Socialist Challenge No. 49, 8 June 1978
The scan: sc-n49-jun-8-1978.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
Socialist Challenge
EYEWITNESSES said s like an American ELEFCESE
US C141 transports»
There were American crews lounging around, forms em blaroned with a ball'
cad and the wordy "Bully Beel Brigade".
At the same time, several thousand miles away in Paris, representatives of five NATO powers were debating future of Africa.
Particularly they were consdering the formation NATO intervention force
This is something formality: the Bully Brigade had beaten them to it.
The French, often British and American back-up, have played the same game over and over again:
Chad, Djibouti and now Zaire.
The ostensible reason for the intervention force is the need to defend hunan life and the integrity of African states.
So why do France and the US send guns to UNITA, anti-government guerillas in Angola?
Why don't the paras go into Namibia to liberate it from South African occupation?
Where was the Legion when the South African army massacred hundreds in Kassinga, in southern Angola?
Simply because life is only
important when it's
alit
European life.
utu
Territorial caly matter when the sate is pro-Western And property... well, property is always important!
The British Labour
the
Government has fullen meekly in line behind Its imperialist 'OLa
brother, the United Callaghan's pathetic "Christo of Beef pher Columbus' speech was for
public consumption with It was a meek warning that
there are a lot of profitable pro-Western states who might in Sahara, be less than happy to see the
Foreign Legion or Green Berets tramping through their back garden.
Concern for the lives and rights of the African masses couldn't have been further the from Callaghan's mind.
I this Government were serious in its concern it would not be sitting talking about nilary aid to Moburu. would sending money to the Foreign liberation movements,
drawing British from racist South Africa and Rhodesia, and breaking diplomatic unks with those states.
Exclusive!
Soviet Dissidents'
Document
Page 12
integrity big
States.
only. and it
It will be up to the labour novement to with- raise the
investment
cry!
Imperialist Hands Off Africa.
The first opportunity to do that will be on 16 June, the Sowero Commemoration march. Thar must be just the beginning of a massive solidaricy campaign.
Amnesty Indicts Britain Page 7
NATO
OUT OF
AFRICA
NATO in Africa Page 10
No 49 8 JUNE 1978 15p
mens
OICE Rally Page 8
Page 2 scan of this page
Students say: Hands
OUR POLICIES 2 1A
EDITORIAL
328/9 Editorial 01-359 suffered two by-election reversals in a row.
next General Election.
a party of middle-class radicalism.
Militant grouping inside the Labour Party. spectrum af Scottish nationalist ideology.
Times. arguing forimport contrels.
among the
with the political traditions of their parents.
Margo Macdonald and others
complacent. For the war is fur from over.
dictators who are hostile to the Soviet Union.
ahstaining between the "two imperialions
hand of THOSE
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SOCIALIST CHALLENGE B June 1978 page 2"
Upper streot. Londan N1.
Distribution and Advertising 01
After Hamilton
HAS THE Scottish Nutionalist babble burst? The SNP has now
with the Labour Government retaining both Garscadden and Hamilton. On current trends, the party stands to lose four or five of its MPs at the
Although it would be rush and premature to start writing political obituaries, the party clearly faces a politicul impasse. Ten years ago in that same Hamilton constituency it was a different party has grown and developed, but in a distinet political direction: story, with the spectacular victory of Winnie Ewing. Since then the
The point was neatly demonstruled during the debate ont economic policy at the recent SNP conference. Present were the two authors of the economic resolation: Gavin Kennedy, and David Simpson. Kennedy is prospective parliamentary candidate
and is best known in England for collaborating with Nors Beloff of The Observer to witch-hunt the
He is defence spokesperson for the NP and a strong supporter of NATO. Yet be also made one of the most controversial speeches of the conference tbis year. During the debate on law and order he provoked the anger of delegates by drawing attention to the plight of Irish Republican prisoners on the bianket in H Block. For Kennedy there is no contradiction in this stance. He is deeply contemptuous of British liberalism and consistentiy argues for a populism which vacillates between the right and left of the hazy
David Simpson, an economist at Stratelyde University, shows a very different face of the SP. A reticent individeal, Simpson is neither a candidate for the SP, nor is he on its leading bodies. A totally unknown public figure, he is one of Scotland's most Infoential economists, whose writings on post-independence monetary policy earned a fulsome review in the pages of The
Kennedy and Simpsen, the aggressive radical and the conservative middle class academic, sum up the dynamism of tbe SNP, but also indicate the very reat limits of its development. The specific compromise arrived ut to biend both strands was seen in the colourless arguments of the party's economic revolution. li contained much of every thing inside capitalist economics.
More interesting was the debuie which dida't take place. The annual conference is preceded by purty delegate meetings held regularly during the year at Stirling. Much of the real debate takes place here — far from the TV cameras and the press. At Stirling this spring there was an attempt to amend the economics resolution bs delegates from the West of Scutland. They wanted two Inserts: the finit insisting on workers" participation, and the second
Although these were defeated and are only pale shadows of Tribunite rhetoric, the fuet that they emerged is interesting. The last few by-elections are indicative of the SN's limitations. Neither result was the disaster portrayed by the Scottish press. The SNP sill managed to pick up over 30 per cent of the vote. But the fuilure to win either seat is the failure to win decisive support
working, population in the West of
Instead the SN Jooks set to stabilise Itself with around 25-30 per cent of the nutional vote. Its support will continue to come from the new towns, the rural areas and from younger voters dissatisfied
In the immediate future the SP will see a shift away from
interested in working 'rodicalism" towards more staid and traditional figures. For the Tabour Party In Scotland, this appears an almast unbelievable
situation. But despite their successes they should nor get over
China in Africa
THE RECENT meeting between the Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hus and the Zairean dictator Mobutu is an indication of the utterly shameless pro-imperialist stance taken by the Foreign
Office in Peking. It is a far ery from Chou Fa-lal's first visit to the
African continent in the late "50s, when his pronouncement that
"Africa was ripe fur revolution" scandalised the imperialist powers.
China has consistently allowed Its ideological dispute with the
Soviet Union to determine the character of its foreign pollicy. Its
support for Mobute Is merely the continuation of its friendship
with the Chilean butcher Pisochet and its simpathy for
The Chinese have taken their churucterisation of the Soviet
Union as 'imperialist" to ies altimate conclusion; though instead of
they aid the United
Stales. This is now an underable fuet, even shough the dwindling
apologists prefer overlook
COLIN TALBOT,
attack is to be fought.
Financing of Student Unions in Universities and other Institetoas of Higher and Further Education three practical consequences. First they entail a virtual treese on student union income ut current real levels. here is a proposai to draw up: concordat" between the van our education powers and the NUS on what unions can and cannot do with their money. Third, and most importantiy, 8 whole new system of financing is put forward so that some Targer unions will lose control over up to 60 per cent of their income.
In addition the DES. proposing a recommended minimum union fee of E1.25 -not binding on local author-
While the headlines sported by the Fleet Street press made clear that the Covernment is out to clamp down on student unions. the articles showed a remarkable misudnerstanding sbout details
proposals, This wasn't due 10 the Incompetence of the Fleet Street hacks. If's because the Scotland. DES has deliberately been us complex und ambiguous a possible.
MYSTIFIED class Even student militants completely msstified as to what the "powers that be are up to.
This confusion has been made
NUS leadership. Sue Slipmar
Tirst welcomed the DES Pa The Guardian she was
The
*delighted that students would remain in control of their
The Times said she thought the 'proposals
Government
through which
vent abuses,
Limiting the power of unions to
spend their moneyall
In a burst of honesty and
clarity Slipman went on to say
clipped depends
politically stupid we are. I we
stupid.
problems.
1
HOME NEWS
off our unions'
AT THE Easter conference of National Union of Students, militants in Socialist Students" Alliance revealed to surprised delegates the unpublished discussion paper put Department of Education and Science.
NUS executive member and Socialist Students' Alliance activist, explains what is behind this subtle attempt by the Government to erode student union autonomy, and to place their finances under stricter control by college authorities. And he outlines steps students should be considering if the
the logically and rationnily we are stronger than ever before.
Thi sums proposals in a nutshell establish a
don't activate it — ver
Sccond lees
uninterupted BUSHES around
and the oppresseu
CURBS
WaVe radicalism
student launched
These measures
are time NUS was
worse by the antics of thi DETAILS Guardian sbe dents'
gave before -LOLY mecbanism it could.. pre Sue conference. mislead" conference.
how which Broad Left majority shall invite executive. operate Capitalion i in crisis, The leaders of the Talmur Party and the trades unhm offer solutions that ane in the interests, not of thie warkers, hit of the capitalis cale Chalene beive that the the vital tacks evelentine ocialisis one Stevede lendencies in ast-collaborationism in the biour me ing together willemne hilding a woe range if pullical lem.
* Tir bede to fight foe the creatim of a shilled and desecrate recedeluton satalisi organisation which can, the nuge an apollation ofunised hunt tactica begin in he seen as an alnernathe be thousands uf morkers engaged in strnedes alied shnult he heed on the understanding that; The streagle for socialism voke to unite the fight of the workers ngains the tress wiis ibat of ither uppressed lose of sacely women black people, gas -ry means the power of the capitalist state:
details of an out by the •uP the DES -they TECHIES -TOI controlling student unions, but Over the seven years between 1970 and 1977 student union
local authorities Increased from t3m to Li3m Students launched a virtualls
wave of cuts, grants, uneraployment and in solidar. ity with struggles of workers
The state wantsto control this militancy and curb this level of nance, But it does not want to do so at the expense of sparking
of student
As far back as last summer it becume clear that the Govern- conference ment was considering ways to "agreed in control the level and use of
union finances. October: Union That's Development* Campaign (sic) aimed at booting finances for small unions. It also maved to drop previous NUS policy on ultra-vires payments and union finance, rammed through tbe December NUS Conference.
were sup posed to 'head off' the DEs and others who wanted more interests. swerping changes. At the sabe negotiations with the DES. The around scope of these dealings remains
the Easter *Tg NUS Conference the Socialis Sen-
Alliance announced startled delegates the details of the DES proposals - a month
were officially released. The 55A was attacked
Slipman and in an NUS moniling after it, for trying to
and "stampede'
Even when the proposals were published, she was still saying
they were unexceptionai, a view
was endorsed by the the
Despite the 'unexceptional' I the
apposition t meht. These should be noe-exclusi
4
saragling for Their Theration. This wefilm nu a new organs of power sni defeating with att
RES!
nature of the proposals the national executive has already: *issued two emergency mail•Called an emergency briefing
Principle to an emergency NUS conference in
an awful lot of messares for some thing which supposedly repre sents no major threat
The alternative to the NUS collaboration with the DES is to fight to make the NUS a
campaigning union, democratically controlled by its members and fighting for their
jOin idea 'Autonomy Charter' - passed at the last NUS conference.
This kind of Charter must have policies for complete financial constitutional and autonomy; a minimum level of finances for small unions (of at least E15:20 per stadent) and the right of students unions to give resources, as unions, to workers and others in struggle.
BRIEFING
Student unions should be mandated now to request an emergency NUS conference on
September could constitutionally bind the executive to have such a conference by mid-October
The SSA will fight for the brieting conference to discuss
Autonomy Charter
Our swishem will he lannish marr remnerolle than what esist. in vitalism in to TIR and Fasiere Europe hate discediled socialisir
in the eyes of she withone of markers mieshout the sued The an apples
Thim and will effee full ampport so all those fighting for sochafist democries
The teterests at wurkers pad coprialies are irrermiciable on a wort rile. This unies will be the long tonig deceive in defrating bull sh
Imperialiaregimes in she Weed and the brecal ectatorships bet sustain in Tatin
America, Atrice and Asia Is Britain it Impties armonding the immediate withdrawal of firitish troo
froes Treband and beleis the frel people determine their cown tutun
in seone fivuuralile than we the preceiling three decades, fur sechi porties car sealist periles are mine necessary than coutl
andy lie buile by sejecting sectarlinhem and secing inormal demerges notar
losury but an a vital access. Thie mean the right an organise factions one
RANT reject the DES proposal. It will also call for the NUS to start a campaign around Charter.
DEBATES Militants
students and the SWP on wha response should he made to these proposals Dissident students iD Broad Left, who substantially amended the position of the Executive Faster conference, have not yet cem
agalast the DES proposals. Are tbey prepared to
with the far left in a campaign to proposals and establish once and for all the principle of student union autonomy?
Similaris, the comrades of NOISS have an importunt tole to play in explaining this attack to the mass of students and in helping biass campnign against them. Are ther now ready to join with che SSA in a united, non-sectarian campaign to defeat this attack?
The Student movement is facing its most crucial rest in many years. There is a danger that the defeats over fees and other issues will he transformed into a permanent crippling of student That PILS demands the hroadest, most active and conunitted response from cbe entire left to 101 OT
Hands Our Unions!
Page 3 scan of this page
Never mind the wrangles,
HOME NEWS
OVER
JONES.
The conference attracted -ITTERE SIDERI hundred delegates front anti-
50 from Tabour movement bodies, from women' sand gay groups, and 16 from ethnic organisa-
A number of important decisions were taken.
nen TEMSE BEASOC CARF was adopted as the national paper tor the movement-
*The conference voted overwhelmingly to support work coscy with the Anti Nazi League and decisavety rejecied a sectarian attitude to the ANL.
*The conference adopted a broad, non-exclusive statement of aims, which centred on mass mobilisations against racism and fascism. It rejected a move 10 festcI Ic Dams ot b national movenent to those
analysis of racism and fascism.
step cannot hide the failure of the
allerence to adequately map
Fund programme fascism. hy nò dit
unions and how these questTons related to building a mass ricting the movement to "non violence" in the struggle against
Anti-racist conference
feel the support
anti-racist and anti-fascist conference in London last weekend. The results were mixed, reports DAVY
11 supported aMrateiy of mass moblisation in the discussion on the movement's aims. But neither motion was 30 discussed in the contest of an
overall strategy and progrThe failure to adequately these vita questions nevianv led lo tristration and exacerbated the tensions between the widely different traditione and experiences of the forces participating. and
AWARENESS Some delegates HIrom morenenes tended no cpe women's, pay. from other delegates too great an avareness of the relation between the struggle against and fascism, and the THEESER roots of sexual and racial Other wrongly felt that these questnot particulariy CWCIC important.
These differences were not taken up politically by delegates, who responded with
Tose From the labour move ment- to leave carly In a hurried debate at the end of conference, the proposal to
committee lo decled Trom TeunS SOTE TESTIC
350 activists attended the first national
the black
delegates This will make more difficult( the task of building a strang authoritative national body capable of res-
Many deegates were drap
T CSS CRESC TEd
VALERIE COULTAS (IMG] speaking
the conference and its
Wing to events and giving a D0NECHS 85 3 build the ANL
ried by the conference. It is
CARF to forge a
SEXIST
whenever they
Hut T thes
It ls an
Orford,
Emasculaled
beginning. thai
sexual picarure
at the breadth of support for
decis OnLInUn lots on CARF and the ANL..
All activists must sow help to
conference in Joly: step up the campaien gain immigration controls
strengthen the newspaper Strong national anti-racist moventent.
place
Bates enclaves" head."
siould
THE
youthfal
Musical -TЯNISH.
Marxism
just
News
nowhere
Statesmanship SEat s: 99 per sent of them) English
mention the writer Jan Morris, cannot resist mentioning that she used to be James Morris (itter, titter).
nudgenudge style of humour reaches an all-time low in, of all places a crusading "socialise" journal.
Inder of che rapid decline of the New Statesmun (sic) under its new editor Bruce Page that it could publish :
eview of the Orford Book e
edited by Morrig under the tille "Jan Morris's fall
Oxford" (godditt). But that Is only the
Peter Conrad obviously imagines he has hit upon a clever theme *Jan nee BRC NanG TEUNTOE HE both national monuments (or
embodiments SOE IDC national probiem), and there is an implicit analogy betweer
The explains
He can hardly contain hi disgust at Morris: 'Love is no longer the enjoyment Lof existence other than ont's own but the surgical excavation ol Bas
complementary sexua] identity inside onesclf. Love has retracted into hermaphroditic self-love."
In ocher words Conrad has made the terrible discovery that
men for
Morris's Oxford i
of England. The purpose of ber
TECTEIC
Conrad's knowledge of human
thing to be desired!
vein. For example: " ber pew Oxford is intricately feminine, swith hidden entries und hack physically ventilated
annexes and 1, secret as maiden
To get the full Navour of its nastiness you would have to rcad the whole article. But we
advise against iE.
Youth Work
METROPOLITAN Police force hus mot been slow to recognise that the new wave in mowe is calbenne numeroo:
enthusiasts. Both Sounds magazine and the New
Express bast week carried a full-pape recruiting ad from the Beensed to carry a cosh in their pocket brigade.
The advert in Sounds was lastefully positioned opposite
interview witk Tom Robinson. The police forgot to mentioa thelr policy on gays or their attitude to racists and
Should J. Nichol be dope tested?
THE far-seing and perceptive ability of Socialist Challenge lo analyse the present conjunc: tural world siluation accordu ta the noens of mism ifie
Leninism Trotskyism has never beer BOTC 40U3C1
Compare the following two
and ask yoursell who the LORIEL anti-revisionist position on the issues under discussion:
*So anyone who thinks the World Cup and polities are
from
separate and should be kept so is living in as big a dream world as is Ally McLeod with his vision of Scotland lifting the championship (hocialist Challenge, 1 June)
"Im both cases it is clear whi will go through. In Group Four the two will be Holland and Scotiand. Neither Peru BOE Iran will have the strength or skill to mount seriou: challenge on the two favourites" (Socialist Worker, 3 June).
We now have every right to demand, nAy proletarian duly to demand a
WOrKETS rank-and-file enquiry into the fraudulen: anti people position of sotalled Socialist so-called Worker whose historie bankruptcy is now proven for all the world to
P.S. This augurs well for the SC-v-SW cricket match in July,
Foreign Legum SINCE we pablished our little life history of the Ohserver's Colin Legum s couple of weeks ago the latter duy cold warrior
MTO UEL apais. with "exclusive" revelations of Fas Ceras invo vement en ca revel "invasion" of Zaire.
One reader has written ir suying thal we were a bit suff on BETUT S/be transcript of a South African Assembly debate 25 Lebruary 1940 lo prove point. This was the time of the CICIN TOSHIOLR squallers, when Legum wa chairperson of the city's special housing commitiee.
According to MP Ballinges the Labour Party OE BIN
emergency
(the squatlers), that the police
them and they demanded ferther the spication of what I regand as the
of the 192T Native : Administratiun Act, which is a blot on any democralic society.
*They demanded that thes provisioos should be applied t
he people who were accused o fostering this agitation, Bred thut these people, three of them
adviser beard, shoald be removed from
Jest becaase the Johannesburg City Connell did not Ike the things they did.
TESSINT quotes fram memo by Legum and snother councilor- "The Comittees most strongly urge that the seecssity for provision of allernulive acomation does not arise. The Committees are emphutically of the opinion thut if these natives are ejected without the necessity of being removed elsewberel and prevended for three or foor dafs from roccapying the bouses in question, the whole moverea will collapse on ils own accord LNO LAE nU UmBE COnO EL will retur themselves to the accomodatioa trom whích they calle.
"FOR SOCIALIST AFRACA
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE B June 1978 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
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Page 5 scan of this page
900 workers face dole
HOME NEWS
Banner THOMPSON reports.
been the scene of a number of
although management i not WELTDOAUEUE DI CONTOIL tation, it is looking for ways to
ation.
It is prepared to put up a lot of cash to achieve this end.
Terms for voluntary redundancy have been designed to appeal to the large number of workers who have been in the Tactory for a long time, often Dver 25 years. Many : would receive E10,000 or more. TWO ISSUES dominated the Union of Post Office Workers
wages policy and the esecutive council victimisation of the Cricklewood sorters whe boycotted mail to Grunwick.
-The debate around
mees revealed the estreme
PERDONE E UNO MTE UPW, wItH DENNIS BYRNE
On wagn
by the 1977 conference. These included: "No loss of
and 'An escalat
GRUNWICK
Stave sor nes remotely achieved
inder Phase Three, yet the
recative felt no-
CHIERIS
nent in putting forward motion which in LUILLI recommended acceptance Phase Four before it is even negobated! It was carried by JFLI the conference.
we heard some double-talk which would have impressed even a British army press officer in Northern Ireland! No mention from the executive of how the action by Crickiewood sorters had nearly brought George Ward to his
Ol the insairation this provided the Grunwick strikers; or of how trade action of this kind could have won the strike in a few days.
INFILTRATION
The executive congratulared isell on bow il had nrevented a national confrontation with the
made up the super annualion contributions of tbe Cricklewood workers.
But there is a silver Lining to the doud: the executive continuing its campaign
THE ATTEMPT
Local Government Officers"
reverse union's sand on support for
conference last Friday,
DAVE BURN, from Istington NAIGO, reports.
By a card vote of 350,000 to 190,000 the union docided support the status quo, accepting holding lution', in the words of one
the bational
This attempi to reverse NALGO's pro-incomes policy!
Massey Ferguson, Coventry
*NINE HUNDRED redundancies and short time working for everyone else. That is the holiday message from management at Massey Ferguson's
Lane factory in Coventry.
aascher of a decisive lend from the shop stewards' committer
workers have, applied
cluding two of the convenors ano severa shon stewards.
This reflects a situation where ment has been able to 'buy' jobs. Ai Massey's, as at other factories, this financial inducement has been very hard to COmDaL The lact romains that every job bought is one job less. In Covenery, with a very high level With such terms on offer, the | of unemployment
UPW accepts Phase Four
defend the right of workete to strike. around Grumwicks would only jcopardise this Allamendment bitterly conderning the leadership's handling of Grunwicks was both only just defented 96949033.
And this was only achieved UHET CP. member Stagg, who handled the affair, of name of "chivalry".
handbags' at the bar.
Last Friday, Tilly fearless
the regulars.
58
position followed an unsuccessful elfort carlier in the jear when the divisions in the left
atemipe lo get a conference of the crownd This time, the left at Jeast by aereed on lache to hirht the executive, and on the resolution
the carlier divisions contributed the defear al the pay conference.
The timing of the mecting
prospects of revival, this is extremely serious.
A fight against the imposition of short-time working is WILLIAM therefore doubly important,
will have been inflicted on the
The unanimously accepted a posal to counterpose a "hlock lay-off' to short-time working. 138800 workers would be laid off with 5D Der cent Day guarantee when work is not available.
Obviously this scheme is not perlect bur il e a boner dical than that in operation at many
and no However, the was withdrawn from the firing line, and Tom Jackson made an impassioned appeal. campaigo! Two motions requiring the executive to investigate
infiltration of the union were
Anti-Nazi League Nonnan successful fringe meeting with over 100 delegates present EL VINO's wine bar in Fleet Street, an old favourite haunt of the most reaciionary gentlemen of the press, refuses to serve women at the bar, writes JUDE WOODWARD. When a woman journalist complained on the basis of the Sex Discrimination Act, El Vino's won its case in the
The clientele were also fearful of the consequances of allowing women to jostle their
Jeen a pleasant occasion if it hadn't been for the jostling of brief cases, rudeness, and libing o
And, of course, the fact that the manager swore blind we wore women, refused to serve us, and eventually called the police. The bays in blue lold us we weren't welcome, and closed the bar.
NALGO backs pay policy
itself wan called betore the conference, and after most of ine wons bay either been scitled or al least suhmitted. and cierical claim of the Health Service was sertled two weeks адо for 9.5 per exampic. The lell's LILE guideine were thus weakened
workfance.
'in the RESPONSE
committee
unanimous and response from the stewards off
while yet.
exist at the moment
held
in persons decided to have a lunchtime drink in the bar. Il would hav One is thar the
have
pent, attacks
CEn
committee rejected a proposal
the plant. By refusing to put forward any fighting proposals it runs the risk of demoralis ation and despair amang the
A works conference was held on Wednesday to discuss a
short-time working. A minority of stewards were deterinined o see thai there is a clear response to the management's thacars.
As Roger Kline, the mover of the proposal to prevent tractors
eaving the plant, pur it: In
convinced that if there is:
workers,
hen the company will back
The conference showed that it will be hard going for a good
bur the timie b DVCI-Titt 10t an orianEaton o the left in the UPW which will
small forces which
Dennis Byrne is u memher of the UPW in Coventry, writing
SCAMPILAI cupacity,
executive.
National
bot only
which
want it inumigration
growing organisations.
But
Legue Although
this vear.
fight
What this conference shows
broad opposition austerity within NALGO still needs to be -organised nationally and its So far, tactics decided democratically by all its supporters. To achieve AMUHU SHEL LE SORELA problems that have plagued the left since the start of Labour's ple
First, it would help ensure that the leit's divisions do not benefit the right in the union as they have continued to do so in !
Alan Fisher, public employee's union general secretary, has sald that the 700,000 NUPE members were in no mood to accept another round of pay restraint. He also sald that they want a clear commitment in Labour's next manifesto for a E60 national minimum wage and a 35 hour week. He made this announcement al a iosuvai in ine alexandra Pasace in conoon Gerecraung tel union's fiftleth birthday. Michael Foot, Labour's deputy leader replied by pointing to the large number of businesses that Labour had saved from closing downl
NATFHE Conference
*Thepaper
policies need
to be
fought for
AN EXPANSION of further education opportunities was one of the main policies adopted by teachers in this sector at their annual conference
TESSA VAN GELDEREN, NATEHE conference, reports.
Despise opposition from the
MatT the Association -of Teachers in Further Education conference last week called for Tor
This demand is important
for chose teachers stuck on the bottom scale, but abolihing all grade crucial first in
The Goverament's proposals for 16-19 year olds were also
called for mandatory trinis foralistudenis over loin fall-time education.
It declared thal Toll-time education sbould be avaliabile ro al 16-19 year olds wlio
AFFILIATION
One of the major discussions society. However, the original
watered down, particularly in relation to
There was no real understanding of
relationships between controls. institutionalised ricism, and rhe
activities of racist
there was •StrOnE opposition when the wion president made a ruling tat affiliation to the Anti Nazi
was out of order the constitutional bosition stil tres to be cieared tip. the ruotion for affiliation
the clections lo the executive
Second, it would start ro involve member al all levels to
spainst both Lahour's policies 300 EDE support trade union leaders have given to them
scither the NALGO Action Group nor the bronc Sett formations like the NAL GO Progressive Alliance in London bave been able to grap
sococssfully wich problems. The NALGO annual conference starting on 12 lim in Brighton will WILLE COESE EUSES E cUD
COT THE A
MESSAGE
La delegate to the
The affiliation of the union
National Abortion Campaigi war also discussed.
woma's right choose the same constitu
objection was raised The ability of the union and
bodies is a matter of the
rather than anything that i spelt out specifically.
CONFUSION
A motion on the offending paragraph in the annual repon was defeated, so the confusion will continue unless a campaign
waged il the union for affiliation to the ANL and
fact, all the motions passed al the conference will remain paper policies unlesi a fight is takeo up among the membership to stop the crosion of teachers culs education, and against racism and sex discrimination.
CONFERENCE *The Committee of Al London Teschers Against Racism and Pascism group which organised che 2500 strong rally at Central Hail in Manch has decided to contact olher educalion bodo to take steps towards a baciona conserence in the BELITTE
Ta he approached are union branches, teachers in Labour and Communist Par tics, groups like the West Midlands Campaico Agains Racism and Fascism in Education, us well as similar bodies in Manchester, Leeds, Shelfield. ane Nollineam
ALTARAF will also be Against the Nazis with a view to BLUTDOLEDE tbe Teachers organising an open, represenTative and democratic steering comminee lo unite all the Torces active on this
With TAN invulved it could prevent the wasted effaris oi two conferences which threater
TAN's recent announcement thar li is banning its own conference or 23 Septembe
ESCIALIST CHALLENdE 8 June 19re page s
Page 6 scan of this page
Paving the way to union democracy
In search of an early grave
HOME NEWS
democracy.
the membership.
*Fight for the right of an currents and organisations so Freely and democratically fight for their policies. No hans on members of sech organisations from bolding union - posts.
Trade union Laden showing an increasing appetite for banning left-wing organisations in their ranks. Only two WOTH SLUT at us annual conference tlie caecutive of the
nand Revenue Staff Federaion said it would suspend any
Remeter selling the let
Revenue File
With this, the leadership of the IRSF ACTE joining growing number of unions such as the electricians - who
apply to such as blacks and
vomen — who suffer specific
of oppression
cordinely need to organise to
politically active in
the SWP.
its aims.
The conference later this
month aims to do tbree things.
First, to draw together those
share common
orientation towards the build-
ing of a united, democratic
revolutionary workers' party to
which the experience of being in
Secondly, to clarify ways of
sorking with other
sonary organisations, in parti-
CUPIL Flame and
International Markest Group
*SOCIALIST CHALLENGES.June/1978 page 5
The Socialist Challenge trade union conference on 1 July is less than a month away. Such initiatives have a particular relevance in times like today when more and more attempts are being made to stifle union
ELAINE JONES expluins just what policies are necessary to return the unions to where they belong —
*For the election and right of recall of all officini. Elections to be carried out by workplace Terry the resident of the Engincenn mon and the darling of 1h right wing press, made it clear that he intends to cut AVEN The right of unise down elections members to choose, necessary sack official ensures that fricial leadership are answer able to their own members Burcaocrats argue that thi would make officials 'insocure and threaten their livelihood The point is that any who seet their post in the ution as a 'career" (with a seat in the House of Lords at the end?) in and (heir "security" first, and the AUEW loaders cast their votes for pay policy at 1977 TUC, to the homor of delegates.
International Socialist Alliance
WHAT UNITED the 170 people who came to the founding conference of the International Socialist Alliance in February was that they had all been
the International Socialists/ Socialist Workers Party and felt unable to remain in
That conference elected a steering committee lo prepare for a further conference which will take pisce on the 17 and 18 June. RICHARD KUPER explains
SWP, and with independent revolutionaries who share this аіт.
And thirdly, to set International Socialists* ance as a transitional organisatof this group in the proves of revolutionary unlication. revolut- Thus the first task of the conference will be to clarify the revolutonaries best
Socialist Challenge TU Conference
the For control of the strate by those who wage it through democratically elected strike commitioes responsible to mass meetings.
When the Icadership of APEX suspended members of the Grunwick strike committee For carrying out decisions of that strike committee: hunger strike outride the TUC they example of the leaderships overturn and ignore decisions of tbose in struggle. When workers go on strike il is their livelihood, their wages. their right to organise which is at stake, not that of trade unich bureaucrats. should have the right to decide how that struggle is conducted new Officials should be servants of
has already *Union backing for all
pertance amber interes pursuance of Last year's Leyland and if makers" union example of the prioritics union the leaderships often show
AUEW strikers wete attempt ing to win a legitimate increase in their Diving But the AUEW leadership came down on them like a loo of bricks to the extent that the CHES
toolmakers with the sack from their unior
putting ship offered for this action was
that it wanted to defend the Social Contract situation and what insigbts can | bedrawn from the 15 tradition: What we mean by a working class orientation', what kind of agitational paper most approrpiate to enable militantsto get socialist politics across to those they work with (see our contribution to the ence), how best to pursue the An ELIS. gle, to lend support to the socialist feminist current of the women's movement.
up the DIALOGUE
Alli-
of the conferentoo.
experience Socialist Unity, of having an should of Socialist Challenge, of our ohserver on the editorial board
sopond.
Contract
that
the iots offered a blatant
way
The whole Social Contract
file decisions Therefore thei conference
not their democratically
action
strike was a classic rejected by
union's No indishin
leader-
effects on the lives and ments in the SWP.
Proposals would be forward about campaien revalutionary
confer-
the unions.
all ingration controls.
All these and other question
traops from Ireland
also discuss our of working with
adopt
Hut even if the Social
actasily benefitted have that right. and Whe dramatic fall in Eving standards in the life al the Social Contract represent. proved it did not — unions were not established to support this
government policy.
Rather they were estahlished le six times back up their members lighting for heiter wages and condit-
*For the right of all members
their contract concerning their pay. members.
ECLOTON
perjod of the has seco blatant ignoring of rank and The
At the officialdom The Scanion cast the engineers" vote in favour of the 12 month rule.
But this was against both the decision of the AUEW, and against the wishes of the rest af the AUEW TUC delegation
In the National Union of Miners a productivity deal was class judges
the membership both in a ballot and at the
onferene Bat the and ignored these decisions and introduced Jocal productivity schemes against the nationally arrived at decisions of th
individual or group of NAME... individuals bas the right make such momentous deci ADDRESS... SoN, won callac damn
only he dialogue with Big Flame and the IG. of receil devciop-
will be national unified BLUE organisation which, if carried, will commit
the left:
DEATH
"building independent Tank-
and-file opposition groups in Finally,
*against racism, fuscism and
*against all forms of sexism
*for a genuine and thoroughgoing internationalism and in particular for the withdrawalof
socialist democracy,
both in the future sociery and in
the organisational forms we
cin the strugale now.
After a period of joint work, that
and of course a united electoral revolutionary
membersbip as a whole should
*Full-time officiuls to receive the avenge wage of those they
Many union leaders such as Moss Evans of the TGWU receive a wape totalling five or
that of their own meatbers. Thusa wage cut, or a creches rise in the price foodstuff is, for them, of little consequence compared to that
rank and file
Highly paid officials soon develop an interest in keeping their job, for the job's sake.
industry of industry where the 'servanes efficials themselves - Should provide get no more than theit "masters"
the union rank and file
he alterference Ito unlor affairs by the courts.
Apain the whole Grunwick struggle shows the danger of Telying on courts run by upper
The courts have increasingly which become a weapon used by employers net just to take away
i you are interested m attending the conference, fillin this form and mail it to: SC Trade Union Conference, PO Box 50, London N1.
TRADE UNION.
Election Tapain. if possible,
with comrades from the SWP)
wow hope to De u
position to assess tbe possibil
ties of founding a new organisation, and setting a timetable for moving towards it.
organisation Pro
posals for tbe ISA will he based the
on the perspective that it has
Dully a short existence. We will
be about the only revolutionar
socialist group founding itself
with a death-wish as its central
organisational principle!
Bat it in our bellet —based
on our analysis of events since
1974 and of the experience of
contrades in joint -work in
labour movement struggles
the ald barriers
union rights, 10 defuse existing struggles. Any decision to take away the rights of those involved in struggle to decide when to carry on, or to call it off, is dangerous, bul leaving that decision to whats of court: is the most dangcrous of all
70 HITCHI allow
Democracy in the unions ticans the full participation of
workers. But worsen wotkerspften find it practically impossible to Tuly participate
One of the reasons is tha they are usually saddled with the child rearing responsibility. One way greater partic pation of women can he assured is to
STELES meetings lo which women and men — inembers can bring their children. *For a code of conduct within the unions so members can deal with activities organised through the walen such as acons taken Dune Tuscist
fundumentally opposed to the very principles of trade unionism.
longer a collection of irrecon-
ciliable differences of perspect-
ive on the class struggle caday.
We are convinced that
I Dreamis-
ation, speaking for the bulk of
the left in Britain, will be able to
draw ino active revolutionacy
and thousands of political
militants, in industry and
elsewhere, who at present view
organised lett with
alnofness al best and a tooled
and often justified cynicism.
For further details of the
conference, to be held it ibe
Africa: Centre, London, write
to: Richard Kuper, 45 Falkland
Rond London NWS. rel 01-267
enclosing
conference repistration. inclu-
ding documents, or Gup for
documents only
Page 7 scan of this page
A key mobilisation'
LRELAND
BEEL.
This is one of the conclusions of the report which Amnesty have been trying to keep secret since it was first completed over three months ago. MEIE weekend the report was leaked and extracts from it have appeared in a number of newspapers.
GUILTY
nas been found psychologically exhausting procedures' in the questioning of prisoners. These are said to include techniques to humihate and ridicule suspects as weil as beatings and kickings.
Instances of organic brain relevance today.
Irish people who fight back Government are outlaws by definition.
on 9 July.
Not since the marches supporting the hunger strike of the Price sisters has the British left mounted national initiatives to put this key point of programme into practice. The Prisoners Committee
(PA demonstration in ily
offers possibility changing that situation
The Ceilral Commillee 0. the Internatioual Marxist toup has already marked it a
pronly and there are 100IcaDOns that CbC tom-QuI from other forces on the far left will be significact.
It would be a silly mistake bowever to believe thar it is cither general theorerical considerations or conscience from the British left which gives the 9 Tuly march its
While it is true the old Troops Out
Now Amnesty say it
TORTURERS
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL in a report to be published next week have accused the British Government of systematic "maltreatment' of political suspects in the North of Ireland, reports GEOFF
damage' have also been found. in one instance, says Amnesty, woman suspect threatened with rape, and there last is independent evidence to back up this claim.
The report has been kept secret to allow the British findings, But Socialist Challenge has information which makes it clear that fragmentary been leaked from Government SOUPLES.
The aim of this manoeuvre would be to leak information bit by bit so that when the entire report published the impact will be lessencd.
As well as criticising the
Irish prisoners' demo, 9 July
Members of West London United Troops Out Movement staged a protest in Hammersmith on Saturday againat conditions in H
WRITING IN 1867 Karl Marx made an observation about Irish political prisoners which retains all of its
The brutal treatment of these prisoners, he said, was an expression of the idea that the English have a divine right to fight the Irish on their native soil but that any
against the
In this light, AILEAN O'CALLAGHAN, Irish organiser of the International Marxist Group, argues the importance of the Irish prisoners" demonstration
Movement did no prisoners' defence work during its lifetime between 1974 and was because the Launched when almost everyone who supported the struggle believed that British was about to be way around the question of the No better defence of Irish SANSUNHES would have possible than the creation of a catergence of the new united only been with Troops Out Movement that the conceptions underivine the perspectives for solidarity of work in those three years has beea challenged by the majority of activisis, happening in Ireland alich Above all it is what
methods of interrogation the ECDOT 1S 3150 contain substantial criticism of the whole operation of British justice" IN ENe Treland.
POLICY Was At one point the report is said
combent:
SODEUES apparent matter
whether or not justified, that reply to the
voluntarily.'
In another section the report attacks the whitewashing of complaints against the police: "Complaints alleging maltreatmest in police custody may be CASTIC. the ted", although the treatment
alleged may have actually taken place So it appears that once more
been indicted of torture type
3I LONDON BRINLTI
БL00 sychologica or mor deces that Britain jails political activists, 350 of them on the blanket' in Ireland, and a further 85 in this country, in British some
conditions in Europe.
BAN It is because the attempt to portray the trish Fighters crimunals of the Recent examples in the struggle this TOM was HEISEE TES CICATE MIC BEICS! of the Belfast executive of Sinn
Fein is de facto the proscription Irish of a legal political party and a
reversal 0. struggle when Sinn Fein was legalised in 1973.
The circulation of a so-called contession by the murdered Brian Macute was an attent to justify his death at the haods of the RUC in Castlereagh And the charging of an SDIP member the IRA because Printer of Republican ave one message british State masses: they are "criminals" by association if they are in any way connected with resistance the British occupation.
Government allegations of brutality torture were
"self inflicted".
PARDON
few Injuries self-intlicted believed to
North of
RUC
*Access
denied an
of policy, since confessions
made all those convicted.
"unsubstantia- in Ireland.
Government has
verdict: Britain out now!
Block, Long Kesh. A number of the protesters were clad only in Dankers, as are over sow proonere Long rest
because
1600 Irish
Government
worst prison in Crumlin Road jail.
blanker in the H-block
essential to the
people.
for political status.
DEFENCE the gain son hy
Batish occupation.
with membership of
The is the News from the the trish
on the scrocts on 9 July.
the North All alon has
"terrorist prope ganda and that injuries жетс
In fact, says Amnesty, the
that WEIC were done because the suspect wanted to find some way of ending the "questioning'. In other words suspects were so frighlened that a small number of them tried to
treatment at the hands of the
The Amnesty report should outly have one conclusion. Since many suspected were beaten
many "voluntary" were faci extracted under torture, there must be a complete pardon for
In the meantime the Amnest
should stimulate al THIS I LOUDL WHO ES
tbe International Tribunal on Britain's Presence
At the moment tbe main problem for the Tribunal is just how it will find time to deal with the mounting evidence which can lead to only one
entirely
The central demand in the renewed street activity has been
political status. Again this was a Tory serjously won in struggle from the
1972 Followed a hunger scrike by position Billy McKee and his comrades
SiOM
These rights were stolen back by the Labour Government in 1976. Now the prisoners on the
and elsewbere have waged hunger strikes and other protests. There is no question that the Irish masses will he measuring
stresgth -D' the success or failure of the fight
steps CHUE solidarity work must therefore
Irish people in their defence of the imrisoned vicums or the
Those are the very reasons which make the Internationa! Tribunal such an imponant initiative. But its success wil itself depend on the outcome ol 9 July and similar occasions. For the sake of the Irish people today (and ourselves tomor row more than a token effort must be made to yes real force
BUILD TRIBUNAL
ON BRITAINS
PRESENCE
IN IRELAND
Socialist
feminists
discuss
Ireland
The North-west regional Socialist Feminist workshop held in Bolton last weekend was concerned
with Ireland.
The agenda contained all the main issues which have come to the lore since socialst Teminist: in tbis country first began to
discuss Ireland.
Whether the women's move ment in Treland should take a
on the national question, whether the oppres
Irish women is connected with Britain's presence, and bow the fight for woined's liberation in Treland back asainst repression, were
So, too, was the influence of the Catholic Church and the atticude of the Republican movement towardi women's
Conference on the Role of the British Army
10June, 9.45am-5,30pm Acklam Hall, Acklam Road, London WIl Films, sessions on past colonial wars, the present war in Ireland, former soldiers speaking-out. Called by United Troops Out Movement, c/o 182 Upper Street, London NI
Defend Republican News A poster parade of Fleet Street Wednesday 14 June, 6pm.
Assemble at the Law Courts
Called by the Defend RN Ad Hoc Committee'
D El
Jiberation
Discussion also covered the whole range of activities in this county connected with the
positive proposals were agreed. These included:
*Exchange with oF feminist literature Ireland.
•Distribution of progressive irish literature Britain.
*Positive support to Irish women coming to this country for an abortion
Frange to meet them off it boat, etc.
Initiate discussion ahout Irish women in women's groups with a view to preparing a statement to be endorsed by the women's liberation move-
Such proposals could be usefully followed other socialist feminists in Britain
Entrance E1 SOCIALIST CHALLENGE B June 1978 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Safety first on the shop-floor
How it can help to build the WLM
HOME NEWS
Work hazards
HOW SERIOUSLY the Service.
"Conflicting priorities" occur wen "production is below target and profit below budget" admits the official report on the Flixborough disaster: What is the share of the protits for the families of the 28 Nypto workers killed because safety conflicted with protit?
Incidents like Flixborough are only the tip of the iceberg of industrial deaths disease and luYwrecked lives that are part of the workers herace in society. Until recently this has been an
of struppie heavily shadowed by wager. compensation a greater prive than preventson,
The Robens Report in 1972 sought to revise the increasingly unworkable legislation. Needless to say, it viewed the cause of accidents 'apathy", not the conflict between safety and profit.
CONCESSION
In transforming the Robens Report into legislation, the Labour Government made obe major concession to the unions — the safety
repent true intons on cha
positive Contract. Four years October, these regulations will come into fores.
certain a ums themshi to inspcc! work areas and machinery (the miners have had this right since 18870): to time off for health and safery work. such HETERIAL inspecting accidents; to information
and outside advisors; for trade unions to appoint safety reps, who should not lose pay for work done.
However, like all industrial legislation, the regulations Group support the rally and will be there.
extracts from that letter.
In a popular and imaginative
way, Women's Volce in its nev
magazine format has
feminist debate and activity to
women in the workplace and
the community WTIO
directly active in the women's
Eberation movement.
This contribution is to De
welcomed And it needs to he
developed by the revolutionary
left and the women's move
ment.
Important decisions
ahead about the direction of
Women's Voice. A guiding
principle for any decisions mist
he a firm commitment to an
autonomious wonico's libera-
Lion But
Women's Voice is to heip build
such a movement, it needs to
Run its relabonship to tbe
Socialis Workers' Party, and
movement.
Of course no one could be
against the SWP having its
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE & June 1978 page é
legislation on health and safety at work can be determined from the fact that it has just refused to make any financial allocation for setting up safety committees for the workers in the National Health
In industry, employers are busily attempting to make the law as ineffectual as possible. The British Society for Social Responsibility in Science describes here the pitfalls that workers need to avoid.
and those of the ruling class Thus the
if bertem nazaros are avoured
the be negotiated capitalist
averand WILD sight for management.
problem. For
*How could characer of method of
newly clected Parliament, appliances cleanliness and health?'
Social later This Karl Marx, Capital.
Peavide
through the BLOUSES and
"progressive" realise what is happening.
"Women's Voice'
LAST WEEK in 'Socialist Challenge' we pointed out that "Women's Voice" is holding a raily in Sheffield this weekend. Women from the International Marxist
They have written an 'Open Letter' addressed to
women at the rally, outlining what they see as the most
productive future for 'Women's Voice', We publish
magazine. Indeed,
taken Woman. But such journal can't what it isn't
POTENTIAL Women's Voice was the potential to become part of that movement, and therefore more lie than simply the journal of one
The magazine is committed TO B TETO Borance struggles working
if -and many activists in the
witl the nood to take ieminist politics beyond their present audience.
And Women's Voice provides no important means to do
this porential by constructing
views its
co-opted ignore the basic confict between the interests and aspirations of workers
regulations can electively usco oy union mustants Lo improve working conditions, but only
A fundamental tactic must be to prevent health and safety being split off from the shop-stewards organison — health and safty will have to
and tought somewhere along the line. Lack of communication between satery reps and the stewards could also lead to splits on the shop floor — a welcome
There are ways to overcome this
instance, al David Loewy Lid. in Sheffield, all steward are concerned with safety. Health and
the essential the capitalist production be better shown than by the need for forcing upon it by Acts of
the simpiest for maintaining
safety ure discussed at the joint shop
somittee and iccotiated grievance
Another potential hazard is the
Many manage ments are setting up committees and spewing out safety agroements before
October, hoping to get everything signed and sealed before the unions
the
party
-a journal of a
sectarian, party barriers ro the participation of all women who see the occo to unite to achieve this alim.
Many tulk about Warmen's Volice as ifit is an alternative to the women's liberation move-
The activities and debates of class the WLM have had a real historical impact, They can 1 be dismissed VELOUS. those *middle
"privileged.
The movement has sparked off imporrant campaiens and EISUESSINRS that just that. What a pily to wast + thousands
confidence to stand up against
Most of the committees are for consultation and like all such 'consultative' committees, cisions are taken and workers are
RECEPTIN decisions. Safety reps do not have to parlicipate managementinstituted safety committee.
hazard often engineered by management is the safely agreement. If the union decides it wants an agreement, i should contain as a minimum the rights given in legislation. However, in sonse cases agreements have already been signed
anion management, which fail to give even the rights specified in the regulations.
EFFECTIVE
To be an efTeclive 100 Ir encouraging workers to start taking mus mAn 101011003 ments, an agreement should extend the powers of the reps, and allow them to move around the whole plant; lay down the structure and tunction of any safety committee and include provisions for monitoring procedures and safety standards.
Some CHUCTEAS unions have obtained the right. medical
inspection em the emper pente
themselves, COUTSe aprocients are insufficient. action may be needed to stop a process or han substances. dockworkers refused to handle bluc asbestos long before the hazards were officially admitted.
In the long run, the only effective safeguard for the health of the workforce is its total control over the production procedure CRUCIAL
Two crucial rights. - the right lo information and the right to advice will be pretty useless to many safety reps; they will not have access to them became of the technical probiem Involved.
Safety is no different from other
union matters. Just becanse science
is involved, this does nut mean that
management advice and information
" 'objectively correct:
For example, the thresbold limit value - the supposedly safe exposure period to chemicals for a 40 hour
working week — for vinyl chloride has come down to a fiftieth of its
SITATeRY,
hecoming polarised
part of this process.
ignored just
involved are
class"
the Top have given Sheffield worben the
policy Direct previous value in the last ten years.
Workers need their own sources.
To a Timited extent provide it. BSSRS Work Hazard Groups and related union committees are, however, very willing to provide both information and stewards technical issues HIT SHIERE
liberation. others
firmly to the movement sekism, strengths
their oppression. It is loday beginning to explore its own
notice in aut open-minded and critical way. 10 the
Of course differences exist.
fact, the movement is
between need revolutionary/radical feminists and socialist feminists, 11'8 VitaL that revolutionary socialists are movement
Women's Yoice Raily
Saturday, 10 June thia
11.30am to 5.30pm at
Rank Suite, a role in
"It's MY machine, MY factory
MY workforce, MY product,
MY profit, and YoUR fautt."
some utions Vibration,
advice to and safely reps on many London W1.
This can help develop the
socialis direction, and furtbermore will unty strengthen our own ideas and practice as revolutionaries
Of course, to be effective in
struggle for women's we must side with fighting against this rotten capitalist systent. Wecan only do chis if we are Linked
working class
bur relying on confronting its it the
SIGNIFICANT
And above all, it's the power and fightine will of warking class women that we must wint
feminist struggle.
Already significunt sections of the women's movement see this
Women's Voice can't afford to posture as an alternative to a
such influence and potential, Ir must
working relations with the local groups and campaigns of the movement. in
way hy participating within it, the magazine can play
strengtbening the activities of the WIM.
We think that Wonsen's Voice can play au even more
We produce a regular Hazards
and produced pamphlers on Oil Noise
with Ashestos and Hospital Hazards to follow. We can
BSSRS Work Hazards Group, 9 Poland Stroet, positive role if at adopes policie
which aim to huild a
ment. This inwilves
* Unity with other Temuses and socialiststo build the WEM sod its campaigns.
*Contributing to build a strong socialist current in the movement.
* Ioining with activists in
unions organise campeigns and debate around feminist issues. This entails building existing brond based warca's groups, campaigning bodies, and women's cancuses willin the unions
*Establishing agen, demo-
cratic structures for deciding
the policy of Weren's Voice
These should be open to all supporters of the magazine
whatever cheir political affilia tions. This nicans the journa must be organisationally independent from the SWP. Of course, TECH OCES alongside any other political tendencies supportane suca a
magazine should have fall democratit rights to argue for thesr policies.
The rally is a good beginning. Let's make sure we use it:
Page 9 scan of this page
Interview with Chilean hunger strikers It's the brutality that moves women to mobilise'
hunger strike. Along with 800 others
seen again.
DIANA BEAUSIRE,
Socialist Challenge.
a woman under the Chilean dictatorship.
Why is the hunger strike taking place and how is it being organised internationally?
NETRAC TO TOUr DIALE in Santiago on 27 May with 77 people mainly women. By 28 May the number of'strikes had grown to 10 with 127 people, including five nuns and two priests.
This is a demonstration of the
feeling against the dictatorship, Many trade
organisations, unem ployed mutual aid societies, and community and student DEBISSION EVC SHOVELICI solidarity with the strikers.
have published a declaration supporting hunger strike which says that 'if there is not a definitive answer soon, we will move to more active forms ol support."
This support has been shown
solidarity demonstrations
the taking *bere some 120 people have been arrested
Internationally series similar actions have begun
continents with relatives of political prisoners who have disappeared and also people from those countries.
These are: Canada, Austria,
Sweden, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Costa Rica, Argentina, Venezuela, United States. Norway, Panama, Australia, Ireland and England - 260 people in all:
They are asking the Chilean autborities to comply with their promise to give concerning the fate whereabouts of their missing TE LITES Despite releases of prisoners, Goverument has continued to avoid giving a final answer regarding the plight of more than 2,500 persons detained and "disappeared" since military coup of September 1973.
The hunger strikers are also denouncing the fact that amnesty DE LY ADHE benefitted government security agents,
What is happening In Britain and what sort of support have you got?
CARIARD indefinite strike in London (St Aloysius Catholic Church) and various strikes Oxford,
Bristol, Sheffield, NONCISC.
Aberdeen, Cambridee, burgh, Swanse and Exeter.
These strikes have supported by bodies
A minest International,
Chile Consmittee for Human Rights, and the Chile Solidaricy Campaign. The Catholic Church has shown its support for the strike thrugh the visit of Cardinal Hume.
There have been telegrams of
miners, NALGO
INTERNATIONAL
IN A small room at the back of a North London | popular dining rooms, Christchurch six Chileans are entering their third week of
- 250 in Chile and 70 in Britain - they are demanding to know the whereabouts of relatives who have "disappeared': snatched away by the dictatorship's police and never
Two of the strikers, GRETE ENRIQUEZ and
were interviewed by members of the Latin American Women's Group for
They talk about why they are on hunger strike, the new wave of resistance in Chile, and what it'slike to be
Liverpool, NUT) and various DESTINEOLS.
NUS and colleges. We lave also received solidarity various figures in the English BIBLE HUBES
and economic situation
Pinochet has made a number of deciarations and there been publicity measure under pressure from the US and international solidarity: supposed end of the state of i terpeplaced trich state of manety three me thin amnesty decree in which particularly members of the secret police, at and of premier to jais or in secret places; the inclusion of civilians in the tepresenting Chilean monopoly economic interests.
Despite all this, the situation for the people as a whole has of not changed. The high level of unemployment (20 per the average, and 60 per cent in the manual sectors), malnutrition, the total sosence of the most basic human rights (to life, work. to DITOTS association eic) are normal condition of life and repression is unavoidable as a Torm of government to crush the legitimate opposition to the
This situation didn't come abour by chance or reply had intentions on the part of and those who formulate ecanomic policy, but calculated plan to transform the Chile into oriented export raw agricultural produce and so on This means doing away with the national industry oriented to the internal TESTED. implies uneat plostent hunger. the As a corollary the level of consumption of the majority of population has reduced to incredible proportions, lower than subsistence For example: a PEM worker earns about 230 a month, with a cost of living similar to bere Slowly the people reorganised. In its clandestine political organisations. In the DOOLIST resistance, Resistance Committees factory committees.
Edut- In the limited but useful legal space allowed to the unions and been federations - leaflets, letters. like pressure on the dictatorship to the restore trade union rights and raise the level of income and solve unemployment.
In the creation of semi-legal bodies like the association cl Relatives of Political Prisoners, the Association of ex-Political Prisoners, the unemployment ALLURE SLICES children's dising rooms,
ians" and women's organisations allowed by the junta, like neighbourbood mothers" centres and so on. This year there have been very important mobilisations which have broken circle of the
International Womca's Day,
La political event against the janta, where they chanted in chorus,
which attracted more than 3000 demonstrators, even though it was banned. been prepeded by two weeks of intensive agitation from factories, schools, and neigh-
bourhoods
Could you say a little about the position of today and in the resistance.
Women in confront the imposed on all the people. It is this brutality
the organise themselves.
they themselves suffer unem ployment (worse for women), persecution, jail, torture (made worse by sexual murder and disappearance. favours Left-wing
grated into the resistance in
factor semi-legal cabinet relatives of political prisoners
and disappeared, people's dining rooms and so
political involvement of women the period, have slowly created n
social potential and their
to oppression, Because as women
clear still the
socinlism.
But also have forward immediately elimination of every because of oppression.
women as a social group, that of the indigenous minorities and so on The nood to take up this ideological battle is obvious to monopolistic
made of women materials, Popular Unity
The right used the mass media mouse responded to the role they were Even m captause sacy good housewives, mothers and
responded well been obviously a political weakness
towards women in general, a failure to attack the ideological noots of wonten's oppression. This is what we have to do from nOw oil. have If we can demonstrate that
specific oppression of women is
thc a necessity system it will be possible to and develop a revolutionary con-
sclousness.
Bur we believe that this must
STEERS TO OLIRILIEL social COTOUCIS American people are so terrible that they will not allow this if the feminist
problems of women
What de sou think of setting up a gromp in exile like the Latin the
committees,
repressive dictatorship; the
"Freedom, Froedom'.
This evear had
the
women in Chile
Chile:
which moves
mobilise and
Because
torture),
women are Inte
all -the organisations
Unity GRETE ENRIQUEZ of their specific
goal: good that groups of establishment
to go to the of Including that of
during the Government
who WONI
was CORICHIS
separated from the
movements are
with the asslume here.
American Women's Group? each country
In this context we think it is
Latin And American worsen organise in exile. It allows you to get to koow the political situation in its aspects Cap match between Scotland and Pern in Argentina.
secretary, Ernie Roberts, former ALEW assistant general secretar
avuilable from Socialist Challenge.
and particularly of women. We can learn more, systematise more. very in portantiy allows to publicise the Latin American situation - in both BLAN SOME of the 50 people who picketed the Peravign emhassy last Saturday to demand an end to the state of emergency in Peru and the release of politicul prisoners. The picket was the day of the World
OF particular concern is the fate of peasunt leader Hugo Blanco and 12 others currently heid h Jujur in northern Argentina, where they were deported by the Peruvian Government. The pleket demanded a safe conduet for the 13, und demanded that the British Goverument give them the right of
Latest signutories to an appeal against the repression in Peru include Alan Fisher, NEPE genero andidate, Sed Bidwell MP. Tom Litterick MP and Ron Thomas MP. Copies of the appeal are
context of where we are, as wel as developing consciousness among Latin geberal and Latin America women in particular on th specific situation of women. and now prospective Labou
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 June 1978 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Another Portugal- on the Shah's doorstep!
All (Planning)
Abdul Karim Messag (Finance)
Hassan Shaliee (Information)
Suleiman Laog Radio-TV)
Affairs)
WHAT'S LEFT
Pd. Display t2 on Inch. Desdiine: 2om Satur publication. Payment In
SARNERS STRIKE. Conference to
Iscusa how to win 18. Thuraday 2:
81 T.30Cm, Tanapon nouse, Squme, the Be Hagion The and the are
Camden/alington area. Ring Marge 17847828310891
Sootagned by
NE are NUBS Dotsia CARE, DiO 30 Harold St, Prostwich, Manchester co.:
THE OTHER BOOKSHOP 200012
Clerk to take over
Wages are E40 per woes plus travel
Applicants must be prepare lo wor
her shire or salurcays poste
In Barah, Shells or Alse an
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 Juna 1978 page 10
INTERNATIONAL
political importance.
changes.
For centuries Alghanistan was ruled by monarchs and religious divines. During BritInh rule in India, the Alchan King Amanullah, who resisted British political and military incursions, was replaced by the Yusufzai dynasty, This famil ruled Alghanistan till the 11 April upheava:.
ruling monarch 112 SE Zahir Shah was removed from
1973 by brother-in-law Sardar Dand.
pledged reforms. He stated that the preceding regime had been a corrupt and effete government, with pseudo democracy based on personal and class interests which Aigbanistan.to the edge of the abyss.'
ONE-PERSON
Daud promised to convoke an elected Loi Jirga (Grand
National Assembly) nothing happened. The Jirga was the same old combination of divines and feudal notables
of governors).
Daud imposed a one-person rule and ruled, In everything but name, like a monarch. He
Then in carly April this year a popular trade union leader was assassinated. His provoked a wave of angry Abdul Hakim Sharase (Justice)
daughter wish so buy into, or shame
BROADSIDE Mobile Workers Theatre
commitment. Write Phone 01-450 8902101-730 0396.
ICENES FROM SOWETO, a Day B
in am rom Thes 13 Jung ten! TrOM CHAR IS LEE BUSE and unemployer, WUOLESEAOUGH Communim Groun Hual moon
THE upheaval in Afghanistan is an event of enormous
it could have repercussions in Pakistan and Iran and destabilise South Asian polities. TARIO ALI discusses the recent
protest demonstrations and meetings, in open defiance of Daud's ban assembiles, The funeral procession turned into the largest anti-government demo seen in Afghanistan since the 60s,
PURGE Daud ordered his arrests and was preparing a bloody purge of all lettists in democratic the countryThe response was sharp and well-prepared. The tank
force overthrew regime. had taken The scenes which followed were reminiscent of Portugal iD 1974. without inhibitions •were garlanded with flowers.
Radio Kabul announced thar this was not military coup, but a 'rational democratic revolution A revolutionary Council was created civilians and officers. provincial Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Council is Noot Mohammed
Minister is Babrak Karmal
of two different factions of the People's Democratic Party (the public factions murder CHECILEE SLE April incidenta saw a reunifiHands off Tulund. Toes 13 June, 7pm.
Poly.
Univerally
Socialist Challenge
Designer
i arded immediatey so work full-time on Candenge and to do additional design work for FI
drable, but brainiag will be give
saditoes will be given on applicatin wid tall caricatom vice lo the Manager, FI Litho
LM., 338/9 Lipper Street, Loadon N1. [Positive discrimina-
CRESLIE serious
Revolutionary all political
are the examples.
large-scale through
mark
the Daud ture AL
The masses celebrated
Soldiers
TEALITICH
abolition relationships three
EQUALITY
Taral, Vice chairperson and deputy Prime that it will ensure equality of The significance lies in the
were called nomads issue Khala). The revolutionary positions.
Members of the Afghan Revolutionary Council Danish (mines and Industries)
35g, or 11p J.Wiaon, SC London Ni 2XP.
Adam and
INTERNATIONAL ance Confernes, +7HB
The PDP is a political party for which contains all Afghanistan's pro-Moscow Commun Muslim
well as a laver of independent intellectuals.
Every member of the new
1s a member of the PDP. This is different from other countnes SHEL where Communists have parti-
Sytia, Iraq, Indonesin, Bangla-
obvious being
The programme of the new regime is democratic. It calls for the end of landed estates
sweeping reform, and the abolition of IRAN feudal and pre-feudal relations
I implemented this would
La radica shift Afghanistan's agrarian struc-
the MASTERI the landowners (comprising 2 per Kahul cent of the population) have understood more land than owned by 81 per
40 thousand fabilies own 73 per cent of the cultivable land.
1.5 million peasant households are landless. Any real change would unleash new struggles and pose the question of a total
existing
I LOWE
The new programme states rights of women with men in all
ocial, economic, political and cultural and civil aspects, This coupled with the promise of u
"democratic solution of the
reflecly 108l result SURIETE Maj.
Hafizullah Amin (Foreign| Wataniar
Bramsgrove Stal Birmingham
FIGHT RACISM' badges and T-shirl
La each plus 7p pap. or tip or motH
Shite C2 wich plus 15p pap. Frem
Badges, FO BoN 50
ROCK MOANST RATTA CHINE 1U
Ama.
chant and Calls, Landon
The decrees on equal rights
would make Afghanistan the most advanced
striking neighbour, Pakisan its barbaric
The events in Alghanistan have created consternation in acighbouring Pakistan
The Pakistani dictator Zia is worried about the impact it will have within the ariny Furthermore in the event of former Prime Minister Bhutto
hung, LINCHEL Instability could further com plicate matters.
For the Iranian burcher, matiers are even worse. The
Afghan regime become a rallying point for
dissidents, Radio can beatu 10 Iran. The language in both COUNTES similar and radical measures jp Afghanistan Will their impact in Iran.
it is reported that the Shah considered a military interven-
Kabul, but was overruled by his superiors in the US State Department. The saw more clearly than their short-sighted client that military intervention might well be the final blow to bring the
Socialists musi follow the eveats in Afghanistan carefully in the coming months. if the
measures it has promised, class
struggies will intensify in the medieval, tribalist state.
could well prove yel originality of the hiscocical process.
Mohammad Aslam (ET.SO.
upar. 45 Falkland Road, London
w-rascist groupe in South shoul
netratien for 24 June and - an As an rock
Pan in flare 10 Plasher Park in taal
TO COMMUNIST UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - July 15-23 Pulytechnic of Central London
Wide range of specialist anu general courses, including British Labour Movement
well as Cily Politics, Popular Music, Sex and Class one-day Symposium on the Futore of Past-School LIDLEEINE Education
Further details from The Organiser, CUL 10, 16 King Si, London WOZE BHY.
Noor Mohammad Taraki (Prime Minister)
Babrak Karmal (Deputy Prime Minister)
Dr Saleh Mohammad Zelri (Agriculture)
Shah Col. Abdul Cadir (Defense
Out nest week!
'Students Unions L'ader
Attack'
An SSA pamphlet
Socialist Student Allance National Cours Friday, 16 June, 2pat
For venue and orders for pamphlet ring Nick Mullen 01-882 3950
Colin Talbot 01-359 8271
Student Polities Specia
Page 11 scan of this page
The Cold War gets hotter
The crisis of the 1960s
900
time as
an African intervention force.
blessing of all the Western Governments.
that past year.
Al one level the Western military build-up in Atrica tellecte a chamee within the US Adminstration The "Africanit tend championed by Uh Ambassador Andrew Young has been overridden br "global strategists', Ted national security adviser Zbigniew Braezinski.
Broadly. the difference 15 between those who favour the minimum intervention and the maximum reliance on beo-col onial governments, and those who argue that African affairs must be in terms of *Elobal East-West relations.
For all its fine academicsounding phrases, the Brezin ski position has little to do with relations with the Soviet Un-
The red Scare 158
for policy meressed segression and it has been carefully prepared
Africa by the European
ALEXANDER.
The horrors of the arbitrary rule of the Belgian CROWE provoked indignation around
Congo was transformed into a
Possession Belgian state, rather than of ib king.
This was not just a reaction however, but coincided with international DELSUC changing cconomic interests in Africa. Belgian capital was now primarily concerned with the
of the immense mineral wealth of the Congoin particular, iron, tin, and copper.
PARTNERS
In 1906 the famous company
LITOR THICKE
JO ERE TOR SOUR CISE COMICID the Congo, and a new era of colonialism had begun.
Union Miniere was only hall Belgian — the orber partner was the British Tanganyika Concessions Company
The new type of exploitation of Congolese resources and labour could not be carried out by the old get-rich-quick methods of the Belgian crown. It needed expensive economic back-ups: mines, railways, port facilities; a stable labour force was necococo run tocol, anu an administration capable ensuring the safety of the capital,
But the supposed "henefits' brought by this new imperlalisor were both superficial and carefully restricted. The harshest forms of exploitation of the native population were cased.
CCODOmiC conditions
INTERNATIONAL
Imperialists out of Africa
Moroccan troops arrived in Zaire's Shaba province in US planes last Monday - just about the
representatives of rive Governments met in Paris to discuss the formation of
When the Moroceans were sent to Shaba last year they were part of a French-backed expedition which even the other imperialist powers regarded as a little too adventurous. This time they are there with the
RICHARD CARVER looks at the changes over
human rights campaign.
There is cvidence of Cubar ment in Staba and if there had have been a bit more wary But uppermost in the imperTalist. important consideration: how to crush the liberaton move. ments of southern Africa,
STRATEGY Recent determined by a cautious des crampie, instead of holding out continued white rule in Zimbabwe they have concerned to stabilise capitalist power useful black neb-colonial ment.
This micans involving the by broadest range of nationalist Jimmy Carter's highly selective organisations, which is why the
History of the Congo
LAST week we revealed the sort of brutal regime in parties (banned by the colonia what is today Zaire after the 19th century partition of
powers, wriles
place, but only hy virtue of the Congolese people becoming the wage slaves of the great trusts. on me pai Le Terre: he Conded et continued much 15 LEILIE. a people without rights in their UNILISHE
SERVILE Only a tiny black elite was allowed stare minimally the benefits imperialist Incy could do only by a servile
acceptance of imperialist and racist ideas, implanted by the mission schools and other Institutions.
To be accepted even in a token way in Europcan circles a "native had to bold a special card certifying that they had broken with their way of life and European scandards This was only granted after a lengtity, and often humiliating. public inquiry. In the decade betore independence only 30 Congolese 1 beld this precious
RESTLESS Little wonder, when the tide of Freedom began to sweep across Africa in the 1300 CaCorse poopi of should have become restless Following the examples of Western Africa, they decidedto
hefore a radical Jineration struggle develoned They counted on the absence and some improvement io of political traditions and the
COOK lack of established political
NATO
а асгар of 1162
invoive
Plan Smith's internal settle ment'
But pro-Western settlements in Zimbabwe and Nimibia and the maintenance
been and Mozambique in the capit-
alist orbit are premised upon continued white rule in South a solid buffer in the centre of THE SABLES UNDO I
been
Mobutu's Zaire is so importhrough
Britain and countries with the largest econ omic Interests Africa, faithfully followed this path until regime) preventing the emer
ROY
imperialist domination But just to make sure thes
wheel. They rejected nationalist calls for the establishment of a provisional ensure a smooth passage from the colonial to an independent administration, Instead the colonial administration was simply allowed to collapse. LYY DEL Governent took
even found itself at the bead of a
country falline to picoes and that
LUMUMBA The elections went much as the Belgians expected, with the lurgest party, the Congolese National Movement of Patrice, Lumumha, winning little nor lan a quaer or 100 13 Parliamentary seats. traditional However Lumumba was able accepted to assemble a workable -
shaky number of other movements that opposed tribalist politics and farpured a strong, LEO ON WAKED BULLU the Belgians, who becanse the Fervent balisın. Ar the first sign of DOUR ETIC SCHEMI then, thar Belgian troops,
Meanwhile, Union Miniere
very supporting the separatist group
headed by Moise Tshombe "Tribalist'
Congolese tribe of allowerfut
BILIN
members of the Belgian stock national exchange.
In the deliberately provoked bloody conflict which tollowed, the Lumumba Government was overturned
FRENCH President Giscard d'Estaing (centre right] flankod by
Imperialists are unhappy about | prove unworkable.
of Angola
why
the US, the Bresain in southern
it threatened lo could stand up to
Government
the new office EUROPEANS ob
crument. coalition with
localist and
ndependent Congo
of tri- -L.oneolese masses Same people
causing
politics now ess Jonist forces
tries
British and
THINE
Lesser powers, like France many and West Germany, have tried to cash in through a more adventurous military policy, in an attempt to mark out chunks of Alrica, such as the Sahara, as their own back garden.
This has led to sharp rivalry between the two strategies and the powers who back them.
But imperialism is nothing if
ing the common threat they are
alone is a little recalcitrant. Callaghan is not sold on the intervention force, but less out of concern for the defeat on that scale. As always Lumunba bunsclf Riled. With lim died the possibility of a unified and democratic 209
than useless.
Ache uting of the ranited
Nations military and political
organised Buf all that could have saved the Congo was a revolutionary mobilisation of the turbulent
in the UN operation — UN officials and representatives of the more radical third world countries like Ghana — genuinely sought a strong, democratic Government and advocated a real fight against the Katangese seces
But imperialis diplomacy in
mixed up will tie contradictions in these coun
Commander of the Ghanaian contingent in the Congo was a
Gencral, and his
African masses than fear that | the British Labour Govern-
neo-colonial African states may react badly.
The Americans too are distinctly edgy. They have still not fully recovered from Vietnam adventure could provoke wide. spread opposition at bome and ultimately a serious defeat.
But their options are closing.
In the Angolan civil war, with Vietnam only yesterday, they were obliged to rely on a South African and Zairean invasion and exensive CIA activity:
And still they lost They cannot afford another
later overthrow President Nkrumab in a coup), made the UN's activity worse
The chaotic situation was *strong man" took charge of thie to all the politicians wrangling
SOWETO COMMEMORATION MARCH
Friday, 16 July, 5.30
Malet Street, London WC1
March to rally at Central Hall, Westminster
Called by African Students' Union
Backed by Anti Apartheid Movement
ment can be made to see reason and will doubtless fall into line behind US policy
careful post-Vietnam strategy may be completely overhauled. Even the mass acres which made yesterday's headlines have been quielly forgotten as the serious busi ness of "pacitying" the region pets underway.
it a a dangerous turn ol events which must be resisted at all costs. "Imperialist hands off Zaire! Picket Freech Embassy,
Joseph Mobsts.
Basing himself on arbitrary and capricious personal power
he won the confidence of the
imperialists, who once again
became advocates of
centralised Congo state, as they aretoday SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 JuDe 1978 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Exclusive! Soviet opposition document
Never to be forgotten'
Defend
Soviet
trade
unionists
Soviet workers — that is the message of recently formed Eastern Europe Solidarity Campaign to the British trade union and labour movement.
The EESC is calling for labour movement protests against the attempt by the Soviet government to sappress a group of some 200 workers and employees who formed a Trade Union Association defend workers rights in the USSR last February.
A number of members of the Trade Union Association have been arrested and thrown into
rison or psychiatric hospitat
he EESC briefing leaflet o the issue gives the names of those known lo have been EESC Vladimi Derer explained to Challenge that the cadership seems reluctant le olest al the crushin Trade Union Association. The EESC is hoping for resolutions from Labour Party and trad union brasches to the NEC and union executives to force then To Take up I Trade U
sation.
The document we publish on
Bahro:
THE SECRET trial of East Germany's Bost • НАШЕНИЯ political prisoner is dee to take Baine has been minute. Rudoll
Imprisoned because he has written a bool (astle ever of the
ureaucratic regimes in Fastern Europe.
Reports circmisting in West Germany Indicate that the Bast German authorities perate to organise a guick trial
n secret to 'setile the issue.
The option of keeping Bahro in jall permaneolly. has considered, bat rejected. What isnow being planned is Babre's deportation to West Germany in the near future.
The Berlin Wall - that monument bureaucratie repression was bailt to step BAHRO APPEAL
OPEN LETTER TO HONECKER.
NAME
Address.
Position..
Signature.
Please retum to:
Street, London N1.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE @ June 197B page 12.
INTERNATIONAL
DEFEND the rights of | this page reveals the repression
that Soviet workers Tace when they try to defend their interests the through strikes or other forms
of mass action.
Published in English for the first time, It tells of the savage response of the bureaucracy fo me mess sinise in Novocher kassie 16 years i ugo this The Soviet Trade Association has appealled to trade unionists in the West for support. Their appeal has been COTICE HE SON BEEH of Labour Focus on Eastern Europe, which also contains an with the socialist Vadim Belolserkovsky on the real role of the official 'Trade Unions" in the USSR. The Soviet Trade Associution is a small body quite walike • normal trade union in the West. Bet this is a result of the massive repression that exists today in the USSR. Western soclalist labour movement protests are TUC enough
ereaucracy may be forced to Trade Association to fuection and demands of Soviet worken. [Copies the
obtained from: EESC, Vladimir Derer, 10 Park Drive, London NW11 7SH.]
imprisonment
or deportation?
worker leaving the workers' paradise'
Bat dissidents Uke the exiled singer Wolf Biermann Rudolf Babro do not wish to leave East Germany, They want to fight for their political views Inside the country.
It is people like them that the buresmersis cannot tolerate. So they deprive them cielzenship and expel them
des Socialist Challenge has beer
In the forefront of building the Bahro Delence in this coontry. We shall continue to do so till been
For the other.
We would ange readers to ade their signature to our Letter to Honecker' and Join campnige for Bahre's unconditional release.
agree that my name should be appended to the Bahro Defence c/o Socialist Challenge, 328 Upper
Unior
Russian
Union
and
ON 3 May Union published an
Shooting in Liberty Square". and
policeiten suddenly appeared
and died on the road. c/0 happened 91
Chicago in ibe happened on 1 May .. Soldiers rushed into Liberty They
Struck down by volleys, people Tell and died on the roud. Thi happened the yesterday in San Salvador, one of America's estates — the state of El Salvador. This happened on 1 May.
CLOSER Now let us tear ourselves away from this Pravds article, and and focus on a city which is
much closer to us.
Through the Novocherkass Mowed a large peaceful Above the columns of people there were red flags, portraits of their of Lenin and banners with
peaceful slogans.
Outwardly it looked like a 1May demonstration. But it was not. It was a popular protest. The way ocrore, me sovie government had doubled the prices ol meat products. At the same time at the largest factory of the city *Open (the electric Incomotive
struction plant) tbe prices of the products were lowered by 30 per cent.(1)
STRIKE The workers tolerate this called, and they came out into the streets with their familics. When the reached the central city square Their path infantry and tanks. There was a prolanged period of uncer tainty:
Then the rattled demonstrators: mea and men. Struck down by the explosive bollets, people fell and died on the road
1977 Pravda
entitled
200
They DETENCE volleys people fell
This
years ago. in MASSACRE
USA, This
and policemen
members Square, shoot
the partici
peasanls.
Mikoyan.
dily before
regional CPSU. this task. brilliantly But when
caused by the fact
streets of
demoustration. non-Russian
TRIALS
dairy
coDarrived cartridest his
could not
A strike was
save bullets.
demonstrators Soviet newspaper
singie was blocked by
machine guns UULSEE directed at the
CHHOTESE
- at the
feet of the Lenin monument h arrests square and in the adjacent _ names.
This happened 15 years ngo on 2 June 1962 in a country
The crushing of this workers'
directed of the Central Committee of the CPSU Jed by men two members of the Politburo
Frol Kozlovy and Anastas women
The direct leadership of the
was General Pliev, commander of district and Basovy, the First
Rostor committee of the been And they performed •problem occurred on the square about
that the soldiers from the local garrison refused to shoot at the unarmed them (2). people — General Pliey quickiy exchangod them for soldiers
THE STAY from other parts of the district. And these carried out the lask,
were
After they performed this exchanged for other soldiers. Why look at unarmed peacefui people who have been killed and maimed by your hand?
Since the new forces who
were not given with explosive allowed nuthorities so claim tater tbat the murders on the streets of the city had been carried out by enemy agents, since the Sovie Army itself did not have guns containing cartridges of explo
Neither Pravda nor any other
ward about Riunce; authorities sook measures in
the tion front hecoming known
and extingulab any local rumours.
Novocherkass was surrounded by the anny, No-one was allowed in or out of the city. Indiscriminate searches and
carried out, according to a secret list of
The bodies of the dead and wounded were isken away. To
The families of the dead and wounded were moved to distant towns.
A series of trials took place. Two of them were. *орел (entrance gained ouly by a past). At one of the trials nine
Were charged sentenced lo deatb) and tRo
(given 15 years itiprisonment cach).
CORPSES
People were so terrorised and intimidated, that if it had not
for SOCTATALEILL. courageous work of Alexander Solchenitsyn, who sought out and accumulated intormation
the Novocherkassk events, the world even today would not have known about
The exact number of people who died is still unknown. But 30-80 corpses had remained on the square itself. I continues to be a secret as to how many died,
killed after being wounded and bow many were executed aller a trial.
These deaths most not be
Intercontinental Press
*THE Imperialist Offensive in Africu" is the sabjeci of u mujor feature by Ernest Harsch in the Indest Issue of Intercontinental Press/Inprosor-
No.22] workers upsurge in Peru and
deportation of Hugo the debate ster 'Leninism' In the Spanish CP.
prospects for a political shake-up in the next elections in Muuritius, and the disastroes performance of the Taliun CP in the recent local elections.
particular interest to British readers will be an article on "How to Defeat the Nazi
| forgotten, nor forgiven: We appent that 3 June le
mary of these
against the bloody terror of the authorities,
Dare: May 1977Place: Moscow
Signatures: Bukhmin. Ventslova. Z.Grigurenko. Grigorenko. K. Garuskas: Lavut. Landa, Lukeuskalle.
Sakhurov.
Slepuk V.
Finkebtein. T. Khodorovich.
Members of the Moscow, Ukrainian and Lithuanian Helsinki Monitoring Groups. Trunslution by Helen Jamieson.
Huikers are paid scoording to th
Valume 3 Solzheriteyn, Gulag Archipolago,
combined with Inprecor
Threat in the 1S, cullining the campaign against the proposed Nazi: murch through Chicago suhurb of Skokie on 25 June. Single copies are 3Opplus 10p p&p, why take sivuntage of the subscription rates: 19 for on year 148 Issues]. months 124 issues), ur £2.50 fos at letroductory offer of 1 Issues.
Write now to Intercontinental Press/Inprecor. PO Rox St, London NIZXP, All cheques/ POs should be made aul to Intercontinental Press.
Page 13 scan of this page
SURPLUS VALUE
JODTER WILLEM UN & book Decoding
Advertisements, is the first full-length accoont of
advertising from a Marxist point of view, writes Chris
Hale.
Advertising intervenes in the circulation of commodities
one of its effects is that people bay more goods and
As well as this, advertisements are themselves
enough to say this, because advertising also produces
ideological value. With television speaking almost
continually in the home during our leisure time, our
experience of advertising is constant in everyduy life.
And this massive and powerful onslaught not only
creates needs that the manufacturers of commodities can THIS advert for a Triamph car shows DELINESS CPUSY COC Was In which commodities are attributed with value in all advertisements.
In the big plotograph, the car is initinly set up as something desirable but out of reach. The angle and caposton Teintorce le Coolion "It looks like you can't afford it'because so much of the car is glossily visible, and because the effect of the rocky, yet unrealistic terrain in which
car placed (with the foreshortened horizon) is to remove the car from a real viewpoint,
The caption Is ex sanded on - it "looks" and feels" like a E10,000 car
WHAT'S IN
AN ADVERT
relations between things
cach of them for Socialist Challenge.
capitalist society advertising" obscuring them.
understand how they work,
it looks like you can't afford it.
but the punchline (where reverse bur 'view" of the car in both *It costs 13.146'. In the photograph. we are both looking down ou the car and up at the horizon. This is sitilar to a Peugoe advertisement where the caption is: "Way up in style, way down in costs'.
In other words, the car somebow has a value which Is DelineE 105 158 value nor is price: between this 13.146 price and its £10,000 "feel" and "look it has miraculously gained
with a social currency which is still SECULI and exchangeability.
exploit and profit from — it reinforces the ideological cement of a society where social relations appear as
JUDITH WILLIAMSON has selected the thre examples on this page, and written a brief analysis o
- there can he no such thing as 'socialis - reinforcing class relations precisely b
For this reason, it is central to a political practice to
This Image is buyahle along with the car and clearly doesn't exist on a economic value: but what it can do is indiants coonomic position. The effect in this case is actually to reinforce the image of wealth while cutting costs.
I can do tas because dexone the real price having been revealed the image still has a primacy over the written part of the ad, making the "looked-up-to" £10,000 image seer matural: we can see how it looks, It is because the produce secols to contain the quality of not being affordable that you can 'buy the unbuyable"
exchange.
A struchute bE resi events is referred to. starting with 'Tacts'
broduct can be inserted
higory of the South, black oppression, and black music
material content in theratos lenied, co conta' history, with its image of "the South'
She must be worth a mint.
Britain's finvarise crumne de cuentlo
'worth a mint',
the certainty thai she must he worth a mist (a drink).
you can't.
MISE YUBE DUE CRYONE
Progress" at £7.95 hardback and 13.95 paperbuck.
THE SOUTHERN COMFORT series, which is discussed at greater length in Decoding Advertisements, shows how a product can appear to occupy a false place in history. just as the car took on a false place in ters ol economic
In both cases the produce appropriates meaning from something real (coonomic/historical) in a way which functions to misrepresent that reality.
*When prohibition hit Southern Comfort, New Orleans discovered the Blues
- In 1920 the US Government..." elc. But these simply form ashell of authenticity into which the
While we are not seriously supposed to believe that the Blues originated from a lack of Southern Comfort, for the ad to work even as a joke history must b reduced to an aura of 'History', an Image that has nothing to do with the rea
The product apparently becomes the content of a system whose actual
and at the same time the product appears IN THIS FREEZOMINT advert, with the pun "She must be worth a mint', the explicit. Apparently it is the product that shows what the woman is worth. What gives value to the product, bowever, is the joke" side of the caption
If she is worth a mint (of money) she is also worth a mint (Freezomint): this creutes a circuit where a monetary exchange value is given to the women who then pusses it to the prodact. The mint of moncy" meaning is made secure by
So the pun, appurently shout the womas, works back to the product which must then be 'worth a mint" although its own availubility is what caares she is worth a mint, and so on. This is similar to the car you can afford that looks like
What is ditferent here is that a woman's image is used, purely as un intermediate carrier of value. As history and class are denied reality when they are used as images, so this perpetmates the idea of women as merely symbols of
Decoding Advertisements is published in the Calder and Boyurs series * Ideas in
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 June 1978 pa
Page 14 scan of this page
COMMENT
Bad
illustration
FM SURE I'm nol alone in finding the ilustration on the leafler for the
published in Socialist Challenge (18 May), extremely unsatisfactory
Under the slogans "Every child a wanied Child Every mother willing mother", it portrays an "idyllie' scene: children playing happlly in a park, while two adults — both attractive young women → sit conTentedly on a bench, one holding a smiling infant, the other pregnanti occupied with her knitting. Ever the sun has a smiling face,
"A motter's right to choose": so no
lems or tears. The result is an image a long wav removed from realty, and one which manages to reinforce a Mary Whitchouse view of mother bood and childcare.
It is one thing lo present a graphic representation of what we are against - doctors denying an abortion; the tools of the backstroet abortionists. But where Tameside has gone wrong is to treat abortion as if it were something that can be isolated from all that is involved in a woman's ability tochoose most particularly.
childcare.
An illustration of a mother reading a newspaper while the father plays with the child could have a lot of impact under the sogans on leaflet, precisely because it would sceni at first sight to be a contradiction. And why not go the whole way. showing man dropping (happy) child at a mursery woman sits at the wheel of her 10 ton truck on the way la work!
MYRA TREVELYAN (London]
CND
exists!
WAS rather aboyed by Richard Kirkwood's historical article on che Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (Socialist Challenge, 27 April).
Contrary to popular belief, CND LICE not disappear into oblivion with the 1960s In recent ycars, CND membership has grown to over supporters in Tocal and college 4,000 not
groups.
The number of affiliated organisations, such as trade unions and Constituency Labour Parties, is also Browing.
This support is not being wasted. Propaganda activities now include: a petition campaiga against the neutron bomb; moctings with CND speakers Gand films like War Game; local and national demonstrations and days of action, with 1H1053 petitioning, selling of CND's journal Sanity, etc., and work within CND's specialist as CND, Christian CND,
and Liberal CND.
CND is a broad-based organ-
NORTH WEST
offices lor detais CHT-236 2362. GREATER MANCHESTER Socialist
hallenge School students
noved in anti-fascist acsivity
Chria 273 584
Presson 54618.
LIVERPOOL Spote Socialist Chalепдо опір пнета нену ванолиня.
Challenge belween 11.30am and 1pm
bichenson Ad.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 June 1978 page 14
demonstration.
Cormac
isation. But albough a
(who is
biological weapons, cuts in
alliances.
in Sweden and Switzerland.
Windscale demonstration,
WCI.
the Nuclear
while the
TONY WEBB'S articie Power
implications of the alternatives.
politica!
Including in my opinion
what it call analyse partial econumy, thing through.
leads to thosc of Marxist economics. usod the term often.
Icafletting, unnecesary and irrelevant one.
Labour Trade Union
key role movement YORKSHIRE HUDDERSFIELD Soolailet Coall ales regulany saurdays Tam-Ipr n the Pinzan HUDDERSFIELD Sociallet Challe supponers meet nat
station, Bpm NORTH EAST MIDDLESBORGUGH СЛАНКИС мина па аииняY
"peace" organisation, it is not pacilist. It B committed to nocicar disarmamient and the destruction of chemical and
arms state expenditure, and an end to mallitary
CND favours a "positive neutralist" policy based on mass defence as used
CND is concerned about the arms trade; it is also opposed to nucicat be a re processing on the grounds that it
praduction of bomb-grade muterial. For that reasor CND actively supported the recent
I think CND deserves the support of all socialists in political action and
COMETISTI information may be obtained from:
CND, 29 Great James Street, London
STEVEN DAWE (West London)
power and
democracy
Worker'
Socialist Challenge (27 April) see Nuclear that nuclear power is in the (profit) interests of the energy consortium but does not seem to recognise the
What he suggests is that the capital can be invested in a different way to
nat essentially remaining within the precepts of capitalism. His proposals would create more jobs, true cough, but wouldn't only reap a lower rat of profit, but very likely none al all
This is the heart of the matter, and The enviroamental movement does not face this. It uses
"social accounting" aspects of The but il doesor carry the
"Social accounting', applied fally.
conclusions very dose 10 Lenin The Marxist view, of course, is that the entire concept of investing (money) capital ind reaping a monetary profit is an
The lack of a clear anti capitalis perspective has led into a number of blind alleys, Especially important is the movement's fallure to appreciate
worker's bringing about
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
com 081-238 Bucts at Cleveland Centr
Inewsagensi in Linthorge Siren NLWCASTLE SOCIE De Suppons se acuse I o 1032 242 Fem, phone Pere on SCOTLAND Forinformation ascut the paper ur ila Seattana comasl Socialist Chalas
CUCHO ES HINBURGH Sociatal
DONDEE: intermation aoout Socialist Challenge acizaties from M Queen
NOW 1 KNOW) fundamental progressive change. All sorts of curious alliances and tactics have resulted, plus some unexpected confrontations with the
Take the small fand tabour intensive) Workers naturally enough de bot sec beautiful
why the provision of the means for a comfortable life should take up more
necessary:
These counterposed positions could
jaunching point TOT iluminating discussion between environmentalists and the traditional worker's movenient.
The question la how should decisions abour what is to be made, by what methods and by whom, arrived at?
In a socialist society 1 believe this would he done democratically b discusson and negolation belweer groupings of OTUUULLE consumers (everyone being in ar least one of these categorics).
Of course no such system is possible under the present system because the decisions about production are in the cunilaises hands alone.
In the mcantime there ought to be discussion and debare over che issues Socialist Challenge groups could seize the opportunity afforded by th succes of the Windscale demon stration to bald meetings discusions on the subjoct
te would do a lor lo clarity th (conomics of al hopclully form a basts for clear anu principled alliances on environmental questions.
HUGH LOWE (London)
The Nazis
must not
march
BRIAN SMITH et al (Socialest Chai Jenge, 18 May) were quite right to remind you that the Fascists have never helore marched through Fast London without sort apposition.
Lrue. the Carnival walk enormious success, On the other hand, 1,000 fascists marching througlı East
You rocent events Spitalfields as a frustrated reaction by the fascista to the Carnival. On thc other hand the violence could be a celebrarion of their owa success
Anyone who has lived in East
Sociallet Challeoge
Harrischs SOUTH WEST
Challenge
SOUTH EAST COLCHENTE
local actities fran Angleses Rid, Wieneoe
regula ly on baturgays:
LONDON
Landon, or any other ground of racialism, could tell you quite that the latter is the case.
Organisations like the Nationa Front are unfortunately objective than you scem to be theme. them the most important thing is what
they da. To be on top, and appear to be able lo control events, is where they sand or fall.
Their ahility to manipulate and falsify the truth in working class
an ghetioes in Fast
elsewhere, is a springboard for their racialism and ultimately fascist intentions. Ifthey are opposed onthe streets, then evetybody knows; not everyone reads the smail print in the national press.
efforts were made by the Front to have the streets to themselves, certain organisations knew by the Sunday of
and the Carnival at least where the Front
would end their demostration. саллос belp
anti-Fascist struggle is the all dillicullies of organisation, cic., Is the property of those who want 1o control and direct.
To me it is understandable thar local committees who had thrown energes into
and
respond Tollowing a negative response from the big battalions. моне уса чай не норгоссіла сі the Anti Nam League the
anid
up local opposition to fascism. This, whatever the justification, is what they fiailed ta do at the Cantival.
JONN GOLDENBERG (Stepnes)
The road
from King
Street
SURELY THE main point of John Ross's letter (4 May) is that the debate on the Morning Star can only be taken up through a critique of the
of political
the CPGB:
with series proposals which, although they may lead to a more lively and interestins working class daily, leave intact the general of the CT For it is this political line, which the Star operates, which has led te the decline in circulation fand SOUTHAMPTON Socialist Challeng
the pase office 10.45am 1pm. Fartter infarmation o soW, Conden E1T
MIRO SUNCION
COLCHESTER Socialist Challe
meet Aligai
Street TODDUAORD
HARROW Socialial Challenge sup-
OLTE
To London, and
essential,
.To would appear that although
feeling that the
about
in King Street, making the
opposition Revolution, practice and orientation of
organisational
political line and orientation
within
Other Bookclub.
NI 2PX SOUTH WEST LONDON Sociallat
GREENWICH LEWISHAM Sociai
Fricas
Ex 30. Lores y Desin Tom0 NEWHAM Sacialist
Hoe St. Waitnam
Socialian
Sociafial
Chellenge Conteranes and discuestor 0 0 0s Dores ne
LONDON CPSA Socialia Chalisgo
cocers. We are establishing a CPS
upporters group 1b wark in the unic
KANT!* hreeding | Incidentally a fall in CP membership
7,000 rwo-and-a-half years).
Ir is one rhing to refleer and report on the everyday sruggles of the working class; quite another to pive a lead in combating the reformist perspectives within which the vast majority of those struggles take place
Thus while the CP's recent turo towards the Anti Nazi League s a welcome advance, in which direction docs it wish to point the ANL: towards apposition on the streets to the fascises; or towards the 'peacelul road" of community relations type activities and reliance on the state and ies legal institutions?
pose such questions is not sectarian. What is sectarian is to close all avenues of dehate in advance. to refuse to recognise that it was the
demonstrations and activity against the fascista in Ladywood and Lewisham, so stridently denounces by the representatives of tbe CP. which actually laid the basis for an organisation such as the ANL whose praises the CP so loudly sing:
course Chere many diferences within the CP. Bur the debate is a waus subordinared so thi end to the interests of the ruting group
who party apparatus and invoke "part! unity" to rule out the formation or
groupings based political diferences.
The change in image projected Tor the Star is a response to a disastrous situacion crealed in the mam by lik politica orientation of the CPGB
Unles this change is linked to a real Fight by sultants within the CP and in the labour movement against the class colaborarion of the lenderships, and in favour of class struggle apposition to their pobicies, then widening the paper's horizons may well Tend in away trom its working class readers. MALCOLM KITSON (SE London)
THE OTHER BOOKCLUB
La in tasas casar and De Ora
Stop press - just arrived: Ernest Mandel, From Stalinisin lo Eurocommunism. New Left Books, Cover price E2.96 John MacLean, in the Rapids o
Allison and Cover price, E3:50
Filt in the form below, enclose 24.20 and 30p postaga, and rush to:
wish to buy salaction No. 2 and 1 agree to abido by the rules of The
, Sacialial Challseça
WALES CARDIFF st Challenge Forum Srest - bit in Semen's Liberation and Socialism 1180-71 ica: Discusaion MIDLANDS
she Socialis Ghailenge Creta. 35b Digbelt -High Stren 1021: 543 BIRMINGHAM Sochisi
90alST1 U0010 2 0U00 1HIS D
LEICESTER Socialist Chillenge gre
Seais ring
Page 15 scan of this page
Miners who are paid with
Criticism of the constructive kind from paper's supporters
Union of Mineworkers.
Coupled with this is their hatred for those who dare 1o organise applies to the American coal owners of the past, just as el does to the present owners in
The miners and their families have traditionally reacted in common in a manner that has
section of the working
In ilustrating these atitudes, the leature-length documentary film Harlan Cousty USA relates the heroic fight of a Kentucky mining communityan les struggle to leave a company union, join the United Mine: workets of America, and negoriate a new contract with their
The strike, which took place in 1973-74, Involved a challenge by rank and file miners to the gangster-lype union leaderstup
We see the apc-old tactics of the coal-owners, propaganda lie that "the unions ate all controlled by commun
, to the unbridled use of
whom they Knocked about, shot ar killed
"Let's go and play with them a little, says the leader of the thags as they set out in cars armed with guns and sticks to do the bosses" dirty work. To
means beating up and shooting miners.
le in legal for the thugs co carry EUBS, illegal for miners... To call a scab a scab is not nilowed and, according to the film, to do so could mean winding up behind bans.
I wonder if these atitudes have since been challenged and to what effect.
There is much that one could say about this truly magnilicent documentary, directed Barbara Kopple. power to make you feel int one
- to despise the bosses and hate their hire Laughter comes and so do the tears, especially when we
Icar in a very moving scene of the murder on the picket line of a young miner whase death made a widow af bis 16-ycar-
UNDER REVIEW
Harlan County USA
gun-fire
1 HAVE never met anyone who loves a coal-owner. They are a breed the world over who have always had one thing in common — their batred for those whose blood and sweat keep them in luxury, writes JACK COLLINS, an executive member of the National
old wife and an orphan of their 5 month-oid chuld This Bul long before County had reached this point 1 knew not to expect uny justice for the striken. 1 was not 10 be disappointed The was never brought to 0o0k, As one miner said words, i will a company county with company laws.
The leading role played by the women in the mining cont munity and captured so well by the film will, no doubt, remind the British miners of the role wotten have always played in
Ar the end of this particular struşele, many dissatistied. It did not go far coough, We should marched on the machoe guns Insread of marching around the
mented one miner on the settlePersonaly, much anore was needed.
Although everyone involved knew the answer posed in onc of the film's many good mining
system and what'sto be dobe in order to end it.
The film destroys the Ameri can myth of their wonderful and how. dealing with the working class, that freedom is upheld in law and applied by boor, stick, and
It also contrasts as clearly as the a film can the beauty of the workers in unity and the ughiness of the capitalist system.
It reminded me of the words of a young South revolutionary, quoled in Arlery
Who tires The miner and pays him with by Sec tbe film. and you'l
Harlan County USA & showing st the newis-opened Scala cinema. 25 Totenham Street, London W1 (where formerly lived The Other Cinema]. The film & available for hire, Other Cinema Distribution, tel. 01-734 8508.
Harlan
murderer
in 30 many miners were
com 1 thought
THE
The capitalist
when Socialist
African from The
The overull reaction to tbe paper was positive. Even its harshest critics such as Richard Kirkwood and Richard Kupe Tale had been audience, sciousness of advanced work ers, how we should wiite, was continued at the conterence In the allernoon session, the conference brose shops lo discust the different sections of the paper, these workshops members the Editorial Board goc the fiest ever foodback from the paper's most committed supporters. emerged. Conrade outside wanted more regional tieetings with members of the Editorial Board present so that there could be a The exchanges on racism, on sexual politics, on Ireland and an trade union mational coverage sam a whole
CONFERENCE of Socialist
supporters a fortnight ago was a modest but important step Torward. One hundred and fifty delegates from Supporters Groups, IMG branches, the International Socialist Alliance and Big Flame braved the summer sunshine and spent a day in intense discussion.
There were, in additon, two observers present from
Review the theoretical launched by the Socialist Workers" Party.
positive. The the рарет's the level of con
groups.
Jato work Within toe for the paper.
residers and Similar problem from large
ünously regular
its leading and inter-
Challenge rades,
journal recently
Challenge
present penou BLANCO
those
number of new idear beng raised and discussed. For the Editorial Board members it was a refreshing experience, for the criticism was constructive, even at its sharpest, Many comrades felt the need for more reports in he paper on the activities o incialist Chullenge supporser
By far the mos important desclopment was the clection ide to the papel Contene unanimously elected 21 com rades to meet regularly and determine the overali orienta tion of the paper. Resolution: on the future direction of the
majorities, Our Lamamon around Was Ian
apreed to be the political basis of the poper
In addition the ISA Steerin Committee nominated three o
comrades to br represented on the NPC In th 10 places set aside for polirical
tendencies; other ISA
were TOMEILLE represent local sup porter Bi Flame representatives thai an observet's place be kept ALELO LOCI The overall balance sheet of
the conference is theretore a ositive one. The new NPC will be meeting in London on 10 June Is agenda will include
forthcoming Socialist Trades Conferetec in Birmingham on to take the paper's asowed aim
forward in the
What also eierged from the conference was a clear feeling that the crcation of the paper's Supporter's Groups must be prioritised so that the paper a readers can play some part in the campaigns and projects defended in the pages Socialist Challenge.
Conference pased шавImousty two resolutions fron the Editorial Beard beyond
already reported in Socialist Challenge. The first was to send a telegram to the Peruvian Governatent against the state of emergency in that
and apainst the deporation to Argentina 9 Hugo Blance and others
Supporters niso condernec attacks by the state on the lefi and alernative press, includins Republican News, Peace News.
The Leveller, and Gay News. I
sommitted the paper to support comrades listed abou
$ BeLT'& BRAVES
FORDSHOW BANO
V LP TREASONOUS THINKING
avuilable from VIRGIN RECORD SHOPS AND BELT & BRACES 22 VICARS ROAD, LONDON N.W.5 Tel: 01-267 6722
the campaien to get Gay News bock in WH Smith.
Leni Solinger a Sheffield
also moved amend menos to the Editorial Boerd resplution. argued the campaigns and activity prioritised by paper include the fight against cuts in
women's support for independent rank Fand file groupings in the
These were all accepted by the Editorial Board and by conference, and will be more
fully discussed at the Nationa Policy Commitlee.
Members Nutional Policy Committee Inchude
places
political tendenciesi From the
Carver, Geoff Bell, LIT Richard Brian
Steven Marks. Martin Shaw.
Beber mesabers: Georg Kerevan (Edinburgh, IMG): Pal Ward (Crawley IMG): [Francis Mathern (Camden,
independent: Alan Soskin (S
London, ISA): Pat Hickey
(Birmingham, IMG); Tberes
Conway (Manchester, EMIG):
Ros Oliver (Cardict IMG)
Leal Solinger (Sheffield, ISA)
Jude Woodward (W London
IMG): Martin O'Lears (Clas
goW, IMG).
All members of the
Jornalistic tati wil attend the
mestings, as well as thas SOCIALIST CHALLENGE June 1978ред015.2
Page 16 scan of this page
Garners conference 22 June BEEF UP THE
calering.
Margolis's customers do
A terrible thing happened at didn't bother to one of the Carners restaurants in London's West End last woek.
Half a dozen people sat down and ordered the largest steaks on the menu. Just as the meal was being served, one of the group took out a leaflet from her pocket.
She proceeded to read it aloud, laying particular. phasis on the atrocious wages and almost five months ago to the
EMPTY
Cusomers at ather tables mee faces or he sab water
tes of the scab walter.
the red velvet seats
Thesis would be steak caters
HOPE to God Supporters' docsn't prevent Socialist Challenge from steering CALCETHESECI course.
good to be true that
which in both literate
propagandist, nop-sectarian and yet politicully thrusting.
I'm sorry not to he able to come 10- conference, and enclose 15 by way donation
This letter was handed to our editor just before the Socialist Challenge TECIIETCTICE Raphael Samuel, an editor of
and ecturer al Ruskin Colleg:
ANORAT person when renewing their subscription and sending a donation commented - the accolade from Dennis MacShane was well deserved -Socialist Challenge remains far and away the best paper on the Left.
Registered with the Post Off
PICKETS!
CYRIL MARGOLIS, the boss of the Garners Steak House chain, fancies himself as the George Ward of
There's just one small problem. Undeveloped rolls of film don't have to walk through a picket line.
and they are increasingly disinclined to. GEOFFREY SHERIDAN reports.
excuse, and left - their meals HITU unpaid Socialist Challenge insists that
utterly: unethical
TAKINGS On Margolic's doubt over generous) estimate, the five Garners restaurants in Laura London are presents led taking only 12,000 a weck. It is
in quiet periods the restaurants would expect to gross five times this sum The pickets are beginning to bite (in a manner of speaking). and the trikere are optimistic that their bartle for recognilion
bod Central can he won. they
OUR FUND DRIVE
Along with the compliments VOLE and these donations monies came in. Local Socialist Challenge groups showed the Marthester brought in E27.50; A sale bE honics social in Harrow a further and ES0: a North London event
Conferee Sal Colene
Conference, Charge played, which
Cardiff chipping in with 120 It is vital that all otber loci
event per from every group could really boost the finances oFfbe paper So what is your group going to
Other Supporters equally generous. total came £217
E1,179.96, An excellent
to our final largel of 12,500, That has to be made by the end of the month.
Socialist Challenge
inclading Breet, Barner, Wandsworth, and Westminster, are helping out on the picker rola.
The TGWU has hegun to flex its muscles Trout, with Pike butchers in Smithfield; and steward vegetable suppliers i LIKE Su Covent Garden both persuaded
to terminate their deliveries to TCHE Garners:
Yet it is more difficule to deal with the unmarked vehicles that
exercise. now arrive in the markely R
supplies, and cerlaiiy learned a lew leisun: from his here, George Ward, own (00
about holdine the movement at bay.
Pickers at his headquariers in Gerrard Street. been photographed ners accountant, a Mr Carlos. who has also revealed the NF budge that he wears ander his
HARASSMENT Police harastment has beca a regular feature on
gentleman
son, al the Garnet restaurant in the Haymarket, came to the
This week our thanks to: more Manchestar hooksale French visitor
North London social
The Berserkers M.B.
S. Alwall another C27 Carditt supporters
Harrow social supporters P. Macrae
A. Clarke D. Hacker month T. A. Anon
STASERTS R. Samuel
SEEWEEK HERE are some
The keep the paper going, and to
week as well. All these fund raising 3105 coice with no risk. They ari guaranteed to make money.
Football cards: We will sell
Karl Marx
shed by Reigecrest Lid. for Sociall
didn't
Police card ta. back on the boycott
Pavill d photographer arrived.
ACTIVE
coded before the
Margolis has victery.
Attending SADHTCICLE
SUCHANS
TranspOrE
Soho, have aid the task
by Gar-
to victory,
3pm and 530
the picke Thunday
27.80 1.00 0.20 tanie of th 27.00 5.00 13.00 15.00 1,00 20,00 50.00 2.00 5.00 10.00 28.00 finunce it worh. 25.00 2.00 5.00
spend
discos. and so on.
Name
Address
door to tell the pickets that i
мор staring he would have them all arrested.
He produced a Metropolitan
up m threat, and fled our the back door five minutes laler whica a
Much more active support s
Garners
workers — can be confident of
the Garners -to he beld on Thursday, 22 June, al 7.30pm.
House. Smith Square, London SWI - will
of building solidarity and plotting a course
Meanwhile, Join the pickets. you a card for 50p, you give a prize of 11 and make S0p Toi the local group. Each person pays Sp a go and guesses the
winning team.
Wlien 40 people have had a g you reveal the winning name.
Wecan also order all sorts of Pontoon Cards to sell for 5p or 10p cach. The profit margin is at least 120 per 1,000 ticket bought. Of this, we keep hal for the paper and the local group can keep the rest to
Don't waste time, with the sunraer fast apon us Socialist Challenge needs the mones.
Summer is an ideal opportunity
more time fundraising. You can sell the pontoon tickets and footbal cards in pabs, clubs, meetings.
Socialist Challenge also has badges for local groups. Any of
SPECIAL OFFER
each week throughout the months of July, August, and September. Domestic special offer: July-September, £Z.
I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fond of
Complete and relurn to:
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
Ist Challenge, 328/9 Upper 5f., London N.1. Printed by Goodhead Press Lld., 25 Murdock Road, Bicester.
BOYCOLL
GARNERS
SLAVE
HOUSES!
YOUR SUPPORT
LIS OUR STRENGTHI
the following are 1ip each lif over 10 ane ordered): Fight For tom Laws', "Free Abortion on 1 Liberation' and others;
Win a Dylan ticket!
THREE tickets have boon sent lo our offices for Bob Dylan's concert in London next month. June The supporter who sent tham in said he thought a raffle k June he tickets would haip fill ou depleted coffer!
Would you and a friend like to go to the Bob Dylan concert? BOB
In COnCOL
Friday, 16th June a BOt pun Doore open 8.30 p.m.
A special summer subscription offer for readers-especially students—In Britain and Ireland. For just £2, you can receive Socialist Challenge through your letter box Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to 'Socialist Challenge"
Demand Cool Pay Nam
Socialist Alrica.
Two tickets are to be won for
the perre cent pride 1s
the first prize, third ticket is for Friday, 16
so, send in today for Socialist Challenge lottery tickets! Price: 25p each or five for 21. Just send a postal order
COOLID 1580001 envalope
Upper Strest London N1. Also on sale at The Other Bookshor The draw will take the Oth
Bookshop
Organised by D. Weppler of 32B Upper Street, London NT on behalf of Socialist Challenpe.
← Socialist Challenge No. 47, 25 May 1978Socialist Challenge No. 50, 15 June 1978 →