Socialist Challenge No. 281, 16 February 1983
The scan: sc-no281.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge Inquiries favour management
No. 281 18 February 1983 David Basnet chief union negotiator 1 have never before been asked to accept in advance the binding nature of an inquiry. But I have never before rejected the findings of an inquiry.
Harry Bristow shop steward Copper Mill, delegate to allLondon strike Committee.
I'm certainly not happy with this inquiry. The reference have not published as they should have been.
'We were led to believe that meaningful negotiations have not taken therefore negotiations not been exhausted. Yet they are going straight to arbitration.
There must be pressure on the executive... than pressure. Whatever the decision of the must be strong deputation to the recall JIC from the rank and file to demand no sellout.'
Mick Sable New River Head strike committee, London It always smacks of a sell out when they start talking about inquiries. We see it as a cop out. We want money on the table.
/ think we've got them on the run. The strike's really starting to have an impact this week.
We saw how they formed with the mediator. That was a farce. what they mean by mediation then we don't want any of it. This didn't instill us with confidence. lan Drayton Blackburn Meadows strike committee, Sheffield I'm suspicious of the Inquiry. It could be used as the basis of a compromise settlement or sell out.
It could be used to bur our comparability unless we get some commitment to comparability, then inquiry would be just the same as the mediators report.
I'm not opposed to the leadership being seen to be talking. But they should be building up strike committees and encouraging ween various areas gathering support.
25p Unemployed and strikers 10p
Socialist
terms of
been
place, have
and more
court. there
of victory.
"Inquiry' into
peragainst the workers
If that's
out.
have re-inforced the strikes.
quiry was not set up. • Craft workers
the system to a halt. • Representatives
delivery of authorities if asked to do so
demand sions of the power workers to
their support authorities to links bet-
many areas of London. and
NO
SELL
OUT
TRADE union leaders are once again trying to snatch defeat from the jaws
In a week when the solidarity actions were massively extending and when the effects of the strike were coming to the crunch, the decisive union leadership have agreed to an
the water workers' dispute. Such inquiries are loaded talks on
as the stee workers and railworkers have found
Meanwhile several developments • Scottish waterworkers decided to Join the strike by mid-week if the in-
in the water industry have decided to join the strike officially from this weekend and not cross picket lines from midnight Tuesday. This move could rapidly bring
of 110,000 chemical workers decided to black
chlorine to water
These actions added to the deci-
gIve and the snowballing solidarity in the labour movement. The effects of the action were country: beginning to mount all over England and Wales. In London, for example, the potentially catastrophic effect on water levels of nearly 500 bursts being allowed to run free has forced the
cut off the water in Moreover, the Hampton water works is threatening to become another Saltley Gates. If coal is prevented from entering this
pumping station, London would virtually be cut off.
The union leadership are running scared of the massive solidity of the strike and the possible impact of a
victory. Already government manual workers have asked for a re-opening of their pay
the employers offer of a measly 4.5 per cent.
National of Public Employees members voted before the water strike to accept. General and Municipal and Transport and General members voting after the strike started decided to reject.
The writing is on the wall for the trade union leaderships. If the water workers win decisively, it will throw into relief their sell-outs in the present pay round. It will massively boost workers confidence to bring the government down.
If the strike continues it threatens to combine not only with the manual workers, but also the more powerful gas and power workers who decide on action next week.
Demands should go up from the strike committees up and down the
* No retreat on the full claim for parity * Step up the action * Unite the claims.
There should be a big turn out for the lobby of the Joint Industrial Committe which meets after the inquiry declares its findings.
local
underground).
Steel inquiry
MANAGEMENT FAVOURED
Rail inquiry
FAVOURED MANAGEMENT
Water inquiry
NO SELL OUT
Help Peter Tatchell in Bermondsey
Canvassers are now needed every day of the week, but especially Sundays 11.00am and Tuesdays 7.00pm. Each CLP is to be twinned with a Bermondsey ward; contact Labour Party regional office (703 6511) to find out your assembly point; or turn up at Bermondsey Labour Party offices, 133 Lower Road, SE16 (Rotherhithe
Page 2 scan of this page
"Editorial
Who Were Hitler's
Real Appeasers?
IN HER FIRST full speech attacking the
movement for disarmament Margaret
Thatcher has compared the activists of
CND with the appeasers of the 1930s.
conference
weekend, she gave the opening broad-
side of the Tory election campaign.
of the horrors of Nazism, Thatcher ask-
ed: 'Would it have been morally right to
have handed over to Hitler total control
of the most terrible weapons which man
has ever made?'
cher's arguments
been running a series of articles on ap-
peasement in the 1930s. What hypocrisy!
the 1930s had nothing
pacifism but was based on sympathy
with Hitler. Prominent by its absence
from the Daily Mail's
peasement was Lord Harmsworth, the
most prominent of all the appeasers and
founder of ... the Daily Mail.
Second World War paying him sufficient
money for a life of luxury - why the
United States government!
Germany and the Soviet Union today is
also an odious one.
Whilst Churchill
Western leaders were refusing to open a
second front against Hitler, nearly twen-
ty million Russian people died as a result
of the offensive
against the USSR.
have now are a result and reaction to the
proven
policy of the Pentagon war planners
not as a result of Hitlerite expansionist
aims.
way in which the US used their nuclear
capacity against
Nagasaki at the end of the second world
war when Japan would have fallen to
conventional warfare in a matter of
months.
gressive aims of US imperialism is turn-
ed into a parable proving that Japan was
a nuclear free zone and look what hap-
pened!
The increasing
Tories' arguments reveals that the issue
of disarmament is their major Achilles
heel with the approach of the general
election. The majority of the electorate
is firmly against the stationing of the
missiles in Britain. Even Tory supporters
are evenly split on the issuel
ment to press home this advantage by
pinning the badge of war-mongers on
the Tories, standing firm on the policy of
unilateral disarmament and launching a
campaign in 1983 that can
missiles and stop the re-election of That-
cher.
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, PO Box
50. London N1 2XP.
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 2
Speaking to the Young Conservatives
Bournemouth last
Invoking Klaus Barbie as a reminder
Attempting to give weight to That-
the Daily Mail has
Appeasement in ruling class circles in
to do with
account of ap-
And who sheltered Barbie after the
The comparison between Hitler's
and the other
of the Nazi armies
The arms which the Soviet Union
aggression and first strike'
That aggression was proved by the
Hiroshima and
But for Thatcher this proof of the ag-
desperation of the Now is the time for the labour move-
stop the
strike
formed
IN A MAJOR development in the water strike an all London strike committee was formed last weekend. This will greatly strengthen the strike effort as it will draw together in concerted action the several London strike committees that already exist.
The formation of this towards putting the conduct or me sake in me manes of The ranks. Such a develop ment scale would be
counter strike throughout
LIC •backea Dy the union leaderships.
of the struggle has developed around the pump
supples me oux or condon water. supplics which are essential to the continued Bunionhrough the picket line functioning of plant
SCaD lorry COnTaCLOrS Shropen from the coalettine BLOODIES rail and truck has emerged as
central task of the waterworkers in London.
SUIKC COmmICC Is conseer-
to stop the next major assignment
Many water workers are recognising that the success o tach suurgle will vargay de
and gain
unions Labour Party. A vast gulf has and ope between the TanK and leadership and of their The national • unions
Son totani any nie initiatives
come
The
end the strike They are ete
build the strike. viding no ratives, and are m
are making no efforts to gain support from orner workers. ms penneten to local strike committees to
blackin operations associated with th water industry, financial colcons ana senear support from the other unions.
Scabbing operations have been organised the
All London
committee
management in the water in-
MUSLIY • wakchine as ar a possible
the effects of the strike. Some white collar
water €1,300 ₴ paid
AWCON .OU work that will allow the main Tarance and
using blackmail tacties, with sug gestions that those who don't
could 31310 nemse ves made recinaan or passed over for promotion.
The real consequences of the strike have been disguised
«DOLICY atopica by manavemen that, be tall story. water will nock there ede 450 blast turned
Demonstrate 17
February
The New River Mead strike committee in Islington London has called for full labour movement support to a solidarity demonstration initiated by the joint trades union committee representing Islington Council workers
message out John Hickey of the strike committee told us. There is a massive press campaign against us and its essential that we show the real extent of the support that we enjoy.
O'Connor,
Jimmy G&MBATU explained how people were continually walking in from the streets with small donations and messages of support. They've kept the real effects of the strike out of the press' he explained. "There's anything up to 500 burst mains being allowed to gush in London. The levels of water in the reservoirs has dropped dangerously as a result.
contractors to repair pumping stations. Yesterday, they tried this on at the Grosvenor Rd station on the embankment. We sent out a flying picket and stopped them crossing the line: assistance from Hampton if this was required. stepping up the action and we are determined to win.
•News
By D Kelly
mains running freely in London To stop a burst main from flowing
and the Thames authority that in Lons niThus real first HO ICal CHICC - LOnGOn mains are continuine To tow ruining roads and undermin
plea
decision to leave mains running.
Thames clean up campaignis
rity ree weeks the vast majority water workers are still solidly behind the strike. More and HOLO WaLCI WOLNCES
pontical one, aimed the The healthworkers did it and effectively got their
branch chairpersor of the 'Management is playing dirty. They are trying to call in
He explained that they would respond to any call for
*We are
Step up action
Wales: "Support is stronger than it's ever been - the strike is completely solid. We're looking to escalate the actions early next wooh ALIC previously
There, have been incensed by the 50p
inaccurate
local management
filtration plants ensure
curenty at code ne
support growing. •We have Q OLLINI tund and channels tor a join stewares committee are
Loca CalL uHons Have demanded ships call supportive strike ac-
Unite the claims
By Brian Grogan
4.6 percent offer.
argument with
of throwing workers into the fray.
tricity supply industry last week,
water supplies at
Shelton Grange in Northumberland.
power of the movement was flexed.
full blooded socialist alternative to Thatcher.
no bottle.
increase workers policies.
are clear.
WATERWORKERS occupying the control room of Taff Divisional Headquarters in Nelson South Wales are out to win their claim in full. A NUPE steward David Locke spoke to Socialist Challenge from inside one of the six sites now being occupied in South
LIon. LocaL anora nion o Mineworkers have
I mains NALGO bran
not co-operate witn troops 1! they called in by Supportin resentinent and health bran CUC maem to resDed surikers pickel lines and no undertake plants now all Welsh rivers, they are call- • 677 77 60661 INE OH LIC OCCreLarY OlDLat for Wales. Nicholas Edward for some particular direct ac tion of his own 'get a shove ameet the claim in Yoll. clean
GAS WORKERS are threatening to join the water workers in strike action in response to the 4.5 percent offer made by management Power workers have similarly rejected a 3.6 to
John Edmonds, national energy officer of the General Municipal and Boilermakers warned the government that it was 'backing itself
utilities'. But despite such talk, it is clear that the union leadership is hoping to come in on the backs of the water workers action instead
the weight of gas and power
Rank and file pressure is clearly intense. however. At a London meeting of the regional representatives of the four unions in the elec-
plans were announced to prevent the use of alternative
power stations suffering from the effects of the strike. As a result two power stations are now affected, at Blyth and
This strike could be won in a flash if the
Yet the TUC leadership continue their shadowy existence. Their argument - that strikers undermine electoral support for Labour - only has substance because of their failure to chart a
With a clear cut alternative to Thatcher's mayhem, the water strike, and other union ac tion, can only boost the confidence of the faint hearts and waiverers in the movement who are ducking because they feel their leadership has
A defeat for the waterworkers will more or less set the seal on Labour's electoral chances. A victory for the waterworkers will massively
receptivity to socialist Joint action of all utility workers could bring the government down. The choices
Page 3 scan of this page
HAMPTON MUST CLOSE!
Ernie Roberts, MP
It is clear from the serious problems which arise as a result of water workers being compelled to take action in defense of their living standards, health and well-being of They should be paid the increase in wages that they justly demand.
Reg Race, MP
THE WATER workers are a small group of workers who desperately need the practical support of the labour movement. waging their first ever national strike, they are having to learn serious lessons very quickly. We must get on their picket lines and support them.
The claim for parity with gas and electricity workers is no more than reasonable. These workers do a messy and demanding job wading waist-high through picking out dead dogs and bodies from the sewers and reservoirs, filter beds which purity the millions of gallons of water that we all drink each day. Their claim should be met in full.?
Solidarity
checklist
The moves to set up a 'committee of inquiry'
under the inspiring neutral chair of Joe Gormley demands a rapid stepping up of the dispute, Socialist Challenge supporters should now * Establishing strike support committees in every area, based on trades councils, LPs and trade union branches, to organise tours, SU000 * Getting delegations to the water workers pickets to help the strikers, and pressing for mass pickets of key local installations as a political focus for the labour movement. * Taking the appeal sheets to your branch and shop awares communee due raisine monev • Distributing leaflets to put the strikers case and direct the blan ae where it belongs
Get vour MP. local councillor to support the strike come to the picket lines, and endorse any calls for mass pickets, demos etc.
Water workers picketing at Hampton last week - having to confront police as well as scabs.
that their work is vital to
the community.
They are and
Draw
and maintaining the if a sell-out deal is to be stopped.
raise money due win at the Tories
Nater
HAMPTON WATER WORKS in West London has now become a national symbol for the strikers. This huge works next to the Thames supplies the majority of London with water. If it could be stopped, the dispute would be all but over.
taken by the unions to close the plant.
One hundred water workers from all over London joined the picket line
Hampton last Friday night and Saturday morn-
In They
were there in response to a call from the Hampton workers to stop
third coal from reaching the works.
Four minibuses of police from the Tactical Support Group kept watch, but no coal appeared - probably because of the success of the last-minute
the pickets.
Twice before scab lorries have broken through шле pIcKeL Sane with the connivance of the police, to keep the pumps going
BAD TASTE
HILARY DRIVER reports on the steps being with a supply of coal. The plant around 240 tons a week, or 12 lorry loads to keep working.
The picket line was attacked on the last two occasions by the police, who refused even let the strikers talk to drivers. Miners
The strikers the first to admit that they are inexperienced at picketing Miners from Kent visited Hampton on Friday and discussed picketing tactics with the water workers, as well as donating some very welcome food fuel 3EOT their braziers and E200 for their hardship fund.
Stopping the coal get-
OF COURSE THE THATCHERÉAGAN MAY PREVENT US EVER SEEING IT!
A GREAT FEELING OF DESPONDENCY ABOUNDS S
Low bee the m has
become major the trial of strength between the cubiovers alcane sankers
The water workers are
linking up workers in the NUM and
the rail to discove where the coal is coming from that it can boycotted at source. They are now considering widening out their action to make the most use of the support that can tapped from the rest of the labour movement
An excellent lead in solidarity has been taken by the local Hounslow Trades Council who have set up a support committee for the water workers
the committee has produced letters for local trade union and Labour Party branches calling on other workers to throw their weight behind the strikers.
Their aim is to provide a counter to the Tory press lies and distortions of the water workers' claim. FROM
Wate
One of the organisers
of the support committee
Lewis
T&GWU convenor.
important to do everything
we can to winnine worker
locally to the side of the
strikers', he said.
• This will be especially
important if they succeed
in closing Hampton down
If this happens masses of
workers whose workplaces
rely r on water supplies wil
be laid off, and we have to
make sure they put the
blame where it belongs -
with the government.
The support committee
is considering the possibili-
ty of organising a tour of
major work places
West London and of call
ing a local demonstration
in support of the strikers.
Money is also becom-
ing short for some of the
strikers. Many have been
refused support or been
given the runaround by the
DHSS
All the unions at
Hampton are now spon
soring joint hardship-fund
collection sheets which will 5 DESPAIR THE ONL RATIONAL ATTITUDE
SOME OF US FIGHT WOULD SEE THE EVENTS AT THE GREENHAM COMMON PEACE CAMP AS A 1 HOPEFUL SIGN•••
speed up the much needed donations.
Hampton works can be closed down. We need to step up solidarity actions by other unions and the labour movement in general.
Boycotting the coal will be a vital factor. Mass pickets and demonstra. tions Will also be very the strikers will important not only to reinforce their own solid determination, but to win other workers to their side and
donations to:
GMBATU/NUPE Appeal, c/o Ken Edge, 67 Railwa HO8O diesex Cheques/POs Mid
Hampton Strike
• The National meeting of Labour Against
No Sin 7 a war Witch-Hunt
full claim and called on the Labour Part put its full weigh behind the dispute.
Y CORMAC
BUT SURELY THOSE WOMEN WILL COLLAPSE, SWOON, GIVE UP THE
— WHEN SUBJECTEI TO THE FIERY ORATORY OF
SEXY MIKE ¡HESELTINE!
TWIT!!!
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
Surely proportional representation can only lead to a coalition and a situation in which it's most unlikely that Labour will be elected again.
The argument put forward on the Labour left by people like Peter Hain and Geoff Hodgson is an opportunist argument. It ignores that Labour originally in favour of PR - wien it was a nira party. There are two ways of approaching it.
If one's in an ultra-left mood one can say well the only thing that will solve the problems of the working class is the overthrow of capitalism, preferably by an insurrection which leads to soviet power Sampehi for which happen some time. DOWCVET OUE has to be to ensure the largest possible participation of werking people in politics.
From that point of view the present electoral SyStem IS EISENLEE" serves the needs of the ruling class LWOWaODa! ties which differed from each other on the pace of change, but not on fundamentals. People who defend PR are told that the SDP want PR, but SO what. Maggie Thatcher and Powell defend the present system
The real point is that a OV ONCe-CiCCC! by a minority vote under ine present svstem can get away with it because it is a capitalist
CUYCI HUICHE which attacks the workers. If a left Labour government, a Bennite ment, was elected on minority vote and tried to push through anticapitalist
BICOSUTCS LIC class resistance would be phenomenal, and the first point they would make is that it was only a minority government.
System
It's in our long term interests to have an electoral system which reflects what the majority HENG population wants. believe in addition that the Labour Party should argue for more frequent electons.
Ine second argument is that PR would create coalitions. But what were ine governments of '64, '66 and *74? In their ,practice they were coalitions, between tions of the old Labour left and right wing bourgeois politicians Healey, Wilson and Callaghan that whole gang that had
interest doing anything alter the capitalist system.
Careerists have climbed up the ladder in REEe Labour Party because the 'first past the post system" offered them the rungs of power The first past the post system is a peculiarity of the Anglo-Saxon world. I'd say to Peter Hain that ine apartneia system was only installed in South Africa atter a tirst nast the post system had been in-
The proportional representation system creates a situation where
need to go out and YUU fight for mass support, instead of reling the Labour Right have done on the electoral system to get you into power without
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 4
and the
BESTAL HES SUBDOES dispensable if you want to
COOLE SOc als! change.
The argument that you would never see Labour in
can only be put for•DUWCE ward if people are totally
pessimistic about the chance of winning mass support. What sort of system AVOlaVe TSeITi crucial. If the Labour ParLV COCHET DUE ONWa ULS
wn plan for PR, you are INCL -LO HaYC YCLY undemocratic system imposed.
Under a PR system you
vould have a Labour Par ty compelled to create a mass base. Labour would
Interview with Tariq Ali
Proportional
representation
block vote
THE FUTURE OF
BRITISH POLITICS
forced to become political party fighting for a mass membership in the factories and the comits own daily newspaper that's the only way it could get mass support.
Surely it's no accident that the main argument for PR CORTeS from those, like the Eurocommunists who want coalition with the SDP? Here and now the main thing is to get Labour government.
Even a Labour government with 38 per cent of
the vote could be forced to carry out radical, not. anti-capitalist, measures?
PR would force Labour to cease Deing Just -elec toral machine and create a mass base Since the cond world war we've had four Labour governments generally on minority votes. I don't think that a 3La00 government elected with just 38 per cent of the vote would evel try to get radical ECONO like unilateralism through.
This question of a ma-
io ty of hop au aa dote
radical
to push verough ain-
through anticapitalist reforms. This question can't be evaded
Opposed
as the SDP is concerned I'm totally opposed to those people who want a Labour-SDP coalition, and I would even oppose any kind of joint
Liberals for PR. Calla-ul with the All I'n SDP saying is that Labour will have to confront the ques tion of lectoral reform and the block vote if it wants to create a mass base
If Labour doesn't tackle these questions, other forces will. . Take the and the SDP have planned block VOLC Both Tebbit for ending the block vote, unionists opeing in to LP and system of membershit Obviously this should be opposed as : big attack in the unions.
But they could have success unless there is campaign in the unions by the Labour Party to recruit individual members. memet ins wich eright- straight-
class have put British DONECS WIL CONCELEO dominate unless lectoral SIC ONHE and the block vote are dealt with.
Why does creating a mass base for the Labour Party, or indeed democratising the block vote, mean going
for an 'opting in system of party membership in the unions? To respond to the Tebbit and SDP attacks by ourselves creating an 'opting in system is unnecessarily CeTeRS Ve
I don't think it's defensive. The block vote is unprecedented in any other socialist party In the world. It is what ensures the domination union bureaucracy in the Lbo Fy. tnt umon. should of course affiliate nationalv to the Labou Party, , but they shouldn't have the right to determine policy that should be the right of the members
On this issue the left are simply hutting their eyes, but people like David Basnett are very well aware
block vote poses to the right wings domination.
The point about the block vote is that its use
•eTer ReD HENe bureaucracy not the mass of the members. Democratising the block vote doesn't mean breaking the link with the unions
I'm totally in favour of union affiliation. Those who are in the Labour Party through their factor branches and so on should elect Telegate •LOLT ference. Ne could have gradual process over the next decade for changing this anomalous position.
In the first place a
should take the lead by letting the NUM conference decide the way the vote was cast on crucia Issues
The present undemocratic system leads to de-politicisation at the
base of the unions, and you can see this in what
happened in NUPE during the deputy leadership campaign where there was majority at the base fo Healey. The left like nume ane snoourone ing tend to be a bit ostrichnkc on Lacsc quesuon
Should Labour government elected on say only 40 per cent of the popular vote at tempt to carry through radical measures? Scolio unlikely that such government could be elected with a bigger vote than that in the short term?
Idon't think that the situation is finished. The next election will see probably a low Labour vote. What I find amazing by people who should know better, like the Communist Party, is that the words 'capitalist crisis have virtually gone out of fashion.
British capitalism is going through thẻ biggest crisis since the 1920s and sooner or later it will have a massive impact on the working class.
Up till now it hasn't had such big impact because although unemployment large, you have not had - contrary to demagogy massive an attack on the living STanezTes of employed workers as people thought was going to
If that had happened at the same time as unemployment I'm
CULL vinced you would have had massive explosions in the workers movement. If the Tories are elected again then you will have them trying to de-capitate ue unions ana ned witn that a really fundamental allach WELINSIR and living standards which thev naven t done in this term of government. Transform
Im a Marxist. I refuse to believe the . working class will sit laly by and say 'come and drive your SLEETO CES Ovei There will be reDO LOSCEO inside the working class, and it will
ECCLES -IESU Labour Party and at the base of the -ULUL -11UL
Labour isn't prepared LO transform itself into a campaigning party then we might have problems. If the workers don't tind their interests reflected in the Labour Party, then they could go to the right. If they reject the Labour Party then they certainly won't go in-
Sunday 27
March
12 noon
Assemble
Jubilee Gardens near Waterloo Station
• Unite the divided families now
to Tony Cliff's arms, you might well see some form of British far right movement with support in the working class
But I'm not pessimistic about the 1980s. I retain a scientific belief capacity of the working class to defend itself. You have to keep in mind the capitalist crisis. It's not enough simply talk about the fact that Thatcher effective populist or the ideological impact Tories. There is a limit to the ef-COLVCIC ideolog) when it collides with the material interests of workers. So there can be a radicalisation which as the 1980s develop the left can link up with. I'm not at all pessimistic.
Sure the Eurocommunists are right to insist •anat ine ola trachonal sec
of the working class LULU are in dechne ENCY dH all over E cape. Shat hais
case that means that there
working class not so muci WOEKERE there class а нет турс left? No of based in heavy industry.
But long as capitalism exists it relies on wage labour. So instead of saying we have to link up with the SDP or that the decisive sectors of the elec torate live in Hampstead
still base ourselves on the radicalisation of the working class to create a mass socialist party.
Could a Labour Party committed to carrying
anti-capitalist reforms come into existence without the right wing splitting off?
It's absolutely inconceivable in my opinion
Labour could be transformed with its pre sent composition. It's out -OTER CTeSO There is no way that the right wing WOLC aCCEDEICD capitalist wing would al There would be a setting SOfIt stage walk OI aLLUUILs
There is a long tradition of the right going out
In my view the radicalisation of the British working class coulc bring about a split in the
vill not wish to be a par moving to the left go over to the SDP or the Tories, as they have done in the past.
DEMO-STRATE
CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACIST LAWS
•Repeal the Immigration and Nationality Acts
•Stop race checks Stop racist deportations
Page 5 scan of this page
BERMONDSEY BY ELECTION
No change by
O'Grady
GEORGE NICHOLSON, Vice-chair of the GLC Planning commitee ano member for Bermondsey, the plat form of the public meeting which launched Peter Tatchell's campaign, 'Labour is a party
action, George began and showed how by taking up his favourite theme: the
Docklands Development Corpora-
George has cam-
around the docklands issue for many years now - and clashed swords more than once with former MP and Labour Party member Bob Mellish and his who's st John digady real Be stadding as sey Labour' in the by-election.
After the meeting he got together with his former colleague on Southwark Council, CAUL TURNER discuss the Dockland Duo.
Not much has changed
we did battle together as Southwark councilors a tew vears back except that now the former Leader of the councis open oooosing Labour, instead of claiming to speak in its name.
Trad's asha new Ge
O'Grady
elegate to Bermondsey i
074 In those days in Phat's what he holds up as was moribund. 'the real Bermondsey Labour' in today's campaign.
There was no contact between and local people. That changed when we began campaigning against the proDosed development of massive office blocks, luxury hotels and the like in Southwark's docklands. Now, many community groups are actively involved in the party, and lots of Joca peonle have ioined over the last few years.
Has O' Grady's towards docklands changed since became memDer OT Ine LOSE Board?
Labour CND to
launch campaign
for Labour to
stand by
unilateralism
Labour CND holds its annual general meeting on Saturday 19 February.
TUC to sions. The position paper to the Labour CND AGM explains why this is vital:
•However Labour supporters — while 77% say No to Cruise'
- nave Labours remember that
overal young support now registers
Time and again the Bermondsey Labour Party
local groups have come out against his sort of dockland plans - but this never affected the at-
OI Mellish or O'Grady. Nowadays, they'll be doing the same thing on a bigger scale now that O'Grady's a paid member the LDDC Board, and Mellish is its full-time Vice-chair.
How does Peter Tatchell figure in all this?
'Grady's approach to anyone who opposes him Is Just as vicIous now when we were first on the council in 178.
was elected on a docklands ticket — a promise to campaign for development which
better nousing and better leisure facilities to wie working poopie this area and one tha created jobs for local peo
to replace the housands lost in Bermondsey over the years. As soon as I started to do that, he nade sure the North Southwark Com-
Deve oomeri Group I was working for had its council-sponsored grant removed — so I lost
Tatchell Peter's run-in with Mellish and O'Grady began when he became party secretary
'79. The Bermondsey party shambles, Peter did agood COD CLE
Job getting Labour's oca house in order after years of stagnation and decline under an incompetent party secretary.
concerned The
proach was. the further
party asking questions and
couldn't answer
O' Grady became publicly hostile to the party. As you know, he derid-
agains poles nuncil
council chamber. coming to Ges. stopped coming to As a T&G-sponsored MP
This meeting will have a crucial role to play in organising within the labour movement for the Labour Party and carry out their 1982 Conference deci-
about 34% of the electorate. This shows that we STIE only have approximately 26% (or less than hall) of the 58% who oppose Cruise Labour
TAICHE
Photo: GM Cookson
Peter Tatchell, Eric Heffer and Bermondsey Party secretary Anne Coltart
frequently spoke against his union's policies
for example, on the And during my L cam.
cam2102s pear on my public plat form.
Did Mellish or O'Grady Take action when Peter was first selected as Bermondsey's candidate?
Peter was first selectec in early Mellish had made it known he wasn't standing again — he knew he hadn't a cat in hell's chance of being reselected.
that.
That the time
made his statement not en-
It's never
precipitated the whole
It seems likely CUISOUG
have powerful Party suppose supporters.
poll taken on the 250,000 June demonstration showed that 65% of those on the
Delonged no political party at all.
*lo complete the pic ture no one who was Greenham Commor December 12/13 could have any illusion that the labour movement was either the motive force, let alone the initiator, of that magnificent demonstra tion.
"The reason why
many who agree with CND still withold electoral support - TrON Labour
deep feeling that Labour 'will not deliver on its conference policies."
As a result the position papel proposes Labour CND concentrate its etforts on the need to
threat, coming as it did at the height of the defections. Foot's behaviour disgrace throughout. been
What do you think of Peter's campaign?
The media have picked Mellish and o Grady pea Dasto line that dle — that the party's been taken over by an out-ofBermondsey crowd ben boat ister and the local red revolution. Whatever
party, there's no doubt that we're rooted among local people and their organisations. Peter is a
aal link between party
and people represents.
This bizarre between
gamekeeper party. there'll be
parties Our fight
rightwing Parties to carry
issues, ing which is a very limited
the • Labour Party full
nuclear In this light
They call for Labour CND to launch a nationa campaign "along with all relevant trade union and Labour Party organisations' for the full implementation of 1982 Labour Conference deci sions.
They propose that if the document which is to form the basis for
Dear Editor
Our Communist Party Candidate, Bob Gordon, is not atcheli. He stands "against Peter Tatchell'. because it is vital to oppose the reckless nuclear war preparations and the growing emiser nat of unemployment. not a person - is what he stands against
He stands for the Communist Party's consistent alternative policy for Peace and Jobs. True, on a number of issues we and the left Labour candidates are in agreement. That does not mean we must leave it to them to bring these issues clearly to the SCOTE - nor indeed that they necessarily will do so
For example, our candidate will place the issue of Peace at the centre of OU! campaign, arguing of alternative
But Bermondsey
Socialist Challenge is con
munist Party to stand against Peter Tatchell weakens the fight for precisely the policies that Joe advocates.
Today in the Labour Party and trade unions a big fight is opening up
wild policies Labour will stand on in a general election paigns like CND as well as As result of camthe disastrous experience of the last Labour govern ment, the Labour Party is now committed to SUCE policies as unilateral nuclear disarmement, withdrawal from the EEC and the 35 hour week
The right-wing of the Party wants nothing to do with these policies because they mean a real fight
the British capitalist- class For this reason they will try to dro them from Labour's manifesto and they witchunting their supporters out of the Labou Party
Even were Labour to be elected these elements from Healey to Golding to Chapple would rather split the Labour Party than see
Labour government mobilise the working class for socialist change. Right
Labour's general election manifesto does not include full unilateralism then campaign must be launch-
ed for special Labour Party conference to ensure that conference policy
out by the NEC Calmed and Parliamentary leader-
ship addition the AGM
will discuss how to figh for the labour movemen to organise a campaign of action against the missiles. At the centre of this is the decision of the TUC and LP
conterence organise a labour movement day -ot action 1983.
As yet no information
Should the CP stand?
Yours of 2 February '83: having lived and work-
vigorously against Cruise and Trident.
Peter Tatchell may also favour this policy. Yet in the recent major Tribune article he does not mention peace at all! Again unlike our candidate, Tatchell's article makes no mentior at all of incomes policy or wages. And so ignores the link between depressed wages and unemployment.
Indeed his article ofters gramme which would lead палопа!
• growing employment. (His only concrete pro posal is the building new industrial estates. . It is not a shortage of buildings to work in but of opportunities work the enterprises that Bermond sey lacks!)
Above all our party is for fundamental change to
Of course we have no
necessary for a real
now their witch-hunt weakens the fight for Labour victory.
Michael Foot is giving these SPers within the Labour Party cover and in effect aiding their witchmunt against me belt
But an important section of the Labour Party is organi the against the TELL COURIS Party has recently denounced such Labour lefts
as move right-ving in to
remove right-wing and councillors.
Transport House have COnG their utmost to sabotage Tatchell's cam. paign. For the cynical bureaucrats in Transport House the lower his vote the better. They will take a
a vote against the left-wing candidates and the policies of the Party conference.
For these reasons. whatever the shortcomings of Tatchell's own election material and there many, his VOLE will be taken as a referendum on Labour's STROS policies and those that support then
because Fleet Street understands thi that they have run their filth campaign against Tatchell.
The Communist Party's decision to run against
whatsoever has been duced by the Labour! or the TUC on this. . It is more likely than not that the SECT Murrays and Denis Healeys regard such proposals as an embarassment in a probable general election year.
But unless the trade unions and Labour Party mobilise their ranks against Cruise and Triden many supporters of CNI will turn to other means of stopping the missiles
In fact only the millions of organised workers have the power to
a socialist society. We se this as being achieved i this country by a combina tion of a socialist majorit in parliament and the mas struggle parlia
argue that such majorit
not Commun
tha will figh elections
have -TOT cam paigned decisiv
have ever do so.
Joe Bent.
Tatchell therefor weaken, strengther
Line ve which Jo jority in
MPs.
But mOr
ecutive Committe
plains, the Februar
the CP
1983 not Com
Joe can
ice, CP up wit the sec
policies order come
The combine thi right-wing tionism rhetori
and sec left-win
trade port it with Labou lef against
force nuclear disarmamer on the British ruling clas
But as we have seen in th direct and indirer sabotage of
LCCCL dustrial struggles, fighti the ruling class is the la thing that these leader: are interested in.
Labour CND can pla a decisive role this year i helping to launch the kin of movement at the base o the trade unions an Labour Party TUC and Ca that HOTC the NEC into action agains Cruise and Trident and en sure Labour fights th election as the party o unilateralism.
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page
Page 6 scan of this page
FIGHTING THE M THE FIGHT FOR
What was the meaning of the 'zero option' offer by the United States?
There would seem to be two motives behind it. First, it's a negotiating ploy vis-a-vis the Soviet Union, and it's a public relations ploy. Zero option relates only to land-based termediate range missiles. plemented it would give the West an enormous advantage in intermediate missiles since none of theirs are land-based and all the Soviet Union's are.
The US used to have land based missiles, but they were unsuitable because they were in fixed places, and therefore in the '60s and '70s they moved their intermediate missiles from the land to the sea first Polaris and then Poseiden.
NATO's intermediate force is extremely strong warheads from the US Poseiden fleet. In addition there are other termediate delivery systems, American aircraft in Britain and aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean as well as the submarine launched missiles of France and Britain. Now indeed France has installed some of its own land-based missiles.
So if the zero option went through it would get rid of all USSR termediate missiles but retain the intermediate weapons of the USA and NATO. Whether or not the seriously expected the Soviet Union to accept this offer is another matter
ialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 6
FRED HALLIDAY, a member of the editorial board of New Left Review, is well known as a writer on the Middle East, Africa and Western Asia. He contributed to the symposium Exterminism and Cold War, and is the author of a soon to be published book, The Making of the New Cold War. Phil Hearse spoke to him about current problems in the fight for disarmament.
but the strategy which NATO has followed since the middle 1970s is to establish a new and clear superiority in intermediate warheads.
Politically the purpose of it was to de-mobilise Western public opinion and give the governments of NATO an argument to say that the United States was serious about negoitation; and to maintain this fiction in the in- whole public discourse in the West If im- that you're only talking about land-based missiles.
What are the objectives of the USA and the USSR in the Geneva talks?
The first US objective is clearly to range demobilise the peace movement and give arguments to allied governments.
And also might missile demobilise the peace movement in the 400 United States which has become a major factor. The people who proposed in- the Geneva talks in the US governon ment adhere to the "tableau (still life) theory of talks words thai you have people sitting there but, they don't anything.
Wienberger is one who adheres to this theory, as is Richard Pearle his chief advisor one in- saboteurs of the SALT Il agreement.
But there were others in the US administration who believed they could USA through these talks force onto the USSR an agreement favourable to it, but which the Soviet Union would
have to accept because of its current economic and military weakness.
Nobody -In American side has any doubt that the Soviet Union is the weaker power -it's not equal to the United States in military strength, less so in economic strength - after all the GNP is about 40 percent that. Per capita income in the USSR is only 5000 dollars a year
Ireland. The total GNP of the Warsaw Pact countries is about a quarter of that of the United States and its major capitalist allies.
an inferior position and facing serious problems, the possibility of forcing an unequal set of agreements Union. So there is a division -between doves and hawks but beteen two different typ remember what the US intended with the SALT I talks from '69-272 - that you use the negotiations to buy time to build up new weapons systems, and you use the talks to consolidate an existing superiority. ment gave deliverable warheads and "lethality'
of warheads.
agreement, for example Nitze pro-
ty.
tive, part the post-capitalist
finally in the Soviet Union itself.
US administration
oniy want
ting rid of the Ukraine,
the USSR.
The to increase their expenditure. said
aircraft-delivered vivant' in other
do or say missiles as well.
of the main whether the
not to mention
negotiation the
Sense
sense to stay in NATO.
about that of Spain or Southern
wasn't going
tion.
So because the Soviet Union is in
nuclear they believe that there is between on the Soviet not way,
of hawks.
1 either case it is important t The
quasi-sovereign
vice chiefs.
The SALT I agreeUS superiority in
- the accuracy and explosive power Even those US which are part
negotiators who do want to reach an
bably does want an agreement, it's Wal • only to institutionalise US superiori-
There is a third American objec-
of the overall cold war, which is that they think they can force
world onto the defensive, not just momentarily but also strategically - that there is what they call a 'window of strategic opportunity' for rolling back Soviet influence in the 1980's, first in the third world then in Eastern Europe and
And there are indeed people in the
- it sounds like a leftist fantasy but its true - who not
to restore capitalism in Cuba, Vietnam and so forth but actually want to push for some sort of break up of the Soviet Union itself, reducing it to its Russian redoubt, get-
Baltic states, the the Muslim states. People who believe this perspective think the arms limitation talks can be used to push the USSR onto the strategic defensive and so precipitate a crisis in
Soviet objectives inthe Geneva talks in a sense parallel those of the United States. They know that the US has a big technological lead and the economic costs of trying to match the Americans would be enormous. Therefore the USSR would like to go for a set of agreements which would lessen the military pressure on them, and lessen the pressure on them
The USSR has proposed not the "zero option' but 'absolute zero' not just land-based missiles, not just sea based missiles, but those plus
bombs as well.
They have also proposed a nuclear free zone from the mid-Atlantic to the Urals, which would of course encompass American submarine launched
The last CND conference debated
demand for
withdrawal from NATO should be
prioritised. Leading CND theorists like Mary Kaldor and Dan Smith,
politicians like
Tony Benn, want Britain to stay in
NATO. Is this politically or logical-
ly a sensible perspective?
It's technically possible to stay in NATO without nuclear weapons but it doesn't make military or political
If the point of unilateral nuclear disarmament is not to be involved in the use of nuclear weapons nor to be a target, then it makes no
Even if the United States said it
deploy nuclear weapons at its bases in Britain, they would in practice defy such a regula-
They did so in Japan, using Japan for sea and air transport of
weapons when this was specifically banned in an agreement
countries, and they've done so in the case of Nor-
where they certainly brought some forms of nuclear weapons into Norwegian territorial waters.
Americans after all have power over their bases in Britain, and they could rely on the co-operation of the British ser-
There are two other factors. Even if you don't have nuclear weapons on your territory, if you have radar stations, signals stations and so forth
of a nuclear attack system, there is no doubt that these will be will be a Soviet target in time of
The Soviet Union will certainly bombard all NATO countries with nuclear weapons in wartime - if only because, as one Soviet military expert
put it to me it only takes six minutes for a Pershing missile to get to the Soviet Union and in that time we can't tell where it came from, we'll just flatten the lot of you.' So from the military side it is folly to imagine you can carry out unilateral nuclear disarmament without leaving NATO.
From the political side, if the obiective of unilateral nuclear disarma-
Page 7 scan of this page
ISSILES IN 1983 DISARMAMENT
ment is to start to change the world political situation by setting a lead -and there can be no other rationale — then to remain in fraudulent. The members of NATO like Norway and Canada have no effective independent voice in the policies of that alliance. The French outside NATO. but in reality are a very active part of NATO, more effective for their pretence of being outside.
There are those who say that to witharaw NATO destabilise the 'balance' between the two sides - this is the position of the Italian Communist Party. This is a complete myth. There is no "balance',
NATO side superiority. By the logic "balance' argument, one ought to leave NATO as the alliance recruits more members like Spain.
Let's go on to the demand for a nuclear free zone 'from Poland to Portugal'. What would be the objective effect of the implementation of this demand? Does it not make more sense to link unilateralism with the demand for Britain to leave NATO, than to concentrate on what could be interpreted as slogan?
The objective effect would be very different on the two sides. As far as we know, there are no Soviet nuclear ss-20ns in asen une e, Traine, SS-20 sites Bvelorussia or the Urals, as are the
sS-4s and SS-5s. NATO believes that there are no Soviet nuclear weapons ot anv kine in eastern murone. course, in the event of war they could be rapidly transported there. Europe on the other hand is stuffed with nuclear weapons, on land and in the territorial waters.
The European nuclear free zone slogan doesn't seem to me to contradict the demand NATO. I cannot see how you could
mplement the nuclear-free slogan while Britain remains part of NATO. You can't have the nuclear free zones as part of a nuclear alliance
— it doesn't make sense.
The other point is that you are most unlikely to get a nuclear free zone through a multi-lateral one-off
negotiation,
NATO is
pretend to be movements.
should we support them?
would
should be treated as such. overwheiming
of this country ficial'
reach
parts in Western Europe.
dent peace
will become mass movements.
Nevertheless,
'multilateralist'
savagely repressed.
The 39
ful about whether
of
Western and explanation.
for leaving the nuclearisation of
rights in Eastern Europe.
but only through the disruption of the existing alliances, including through unilateral disarma-
Within END there's a battle going on over te cast curopean peace
To what extent
There is no point indulging the fantasy that by talking to the official peace committees one is talking to real movements — one isn't. The official peace committees have a role, but they are arms of government and
On the other hand the real unof-
peace movements are unlikely, given the repressive political systems,
level strength ment. and mobilisations of their counter-
We should support the indepen-
movement but we shouldn't have the illusion that they
part of any peace movement must be a campaign which defends democracy. First this applies within NATO itself; we have the case taken. of Turkey where the peace movement as well as the workers movement is
But at the same time it involves the defence of democratic rights inside
the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
But of course some people are doubt-
you should-add
*new' issues to the movement, but the issue of democratic rights is a logical
extension. Some people have illusions about Bastern Europe, but that can only be overcome through argument
We shouldn't forget that it is
NATO which is primarily responsible for the cold war and the arms race and
Europe. The priority of attacking NATO is quite
consistent with defending democratic
1983 is the year for the installation
of the missiles. How can we stop
them? What do you think is the
most realistic strategy?
Well, stopping the missiles in't the only objective, even if we do there will be plenty of battles to fight. Ultimately the question of peace is a question of political power. Mass mobilisation on its own won't stop the missiles if it ignores the existing institutions of
Mass mobilisation is one part. But the most realistic strategy is the election of a party, in this case the Labour Party, which will carry out the pro gramme of disarmament.
Labour covernment is elected we 1 need to keep up the pressure through extra-parliamentary extraLabour Party mobilisation. But a strong peace movement can even put some pressure on a right wing govern-
20 years ago Edward Thompson
forward the view that government which attempted to unilaterally disarm and withdraw from NATO would be subverted and de-stabilised by the US and their allies in Britain - and that
of socialist self-defense would have to be
To what extent would unilateral disarmament necessity be part of an overall socialist project?
agerations perspective is nouldnt-
shouldn't ALEC aLIO. underestimate the determination of the United States. Il it formally acquiesced in a decision to unilaterally disarm, behind the scenes it would do everything possible to reverse that decision - in an alliance with reacnonary sectors British Such a unilateral decision would not be the end of the battle. One could imauteure and political pressures the USA could bring.
Unilateral disarmament could be carried out by a national capitalist government of the Swedish type; but very strong measures would have to be taken economically and politically in conjunction with unilateral disarmament to make it stick. At the moment the only forces in Britain with the clarity and determination to do that are the socialist forces.
IT'S NICE to know that the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) cares for its workers - but only up to
limit! Last week the head radiological protection at the tional Nuclear evidence at the Sizewell B inquiry. He carefully explained changes had been incorporated in the plans to reduce radiation doses. well and good. Unfortunately for the CEGB he then blew it by going on to explain that would have reduced the radiation risk even further had been thrown out as being unreasonably costly!
STILL ON Sizewell, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has tailed to come up with the goods. Concurrently with the public inquiry, the inspectorate was supposed to run a full safeLy assessment. assessment has not yet taken place. It would be difficult to know exactly which unpleasant fact is causing the hold up ...
MEANWHILE, the joint European project is on the verge of being abandoned. 'Super Sara' was launched about two years ago. It is a nuclear safety project study accidents like the Three Mile Island near melt-down. has failed to come up with ideas about how such accidents can be avoided. It has run massively over budget, and it presumably threatens to reveal embarassing details about the safety of
AS WE GO to press the signatories of the London Dumping (LDC), which controls the dumping London. They amendment to the Convention which would ban all radioactive dumping at sea. Last year, under the LDC provisions Britain dumped a total of 2,700 tons of waste in However, they didn't manage to do it
opposition Greenpeace organisation managed to cause some disruption. So much so, in fact, that the dumping consortium -Nirex — has just acquired a new ship so that it can dumo wastes through the bottom of the ship without interference from Greenpeace. out for the Greenpeace submarine!
of *Wed 16 Feb Scottish Students human chain for *Books not Bombs vinistry or berence to une scolish educa tion Office in Glasgow Strathclyde University CND
KOal 19 Feb LEDOUT General Meeting. Delegates must be full Greenpeace inflatable boat.
CND DIARY
London Ne of Celebration -NaCorporation, gave 01-263 0977
that design
*Fri 25 Feb -Council/Hounslow
*Sat/Sun which change!
anti-nuclear
St. Glasgow
Needless to say, the
ICTCHCC Restaurant, Perth.
'Super Sara
Strathclyde
of Scotland!
designed to
Festival The project Greenham
Led)
Greenham Aldermaston
Glasgow Convention
are considering an
Movement Conte
lege.
the Atlantic.
tion from and the festival village.
Arms
sleigh Street, Watch the US
*6 Aug
Organised by
•CND Annua
. Credentials from 11 Goodwin St., Cabration and Benei 3.0pm als are
Benefit 8.00pm at The Mal. London. Details fron
*Tues 22 Feb National lobby of Parlia
• Sun 6 Mar Hounslow CND Anti-Nuclear Week. Details from 01-577 3429
Feb Conference Against Sizewell 'B', Blackfriars Settle ment, Nelson Square, Waterloo, London. Details from 37 Cowley Rd, Oxfor * Sat 26 Feb Labour CND fringe meetin *Mon 28 Feb Showing of John Pilger's
film "The Truth Game' at * Sat 5 March Scottish TUC CND Conference. 10am AUEW Halls, West Regent *Sun 6 March Women's blockade of Faslane Naval Base. 10am-4pm Tel: 041 221 1177 on Saturdays for details.
12.30-2pm *March 7-19 (provisional). Distribution
Regional Council nuclear broadsheet to every home in the region. (This covers half of the populatior *Sun 20 March Faslane Peace Camp *Thur 31 Mar 12 hour blockade of
Common women ony and Burghfield Royal Ordinance Factory (mix*Fri 1 April 14 mile human chain from
Common to Burghfield via Starts 1.30pm, followed by *Sat 2 April Scottish CND March in
Starts in George Square and ends at Carnival in Kelvingrove Park
*8-10 April Nuclear Free North Atlantic Conference Mitchell Theatre Glasgow. *Sat 30 April East London Labour
*Sat 7 May Youth CND Festival for
. Starts at 1lam with a demonstraEmbankment marching Brockwell Park. Bands, speakers and a *Thur 12 May Day of Action against
production at Thorn-Brymar's Brimsdown site in Enfield. Organised by Concon Kenon vos Tade mon sui committee. Details from LRCND, 6 End-
, London WCI. *31 May-3 June Four day blockade of
base at Upper Heyford. . Details from 43 Peacock Street, London SE17. *oat g June Ant-rident Convention Kelvin Hall Arena, Glasgow. Starts 11am
Hiroshima Day. Labour Par misiles. Also marches from all over Bri CACHOT tain to Greenham Common. *22 October Projected date for CND national demonstration in London. Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 pag
Page 8 scan of this page
Needed - a Socialist
Last week Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine opened the Tories' election campaign. Their attack centred on nuclear disarmament, accusing the Labour Party and CND of acting as appeasers Soviet Union.
Why has their counterblast from Labour?
First of all Labour's leadership thinks smashing up Labour's leftwing is the way to win the election. So they cancel Conferencene purse press conference pulp leaflets and plan to expel the Militant endency the day before voting in Ber mondsey. The result will
reduced Labour vote.
Secondly, the right-wing trade union leaders who are organising the witch-hunt in the Labour Party have sabotaged the industrial struggles against the Tories. Fudge -wing is organding s Labour's right-wing retreat all along the line on policy. They are likely fudge the policy unilateral nuclear disarmament in order to maintain an unholy alliance of Foot and Healy.
Peter Shore's economic plan explicitly calls for a Labour government to impose an InCOniCS •poncy. SHES proposals for tackling unemployment do not in. clude the fight for a 35 hour week.
CLPD Reply to
Vladimir Derer
By Andy Harris, former executive member, Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
the campaign's Annual General Meeting. Vladimir Derer's letter it looks as if he, for one, has not accepted this decision.
Coming from a section of the Party who also packed Conway Hall - with some very dubious allies indeed on the basis of support for all Labour Party conference decisions, there is an alarm-
hypocritical drift Wades ener. wnetner ne regards this amenament as acad as tar as CLPD is concerned.
In my opinion he also misjudges the trade unions who
last year. They wanted peace in the party, and were duped into believing the register would produce this. In fact the opposite has happened, and now the field is wide open for scrapping the register and winning support for the
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 8
Campaign for a
Labour Victory
and dupes of the
been no effective
What is being prepared is a Labour government even more right wing than Ene lass one bouces that broke the links between Lavour ana tie wade unions and resulted in a massive trade union revolt against Wilson and Callaghan are being reintroduced.
These are the policies of the SDP!
Approval
For Labour's rightwing. leaders the only possible Labour government is one thal gels une stamp. a Pondo from the
London the CBI. In fact for Healy and Golding even a coalition with the SDP would be preferable to a Labour government that actually carries out Labour's con-
These policies unacceptable to the British ruling class and their NATO and EEC allies. The only Kind of government that could carry them out would be one prepared to massively mobilise its working class supporters to crush the resistance of the capitalist class
Inc methods of the LET'S GET one thing very clear about Vladimir Derer's letter last week. The Manchester Withington amendment (the 'sanitised register') was defeated at
From
Greenwich amendment - if only the whole of the left can pull together to work for this.
In my six years as Hiccuss organiser, have always worked from my own home, spending many hours writing letters and making phone calls to send speakers all over the country. Moreover the almospnere in io, rark Dave has been so poisonous for the 8ST - MORENS tha don't blame anyone who had
slightest difference with the Derers not being prepared to work there
From the tone Vladimir's letter, it looks as if the CLPD minority are in for
further rough time defeated AGM decisions are resurrected in new forms!
John Golding and Dennis Healy 'even a coalition
policies."
Labour leadership are an electoral disaster. They will divide Labour's ranks by attempting to drive out
of socialist DUPPULLED policies.
give credibility to the SDP/Liberal Alliance by making Labour's policies from theirs. It means that instead ot uniting with the water workers and CND to fight the Tories, Labour's resources are turned against its own member-
shift the right wing suc-
Lesour from the hundrede they will isolate of thousands of supporters of CND and Greenham Common and from the in dustrial militants who WELL TOUCHE unemployment and low pay.
Abstention
This would mean massive abstention by working class voters.
How has the left-wing of the labour BUY CHICHE responded to this offensive?
Tony Benn's campaign for Deputy leadership of
demonstrated the potentially massive sup port for the left.
But Golding and Healy, with Foot acting their apologist, have succeeded in dividing the left. This was shown at the Campaign for Labour
Labour Party
preferable to a Labour government that actually carries out Labour's
Party Democracy Annual general meeting.
As Vladimir Derer explained in these pages last week, round about half of those in attendance refused to campaign against the register or expulsions exCODI by constitutional means'
So whilst the rightwing trample over con ference policy, a section of refuses to fight them. left, practice, Coalition
The Communist Party makes a lot of noise about unilateralism and plans to stand over 100 candidates in the general election. Yet according to EC member
Dave Cook, their policy is for a coalition between Labour, Liberals, SDP and Tory 'wets"
Anyone who thinks that kind of government would be unilateralist is mad. In fact it would be a more right win coal and
Heath and Callaghan with Incomes policy and control of the unions at the centre of its programme.
Whatever the outcome of a general election the left-wing the trade unions and Labour Party need to be organised. In preparing for the election those who are prepared to block the witch-hunt, supDOTL WOERCIS struggles
with the SP would be
and fight for conference policies are in the best position unite the labour movement against the Tories.
What is necessary is a socialist campaign TOr labour victory.
That is a campaign by at least a section of the Labour Party and trade unions that links up with the mass movements and struggles outside the Labour Party as such order to present a socialist alternative to the Tories. Mistake
It would be a mistake in today's conditions for socialists to put their energies into supporting non-Labour Party candidates. Because the fight about what policies can
with nuclear weapons, mass unemploy.
sexual discrimination and low
is today inside of the Labour Party and trade unions.
The National Labour Briefing Conference has called an initial meeting in the House or com. mons on Monday 7 May to begin the discussion
How we campaign for a Labour victory'. Constituencies campaigns and trade unions should make sure they are represented at it.
for left in
elections
Notts coalfield
Secretary of
writes GRAHAM
Bilsthorpe Colliery,
Richardson's election committee
full-time official
defeated the
winger David Prendergast,
the campaign,
then don't vote for me!'
noyance of right-wing union officials
to be re-elected next June.
Notts miners. I wish him well.
fight witch-hunt
dino
They heard Militant supporter, Bob Labi, give up-to-date news on the proposed expulsion of five Militant editorial members scheduled take place -Ine on the eve of the mondsey poll.
The meeting agreed to call a meeting to establish common action between LAW. the Militantdominated Labour Steering Committee Against the Witch-Hunt, and the three constituency Labour Parties concerned Norwood, Islington Central and Hammersmith North all of whom have refusec to expel party members.
LAW delegates unanimously condemned the decision of Labour Party John O'Grady to stand against
official candidate Peter Thatchell, in the
Victory
Last Saturday
mons, to
victory.
Such discussion
unions and campaigning groups
including secretary Keith Litchman,
March meeting.
NUM - Victory
Nottinghamshire
There was good news for miners in the
and throughout the country last week, when the left-winger, HENRY RICHARDSON, became General
the Nottingham Area, NAYLOR, from member of Hime Retician worder He
December. challenge from rightwho had become a darling of the media's anti-Scargill campaign during the pay ballot.
Richardson had supported the NEC in
and made his position clear in his election address: 'If you want someone to support the NCB propaganda as some union officials have done,
Henry is chair of Denis Skinner's constituency Labour Party, and a supporter of CND. He has never made any secret of his left-wing views, much to the an-
Henry also made history in becoming the first rank and file member to be elected to the NEC. He is virtually certain
Henry Richardson is a big plus for the
Common action to
OVER 50 PEOPLE attended the second National Council meeting of Labour Against the Witch'Hunt, held at GLC County Hall last weekend.
Bermondsey election, and instructed secretary Keith Litchmar WELC Michael Foot asking why no action has been taker against the real Bermondsey Labour' candidate.
The meeting also planned the production of LAW's third newsletter timed coincide with regional Labour Party conferences. Local meetings were discussed, also timed around these conferences. too, building the campaign inside the unions, through union involvement in loca through a series of fringe LAW BCCESS and meetings this year's union conferences.
The final business of the meeting came as no surprise to anyone present The National Council unanimously decided reject the NEC's invitation to register the campaign!
Fight for Labour
Labour Against the Witchhunt endorsed the call by Briefing groups, for a meeting on March 7 at the House of Com-
discuss how to fight for a Labour
- between CLPs, is considered necessary in view of the threats posed by growing speculation that unilateralism won't be included in Labour's manifesto, and the NEC's continued attempts to expel party
LAW will be sending four representatives,
. to the
Page 9 scan of this page
Seafarers fight for jobs and union democracy
SOUTH WALES seafarers, employer the National Environment Research Council (NERC) from Discovery last October, are still fighting for unconditional reinstatement. seafarers were sacked after giving the tremendous solidarity to the healthworkers dispute of a 5-day strike, and then defending themselves against anti-trade union harrassment by the master and officers on board ship
Fighting for their jobs has seafarers in a battle against their own union leadership as well as their employer. MUSA NOGAN, their elected convenor, says:
'ONE of the main lessons of this dispute 1s that before we can solve une prodiems or ene me dustry, we have to solve
union, the National Union
have democratise this union, 50 fight
that it's the members views which count and which get carried out.
We need the regula election of all national and local officials to make them accountable. The present in failed to solve leadership BESTO a the problems of the in-
from wages and GUSLEY. demanning through to the difficulties facing ethnic minorities, and has even failed to uphold its own policies. They are more interested in an unholy autance with the employers than with fighting for the member-
Our fight is for unconditional reinstatement on our previous terms of employment - a return to the status quo. The NUS leadership 3129 a cerea rather than helped this TIEHL.
We won support from the Scales on the Challenger, another
Timex workers
fight the sack
3y Graham Sullivan
ON 10 JANUARY Timex, one of Dundee's big
employers announced gest redundancies at its Milton of Craigie plant, thereby adding 1900 more to the 20,000 people already on the dole in Dundee. The Timex Company, want to shift watch production to France. The Nimslo 3-D camera which was promised to Dundee is now being produced in Japan.
Around 1000 workers have applied for voluntary redundancy, and this figure may reach 1250 leaving Timex to find 650 compulsory redundancies.
The shop stewards have met with Dundee district council, Tayside regional council, union officials from Olsen's 4021E France, Michael Foot and also rred Olsen himself.
George Younger, the Scottish Scretary hatcher.
In Dundee COHference of 500 shop STewares and COVCHOES from every major plant in
was held and pledged its support for the Timex workers.
The workers are now waiting for a reply to their alternative plan for the
sacked by their
the research vessel
Seventeen
involved the
NERC ship, which they halted at Ardrossan in Scotland. But our general secretary Jim Slater, and assistant national secretarv John Nelson, gave the ship authority to sall dry dock for planned repairs.
This was a blatant act of strike breaking which considerably undermined
bargaining position with NERC.
Then in December the national leadership took the dispute out of our hands altogether, saying ahey better setirement than could win a quicker
could locally. But in rep a deal were NER.
with NERC Once the leadership was fulfilling its historical role of gendarme for the shipowners.
Deal
In January John
Ne so seimus to e deal. 10
try to sell us the deal. was not unconditional reinstatement and contained many unacceptable clauses. First, our previous permanent строушель would be replaced by temporary work. This meant that NERC could get rid of
that it wanted
owned by multi-millionaire Fred Olsen,
continuation of watch manufacturing Milton of Craigie site. The shoD stewards committee
have said that they will remove the threat of strike action management remove the threat of compulsory redundancies.
Confident
Fergie Alexand shop member stewards committee, said: *We're very confident of winning this dispute. There will be no forced redundancies at this factory.
Messages donations should be sent to and
Walker. 9 Buttars Place. Dundee.
us right arter the next voyage. It also overturned union policy wnich suDports permanent contracts of emp oment.
Second, we were to be dispersed different NERC ships, breaking up
Shackleton which goes out of service in July anyway.
ed accepting both a repri-
from NERC for our trade not negonaole.
democracy NUS-style - J
phone and got the final warning removed, but not the other clauses. So we told him it was unaccep-
fighting for unconditional
Fight
Since then we've had two meetings with national leaders at the London of fice. At the first meeting, which lasted 7½ hours, we told Inem unat HOL one member accepted the deal. And then we discovered that NERC has already
deal! So we said to Slater and Nelson, the deal dead anyway , so let's fight for unconditional rein-
Unbelievably they still said no.
At the second meeting we were there from 11am to 10pm. We occupied the office and told Nelson that we wouldn't leave until we got justice. He could see we meant business because we made ourselves comfortable with a colour TV ana naa nish and cups sent in!
His death, in November 1982, was a tragic and shocking loss
impressive collection spanning the
now comparauvey rare
wiit niter noth security and access
the nucleus for further additions and donations
-Enis important pro cor
Trade Unions
Frank Rowberry GWU official handing over donation from hospital workers to Musa Morgan and other seafarers.
So eventually at 8.30pm he brought in Sam McCluskie, assistant McCluskie could see the situation and was more recep tive to us, so we were able to come to an agreement with him.
Firstly we get to be inwith NERC. Second, we fight for a return to the status . quo including unconditional reinstatement Third. permanent basis.
NERC says no, the NUS will use IS In dustrial muscle to win the demands.
A start has now beer made. The NUS has told branches provide
So now we'll be wat NUS leadershi o make sure the carries out me agreement waice McCluskie made with us.
If not, we'll carry on the fight.
During our solidarity with the healthworkers, and NERCIT against and our union our jobs
on the policies of our union and the TUC The trouble is that the fine words uttered at conThe
George Box
Memorial Collection
George Box was a familiar and widely respected figure, particularly in the socialist and trade union movement. He was well-known no oniv in Nottingham, but aiso in manv other parts orthe country
Those who knew George will also remember him as a collector of leatlers, documents, Journals, books and papers. He assembled an
period from the late 1950's through to the present day. many of the journals in particular, are
We wish to make the collection available for study, and to establish a permanent tribute to George's memory. Negotiations are taking place so that a surabie nome tor ine conecdon can be lound tna We he leve ther once
established, the collection will become a valuable resource for those interested in socialist politics, supplementing the private collections already held in the East Midlands. In the longer term, it could be
All this, of course, requires money. Binding, cataloguing, purchasing to we cans and reting an amore one wi
We are therefore appealing to those who remembe jeorge, and to the wider labour movement, for contributions to aic
Photo
ferences by union leaders
OILCH LUE! out to be empty
rhetoric. It's taken us
months to force our own
union leadership to fight
for what we
It is now NUS policy to
organise branches on
DOZE Saus this
quires participation and
ing unionship is bor
policy
doesn't give full backing
to the kind of trade union
solidarity action we pur-
sued on the Discovery.
We've got to make our
unions fight for us, and to
went got
democratise them and
make the leaders accoun-
table.
Finally, our fight has
won tremendous support
from workers in
South especially
miners and healthworkers.
ENIS On NERD
pressures an
the NUS leaders workers we have picketed With these
and also occupied the
NERC office in Barry
Dockith this kind of trade
union solidarity which
was what
first place, workers can
win their battles in pursuit
of their interests.
An Appeal
Cheques should be made payable to the 'George Box Memorial Fund' and sent to:13 Balmoral Road, Nottingham, NG1 4HX
union democracy
Secretary Frank Chapple.
date
Not surprisingly. John
union democracy.
What happened in the recent ballot?
At the July NEC, Chapple announcee ne first the right fielded four canalcates, burns was eventual ly reduced to two. I stood as e broac sen candidate
At first there were a varietv of challenges from the lef
but was eventually agreed that I would be the on ly left candidate. We ran a campaign that broke new ground.
In what way was that so?
Under our rules. candidates can't electioneer -all they can do is attend branch meetings STRES hopeless. In the official period of the electior between 20 October and 15 November had 794 branches to visit! Obviously, such conditions make it impossible for candidates
run any sort of cam-
did whistle-stop tours many ches as possible. A typical day was: 10.30 am in Port Talbot, South Wales ENCI shop stewards meeting in Manchester later and or evening meeting at our Leeds branch.
Task
This was one side of what was different about our campaign
Also, the Broad Left decided to run an open campaign. Our argument was that candidates must be able to publicly present
positions for the members to accept or reject.
This challenged our Code of Conduct which lays down things like candidates can't appear on TV or radio, can 't produce leaflets In other
they can't campaign! During the electior
Flashlight (the Broad Lef
tion supplement.
Our campaign was a big success. First. we ran only one candidate, sup
Pert. So the chop they
Second, our openly
Dorice the limitations
overcome limitations of time. And the vote wo achieved was a real vic tory.
The Broad Lefts and
JOHN AITKIN, a Fleet Street electrician with considerable experience in the union and in the Labour Party, recently stood as Broad Left candidate in the EEPTU election to replace General
His platform included re-establishing full accountability to the union membership, and an all-out struggle to defeat the Tories and elect a Labour government on a socialist man-
Despite this he believes the Broad Left campaign was a big success. He explained why to Socialist Challenge reporter, CAROL TURNER and considered the future for Broad lefts and
What did the vote represent?
In rough figures, Chapple's man, Hammond 32, 80t and so votes. i 73,000 votes. I 26,000 If all four of the OLIC candidates stood, l'd have topped the ballot first time round Sanderson appealed to what • YUL ight call the 'soft lefts' He's an able and experienced man.
He's a bit anti-left, but his approach was one of bringing the union back to the centre of TUC-Labour Party policies. His vote was by no means a Chapple vote.
Did this election campaign mark any sort of change in the Broad Left itself?
It most certainly did The BL has been accused in the past of being a narrOW caucus inside the We've been campaigning to change that -to bring in all the forces or the left inside the union.
My selection as the one Broad Left candidate signals some success on this score
tions, lase Bo CEC
elections, the candidates had come last. vote turns round this trend. Our candidates are seen as credible candidates for national office. Control
We're building the BL as a broad-based group now, especially around the and the Labour We've
Flashlight. present our case on public platforms with other Broad Labour Party platforms Lefts and -UR
In view of what you've just said, I assume you'il be involved in the BLOC Conference coming up?
Unfortunately, I've been too busy with my branch and with our campaign to be personally involved up to now. But it certainly has my support Our Plumbers candidate, lan Brown, been more involved thar me.
Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
1-5 million Ghanaians deported from Nigeria =
ANGELA
movement in West Germany.
Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the rela-
trade unions.
The defeat of the Social Democratic Government organised by the Christian Democrats and the liberals last October has to the political situation becom ing much more fluid.
Now wally Social Democrats and unionists find it easier to align themselves with the peace movement.
The positions of the Social SCHOCIaLS emocrats have been forced to shift. When Helmut Schmidt headed the SPD Government he interpreted the NATO decisions on intermediate range nuclear weapons as meaning *deployment of the missiles as a means of pressure in negotiations.
The SPD leaders have now out with the position of negotiations THE EXPULSION of up to one and a half million Ghanaians from Nigeria has once more focuss-
K.
Only months ALOE
Ghana, expulsions
to the in-
tragedy,
CHES move by Nigeria's President Shagari
an election
diverting from his neocolonial economy.
given an
the
extended the deadline for profes-
The timing of this action coincides with further threats invasion by mercenaries, funded by exiles in western countries, and attempts to frame the Ghanaian
GUYSLICEL with the murder of three judges last June.
Whilst these invasion threats and destabilising acts are resisted ruthlessly by the Ghanaian masses, they have represented debilitating. obstacle to mass mobilisations and the reorganisation of the economy, two important essentials in placing Ghana on a socialist path. Socialist Challenge 18 February 1983 page 10
last week described growth and political importance of the peace
Below Angela looks at the attitude of the
tionship between the peace movement and the
so that deployment will
not be necessary'.
Egon Bahr, one of the
architects of the SPD's
policy towards Eastern
Europe, has accepted the
position that Schmidt re-
jected when W21s
chancellor.
agrees that
French and British nuclear
weapons should be balanc-
ed against Soviet missiles.
This corresponds with the
OT the An-
dropov proposal.
These factors will add to the strength and impor tance of the West German CDCaCC movement. But it
still suffers from the ups and downs of the working class fightback Ger-
Until now the peace movement has been coordinated nationally by an evelopments in Ghana. has recently returned
the
The Rawlings coup in December 1981 was from within the army. But the progressive of the Provisional National Council (PNDC) has sharpened class contradictions between the urban workers and those within the capitalist class most closely tied to imperialism and the higher ranks of the petit bourgeoisie. It has also initiated the retreat of the bourgeois state apparatus. Corrupt
Examples of this are the breakdown of the normal command structure in the army, the removal of the corrupt TUC leadership and the take over of a textile printing factory.
The includes some bourgeois elements, but its support rests mainly with ordinary workers and it is championed by growing but divided left.
There are essentially five seperate left-wing organisations in Ghana, the two most prominent being PEne June Fourth Movement (JFM) and the New Democratic Movement (NDM).
The JFM was Jerry Rawling's original political base and it has greater support nationally and at a grass roots eve than the NDM. The NDM has its origins in the radical intellectuals of the universities.
The difficulties and contradictions that face
and the Ghanaian revolution have
Action ported by about 800 dir- Conference
ferent groups. It does not
include any national union
support, only individual
trade unionists.
With few exceptions
Ine Irst response of the
unions to the peace move-
Was very hostile.
They denounced it as be-
ing manipulated by Com-
munists. Fiasco
SCOULSC to the
'Krefeld Appeal' which two and a half million peo-
ple signed, German
Confederation of Trade
Unions (DGB) launched its own petition to split
the campaign. The move
ended in fiasco, as the
DGB itself admitted.
DGB's youth Ghanaians attacked on the border between Benin and Togo their roots in the struggle
between bureaucracy of the neo-
Peoples'
Worker's Defence ComBELECE organisations.
One clear example is the struggle the Workers' Defence Committees (WDC) in the civil service against top officials. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the WDC
forward a plan "DUL recall the top brass of the diplomatic service and to reorganise this service on a political basis.
This was successfully resisica by une upper crus of the bureaucracy. Such struggles can also be observed within the armed forces, police and other insuluuons or tae state
The tactics of imperialist forces appears to be one of wait and see. Where possible they apply discreet pressure on the PNDC to divert the progressive struggle into reforming the neo-colonial state.
This enables international capital to continue its more profitable role of
International,
West German peace movement
organisation was forbid den to take part in last
al-assue. demonstration in Bonn An avalanche of counter resolutions and demands set off an extensive discus sion in the DGB
This led to increased participation local
organisations peace activities and to the
'basically suppormassive antiReagan demonstration
The West German ruling class is not prepared to give an inch on the missies unless the US does first. If LUCI Democrats hold onto the
Elections the NATO plans for installing cruise and Trident missiles will go ahead.
More than ever, the support of the workers domination and exploita-
Hence the Interna
devaluation coupled with freer trade and
CULT PIL public expenditure.
This has been firmly tejected instead the PNDC has put forward a programme for economic recovery which includes a
government ownership of retail banking, the setting up of a net work of 'People's Shops largely under the control of local PDC's and the reduchon of Ghana's International
Bi-monthly theoretical and discussion
Journal published by supporters of the
Fourth International in Britain.
Latest issue includes Ernest Mandel on the world
monetary situation, John Ross on the legends of
King Arthur, Oliver MacDonald on Poland, Ron
Brown MP on building a mass Labour Party,
Harry Wicks on the birth of British Trotskyism
and an interview with Britain's best political
cartoonist Steve Bell. surface 1212 airmailer and In Britin or FO Bo.
o London TV
Stopping the missile madness
movement is vital to stop the missile madness. The missiles are planned to be installed by the end of this ycal
Mass demonstrations on their own won't be suf ficient to stop them. Trade
will be crucial.
Aim
Individual trade union bodies have already adopted resolutions calling for strike actions. But these would be
political strikes, which are illegal in West Germany.
To carry out UNSCOTE of action
require considerable militancy guts to confront the whole political situation here.
The Gruppen Internadependence on foreign exchange.
However the agrarian question has not yet been tackled and the traditional chiefs who have tyrannically controlled the land continue to do so. Taking this problem up has not been helped by the recent appointment of one such chiet to the PNDC.
million will
on the PNDC.
tees paramount importance
will
Britain must the
mediately unconditionally a large
This
ана т0I term
of the conomy
tion.
tionalen Marxisten (West
German
SCCUOI the
Fourth International)
proposing a campaign in
the factories and union.
for a five minute 'warning' strike at the
year, and for a massive
demonstration in the autumn.
We will also push for the democratic and permanent
coordinating committee of the anti-missiles movement.
For almosi thirty years West Germany was a pillar Europelty win the calet stability capitalist
European ally of the
United States.
This role has now been challenged the cumulative effects of the worsening economic crisis;
A Human River
against austerity
Italian correspondent
newspaper, demonstration in austerity measures in Italy.
Milan demonstration was just 3X216069335210880 that have sept rations demonstrations the past weeks
Last December the Christian Democrat government adopted number or measures in cluding tax increases and price BISC electricity and transport. This led to
standards.
Protest
there was a hAtwusaT r cent in the -DayHICHL 302 caes
and l1
In
LILO people and set up
job loss, the
strike.
Stoppage
Milan also began to mobilise About 50,000 workers took to the street. Corriere della Sera wrote 'No one called it. A work stoppage had been
•all nounced only by the engineering and chemical WORKETS but other workers also struck in the ment offices and the services
The Naples press com-
the growing fight against the bosses economic of fensive and the mass movement against the wa drive and the missiles
On the party politica front we have seen the col-
lapse of the Social
Democratic and liberal
coalition after 13 years of government. has
been a dramatic rise in support for the Greens and developments of
movements which epre-
Social Democrats and towards the left.
These all add up to the beginnings of political in stability
The West German anti-missiles movement shows up starkly the growing political contradictions inside the West's Atlantic Alliance. 'A HUMAN RIVER, close to three miles long .. was how Corriere della Sera, a prestigious described the great • Milan. against the latest
- the
demonstration there that
and barricaded streets said 'nothing has seen like this since 1962. Crucial
After the police had attacked a meeting in Rome of 500 tactory delegates the engineering union called a protest strike. The engineering union in Florence launched a three hour strike which got support trom other industria workers.
Joined
80,000 workers a mass
20,000 Bologna, Florence
Wa general
(Italian
reacted against
UIL stop the
inspired the Com-
left. the CISI
occupations said,
Rognoni' who is Minister 'that's ALCELLO. for for the Interior! Showdown
Italy could be moving towards a big showdown The bosses want to get rid of the 1975 wage agree ment on the sliding scale and ram through more austerity measures.
The workers have given a clear signal that ney are prepared to figh
The 64,000 dollar question is will the unions give the lead?
Page 11 scan of this page
Police harrassment
and intimidation
K. ACE KELLY got arrested on the first
Colin Roach demonstration.
Socialist Challenge about what has hap
pened to him since.
Since being arrested on the 22 January
demonstration that demanded an en-
quiry into the death of Colin Roach in
Stoke Newington police station, I have
sufffered harrassment and intimidation.
When I was taken to Stoke Newington police sta-
tion that Saturday I was threatened by a policeman
who was bleeding; I got special attention because l
advised others arrested about their rights.
The following Wednesday (26 Jan) in Camberwell
where I often stay with a friend, 'someone' white
in a brown mini attempted to run me down three
umies.
noticed a police Rover on the spot where I had stop-
ped my would-be assailant by throwing my bicycle
at his car.
Monday 31 Jan, walking up
Camberwell, am stopped
policemen L171 and L647
stretch of the imagination, 'young coppers'. After
refusing to be intimidated by these gentlemen, I'm
arrested for suspicion of theft. I have with me my
reel to reel tape recorder, nearly twenty years old
which I've just collected from a friend's flat.
My two friends tell me that the
grounds' for my arrest is that I am 'out too late"
(11.45pm) in this area. At Brixton police station I
am denied my right to make a phone call simply
because I have not earned that
operating, according to sergeant L2.
At 3.00am I'm taken to see a woman inspector,
who refuses to give her name to me. When I de-
mand to be charged or released and state that the
only grounds for my arrest is my colour, she tells
me that 'I'm not a racist, I'm married to a Nigerian
"There's millions of decent blacks in this country,
and if you don't like it you should get out and go
and make your revolution somewhere else.
my political persuasions
know?!!
This inspector went on to tell me (after being lock-
ed away tor three hours that i would be released
without charge and also without my tape machine
which they admitted they knew was not stolen. 26
and 27 January, coincidence? Maybe! but ...
... There can be no doubts that this is another clear
case of harrasment. When taken to Brixton station
I also had in my posession a pair of fairly new
headphones: these were not mentioned once. In-
deed they were returned with my property when I
lett the station that night.
The tape was merely used as the focus for my har-
rassment, arrest and detention. I am told by the
police if i want it returned I must go through the
courts. I intend at the very least to lodge a formal
complaint and I hope to be able to prosecute the
police for illegal detention and wrongful arrest.
I ask that you write to the Brixton police con-
demning
return of my property.
By Brian Grogan GREENHAM women's camp spokesperson Rebecca Johnson appealed to trade unionists to win backing for 'Women's day of action for peace' on 24 May. She was speaking to over 120 London trades unionists who had made their way to Greenham pledge their support for the campaign of the Greenham women's peace camp against the stationing of cruise missiles in Britain. The 24 May action aims to involve women in Britain and Europe.
nection between the fight against cruise and spending on nuclear weapons and the fight against cuts and unemployment.
London Association of Trades Councils and the South East Region of the TUC, took with them a variety of gifts including sleeping bags, food and drink, They handed over nearly £1,000 in cash.
taken on one of the three coaches.
He tells The next night (Thurs 27 Jan) at 2.00am I
Denmark Hill, by LWU Brixton who are, by no
treasonable
privilege by co how did she their actions and demanding the
Trades unionists support Greenham
Common last saturday to
She explained that there was a clear con-
The delegation, organised by the Greater
and two out of use ambulances.
A £32 collection for the waterworkers was
News
Supporters of an inquiry into the death of Colin Roach
Changes
alert
FOLLOWING THE against Labour in the recent boundaries appeal, the following points.
Labour Party headquarters have recently sent a memo to constituency
Evening of
Kurdish
Revolutionary
songs Come to hear Kurdistan's most famous singer SVAN An evening of Kurdish music, revolutionary songs and dance Also Culistan and other performers.
Saturday 19 February 6.00pm.
Camden Centre, Nines Cros Entrance £2.50. E1 unwage
&p Kurdistan Solidarity PO Box 30, 29 Islingto Park St. London N1.
Boundary
House Lord's ruling
CLP activists should be on the alert for
secretaries warning them of the implications of the boundaty changes. Once Bidborough Street. Opposite
RORCH FAM
- SPORT COMMI
Photo:
the new party has held its inaugural meeting, new Ges will be frozen and a
or elab i means it
This means that anyone not on the GC that meeting won't be able to vote in the re-selection.
Parties should begin now to hold informal discussions to clear up the many discrepancies which will arise. For example, not all parties have the same Tormula Tol ward delegations — is yours one delegate per 50 members, or one per 25? Also ar
should made now for constituency-wide bodies like Women's Sections and YS branches to ensure that the delegations represent the whole of the new area.
Trade union branches may face particular pro blems. They must ensure that they reallocate their LP affiliation to the new constituencies, the delegates they send do remain living withing the new boundary.
You should act now Make sure that your ward or affiliated organisation is aware of these forthcoming changes. Contact your constituency secretary s/he is doing something about this now. Once tha boundaries come into ef-
will be little time left LU SOLL these things out.
Where you can
buy Socialist
Challenge
Scotland
Lane; Hop sale ever Sa
Ford, Folio crescent, Hamilton o
Paul Youngson, 18 Forrest Crescer
Wales
ORT: every Sat in town centre
PONTYPRIDD: SC sales every Sa
SWANSEA: SC sales outside Co-o
England London Sad, sad run a 2pm
SC at Fourth Idea market. More info Bo
HAve 1e same tor
available from
HUDDERSFIELD
The Piazza.
LEEDS: Sat 1l.W at Lands Lan
Pedestrian Precinct and 10.30-12.00
Droylesden markets 11am
no mop Te: 06126-905 for tur
NEWCASTLE: SC on sale every S Negate Rd. Every Priday out
Westgate Rd
For me Ten on to ab out local ac
Whats left
STUDY conference on struggle against imperialism
ESTI Africa and the Caribbean
5 Feb 10.30-5 at
London SE1 Organise
TOLLY US Liberation and the
Britain-Cuba Resource Cen-
Women for life
Royal Ordinance factory,
weapons. South Glamorgan
monitor waste both gaseous and sewerage.
The local residents, the council and local peace groups all believe that this
contains belerium beryllium • a cancer inaucing metal. Also racie active Uranium 238.
ine vigil wants to get
know ahat is going on
the factory surveillance there find out what CULLIOUHICHILS and leave. The presence of
Socialist Challenge
SOUTHAMPTON: SC on sal
12 noon at Above Bar Post O
AFFORD: SC on Sale Market Se STOCKPORT: SC sold every Satur delivered
483 890 London BRENT: SC sold Willesden Junction EALING
Is newsagents
C on sale on estates
, 136 Kingsian For phon
-12.30 in shopping precin Ixbridge tube static HOUNSLOW: Wast ICe, Cary sold Bookshops BANGOR Holyhead
RIGHTON: The Public House, Lit 14 Sandgat Onslow Road.
Gallery Bookshop, Grange Terrace
unity books, Waln
include Ken Gill the High Commissione for representative of the Cuban and Ethiopian
Details Liberation Caledonian Rd, N1.
FOR THE last week the Cardiff women for life on earth have held a 24 hour vigil outside the
Llamishen Cardiff. This factory produces components for nuclear
county council have for months tried to get into the factory to
this Royal Ordinance Fac-
tory makes a nonsense of
policy of a nuclear free
Wales as their materials
travel on the roads
throughout South Wales.
This was admitted last
week reply to
Cardiff are
organising protest
march to the factory on
5 March.
18 February 1983 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
KILLED
unions.
Support extends beyond union members committed to a policy of troop withdrawal United 101 South Wales miners are sending delegations, SO are NOPE. Many prominent Broad Left supporters Bave also associated themselves with building the conference.
This conference is just a start. A big battle with the right wing is needed to make opposition to plastic bullets a permanent part of union policy.
It won't be enough to show how plastic bullets will be used strikers.
Support
The right wing bureaucracy of the British unions has its strongest political support form the Loyalist-dominated unions in the North 01 Ireland. That's why they back the Labour Party filling Irish ministerial posts with reactionaries like Roy Mason and Don Concannon.
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Socialist
Challenge
BAN PLASTIC
BULLETS!
A LABOUR MOVEMENT DELEGATE CONFERENCE With well known speakers from Ireland and Britain, this conference is open to delegates from labour and trade union bodies.
Refreshments Bar Creche facilities Stalls Post-conference social Saturday 26 February 1983, 11.00am UMIST, Barnes Wallis Building, Sackville Street, Manchester 1
The Plastic Bullets Conference organisers are justifiably pleased with their success in the
The right wing claim, that the unions of the North are non-sectarian, Is a dangerous myth. This nas been shown time and again, during the civil rights struggles. Whilst the trade union movement continues to recognise the Northern state legitimate, it will be forced to withdraw from any civil rights anti-repression struggle which begins to be effective.
Being effective means challenging the Northern state. It is the nationalist population victims of state repression, who are SERG
and it is they who protest most strongly about civil Igns, pontical status. or plastic bullets. This gives we umon icaders an excuse to step aside.
They Cecare such issues only affect Catholics, not workers as a whole. Hence, to support such campaigns is regarded as 'sectarian'.
Here the union leadership tells us to 'follow the example of Northern unions Union conferences shouldn't discuss Ireland, we're told
SPECIAL OFFER For readers who take out a year's inland subscription we are offering a free copy of Alan Freeman's new book THE BENN HERESY. The
Alteratively we are offering Henri Weber's book NICARAGUA - THE SANDINIST REVOLU-
Inland: 12 months £14.00/6 months £7.00
Surface & Europe £17.00/Air mail £24.00 For multi-reader institutions double the above rates Send to Socialist Chal: enge, P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XQ
KILLED
because the Northern
Ireland membership
would object. British unions shouldn't back troops withdrawal because the Northern Irish membership would walk out if we did.
Involved
what's unions in the North riddled with Loyalist sec tarianism. The union bureaucracy always BELO this. Union headquarters in London don't hold back their Northern Ireland members from ex-
• they support the Loyalists by supporting a British which upholds sec-
If we are told to build on the gains of the Plastic
conference, our campaign in the unions must take account of these wider issues. Giving into the blackmail and walkout threats used by the union bureaucracy prevents British trade
the victims of state repression in the North, and to
Irish workers as whole. ALAN FREEMAN
THE BENN
HERES
ISRAEL
'RESIGN' cried the
mass media, 'Sharon
must go. And SO
another link in the
chain of hypocrisy
surrounding Israel's
war against the
Palestinians was
forged.
The Kahan report
on Israel's part in the
bloody massacre of
Palestinian refugees
last year produced
the desired effect of
satisfying liberal con-
sciences the world
over.
The Israeli Cabinet after a lengthy period of soul-searching, agreed basically implement the findings of the report.
amounted to scapegoating one of their HULLIOCT Ariel Sharon, and dishing out the terrible punishment of demoting him from the post of Defence Minister minister folio without POrL
Iviosne Arens is to replace Sharon a signal that there willbe change in government defence policy.
Massacres
The massacres of hundreds of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Chatilla camps followed the brutal war launched against the Lebanon by the Israelis. It soon became Clear that the war, far from being a defensive action as the Begin government claimed, was design ed to smash the Palestine Liberation Organisation once and for all.
Once having smashed the main organised op position to the Zionist state, they could then SOCCE colonisation on the process of Israeli
West BankPLO
The Yasser Arafat, said that
chap, gave the thumbs down nites, infantile leftists
feminists'.
thought, comrade
of a disorder.
choice I suppose.
views but different tactics
the report was inadequate because it did not include decisive condemnation of Menachim Begin and members of his governwho are involved, with American support, in the shameful masscre'
He proposed that an international court shoulc try Israelis and Americans.
Survivors massacre in Beirut dismissed the report as a farce,
Socialist Challenge FUND DRIVE 13
LAST WEEK Viadimir Derer, who obviously is a mature and statesperson-like
Benand infantile
Anyhow this morning we got a letter in the post ad dressed to the 'Dear infantile Trots'. Good christ I
Derer has started nomenclature craze, down with ultra leftism, long live infantileism — which even Lenin said was a bit
However this letter came from a comrade called Kathleen Jones who lives in Shrewsbury and she tells us that she is: "An eighty year old, lifelong infantile feminist'. Being a bit personal I think that is a more honourable way to spend eighty years of your life than helping the right wing with its register plans. But then every one to their own
Kathleen told us, I like your paper, but 1 also want to support the Militant, and find it rather expensive to subscribe to two papers having the same
Sharon resigns,
nothing changes
The Israeli dinosaur makes itself at home in Lebanon.
and some called for the execution of Sharon.
History
The Kahan Commissions findings serve only to Whitewash the nvolve nent of both the US and Israeli imperialism in the Lebanon and the whole
In all the weeping and we will hear not a whisper COVe the tragedy, about what is really at the
Kathleen then says, plementary pension which saves me from destitution, so I am sending you £7.
As she points out "democracy" supports the dictatorship 'eighty year old, lifelong infantile feminist' unlike Vladimir Derer, gets it right on democracy and on putting her money behind a paper that fights for what she believes in
With an example like that, dear readers -do I have to say any more?
Swindon
Boisover Newpor
Bath Standing orders -vanenester Hemel Hempstead SE London Islington total total so far
DRAWING BY STEVE MENDEL COM WASHINGTON DOCT
root of the conflict the
combinedmilitary agres
sion of the US and their
expansionist lap-dog,
Israel.
While the international
peace-keeping force wat
ches, Palestinians and
Lebanese are still being
murdered in the Lebanon.
Until Israel is forced to
withdraw from surroun-
ding territories and the rights of the Palestinians recognised, the bloodbare their UWI and
will continue.
*I am in receipt of a sup-
*... even a campaign for within the party turns round and Kathleen Jones
€ 30.00 10.00 23.00 44.4
26
157.00 20.00
80.00 € 985.75 3623.00
← Socialist Challenge No. 280, 9 February 1983Socialist Challenge No. 282, 25 February 1983 →