Socialist Challenge No. 199, 28 May 1981
The scan: sc-n199.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 Jobs not bombs.
KICK OUT THE TORIES
No. 199 28 May 1981 25p 'Rock for Jobs'
Festival Brockwell Park London SE24
Saturday 30 May
12 noon
INSIDE
THIS WEEK 4-page
'Revolution'
supplement on
youth fighting
back against
the Tories
NEXT WEEK
Photo: GM COOKSON
Extended
interview with
Tony Benn on
socialist strategy
Photo: GM COOKSON
Ernest Mandel
on France after
the left's
election victory
Unemployed and strikers up
Socialist
MAY 81
Just like the Jarrow Crusade in the 1930s, the People's March for Jobs has had a tremendous impact. Thousands of people have turned out to greet the march in major cities in the North and Midlands.
But there's a big People's March and the Jarrow Crusade. The thirLies marci Was already suffered heavy defeats nored.
Today's marchers, unemployed, represent the anger of millions of workers who are not defeated.
The 200,000 workers who attended the Labour Party demonstrations against unemployment in Liverpoo and Glasgow, the who've turned out to greet the People's March, and the occupations against redundancy at Laurence
35-Hour week!
Peoples
march
difference between the
WHO had - and they were ig-
despite million
NoT nousaros
for
Scott and Lee Jeans, show that we have the power to fight back and win.
this hated Tory government. TUC leader Len Murray (remember him. begs change course'. Labour leaders tell us we have to wait until the 1984 election. But the Labour gains in the county council elections show that the rule. dustrial action to throw the Tories out. start with massive trade union support for those plants in struggle against unemployment, and a call by the leaders of the movement for occupations to meet the threat of closure.
ment to impose a 35-hour week with no loss of pay
But fighting to win means fighting to throw out
government
sweeoine
Tories have no mandate to continue to A real fight against unemloyment means in-
It should
It means a fight by the whole trade union movewhich would create hundreds of thousands of
RALLY IN
HYDE PARK
12 NOON SUNDAY 31 MAY
MARCH TO
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
BRING YOUR BANNERS!
jobs overnight
policies covernmen
of this insane society thev're needed.and jobs, not nuclear missiles
in power
Tories out!
And most of all it means continuing the fight to return a Labour government committed to socialist
committed -TO HERE nationalisation of the big monopolies, the banks and finance houses. Then we can reverse tne pronue:
and put resources where into schools, hospitals, houses
That's why Socialist Challenge says the fight for democracy and socialist policies in the Labour Party is the same fight as that to throw out the govern ment. We want no more Tory policies, whoever is
The People's March is an important beginning let's make sure that the militancy and enthusiasm of the march gets turned into action to throw the
Page 2 scan of this page
THE FIGHTBA
'Editorial
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
Fighting for
jobs after
the March
Workers in Britain today
deprived of one of the most fundamental
human rights - the right to work.
fect those without jobs.
work it is a weapon used by the bosses
to hold down wages, attack trade union
rights and working conditions.
the unions are severely weakened, that it is
time to get back to basics and rebuld the
shop stewards movement.
Broad Lefts we
a ances
policed the last Labour government's social
contract, with Liberals,
concerned' sections of the CBI.
But just how strong are the Tories? The government
threat of a miners strike because they feared
that such a confrontation would involve the
rest of the working class. The 'Iron Lady' has
been unable to deal with the ten-week old
pay campaign by her own government's half
million employees.
should be. The 200,000 who turned up for the
two Labour Party
unemployment in Glasgow and Liverpool and
the thousands who
March for Jobs had just one slogan on their
'Maggie, Maggie,
Out!'
Labour government in its place.
thousands of militants are therefore involved
in the fight to make sure there are no repeats
ot last time. inat is wny
Wembley decisions and support Benn's cam-
paign for deputy leadership.
iner problems Carne
policy.
be solved on a plant by plant basis.
Many ors wow te miners nove someon
hey had dealt with the problem pit by pit?
Probably as many as British Leyland have sav-
plant by plant. In other words NONE.
abour movement who want to get the CBI to
oin in approaches to the government, and
who, in order to win such support, have put
forward proposals for import controls and in-
comes policy.
national campaign
government woud be committed to imple
ment - for the 35 hour week with no loss of
pay. And by mobilising the massive strength
of the 13 million trade unionists in Britain to
kick out the Tories. One of the best ways of
building support for this will be by continuing
to do everything possible to make sure the
Lee Jeans and Laurence Scott occupations
win and by rushing messages of support to
Rover Solihull to help build the fight there
against the latest Edwardes job cuts.
Socialist
Challenge
* you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form below
lame....
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Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
S:cialist Challenge 28 May 1981 Page 2
are being
But unemployment doesn't just af-
For those in
Some people in the movement say that
Others sav that the deteats ot the old
rebuild une win ine same low leaders wno
the church and
backed off from the The rank and file know what the solution
demonstrations against
greeted the Peoples Maggie, Out, Out,
Kicking out the Tories means putting a
Tens
they defend the
They are right to seek national solutions to
government The problem of unemployment can't How
dealing with Edwardes
We reject the approach of all those in the
We say that the answer lies in building a
which the next Labour
Another week
...AT BL
of resistance
BL intends to mediately and up to 10,000 more in the next 18 months. plan, masterminded wardes, will result in the closure of the Wellingborough foundry, the Car. diff parts division and the SD1 plant at Solihull.
the fightback throughout BL. A mass meeting there has already decided to 'resist the closure necessary'. The militants in the factory know they have a difficult job to do, workers have suffered at the hands of BL and Edwardes. Pat Hickey, deputy convenor at continues with his diary of resistance to the closures.
SUNDAY 17 May. We meet the Leyland Action Committee and sup porters from Cowley and Longbridge.
The Cowley comrades have already raised UU-
their shop al t committee slewalls
stewardshe haTe sho
stewaras have management that they
take the car if we resist. We'll make this the headline for the bulletin.
At Longbridge and Cowley there widespread mood resistance to edwardes
We discuss the combine to be held on 6 June and arrange a public meeting in Uxtora for y June agree a leaflet for Cowley and Longbridge, and leaflet to be distributed on the Peopie's March.
Monday The Rover delegation to the People's March meets about 9.30am. We have nearly 100 people. The demo is well attended starting off with about 4,000 and growing as we reach the city centre
Line nover delegallor is in good spirits. Chants ot save Jobs. Sack Edwardes' and 'Jobs in, Edwalues out are lancu uu The delegation takes hundreds of leaflets to hand out to demonstrators and passers by. Ten thousand in all are distributed.
Regiona secretary Brian Mathers leads the open-air church service.
An Ansell's striker says he should pray for some back bone.
At the rally in Bingley Hall, Mathers is drowned
Ansell's OU! workers. Clive Wilkinson, leader of the city council, gets similar treatment for the council's redundancy programme.
Roy Hattersley gets a hostile reception over Ireland. An Ansell's striker is loudly cheered.
axe 6,000 jobs im-
The latest 'survival'
by Michael Ed-
It is the SD1 Rovers that is key to
by all means
after the defeats the shop floor
SD1 Rovers, Solihull,
Pat Hickey
Our delegation well pleased with the day's efTOILS and determined go to London on the 31 May for the jobs demo.
- Message of
support from
Laurence Scott to Rovers
'WE would like to offer our moral support to you in your fight to keep your factory open. We are in the fourth week of our sit-in strike in protest against our factory closure and the movement of our order book to our Norwich factory.
repudiation of our contract and that we are no longer employees and will lose all our rights to redundancy payments
the site AUEW, makers, APEX, TASS and ASTMS — have voted to continue the sit-in.
payments is a form of industrial nerve gas. Any help we can offer you (although only £650 strong) we offer willingly.
Yours fraternally, Bob Penchion, Convenor.
Peoples
march
Tuesday. Committee The general meenne assessment of the firs week 1s So far so good' but there's a long way to go. The mood on the shot toor 1s beginning to shiti and the shop stewards committee Is more effectively than for a long time We decide to go for a demonstration in Solihull on 4 June after the spring holiday. We would stor the plant at 11am and march through the town centre. Mick Clarke, the convenor, and I leave for New Street to meet the county council delegation for Westminster.
Travel class reserve seats, lunch in the restaul all county council. We are 'We've been told that our action is a
'In spite of this threat all the unions on
EETPU, TGWU, Boiler-
'We (like you) do not want redundancy we want jobs. Redundancy
for
jobs
As the People's March travelled from Liverpool to London it received trem given a briefing on the
situation of the Midlands. Over wes 300,000 jobs lost since 1966 50.000
3UllC the last year. The decline
vehicle manufacturing is the major reason.
Dole
The metropolitan county unemployment rate is higher other county with the ex-
Merseyside: ception Coventry 12.9 per cent, Wolverhampton 12.8 per cent, Birmingham 12 per cent in January 1981.
At We est Midande meet the Labour MPs, Phil Haggs
the West Midlands TUC, two reps from West Midlands chambers of commerce, and Bevan, Tory MP for Yardley, who condemns the Edwardes' plan and appears a little bemused.
The county council wants assisted area status Tortne West Midlands. Solihull is a special case. BL is a special case.
Import controls are mentioned.
We bring it back to the Edwardes' plan • there is no chance for BL if the present worse in meeting
We want the meeting to attack the plan. It won't change the ories but it will strengthen our members.
Closure
It's finally agreed to set up a committee to oppose the closure of Solihull anc
Keith Joseph about loDDy the "Edwardes' plan similar committee is to be
up in the West Midlands. A statement is Issued closure and supporting resistance to it. The attack on siderably toned down Edwardes LOll
Wednesday. Committee again. Agreed to press ahead with publicity for
the demo. Some 10,000 leaflets, 500 car stickers and placards. We will leaflet the Chelmsley Wood estate and other parts of Solihull outlining the effects of the closure on the ared
We will ask the public
send delegates local teachers' union has been told that 100 teachers jobs will go if Solihull closes We contact other
plaes to sent dards cons.
shon stewards mittee endorses these proposals. This meeting is also A'STMS and APEX attended from
In the atternoon there is an extended plant conterence. which is the final stage of domestic pro cedure. Failure to agree is recorded
Officials
We now go for the op tional national stage. This is to involve the national orcials, Darticulany vict Hawley, national secretary of the TGWU automotive group, who is conspicuous by his absence
write the second bulletin, leading with the Cowley shop stewards decision. In the evening there automotive group district committee Reports are a catalogue of closures and redundan
We pass resolutions supporting Tony Benn and condemning the regional officials' handling of the Ansell's strike. , particular ly the use of ballots by the regional secretary over the heads of strike leaders.
condemning the Ed-
plan and suppor ting Solihull resistance. It calls for a clear lead from the union leadership and we send a resolution to the general executive committee and the regional committee of the transport union.
Page 3 scan of this page
ICK'S UNDER WAY
endous support everywhere
demonstration from Laurence Scott workers
we endorse the fight for the right to work.
for precisely that, to save jobs and keep 650
workers off the scrap heap.
all those on the march to support our fight
against closure by donating generously to
our collectors on 31 May or by sending
money to our appeal fund.
Bob Penchion, Convenor
Messages of support and donations to: G
Fryer,
Roundcroft, Romiley, Cheshire.
Thursday Committee again. Write leaflets for the demo, slogans and see the police. Land Rover and Range Rover shop stewards are in and out of the union office taking bundles to distribute.
The response to the demo
shop floor favourable.
Socialist Challenge sells well. une shop steward takes five copies Toe nine bug ne was
attend the Socialist Challenge industrial
conference. I'm told my Dicture paper makes me look like an escaped convict.
Friday. Last day before the spring holiday.
Management has started creating difficulties about releasing members of the ad, học committee from their jobs. We carry on anyway.
we meet Clive Wilkinson, leader of the city council. He does not want to attack the Edwardes' plan LOO ously; he thinks reason and logic should prevail.
At dinner time the 5/909 branch agrees to give money to the campaign fund and submit an emergency resolution to the trades council.
Socialist Challenge
Appeal to 31 May
WE'LL be with the People's March because
We're currently in a five week occupation
We appeal to Laurence Scott Workers' Appeal, 20
sales round Rover pubs go well. We get a message of support Laurence Scott occupation. We'll put this in the next bulletin. In the evening Socialist Challenge rally. London
Saturday. Back to Birmingham for a meeting of the affected plants. The turnout is a bit disappointing but the discussion is Use u
Neither the engineering union nor the IGWU nationally are giving any kind of lead. We need to overcome the isolation of the separate plants.
June De a busy month, with meetings of the transport union's finance and general purposes committee, the automotive group national committee, automotive group national policy conference and the biennial delegate conference
We will need to send lobbies to all of these.
We raise the possibility of a central Birmingham demonstration alci June, to involve the rest of
Birmingham labour Llls movement.
Next week will provide
organise the demo and do
some leafleting. Holidays at last - you can tell by
...AT LSE
Laurence Scott Engineering
Occupy for jobs
ARTHUR Snipe, Laurence Scott made first contact
They've never seen spoken to him since his Doncaster based company Mining Supply took over Laurence Scott last Uc tober.
Snipe's letter to the 'ex Manchester work force'
'Well you've got says. yourself into a right mess,
and your you di C sitting in at the Manchester factory which has put in position
yvu where lIU pay from anywhere'
This financier of the Tory party, sacked the workers three weeks earlier went on: 'there has been lot of political twaddle written and talked about Laurence Scott'.
managing director of Electromotors, last week
with his Manchester workforce. All 650 have been occupying their factory for five weeks to prevent its closure.
There were 'no winners at this game' workers reacted with fury Any doubts they had over taking the action were now removed. 'He's not even got the finesse of Michael Edwardes. Snipe may consider this to be a game, we don't. It's our future, declared convenor Bob Penchion.
'He's treating the Laurence Scott group like a circus, his directors are the clowns and we're the animals. Well his animals at Manchester are turning him. We've had enough.'
Not traditionally
militant workforce, they feel they have no other resource but to fight
Senior Steward Tom Clare, explains: 'We want to keep 650 people off the scrap heap. . Right from the start we've saic we want jobs, not money. Redundancy is just a form of industrial nerve gas.
Laurence Scott workers have been influenced In nercoa cessful Gardners occupation last November
'Each dirty trick that Snipe pulls,' Tom Clarke says, we'll meet and deal with. so should he resor to legal action, we'll ex. pect the lUC to back us
'If this man thinks he's going to get us out by force, then he'll have another koberts Arundel on his hands.'
Support
Roberts Arundell was a slidil loyer in the area who was subjected to mass pickets • nousanus oi cheincel. until he gave way
Laurence scott work.
with their wilsonudill. cause. Already Yorkshire and Lancashire union have promised support important because it is the mining maustry uses the LSE products.
They will be louring the London and Birm-
week of June. For arranging a speaker or sending donation contact the LSE Joint Stewards G
C/U Fryer, 20 Roundcroft, Romiley Cheshire. 061-223 3815 anions
AUEW AUEW ASTMS, TGWU /ADO
Boilermakers and EETPU
... AT LEE JEANS
Boycott Lee Jeans
By Anne Kane
to prevent the Greenock plant closing.
As multinational Lee's could afford to ig nore the occupation by keeping production and distribution in their factories in Europe.
Lee's have four factories in Ireland one in the south and three in the north. The ports are vital to ensure replacement for the Greenock products
The firm are keen to maintain their share of the British market and have recently launched a flm advertising campaign
Workers at the factory feel that only now wirethe
really begin to feel the affects of the occupation.
As Caroline McDaid said, 'They might throw us out, but it's time we did something that will hurt them.
Despite the militancy and optimism the
THERE'S more unity on the march now because of the response along the route. As the receptions get better so does the feeling of strength. The Black Country and Birmingham's been the best so far. You could get the building workers off the dole today by building council houses and increasing direct works but the Tories won't have it. The 35 hour week would help too; the building industry's been crying out for it for years.
I'd like to see a Labour government but not one like the last lot. We need one that carries out socialist policies. support the things Benn says but can he carry it out?
T00
they're threatened.
just clapping us as we go by,
on the march either.
day week and threatened with redundancy.
because I fought for the right to be in a union. workers should be able to join a union.
ry in action. Redundancies are accepted far too easil!:
ing for the right to belong to a union.
FROM this week dockers at Britain's ports are refusing to handle Lee Jeans products. The occupation of mainly women workers is now in its fourth month as the struggle continues
workers, their union, National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers continues to act disgracetull!
It still hasn't given an! support to the call for the boycott.
The occupation needs the support of a concerted cott Lee's products in the Callpall bo! shops This will counter the affect of the Lee's adver tising campaign and complement the action taker by the dockers No further progresi has been made in negotiations with the compan!
A delegation from Lei Jeans will March in 0: tre People's March in don.
Messages of suppori Torasions, an be stewards Broughan Si, Greenock.
JOHN FAIRCLOUGH, ar unemployed joiner and Furniture, Timber and Allied Trade member worked at Schreibers in Manchester from the time he left school at 16 until he was made redun. dant in 1972. He is spon sored on the march by FAT.
I'm on the march because there's too much apathy about
redundancies and closures are accepted without a fight. Workers should get in and occupy wher
We should do it ourselves Schreiber. Supporting the march doesn't just mean givin? money; it means joining in struggles. It's no good workers
like they did at one factor: where they're being made redundant. They've got to figh themselves. The march is about helping and educating other workers to do this. We don't need church service:
DENNIS SWAIN is an FTAT member at Schreibers ir Manchester. He's worked there for fifteen years since he was an apprentice. Currently, he's on a two
I'm on the march because I don't just think it's abou. jobs but about union rights as well. After all, I lost my job
There's too much apathy about. We need some action. The unions shoul take more of a lead; there's too many which back peddle Everyone supports the women at Lee Jeans because thei fought, but we need more than just support, we need uni-
ELSIE BROAD worked at Royal Pride for 18 years She is one of the workers recently sacked for strik.
"Socialist Challenge " 28 May 1981 Pag
Page 4 scan of this page
Halewood workers smash Ford disciplinary code
-The fight for -
socialist
policies in
industry
27-8 June,
London
THE miners have been the only group in the country so far to stop Thatcher dead in her tracks.
The engineering and :ransport unions will be decisive in getting Benn as deputy leader or ine -abour Party.
EnIS conference organised by Socialist Challenae ano Ine i outh paper Revolution, supporters will discuss
ow fight for socialist poncies in in• austry.
The main session on Saturday morning will se on 'Fighting for soci-
policies inJustry. will be in: oduced by a leading •austrial supporter Socialist Challenge and
= opportunities which
for Winne ine for socialist
Speakers from the
will draw on the of the fight gainst the Tories on all
in the atternoon - ere will be a panel of eading militants in the SOuS industries
will attempt
•aw ine lessons or tne
ht against redundan-
hope to have
itants from BL, steel,
British TeleJeans and People's March mong oiners
The Sunday morning session will take up the -eme 'building a party
worker revolution-
It will discuss the = tilled jobs.
28 May 1981
type of party that needs 10 be built and wny It should be rooted in the
working class. Conference then break into WOrk shops to discuss the different aspects
of this Workshops will include:
• The role of the in. dustrial workina class in the socialist revolution. Building
brulelariali women's movement
the fight for Gosuve octon
• Constructing class struggle left wing
the labour movement; the experience of the Minority Move. ment.
• Building class struggle left wing: Trotskyists and the Team sters union in the USA in the '30s.
• The role of black workers.
To end the conference Socialist Challenge supporters in the
industries will meetlodiscuss unenexi practical steps to be taken in building a party
June cass struggle left wing in the labour Movement.
Entry by ricket only rom PO Bor so. London N/ 2XP Saturday evening rally celebrates the 1st anniversary of Revolution Youth with international youth speakers. and black workers are usually in the The conference will now to take up the fight for positive
Page 4
By Mick Drake, Ford Dagenham
TWO weeks of determined strike action by
10,000 Ford workers at Halewood has smash-
ed the company's new disciplinary code.
Ford had threatened to
shut down the whole of its
British operation if the
strike wasn't called off.
'It's a tremendous vic-
tory,' said Halewood
plant steward
Jimmut weren
jumping the air.
They've dropped the code,
war mero see
how the agreement works
out.
At a special national
meeting last Thursday the
company dropped the
system introduced
November which meant
entire plants
suspended for two shifts
without pay if any stop-
page of work occurred
In return the unions
promised talk to
stewards and the shop-
floor about following
agreed dispute procedures.
but this is largely a figleaf
cover
climbdown.
Threat mination of the Haledeod In reality deter-
strikers and the straight
threat from Ron Todd, on
behalf of the Ford unions
to escalate the strike if the
code wast dropped,
changed the company's
mind
However, it hasn't all
been plain sailing. Senior
stewaros Dagenham
allowed parts of their
plants to be laid off while
others worked, instead of operating a one-out, all-out policy.
And at one time on Thursday, according the report back given to
Halewood
sicwaus
Dagenham body plant
convenor and Communist Party member Danny Connor, urged acceptance of an initial company offer
Socialist
Challenge
Keep the paper alive
By Pat Hickey, deputy convenor SD1 Rovers IF you are one of the 100,000 people expected to join the march for jobs, bought Socialist Challenge for the first time, you'll notice a difference from the Mirror, Sun or Star.
Last Monday the Mirror led on a front page attack on Tony Benn, part of its five-year smear campaign.
Five weeks ago the Sun's coverage Deptford fire enquiry was So racis unar une of the thirteen black people lodged complaint with the Press Council.
The Star discovered unemployment.
Not because Victor Matthews who owns both the slar and the right-wing Daily Express, loses sleep
Home News
of a three month suspen-
sion of the disciplinary
code.
Fortunately the Swan-
sea plant convenor gave
support Halewood
demanding all-out
strike if the code was not
scrapped entirely.
Halewood shows that
the bosses' offensive to
of Ford workers in Britain is decided
and you've just
about working people. But people are so angry about this Tory government he's found he can make more
against it.
Socialist Challenge doesn't make profits and
doesn't have millionaires backing it But does tell you what is going on at Rovers.
Not one of these Fleet Street papers has defended our tight at Rovers or taken a stand against the Edwardes' which is driving thousands of car
discipline the shop floor
into accepting speed-up
and massive rendancer
can be defeated by a mili-
tant united
behind clear demands.
Halewood workers
have struck a blow not just
against Ford, but against a
central part of the Tory
government's strategy to
get docile workforce
throughout British in-
dustry.
Stop Halewood
Coress.
workers now face a new Ford's top three: Donald Petersen, Philip and Will Caldwell. It's in Detroit that the future
workers onto the dole. Socialist Challenge helped us rid of BL's last boss, Richard Dobson and it's helping us now against Edwardes and the Tories.
It's socialist newsDanci that tells the truth about Reagan's and Thatcher's war preparations, Benn's canada deputy, what's going on in Ireland and the truth about our fight for jobs. Truth costs money
Socialist Challenge relies on the contributions we can make. Every week it needs f500 from us. Buy the paper, read it, take a few CODICS I WOrK LO sell. Take out a subscrip tion and help us keep the paper alive your Cash.
Our thanks this week
Hemel supporters £30 Tower Hamlets supporters 350 Brent supporters 200 Standing orders 65 Martin Avery Mandel/ Livingstone rally 1004.76
Total £1654.76 Grand total £30,150.91
threat to their jobs. Ford
will start building Escorts
at the rate of up to 250 a
day at its Valencia plant in
Spain from next August.
This decision which the
British unions have not
been informed about was,
accoraing lo sonn cnow
cat, divisional officer of
the while collar
ASTMS 'made long
before the current dispute
de wood.
It must add to doubts
that Ford is giving • Hale-
wood and its workforce a
Ford
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fair chance of survival.'
Cheap labour is no doub the heart of Ford's decision. Ford has alreaav starea inar i li tends to make Escorts for the European market Brazil from 1983
That proposal came at the same time as the arrests of leaders metal workers union in Brazil, with the resultant break up of the Recent events in Spain may be an important factor in Ford's thinking.
Harrison, published by
, London N1 2XP
Page 5 scan of this page
Photo: Flossie Flasher
Maurice Ludmer Memorial Fund WE WERE deeply shocked and distressed to learn of the tragic death of Maurice Ludmer, a member of the Anti Nazi League steering committee.
fascism. As the founder and editor of Searchlight, the monthly magazine, he made a unique contribution to the fight against Britain's Nazis. His painstaking research and detailed knowledge of fascist organisations earned him an international reputation as the leading authority
eventually he died from a heart attack, His condition was undoubtedly worsened by callous threats on his life from 10 0711770 21 11 2110 \070 270 bravely, tirelessly and with great modesty. His death is a terrible blow. Maurice was widely respected and will be greatly missed.
growth of Nazi-inspired violence, there can be no more fitting tribute than to ensure the survival of Searchlight. we appear to your reaaers Ludmer Memorial Fund. Please make cheques payable to Searchlight, and forward them 1o: Anti Nazi League PO Box 51, London SW10.
Paul Holborow, Peter Hain, Ernie Roberts MP, Bill Dunn, Miriam Karlin
Maurice devoted his whole life to the struggle against Maurice had already suffered from serious illness and
For those of us who are deeply disturbed by the recent
to support the Maurice
BELFAST,
BRIXTON
COVENTRY'
By Anne Rogers ton, Coventry'.
The demonstration was organised by the Coventry, Campaign Against Racism to protest the racist murder of Satnam Singh Gill.
As the march reached the city centre we were met by Robert Relf and Mick Cole, well known fascists, who mouthed off racist abuse and greeted the march with a fascist salute
Further on abuse was hurled by gangs of racists chanting Sieg heil - wogs
As we reached the rall point tempers flared wher bricks thrown into
CARDS contingent and abour 200 white!
saluted thi maron and threw fascist leaflets.
The police Walice ho clic march, black youth responded and 74 arrests took place.
Most of the charges are pathet 'threatening words, thit 'Belfast, Brixton, Coventry', and threatening benaviour a V-sign to the police.
clear that the police and the fascists picked the CARDS' tingent out because they nave DeCI orgalising le defence of the community agalsi lavist allalas
Police horses repeated-
charged black hitu youth and were beaten back. It was only when the police cleared the tascists Maurice Ludmer founded Searchlight
Anti-racism
A 10,000-strong march was led in Coventry last Saturday by hundreds of Asian women chanting 'black and white, unite and fight, no more racist attacks'. Among the most vocal was the youth contingent organised by the Committee for Anti-racist Defence Squads who chanted slogans such as 'Belfast, Brix-
away that tempers cooled.
In the week before the march, Communist Party and Labour Party headquarters were attacked by white 'defence squads and both the Indian club and the Haree Kreeshna temple were fire bombed.
The Labour council denied use of the Precinct to the marchers ostensibly because it could not fit so many peopie.
However Wednesday 8000 supporting the Peonia's March did hold a rally there with police permission.
Superintendent Dennis Cubhay. acting of Coventry said: in view of the large number of people invoived in lie protest and the lack of control we shall have to consider carefully whether to allow another march of this kind.
It is nonsense to believe that racial harmony will be built in Coventry while the police, the council and the white community in generalOW gangs racist thugs to roam the city ter-
Black youth will not snown Inal incy submit any longer to
racist attacks. The labour movemenI their example and join in a MOUS TOLlOW
racism.
NIGHT
THE coroner's inquest into the deaths of the Deptford fire victims lived up to the best traditions of British justice. oners at the inquests into the deaths of Jimmy Peach, 'Cartoon'
Liddle Towers can feel real proud of Deptford coroner Dr Davies
Mr Justice Comyn, the High Court judge did say Dr Davies was guilty of a 'verv serious irregularity" in not taking notes of evidence. thing like that make him order a new in-
Perhaps he realised that Dr Davies got all those statements from the police which meant he didn't need to bother his head with what anybody eise had to say.
The evidence was enough. Four black people left the party just before the fire. Iney saw a young, slim, tallish man with short curly hair making a throwing motion towards the window of the house. break before the man sped off in a white Austin Princess, with a black vinyl roof complete with roof rack
The police say this Daniels who warned the Deptford police station about the fire. Mr Daniels is in his forties. He is stocky straight brown hair. He drives a metalli gold Ausun trincess lal nas a Drowi stripe on the roof with no roof rack.
Eye witness
Commander Stockwell told the court he had not reconstructed the scene with eye witnesses to see if they could identify Mr Daniels. Why mander Stockwell is a very experienced police officer who knows best, after all the witnesses only saw it with their own eyes!
Other witnesses challenges 1o the police theory that the
OWEN WESLEY THOMPSON
AGED 16. DIED NEW CROSS MASSACRE 8)
Lowdown
Deptford coroner:
a suitable case
for an inquiry
The cor-
Kelly, Blair Campbell and
glass to hard on the back.
But he didn't let a little Incendiary
Not incendiary device straightforward flammable gas fire.
They heard glass was a 'red herring aW l
man is Peter firework'.
shortish and has
old Errol
should he? Com-
made unfair citizens?
Socialis: Challenge
'fire was caused by an inside agency A police forensic scientist, Peter Pugh said there was no evidence of a hole in the window inus rebulane te evidence c Andy Hastings. He claimed that he rush. er nack no me room started and saw a hole the size of a football in tne macie or the window.
Mr Pugh was so sure of his theor that he had seen no point in collecting
try and piece the window after all such a job is a t:
After the fire an 'incendiary de was found in the garden. Vir Higgs. tr the Royal Arsenal Explosive Labora: described it 'as the most commer
He also did tests which proved th
liquid found the room could not have been ignited by th
The coroner suggested that the the Mr Pugh though coincidence'
Henderson from Scotland Yard said ::
'amateurist So that dealt with the eye witnesses and the outside scientist
The police have always insisted tha: there had been a fight at the party. Atie: all they had statements from five black youths to prove this. Now the fact tha: all five were on bail at the time of the party and had broken their curfew by being there did not influence them at all
Just because ine bonce toless-veal
Williams he would 'not home' unless he said he was in the front room or one witness was told by a kindl! detective he would 'break his neck' 'and some of the youth were kept in custod!
five days should not make challenge police evidence
After all it did not make Dr Davie challenge them, so why should we less?
28 May 1981 Fage 5
Page 6 scan of this page
WE CAN CH COURSE OF
parak open (art)
By Gerry Foley, Dublin, Monday FOLLOWING the deaths
ment has reached a critical stage.
leaders of the movement.
last to speak, she marvellous enthusiasm.
Bernadette, however, not give an emotional or arousing speech. She spoke quietly and soberly, analysing where the H Block movement stands, and what it has now to do. It was an important speech.
'After the deaths of four prisoners, she said, 'We have to ask ourselves, did we do it wrong? Was
vul oil diley wrong? Were our tactics wrong!
'After so many deaths, if feelings are high in Dublin, you can imagine what they are like in ine norin. lt is understanade dar come vee voy
did, didn't work. should do something eise.
'But first we have to ask ourselves: Was what were doing wrong? I don't think it was. We tried to save the lives oi le, prisoners Dy Dutlaing a singie issue campaign.
She asked the crowd: 'was this the wrong thing to do?' She was, answered with shouts of
Bias
Then she said, 'We have to ask ourselves why we failed to save the lives of the hunger strikers. ' She described the bias of the Dublin media which opposed the Struggie of the op-
Catholic population under the pretext of a need to be 'fair' to the Protestants.
'You get daily doses Harold McClusker (a Loyalist MP) and you'd think there's be
being killed north but in his constituency, and that Loyalists never killed anybody.
Bernadette continued: Our problem is that we had to build a mass. movement and give it pontical muscic and a culung edge in the time it took men to die. Mrs hatcher claims tha the Provisionals ordered the men to die, but if that were so, they certainly would have given themselves more time.
Bernadette stressed that the H Block movement had begun to show that the prisoners had modu support Mrs hatche and Mr Haughey can't have their cake and eat it. Either the prisoners are supported many people who are not Pro visionals, or there are 30,000 Provisionals
rellanagn County Tyrone.
Strategy
The problem for the H Block movement was to extend the victory won in Fermanagh. 'Our strategy was Bernadette insisted. 'We mobilised ters and tens of thousands of people but we did not mobilise enough.
*By and large we mobilised :he broad Republican families
- ¡hose who beleve in fighting for a urated eland. Burie did
enough into
of the third and fourth hunger strikers on 20 and 21 May, the H Block move-
On Friday, Bernadette McAliskey spoke to a packed hall in Dublin's Mansion House, along with other
As she appeared on the platform the crowd cheered and rose to its feet. Although she was one of the was received with the
did that support Fianna Fail and
the SDLP in the north.
'We did not
enough into the ranks of Fianna Fail to force the party to act.
Wedge
Bernadette spoke | need to 'Drive a wedge between Mrs Thatcher and the SDLP' The rioting that had developed after the death of the hunger strikers, although it
inturiated people, did not help widen this wedge It had the opposite effect, she argued, increasing the gap between ine M Block ment and those sections of the population was trying reach. 'Those people They don't know why you are throwing a rock
don't think that any usefui purpose is served by calling the rioters hooligans in disguise. I think that these peobreak windows they are angry, because they see
can't think anything else to do, and then they think, well, they aren't our windows anyway. I know the 'I felt the same before Francis Hughes' death. I was walkof ing around
banging my head on the wall thinking a second prisoner the going die and
nothing we can do about it. 'There is something we have to accept - and one of hardest - inal we nave lost four prisoners and we can't bring them back.
Anger
Thined: We camerol stop
maintained: nOW bitterness and frustration. This is a crucial time in the history of this movement and country, because it we keep our nerve we can change the course history. by Once again, the
showed the wav. ne acal
threw Gerry demonstrating. that his laboratoR perialism didn't them. There was a huge cheer at the Dublin meeting. defeat oi ine politician hated by the H Block activists, one of whose favourite chants is: 'Who's a Brit? Gerry Fitt Bernadette said that fitt's come-uppance was morale booster for the cambaign. and for People's Deinothe organisation which deeped him.
Their candidate,
most
deeply
of the
move-
Jon't
occause
of there
the
Bernadette
anger O'Hare, who is a leader of the
H Block movement, won nearly four as preterence votes a Westminster MP and veteran of machine politician.
Following the poll the Irish Sunday
north that Fitt is thinking of leaving icwovaels
Belfast 'in search of a quieter life'
Running as dependence Party col Oliver Hughes, brother of deac hunger striker Francis Hughes, represent topped the poll in his district. for the Supporters
most 'Everywhere that clear H
Rock Bernadets to bee
Deinautic meeting. a great of
Republican Socialist Party, the Republican group hardest hit Trotskyist by repression.
C.i1310.35..
The funeral of Frankie Hughes, the second hunger strike to die
Republican Clubs.
She many first O'Donnell
as Gerrv ritt. veteran
reported
to talk to
an Irish In-
candidate. The imperialist tion Workers Party Clubs
the elects ne
has been She mentioned two imperialist pressure
Irish the media
They now have
tre status on irish IV ere tran candidates in te oniy
mentioned Plunkett Dungannon, Republican campaigner, as well as Pat Fahy
Party țy, who is a militant nationalist
Now, she said, when Irish TV and the press say they have SDLP
elected represen- Alliance tatives, we'll send them some.
lIP petty-bourgeois, proleft-wing organisaCalls itself the Republican canaraates - the northern branch of Sinn Fein, the Workers Par-
was nearly wiped out in leader, In recent years down to the major role of this grouping The end of
that group in and trade unions, and lamented some local government bodies.
30:11: Yet it seats.
Total votes for main parties
Official Unionist 26.4
Democratic Unionist 26.5
17.6 8.7 3.8
Individual contests: first preference votes (NB
seats are multi-member constituencies), selected
Seamus Lynch, went ignominious defeat. his 'distinguished' 'promising career on Belfast city council was greatly
by the capitalist
Nonetheless, despi.e considerable victories of ine hi Eleck activists in the Nords. tr
the tild
Voting figures
BELFAST, AR Seats McAnulty (PD) gained/lost G: Ashby (DUP
- 27 (SDLP 642; Fit (DUP) 1,913; Fly + ba • 10 DERRY (partie: - 32 559; SDLP • 353; | + 21 1,344; IIP 1,203;
Socialis "Cue woul
offered was largely lost.
Although there was great enthusiasm for H Block candidates after Sands' victory, the confusion, frustration and im
leath many
cam-
in most areas he SOLF»
Page 7 scan of this page
D: Hendron (SDLP) 4,791; 781; Devlin (Ind Soc) 143. AREA 2,076; O'Hare (PD) 1,953; Feeney (ind Soc) 541. AREA Dixon (IRSP) 1,639; Allen (SDLP) 898. only), AREA C: SDLP 1,566; lIP
: SDLP 438; TC 88. AREA E: SDLP DLP 984; TC 164.
• Irish Republican HIP Irish Independence Party workers Party;
not challenged and
allowe to gain une apocarance
of a from the
peoble. he successes
of the H Block candidates show
that if a whole slate had run,
he campaign would have gain-
That
ANGE THE
HISTORY
in the name of the nationalist people.
The forthcoming election in fers the H Block campaigners a new and greater Bernadette proposed H Block candidates in all constituencies. Her enough to raise a furore in the corporal front page headines proposal the following day.
Such an difficult alli big But the H Block campaign in the north shows a new
the test of a period of disorienwas tation and trustration by mov-
Wing in a calm way against futile na-
Campaign
The Mansion meeting, moreover, launched a
supporters of the movement to
join them.
This general dience of the Mansion House the 26 counties of- meeting shows that
Gee Halon
opportunity. themselves for their principles
and the dignity of their people, 41 the prisoners had fought and call was won a great victory for humanity.
Freedom
page headlines operation would be
challenge. human beings themselves to the freedom of strength their fellows, with the support It nas met of their not be broken. By they have opened the way to ne avance The victory strikers is the greatest of human victories, the fusing of will and consciousness among masses of House people. will defeat the most
'change history'
were, in
hearted bourgeois
themselves as its
such compromisers
even louder groans.
more
Fitt, ist Fergus O'Hare, bosom
socialist,
McAnulty.
The
Liberation number
side tne
Trades Council.
Ine
ment elections.
Ignorant
co-thinkers
norant response of the au-
north of Ireland by their class sacrifice preachers
the
They had shown that when
dedicate
community, they can-
their victory
of the hunger
That is a power which
unyielding Be nodetie the winne 2
had stood?
By Tom Marlowe LAST week's local elections in the north of Ireland
theory, upkeep of roads. In reality, they were much more important - a battle for the hearts and minds of the two communities in the north of Ireland.
The results of those elections were deplored by faint-
liberals, respectable Donneas some in the British Labour Par-
who her arade
The results on the Loyalist side were bad enough news for
was a massive swing to the Paisley-led Democratic Unionist Party - but in some ways he results in Catholi areas
greeted by
The respectable, 'moderate'
Social Democratic and Labour Partv suttered losses to the
'nationalistic' Irish Independence Party. The darling Fitt, was trooded by Trotery Gerry
, was trounced by
pal, Paddy Devlin, another alleged 'non-sectarian Socated by Trotskyist, Join similarily
Impressive
Irish Republican Socialist Party, said to have affinities with the Irish National
Army, received of highly impressive OThere were embarrassments for the Militant supporters in-
Labour Party, For weeks that newspaper had been trumpeting the 'non-sectarian candidates put up by the Derry
In its issue of 3 April Mili-
reported: 'History was made in the City of Derry when
Trades Counci decided to stand candidates in the torthcoming local govern-
This momentous decision is or importance not only to the working class of Derry but for workers through O'Hare,
Northern ireland and in deed within these Isles'.
What puffed-up exaggerated nonsense this is now shown to be. As the figures illustrated show the Militant-backed candidates recieved a joke vote.
Other candidates standing on the other 'non-sectarian' platforms politics. suffered similar fates.
policies, wara,
Perhaps, Militant and their have
will decry these results as sadly showing how Ig-
and 'sectarian' the Catholic working class in the
is. Middleequivalents SUCH will șimilar tears over the humiliation of Fitt,
'non-sectarian' Alliance heroes Partheir grieving will be con- strategy
socialists celebrating Militant both in Ireland and in Britain. …LaDOUl
walin MeAnulty and Fergus O'Hare
North of Ireland elections
What if Labour
about refuse collection and the Gerry Fitt Paddy Devlin
The victories of McAnulty and
of the IRSP candidates and of those who made the prisoners' struggle one of LC CCC CCpaign is a vindication for the socialist perspective on Ireland.
This perspective insists that the Irish natonal question
primary question in Irish
Within that struggle socialists need to fight for their own
their own foras People's Democracy done, but such policies should be part of the campaign, not separate from or counterposed to it.
Humiliate
Those candidates, such as
Devlin and Militant's who attacked such have now received inel numinanon. bul Is Ils, d
and others in the Party like CLU say
because of the 'sectarian' consciousness of the Catholic electorate in the north of Ireland! Unity
On the contrary. The Irish national struggle is tor the untty, not the division of the Irish people. socausts conccludit on the national question, noi with a wish to divide the nor thern working class but as a means or male securis the unity of the Irish working class as a wiloic
Only when the national question is solved will such unity become realisable.
The council election results are pertinent for another
There are some within the British Labour Party who suggest that all would be different in the north of Ireland if
British Labour Party organised there, or it there wa İreland Labour Party fully-fledged Northern
The spectacle of Labour's spokesperson on Ireland, Dor Concannon. canvassing Republican areas of Belfast for votes for the British Labour Party would have produced intestin hardly in the form he consequences though advocates of Labour organis-
Ireland would hoped. Tested
However. the theory of organising on 'non-sectarian' bread and butter Issues was tested out in the elections.
tested by Firt, Devlin and Was the Militant's candidates. The
results destroy the arguments of those within the Labour Party who continue to insist that if Labour organised in the North
Ireland, all would sweetness and light
One final point can made. In the Militant of 1 April, the Derry Trades Coun cil's candidates were compared
une mrs socialist activist: who, at the turn of the century, rought or ponica represena tion in Britain... pioneers of the abour movement'
Here example of British arrogance which Margaret Thatcher would find nat! the poor backward Irish workers are 80 years behind their noble British counterparts. Il is no wonder when suen anae. were displayed that the Militant, Fitt
and to take Thei moderate British socialism with them.
Page 8 scan of this page
Welsh miners want
Can the Wales Labour Party take on the Tories?-
Where you can buy
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Page 12
By Celia Pugh FIFTY marchers in Aberdare on 21 May on the
Welsh leg OT the People's March for Jobs were reminded of
their history.
Trevor Roberts, who
had trodden the same roads in the 1936 hunger march, sent them their rain. soaked way
the battle forefront and you'll never fail.
The marchers took this By Barry Wilkins, Cardiff North CLP SOUTH WALES miners future as the Coal Board tries to close pits.
At the annual ference of the South Wales NUM, Emlyn Williams in
preslaental pointed tidee new. mood
confidence miners. This followed the defear of the government over pit closure February.
But Williams also gave a warning: The strike was a success, he said. 'but not an unmitigated ora.
We ended ine shitte
made hy ::ament
0:9d rher: This may hare been a mistake We hase ver o see ihe problems which gave rise io thesink: brie
Vigilance
Guest speaker Arthur Scargil!, president of Yorkshire NUM underuned that argument. Unless we maintain our valance. he Salu government and the Coal Board will attempt to close pits basis:*" an individual
South Wales, the NUM has recently agreed to the closure of Morlais pit because it had become the Coal Board will ry to 100 hazardous work. repeat this by starving pits
much-needed investment and letting them deteriorate.
South Wales muners
are proud of the leading role they 1o0k the February strike. shown in Emlyn Williams' call for 'extra-parliamentary action' 1o fight the
hatcher governmen
have
in class struggles... By Helen Slyomovics, Cardiff North CLP,
and Vincent Moss
UNEMPLOYMENT has doubled in Wales over
the past two years. Miners and steel workers
are struggling for their livelihoods.
Wales Labour Party offers no way forward for
the working class.
to be presented the
Wales Labour Party con-
ference this weekend does
not suggest now ine party
will 'restore and maintain
full employment.
IS an attempt
patch over the emerging
differences between the
message to factory gates,
pitheads and communities
trek from the
threatened Duport steel
workers in Lanell in the west to the eastern town of
Newport where over 5,000 Lianwern steel jobs have been savaged in the last ycal
But as footsore marChers prepared to loin the main Liverpool march at
TUC to act
face an uncertain
have a responsiblity stop an oppressive government, 'he said.
Williams firmly pinned responsibility on the TUC lead the battle
'the TUC is bereft of ideas about hov 10 tackle unemployment.' Pits
He added that it is this lack leadership which resulis in the villingness of many workers ic redur danc ran fant to thor pass. rather
Worksharing loss of pay is an important part of the miners' strategy to keep the pits open. 'Our demand for a 4-day week means what it says, and we want action now, said Williams, criticising the lack of progress made on NUM national president.
Motions
«emance improvements in the vol-
were carried, and the attempt by Gormley to confuse voluntary early retire-
WILl voluntary redundancy was firmly rejected by Williams. Action
The conference, held a fortnight ago, agreed not to co-operate with the Tories' Employment Act and it called for industrial action to defeat The proposer Tyrone O'Sullivan, pointed out that these laws di c shackle the working class and tip the balance Dower Ill lavour class Thatcher represents - the ruling class.
But the
The manifesto that is left and the right in the parthe manifesto waxes eloquently that *our socialist policies seek nothing less than a fundamental and irreversible CITITT in ine halance of wealth and power tavour of working people
- Welsh News
Footsore and angry
Bedford, frustration built
UD the Wales TUC over the inactivity of
George Wright, Wales
TUC General Secretary at
retused to back the
Welsh march. At the last
under grea
pressure, he gave verbal
backing, WOU MOOHS.
ing official demonstra-
tions or tactory walk outs.
Marchers were angry at Welsh miners march against pit closures
The NUM will soon elect a new national president to replace Gormley, who is due to retire. Emlyn Williams warned that the media would attempt a character assassination' on Arthur Scargill. the candidate of theisfi, and it would seek to divide the militant areas against each other.
He stressed he imporlance of rion' and called for a 100 per cent South Wales suppori for Scargill. Delegates agreed carry massive campaign to see that Scargill is elected.'
In his address Scargill
and their families.'
Yet it fails to demand massive investment in coal and steel development, nor does it oresen any fighting policies which can
CLIC javour ment in Wales.
nose bonces are ev dent enough. Among them would be a programme of public works which could
steel and coal resources of Wales to build more houses. schools and hospitals while providing free energy for pensioners.
the stark contrast between
UNIS Lne tens
thousands who greeted the
Mail marca
South Wales National
Union of Miners Presi-
dent. Em vn Williams
summed up the feelings of
the when he
greeted them at Ponty-
pridd: 'When (the
ns took sinke actor
NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKER E
LLYNEL VALLEY JOINT LODGES
TINISTS OUR LORACHYE
promised to give firm and
leadership
elected as president.
must fight the Coal Board.
not collaborate with it,' he
asserted
This declaration will be
lested many times over in
the remaming period 1
the Thatcher government.
The Tories still aim to
close pits and make thou
of
dant. But their new lactic
is to use the Coal Board 1o
outmanoeuvre the NUM
rather than confront it
directly.
Emlyn Williams made
it clear that the t200m so
far offered by the govern-
Also needed is a vastly improved communications network between North and South Wales, and plans fight the Tories now, not in 1984!
The conference should reject this document in the same way that Wales TUC's i social plan was commit the Wales Labour thrown We should Party to unite with the trade union movement for a 35-hour week wiin no loss of pay, and to oppose all cuts.
Supporting Tony Benn
earlier year, the government were terrified of a general strike so they caved in. 'You can march all you
like and the TUC can issue
all the guidelines it likes, but only this concerted ac-
tion will do the job.'
Sadly officials like George Wright are determined to strangle precisely
this sort of action.
The Wales March for
Jobs was good, but the
struggle to 'put the • Dallit
to the forefront' will have
i continue
ment is not even enough
for development in South
Wales, let alone the in-
dustry as a whole. The
problem racing the
miners, especially in Sout
Males after the closure of
Morlais: is how to preven
pits heing quietly
down.
Tuc South Wales
NUM has agreed
oper discresion: • the
cal Board afte 1 ban
lasting than 12
months. But threatened
saved by
negotiations with manage-
ment. It requires collective
for deputy leader in line with the policy of the Wale Labour Coor dinating Committee would be a sten in the right direc tion. So would support for the motions filiation to CND and No to
Cruise or Trident missiles.
The Wales Labour Party conference, coming so soon after the counti council election victories, has to give a lead to the thousands of Welsh workers looking to the Labour Party for action and political solutions.
Page 9 scan of this page
35 hours now, argues presidential candidate
By Geoff Bell
THE Sunday Tele-
graph headlined its
story 'Silkin joins the
"stop Benn" fight'
That was the inter-
decision of John Silkin to Dialcu
enter the contest for the
cauership
Labour Party.
Silkin indeed the
Tates weapon be
employed by the leader-
ship of the Parliamentary
Labour Party, and its right
wing, in their campaign to
stop Tony Benn becoming
the deputy leader.
that respect,
although Silkin, as a long-
time Tribunite, is vall 0|
the 'old left' of the party,
will
directed against Benn, the
acknowledged leader of
Silkin admitted
much when he announced
Intention to
believe in a party where TONY YOUNG, an executive member of the Post Office Engineering Union, is standing as union president.
Left in POEU, he told Socialist Challenge how the issues facing the union should be taken up.
The POEU was one of the first unions to take action on the 35-hour weeK How did Indu
It arose from the rank and
determination achieve a shorter working week.
The policy of 35 hours in lne cariy '70s, but the executive took no action policy. The left, which was much soner man reas ed that rank and file action was one anal continued pressure on the executive would make the difference.
The London North Central Internal branch took unofficial action and it won overwhelming sup port irom the membersnip, despite attempts by the leadership to discipline the branch.
It had caught the mood
'WARNING
- it is takeover time at our most vital single union, advised a Daily Express headline last week, in the run-up to the annual conterence ot the Post Office Engineering Union.
With the Broad Left in the union holding nine of the seats on the executive, and hands of the right, the Tory press has due cause for anxiety.
The express noted tnat the union moderate alliance in the Labour keystone
Party'. On the eve of the ference the Broad Left is holding
public meeting with
men and women can co-
operate and are
threatened licals ol
dictation, he said.
This is the language of
Labour's and
allies in Fleet Street whose
élitist al -
tempted to portray the
decisions
Labour's internal reform
as tantamount to 'threats'
and 'dictation' from con-
sulucily vallics. Betrayed
Silkin's politics
can be summed un bv the
fact that he is a long-time
friend of Harold Wilson.
In 1954, when Wilson
betrayed parliamen-
tary left by stepping into a
Post Office Engineering Union conference, 1-5 June
A supporter of the Broad
of the moment because the new technology was beginning to be seen as a threat to jobs. The executive was dragged kicking into the
I think the left made a mistake in characterising the 37½-hour 'nil-cost settlement sell-out.
as a The agreement was put to conference, admittedly with recommendation
executive. but although compromise it was a pioneering struggle.
I think it would have been worth ignung on al that time. There was a feeling among the memership that we had Only just begun to flex our muscles
A recent managemen1 •ocument estimated that 11,000 installation iobs are at risk. What is the feeling now in the
shorter working week?
Left-right contest approaches finale
By Colin Talbot, Westminster POEU
Benn, wole Mainstream aroun is to be ad dressed by Denis Healey The left-right
ahead and the Post Office bosses 14 in the
soon become law, nanding ovel
hive-oft bits of the Post Office, the especially
side, to the Tories big business con- backers.
Tony limits policy has forced the PO
Labour's deputy contest-
shadow cabinet place Aneurin Bevan ficu vacated questions of policy, Silkin wrote him a formal letter of approval.
Wilson rewarded him in 1967 giving nil inc job of Chief Whip in the Labour government other words keeping the left in line as Wilson moved progressively the right.
This promotion firmed the high opinion Silkin has always had of himself. He imagines the world has a great in everything he does. Two years ago, when he on diet, called special press conference to announce that he had lost two stone in weight.
Tony Young: 'the time is right to act on shorter hours'
The breaking of monopoly telecoms, with sections being hiver off to private capital, will make fight IucI harder. We have yet to see the full extent of that. but inis is not an excușe to abandon our campaign. We haveto broader the fight to other unions. proposal this year's conference calls for the union to push ahead the right-wing
Workers
Contest will finally be decided in the battles
with the Tories
The Tories' Telecoms Bill will
to Sir Keith Joseph the power to
the valuable telecoms
government's cash-
Home News.
enter the property speculator
The has however. beer less willing to publicise his wheelings and dealings as a proph, said the or server which, Observer in October 1980, 'he has made a lot of money'. Deceptive Silkin's ego has persuaded him that he stands a good chance of winning the deputy leadership contest. But this ego has proved deceptive before. leadership he Ine was waily fidently predicting his success.
In the event, in the first round received votes, at least 20 below on 35 hours, with industrial action to back up the claim. . It's difficult to say how far the membership will swing behind it.
I think the executive is илпкс to want to lake this on board, given the Laculal problems fighting to prevent the breaking ot tell be o monopoly would task and we will see how
investment programme. But it wants to recoup
losses through higher charges and lower wages for PO
This year's pay offer is only 10 per cent, with 2 per cent productivity thrown in as a sweetener.
Iviore and more enaineers art tead he conference fighting discussing calls for indu still conference tion to secure a 35-hour week and to defeat the Telecoms Bill.
Other motions call for support for Tony Benn in the deputy leadership election; backing for CND, and for positive action on women's rights.
what he said he had been
promised by MPs.
Although Silkin likes fully-fledged Tribunite e parade himself
did not join the majority
of Tribune MPs who, on
20 May, voted against the
Lover eas detence
policy.
Tony Benn defied the
official Opposition line,
which was to abstain, by
taking part in the revolt.
No doubt John Silkir
thought that to have acted
in such a manner.
accordance with Labour
conference policy,
nave Gone his electoral
chances some damage. Ac-
corangly, for Jonn silkin
it was a case of bombs for
all of us and a job for him.
the membership feels about it at the conference.
Surely the attacks on
British Telecoms
workers brougnt on by increasing competition makes the fight ShOrtel hours even
more important?
I do think the time is right. WITn 3m unemployed there is a moral justificaDON for our claim socialist government
be fighting unemployment, by reducing both the working week and the state pension age.
There is a feeling of revulsion against the Tories' policy of increas ing unemployment weapon to smash the unions. But there isn't a determination by union leaders fight these policies.
We will face attacks as competition increases, but that could be used as an argument for not fighting on any issue!
Since Mitterand won the French presidential election he has announced his support for a legal limit of 35 hours on ine working week The British TUC has had this policy for years. So what should it do now?
Obviously it should be mounting a fight around the policy. Low the Daily Herald cartoonist, charac terised the TUC as a tired old cart-horse. It hasn'
People's March was not initiated from the TUC nationally came about because ot rank and file pressure in the badlyhit North-west region
easier for in-
himself Post Office engineer at work. The union
women's rights dividual employers or the
pick off unions which are going i alone. The TUC should generalise the struggle.
The TUC should be leading for reduction in hours and the retirement age.
We should set ourselves firmly against escalating overtime and redundancy programmes.
The People's March looks in danger of becoming a huge publicity
giving no lead to workers who face redundancv now
The march may well result
Late contestant John Silkin: his main priority is conference will be considering positive action for
in a blare of publicity, ti very little afterwards. shows we won't meekly aiept a return to the we nave r ensure campaign doesn't away after the march.
It is a sad reflection i the labour movement tha the Lee Jeans occupatie had to wait three month: before won officia recognition. Like UCS i there • Wall fight redundancies noi But it's a blondy hard one We should also remind we were fighting a Labour governlast dispute over 35 hours. So it's no: enough saply to return Labour government committed to socialist pureles.
Socialist Chailenge 28 iMay 1481 Page 13
Page 10 scan of this page
By Chris Pitts ENORMOUS amounts' of Cobalt 60 and other radioactive materials were discovered in the seabed near the Tsuruga nuclear power plant, western Japan, last month.
Lesser amounts, but
Bien times the normal,
:e detected in seaweed
cvita ucaroy
Japan Atomic Company
•4 C I LIC
. alUl of the plant,
:e: admitted that not on-
were they responsible
: Jumping over 40 tons
:adioactive waste, and
: aJating So workers in
process, but that they
• talca to report ine iValve
On 8 March an open ive had gushed highly ::cioactive primary cool-
for over three hours -= wre being discovered
A cording to the
amichi Daily News, one
Japan's Englishinguage dailies, the liquid
:aked out of the plant,
er a one foot high hedge
SUUof issuing an alert Car vIne OuL operation, Hallayc -an: at the plant mounted
- ush-up operation.
Ministry
I: did not inform the - nistry of international - ade and industry MITI,
:: was obliged to do by
Perhaps the bosses
ere t00 embarrassed — - ; incident was the 32nd - chap at Tsuruga in ten • .÷.>
Worse was to come. - xious lo clean up ine - eis in the storage facility a quickly as possible, they
in workers equipped buckets. Apthese "imped the contaminated
into the nearest
Because it was inside -e waste treatment and
:rage area, they expected
be part of the special,
.eşed drainage system for e aclve Maiellals. . ..
Due to a design fault, it ec directiy to the Hall grainage system which :charges into the bay.
The workers involved
:he clean-up were all exe.ed to higher levels of adiation than normal.
their permissible
:te' is already ten times
ener than that of the eereral public.
Scandal
Irradiation of workers
recoming a national Japan, wnere everal years labourers
= been travelling trom
nuclear plant to the search of :-paid repair and sera work. the halare they collect :al times their permitearly dosage in a few Thousands are eumarea to oe sutsome form of • ONCeC ness.
=:: alist Challenge
Radiation on the
streets in Japan
Even the so-called 'safe levels' ot exposure suspect, since they are set as a compromise between the need to protect trom
harmful effects radiation, and the need to expose them to it, in order to operate the plants.
iviosl eviucuce suggest that there is no ultimate safe level, and that any exposure radiation potentially harmful.
Cancer and leukemia
NEARLY 600 people packed
into Camden town
Central London last Friday to
celebrate the 200th issue of
Socialist Challenge.
The celebrations
orchilalulc issue 200 comes out
next week but the theme of the
IICCLHIZ. Socialist perspectives for
Europe, was pertinent.
The range of speakers reflected
the campaigns andissues
Socialist Challenge has supported
and helped to bulld since
founded nearly four years ago.
There were speakers from the
threatened Rover plant at Solihull,
28 May 198T ~ Page 14
deaths in some of the towns near nuclear plants alc alcauy severar umes higher than Japan's natonal average. Private
Nuclear power Japan is being developed by nine private companies each competing with the others and trying to get the best results from its reactors. The close links between private capital and the conservative ment are anther reason for the health hazards.
Commenting on this
FORWARD
STRE
PRODS
INCIALIST
Celebrating our 200th issue
hall in Manchester, and Movement.
recently exiled, WC tac •ocaKc. as
national.
Ken Livingstone
the day off with ll was arrives in London
International,
incident, zove licill minister r fave the game other nuclear avay. power plants nau a simlial accident, prospects for the nauoR s nuclear Dowe development would be endangered, said the head of MITI.
What he meant is that people might • wake up to the fact that these 'accidents' al c an unavoidable part of the nuclear industry, and that the price is too high too pay. that price means playing Russian Roulette the wiln whole community, and the lives of future generations.
* FINGE
GLC leader Ken Livingstone (left), Tessa van Gelderen from Socialist Challenge, and Ernest Mandel the occupied Laurence Scott plant in
the Troops Out
Pyotr Egides, a left oppositionist events, from the Soviet Union who has been
was another were Ken Livingstone, the new leader of the Greater London Council, and Ernest Mandel, a leading member of the Fourth Inter-
particular, reported that the GLC was giving all its employees
pay this Friday, when the People's March for Jobs vanced
County Hall, Westminster, will be thrown open to the marchers tor accommodation.
Livingstone also reiterated his lection.
defeated in Italy
By Sophia Silj
womel to have an decisively defeated in a referendum on Sunday 17 May.
Approximately 70 per cent of the voters rejected *Movement for Life lobby call trom ine catRon waCI would have restricted abortion to those women who could life prove their wds danger if their pregnancy was not terminated.
At the same time a proposal to radicalise the law to allow women complete freedom of choice on aDornol was also heavily defeated The present law in Italy gives women over 18 the right to ask for an abortion within the first 90 days of pregnancy if there is a threat to health.
An abortion may also be lustitied for social anc economic reasons, in the
All photos: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
support for the national liberation struggle in Ireland. He said that the GLC would not co-operate with the scarman inquiry into the Brixton
and he appealed for mobilisations in the
bullie Cull frontation between the GLC and the Tory government.
Mandel estimated that in Europe the workers were fighting defensive battles but. in rrance and britaı in
they were preparing 'political countér-blows'.
He was particularly enthusiastic about the events in Poland which, ne sala, represented ine most ad
form of workers' control hich Europe had experienced sinc he Second World War
Over £1,000 was raised in a col-
Attack on abortion
AT ATTEMPT to abolish the limited right of abortion in Italy was
case of rape or if there is a danger that the child may be born deformed
The size of the majority in favour of rejecting a repeal of these laws suprised many commentators.
The CaLno ‹nurea. even the Pope himself, had Intervenea in tne relerendum campaign saying that the repeal movement was a
'holy cause'
The political parties supporting repeal the
Christian Democrats and the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement had tried to use the attempted assassination of the Pope to bolster their cause.
Just hours before the VOLE was held Gerardo Bianco, the chief whip for the Christian Democrats in
occupation Raghib Ahsan, a worker from Rover Solihull, told the rally of the struggle of black workers Soviet oppositionist, Pyotr Egides
the Italian Dallarlichl said that the defenders of the law had cited and brought about
climate •I vOICHCe which had led to the attempted assassination
In the event such smears had no effect. Ever districts in southern Italy, wher( the alli" avullo. vote had been expected to be the biggest, showed comfortable majorities against repeal
Enrico Berlinguer, scurela" of the Italian Communist Party, welcomed the referendum results by saying that Italian womer 'the real winners This is only partially the defeat of the right to choose amend. hilll will be : a bitter blow
OU UKR Italian women forced to have il legal doorons
Nevertheless, in the wake of the shooting of the Pope and the heightened emotions which followed it, the defeat of the
'Movement for Life' cam paign must have brought huge sighs of relief from many Italian women. Phil Penning reported from the Laurence Scott
Page 11 scan of this page
Forgotten war resisters
By Stuart Paul THE notorious 'wall of silence' which surrounds the media in Britain suffered sufficient shock on television earlier this month for the BBC's Did You See programme to line up a panel to knock down the offending documentary, Heroes.
John Pilger, whose documentaries on Kam-
did so much oucned puncture the imperialist world's myths about that country after the overthrow of Pol Pot, looked at the region through different eyes in his latest forage.
Heroes took up the story of the American veterans ot the Vietnam war, in par-
of the wounded veterans and their fate. The
of Did You See ob-
Pilger assembled demonstrate ns Case and that of the vets.
Horrors
Having been subjected to the horrors of the war in Indo-China, the vets now are given little pensation for their injuries.
LiKe Ine Vietnamese they are the isolated victims of the Us deteat.
One leader of the vets said on the programme:
infantry commander could order strikes that cost
government that that tells me it can't afford medical aid tor the veterans wounded there.'
Interview after interview revealed government neglect and veteran anger. Comparisons were made with the treatment veterans returning from the Second World were paid to go to university and provided with business
Hardy's Tess
trapped by
WHILE agreeing
some of the points made
Dy Jualin Ark wrignt in ne.
review of Tess (7 May), -
she oversimplified
Hardy's attitude the
society in which he lived.
implied TEVICW
that only the new
mechanised agricultural
livelihood was hard. In
fact the old system seems
to have been equally hard,
if less alienating. This
one of the main themes
the novel, characterised by
Tess's working life.
She is happy while she
works as a dairymaid, but
only because of her rela-
tionship with Angel.
When he leaves her she is
alone without any escape
from a harsh reality.
The men in her life are
symbols of the futility of
trying to escape
weary life into a personal
relanonship and of the
ruthless exploitation of the
labourers, with moral
But These ideas the
Church. ideas are
continued in Jude the
Obscure, Hardy's next and
'As
loans under the Benefits under that Bill are now lower in money terms than in the 1950s.
The official statistics of nealect in the documentary rejected out of hand by Did You historian, John Keagan
double standards
In my opinion he was neither a socialist nor a real friend to the cause of women's liberation. placed the blame for social injustice the hands of 'Fate'. All Hardy's great novels ena on a note of profound tragic pessimism.
Although he was obviously aware of Victorian double-standards which saw women as whores or angels, Tess never tries to escape from inat trap. As it happens, Hardy's treatment of both his wives was disgraceful.
As Judith Arkwright concluded, Hardy was an
social alloullalll and Polanski's film retains this criticism. But neither the book nor altack marriage as an institution from any Pardyss other Lode cynicism, based squarely on fis personal sexual pro blems.
SARAH VEALE, Deptford, South London
'Heroes' on the US vets
Wall Street, New York: May 1970. Students demonstrating against the Vietnam war. The US government wants to erase memories of the anti-war GI Bill. came from
Teoorl which released from pression by a Freedom ot in formation Act suit brought by the vets
military story,
recalled
Letters
What class are white-
collar workers?
I READ Brian Grogan's
article 'Why we're fighting
of
Ivia alty
workers' May) with
some dismay.
way as to be almost
almost entirely on the basis
of appeals to the authority
of Lenin and Trotsky.
Worse still, the writer
implies there are
historically fixed 'decisive
sectors' of the
class and that white-collar
workers and
presumably public sector
workers as well - - are not
part of the working class.
The article stated: "The
• organisations
Fourth International...
have always stood on the
programme of workers'
power, SCISC
have always been workers'
parties. even wnen the ma-
jority of their members
have been students and
Under Review
evener
La government only official supthe government Far from overtelling their returning
cheering Pilger undertold it. He the powerful US letter L
white-collar workers' (my emphasis). white-collar workers sell their labour for a wage or not?
DOWCI Which class does Ine writer think they belong to?
CHRIS BERTRAM, Oxford WE REPLY: Chris's points are pedantic and nit-picking. If the article was 'unreadable' then that's not Brian's fault it was substantially edited. Second, our insistence on a priority orientation to industrial workers not because we have redefined the proletariat, Poulantzas only those who directly produce surplus value. We accept the traditional definition of the working class as all those who sell labour power.
The point is: there are 'historically fixed' decisive
The
1945
soldiers,
the US
veterans World
as the
ched
of Force
unpaid
their veterans war greeted
anti-war movement and the vets' involvement in it. But he implied that the resulting unpopularity of the war and
reluctance of the march the soldiers through welcomes simply spilled over into the is the
CHANTER
sectors of the working class, whose social weight is crucial for any revolunonary or socialssa.
present neglect.
GI Bill was not the result or a government par ting its boys on the back for duing a good job in winning
popular war. The demobilisation of 15m Gls in
followed massive demonstrations by Those
from Guam to Paris, demanding to be sent home and released from the army. The militant mood of
soldiers prevented the from invading China after the Second World War. Veterans
What's more, the
of the •revious had given the wal governate to expect too
what expect from neglected veterans. In 1932,
depression struck, Thousands over scl
on Washington DC They were part of hundreds
'Bonus Expeditionary who verged on the capital and set up a camp demanding their
bonuses, promised at the end of the war.
After two months the army was sent in to destroy
and several were killed. The episode cannot have been forgotten when the GI Bill was passed
veterans ot the two World Wars were greeted as neroes. out us notrue ludi the left in the US regards all veterans as babv killers, as Pilger claimed. The veterans played a vital role in the anti.
movement, them warmly, and it's for this reason that the government now wants them out of sight. Crossfire
The real target ot the
government's policy, cruelly
catching the vets and the
Vietnamese in the crossfire
'Vietnam Syndrome'
Letters
tegy anu unese are lie industrial the miners, the car workers, transport workers, engin
How the vets were fêted during the war - the still persistent senti ment among the Americar people against any more
It kept the US i out of wars Angola; it prevented an in vasion of Iran last year, and it is spurring a new move ment against the planned US invasion of El Salvador
When the anti-war move
Vietnam go Ente there Tull SWInd were already 500,000 troops there It is a different story today Pilger powerfully concludec his documentary with com parisons between the
in the US press that heralded the Vietnar war and those now neare over El Salvador.
Analysis
But he omitted the 'Viet nam Syndrome' from his analysis and almost accepts as a foregone conclusion a US war in El Salvador, ever though that is already bogg ed down in the mud laid bi the vietnam war and tre anti-war movement.
it is a toregone conclu
that the movemen SON
Salvador will start with
articulate veterans.
Heroes is to be applaud
, Is acnievement can c: marked the haste wit which Did You See assemb ed three right-wingers unde the supervision Kennedy KOCr together with Psy-Ops, th: effective TV drama on Btain's psychological torture operations in the north o Ireland
eering workers and
forth
Our turn to industr! ::
designed to correct an irr.-
balance in the growth i
the Fourth Internationa
after 1968, in which
cruitment in these decisi:
layers was small.
Not course. we want ic white colla
workers, students and s
on. We shall continue ::
intervene late..
and recruit. But
"spontaneou
development of the
tions of the Fourth Inter-
national, then the natura
tendency will be to recru:
and put resources
those areas where we are
already strong
Recruiting workers won't come abou
as a natural by-product a:
getting bigger or an aure-
matic 'overflowing' fror
work in other sectors, bu: by a conscious built priorities, which must
clude having comrades !:
those decisive sectors
We do this not becau
the 'authority of Lenir
and Trotsky says we must but because the historica experience which Lenir Trotsky codified shows that a party which
tion must be deeply im planted among the dustrial workers. - Edito:
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1981 Page 15
Page 12 scan of this page
BELFAST COUNCILLOR
OUR AID
Er JOHN McANULTY sected onto Belfast City -ergus O'Hare, another :andidate, stood as members Semocracy, the Irish revolutionary socialist • ganisation, sympathising =ourtn International.
The primary signi-
: ance of the election
Hicooaut •om the Irish people to Margaret Thatcher.
It says that the Bob-
Sands' election vic-
y was not a mistake;
the Irish people
at the five demands
the prisoners; that
SHe aclays, further death that will
ase resentment and
u'SIOn the point
sre ine irisa masses
settle for nothing H S na an fnmeoace
British domina-
The election has an
- Urlaril long-term
nificance, for the
milation of Paddy
:. lin and the defeat of
ry Fitt, has redefined
at Irish socialism is
"VULi
:is not aboutreforn:
Not about upholding
.SiCSE TuRE
end. We have shown
significant ele. within ihe Irish
culdton dre willing to
aport a revolutionary
calism that stands in
Internetionatnc
:i-imperialist tradi-
: of Connolly.
Support the
Hunger Strikers
National Demonstration
London, 13 June
Assemble, Finsbury Park, London N4
at 1.30pm
*Hold local meetings to build the
demo!
*Get your union or Labour Party
branch to support it! *Book your coaches now!
red as a newspaper with the Post Office varaina enteronses, ru box bu by East End Offset (TU) Ltd, London Ez
Socialist
Challenge
APPEALS
'COME TO
who, last week was council. He and victorious Belfast of People's
section of the John McAnulty
The alternative the reformist left has, on the contrary, acted as a prop for the shameTul bipartısan policy 01 the British Labour Party. ne atonal socialists we make airect appeal to britsn workers to come to our aid to end the horrendous murder of the hunger strikers, and the vicious attacks on Irish people, including very young children, by the brisa Army ana me RUC.
London N1
The infamous H Blocks
•Jobs not bombs •Stop Irident • No Cruise missiles
Published. bi
By Tessa van Gelderen
but also London's nuclear bunkers.
National Demonstration 6 7 June
Marchforthe
D tulure
•For a nuclear free Europe
No bunkers for
Labour London
THE NEW Labour Greater London Council intends not only to boycott the royal wedding.
The Labour group is refusing to fulfil statutory civil defence obligations anons fäces a serious controntation with the
Tories.
•The new GLC administration i committed to
the wasteful spending so-called home defence,' said Illtyd Harrington, deputy leader
councu 'Such preparations can only
serve to make nucicar wal more thinkable and more likely War
Instead the GLC will divert yesoLice away from nuclear war preparaTORS iow eids protecting London from natural isasit m. in particular, flooding from the Thames
GLC's civil defence budget had been fixed at €706,000 for this y cal The goyernment is
likelv to sit back and 1/U1 let the capitai city's civil defence disappear
This is not because it has any illusions that the plans would save any Londoners the event of nuciear attack but because it strikes straight at the heart of the Tories' missile madness
it's not civil defence that will protect the nightmare of the bemb. The very evistence of Trident and Cruise missiles in Britain will
this country the number one target burope. Waste
The Labour manifesto for the elections in London committed itself to a unlateralist policy and the enaing or nuclea! W aste i being transported through London.
Any attempt the part of the Tóries to intenvent prevent une Labour GLC carrying out policy tor was elected should be met with a huge response trom the people of London
The government intervened in a similar situaton in 1956 against the Si Pancras Metropolitan Borough. A commissione: was appointed inr two
years until : new council nar obLUANiEWS
reversed the decision
The recision the people London!
W ass Teversed Tories decision to have Cruise and Triden And hopeful iv thev wor t have to wa till 1984 for that.
Page 13 scan of this page
REVOLUTION SOCIALIST PAPER FOR YOUTH
UNEMPLOYMENT KICK OUT
MARCH FOR JOBS- CARDIFF JULY 4
FIGHT
THE TORIES
for jobs
Peoples
march
LIVERPOOL LONDON MAY 81
try. out the Tories.
jobs
scrapheap fight for jobs.
Revolution May/ June 1981
LEEE SIT IN TEANS 'WE ARE women workers fighting for our jobs. Women's jobs are as important as any other, and we aim to prove that women can fight for them.'
That's the message from the workers at the Lee Jeans factory in Greenock who have been in occupation for over four months.
They are fighting to save the jobs of 250 workers, mainly young women, against the company's closure plans. And they are showing that women and young people have a right to work
The occupation has received massive support from the labour movement across the country. Dockers have pledged to boycott Lee Jeans products coming into the coun-
And in the west of Scotland, where thousands are already on the dole the Clydeside shipyard workers have taken weekly collections for the Lee Jeans strikers.
But the occupation isn't just a struggle to save 250 jobs. It's about fighting unemployment and kicking
As one Lee Jeans worker explained: 'It's not just our
inere s ine wnoie working class. Somebody has to make a stand otherwise Britain's just going to be one big
The stand of the Lee Jeans workers and of the workers occupying Laurence Scott's in Manchester is a shining example to the whole labour movement on how to
5p
It was a militant occupa tion that saved the jobs of Gardner's workers in Man-
militant action that will save the jobs of Leyland workers at Rover Solihull.
But these heroic struggles are not enough to end unemployment. We need a national campaign to do that.
The Peoples' March has shown that building such a movement is possible. Wherever it has passed thousands of workers have demonstrated their disaus with the Tory government, and their sympathy with those fighting back.
The policies of this Tory government have brought nothing but misery to working people and youth.
Their anger has to be turned into a national movement of industrial action led by the unions and the Labour Party to kick the Tories out once and for all.
Savorution page
Page 14 scan of this page
YOUTH F
WHERE TO FIND US SCOTLAND ABERDEEN - Graham 0224 694404 EDINBURGH - Raph 031
GLASGOW - Andy/Des 041 649 7542 WALES CARDIFF - Jane 0222 23182 SWANSEA - Graham 0792 299151 BANGOR - Nisha 0248 LOVI ENGLAND BIRMINGHAM - Lucy 021 643 0669 BRISTOL - Piers 0272 426419 COVENTRY - June Anne 0203 76699 LEEDS - Paul 0532 39071 x61 LIVERPOOL - Mark 051 728 9982 MANCHESTER - Duncan/Rob 061 236 4905 NEWCASTLE - Pete 0632 737 507 OXFORD - Helen 0685 48081 SWINDON - Kim 0793 32048 LONDON Ann/ Alix/ Richard 01 359 8371 For any other areas contact Revolution, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. Or phone 01 359 8371.
Why 1
joined
Revo
1 officially left school today. I'm glad to leave of course, but haven't got a job.
/ knew it would be difficult to get a job when I left school. The state of the country just seemed to be getting worse. Some terrible statistics were mentionee. like une bossromity of 5 million unemployed.
Meanwhile the aovernment is going to spend £5 billion on Trident missiles. nere are already enough weapons throughout the world to kill everyone, and more and more are being built.
The situation was obviously crazy. / decided that l'd moaned tor long enough, and wanted to do something.
/ Joined Revolution Youth because / could see it was an actve organisation which seemed determined to achieve its aims.
Being part of a campaigning organisation like Revolution Youth, you see that you don't have to accept whats going on. There is action you can take to build a better future.
Surely that's what we all want!
Rhona, Edinburgh Revolution Youth
Revolution page ii
THE DOLE queues lengthen by the minute. Even the official unemployment figures are expected to pass the 3 million mark by the end of the year. Youth women and black peo-
bie have been hardest
Thousands of youth have never had a real job. Even those leaving Youth Opportunities (YOPS) courses often end up back on the dole. And the Tories are now discussing conscription for forced community work, in a desperate attempt to hide the effects of their policies on youth.
Increasingly youth are
looking to the labour movement for a lead to fight back against the Tories. They are looking to the Labour Party and the trade unions for radical answers to problems like unemployment and the economic crisis. hese are the issues at the heart of the battle in the Labour Party.
In the last year the Labour left has won important victories: the automatic raht to reselect MPs, the election of the party leader and deputy opened up to the whole party not just the MPs, and radical policies like unilateral nuclear disarmament.
The Gang of Three split to form the Social Democratic Party over these issues. Most of the right wing MPs stayed behind. They are now organised in a group called Labour Solidarity which aims to stop the left advance in the party.
The biggest blow to the plans of the right wing was
Tony Benn's decision to stand for deputy leader. We support
Benn's stand against the right
wing MPs and union leaders, and his fight to continue debate on party policy.
We believe Benn is absol-
utely right to stand against
Healey, the candidate chosen
by the MPs. Healey represents
the policies of the last Labour
government which cut public
spending, allowed unemploy-
ment to rise to over a million,
and which attempted to hold
down wages. These policies
resulted in the first ever
decline in votes for Labour
from those under 25.
Benn's election campaign
is important because it takes
the battle in the Labour Party
into the trade unions which
control the majority of votes
at party conference. Now the
fight is on for democratic con-
trol of the union bloc votes.
The struggle in the Labour
Party will be decided in the
Revolution supports many
of Benn's policies like an end
to unemployment and the
restoration of social services
But his broaramme doesn t
represent the overall socialist
solution that we support. In
particular it has nothing to say
about what the Labour Party
= Why we
MADE
should be doing now to fight against the Tories.
Youth on the dole with no prospect of a job cannot afford to wait another three years before a Labour government begins to tackle unemployment. Tony Benn and the whole Labour Party should be fighting now for action to detend lobs, suppor ting occupations against redundancies and campaigning for a 35 hour work week
They should be fighting for positive action for youth, women and black people to have jobs. Most important of all they should be building a movement to kick out the Tories.
But despite these weaknesses Benn's campaign for deputy leader will swing the Labour Party further to the left, creating the best conditions for fighting for socialist policies.
That's why Revolution supporters will be working all out to build support for Benn's campaign and to get rid of Healey and the right.
Labour Party Deputy Leader
back Benn
this campaign.
What you can do
Party
the Tory attacks. branch
Labour Party bodies
peal
wing policies he stands for.
We urge all youth to join us in
We give full support to the Tories. candidacy of Tony Benn for deputy leader of the Labour
We believe that the campaign offers the best opportunity to discuss and organise to win policies which me labour move Leven. ment needs in the face of
We call for every branch, committee, and conference of the trade unions and Labour Party to discuss the election for deputy on strike leader of the Labour Party. *Circulate this appeal in your union, LPYS or Labour Party *Pass a resolution endorsing the appeal to go to the national and district union and
*Ask other union and Labour week o Party members to sign the ap-
ANDY, Oxford Revolution
UNEMPLOYMENT IS RIS millions are being spent on
while social services are cu
on the increase - but we wo get away with it.
Across the country, yo
fighting back for a better fu
CND, on the streets of Bris
try, on the People's March
unions and Labour Party. this fightback against the
fight for a socialist future.
Scottish
take on
the Tork
A WAVE of youth militancy is sweeping Scotland From the magnificent occupation of the Lee Jeans factory by mainly young women to save their jobs, to the spontaneous strikes by YOPS workers for better pay and conditions, Scottish youth are fighting back against the most reactionary government since the thirties.
These actions are in sharp contrast to those of the present leadership of the working class in Scotland, who have sold tens of thousands of jobs since the election of the
The actions of the YOPS workers in particular stand out. Without any union to back them, they have mounted strikes all over Scotland: in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife and the Vale of
One of the strikes took place on a YOPS scheme run by the district council in Edinburgh. A YOPS workers on the scheme explained why they came out
What can you do with €23.50 a week? Nothing much. Once you've paid for your digs and spent £3 a
bus fares, you're left with about a fiver. The labourers we work with are doing the same work for three times the cash. That's
Join with Revolution Yo
why we decided to come out on strike. We're not going to be used as cheap labour any more.'
The anger and militancy of the YOPS workers was clear to see at the Scottish Youth Rally Against Unemployment in Perth. It was organised by the Scot tish TUC Youth Advisory
Scottish Youth CND W
Edinburgh 27-28 June
March Against the M
Waverley Bridge, marci
followed by rally and opi
park.
Rock Against the Missile
Jocal bands playing
Plot Against the Missiles
5 CND in Scotland,
-For more details write to
The Smiling Sun Books!
Edinburgh, or phone R
Page 15 scan of this page
GHT BACK
ING RAPIDLY, uclear weapons
back, racism is
n'tlet the Tories ung people are ture - in Youth ton and Coven-
and inside the
uth, in building
Tories - in the
youth
2S
Committee as a substitute
for Scotland's own
People's March, called off
after a ban on marches in
Scotland.
The youth marching
hrough the streets of
Perth had a very different
idea to those of the Scot-
tish TUC about what work-
ing people should be doing
about the Tories. Chants of
'Jobs Not Bombs' and
'Kick the Tories Out'
echoed loudly along the
march.
At the rally the biggest
cheer was reserved for
Scottish miners' leader
Mick McGahey, no youth
leekend of Action
siles: Assemble 10.30am o secret bunker at Barnton, air rock concert in nearby
gig in the evening with top
conference to launch Youth
Edinburgh Youth CND, c/o op, West Nicholson Street, on 031 557 0718.
himself, when he called on everyone to support Tony Benn for deputy leader of the Labour Party, and to build industrial action to force a general election and return a Labour government committed to conference policies.
The fight for 'Jobs Not Bombs' and the militancy of young people have spilled over into CND in Scotland. The Sunday Standard reported that 'a majority of teenage members of CND are unemployed, and their bitterness is fuelled by defence spending allied with government cuts.
In the same article the leaders of Scottish CND said they feared that calls for militant action by the youth could affect CND's image.
That militancy which so worries the present leadership of Scottish CND will be shown in a march against the missiles in Edinburgh on 27 June. At a conference the next day youth from all over Scotland will meet to discuss how to build Youth CND in Scotland.
Revolution supporters will argue that to stop the missiles Youth CND will have to win young workers like those from Lee Jeans and the YOPS strikes. Only the power of the working class can stop the missiles. RAPH, Edinburgh Revolultion Youth
Black youth say
Tory policies put black people at the bottom of the pile. and nationality laws are used to intimidate the black community and break up their families. The 'sus' laws are used to harass black youth.
Black people face worse social conditions too.
Unemployment is much higher among blacks, especially the youth, and they are forced to live in the most run-down areas with poor housing and facilities. To cap it all black people also live under the constant threat of racist attacks.
After a lifetime of discrimination and harassment it's no surprise that black youth are in the forefront of the fight back against the Tories. The Brixton events were an explosion of black ander and resistance. The target was the police.
the riots the Brixton police launched a massive operation called Swamp 81, resulting in 1000 mainly black youth being stopped and searched. No wonder the black community and many white youth in the area supported the struggle against the police.
The experience of black youth in Coventry is the same: 'The police deliberately provoke us, sometimes making false arrests, and harass us everywhere we go. When you go to court the magistrate always believes the police
We've had
enough"
BRISTOL, Brixton, and now Coventry ... black youth are standing up for their rights. They are fighting back against the racists, the police and years of racial discrimination.
The racist immigration
last month.
over the last year.
blacks for the crisis. have never had a job.
In the days leading up to
system.
people's rights.
years.
That's the view of West Indian youth in Coventry who are organising against racist attacks in the area after a young Asian was murdered by skinheads in the city centre
Unfortunately the fascist organisations like the NF and British Movement have grown
. Some white youth are attracted to their easy' solution of blaming
But black people don't cause unemployment. In fact they suffer worse unemployment. In Brixton for example more than 1800 people under 20, most of whom are black,
Black people are victims of the crisis not the cause, just as other working people and youth are victims of the crazy unfair capitalist system.
But the black youth of Brixton and Coventry have shown that there is an alternative, that they are prepared to fight back against the
Now the unions and the LPYS should follow their lead in campaigning for positive action to defend black
In particular the labour movement should support the self-organisation and selftence or te black com munity, and fight to commit the next Labour government Sa to repeal the immigration, nationality and sus laws, and all
STOP THE
MISSILES
WHEN TORY Defence Minister John Nott announced plans to cut defence spending the Tory press went wild Tory 'gentlemen' choked on their gin and tonics on hearing horror stories of scrapping half the Royal Navy.
The reason for the fuss is Trident, Britain's new nuclear submarine. The latest estimated cost of this white
Want is about E7 billion. ven/t decid ed how to pa
spending more than i they've done already, and they cant borrow the money as it would fly in the face of their policies for the last two years. This leaves one option: take it out of defence spending, the one area of public spending not touched over the last two
Naturally the idea of scrapping Trident, Cruise and the rest or orlains nuclear arms, to provide money for new homes, schools, hospitals and jobs never even crossed the Tories' minds.
With the Tories in such disarray, the disarmament movement has the chance to make a lot of ground over the summer. The national demonstration in October is what everyone is aiming for, but we must use the coming months to bring out at least a quarter of a million people on the streets of London.
Coming up to the summer all Youth CND groups should be preparing for the national Week of Action at the beginning of August. Local groups should participate in the CND local and regional events commemorating Hiroshima arid Nagasaki Day, as well as organising events to build Youth CND.
Ideally all CND regions should follow the example of north west region CND. Following on the successes of the CND labour movement conference in March and the demonstration greeting the end of the Trans Pennine march in April, there will be a regional carnival at the begin ning of August.
The Week of Action can also be a focus for organising the regional conferences
decided upon by the recent Youth CND national conference in Birmingham. These should discuss important things like how we use Second Generation; how to stop the missiles; the role of Youth CND; and the activities we should organise in the run-up to the October nationa demonstration. They should also elect the two regional representatives onto the
ch CND national commi onto me steers mure of thousands to fig the missiles, this
OND Faslane beg
Scottish 1 OND are using the demo to organise a Weekend of Action to reall put Youth CND in Scotland on the map. This will includ a demonstration and conference. This is the type of thing we should organise in every region of the country.
The Militant leadership of the Labour Party Young Socialists were forced at the recent conference to recom mend affiliation to CND despite their previous sectarian opposition. This is a great step forward in taking the fight to young workers. Youth CND groups should formally approach local LPYS branches with a plan of local, regional and national activities.
Many LPYS activists have needed no encouragement to recognise the importance of winning their local branches to campaign with Youth CND now we have the chance to go out and win the rest.
Disarmament is being
appared at moscunon conferences: the recent ASTMS conference voted in favour of unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from NATO.
We want the voung workers leading the fight for disarma ment in the unions in the
ranks of Youth CNL
The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get rid of the missiles for good.
Richard, Hackney Revolution youth
Revolution page il
Page 16 scan of this page
RALLY FOR REVOLUTION!
chis month.
There is an alternative to this sort of society. At the moment society is run in the interests of a small, rich and powerful minority who gain-
and power ea newel hrough the exploitation of
throughout
Revolution Youth fights for society where the neces ot al C put before the to make promit; a society were dec isions are taken by the peo. ple whose lives are affected by those decisions; a society tree from oppression and the threat of war.
short, Revolution Youth fighting for socialist society.
An example of what we mean can be seen in the tiny Caribbean island Grenada. There, the people are working to rebuild their society after years of repression from the US-backed dictator Eric Gairy.
Since the Grenadan people overtnew Gairy March 1979, they have made enormous gains.
Unemployment has been cut by 50 per cent, a free health service has been created, and women have won the right to equal pay tor equal work
These gains will never be made by he likes of Thatcher and Reagan. They use their police and armed
forces against anyone fighting for their rights
- .:
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
Address,
MC8...... Occupation.
Revolution page iv
as an independent revolutionary youth organisation
We're one year on in the fight against the system that Reagan and Thatcher offer us: a society with evergrowing dole queues, where the murder of black people goes virtually unopposed, and where death in a nuclear war is the only future to look forward to.
they prisoners in Ireland or black youth Brixton In El Salvador for example, Ronald Reagan is propping upd brutal military against resistance of the people. the people Salvador have their strength as workers and farmers rely on, as well as the of spiration from Tine tions in Cuba, Grenada and Nicaragua. They also have the potential support workers, farmers and youth the world over.
Revolution Youth sees its role as building support for liberation struggles ever and WHenever take place. The worldwide support for the Nicaraguan Literacy Crusade last year was vital to its success in eradicating amongst the rural population.
Britain has been hard hit by the world recession and the monetarist policies the Tory government. employment has doubled in year, standards have declined and social services have been
Come to
the rally
If you want to come to the rally and/or want more information about Revolution Youth then write to us:
begun to aboe a Padin has The Labour fightback against the Tories' anti-working With Tudssive tions against Liverpool Mell Glasaow. More people are looking a ternative to une lones Bristol and The leftward shift in the
Labour Party seems to native. that Benn's mass transformed into action to
really challenge the Tories. The movement to Cruise missiles Britain has also massively •vel revolu vear, witn tens or tnousands
taking to the streets to protest against Thatcher's sup-
of port of Reagan's war drive.
Revolution Youth has taken a lead in the youth wing of the anti-missiles fighting to win more young wher- people to the ranks of Youth they CND.
Revolution
illiteracy building an organisation of
young women workers, young blacks and all young people who want to fight against the sort of future that the Tories offer
Un. us. We're nearly organisation fighting living
socast society future worth fighting for.
Revolution
holding a rally in London on 27 June: TO first annivelsary brate the victories of the revolutions across the world which have freed thousands of people from capitalist oppression, and to reaffirm our commitment to kicking out the Tory government.
So, come to the Revolution Youth First Anniversary Rally!
Stand drive of Reagan cher: No Cruise, no Trident; Britain out of NATO; Jobs Not Bombs!
Stand across the world fighting for their liberation!
Rally with Youth, for everyone fighting for their rights!
has
class policies
demonstra-
unemploy-
and
and more
for an
behind Benn outer unar diler.
We must make sure
evitably
words are altogether.
coming to
its strategy on grown was the Ocol following Sands MP
Republican cause.
Poland's
can aren 'an IRA
life for his
hunger striker,
Youth is
young
ship,
building
•all for a past few the only Benn have Youth
celebrate ou
to cele-
Aspects getting
by attractive
away places.
Youth Opportunities
against the war
vouth into and Thatmachine
with all those
unemployment. weeks British Revolution
Come to the Revolution Youth First
Get the British troops out of Ireland - that's the message from the majority of working people and youth in this country. British policies in Ireland have failed miserably. The 'troubles' continue, as they in-
will until Britain gets
In the last few weeks world opinion has appealed to the bullets. British government to rethink Over
thousands • Ireland. . There international outcry the death of Bobby on hunger strike, and police. and a wave of sympathy for the
Lech Walesa, the leader of
resisting independent union Solidarity, described Sands as more
freedom fighter. great man who sacrificed his
strugglé'. Huge demonstrations in Ireland have followed the deaths of each
once again showing the massive support for the prisoners' demands.
Despite this broad opposition to British policy in Ireland courts Margaret Thatcher, backed to the hilt by the Labour leader-
prescribes more of the same repression. More troops confessions have been sent to Ireland in the
weeks. Only a tiny senice handful of left MPs led by Tony
called TOI the youth withdrawal of British troops
Many young people in this country have been forced into ation, the army by the massive rise in unemployment. With job pro-
worse each month and only a pittance on the dole - it's easy to be lured
advertisements for fat wage packets and far-
Now the Tories plan to start (YOPS) schemes in the army, bringing one step closer conscription of
the Tory war
they don't tell unemployed youth who sign up is that the Irish youth they are sent to shoot suffer even higher
soldiers have shot and killed several innocent teenagers, mainly by shooting
Anniversary Rally - 27 June, Caxton
Hse, London. (nr Archway Tube) 7.30pm.
Speakers from: Grenada, Nicaragua, El
Salvador, Ireland, French revolutionary
youth, Youth CND, Revolution Youth.
Troops Out Now!
that
of Ireland
them in the head with plastic
the past 12 years more have beer picked up, injured or attacked And young women have been raped and abused by soldiers
Yet still they expect us to believe that the communities BuSa than 'criminals'. Hundreds of Irish youth from these ghettoes are locked up in the H Blocks and Armagh women's
They were tried in special with no juries under special laws that deny the basic rights of human justice. They are convicted on the basis of extracted under torture. Yet their special status
We know that the black who rioted in Brixton were not hoodlums and thugs.
They were fighting discriminharassment, brutality
and unemployment. We know
those arrested were political prisoners. The same is true of those arrested in Belfast and Derry.
The Irish prisoners have shown their willingness to die to force the government to admit that Ireland's problems are political, not a breakdown of 'law and order'. They have shown heroic determination to force the British government to change course and get out of Ireland.
Youth in Britain have nothing to gain from the war in Ireland. It's time we organised inside the unions and the LPYS to say loud and clear: we won't
TOT Thatcher's war Ireland, get the troops out of Ireland noW the demands of the Irish prisoners. PIERS, Bristol Revolution
National Demonstration
Support the Irish prisoners' five demands!
Stop the deaths! Saturday 13 June, 1.30 Assemble Finsbury Park, march to Hyde Park Called by the H Block/ Armagh Committee
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