar Britain leyalised homo.
harmful 1o ment. Similar
heterosexual relationship.
Ulster within it
Standing the Worth of Ireland.
Anti-UDR march held in
North of exclusively Protestant. and for sectarian crimes.
The
Mary Nelis, Relatives Action organisation
of Ireland's political prisoners. the
they arrived at Stranraer.
POs injuries received 'questioning'.
who support prisoner-of-war status.
GOC of the Army.
IN comes Sir Maurice Oldield, former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, as "security co-ordinator'.
Hermon's appointment
scandalous. He is a religious fanatic who shares the same born again' evangelical Protestant views as Ian Paisley. Even more astonishing is the fact that Hermon appeared as a defence witness for Paisley during a trial in March 1978. At the time Paisley was on trial for incidents arising out of the Loyalist strike in May 1977.
Heing cha barricades in pedi they Ant by
setting up barricades in the town of Ballymena. But Hermon testified that he had made a secret deal with Paisley by which the latter would be arrested and then use his influence to see that the barricades were taken
Paisley said at his trial that it was a face-saving situation', in that once he had become a martyr his followers would feel something had been achieved.
When Hermon took the witness stand he Commission on
oi the deals the Labour government
European Commission. suggesting on some occasions that in
press ahead with the retorms. Finally, however, it went to
and defended the denial «f gas rights. The manner in
waged that defence has Britain as well as those in the forth of
The usernment's argument was
profection vi addition. ihar 'the designed in part to proteit yunz males from influence: and pressure nf an undesirable kind.., which could be
psychological developHElIUCILLes pressures do not exist in relation co
This slanderous argument is not just a defence of the lack of gay rights in the North of Ireland bur contains
rights generally. It is for this reason that the turopean Commission's judoemeni will have an importance far beyond in protest at the training of UDR units at Barry Budden army camp, six miles from Dundee. The UDR is under the control of the British Armv in the
Ireland and is almost
its members have been found guilty of
demonstration followed several weeks of activity by Scottish UTOM. A Glasgow showing of the film The Patriot Game attracted an audience of 150. in Edinburgh and Stirling meetings were addressed by
founder Derry's Committee, an campaigning for prisoner-of-war status for the North
Mary and another Derry woman, Vivien Doherty, were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act when
They were held for 4'%, hours and Vivien was treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
during police Mary was an official guest of Edinburgh Trades Council,
the demand
the most
wanted
Paisley's acquittal.
Antrim authorship
the British implemented
Irish Times, Sir Maurice Oldfield.
British Labour
and
Ireland: 1969~79
agreed that he had two secret meetings with Paisley to work out the arrangement. His aim; ne salu, was to use a mimum of orce agalls! the Loyalists, and 'this differed in no way with the views expressed by Dr Paisley'.
Hermon went on to testify that he had not
to remove the barricades Paisley's permission because 'this could have been readily misconstrued', Heaping praise on the Loyalist leader, Hermon said that Paisley's "sole aim was to avoid trouble'. The result was
Hermon's other main claim to fame is his
of The Way Ahead, a document printed in 1977 which argued that the should take over final control of security from
Army. Since this policy has been beer demands from the big-wigs in the British Army that they should be in charge.
The now deposed GOC Tim Creasy was particularly hot on this issue. According to a military source quoted in a recent edition of the
Creasy 'freaked out'
Imperialism
THE TRIAL of 11 women arrested in March during Women's Day protest is set for the I end of October in Armagh in the | North of Treland.
La police attack
Imperialism Armagh,
been janed for thei anti-imperialist struggle.
The picket, number of anti-imperialist groups and in the Relatives Action Committees, was a great success. About 50 women sang, cheered and shouted slogans to the prisoners inside, who responded by singing and shouting themselves
to relurn attacked by the Constabulary,
RUC. It
Ireland following Warrenpoint.
appointment of Oldfield. They
role is "intelligence' skills go, the IRA head of Ml6, restaurant in London, without
Oldfield is probably insurance.
security triumvirate
RUC wal ne was Amnesty
increasine to the North of Ireland in 1978.
Military pundits may
after the COLILLY
Women's trial looms
By a member of Women Against denly in armoured jeeps and arrested
hands on International
The court appearances arise out of feminists
on a demonstration Derry organised by Belfast Women Against
outside the (32-county where the women prisoners include 70 women who have
part in the Ireland supported • by women's groups, women important movement movement.
All It was when the pickets moved off support
home that they were Imperialism Royal Ulster Loughran, whe appeared sud
killing of the 18 soldiers at Warrespoi threatened to go public with his criticis
calm Creasy dom Thatcher hastily arranged to visit the lord
Although the Army have also for sonne been advocating the appointment of a 'sec ri supremo, they cannot be very happy
wanted s ranking member or tae army to rut sic a
Just what skills Oldfield will brim
difficult to say. But as far •CanDOl impressed. In October 1975, while Oldfick
the IRA bombed Lod just beiow Old flat. If Mio were unable to defend i offices against the IRA, the best advice
to
The final character making up
IS Richard Lawson's most notable camosieg wasas of Staff in Aden in 1967. An interesting I
given the post the International indicted torture techniques in Aden very similar te exnosed by the same oroanisaton wil
jw be poul
hether this similarity can be extesded. Wi months of Lawson's appointment in Ades British Army was finally booted out of la
*Jack Hermon, new RUC boss. the first 11 women they could lay their
This attempt to intimidate women from demonstrating their solidarity with the political prisoners in Armagh was answered a month later when a second picket was held supported by from Dublin, Belfast and This picket marked step building movement in support of involved anti-im I perialist struggle, and taken furthe with the holding of the first All Women's Anti-Imperialist Conference on 22/23 September. Defence of the 'Armagh 11' is for both the women's and ine antl-imperlanst Women Against Imperialism are appealing for international support, and particularly for finance donations and messages of Women c/O Ann Marie 7 Riversale Park Drive, Anderstown, Belfast. .--Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
workers
By a Ford worker
A UNIQUE and inspiring meeting took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on the weekend of 5 to 7 October. At the stewards of Ford Copenhagen, supported by the local shop stewards movement, rank and file Ford workers from the major European plants got together. Their aim: to begin to work out an international workers' strategy to fight
The meeting came about at the initiative of the shop stewards from the ford warehouse in Copenhagen. They had followed interest the nine which buried Callaghan's 5 per cent policy. At the beginning of 1979 they decided to
smashing the Danish social contract!
After that, preparation for an international rank and file conference got underway. British strike had left the Ford UK Workers' Group [the Combine] with contacts in several European plants like workers at Ford Amsterdam £1000 for the strike fund and made a special donation to the Combine. invitation came from Denmark we all jumped at it.
•The problems in multinational like Ford are fairly obvious. On the shop increase production, not to strike or risk losing By Nice Baraldsnes TWO Scandinavian countries, Norway and Sweden, have elections this autumn. Both have long and deep-rooted social-democratic traditions - to the extent that even when a bourgeois coalition is in office its room for manoeuvre is limited.
But as in other. West countries, these elections showed a shift to the right.
In Sweden the general election saw the bourgeois coalition retain office for another four-year period. A slight increase votes for the Democratic Party and Communist Party still left them one seat behind the bourgeois majority in the National Assembly.
Moderates
But the most significant change occurred within the bourgeois coalition. parties lost out heavily to Sweden's major right-wing party, the Moderates, who for the first time are now the biggest party within the bloc.
A similar rightward shift was also recognisable in the recent elections Sweden's neighbour, Norway. Because Norway is a less centralised state, local elections are a better indication there than in Britain of the national political situation.
What . was mainly apparent in Norway. was the weakness
disintegration social-democratic Labour Party. The drop in its vote, though not so marked in these elections. continued a clear downward trend resulting pro-capitalist policies in government. Failed
The Norwegian Socialist Party, which enjoyed support in the early 1970s, has failed in its declared role as a check on the Labour Party and a promoter socialist progress.
As in Sweden, the chief gains in the Norwegian local elections were made by the
rigbr-wing party, ibe Righi Party, and de set more etirtane
Now it's Ford
international
bosses
invitation of the shop
with great week British strike in 1978
have 'do it succeeded
The
the among the 2000 who collected
So when
dealing with
floor we are constantly urged to
both had
European
Social the Left three-party
The two centre
bourgeois
local and of the Peoples Party.
However from progress as breaking
Left considerable
of
major
Progress 18 Outer 159)
work abroad. When strikes do take place Ford try to compensate by
This would not be such a problem if the trade union leaders were serious internationa soldarily. not. Consequently, often simply through lack of information, we effectively scab on each others' struggle. This was a major reason for the defeat of the strike for the 35 hour week at the Genk plant in Belgium last year.
More immediately we found out that the workers at the Valencia plant of Ford Spain are still engaged in a ferocious 10-month struggle against speed up and mass sackings. 86 workers been sacked, including delegates. Suspensions of from five to 53 days have been imposed on 500 workers, including 20 stewards. Indeed, two of the Spanish delegates in Copenhagen were sacked and one suspended.
When the Ford workers' leaders appealed to European Metalworkers' [EMF] for support they were told that such a request could only come through the Socialis 'arty-run union [the UGT]. The president of the EMF is a worker director on Ford's board in Cologne! We now intend to take the issue onto the shop floor in Ford's European plants.
The international solidarity build was reflected in other action that the Copenhagen meeting committed us to: building towards internationa action on the s hour
Right gains in Scandinavia
ING
N
PA
SWEDISH KAF election poster Party. Both won a large number of votes at the expense of the bourgeois centre parties — the Centre rarty. Ine Christian Peoples Party, and the New
further bourgeois party, the Left Party (liberals), made
La third alternative by with traditional bourgeois politics and taking a radical stand on
An evening of songs of struggle... with FAUSTO and ISABEL BARTOLOMEU (Portugal) and JAMES MEDHLOPE PHILLIPS (ANC, South Africa)
and political discussion
with OTELO SARAIYA DE CARVALHO (operational commander of
army units which overthrew Caetano)
Fri 26 Oct, 7.30pm, Conway Hall, Red Lion Sq, WCI Organised by Portuguese Workers Coordinating Committer
transferring
prepared to build
But they are
week and international elected Federation
If one thing meeting
workforce is
we want to
YULECIS
SÄNK-
NUT
STenvironmental questions.
But the search sections of workers for a militant alternative of their own was reflected in Norway in
by both the pro-Moscow Communist Party and the Maoistinspired Workers Communist Party.
Sweden an effective campaign was mounted by Trotskyists of the Communist Workers League (KAF).
FORD Dagenham workers
attempting to force shop representatives to organise this; opposition to import controls and instead workers' action to stop the switching of production schedules between Ford plants. Our eventual aim is to achieve a common level of real wages, hours and conditions in Ford Europe with a common claim and settlement date — a very long term
reflected the spirit of the discussion exploitation of so-called 'immigrant' labour. At Dagenham about two thirds of the 28,000
Asian black.
Germany, half the 30,000 workers are 'guest
from Turkey and other European countries. They have to renew their contracts annualy and it thev are sacked o
Bỳ Davy Jones Every
main Issues Congress itself. sections in Africa, election the
Somoza dictatorship.
applauded your victories.
Tonglise the
an official floor deportation.
falling market, while the German
workers' own organisations.
Ford's
Cologne,
south multinationals.
the world unite...
IMG debates Fourth
International perspectives
THE REVOLUTION in Nicaragua, the struggle for women's liberation, the world political situation and the fight for socialist democracy — these were among the themes debated by the International Marxist Group at a three-day conference on 5-7 October in preparation for the forthcoming 1lth World Congress of the Fourth International.
few years the thousands of International around the world debate perspectives for the movement in the light of new political developments such as Nicaragua and Iran. After exhaustive discussion at every level of the International, each national section organises a democratic conference to debate and vote upon the
under discussion,
After one year of discussion in the IMG in the national leadership and local branches, the conference delegates voted by a clear majority in support of the mainline documents being put forward to the World Congress of the Fl's United Secretariat: resolutions on the world political situation; capitalist Europe, women's liberation, and Latin America Amendments were also carried by the conference to be put forward to the World Congress on the first three of these resolutions. The theses on socialist democracy (publicly available in pamphlet form) were also passed overwhelmingly by the conference.
The highpoint of the conference was a full day's debate on the situation in Nicaragua and the tasks of the Fourth International. Conference overwhelmingly passed substantial amendments to a United Secretariat resolution, sent a message of greetings to the FSLN leadership on their heroic struggle (printed here), and passed a motion condemning the expulsion of the Simon Bolivar Brigade from Nicaragua
Finally, money is urgently needed.to ensure that delegates from the FI Congress itself. If you can spare any cash please send it urgently to: Week: PO Box 50. London N1 2XP. Cheques payable to 'The Week'. Conference message to FSLN THIS conference sends its warmest greetings to the FSLN of Nicaragua.
The heroic struggle which the FSLN has waged over the last decade culminated in an armed mass insurrection and the overthrow of the hated
The victory of the Nicaraguan masses was made possible by the existence and struggle of the FSL.N. It has opened up new revolutionary possibilities in the whole of Central America. Ii has placed the socialist revolution on the order of the day in Vicaragua itself.
Comrades of the FSL.N. revolutionaries throughout the
They Nicaragua will have its "Secrind Declaration of Havana'
We pledge to build the hroadest possible sulidarit! on evers front with the people of Nicaragua in Britain. We pledge that we will fight in nur country against any imperial inter ery airse colnirs.
become unemployed are subject to immediate
Many of the guest workers at Cologne are currently on a three or four day week due to a
workers are defined as 'special' and get a full week's work. We recognised that to fight this all countries immigration laws have to be tackled head on, along with & struggle against racism inside the
Our meeting aroused considerable interest in the Danish labour movement, especially the Copenhagen shop stewards movement. Official observers attended from Metalworkers' Union branches and from the Carlsberg and Tuborg breweries and the Butchers Union. The job is to spread the Ford initiative to workers in other
What was it Charlie Marx said? 'Workers ol
members of the Fourth
and to elect delegates to the World Asia and Latin America can attend the World
: The world have wait eagerly to see whether
Page 7 scan of this page
Dockers who never dream of
At work in Bombay
"YOU are not asked to work a 23-hour day, but the wage level leaves you little option. Every minute you are smashed, mentally and physically... A lot of the workers put me on a pedestal, with a conception of me as a leader.
SURESH GROVER was born in Nairohy in East Africa and came to Britain in 1965 when he was 11. His involvement in the Asian Socialist Forum in London persuaded him to visit India, where he recently spent six months working on the Bombay Docks.
D URING MY schooldays in Nelson,
Lancashire, during skinhead period in the early "70s especially, Asians used to get beaten up very badly. There were ten Asian
school, and afternoon one of us was beaten up. Every tenth day it would be my turn.
The comment they used to make was: He's an Indian. There are beggars in India. He can't fight.' They connected the misery of the people of the sub-continent with Britain's supposed strength. If poverty were no longer prevalent in India, if it came to be regarded country like the Soviet Union, I don't think there would be the same attitude to Asians living in Britain as there is now.
I've always felt this, and it was this idea which made me want to go to India. I wanted to find out for myself the situation on the docks, which had been discussed when I was in the Asian Socialist Forum in London.
I had read a lot about the docks industry. The question of working in India never frightened me because I had been working since 1971 in various factories, on night shifts, and so on. But with 50 million unemployed in India, obtaining a job wasn't easy.
There are two ways of getting a job on the docks in Bombay. First is to go through the Bombay Dock Labour Board, which is run by the government. If you're not the son of the manager, forget it. And then the oniy jobs the board gives are manual loading and unloading - which are looked down on in India because of the caste question. Only the very poor do manual Jobs.
The other way of getting jobs is from private firms which handle cargo. I managed to get a job with a stevedoring firm dealing with Soviet ships. Containerisation has just started in India, and I was offered a job as a container organiser, supervising the loading.
I was told the pay was 500 rupees a month about £30. That's higher than the average wage of a skilled worker. They promised regular hours, a letter of confirmation that I was employed, and more besides. It was all lies.
With a letter of employment I could have joined a union. I never received one. Instead of 500 rupees month. As for regular hours, working a 22 or 23-hour day for three days in a row, then having eight or 16 hours off and then start over again. You are not asked to work for so long, but the wage level leaves you no option
having a day off
Many others are management has no intention of keeping.
To imagine what it's like working a whole day with only a couple of hours off, you also lave to appreciate the conditions of the job There are no canteen facilities, anywhere to wash, and no health and safety regulations. These facilities don't exist in the as a strong slums where many of the workers live, so there is no real demand for them at work.
To eat, you get a thali - rice, chapatis, and a couple of vegetables. It's a cheap meal, two or three rupees, but the quantity is very small -just sufficient for you to eat and feel hungry two hours later. For someone who hasn't lived in India it isn't easy to manage on it. And the hygienic level of the food is poor, because the people who make it are poor. The same oil is used for frying for a few months. You can't even get water when you're working, because you can't drink the water.
I fell ill with amoebic dysentry, thinned me down. I was 11 stone when I went over, and I lost 2.5 stone. The dynsentry really hampered me. I was so ill my knees would
of the dock workers sleep containers. Many come from villages, leaving their wives behind, so that during a strike they take the opportunity to go home to their village. That happens in other industries, too. for those whose family is in Bombay, the men will rather earn an extra 20 rupees by staying on the docks than spend the time with their family. forced on them because of material need.
In India, the wife never asks anything she's not expected to. She's at home; she cooks and cleans tor her hushand discussion about there is a strike, she is not supposed to get involved.
At least 40 per cent of the 60,000 workers on the Bombay docks are not in unions. The most serious thing that affected me was that not only are the workers exploited by the management, but also by people who pretend to be their friends trade union leaders and politica activists. What I wanted to know was how I could contribute effectively so workers, who have never even dreamed of having a free day, strength.
Every minute you are smashed, mentally and physically. There are lepers, beggars; all the poverty you see haven't succeeded in tradition on a political or personal basis.
What kept me going was talking to dock workers all the time. In India, to be a supervisor
regard them as cham cha — a stooge. But I weni out of my way to assist the workers on the job. The didn't exactly because was disgracing • supervisors A a corce ion or she an a leadedestal, with a conception of me as a leader. expected more than I could do, not realising
strength. The Indian parliamentary, politics is based on this. 'Mahatma' in Mahatma Gandhi, for example, means 'near to god', and this idea of the leader runs through the Indian tradition. It means they accept what you say, which is a barrier to
MEETING during the Bombay dock strike last April. Other photographs made promises which revolutionary politics
no toilets, which
in
workers to make their That's - the non-unionised labourers. who There 1S no what happens at work. If
and had self-organisation.
the docks; and relationship
that these don't strike together. could realise their own completely artificial,
ment's interests.
every day. The unions
creating a militant like this the name
action.
whole tradition of When there is a strike,
workers, leader.
laughing. - views of the city.
In Bombay I was in a group which is sympathetic to the Fourth International and concerned. mainly with industrial issues, with unionising workers and representing sacked workers in the courts. It runs a law centre.
Two of us worked on the docks. The idea was to discuss issues like health and safety, basic problems in the dock situation, and for
own demands about them. We managed to talk to a lot of workers in
section, the contract had seen no general improvements in their life in the past ten, twenty, years. That was the sector l was on. They were pissed off with the existing unions
begun to realise the need
We decided to produce a bulletin taking up workplace problems; how the slums related to
importantly the between organised and unorganised sections, building links between them. They live in the same places and face the same problems. They live together but they
The separation and oniv The unions openly receive money from management not to organise the casual labourers. Because of these deeds, it was necessary to create a force within the unions for the issue of unionisation to be taken up
There has been industrial action on the docks, over the question of contract labour: over parity of wages on a national level; and parity of supervisors' wages. These initiatives But the biggest problem the dock workers face is inter-union rivalry, arising from the fact that the unions are linked to political parties
Now that the Janata Party is in power, for example, the Congress Party's union will take
That means that only certain sections will be on strike, ano tis accon will be canca D the union leaders essentially for manoevuring purposes rather than winning demands
• there is no real attempt by the leadership to get the rank and file to discuss the demands and the action. This is not quite the same as in Britain, because if
• you are illiterate, as the large majority of Indian workers are, then meetings and discussio. become crucial because the workers hase no other way of obtaining information.
We wanted to establish a rank and fi
of unionised and non-unionised which could mobilise in a strike situation, discuss conditions in the shums. so on. The idea was that demands could be properly discussed, and fought for. A forum of discussion like that had never existed.
We had some successful meetings. where two or three hundred came along. And we weat along to meetings at which union leaders spoke We managed to gel nuckers. discussing how we could organise and so on. Then we decided to take up the question of my not getting paid the amount I was promised.
The reason I'd never asked was because 1 knew I would be sacked, but we decided to make an issue of it. It was a mistake
We couldn't screen the people who were coming to the meetings, and one of them reported to management that we were setting up another union, which wasn't true. That would have confused the whole situation.
At first I was warned by management that I leader. Stupid causestions. They wanted to and become a
Stupid accusations. know my nationality, which is British, and they threatened me with deportation! I started
The next day I went back and asked for my money. They told me I was sacked, so there wa: a big fight in the manager's office. I argued that they couldn't sack me because they had never given me a letter of appointment in the first
Unfortunately, they saw through this logic and that was it — I had to go
That same night, goondas — that's a Hindi word for political gangster — had gone to th slums and visited the homes of some of th workers who were close to us. They slappe wives, broke a few cooking pots, and said there was to be no new union formed. We think the were sent by the unions
There was a national docks strike at the time I left. last April. It was over bonuses, and the people we'd worked with raised the question of he demands and how the struggle could t
arried forward. For the first time there w co-ordination between the clerical and manua workers. The strike, which was started on ar anti-Janata government basis, lasted six days. which was long enough to have a sharp impact on the Indian economy because the country is so dependent on imports and exports.
The people I was working with have now decided to join the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for no reason but that there was no other group for them to Join The CPM is supposed to be independent, but it's supported by Cuba and Czechoslovaia. While it has a big trade union he Bomay dorks. edaany had any •tradition in the. Bombay docks. glimpse of what we were trying to achieve, in the co-ordination between the workers.
This article is taken from a conversation with Suresh by GEOFFREY SHERIDAN. I you know. someone perhaps yourself! who you think might make a good subject for our At Work series, do let us know. Sqcialist Challenge , 18 October, 1979. Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
HOW TO STOP KILLING LE
CPsays: By p
any means
necessary
THERE was fighting talk from the platform when Derek Robinson got up to speak at the London demonstration last week:
Robinson, a member of the CP, is full-time convenor for the British 'Leyland Longbridge plant. As you can see from the table on this page, this is not just any old Leyland plant.
He was one of those who attended the Kenilworth meeting called by Edwardes after his appointment as Leyland boss. This meeting, of senior stewards and convenors, voted confidence in Edwardes — equivalent to supporting his plan
Sponsorship
Robinson is also well-known for opposition to the tool-makers' strike. weekend he announced his support for Leyland's sponsorship of Mark Phillips' show-jumping
"They should have gone into sponsorship icalil.. earlier', he said.
His speech is a case study in how to talk about action without giving a clue what to do.
we are saying trom this meeting that we
Jare serious in our intent and under no cir cumstances are we prepared to accept that there are any plant closures, partial plant closures, or mediatoes.
We shall fight on any basis that we consider to be necessary. It will be essential for every plant that's confronted with a cutback in labour or plant closure to ensure that their work is not transferred to any other plant in Leyland.
Serious
Thạt means that the TR7 is not going from canev to solhull, It means that ine work at Castle Bromwich is neither going to Swindon nor Liverpool: and it means that if they intend to transfer the Allegro then it's not going to move. That is the message that we're giving.
We are not going to allow any plant to fight in
This is a united struggle that require the fullest and maximum support from every single factory inside Leyland.
situation inside bus and truck is just as serious. They're faced with exactly the same problems -no new models coming through at the rate that's necessary, cutbacks in investment which makes them even more uneconomic to produce.
We've got the same problems and what we ought to be demanding is that the government nly support ine trade umon allellauve ror
Future
That's the way we are going to secure the
Photos: future for Leyland in it's entirety. And not only
remains a manufacturing country that's able to produce vehicles of every type in the only wholly British owned motor manufacturer.
We need to launch this campaign from today with all the seriousness and all the determination that we know is possible from our great trade union movement.
And the slogan has got to be: Not a job is lost in Leyland. No work is transferred from one factorv to another. And we'll take whatever measures are necessary, to ensure that doesn't happen
We need to say to the Confed executive that we require, without any qualification, the fullest support of the our trade union movement. Campaign
And we'll say that we'll wholeheartedly support the campaign British ‚Leyland and to save jobs in Leyland. Thank you.
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 8
show-jumping round the world.
Leyland's sponsorship of his SHOP Stewards representing Leyland plants met in Birmingham on Saturday 13 October to discuss Edwardes' closure plans. The response of the stewards was to overwheimingly plans and pledge fuill support to those resisting closure.
Edwardes however is determined to get his way and plans to ballot shop-floor workers over the heads of their elected leaders. PAT KANE was in Birmingham at the weekend and talked to PAUL SHEVLIN, a TGWU steward at Jaguar in Coventry and a Socialist Challenge supporter.
PAUL SHEVLIN Edwardes sent a letter to the demonstration in London on 9 October saying: I don't know why you are holding the demonstration because when we met on Friday we were all agreed to the principle of the closures.'
When the union leaderships Edwardes on 5 October, eight hours of talks led them to agree the concept of closure. They'd seen Industry Secretary, who'd refused to advance Bl any more money. And Michael Edwardes is clearly saying that he's prepared to put the whole of BL in the hands the receivers if accept. The acceptance of the closures 17 leaderships are being forced to step back from it now, has considerably likelihood of a united fight against the closures.
MICHAEL EDWARDES, the British Leyland boss, has certainly kept himself in the news of late. Most recently the popular press has gone to town on the announcement that British Leyland Range Rover will be sponsoring Captain Mark Phillips — famous royal spouse — to go
the royal equestrian followed conveniently on announcements in the press that Princess Anne would not be able to compete in the … Moscow Olympics as she can't afford an adequate horse!
What an outcry there's been. Two Labour MPs have already put down questions about it for the first day of Parliament. It obviously isa bit rich of Edwardes to rub in his announced 26,000 redundancies in British Leyland with a £20,000 a year hand-out to royalty.
Action committee launched
all British
thein reaction 10
reject the
way everyone is under threat.
plants facing closure to resist.
get support throughout the company.
The problem meeting's
Derek HONSE
the whole struggle can be undermined.
However there resistance in the example,
off with the closures.
Pressure
Leyland Action closures. The
Jaguar and Longbridge.
contacts we have in Castle
met with set up meetings in the
Keith Joseph,
the unions don' Although principle of although the
undermined the verbal some kind of fighting reality.
There is no point accepting the present plan hoping*to avoid Leyland being closed down completely. These plans of Edwardes are only we urst steps Delore wey start lo runner cu down Leyland's by selling off bits of it. If these cuts are made it's hard to see that Leyland could continue as a single company in, say, five years time. Small isn't beautiful in the car industry. The built-in logic of Edwardes' plan is to hive off sections of Leyland to raise capital, and the company will get smaller and smaller. So either
However, although everyone is ultimately under threat, the crucial thing is for those
The biggest closures that are coming up are at Canley ir Coventry and at Castle Bromwich - if these plants aren't fighting then it will be difficult to
that, despite the of the Edwardes' plan, the record of convenors like
Over doubtful whether they will lead a real fight. And locally, if the shop stewards are not inclined to fight,
atmosphere of plants. Al Canley, for there have been cars mysteriously damaged on the nightshift - everyone knows that this was done by workers who are pissed
Leyland Stewards for the Annual Reyiew which is a left tendency inside the Leyland
pay met last Wednesday, 10 October, and decided to set up a
grouping has support from stewards and rank and file militants in Cowley,
Michael
Over the next weeks we will be seeing the GMWU, Abingdon MG
Bromwich and Canley [the two biggest plants facing closure] to
plants against the closures. That way we can begin to pull together those people who do want to fight and put pressure on the convenors to give a real lead unbally. We'll also be holding meetings on the counci housing estate at Canley where the workers and
action committee is unofficial body, by grouping together militants within Leyland we can at least put our efforts into building the kind of action required to turn
rejection of Edwardes' plan into see the books.
But although it's fair enough to complain £20,000, the outery should be about the redu Many Labour MPs, and their counterparts in ti would rather ignore the redundancies - after al appointed Edwardes to head Leyland, and 1 bureaucrats gave him and his plan a vote of co Leyland workers have been paying the price e
On 5 October an 'emergency committe Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineerin (all the unions involved in engineering) met wit management for eight hours. At the end they principle to the redundancies and closures.
But an outery from the shop stewards led to : demonstration in London on 9 October, attended by well over a thousand engineers fro
SAVE THI
MG
ABINGOON OPEN THE BOOKS Fathers and John Goodsley,
'THE only way to save jobs in Leyland is through a co-op. Each worker down here se gets £80 a week, now we've been told that we get £80 for each £900 we make for the 'But we haven't seen the books — we'd probably have to get an accountant or one of th those guys in to look at it all.' 'WE want a costing account. The foremen th have been asking for a costing account on the MG for longer than we have. Apparently they are not going to produce one. Why not?
That's what we want to know. We want to th
Page 9 scan of this page
EDWARDES
i the
cies.
ions,
bour anion dence. since.
of the Jnions kyland eed in
Il for a i was I over
AUSTIN MORRIS Current By 1980 ridge y Assembly 6.800 on Lane
atry Engines. 2.900 • Lane
_ UKPLANTS te (Beigium).. . 3.100
_ PLANTS 36.200 33,400
ocul
ID TOTAL . 42,600 39,600
Current
• Bromwich 6,700 y Body .
Dol i Pressings. 1,600
2,500 2,500
2,200
24,800 21.100 18,500 JAGUAR ROVER TRIUMPH Current
• Lalit 4,800
r Plas Cars. 4,000 4.000
7,000 1,000 ,000 1,000 sley Green.
6s0l Green 4,600 4,500
78.000
4,900 4,200
36,900 32,200
Hewitt, Branch 1,5908 TGWU, dige
.Ithink what's gotto ürst of all is that from ir stewards meeting in humon Saturday 000m acoOt roughout British
nil'sgortogo backto Torce,everybody got them.
YLAND
the country. CLIVE TURNBULL was there and spoke to. militants who were on the march.
On Saturday senior stewards met in Birmingham and clearly rejected the idea of mass redundancies in any Leyland plant. PAT KANE went to Birmingham and was not surprised to find out that there is scepticism as to whether the union leaderships are planning for a fight.
Many rank and file workers are already coming up with answers to Edwardes — they call for a policy of occupations in the threatened plants with strike action throughout Leyland; they want greater shop floor involvement in planning for action; they want to see what the company's bookssay. To this we add the need for work sharing without loss of pay to counter the bosses' allegations that there is no work. And for a national conference of shop stewards to plan and lead the fight. 1961 Total 1982 10SU T3001 13 000 2,600 5,900 6,000 6,300 500 100
600 90C 1,000 Colu
2,500 600 600 2.500
28.500 28,600 7.600 5,800
34,500 34,400 8,200
Total Lost 1.100 100 6.600 100 o.lul YUU :200 100 200 400 +700 2,800 +300
6,700 1.900 1.900 JUU
17,800 7.000 1981 1882 Total Lost 4,800 4,400 0.0UU 1,000 415; 100 1.000 4,600 +600 6,000 300 1.000 FUU 600 4,900 4,700 1,600 4,400 4,200 400
Eu. v 22.100 9.900
3.700 3.400 1.500
26.800 25.500 11,400
to betold - they haven't got to jump the gun. Report back and
groundioor.
'IF they take on the plants individually then they'll be knocked off one by one — - it's only what you'd do yourself if you were the boss, isn'tit? Hit the weakes! first and get rid of
ALAN THORNETT, Transport Union deputy convenor at Cowley, is not well-loved by the Leyland management, nor for that matter by large sections of the union leaderships. Clive Turnbull asked him his views on how to fight the closures. The acceptance in principle of Edwardes redundancy plans by the emergency committee set up by the Confed is obviously a total sell-out. They had authority to accept it from the Confed itself.
They went ahead accepted with Edwards
to bring haraienne rece vers and shut down the whole of Leyland cars. They collapsed in front of that and so today's demonstration COLIDICLCHYDOLISY
I he question we have to ask here is whether they will give a report back on the sell-out and the acceptance in principle the hand-out that's been given to Edwardes.
The only way it can be fought is by direct action in the plants concerned - occupation of the plants concerned and support for the occupations throughout.the rest of Combine - there's no other
It's now very very difficult tor those individua plants as it's been accepted at Confed level.
Given that Edwardes' strateg is divide and rule, what kind of
MICHAEL EDWARDES, Leyland boss
'We need a policy of occupations'
no
and
strategy can unite all the plants the together to overcome that?
Well, it's a leadership question, it's exceedingly difficult if the leadership prepared accept.
The present leadership are unable to tackle the 'viability' problem " viability soon company says go along with the argument.
They al C incapable taking a position which starts from the independent interests the workers in that's the basic problem.
the
transfers of work from plants under threat of redundancy or closure. in other blacking of transfers. What do you think of that?
Yes, well you can black, actual fact that's' not a Rudi Gayle, Steward, 5909 TGWU, Longbridge
'AT BIRMINGHAM on Saturday they are having a very important meeting, but the Leyland cannot, and should There should be report backs to workplace meetings. When decisions just come down from the top people are naturaily very suspicious.'
difficult policy to carry But the crucial question is not blacking but whether you get solid es sance individual plants.
Even if you black, if there's acceptance in the plants that are then other people will accept
Blacking is only a subsidiary question. The questions are root and branch resistance from the unions at the lop occupations with action throughout BL. ing is then effective.
It's not effective you've got resistance within the individual plants
LU cuts the feet from under
individual plants The Confed should actively call for a policy of occupations, the give confidence to the workers they in the plants that are being
closed, intervene
of immediate official backing to a
policy of occupations.
Leyland, What about the
accountability? Things national conferences of shop stewards haye been put forward - together with issues of rank and file control.
Well, that's a much broader words issue within British Leyland as
La whole, around the question of annual reviews and everything goes beyond simply
in which is just a question of very fighting redundancies.
By Tessa Van Gelderen Lesneys.
'divide and rule succeeded. been a bit taken solidarity of the unions.
suspended for refusing
workers. Premiums
been
trouble, say EETPU, Tony Fairey.
which out.
the
tothe EETPU. individual being closed 'his
won. The local main responded accordingly.
policy supporting Sull.
Trades Council
Black-
(BOC is next door until
and this tremendous help
the Praise
give efforts that he has made.
struggle is all about. question of
the stewards like
of one section of the • struggle of all.
this of people who are oppressed.
the rent.'
labour movement.
LESNEYS: THE
STRUGGLEOF
ONEIS THE
STRUGGLE
OFALL
THE DISPUTE at Lesneys in North eas London is, on one level, a straightforward conflict between workers and managemest. The company won't honour an agreemest to pay time and a third to electricians worki shifts. Electricians only working the worst day shift found themselves locked out.
Like most disputes, it is important to win, not just for the immediate monetary gains, bur also because that strengthens the workforce in the future. Nowhere is this more true than a
Management have all too often played
- and in the past they have This time management must have by ine unlly and
When an Engineering Union member was
work a machine repaired by a scab ASTMS supervisor, the foundry and fettling sections immediately came out. And they also took up the electricians demand for time and a third for all shift
To get the AUEW back management have
precedent *They have paid strikers their full money, and this includes shift premiums, to get them back to work. For a company to pay out so much for workers being on strike must mean they are in
Senior Steward
Management have not helped their case by this action. The AUEW will not work machines
repaired by scab labour and eventually the machines will grind to a halt. And, of course, the electricians are now also demanding wages for the time they have been out. The transport drivers are refusing to cross picket lines and the only way management can get the factory fully functioning again is to talk
dispute is vitally important for the whole Hackney area. Being one of the few large companies left with a history of weak union organisation, it is important that this dispute is
labour NOVCHEERI has
As Tony Fairey says: 'It's incredible, I've never yet in all my years come across such
We've had support from Hackney and from the socialist movement in Hackney. British Oxygen workers
• to Lesneys), in particular Micky Boulter, TGWU Secretary, have been a
'Not only has Micky raised funds, but the amount of hours he has put in is tremendous. He has aised with the stewards all hours of the day and night. I can't give enough praise for the
When you see the actions of BOC you know just what the labour
And Micky Boulter, the convenor of BOC,
committee, and the Hackney Trades Council, certainly do know what it's all about. It's about showing the bosses, not only at Lesney's, but everywhere, that the struggle
working class is the
Tony Fairey is under no illusion as to why they have received the support they have: It's because these people believe in the struggle of the workine class. It's realv as straichttorward as that. They are so involved with the struggles
They support people who are fighting to pay the bill; to pay
Hackney BOC are an example for the whole
Whatever the outcome of this dispute at Lesneys (and the signs are thai the electricians are in a very strong position), with the strength of BOC workers and Hacknes Trades Council around them, they will live to fight another day. The days of management's 'divide and rule' are clearly numbered.
STOP PRESS: Victory at Lesneys on Tuesday morning. Management concede the end of nighi shift working and make ex gratia payment ol £1,500 to share between the electricians.
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Aface that makes nonsense of the
Has 'Women's Voice become a section of the SWP?
Pretty Baby [Ritz, X). Producer Louis Malle
*Very very good of its kind and is certainly art' 'beautiful camera studies as opposed to porn siuls
Felix Barker, Evening Standard. *Brook Shields [aged 12] is indeed a TerY baby, and her attribute is... a face that nonsense of the age of consent'
Hugh Hebert, Guardian.
BROOKE SHIELDS plays in yet another tim about & prostitute. The 'plot? — a 'love' story — couldn't have been simpler.
A whorehouse set in 1917 New Orleans owns a young prostitute. A voveur, dressed up as a photographer. materialises on the doorstep to take the "beautiful camera studies'. Girl, Violet, falls in love with said voyeur, who eventually discovers himself to
similarly affected towards her.
By Celia Shalom, new member of Women's Voice Steering capacity.
THE END of September saw the second national Women's •Voice Birmingham, from 40 different groups around the country. The weekend was very full, with discussion about our perspectives, and the nature of Women's Voice. Workshops were held on abortion, the teave, housing, Liberation Movement, building WV groups in the community, and the revolutionary party. It was a great opportunity different experiences and get to know each other.
The Steering Committee report highlighted that, for quite a small organisation, been very active over the past year. WV groups vary in size and make up, but most are based in localities and campaign on two or three main issues, such health cuts, supporting local struggles of women at work. Almost all do sales of the magazine in shopping centres, estates, and so on.
The few workplace groups, like Fleet Street, which is working around the new technology and a nursery, are an example of what can be done over the next year. The Tory attacks on working women, from cuts in the welfare state to reduction of maternity rights, means that groups based at work will be even more needed.
•rackets on the sist
HIONY MARASM Dy uncan Malas (24.ou
THE SPACE MERCHANTS caulion by ine Zonisis and the resince
LIbI C THE WORLD ON GUr by. Malcolm Pitt (2.95)
NAME
ADDRESS
Socialist Chalenge
age of consent
makes
12 vear old go to get married.
Committee in a personal
conference attended by about 200 women
specific campaigns,
cuts, maternity the history of the Women's new technology, workplace and
for women from share
we had
abortion, The Sadly, conference
•Bookmarx Club
HOW SO. You sens us a big for rich you delivered book on
• LiSt A below plus those on one other list of vour choice. Extra lists can be
sent in ine tort subscription, you will save pounds on the retail value of the books (shown in
IN CABILE Or MI SAIl George Lamming (1.50
Ine HoUSe Or HUNGER by Dambudzo Marchera (1.25
with the AN it mary of the childhia.
LIST E TESTAMENT OF YOUTH by Vera Brittain (f.75) i want of young girls lie before THE MONOCLED MUTINEER by Allison and Fairley (1.95)
Saecial ofters to Bookmarx Members BACKS MY SONG IS MY OWN (on 2095 me pos
THE RUSSIAN E for £4.75. in
I wish to join/ rejoin Bookmarx and enclose 14.50 (+E2.50 for each extra listi
i - Send to BOOKMARX CLUB, 265 Seven Sisters Road, London,
18 October 1979 Page 10
Whorehouse closes down and off they A paper saw wy as i campaiged to this
arguments. Our opposition to the Corrie Bill,
position, rather we say that abortion must be
This platform of Women's Voice, which 'Women's Voice is an organisation that fights for women's liberation and socialism. We fight
contraception; we fight against all forms of orientation, or race. Women's liberation is only
can only be achieved by linking its struggles to those of the working class and overthrowing tht capitalist system. Women's Voice supports the
organisationally independent, but based on the politics of the SWP!
last two lines were controversial issue at conference, and also the most confused. Some women voted for them because they wanted an openly stated link with the SWP, and nothing more. Others, I think, SWP, composed only of SWP members and Women's Voice as now a section of the some non-aligned women close to the SWP.
non-aligned women resell did not force the
CHRISTMAS QUARTER 1979 Tigers,
now with vou Tickets
debate
Ily 26 9% Anton Ciga
Please send list A + List/s) E
NI.
Meanwhile, the mother of the girl [also a prostitute in the same brothel]
other left groups.
Women's participate in
Women's liberation
between newsletter to Women's Voice members, also decided
to pay for our own organiser. The the „MOSU carry out our discussion Women's Voice is all about.
WHAT'S LEF
SKATEND SULALAI Group meets regularly. Details from Gravesend
Box 13, Gravesend group ha
Merseyside Donations towaras cost or rent sends socialist allenge ox gratefully received 50, London N1 2XP.
DEMONSTRATION! 1 Prisoners, Brits Out
Ireland. Assemble -pir
Street, cowley Road
HULL UNIVERSITY Fi Society and Hull
hrst time in Patroname Middleton Hall, Hull University Road, Hull. Fri 19 Oct at 7.45pm. 75 Socialist Books, or ring Angia lor
the labour ratt Socialism?' Speakers: Victor and Cia tor Pugh (IMG Tues 23 Oct. 8pm. , in the Meeting
Room, Thorpe Close (under Westway flyover)
BATH: SOCIALIST CHALLENGE on sale at 1Y65 Books condon kod, anu wal wudys spil
3om outside the Roman Baths. Phone 2029: kor more ceralis BOOKS for Southern Africa comrade money is desperarely needed for this vital fiel you can spare Books for Sor send Arica,
02, Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London
has fulfilled ner respectable and gone off with a. St Louis pavement contractor. They too get married. This eventually turn up on the doorstep to claim daughter (now 15 years old) who had originally been mother's sister in order to further her marriage prospects.
The politics, however, are not so simple. In allowing children to have a sexuality, the film can only cope with this 'revelation' by setting it against a background of prostitution. Violet commodity to gratify other people's desires.
Virgin
In the first half of the film Violet is still a virgin and consequently worth a lot. She is duly auctioned off for 400
in virginal white and holding a phalli‹
bidding camera switehes to the face of the black dandy 'house' piano player.
enough around their situation, instead the debate was dominated by women aligned to
Conference upheld the right of women to be members of other left organisations and still be
Voice. The criteria membership are selling the magazine, helping to build a group, and agreement with the statement on the membership card.
It was necessary to lay down a specitic structure for the organisation, so that we can be more effective, and so that all members can fully
discussion and political development of Women's Voice. The Steering Committee, elected at annual conference, is the political leadership and general co-ordinator during the year. The development of regional maroe siscussion and internal enable among were agreed. 10 concentrate on making ourselves financially strong enough to be able
conference clarified some of the perspectives for Women's Voice, but the real clarification will come from our development over the next year. It is crucial that, however busy they are within their own local groups [which we will be, thanks to the Tories!], all members get involved in the debates within the
The political development of women and a growing confidence to make and
decisions
MALANEY socials challenge group meeung
Speaker: Clive Turnbull Committee recently in Nicaragua) centre on show.
Mare St, E8
organised by Scottish Homosexual Rights Group for men and women active in trade union work POW Glasgow Trades Union Centre, Sat 27 Oct; Edin
detais and registration Creche 031-225 2424 ext 6298 (day), or Bob Deacon
Cottingham
CELYELANT ANG Southall trials. Main Speaker Tariq Ali. 7.30pm, PROTEST AGAINST Nuclear weapons: UN
SC group
Schonfield Party politica books LATIN AMERICA Centre at the Christopher Hatton Centre, Laystall Street, off Roseberry
desires to be
done, they customers voyeur's back 'their
passed off as the
Standing
forth
exploitation, i.e.
becomes
the mother
closing shot
Prior to that she has been
canneras
Louis. proceeds, the
higher the bidding, the more
NICOS • POULANTZAS, Marxist writer, died,
France, decided to Poulantzas is pictured above at the Marxist Symposium Challenge
Robin Blackburn.
KIMG Political includine music. • Plus slide emphasis on 18 Oct, 7.30pm, Britannia pub 6.30pm from
on 01-552-4270 work: u Schoos
contact Ale OLDHAN markets and areas ronc meclink. sioo loi
creased and lined with pain his face becomes. And in a whorehouse where
are servants 'only' and are white men the reference to slave auctions is obvious.
But the full vigour of the film's hypocrisy is saved right until the end. Newly wed mother and hubby turn up to crush what little freedom Violet has struggled to achieve.
the doorstep and dressed in solid black pinstripes, the
Porth ise fatent ones or sues
fateful voyeur/husband]: 'Mrs Fuller [newly wed mother| has overcome her pasi She wants the same for Violet.' Not the double twist. The mechanism for crushing Violet is the oppression of
The actuall for Violet's freedom has been a voyeur.
The sick joke is rounded off in the
of hubby taking photograph of this newly completed family with one of those new box
station platform wols waiting ror lie
been successfully relegated from a person to daughter. And thanks to laws like the age of consent, it's all legal.
the well-known Paris last week.
Poulantzas, who had been extremely depressed by the situation in Indochina and the situation
take his life 1978 organised by Socialist London. We offer .our condolences to his family and friends. In next week's issue we will publish an appreciation by
| Avenue, London ECI (Chancery Lane tube). A
theatre. eLC. popular culture 25 Oct. Further details: Malcoln
Sonic As Weber to And 0 201
Webber c/o Andy,
А рекат, т.
Divide and Rule, Nev and peak,
King. S
REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNIST Tenden
REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNIST Papers No
• 1C ICCS 0 13 0841 the imperials bowers to compete everlenuis fiercelv for control of raw material sources
…tor investment Richards analyses the material forces underlying
Alan Hardins
perialist rivalry in Zaire, and Andre Robinsor
vement in Zimbabwe. Available
ications Ltd
IT'S BACK!
Belt 'n' Braces
'Accidental Death of an Anarchist'
'Simply brilliant' — Tariq Ali
From 15 Oct, bookings 01-267 6722
Party and wageless reductions
Page 11 scan of this page
One in the eye for New Zealand Tories
Thoughts on an anniversary...
By Martin Meteyard ROBERT Muldoon equivatent of Margaret Thatcher. Head of a right-wing Tory government determined to cut wages, boost unemployment, and smash the right to organise.
Bill Rowling is the Callaghan. A Labour opposition leader who thinks only in parliamentary terms; who in July denounced the disturbing trend towards use of the strike weapon as a negotiating tool', and
inose talking showdown as 'irresponsible idiots'.
Well, on 20 September there were an âwful lot of 'irresponsible idiots' around as a 24-hour general strike brought the country to a virtual standstill.
The strike was called by the Federation of Labour after the government used its recently passed Remuneration agreement wrung out of the employers by the powerful Drivers' Federation.
Award
The drivers' award — which generally acts as a pacesetter for other unions per cent. The government then stepped in to reduce it to 9.5 per cent, the amount of the employers' original offer before action forced them into further concessions.
The response trom immediate. Stopwork around the country. An immediate half-day stoppage was called at the New Zealand Motor Corporation assembly plant in Wellington. The Meat Workers Union
By Günter Minnerup I AM SITTING before my typewriter, ready to produce the piece on the thirtieth anniversary of the German Democratic Republic [GDR] Socialist Challenge has asked for.
Easy job that, clear. Bureaucratically workers' state, product of the Soviet occupation after 1945 and the Cold War, call for a political revolution that, in conjunction with the social revolution in West Germany, establish a united socialist Germany.
But what about anniversary? Have a drink before I start writing? Do I, a German socialist, born in the same year as the 'first German workers' and peasants' state', have anything to celebrate?
My first semi-conscious confrontation with the existence of another Germany than the one I lived in was on a New Year's Day in the 1950s. Walter Ulbricht, 'the everyone called him because of his beard, gave his annual speech about the inexorable progress staton or socialismn
Radio
In retrospect, it seems odd that people West Germany actually tuned in to the East German radio to listen to someone who was then the most hated man in Germany. But it was a sort of love-hate relationship, like the one with the fortified border
New Zealand's
equivalent of Jim
an industrial Act to veto wage
— was [0r 1]
industrial
other workers was meetings took place
action'
puiled out wage.
cucial.
that people today go and watch
our position is along
deformed wall-lowers commemorating
Swiss chocolate will chewing gum
Uprisings
on it, When,
the American sector appealing
LOE Le C
goat'
involved
government were
don't you Socialism.
negotiations and threatened appropriate direct • ULELCOS intervention was removed.
As a delegate from the Carpenters &
ODR
running right through Germany, with the 'Soviet Zone' (to call it GDR amounted to high treason then) in
One listened to Ulbricht like
Alien, took foreign visitors for a day out
barbed wire, the blocks. and the plaques failed escape attempts, and felt quite smug sending heroes Christmas parcels with oranges, real
and American to our suffering 'brothers and sisters in the East'.
during the uprisings of June 1953, a column of East Berlin building workers marched through
for the solidarity of their brothers in the West, it was chocolate and chewing gum that was thrown down to them
About geols
But I was too young to remember three 1953. It was only much later, when
first political discussions, that the events of the day that had been declared a national holiday — 'Day of German Unity'
reactionary Adenauer continuously thrown at me and other socialists. Odds
'If you don't like it here, why
go and join the goat? But Workers state? With Russian tanks rolling against striking workers!' It was no use arguing. The German working class, once among
government and | the best-organised and most militant | cle', the long post-war boom? in the world, has seen "actually existing socialism' at work and said, No thanks.
Then came the Berlin Wall, and the bullet-ridden bodies hanging on to the barbed wire on top of the concrete
Willy Brandt and John F. Kennedy had taken over from August Bebel and Rosa Luxemburg as the
of the politically minority of the German proletariat. The Social Democrats espoused the cause of the 'free market
Communist Party (KPD) — or rather, what remained of
been banned without a voice raised in protest.
There seems little cause celebrate thirty years of stain on the good name of socialism. Where could we German socialists be today if it had not been for the free ammunition continuously provided
propaganda machine for decades, courtesy of Ulbricht and Honecker?
Have a drink on a state whose population has actually decreased since 1949 largely because over three million of its inhabitants have 'voted with their feet' and fled to the West?
be fair! Was not de-politicisation of the West German working class primarily a result of the fascist terror, and also a product of ithe unprecedented 'economic mira-
MADE BRANC
Labourers Union put it at a 900-strong meeting called by Auckland Trades Council: 'Are we going to let the employers walk all over us? If all the workers in New Zealand stand up, I wonder how they'll fit us all in jail.'
And did the GDR not face the most appalling odds stacked against it: slim industrial. weakened by the dismantling of entire factories which went to the Soviet Union as reparations, the exodus of hundreds of thousands workers to the West, the denial of the billions of Marshall Plan dollars that fuelled the West German 'miracle', and the international had imposed on it diplomacy for two out of its three decades'
Junkers to Does it not have to its credit the expropriation of the Junker class, the warmongering landlords of German imperialism? And what about extremely thorough purge of all Nazis the from the state apparatus — so much in contrast to the brown freckles on the face of the Bonn democracy?
Does not the fact despite all obstacles among the top ten industrial of the world and overtaking Britain in living standards prove the historical superiority of a planned economy the first workers' state to shed "poor relation' image?
And is not the international role the the GDR plays in giving substantial material movements of Africa, Cambodia and Cuba a progressive one?
Such militancy
some form
street
New Zealand
Storemen and Drug
morning we had up to
working.
Strength
massive industrial action.
strike when he told a rally: "It's an
action
to fight the Tories? base further
skilled entirely in vain.
Learn isolation Wes German
building a new astically
the dissidents the Biermann, known ones
GDR that, today Marxism. A the GDR
clearly powers Bahro's.
German
the Celebrate On
liberation to Vietnam,
left the Federation Labour leaders with little option bat to organis
of national • action. Hence 24-hour strike call for 20 September.
The short notice could have limited in effectiveness, but in fact thousands of markers
demonstrations against Muldoon government in all the main centres Bruce Fowler, an organiser for the Norther Storemen and Packers Union, explained hom i was done at a Socialist Forum organised by th
Trotskyists the following
'One of the highlights was that the Drivers,
and Chemical Workers Unions organised delegates' militias. Yesterday
250 delegates at on office and we sent these delegates out to sites in cars to make sure that none of the siles were
Muldoon's Remuneration Act now faces 'the same fate as Public Service Association Derecognition Bill, which the governmeat was forced to withdraw in July under threat of
Bill Anderson, president of the Auckland
exercise in strength for us, exercise in fear for them... we will contin
governna government, but also the policies it folloms
What better example could there be of
I can hear the shouts of 'pabloite revisionism'. I must not be soft on Stalinism. But somewhere deep down there is a feeling of affection for the other Germany. Thirty years of toil by millions of German workers, rid by whatever means of the anarchy of the capitalist system, cannot have beca
One day we shall have to build or this foundation. Learn from the rict of those many honest communists who set about the task of •Germany enthusi enough not need the Stalinist whip on their backs.
It is from their ranks that many of Havemann, Bahro and the lesser- have come, socialises all of them. Alone among the Eastern bloc countries, the voice of dissent in speaks the language of weak voice, still, but heard in both Germanies book a bestseller, West trade unionists discussin The Alternative. Times are changin
the occasion of its 30d anniversary, the GDR declares amnesty for over 30,000 prisoners. Rudolf Bahro is one of them. Now here's something to celebrate.
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1972 1
Page 12 scan of this page
Workers are sexist - but not out of
self-interest
THE letter by Ken Pritchard (SC No 115, 27 September) completely misinterprets the views expressed by Ilona Gersh in the interview published in Socialist Challenge No 113 and the views of the American Socialist Workers Partv.
In an evening meeting on women in industry at the sw Convention, which several IMG members attended, there was a full discussion about the problems of sexist harassment at work, including problems with fellow workers. The SWP does not take the view that there is no problem of opposition to affirmative action from male (and white) workers.
Their position, however, is that sexism on the part of workers has a different basis that that of supervisors and employers. In the former case it Is an expression of false consciousness, in the latter of class interest. Male workers have no class or material interest in the oppression of women.
-This is where Ken Pritchard goes completely wrong when he writes:
'On the face of it, since management is interested in only one thing — profit — it is quite possible that they would be keener to have women doing traditional men's work than male workers are, since the latter fear for their job security, status and the rest.'
On the contrary, affirmative action is in the interests of workers, male and female, because it strengthens the working class as a whole against capitalism, whereas the ruling class benetits trom keeping workers divided.
Ken Pritchard's approach does not provide any strategy for working
prejudices of male workers on their own are insufficient to win them from sexism. Explaining that it is in their class interest to fight for women's leno dock.
The widespread acceptance by the American working class of affirmative action is an important step towards women's liberation. This does not make independent organisation of women redundant. In Ine article dona explamca now Lat SWP had encouraged women steelworkers to set up a chapter of the National Organisation for Women on the Iron Range.
The acceptance by the American working class of affirmative action indicates that it is increasingly the working class, rather than other social layers, who are the best allies of the women's movements and the supporters of progressive positions on social issues.
Ken Pritchard's approach goes in the opposite direction because it implies that the working class is generally more backward on social questions than other layers of society. This is a very dangerous position for socialists to take and cuts across a strategy of winning maie workers to support for women's liberation. LIZLAWRENCE Sheffield.
aciates Orallergo 18 October 1979 Page 12
Who lost, the election?
YOUR headline of 27 September, 'They Lost Labour the Election' above pictures of Callaghan and Healey, is very misleading. I thought Messrs Benn and Foot were also part of that government.
Indeed, by refusing to break with the Cabinet over the 5 per cent wage limit they implicitly gave a left cover to Callaghan.
Of course, it is necessary to intervene in the current debate in the Labour Party rather than posture in sectarian fashion from the sidelines. But perhaps a better method of achieving this would have been to lead on the mass action of the engineers and continue to highlight the refusal of the Bennites to come out and campaign for the victory of the strike.
Revolutionary Marxists stand with the rank and file of the Labour 'Party in the fight for internal democracv not to ensure benr replaces Callaghan, but to ensure the resources of the party can be turned to "help the workers in struggle." GEORGE KEREVAN, Edinburgh
Blind alleys new avenues
TARIO Ali was on the right lines when he described Kampuchea as 'neither fish nor fowl", meaning, of course, that it could not be characterised as either a workers' satura cadilalous le
We have to accept the fact that the prolonged death agony of capitalism and the increasing world-wide role of the different variants of Stalinism — Moscow, Peking, Hanoi, Havana -have brought about mutations in state structures, not accounted for in the Marxist text-books.
This is true, not only of Kampuchea but of a number of other states such as Ethiopia, Somaliland, Angola, Afghanistan etc. Marxists should not be afraid to face up to this. As Ernest Mandel writes in his Trotsky: A Study In The Dynamic Of His Thought:
"In the contradictory course of history, mistakes often become sources of knowledge. Having run into a blind alley, revolutionary thought can suddenly discover a new avenue.'
The 'blind alley' some of us have run into is to take it for granted that every Stalinist-led coup must result in the birth of a workers' state, however degenerate, forgetting that Stalinism
New avenues will only be opened up by the building of a Marxist international party, integrated into the working class, not afraid to subject new phenomena thrown up by the vagaries of history to critical analysis.
CHARLIE VAN GELDEREN, London NW10
A case of amnesia RE your recent articles on Kampuchea and Bob Dylan: Socialist Challenge appears not to have a memory. Who was it in June 1978, selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the organisation? What was the prize from this grand rafile, organised for such a noble cause?
It was a ticket for a rock concert, at Earl's Court, given by an imperialist, Zionist, sexist, capitalist, who masquerades under the name of Bob Dylan. I'm surprised Nigel Hamilton didn't invent a new social evil, for us to be ashamed of — Dylanism. It could almost be on a par with racism and sexism, as a crime against humanity. But where does such lateral thinking leave Trotskyism?
It seems to be a case of: 'Whatever profits Dylan/Trotsky prophets us. (The rank and file)
I'm beginning to think that SC has opened up our very own Pandora's Box. How are we to view our heroes and heroines? Marx was into pornography. Engels was into capitalism. Trotsky was heavily into Kronstadt. No doubt Engels was
up his own good works that would, all onto the streets to scream our support for Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
As I never węnt to Stalinist
is. Perhaps Clive Turnbull could
inviting discussion about Kampuchea. Is he wanting to see
gives us a line that's safe?
- the bulk of them after the
That statement reveals a lot about what we can expect from Clive Turnbull on the forthcoming discussion about Kampuchea.
that Lon Nol, a 'capitalist', killed people shifted cargo.
us socialists supported and
the Khmer Rouge. That carefully and placed hyphen before 'the bulk of them' reads like a divorce of convenience.
between Upper Street and the responsibility for what happened in Kampuchea, by mechanically blaming Moscow, Peking, but how much distance can he put between
shares an office if not a typewriter.
movement any good if we allow
wrote to appear in our newspapers. We can't shovel our own bloodstained history into the ditch and expect to get away with it.
or just as hatchet people. Or maybe even two slightly shabby and homeless seaside comedians who always wanted to live in the big time but never managed to rise above cheap digs DUNCAN BROWN, East London
sometimes trust the song.
socialists
on the sad decline of Bob Dylan prompted me to make a few comments.
greatly disappointed by his recent wayward turn (and the really bad
writer this was merely the final
and indeed, there is probably much
and more recently for the anti-racist 'Hurricane'. But, you inform us,
sented as a crime of fantastic DI OUOLLIOES
from which he drew inspiration for
and 'Hurricane'
Perhaps Socialist Challenge should list other (thought to be) progressives in the music world. supplemented by a synopsis of their
'our" side we should also list their views on the nature of the Soviet Union.
Capitalist?
euphamistic use of the term 'Zionist' or indeed 'millionaire Zionist' can
this is not the first time that anti-semitic use of the 'rich Jews' myth has permeated Socialist Challenge's anti-Zionism.
fairly pleased with himself, keeping Marx supplied with funds, so that the great scribe of socialism could keep
some hundred years later, inspire us
training school, consequently I'm not half as clever as I think Clive Turnbull
demystify, for me at least, why he is
'which way the wind blows' before he
Let me quote: "A staggering two line' on Zionism. million people have died in the 1970s
overthrow of Lon Not bythe Khmer Rouge guerillas in 1975' (my italics).
Bulk is for cargo, a non human entity. Thus it appears, to me at least,
- Pol Pot, 'socialist', merely
He doesn't say anywhere, that all
campaigned for the cargo shifter and
He goes on to put a lot of distance
himself and Tario Ali, with whom he
Instinctively I would say I was on Tariq's side. It doesn't do the socialist
articles such as the one Clive Turnbull
Are we to take Clive Turnbull and Nigel Hamilton seriously as socialists
27 September?
PS It is a truism of Dylan that even if
you can't trust the singer you can A sad day for
could have waited.
THE recent Socialist Challenge article
Southall.
Like countless others, I too was
album that came out of it). For your
episode of a process started long ago
Nevertheless, you praise Dylan for his 'anti-establishment masterpieces'
Dylan was/is a Zionist and this is pre-
No doubt it was his racist Zionism
change?
Pawn in their Game', 'Oxford Town' Middlesex.
views on the Middle East conflict, and if it is still unclear whether they are on
Would you buy records of a singer who thought that the USSR was State
More seriously, it would suffice to say that your blatant and offensively
their premises. only be described as anti-semitic, and
For Dylan fans there have been many sad days as the once progressive singer declined through hypocritical aggrandisement towards 'born again' Christianity; but it is a sadder day for socialists when a left newspaper uses vile and base anti-semitism in portraying this decline.
In conclusion however far more significant figures have pronouncec on the Middle East. Khomeini — the man betraying the revolutionary hopes of the Iranian masses — has the 'right line' on Zionism
Idi Hitler was right' Amin, butcher of the Ugandan people, was a friend of Arafat and has the 'right
In view of this is it surprising that many, Dylan and myself included, LOLAAZHOTA SAADITI DAVE ROSENBERG, Ilford, Essex. Exemplary TV programme CAN you explain at all the content of your review page, Socialist Challenge
If Bob Dylan was facing a possible prison sentence arising out of his anti-racist activity (like the editor of SC) it would be a bit more understandable. But for most of us Bob Dylan's been RIP for years, and the official announcement in SC
In that week something important did happen. An excellent programme by the Southall Campaign Committee was broadcast on TV. It publicised the incredible attacks of the police and courts on the black community of
Apparently this deserved only a brief mention in your pages. While the rest of the media have so far ignored the aftermath of the police riot, you could at least have given some publicity to the programme, which was screened on your publication day for the second time.
The programme could at least have been reviewed, not only because of the subject, but as an exemplary use of the mass media to put over
The reviews page has been criticised for being trendy, elitist and central-London oriented. Will it ever
HILARY DRIVER, Southall,
British Movement WE, the undersigned, wish to express our concern at the recent outbreak of fascist violence and intimidation provoked by members of the Nationa Front and British Movement.
We would further encourage the licencees of rock venues to seriously consider the following precautions:
*Refuse entry to members of the public who insist on wearing NF and or BM supporters badges.
*Ban distribution of racist, anti-semitic and fascist literature on
*Ban recruitment to, and illegal collections for, the NF and BM.
*Refuse all bookings from the National Front, their Rock Against Communism organisations or the
British Movement.
*Ban all bands who encourage fascist support, incite racist or anti-semitic violence or who openly declare their support for the NF and BM. For example, The Dentists, White Boss and Screwdriver.
*Ban all members of the public who intimidate the audience with fascist saluting (Seig Heils) and chanting or, who provoke fascist violence amongst the audience. John Dennis pp. Rock Against Racism, Paul King, Paul Loasby, Gill Khosla, Allan Schayerien, Dan Silver MAM Agency, Castro Brown [Dir. Deb Music], Margaret Duvall (Manager Deb Music), Roger Barrett, Partners and crew of Star Hire, Rob Hallett, Paul Hodsman, Dick Tee, Trevor Phillips, Frances Lass, John Peel.
The father as beast YOUR review of Alien left out the real theme of this Hollywood blockbuster: the Father as beast.
A crew of long-distance space hoppers is being nursed by the Mother, the crew's own name for. their space craft's computer and life-support system, but the reference would apply just as well to the whole craft, with its endless cuddly corridors
Into this womb enters the Alien, first as a growth on the face of one of the crew members who has ventured into the great unknown, but then to emerge from its chrysalis as the essence of the Father and patriarchal society — a grotesque prick witl snapping teeth.
The prick grows and grows, eventually embracing in its voracious jaws the whole crew - barone. The third officer, a female and would-be mother herself, resolves that the only way to escape from the Father is to destroy the Mother, in other words. the family death wish.
But when the Mother disappears in a nuclear cleansing operation, the Father has escaped to threaten the surviving daugula, way suceccus I knocking Him into the void. Whether she has nd Him from the subconscious remains ambiguous.
It is good to see that Hollywood has at last begun to put some of S Freud's ideas up front, but typical that it ignores the Lacan developments, which locate the patriarchy not in the great unknown but here and now JANE FOX, London W11
Page 13 scan of this page
ABOUT ONE and three
million black people live in Britain
today. The vast majority either settled
in Britain since the war, having been
encouraged to come here to
the labour shortage;
descendants of those who did.
British capitalism cannot end the
oppression which black people suffer
in Britain. Equally,
expel
tremendous black resistance,
stimulate the fascist far right
dangerous upping of the stakes which
the ruling class cannot lightly embark
upon.
The Black people of Britain have
become a new and permanent feature
of British political life, and the task of
Black liberation a major problem of
strategy for revolutionary socialists in
Britain. Just as the growth of the
women's liberation movement forced
the Marxist left to re-confront the
relationship between the struggle for
socrans ana or women s Hoeralon,
so belatedly we are being forced to
confront the relationship
black liberation and socialism.
Contribution
An • important
wards this process has recently come
from Tony Bogues and Kim Gordon,
both members of the
Workers Party,
been published in a pamphlet called
'Black nationalism and socialism'.
Below Shiraz Khamis examines their
WONK
IT IS not often that we read essays
which debate the political positions held amongst the black vanguard, and it is rare indeed when these are written by revolutionary socialists involved in the day to day struggles of the black people. For this reason alone Black nationalism and socialism' important reading for all revolutionalica
The essays are divided basically two sections. The first deals with the history of LITe movement in the
Garveyism, Malcolm X and the OAAU, the Black Panther Party,
ending with an essay by the veteran
black Trotskyist CLR James
Dynamic
The authors are correct to look at the history of the black movement for two reasons. First, to dispel the myth that the history of black people has just been one of slavery — it has been one of revolt and struggle.
Second because each phase in the black movement's development has showcommon characteristics: There has been one theme constantly present
LIOSE dynamic revolutionary sections of the black movement. that it will struggles of black people themselves which can bring about liberation, and that black themselves determine control, through their own organisations, their own future.
Whether It took the torm Garvey's call for black pride in the slogan 'Up you mighty race, Malcolm X's revolutionary slogan of 'Our freedom by any necessary' the essence was lne same — in short, black nationalism. Reverse
'Many whites charge organisations as nationalist. To them nanonansm is helle more than an epither, reverse. These whites demonstrate and means
an ignorance on the question of racial oppression. They fail to understand that a racially oppressed drawn into struggle against oopression through Black nationalism is nothing than the desire of Black une as a group into their movement to fight that oppression'. (Page 21).
That black people consistently turn to their organisation, an independent political movement, despite their
accident. It is both a product of the racism prevalent within working class, and the character of the oppression suffered by people.
quarter
meet ог
any attempt to
encounter and between
contribution to-
Socialist whose essays have
lilakes
into
black West Indies and levolutional y
and
be the
their people and
of
means
working class
Black very eve impossible concrete and positive terms.
"racism
and will objectively group that rights that they see around them.' nationalism.
more
people to Rights
OWIl 'The
should
owni self- features oi a
being right of the
the white among the white workers.
black
feature of
Tony Bogues and Kim Gordon, published by the Socialist Workers' Party.
As CLR James puts it: 'The white
struggles against the objective rule of capital and for some subjective goal, which even on
revolution, is visualise fully in The Negroes, on the other hand, struggle
struggle against captial, but contrast to the white workers, for the very concrete objective democratic
we say mean?
Afro-americans what Bogues calls a 'national racial minority — a set of people having the
national minority' support Revolutionary socialists stand for the
Afro-americans think self-determination, and defend tha right against the capitalist state and
This raises the first problem of strategy for revolutionaries in Britain.
The struggle for black liberation in Britain
A new and permanent
British political life
BLACK self-defence, 1953, taken from 'Black nationalism and socialism', a collection of essays by
Do the black people of Britain constitute 'national minority', Bogues calls Afro-americans? The comrades answer yes, and that exerting the right self-determination requires building of an autonomolis liberation movement.
Independent
'The struggle for black rights is the struggle of an independent movement of an oppressed people. Now, when independent, what do We mean movemen independent of the state as well as white organisations'
First let me say that while I fully and welcome the political conclusions drawn by the comrades, I the analysis confused unclear. Can black people in Britain really be said to constitute a single national minority? The Afro-american nationality was forged out of slavery which destroyed the distinct racial and nationat identities of the
African peoples taken as slaves racial Black people coming to Britain, the and even their descendants, retain
the black
By David Bowie, Haringey EVERY THURSDAY and Friday we Socialist stations in our area. At Finsbury Park we Sell 15 in two hours each day. Regular sales mean regular readers On Saturday mornings you'll find us in the two busiest shopping areas. We put up posters, table and Abortion Campaign at the same time. We also have a big badges which sell like hot cakes to and young people. When a school student
buys a badge we offer them a copy of Revolution.
Petitioning gets us into conversations with people, which helps us to
traditions
minorities.
but as vet
minority.
Unclear
the
united
what
less clear.
Tony
revolutionary
build an Foolish Why
such movement
respond black liberation.
Dangers
develop divisions
campaign black peoples.
I UNCON
these issues. within it.
'Try and look happy
campaigns.
Challenge at tube
around people
that Issue. have a literature Don't petition for the National newspapers
bucket full of
handy to addresses of readers. sell our paper and build supps for approachable! happy
their own languages, religion, cultural
- they continue to form and distinct national Whether these divisions
will be eradicated over a prolonged
time is difficult to say at this stagt
we must speak of the
self-determination ot the
minorities, and not a single national
At the same time British society
oppresses black people, not according
to their distinct national identities.
according
characteristic — they are idemifiabis black. The need for political unity of
black peoples to fight their common oppression is what calls for a
and independen: black liberation movement.
A second question must be asked sort of black liberation movement? Here the comrades
Bogues points ou: that within nationalism are iwo trends that which ends up collaborating with the system (black capitalism. cultura nationalism) and those who maintair a consistent nationalist position the
nationalists). HiS conclusion is that it is necessar! io
•independen: resolutionar organisation or blacks
SIT It
TELLEC sorters 504-2742
then revoiutionar: organisation of blacks? Do we insist that any black liberation movement must be revolutionary at the outset? This would be foolish — we place no
pre-conditions upon participation in the trade unions. To say that revolutionaries support and defend black. people in their building independent liberation al.
movement, and then place conditions upon that support, is in reality to split the black
The black liberation movement revolutionaries seek to build must
the immediate issues facing black people, and unite the black peoples for a political struggle based on seif-reliance. Within such a movement revolutionary socialists, along with all other currents, must advance their particular strategy for
Furthermore, that movement will
Not the debates and growing In Ine existing organisations of black people and the new organisations thrown up by the struggle — the youth movements, the defence committees, and the different
coalitions between the It will be a long
I feel the comrades are unclear on
There is a danger that Flame, their 'independent revolutionary organisation of blacks', is seen as the liberation movement. If so it can only weaken the struggle to build a black liberation movement, and the standing of revolutionary •socialists
The front page is usually what makes people decide to buy. If the back page happens to be better, turn it
It's worth approaching who wearing political badges and telling them what's inside
forget take the round bookshops and newsagents. We sell 18 copies a week in this way. We take the paper with us wherever we go — to work, on demos, campaign and public meetings
Always have a pen and paper
take down names and Try and look makes you more
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
Are the unions shaping up
By Patrick Sikorski THE SLUMP has begun. The Tories' response is to tighten the screws on the public sector éven more. Elected ón a basis of non-interference in wage bargaining, ordering all ministers in spending departments to enforce wage settlements below the inflation level.
An article Monday put it this way: 'Britain's economic future depends on the outcome of a battle of wills... it is bound to be bloody until someone
down'. For unemployment means that bloody, and the Tories policies for solving ihe crisis will add a million to that number within a year or so.
The response of the public sector union leaders has been pathetic. Geoffrey Drain of NALGO has ditched the policy of defence of the services in favour of supporting any action taken by the members redundancies. The NUPE leadership has put out an impressive list of things for its members to do, entitled 'Don't let them cut us up' is a series of tips and hints for local branches to take up if they want, but it involves no national co-ordination.
The CPSA has produced a glossy 27 page pamphlet, concludes with the stunning remark that 'these cuts need to be opposed as strongly as possible'
without much suggestion as to how. eight civil servants' unions have announced a 'minimum code of co-ordinated action', which is aimed refusing management circumvent staff shortages. shutting the stable door after the horse thieves have gone.
Six social security workers (members of the CPSA) in the Breckfield office, Liverpool,
eare se the cus. The dislie sprea quin.
closing ten offices. policies gave the local branch officials all the room they needed to put an end to the strike, narrowiy winning this position meeting by a small majority.
In olner words, fight back. massive turn firefighters in Nottingham and Preston last week shows what can be achieved when a union leadership is obliged to call national campaigns of industrial action under pressure from the
By Oliver New, Southall
WE are slowly beginning to break the mass
media's conspiracy of silence on the Southall
police riots and the trials now in progress. Bui
the operative word is 'slowly', for not & single
Fleet Street paper
outside bundred
Wednesday of last week, the eve of the Blair
Peach inquest.
Ired mal, ted ekel orthes from obe marched
Dominion Cinema to 'Fort Southall'
local police station
was murdered. There were loud chants of 'We
Want Justice', SPG Murderers'. The cops kept
well back.
SWINDON:
SIXTY pickets
Swindon's police headquarters. In contrast to
other areas. a number oi bolicemen stoopea to
collect leaflets from the local ANL demanding
te sonnen d lac oru.
agreed to accept a petition,
Knight stated:
nothing to do with the Metropolitan Police."
WOLVERHAMPTON:
FIFTY
to Red Lion police station in Wolverhampton,
aci list Paullerze, 18 Octoper 1979 Page 14
As the slump gets under way, we ask
to the cuts?
the Snatcherites are now
published in the Guardian on
2 : million .workers already compulsory
This
"The case against the cuts', which
1N0
co-operate with
A clear case of
But the useless national
at a mass
the rank and file want to out OI the
Blair Peach
pickets......
mentioned pickets the police stations on
the — past the spot where Blair
demonstrated outside
After nearly two hours the local police but Inspector councli, 'The Wiltshire police. have eindian
people marched from Queen's Square
rank and file.
In NALGO a combination of organising the
rank and file through the branches and joint
shop stewards committees and fighting for the
national officials to lead the struggle has got
underway. For example, having called for a
half day of action to lobby the concil against
the cuts, Liverpool NALGO were
mobilise a 2,000-strong picket during
summer.
NALGO's North-Western and North Wales
District_(the largest in the union) has now
backed Liverpool NALGO's demand for the
executive to immediately revert to the union's
policy of official backing for all industrial
action against cuts in services
redundancies. This proposal is backed by a call
for a NALGO one-day national strike and
demonstration.
It is not being left to the officials to put flesh
and blood on these resolutions. A Merseyside
conference supported by the Liverpool Trades where N S Noor, president of the IWA, and Daye Stevens, secretary of Wolverhampton Anti-Racist Committee, handed demanding prosecution of Peach's murderer and disbandment of the SPG.
Earlier, Chris Roseblade, WARC had featured in a half hour phone-in on the local radio on Blair Peach and the SPG.
On Wednesday 24 October, WARC will be holding a meeting on Blair Peach, at 7.30pm, Wolverhampton Poly on Stafford Speakers will be: Celia Stubbs, N S Noor, and Chris Roseblade.
The WARC has also banner to the picket of Barnet magistrates' court on 5. November, and to burn the Barnet magistrates in effigy Wolverhampton on the same night. It's these racist gentlemen who are presently jailing and heavily fining the Southall dependants. LEAMINGTON:
SEVENTY people supported the picket of Leamington police station, which was called by
Leamington Anti-Racist Committee and supported by the local trades
constituency Labour Party, and the Workers' Association.
Leaflets explaining the reasons for the picket were handed out to passers-by and a petition calling for an inquiry was handed in to the police. The picket
able to the leaders the well as
as
NEWHAM:
OVER fifty
immigration laws.
WHITECHAPEL By Bernard Regan
a letter
which Blair LECANUIC Trades Council.
vell
independent
Street.
trades council. decided to send its
LIVERPOOL By Tony Meehan bonfire Anti-Fascist
independent public
Council and the District Labour Party is to be held on a cross union basis. followed by a day of industrial action and a picket of Liverpool Council.
This is the best preparation for building maximum support the national day action that the TUC will be calling in the new year. If it is left to the public sector unior result could well be disappointing Too often the members have been marched to lobby Parliament and then back to the never ending series of cuts in the localities.
Thatcher's plans will only be halted by a series of national all-out public sector strikes supported by industrial workers and leading to all-out action. Building the maximum support for the lobby of Parliament on 7 November called by Lambeth Council, which is refusing to implement the cuts, and for the national lobby called by the Labour Party November will be important in this campaign.
received good coverage from the local press.
people picketed Newham polic tation in East London. Afterwards an ANI ublic meeting, attended by over 100 peopl eard Tariq Ali and Vishnu Sharma attack tl
LEMAN Street police station in Whitechapel was the scene of the Blair Peach picket called by the East London Teachers' Association,
belonged, and Tower hundred people attended, letter was handed into the cops demanding an
public inquiry. Dan secretary of the trades council, informed the pickets of a forthcoming conference proposed Nationalities Bill, to be held by the
A HUNDRED people picketed Hope Street police station in the centre of Liverpool.
The issue of police brutality in Liverpool is very much to the fore in the area after Jimmy
By Celia Pugh
the '30s'
Abortion
OHLSL
unions, communities
for
in the new vear
Dho, TADDV HERMAN
discrimination
for
work'
the 1980s.
encouraging.
This will
ASTMS Don Cook, NEC On 28 fund appeal,
This spleen after a beating by the police.
Cover-up ot Blair reach's murde
• rew Chatterjee
Hamlets
alraL. where and a
Jones, which is practised with impunity.
CARDIFF on the
By Barry Wilkins
by the ANL, was
television filmed the picket.
The main secretary of the local ANL we canea Iol a disbandment of the SPG.
what the press
didn't print
Action time
for women
'FORWARD in the '80s not back to — so read the banner of this year's TUC. Women inside the unions are geting together to make sure this forward march proceeds on two strong_ legs with the needs of women not? ignored, as so often in the past The activities of the National Campaign show the possibilities. But these only skim the surface of the actions of women trade in wornen's groups, committees, and campaigns inside the workplaces, and lune The newspaper Women in Action/ provides these trade union militants with an extra weapon to take this fight liberation HILU the unions. At a meeting in Birmingham last weekend, supporters of the paper laid plans to launch it on a regular basis
Each issue of Women in Action will contain the statement: "We want to promote positive action to counter. against women because formal equality alone does not tackle the roots of discrimination -instance the way home responsibilities affect equality at We only have a few months of 1979 left to give this journal a good start in The response to the pilot issue is Some two thousand copies have been sold, and support is coming in from women's groups, and Dracke:
NUPE NALGO CPSA, SCPS, NATHE and NGA.
The CPSA and NUT women's campaigns have given their support, and a member of the NUJ Equality Working Party participated in the Birmingham meetin, sefse th is support Tee editorial increase this support. group wants more letters likethat from , secretary of the London division of the Engineering Union,| containing a financial contribution and wishing Women in Action 'every success for the future'
If you want to participate in the editorial group, or can distribute the paper, or feel able to help the £1,000 Action: 190 Upper St, London Ni. contact: 'Women
Kelly in Huyton was murdered by the cops, and Bernie Kavanagh of Kirkby lost a kidney and
The picket was followed last Thursday by & public meeting of 80 people to discuss th
Organised by NALGO Against the Nazi
Committee, Colin Wilson from ASTMS, and the Anti-Nazi League, and Joe Clark an activist from the Kelly and Kayanagh committee.
Clark pointed out the link between oppression of the black community of Southall and the activities of the police in Kirkby and
unemployment and social problems are so acute that the possibility of an explosion is being met with police violence,
THE picket of Cardiff police station, organised
attended people, following a march from Cardiff Castle. Local
speaker was Terry James, public inquiry and the
Page 15 scan of this page
By Eric Laverick
FIREFIGHTERS are at the forefront of the fight back against the cuts. In Nottingham and Preston the Fire Brigades' demonstrations against the cuts last week that attracted big turnouts.
Nottineham uniformed firefighters from all over the country marched through the represented a quarter of the total membership of the union.
There were also delegations from the north of Ireland, ober local government unions, the Scottish miners and the Nottingham 'Save Our Nurseries campaign. Itwasthetirstin a series of national demonstrations planned by the FBU in thetight to maintain the present level of jobs and service within the fire service.
The next day 1,200 FBU members marched through the SUCCES of headquarters of the Lancashire county council, when plans L‹m Cuts.
Last month an explosion at Atwaters, a Preston factory, resulted in the death of two employees. The local fire service had toseek help from the manchester area to deal with the crisis, but this did not stop the county council calling it over staffed and over equipped'.
The FBU number 5 region has responded by campaigning in the factories on the issue of health and safety to win support for their lobby and demonstration, against the cuts.
Cuts in the fireservice that have already been announced present a fearsome Nottingnam: 22 firetighters have been served with redundancy notices; in West Yorkshire 150 jobsareduetogo; in Norfolk sackings have been announced.
It's not just a question of jobs either, many tire engines are being taken out ot service
Nottingham demonstration because the redundancy notices had already been served, and the response from FBU members bodes well for a militant fight against the run-down of services.
BiD
Axe
By Carolyn Sikorski
NEWHAM Labour council in East London has not only put forward a plan of cuts but it will obligingly fail
active Snatcherites' against
made cear 200-strong lobhy on 9 October, called by NALGO and supported by other public sector unions.
Only three councillors supported a call to defy the axe and refuse to make interest payments on borrowed cash.
WALLET members are industrial action, in order to what the effects of the cuts would be. Newham Trades Council is to hold a local labour movement conference, and there is to be another lobby of the council on 20 November. Liars NOTTINGHAMSHIRE's county council is not having an easy time with The closure of two day nurseries and cuts In nursery caucaton with ane tafeat of 248 nursery nurse redundancies have. sparked off four demonstrations in as many weeks.
The Tories have been exposed as bars in claiming that the were not needed and that there were no waițing lists for places in those due to be closed.
Last Saturday • saw the demonstration which
The fire next time
Union organised
on Wednesday, 8,500
city centre. I nIS Prestor the Tally: picture: In
was the scene of the first fight,'
SOME ET GET I
Cutting up rough
LOUR pall.
majority, and children.
The local public way the public council opposition to the cuts.
county.
Defeat
start By Bernard Regan, show
THE INNER London Authority
tion of the cut was Tory lors and the teacter members.
Following combined
Livingstone and defeat the
nurseries 1,200 teachers'
latest and school over 800 charges.
Preston Firefighters march against, the cuts , The Tory council's claim that the cuts would not affect adequate fire cover in the county was met with a roar of derision at the Nottingham
Terry Parry, , general secretary of the FBU and current TUC chairperson, stressed that the union was opposed to all cuts in local authority services, not just those that affected the fire services. He urged all trades unionists to link up the struggles against the cuts. 'Nottingham is just Parry said. 'We shall demonstrations and I shall be out in front leading them. We saw it over the Indüstrial Relations Bill and I think we shall see it again: 'Things are going to get tough,' he added. parents and children, together with NUPE and NALGO nursery nurses. teachers and other trade unionists
WaN the first-ever demonstration for the overwhelming
who were mainly women
sector unions have called a mass lobby of the next
meeting show Thousands are expected to attend from all over the
secretary, East London Teachers' Association
Education encountered small problem when it met on 9 October to discuss the 5 per cent cut it has been asked to implement. A T'ory move to strengthen the call for implementa-
defeated by combination of the Labour council-
this vote the Tories with the teacher members and two left Labour counciliors, Ken
Charlie Rossi, to Labour leadership's proposals to introduce the 5 per cent
These cuts would mean the loss of
jobs, massive cutbacks in part-time employees, and the raising of adult education fees,
meal, and: transport
YES RECION
the beginning of the
have mass
The proposal for a five per cent cut. will doubtless be reintroduced ai the next meeting.
Scargill
By Rab Bird, Sheffield
OVER two thousand people attended a public meeting in Sheffield last week to hear Arthur Scargill and Joan Maynard MP opening a campaign against cuts initiated by Yorkshire Federation of Councils. The federation established a committee to fight the cuts which involyes the heads of all the Labour councils in South Yorks, and the leaders of the major unions.
Calling for Labour councilsto defy the government cuts, Scargill argued that defeats like Clay Cross could be avoided if those fighting cuts are fully supported by the rest of the labour movement. As for breaking the law 'we wouldn't be at this meeting now if our forefathers hadn't defied the law':
A lobby of Parliament is planned for 28 November, and the call from the
meeting. was. Inal the demonstration promised for the new year should be on a weekday. Threat THE General Nursing Council has threatened nurses industrial action may be struck off the
register The health union COHSE has pledged full backing for
Fire Brigades Union x
LANCASHIRE BRIGADE
circulation on its first issue.
cannot be
supporting one set of interests. press" some real meaning.
services to come shortly. nursis members industrial action. but only where ine' stick to the executive's new guidelines on patient care.
These are presently being issued to the membership, but if they bear any rèsemblance to the guidelines that the public sector union leaders put out during last winter's strike then it would be impossibleto both stick to them and take effective action.
The only guidelines that should be adhered to are those in the Rank and File -Code membership should decide on the level of emergency services to be provided. Trades
has
Victories
NUPE members Hospital, London, hiąve chalked uptwo victories against the health authority's attempts to enforce cuts of £5m. A programme of lightening stoppages and a refusal to cover unfilled SIDDOCU changing catering workers' employment, filling portering TUC previously being left unfilled.
hospital are now to open discussions with medical stait with a view frustrating administration close 80 surgical and medical beds.
Hospital, Hoxton, have pledged not to taking be party to moving old people out of
their 'home' and administration attempts to close the popular day centre.
Good news
THE FIRST weekly newspaper to be produced by a trades council hit the streets and factories of Hull last Friday. A 16-page tabloid aimed at uniting the labour movement in the city, Hull News notched up a five-figure paid
A letter from Barry Moor, AUEW shop steward at Reckitt & Colman said: 'I would not use the Hull Daily Mail for toilet paper, let alone buy it..
*Through a free press the proletariat can express its views and opinions. I shall endeavour to publicise your paper to all my trade unionists.
John Pilger of the Daily Mirror wrote: "The importance of Hull News
overstated; throughout so much of our media the view is unequivocally the "established view": predictable,
•If Hull News can make a dent in thisstatus quo it will give "freedom of the
This week's issue will include in depth coverage of the public spending cuts, with features on the National Abortion Campaign, education and social
The trade union organiser on Hull News is Noel Hibbert, a member of the International Marxist Group, who says: "This must be one of the most important developments for a local labour movement ever.
'It hasn't been easy, but no one ever thought it would be. There's no reason why every trades council in the country can't do what we've done in Hull.'
To find out more about the paper, contact: Noel Hibbert, Hull News, Corporation Chambers, Trinity House Lane, Hull. Tel 0482 225562.
who take Practice. The
lot
also people to
• al the London swim.
Whitechapel, East
involved in the
vacancies firstly help in unilaterally • boilers etc. place of and taen lorceo the vacancies
NUPE branch officials at the
• LI plans to
Trade unionists at St, Matthew's
local 'alternative will resist
of the cuts.
unquestioning, and
for Hull
Occupied
By Pete Grist, West London
FULHAM. BATHS are being closed by Hammersmith's Tory council as part of itscutbacksin spending. That's why the baths are now being occupied.
All facilities are being maintained: laundry, warm baths — which are used
by old people and the swimming pools. Financial support i needed to keep the oil supply,
work, especially in th daytime. Night-helpers can sleep or
The workers from the baths have been re-deployed and are not directly
occupation, so appeal has gone out for skilled workers
maintaining equipment
Lime Grove baths in Hammer. smith are also to be closed, leaving the borough with no swimming pools ust. a new one opens in late 1980.
On Monday, , when the Kensington Tory council held an official ceremony
bestow the freedom of the roya borough on Margaret Thatcher, the
anti-cuts campaign held si ceremony" to beston freedom awards on members of the community who will suffer as a resul
Socialist Challenge 18 October 1979 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1 2XQ. Editorial: 01-359 8180/9. Distribution and advertising: 01-359 8371 Roast the Barnet magistrates on
Southall 342
By David Wax and Paul Harbour
IN A recent speech to the Magistrates Association, the Lord Chancellor, Hailsham, magistrates not to be stingy with the sentences they meted out to offenders. As we go to press we have no means of ascertaining whether Badge, Canham and McDermott, the merry magistrates of Barnet, were present at this gala accasion.
If they were then the residents of Southall had better look out. For the sentences at Barnet Magistrates Court will geteven tougher if that is possible: for the current stipendiary, Edmund McDermott is continuing the judicial
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SILAS AT Empire, High sentences at will. advised Defence
Cook, month 'in prison
previous convictions.
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offensive against black people in this
MeDermott • hands out
evidence usually ignored. The police, in most cases, is believed. This is British justice. One Asian brother was sentenced to a
for *threatening behaviour' by McDermott. He had no more
Meanwhile at the Coroner's Court the inquest into the death of Blair
been postponed till mid-November. ANL lawyers will try to get a High Court injunction to force the Coroner to accept a jury trial. A
witnesses have already
ENQUIRY
drive,
NOW
IMG, Published by
appeared before the:
Leon, Martin Josephine Lang testified as to the circumstances in which Blair Peach was killed on 23 April in Southall.
While the inquest is postponed the Barnet triais continue. They have begun to attract the attention of some sections of the media, but this is not enough. A real campaign is needed to expose the fake character of these show trials. For every day that passes results in more sentences, more fines,
the inhabitants of Southall.
On the legal front we should be considering a writ in the High Court to demand that Badge, Cook, Canham and McDermott are biased and that they be removed from the bench. The mass evidence already accumuiated by defencelawyersis a sufficient basis for challenging the competence of these Haustrates.
On the campaigning front we have to nationalise the campaign. At the very least we could do the same as was done with the nationwide pickets on 10
in Sonthall defending the this judiciat frame-up are cabing for a picket of Barnet Magistrates Court on
GRAND total of £18,526 was raised in the Development Appeal launched last November. The aim was to raise money to launch
youth paper, Socialist Challenge, expand the IMG printshop and produce pamphlets and journals.
The very first rally of the fund
on the anniversary 1978, raised £2,500, of which £500 went to help build the Iranian section
Fourth International, campaign for one day's pay from members and sympathisers of the
coupled with local branch fundraising activities, culminated in a
of £3518 at the Trotsky Rally last month.
Already this money has brought out 5 of Revolution allowed it to organise Pounding rally last May. it has kept Socialist Challenge at 16 pages. It has brought out the first of a new series of International — the IMG's theoretical journal and series pamphlets on Iran, Ireland, the Prior proposals, the Transitional Programme, and abortion.
Did Drive: (Delete as necess
My Name is Address
Coroner. 5 November.
Gerald, as possible should be represented at the picket.
bonfires throughout the country. The ANL and organisations supporting it should ensure that they attend with the effigies of the Makesurethat Badge, Cook, Canham and McDermott roast nicely on 5 November. And try and collect money for the Southall Defence Fund in the weeks Asian people can spare a penny for the Guy, they might be persuaded to spare a pound for the defence fund.
trade-union Council, SLATHIN group to send through one day Magistrates Court. What this observer will witness will compet him/her to become an activist in the campaign to stop the show-trials.
As the House resumes its sittings write to your local MP demanding that these show trials are stopped and the victims of charges dropped. Start off with that and we'll soon bave more things for vou to do.
FUND DRIVE
Fund
develop pounds.
‹Genera: rection intruded as a drain of the November Unity during the election, so the total raised by putting the Socialist Unity and Development
period.
that up to £20,000 - every penny i allocated to vital projects. So, pleast if you want to and pamphlets and journals, more issues national
'Against the Tories'.
the form below
Drive.
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I won't be bought off by the Tories anti-working class Budget messure want the mones 1 receive froin the backdated tax cut to po to the fighi aganist il erefore pledge my whole tax rebate/half my tax rebate to the Socialist Chall lease forward this form to: Socialist Challenge, PO Nox 50, London N1.
Reigocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1.
As many organisations
The same evening thère will be
Barnet Magistrates.
preceding 5 November
What else can be done? Try and get
branch, Trades ЦНО. an observer to sit at the barnet
of Commons make sure you • 700
Unfortunately the £20,000 target, • 70 are which was the highest ever set for a fund drive by the IMG, was not quite met. Local branches fell short of their projected targets by a few thousand • Fine,
Of course readers will remember that the Development Fund Drive was extended earlier this year when the on fund-raising resources. Local units Name...
Adäress
Fund Drives together comes to over £27,000 in this
However, we still need to make the Development Fund Drive share of
see even better of Revolution and International, and to develop the coverage of Socialist Challenge, rush your donations to the new 'Socialist Challenge Fund Drive
The best way to start is by filling in
pledging your rebate to the Socialist Challenge Fund
SOUTHALL
IS INNOCENT
STOP THE
TRIALS
Southall Detonc
Committa
SOUTHALL
DEFENCE FUND
23rd April: 3AZ mainly young
Asians, were charged.
likely to be jailed if the • In cases heard so far very ter
defendants have received legal
Expected a acted 1000r costs
for the Southall Detence Fund
Sond to:
PO Box I51, London WCZ Printed by East End (offset) Ltd P.O. Box 82, London E2
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