Socialist Challenge No. 156, 17 July 1980
The scan: sc-n156-jul-17-1980.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
No. 156 17 July 1980 20p
Socialist Challenge
EXPOSED!
week the Daily Mail is running a massive witch-hunt against the
organisation Workers Socialist
The series in the Mail is full
THE GUNMAN FROM of horror stories, distortions,
and slanders. For example, the aim of the WL, says the Mail, is to ensure that: 'Life in Britain would assume... the horror of Cambodia.'
What the Mail does not tell its readers is how it collected this 'story'.
THE DAILY MAIL On Wednesday 9 July
photographer working for th Mail pulled a gun on Alan Thornett, a leading member of the WS and a deputy senior steward at the Morris Assembly Plant at Cowley Oxford.
The photographer's name is Charles Cramp. He is a freelance photographer who was employed at the time by the Mail. According to Oxford police, the car in which he drove off after he had threatened Thornett with a revolver is owned by the Mail.
Visited
Cramp himself is a member of central London free-lance branch of the National Union of Journalists. He is photographed here sitting in a car. Also pIctured are 'reporters' on the story, Robert Porter and Harry Longmuir.
Alan Thornett and other members of the WL had for LWU weeks been followed around and harassed by Mail employees. Supporters of the WSL newspaper, Socialist Press, had been rung up at al hours and 'visited' by the paper's hacks.
Guns
- Last Wednesday Cramp took another picture Thornett. When Alan took his camera from him in order to expose the film, Cramp pulled a revolver. When he got camera back Cramp drove off at high speed.
Within minutes Porter and Longmuir arrived on the scene.
The editorial in the Dail Mail on Monday 14 July was headed, Totalitarians of the Left emerge'. For a newspaper that in the 1930s supported Oswald Mosley's fascist party, the word 'totalitarian' is a bit rich. The editorial ends urging the right wing in the Labour Party to 'fight, fight, and fight again'.
The question now is: fight with what? Guns?
LOBBY THE TUC FOR JOBS
Page 2 scan of this page
Kick out Labour's cold warriors
Peter Hain - can he revive the Labour Party?
OUR POLICIES
Capitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trade unions orter soriuons inat are in the interests not of the workers but of the capitalist class.
Socialist Challenge believes that the (wo vital lasks confronting revolutionary socialists are:
• To build broad-based class struggle tendencies in opposition lo class-collaborationism in the labour movement. These should
LOH-CALUSIVC grouping together militants holding a wide range of political views.
cation begin 10 finite
unified Creator democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can,
application of united front begin to be seen as an alternative DY thousands workers engaged in struggles.
Such an organisation should be based on the understanding that:
The struggle for seeks to unite the
•workers against the with that of other oppressed layers of society. - women, black people, LAYS struggling for liberation. This socialism can only be achieved by creating new organs of power and defeating with necessary means the power of the cabilaust stare.
socialism will infinitely more democratic 3 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 ard Eastern Europe have discredited socialism in the eyes of millions of workers throughout the We are opposed to them and will offer full support 10 all inose fighting for socialist democracy.
The interests of workers and •capitalists are irreconcilable on a world scale. Capitalism has not only created market, il has created world politics. Thus we fight for working
on 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
immediate withdrawal British troops from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their nwn future.
The Communist Europe are in crisis. Neither the 'Eurocommunist' the pro-Moscow wings meaningfui strategy for overthrow of the capitalist New revolutionary socialist parties are more necessary than belore. Conditions today
favourable than preceding three decades. But such Jartics Call rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracy not as a luxury but as a vital necessity. This means the right to organise factions and tendencies.
If you agree with these principles and want 10 be invoived activities by Socialist Challenge supporters in vour area. fill in thi form below and send it to us.
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ocialist Challenge 17 July
Claratic.
for the
and
through
of fight of
bosses
their
all
be
By Alan Shevek all
ture and deployment in
world.
permit their deployment in
world NATO
Cruise missiles in Britain. internationai
Africa By Anne Cesek
conterence
Stability are parties in
very future of the nor stake. have any
the
state.
party in Britain? ever are over the
the party.
built
fundamental questions head-on.
we cavour rary 'In opting in strategy,
Lo lvolve: ILs
more
gle' Power
in Westminster.
As Hain says
big business, Duvale serve them. edifice of capitalism • banamchtary system is a trunt
HOMENEWS
A section of the 2,000 strong audience at the Europeen Nuclear Disarmament meeting in central Hall, London, on the 10 July. Speakers included EP Thompson, Medvedev. In a lively debate from the floor, several speakers stressed the
ON 31 May the Labour Party held a special one day conference. By an overwhelming majority, the delegates decided that:
"The Labour Party opposes the manufac-
Britain of Cruise missiles and the neutron bomb and refuses to
Britain by the United States or any other country?
This was the view of the overwhelming majority. But Bill Rodgers, the party's spokesperson on defence has come out with the completely opposite view. In the pamphlet 'Defence Disarmament and
Peace: the case To Cruise miss menin Bot
forcefully in favour of the Tories' plan to site THE battle lines have already been drawn for the Labour Party.
Blackpool. The issues of democracy and accoun-
dividing the Party from top to bottom, because the
Party is at
A fundamental question faces all activists whether they are in or outside the Party: what is the strategy that will achieve socism and crede a mass worke clas
The Commission of Inquiry has been flooded with submissions from al sections
Peter 'Hain's recently published pamphlet, Reviving the Labour Fall. is one vi luc most miourtal cull' tributons so tar because te lackies use
His main concern is to reorientate the party so tat It adopis an outward compaigning strategy.' This conclusion is based on a damning critique of the practice of
for a largely. electoralist he Labour Party has imposed a self-inflicted wound. which besides restric ting the possibilities for socialist advance, has meant that the Party has been unable
own democrso in aclive political campaigning. There has been no conception of mass mobilisation or strug-
But a clear strategy for socialism can oy be develope in we are cear abou where we think power really lies', argues Hain. Reliance on the ballot box makes sense only I we tnik that real power les
..our actual experience the tets us orreren. crecave oower. as oo. posed tothe trappings of it, really lies with
multinationals and the and oubc ourcaucracies 'Power in short lies. in the In k for which the Labour ossified':
Peter Hain draws upon the positive ex-
Suzanna York, Ken Coates and Zhores
defence is a sick joke.
Stewart of Fulham,
Vietnam;
secretary! periences of the last few years. Mass action campaigns like the Anti-Nazi League and
activities of women's liberation movement in which the far left has Daved •a major role, are contrasted to the resolu-
mongering within the constituency scios ol luc cabour rarty. ine bonucal
"herween the trade unions and the Party • have also 'steadily been
The pamphlet argues that the roots of
from NATO.
That Labour's defence spokesperson should be
nout party policy But when we probe the publishers of Rodgers' little pamphlet, the joke gets even sicker. They are the 'The Labour Com mittee for Transatlantic Understanding' (!)
This body has among its leading officers Lord
former Labour foreign
fort ta Vietnam ory then morner Waite
Roy Mason, former. British viceroy in Northern Ireland; and to cap it all, Frank Chapple as treasurer and Terry Duffy as
No doubt, these people are well placed to 'understand' the American point of view. Their committee is a typical front organisation for cold war propaganda, conveying the views of the State Department and the Ministry of Defence. We can be assured that this committee suffers from no
this lie in the historical division between the two wings of the movement. '...Trade unons se representation for the working Parliament; the priority being to bulid a mass political movement based on the struggles outside.'
The strategy Peter Hain outlines is one based on a combination of parliamentar 82:01 extra-parliamestary Previtalisation of the party at a constituency
importance of focussing not only on Europe-wide disarmament, but also on the demands for unilateral disarmament by Britain and British withdraw
financial problems. on
transatlantic agencies.
transparent operation
would for
world peace and 'defence'
Peter Shore, who now
fight to kick out Labour's cold warriors.
. leven ne
tivities movements.
DUl
Underpinning
and revolution.
. Alternative policy package.
system capitalism needs. Edifice
ding the
running
people,
Peter weaknesses kut ne does
up me wabour rarty to gall
class
was not seen a
action with a
Numerous such committees in the '50s and early '60s were lavishly financed by the CIA. It would indeed be suprising if the new transatlantic committee didn't receive the financial blessing of some
The fact that Rodgers can get away with such a
shows the need to democratise the selection of the party leadership. There can only be a tiny minority of the party who
moment contemplate choosing Rodger for their spokesperson on questions o
He should be replaced with some one who supports the official party policy. The same applies to
supports Thatcher's boycott of the Olypmics. The campaign against Cruise missiles should go hand in hand with the
creation workplace branches, the active involvement of the party in the trade unions and workers sugges. as :wen as m une ad the women's and black
movement on what political
this perspective is Hain's central argument that there is no stan choice to benade between rerora
He advocates a third way: that of the •conclud surategy But the current crisis of capitalism is so grave that it is becoming cicar to many peopte tnat as an economic cannot satisfy humar The AES clings to the old dogma • Inat some kuc or comoronse win wealt! and power can be arranged
If we think that the whole system of wealtn and power nas to be endea by en 'edifice of capitalism' then our strategy must be different. Mass action to bus toneR some Dames yeon
isnoiego of .Se coumury aroma ciop the
country from bottom in the hands of ordinary workins directly accountable to their fellows in a system of socialist democracy. us only mune process or struegin for their own rights that people become conscious of their ability to run their own anans is unis way and unus sec une orac ticality and relevance of socialism.
Hain of the the Labour Party today overai perspective of the traditional left in the Labour Party that Parliamentary reform over eline alle
Puliamentary activity is simply an added
The new left in the Labour Party must break with this approach if it is to succeed in turning the Labour Party outwards. , to confront all those within the Part: and the trade unions who want to hang on to 'consensus politics' at the expense of th working class. Will the Labour Party; if it SUBgests; be able to break with its past?
Page 3 scan of this page
HOMENEWS
By Geoffrey Sheridan THE course of the meeting could be traced by the movement of the grey heads. At first there was one, that of the school's deputy head, who came up to the small group of school students in the playground and asked the young man addressing them what was going on.
The latter had in fact just been talking about how to organise a petition. demanding school uniform. 'See where that gets you,' he told the mini-assembly.
'If a lot of people sign and nothing happens when you hand it in, then call on people to take there's two hundred of you, you can't be victimised.'
There were half a dozen school students listening at that point, and the arrival of the deputy head, who failed to discover what the meeting was about, necessitated its transfer to
outside London Boys' School, Deptford. Argue
Numbers soon multiplied. Three grey heads peered out from the school gates, their craned necks taut with impotent authority.
Describing the events roundabout as a meeting is to suggest a degree of formality there.
There was the speaker, Richard Rozanski, who was the organiser of the National Union School Students, and - within the space of 10 minutes students, mainly third and fourth years and predominantly black.
But the milling around, the bursts of conversation, gave the none of the orderliness of the usual union meeting.
For. Richard, who left school a year ago, it meant continually recapping as fresh arrivals unassembled ranks. might be for school uniform,' pointed out. 'Argue with them. It's not just that uniforms make you feel uncomfortable; they mark you out as inferior.
'You've got to argue with parents. Get your friends to see them to let them know there's support for this so that they don't pick on their own kids.'
Strikes
Then, trom brought out the weapons of agitation. On his advice, the petition forms were quickly thrust into other bags.
Hands reached out for copies of Blot, the NUSS's paper, editorial on hatcher Cutting our lives'), an article by Erika on free abortion on demand, from Leeds NUSS organised a one-day strike against the education cuts.
More hands took copies Revolution, the paper Rozanski will be editing now that he has retired from the school students' union, at its annual conference on 5 and 6 July. With its slogan of 'For a united revolutionary youth organisa-
Sar. arnor to publication. Payment in advanc col. inch. Dea
20p. Special offer of pror orde
our More chin Top h
Daties in de liasing with branche and Fundie er divise.
BAN SH RELA
abolition of
action.
South-east
• U01 the
that wasn't
national
SOrRe 4U SCHOOl
occasion
joined the 'Some students
The
paper devotes
the war drive.
tion, concludes.
Back to the
bag, rapidly, SHaoes ready for abolition.
sive, where with its up Would the and a report on how they
of uniforms and Richard 'We don't want Everyone in the class signed it.
WHAT'S LEFT SC EVENTS
Soner no ringe meet io, pol
Skinner MP, MP, speakers tiee. Invited: Bill Sirs, general secretary Of ISTC.
Can to me it ring phone coin,
ATH: SC i Baths e 20298 for more details 30-5.10, Sat 1S.C. For more into phone 0669. Sat 104. For more info BRADFORD: SC available from Fourth Idea : supporters sell every Sat Morning
ISTOL: SC
Be Stores 11-12.30. Also available from 108 more in about local activitie
IRELAND
BUTCHERS
School students organise
Outwitting the
grey heads
tion', the current, 11th issue of the
its front page and centre-spread to Cruise missiles and
•We recognise that imperialism is the source of war and that only its
Lullalc. overthrow, necessarily by violent ac
will free the world of war,'
grey heads. The clusters on the roundabout dispersed
their uniforms in varying was. every bit They filed back through the gates of their comprehen-
three teachers were waiting to inspect the literature.
petition forms be discovered? Richard considered that the staff would find out about them soon enough. He had been to talk to a social studies class at the school, at which a student had raised the issue of
promptly passed around a sheet on which he'd written
school uniform'.
With holidays looming, the campaign may not begin in earnest until Inal the autumn, but by the day following
DUNDEE: SC 7.30pm Thuesd Bo ou, side do
JUDDESIRS Saturday 1am: Is There s
Oval tabe, 1-1230: Cardict Britis
Amy Careers Information
SMAS
ISA
LIVING!
ARMY:
the meeting, which was held on 19 June, a committee had been elected to carry through the struggle.
The NUSS's national cannot always count himself so for
A few weeks earlier he had been invited to speak at a lunch-time meeting organised by students at a West London comprehensive.
It was held in a classroom and half way through the head walked in. 'He
smooth, youngish, type,' Richard recounts. 'For a while I ignored him.
"Then he asked who had invited me, and the 40 people in the room all put their hand up At first the head
tried the "Let's all be grown up" approach, inviting me to his office to
hat over a coffee and see if th
meeting could be arranged throug official channels.
'I told the meeting about the invitation and said that this is what they mean by democracy in schools. They won't let you invite anyone in. won't let you organise yourselves. I called for a vote. It was unanimous
the meeting should continue. Then it gọt heavy.
available from Dundee City
Star No 15. Dom as of Bodi to Hackne
THE ARMY
GOOD WAY
TO EARNA
OPLE
FRED RY
4SOLDIERS Ps
DIEDIN IRELAND IN 1978 MANY MORE WERE INJURED
FOR WHAT?
'Another declared that the meeting would stop at once. Someone tried to haul me organiser out. We decided to move the meeting
into the playground and the head went loopy. department came and threw me out of the school. An ignominious end,' Richard acknowledges.
He believes that a small NUSS branch was set up, but that it doesn't
trendy seem to be going anywhere.
The union has had a mixed year.
There have been highlights — strikes in London, Sheffield, and Leeds over the education cuts; the Cardiff branch in the South Wales • Youth TUC's Day of students in West London and Enfield; an occupation of the Army recruitment centre in Sheffield over the war in Ireland — yet in spite of an active membership numbering some 7,000, the union's former national organiser
They admits that it has no effective local
organisation.
In the report that he presented to the NUSS Rozanski argued that the 'incredibly
information about local activities. Tel. 061-002
and i sa
Tea guy So ugh oral,
repressive
fairs.
banned
the stick.
know best, of organisation years,
Richard, members hoped these problems.
the key organisation.'
one school
Rebel.
be engaged in
Endsleigh 01-387 1277.
teacher came in
Eventually
Involven
March; participation in the
Action by school
Richard
IMG NOTICES
I won't die for 'hatcher STOP CRUISE MISSILES
nature" of the British education system can be held respon sible for this continued state of af-
With the exception of Ireland, for example, the rest of West Europe has
corpora punishment. In Sweden it's even illegal for parents to hit their children. Here the National Union of Teachers, quite apart from other authorities, remains attached to
Because students are regimented in school, with teachers who always
Richard considers that they have an almost instinctive dislike
'They'll agree with NOSS's aims, and agree to action, bu they won't always be prepared to take steps to organise themselves.
Campigns
Since the union was formed in 72, he adds, it has been dependent on a handful of militants to lead activities. Yet as soon as they reach the exam
the branch collapses because there is no one to carry on
along with other of Revolution Youth, that the NUSS. conference would be able to come to grips with
"That way we'd see the union grow at local level, which is
to it becoming a mass
The outcome of the conference seems likely to make it harder. Rebel,
sudent wing OI the Socialist Workers Party, had a majority of delegates, and proceeded to treat the union as an extension of
The victory that Rebel claims with its majority of six out of the 11 places on the national committee, could be regarded with some enthusiasm if it had proposed any political campaigns for the union to
'Blot' is available price 10p (5p to school students) from: NUSS, c/o 3 Rondon price Ip. London WCI. from: Revolution Youth, PO Box 50, London NI. Tel 01-359 8371.
Revolution Youth presents
WOMEN'S
LIBERATION &
SOCIALISM
An educational event for all
Revolution Youth members and
sympathisers.
Discussions on:
"origins of womer's oppression and
the family
*Sexuality and sex role stereotypes
*The women's movement *Women in the USSR and much more.
Plus films, gig, theatre event Weekend of 19-20 July Brighton Polytechnic, Falmer
site. Accomodation and some food
provided. Starts noon 19 July. A
donations welcome.
INTERNATIONAL dy 1800 P00.3
Page 4 scan of this page
way to save jobs!
HOME NEWS
By Dodie Weppler
THE Iron and Steel Trades Con-
federation claims
measures in New Deal for Steel
will halt the closures
Some of the proposals, if taken in islation, might be a good idea.
But they do not add up to a plan that can solve the problem of job loss in steel.
Let's look at them one by one.
The pamphlet should cut the price per cent. But would this stimulate steel sales and provide more work?
It might, if there market demand. But today we are in the midst of an international recession and while tips to BSC management to solve the market problem out with prices, it certainly doesn't guarantee jobs.
Furthermore, it's entirely wrong to suggest that the economic slump hasn't drastically affected the market for steel. Deprived
Despite the rise in steel production levels, it is clear that still more steel is needed. Yet political choices been made by the bosses of industry and their governments on a world scale which fewer hospitals, and schools.
That's why the market demand for steel is lower than world produc tive capacity. And that's why the Tories have imposed cash limits on
If these decisions are beyond our control, why should steelworkers get involved in BSC's pricing policies? It is the responsibility of workers to save jobs, not to work out how BSC can tinker with the market value of steel. That should be left to the BSC accountants.
The ISTC pamphlet puts the blame for high-priced steel government's cash limits. It calls for an end to these limits on funding from central government, state subsidy. Good idea. Why should private Industry de given ample investment aid and the nationalised sector be deprived of it?
Investment
New Deal for Steel points out that BSC, a basic, nationalised industry, is paying out over £200m each year the banks. It says that half of BSC's debts should be written off. Why only half? Still, this is a step in the right direction.
The pamphlet proposes that new investment be made in the profitable finishing end of the industry; in a new aggressive marketing policy; and in developing a more flexible with increased use of electric arc furnaces which make special steels. Fine
providing that such investment takes no one's job.
But. if the Steel Corporation would benefit from investing in the profitable finishing end of the industry, why does the union's pamphlet remain silent about the fact that the most profitable sectors of all remain in private hands? nationalise the private steel firms?
The more serious problems in the
tional Gazette.
coming argues that BSC of steel by 5-10
was a high
may held have.
houses, on the
cut through and for greater ments'
complains that
sidies for domestic coal.
of coking coal.
Another
industry steelworkers to be re-employed.
workers an 'attendance bonus'.
because, i danger of working in steel,
measures in the pamphlet.
Why • not
proposals come when the pamphlet. before they come in, to work, This
By Jonathan Silberman 'FOR years the Broad Left has been in the doldrums', admitted Ken Brett at the naconference 'We've been very concerned at national level. It's now started to move. By God it's got to move'
Brett, the Broad Left candidate for assistant general secretary in the forthelections Union, was addressing 187 delegates at the Birmingham conference organised by the journal of the Broad Left.
In his speech, Brett Was militants have been thinking for some time.
Broad Left has been in crisis at a time when the tasks of the left in the union are greater than ever.
As one delegate put it, 'This crowd — Boyd, Duffy and Co — are worse than Carron. They're trying to destroy tne democracy of our union...
The platform was optimistic. *I am impressed by the youthfulness of this meeting
Tips to l
ut Bill Sirs' policies don't offer them a way foreward. (See page 5 for stor tries to explain how the prices can be
'operational improve-
It suggests that BSC is using too much coking coal in its product. It
government is refusing to make coking coal sub.
But it also argues the need for BSC to cut its use
Does this mean that the jobs of miners are to be put at risk in order to save BSC money? Miners are steelworkers' best allies. Last week the workers NUM executive threatened that any further contraction of the coal or steel industry would be 'strongly opposed'.
'operational improvement' to allow BSC to make a price cut is the proposal for a cut in over- levels time. Good. This could allow many
But the pamphlet also argues that the best way to reduce overtime is to
'absenteeism' by giving EEC,
Now if there is a high level of absenteeism in the steel industry it is
leaving aside the dirt and , workers are demoralised by the lack of job security. This will not be cured by the BEC!
It is a testimony to the tragedy of the industry that workers should have to be bribed with special bonuses
Fighting policies can elect Bob Wright
An organisation
La rosy zulure Bob
Engineering
Engineering
leadership it requires.
saying what many
The answers,
As Brett explained:
Steel union publishes plan for industry
HE BLACK ONSETT workers march through London to lobby MPs last week. Their town will die if closure plans go throug
idea of bonuses is similar to Ford management's plan, which has volved a wage cut for many Ford workers. Any slight infraction of the agreement by workers leads to a substanțial reduction in wage packets.
But the real problem about overtime is this: if it is so widespread in many plants, why not share the work with the thousands of steelworkers on the dole queues, on the basis of the principle of no loss in pay? Is it in the interests of unity that
some creed should be facing the dole while others are working themselves into the ground?
• The ISTC pamphlet criticises the corporation for its export policy. But British production
are fixed by the infamous Davignon plan. The pamphlet leaves aside the thorny political problem of the Common Market by arguing that even within the levels imposed by the
Britain should not be cutting back in steel.
Why should British workers submit to the bosses' Common Market at all? A. real fighting lead from the ISTC would be a suggestion for a campaign to get Britain out of the
Even if the measures in New Deal for Steel did not involve a single job! are being asked to loss from the day it was implemented onwards (and what about
without youth is an organisation without a future. By this criterion, the Broad Left has
Wright, the left's presídential candidate, spoke or we neca ror a ngung leadership for the union. Many speakers endorsed what Bob Wright had to say about the events in Leyland
acuUr Wa. develople!
Leyland in response to the sacking of Derek Robin. son. This action was called off in favour of a futile committee of inquiry. The momentum of opposition to his victimisation was thereby broken
'In future all union activists must be protected. We need a union president and a full union leadership capable of giving our great union the resolute
With speeches like these, delegates were forced to ask why the Broad Left has been 'in the doldrums' for so many years and why the union is facing one of the worst crises in its entire history. But they
and so there is no guarantee that soccenes were more man not au
The fact is that if the Broad Left leadership had shown complete intransigence to the attacks of the abour government; if it had charted a genuinely in. dependent course to Hugh Scanlon
BsC is no
thousands already out of work?) they in- cannot and will redundancy in steel. The will not stop thousands of jobs being DAYL And even if all these doubts were cleared up, and the pamphlet faced up a bit more bravely to issues it confronts, the New Deal for Steel would not be the programme that steelworkers really need The reason for this is that the problems of the steel industry are more lundamental than Bill Sirs assumes.
The steel industry hasn't just caught cold, it has pneumonia. It suffers not finally from a passing chill but a debilitating disease.
This is not the fault of steelworkers. The steelworkers are being asked to pay for the decades of inadequate investment in dustry, for the fact that the nationalisation of the steel industry was left so late, for the fact that private ownership rested content with the captive markets of the British Empire instead of investing in new plant - in the final analysis for the fact that Britain was the first to develop steel making, which meant that her who came later, could avoid her mistakes.
It is the present generation who
previous generations did. And this at ther. a time when. &- serious
campaign
Action
• throughout Fine words after the event
course at the time As one delegate,
austral kelations AC possible the successful
The left will have to completely got no
ycals. contracts, import controls and thrown
Broad Left Duffy and Co
with
serious answer Yes,
not less and less,
steel.
Planned
for steel.
choices
means a its ingredients.
dustry. under
as they are
not stop further Rotten
some of the
The
• sociely
up by Callaghan,
the COLCCI for everyone.
But
their jobs.
will be long
competitors,
home pay for what
leader of yesteryear — then things would be different
It bordered on complete hypreerisy when Bob Wright spoke of Leyland. Wright was part of the
COT the right-wing union tops against the Leyland toolmakers when they went out the gate against the social contract. Wright chose to tamain silent when Derek Robinson was victimised.
welcome But what's necessary above all is fine action Dudley Edwards, put it: "This union led the fight for the 10-hour day. It led the figh
40-hour week. It helped make Heath's Int unworkable. It helped make resolutions on democracy passed at last year's Labour Party conference. The toic and recora or our union are at stake
break from the strategy and orientation of its leaders over the past
and compromise over social the like must Class struggles policie native. We have got to commit Bob Wright to these policies, and turn his fighting speeches into action This is the only way to win the election and get rid of
throughout the capitalist world is hitting workers everywhere That's why it is no use tinkering the steel industry. For that's what Bill Sirs proposals are: tinkering. A serious problem demands a
there is a recessIon. But everyone knows that more and more, steel is needed, both in Britain and abroad. Schools need Do we have enough schools?
Hospitals need steel. we have enough hospitals? Countries in the Third World need steel too for trac tors and combine harvesters. Do they have enough of those?
Of course not. The need for steel is greater than ever before. What an we live in! Many countries — like Nicaragua and Cuba and African countries are crying The Soviet Union and China can't meet the need for steel. only • ar unplanned economy that such a basic commodi. ty as steel suffers from a crisis of over-production, and where political about exports mean that necus i orner countres aren t ruiled despite the demand.
The answer is that industry must be harnessed to human needs. This plan for reconverting the whole of the British economy. There is no way that steel can avoid the effects of the world recession merely by bico will lie level Ol sicer prices raising the working capital of BSC diversifying the product, or altering And then there is the problem of the antiquity of much of the steel in There can be no doubt that a fully planned economy, would be not be efficient for society or pleasant for the workers to keep a number of the antiquated steel plants
But under a planned economy it would be possible to bring new industry into being to replace the old, to retrain workers no longer needed work in another, without the misery of the dole queue modernisation of British steel could be carried through without the fear of unemployment.
All this can only be brought about by a fundamental re-structuring. of genuine workers' government, not one that is headed would map out a plan of the economy in the interests of people's needs, not profits. would aim to transform our economy into a flourishing system with jobs
until that time arrives, steelworkers must fight to hold on to There are no magic formulas or easy solutions. The struggle and hard. Inevitably there will be defeats and setbacks. Inevitably the employers will succeed in pushing some workers on to the dole But steelworkers must stubbornly refuse to accept redundancy. They must do this by a struggle to bring workers everywhere the message' that we must get rid of this! "rotten system and build a new and
Page 5 scan of this page
'We will not allow BSC
HOME NEWS
Uhl
campaign
gains
support in
Oxford By Joe Singleton
OXFORD Trades Council members have joined in the campaign to protest against the conditions under which Petr Uhl and the other Charter 77 civil rights. campaigners are being held in Czechoslovak prisons.
Signatories to the petition include Mick residenl Council and a Communist Party member; Pat Ward, the
well wateral Union 01
delegate Jack
Kirk and Alan Thornett from
Transport Workers Union.
hoped that the of Peter Moss, the enoure National Union of Teachers' delegate and also & Labour
by other councillors from the
abour Oxford.
the coming weeks to state where they stand on this issue.
If trades councis other labour movement bodies wanted to push the
forward eYeI further, they could make e
towards 01 a book writings. Donations over £20 will be mentioned in LIC DOOk
Further information: Charter Defence
committee,
London W5 01-998-4490). Donations for the book to:
Europe, PO Box 50, London NI.
Nasira
Begum
fights
deportation
By Dick Withecombe Manchester Ardwick CLP ON Saturday 19 July hundreds will be protesting on the streets of Manchester to help prevent the deportation of Nasira Begum, whose appeal is to heard on 23 July
Nasira is about to be thrown out of the country she made her own because she was deserted by her husband and the britsh state will only allow her to stay if she is the wife of a British citizen.
There are now at least five defence campaigns for individual immigrants active in the Manchester area. A success has already been notched up with the victory of Mohammed Butts fight toremain in this country.
The largest possible turnout to protest for Nasira will be another gain on the
stopping the deportations.
The demonstration starts at 12.30pm, Whit-
Park, Manchester.
THE deadline for
short news articles for
this page is 10.30am
Monday. Articles up to
200 words can
rung through on
Sundays 01-359
8189.
TASTÉ
By Patrick Sikorski THE 'Consett Crusader' train brought around thousand together with women and young people from Durham to Wednesday of last week. They came to lobby their MPs against the planned closure of their steelworks.
Over 3,700 steel jobs are immediately at risk in Durham, but as in all steel towns every other 1,000 jobs are at stape
There are no other unemployment rate in the area is already 13.8 per
LEt stee works become 40 per cent. Just now
Defend
Iranian
women
THREE Iranian women were sentenced to 25 lashes each fo
Sea coast last week. This is just one instance of the renewed campaign by Khomeini against women in Iran. It once again raises the importance of an international campaign of solidari. ty with the women.
In London on 22 July the Iranian Women's Solidarity Group will be relaunching its campaign ai cris country. meeting starts at 8pm and will. include a film as well as speakers. The venue is the Roebuck public house on Tottenham Court Road. under attack
By Jamie Gough man.
The case is not a simple
Haven more clearly than in the case Speakers include:
mawr _oage), «ka Llanwern), Ron Easter (South Wales Youth Against Unemploy Further details from Unemployment, 17 Pleasant wance: 3e 45005
VAST NUN" A vacancies. steelworkers directly coalfield.
London on Unless jobs to go The
cosed the ligure will 65 people ale
The Greek Gay movement
THIS Monday Amfi, the magazine of the Greek gay movement, is going on trial on a charge of oftending public morality. This is being done on the orders of the government. The magazine's 'crime? is to have printed a poem containing the word prick accompanied by an illustration showing a naked
of Gay News, the prosecution represents an attack on the gay movement itself.
'Unite in a fightback
for jobs'
Public meeting and discussion 20 July, 11.30am - 5pm
Greät Western Club, Hopkinstown, Pontypridd,
Admission 50p
Don Hayward (NUM S Wales), Ben executive), Idris Jones (NUM Hill (Jobs Group, BSC BSC Port Talbot' Ruth
Wales Youth. Against Chaddersley Terrace, • Mount
to close Consett
chasing each vacancy. This month 1,400 school students will be chasing a grand total of eight
As in South Wales, the Consett closure would
threaten 10,000 jobs the Seaham, Blackhall, Dawdon and Wasington. pits risk "diC
As John Lee, Secretary of the Consett Joint Union Co-ordinating Committee,
The fight at Consett is a turning point in the fight against the tremendous attack on jobs and
'We will not allow BSC to close this works.
someone wins the three eve become a rev ver cv
Unfortunately the • basis on campaign is presently being fought does not
In 1977 the introduced crate. bill astonably with venereal disease. In fact it wa a straightforward attack on gay men, transvestites, and prostitutes, draconian "ponce contro over anyone who met public places for sex, whether 1u1 bayulcil o1 Hol The Greek gay movement, AKOE. dras formed to fight this bill, and WORLWIC campaign of solidarity forced government back down. AKOE, , In spite of a massive reactionary campaign against it in Greece itself, continued to grow and now large women's caucus within it.
Today, the government is attempting chose down AKOE's most important means of reaching. gay and and is rein. troducing to parliament the bill it had previously been forced to drop international cam. paign is being organised to orce the government to drop Greek gays
need kes upper.
Picket Greek EmWaSSy London W11, on Saturday 19 Park.
July, at 1.30 Donations to the Amil Defence and c/o Lloyds Bank, Gants Hill Branch, 377 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex
THEY WILL!
IT WILL GET WORSE AND WORSE AND THEN...
fight across the region.
Durham The argument that the union Horden,
and therefore should be saved.
But to successfully told Socialist
arguments and learn Corby, Warrinton and the and Port Talbot.
against this
million against the closure,
which the
agalist ail ciosures.
Now, as imperialism is piunged into a new crisis, and the upsurge of the working class grows throughout the the Iorces of Trotskvism are still unable to offer clear political leadership.
tional has become more imperative than eveThe crisis which has Trotskyist movement for 30 years ha LUV expressed itself in the new split ir the United Secretariat of the Fourth International and the rally collulice These
The TILC:
Workers Socialist League, Britain Socialist League (Democratic Centralist) USA (sympathising section).
...THI retect the wilineness or me rank ane me wage a militant fight, or the possibilities of using
the fight at Consett as the spearhead of a united
committee put to MPs was that the Consett works is profitable
oppose the closure, the union leadership will need to ditch al viabiiti
the lessons of Shotton, 'slimline' at Llanwern
Plans should be made now for full discussion
with the workforce for the occupation of Consett
ana to use the works as a
base to mobilise mass support from the region
They should consider, too, a national steel strike
Advertisment
Trotskyist International
Liaison Committee
Public Meeting Wednesday 23 July at 7.30 pm For a Full Discussion on the Crisis of the World Trotskyist Movement
Reconstruct the Fourth International Speakers from the WSL and TILC sections Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1
open discussion world, ferences at the
The Fourth DUf
plagued the
Committee
formation of the
new developments highlight Fourth International.
Chile
• Denmark
Health
workers
condemn
flesh
parade
By Sue Spilling, COHSE assistant branch secretary ERIC Wilson, president o the health workers' union, COHSE, can't be too happy that defended beauty Darade which was held durin the union's conference earlier this summer.
My.region, NW Thames, mos bosser a moron or m confidence in Wilson over hi handling of the affair, cemanan. right Thos who opposed human cattle show to reply to the slurs that have been made against us by union orgicials
The prade was or by ted
as a event
which the Blackpool conference was held. Some 30 people picketed the parade
national cachar
We were treated with con. tempt by those who stomped male delegate told me. watch come one 'Don't worry darling, you'll never be rapea my end • concenin such actions, Wilson apologised to the conference
behaviour. was given something like a standing ovallon TrON predominantly male delegates • in a union whose member. shid is three-quaters female.
These events have spurred the organisation women within the union, and we cal be quite sure that the COHSE leadership will not have heard the that partıcula. night out in Blackpool.
Kick
outthe
Torie
'Kick out the Tories' badges are available again after their first great sellout. Send 20p 10 p&p to: The Other Book • Shop, 328 Upper Street, London N1. Bulk rates available Entrance £1 the need for an urgent and profound
of the political difcentre of the crisis of
We do not claim that the TILC has final answers to the questions involved.
conference to attempt to resolve them.
We do not see the USFI or the Parity
DOSSIOLLY That is why we feel it is necessary to found and build the TILC to fight for a •political resolution to the crisis of the
Bolshevik Workers League (LOB), Bolshevik Leninist Group (GBL), Italy Trotskyist Workers League (TAF),
Socialist Challenge 17 July 1980 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
"To raas man! C see white man A West Indian who came to Britain 30 years ago looks
PIRE Some of the first arrivals in 1948 and politics.
American solidarity
Indian Parents Group in the borough.
GP: What impression had you formed of the UK before you b'les LJ: West Indians in the UK were very rare betore the war - the odd se:miin. a tew suders. Annote who spent time in Britain attained a certain kudos on their return.
When I knew i was coming here I asked an uncle who had lived here what it was like. He gave me
snangn-la. fairytale.
i also knew a teacher who had been over, and he told me very solemn o cesure to motoc sont of the culture.
GP: Was it not possible for you to continue your caucauon in West Indies?
LJ: Before 1947 there was no oDDor Lamy for higher education This meant only wealthy and the few who got scholarships could Conne Hair enea droit sneun
And of course what happened is that when they came back most of LICI ICELUR LIC COLA SLEEC ture.
That was to change after the war as the anti-colonial movements developed.
GP: What were your first impres sions of this contry!
LJ: We landed on a grey October day at Liverpool. I'll never forget
I was on the ship somewhere when I heard a lot of other students saoudn • Lo wa mar conc ard see white man working!'
up on and saw on the dull, grey wharf some white micu mn oowict dals pusang arcind large trolleys, and that was the first
seen a white man doing wil sical, ualal WULk
back nome tey pusned pens and administered, shouted a but not anything which looked like 'work as i understooq it, 1 nis was different.
I came straight to London, and gol a lla DeC-SIl Hampstead. Middle class home, middle class area. I shared a room Witt c orotcr o uiai, luc singer, who had fixed us up.
- Socialist Challenge 17 July 1980 P
WINDRISK LONDON LIONEL Jeffrey was born in the British colony of Guyana in the late twenties. He first came to Britain in 1948 as a student. After finishing his course he returned to Guyana and was involved in the struggles for independence, as an executive of the Progressive People's Party. In 1957 he returned to Britain with his family, and worked in various jobs - on the factory floor, as clerk, teaching - until in 1978 he became the full-time director of the Community Education Project - an Islington-based group which runs courses on West Indian history, culture
He has been active in Caribbean and Latin groups, as well as being Chairperson of the Islington 18 Defence Committee. He has lived in Islington, North London, since 1964, and is currently involved in setting up a West
The interview originally appeared in the North London community paper the Islington Gutter Press. We are grateful for their permission to reprint it.
My income was about week, ana ine room cost as. Bul pleasant, made a tot of trends. and sort of sellica down to lle In tnis strange Culill y.
I soon met lots of other students Tonene colones mon ever sal of the world, whose only chance of further education was a scholarship To sis Men like Azikwe from Nigeria Sonson rom Scra L We, Nkrumah from Kwan Yew from Singapore, Micha Manley, the current Prime Minister of Jamaica who predecessor on the student. union magazine.
Wherever I travel in the West Indies and other parts of the Commonwealth meet old friends in public life.
GP: Was it the contact with Third World which made you politically active ?
IM: Not so much as meeting oro. gressive white people. I related to the MCF (Movement for Colonia DeoDle keven wo nied or re broders of the British and the working class. Britain change as much as tac colones ala.
I very quickly realised that.
GP: What were your pericaces or racism acres LJ: Looking for ASOO MAe O MVG us
in the multi-occupied private secThe postcards in shop windows - 'No dogs, no coloureds' — I still went along and adverts, not really thinking nev met neb d aandeE quickly changed when rounds. later. • ]- became the welfare officer, and my own experience was repeated hundreds of over -was wic Ironl mall looKIng: IOr accommodation
ere est menin 1 phane calo or
Toons oi Dentro one sadets and 23 turned me down flat as soon
£5 survived,
Wallace
Lee
my
student
first
like Nye Tempory ассол
were involved.
colonial 'How dark is this chap,
needed snective landlords wond ask. and
then carefully explain that it wan't theer lho ts, an do, oir diced, them who were first ex-
neighbours.
Wing a bathroom my Hamp case somehow Tene
off lodgers.
the streets, and the drunks in pubs who would want to touch you, feel answered those
that YOut fronted it, uboody would admit to CONSC I did the what we now call racism.
student to fight it when it did rear its head
mioce class blame the working clas: the Labour party for nisi elie NO to get a hold because there were no people active against it when it first appeared.
And few
but stay had not yet arrived. , of course, the HuSKICC
There were objections to shar-
with a black Kenya, Waald • cool and stain the other
Then there were the children on you
hair. This got me very cross. R-I]ELE
Wiet LJ: Arriving realised that
And certainly no one was there
ductor, liberals would the left of ENOCE would blame the Health and recruiting for toter responded
black people were
early 1950s. prepared to take this up in a con- started.
way. Most were only here tora sron sa termene stemmi influx of workers who were here to enough
helper more interested at this time in being active in the anti-colonial movement work
Thing: were bap. pening all over the British colonies. 'good'
Editions.
Geceli
returned five years later, in 1957.
had things changed on you
Paddington. une the black man hac come to Britain in a big way. My tust bus nae was witn a black col definite workforce was here. drivers but. a
Powel as Minister Of steware others had been because I labour the West because an• cnousae of OCUDIC there was massive unemployment out there, and lots of work here. People jumped at the chance. A whole new ball game had
I had to look for a job. I could
at that time •friend me to gel job Frigidaire factory in the Edgeware Road doing shop floor assembly
This was what you could call a
factory reasonably paid and with fairly decent working con
There were only 5 blacks in & WorKOICe OI 1y20
At Park Royal down the road hundreds of black people worked in the biscuit factories and so torh
jobs', …HOTe black people working "in a factory the more you could tell hon bad the atre an condim ons woute oc
I soon became very militant and after"eight months was voted shop
rare. HOL OIV was black but : I had beer such a shor time in the union. The branch had to specially apply to the national executive to h ave mè accepted
During the next tew months a small group of us managed to get
hen cory sas cera
Then very 'promoted' moved to Joo, and ort tac rioo.
There was then a strike t meépack - a situation where WOeS LoO aOSuna& black shop steward. I was reinstated
So I became highly involv the British workers moveme shop-floor level. I liked that se involvement in politics
uLC COHOELe definitely there.were other things I wanted to do five years there I was looking change.
GP: The West Indian imm at this time were mainly mes. pose a distinet culture de OHE CESS LJ: Yes, the pattern of imm tion was simila to that • ASS e '60s and carly Some came with literally change of clothe But there jobs to be had and money tos
:inis was Ahe ne'eli
Page 7 scan of this page
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Page 8 scan of this page
Armagh-where hygiene
By Geoff Bell 'It is,' said the Speaker of the House of Commons, 'a House'.
The members of the Commons didn't appear to share that view when, last Wednesday, the British Parliament debated the North of Ireland, and the Tory paper on the same. Less then 60 MPs turned up. In that, and in many other ways, the event was another exercise in British irresponsibility.
Those who did make an appearance were the familar faces on the Irish scene: Secretary of State Humphrey Atkins, Labour spokesperson Brynmor John, Ian Paisley, James Molyneaux, the leader of the Official Unionists, and a few others.
Conspicious by their abscence were Tony Benn, Eric Heffer and the rest of the fearless leaders of the Labour Left. The most enthralling offering •from Peter Shore. He didn't say anything but it was fascinating to watch him alternate between falling asleep and then waking up and picking his nose.
The other star of the show was Ted Heath, although he didn't utter a word either. He sat on the front row like a deposed monarch with his belly sticking out. That and his marvellous tan made him look wise and noble.
His wisdom was praised enthusiastically by Gerry Fitt another fallen leader who resigned By Valerie Coultas ROSE McAllister, 49-year-old mother of four from the Ardoyne, has just finished serving a two-year sentence in Armagh jail, the only women's prison in the North of Ireland. She has been touring Britain telling people of the appalling conditions the women prisoners are suffering in Armagh.
Rose was sentenced to prison in
Diplock court-one the nas no mr ony a are wno passes sentence -for possession of an incendiary device
Her application . LO nave er four-month-old son inside the jail with her was turned down bi Northern re ane. OTTICe grounds that it 'was not baby's interest with mother. Her 19-year-old son to look after the baby and other two children; her husband, Terence McAllister, is imprisoned in Long Kesh.
Assault
When Rose's children visited her in Armagh they were subjected to searches and forced to wait I01 anything up to three hours. treatment that Rose and her family. received uncle other women prisoners in Armagh have suffered in a similar fashion.
NOSC described conrerence The house Commons last. Thursday chaired by Ernie Roberts the assault on the
February:
*All the screws came HICH and the women dressed in full riot gear-to do a "general raid" on the orders
governor. Mr Scott just • 020 a general • rator Christmas so we were surprised at having another so soon.
Political
*They said that they wanted to get hold of the black gear (what we wear on uniform parade) but they
Time men cut off our access to the hot plate. room where we could cook meals, got hold of three girls when they refused into "association" cell, and proceeded to beat them up. All hell then le loose and only calmed down when we were forced to agree locked in the association cell.
'We had no food trom 7.30 in the morning. We thought things would go back to normal. But we
'When we were let out for half. Socialist Challenge 17 July 1980 Page 8
INTERNATIONAL / IRELAND
for the whole
Government's white
Gerry Fitt,
had.
from the Labour benches came.
90 per native.
is a privilege
the
une in the
its
had
her
The
press
in-37
ROSE McALLISTAIR
an hour the next day I asked if I could use the toilet. I was told that LIC and the washing room had been locked on the governor's orders. "Go in your cell, of the female ne next cav ur was ure same We had no other choice but to go to toilet in our cells.
LAC outside was prison to see us. the waste out of the and keep our cells clean but then le wardens Diockca unemn up "Then we were move to A wing. We were allowed to be possessions at al
Pm tic oura as soon as 1 arrivc in the cell to ask to go to the toilet. was three hours later someone came. Again 1 was deniec access to a toilet.' Since 7 February the 31 women
from the Social Democratic and Labour Party because he thought the party was too critical of the talks convened by the Tory proposals. Said Fitt of Heath: 'He showed great courage in trying to bring us together in the Sunningdale agreement'.
Such rubbish is exactly the sort of Uncle Paddy arse-licking the British parliament likes to receive, but then Fitt spoiled the effect by droning on for 44 minutes, which more or less killed off any potential interest the debate had
Before Fitt came lan Paisley, speaking with a confidence born out of the knowledge that 'option two' of the Tory proposals, the one obviously cent ed bytht he wanted. He com-
of what he wanted. gratulated Atkins on 'a very strong statement on the maintenance of the Union. He went on to make it clear that the first, power-sharing option in the white paper 'is not on'. Vowed Paisley, 'I will not discuss it'.
James Molyneaux also dismissed that alter-
"A rehash of failed experiments... a monstrosity... crazy' were some of the descriptions he used. The rest of his speech was a thinly veiled attack on Paisley for being too soft on
In Armagn nave been lockea up tol out to es daheir meals and boated out to eat up it tney ao not cal nem quickly " said one enough. prison that can be withdrawn if prisoners authorities don't conform.
No-one from allowed into the At first we threw "spees" to try continue the no forced The upon wonder
authorities to draw their treatment. washed for five months. 110 no association, Ene I put my hand prison better
and post-natal facilities, ti right rece ve than supporters of the Republican cause the women in Armagh do not. see themse ves as candleas not tried in a criminal courtes we
The joke's on the Irish
Atkins which produced
cynically Paisley's direction. are tried only being allowed courts. status of Cullas, says nusc Cleanliness is seen by the
privilege reporter three membership oI Rose decided member, although she had wash' protest them attention have not in Armagh, is terronst me brush press demanding free like to make ordinary right …TO • WUlICL medical and wives. vole wowen.effects of a
we are OS CUC IC
the Government. 'Ulster leaders have been
used,' said Molyneaux,
As for the big guns it was at times difficult to distinguish between Atkins and his supporter from the Labour Party, Brynmor John. Atkins talked about cross-border cooperation with the comment, 'purism is an obvious example.'
THE the special Diplock We should be given the political prisoners, not
from Times asked Rose aDUL Three protest said she been in anniversary of
She, like the rest of the women
not the hardened the North August 1969. them. They mothers, - so ave of Ireland. ulcers and rashes from the dirt and
bad diet. They free Ireland. That is not what you West will see printed in the pages of the Countevall
stockade;
Echoed John, cooperation in the tourist field'.
Atkins told
instransigence'.
world'.
These committees, then elect their chairperson,
looking in
talk about'.
nothing better to do.
TROOPS OUT
The latest issue of Troops Out, paper of the Troops Out Move ment, has articles on Irish prisnors in Britain, British pro perganda, the Scottish Connection, and the SAS. Price 10p, it can be obtained from most of the left book shops of from TOM, Box TO, 2a St Paul's Road, London N1.
For senion TWIT
News from the Troops
Out Movement
Troops Out Movement is organising a mass delegation to Belfast on the weekend of 9/10 August.
One aim is to picket British
at the continuing British presence in Ireland. The mass picket will mark the 11th
British troops being sent on to the streets of
of Ireland on 14
The forts are concentrated in Catholic areas of the North
magazineSoldier described one
Belfast • as: "The Wild West the wriggly tin"
"there should be cross border 'the people of Northern Ireland... not to miss this opportunity'; John called on 'the leaders of Ulster' to 'shed their
Atkins said any debate Ireland 'must take place in the real world'; John assured him 'this debate is not taking place in a university seminar but in a rea
Atkins insisted 'It is not easy to see an acceptable solution lying outside the framework devised by the Government'; John spoke of his 'hopes for the Government's proposals. And so they went on, Tweedledum, Tweedledee.
The best laugh came from Enoch Powell This was in the middle of Atkin's description of his proposal for the new Assembly to have com. mittees made up equally of those who supported the executive and those who did not.
explained Atkins, would
Powell interrupted by pointing out the dif ficulties in electing such a chairperson 'if the two sides in the committee were equally divided and both had their own cadidates'. A flustered Atkins replied, 'Eh.. that's something we must
Powell roared with laughter, Atkins went red in the face and exclaimed, The honourable member should not laugh'. But there seemed
fortress is surrounded by the 'indian country" of the notorious Ballymurphy estate with its fervent Republican sympathies.'
Such a description is a tacit admission that the British Army, rather than defending' the population of the area it oc. cupies, or keeping the two sides apart', is nothing less than an army of occupation.
The TOM delegation will leave London on Friday night by train. It will depart from Euston station at 8.55 pm.
Further details can be ob. tained by writing to TOM at 2a St Pauls Road, London NI, or phoning the TOM offide on 01-267 2004.
Page 9 scan of this page
July 1979: Dictator Somoza flees
the face of advancing forces. Francisco Urcuyo, a US stooge, replaces him for 43 hours. military offensive drives him from office, and on 19 July the FSLN sweeps into the capital and sets up a new government.
All Somocist property - 20 per cent of industry and 40 per cent of land
is nationalised. The transport, banks, and insurance quickly go the same way. The FSLN declares: We have inherited a country in ashes.?
The FSLN decides to rebuild the shattered economy with the weapons that brought down Somoza.
On 27 July the FSLN paper Barricade 'All people... should meet immediately to form Sandinista workers' defence com-: mittees. All the tasks of defending the revolution and national reconstruction are passing to our combative working. class.'
August: Street committees, unions, women's organisations, and a youth movement are formed or extended. A strong centralised revolutionary army — the EPS — is built from the guerilla forces and vo unteers. with people's militias, the aim is to defend the revolution from the threat of foreign intervention.
The 'Bill of Rights' is published, guaranteeing the right to organise, to strike, to work, to social security, health, to education. Equal rights for women in the family, maternity rights, nursery facilities and the right to guaranteed employment after pregnancy are specified
September: Factory begin. The FSLN warns: dangerous HOL to heed a assembly,' and insists that 'Sandinism is of the common people. They did not make revolution to return to the old conditions.
The US bides its time. It wants to use a combination of carrots and sticks to force the Sandinistas to rebuild in imperialism's interests. trols markets, funds, and holds threat of a blockade and even military intervention over the heads of the two and a half million people of Nicaragua.
Moner rebuild the economy comes in a trickle. By October SHO I SO HIS TO 0 DAN P including a meagre $22m International Monetary, IMF lent Somoza $66m in 1979 alone: He spent it killing his people.
The bosses make preparations. A new party, the PSDS, a membership of 5,000 business people. Their slogan is "Sandinism yes, communism no'.
The capitalists want to use their presence in the government to turn back the revolution, but their natural power base - the army and police is destroyed. Their only hope is to split the FSLN.
In spite of letting the bosses into government, in spite of giving private ownership role reconstruction, the Sandinistas continue organise and workers.
leader says thought the masses would support the guerillas... the guerillas ended up supporting the masses.'
October: The literacy campaign is * announced. It aims organise, the people to the goals of the revolution. "Revolution' is the first word taught. The youth teach
INTERNATIONAL
first A final
victorious
mines,
Side-by-side
struggles It workers'
The US con-
the
Shattered
from the
Fund. The
, is formed with
adults.
taught is how to set
national Salvador, resistance there.
back the
later: we
meeting
mitteest and
and
organised people."
SANDIND VIVE
The campaign is to allow Indian and black English speaking minorities to learn in their own language. Also
up street and workers committees, health care and hygiene, how to take part in politics.
The US stages a military coup in El
popular cent November: The revised Council of State is announced and its first
scheduled for May.
Workers' Committees, Defence Com-
all trade unions are new FSLN explains: "The Council of state will not be a parliamentary organ but the expression of the power of the
World solidarity grows. In Britain
NICARAGUA
One year of revolution
JOHN BALL celebrates the charting what has happenanniversary of the ed in the past 12 revolution in Nicaragua by tumultuous months.
the Nicaragua Co-ordinating Committee is formed and plans a national conference. The Labour Party agrees tp be a co-sponsor.
December: The economic plan is announced. It sets aside 62 per cent of expenditure for health, education, and housing, compared with 17 per under Somoza. This is an underveloped country, the expansion is planned at a time when rich countries like Britain are destroying their social services.
The plan also aims to eliminate the 32 per cent unemployement rate. Six hospitals, 200 primary schools, and 2,500 housing units are planned.
But where will the capital come from?
When 20 percent of industry and 40 percent of agriculture are in state hands. The FSLN hopes to use the
SANDINO VIVE
EN EL CORAZON
DE SU-PUEBLO
DUNO EN ATO
LIBRO ARIERTON
JUVENTUD SANDINISTA 19 DE JULIO
power that made the insurrection to ensure. that the sabotage the plan.
An implicit trade-off-comply with the plan and your gam perty . with the government. plan ofters no comfort at all to the rich.
At the end of the month there are sweeping changes in the members ministers, changes which reflect the growing strength organisation. 100,000 out of 240,000 wage-earners The youth -thousands of members. The Defence Committees are centralised nationally and by district.
union policy.
limit
sales workplaces.
rents This,
sist. suming 'We equipment, foreign
The
government cupied
promised
series agreements. mittees
bosses not
will seize - is offered. A risky
capitalists still in But the content of the
cabinet. Large replace bougeois
of the people's the
The CST union now organises
organisation has port.
NICARAGUA
January: Difficult decisions need to be made over wages and trade
The FSLN wants to in. crease the, value of wages but also to
wage rises. To keep down food prices rigid controls are imposed, subsidies are introduced, workers' committees are set up to detect and and punish speculators. Then else meg soon diods and
the neighbourhoods and There are cuts of 50 per cent in mortgages and 60 per cent in
argue the Sandinistas, will increase the value of real wages. They go to the workplaces and explain why wage demands should not be pressed - but grant them if the workers in-
Is all this a 'social contract'? Certainly not. A leading Sandinista explains: When we talk of austerity have to understand who is to get less and who is to get more. Clearly we are telling the bourgeoisie to consume fewer luxury goods... we can't tell the peasant who has nothing to stop con.
can't. tell the unemployed workers to be austere... We can't talk 'about that kind of austerity.'
February: Landowners refuse to comply with the economic plan. Fac tory owners 'decapitalise': move out
keep their profits in • banks, refuse to buy raw materials, run down production.
Sandinista • newspapel declares 'workers control is more im. portant than legal measures'.
Workers' occupations they are endorsed by the FLN.
nationalises land by the peasants. A drive to rebuild the militias is launched. March: It becomes clear that the US Congress has frozen indefinitely a
$75m loan. The FSLN leaders visit Moscow and conclude a
diplomatic and trade
April: There are resignations from
chil for aspect for those pho guit
in production'. This attempt to split the FSLN meets with little success.
The compositions the new Council of State is announced. The mass organisatols choose their delegates through provincial, regional, and national assemblies. Many defence com.
begin replacing appointed local government officials. May: An estimated 200,000 turn out massive support for the PIN The the May showing most popular slogan is 'In the council of state, the organised people.
The new Council of State opens. June: Capitalists and their organisations suffer a number of set• backs. After an attack on a Sandinista police station in which one police officer was killed, dozens of countert revolutionaries are detained.
quantities of arms and money are found in the possession of those arrested, who are members of
Council for Private Enterprise and the Cattlemen's Association
The right call off an anti-FLN demonstration because of lack of sup-
Amnesty International expresses its 'admiration' for the abolition of the death penalty in Nicaragua... clalist Challenge 17 July 1980 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
TODAY most of the tionary moyements of twentieth-century Europe are Their leaders memorated, the streets which flowed the revelutionary crowds have disappeared, and the history books recording them are seldom read.
Everyone knows that in the 1930s Hitler re-armed Germany and annexed Austria and parts of Poland and Czechoslovakia. So Second World War. But few people know that the first of Hitler's many victims were German socialists, sent in their thousands to camps that later held the Jews. And few why he put them there.
One November morning in 1918, tens of thousands of workers, many of them armed. streamed into the centre of Berlin, persuaded soldiers on the bridges to lower their rifles and opened the arsenals jails. By nightfall the insurgents had overthrown the Kaiser goverancie and had socialists into power.
Insurrection
This was the beginning of Germany's socialist revolution. The new govermical was mistrucica to end tic war, socialise all German industry, and run the country system of • workers' and councils which sprang up during the insurrection. Germany was to Socialist Republic.
so everyone thought. The right-wing socialists revolution, turning on their followers the bayonets and armoured cars of monarchist troops known Freikorps. In the civil war of 1919,. 20,000 workers gave their lives for the German Socialist Republic.
Haunted
Although it was unsuccessful, the revolution haunted Hitler lic nungry. workers and war-weary soldiers had joined the revolution of 1918 to end a war and expropriate those responsible for it. In the 1930s Hitler was planning a new war: he foresaw another 1918! Here was one of the main reasons for destroying the communists and the socialists.
Hitler erased the memory of the revolution from the German people. The books recording it were burnt on great public bonfires The revolutionists took their recollections to the graves ordered them to dig. workers' councils of 1918 are known. only to a handful of historians, many of whom praise them for the wrong. reasons. The civil war of 1919 has vanished, even from the histories.
In 1917 or 1918 revolutionary uprisings also took place in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, and of course Russia. Their purpose same: to end the war and the social order that brought it forth. The First World War ended only when revolution knocked the baton from the officer's hand. The German November was one of these; and if it had not been betrayed it would have saved the world from Hitler and the Second World War.
Resistance
British that in 1944 and America liberated Europe from Nazi occupation. This is a half-truth. The leading cities of Europe were freed by
of Communist-led workers
In 1944, for example, the French resistance, with three-quarters of a million fighters in the field, liberated Marseilles, Nantes and means of a popular insurrection. April 1945 the Italian resistance rose in the cities and towns of northern Italy, sweeping away both the Nazi occupiers and the Mussolini. The war against fascism on the Italian peninsula took the lives of partisans than soldiers.
With no direct help from Allied forces, the resistance expelled- the Socialist Challenge 17 July 1980 Page 10
SURPLUS VALUE
revolu-
forgotten.
uncomalong
argue that
opened the
will know
the
and
and
lifted the
through the
• soldiers'
be a
betrayed the
as always. minds of the
the SS Now. the the believe 1945 Britain and
armies on their soil.
partisans,
Paris by claimed heroes the day before. In
fascists of more. national
Led their factories and bridges, Allied only from the Nazis those,who had failed to catastrophe
EURO-COMMUNISTS and
the workers'
Western Europe has no use for the methods employed by Russian workers in 1917. In the West the red cock of revolution, to borrow a The German workers showed their hatred for the Kaiser the socialists into
when they overthrew him and his general staff and lifted
Nazis from Greece and Yugoslavia by armed uprising in October 1944. The Yugoslavs refused to allow the Allied
British troops went to Greece in 1944, after the Germans had gone to attack the Com-
the and Churchill had. pro-
Europe still commemorates the resistance, but regards it as a struggle
liberation 4110. little Yet, when the resisters polishcaptured. rifles or blew up most of them dreamed of freeing their country not
but also , from avert the of 1939. Most of
The forgotten revolutions
social-democrats movement of
century Europe.
German November
The German workers Showe end of the First World War revolution and tried to erase it from the memory of the
German people.
Europe's capitalists collaborated
with the Nazi conqueror or fled to London and New York (a privilege not available to the people). Socialist Russia withstood Hitler's onslaught almost alone. The prestige of Communism had never been higher.
Upon liberation, the Yugoslav Communists took power. Those of Italy, France and Greece might have followed the Yugoslav example. they chose instead to join coalition governments with the old capitalist politicans, thereby throwing away an opportunity to reconstruct Europe along socialist lines. To the peoples of Europe the resistance brought leadership it might also have saved freedom from the Nazis. With wise
phrase from Trotsky, does not crow.
This we do not believe. In the first of a series of occasional articles, DAVE BAILEY discusses the history of revolution in 20th-
them from the Cold War and the fear of World War Three.
Slump
The implacable general and the war profiteer are of only agents of revolution. In 1929 the stock-owner hurled poverty and But WOKEN brought governments by force Hungry bellies would not wait for elections, the outcome of which is always uncertain. Besides, the fascists were cocking their pistols.
In the early democracies of continental
Spain).
Spain resistice. against fascism tives are ignored.
filled which tion.
future.
Not. we
The strong start. Loreats with Alas workers'
struggle
GrOW
to be
by
as in Germany,
We
bring bloodier route.
Some fresh
know.
West. all war?
policy. have to
course not the tact the
Europe into convulsion. Angry down capitalist
of arms.
Too late.
1930s all the
Europe Those are hard to imagine.
suffered either a revolutionary situation (Germany, France) or a revolutionary uprising (Austria, Portugal,
Mos people today know nothing about them. The civil war in
remembered like the STUCTIC chiefly Its socialist objec-
Easy Way
For the peoples of Europe the years between 1914 and 1945 wer
with hellish catastrophes to r they responded a revol. Social democrats and Eurocommunists have helped to conceal the rich revolutionary history of the European working class. But to forget the past is to imperil the
For the past thirty-five years most
Huropeans have had peace prosperity and democracy. These are inestimable advantages for socialists.
workers? parties can enter They can loWery chose legislat
chose, , legislate socialism with four or five strokes of the pen. With industry intact, with no famine, and with no foreign army to appease, socialism could be off to a
No doubt, if the workers' parties in power seemed eager to take things that far, the ruling classes would rep. of militar disruption and miltar But legitimate government with popular support always has a powerful mora and material advantage over rebels. By mobilising the people how easily the opposition could be crushed!
Hard Way
the leaders of the big parties of Europe do not want to travel this road. Avoiding a
today, they prefer to let capitalism run its course. This only means that wars, conquests, slumps and other catac vsms betall us tomor
Then of course the revolution has
made the hard way. The frightened and desperate workers will try to force their parties into power
insurrection, a hazardous enterprise wnich orten tals. I insurrection succeeds and the parties take power,
they will inherit a oroken and starving country wacre the difficulties of building socialism
incomparably greater than in prosperous times and the temptatior to sell out the revolution in return for foreign aid overwhelming.
in Europe are exceptionally lucky. We know neither famines, nor conquests, nor majo. We do not wish to make their acquaintance. But working class leaders are so conservative that historv. we tear
her wagon by the old and
Nobody can be sure which of its
for us. Some new 1929-style slump!
war of conquest in the Third World? Or perhaps, sometime before the end of the century, a wai between East and West? We do not
Many people are convinced that recent events have brought closer the conflagration between East and
Today the orchestra of reformism
pla Strommunism. The social.
Euro-communism social-democracy soften the hearts of all. But what tune would these musicians play if that most terrible disaster of
should threaten: a third world
Oh terrible then will be their lamentations. In a pre-war emergen cy, to wait for the next general election would obviously be a useless
The workers' parties would promptly overthrow the government and seize power, to con-
Russians for non-aggression pact, to pull the military out of NATO, and so on.
'But this means revolution', the workers' leaders will cry. 'It means civil war! We never expected that! Quick, where are the history books!'
The hour of decision will be at hand. The revolution will have to be made. And under the most unfavourable circumstances
And the consequences of failure?
Page 11 scan of this page
Women workers at the bottom
By Judith Arkwright
WOMEN in Britain are not getting equal
pay with men. fact,
unemployment and the concentration of
women in low paid industries, women are
falling back even further behind men at
WUTA LUGO.
These were the alarming facts revealed in
the annual report of the Equal Pay Commis-
sion, published last week, five years after
the implementation of the Equal Pay and
Sex Discrimination Acts.
Female earnings now stand at 73 per cent of
men's — a z.i per cent arop. •Unempioyment
among women has gone up by five per cent in the
last ycal.
EOC claims that she is still 'optimistic'. but that is
still cold comfort for thousands of women facing
unciDylcul low wages
ing and how we can defend and extend our rights.
The report admits that the many failings
.Ene eos anon aTe Dems
policies of the Tory government. The Equal Pay
Act for example is unique in Europe in stipulating
mat mn raci lo canu cuai
pariso you obe made itrd saaierone
you get
woman who was refused equal pay with the man
whose loo she nao lust nue• on ue grounds Whal
as the man no longer held the job there was no one
for the woman's pay to be compared with!
Segregation
The report underlines the problem
segregation for women. It explains that the Equal
Pay Äct will never give women equal pay because
it refuses to tackle this problem. Women workers
are overwhelmingly concentrated in low paid in-
sectors compared with the male dominated in-
By Leonora Lloyd WOMEN generally have the worst jobs going and those who work part-time are at the bottom of the heap.
They include the silent, unseen army who clean out offices and other workplaces after the rest of us have gone home. They work in jobs which have a peak of activity, such as shops and canteens.
Opportunities for training and promotion are almost nil. According to how many hours they work - irom under 1> to su a week part-time workers have different leral rehts. OUL 'they are always worse off than full-timers.
For these women and partHure workes . are overwa agry women the work they do is crucial for the family income.
Manv families will fall into poverty
women's part-time becomes harder to obtain. . Cope
Part-time work is a response to The miltin e Gemanes mace women with young families: extra shopping, laundry, and housework. as wer as citate waconen sal expect women to cope with.
Britain .has both conce æc e vvde figures for
part-ume wolk Ik I! dustrialised Europe
vart-ume workers three main groups: the disabled or chronically sick who are unable to work iu-ume oul are desperate to work for social as well as economic reasons; single parents, part of their social security it they îæe z 0xne vrț œven
week in order to claim family income supplement; and Tn ane vner
Ninety per cent of women part-timers aged 16 to 59 are married, EWO-HITOS WIlT dependent childen:
Employers, employment nd de vond conde dd bæce life •difficult for Unemployment hits wollin especia nard mmcn timers are the most vulnerable.
Work-sharing the way • CHEVIUYCIS liti Ouacc Il - that 1s. culling ROUTS pay throw many people into the legal category of part-time work. It urgell to cantat now or une rights of part-timers as part of the
:against unemployment and
kory allacks on wade umon rights.
Pamphlets
Two pamphiets help to provide ammunition in this fight. Part-time Workers Need Full-time Rights by Ann Sedley, for the NCCL, alms to:
SEXUAL POLITICS
due rising
dustries betweet
Betty Lockwood, chairman (sic) of the
and rising prices.
of
exaceroaicd
pay a direct com-
the absurd situation of one
of job
wollell
Pay settlements have been low in these work worst
into
lase law,
provide information to. part-time workers about their rights and how more unions.
I DaT- It is no coincidence that most
Darl-umers are womea. 10 cvcer țoz zre even vncr
may
the trade union SuI UCluEC •annone conces wilt cellent list of recommendations for part-time workers: the key one con• Ceras unon rec mmem ano Dar ticipation.
Part-time Pittance by Hursttield. oublished by the Low Pay Unit, concentrates economics of part-time work. aulnor exolas unalas unctack or protection for the worker and the rates of pay batt umc choloymcul allatuyc- tl : the bosses.
that have traditionally •arzanl, bower This means women are losing out in the pay battle.
unions have a responsibility to tackle this problem. A minimum wage alongside the demame Tor equal pay IOI would be a big step forward for women. vital. of all, job segregation must be broken dowr
wonen and meu are to take their rightful place as a permanent and equal part of the workforce in Britain.
Hopes
Needless to sav this is not the conclusion of the EOC report. It admits that the Equal Pay Act has 'outlived usefulness' women saoud now • DI CaCI HODCDiscrimination Act becuase job segregation is the
Even the report points out that the latter has done muie to change te present situanon, Il lakes little account of indirect discrimination: women are often excluded from better paid jobs because
SHOTS uke nega which employers can stipulate at will, or even by protective legislation which often stops women gelung une migner paid Joos
Most important of all the Sex Discrimination Act makes no provision for positive discriminabot mm me nuie or wonen. atmoreru does suggest that this should happen in the training of
This means that contace co cer mto cae beuer oale mausuries The act does not give legal recognition to the fact that most women start from an unequal position
I DON'T THiNK YOU
APPRECIATE HOW
LUCKY YOU ARE TO
HAVE THIS JOB
nauoral Lavou conlerclcc slalcs. through Britain's official view is that 'Care
must be taken not to make time workers so economically unat-
choloved tractive to employers as to impair
their prospects of employment.
Far from being
The cnoovers. rescaren nas shown una part-timers work harder than full-timers, and they legal salc udrus. vital in certain industries part-time Jennifer found in the service sector.
the Unions
Unions have regarded them eutale paid proportionately less than full-
Equal pay scandal
had greater
woman concerned.
• work of equal value
But most
at work if the womer
right to work.
and suggests that ol uc Dex Fear
coutereus
organised
absolutely
dependence
of the employment heap
from the Inter-
:partA maze of employment
unattractive to
have far fewer Their jobs who 80 per workers are work.
traditionally Lune workers. as a LIll Cal
workers as mnev are over 30 hours a week
in the job market. It sees its purpose as simply and even heres of onis of proot ins witn the of individual discrimination
Positive discrimination on the other hand -
that is quotas for the hiring of women in male-
dominated industries and in the higher grades
makes it possible for women to tight collectivel
and win collective agreements for positive action.
The TUC women's committee now has policy on
this but action is needed to delend a womar
On the EOC's own admission the number of
cases have declined sharply as people have realis-
ed that the new legislation is not working. But
even this toothless body is not much for the
Tories. One Conservative MP. tony Marlow, ha:
demanded its abolition on the grounds that it's
full of self indulgent busy bodies!
The report expresses the fear that, in a time of
austerity, women's rights tend to be regarded as a
• CYCL some trade wuusts
becomes more vital than ever that women become Shop sewards commies, on tra de councils and women's rights committees,
Labour Party wards — to ensure that we make it
clear to every trade unionist that
on co ÍO O
pay and job opportunity is fundamental to our in-
as human
That's why it's crucial to defend and extend these
menis it a unes es to de dur wita Enc
trade unions against the Tory attacks.
1 ume worker neesoass o this fear. The answer, of course, is
ensure that part-time work is adcoualely paid and protecica
legislation covers and it is hard for Darl-unci to know dici liguls, sulli less to fight to change them for the
Trade union activity is difficult erouaror women workers. uros
work part-time because of domestic commitments find it even amoero decome nvo veo umoi the Tory
The hostile attitudes of the unions create a further barrier
that.
rul aime workersmmer saue gles over the coming months have to involve and fight alongside part-
allt preserve and extend alt employment opportunities: not just those
using a bib and brace'.
LOW
PAY
review
ASSAT EDITOR UNE 10 Part-Time Pittance
PART- TIMEL WORKERS
FULL-TIME RIGHTS
Ann Sediey
NCCL Rights for Women Unit
A newspaper for women
EVERY day the popular press uses women's bodies to attract new readers. It's high time that women newspaper of their own that took women seriously.
Women in Action, a journal launched by the Last conference of the Working Women's Charter Campaign, and Fightback, a paper launched by a new Fightback, ai ned at stimulen action to de cand women's agenst
attacks are calling pooling their resources to produce a newspaper that can do just
An open meeting is taking place on the afternoon of Saturday 26 July at City University to discuss this new venture. If you're a woman active in the labour movement or the women's movement ‚and, you think this sounds like a good idea come along and say whạt you think such a newspaper could do for you.
Helen Saunders - the arbitary reason for kicking her off a training course was that her 'breasts would cause problems when
No..
means
NG
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MY BRILLIANT CAREER -
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Meulenbelt TOEWI Life (The Story) • Women's Anja Press, f2.95)
GAINING GROUND — John Barfoot (The Women's Press, £2.50)
THE CRISIS AND FUTURE OF THE LEFT (The Debate of the Decade) - ed. Peter Hain (Pluto Press, £1.50)
ON THE BLANKET (The H-Block Story) Tim Coogan Ward River Press,
Dublin, £2.50 THE BLACK JACOBINS OnS il P Ouvertur the San Domingo Revolution)
CLR James (Allison Busby, £4.95)
All from THE OTHER BOOKSHOP, 328 Uppe Street, LONGOR N1 2XO (tel 01-226 0571). Add 15% on mail order for postage and packing
had a
Women Women's
joint meeting to discuss •Socialist Challenge 17 July 1980 Page.11
Page 12 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge TORY PLAN FOR THE UNEMPLOYED SLAVE LABOUR!
er. Published by Cardinal Enterprises for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1. Printed by East End Offset Ltd (TU), London E2
JIM Prior's revelation of Tory plans for the unemployed give an insight into the way in which they intend to use unemployment as a weapon.
Prior proposed in a speech last week that the unemployed should do 'voluntary. work in return for the dole. His remarks caused & massive storm, but while he was busy covering his tracks Earl Gowrie, State for Employment, added fuel to the fire by suggesting unemployed people who refused to participate in 'voluntary' should have their dole cut! Benefit
'It's perfectly reasonable to say that if you draw benefit and there are schemes whereby you can make a contribution, then you unreasonably refuse to do so, ' he said
The statements of Prior Gowrie are hardly an accident; they are obviously the product of discussions in the lory Tory government is a government of deliberate unemployment.
Wages
Keith Joseph's speech two weeks ago suggesting that workers could find jobs by accepting lower wages shows the object of this policy to weaken the power and economic strength of the working class. Now they force workers to participate in comDUSUry dole.
Their plans to use the unemployed as cheap labour in hospitals'and other government services would have the Adventure Playground last week. Registered with the Post Office as a n
Minister of
that
work 8i21 Calderell shouldn't
public sector workers.
leadership. This
UCUS
technology they realise unemployed,
unemployed
fighting
want to Insight
exchange for the
of capitalism.
WORK
FOR YOUR -DOLE
"YOUR CORVAN YES, I'M AN UNEMPLOMED
effect of weakening the trade union organisation and living standards of
Prior's proposals are a sign of the them. times. The goverument obviously ex-
unemploy. ment. But they want to disipline the unemployed. As the effects of the new
combine with the crisis, that millions of many of them youth, will be an explosive and a voltile social force. So the Tory 'think tank' wants to keen the unemploved oc. cupied, as well as making money from
Prior and Gowrie unwittingly.give a graphic insight into the irrationality
1,650,000 people are unemployed — but not because there is no work for them to do — quite the
HER
LE EAST Demonstrators protest against Thatcher's hypocrisy, after she had opened the Attlee Memorial Foundation
OF HOSPITAL WORK? opposite. They : are unemployed because the capitalist system can't employ them and make a profit out
If the capitalists can't make a profit, then factories close and millions are thrown out of work. Productive capacity goes to waste and lives are ruined. Nothing better demonstrates the need for socialist measures — based on need and not on profit - including a programme of useful public works. Talent
Obviously it is wasteful that the unemployed are idle, that their immense collective talent and ability is unused. Obviously they should be given productive work — but at trade union with the normal job security. And to do so means an economy that breaks with the logic of profit.
DONT
PATCHER
James Prior the jobs holocaust.
ment Act.
beat the employers
from South Wales.
ment.
Britain; Abroad:
Name
Address
ACTION STARTS ON JOBS THE SHOCKWAVES of unemployment are bringing a response from the labour movement. Calls have been made for protest action at the TUC Congress and the Tory Party conference, and the Labour Party is considering proposals for a national rally against
CALL NUMBER ONE comes from the Mobilising Committee against Unemployment for a fight by the TUC. The Committee is calling for a lobby of the TUC Congress on 1 September; they will join the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions who are calling for total resistance by the TUC to the implementation of Prior's Employ-
Worksharing without loss of pay will be the most prominent of the demands which the lobbyers will ask the TUC to promote as a policy to
CALL NUMBER TWO comes from the LCDTU and the Defend Our Unions Committee. Both are calling for a mass turn out on Friday 10 October on the last day of the Tory Party conference in Brighton. They will be protesting against the mass unemployment policies of the Tories. Joining them will be members of the 17 day long Right to Work March
CALL NUMBER THREE will be considered by Labour Party leaders this month. A proposal will come forward for a mass rally against unemployment in Liverpool — one of the cities hardest hit by unemploy.
* LOBBY THE TUC. 'Share the work without loss of pay!' Mon
day 1 September, noon, Conference Centre, Brighton.
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