Socialist Challenge No. 239, 26 March 1982
The scan: sc-no239.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge
No. 239 25 March 1982 25p
GRAPHIC: El Salvador Campaign/Stead
Socialist Unemployea and strikers lup victory to the FMLN RAL STEAD man
INSIDE
El Salvador
see pages 8 and 9.
hands off
Riots and rumours of riots: a 'law
and order'
general election
US
Page 2 scan of this page
'Reagan can't send
Editorial
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
Phone 01-359-8189/8180 (editorial-and distribution)
El Salvador
Time to take sides
THIS WEEKEND phoney elections are
taking place in El Salvador, a country in
which 30,000 people have been killed in
the past year.
The war in El Salvador has become
the pivot of a huge upsurge in the whole
of Central America.
most of the
America
United States is supporting
regimes which
miserable oppression.
dominated
families, while the mass of ordinary people live in dire poverty.
Every socialist, everyone concerned with
basic democratic rights
should support the people of El Salvador.
In 1979 the
neighbouring Nicaragua was overthrown by a
led by
guerrillas. The Nicaraguan revolution spurred
on the struggle in El Salvador and neighbour-
ing Guatemala.
What is now at stake is the whole future of
Central America, and the outcome or tne pre-
sent struggle will have tremendous implica-
tions for Latin America as a whole.
The only reason
regime of Duarte has survived in El
is that millions of dollars worth of US military
aid, together with dozens of military advisors.
who make up 10 per cent of the officer corps,
have been poured in.
Reagan ana
responsible for El Salvador's agony.
Reagan is coming to Britain on 7 June. On
6 June tens of thousands
dreds of thousands
on the demonstration called by CND.
But it is no accident that Reagan, the
missile maniac, is also
Salvador.
The nuclear missiles and the arms sent to
the El Salvadorean junta are part of the same
process of arming the United States to keep
the world free for
'democracy' - in other words to keep it free
for the profits of the American multinational
corporations.
That's why Socialist Challenge says that
on 6 June the fight against missile madness
and solidarity with El Salvador should be link-
ed together in the fight to stop Reagan.
HUACHAPAN Lo., Tena
/Santa-Tecla LA LIBERTAD
Zones held by the guerillas 0U Km
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM
If 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 Name.....
Address.
Age
Union/CLP (if any)...
Send to: Socialist Challenge, London N1 2XP.
Socats: Chalenge 25 Marit
countries of Central and in many more besides - the
VIGOUS TOnt" defend the most The economy of by fourteen SUOL
and social justice
Somoza dictatorship in
the sandinista why the right-wing Salvador
This buddies are
probably hun-
- will march against him
the butcher of El
Western-dominated =age 2
EL SALVADOR
representative of the FDR. Phil Hearse spoke to him last week. Q. Who do you think assassinated the four Dutch journalists killed last week and why the death squads or the army? differentiate between I don't think you can
the government and the death squads. The death squads operate as part oi tne arm• ed forces in El Salvador. The death squads do the dirty jobs the army doesn't want to do openly.
The Dutch journalists were assassinated because there are 300 journalists in the country cover the so-called 'election' which everyone knows is a fraud.
The right wing sectors in the army, the death squads have decided to terrorise the journalists sO they don't report what is happening. So that there are no witnesses. Q. It seems likely that among those few peo ple who will vote, President defeated by deathsquads'
D' Abuisson. Why do
won't it you think that cause big pro- is, and blems for Ine United States?
HONDURAS Sarancisco.
A. As a result of the war
and the position the
DR/FMLN, there will br
a high level of abstentions.
leaves voung the
middle sectors in the cities,
and the upper middle class
and the oligarchy.
Some of those people
call Duarte a 'communist'!
They don't want even tiny
reforms; they would love
to have as president some-
one like D'Abuisson, who
openly represents their in-
I don't think it will be
very embarrassing for the
United States
D'Abuisson wins. Who-
ever wins in El Salvador
will be all right for the
United States. If Duarte
wins, they would
prefer that because it will
preserve the
them morale...
tacade, it will allow them to intensify the counter-
wal
But if D'Abuisson wins he might pressurise the United States to call upon
international Latin American force •to help them fight 'communism' The United States have also considered this possibility but would prefer to implement it in their own time rather thar being pressurised by the Salvadorean right.
Q. In January 1981 the FMLN launched its 'fina offensive'. After its failure to overthrow the junta, the regime went on a counter-offensive. But now the regime is in retreat. How do you account for the military turn-around?
A. The offensive of 1981 was never called a 'final offensive' by the FMLN
that name was given to
FMLN called it a 'general offensive' time the FMLN army was only an army in formation, at a very early stage. It happened at the time when the political organisations were turnins into real political-military organisations.
We never thought this was a war which would be won in one big battle. Since the general offensive of 1981 the guerrilla army has developed into a real army, well organised and trained, led by people witł dedication and great ex perience.
So the FMLN is more effective, despite the fact that there has been a great difficulty obtaining arms and ammunition which are badly needed
As far as determination, morale and discipline are concerned, that has changed qualitative. At the same time the Salvadorean army has been falling to pieces, its morale is
a very low ebb. Mr Reagan can send the Salvadorean Army al• maments training helicopters, etc. but the one thing he can't send them is morale!
Q. Is it possible that the first major attack that the US will make will be on Nicaragua and not El
A. The danger of an attack on Nicaragua is a very real one. The Nicaraguan government had to bring in a state of emergency because they are being constantly attacked from the Honauran borae • [WO 1• portant bridges destroyed a week ago.
The Nicaraguan
meeting of the United Nations Security Council in
which they
Salvador Moncada, preparing to intervene.
But whether it might happen before, after or combined with an attack on El Salvador is difficult to say. I'm sure the US government is discussing
the moment the different possibilities.
Q. How do you assess the attitude of the British government? A. John Pilger demonstrated in the Guardian that the United Kingdom had contributed over one million pounds to an IMF loan to El Salvador.
Britain the stely only Europe sending observers country to the election, the only country in NATO doing so, and one of only eight countries out of sixty-eight which were asked to send
with ooservers alulle other 'democracies like Uruguay, Argentina and so on!
Denis Healey in Labour Weekly that Britain has agreed to send observers to curry
representative of the FDR ment in the negotiations
I think that in general Britain hasn't got a policy towards the region cept aligning itself with the United States.
Q. What are the main points of the pro.
FDR/ gramme of the
FMLN what kind of society are you fighting for?
A. oratic societys and democratic society, from outside intervention. We work for the majority
the peasants, Lae workers, the intellectuals. the middle classer and against the tiny oligarchy who run the country.
We are going to blish an agrarian reform,
develop a mixed economy with a privat and a public sector, we shall carry out a literacy campaign. We are a revolution against imperialism and against the oligarchy which run the country. Q. So what kind of international solidarit d:
GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
A. International solidarity trom lne peoples ol in world has been very im portant. We understood that from the very beginn ing
If the people of the world didn't know wha
vor happening in l
dor killing, LOTLUE anc I the rest would probably be a hundred times worse. International support has helped to restrict the war of aggression
the Salvadorean people. We would also like material support as well.
We ask people _ in Western Europe and espe cially Britain put pressure on their governments not to support the United States in anothe misadventure of the Viet-
nam type demand People
The British should of Margaret Thatcher why Britain is sending observers to the elections, why Britain is participating in NATO manoeuvres in the Caribbean and tell her to stop supporting Reagan's
Page 3 scan of this page
Life in a liberated zone
By Jean-Pierre Beauvais in El Salvador Night fell a few minutes ago. The darkness is almost complete, barely moonlight and the fluttering modest candles.
In the organisation for life in the zones controlled by the revolutionists, discussion'.
Arturo, the discussion leader. comments Ul1 the
given by the FMLN radio actions that took place the previous day throughout the country, failure of the offensive that involved more than two thousand government soldiers in the key area Ille Guazapa volcano, reactions to Reagan's speech
the Organisation of American Washington, international solidarity, and so on.
The radio station decisive. In sucn a remore place, which can only be reached ov owe lord tuous road and then continuing on toot for several hours, the radio keeps everybody aware every day that they are part of something bigger than an isolated nucleus, that their might is part or a growing nationwide struggle, that they have the support of a vast movement of internatonal soldarity.
Radio
The radio station is the svmbol ot. and an extraordinary means for, con-
the
political authority of the
FMLN and of its leadership. Tonight there is to be a discussion or ine airectives broadcast the population for 28 March, the day scheduled for national elections:
'Evacuate houses close bases: these bases will be attacked.
from military patrols; on 28 March they will all be targets. Travel as little possible; many roads will be mined strategic points. Assist the actions of the guerrillas by building barricades in the surrounding areas 10 obstruct the movement of the genocidal armed forces.
In practice, this concerns very few of the poor peasants who live in this tiny valley. What are elections? None of those at the meeting tonight have ever volea. Maybe their votes were cast for them at the
military base in the nearest towil,
foot. But they don't know anything
Besides, for months no army patrol has ventured in here. So, 28 March will be almost just another day. Blind
Such night meetings
have a real become
routine in the innumerable
Lucild Call s lIKC this
one. And these circles of
men and women sitting on
the ground, as these peo-
ple are this evening around
Arturo, between few
nammocks ana Iwo tiny
peasant huts with walls of
dried mud, are the best il-
lustration of the reality
and the meaning of this
struggle of an entire peo-
ple.
You would need all the
ill will, prejudice and ig
norance, and blind self-
interest of a Reagan, Haig,
such criminals
to see in this 'the hand of a
foreten is not
not Cubans,
touched by dim flames of two
'encampment', the centre of the
it is the time for 'political
Nicaraguans, or Russians that inspire the hopes that flash in otherwise timid
eyes that contrast CVES with the marks left forever on these people's faces by years of hunger, sickness, and resignation. The simple language spoken here reflects a conviction borne our or a dally experience oi superexploitation thè old conviction society cannot be endured any longer, a conviction that there be revolution.
Remote
These liberated zones today cover a good third of the territory of El Salvador. generally these are also the most Temole the LUSI backward, and the least 'usetul economicallv this country, which is nu larger five krench departments (or a couple of American, British Irish counties).
of the existence and their constant extenson retlects the advances of the revolutionists. hev are ine expression not only of the
popular over wiels support for the actions of
the revolutionists but also
of the massive incorpora-
tion ot the population into
the fighting.
This fact makes posy be FLN's misland possible understand
capacities have grown so
considerably in these last
months. what has
made possibie more and
more audacious and more
and more effective actions
in areas that not long ago
seemed to be securely held
by the army.
Army
Based on these
liberated zones, the nuclei
of guerrilla fighters have
grown into the organised
detachments of a 'Revolu-
tionary People's Army'
that today comprises bet-
ween five and six thousand
well-trained fighters.
Militia
Rooted in the mobilisa-
the people in the liberated zones. a militia of twenty thousand members growing up. It is already able to organise the selfdetence ot sections ot the masses. coordination will People's Army. And all this work is being directed with the perspective prepang a general uprising.
Strike
the Clues and notably in the capital despite the brutal repres. sion that prevails there, this militia
El Salvador.
When the soldiers came to Guazapa province organised primarily among the workers in the workplaces, and whenever this is possible, framework of the trade-
union structures that have managed underground.
'When we called for a
general tie lass earn
workers didn't tollow us But almost all of them consider that our , struggle is also theirs. So,
INTERNATIONAL VITYPONT
OVEMENT AFTER POLA @FRANCE @BELGIUM ITALY @SPAIN
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Socialist Challenge
this gave rise to a lot o discussions. Our conclu sion was that the attitud of the workers who didn follow the call was the e pression of a high level o politicisation. A good par of the working class
military's repression ever day, estimated correctl that we did not have ih capacity defend th
" That was the wa an FMLN cadre explaine it to me. He added:
'Given the degree repression that there is the capital, the precond tion for any major ma action 1s capacity for self-defen: and mobilis tions Besides that, workers nave to be co vinced on the basis of the OWI capacity exists decisive thing eliminating hesitations i been the growth of the te ritories under our contro This has enabled everyar to judge how the millia: relationship of forces -been shifting favour. It has almost mas it possible to accelerate:! organisation of militia: the cities.
Health
The effect.:= liberated zone: described variously br FMLN leaders I talked
'rearguard bast.cand They are also areas which certain basic Do! in the FMLN programr. are aircady put inio pic tice.
refort literacy programmes.
11.0 system of public healt
La network collectivised distributio ot goods • all this work 2 being carried on in co junction with the tasks self-defence milla training and organisatio
25 March 1982 page
Page 4 scan of this page
Cuban revolution
By Dave Smith CUBA plays an absolutely central role in the politics ot the Central American reaion.
(the FMLN), in Nicaragua (the FSLN), in Grenada (the New Jewel Movement) and now in Guatemala identify fully with the achievements of the Cuban revolution, with the militant and uncompromising stance of the Cuban leadership against US imperialism and its determination to extend the revolutionary process in Central America.
In fact these leaderships consciously use Ine Cuban model in developing. their strategy for socialism.
One of the most striking features of the Cuban revolution was that it proved that forces other than
11 UllI Stalinist tradition can come to power in a revolu
Reagan steps up
IN THE face of the new revolutionary advances in Central America, the United States has stepped up its pressure on Cuba.
off the Cuban coast. ting. This exercise will include a provocative landing by US troops of the Guatanamo military base which the US still illegally possesses on Cuban soil. Reagan is forcing pressurising Western Cuba's $1.5bn foreign because of serious shortfalls in foreign currency earnings from sugar and nickel.
Wing of any ship from US ports that moves cargos to or from Cuba.
US residents visiting Cuba.
tionary upheaval.
They have maintained power for nearly 23 years without degenerating into societies Lne Jaruzelski's_ Poland or Brezhnev's Russia.
The position of the Cuban masses has been to defend revolution
Socialist Challenge 25 March 1982
The gains of the
The leaderships of the struggles in El Salvador
transformed by the Cuban revolton. reviewing these accomplishments it is suitable LO make comparisons with other Latin Amencan countries.
However, this tiny island can even stand comparison with advanced dustrialised countries.
Malnutrition, let alone famine, has entirely disap2222223 pressure on Cuba
NATO is presently conducting a naval exercise
British ships are participa-
further measures. banks not to reschedule debt made necessary
He is also expected to announce soon the bann-
Washington is also preparing restrictions on
earec Luda.
World Health Organisation Cuba has the highest calorific intake in the whole of Latin America. Of course there are scarcities - but not oi basic necessities.
Such scarcities, inMay Day in Managua, 1981. FSLN follows example of Cubans in relying on mass mobilisation
page 4
Cuba is key target of US imperialism.
in the face of Washington's threats evitable underdeveloped country, are made infinitely worse blockade
by US perialism the natural trading partner for a country a mere 90 miles away
Think of the additional labour and skills needed to make spare parts from scratch. Think the massively increased transport costs to obtain necessary imports from half way across the globe.
Nonetheless more and more consumer goods are available Cubans. Coveted mechanical and electrical distributed not through UNC shops but workplace, where the
decided merit who should have the
Cubans
Choy all educational system which is free up to the age of 16. Health care is free with a ratio staff and patients which
International
TABAJO
1980 showed determination of Cuban people not to back down
compares wila any advanced country.
Tremendous strides have been made by the Cubans in the fight against Women S oppression. Needless to say prostitu-
has beer totally eradicated. The Cuban
tavours positive action to allow women to take their place in the workforce.
Before the revolution only 200,000 women were employed mostly In domestic service Today 800,000 women make up
per cent of the workforce.
Discrimination on the basis of sex is punishable by law. Rape has been virtually eliminated Abor-
I CO and fully available. There are 900,000 places available in nurseries with plans for an
each year. They are open 24 hours a day with educa. tion, food and clothing provided free. The
UBAM
'March of Fighting People' in April
number of public laun-
dries and cafeterias
growing.
The no vener of
women in polițical life is
growing. This is likely to
be reinforced by the fact
that over 80 per cent of
Cuban women are organis-
ed in the Federation of
Cuban Women.
To be sure, heterosex-
uality is presented as the
Cuba. But
norm in fromned upon, has been whilst
trowned upon.
decriminalised. Militias
Racism has been
eradicated In
revolutionary Cuba black
and white were segregated
on the beaches. Now black
pride is promoted in hun-
dreds of different ways.
The Cuban leaders
have consistently mobilis-
fend the revolution. In
Cuba, and following their
example in Nicaragua and
Grenada, hundreds
thousands of workers are
organised popular
militias.
Defend
Thus in Cuba it is the
people who al c called
upon to defend the revolu-
their determinatior
to do so was shown by the
millions demonstrated in the 'March of the Fighting People' in 1980.
What frightens Reagan is that the Cubans seek to defend their own revolution by extending other countries in Central America.
Gains
The Cuban government and people have consistently supported the Sul used Guatemala and Salvador, and defended Nicaragua and Grenada against US
The great gains of the Cuban revolution have on ly been achieved by breaking the hold of imperialism on Cuba, and establishing a workers' state. I nis ex. ample Is ine one which must be followed to gain victory for the workers and peasants in the whole region.
Poland
JEAN-YVES POTEL
speaking tour of Britain.
meetings include:
Sauchiehall St.
cadilly
Challenge/Revolution meeting on
Tue 30 March Other
Hotel.
Spring 1982 issue now out!
Solidarnosc detainees
2XP or from
Europe,
London E8.
HANDS
OFf Budzes
London 2AP Enclose mones che ques postal order made Challense. Socialist
Solidarity Committees with
Solidarnosc
041-632 1839
Place, Edinburgh.
Creie St, Oldham,
Feickert, 28 Roundhay Yorkshire. Ring 0532 490927.
Roger Murray, 11. Ring 021-773 5396
JCHKIES Beatty 0222-764195
c/o ASTMS, 26 Queens Rd, Coventry Oxford Labour Banbury Rd, Oxford. Ring 0865 58238
Drive, London NW11. Ring 01-458 1501 Labour Focus on Eastern Europe, Kingsland High St, London E8. Polish Solidarity Committee London E13 Ring speakers, or 01-249 2665 for out of London.
UK SW5. Ring 01-373 3492
Crane operative Bank, 110 Leman St, London E1.
Potel speaks on
French Trotskyist and author of the new Pluto Press book Th Summer Before the Frost, is currently on a
He has already spoker. in Oxford and Birmingham. Other
Wed 24 March Glasgow Polish Solidarity Committee meeting, 7.30pm at McLellan Galleries,
Thu 25 March Manchester Socialist Challenge meeting, 7.30pm at Unicorn pub, Church St, Pic-
Fri 26 March Guest speaker at Hackney Socialist
El Salvador, 7.30pm at Family Centre, Rectory Rd, N16.
Bookshop/Big Flame meeting, 7.30pm at Marchmont Community Centre, Marchmont St, Kings Cross. 50p entrance Wed 31 March National Union of Students conference meeting at 10pm, Cumbrian House, Savoy
Labour Focus on
Eastern Europe
Poland since martial law: Solidarnosc's programme from last year's congress, debates within Solidarnosc prior to the coup, repression and the fightback round-up, resistance documents, labour movement action, list of
and much more.
Everything you need to know on Poland. £1.50 per copy, bulk orders available. From Other Bookshop, 328 Upper St, London N1
Labour Focus on Eastern Box 23, 136 Kingsland High St,
SOLDARTY
Socialist Challenge PAMPHLETI
now of the second edition. ppk! Ordpr y Just 25p or groups orders.
Glasgow Polish Solidarity Committee, c/o lan McCalman, 18 Mossgiel Rd, Glasgow G43. Ring Edinburgh Polish Solidarity Committee, c/o Edinburgh & District Trades Council, 12 Picardy Greater Manchester Polish Solidarity Com. mittee, c/o Jon Silberman, 51 Montrose House,
Lancs. Ring 061-620 2885.
Leeds Polish Solidarity Committee, c/o Dave
Mount, Leeds 8,
Birmingham Polish Solidarity Committee, c/o
28 Blackford Road, Birmingham
Cardiff Polish Solidarity Committee, c/o Mark
Ave, Cardiff. Ring
Coventry Solidarity Committee, John Fisher
Committee on Poland, 468
Eastern Europe Solidarity Campaign, 10 Park
Box 23, 136
, 69 Edinburgh Rd. 2218 T 01 London
Solidarnosc Trade Union Working Group in
_64 Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court, London
Solidarity Fund, c/o Co
Page 5 scan of this page
Manchester trade unionists adopt
Reagan rejects nuclearfreeze
International
March 1982
DOES THATCHERISM HAVE A FUTURE
Sir Freddie's Crash/ ESSON OF SOLIDARNOS
March '82 issue now out!
on Solidarnosc, do
women's oppression,
Turkey, Laurence Scott's.
year (Britain and Ireland). Send cheques to:
International, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP By Bob Pennington
freeze of the deployment of nuclear missiles in Europe met a predictable response.
sisting on the need for missiles to be stationed throughout Europe.
BUIT Reagan has problems in his own back yard
fast-growing profreeze movement in ine USA. Already five state legislatures have declared themselves in favour of a freeze on nuclear weapons, while 139 members of Congress have Jolnca tne chorus caling for Reagan to stick at the prescit nucical ammis lever.
Pro-freeze senators such as Edward Kennedy are concerned that the bellicose policies Reagan gang could trigger off nuclear conflict, which at this stage they do not belleve serves the besi interests or needs of US cavile.
Furthermore, Kennedy and his ilk are not against nuclear weapons: their difabout how best to handle the Russians, and to keep the US people tow behind the strategy of imperialism.
They are scared that Reagan, by brandishing nucical weapons like a B
Western Bullall,
Scottish Campaign Against Trident
STOP
TRIDENT
NUCLEAR MISSILE BASE
EASTER DEMO
Glasgow-Saturday 10th
April, 1982 March starts-11•00a.m. Blythswood Square Rally with Speakers & Entertainment
THE LAURENCE SCOTT STORY
DO MEN BENEFIT FROM WOMEN'S OPPRESSION?
British economic crisis, crash of Laker, Potel
benefit from Reds, Mayakovsky,
Just 60p a copy. Subscribe for £4.50 a SOVIET LEADER Leonid Brezhnev's call for a
President Reagan said it 'didn't go far enough', while in-
Cruise and Trident will bring home to Lne American people the dreadtu impications all their nuclear policies.
The anti-missiles movement should welcome Brezhnev's offer of a unilateral freeze on the deploymnent of Soviet intermediate missiles, and calling for NATO not to position new Cruise and Pershings in five Western countries.
However. Brezhnev's proposal is very weak A call by the USSR for the renunciation of all nuclear arms would deal capitalism's war plans. Ii almighty blow would gain mass support the world
420 Sauchiehall St. Glasgow 041.333 314:
By Jonathan Silberman
Ursus tractor plant,
Greater Manchester Polish Solidarity Campaign
dozen workplace meetings set up through shop stewards Coraleces UnIOn oranches _neara non explain the long march of the Polish workers in the struggle Piotr, who has altogether ad dressed thirty labour
NICCUSS Greater Manchester, explainea now the movement could aid the Polish workers
Send letters to the Polish embassv.' he suggested. 'caling for thase on primoneis,
release recognition Solidarnos and return ol It:
Kaise morey tor me ramare. of interned militants and the growing Adopt
aca pe Polish
WOrKCES KIOW Wal une inter. Hauona workine cass suoports the struggle of Polish workers for democracy and freedom. allong fast-growing
supports unale anso including millions of people in the USA hat is more it is from a military point of view somelning lal tne Usok could only benefit from. me la passioly d c 'traditional' military conflict that the capitalist na tions could defeat the Dover UnoR way that the USSR and its alles could be deteated in a war is by massive nuclear strike - a fact that
shrewd capitalist politician knows only too well.
The defeat of the war drive does not lie through Edward Kennedy, the 'astute' moves of the Russian bureaucracy, who aim TEN WEEKS
TO STOP REAGAN
Labour parties, trade unions, CND groups, Salvador support
June in London.
The Reagan Reception Labour MPs, Socialist
Cruise missiles in Europe.
months.
and local Reagan Reception Reagan's visit one he won't forget in a hurry!
Stop the missiles
Polish prisoners
PIOTR Kozlowski, Solidarnosc convenor at the giant
returned to Manchester last week for another successful tour organised by the
This appeal met with an enthusiastic response engineering firm Beloit Walmsley. which has a trading licence with shop stewards' chair Tony Whelan explained resis, emen tried holding of the meeting and retused to allow the press on site, not wanting harm relations with Jaruzelski regime But the stewards gave their badges for sale on the shop LOOK
and they adopted an engineering. WOrKCT. Jal KuleWsKI chanroerson or the regional committee of Bydgoszcz olidarnosc, who is at prese ing held in the Strzebieline mute cul calle АЛОШСТ entusiasue workplace Steel. Kozlowski was Manchester Steel. told the stewards how their strategy towards the so-called progressive sections of the ruling class rather than working peowno nave noting lo gain by nuclear shoot out. The developing antiwar and anti-missiles movements growing al lile grass roots, including In the USA, are best guarantee against a nuclear holocaust.
We can help to build this movement by preparing the biggest demonstrations possible Reagan's visit to Britain, France and Germany. This will show that there is mass movement Europe that is not going to let this gangster and his associates blow us all to hell.
THERE will be a warm reception for Ronald Reagan when he visits Britain in early June.
committees, around the country are rushing to endorse the call for a mighty demonstration against Reagan on 6
Committee, backed by Worker and Socialist Challenge, is also calling for a picket of the US Embassy on Monday 7 June at 5.30pm to protest against Reagan's policies in Central America and in siting
Socialist Challenge appeals to all its supporters to make building massive opposition to Reagan's visit and building solidarity with the revolutions in Central America their number one priority for the coming
We urge our supporters in every locality to work through CND, the unions and Labour Party,
Committees to make
workers had Katowice steel works, nolding the rolling mill for a number
days despite an attack the ŽOMO. multarisce DOnCe 1ne stewards decided adopt a worker at Katowice,
By in pression of the Nat
Lullal commissiol sondarnosc Calso neld Strzebielinek.
This type of response was repeated Rubber worker at the Hyde tactory Acuicarl
Twil WILD Stomil Rubber factory Grudziadz and to take case of five Stomil workers at DICSCIll Ine rolunce camp. Une worker a The factory entered the Manchester marathon and seeking sponsorship to raise
for Solidarnosc.
Altogethe fifteen prisoners were adopted and a number of bodie
AUEW District Committees Oldham
aill stockport. decided to con-
target for this quarter. Hackney Leamington Rotherham Anon Women's Day Rally 56.73 Swindon Anon Anon Wolverhampton Islington L Wilde Haringey Outer West London 41.25 Bristol Newcastle Brent
siaer me quesuon al uneir next meeting. Piott Kozlowski meetings Piotr was explain LY DI Solidarnos was monume tor. ne reonce with the same wores eacr 'Solidarnosc does not Mant return know capitalism Deobie worc suraw silucs wall LUti socialisili democratic socialisti defeat for us in struggle wil be a defeat for all those strug democratic rights world Turkey, Chile, El Salvador During the tour commitment for national labour movement campaign WILl Solidarnosc Greater
Campaign natione le launch labour movement conrerence solidarity with Solidarnosc This follows the call en dorsed by Eric Labour Party rally on Poland in London tor a na
Socialist Challenge
FUND DRIVE '82
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£351.00 Cardiff 22.00 Misc 11.00 Lambeth 100.00 Edinburgh Swansea 34.00 3.00 G Mastrantone 400.00 Glasgow 19.75 Huddersfield 30.00 15.00 TOTAL 166.50 Total so far April 1 target 12.00 NEEDED THIS 51.00 WEEK 40.00
tional labour movemen: demonstration on Poland 1: December on mne anversan of the imposition of martia
Hascune movemen support tor sondarnosc STOP PRESS Michae Meacher MP successi ull
the North wes Labour Party conference las:
ding ovation some £300
Solidarnosc Wal The following Labour Part MPs and neil ron sored appeal the a macca cunici che
SCUC Frank Allen Livingstone. Michael Meacher Ken Ted Knight.
Sorry!
An error crepi into our repor last week of the Greater Man chester meeti un resolution tha
shoula slogan Hands oft tl salvado
reterreda Jurure meeting for discussion. Sorry.
4.50 7.00 200.00 67.50 65.00 Hemel Hempstead 32.00
6.00 30.00 . 5.00
£1,770.43 £13,485.04 16,000.00
£2,515.00
Socialist Challenge 25 March 1982 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
By Des Tierney WE GO TO PRESS before the result of the Hillhead election. ( But, whatever outcome Hillhead is not about to be overwhelmed by the rising tide of support for the SDP/Liberal Alliance.
Although this is a constituency with a previous Liberal presence, a large percentage of home owners, white collar workers and management, all the polis indicate
the Alliance will not have a Crosby replay.
The Tory majority has crumbled from 15,000 to 2,000 over the twenty years that Tam Galbraith held the seat. Those Tory voters who are left are particularly loyal to the cause and are unlikely to be put off by Thatcher's brand of Tory
managed a few vote catching policies which undercut the support for the Alliance throughout the campaign. ine budger received a very reception from Tory supporters in the
and the budget speech, with six references to Scotland in it, would do the Hillhead Tories no harm.
Even more brazen as vote catchers were the announcements of the construction of a major new exhibition centre £90m order for John Engineering (just outside the constituency) and a hint that the govern-
was considering measures to save the Aluminium Smelter at Invergordon.
Neither the novelty.
Alliance something which will attract many votes in Scotland. The Scottish National Party broke the mould of Scottish politics ten years ago.
At the last election Labour was Sacialist Challenge:: 25, March 1982, page 6
Labour on
defensive
in Hillhead
bythe would split the middle class vote.
those forces presently
CHORES. for a Labour victory middle general election.
paign. Half
ty's Scottish secretary, saying:
We are seeking to hold Tory work and so policies worked.
The candidate Wiseman, Coordinating beginning of the Wal ill shifted rightwards rate.
Chancellor's ty's Scottish
the left of the party.
rent.
Brown tendencv and Pat Wall's speech. unequivocably stated that:
taking British tion with separate policies, ship and constitution, of the with that fact.'
Hillhead has unemployment. Albion Motors, one of the threatened parts of the Leyland Over 2000 people recently inquired about jobs in a hotel in
only 2,000 votes behind the Tories. The main issues of the campaign facing the electorate are unemployment and nuclear weapons issues which
Such a victory would inspire all
fighting the Tories whether on nuclear weapons or on unemployment, to redouble their
It would start ine campaign in the next
Instead, Labour has a very defensive and routinist atutude to une call-
way through the campaign Helen Liddell, the Labour Par-
'Our voting is holding solid quoted movement our vote without indulging in any conversion
far our tactics have
himself, David ICICHICC a member of the Labour Committee at the At a campaign, has al an alarming Under the guidance of the parleadersnip and a local right wing MP, Donald Dewar, he has increasingly distanced himself from
His main concern has been to pol
ray himself as a representative of th mainstream, moderate, soft left cur-
When asked about the Militant The
'When the resus or unc mouly conc our alla wo find that they are a separate organisa-
, member- National the Labour Party will then clearly have to deal
could Scottish 20 per cent
Group is in this constituency, and yet nothing to offer these workers while the Scottish Nationalist Party has homed in on the key issues.
Labour Party
the Labour candidate has purposely avoided any references to the growing
of factory occupations in defence of jobs.
Wiseman has also been busy distancing himself from the call made at the Scottish Labour Party Con-
10I Involving civil disobedience to stop the construction of the Trident base.
special meeting to discuss Labour's policy on women, the audience were astounded to hear one of the main speakers denounce the setting up of women's sections in the Labour Party, none of the speakers mentioned the women's right to work event and Wiseman declared himself perfectly happy with the working of the 1967 Abortion Act
Labour Party's campaign could have aroused the anger of Scottish working class people; instead it has been a low key routine affair
In Scotland where the Scottish
Party retains significant this approach by Labour be especially dangerous. The Nationalist Party message for Scottish workers (and they're concentrating their efforts in the working class areas) is simple.
Scotland is an oil rich country, yet
BE NUCLEAR FREE
WITH THE SNP& Glasgow. The campaign in Hillhead has
Labour candidate David Wiseman: running fast to the right its people are poor. The government is extracting massive North Sea oil, yet the social services of Scottish people are being cut. The final insult to the Scottish people they say, is that the major target in a nuclear war base — is being constructed less than 25 miles from the main population centre of Scotland.
What benefits, says the SNP, do Scottish people get from abour MiPs when they nothing to stop the Tories our living standards? Wouldn't it be much better to vote for the SNP and get the London based parties worried about Scotland again?
inis by-elechon
for the Scottish National Party. begining of a resurgence
Whatever result Hillhead by-election, UlIc already been answered. The agreement of Bishop's Stortford has meant a pulling back from the advances of the left inside the Labour continued attacks on the democracy of the party. Such an approach wil spell disaster for Labour in the next election
Win or lose in Hillhead, that's one result which Labour activists will have to fight to reverse.
By Alan Freeman
Saturday 22
ham.
Labour will win if it now makes clear, he said, that it will not accept
LICy version of the Liberal-Labour pact which was responsible, after 1976, for the abandonment so many
necessary Labour should be picpared lo govern alone. and return early to the polls to win a decisive majority on the basis of its record.
The usual excuse presented bv Labour whips lack of Dallallicital y time should not obstruct many of Labour's most important commitments, Benn. continued. The decision to accept Trident had been taken without parliamenlary could be cancelled just as easily Prime
SOCIALIST revenues trom
Line rident misslic
electing attacks on
mark the : of support
the issue has
Party and
No coalition, says Benn
'THERE CAN be no question of Labour entering a coalition government,' Tony Benn said on
March to thunderous applause from over 200 delegates attending an Institute for Workers' Control conference in Notting-
Minister's prerogative foreign policy matters.
Similarly Britain could withdraw its support for the Treaty of Rome.
Benn also suggested a number of parlaimentary 'enabling' measures which would increase ecutive powers of MPs and ministers alla OCC CAst Whitehall's ability to in-
Station of Labour policy.
The conference, entitled 'How to Win', took place background of a growing discussion in the Laboul Party over policy, which will lead up to the presen tation of a report from Labour's Home Policy Committee on the manifesto and from there to conference.
The public debate over policy has already been
BADTSET
TA NEW COIT OSI COMPROMISE AND TOLERANCE PERVADES THE BRITISH J
AND THIS SPIRIT WILL I CONTINUE AS LONG • A
'WE MODERATES ARE
OF THE PARTY! ELEMENT PANT ENT
•PERSIST THEIR ATTEMPT-
CANDIDATES Of • TO QUESTION RIGHT TO DECIDE
QUICK! QUIcK PRICATON THAT
FORM FOR THE SD1
opened by the Shadow Cabinet, however, during the launching carlier this of £80,000 all publicity campaign around the theme. 'See what happens when you don't vote Labour In the opening shots of the both Lalivalei Michael Foot and shadow employment secretary Eric Varley, hinted at a new social contract, and Varley spelt out in a radic interview that Labour's ioh-creation nans would be dependent on a sucCess ul wages agreement with the unions.
Tony Benn emphatically comes plained that in his view the з0er National Economic Assessment, now being put forward as part Labour's pro posals, would have to include freedom for collec tive bargaining at all levels - including plant level and would have to include discussion of company investment plans by unions and government.
Page 7 scan of this page
TAKE ON TEBBIT Kind hearts and bureaucrats
Laurence Scott workers up against the law: Duffy says he opposes Tebbit's proposal to use the law against
By Pat Hickey AS THE FIGHT against Norman Tebbit's anti-union Bill gets slowly into the British Communist Party has gear. produced a new pamphlet on its strategy for defeating it.
Tebbit's Bill - • Kill It by Mick Costello, the CP's ndustrial Organiser, bians une new buicicarly how it will give a £20,000
and tree. riders to attack the closed shoo: render trade unions and trade unionists liable
strike action; and make mne coscu snoo allust ill' possible to achieve.
DUllile VUL that a er legislation is po pos-
legislation is stop workers acting in defence
their interests as class'. If the Bill is passed for example, will be unlawrur to reluse to nan dle machinery transferred from TOSSLILY closure, and the 'Triple Alliance' will be unlawful. The strong will not be allowed to help the weak. Tebbit's Bill would have made these
illegal:
Grunwicks' solidarity • Blacking of Aero Engines for Chil • Most refusals to cross picket line. y lorry driver
for Jobs' • Strikes against cuts - for example
be fined up to f250,000 or jailed for similar action.
THE AUEW will now be recruiting Youth Opportunities' scheme workers to its ranks, delegates to the AUEW youth conference were told on 19 March by union president Terry Duffy.
Duffy's announcement follows months of demonstrations and rallies, mainly organised YOPs Trade Union Rights LPYS-backed Campaign. Both Transport and General Workers Union and the National Union of Public Employees have already come out favour of unionising YOPs.
On 24 February 3,000 YOPs workers lobbied parliament in a massive
unions, but sells out workers fighting it now. • Walkouts to join the 'People's Marc
this years' strikes in South Yorkshire
If Tebbit's Bill becomes law you could By Cliff Williams, AUEW National Committee Youth Representative (in a personal capacity)
display oI anger and frustration the hope' future being offered nem ov une coverc The campaign provoked a public clash with Norman Tebbit, whose new proposals youth unemployment amount to more Save labour.
It seems that with 1¼ million youth on the dole urasLic measures are needed. The £23.50 per week which the govermment now bosses who take on YOPs workers incentive for eye wasn't enough ploitation.
So Tebbit's new trainIng scales will give we bosses £15 per week for three days' WOrK which
This aspect of the Bill Is given a greal acal ot attention in the pamphlet. cae blue allack S brought home forcefully. vially aculull.
years by workers would be unlawful if Tebbit's Bill had been law,' explains Costello.
In the face of this attack the pamphlet calls for 'a programme of mounting industrial protest' and the "promouon demands for action of general strike proportions up through the grass roots of the trade union movement, to 'bring the trade
TUC General Council to throw their full weight into this struggle.' It calls on the trade union movement to:
Youth join fight against Tebbit
will go, not to the youth but to their parents.
cave under 8 refuse they will be docked SIX WCCKS dole.
Tebbit's new proposals, linked to his antior a concerted Torre rive , are part of a concerted to push down workers' living standards and smash their ability to fight back.
Youths' fightback against Tebbit can add
the campaign against his
campaign against his anti-union Bill if the unions reach out to it.
Untortunatelv although unions responded to the YOPS workers' growing anger, they • restrict themselves calling for an increase in the wage allowance to £30 But this will still allow the Tories undercut all wages, as it will be cheaper to employ a YOPs worker
Trade Unions.
• Continue to conduct industrial disputes in the most effective way with no regard for anti-union laws; • All forms of solidarity to be afforded to
workers WIlU arraigned: • UnioI members' money should not be wasted on futile and ex. pensive legal fees but contributed special TUC fund for provasallud agitation and action; • No appearance before the courts where judges will be implementing anti-union legislation; • The unions on an industry level, and the TUC nationally, should organise massive protests against the Bill. These should include meetings in
to do the same job as an older workers but for half
the pre AUEW's decision
shows that a determined mass campaign can force even the Duffys of this world to offer a lead. But success depends on
at rank and file level.
Region Five (Midlands) TGWU Broad Left has decided to campaign for T&G branches to recruit YOPs workers and unemployed youth. This is the kind of campaign that union branches up and
country should be waging.
By campaigning together with the IS to se
fully democratic and functioning youth structures. it w ill be possible 1o unite YOPs workers with factory militants against Boorbo! Tebbit's latest attacks.
working hours, demonstrations and lobbies to prepare the movement for stoppages of general strike proportions.
Bosses
But while calling for rank and file pressure and for workplace organisation, the pamphlet does not deal with some of the most important obstacles to united campaign against Tebbit.
1 ne pamphlet points out that important aspect of the legislation is aimed getting union leaders to 'do the bosses' dirty work, to police the act' The liable if the rules exclude LuC or it the ecutive repudiates it. But it
draws no conclusions from this on how some of the union leaders might act.
Union leaders like Chapple and Dully need little encouragement Stic leadershy signed the Virtually the whole 'Concordat' with the Callaghar which aimed at outlawing unofficial strikes, undermining the right to picket, and wage bargaining from rank and file
colliul.
In the 1970s it took massive and determined rank and file pressure to force 'left' leaders like Hugh Scanion _IO fight. When the pamphlet says that 'compared to the last time such legislation was defeated the leaders of the Youth on February 24 lobby of Parliamen:
trade union movement to day are more united seeking to kill the Bill, ' it : expressing fond hope The leaders oppos the Bill. But will the: smash it?
serious challengi would mean mass actio against it, defiance of th law. of all, struggles such as Lauren: Scott where the law is be ing used against trac unionists. The leadership' record doesn't sugge they will do this willingly
Instead of discussin how the leaders may called to order and force
Fact the pamphle directs attention toward getting support
sports and cultural pe: sonalitics, re oresculalis.
all churches religions.' LCDTU
This approach has le the Communist Party convert the Liaison Com mittee for the Defence o Trade . Unions trom huge force it represente in the seventies into a pai shadow. They have mad forces on the left in it, hat building it, and seek to us little work it merely to tail-end In latest left declaration fron the union leaders
The LCDTU would d better demand tha leaders such as Benn ar Scargill now begin car paigning across the more
regardless of right's hesitations and ic: in the campaign for c removal _OI the likes
Chapple and Duffy
The approach outlic: in this • pamphlet make: quite clear why the CP == not been prepared i0 2s this course of action
ПОНТ ».
AGAIN
Page 8 scan of this page
A 'law and order'
By T. James, Openshaw, Manchester JAMES ANDERTON have much to learn from the new Metropolitan sioner. The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester even waited for Tebbit's law to come to pass.
Anderton and his thugs in the Tactical Aid Group (Manchester's SPG) smashed up the Laurence Scott picket line on Tuesday 16 February to allow scab lorries into the factory.
The Greater Police Committee passed a vote of no confidence in Anderton last Fridav 19 March. He had retused point blank to answer questions out to him bv chairoerson Pete Kelly on the Laurence Scott exer-
James Anderton abolish police committees give me ponce wnal ne completely free hand in fighting crime in une streets so the torce can be better able to serve the community.
Perhaps Mr Anderton believes that strike breaking is street crime' or harassing locals as serving tne community • Local residents have been outraged at the police attitudes.
Throughout the
operation against Laurence Scott workers, people were stopped in
Socialist Challenge
Timothy out very Thatcher's
on 17 March,
at the fulfilling
Wing through,
takings. • We have fighting economise elsewhere.
Edmunds Davies' greatly
• We have short, sharp detention centres (and
tendance centres). • We ure.
of custodial young
fenders aged 16; Desallull
fines or
• we also
gramme for decades.
on capital punishment.
migration
migration.
book.
A law unto himself
won't
commis
hasn't Manchester
Anderton
ty, with over 4000 signatures, against the fiasco being borne by was handed to the Police wants to
and mittee. was not oressco
calls d
trial before the crucifixion.
This
'fighting
the maximum number at between 500.600. eyewitness eleven-day
with
page 8
The
Tories say
it all
TORY minister of State Raison spells clearly what
has managed to achieve
to achieve in the realms of 'law and order' in a speech given extracts of which we print here.
IT HAS been suggested that we Home Office are our manifesto pleages. In lact we nave carnica through, and are already carrya verv high bro portion of our specific under-
spent crime while we
• We have implemented the report and improved police pay, conditions and numbers. introduced the shock regime in we are providing more compulsory at-
through the Criminal Justice Bill, providing the courts with a proper rang for offenders; gIving magistrates the power to make Cale OUCH juveniles; increasing the use of County service order lo o giving comorders weight; and making sure that parents may be lable to pay in compensation orders incurred by their children. have the first significant prison building pro-
• We have given parliament the opportunity for a free vote
• We have brought in new imrules and are now seeing a substantial fall in im-
We have put the new British Nationality Act on the statute - ne s got to go the streets, indiscriminately questioned and generally harassed
A petition from the communi-
cost of the ratepayers, ComChurch-goer Anderton although he did say that he felt like Christ on
make-believe world of Anderton extended to the number ot police he claimed were present on 16 February outside the Louisa Street factory. A mere 280 was his
figure while of 200. accoulllo the
A similar discrepancy creeps in
pickets. ¡deal Anderton claims 350 was the maximum compared to the real figure
IT'S HAPPENED. Britain's war
Ireland has finally
home. Sir Kenneth Newman,
chief of the Royal Ulster Con-
stabulary until 1980, will be the
next Commissioner of
Scotland Yard, in charge
London's Metropolitan police.
It was Newman who headed up
the RUC when Amnesty International
reported it to the European Court of
Human Rights on charges of torture.
It was Newman who
freedom fighters in Palestine at the
end of the Second World War.
It was Newman who was responsi-
ble for the policing oIne
Grosvenor Square demonstrations
against US involvement in Vietnam. Anderton Electromotors.
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester wants to be accoun table to no-one. He is the Tories
policeman The labour movement should campaign to kick him out.
general election
come perience of CS gas, water cannon and
plastic bullets in the North of Ireland who will against the youth Hackney, Southall, Notting Hill, and
New Finsbury Park
of police chiefs of Manchester, pool, and Bristol how to handle their young people.
bring his experience from the North hunted of Ireland to police future demonstra-
tions against imperialism's role in Central America.
Newman's
1968 the opening of the Tory
order campaign towards general election.
Will we be seeing this regularly on the streets of our inner cities?
'I have lived in Openshaw all my life but / have anything like this. never, criminal . abuse of ratepayers' money. What do they take us for?
Amy Mitchell, 63-year-old pensioner
RUMOURS O
It is Newman with his vast ex-
lead the London police of Brixton,
It will be Newman who advises the Liver- stable,
cultices And it will be Newman who will • the
appointment follows and next classes and was in charge of the massive police operation against trade unionists at Laurence Scott
Never seen call it to face and blockade.
RIO
As part of establishing law ar order as the central issue before t country, the deliberate racist inte pretation of the crime statistics mid-March was followed by: • the launching of the Police Feder tion campaign to bring back hangir • a call from Manchester Chief Co James Anderton for disbandment of 'political' poli
establishment of fascist-le vigilante squads in at least one are applying for official recognition • a promise by Whitelaw to furth
By whipping up fear and hatred the black community, the Tories hol to win the allegiance of the midd sections of 7 was walking down Louisa Street to see my friend and I came face
with a massive police asked an officer "who's paying for this?" He replied Mary Borrell, petition organiser
Page 9 scan of this page
'S AND
RIOTS
working class who are frightened by the dramatic changes taking place.
The Tories also hope to divert attention from the violence of their rule against the poor, the sick, the youth, women and most vulnerable members of this society.
'Is it not the case that serious crimes, offences recorded by the police, declined each year when I was Prime Minister and have gone up each year since?'
James Callaghan, MP
Labour's response to the right wing offensive has been Whatever debate there may have been in the past about 'hard' and 'soft' 'Third force' in Britain
EVER since last year's upheavals the police force has grown, been given more intensive training and
harder' equipment.
A third force now exists in the 11,000 strong police support units formed on a divisional basis in nearly every force in the country.
Under Home Office contingency plans for large-scale disorders thev form a national mutual alc system.
These special forces are provided with reinforced modified NATO glass helmets as used by the army in the North of Ireland, overalls. and short shields.
'Pig squirt' water be available through the Home Office from Ministry
of tougher IUIC sophisticated
rulings that assembly.
Community policing,
munity over the police.
'neutral' body primarily
feeble.
of the police must be limited.
effective policing ting crime and before the courts
trusion.
Wing in a free society.
upheaval caused unemployed.
present about 'community
prepare for war.
don now of 'riot police
John Alderson, Devon and Cornwall who are
measures should be supported.
Certain
vans, established. fibre defended. The
fireproof
• Blaming cannon will
of Defence
black community
MARGARET THATCHER is bettina on riots this summer. The police, the judiciary, the politicians, the Tory press are tooling up for confrontation with the black and white youth of the inner cities.
But Thatcher's moves aren't simply a response to the events of last summer. They are part and parcel of her political policies. Monetarism is not just an economic theory, its implementation depends on a 'disciplining' of society. Monetarism can't work without a controlled working class, a non-combative working class.
offensive against the morale and the development of a new leadership of the working class and social movements. Through mass unemployment and racist attacks on black minorities, new laws such as Tebbit's Employment Bill and the Nationality Act, shifting decision-making from elected to non-elected representatives as in the case of Denning's low fares ruling and by increasing the repressive powers of the state itself, Thatcher hopes to smash the ability of the class to fight back. And Labour's leadership has done little to counter her. Here Toni Gorton looks at the issues involved. policing has been resolved in favour
, penalties on offenders, equipment, creased arming of police, laws and
restrict the right of
as Labour calls for, has been proven in areas like Handsworth in the Birmingham area to be used to control the community, not to extend the control of the com-
The official Labour Party position still seems to see the police as a
concerned with the catching of criminals.
According to Labour Weekly, official newspaper of the Labour Party, 'In a democratic society, the powers
'There has to be a balance between
aimed. at detecbringing offenders - and the rights of the individual and the community at large to be free from unwarranted in-
'Labour must formulate a clear and positive policy on the whole area of law and order, which will achieve he right balance of successful polic
What is missed out is that the police are now occupying the centre of the stage in the debate not about crime, but how to deal with the social
by 3-4 million
The Tories and the police think they have the answer. And while the
Labour leadership blathers policing' and democratic accountability, the police
"THE dramatic fall in the detection of crime - down to 16 per cent in Lon-
is one manifestation of withdrawal of community support.
Chief Constable of
The reply of the labour and black movement cannot remain on the level of trying to increase community control over the police, although all such
principles must be
black community must be
unemployment and unrest on black people must be turned back onto the Tories themselves. • Tory attempts to intimidate the
through deporta-
In order to achieve this, Thatcher is on the tions must be combated by support of anti-deportation campaigns such as around the Filipino domestics. • The NHOVCRICULS unity defence of the black youth of the inner cities, through a campaign for jobs for youth and against the slavelabour schemes. • All forms of black organisation should be The situation demands an alliance between the Asian and Caribbean organisations • Defence campaigns such as around the Bradford 12 focus national attention on issues which are key to the defence of the black community. In this case the use of the conspiracy
ROANS
WATER
Other theft and handling Robbery and violent crime includes 'mugging 0.9% of all recorded crime
this summer.
should be supported
selfsupported.
Afroing class.
LOIL
00 Tory crime statistics
Registered unemployed up from 1,250,000 to 3,074,000 Total unemployed (TUC estimate, 4,000.000
Housing cut by 30% in 1980-81 School building cut by 15% Real wages down 3%
The facts - believe it or not
Car crimes Break-ins Fraud and forgery 5% Miscellaneous
3%
laws against black militants can set a precedent for their use in other cases
The national demonstration in Leeds on Saturday 3 April
• Initiatives should be taken in the Labour Party, the trade unions and the black community within the next period to present a co-ordinated, national response to the Tory offensive against the black community and the democratic rights of the whole work-
Only a unified movement by black people and labour can roll back the Tory offensive and return a Labou government in the next general elec-
HOSPITALS
GUILDING
31%
23%
14%
21%
West Indians are 36 times more likely to be victims than whites and Asians 50 times more likely
My
encounter
with a
vigilante
squad
BARBARA IS u young white woman living in the south London borough of Lambeth. On Tuesday 16 March she was accosted at Oval tube station on her way home from work. She spoke to Socialist Challenge about what happened. It was about 8.30 at night. When I came up into the exit area there were four very large men standing two on each side of the door way. . They were about 35 years old, heavy set and wearing expensive leather jackets. They looked like right thugs
could see iwo oliseu talking to a black guy who'd been in front of me. He was getting agitated and angry.
One of them came up to me and asked where i was going. I answered that I was going home - in some surprise, since the whole thing was a bit unusual. He said something like 'well you'd better make sure you get there'
I don't know what the others said to the black guy but they let him go.
It seemed to me that it was a lorm or curlew inal was Deing operated. I was wearing badges and there was the implication that if I had lived outside the area that I would have been more closely questioned
I realised later that they were probably part of the group of ex-servicemen who said that they were forming a vigilanie squau Ul Loughborough Estate fols•.
icil
I found it quite worrying and i'm white . God knows how it affects the black people :::e approached.
Socialist Challenge 25 March 1982 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
IN BRITISH PRISONS there are approximately 400 category A prisoners, those considered top security. and nearly 25 per cent of these are Irish political prisonels
It is a fact that out of 44,000 prisoners in jail, 400 are category A and the Irish prisoners are all placed in this category. And even within this small minority, Irish •olteals alc discriminated against further. being called variously 'Special A', or 'Irish A' prisoners, the main form being the terrible visiting conditions which are imposed under the pretext of security, exclusively against the political prisoners.
Despite the Home
Office recognising that Irish prisoners are different from other pri-
albeit in the SOrICIO.
measures taken naslu against InCl. they refuse to transfer us to prisons in North-East Ireland.
None of the objections made by the government stand any kind of scrutiny and their only fall back is that they have the physical power to do whatever they like.
The first objection, that people should serve sentences waere they are convicted, does not … nola water when we see that nearly a hundred soldiers have been moved to England and Scotland after conviction in Ireland.
Workers
movement pays
tribute to Sam
Gordon
by Steve Potter OVER A HUNDRED labour moverenlken representatives, socialists and friends attended crowded memorial service
veteran revolutionary
Sam Gordon who died last week.
Dozens of messages
were read out by Connie
Harris to the assembly from Labour Party branches, women's groups and
revolutionary organisa-
and militants from
LOUS
arouno lie worc.
In particular, letters
came from the American
Socialist Workers Party,
revolutionary
Holland, Sweden and
Norway and trom leaders
of the Fourth Interna-
luilal. including JETICSI
Mandel.
Tributes were made by
a succession of
starting with CLR James Scancis
wno recorded the deep
bond that existed between
Socialist Challenge" 25 March 1982*
Irish prisoners
demand rights
The second obiection, that there is no procedure in the bureaucratic machinery
STOP SCREWS
BRUTALITY
Prisoners revolt against Hull jail conditions for transfers, is exposed as a lie when we see that a larde proportion of Loyalists convicted in Britain are transferred
himself and Sam in their
pic-wal days In Paris.
Other speakers included
Tarbuck and John
Archer as well as a Labour
Party speaker
Two speakers, Alan
Harris and Charlie van
Gelderen, spoke as long
time comrades of Sam and
for the International
Marxist Group and the
Fourth International.
Gelderen carte val
recalled what he thought
was the decisive contribu-
tion that Sam had made to
the building of the Fourth
International in maintain-
ing and building the links
between sections in the dif-
ficult years of the Second
World War
Alan Harris spoke in
similar vein.
'Sam's life was
dedicated towards helping
resolve this most acutt and
difficult problem of our
time - that of assembling
a proletarian leadership
capable of winning the
vast majority
page 10
to Ireland as well as four Republicans who underwent a mammoth hunger strike in which Michael Gaughan died and for which Frank Stagg later died.
Mrs Thatcher made a venomous refusal to move prisoners recently and made it clear that the refusal was to aid a punishment. workers to a revolutionary socialist consciousness and practice, he said.
Harris recalled that before Sam was 21 years old he was editing the American Militant. His literary work continued throughout his life publications of the Fourth International and major translations such Hilferding's book, Finance Capital, STONI German into English.
Sam became the administrative of
scuiclal y the leadership of the Fourth International 1939 and shortly after was part of a delegation which met with Trotsky in Mexico. Prevented by the dictat of. the American government from making his home in the USA, Sam spent the rest of his life in britain tonowing events lt the British class struggle closely and providing ad vice and friendship for ncw ccuciauvis or icvolu-
Letters
This desire to help
Irish prisoners in Britain
the prison gates. Whest does not extend
a sentence is completed
the Special Branch are
waiting whisk the
free man off to Ireland
under an exclusion 4 WAK UP ONL IR
- WE DEW
PUBLI
Order.
Added to this is the
savage beating meted
Republicans, tionary Marxists.
concluded by summing up his and many
impressions Sam Gordon.
'Sam was one of the most gentle people I have KnOWIE. and honest and told you in a trank and fraterna wav what he thought about things. He was a comrad to too coop ale ys a
for •help. Wds
BIRMINGHAM'S
OTHER
BOOKSHOP
021-643 5094.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10-6.
Letter!
Write to SC letters, c/o PO Box 50, London N7 Editor reserves the
Some of whois
been offered compen-
sation foi une nunes
Warders have been con-
victed of assault. only
to receive paltry
sentences. The clicht of
the prisoners is made
worse by une anguisn
suffered by the relatives
financial restrictions
placed on them by
ravellin! over from
Ireland, but also restric
tions on visits placed by
the police and restric-
tions placed on mail by
the prison censor.
Although even
visitor is photographed
ane rsseo es suione
weeks before a visit by
the Special Branch
many are arrested and
questioned, ine most
tragic being the case o!
Conion wes
arrested in London
visiting his son and died
in prison from a
neglected illness.
REPUBLICAN
PRISONERS
Hull Prison
PS We thank Owen Car-
ron MP for visiting us on
March and for the
work ne ts coing on the
transfer of Irish
prisoners
prisons.
• Anyone wishing to
help should contact
Owen Carron MP at The
Clinic, 7 Market Street,
Enniskillen, Co Ferman-
agh, Ireland. strong person too ... Thi is shown in the way he pa tiently fought tor his political ideas and in the way he fought his illness for 20 years.
Ine best wav we car Sam and the thin goma ne tribute to comrade stood for is by redoubling our efforts to build a society where the workers are in command. at 137 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 GDR: Phon‹ Open on Monday. Tuesday.
Letter, etters rr.ns
right to cut any letter over 400 words.
Understanding
Militant
THE ARTICLE Arn the Militant Butler tendency in SC No 234 was a useful jumping off point in coming to grips with this current.
Militant is the rapidly expanding group
the British left today and . occupies central positior in the labour movement. It has to be politically confronted, healthy elements of whom there are many won over and the organisation marginalised ana i possibie destroyca
This means being fully appreciative DOLI its strengths and weaknesses.
Militant has given up building a revolutionarı international. While the
leaderships revoluuonay
Central America are regarded being petty bourgeois or Stalinist, the social democratic Pasok government in Greece - а member of the Second International WOOSt treacherous leaderships nave soia oul ine working class on countless occasions CaLCu revolutionary!
This absurd state of affairs exposes Militant's adaptation to the bureaucracy, resulting from its acco cill tactic into the Labour Party When struggles do erupt, like the rail unions' fight against flexible rostering. Militant's resolutionmongering positive brake on te struggie.
In line with the bureaucracy's narrow, seclold and chauvinistic tion explains away class struggle in tenns oi wases. Coruuons and economic issues: the oppression of blacks and women, has until recently been a total non-starter for it.
Militant is a sterile sect,
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Open 10-6 Mon Tues Sat 11-7 Wed Thurs & Fri
Sweet Freedom
Coote & Campbell
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Tom Nairn
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2XP. ‹insular outlook sel tarian and opportunist in pracuce But unke an other left group it has consistently had a firm and growing base inside the Labour Party and Young Socialists, and high presence Une U auc
and industrial WOlKIOICC
This overwhelmingly proletarian organisation is centrally placed to take advantage of the radicalisation of sections of the workforce.
Moreover Militant has taken advantage of this by operating as a highly train. ed and disciplined combat unit. It has been able to act as a pole of attraction to which workers have been recruited on the basis of agreement with a clear, albeit inadequate gramme min educati cal
becoming politica салте ceocae co e ding and building of the tendency.
The way to take up and break Militant - - a proces already begun by SC and Revolution supporters, with increasing success is to root themselves in the industrial unions and within that framework the LP and YS, and turn these organisations outward around propaganda mass action, over hose questions tor which Milltant has inadequate
all: alsWCis Reagan's war drive and the struggle Central America, Ireland, and the oppression of women and Black workers
In this way radicalising layers of workers particularly youth, will be won to our politics as op. posed to Militant's, along with many workers trom Militant itself.
MIKE LEVESON Brixton The White Hotel
£2.25 pb Penguin
Now We Are Thirty Mary Ingham £3.95 pb Eyre Methuen
The Ethiopian
Revolution
Fred Halliday & Maxine Molyneux
£5.95.pb Verso
Muil Order Service - udd 20 per cent for påp The Other Bookshop, PO Box 50, London NI
Page 11 scan of this page
THE INTERNATIONAL (British Section of the Fourth International) has fused with the League for Socialist Action. The fusion was agreed by the LSA Steering Committee in December 1981 and by the IMG at its Central Committee of 20/21 February.
The fusion a political importance although will result in a significantly larger organisation. takes place on the basis •T Ca agreement com monly to build the Fourth International Britain and to fight for its the
O laliC programme of revolutionary Marxism.
The fusion also
the healing TebieSCliLs of a seven year old split. The the
orreiis League for Socialist Action lav in a number members leaving the International Marxist Group in 1975.
In the last period there has been agreeHAWeCAMe Nwo groups the imporLance of building an organisation with praclicaly internationalist outlook, of rooting such an organisation in the industrial unions and of the centrality of the Labour Party for revolu-
THE FUSION of the League for Socialist Action and the International Marxist Group heals a six year split among the supporters of the Fourth International in Britain.
Central the differences was the approach of Marxists to the labour
view, Huveuicut the IMG had an ultra left and sectarian orientation.
From •nwaes the LSA became favourabie lo nealng ine spill. But the IMG's course that time LOwas the British Socialist Workers Party made fusion impractical. We considered that
Was nul some difference bul tne whoie mcanlng Ol d 'proletarian orientation'.
of the ine GCCSOIS 1981 IMG conference, HOWCVC removed ¡lall doubts which we had on this score. In the face of the radicalisation in the labour movement, IMG re-oriented towards building homogenous party rooted in the working class.
Socialist
Action
Faced with this new situation which the LSA welcomed - the lat-
had no principled reason for remaining as a separate current, and contacted the IMG for fusion.
Any tactical differCule satta cau UC resolved democratically willu tae ConHOd uranuework of building a party of wolker-Dosteviks.
In particular, three axes were key for the LSA in building such a party. hese are:
1. Deepening the turn to tne inaustrial work ing class. As the class struggle intensifies, it is increasingly only industrial WUTKCS who Have Ene power to stem the ruling class offensive. No single
MARXIST GROUP tionary politics today. Both organisations are committed the building of an independent revolutionary youth organisation. These BOSITORS were reaffirmed at the recent Conre ences organisations.
The fusion of the two organisations will
SOCIALIST
fusion
are
Socialist norm in
Statement from LSA
sector of workers and their dulc Olacks. women and so on - can offset the allalk …on unel rights SOLUROK.
Rooting the IMG in industry is central to winning unis aecisive layer lo class struggle ideas, to getting it lo pioneer ue Ignls vl dl the oppressed and exploited.
Socialist
Action
It is only by bringing the composition of the party into line Witn programme that we will be able to grow and lay the basis for a class-struggle eft wing Key to this proess Will dr winning the most dynamic layers of working class youth to a revolutionary perspective. This why both the
see building Revolution as a central aspect of the turn.
2. Adopting a correct orientation to the COOlT Party. It is only within the framework of the turn that developments in the Labour Party can be correctiy gauged.
The conflicts opening up in the party are due, above all. to the growing radicalisation among the uniOl Tank-ane-ne wnO form the base of the party. It is this which explains the shift left by the union bloc vote, 1 ClClil {Ull• ferences, which has been key for democratising the party and adopting more radical policies.
Socialist
Action
It is only by adopting this approach that Marx ists can avoid adapting to left-reformist currents.
It is in the course of putting all currents to the test — on the key political
-Socialist Challenge News
DECLARATION OF FUSION
result in trene ing the process building the British Section of the Fourth International and will also act as a greater pole of attraction for wider and larger forces that are moving towards revolutionary Marxism.
In particular In the last two years there has been a recomposition of forces calling themselves Trotskyist bolnin bruain anelstar nationally. Internationally a split trom the United Secretariat of ne roum nemetona led to the formation of
CHALLENGE 'Declaration of Fusion' which announces the
between the International Group and the League for Socialist Action. We
also publishing a statement from Roberts on behalf of the LSA on why it has decided now to fuse with the IMG.
Challenge has, period, published articles which take up the basis on which revolutionary should fuse. These positions reflect the views of the IMG as do many of the paper's articles
The IMG will continue to take up any differences that may exist between the comrades from the two fused organisations,
the IMG, within framework of building the party.
issues - that more and ARO re workers will be drawn _LO revolutionary Marxist conclusions on the way forward.
3. Taking up the key national/international issues. Deepening the "turn does 110U lical adapting the existing level of struggles around pay and conditions (vita) though these are). means taking into our union branches all the key issues of the day on which the labour movement has to give a lead.
Socialist
Action
It is only by Marxists fighting in the unions and HORND aneneS LU take up these Issues ITOHE defence ot black rights to withdrawal of the LOOD. from Ireland that they can seek to unite working people and head off ruling class attempts to divide them an racist/sexist lines.
Aser .
the 'International Com. mittee'. This formation
original component parts. In Britain the Workers Socialist League and the International Communist League have TUSC• under the name of the Socialist WOKES League. They have no ner ain tus tional affiliations.
The choice for all those groups calling themselves Trotskyist and who are committed to building the • Fourth
is publishing the
Marxist
Tony
over the past
organisations
as is the the common Particularly important is the need to fight for a clear internationalist class outlook. This means taking up issues such as Poland and - most important of all Central America.
It is in Central America that the fight between our class and the imperialists has reached its sharpest point. Reagan and his allies are not only trying to drown the El Salvadorean liberation struggle in blood, but to roll back the major gains won by the Grenadian and Nicaraguan governments, and the Cuban workers' state which stands , as á Deacon of hope for all the oppressed in Latin America.
Socialist
Action
It is the elementary duty of Marxists to rally support for those who, today, are in the front line of the fight against imperialism.
Such a lask is doubly im-
Celebrate 50 years of
World Revolution
Sunday 2 May 6.30 till late A Tribute to Charlie van Gelderen
A member of the Left Opposition and
founding member of the Fourth International Organised by Brent Socialist Challenge and Revolution, it will be an evening of entertainment which celebrates the revolutionary
struggles over the last 50 years. Tickets available from PO Box 50 London N1 Cheques payable to Brent Readers Group, Price E4 (€2,50 unwaged) includes 3 course
International is clear; join the forces of the United Secretariat exist as a national for-
- that is not as
Trotskyist organisaoul ol dl
The fusion between the LSA and the ING is a step towards a strong united organisation which in the years ahead can intervene in the workers radicalisa-
link tionally and internationallv with all those forces moving towards
Marxist revolutottary positions. portant in view of the fact that we are witnessing, today the rise of new revolutionary Marxist leadership led by the
- which can play CHibAs a vital role in resolving the crisis of leadership facing the working class world wide.
Socialist
Action
As the Tory offensive deepens, , ever-wider layers will be drawn into struggle and come into conflict with the hro presist policies of
leaders. This will D coclll create major openings for Marxists to advance clear class-struggle solutions for the problems workers face.
In order to take advantage of these openings, a strong homogenous comDalI party has to be built. Such a party has to be TooLed n the industrial heartlands of Britain. has to be an organic part of the class it seeks to lead
buy Socialist
Challenge
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Cop gues o raiou d en ar a t poth in she me : McNamara Roo:
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mae ane te ia a eam poi ferdai ion
10am-5.30 at Kingsway Princeton Colleg Sidmouth Street, WC1. 29 topic workshops. Film: Rov:
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25 Ma==- :98
Page 12 scan of this page
'YOUNG MEN have a street life, clubs, but women are left at home.'
women.
Being jobless means more than lost income for women. It means a siep back lo a laulhousewife and mother, locked tional, 'invisible' role in the isolation of the home.
The pamphlet nails the lie that women A third of all Families work money. where the wife doesn't work have incomes £40 week,' it points out. the contribution made by the wife's earnings the number of families living below the Supplementary Benefit level would treble.
It could be added that in six million families women are the sole breadwinners.
Women have fared worse from unemployment. In 1972 they were 23 per cent oI tne unemployed. In 1978 they were 45 per cent. And official figures don't tell the whole story: the government conceals women's unemployment.
There were 300,000 unregistered unemployed 1981, three quarters of whom were women. Disabled women are excluded from the tigures: thousands of married women
HOLI husbands are working.
Women al c losing jobs
THIS IS the third film on El Salvador to from the American Catalyst's media documentary group in the last nine months.
It makes sobering viewing, which is an immense tribute to the quality of the footage and the dryness with which it is covered.
The major political events of the past TWO years are covered in such a way as to leave no doubt as to historical actuary.
Thus we are treated to an in:erview with President Duarte where he says that 'there is no repression this country?, followed by a film of the army attacking the National University and the merciless killing of a student.
are shown an FMLN weapons workshop where guerillas explain how they have o make all their own weapons. Cut to US state department
side count mesa more
communist network supplied an immense amount of armaments LU their Friends in El Salvador.
We see Archbishop Romero comment: 'There is an institucionalised violence provoking the anger the people. comes from the Right, in order Crough nepression: rive ars maintain
We then shown his funeral - ne was assassinated days after the : ootage was shot.
is tremendou: overage of the FMLN, both ir interview and in combat. As Tany women as men are shown i. both aspects of the film.
But perhaps the most strikag moment was when Enrique Aivarez, the first president of the FDR and a social democrat explains how useless was the pi-
of other nations Only the ceople of El Salvador can free remselves, he says, and only -rough revolutionary struggle.
Alvarez and five other FDR
were kidnappeo vovemoe
+*0.
E Salvador. Another Vietnam
• wary Arts until 4 April.
Jobs for women
older men their pubs and This quote is used in a new pamphlet from the National Joint Committee of Working Women's Organisations entitled Women's Right To Work to illustrate the harsh reality of unemployment for Britain's
faster because of their pattern of employment. Many the traditional manutacturing industries that made the British ruling class the richest in the world textiles, printing and electrical wants, engineering the dustries that are feeling brunt of the recession as Britain's imperial past catches up WILD HE The public sector is Magwe snor larger ror cus. aere 4 per cent of the workforce are women. in lobs that are ofter first to go: school dinner ladies, cleaners, and low-paid hospital and clerical jobs.
Young women who are channelled into traditional commercial courses, being Lates 'Women's work' tices has become a prime targe for automation by big business.
Labour's OWIl has failed to protect trom the ruthlessness. rewel and fewer have used the Equal Pay and Discrimination as they see how easy it is for emplovers to win their case at tribunals. Scandalously, en's pay 1s now
El Salvador, Another Vietnam
FMLN guerrillas in El Salvador
Socialist Challenge, 25 March 1982 page 12':.. / Are,
decline in relation to men's. In 1977 ws in 1980 it was cent. Today it is probably even less as long dole queues down general wages. In 1980 10 per cent of
are in
the disgraceful wage of f50 per week. une banner ooks a ne footwear, way society defines
points out that we must 'auesvery in- tion our cultural
the work in discussing for the future'. Later it argues have Io social and community services currently performed voluntarily, So that recognised paid
the Housework' for impracticality at school, because
for the home is women's work'. are Here the authors touch on unemploy- an issue the socialist movement
of- could well debate anew. women would pamphlet casanon
Strategies to mean anything to employers' women they should
basic
wonder lite, that
caring tasks are to remain the icasallul sole prerogative of women' and
give 'both
wom- share work at home as well as their children.
Under Review
75%
73.6 per cent of
72 per 70% Les push 65%
60%
work. It 1970 attitudes to suralches
"upgrade those men io snare
they become women employment recognise
for
«carol Ri
but also oint is: how wil 'it implies that caring about?
Because the biguous
Many not help agree with the order for reproduction Economic home.
'challenge good reforms assumptions of working Therefore it 'childcare and home
You nabits ana tradinons men and opportunity reforms.
Women's earnings
as % of men's
1973 1974
But of course women want
responsibilities for domestic labour. Of course
want society that caring for the Cass sick and elderly and children is useful to society, and that both
traditional that come women.
AES is amabout planning the tney do. relations of production, it can- One
bul be ambiguous about planning the relations of
— relations in the Women at The AES proposes many for women. struggles, must, say some feminists, challenge attitudes. WOTKEIS.
cannot change the of centuries of female subordination
their You have to C calt
Simon Lockwood reviews a new film
Women's earnings as a proportion of men's earnings, 1970-79.
1975 1976
new social relations. To wipe out women's exclusive responsibility for domestic labour you have to wipe out the capitalist
that benefits from women's slave labour in ine home and benefits from men's
attitude You will never change the male sex simply by askillg them to stop behaving the way
important criticism: the pamphlet leaves out one of the most important arguments for a Woman's Right to Work.
work are leading some of Britain's most militant
both on their behalves and on behalf of all
pamphlet makes no mention of the young women a Lee Jeans who fought for
jobs wnen ine big Lin wood factory backed down and forced the employers to give
1977 1978 1979
them work. No remark is made about ine coventry ceaners who well strike for weeks to get a Labour council to listen to their union's case on jobs and pay.
To read the pamphlet you would not know that wome had occupied the Lovable Bra factory in Barate real e occupation at the cause of the defence of jobs. The leaders of the Labour Party are very willing to talk about a Woman's Right to Work: but perhaps they are not so keen on women taking action to fight for their jobs? Our job is to start where the pamphlet leaves off
Women's Right work puousnea oy ine National Joint Committee for Working Women's Organisations, 35p
Page 13 scan of this page
Mary digs it in Derbyshire
Sunday 14 March 3pm Socialist Challenge meeting in Mansfield. Mansfield is the centre of the Nottinghamshire coalfield.
The audience, mainly from the mining nity, are interested in the
labour movement, health and satety ana, or course, women working down the DILS
The debate is lively and sharp. Some mulicts arzuc that it would be a backward step for women to go into such dirty, dangerous Mary comes back by saying that what necessary for men and women to fight together for safer conditions.
Monday 15 March 7.30am Meet the branch president at Warsop Main in North Derbyshire.
8.20am Arrive at Welbeck pit in North Notts.
Mark, Socialist
Challenge supporter
WIRO works at the pit, has arranged underground visit. The gate is about 12 foot high and across.
The air is filled with the sound of the huge cutting machine which dominates the gate. When the cut rinisnes we go into the face. We edge under the huge hydraulic roof sup. ports. Thick rubber pipes carrying cables curl everywhere.
This is quite a good
stand up and it's not too face you call almost hot. hot ome are The
Shot 98°F. machine driver begins anotici cul.
The huge revolving cutting heads are pullec alain Mark this sal along thick steel the chain had snapped the
FIN LAS
PROSECUCIONES
NO JUICIOS
CONTRA ABORT
EN ESPANA
00
three and a half years, has been on tour in Britain. Last week she spent three days in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire visiting the pits and mining community. JACK LAVIN reports. week before. Two miners were knocked out they could have been killed
Danger is ever present. As we wait tor the paddy train to take us back, a deputy tells us to hang on as there's an injured miner coming up trom the other side of the pit.
On top again, Mary is presented with a badge to commemorate the centenary of Notts NUM. One of the officials promises put a 'Women miners can dig it too' sticker in his car.
2pm. Arrive at Ollerton Dit to meet the branch president. 2.30pm Meet with a group of miners' wives who have established woman's
the town. women are curious and ask manv questions about what it's like to work in the
concerned that women miners are treated as equals. 4.30pm The last visit of the day. We meet Joe Whelan, general secretary of Notts NUM and member of the national executive.
Tuesday 16 March. We visit the headquarters of
Derbyshire NUM. General Secretary, Peter Heathfield presents Mary with a special plate commemorating the Derbyshire miners, as a gesture OI solidarity with the American miners and the struggle women for equality. It is something of an HonOur.
Mary's next stop
Sheffield. The time she's spent in Nottinghamshire and Derbvshire hasi сетtainly stimulated debate on women aown ine pits Mary has had a worthwine if exhausting time.
will be visit long remembered in these parts whatever the views of the
Q
people she met.
...and Sheffield, too
'IF MINING is not safe for women, it's not safe
[RISH WOMEN
UPPORT SPANISH
OMEN'S SPUGGLE
Abortion
trial
reopens
in Spain
abortion
Women's Rights
Mary Zins, first woman miner down the pits in Britain for 140 years
for men.' That was Mary Zins' response to a miners official in Sheffield who did not want women to go down the pits.
Mary's tour in the Yorkshire area was highly successful and caused a major stir in the local labour movement, in particular, the Nationa Union of Mineworkers.
The trial has reopened in Spain of 11 women and one man accused of having done or had abortions. postponed on two previous occasions but was reopened on 16 March, when the case for the defence was presented. The prosecution is asking for heavy prison sentences up to 60 years and fines. There are three judges and no jury. A decision should be known by the end of this week.
A witness from the International Campaign on Abortion, Contraception and Sterilisation gave evidence in the trial. Contributions toward the fare to ie sent to NAC, 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1.
Send telegrams now demanding 'Amnesty for Bilbao trials. Legalise
in Spain' to President de la Viscaya, Seccion No 2, Bilbao, Spain.
She went down Maltby colliery, the first woman miner down the pit for 140 years.
In answer to the claim that most women would not want to work down the pit, Mary replied, "They should nave the right decide that themselves. should not be against the
I TEE ABORTIN law.
ON DEMAND
FOR SPINSH WH
The trial had been Audiencia, Provincial de
debate
By Judith Arkwright
economic situation
women hardest of all.
Women suffer
shorter working
June.
fighting unemployment as
against the Tories
Glasgow rape case
talking shop.
legal abortions
methods of changing
carried
were used.
power that they have. Women's
Music
right to
Forums Employment
Child care
Services
Education
Socialist Challenge
Women's TUC in
THIS YEAR'S WOMEN'S TUC took place against a background of a worsening
which is hitting
from unemployment in greater proportions than men. Motions for a
week, for encouraging young women into non-traditional jobs and for no discrimination in redundancies were all
But where was the action to implement all these things? It was tucked away at the end in a paragraph in the report supporting the Labour Party action for women's rights on 5
Some delegates attended a fringe meeting called by the action committee for a woman's right to work. Mary Zins spoke about positive action as a policy for confronting the role o women in the reserve army of labour and
La whole. It is becoming urgent to go out and build the 5 June event as the next step in the fightback
first time in its history, the Women's TUC took a discussion and resoluacknowledging that this a trade union and a sexual violence class issue. The resolution put by the Institute of Professional Civil Servants called for a con demnation of police attitudes and for written statements to be permitted in court where a woman is unable to testify as occurred in the
The Women's TUC has not always been a
It did play a major role in fighting for action to defend abortion rights; this year an emergency resolution in defence of doctors threatened with prosecution for il-
and against back the abortion act was
But at the end of the day - or rather at the very beginning of the agenda - the Women's TUC voted, as it does every year to give itself as little power as possible. This year, again, a motion calling for five resolutions from the Women's TUC to go automatically to the TUC conference was rejected. Cries of short cuts and the danger of women being patronisec
Anna Coote, moving the motion from the National Union of Journalists, declared tha women have waited too long to have a real say inside the trade union movement and that, yes, it's high time we found a few short cuts if we are to get anywhere. Women are a huge force in the trade union movement.
A movement which listens to and acts on our demands is immeasurably strengthened and it's a pity that the Women's TUC insists on denying women the chance to show the
LABOUR PARTY
Women's
festival
Rally & trade union speakers with major politica Theatre Stalls
Children's Events
Refreshments
CRECHE AVAILABLE
SATURDAY
5TH JUNE
Battersea Park
LONDON from 12 noon
25 March 1982 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
Can't pay-won't move! sErM
By Helen Flynn, bus conductor WHY ARE London bus conductors collecting the new increased fares? A good question, and one that will probably be used against us from different sides in the battle over the Law Lords' ruling on subsidised public transport. So let's get a few things straight.
fares we don't, believe the cheap fares policy was fantastic benefit to Londoners.
fend that policy. Our strike last week built up tremendous morale in showing that united action by all workers on London Transport can bring the city to a grinding halt.
But one OI the organisers of the Can't Pay, Won't Pay campaign were to have a look round my bus garage, or flick through the Public Service Vehicle Regulations conductors and passengers, they eventually begin to see why we've opposed their sort of campaign, why we nave lo collect the new fares, and why being a bus conductor must be about the most miserable job in the world this week.
Our garage nas suddenly been plastered with directives, letters and notices from management informing us that we will be disciplined if we comply in any way with passengers
workers sit-in
By B Bella OVER 3000 workers at
Massey Ferguson, Banner Lane plant. in Coventry are indefinitely sitting-in to protest a situation where their unions are not getting information needed for negotiations.
Yesterday the company demanded a £12.50
week wage cut if it withdrew redundancies. The unions are demanding short working time rather than accepting job loss.
Their wage rise last
By Toni Gorton VIEWERS ITN's News At Ten programme Friday 19 March may have been startled to see a new entry to ITN's weekly jobs report.
In addition to their normal jobs lost, jobs created' categories had been added jobs saved'.
escorter matter of factly stated that the mainly women workers at Plessey Bathgate and Lovable Bra in Cumbernauld had saved 80 jobs each through sit-ins at respective factories.
mass meeting of Plessey workers 18 March accept the terms offered to Inem.
At talks the previous between Plessey and Ar-
the firm which will take over the Bathgate factory guarantee was made to keep 80 jobs for at least one year.
Shop steward conSocialist Challenge 25 March 1982
It's NOT because we support the higher the vast majority of us
It's NOT because we aren't prepared to de-
attempting to pay the old fares.
The concession by which you could offer your name and address in lieu of payment, intended to cover situations where passengers get their purses stolen or lose their travel permits, has now been withdrawn.
We are now expected to follow to the letter, the procedure in the rule book for dealing with fares refusals.
Basically, this means that if a passenger refuses to pay ine lull fare or to leave the bus, we have to call the police.
Management has also let it be known that large numbers of inspectors and
Coventry Massey Ferguson
year was well below the rate of inflation and 300 voluntary redundancies were given.
This year there will be no wage rise and the company is seeking 725, mainly compulsory redundancies.
Union reaction has been mixed. The joint engineering/transport union meetings decided to resist all compulsory redundancies with whatever action is
But staff areas so far
Plessey sit-in saves 80 jobs
venor, Ina scott said that she was 'proud to nave one son
Although we felt Ike curve on weret there was a danger we could be Tsking everyth tight
'Our was keep factory open here. just ourselves, but for the people ot Bathaate and that's what I hope we have done
one added inal sne could not hide her 'bitter disappointment that no more than 80 jobs could be obtained'.
"The sit-in, which began January, was notable for the determination of women workforce to Tient tor Ine jous white the opted for
Later, the bosses sacked those sitting in, depriving them of the thousands of pounds in redundancy pay and prosecuting them through the courts of which failed to shift
page 14
fair
Ken Livingstone and Dave Wetzel
plain clothes LT police will be keeping an eye on us.
The threat of job losses that already hangs over our heads means that people are frightened of being sacked because of this campaign.
When Councillor Valerie Wise and 'Can't Pay' organiser was interviewed on the radio news at the weekend, she said, 'Yes, we want passengers to travel illegally because sometimes the only way have been picked off one by one.
Some members of the white-collar section
transport union tried to break out of this last week when they hit the national news by sitting on the tracks and stopping production in protest against being given redundancy notices.
The shop floor backed them by barring any management attempts to remove them.
Shop steward convenor Ina Scott the women.
Their fight to keep the open their main aim and in TENS cessful.
News
you can fight for what you want is to break the law.
sounds like real fighting talk. Unfortunately, the lack of a lead from the Labour GLC in defying the Law Lords' ruling has left the union leaders off the hook. should have been the ske Our day strike ing board for further in-
action Instead, like the GLC councillors, our leaders want us to take individual heroic actions.
THE fair,
The Black Jacobins,
participating from Africa
Afro-America, Europe and Britain
forums on black writing,
and radical bookshops,
Gloosers
N4, 01-272 4889
WHILE SCARNIN
• SANNO FROM POLITICS
• INID THE
•PAC Mn.
Free the Bradford 12 Leeds Saturday 3 April
Further information from the national mobilising com-
mittee. Box JK, LAP, 59 Cookridge Si. Leeds 2.
London coaches leave York Way, Kings Cross al 8am.
Tickets f4. unwaged f/
With 3,000 jobs up for grabs LONGOI Transport, it just is not good enough to say if any Were will be an aim out worker victimised All that does perpetuate isolated actions and that is not what trade unions should do. It is collective action that makes the union strong. Can't Pay, Won't Pay, whatever ts intentions only serves to weaken and divide us.
International
backfair
Black
3raWorld:
Islington Town Hall, Upper St, Islington,
London N1 Sunday 28 March to Sunday 4 April to be opened by CLR James, author of will have over 70 publishers the Caribbean, Asia,
There will be a series of events including a variety concert compered by Linton Kwesi Johnson
, fascist attacks on black and poetry; an interna tional tooa tair; and a concert tor piano ana Tiute with music by contemporary black and third world
Tickets and programme available from New Beacon
76 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park. London
IALKS..
•ON UNIRACY CHARGES
RIGHTS
National demonstration
STRIKE BULLETIN
Lest we forget
'secret
society'
By Toni Gorton JOHN BOYD, engineers, father' ruling
claims Phil
Manchester.
gle against Laurence Snipe. ton and AUEW officials,
how the union operated in the dispute
AUEW has declared that all motions the membership
many branches have sent in resolutions.
secretaries Bob Wright and Ken Brett.
their cronies.
of their democratic should have the right to be informed.
issue the April meeting.
fice, 110 Peckham Rd,
Romiley, Cheshire. Donations to same address
each from the above address. coverage IP presents week in and week out.
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AUEW exec-
general secretary of the is little more than a 'god. over a 'secret society' which is the AUEW national executive,
La leader of the beleaguered Laurence Scott dispute in
After 10 months of strike and bitter strug.
Scott boss Arthur Manchester's top cop James Ander. the union executive are determined to block the ability of AUEW members to have any say whatsoever about
A report in the Financial Times of 15 March stated that the executive committee of the
on Laurence Scott have been ruled out of order.
This is despite rule 14 of the AUEW con stitution which states that the executive can be removed from office by a ballot of the membership provided that such a ballot is demanded by ten per cent of the union's bran. ches and is agreed by at least two-thirds of
What is impossible to find out is how correspondence goes directly to John Boyd himself and minutes are not distributed to relevant people such as Broad Left assistant
The only people who know what goes on in the AUEW executive are Boyd, Duffy and
It's time to call a halt to their 'secret society'. Branches must protest this muzzling
rights. At least they All AUEW members should be protesting this high-handed treatment and it should be an
committee
Letters should be sent to the AUEW General Of-
London SE15 and a copy sent to the LSE Strike Committee, 20 Roundcroft
The Laurence Scott Strike Bulletin is available at 5p
Save up to 25% on a subscription to Intercontinental Press.
No other magazine has the in-depth political reporting and news
Poland. El Salvador,
• Interviews with class-struggle fighters and revolutionary lead-
Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, Bernadette
• Translations of key documents from the world revolutionary and
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Page 15 scan of this page
next?
By Pam Singer ISRAELI soldiers murdered a 17-year old youth during riots in the West Bank town of El Bireh. They forced open shutters of shops which had shut down during a three-day general strike to protest the dismissal of the town's mayor, İbrahim Tawil, for refusing to meet with head of the civil Menachem Milson.
This is the real face of the supposedly humane
set November 1981 to replace the military government that had occupied Lne West Bank and Gaza Strip since the 1967 war.
Officially, civil ad-
facilitate the transfer of
sibilities, including maintenance ot law and order trom direct army
hands 'coIne operative Palestinian functionaries. This was to lead towards some form of 'self-government'. Tactic
But for the past fourteen years, the Israelis nave nad no success lie al tually Vendin unctionaries such operative who could serve as credible *legitimate representatives' is, Palestinian collaboralols) undermine the strong influence of the PLO
As their main tactic, the Israelis have revived an old British creation y
the creation
'self-help' Village Leagues. These leagues
Palestinian training camps prepare for attacks on Israeli oppressors
After Golan, is
the West Bank
administration, Professor
receive arms and govern-
local conditions.
In many cases, particularly lulal alcas. the population has no choice but to to these leagues for their daily concerns.
Rural
The Israeli government is counting on this depen dency traditional
backwardness' ural establish a base for the leagues as a counterweight to elected urban represen-
such as the mayors LalIves. of Nablus and Ramallah, who are openiy sympathetic to the PLO. These leagues have gained no popular support cities.
From the very beginning, the populations of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have made their
opposi tion the 'CIVI administration' and Arab collaboration well known, with general strikes,
illass and & the assassination of Yussef elKhatib, head of the Ramallah league.
The Milson administration has responded
with bullets,
led cas. curfews, arrests, censorship, closing down Bir Zeit University and Al-Fajr newspaper for their "terrorist' connections. Dissolve
But this has all been directed towards the 'extremists'. Now, discon certed by the positive response of Village League representatives to dan's cal tor detections the government has actual-
dissolved elected all local authority.
follows last week's dissolution by
Ariel petence Sharon of the National
Committee. loose coordinating body of
opposition. Given that, the past. Israell authorities have banished mayors and planted bombs their cars, this may come as no sul list. Golan
Six weeks after establishment of the Milson administration, the Israelis annexed the Golan Heights, an area never considered part pre-1948 Palestine With the recent announcement that evacualec setters from the Sina may be
West Bank relocated settlements, is almost certain that the Israelis are have similar plans for the
Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. We
International.
can expect more Palestinian resistance rising out of the ashes of an already dead Camp David Hammersmith
revolution.
The gains of the revolution were dealt with at some length by Rita Joseph, vice-president of the Na tional Women's Organisation in Grenada.
Taxes on the lowest paid 30 per cent of the workforce have been abolished; over the past year wage rises have outstripped inflation; unemployment has been almost halved in three years; free education has been established; child CArE centres have been set up to help
participate in the society. The whole concept of a social wage has beer established, improving working people's conditions all facets of life.
Despite natural disasters which frequently hit the Caribbean area, despite the international capitalist recession which determines the prices Grenada will get for its agricultura exports and despite the lack of valuable raw
on trial
By Nick Robin 'IT'S NOT TRUE that we have tortured to death seventy prisoners
— it's only fifteen', said a cynical spokesperson for military junta last response to an Amnesty International report on human rights in Turkey.
This grisly admission is part of a growing calalogue human rights perpetrated by the junta. On Wednesday 24 February, 44 intellectuals and professional people associated with the Turkish Peace Committee were arrested by the military junta.
Among those arrested was Orhan Apaydin, President of the Istanbul Bar Association and the most famous lawyer in Turkey. Apaydin is also chief defence counsel for the 52 DISK trade unien
leaders currently on trial for their lives in
a converted sports stadium in Istanbul.
The DISK frame-up. Declaring the trial to be held in 'war conditions' the junta's judicial representatives have placed impossible restrictions on the detence.
which started three months ago, has been
temporarily suspended with only half the 800 page indictment read
Claiming that DISK is 'not a trade union secret
organisation' which is guilty of 'brain-
washing the workers and making them
slaves of socialist thought',
ment charges DISK
workers to go on strike' as a result of
which 'some employers had to take their
capital outside Turkey secretly' (!)
The aim of the trial is the total dis-
mantling of independent working class
organisation
'Reaganomic' austerity programme. It is
increasingly clear that justice for the 52
DISK leaders depends on international
abour movement action on a massive
scale.
The forthcoming speaking tour by
DISK and other trade unionists organis
Grenada celebration
'THANK YOU Grenada. We will never let you down.' These words from Carlos Trejo of the Cuban embassy summed up the feelings of hundreds of people attending a rally in the Town Hall on 13 March to celebrate the third anniversary of the Grenadan
materials, the Grenadan economy is developing and production increas ing. , she explained. This
being done Ine basis of meeting humar needs not super rich ferofits for a
At the centre of the gains is the establish-
of the 'People's Power' system, said Joseph. This gives working people the real way in the direction ot the country
An example is the new budget: this was discussed for weeks on end at mass meetings throughout the country and the final budget incorporates amendments and concerns of ordinary people
The Grenadan peo ple have also been armed to defend their revolution. People's militias involve ordinary working women and men and young people.
The rally was perme. ated with internationalism. Salvador Moncada, representing the revolutionary forces in
Turkey: union leaders
the Turkish
week in
of crimes against trial has been a total
The trial
days. The high
For more information: Marxist-Leninist
the indictwith 'forcing Last Wednesday
against the students held deported back to Iran.
to facilitate the junta's
Turkey visiting Iran.
Further
By Gary Erlisker
Salvador and
Nicaraguan ambassad-
or Francisco D'Escoto
brought greetings.
Richard labour soli- Hart
Caribbean
darity contraster the
gains of the Grenadar
revolution to what was
happening Jamaica
where a US-backed pro
imperialist regime is
power. While working
people in Grenada are
steadily moving for.
ward. workers
Jamaica face restric-
tions on democratic
rights and increasing
poverty.
Hart was followed
by Trade Union Con.
gress chairperson Alan
Sapper who pledged his
support ana
the importance of the
British labour
ment giving support to
the cause of Grenada
Cuban represen-
tative Carlos Trejo
but
explained this
would not hold back the
revolutionary struggles
in the areas. 'We look
forward to being able in
the near future to cele
brate not just revolu-
tionary Grenada and
Nicaragua but also
revolutionary
in EI Salvador, Guate
throughoul
the Americas', , he said
ed by the Turkey Solidarity Campaign should be used to get the message across in the British trade union movement. The tour will be in London on 25 March Glasgow 26 March, Edinburgh 27 Mar ch, Manchester 29 March, Newcastle and Leeds 30 March, Oxford and Sheffield 31 March and then London for two more the rally at the TU Con Thursday April.
TSC, BM Box 5965, London WCIN 3XX
March 40 people pickese the Tussibility of 27 franiest
possibility of 27 in Turkish jails being They were arrested last October for demonstrating against the Khomeini regime.
Last year the Philippines deported students back to Iran and 8 were ex. ecuted on arrival at the airport. At present there is a high level delegation from
Which makes the possibility of deportation more likely.
• info from Iran Solidarity, BM Box 4344 London WCIN 3XX.
to applause It is not enough just said. 'The Cubans were also say ing "Thank you Grenada. . We will never let you down.
Grenadan High Commissioner Fennis Augustine, last, discussei Grenada's foreiar policy. This is an internationalist policy, bas ed on support for th rights of the oppressec and exploited through the world Augustine singled out peoples fighting I in the Americas for their liber ation, the black fighters Soutl Africa and Namibia the Polisario Front in Morocco and the Palestinians inst grenada the threats against from Washington there had been a few carrots offered he said Grenada would com promise its. principles Grenada's reply, he add ed, is obvious This determination to stand up to imper. ialism was reinforced as the rally ended to Ever Backward Never 'Forward Ever, and internationalist slogans.
Socialist Challenge 25 March 1982 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
By Brian Grogan VICIOUS new repressive measures are being planned by the Tories. In a desperate bid to divert attention from mass unemployment and the floundering British preparing a massive crackdown against youth.
In front of baying Tory MPs supposed Tory press 'softie' Home Secretary William Whitelaw * THREATENED new stop anu scaren powers lo the police. This will restore the blatantly 'sus' law which had allowed police to arrest any black youth they cared to on 'suspicion'.
* PROMISED full backing 'snatch squad' techniques pioneered Belfast to pick up "ringheaters turther youth rebellions. * DEMANDED that judges and nasirale give longer sentences. Two new prisons are to be built
All out for
national sales
day!
6% June 1s to kaeo those sales
Birmingham readere
Manchester new market sale, cllmbing,
Wing for Soclaliet Challenga, But in thausands of people
El Salvadorean revelutionaries Join our sellere!
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Socialist
Challenge
Tories to
crackdown
on youth
economy they are
each year to accommodate them. The 'short, sharp shock' LOLLUIC of youth is to be extended.
* APPEALED to fascistminded white 'vigilantes' that they join the part-time police specials.
These promises are in response to a Tory press campaign sponsored by the police. They indicate the next stage of Tory attempts hang ODEL power. Despite the temporary rejection of a reintroduction of capital punishment, the 'hanging and flogging brigade always the apple of Mrs Thatcher's eye clearly have the upper hand.
An example of Tory 500 extra sales is our target tot Nations ales Day on 3 Aprill And our objective in thi monthe leading up to Reagen a reception on
These extre sales are starting to come in,
have startede yogular sale around the railway clubs every Friday, ASLEF and NUR militants who buy the poper are convinced thet a showdown 15 in evitable on the railways. Socialist Challenge agrees and is helping to prepare the right
supportata have started a Current sales are 23 and
Enst Landon supporters in the Labour Par y will be canvassing for the Labour Party in
ne local government elections and canvass-
the next months hundroda st will be starting to Reagan'S visit. Sociellot the, contre of that rion, It starts this weekend with the
so boot and insolenty a tee demonstration in London,
Order your extra pepers for national saNational Sales Day Action Desk, Sunday
frenzy is the attempted censure • ot Labour GLC councillor Paul Boateng. He had criticised the pollce for being racist in the wake
the Dulrounding the publication
racially biased street crime statistics by the London police.
This goes hand in hand with Whitelaw's targeting
'liberal' police chief John Alderson for his calls for a return to 'community policing rather than tackling hardline crusader James Anderton who has simply retused work under even a semblance of 'control the Manchester police committee.
It is highly unlikely that youth, black youth especially, be cowed by these new attacks our democratic rights. The problem that of the
Labour leadership
Last weekend's meeting of the North west Labour Party carried a
Transport Union resolution demanding the resig-
nation of James Anderton. This is good. But the
labour movement cannot be content with ding to the most blatant
manifestations
campaign.
The Labour leadership
already disgraced itself by
its failure to defend the
vouth during last sum-
mer's uprisings. In the past
they have allowed
the initiative to be in the
hands of the Tory press to
such an extent that White-
law is able to be presented
as a moderate.
debate in House
Commons on 'law and
They
oracl paulicul
should make it known that
the Labour Party and the
unions intend to defend
youth and black people in
particular against these
new repressive moves ana
that the next Labour
government will repeal all
repressive legislation. This
is the least that needs to be
done.
• 'law and order'
general election.
See centre pages
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