Socialist Challenge No. 182, 29 January 1981
The scan: sc-n182-jan-29-1981.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
Challenge AFTER WEMBLEY, LABOUR LEFT HAS TO FIGHT, AND FIGHT
21 FEB GLASGOW FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT
A greeted the victory of the left at last Saturday's Labour Party special conference.
posal that the party decide the leader as if the conference had voted for a red republic and set the day for erecting the barricades!
The Gang of Three has seized on the opportunity to make its longexpected move towards the creation of a Social democratic' party.
The right wing in the Labour Party sees the extension of democracy a dagger pointing at their traditional hold on the party's organisation and policy
The victory by the left at Wembley was important, but there are
struggles to be won if the left, who have established their majority in the party, is to win.
For example, control of the manifesto has still to
wrested from the shadow cabinet.
After Saturday's victory the fight for demoсгасу socialist policies has to continue.
Socialist
BARRAGE of media hysteria has
The media has reacted to the modest proas a whole should
The right wing has two strategies for fighting back, both inside and outside the Labour Party. The first attack comes
the formation of the Council for Social Democracy, which openly aims to organise a split from the labour movement.
Their strategy is to stay in the Labour Party until the local council elections in May, so that local supporters can ge themselves elected on the Labour Party ticket and then go over the
Gang's party.
The Owen-Rodgers-
Williams strategy is
calculated attack on the
whole labour movement.
They must not be allow-
ed to organise at will.
There are various ways in
which their sabotage can
be confronted:
• Any local council
candidate who supports
the Council for Social Democracy should removed.
• A parliamentary candidate should be immediately selected place of any MP who supports the counci the exam ple set by Wrexham CLP in calling for the resignation of their local MP, council supporter Tom Ellis, is an excellent precedent.
• Shirley Williams and Tom Bradley should be booted off Labour's nano a exccuuye.
• The PLP has to be forced throw Bill Rodgers out of the shadow cabinet, and Michael Foot has to sack LOICIEL affairs spokesperson Bob MacLennan,
council supporter.
By purging the split-
FIGHT,
ters from positions of responsibility in the
the 2001 SHHOVCHICHI damage they intend to do can be minimised.
That will not be enough for the left to win its objectives The majority of the political co thinkers of the Gang of Three will stay inside the
AGAIN
No concessions
to the right wing
Labour Party.
Their champion, Roy Hattersley, who agrees with them on every detail of policy, will use their defection to launch fight against the left within the party By saying last Saturday that 'conference can make mistake'
Michael Foot has virtual-
No. 182
JoBs
NOT
BOMBS
ly invited the right wing to organise fight against the left's victories.
It's certain that Hattersley will try to do a rerun of the Gaitskellites' fight back in the early 60s For that, of course, ne will neca to line up trade union block votes,
2S January 1981 and several union leaders have already declared
WILLICSS oblige. Among them are Bill Whatley of the shop
, rail leader Sid Weighell, and - needless to say • AUEW president Terry Duffy:
They are considering an attempt to reverse the electoral college decision at the next Labour Party conference.
This emphasises once again the need to carry the fight for democracy into the trade unions, so that fresh air is blasted into the smoke-filled rooms to ensure accoun tability over the exercise of the block vote.
The left can't just rest on its laurels Unless it steps up the fight, the right will come storming back
As firefighters' lead er Ken Cameron said at a fringe meeting last Fri
"The fight agains the Labour right is par and parcel of the against the Tories. If we want a real alternative to the Tories, , we have first of all to take on the right wing.
Page 2 scan of this page
"A TURNING P BRITISH LAB
EDITORIAL
A vintage week of media lies and distortions THE media have excelled hemselves over the past week. Day in, day out they have spewed forth a stream of biased and misleading stories, first about the US hóstages and then about democracy in the Labour Party.
The press barons all weighed in with sup.
a lissue or les.
OPeni
Caims or mistredlment *he labour movement
Ame OUs ex-tostoes The us embassy in faue nesses over Sen.
Labour Partv and the trade
By Brian Heron
WHAT a day at Wembley! Scenes
worker.
oCCr
What was vstem used
uc uclise pcilellazeı
temDied make
calere
_Labour Party-
of
vallull inis time the conterence ed into a eulogy tor the urelevance ne maisnee
Da y milllol vols
Sulll
.ila
Liberals
alc Icai CU-
HUVC al ine conterence wnet.
netence от ила
leve.
wav.u
wUwCI.
une nede vole
touch was
Non-socialicts
One tola rrady s «emociacy cons ucacy barues
ODUON Olne! unal
onlv on the card vote a vole azalisı any olc
VULC. asallls
CVC V S
Page 3 scan of this page
OUR HISTORY" Benn
Joan Maynard:
attacked Foots
unilateral disarma-
ment
lan Mikardo: 'Left
ware a minority
for 25 years. Now
we're a majority
right wingers
threaten to partly due to astute tactics by the left.
Late in the morning Clive Jenkins of ASTMS withdrew his union's
proposal in favour of the
JSDA W resolution. Tony Banks from Tooting CLP followed suit first thing in afternoon. The signals
All behind WCIC the USDA W resolution!
Backbone
Banks pointed out that shopworkers' resolution was the most democratic onton on ofThe at the sconfer nce.
unions ale organised hackhone of the party, he argued.
Speaking to Socialist Challenge, -Tony Banks pointed out that now having a 40 per cent vote in the electoral college there will be tremendous oressure to heighten the degree of accountability in the unions'.
OINT IN
Tony Benn told Rank and File Mobilising Committee rally that the fight for democracy in the Labour Party would be a long one. But 'we shall continue the fight until we win' he said.
The fight for demo-
cracy and accountability
in the unions 'is the next
Lansman, secretary of
the Campaign for La-
Ine Campaign for Labour Party Democracy. Lucky
'We have had a
tremendous success,
but we were lucky, he
maintained. We need
OKH
tomore the
in future.
fanter there we might
have succeeded CAIT
UNIONS and the like NUM.
next objective must be
the fight for demo-
cracy in the unions.
When Foot rose to
summarise at the end of the conference, he
received a standing ovation. The spirit of recon-
ciliation waslicu dow
the espire Foor's ap-
peals to the right, despite
his dangerous ambiguities on unilateral disarHallell. ues DIle his open invitation to Chapple and others to mount a fight to overturn the decisions taken that day, conference was determined to hear no evil.
Battles
The fact that Foot owes his position leader to the hard fought battles in the unions and in the party against the right wing found no reflection in his remarks.
Nevertheless Wembley was a famous tory for the workers' movement. As Reg Race MP told Socialist Challenge: It that the left is capable of defeating those in the party who want power to remain with the PLP. All those outside the Labour Party who want to fight for socialism should take
Labour Party.
note.'
Tony Benn, speaking the CLPD expresseu another Street way and
nave put the left in the bush.
Honor Mugabe was in bush. Now in govern.
ment that's changed.'
He went on: want a cabinet that is elected. Local groups in local councils should have similar arrangements through comes about the right discuss; the right to decide the VOlC loudy the party. It will im-
Increase our prospects of success.
Win
As he told Socialist photos: G. M. COOKSON (Socalls! Unallenge. Challenge: "Todav's more likely
Party
then because it elec.
occause help bridge credibility gap ween what we pro mise while in opposition and what a Labour government actually does.
It will give couragement that process of democratic change can be carried through the whole of society.
Remove
From every point of view the next step is to use the victory Wembley to encourage the fight : to remove the Tories. Democracy in the labour movement,
victory of Labour over the Tories which we
seek Cal. guaranteed by the mobi
lisation of the workers' movement for the battle ahead.
action millions is required sustain such a change in our movement. Otherwise, the VICIO Wembley will ultimately be shown to have been built on sand Women
From that point of view one key weakness in the unity of the move
at lemmos The last
Wembley word should go Caroline Benn:
'There were few women speakers today. The participation women is a central part of the fight for democracy. It has hardly been touched so far.
fringe
'Fleet their
That's
the
all
'We
unity
anite
is up to
By Phil Hearse RAPTUROUS the Scargill at last
will he declared: the bet- disease.'
Scargill publicly disagreed with Eric Heffer who claimed at the same meeting that Labour Party needed the en- socialism 'both
Aneurin Bevans and of the Tony Croslands' 'The Labour Party is a broad church Scargill, 'but a broad church only socialists'
Many of those at the meeting and among the delegates the day's Labour conference felt that the Labour Party had suffered enough at the hands of the Gang of Three Now was the time for them to go. and This bitter hostility
towaras uwen, Rodgers and Williams can only be welcomed by socialists. Their isolation at Saturday's conference must have been painfully to them
to only won support from
Frank Claspeor Electrician's Union, and perhaps from Engineer's leader Terry Duffy, although his speech was bumbling and coherent it was difficult to tell.
But are the plans to up 'social democratic' party irrele vall o cabous lure!
Do they have no chance ot success? he alis wei. regrettably,
last The moves to form a
centre wally. chestrated by right wing SO Labour MPs and Liberal
leader David Steel, aided and abetted by the whole of of Fleet Street, are a con-
attack Labour Party by the ruling class.
Eric Heffer pointed out at last Friday's rally that in 1954 the right
Tony
What the Social
Democratic 'Council'
applause greeted Arthur
Friday's Rank and Mobilising Committee rally in London when 'The Labour Party needs the Gang of Three like a tree needs Dutch Elm
wing in had engineered a split in the ParAustralas LOUr ty 'Democratic Labour Party' was set up
the
in opposition to it, as a 'creature of the press Heffer explained that this had contributed Labour being kept out of power in Australia for 20
for
years. The formation of a social democratic party Dlilaili WOUl stitute an attempt by the next
ruling class 'punish Labour for its move to the left, and to prevent a left Labour . government willing enough votes to come into DUWCH The 'Gang of Three
saboteurs aiming to prevent une eechon orater Labour government. Sc
ob- now some socass
the Labour Party they
respond The response of Foot is obvious; he i
the
desperately compromise with the over unilateral nuclear disarmament and the Common
in-
Market for example,
faci that it won't work such approach mere amounts backing real down face of the
Joan Maynard was solutely right last Friday's rally to denounce Foot's attempts to placate the right-wing by retreating on unilateralism.
Changes
the
Such manoeuvre particularly appropriate time for the Cas Ine Tories. Following the
Socialist Challenge
changes in the electoral boundaries • presently going through parliamen: File 12 of its current sea:
This bold resul
needing a seven per cer
VCT figure in British elec:.-a
Luca.
Tories at the next ee: tion. The creation of a "social democratic' pari! would only make that task more difficult.
Radical
Labour's popular vote has always been at its highest when it has been most clearly associated WITH radical programme.
best way defeat these aimed al creating a centre party is to press ahead with the fight for democracy and for socialist policies
Mobilising the labour movement tor bring down the Tories goes hand in hand with pressing home the fight
side the party these measures will con tribute to winning votes for : Labour.
Arthur Scargill
that it wrong to sa' doesn't matter' and that
centre party is set up. will. It could create the basis for more right wing splits, allu trade union defe tions towards
from Could people like. Chapple of the Electricians and Grantham APEX
But to retreat because of that possibility would be to play into the hands of the right wing, capitulate front of their threats. After all, the 'Gang of Three' are perfectly prepared to de fend party unity and stay with Labour indefinitely if they can have their wa! politically
29 January 1981 Page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
Fight Whitelaw's
By Davy Jones THE new Tory Nationality Bill aims to bring the outdated nationality laws into line with recent legislation to curb black immigration. It will defend the rights of white citizens and wilfully discriminate against black people.
Originally revealed in the aptly titled 'White
last Tories' plans are largely based on a Green Paper' drawn up by the Labour government 1977.
and Tory DOUR LaDour
over the years have introduced thoroughly racist legislaton on immigration and nationality.
The 1905 Aliens Act was aimed against Jewish ¡crugees and ine Anens Acts of 1914 and 1919 WCIC directed German immigrants.
The 1962, '68, and '71 Immigration Acts pertected a racist hmitation to immigration, by dividing the world HILO 'patrials' and patrials' according whether parent ọr
this country
This neat distribution lumped the overwhelm-
majority blacks the category with no rights
immigration. British citizenship was ana re-
reserved for the white patrai categories.
What does the Bill
propose?
So: a s: Omallenge
The Tory and Labour leaders share the
issue.
Both see black immigraLIOn British culture and a contributory cause our economic and social problems. Accepting this racist framework leads them to propose increasingly undemocratic laws on immigration and nationality to contain the
When the Home Secretary Merlyn Rees appeared on the TV programme Weekend World s asked: What you 19/0 ne
asked:
Was really mean is that migration control is out coi device to keep oured people? That is what it is, Rees replied.
With 2.6m unemployed and a deep economic recession racism is a useful weapon for the Tories to use to divide the working class.
new Nationality Bill, like the Immigration Acts before it, is racist to the core and therefore a
lo all workers.
Make sure you join the campaign to stop it!
• British Citizenship TOI approx 57 million people 'closely connected UK'. parents born in the
• Citizenship of the Britisl Dependent erritories those living in the. manine colomes uke none AONg: Benze " ana various small islands. These mainly non-white people. 29 January 1981 •Page 4
• British Overseas Cuzen ship for British Asians the Africa and non-patrial British passport-holders. These are mainly black people.
• Only British Citizenship
automatic rent entry to the UK The other
Culizenshins nothing of the kind: citizenship without civic rights is a nonsense parchilde ron here isa born here
Home News
BRING ANWARS
CHILDREN HOME
British citizen or free conditions of stay will not
British citizenship even if it leaves them stateless Naturalisation qualificainclude approxvears restaence. good character language proficiency, and a clear demonstration 'that an with the United Kingdom' only patriots need apply! 'THE
their knowledge now see misleading.'
Richardson's words
ning to end.
Line evidence is abundant
proceedings,
full well.
The sympathy with
neck
piece of deception.)
white laws
of • The HOMe Secretary gains extensive new powers, including the right to refuse
explanation There is also no right of ap Married presently entitled to register
British man, will lose this advantage under Bill in the name of th Sex Discrimination Act!
British 'justice' and
picture of the SAS deliberately gunning down unarmed men who had to
surrenacrea we can on the evidence is wholly
Those are the facts of the SAS raid on the occupied Iranian embassy according to Ken. neth Richardson, the prosecuting counsel in the trial of the surviving raider Fowzi Nejad.
were une precise op posite of the truth, deliberate lies from begin-
No evidence was given in the court as to who had ordered the SAS to attack the Iranian embassy, or the precise orders given to the SAS squad. And for a very good reason.
both trom the statements of hostages and from the court
that the sAs went in with the objective of killing all the raiders, that at least four of them had clearly surrendered before they were shot and that the SAS knew this
embassy receptionist, who had no the attackers, in court that one of the raiders, Faisal, was put up agains a wall and shot in the back of the
although the forensic evidence ap. parently showed he died of multiple gunshot wounds. IIt isn't too difficult to imagine how the SAS could have arranged that particular
the Iranian siege trial
raider Abbas, died
wound is not generally accidental
had surrendered.
burst in,
SAS failed to identify him.
the role of the SAS.
WorS is eminently political.
HERE TO
STAY!
STIL IGNIN CARL (Campaign against Racist Laws) is the main campaigning body against the ories Nationality Bill. It is supported by all the major Asian and black organisations, the Joint Council for the Welfare of immigrants Nazi League Within the labour move. ment it is backed by the Labour Party, the Com munist Party, the IMG and the SWP
CARL activities include: *Production of a regular he waterer 'Here To Stay' with information on ine struggles the country against the immigration and tonality laws *A national demonstrain London in late March 01 early April.
This is likely to be a very large demonstration. *A lobby of parliament to protest against the Bill.
For information about the campaign against the Bill write to CARI Lansbury House, Camberwell Grove, London SES.
Manchester Labour Party
Demonstration against Nationality Act & Racist Immigration Laws
Sat 14 Feb, 11.30am All Saints, Oxford Rd, Manchester Speakers include: Anwar Ditta, Bob Kaufmann MP
Forensic evidence did show that another
Not a sinale gunsho wound in the back of the head. This sort of
When the SAS attacked, four of the five raiders threw their weapons out of a window and waved a white sheet to indicate tnat tney
Some of the hostages then came into the room where the raiders were. When the SAS
the raiders were sitting against a wall with their weapons thrown away. The SAS told them to stand up, then shot them in cold blood. Nejad only survived because the
None of this wil come as any great sur prise to those who know anything at all about
Over the past two decades this assassination squad has been doing the British state's dirty work in colonial
- in Dhofar, Oman, and above all in the north of Ireland, where they have functioned purely and simply as assassins of Republican
The Arabistan attackers of the Iranian embassy were shot not because they had to be, or because they couldn't be captured. They were killed in order to demonstrate that the British state will not tolerate 'terrorism'. The decision to kill the raiders was taken at the highest political level. British justice, as ever,
Page 5 scan of this page
Turkey - NATO's other generals
By Tom Marlowe THE US government's resumption of military aid to El Salvador has brought temporary relief to the military-dominated government headed by President Jose Napoleon Duarte.
But the guerillas maintain control of large areas and even Western media reports now admit that the junta is far from defeating the liberation forces.
The decision in the last few days of the US government to further militarv aid has dashed earlier hones an immediate victory by the But The Times conceded on Monday that the government's claims of victory are nothing but hot air and that 'the struggle in El Salvador is a long way from ending'.
The US is worth of military aid to the right-wing regime. This includes military personnel, ammunition, grenade launchers and M-16 rifles.
THE military junta which seized power in Turkey last September declared its intention a fortnight ago to set the country back on the road to democracy.
were examines these developments.
When the Turkish military seized power it pledged to rid the country of 'anarchy'
So after four months it has outlawed the Turkish parliament,
Donilical Darlies least 703 trade unions, the right to strike, a free press, numerous intellectuals, thousands workers' leaders and political oppositionists, and most of the democratic rights won over the past two decades.
It nas not managed, however, to rid Turkey of its three-figure inflation, per cent unemployment, increasec orege ceot dro zero
growth.
LOVCILY and tion have continued to
Repression
The number of political has gone up 60,000 since the Courieres according to official along with deaths in custody, torture, political refu-
and executions.
Since the coup repression has reached levels rarely seen in countries which are not fascist dictatorships.
When the military took 12
papiameer the Turkish
OCCE unable to elect a head of
dustry was running at Just 50 $16 billion was owed to a total of 256 imperialist Danks a mass ve or o and an average of betWCCHI 15 and 20 were being killed daily — mostly youthful victims of right-wing terror.
Crushing
The state apparatus was and crumbling. The country was on we Onlik Of CIVH war. The police force had already divided into two factions, one left and one right wing shoot-outs were not
The only state institution which
in the North of the country
increase
guerillas. that
now supolving neariv t5m Salvador,
this is
helicopters, It also announced that 21 new prisons be built in 1981! NICK ROBIN
even remely siable was the army. The nervousness of imperialism was not helped by lurkey s geographical
The Soviet in-
tan, the revolution in
and the we alicall instability of the Middle East, were not far removed from Turkey's borders, which bridge Europe and Asia.
Anxious
The Turkish bourgeoisie worried;
was NATO and the US State Department cerned; the IMF, which had been bailing out
considerable expense, was anxious.
as in olnel 'third world' countries
the IMF's 'monetarist' policies, such as Chile and Argen. tine, the necessity of
dards for the working population Turkey was incompatible with parnamentary rule
Already in the first 1980, alle 7.5m working days had bter lost through strikes - six times more than in any previous year. In this situation the obvious
, tried and tested and Turkey, was the military Luv.
Unions
The only other alternative for the ruling class was to throw in their lot with the National Action rany, lic party in West Europe. The NAP, led by exarmy colonel Turkes, with 15 MPs and around one million votes, had
Lilt strength and willingness to control the streets in many towns in the centre of the country.
This option, how-
had Hore risks, not least the likelihood of prolonged working class resistance and civil war.
The generals who carried out the coup have placed the smashing of working class organisa-
The excuses originally given by the US for their massive increase in such nave now been snown compietely false The first reason, quoted by a US State Department official on 19 January, was
the Salvadoran junta had positive steps to investigate the killing of
four us citize is messa
Now, ambassador
Robert White has not the case. 'As cerned, there is no reason to bereve lat the government in El Salvador is conduc ting a serious investigation, KEY FACTS
lional independence
Turks). It has a population of 45 million.
Union,
flank.
per cent of the workforce in trade unions.
Republican Peoples class party; the
the population is Muslim); the
tion at the top of their agenda. DISK, the independent trade union reaeranon wnien organised just under one million before WOKe the coup, has been the
International
El Salvador: US
lies exposed
last Thursday. aid Other
'taken direct
El Now admitted far as l am con-
said White Turkey as it is today, with martial law in force
THE Turkish Republic was founded from the remnants of the Oltoman empire in 1923 after a na-
Mustata Kemal, later known as Ataturk (Father of the
Situated between Western Europe, the Soviet
and the Arab world, Turkey occupies an extremely sensitive and strategic spot in the global economy. It is a vital part of NATO's southern
Turkey's economic development is at a level similar to or lower than that of the larger Latin American countries. At the same time it has a high degree of working class organisation with over 30
The main political parties — all now banned -were the Justice Party, the party of big capital; the
Party, a reformist middle National Salvation Party, Islamicists (although a secular state, 99 per cent of
National Action Party, neo-fascists; and the Turkish Workers Parly, u reforms workers party. in aaation inere were a myriad of parties on the Turkish far left.
main target.
Two thousand lead ers of DISK face prosec. tion; The entire executive committee is in custody, threatened with massive prison sentences - hun-
excuses, given by himselt, have also been exposed. When the aid was first increased two weeks ago White claimed that it was because of
intervention by Nicaragua. specifically claimed that 100 guerillas had landed in El Salvador from Nicaragua
White has agreed that evidence for this 'landing' is 'no longer compelling'. In fact, the ÜS government has admitted that the boats which drop. ped off the 'guerillas' were in fact fishing
system has operated, interrupted iwice by periods of military rule in 1960-61 and 1971-73.
million people, are Kurds. throughout the country following a revolt and massacre in 1925, they remain concentrated in the eastern part of the country.
The Kurds are never referred to 'mountain Turks' and have historically been subject to the most barbaric repression. This remains true today.
dreds of years in some cases.
In contrast, the leadership of MISK, the tiny trade union the fascists, have all just
business.
Led foreign
party's Hayward LOTe Carrington White Governmen to
He The Labour Party
its support for the FDR,
the
Second
Salvador.
STRIA
Since 1947 a limited parliamentary democratic
Some 25 per cent of the population, about ten
Although dispersed
except as
been released without
charge.
The high level of
organisation militancy
ana politicisation of the
Turkish masses has been
the single major obstacle
Socialist Challenge
The invention of reasons for increased US 'aid' has an ominous similarity with the lies given by the US for its intervention in Vietnam and Cambodia Exactly the same tactics were adopted then: pro duce entirely fictitious accounts of alleg
and then use this as a rationale for US 'assistance'
Britain the Labour Party has protested against this assistance. Last week
general secretary Ron wrote to Foreign Secretary urging the British disassociate itself from US support for the Salvadoran regime This follows a delegation from Labour's national executive to the US embassy in December to protest against US policy.
has also expressed the political expression of the guerilla struggle, and the
International, which the Labour Party is a member, has gone one step further and urged recognition of the FDR as the legitimate government in El
to imposing the IMF's austerity programme and 'stabilising' the economy lo actray turkey s enor mous debts to imperialism.
The junta is continuing the programme as the previous regime but, they hope, with more tavourable balance Torces thanks to the repression troduced. As The Times commented they 'reshape management-labou lationships on a more rational tooung The also guarantee that all opposition is muzzled
Europe
At this time three editors of the moderate Istanbul daily newspaper Hurrivel Tenan detention under a nev law arallis. spicauln. alarm and despondenc • for printing that a 40 per cent devaluation of the Turkish currency was pending.
Despite the brief honeymoon period which followed the junta take-over there no reason to believe that the army offers anything but a short-term solution for the Turkish bourgeoisie West European verificills after initially declaring that Turkey would make a rapid return to democracy have maintained political, economic and military relations with the junta They have also decided assist the Turkish military in its hunting down of oppositionists by instituting visa entry systems in nearly every EEC country.
Solidarity
The British media have turned a blind eye to the brutal repression and denial of democratic rights, which labour movement solidarity even more urgent.
The conspicuous silence of the parties of the •Socialist interna tional', which includes the British Labour Party. has to be broken and a fight waged to end all economic, political and especially military links with the Turkish junta
29 January 1981 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
US militarists meet wide resistance
Pay up
and survive
SOME people will try
to make a profit out of
anything. Ex-dictator
Somoza of Nicaragua for example, arained the blood of his victims' bodies to sell in Tene American blood market.
group of London business peopie are qoina to make millions out of our fear of nuclear
wipe-out.
Douvaine, Jersey-
investment company, is constructing an underground village in vultshire tor
during a nuclear
It will have sports libraries, communal laundries, washing, medical and feeding facilities. At the ground level there will be an airstrip and helicopter pad.
There's one small
- money.
A large double-bed size will COST €8,000. Some 10,000 wealthy people
the MOST enthusiastic war-
will able to take advantage of this splendid offer.
The tearmercualito say. have negotiated with a leadina tinance house to have mortgages for those meet the requirements.
FACED with increasing tionary upheavals, especially in Centrai America and the the United States government has been putting pressure on its allies in West Europe and Asia to share more of the cost of defending imperialist interests around the world.
But its plans are running foul of the world recession and mass resistance in a number of Western countries.
that members should increase their real arms spenaing Is running into probiems. plan was for an annual 3 after inflation for five years, beginning in 1978.
West Germany is NATO's strongest member in West Éurope. In late October the coalition government said that the 1981 budget cent goal. Ministers cited the expected zero growth of the economy in 1981 as grounds for scaling down arms spending plans.
In addition to the economic problems, there is increasing resistance from West German youth. Last 25th anniversary of West mament, some demonstrated militarism and the draft.
Cruise
In Holland more than a million people signed petitions two years ago opposing
HICULTON 00ino demonstrations and other forced the Dutch government to suspend its decision on accepting Cruise missiles until December 1981.
The Social Democratic government of Denmark has been social spending while military spending be frozen at levels, with adjustments for Some opinion polls have shown that only 17 per cent of the Danish population support increases in military spending.
Norway is one of members expected to reach the 3 per cent target, but a major debate is brewing NATO plan American weapons and equipment in the country for use by US marines.
Unlike virtually every other govern-
Socialist Challenge
ment. the '80s.
THE unilateralist victory at the 1960 Labour Party conference left the leadership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament surprisingly unprepared.
Jacquetta Hawkes was 'absolutely astonished' by the vote and had been quite 'unaware' of what had
AJ P Taylor, the historian, regarded the conference decision as "really almost a aistrachon, li was a mistortune
Middle East,
NATO
MOSTI
per cent rise
would not meet the 3 per
West German
November on the
German rear50,000 people
growing
Europe. Mass
opposition
ment in hacking been advocating that
inflation. The
spending military the few NATO 29 January 1981
Strategies for
banning the bomb
In the third part of his review of The Protest Makers, JULIAN ATKINSON records the vacillations of the Labour Left in the early '60s and the failure of CND to campaign in the labour move-
There are, of course, lessons for
that it had been carried in this wav and gave an iusion that the Labour Party nad been carried for unilateral nuclear disarmament: hadn't something had been carried by the mass vote of Transport General Workers union.
The confusion reflected in a call from CND's chairperson, Canon Collins, to ensure that the conference majority was maintained and increased, and to continue to win mass support for USEL West Europe, the French have able to boost arms spending and step up their military role outside Europe without having to face mass protests. 1981 budget of the government includes sharp cuts in public in all areas except and the military budget is scheduled to rise by more than 3 per cent after inflation, even though economic growth will fall sharply, with unemployment rising Giscard is planning a new missile for with the already has its own regular forces with
Stop the missiles
Both of these suggestions were absolutely sound, if not totally precise. himself tom then, cover charge chattical", Collins calie for a big push to win supPiberal Parties Tory The leadership of the Labour left found themselves in a dilemma. They had the authority of the conference behind them. But if they attempted to apply conference decisions Hụgh Gaitskell and the right would fight.
There would be a risk of splitting the party and wrecking its electoral chances. Resign and ward. The MP Zillacus cried 'forwas called constituency
that MPs either support conference policy *cried resign. But most "back'.
In Parliament only five MPs during
the defence debate in line
with conference policy. dustrial
Giscard for the fact the weak spots in
with giant 500,000 on 22 October France
the
and The right, sensing weakness of the left, removed the whip from the five. They began to organise the unions and the Labour Party as the Campaign for Democratic Socialism, run by Bill Rodgers Tonell suprise they found CND and the Labour lefts were not running a cama gu the labour movement.
An indication of the indecisiveness of the lefts was shown in the Parliamentary Labour Parly elections. Originally missiles targeted on Soviet cities and in-
centres, nuclear submarine force that is to go from five submarines to 10, and an airborne nuclear force that is undergoing modernisation.
Greece and Turkey remain major
the imperialist alliance.
Greece became reintegrated into NATO's military wing in October. This was met
daily outside the Athens parliament reaching as many as
There is no doubt that there has been an increase in military spending but not
REAGANS
CRUISE-
it's safer on the
JITANIC!
Last week's demo against Cruise at the American embassy on Reagan's inauguration day
the was decided to run the unilateralist Anthony Greenwood against Gaitskell. The lefts sidered and then decided to run Harold Wilson, a multilateralist and suD porter of NATO, against Gaitskell.
Wilson would not raise the issue of the bomb but the need to respect conference decisions. Wilson dealt with the CND leaders beautifully. He had a meeting with them and cated on everything He explained later that he was not WILl important
tain and Greece The imperialist
continuing revolutionary semicolonial countries. the basis for big within the selves.
Reissner.
Dhots. DETE GRANT (Socialiet Challenael
them on the tactical and political aspects of their case but found them sincere body who strongly believed in their moral campaign'
Wilson stated of CND supporters: *i was not looking for splits, for I would say they're all good chaps, essential to the party, and it was my job to keep links around them all, which I did.'
The debate inside the Labour Party had become irretrievably muddled.
Next week: The conclu ding part, CND's defeat. increase resistance that has been brought forth in most of these countries especially in Bri-
militarisation drive was forced into high gear in 1980 by the
upsurge in the But it is laying class confrontations imperialist centes
This article is based on a report from In
Press/Inprecor by Will
Page 7 scan of this page
sexual oppression women which have discussions about the 'Ripper'.
First, although you the link between the media and violence against women January), you do not express an opinion about pornography. While current films depict the most extreme form women's oppression, soft porn
average man (probably a union member who doesn't identitv with the sadists/sexists trayed in these films.
Concentrating on
has not enabled us to tackle the 'ordinary' sexist who batters his wife, goes to strip clubs, harasses work. and buys
We have to show Malaziles. that this violence is part of the evervudy women.
In my job we often through Soho. Arguing the link between media Imates ang
No to sadistic films, but yes
to 'Penthouse'?
arisen in
pornography. draw the line, make thouse?
Obviously
sexuality reason for
between acts pornograpuys Neither is tion of the alliances we por- making • arguments InIS acainst handing
brigade.
glossy up on the EEC, for example.
This problem was by the members of Against Women interviewed in walk week's paper (15 January).
Would I'LL GIVE yoU BRAIN SURGEON YoUCHEEKY
LITTLE BASTARD
EGRUNIAD ELE
violence to women, I had difficulty in arguing with the men I work with against a ban on
we any? No to sadistic films, but Yes to Pen-
capital a ban on pornography is used to repress all
and that is a major opposing But could be what do we sav about the links
of violence and
it simply a queswould the The put forward in SC capital the 'Ripper' was that this would ally us with the NF and Mary Whitehouse's
This is not a helpful TOP way of arguing. Look at the line things
lighting, avoided of Women Violence Against for life? last
total, be a real means to end partial or West End
AH... NOW IF YOU HAD BEEN IN LASTWEEK
NE COUP HAVE OFFERED you A JOS WITH
THE EL SALVADORAN NATION AL GUARO
_Letters
the sexploitation of women. Obviously not: unless society itself is changed, pornography will just go underground. do how do we challenge it?
My second point
punishment. The pro. can we do as thasisters saiding
cavital punishment strengthens the state and
used later on trade militants answer either. People are tryina to deal with realitv NOW, not a strong state of the future.
question is: does punishment women being raped? As Brian Grogan argued last week, is it really a deterrent? Isn't it better
us to be organising for like better street free taxis, free self-defence aids and so on.
So what do we say: prison
DENNY FITZPATRICK, POEU
(JOB, ENTRE ROVERS FE
UNITED FI.
ADULTS... €2.00 → YOUTHS... £1•50 OAPS.... £1.50 UNEMROVED...
PISS OFF JOB
I WAS appalled by Valerie Coultas' anti-feminist, anti woman article, • The Ripary Feminisn
Whitehouse' (10 Dec)
dividua mer are not blame for their individual acts sexual against women! If they are not
We all know that society encourases men see women as sexual objects, but to go on from there to say that men are therefore unable lo control mner sex ual drive is to perpetuate the myth that men themselves
forward We themselves call help it'. or l was driven to
It's a very small step from that position to
currently adopter by the state that women 'ask
Grave wearine SKITIS trousers walking down the street, or
that would normal behav sain dividual, female or male, not responsible for her/hi. actions is to completely igsonal behaviour is a politica statement of one's beliefs, a lesson the (male-dominated) left has still to learn.
The feminist call for a curfew on men was the most CENTRE
sexual violence
revolutionary demand that has so far come out of the
violence against women
carlarly causcu une greales
sul in une press, and it torc
ea a lot 0l people to con
sider for the first time wha
it would be like if the tables
wav. moceed don't we have longer prison sentences
rapists? We the
don't penalty? Because we live in death
a valliarcha sociel wiere LIC rules are made and en-
rorceo Dy men
states:
feminists (?) shy away from such demands because they know that
government and police al c
sland what Inis Is supposed to mean feminists don't make these demands for the simple reason that we know thev will never be mel
Wedon't need to be told by Valerie that can'
order to protect us; womer are challenging patriarchal,
cle leaves me • stunnica change in the law to allow wives their
them court chang : attitudes number of curfews on men (Who's relying on the torce! or law and order now.) The best on the left!
I HAVE been reading
read other socialist literature as well.
I find it Is
views of your paper wholeheartedly
Amanda Crees, Great Yarmouth
No hope
for Jewish
culture under Zionism
THERE'S an old Yiddish
'You •should grow onion — in the ground
the Jewish puttis
like the Docidilst urous, •ev aner or udas voluo r their heads under ground too long to see what has
to
motion of ye this c
Wor cucul musu convused
But cannot • De lifted out of its political context.
For as long as Zionism
content political ideology
communities, Jewish popular culture
were lauont a sendols and synagogues, what is practised in munity social Clubs Groups summe camos whitter
… an earew newspapers magazines
music and dance) is completelv Zionist in content MUSIC Ene Jewish communities is not the
strains of the blue flag and the new Israeli borders
claim Trotsky, the Bund, Deutscher, or even Sudans, it the ac. Judah
Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981
Men are responsible for
men were banne trom the streets houses where they were no:
• quite a lot to reduce the incident ul lape
Valerie goes on: 'Pro gressive sex educatior would do more to stop mer
go movies than increased cen sorship.?
The sort of censorship
want on pictures advertising WACA ver Deluates un image of women as sexua
submis ine, passiv
men same sort of censorship tha we wall on lie racist Dro paganda out out bv the Na tional Front British
Contrary to her effor
Valete
• is doing a good the Hauc oy unc press. betwee Ine demanas ol feminist
those of Mary Whitehouse
Valerie really thinks that all we need is bette street menune nigh: transport, and the suppor of the labour movement suggest she goe along to. trade union and
Hiccull ines lo pul ner case lu ne 'comrades' there.
I won't be there to pic up the pieces.
JUDITH CONNOR, London
paper for several weeks now and | find myself turning to it first every week, although I
best written and presented paper of all and agree with the Cohen can seek solace ir
kabala (which, cidentally alway been off-limits women). But that has very little to do with present ld Jewish popular culture, which i Totally contoured arount support for Israel, and ut
And for those 01 us know a bit about our history, its sad.
I shudder at the no tion that we are striving tor bland assimila
mush UnGe socialism. On the con
socialism
culture to develop proaressive directior long as zionism remains politically hegemonic
So those of us who want retain positive vestige: Jewish upbringing (tha barucular sense orion! or a taste tor montrea
combat obstacle: Zionism.
PAM SINGER, London
This debate is now closed Eds.
ONArrY one-lic badge white and pink Vital wear for anyone face VaLK
attacks on (plus 12p orip of 15p each
for rices of i or more
Hamilton Road, Southat
All proceeds Socialist Challenge
Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Trades councils
plan struggle for
working class power
By Hilary Wainwright WHATEVER moves to the left are now taking place within the Labour Party, it will make little difference to a future Labour government unless working class organisations in industry and in the community are prepared to take power for themselves.
That was one of the conclusions reached by four trades councils Coventry, Liverpool, Newcastle, and North Tyneside wiren iney conducted a workers' inquiry. into Ine industrial policies of the last Labour government.
this conclusion which lies behind decision to call •a conference on the theme of 'Building working class power' to be held on 28
'ebruary.
Policies
The aim is to discuss ways of organising, the policies which will build and estile strength and confidence we need.
The trade council inquiry itself pointed to wealth of ideas and organisatons wilch recu
be extended and generalised. Sanest WELC mainly in manufacturing industry. held under the auspices of Coventrv frades Council. is an attempt to widen the OSCUSSION
The trades councils are concerned about ine implicit assumption much of the left's arguments Labour Party: that the policies basically all sorted out, in the form of the Alternative Economic Strategy agreed at the 1980 special conference, and that the only problem is to ensure inat Labour MPs
will carry them through. Strategy
The inquiry is more sceptical about the policies themselves, and also the
way they nave been drawn
up and packaged without
any real novent
the shop stewards' com-
mittees ana uraue umon
branches on whose sup-
port the Labour left argue
that their policies depend. Challenge most Socialist
readers would
agree, industrial policies
which really challenge the
power of
based
need to
workers' power. And that
power cannot be turned on Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981
ilke a tap li ever a leit Labour Party gets into government.
Yet that is what is implied by formulations oi ine Alternative Economic Strategy. not a strategy for building working class power, starting now. Il ls a sel ol policies for Labour government to implement on the assumption that by becoming a parliamentary majority it would thereby nave lie power.
The purpose.of the trades council conference Is not lo rejeci lne Aos as a whole its stress, for instance. on increased public spending, and government Newcastle Trades Council demonstration blocking of capital transfers, of course
The alm ls to discuss the policies and ol calllsatiulla steps necessary build and rebuild working class organisations as the basis of political power.
This means, for example, discussing how trades councils together with shop stewards committees and community-based arouos calucyclub blarli
pased on the resources and social needs of their localis, ty. By linking up with na-
international anu needs as appropriate, such
would both strengthen campaigns ane struggles against Tory policies. and prepare for a
future Labour govern-
Alternatives
It means providing a
forum for the shop
stewards' combine com-
mittees and others on a na-
Lolla level who have n't keep you a minute, Jactizon just lixo you to participate
Page 8
Hilary Wainwright
begun to formulate alterHalives m uner muusuric and sectors. This would enable them to make links with groups. who would have a shared interest in their alternative plans and who could therefore fight together for these plans in the lace or leaundancies and cuts. Tories
The unifying theme of all struggles which will be represented conference — whether against closures, creases, or for higher wage
the Tories. But at the same time we need te be discussing and formulating our alternatives.
Unless we discuss these policies, defensive campaigns will lose their impetus, and a future Labour
will founder on the same rocks as before Alliances
The trades councils
argue that there are few
forums through which this
kind of political trade
Call develop;
where alliances can
made between workers in
the private and public
manufacturing sectors and
inose in une wesare stale
trade unionists organised
and women
women, the employed and
the unemployed.
Limits
A third important line
of thinking behind
conference
conclus
limits of the trade council
report itself. Although the
of the book
cover a very wide range of issues concerning the strengthening of rank-and-file power and confidence in the community as well as industry, the bulk of the report was concerned with the most male-dominated sectors of the working class.
The needs of women, other than the needs which they share with the working class as a whole, hardly entered into it.
Power
The conference organisers have very conscious of the Cancer that because the report focused on these Laudond dominated sectors of in- lilalc
dustry, the area of work-
ng class power could br
narrowly as trade union power.
If it succeeds the conference could provide small but significant step towards a more practical meaning to vision of Sociais based Ul. workers' power rather than one which has beer distorted and discredited by association with the corporate state.
The conference. on
'Building Working Class Power' is to be held on 28 February, Ham-5.30pm, at Lanchester Polytechnic, coveniry. Further details and application forms
Coventry Trades Council, 31 Stepney Rd, Coventry CV2 4PX.
STATE INTERVENTION
INDUSTRY
IN
inquiry
be
State intervention in
industry - a workers
enquiry - by Coven-
try, Liverpool,
Newcastle and N the the Tyneside trades coun- cils. f2 from the Other
Bookshop, 329 Uppers
St., London N1.
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
last tivists and posed
THE last Labour government was voted out of office in May 1979 after a discontent' which thousands of trade unionists in strike action against its pay policies. Under unemployment had doubled, wages had been frozen, democratic rights attacked.
Yet Labour came to office in 1974 1949. At she heart or its manifeste
At the heart of was. industrial policy halting the long term decline of the British economy. whole battery of new powers to deal with the economy, and formed the National Enterprise Board to carry out its promises.
The reality from the promises of the manifesto. It presided over the loss of 30,000 jobs
Leyland, ționalisation of Britain's shipbuilding industry. donated Chrysler passively watch the destroy 8,000 jobs and then run off with its money
The NEB donated f8m to Lucas, while the management refused to even consider the socially useful products designed by the NEB support, Lucas make Chieftain tanks freedom fighters the world over.
The record of the NEB is one of job loss, attacks on working. through increased redundancy, and generous handouts to any employer. aims.
Advocates
Despite this dismal record, leftwing activists continue to argue in the Labour Party for an updated version of the NEB as a part of their 'Alternative Economic Strategy' is now widely Party and trade union members
Its leading advocates include MPs Tonv Benn and Stuart union leaders Alan and Bob Wright of the AUEW. argue Inal ine bore little resemblance to the radical policies of the Labour manifesto. Ir
this they are correct
Even after 1973 Labour Party conference decision to nationalise 25 to 30 profitable companies, the proposals of the 1974 manifesto were still quite radical.
The original idea NEB would enter agreements'
Various types of
would be used to keep the companies in line with government policy, and government aid would be ted to the acceptance of planning agreements.
Handouts
The NEB was to have the power to
buy a controlling share in a company,
or even buy it outright.
the power to open the financial books
to the worktorce
When the NEB
established planning agreements were
voluntary, evel WiCC
aid was involved. Only one planning
Labour's ec
planning to
THE left-wing victory at
week s special
Labour Party conference
has raised the hopes of
thousands of Labour ac-
the
agreement Labour 'winter of total bankruptcy. involved money
Labour, During
and to industry. radical than
its manifesto almec
Labour promised a saying that
the policies elected'. of the NEB was far
and the
£147m to the only to multinational
workforce. With contnuca lo NEB murder from the nothing to do people and dings.
who shared these tract'
The AES supported by Labour
Holland INUPE
They practice of the NEE
the dropping of the
was that the into 'planning with the top 100 entercompulsion It would have
and trades unions was tinal v
possibil victory tion. E looks econom solving
was concluded by the government, with Chrysler, which the government rescued from
The NEB was only giver €1,000m and 94 per cent of this
used keep British Leyland and Rolls Royce afloat.
the same period the government donated £15,000m in aid
The Labour policies became little more cheap handouts for manufacturing employers.
Civil service
Tony Benn explains this retreat by
'the majority of the cabinet did not understand or support
which we were On his first day at the Department of Industry a civil service boss told him: 'I presume, Secretary plement the industrial strategy of the Labour Partv's programme
The Civil Service, , the employers organisation, the CBi, and the press conducted a campaign to discredit the manifesto commitments.
This opposition was to be expected, but what was not expected by thousands of Labour supporters was the spectacle of Tony Benn as the main campaigner for the powerless
The retreat of the Labour cabinet
radical manifesto had Wilson, and later Callaghan, were well aware of the effects on the economy if it were implemented.
The truth is that the '73 policy, along with the AES of today, are im.
fronting the employers head on. The I abour leaders refused to do this instead they chose to cooperate with them and devised the 'Social Con-
The problem with this type of strategy is that it is based on maintaining the present system - capitalism
Callaghan and Viscount Wa
Page 9 scan of this page
of a Labour the next elecAN GROGAN
Labour's policies e crisis.
hrough cooperation with the rulclass in industry. ind this the mixed economy AC TO A OR INTO BECA Fits working together to defend But planning agreements hit
fundamentals the em. Iney challenge lagement's control of the moveit of capital and, by destroying iness secrecy, they allow workers ain vital information. This is why establishment opposed these types agreements, and why the Labour inet, understanding this perfectly, In the final analysis, industrial elopment depends on productive estment. Even the NEB, with all powers of the '74 manifesto, never llenged the control ployers over investment funds. But employers only invest when y are confident of eventually turna profit. The original NEB proals accepted this basis, so when the ht-wing leaders argued that it was essary to maintain the confidence the bosses, the Labour lefts had no swer. They supported the overall nomic framework of the right 1g. ooperation
Tony Benn supported mework and ended up motivating e final, powerless NEB. The same e awalls the AES as well. ategies share the same thods - cooperation with the rul3 class to restore industry. The strength of the labour moveent nas to be moosed to connor d defeat the employers. ound the table and attempting Joint anning arrangements is simply utoan. The employers, the civil service. eir privileges to the bitter end. entire establishment will defend ok of socialists is to pursue policies at will bring that end a lot nearer. son, chair of the CBI
nomic policy-
eat the crisis?
for at profit Denis Healey
this
Both
Sitting
Wilson and Callaghan plotting the survival of private industry while ignoring Labour's economic policy
- the Chancellor's bag contained no mention of planning agreements
David Steel, Liberal leader By Geoff Bell THE reason for the threatened split in the Labour Party is meant to be the democratic internal reforms adopted by the last party conference.
The media is one of the noble and sensible Gang of Three making their stand against the tyranny of the left in defence of the rights of the individual and the supremacy of Parliament.
"The threat Tebesculave cHurialy Shirley Williams called it
last November, she explained why she would not be a Labour candidate in the next election. Crisis
The right wing is indeed aoul the growth of accountability in the barty But coincidence that the divisions in the Labour Party
at any time since the 1930s, or that now, as then, there is an economic depression, the magnitude of which has placed question mark against the entire capitalist system.
The left in the party recognise the importance of trying to chart a way out of the crisis and have responded with the Alternative Economic Strategy
fate Canner
Three? What prescription for ending the economic crisis? Mixed
It was most recently set out, Williams Owen or Rodgers nor
Roy Jenkins but by
Liberal leader David Stee who recently revealed his "Ten Point Plan for Economic Recovery'
But what is remarkable is just how similar - and how irrelevant are
Steel's prescriptions and those put forward by th
Gang of Three
David Steel's first
point is entitled 'a positive
industrial strategy
aim of which is 'to make
the public sector more effi
cient and the private secto
more profitable . In other
words 'the mixed economy
and the need to manage it
David Steel and the Gang of
Three - spot the difference
picture presented by most of the
efficiently' phrase from the famous Gang of Three 'letter', published in the Guardian and the Daily Mirror last August
That letter and its 'commitment to the mixed economy called for 'an expanded National Enterprise Board' through which 'finance should be avallable on easv terms to new firms starting up, especially those developing new technologies.
David Steel on the other hand - or raller'ut same hand • calls for 'a
National Enterprise Board paying particular attention to new areas of technology'. Partners
Steel's second point is for "industrial partnership and co-operation This
'rejects the warfare between two opposing sides and calls for 'a new identiTv otterest Delwecu dust participants in in-
Steel, the
means to this goal is to 'in-
volve all employees in deci sions which affect their
the establish-
ment representative
bodies in each company.
The Gang Three
say, 'there must be effec
tive Contano. good
communication nuine democracy at work and
Artificial divisions bet-
manager and
worker, blue collar and
white collar are... destruc-
tive.
Incomes O favOur an incomes Three
also favour
policy based on regular
discussion', while.
the third
oint of Steel's plan is
long-term incomes policy'.
Steel's next
is a plea for the 'extension
Socialist Challenge
of the small business sector' disappoin tingly the Gang of Three letter doesn't specifically make this call, but fear
in the TOL an article Daily Telegraph (where else?) in June 1978 Shirles Williams said the small businessman has vital oe to bay
their letter the famous three complained
'dear
mone ana Call over-valued pound' which suggests they should be happy with the fifth and sixth points of the Steel plan which call for 'lower interest rates and 'reduction in the exchange rate of the pound'
The unanimity is by now becoming repetitive and boring. So let's brietly
through Steel's remaining points. EEC
Number seven says,
'North Sea oil surpluses should be routed
capital thus providing
employment' The Gang of Three say, 'North Sea
royalties should be ear-
marked for the purpose of
modernising British
dustry training
young people
Steel's eighth point
demands a 'massive energy
conservation programme
Three
'measures
energy Steel's ninth
point deals with an 'exten
sion of youth training'; the
Gang want more govern
ment finance in support of
'new technologies and
our young
people
Steel's final point is for
'international coopera-
tion' involving a belief that
'we should work closely
with our European par
ners'. It was the possibilit
of the next Labour govern
withdrawing from
the EEC which promptec
Shirley Williams to make
her public statement last Would stand tor Labshe November
at the next election
Her speech also includ
ed an important observa
tion: The Liberals aren't a
serious alternative.' You
said it, Shirley, you said
• 29 January 1981 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
= 21 Feb-National Sales Day
SC Sales
for more info ring Co BATH: SC on sale at 1985 Books, 1pm outside, om 20298 Foi more in Fo p4.30-5 BRADFORD:
Fourth Idea Bookshop, si outd: Open Market, Lover BRISTOL: Somale it. Hole in
More Cheeriam fed, Moniper Brisol BURNLEY:
108 CHESTERFIELD SC S
Marketplace, sall COVENTRY: ailable from
Br skshop.
outside Boot
У 11.30-2pm Also available Better
ASCOW: SC sales every i nur/.
Be at Barretts, Byres Rd; Clyde collect, tigh Hope Street Book Centre.
Outside Count IN: SU outside Safeway 17 Clyde Viewor Joto at 54 Eliot St,
m. The Plaza sCalsravailabient KILBURN: SC sales every Sat, 10am
available Streatham
on sale • of Hope bookshos
Sat at OLDHA porters nct and at Metro town cen he central refer Peter's Square and at Grassroots
061-236
OLDHAM: On de Yorkshire Bank. yes turday.
OXFORD: SC supporters sell ever
1 0.30-12.30pm An an STOCKPORT: delive 483 809
4905 (day)
SWINDON: SC on sale idas. ESSIDE: SC on sale Satnunchtim nt Si (Brunel Centre)
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By Davy Jones
SOCIALIST Challenge is
new regular readers. And our National Sales Day on 21 February is our best opportunity yet to find them!
On 21 February tens of thousands working people will march against unemployment Glasgow the Labour Party demonstration.
Impact
Every Socialist Challenge supporter at the demonstration will organised in a sales team.
That way we aim to make the maximum impact with Socialist Challenge paper that fights for Jobs
cialist Challenge
METAe
Remitten i яс
ROMAN
MORE than fifty
Lambeth Socialist Challenge meeting in solidarity
with the revolutions of the Caribbean. the El Salvador Solidarity Campaign, who explain
ed the history behind the present struggle in El Salvador;
correle
Grenadan New Jewel Movement support group, Socialist Challenge sellers at the big anti-nuclear demonstration in Sunderland earlier this month were elated burst out singing 'I won't die for Thatcher, Jobs not Bombs'
Our slogans had caught on in a big way!
But Newcastle sellers pointed out that the paper wasn't clearly identified with these slogans even though it launched them. We had the beginnings of a good reputation for nuclear and Cruise missile coverage, but the visual presentation and val ucularly me Ironl page had to make this clearer
Socialist Challenge News
not Bombs.
Mick Archer from Birmingham told Socialist Challenge porters were organised to sell the transport to last October's massive CND 'Teams of organised for every coach and train going down to in the demo.
Activities
'Special subscriptions leaflets were and names and addresses collected from be wanting to be kept informed of local activities.' Why don't supporters in other areas follow the ingham example for the 21 February demo?
Socinist Cr
people attended last week's
Pictured above are Jamie Lopez (left), from
Frederick
Socialist Challenge
organisers meet
when the march
, to the tune of the Conga
This view was backed by a national meeting of Socialist Challenge organisers, who wanted the masthead to feature these slogans.
Sellers thought the chade it easier to sell. Bet changes But this highlighted OUI weaknesses in organising to sell it. The paper's role as a political weapon and
how sup-
on the
demo. sellers were distributed,
people
the Birm-
who outlined the growing unity
revolutions
Socialist Challenge,
cessful revolutions.
The meeting was a big success,
from these revolutions. labour movement washe organiser the fully understood by its supporters.
We should fight for every supporter to sell the paper.
1c 010 a least one public sale each week.
Readers
Priority for the coming month was to reach new readers, particularly in the Labour Party. The subscriptions drive was proving successful, and it
Send
day.
ocialist Challenge
MEETING
VELA TON
between the of the region; and Pat Kane, from who pointed that Reagan's war drive was aimed at the region's suc-
and showed that socialists in this country have a lot to learn
Socialist
Challenge
was agreed there should
be a new subs leaflet cen-
JODS not
Bombs' issue.
There was a teeling
we could have lost
readers, abour particularly
Party
because of a falling off in
discussion material such
as the Battle of Ideas
senes, When we carried
interviews with leading
Labour Party figures like
Tony Benn, we should
make sure to carry replies and debate.
For those not able to make it up to Glasgow there's still work be done on the National Sales Day in your area. We want local supporters to choose a shopping centre, a housing estate, a factory sale or even a pub run for intensive selling the day.
details of your plans for local sales on the
Leaflet
In the next weeks we will have a new subscription leaflet available for distribution on the sales day. Note that date - 21 February!
Soc Successful Socialist Challenge meeting on Caribbean WHAT are your views on the first three months of the new Socialist Challenge, and how can we best improve it and promote it? Your contributions will welcomed.
Another meeting of Socialist Challenge organisers is planned for March to prepare for the next national sales dav on 4 April We want to know what you think!
Page 11 scan of this page
Poland - the test of strength continues
By Davy Jones A BITTER test of strength between the workers and their bureaucratic rulers now dominates the political situation in Poland.
Since the legalisation of the mass union movement Solidarity last November, there has been constant battle with the authorities over
the Gdansk strike
Last Saturday saw another example of the
Crisis in
the Polish
Communist
Party
ACCORDING to recent estimates, half a million militants of munist Party party membership cards since last summer.
in March, opposition documents are circulating within the party.
Jacqueline Allio,
CP militants at the University of Lodz.
'A system without queues, without privileges...
THERE has always been opposition at Lodz University: developed the same ideas in 1968, and was told they were "dangerous"; marked one of the most militant of the group.
'At the time of the last congress in 1978 put forward similar ideas and was dismissed trom the leadership. But now
speaking out. The explo-
LOO big tor the bureaucracy to control,
did 1n the JasL through layer after layer of party committees.
'In 1978, for example, we passea a very radical resolution in my college. But by the time it had gone through the higher levels - the board of enrectors. TOCH area committee, regional
and so on there was only an amputated resolution left when it reached the offices
central leadership.
'But this time we are contomed ova socansl revolution by the working Crass They fighting. for their rights and challenging bureaucracy which has grabbed power pose its dictatorship over the proletariat.
'The party apparatus has its own goals, its own interests. The reaction of the bureaucrats demonstrates sorgotten why they are that have
workers' strength miltons defied the government and took the dav oft as balt of the campaign for a five day WOrK WeCK.
The Polish workers are having to fight ovel every dot and comma of
the Polish Comhave handed back their
Some 60 per cent of the working class members of the CP are now members of the Solidarity union movement. And in the run up to the extraordinary congress
from the French Trotskyist paper Rouge, spoke to several
there in the first place.
'Workers are not
challenging the socialist
ideal; on the contrary
against the bureaucrats
who have forgotten it
'We are fighting for a
system where
there are no private cars.
but rather a satisfactory
public transport network
and where everyone lives
'A system without
queues, without
leges for the families of
the bureaucrats.
I asked whether there
was rank and tile coor.
dination between factory
cells as there is in orun
and other towns.
'No there is not, but
discussions that are tak.
Ing place the
ronica document show A DOCUMENT 'What is to be done? burning problems of movement' has been culating within the munist Party in Lodz since last November.
The leader of the CP in the Fonica factory at Lodz, Ragowski, explained that the stakes were whether tatorship of the proletariat was to be a dictatorship over proletariat'
'Little by littleria situation of dual power is developing. added.
The Fonica claims that 'the Polish CP is so compromised that it
the Gdansk agreements
against the government's
backtracking. There are
be freed. The govern.
ment has not yet publish-
ed its draft new code on
press censorship. And
Solidarity itself is still not
guaranteed access to the
that we are going through a similar process to them. 'When the Fonica document was first writ-
tentee took at cond
mittee took up and threw it into the regional committee discussions.
Fonica factory are saying
entitled recover the
society without undergoing
The
complete change. For that, the
our document
cir- necessary to create a new parCom- 'the
Workers Party'.
Wing on the experience and the traditions of the Polish nation socialist, building a society based upon 'the dic-
the collective ownership of the principle means of production the workers, representing the population liv rom saldrica work working class tuals. document
Line Fonic: specifies that cannot Would have
International,
mass media.
Perhaps most importantly some hundreds of thousands of overwhelmingly poor farmers organised in Rural Solidarity are still being denied government recognition to their new Discussions are going on throughout the Polish Communist Party
The management reacted strongly, wanting know who had written it.
As a result a series of factories in the region held meetings to discuss the document. meetings showed that there was
What the CP militants in the
confidence of leading
the argues, other
Polish Socialist
'Polish, that is to say lean- The
that is committed to They
that means
the and intellec-
document such party 'exercise
union.
Over the coming months there will be major battles round democratic rights and working class living standards. The Polish ruling bureaucrats and the Catholic Church hieraragreement with the demands put forward by the Fonica workers bureaucract which rules in its own interests.
Another militant told me: 'We have already won the tirst round by role within the state not on its own, but jointly with
the parties TOO SCHLIC two classes in society: the peasantry and the petty. bourgeoisie'.
document's authors then propose some internal party reforms: of the salaried full-timers has to be reduced to the minimum'
propose that the full-timers should take part in the discussion of the factory cells.
The document also argues for the immediate democratic election ot delegates to the ex traordinary party
prior circulation documents to prepare the congress discussions.
chy will be doing all in their undermine the strength of the independent Ul10l. movement.
this a seck militants should every opportunity establishing links with forcing the leadership to bring forward the date of the extraordinary
hull gress. Some rank and file cells - like here in the
University have already elected their delegates to the congress against the wishes of the Strike leader Anna Walentynowicz
Socialist Challenge
the workers in Solidarity. Resolutions of support for Solidarity should also demand that the regional and national union bodies and the Labou Party national executive
Solidarity representatives to Britain to speak to labour move ment meetings.
Already the AUEW has agreed to send minor printing Should y. . Other unions SHOUld pressed follow suit.
should be sent to: Solidarity, MK2: Hotel Morski, Grundwaldska 103, Gdansk, POLAND.
2000:040
leadership
intend • he represented at the 9th congress in March. Will centre our intervention on a radical change in the structures and functioning of the par ty. 29 January 1981
Page 12 scan of this page
National Abortion Campaign office worker
JAN PARKER told Socialist Challenge about the campaign's plans and problems.
Corrie anti-abortion Bill.
tion — to discuss the kind of law women need on abortion — is to be held on 14 March. The idea is to shift opinion and make people start thinking about changes. WOMEN are losing their jobs at a faster rate than men; more of them are stuck in low paid jobs, and they are under-represented in the unions.
has called a conference on Women in the '80s' for 14 February to discuss these issues. ANN FIANDER looks at where action is needed.
Women are being hit hard by the recession. Since 1974 ur in the has go and-a-half while un em level has However, job loss the same has gone up times!
Those unions with a high female membership are having to come to grips with this problem.
They also need to examine problems of women's low pay and especially their UWIl union structures, which systematically underrepresent women.
Conferences
Some unions are holding regional conterences on these issues. and women's advisory committees are being set up.
The public employees
NUPE, National A SOCALON Local Government Officers, and the white-collar ASTMS and APEX already have women's advisory com mittees at national and area level.
Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981
A woman's right
POLITICALLY the campaign is stronger than it's ever been because of the activities which put an end to the
A labour movement conference on positive legislaThe South-east Region of the TUC
'Working
Trade UNIONISES should for such committees every union as an aid to tacklIn g the of working women.
Many unions are producing special material. More is needed for mass distribution the schools and workplaces: trade union journals should have
Consistent coverage and unions should sponsor frequent 02 y schools localities on women's rights. Beliefs
Yet the myth of man the woman the home maker underlies the vulnerability women as workers, and
have scarce y begun to tackle these deeply-held views.
Because of the belief inat a woman's Diace 1s in the home, we receive little job training. Because of our job in the home we often take partume bala work and nave great difficulty attending
Central to this view is the division men's and women's iobs
The Equal Opportunity Commission® says that the maior problem preventing the increase of women's earnings is
Page 12
to choose needs cash
We are distributing a
video film for schools: we
have held a day school on
and we are
organising
wullcis
the strength of NAC's
organisation was an impor-
tant factor i dissuading the
1 UL
Dallisbury from allennound
to our uriner restrictions or
aborton rights. But that
does not mean we can all sit
in the '80s
the job segregation of the labour market.' Marie Patterson, of the Women's TUC,
"Job segregation is says. the biggest stumbling block to equal rights at work'
The unions should fight for all jobs to be open to women and campaign for positive action in law and in practice to end job segregation.
The Sex Discrimination needs
it has ed ine vera massi
has to that women suffer from past discrimination and lilal collocusatory mea
Women's Rights
back and relax
There are still restricbiong ain one themes of
biting number
abortions done
SCIVICE is dropping
every year. NAC groups
Bradford, , Leeds, Camden
Hacknes are still
fighting for facilities
We've launched a £2,000
Tuna orive to nen us mnance
all the things that are com-
ing up. be
The way forward
for working women
sures need be introduced.
I ne section of the Act dealing with employers should make it obligatory for them to review their employment practices, and where
disproportionately resented. goals need to
set to increase the number of women.
In addition, positive action clauses should be mandatory with severe penalties for
HUSS compliance.
The commission has suggested 25 amendments to the sex discrimi. nation legislation and to
60,000 against he rated ihe
Corrie Bill in October 1979
NAC is £1,000 in debt
and may be able
pay lol bookie le Hall o
une bosiuve legislation con-
ference which will
crucial step for women in
this country.
Whether the campaign
continues to exist nas lld
Lulla ana Internaliona
repercussions has
through
Holland which ke
sa do crim
efuse women
have al buston. licale. the Equal Pay Act. Experience ha. more thar demonstrated the inability of these Acts to defend
EOC still fails to tackle the main problem - job segregation.
Instead it tinkers with the most obvious abuses, such as discrimination in sports and social clubs, and the commission does not call for any effective legal enforcement for its proposals.
It is false to argue, as does the TUC's recent
paper positive action, that voluntal
TestICuons on requires a 4 day wait between seeing the doctor and having an abortion ternational solidarity played
important role
a major role in building
micklatula day sondanty on lo May
Liberation
NAC is only five years old and vet its existence has achieved much women's liberation woman's Withoutshe NACt OLIC Issues fice, without the material we and changes in the law are counterposed. What
needed is a combinaHOT OLDOLA
Unions are traditionaliv against laws which restrict their abilivlo runcuon. lor exam. ple the Industrial Relation. laws which establish rights can be used bv unions to enforce their collective bargaining To take special measures
favour oI women in filling jobs is at present against the law
Action and argument all Jobs women and impose legal Cuula. should be taken up by the unions now.
Just as some unions have made nursery provision, maternity and paternity leave part of their collective bargaining agreements, , so questions of female ment ticeship entry and onthe-job training should be part of every trade union programme. Action
It will need a com bination of political and industrial action bv the labour and women's movements bring about the structural changes in society that can even partially guarantee equality women at work
The bosses understand how important it is to define women as wives and mothers first workers second. It gives them grounds for low Jay. menial jobs, and places the responsibility for child-care on womer laurel lan sociely as e whole.
The notion that women aren't worth
oroauce wilnou
perience we have built up
and without the local group
the issues have
would nol defend have
accl able
women s interests Saders to help A ins its readers to help
getting donation from their Lavour rare alla rade unions
Bankers' Orders Na tional Abortion Campaign
westminster bonk. curren ACCOUn No. 09000496 Southwark Branch 51-50-03 Southwark Street, London SEI. training because they'l!
pregnant and quit has legal and political support. This is why restricting abortion rights remains a central way in which the rightwing SECAS women.
Timothy Sainsbury MP decided not to pursue a Private Members Bill against abortion this
year minosition usin
opposition which confronted him. Abortion women out of the labour The drive force will be augmented by cuts in family planning clinics, health service abortion facilities, and
behind-the-scene restrictions by the DHSS
charitable clinics.
Trade union action during the campaign against the Corrie anti-abortion showed what could be achieved The unions should now be committed to the pro posals of the Labour ADOLLIOLI Rights Campaign on legislation make abortion facilitie mandatory on the NHS
If such a law is to be won, delegates to the Labour Party annual conference need be mandated to oppose the
VOLe MPS on abortion, and the next Labour governm committed to implement this legislation.
The delegate comer nee
•Working Women held or 1980's IS I0
February /vam-4pm Congress House, Great Russell Stree!
WCI For information 01-636 4030 exi
Page 13 scan of this page
Labour and Ireland - the next step
By Geoff Bell SOUTH Africa's largest newspaper for blacks was government last week.
The newspaper, circulation of 181,000 pression is the culmination of a fresh wave of attacks by the regime on press freedom and black journalists.
A few union for black media workers had bann. ing orders imposed on them. were Zwelakhle Sisulu, president of the Media Workers Association Africa NWANA.
Marimuthu Subramoney:
June connie three years both union leaders will be contined to the They are not allowed to attend meetings, cannol de culte. homes at night and at the weekend, and cannot do any newspaper or trade union work.
Both the banning of The Post and the virtual house arrest of the union leaders THE Northern Ireland Study Group, set up by the national executive Labour Party, has just produced a consultative paper Ireland, the next step?
discussion on the paper's contents in constituency Labour parties filiated unions.
Challenge is running a series of articles taking up the five questions posed in the consultative paper. with the first question, which concerns the economy of the north of Ireland.
The question answered
By Tom Marlowe THE latest ployment figures for the north of Ireland show that 16.3 per cent of the population is out of work.
There are marked variations: unemployment is much higher in CatRone arcas than those in which Protestants are in a majority.
For instance, male unemployment Strabane, Co Tyrone, a Catholic area, an astounding 42 per cent.
These differences are a consequence conscious policies followed by Unionist governments
discriminate against non-Unionists. The British government has, by and large, relusee lo intervene ether to halt Onschm abon revive the ailing economy.
Backbone
The in. dustries have declined.
Linen, OlICC the back. bone OI the economy employing 40,000 ple, has been virtually wiped out. Shipbuilding, wilch in the late '50s employed over 24,Uv workers, nas now only 6,500.
Tns ccc as dsu hit the 'new industries', WIFIC u were medol replace the traditional ones. Artificial fibres; which in 1974 employed 9,000, now has less than 2,500 with Tuutner un recuuoancies being announced last wEcK.
banned by the
The Post, had a
and ITS sup-
follows an weeks ago two leaders of a
The two
of South MWASA deputy werkers.
means that for the next
areas where thev live as saying
must remain in their pression'.
journalists, separate of the
entitled, Northern
The Labour Party has asked for a full
and af-
As an aid to this discussion Socialist
This week we deal
Industry in the north of Ireland what there leIt ol Is overwhelmingly privately-owned. The nationalisa-
• tion of some industries in
The question posed THE problems of Northern Treland are exacer. bated appalling economic problems • onemaovmeni November 1980 was near 16 per ceni *One third of the DOOmeROnS Or just above the bread
Treland aor oer cent desencen on oil; electricity is per cent dearer than Britain, coal 10 per cen and gas three crociDive ervortrern relana aves nor nave ac. cess to aruen's nouro gas).
One measure which could be lp. might extend the retwork creus through new pipeline Northern Ireland wwer exre messures should be adopted to strengthen econor in Northern reland! Should Bripipeline to Norters •uile
From the Labour Partv s consulalve vader
Britain, shipbuilding, only parwas tially extended Ine north of Ireland.
The economy has been run by a system of generous grants private industrialists to sel up businesses. But
eight-week strike by black journalists which ended at the turn of the
yeaThe strike began over a pay dispute
but later came to centre on the riaht of
to organise among all overament ls
pposed to MWASA because the union is overtly political
Zwelakhle Sisulu has gone on record that the role of black journalists is nart ot 'the struaale adainst wnite op
The recent strike succeeded in winning a promise from management to ar-
'upgrading programmes' for black as well as Ine provision conciliation procedures, system in the north of Ireland
once these grants run out the firms tend to close a hefty COWLI. cayll profit for the owners but unemployment for the WULKCIS All this is made even worse by partition which denies the natural economic Ireland. The north of reland clusiully. and the wage rates of workers
Ireland/International,
South Africa steps
up censorship
media ment. particularly Post.
The South
leaders has brought National Wales
detained at
in- to London. (rosing Centro The British Army props up the discriminatory
there, are relatively much worst une were prior to partition. The south of Ireland has also been although considerably less than
It is clear that working people in the north of Ireland have been ravaged by the capitalist norms used to manage
dependent of white journalists, between MWASA members and their employers.
During the strike three newspapers on which MWASA members work had their license to print revoked by the govern-
The newspapers have a mainiy black readership similar to that of The
African •government's treatment of the journalists and union
protests from the of Journalists in this country. But at the start of the year NUJ genera secretarv Ken Ashton was barred from visiting South Africa when he was
Johannesburg Airport for five hours. He was put on the next plane
the economy; by the ex Noo e o vaer companies, which oniv interested in makins quick profits and then getting out, and most of all by the imposition o an unnatural division of the country of Ireland Ho nus context loou forward a gas pipelin rom Britain to the nort as some sorr or soluuoi
Ken Ashton, journalists' leader -not allowed into South Aftica
EmC
DELOREAN MOTORE
is like prescribing an aspirin to cure cancer
Socialists would argue that only a system which puts the needs of the popu. pon above those private industrialists would provide an answer to the north reano economy. But as well , it is ohvions that the link with Britain has not been
of any economic benefit to working people in the north.
A national economic plan applying to all of Ireland drawn up and controlled by working people throughout the country, would not only be consistent with Irish self-determination would also economic sense.
Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981 Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
By Geoffrey Sheridan
the right-wing.
In his native
Australia, journalists on
the Murdoch-owned The
Australian went on strike
over their bosses' anti-
Hangman
Hoggart is
murdering
the arts
By Yvonne Taylor THE GOVERNMENT has found a new ally in the Arts Council of Great Britain.
The council has strated that it is willing to organise cuts in arts subsidies on behalf of the Tories, and it has no qualms about employing the most underhand tactics in carrying them through.
Just before Xmas, the Arts Council produced a hit list of forty-one funded vi kalisaliulis whose cash
withdrawn and among the remaining ACGB subsidised projects.
The axed groups are mainly the small scale arts centres, theatre companies and arts projects which have directed their energies to working with local communities, trade
people and children, and people in institutions.
In fact, all those sections of the population who can't afford patronise the more prestigious artsuc pro jects like the National i nealre.
Shakespeare Company, Lie Covent dalucil Opera House and the English National Opera
who receive between them the lion's share of Arts Council funds.
Socialist theatre has suffered bie Workers- Broadside Mobile Theatre has lost its grant of £32,000 which ac-
BROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRE
PARTICIPATION
• THE WALTZ
Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981 Page 14
Sign of The Times:
hundreds redundant
UNLESS you count the authors of the Bible, no press baron in history has notched up the record of Rupert Murdoch - the probable new boss of Times Newspapers — in imposing his views on tens of millions of readers. Murdoch's empire spans three continents, and in each of them the newspapers he has taken over have well earned the gratitude of
Labour tirades in the general crechon brought the Tory Malcolm Fraser to power in 1975. recently demoncounts for over 70 per cent of their income. Broadside told us: We Paula Brown had been extremely concented lorseveral ths by the attacks in the media made on socialisi theatre groups. notably Tory MP Teddy Taylor. But the anfrom the multicul Arts Council
consultation.
Income
Broadside can afford pay its nine workers unti the end of March sendare pull final all her SLODS other sources of income. It is not hopeful about other bodies control grants to the arts stepping in to help As Paula points out: "The of grant Slizild withdrawal will certainly decrease chances of alter-
alree fu hard pressed
already pressed local authorities and regional arts associations.
CUT PRICE WELFARE STATER SHOW
Margaret Thatcher is
another reactionary who
is indebted to Murdoch.
She has bestowed on him
knighthood for
creating Britain's top-
selling working-class
Tory replete paper. with the women's Sun,
torsos.
The Tories are not
alone among muraoch s
well-wishers in this coun-
try. "The leaders of both
the NGA and SOGAT
onlit unlous have recclit-
ly appeared on platforms
declaring the need tor
Another socialist theatre, Action Space in Camden, London, is in a still worse situation. The loss of its £27,000 grant may result in bankruptLy. Jill Posener, their one
time publicity officer, explained that their annual grant provided a solid base from which Action Space negotiated credit and loans. They are now left with a £32,000 debt
trustees are personally liable.
All Acuon Space's staff of nine are on the dole and the building is
'WE HOVE THE POWER «THENS
**!*O
BROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRI
Under Review
press freedom and the
present lack of it.
Strange, then, that NGA secretary Joe Wade declared at the end of last week: 'I personally would chosen the man. He has the resources, ability, ex pertise and the right kind of track record.
SOGAT general
Bill Keys was
pressing confidence that
would read. agre menough the did ger, although mention his concern over 'concentration of ownership'
"Did this enthusiasm simply reflect a concern to save jobs, bearing mind that the other bidders roll out much the same kind of Tory hymn being kept open by volunteers. The only paid employee is a youth seconded Space on a governmentfunded vouth opportunity scheme.
Questioned by journalists about why there had been no warning given earlier to the axed arts groups about the tate that was in store tol them, Richard Hoggart VICe chairperson of ACGB, replied: 'Have you ever tried going up to a man to tell him you were going to hang him?'
sheets? Not exactly.
ine redundancy levels that nave been agreed are mouth-
by the Slall' dards of any newspaper magnate 40 per cent in
case 1,000 SOGAT members, and 45 NGA compositors. DCI among ine
Michael Croft, directhe National
Youth Theatre which has
lost its £15,000 grant, has called for the resignation of 'hangman' Hoggart. along with that of ACGB
secretary general Roy
The National Youth Theatre stands to lose its home the Shaw
Theatre in London. Both the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band have lost their subsidies, too, all on the grounds that they are amateur and not professional companies.
BROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRE DIVIDE AND RULE BRITANNIA
In short, it's a wipe-
out, which was obvious
the moment Thomson
announced the sale
unless the unions put up
firm resistance.
There is a way out of
the Thomson/Murdoch
blackmail. New
technology could be used
The ACGB doesn't
explain what is to happen
to the paid workers who
are attached these
youth companies
Michael Crott told US.
'It's despicable at a time
of high youth unemploy.
ment when youth need
all the outlets they can
find.'
The other criteria
used by the AÇGB
choosing its victims are
equally spurious.
claims to have been guid
ed by 'primarily con-
creative
and artistic quality.' But
according to a number of WORKING WOMEN'S CHARTER
SHOW
expand production rather than axing jobs, by creating facilities for working class papers.
it the owners won' use their printing plants for this Dul DUSC they could be taken over. . As it happens Labour Party policy calls for a national print corporation although you would hardly guess it from the
of the Labour SUCCULIC MPs who are opposed to Murdoch's bid.
It is not too late to stop Murdoch digging in. The job agreements could be renounced and the printworkers and journalists could for the working class its own Fleet Street voice They would not lack labour movement support.
the companies, their
work has rarely (in some
cases never been seen bi
Arts Council represen-
tatives.
The ACGB is sup-
posedly an independent
body from the govern-
But a number of arts been wor
ried about the
Way
which, over the last year,
ACGB policy has come
to reflect official Tory
government policy. Fight
But it's not so sur that the Arts
Council has preferred to
arrange its cuts
than organise
fight on behalf of its
clients. Since its incep-
tion, the council has been
totally unrepresen-
tative and undemocratic
body. The arts practitioners and audiences it
is supposed to serve have
never had any right to in
volvement or come back working party on the are 1976,
called for the restructur-
ing of the ACGB with
participation by the
unions concerned and a
greater degree of demo
сасу. The Labour Party conterence of the same year was presented with similar proposals.
The arts companies just axed are many of those which have taken point the needs and int starting
terests of working people and their communities.
Survive
Arts Fightback ha
been formed by some o the arts
groups concern
ed to fight the cuts, and
to protect jobs and ser vices which arts workers provide for the com
All com panies are determined to survive somehow and deserve maximun sup port from the whol
labour movement
Page 15 scan of this page
By Dave Benlow, Wandsworth NUPE
THE Wandsworth branch of
the town hall union NALGO
are close winning
significant victory
one the most
Tory councils in the coun-
try.
the past week,
borough's telephonists have been
on strike, council house sales have
been halted, and no tuel nas been
issued to council vehicles.
The aim of the industrial action
is a simple ONIC The demanding the re-establishment
ot a'no sacking agreement that the council tore up when it announced recently that 700 jobs
NUS strike
By Celia Pugh
With these words a disgruntled
the sefarers' dispute.
Wales the previous evening,
the West Indies.
The crew of the Geest Land, tied up in the nexi
vati, Have anotleı waslca
VullIC SUrC
Inspector wich ne remunas to wilnes melr departure. They too
NUS hold foreign bouna vessels DUIL
Patrick
Jonn lives Barbados. For many years he has worked on the deck
of the Dutch
owned (eest Lalu as ll sals une roung LT10 between Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and Barry in Wales Linc oller NUS members on board he receives £64 for a basic week.
and weekend working are essential
funds selu Home to nis lamiy. nic does not qualify for the dole and social security
Cardiff NUS - an
apology
A MISTAKE occurred in our reporting of the seatarers dispute last week.
The headline 'Escalation arbitration
HOL say South Wales seafarers' implied that the Cardiff NUS branch disagrees with the tactics of the dispute and wishes the
caccuive lo coll for strike action.
We have now been told that this is not the case.
In fact the resolution sent by Cardiff NUS to the executive called for the dispute
continue until the full demands are met lamer uncun satisfied with a referral to ACAS.
The report also erred in stating that the NUS executive had refused call for strike action. No such resolution was put at the NUS executve meeting.
We apologise Cardiff NÚS for these errors.
Wandsworth win significant victory
would be cut in April.
Council coma mitee have been picketed Labour concillors have refused to against attend them. vicious metings have after NALGO members who all the managers not to attend.
Last Fridav Uner said that they were willing to reestablish the ment. If this happens it will be a significant, if limited, mass meeting on the Unton s agreed to keep up the level of action until the agreement is sianec and sealed.
is also its weakness. The NALGO
West Indian ships join
'SUSPICIONS confirmed, no sailing today!
Board of Trade Inspector climbed off the West Indian crewed Geest Tide, held in Barry Dock by
The ship should have sailed from South
21 January, having discharged a cargo of b'ananas and taken on general cargo for the return trip to
payments received by his British brothers and sisters when the crew is laid off or a trip is missed. 'Many of us on the Geest Land have home back. Dul we knov lilal wicli you remn a strug gle you've got to hold on.
Whether you fail or gain you've got to try.
Grenadan member of the Geest Tide crew explained: "The Geest owners are trying to split up and turn the West Indian WUIRCIS asallist une umion une tenera Director of the Geest line came on board and talked to all of us. *They are Danning sell the Gest Tide in Agust and replace it with a bigger ship. He threatened that, we feruse to ser sall, Iney By Rose Rielly MANUAL staff work. ing for the Thames Water Authority have overwhelmingly back. ed their Union, NUPE, in calling for an all out strike.
In the final voting on
against meetnes and some Meanwhile Other commitet changed ocen cancened Insurucued are devamenta that
unev
.CouncI
services.
No sackino aoree
victory same day
The simplicity of this approach NALGO ly. gel tid bo us and dia le-
get rid of us and fly us
vack lo une W esI Indies.
We're not going to let them
intimidate and split us up
like this
We've got to stick with
the union because its actions
Will benetit West Indian a
well as briusn crews. It we
give in now they'll see it as a
sign of and pick
the So, sulule
we're retusing to sail until
usDule is over
means we're blocking the
berth so no other ship can
The Geest twitis alt
refusing
tepresenlanves on boara, so
meetings are held on the
quay wall. Crew members I
talked considered
Wild
ULEIC! liCK. owners
would ly to break their
spirit. Food
Breedy noted: 'In New
Zealand and Australia the
owners have cut off food
and heating and are refusing
to allow crews to go on land
cureticu board and the
coci on
inine comspany ri to ed us
it the company try to
about At the although we're not sailing,
we
maintenance So they must pay anu iccu us Thames Water Authority worker up to his knees in sewage
NUPE supports water strike
Ine l.y per cent offer, delegates don and
water
the offer employees described
Mao uciisoly alli al aliclal lo cul nel living slanaaras.
in nis the first of the voter In NUPE's ine idabt oz indusea acthe impac! industrial ac. tv, paltuialy UDU I-
Home News
branch has no policy on fighting
CUTS servites onty against compulsory redundancies.
the borough's manual union shop stewards have
their position after NALGO's victory. They decided to recommend to their mass meeting
take industrial action against compulsory redundancies. rather than against cuts in jobs and
This means that both sections could opt out of the struggle for the defence of local facilities. And the call for industrial action with other boroughs on 4 February is being stifled by the inability of the
execuuive clearly declare its support.
The ColDall threatened bring skeeor catt orake the ship out of Barry South Wales tug workers have already refused to do this. oi nese lugworkers, TGWU member Lloyd Ferriera joined in the has worked boats since he lett Trinidad over vears so he knows first hand the issues behind the NUS dispute
Help
"Ihe tug workers have agreed that we will not take the ships out. We will only bring in foreign ships have helped the past when we've been on sinike so we must return it We're all in this together 'The Governmen no ars doing terrible things country every something cusing aoWn Ihe scalen are importan because this country needs things brought abroad. dispute coulc soon escalate. Perhaps we'l lorry dockers supporting the NUS ures alle Unal everything stops moving.
The seamen, the miners and waterworkers can bring thing to a "cal , nille van diclicu oy Government policies haven't got the strength dustry in London. George Caton the secretary of the stewards said: 'This shows membership stongly behind the union in ic ccuon orne ofter Mark Sanders. NUPE's tull-time official "' wall hope ha tiy Industry ems sec sense and gel back around the negotiating
Ray Davies NUS strike has prevented hundreds of ships from sailing
table. The men have been
patient but the YULC
nows inar is raptaly ena Ing.
represents 1,200 of the water workers particularly in the w rage TWA'S .The
Emn con bicaliu, aitd TGWU, and the NUAAW
Welsh
Labour
councillor
opposes
cuts
By Helen Siyomovics
(Cardiff North CLP
RAY Davies. the
chairperson of the
rank and file
steelworkers
Llanwern Action
Group and a Labour
councillor for Mid
Glamorgan, has just
BOC boss
tops the
pay league
By lessa Van
Gelderen RICHARD Giordano, •OSS OTS International, has emerged as the highest-paid executive of major British company with a salary of £271,400
Last Fridav's Financia Times commented that 'Mr Giordano's has been more than satisfac LUL Y tc cvuo made a Dr lax Doll or torom ın ın year to September • 1 9×(
In the year BOC one of the
Is major suppliers of industrial gases flas als( chopped estimated jobs Hardest hit has been Corby,
ahe hisir d otl
closure of the town's steel plant.
Gordano has followed the path of BSC's boss lan MacGregor and joined British Oxyger
tron America AlicıdaSI ness methods are being applied asos compaes with disastrous the rights dards of the workers involv ed
No doubt this is what the Financial timte MInaS salis aciury in nordano.
been sacked as
magistrate and had
the Labour 'whip
removed from him on
the council.
In a letter to Herbert
Morgan, full time Labour
Party officer for Wales
wrote, "the cucsuon we
neca to ask ourselves is nov
much more despair and tester erore ac Hop must peop.
olk a cur m our local covern
ment services must we ab-
sorb before we say enough is
enough'
Vote
So il t
Challenge: 'How
cam an col aninen in
Glamorgan as a councillor? alpschl. Culs ll
I had to vote against them Ray has the support of four
local Labou r party branche
and the Bedwelty CLP for nis stand against culs
He has also been removcha girate, afer bechg co a from bench victed VUsLruCuol bickel nines In Caraiı dur
in tas years stel strikeas
His withdrawn from magistrate list after Iclusca dove surance aol is Tulure conchc could not give these with a
conscience he kay nas written to the luc DOluLIC OUI concer about anti-union legislation and increased police powers. Tory minister
pelted
with eggs
By Bob Turner,
South Bank Poly
TWO hundred students demonstrated last week outside London's South Bank Poly Rhodes Boyson, Tory under-secretary of state for education, arrived to present awards to science graduates.
This unexpected visit allowed students voice their opposition to Tory educatior policy, and Boyson was greeted louu Chans o bu ou Tested atesteyson was
Boyson pelted with egg
Students and many staff were mucensea unal bovson who is responsible for initiating further vicious
cuts and college closures, was invited to the
recently been reported that Boyson looking for still tighter con
education Caliu l.
SeCkIle lu ilos( restte tons on courses not meeting national economic needs!
Member:
Student Alliance have call Calinal Unice hilede te on th leadership of the
vi ts! enecuve tightback against the education minister.
The Tories, led Boyson have already troduced racist tuition fees
vvcised. stuachl. ana are anne tumer ack!
student union nomy
London Student Organisation, which resen _college capital, has recently rejected the 'cos) / chat with govern ment' philosophy of the lef amance-dominated Nos ex ecutive.
Instead they see the need for cam
atcincl Cul CI LOrY economic DONCV
Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
2,419,452 reasons to march in Glasgow on 21 February
THE month's unemployment figure tops 2.4 million. iceberg.
The real total is already over 3m, and it has been since the middle of last vcal. The Tory ployment figures are a fraud.
Hidden from view are the 668,000 people on the
government employment and training schemes heading for the dole heap. A further 400,000 workers are on short-time working.
Thousands of marflea women mauc Icaull dant have never signed on.
As the Tory recession continues avace. there Is Last November 150,000
November 150,000 workers demonstrated against unemployment in Liverpool. Now two luither protests are planned against spiralling dole queues.
On 21 February, the Scottish trade unions and Labour Party will be organising massive anti-Tory demonstration through Glasgow. Brunt
Like Liverpool, Glasgow has borne the brunt of the present recession.
Jobs been lost in shipbuilding, Chrysler's car plant, and in the steel industry.
Transport the demonstration is being organised from all over the country. Trades councils in London, Bir-
mingham, and Manches-
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Tories have done it again. This
And that's only the tip of the
ter have booked trains.
By joining the march you will help to ensure that 21 February is the next big day of action against the Tories.
May Day this year will be the start of Ilassive protest march from Liverpool to London.
Last year 96,198 people were made redundant in ine North-west. The demonstration SuD ported by trade unions, LaDoul Parties and the North-West TUC.
The Tories are planning more unemployment.
Their cuts in public services will LHOW thousands more people on the Thatcher boasts of Britain being number world arms LANCE in tne spending league, 1,600 will lose their jobs Norfolk and colnshire school meals SCI VICED and schools, hospitals, and council services face the Tory axe.
The forthcoming demonstrations show that the most effective way to fight the Tories is through joint action by the trade unions and the Labour Party.
The marches and protests have to be turned into action in the factories and Tories from sweep une Tories office and replace them win a Labour goverment. 6-month subscription £6.50, 12-months £12.50
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PAISLEY
BARRHE*•
Bernadette McAliskey
seriously ill' in a Belfast hospital.
although the
seems she remains heavily sedated.
now talk with visitors.
day will take place February. Assemble Royspon Rd.
Outcry over
secret BL
document
Abla JOINT SHOR BERNADETTE McAliskey remains 'very
Her condition is described as 'stable', and
hospital authorities appear reluctant to give out much information,
Her husband Michael is improving. He can
Last week he told Father O'Faul that the attack by Loyalist gunmen on the McAliskey home took place one hour before the British Army said it did. This raises yet another ques. tion about the army's presence on the scene.
• A march to commemorate Bloody Sun-
in Glasgow on 10am, Dunolly St,
OF JOURNAUISIS
ALr
SCOTLAND "S COMMITTEE
SLINWOOD
PAISLEY& DISTRICT TRADES COUNCIL
By Pat Kane IN last week's Socialist Challenge we revealed secret BL Ltd documents that exposed management plans to turn their car plants into mini-police states. We released copies of this document to the Daily Star, Socialist Organiser, which circulates weekly within the Labour Party, and to the trade unions within BL Ltd.
JOHNSTONL
The outlined that BL Ltd was planning a massive at tack on the civil liberties aimed to introduce a new disciplinary code which would give BL managers draconian powers. The document showed that
Gave CORDICU disregard for the rights of their worktorce
The company plann ed to sack workers for gross misconduch. BL managers would become judge jury, with more powers than the police and courts.
Strike
BL even planned for official strike action after the first worker was sacked under the new code. Larry Grant of the National Council for
declared that 'the thing is horrific
The reaction from the unions was swift Brian Mathers, Midlands regional secretary of the
Worker Transpor Union said, 'I cease to be surprised L. They arenap what hap pens at BL.
advantage of the 2.5m people out of work to rule by fear
Sam Robinson,
of the Birmsecretary ingham district of the Confederation of Ship building and Engineering Unions said, 'Here's company introducing its
'sus" law at a time when Parliament is talking about abolishing it.'
Exposed
The Daily Star gave the document front page coverage, and the plan ol ine bL boara were ex
posed to thousands of
BL workers who, unfor tunately. don't reac Socialist Challenge. story was later picked up Newsline, and the aMdian. Guardian, ing Star.
This is the third time Socialist Challenge has published articles that exposed the plans of BL Ltd management. In the summer of '77, we reproduced tape recordings of a speech by Sir Kachare DODSOR. BL chairperson, in which then
openly CommICHLs about oversed custoricis slandered trade unionists, and condoned bribery. Secret
He was subsequently sacked. Later we attemp
ted to publish extensive
details of BL Ltd's internal finances contained in secret documents but were prevented from do-
ing so by legal action.
Despite the outcry
from senior trade union-
leaders they have put for-
ward no practical plans
to fight BI Ltd's latest
scheme The union
leadership has crumbled
under every other similar
management attack.
With the information
revealed by Socialist
Challenge, rank and file
BL Ltd workers will be in
a much better position to
112il to defend their
rights
← Socialist Challenge No. 181, 22 January 1981Socialist Challenge No. 183, 5 February 1981 →