Socialist Challenge No. 86, 8 March 1979
The scan: sc-n86-mar-8-1979.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.
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Socialist Challenge No 86 8 March 1979 15p
TORI IN CRISIS
IRAN ISRAEL EGYPT YEMEN VIETNAM CHINA
KAMPUCHEA UGANDA ANGOLA CHAD
INSIDE: Washington on a War Footing by Michael T. Klare pg 8
Page 2 scan of this page
OUR POLICIES
EDITORIAL
Socialist Challenge, Editorial 01-359 8180/9. 91-359 8371. election could thus be fought well before October.
election than the present.
The Tories are on
policies of Labour have
will not be able to recuperate before the next election.
was better than a Tory minority government.
teks ago...
rpeat priority.
Unity candidates Will sha
and outside the Labour Party.
appeal for revolutionary unity Challenge on 4 January. invited.
auspices of ine Registration 12.30pm — £1 (50p wageless).
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Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 2
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Distribution/ Advertising
After the devolution vote
THE DEVOLUTION VOTE in Wales and Scotland was a severe setback for the Labour government. The result in Scotland poses Callaghan with a real dilemma. All the indications are that he will prefer to antagonise the Scottish labour movement and the SP rather than the Ulster Unionist bigots and their Tory friends. An
As far as the Tories are concerned, there is no better time for an
They believe that the outright and humiliating defeat in the Welsh referendum augurs well for them, as does the small majority in Scotland. But they should not be too confident on that score, as the Labour left, particularly in Wales, will claim some of the 'credit' for defeating the government!
much better ground, however, questions. There can be little doubt that the social and economic
demoralised large sections of its traditional electoral base. All the indications are that Callaghan
At the same time the government is rapidly losing the support of the ruling class. In 1976 the City of London thought that a Labour government was a 'lesser evil'. The International Monetary Fund had it in an economic straitjacket and it would be able to control the unions. Many bosses felt that a Labour minority government
Now the feeling is different. Callaghan is regarded as embarrassing lame-duck politician. The referendum results sent hares soaring at the Stock Exchange: a symbolic anticipation of in election which the Tories would win. As the astute author of the Lex column put it in the Financial Times last Saturday:
"In the first place, a Conservative government could expect a healthy majority on the basis of recent opinion polls and Thursday ght's by-election results. In addition, the stock market is already ginning to sense that the worst of the pay round is over, and that the results are not turning out as badly as had been feared a few
*For these reasons, the prospect of an imminent general election rould now probably send share prices surging higher, at least over he short term. Everyone would latch on to the expectation of
dend freedom and the burial of the Price Commission. The
Caption would be that the government deficit would be cut and
the economic health of the private sector would become an
What this means is clear. The ruling class wants a tough Tor
ministration and believes Thatcher can deliver the goods. It is prepared for further cutbacks in the public sector and is politically confident that Labour's period in office has prepared the way for a
the wellare state
The realisation that something is afoot has seen Tony Benn tarshalling his forces. Some sort of an alternative manifesto has been produced (we shall comment on it in detail next week) and an's closest supporters are talking about a campaign against overnment policies. But they have left it too late, and it will be
en by many for what it is: an opportunist ploy to rebuild a
The fight for a socialist alternative remains vital. The Socialist
opposing the entire record ocial-democracy in a number of constituencies. At the same tim we will be backing the Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory. We do not believe that our two-pronged thrust is contradictory. On the contrary, it offers the only coherent strategy at the moment: to fight Labour's policies all along the line, both inside
REVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY AND THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY
One-day school organised by the International Socialist
Alliance and the International Marxist Group and open
to all who have signed or generally agree with the joint
published in Socialist Big Flame have also been
Saturday 10 March, in the Hampstead Room, YWCA,
Great Russell Street, London WC1 (organised under the
London World Affairs Group).
From Pat Kane in Glasgow
FEW WOULD have predicted a year ago that the majority for on other the small. What the results show is Assembly that only the Scottish working class voted yes. It was in the industrial strongholds
unions and Party have their support that the unambiguous.
The ruling their weight behind the campaign. For an prospect of Scottish workers
expressing their opposition to Westminster Assembly, however limited its powers, was DEUSUCCL
They could Labour-dominated in Scotland Thatcher government at West minster. The experience of Clay Cross repeated in Scotland di not fill them with joy. Thus the Tories and the CBI placed their resources behind
The biggest set-back for the Yes campaign, however, came from the Tribunite left in the Parliamentary Labour Party. The 40 per cent rule confused and diverted the devolution debate. sections of the ruling class are attacking democratic the response of the left leaders
to impose restriction on the referendum. of
The Labour left said the Assembly Wasd money. They argued that the resources would be better spent on housing These same MPs have voted for every anti-working class policy of the Callaghan government and will no GOUDI Healey's forthcoming budget.
All the Labour achieved in the last four years is to deny the Scotland an Assembly. happens to devolution now that tenges the government's abal- referendum ority to remain in office?
people cannot rely on forcing through the Assembly legislation. The will try to make a deal with the SNP and the Labour left. If this
class.
revolutonary socialsis are:
• To build
1
THE FIRST WORD
Scottish votes reveal that
assembly-
would be so
where the Labour strongest was VULC behind the No all them,
through
La frightening
envisage Assembly confronting
the No At a time when all
rights,
their own
waste
and education.
vote for General Election.
left have
workers in and trade union What
result
Scotland Callaghan left oppose this LOVCHICH Capitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trade unions orer solutions Inal are in tne interests, not of tne workers, but or tne capitalst
Socialist Challenge believes that
broad-based class struggle tendencies in CESS-COLanore tonismin the labour movement. nese snout me non-excasive in character grouping together militants holding a wide range of political views. * To begin to fight for the creation of a unified and democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can, through an application of united front tactics vegin to be scen as an alternative oy tnousanos of workers engaged in struggles
Such an organisation should be based on the understanding that:
Ones ruggle torsocialm seeksto unre ne lent or the workers gorins the bosses with that of other oppressed layers of society black people, gays — struggling for their liberation. This socialism can ¿only be acmieved oy creating new organs of power and deleating with ai necessary means the power of the capitalist state
Workers want an
fails there will be an early
The task of securing an elected Assembly in Scotland elections. now depends on the Labour
movement. councils, The referendum clearly shows stewards that the workers of Scotland want an Assembly. The labour conferences movement should campaig campaign for immediate elections to such
Westminster.
If the Tories or the Labour During worker who voted Yes should then be organised to demand these elections. The Scottish con-
the two vital tasks confronting
opposition to
Tories placed their resources behind the No campaign — they were not enthralled by the prospect of a Labour-dominated Assembly in Scotland confronting a Thatcher government at Westminster. ference of the Labour Party and the STUC should unite in a joint campaign for immediate
We should argue that trade
union and shop committees supported a Yes vote call local
to plan the establish an Assembly, without waiting fo
the referendum campaign the STUC organised workplace and delegate meetings for a Yes vote. These could be immediately convened.
Our socialism will be infinitels more democratic than what esists in
"socialism in the USSR and Eastern Europe hase discredited socialism
them and will offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democracy
Jaime interests or workers and cabialis are reconciana an award
world politics. Thus we fight for working class units on an international scale. This unity will in the long run be decisive in defeating both the imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in latin America, Africa and Asia.
In Britain it implies demanding the immediate withdran al at-British troops from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their own future
One communist Parties in Europe "Euro-communist nor the pro-Moscow wings havi strategs for the overthrow of the capitalist state, New resolutionar socialist parties are more necessary than ever hefore. Conditions todas are more favourable than over the preceding three decades. But such parties can only be built by rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracy not as luxury but as a vital necessits. This means the right to organise factions and
For socialists in Scotland, support for the Assembly was never equated with supporting the reactionary nationalism of the SNP. We looked on the demand for an Assembly part of exploiting the political crisis of the British state
The narrow result will confuse and demoralise sections of the Scottish workers. This could be overcome by doing everything possible to campaign for the immediate holding of elections to the Assembly.
are in crisis Neither the any meaningful
Page 3 scan of this page
Housewives can
HOME NEWS
another burden to bear.'
change it.
THE CURRENT strike Wave important to all socialists as
attempt by the working class to fight back after taking cuts in
avine standaras and scrvice
vorking class women nave born ine burden ol ine government's cuts in spende health sector, maternity.
Waiting for three hour
your tummy waen you re oregnant is
exambe LiverDooNs infancy mortality rate is the second
cuts in the NHS also affec
women. If sick and old people can't be taken into hospital because of the ack or ocos. women nave to look alict them at nome
At the same time as health services
Wages at a bus stop to get to It's hard and frustrating to
Children are having further to school as local schools are closed down, and it's women who
there on
caraca as a low onlony. mursc schools are inadequate as it 1s without
The lack of social workers means that women have to look after mose waom social workers normany kcco an eve on. sucn as tne old and the
Sine Im DaCt of the workers' strike was minimised by the press and the government, but it has
iously affected the lives of many -and women in particular!
In the housing sector, rent rises and lack of maintenance of council flats Oovious y cause problems tor women
Tho mathy we who have to cope.
must seem like yet another burden to bear.
Photo: ANDREW WIARD
suggest tnar the inconvenience caused to women in the nome should deter strike action.
way for th working class to we sayine is that Hauc umous Haye 1u
strikes on women.
The oil tanker drivers' strike meant
Conference
By Penny Duggan
THE 1979 socialist feminist пашопа conrerence will take place on 24/25 March at City University, London.
So that all contribute their own experience to the development of socialist feminist polities and strategy, the first day will be devoted to discussing the broad range of activity we are involved in. This will be broken down into four main areas: social policy, economic conditions, com-
reproduction.
Drawing on the information
'TO MANY WOMEN, the present strikes must seem like yet
LIVERPOOL WOMEN'S ACTION GROUP explain why this is the case and what the trade unions and the left can do to
that schools were closed and
work to look after the children or pay childminders. In some areas the buses were on ine road.
It's tragic that low-paid women in the public sector have to take action mial unvoives surering to get even s minimal wage rise the nich have to suffer, they can pay for the services they need.
Jim Callaghan suggested setting up a Ministry for the Family because he said that the country couldn't keer
GRUNWICK
travel
BUTC
SCAB
again
social
Socialist Feminist
and political ideas developed on Saturday, Sunday will be devoted to a more discussion of socialist feminist politics.
This will include discussion on how far already existing political ideas and strategy can contribute to the development of socialist feminism, and on our role socialist feminists within women's movement and broad political arena.
Papers and offers to lead WUERSHOU: LU.
Planning Group, 27
Road, Brixton, London SW9.
Registration from:
holme Road, London E8.
be an important
part of the left
Lame off
•don't
going if women didn't provide all the ack-up services they do.
Being isolated in the family means that wot may fail to see that all working people are suffering at the same time. But
mousewives in lower nil, kiDy, got together to fight for and win sot munah laundry for their block of
Fi ne media is a particuary siron -orce in
During women have been portrayed as the "voice of reason holding the countr Lorciner, and so on ne mecia have realy tocussed or wives who oppose their husband They attack picket frustration attacked the pickeung cadoury senweppes. Ines women are often called the relatives of strikers when many are in fact
In an organised form of oppositior the recent 'Housewives United' got spectacular coverage in me meata alone win exaggerated reports or ti numbers involved. Women have ever been encouraged
sul env or wives nave suoport neir nusbands u thev didn t sirik couldn't happen have given foe must sher husbands sy the tits firemen's strikes. atecis aul tne tamilv Women have played a prominent
COmPICACHSIYCS women are aiso neavily involved 1n campaigns about the bus cuts, an have taken general iverpool Mil
Maternity Hospital.
Nevertheless, Deen opposing ine recent strikes. nis is understandable show. And this is why the left and the
the must
needs seriously
the Negotiating
creases means that lower paid workers come our worst - and une matority or Conference these are women.
Villa Nurseries are important if women
Abortion rights ar 39 Park-
DEATH
SEGONDARY
PICKETS
InC aDo ur gued that should become men, as well as feeling cut off,
after the kids or cook the tea. eXISI But when womer it has tended
The factory to prevent closure creating the reactionary
directly
working class.
are always there whe
Netherley in a rent strike, ines in thei WICH wome
of the left.
As wives or strikers.
strike
ways of striking would develop
withholc effective ways of strikers case. supermarkets. involved in the creches should
say that it's
effective.
more involvement information
part in occupations to
TCDOTE OF THE demonstranor
- many women nave
as we've tried to
take women's was untrue backed by the NAFF there is no evidence poreculase in- Doml and was Datronising
part in the trade
Be also vital have control over BLUEC BUYDIYCU
OLI
of 9-11 March.
PICKETING
'Democratic HAVE US OUR DAILY ance
READI
tently
name Left. and going
genes more women
unions, but this is difficult wher mccunes are ned outo work-hmE and women can't find anyone to look
to be more militant has oypassce unIOn ouciaoom. rorinstance. une womer aline to coline tactorv in kirkhi where unions are very weak, occupied
Too often the left has been guilty o
those SCLULIE involved at the point of Droducuon — mousewives - area oc cause and a conservative part of the
But the action of housewives in
Road in Liverpool, and in the Relatives Actior Committees in Ireland prove tha Left. housewives can be an important pari
and the consumers directly affected by the
should be within the
involved. If they were, more effective
злос ас тогс астостанс ат Dave
DUDUCISIn SuCh as Women should "seeking to committee:
pacts mvorc more members ofte
women, chidren, tenants grout other workers not directly involved The
all encouraged to b about involved in strikes then these struggle. mise, however would be strengthened and mon
"Democratic
our point is. women nave to nave
and more
THIS article was written in response to an over-simplistic and inaccurat
HOUSCHIYES CERICI AL LIYCEDOOL Head Curino the lorry drivers strike. which was countered by pro-strike
press in general. By saying that th women were all middle class - which
and that they were which - it missed the
ne women were rus railed ov the strikes, but we must have an answer for them. The answer is for women to
Times suspended
Liverpool Women's Action Group
News
nowhere
Death in March AS predicted in this column the Broad Left in the Nationa Union of Students is nearing its end. According to sources close can to the Broad Left in Bristol, invitations have been sent out for a 'summit' on the weekend
This meeting will launch a
Students' Allia project which the Broad Left's main backer, the Communist Party, , has consis-
denied. The infra- right structure tor a condon studen body bearing this or a similar
has already been organised and will be unveiled a few days after the 'summit'.
Student readers will not be surprised at this development which represents the logical end for the ever-broadening Broad
Borop inemocratic Ma 'democratic open the door to all sorts of new
Liberals and independent right-wingers for example — as well as the groups already in the Broad Left.
When this becomes public there will be a few red faces at King Street. When News from Nowhere first announced the plans to wind up the Broad Left - before the CP had consulted the National Organisation Labour Students, the other main force inside the coalition - Sally Hibbin, the party's student organiser, told us: The Communist Partv will remait committed to the Broad Left.
So committed in fact that Hibbin and the NOLS chairperson wrote us an angry letter
the record SUCCEE *There is absolutely no question of the party political groups abandoning a commitment to the Broad Left.
They added more truthfully: *Your reporter was quite clearly told that this concept was, and is, not part of the discussion taking place within the Broad
This was true on two counts One, our reporter was told this. Two, it was not being discussed
Broad Left. The whole point of our story was that NOLS had not been told!
Aaronovich, another leading CP student, told us that
work with the Union of Liberal Students and left Christians would be within the broad lines of CP policy. And so it has proved
outstanding problem this historic is that the Students' Alliance' does not seem to be off to an auspiciously democratic start. The secrecy surrounding the "summit" and the fact that the London branch has already been set up does not promise much for the decision-making powers vested in this meeting.
We await the CP's comment. A politely worded retraction from Sally Hibbin would be the much appreciated.
Levelling out
THIS MONTH'S issue of the Leveller, the 'broad' left-wing magazine, nearly joined The
in the realms of animation. The And reason: a contribution on the new print technology which has
from
grounded Thomson House.
The Leveller's January issue had carried an attack on the head-in-the-sand attitude of the
Thunderer itself. "Technology
and does raise living standards' declared Mike Pimes. He forgot to ask for Prest, journalist on The
The magazine's typesetters, the Bread 'n Roses collective, who belong to the National Graphical Association, quested and secured a one-page
reply *astonishingly reactionary article'. But in the closing stages of production, a member of the Leveller collective decided that -as mucn as tney wanted Ent reply - space problems were too pressing.
•Well', said Bread n'Roses, we'll have to suspend your typesclung and review position al meeting. "Blackmail', snarled the Leveller person. 'Yes', responded Bread 'n Roses, 'or you could call it holding the country to ransom, but that isn't your phrase we know.
The reply made it into the March issue
Policing our health THE MAUDLING family, as far as NfN is aware has no complaints about the Royal Free Hospital, the multi-million edifice in Hampstead where Reggie met his maker. But then the nearest the former Home Secretary had been to a building site was by invitation of a certain architect.
Not so building worker Pete McGeer. Two years ago Pete injured his foot when he fell from a ladder, and treatment by various doctors had not improved matters. Last month he arrived at the Royal Free with a letter from his GP requesting urgent examination
consultant. For preceding four weeks the
had been bedridden.
doctor who said appointment would be neces sary. Pete sat tight. Then came a senior registrar, who blamed NUPE for the lack of beds. Pete refused to budge
Then a hospital admini strator was brought in. Sh smiled diplomatically about their inability to help him. Pete continued to demand treat ment. His next visitors were a little less polite. Four cops burst into the cubicle, threw Pete on a trolley, and dumped him in the street.
Their diagnosis! *Piss off, there's nothing wrong with you."
It was a phone call that night from Pete's GP to a friend at the Royal Free that finally put matters right. He returned to
hospital to see the consultant who had been contacted.
'You may be wondering about the treatment vou ve hac here,' the consultant said. "This hospital is in a middle class area', he went on to explain *and middle class people ge more out of the NHS thai anyone else. It's disgraceful.
with that, Pete was admitted for urgent treatment of a suspected blood clot.
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
Camden victory: the inside story
HOME NEWS
CAMDEN NUPE has produced a pamphlet detailing the terms of the settlement won locally and analysing the lessons of their successful struggle.
As the strike has lessons for militants throughout the country, we publish here a lengthy
The one-day strike on was success in Camden.
Within its own limitations it drew the membership together
NATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFERENCE
* UNDER WORKERS CONTROL:
M7CE2
Workers'
Plans and Workers'
Control 28 April, 11a.m.
Digbeth Civic Hall, BIRMINGHAM
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 4
RAY VARNES, member NUPE London Divisional Council just and allowed us to feel our collective strength.
A local march from Camden Town Hall on 22 January was soon swelled by other NUPE members to over 2,000 at Hyde Park Corner and the message from that march was clear -only all-out strike action can win our full claim.
Selective action versus all-out action: Faced national policy industrial action, and the policy of all power to the local branches masking the very real lack of a national lead, Camden marked time in the week after the one-day strike.
It was clear that while a national call for all-out action would have got full backing, silence at the national level made our task more difficult.
After a week of discussion, a decision was taken by the strike committee to call out the two petrol pump attendants and works department plumbers on official strike from 29 January.
The effect of that decision was traumatic. Officer members of NALGO were called in to operate the pumps; NUPE members refused to accept petrol from them or to accept chits from garages and by 30 January the borough's transport, works, building, cemeteries, and social services were slowly grinding to a halt.
The branch meeting on 30 January supported the decision of NUPE members not to fill
public sector workers.
sector workers.
Council, NUPE.
Public sector workers, and| NUPE in particular, have had clear demands right from the beginning of
£60 SLEULLIC mum wage and 35-hour week are the key ones. Militants have fought for settlement date for all public
and SCIVICC workers.
These demands are the only way to meet the real needs of the public sector. Unlike some groups in industry majority of WOLKeTS do not economic muscle to win locally. Without the national fight, and pulling out on strike all the groups which Call SO IC overwhelming public sector win.
The key aim government and the employers all along has been to avoid ALGO members and decided pumps to call for a mass meeting on 6 February dation for all-out strike action in pursuit of the full claim.
On Wednesday 31 January, under threat of lay-offs, refuse section at Cressy Road with took indefinite strike of selective and sent delegations to the other two refuse depots.
On Thursday meetings of the other two refuse sections voted to come out on strike. hat day works department refused to cross the Cressy Road refuse picket lines and themselves voted to come out on strike.
Between then and the mass meeung further including sewers, public lighting, road sweepers, body shop fitters and highways, strike action.
All-out strike resolution: the mass meeting on Tuesday 6 February was approximately 1,300 members
calling for all-out strike in support of the claim for £60 and a 35-hour week.
It also called on the national executive to call all-out strike action in support of the full claim, and called on the Labour council to grant the claim in full.
strike elected at the mass meeting and met regularly at least once a day
Public sector claim
All out to avoid
divide and rule
THE NUPE Executive voted to reject the 9 per cent offer, but without making any call for national action. The key question of how to wage the struggle faces
Some militants, determined to win more than the national offer, are continuing to struggle — some for local deals. But only spreading all-out action for the national claim offers a way forward for all public
By RAY VARNES, Member,
the present national mini- than
common else, and it health SCIVICC
more out of them,
the vast public sector have the sector fight as a whole.
pressure of Fisher,
Callace. majority of wing policies. workers can't support the
of the manned by
with a recommen- picketing, bulletins, mentary benefits...
against the advice CELe leader, action basic wage week... morning meeting on became clear the drivers
wage...
sections, maintained
took
Black
attended by cleaning.
Council's offer
action
the full claim.
of giving the £60 wage to those not on
Nevertheless -Commee group endorsed ship's
claim.
government
London Divisional They have facing such united action. This is why the government settled first with the water workers ahan made thema bentep offer sector workers.
group. course the government would It is have preferred to give the water workers no more than anyone
was only the beginning of a militant struggle in the North West which got
but the boroughs, government above all wanted tionally to get the water workers back to work because they would have given real muscle to the public
The union leaderships have public sector aided this government policy.
Basnett and Co. politically rejected any central The fight against Callaghan's right-
Indeed they concordat. They recommended acceptance of deal and return to work by the water workers and not a united fight in the public sector. They action. for the duration of the strike.
Sub-committees were set up to deal with the organisation of
transport, strike claims for supple-
Labour group breaks:
On 13 February the Camden majority Labour group voted
of their councillor Shaw, to grant NUPE's claim for £60
and a 35-hour
[But] by the first negotiating
15 February, that Labour group leaders were interpreting the offer as a £60 minimum offer and wage rather than as a basic
The pressure of the strike was
throughout this the period. Picketing was strengthened at the main administrative buildings which were near Lessons of to being ciosed because or te
of heating oil and the conditions inside due to no
'clarified': objective.
Our demand at the meeting of 19 February was that Camden Labour councillers should not back down and should grant
We stressed the inequalities
bonus fu claim. but while leaving those on bonus with the national settlement. strike action.
the Labour We leaderinterpretation or ine
adopted a policy of selective local action, and not an all-out national strike, which had no chance of winning the national easy
Now they are splitting local
workers from hospital workers by refusing to count the votes in the national ballots together and instead insisting on counting the votes separately in each sector to decide on a return to work
attempted every- back thing possible to prevent the national all-out action that alone can win for the over-
majority of public
clear that local oi sectoral settlements and returns to work cannot provide a way forward for the overwhelming majority, over 90 percent, public sector workers. A few
which are excepmilitant or face particularly left-wing councils, can, in the middle of a national fight, win a good local deal. But Call the overwhelming majority of
workers don't face these conditions.
London Divisional Council of NUPE, which has called an area stewards rally which will discuss the call for an area all-out strike, shows the way. So does the fight among ambulance workers for national ALL JOHN SUDDABY, Camden NUPE General branch secretary
negotiations were held on 22 February.
of these negotiations the strike committee recommended a return to work to the mass meeting held the
following day. This recommendation was accepted overwhelmingly.
the strike: The most important lesson of the strike is that the union's full
claim claim of £60 basic minimum wage and a 35-hour week is not pie in the sky but a realistic
If Camden NUPE can get very near to the full claim by taking all-out strike action then the national union can win the
prepared to embark on all-out
do not believe that Camden NUPE's success can be repeated at a local level in
Fighting for area and national all-out action for the national claim isn't going to be
of course. Fisher is opposing it. The GWU and TGWU leaderships have campaigned to get their members out of the struggle. If there is going to be any chance of a successful fight it is going to have to be the strongest sections who will have to lead it. If the most militant areas were to go
after negotiating deals then the overwhelming majori ty of the public sector workers will be left to the government's 9 per cent.
A common national struggle needs common national demands and a united fight with all workers in the public sector supporting each other. Breaking up that -UTHLY will bea disaster for all public sector workers. The employers will triumphantly face a divided public sector whose wages they
hold down indefinitely
Only by the strongest, and all public sector workers, comin OUL HUW, U SLaY LE OuL. all helping to lead the struggle of all public sector workers for the national claim, can the vast majority win a rise over the 9
and the CCHIL SULULLES defend their gains.
OUT FOR THE NATIONAL CLAIM! every local Labour-controlled council; although one lesson we have learnt is that Labour councillors must not be allowed to shed their responsibility for
of low pay among their employees.
In Camden we said that expressing sympathy for our
but keeping the
leaving our claim in the hands of Callaghan who seems intent on making those who afford it least suffer the most.
The lessons of the Camder strike are clear. All-out action in pursuit of the full claim can win. Even now a determined lead nationally can still bring
Copies of the pamphlet can
obtained from: John Suddaby, Secretary NUPE Camden Branch, 211 Arlington Road, London NW1.
Page 5 scan of this page
chickens come home
HOME NEWS
CPSA pay action
to roost
wages and those of other workers means.
By Rich Palser
For 20 years some $00,000
workers in the civil service have
had their pay adjusted on the
basis of 'fair comparisons" with
workers doing similar jobs in
private industry.
Data are put together by the
pay research unit and then used
by the two sides as a basis for
negotiation.
Quite apart from the fact
that comparisons are often
made with low paid clerical and
non-unionised office workers,
this system denies the right of
union members to draw up
their own wage claim.
Instead of basing a claim or
the cost of living, it uses the
criterion of how others have
fared.
This pay research system was
abruptly stopped in April 1975,
when it was about to carry civil
servants through the limit of
that year's wage policy.
Although the system has now
been re-introduced, the govern-
ment has not undertaken to
accept the pay research findings for this year. The reason: these
findings suggest a pay increase
of around 35 per cent.
Approximately 1,300 civil servants, mainly computer operators, are now on strike in pursuit of their claim.
Premier Callaghan has called the action 'unnecessary and
unjustified", while Foreign
Secretary Owen was among those who happily crossed picket lines on the one-day
IN BRIEF
Sussex
students
By Nick Robin
STUDENTS at Sussex University are occupying administraton building arter the introduction of quotas for overseas students which are 7 UCI cent below the 1975-76 levels. The quotas have been wC mentel instructions from the Department of Education and Science (DES).
Sussex students will organising a picket of the DES this Friday on the question of overseas students as part of the national day of action on grants organised by the National Union of Students.
They are also calling for an NUS emergency conference on overseas students to cordinate moves against the DES ruling in the absence of any action from the Broad Left leadership of NUS.
The comparability
PUBLIC sector workers do not have to look very far to see what the offer of 'comparability" between their
The industrial action now being staged by civil servants centres on the whole comparability issue.
all-out strike on 23 February.
The government has com-
plained that the strike action is
'unjustified' because negotia-
tions are not completed.
But in delaying the negotia-
tions, and in refusing to accept
pay research
bility findings, it
government which is defying
the traditional arbitration pro-
cedures.
While the current level of inadegerve pay
inadequacy relying
comparability promises,
immediate aim of a united fight by civil service workers is to win the full increases recommended
by pay research
The strategy adopted by the
leaders of the unions involved
seems unlikely to achieve this.
Alistair Graham,
general secretary of the CPSA,
has argued for selective action
by saying that it 'shows a more compassionate approach disrupting community life than has recently been seen on our television screen'.
This thinly disguised attack on the public sector workers is hardly likely to win support for the civil servants from other workers.
Nor does it make a great deal of tactical sense, common identity between the civil servants and the public sector workers would help both groups.
Civil servants are obviously right to worry about alienating other workers; they concerned with the provision of
Members of the Association of University Teachers, is against quotas, urged to boycott their introduction. RAR tour *JIM ain't fixed us. We ain't
gonna work on Maggie's farm
we kow wio the rea enem is. And we're gonna hit them with our rhythm sticks. Mash 'em with with ment."
That's how Rock Racism describé their Militant Entertainment national tour, be starting on 17 March, mixes the new new wave with pioneer punks and the best of UK reggae'
The bands and venues so far fixed are as follows.
RAR on 01-802 8773 further details.
MARCH Sat Cambridge Com tha Rure. Mon Mi orcest F pore: Sand OT POUF Misty, lunes. fue 20 Cromer West Runton Pav: Gang of Four. Misty. Pain Killers
emergency cover for the sick or unemployed as sector workers.
But as the public sector struggle has also shown, it full involvement membership in strike action which is the best recipe for victory.
A MESSAGE
"compara-
it the
STUFF YOL
CONCORDAT
shows the
on GIVE US SEI the WAGI
Hornsey
Journal
deputy
By Kathy Lowe Reporter, 'Hornsey Journal" to AFTER the editor of the Hornsey Journal front-page low-pay strikes, a local labour movement support communie plus the paper's own journalists pressurised him into publishing a full right of reply from the in that strikers.
Hornsey Journal editor Stan Cole accused striking takers and manual workers in Haringey of carefully orchestrated exercise in trade union power'.
His article also attempted to discredit local parlamentary Labour candidates,
ano tne Lanchester Poly: Ruts Wed
which should be Leyton buzzaros
•pecials. PInUE barry roroe
roly. barry rorde Levion buzzaros Piranas Sun 25 Lancastei
Aberdeen entertain-
Against APRIL
Mon Upstarts, Aswad, Dead Byrds and The Liverpool
which
Angelic Upstarts, Aswad, Exodus and Ones.
Regal Angelic Aswad. CrIsIS and Nounonam malou. Ancelc Uostarts
Phone Aswad, Crisis and Slip Hazard. Bands
for are to oe contrmeo tor mne tollowint venues: Sun 8 Llanelli Gien Ballroom MOR схетет Woods; Wed Stowaway; Thur 12 Bristol Uni. excnance; London GAA
Wendy
LONDON Gay Alliance is organising a public
are public
As soon of the appeared last month, Haringey reply.
The journalists
statement
letter from
the editor's article.
By Alan Theasby wrote палопа. oner article attacking
Calce At
Friday, John Davies
conducting *a
government sucharge meeting workers claim
warning
, Forde Band.
The Pirana e no toe
support Sheitield Poly band. Levion buzzare: harassment in Bradford local band. Fri 23 Leeds
Frank, Luzade, The oly Onas and and the Goys
rorde buggery assault. But
obtained by intimidation.
Fingers 7pm minster.
Notting Hill
Tue 3 Manchester Pol CHANTS of 'Scrap sus"
"Stop harassment Wed 4 Birminghan
Hill police
week.
Tue NOwOOr
Activists against SUS
school
workers take.
that their support for the public sector workers" "damaging' pay amazed when claim could cost them many votes in the General Election. meant
as the story WOLKCD angry trade friends contacted National Union of dournalsts memoers on the
Journal, told them they were going to demonstrate outside Sanders their office, and asked for their
support in demanding a right of
whatever demonstrators and successfully took
Cole to task and the next issu
of the paper carried both a
•Lne strikers arguing their claim and a strong
the journalists disassociating themselves from
Middlesbrough
REFUSE collectors in Middlesbrough returned to work on Monday with a £30 bonus for clearing the backlog of rubbish.
They have totally rejected the
NUPE members in Cleveland hospitals have said they are prepared to back their national executive if an all-out strike is
Socialist Challenge meeting in Middlesbrough last
NUPE area officer warned of the danger of another Clay Cross MOVES are developing in Camden if the
attempted to the council for the public sector
He called for a campaign
meeting. on Friday 9 March in
of Frank Kelly and 3774.
Shaukat Ali, victims of police
well known anti-fascist, has been charged
and indecent the prosecution case is based on statements by Frank and Shaukat which the defence committee claims were
The GAA meeting starts at
at Caxton Hall, West- last month. Jamie hospital
and OI black people were shouted by some 70 people who picketed Notting
S2BO0 West SUDOUT London on Wednesday of last
The picket was called by the SLUUCIL UO aD0H BOH00I College after a student had been arrested on a sus charge.
It is hoped that this will be UHOn Te the start of a major campaign
the South an appeal.
throughout the labour move-
ment to defend the Camden
councillors who had agreed to
pay the claim.
and
Paddington
By Denny Fitzpatrick
NUT, Paddington school
OVER two hundred students at
Paddington school in West London have signed a petition
declaring their refusal to cross NUPE picket lines.
In the petition - the text of
which has been sent to the national and local press - the
students SLaLE their
support for the public sector claim and for any action these
One student said: 'We were
we discovered that the original 5 per cent offer
only 60р to these
•Many of us have parents or
directly involved in the fight. We're
completely behind them.?
NUPE area officer
commented on the petition: "We're delighted with any support we receive from community section ULIC
Sack Fisher!
By Patrick Sikorski
underway in the NUPE to remove Alan Fisher, the union's unelected and unaccountable general secretary, following his support for the national pay offer.
NUPE's London divisional ICSLO
London area. Ring 01-670 Sacked for SIXTY
being gay
'YES I'm homosexual too.' That was the proud message that got Jamie Dunbar, general porter at the Middlesex Hospital in London, the sack
told by the management that wearing the badge meant that he had 'a provocative attitude to his homosexuality.
Jamie is firmly resisting his dismissal and this clear stand for gay rights has gained the
National Council for Civil Liberties and dispute the gay community as a whole.
The first move in his defence campaign was a large picket of the hospital by gay activists. Jamie will be represented by his
Contederation Health Service Employees, at Strike
council has called for the
sacking of Fisher his
assistant, Bernard Dix. Similar
calls have come from Camden
general branch, St Nicholas
hospital branch Newcastle,
the ILEA LaSEC
commuce.
The proposal will be taken to
the union's national delegate
conference May. The
Campaign for Action in NUPE
is to make the demand for the
election of full-time
officials and for the right to
their immediate recall a central
Cabam.
London
Labour Party
By Peter Cooper
Battersea South CLP
THE LONDON Labour Party
conference held last weekend
stopped short of confrontation
with the government.
While CHOSI speakers
resolutions on such issues as
health, housing and ducation
were critical of the government
the conference voted two-to-
LU disallow emergenc) resolutions against the concor
dat and in support of the public
sector pay claim.
This refusal to act on the
central issues of the day was backed by the union delegations, against the votes of the constituency parties.
Two fringe meetings provided more interest. The Socialist Campaign attracted so for Labour Victory people with a lively debate on
wne ne Labou] councils should meet the public sector workers" claim locally, and whether rates should be raised.
The SCLV is organising a conference on local authority finance, provisionally sched uled for 12 May.
A meeting held by Labour Co-ordinating Com-
minne d was orended by y
Benn - was attended by
Photo
people. It was announced that elections to the committee are planned for the summer.
Dave Wetzel, secretary to the London Co-op's politica committee, criticised the LCC for not involving the SCLV and
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.
Socialist Challenge supporters backed a call for the committee to organise conference on Labour's mani-
Bank workers
members the National Union Bank Employees who work for the Bank of India in various centres in Britain are on strike for union recognition and against victimisation.
One of their negotiators, Mr Desai, has now been sacked by the Leicester branch manager, but NUBE has so far failed to come up with strike pay or proposals to extend the action.
NUBE members in the National Westminster Bank, for instance, could be asked to boycott all transactions with the Bank of India during the
Bank unions in India and Switzerland are among those who have sent messages of support. These well donations, should be sent to
Committee, c/o Melbourne Street, Leicester:
Socialist Challenop & Mannh 10%
Page 6 scan of this page
play down the low pay campaign' Shortly after NUPE's claim for £60 and 35 hours took off last summer, the leadership panicked over the possibility of members taking action on their own. Local disputes, often arising from frustration over the national claim, received heavy-handed treatment from the union bureaucracy. It was over the handling of one such dispute that CHRIS ADAMSON resigned as an area officer for NUPE in the West Midlands, a post he had held for four years. He describes the developments in the
HE PROBLEM of being a
socialist and full-time
trade union official is some-
that is constantly with My view when I started NUPE as organiser in the West Midlands
that at sometime there
uld be a crunch situation
could end with my caving the job in one way or another.
There is only so far that the
will tolerate you and only so far that you can
olerate the principles of the
caucracy.
The dilemma presents itself
two ways. First, it may be
you and the bureaucracy
ave different ideas about how far a strike or a dispute should
During the nearly five years
was with NUPE, that was
solved one way or another.
stil last November I'd never
iled to get support from the
caucracy for members in dispute; even if that support hadn't been willingly. given, and even if they made it pretty
Sear they didn't want to give it.
The second problem is the
more important one, and one
most full-time officers don't solve. Working as - in quotation marks mon-political militant' in the anion is one thing. But if you are really going to be of value politically then clearly part of your reason for working for the union is to produce a more socialist line among membership you represent and to draw people towards the political position you hold.
That's where, as a member of
International Marxist
Group Idl pioneed
great deal of progress, where a fair number of other people who belong left-wing organisation work for a union may be good industrial militants but are not particularly useful political cadres.
You sit at the table at the end of the room and people listen to you. And they think, oh, isn't
For he's lousy.
But it's a little difficult to get involved across-the floor, hurly burty or political,
argument, because they tend to look at you as une giver of wisdom. They distance you from themselves as members of the union.
When I first joined NUPE in 1974 it was an even more undemocratic union than it is today, certainly on paper. It
full-time officerdominated union. which had experienced a massive increase in membership - often due to the activities of fairly left-wing full-time officers recruited
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 6
AT WORK IN NUPE
We received
instructions to
area from universities and colleges.
In 1975 a report was accepted by NUPE's national conference which democratised the union, producing district and
Commuces of stewards, and divisional councils. The membership was given the possibility of organising at
grass roots level. It was clear
that one of the things this would do was raise massive political debate members, when there been anywhere before.
They'd been in one branch, relatively isolated from other branches, and probably controlled by a strong
secretary and certainly kept in line by a full-time officer whom everyone thought of as god, roughly. The re-organisation meant that the membership began to compete for electoral positions and over particular policies.
As a result of bavele hasts become battle has
particularly in the the Midlands but elsewhere too, with different sections of the taking sides more on the right than on the left.
All this made difference to ine position ol someone like me. and could buzz round area saying and doing what you liked; so long as you could show a membership increase at the end of the day bothered what you said. With the re-organisation the leadership became a good deal more concerned about the political attitudes and policy statements people like myself and branch secretaries were making.
As far as I'm concerned, that is very fruitful. It means that for the first time - and we've lay certainly seen this during the present pay sector dispute the membership is starting to become really capable organising themselves, simply where they work but on a much wider basis.
At the '78 conference there was extreme dissatisfaction with the handling of the 1977-8 wage claim. So the executive came out with a policy which was progressive on
pushing £60 and 35 hours, with a substantial low pay campaign to back it up. The campaign got underway last summer and it occame cicar unatt was picking shop up an enormous head of steam.
Then we received instructons to make it clear to the membership that the low pay campaign was an among th campaign; that there was no
hadn' chance of achieving two-thirds to do this of the national average wage-
branch these the left-right
fierce, West
bureaucracy
quite In "74 you YULL OWE
no one
our £60 target - all in one go.
Basically, that we shouldn't get the membership over-excited.
The ambulance dispute over which I resigned became such a focus because in late November all sorts of not underway as a consequence of the frustration members felt about what was going on over national bureaucracy was terrified that members would get control and take action on their Any happened, they would jump on
paper, at once.
union over that period, and the problems facing socialists as full-time officials.
local authorities,
area placco
on-going November RH-A PUTS yOu Al RISK
PUN
WE WANT TO
THEY weNT LET US! A Lobby of AHA on day of Chris Adamson's resignation.
Friday, imposing a lockout.
Following disputes were my boss, 1 understood
claim. The which also out of Sunday,
little thing that
forward.
Ever since 1974, when the ambulance service was merged into the health service from
ambulance staff in the West Midlands had
Monday, been trying to iron out pay anomalies which had continued office health a enority. We'd health authority. on the movement of ambulances and
action escalated in order to get this was thing settled once and for all.
authority responded on view,
It was a atmosphere.
as they
able they
following divisional
reactionary November, by
discussion with the NUPE divisional officer,
more that instantaneous action would be taken to ensure that the lockout was made official, The TGWU,
had CHOCES political involved, made it official on the
Sane une following afternoon a NUPE meeting was to be held to discuss the way
THIS IS
IS A FULL THE NATI
PUBLIC E
1 Signature C
The union had supported the anomalies' claim back from '74 and it had never crossed my mind that we wouldn't get support. But by 1.55pm on the
at head from Alan Fisher downwards was saying there was no way the dispute would be made official - ever.
I said there was no way 1 would accept that position. I would put the opposite point of that resignation to the divisional and I handed officer. Then we both went to the mass meeting.
very emotional There were 600 ambulance staff there, virtually all those who had been locked out. They were furious as soon
heard of the leadership's decision.
There was a lot of personal support for me and consider-
disagreement with the executive's position. A number of shop stewards and I took a spontaneous decision to march to the AHA and lobby Twenty-four hours later NUPE made the lockout official, but
anomalies' claim. wouldn't support shop
Untortunatel COVe the
two weeks the officer who took charge of the dispute managed to turn it around and get a return to work on an extremely
/ basis. Somewhere between 10 and 20 branches
in resolutions to the executive council calling for a
inquiry into ambulance service and for my reinstatement, but the executive turned them down.
Electing full-time officials in NUPE would make a hell of a lot of difference. If you cleared all the officers out and said we're now going to have an election, you might initially get
right-wing group of officers, because of the general nature of the membership. But eventually that would sort itself This out and it would make the
struggle within the union that much more realistic.
Looking at my own position, there's no way I'd have had to resign if I'd been responsible to the membership. In fact, I was
NU•PE
TO CERTIFY THAT
ADAMSON
TIME OFFICIAL OF
TONAL UNION
OF
MPLOYEES
Hansa
responsible to the executive council, which was saying one thing and I was saying precisely the opposite.
Because the organisation of the union, particularly locally, gets stronger and stronger, the influence of the membership in a local dispute is increasingly effective.
There is no way now you can go to d group of NUPE members and say: "You're making a mistake here. Get back to work." They'll tell you to piss off, whereas four or five years ago they'd have said: *Ooer, the full-time officer.. Better get back to work because we've got no support from the union.
Where there is a significant lack, which I suspect the present dispute will start to put right, is that at the moment there is no national or ever
-TO! defence against the right-wing actions
the leadership and bureaucracy frequently take.
On the things that matter, there's no national leadership pull the strings. But I don't think they'll continue to do so because the feeling at the base tremendously SETONE The potential for the Campaign for Action in NUPE is enormous, especially with the fallback in what last summer looked on paper like the . leadership's progressive position on pay.
In 1977, prior to that year's wage claim, CAN, along with the Birmingham social services branch, tried to get together
stewards from local authorities, the health service, and the water works. We were incredibly meeting of about two hundred people pledged to take one-day action in support of the claim
My divisional officer and other officers were obviously very concerned at the turn this was taking, and we received instructions not to attend the meeting, which lignored
The initiative would have developed further, but we shot our bolt by over-doing what we should have done al the meeting. Every one voted for the proposal for a day action, but no one bothered to turn out on the day.
In retrospect it's clear that we should have called merely for a co-ordinating kept the thing going. But that experience shows the potential that's there.
contribution by CHRIS ADAMSON is taken from conversation with GEOFFREY SHERIDAN. It you know someone - perhaps yourself!
who could make a good subject for our At Work series, do let us know
Page 7 scan of this page
PTA UP FOR REPEAL
RELAND
WITHIN
arrested under its provisions.
North of Ireland.
By Brian Rose-Smith
The facts speak themselves. The overwhelming majority of the people picked up under the PTA are innocent oi any crime ol a terrorist
Nor is there any evidence to suggest that the Act 'prevents terrorism', or deters Provisional IRA from undertaking urban guerrilla warfare in this country
The IRA active service units (ASUs) carrying out bombing campaign in London, Manchester and Southampton during 1975 were little hindered by the then recently passed legislation. Members of ASUs were picked up in 1975 and 1976 as a consequence of operational mistakes.
The beginning of 1976 witnessed a closing down of operations by the IRA in Great Britain after the arrest during the latter part of 1975 of a number of key personel.
But as recent events have shown, the IRA has been able to rebuild its organisation in England and the Act has had little effect on its activities.
Nor is it likely to, for IRA activities are carried out as anonymously as possible.
The typical ASU will be composed of a small number of men and women who have no criminal convictions and are unknown to the police.
They will keep clear of Irish areas and Republican activities; they will not act in a way that is likely to draw attention themselves, they will stay clear of drugs and drink moderately.
n these circumstances the PTA is not going to provide much help in detecting preventing "terrorism'.
TUCAR
Tour
PHIL FLYNN, deputy general
secretary of the Irish
Government Association and
Public Services Union,
John Major, a branch secretary
of the Civil and Public Services
Assocition in Belfast, are th
main organised by she trish-based speakers
Trade Union Campaign Ag-
ainst Repression.
Ine tour's dates include:
Monday 12 March,
chester, 8pm, Cavendish
louse, Manchester Pol
aints; Tuesday 13 Marcł
Liverpool, 7.30pm,
Hall, Mount Pleasant;
nesday 14 March, Birmingham
1.30pm, phone 021-773 8683 for details; Thursday March, Sheffield, 7.30pm, City Polytechnic, Students Union; Friday 16 March, London, 7.30pm, Leander Hall, Tanners Hill, London SE13; Saturday 17 March, London, 1.30pm City London Poly, Fairholt House, Aldgate East. With St Patrick's Day social. Entrance claimants 60p.
the next few days the Prevention of Terrorism Act comes up for renewal for the sixth time. Since November 1974, when it first came into operation following the public hysteria over the Birmingham pub bombs, over 3,750 people have been
Of those, no more than 2 per cent have been charged with offences arising out of 'terrorist' activities. Some 4 per cent have been "excluded', the majority to the
This is not to suggest that the Act deserves support if it were
for shown to be effective. Indeed
there are fundamental reasons for opposing the PTA.
Chief of these is anther piece of legislation in a long line of legislative measures designed to combat the struggle Irish people
the self-determination.
If the Act has not deterred the IRA, what has it done? In terms of pre-existing powers and practices it was
the hardly necessary
In his book In the Office of Constable, the former head of the Metropolitan Police, Robert Mark, wrote of the PTA: "The police indifferent (to its enactment). The National Council for Civil Liberties were quite right in assuming that we would not let any legal niceties prevent us from dealing with terrorism and that we were therefore not all that interested in what we thought WES essentially propaganda measure.* Propaganda measure or not, the Act increased police powers to an unprecedented extent in vital areas.
It enabled them to arrest people for no particular crime and to hold them for up to SCYCIE days without inconvenience of producing them in court.
It introduced new offences couched in ambiguous terms, making it an offence to support the IRA in any way.
to Eventually, therefore,
Act has had two only effects. In the first place it has people.
enabled the police to intimidate and harass Republicans Secondly, the Act and provided the police with the
means to gather information on
Her word, visplay zz per co i Deadline: Com Saturnav h pablication. Payment in advance.
MAY DAY GREETINGS: trades council Your trade narn
and
allowing the item to be raised at the March or Anril maati: f0 2XD. Weppler, PO Box 50, Londo copies of the circular, including rate
tour
CHARTIST (incorporating Hernational) new bi-monthiy mai ine. rirst issue contains anticies ? une Labour Lent. socialist teminien
Man- Government: Price e5p t my boce Controls.
All ur issues for E1.50
Pro maaro cast connicta corection i
AUEW Wed- Chartist
WOMEN AGAINS Violence Anainet
15 Women. Week of local actions leading
National remonstranon/carnivai in Leeds on paluraay iu maren assemoe tom woodhouse voor (eeesb women
off social (creche). All women welcome demonstration.
Ve will be having one main (WAVAW) banner so no other banners, please
of resistan vening in mercant tod
Oor to 11pm, 21 Star 5
£1,
that it is
for
police
police to
Sir
were largely
those politically active on the Irish issue.
Thus the police find the Act extremely useful intelligence-gathering ment. It is this particular aspect of the Act that explains the extreme disparity between the total numbers detained those actually excluded. the In that context the Act fulfils OlIC of the Frank Kitson-type insurgency strategy quires a large quantity of low level intelligence'.
Necessarily, such a strategy the envisages the arrest, detention important and screening of many innocent
To better quantities of information to be has oblallica once taken place, it is important that the police have the power to
WHAT'S LEFT
Maren.
Dy Longon Gay Activisis Allance LIBERTARIAN Spain No 2 bulletin of Libertarian Spain Committee, articles on workers struggles, Chartist Walmgate, York YO1 2T2. electons elc SPARTICIST League public meetin leforge the Fourtt •. Bo sheviem Speaker James Robertson.
national Executive Committee, Sparticist AISo: Roots c March, 1.30pm at Conway _ion Sq, London (Holborn tube).
WHOSE law and order? The increasing useor law acainst strikes. oickets occupations and demonstrations New bookiel brice suo inc odol rom ine Campaign ACaIS •London WC2. Tel: 01-289 3877 Women's
followed by
food, exhibition. Fri
POLICING
THE POLICE
Volume 1
Peter Hain(Ed.)
Derek Humphry
Brian Rose-Smith
Are the police becoming a law unto
themselves? This volume examines the
manner in which police powers can be
exceeded with worrying implications
for democracy. The reluctance of the
allow independent investi-
gations of public complaints against the
Force is analysed, as is the disturbing
way in which the sweeping powers o
the Anti-Terrorism Act have been ap
plied on a generalized basis to limit still
further the rights and liberties of the
detair. neir
without
instru- judicial review.
cludes an habeus corpus, charged questioning.
conditions of a counterthat theatre"
Whatever Mark said, there
enable large to 'ordinary' crime.
amATEESE BRES *Brian
aLHO! | book Policing the Police.
c4 Marci,
London N 129 ISABEL
St James Park tube. Organised
from LSC trade unior Leeds 15 March GLASGOW i •Politica Internationa Troops Out Now the Irish 10.30am Inter Inter Tenday Hall. Fri Red centre
Criminal c/o 35 Wellington St :apitalogma
programmatic Available Communisi London WCIV EXX
the
suspect tor a consid able length of time
interterence from you SoncHors or being subject Ec
Specifically the Act
prc application for and admitted police policy to refuse access to a solicitor during BILLY
The importance of the PTA lies in the application of Frank Kitson's theories to a British
may have offices who would gladpolice are few
repealed. On the contrary, the trend is towards extending its 'draconian' power
Rose-Smith is joint forthcoming
in your hand
odd wains?" ¡nAuc Union Dav Conterence on Chli The
NUH UnIV MOUSE
legates invited from all trade unior
Chile vonodrt Seven Sistare Ri
Pauls, Careers
MORALE March, Edinburgh 30 March. Film oni
UTOM emonstratio risoners Queens Pai Gates, Victoria. Rd, to march to city
ACCOUE
REVOLUTIONARY Communist Group
One capitalst crisis the workineciass of Ireland.
. Conway Hall. Adm: 20p Tues 13 March
Imperialism
Torano sM the mal
Cheshire
killed
You
don't
have to
be mad
to join
army
.. they
teach
CONNOLLY introhis song Sergeant Where's Mine this way:
'I wrote it a wee while ago after seing a documentary on television. It was about Ulster
children in Ulster, being in a terrible state with the war being on, and the soldiers in Ulster, being in a terrible state trying to cope with the
don'tknow what it's all about.
ane song usen enos will retorical question: 'But I can put up with most things I've done in my time. I can even put up with the pain, But what dae ye dea with a gun
When you're facing a hundre Kalings in te est Howard Mapos ina Belfast barracks last week confirms Billy Connolly's view of the Irish war rather than that in the swashbuckling advertisemenis put out by the Armi
Information Office.
Maggs, the official version goes, was shot dead by his own "comrades" after he had opened fire on two NCOs, killing one.
Whatever the truth of thai
Maggs' death does throw a chink of light on the state of morale of Britain's occupying forees in the North
He was not the first to go berserk, but was unfortunate in that he went berserk against other soldiers. Had he merely killed a couple of civilians he would probably be alive today.
example, in 1977 Regiment ( member David Scott opened up with an SLR rifle in the Catholic Strand Road district of Belfast. He
one passer-by and injured two others.
Trooper Edward Maggs
At his trial it was reported that Scott turned to a fellow soldier after his shoot-up and exclaimed: Tam cracking, I am cracking.'
The judge presiding over Scott's case took a sympathetic view and sentenced him to all of five years in prison.
Other soldiers have seen prison as a way of escaping a posting to the North of Ireland.
Last December Lance. corporal VICA8P Parkinson left a Doncaster magistrates court smiling despite being given eight months for a string of offences including drunken driving, other car offences and obtaining money by deception.
Parkinson's lawyer told the court that his client committed his crimes in the hope that he would LOUTE out and consequently discharged from the Army.
DESERTING
Parkinson, the lawyer ex plained, couldn't face anther tour of duty in the North of Ireland.
The effects of serving in the streets of Belfast. wherever have been described
Britsh Soldiers the ak mip on Ireland (available
328 Upper Street, London N1 at 30p), th ex-Royal Marine explained:
*By 1975 a tour of Northern Ireland was the worst thing that could happen. The number of
violence was prevalent and the cost to family relationships was
*Apart from the very recruits who have never been
ordinary soldiers is that we should get out.
TERRIFIED
Edward Maggs" father made a similar point on hearing of his son's death. 'He had been there before, he said of his son, 'and was terrified of returning. He was a victim of Northern Ireland."
It is difficult to feel any degree of members of the British Army in Treland, but Maggs' death gives a reminder that the ultimate responsibility for both the carnage mey nave causco ano the problems individual soldiers face lies with those who send them there
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
WASHINGTON ON A WAR FOOTING stabilise the 'third world'. The fall of the Shah dealt the most China and Vietnam, a war which further weakens the entire system
Today WASHINGTON is rapidly turning into a war capital. Not, perhaps, in the sense that troops are being called up for deployment to some foreign battlefield
but rather in the sense that top policy-makers Denneve ikelihood of a war is increasing daily, and that, therefore, preparation for war must be accelerated even if other national goals suffer in the process.
In the past few months, the Carter administration has committed United States in the thermonuclear arms race, and has ordered a massive increase in spending on conventional
And while Inese moves necessarily signal the outbreak of conflict, they will surely aggravate US-Soviet relations thus, increase the risk that future crises will result in war.
As one State Department officer told me in January, *we are now closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis
As in Washington of the early 1960s, when the Kennedy obsession with 'counter-insurgency' led
inexorably towards Pentagon strategists are searching for opportunities to test out their new weapons and tactics - except now the emphasis is on desert warfare and on "high intensity' operations in hypothetical European and Middle battlefields.
US combat forces completely re-equipped tanks, PGMs (precision-guided munitions, also called smart Domos
The White House has ordered the Army to deaw up plans for construction of a factory to produce "binary
weapons. According to The ton Post, the new plant will be located
Pine Bluff
[Binary weapons would
separately encased chemicals
would mix together to form the deadly nerve gas only after the shell or bomb
was on its way to a target. At the same
four-year hiatus, used nerve
During the exercises, held at Redstone
Arsenal, Alabama, small quantities of
nerve gas are released
decontaminated by chemical weapons
specialists.
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 8
1979 HAS WITNESSED the continuing inability of imperialism to
devastating blow to the United States since the fall of Saigon.
there is a war between North confrontations in southern Africa, civil wars rage in Uganda and Chad, and Belgian paratroopers have gone to aid Mobutu in Zaire.
By Michael T. Klare, Washington
'smart missiles),
and launching systems.
emphasises the 'usability"
the US interests in the Washington renewed abroad. do not for instance,
and,
probably were (in more interdependent; resource-dependent WOrld.
Administration's
Vietnam,
talking In
mastern for highly
are being NATO. with LICH
provocative grammes
the WashingUS withdrawal from Arkansas. use two disputes would be settled
gas in
and then Finally
and South helicopters, and fighter planes, and the strategic nuclear arsenal is being 'modernised' with a new generation of missiles, warheads,
All this is being accompanied by a change in US strategic doctrine which
of nuclear weapons in limited' conflict situations.
With the collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran — and with it the policy of relying on client powers to defend
third world favour is heading towards interventionist posture
Commenting on the Iranian crisis, lobby!)
Secretary COT Derence Harold Brown observed: "I think that's a worse problem than it was in the 1950s and 1960s. You say how could it be worse than Vietnam? What I'm saying abroad. is that our vital interests are more likely to be involved than, in retrospect, they
Vietnam). We're we're more on the outside
Given this fact, he added, 'We might have a very difficult time avoiding the choice between active participation in conflict...or severe damage to our national interest and resources.'
To demonstrate that he was not
abstract terms, Brown revealed that "planning is going ahead'
mobile, hard-hitting specialised force for conflicts outside of
On Capitol Hill, it is hard to find law-makers who will speak out against
CIeW weapons, probelligerent statements by the administration.
Equally chilling is the atmosphere in
press, the universities, and the think-tanks. People who applauded the
Vietnam and spoke of a 'new world order' where
peacefully NATO and plathing for a future US advocate the revitalisation 'oil intervention' in the Persian Gulf.
(Klare goes on to detail the massive increase in military spending and the projects it is going on: neutron bombs, cruise missiles and a number of lesser known projects. He also reveals that there is talk of creating a standby draft system for all young men and women.
and most absurdly Carter's choice for director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency is in
Yemen, Alter announcing that the United States would not proceed with the procurement ou much-detested neutron bomb, President Carter has
authorised the production and stockpiling of neutron bomb
thus permitting instantaneous production of complete bombs at any future date.
of new nuclear We DOES opposed to the SALT agreement, and a member of the Coalition for Peace Through Strength, pro-military
All of these developments have been accompanied by a shift in attitudes about the use of military intervention to solve US political-economic difficulties
Whereas after Vietnam many leaders argued that we should spurn military means in favour of diplomatic and economic measures in future third world crises, today many of these same figures are suggesting that intervention may be appropriate in some situations.
If the Angola crisis of 1975 (when Congress Caricipation in the civil war there can voted block
be seen as the high point in the pendulum's swing towards interventionism, then the Zaire crisis of 1978 (when Carter placed the 82nd Airborne Division on alert for possible deployment in Zaire's embattled Shaba Province) was the mid-point in its swing back in the opposite direction.
As one State Department official said at the time, 'We are now at the Tonkin Gulf stage in Africa'
And while it would be foolish to predict a repetition of the Vietnam entanglement - with many thousands of US troops involved in a protracted ground war — it is not so unrealistic to envision a US "lightning strike' topple a radical Arab regime that blocks US oil supplies or to overcome some other threat to US economic "survival".
By now you must be asking: why this dramatic upturn mintarism interventionism at this time? Of course, there is no simple of definitive explanation for what is obviously a complex and challenging situation, but I will try
identity al cast some underlying causes.
First, US military preparedness has become a major political issue, in that
After the shah's fall
of post-capitalist states.
discuss Soviet foreign policy.
potential presidential candidates such as Senator Jackson and Ronald Reagan nave usea me soviet unreal Issuc Le embarrass and Carter.
And since Carter feels that the com- electorate might be vulnerable to such
"scare' tactics, he has moved steadily to the right on military issues - thus forcing his rivals to release even more alarming statements in order to stay in the game These developments suggest that the "Soviet threat' will be a maior issue in the 1980 presidential election and, thus, will trigger a continuing increase in hawkish, Cold War rhetoric.
Next, we can discern a split within US ruling circles on foreign policy issues that tends to be expressed through the debate over the Pentagon budget. This split revolves around the question of US how best to preserve US global power in
the wake of the Vietnam disaster. Whereas some leaders — those in the business and financial community - emphasise the solidarity of the capitalist world (especially the 'trilateral'
Western Europe, and Japan) in the face US mounting
underdeveloped world, other leaders particularly those in the anti- security bureaucracy - emphasise th
expansion of US military strength and the 'containment' of Soviet power The former group (which I have elsewhere called the "Traders') believe that the USSR will become increasingly dependent on Western technology and thus will be less prone to challenge US interests, while the latter group (which I call the "Prussians') argues that only a massive build-up in US military powe will discourage moves.
And while this debate normally takes place behind the closed to corporate board rooms and govern-
ment offices, during the annual debate over the US defence budget, when the hard-liners release exaggerated data on Soviet strength in order to win congressional and support for higher military spending.
And given the already mentioned, naturally tends ever-increasing military budgets Economic factors also play a role in this process. Inflation in the defence industries is running at about twice the rate as in the economy as a whole, with
The only joy for imperialism has come from the war between We review the growing world political crisis over the next six
pages and analyse its broader implications. Next week we shall
discredit President And since
curb inflation, arms producers
need missi'es more than they services ("butter').
• especially
powers of North America, Such
demands from the
national
rights).
against
and OLIC mentalists, etc.
aggressive Soviet Following
doors of
it surfaces regularly Already,
political climate this process to result In
race.
CRISIS
| the result that arms firms must receive
larger slice of the federal budget pie (their principal source of income merely to stay in place.
Carter has vowed to reduce the federal deficit in order to
increases in military spending can only come at the expense of cutbacks in social services.
Such cutbacks have been opposed by unions, minorities, and urban leaders, thus touching off a bitter debate over national priorities (or, as this debate is usually described, guns vs butter). To ensure their success in this struggle, the
have launched multi-million dollars 'scare campaign to convince American voters that the
and bombers. (guns" need basic socia
There are also some sectors of the population which feel threatened by the political gains made by women, blacks, chicanos, gays and other minorities in the 1960s, and who, thus, yearn for a
conrormust, repressive atmosphere of the 1950s.
constituencies are naturally receptive to calls for a new Cold War and tend to link 'military preparedness with other conservative causes (anti abortion, anti-Equal Rights Amendment, anti-affirmative action, anti-gay
If I am correct in this analysis, we can expect that any further tilt towards a war footing in this country will be accompanied by increasing repression
reluctant sectors of the population - labour, feminists, blacks
minorities, environ-
the announcemen! resumed diplomatic ties between the US and the Peoples Republic of Chine, the American Press was full of speculation
US-PRC military alliance aimed at the Soviet Union
Washington has given its approval to the sale of advanced French and British arms to China, and the sale of US arms is sure to follow. And while Carter asserted that the normalisatior of ties with a contribution to world peace, it is obvious that any moves toward a formal or informal military alliance would be viewed with extreme unease in Moscow and could result in a further escalation of the global arms
Page 9 scan of this page
By Our Foreign Staff
JIMMY Carter's recent
the Bazargan which was
in the circumstances,
imperialism reverse. top general said that
National Front leader Foreign Minister
the continuing
and militancy
example,
by last week's decision by
arms contract, Chieftain tanks aircraft missiles.
US capitalists
billion's worth of arms deals.
mythical bogey
the West
movement, WOLKCES simultaneously
the threat everywhere.
It is too simplistic to
that Pahlavi's Hassan, is popular analogy
poor and Egypt, understand this
What
that he had no intention of interfering in Iran's internal affairs was as ironic as his call for China to get out of Vietnam
The US President's declaration came during his statement of recognition of
echoed by Foreign Office. It was all they could do
but the brave professions of faith in the new order in
hide the fact has suffered a terrible
No doubt the next move will be to try to enlist the support of the Khomeini regime for the US-backed status quo in the Middle East. Under the Shah the presence of large numbers of American 'advisers - white-collar mercenarie! — was a major way of doing this.
Khomeini has indicated all along that he is not opposed in principle to th presence of advisers, and last week
many of the advisers who had fled the country were welcome, indeed invited, to return.
A foreign diplomat quoted in the New York Times explained the role of
in the government: His mission is to preserve
hegemony national bourgeoisie of Iran and to protect it from the revolutionary forces uncasica by a year or sure, sulkes
But much of the damage has already been done. The economic impact, for
has already been considerable. British companies have been hit
Iranian regime to cancel the $2 billion
which and Rapier
have similarly: even before the insurrection the Bakhtiar government had cancelled $7 billion out of the planned $12
As we noted a couple of weeks ago, the oil companies are worried that the
they conjured up during the 1973-74 crisis the 'third world' taking its revenge on
- may yet come true if Khomeini is unable to control the mass
and particularly the
But far more serious are the 'geopolitical' implications of the overturn. The flight of US personnel and the disruption of CIA monitoring activities in Iran are bad enough for imperialism. With the fall of the monarchy,
loses its military ally in Central Asia and faces
of similar
say, example, that Sadat is Egypt's Shah (or
present host, Morocco's) But signifies that the Iranian revolution marks a decisive new phase in the mass struggle in the Middle East — and autocrats, particularly in
populous countries like
The alliance between the new Iranian regime and the Palestinians underlines this lesson. At a time when the Arab regimes are looking towards a political accommodation with American im-
the west
lost in Iran
declaration Arab
The
Israeli
the British
that shares
large monarchy,
Sanjabi, the
Bazargan and the
of the
from
the new and the Angola. includes anti-
suffered machine.
themselves
oil greatest
upsurges
for
King this
perialism, the decision to back the PLO signifies a step in the other direction
bourgeois opposition to the Camp David peace between Egypt and Israel is likely to harden as a result.
new alliance implications too. It spells an end to
attempts to turn nonulation of southern Lebanor Khomeini's co-religionists - against the Palestinians.
But imperialism's immediate cause for concern is around the Gulf. Most immediately unstable is Iraq, which
with Iran population and a number of minority nationalities, principally the Kurds.
Bahrain too has many Shiites.
Arab population southern region transmission belt to carry radical ideas along the southern rim of the Gulf.
This is why the US has sent a naval task force to the Gulf and increased arms supplies to Saudi Arabia. even the Royal House of Saud, the Middle East's most powerful remaining
Icelng employs many Palestinian immigrant workers, for example
*If Iran goes Prince Fahd said before the Shah went, confirmed when he saw the television pictures of Yassar Arafat in Tehran.
But finally the fall of the Pahlavi regime signifies a further defeat for US global sudiegy in concept of regional 'relay posts' which keep their own corner of the globe safe
imperialism has workable. Iran is the third of these to come to grief - after South Vietnam,
The Pentagon policy makers must be unhappily pondering the that a mass movement can deteat ever
most sophisticated FORMER SAVAK chief Nassiri Just before his execution
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 9
ORLD
CRISIS
has practical
the Shi'a a large Shi'a
The Iran's is another obvious
But
uneasy.
God help us," Crown
CDCCI
the 1970s The
proven un-
South African venture into
conclusion
military
Page 10 scan of this page
Chad war
A THREE-WAY civil war is raging in Chad after the failure of an attempt to bring a former leader of the liberation movement into the military government.
Last year France, the former COlOnISI power, sent paratroopers to shore government of General loum against the guerillas of FROLINAT. They Malloum from certain overthrow but demanded in return a facead of democracy. This was achieved by the appointment of former FROLINAT leader
Habre aS minister.
But the manoeuvre has not worked. Long standing differ-
between Habre Malloum
nave open conflict, with a section of the army supporting each of them and FROLINAT, itself deeply divided, also taking part in the fighting.
Chilean excluded NELSON Gutierrez, a leader of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR) of Chile, has been refused entry Britain to visit his wife and daughter.
Gutierrez arrived in London from Rome on 6 February. At Immigration he was treated abusively and forcibly searched, despite his protests that this was against international law. The British authorities would not admit him, despite the fact that he had valid travel documents.
When eventually he asked to go to Paris the request was refused on the grounds that his travel document from Sweden, where he has refugee status, was invalid. This was untrue.
Finally, he was told that he could only go to Rome as the Italian authorities had already admitted him. But when he arrived In Rome he identified as having deported and held until it was established that this untrue.
Indochina INDOCHINA: Socialist Challenge International Forum with speaker John Ross. March, 7.30pm, Friends Meet ing House, Euston Road, London NW1.
Joe Hansen JOSEPH HANSEN died in New York on 18 January. publishing fund has been set up by Reba Hansen and Intercontinental Press contributing editors — Pierre Frank, Ernest Mandel and George Novack -in order to publish some of Hansen's writings.
The aim is to raise $20,000 by 31 March. 58,000 was raised at the memorial meeting in New York on 28 January.
Sponsors for the include: Robert Alexander, Tariq Ali, Robin Blackburp. Hugh Blanco, Marguerite Bonnet, Pierre Broue, Coates, Tamara Deutscher, Quintin Hoare, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. Louis Sinclair. Ernie Tate. Waters, Harry Wicks, Mary-Alice Evelyn Reed, Joyce Meissenheimer, Nahuel Moreno, Babak Zahrie, and Vsvelod Volkov (Trotsky's grandson).
The convenors of the British Fund — Tariq Ali and Connie Harris - have announced that contributions should be sent to the Joseph Hansen Publication Fund. 23 Lambeth Towers, Kenndington Road, Lendon SEIL.
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 10
the Mal-
saved
prime
and
the light of Iranian events.
WHATisan Islamic Republic' projected by Given. of course.
to course of the class struggle will
be the determining factor and not the doctrine itself, can you explain from descriptive point of view. The press has made a big deal of strip certain rules governing adul-
tery...
In a certain sense, there's nothing more to say what's been written in bourgeois press. really a system of Islamic laws. Rather, what exists is a small number of That's why when you want to show what being a Muslim means, you're forced to turn towards the most spectacular precepts which happen to be the most archaic. Few things are to be found in been was the Koran. Yet,
had a whole community was organise (in contrast to Christ's
small cohort of disciples). He did lay down certain laws for the society in which he lived. These were laws governing inheritance which that women could only get half legacy, laws prohibited eating of certain
16 oods and condemnation
some forms of lending interest.
There's nothing else in the Koran except a rather obscure verse where Mohammed seems to advise his wives to dress *decently' and to cover up their heads, and stipulation that perpetrators or une fornication should be flogged on the condition that witnesses testify to the fact with complete anatomical precision! here's STIO question stoning in the Koran. It was the Caliph Omar later in the 7th century who claimed to have 'remembered' that a passage in ic now book provided To toning; he probably borrowe the practice from the Jewish fund Holy Book, the Torah.
Can you explain the prominent Ken place taken by religious forces
today in Iran?
It's based on what happened in the past. Unlike in Europe, religion has not under the weight of two or three centuries of anti-clerical propaganda.
Basically, that's
there wasn't revolution and consequently no revolt against a Church which embodies the social structure of old: feudalism and monarchism.
For the mass of the people, secular tendencies are those of a
sanctuary of
Shiism
IN this interview with the French weekly Rouge, from which we print extracts, MAXIME RODINSON, the well-known Marxist authority on the Muslim world, talks about the relation between Islam and politics in
ruling class, imperialism and capitalism. It is the Europeanised rich who are not religious. It is the 'poor'
Khomeini? who keep the faith.
that the To this
mistrust of the Soviet Union because of what happened in 1945-50. The Soviet troops had purely invaded the north of Iran. They protected the Tudeh Party and helped to create autonomous republics around the Caspian sea.
But in 1950, they withdrew from Azerbaijan partisans to be taken. than mistrust is further explained by the disappointment the There isn't by the evolution of the Soviet
model'.
prescriptions. Are there any tendencies within
Islam that favour modernisation'?
can also There have
"radical"
Islam which have been at the Mohammed service of revolts or revolu-
to tions. But most often there was disillusionment: it was a case of 'permanent revolution betrayed' once!
A minority wing
provided radical kind emerged out of the
revolution of 1905-11. There's which no doubt another such current emerging today, though the of information we have about this for is too imprecise for me to discuss further.
Can you explain
particular about the tendency within Islam and its
crime of
Since the death of Mohamfour med in the 7th century, Islam has fragmented sects - kinds of 'politico-religious parties'
In about 1500, the ruling dynasty imposed Shi'ism as the state religion. But, if Shi'ism
gas rene of or the day he
government of the always maintained a financial independence. This wasn't the case In Sunni (another branch of Islam).
This independence explains how Shi'ism has been able to embody on several occasions an opposition to the contemporary power, as in the recent past.
In fact, since about 1800, surrendered Shi'ism has been in almost
permanent reaction to the pro-European pro-modernisation policies of
because the governments
bourgeois Between 1905
revolution with rank and file committees just like today.
To be sure, it's in Iran where the Holy places of Shi'ism are to be found. But Iran is the grand sanctuary of Shi'ism.
Iran: the grand
linked to
must be added
leaving the This
produced always been started the interpretations of
Never since
revolution'
all at clients to of this existence.
The Saudi
the British monarch.
what Shi'ite is the most into several day,
countries opposition, as a
and 1911,
IT is still not quite clear who
latest round of Its fighting in the Arab peninsula.
What is not in dispute is that
the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [PDRY] was established, there has been a consistent attempt Oman. by imperialism and its local
undermine its
Arabians have While consistently backed the reactionary North Yemeni regime. Yemen Iran under the Shah backed the barbaric Sultanate of Oman, language, recently graced with a visit by
The reason for this hostility to the PDRY was simple. It was The
militant anti- reactionary
THE YEMENS
SAUDI
ARABIA
NORTH
YEMEN
SANAA Taiz CADEN
War in Yemen
imperialist regime in the region.
opposition, moreover, was neither verbal nor limited
broadsides against the United States. It gave military sid and training to guerillas fighting against the Sultan of
The North Yemeni regime was inebted to Saudi Arabia both materially and politically.
the of separate North and a South
Blacks any national rationale — there is a common
common culture, and an uneven historic unity were are very suaro ponnca and economic differences.
North led by royalists and sion SOUTH
YEMEN
Tarim
Al Ghaydah
Mukalla base
traditional rulers in that region It is backed by US imperialism.
The South is under the control of
creme en petty-bourgeois nationalist organisation, internationally al igned to the Cubans and the USSR. The Chinese who initially backed the PDRY have long since switched their support to the North.
There was a Saudi attempt to overthrow the southern government in 1972. A full scale war was launched.
The invasion was halted after a week, but it was accompanied by a shock announcement that the two Yemens had united. This was obviously a conces-
from the South Arab League pressure. But it remained on paper.
The present conflict is a continuation of the old divisions. The United States has shipped in a massive supply of military aid. The Saudis have withdrawn their troops from the "peace-keeping force' in the Lebanon and their
placeu forces on alert.
It is obviously a case of Iranitis: the fear that the overthrow of the Shah might encourage the disease to spread in the whole peninsula.
DOCESS MUSe be cras the PDRY and its failure to fulfil its own programme. The regime, like Angola Afghanistan, has modelled itself on Stalinist monolithism.
In all three cases it is the East Germans who are training the secret police There democratic life. The masses remain outside politics
But the PDRY must be given support against the North. Its important strategic position would make it an invaluable
for overthrowing feudal-tribalist regimes dotted TONNA Be T
For that reason the imperialists want to overthrow the covernment. And for thai reason we must defend it.
Page 11 scan of this page
Women's day in Iran
Trotskyist rally disrupted
Workers Party,
17 ESFAND (8 March) is
International Women's Day.
On this day. all over
world, from Africa,
Australia, America and Eu-
LODC. who
struggling for their social and
political rights, for equality and
to free themselves from
oppression, gather together for
meetings and demonstrations.
This stems from 8 March
1908. On this day 71 years ago,
textile workers in New York
protested against inhumane
conditions at work and held big
demonstrations demanding the
right to work.
Two years later in Copen-
hagen, at a congress of socialist
WULLICH. [nIs dav was
International Women's Day.
In 1917 on this day, textile
workers protested against low
pay, bad conditions and food
shortages. This strike was the
start of a series of struggles
to
overthrow of the Czar and the success of the October revolution.
THE Iranian Trotskyist ganisation Hezb-e Karegaran-e
SOCIATISE (Socialist Workers Party) planned to hold its first
public rally on 2 March
Tehran. But the rally, the first to be organised by a left party, was sabotaged and prevented from taking place.
After a considerable struggle the HKS had forced the new authorities to let them use a sports hall at Tehran Polytechnic, but when more than 2,000 people, including workers from Tehran factories, arrived for the rally they found the Poly locked. They sent a delegation to the Committee (headquarters of the Khomeini militias who have taken over police duties) to Protest about tne situation. After considerable argument a group of militia came to open the building
They were reluctant to let the rally take place and it was only the large number of supporters which forced them to concede,
Grogan
tour
SHIAN GROGAN, from the socialiet shalence editoria Board has ine returned from Iran and is on a tour o meetings all over the country celals or the venue are not owen on
8 March. 1.30pm Salford University Drudents Union. 7.30pm Bolton,
LION 14- MarC Cardiff. Lane
meet arch, 1.00pm Birmingham University. Unio
Street). 23 March
THIS appeal is being distributed by the Socialist Iranian section of the Fourth International, for International Women's Day.
During the 1920s, fight for equality the down, this day was forgotten in Asia,
birth of the are liberation movement in the last
decade, International Women's Day became a day of solidarity all among all women throughout
the world to uproot all forms of ODICSSION and against women and to put an ena. to their inferior status.
For Iranian women this year, International Women's has a certain significance. After one and a half struggles, the 50 autocracy and brutality of the called Pahlavi regime have come to an
end.
In the course of this long and hard struggle, women fought shoulder to with their brothers for political and civic freedom. In this fight the they have not
differences between men's and women's rights and from tiny villages to large towns, millions and even to announce the rally on the radio. or- But no sooner had the rally
begun than a group of about 200 people in began disrupting it by heckling.
in The chairperson told them that
if they had disagreements or objections they allowed to raise them and eventually their spokesperson was allowed to address meeting.
He had little to say other than slanders against the HKS and a number of its leading members, 600 whom he accused
SAVAK agents.
There were strong protests from the audience. got up and said: We pro Tought and gave our lives to put
an end to such methods of slander and thuggery and now you are bringing them back in the name of the revolution.' When the HKS was accused of having insulted the Great Comrade Stalin' there were roars of laughter from the audience.
Having failed politically the disrupters turned another sabotaged the microphone. Since it was impossible to hold the rally without a microphone, it was eventually decided to DUSLOUIC IL The disruption time when the HKS's activities are having increased success. ITS line of uncompromising opposition government's attempts
-
A year of struggle has proved the idea of women's weakness and inferiority to be nonsense.
The thousands who have given their lives freedom and have been beaten
after the and killed by the regime bear
had died witness to this fact (...)
But with the country women proposed the VarIous
women's following demands:
2. Free nurseries for all; 3. The abolition reactionary laws that put the woman s ngat to
prejudice other hands;
4. Ine right to social autonomous women's groups (...)
Day organise all oppressed women into militant women's organiyears of big sations. It is in this way that our
years of success has been realised
through the united action of the organised working class and the oppressed.
Although world imperialism have has been badly hit by events in
shoulder Iran, final
revolution - a new society - is still a long way ahead (...)
put Through their participatior
militant women have that their liberation is linked to the success of social revolution. demobilise the winning support The recruit many militant workers, the audience including some who had played
La leading role in the general strike in the oil, steel and printing industries and the would be railways.
The third Trotskyist Kard (What published last week is now 16 pages. 50,000 printed and are selling so well that there may be a second run
of being of 20,000.
From next week Che Bayad Kard will be incorporated into a One young new weekly 16-page
called Kazegar (The Worker), the first weekly paper of the left to be published in Iran.
Paper sellers
arrested by taken to the Committee. But in all cases the militias have had to release immediately under pressure.
Many of started the disruption of last win week's rally are believed to be supporters of an ultra-sectarian they Maoist group called the Union of Iranian Communists. This group has a long history of using violence and disruption against other currents on the left. In the present situation, comes at a when
increasing attack from the new government, sectarian politics can only aid counter-revolu-
Bazargan tionary forces.
to The history of this Maoist
COMMITTEE AGAINST REPRESSION IN IRAN
CONFERENCE Saturday 31 March, 11am, University College, Gower Street, London WC1 Delegates' credentials £2, observers' E1, from CARI, Box 4, 182 Upper Street, London N1.
WITROUE and revolution.
on the road to
nas but
other parts
Equal pay for equal work;
of all
decide in
organise solidarity oppressed throughout the world. success we must
called together.
militants.
*31 March national Day goal OT Abortion Rights. there will be
and ending shown
London WC1. masses is
has begun to
recent tion.
SUCH demand
issue of the paper Che Bayad
Done)
copies were
paper
are often the militias and
the comrade almost
the people who
iS under
women's liberation liberation without
Now, by overthrowing the Shah's regime, the revolution
behind it its first obstacle. It must now organise the solidarity of women and
oppressed sections to defend these achievements and defend the freeing of women from centuries of oppression.
With the present success it has been made possible for Iranian women to celebrate this day with their sisters throughout the world, and to show their
with all other working WUHICH
To organise for this day a provisional committee has been
Participation in this committee is open to all
We urge everybody to help up make this day a success.
an Interof Action for In London • a demonstration starting at 1.30 at Hyde Park
Wiln a rally in Trafalgar Square. Details from ICAR, 374 Grays Inn Road, 4 sect casts serious doubts on its nature and the extent to which It was being used by the agents of the Shah's regime to create divisions among the opposi-
British socialists must protest Bazargan
and . that the Bazargan
A cartoon published in the journal Azerbaijan in Tabriz in 1907 shows clearly the weight of the burden which Iranian women are still fighting to throw off. government immediately give full legal status to all organisa tions of the left and remove all obstacles to their activity.
At the same time, now that SAVAK has been dissolved, the
open all SAVAK government files MUSI and expose how SAVAK tried to
disrupt the opposition by penetrating and manipulating 'opposition' organisations.
The HKS has now rescheduled its rally for fortnight's time. This time counter-revolutionary forces must not be allowed to disrupt Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 1
Page 12 scan of this page
total war.
By Our Foreign Staff
TWO scenes last week heralded
a new pnase in te pontical situation — a murderous air TENE into Angola and
stage-managed tearful perfor-
mance from lan Smith at the
1S001 of the all-white
parliament.
On 26 February British-built Canberra bombers bombed an
alleged Patriotic Front
near Luso in Angola.
were widespread reports that
South African Mirage jets, with
threatens
Amin
By Richard Carver
THE claims and COULLCE. claims are hard to disentangle, but COMEDICC force Tanzanians and exiles loyal to ex-premier Milton Obote seems to have captured the southern Ugandan town of Masaka.
The belligerent President Idi Amin has appealed for peace -a sign that his eight year rule is finally, and mercifully, drawing to an end.
The story of Amin's discomfiture begins October, when between 2,000 and 3,000 Ugandan troops with air and artillery backing pushed 18 miles into neighbouring Tanzania. They occupied a 700 square mile area down to the Kagera river, which Amin implausibly claims for his own.
Tanzania taken
Was SUEDESe both because the territorial claim was so bizarre and since the area is completely barren.
Amin was surprised at the hostility of African reaction. Most nIS East African neighbours condemned the invasion outright, while Uganda's Libyan ally called for a "brotherly resolution'.
Belatedly realising that the adventure was military disaster, Amin agreed to pull out. The Tanzanians, hardly surprisingly, did not believe a word of it and continued to pour troops into the Kagera salient. That was the beginning of the present war, which has
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 12
Raid on Angola
lan Smith ups
the stakes
THE Rhodesian attack on Angola last week shows just how dangerous imperialist domination of Africa is. Ian Smith may try to push the continent to the brink of
And elsewhere in the continent, the crisis of the Amin regime in Uganda shows how imperialism still imposes its misery after the departure of the white rulers. Amin is the subject of grotesque racist caricatures from the very people who put him in power.
either Rhodesian African pilots, were on standby in Northern Namibia in case the mission was discovered prematurely.
The second event to some extent explains te Tirst. It Is not just that sentimentally attached to white rule. The problem is that his plan to transfer power to
camp stration is looking less and less There likely to succeed.
This substantial escalation of the war to Angola is an attempt
Army split
now worked its way wards into Amin's back yard.
Three for the invasion have been advanced. Amin's brain although it can be medically proved SCROUS Cause For lunacy, he has hardly departed from the norms of behaviour proper LO politician.
The first reason, floated by 30 Tanzania and a number radical African states, was that the invasion aimed to divert Tanzania from its preoccupa-
by
to raise the military stakes and, at some point, outside intervention.
British Foreier Owen WAS government missions of this sort will only sharpen the conflict...and can only bring nearer the point at which an all-out war engulfs the whole region.
South His
right. Unfortunately, however, role government in such a conflict WOLEHOL suggests, be on the side of the Zimbabwean Smith people.
Ian Smith knows very well that any imperialist involvement would be in favour of neo-colonial rule and, if it came to the crunch, of his white settler regime too.
Already Rhodesia has mounted a sustained campaign of
north-
explanations
syphilitic
tions as a 'front-line state' in - is not the The Mozambican government, south of
This for example, said: "The current aggression by regime is part of an imperialist bourgeois
strategy against peoples who could be independent.'
The second which is more easily supportable, is that the intention was of to dissuade Julius Nyerere's Tanzanian government from aiding exile guerillas supporting the liberal Obote.
to provoke
Secretary *The Deneyes
understanding is dead
British
Salemen
and Angolan Amin (left with vice-president Adrisi before they fell out
Obote.
COUNCIL
situation in Uganda. the Ugandan
critical.
explanation,
whether an whole
regime on such a basis September loyal marines
Castro in Angola — bolstering Cuba's aid against South African
aggression against its neighbour Mozambique. Two more air raids in the past fortnight underline Mozambican govern-
ambushed
ment that the
and only
COLD
The third and basic reason object for the attack is the internal
The crisis in the army, on which Amin's rule depends, is particularly
Expenditure
The confusion over the battle for Masaka last week is just one drain. example, when it was unclear
Cente Dro-AmIl regiment had taken the town boom. from the rebels or joined them! exporter
Amin thoroughly purged the army after the 1971 coup which brought him to power. He frost transformed it into something resembling a mercenary band, with British advisers at the top.
By recruiting from minority tribes and religions he isolated it from the population as a
1977.
Institutionalised political murder was Amin's style of government. Despite the vast network of patronage, it was impossible to build a stable
Inevitably splits have emer- 1977, ged. The most important, and exported, the one which seems to have triggered the whole current crisis, was between Amin and Vice President Mustafa Adrisi.
While not opposing military rule, Adrisi wanted to let up on suffered repression. He is now in exile in repression,
Amin sent to three responsible pro-Adrisi garrisons to restore order. In each case the rebels they
ment warnings that there is now a danger of total war.
In the course of the civil war against imperialist domination,
got wind of Amin's plans and
and defeated the lovalists. This was the occasion for Amin's initial announce-
Tanzanian troops had attacked southern Uganda
- which was obvious nonsense
signal for further army rebellions.
But, far from easing tension,
disastrou Wal with Tanzania has only worsened Amin's position. He has now fallen out with General Gowon
Brigadier Malyamungu, the top army leaders and the
two remaining coconspirators from the
They were foolish enough to
Amin's COLCHILI military tactics and now find themselves on indefinite leave.
Behind the political crisis in the army lies the catastrophic state of the Ugandan economy.
on the armed forces has been a constant
Things have got even worse with the end of the coffee
As a major coffee Uganda benefitted from the rise in world coffee prices after the 1975 Brazilian
Amin characteristically used racist the extra revenue to bump up spending on the army, without any thought for what would happen when the world market returned to normal, as it did in
. The already crisis-stricken state of the economy meant that the black market became the normal method of export. For example, of the 12,600 tons
of Arabic coffee produced i
only 2,500 tons wa the rest being smuggled out of the country.
The Ugandan masses have
eight years with a steadily worsening economy. Amin's Them military opponents are the ones
for extravagant that military spending and it was
who carried out the
ORL
CRISIS
South Africa invaded southern
Angola and the radical MPLA
government called in Cuban
troops to help drive them out.
Since the war the new regime
has been the subject of repeated
attacks, both open and covert.
The French and US govern-
ments finance the right-wing
UNITA guerillas in the south of
the country.
In 1976 the MPLA un covered the imperialist-
sponsored Operation Piano
Cobra 77, aimed at attacking
the country from north and
south. And then in May 1978 South African troops and planes massacred 600 Namibians at Cassinga southern Angola.
Only last November, on the eve of the anniversary independence, bomb exploded in the central market at Huambo, killing 124 wounding 60.
repression.
But when Uganda's rulers fall out among themselves there are new opportunities in the struggle for democratic rights
Amin doomed. It unlikely that Tanzanian regular troops have any intention of staying in Uganda, since this unwanted war has already se back the slow recovery of the Tanzanian economy. The main danger is likely to come from imperialism
Israeli intelligence put Amin in power with the backing of Britain and the United States -and has boasted about it since.
The British Tory government was delighted at the disappear ance of the 'pinko' Obote (who at that moment was their guest
Commonwealth conference) and became the first to recognise Amin.
But Amin proved troublesome. What worried the West more than his mental instability was the political instability caused by his excesses. He broke off links with Israel and established them instead with the Soviet Union and Gadaffi's Libya
It was only then that the
propaganda barrage began in the Western press carefully overlooking the fact that Amin's police continued to be trained in the US and a weekly 'whisky run" Kampala still left Stanste airport
In 1976 Israel, with South African aid, violated Ugandan territory with impunity Entebbe, and in 1977 the US began threatening invasion. even sending an aircraft carrier to the East African coast. That remains the central danger.
It is impossible to predict the outcome HERE present ferment, except to say that only
they are exceptionally unlucky will the Ugandans have another Amin visited upon
Their worry should be
the will manoeuvring to find a more amenable replacement.
Page 13 scan of this page
China out of Vietnam
Only Kampucheans can overthrow tyranny
FONG DING teaches English at a Peking school. At the end of last month he spoke about the China-Vietnam conflict to Claudie and Jacques Broyelle while on a visit to Europe. The interview is taken from the French magazine L'Express.
What have been the common reactions to conflict?
Disapproval and approval together with many shades of
opinion in between - are all to be found in the same current which gives 'critical support to Deng Xiaoping and the present "liberalisation'
Those who are against the war fear setbacks diplomatic and commercial level. Especially after cultural revolution, say 'opponents', China present a humane, reasonable, pragmatic image.
Those who support it think that the war will only have
On both sides, however, there is condemnation of the huge error made in supporting the Kampuchea of Pol Pot. continue to take place in Socialist Challenge. HAVING since the early 1970s embarked upon a course of considering the Soviet Union as the main enemy, the Chinese bureaucracy in turn used its hegemony over the Kampu chean CP leadership to whip up a systematic anti-Soviet and anti-Vietnamese campaign.
inflamed Kampuchean and did hesitate to appeal to the international bourgeoisie for and comfort against both Soviet Union and the VietMannese workers state
The Vietnamese bureaucracy could have made the outcome of this process at least uncertain nael presented to Kampuchean masses communists attractive aterialve of genuine Indochinese socialist federation. A federation in which the three peoples of Indochina would have enjoyed equal rights and all those forms of workers and peasants demo-
Chinese workers say.
The support for Pol Pot and the Red Khmers is condemned? seen grotesque. China enough of Maoism, and yet here it was supporting the only country in the based itself on Maoism at its worst. most This was so much so that the
the visit of Chou En-lai's widow to
Phnom Penh really tarnished her image, which up till then had been excellent. The mistake even rebounded husband, one of the few leaders whose memory is respected.
What arguments are used by those who support expedition against Vietnam?
the
They could have put up with the
the conquest of Kampuchea, the
the ingratitude of the Vietnamese must and their arrogance, but they
say that the aggressiveness of the Vietnamese, the treatment they inflicted on their citizens THE extract we publish below reflects the position of | the Fourth International on the Vietnamese invasion of Kampuchea. It was endorsed by the Political Bureau of the International Marxist Group last week. A debate on the issues at stake will, however,
cracy which would enable them to control their own destiny.
There can be no doubt that such a federation would have helped to solve the economic and social problems with which the revolution was confronted in all three countries in the after-
aid math of the huge destruction the and disruption
barbarism of imperialist aggression.
But instead of following such an internationalist course, the Vietnamese bureaucracy transformed the concept federation scarcely hiding
the domination and control. and The Vietnamese
racy's relations with DOVICES SITE DOOOL! in the eyes of the Kampuchean masses.
Under these circumstances, it was inevitable that traditional Kampuchean nationalist hos tility to the Vietnamese would
of Chinese origin, much to be tolerated. ridiculous, The responsibilities in this has had war are argely shared. Given
the impasse we're all caught in in Kampuchea, we think that world which there's only one solution left —
to appeal to Sihanouk.
You are prepared for a prolonged war against Vietnam?
Those in favour of the war foresee on between one and three months
Then, on't they tell that
down, but they there's not much risk of that and we'll eventually end up as the the victors. The others, in contrast, think that after a week of fighting the again unfold and give both the Chinese bureaucracy stooges in Phnom necessary basis irresponsible campaigns against the Vietnamese workers state.
In turn, the extreme terrorist methods of mass deportation and mass executions used by the Pol Pot regime led to widespread discontent, and demoralisation among the Kampuchean masses, thereby facilitating the attempt by the
grave bureaucracy
Kampuchean question through victorious a full-scale military invasion,
starting around 1978.
caused by the
By opposing the invasion of Kampuchea by the Vietnamese army, the Fourth International does not give an of atom of support to the bloody formula terrorists of the Pol Pot clique Vietnamese That regime was a disgrace for
socialism as no regime since bureauc- that of Stalin in the thirties has
Laos been.
But the task of overthrowing these tyrants was and remains the job of the Kampuchean workers and poor peasants.
Under no circumstances can this task be bureaucracies of other coun-
was too
prospect
victors nor vanquished.
intervention Union.
But which
conflict lasting
think
tries and their armies. and its
Penh the
for their
claim of the new
Pol Pot tyranny.
passivity
irresponsible MESS resIStance-
Vietnamese
the warfare present circumstances
Christmas reactionary
back against the
1975. regular The very defending
ism make
lutely imperative.
should oppose
given to the
war has already gone on too long. They are haunted by the
prolonged conflict which will see neither
Neither side seriously envisages the possibility of an armed
the Soviet
are the HOTe numerous - the supporters or
Any further presence of the regular Vietnamese army on the cover territory of Kampuchea will not intervention. only transform into a farce the The
regime in United Phnom Penh to be a genuine Kampuchean alternative to the
It will also strongly inflame Kampuchean national feelings against foreign occupation and risk to trigger off long-term
The • even une form of prolonged guerilla Kampuchea
which under the could make it easier for the Thai
dictatorship and imperialism to prepare a come-
Vietnamese revolution for the first time to Indochina, since its crushing defeat
interests of chea Vietnamese attached. workers state against imperial-
an immediate withdrawal of the Vietnamese regime! army from Kampuchea abso-
Kampuchea!
Workers, peasants and other oppressed peoples of the world
demands that the United Nations intervene in Kampuchea. Such intervention conflicts
while unlikely given the states!
opponents of the conflict? In my opinion it's the latter, the opponents. It was the opposite at the beginning, but unease has been gaining ground. present relationship of forces in Indochina and on a world scale - would only be a paper-thin ism!
for US imperialist US rulers used the Nations -LO mask counter-revolutionary moves during the Korean war in the 1950s and later in combatting nationalist forces in the Congo.
attempts use a pretext for tightening US military encirclement. diplomatic bovcott. and economic blockade of Vietnam should also be opposed.
The US rulers, who brought so much death and destruction
provide massive reconstruction aid to Vietnam, Laos, and Kampu-
with no strings
No support to the Pol Pot
and
Immediate withdrawal of the Vietnamese regular army from
Let the Kampuchean workers and peasants freely decide upon their own government!
Stop the military threats and
between workers
ORLD
ISIS
For a united front of all the workers states against imperial-
Return to the Leninist tradition of genuine proletarian internationalism!
For a democratic socialist federation of the Indochinese peoples, with a strict level of equality!
Against the bureaucratic dictatorships, for the demo. cratic rule of workers and peasants!
Imperialists hands off Kampuchea, hands off Viet nam!
ntercontinental Pre
INDOCHINA and Iran are the central features of this week's Intercontinental Press/Inpre cor (Vol 17, No 8), along with coverage of the French stee strike, Spain, the Middle East
the Indian women's
Single copies i are 30p. Sub. scriptions are £9 for one year £5 for six months or £2.50 fo an introductory offer of 10
Write now to inter continental Press/Inprecor, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. Cheques payable to Intercontinental Press/Inprecor
Page 14 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
LETTERS
Problems of Labour
councils
THE article How Labour councils
could pay' (15 February) provides far
too facile a solution for the very real
problems finance
Labour councils in a capitalist state.
As it stands, Refuse to pay interest
charges' is simply sloganising.
Local government authorities have
only three sources of income: rates,
grants from central government, and
raising loans in the money Capitalist financial institutions are
hardly renowned for their altruism,
and any local authority which with-
held interest payments would soon
find itself cut off from this source of funding.
As for rates, this is one of the most unfair systems of taxation. It does not discriminate between rich and poor. Our transitional demands include the abolition of the rating system (with a special super-tax on empty privately-owned buildings such
as Centre Point), and the introduction of a progressive local income tax which will place the burden where it belongs - on those who can best afford to pay.
This a demand
immediately realisable if the Labour movement brings its full strength to bear on a Labour government.
Furthermore, our programme should also include the demand for nationalisation without
of all institutions, such as banks, insurance companies, etc. This would enable central government interest-free loans to local authorities, provide capital for expanding the health and social services, education, the arts, etc.
While we must press inclusion of this in programme, we must be under no
lusion that such a policy is feasible under capitalism. Only a democratically controlled workers government, determined on a planned transition to sociansm, can rcanse unis
In a planned socialist economy, with profits no longer being siphoned off into the pockets of the capitalists, or utilised to finance imperialist suppression in Ireland preparatons against Union and other non-capitalist states, industrial output itself generate the capital required both to assure the workers a civilised living standard and to improve our environment and community services. CHARLIE VAN GELDEREN [London NW10]
THE DEADLINE for this column is
the Saturday
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Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979, page 14
BAD
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Soviet
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Ultra-left on Camden
I AM staggered at your attempt (1
of the most significant developments so far in the
dispute the pay award won by Camden NUPE into a supposed sell-out on the national claim. The article acknowledges in its first paragraph that it is a significant pay victory', but goes on to say la blow has been dealt to low pay in Camden' (not anywhere else, note) and that Camden should have continued 'to play their leading role by staying out for the full national
To my mind it is ultra-leftism gone mad to suggest that Camden NUPE should have told their employers
council - to get lost offer involved the consolidation of some bonuses (the Camden offer represents in the order of a 45 per cent increase for the large majority of the Camden workers and is almost certainly in excess of what will be achieved at a national level).
This is tantamount to arguing that for revolutionaries it has to be all or nothing...a position which would lead to the rejection of a return to work in almost all strikes, at almost all times;
which would guarantee revolutionaries an
consisting solely themselves (was it parts of the far left who made up the six opposition votes at the mass meeting of over 1,000?).
The logic of your article, however,
usually be kept down to 400 words in order to encourage as wide a range of contributions as possible. All letters may be cut at the Editor's discretion.
Unsigned letters will not normally be published, although we will withhold
on
time.
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SCREEN YOU SEE A STANDING IN THE DESERT IN JO DEAL
TOM NOT STRANGE is that the offer should have been rejected even if it had met the full claim. In other words, oppose local negotiations. This contradiction to your article the DICVIOUS week, which correctly argued that the offer secured by Camden NUPE's all-out strike showed to all public sector workers that their £60/35-hour claim isn't pie in the sky.
But instead of trumpeting this achievement, and suggesting that the Camden branch publicises success in the country, you denounce the branch leadership for having the temerity to accept the offer.
The only circumstances in which the branch leadership could credibly argue that remaining on strike (and risking having the offer withdrawn) would be the only way to strengthen the national struggle is where that struggle was, at the very least, on the brink of substantial all-out action. If that was the analysis of Socialist Challenge you have been manifestly reluctant to put forward the evidence. PAT MASTERS (Islington)
PSC lives
YOUR issue of 22 February includes a letter from a member of the British Anti-Zionist Organisation (BAZO) informing everyone that the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has disbanded. This is not true, and we are surprised that you published the letter without checking the information in it.
Anyone who wants to contact the
Box 98, Rising Free, Street, London N1.
NIGEL WARD (London)
Hats off to Camden!
THE INTERNATIONAL Marxist Group's Political Bureau obviously enjoys facing both ways at the same
The great victory of Camden NUPE is justly applauded in Socialist
orner of Reform Si eac
each the new technology NOTTINGHAM SocIalIsT
For details supporters mrouenout ine onanena LINC An eyewitness account o with speake Birmingham (021) 643 9209 TOL
SOUTH WEST ISLE OF WIGHT reader Socialist Challer
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WITH HIS Challenge (1 March): *If the eventual (national) settlement was to match. that one in Camden, then the attempts direct of the government to restrict further wage increases this year would be stopped dead. But then the branch leadership is lambasted for not having urged rejection!
Unlike Socialist Challenge, Camden Journal reports what secretary John Suddaby actually said at the mass meeting: achieved a great deal, although we their have not won our full claim...This is just Sine beginning should he have done Camden NUPE have shown the way; they can hardly be berated for not having taken on the national struggle virtually single-handed. How Camden's victorious return to work can be seen to weaken the fight nationally is beyond our under standing.
True, they didn't storm the Winter Palace, but it would have been irresponsible for any revolutionary to have argued for rejection. This would have jeopardised the unity forged in Camder NUPE's isolated) all-out action and the veryt real material gains made. In that unity lies the key to the future.
The IMG Political Bureau seems out or touch with ine reanties ol industrial struggle. Hats off to John Suddaby and Camden NUPE!
IRENE BRUEGEL.
KUPER (London NW5)
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ROGER ZWANENBIG
LeGuin's SF
Gilbert's puzzlement (8 February) concerning the inconsis-
between Ursula LeGuin's critique of science fiction and the
structure of her children's books should be easy to dispel.
Looking at LeGuin's work from these early productions to more recent adult works (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, ete.), there is a clear development in her thinking an increasing concern with issues o
politics socialism and anarchism, and the transformation of personal relationships.
Like many of us, she has been deeply affected by anti-imperialist
struggles and the women's movement, and the article reflects this growing awareness. Her
can thus be seen as examples of how an exceptionally sensitive writer can unquestioningly take over the presuppositions of the field in which s/he works.
Of course this doesn't exhaust the issue. Should LeGuin write a preface to new editions of the children's books attempting to explain this to her young audience - and would shi be able to persuade her publishers to
And, while accepting that LeGuin's breadth of vision in her recent work is something that most revolutionaries could learn a lot from, this isn't to say that it doesn't pose problems of its own, even in the terms of her article -why are the main characters almost always men, even when non-sexist societies are portrayed? What space is there for revolutionary organisation (or is this another alien)?
IAN MILES (Brighton)
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Page 15 scan of this page
What's wrong is that blacks are the object'
reactions from the press.
The Guardian By John Thackara
FROM THE START, television project was ridden with unresolved questions. Open Door normally gets an audience of 600,000 or more, tiny in TV terms but equivalent of about 10,000 normal CARM meetings!
We began our discussions on the programme nine months ago with disagreements about what this fact meant for the programme. Who did we want to talk to?
In the event, outside forces resolved most aspects of the programme's evolution. battle with the broadcasting authorities soon began over access to extracts from news bulletins.
We wanted to illustrate how "neutral' and "factually correct" news could be racist in choice and selection omission) of "facts', or by the context given particular items.
to take one campic. tne harassment of the Janmohamed family 'dumped on the Home Office by Hillingdon Council in front of four crews and 35 press reporters.
This request for news film caused considerable ructions inside the BBC, where some editors and producers could see that behind Open Door would look pretty sick if our group could HOL use the BBC's material.
But the hardliners won. Alan Protheroe, editor of BBC Ivews, Dur i to a top-level meeting of news and current affairs editors: Why should an organisation which might well
Journalists
discuss racism
By Mike Simpson A LIAISON group to monitor reporting of race-related issues has been SCE between members of the National Union of Journalists on three North London papers and anti-racists.
At a meeting two weeks ago WEEN journalists Camden Journal, Hornsey Journal and Islington Gazette, members of the Anti League and Islington paign Against Racism Fascism (ICARF] argued that there should be more coverage of the protems facing black people.
UNDER REVIEW
THE SHOWING last week of It Ain't Half Racist Mum - the Campaign Against Racism in the Media's Open Door programme on BBC-TV — brought mixed
said it was an
'Open Door' on TV's racism
Did 600,000
viewers get
the message?
accuse myself and my staff of LaCISHl be given treatment?' our other words, 'privilege' to be allowed criticise the news, and if racism is involved you just can't do it!
The result of this ban was that we had to deal with what were, for us, secondary aspects of TV coverage. dealing with light entertainment and comedy, for example, WCICCasy.
The role played grammes such as Mind Your Language, Mixed and It Ain't Half Hot Mum in reinforcing myths and racist stereotypes about understood anti-racists but much harder to explain or counter.
It quickly became clear that it only made sense to talk about racist myths if the nature of racism itself was put 'upfront, (or explained and illustrated early
Early scripts contained in five-line summaries an historical and contemporary analysis of racism.
The only problem was that it would have taken up the whole 29 minutes, and wasn't very 'visual'. So this section was decimated in the final script.
If this was the main political failure of the programme, we principle had many smaller disappointments about the way actually put together. Our raw OWIL material was literally hundreds of notated extracts from As programmes monitored CARM members.
So we started off intending to make a film-only programme, based on these clips, would be so subtly put together They also pointed out that there was a great weakness in limiting reporting to exposures of the fascist nature of the NF without confronting the issues which lead people local racist attitudés in place.
The difficulty of overcoming the editorial control DYCE content of articles was pointed out, but the journalists are to Nazi re-open discussions management on race-reportand in And they are confident of winning concessions - through strike action if necessary, they say.
important half-hour of comedy'.
that privileged would never have to intrude.
The was it's arguments would leap out of
to the screen.
This plan looked possible for several months. about the wonders of the Reilly caption generator, a machine capable of spewing out endless Not that sub-titles; of placards planted
in demonstrations with our slogans; of whole arguments articulated through carefully by pro-
Blessings,
blacks is
by By Mike Phillips
THERE IS no doubt that CARM has been the organised body in this country which has had anything serious and intelligent to say about race it was
in the media over the past ten years.
TV campaign in by been attitudes.
You only need to compare which the vague mutterings about
goodwill coming Commission for Racial Equ ality and other bodies of the kind OVCI that recognise the difference.
CARM has scored by making precise criticisms and laying out precise guidelines reporting of race and on racist attitudes in the media.
So it's no surprise that the CARM Open well-researched and generally irrefutable indictment adopt network of racist attitudes as
first they
media.
CARM is missing the point?
the Consider the attitudes that
you'll hear if you talk to TV and
with reporters, and editors.
In the past few years 1 have attended a number of talks seminars, and personal meetings on the subject of race and the media. And the one thing that sticks out in my memory is
contribution to the debate'. The Dail Mail made it their 'Pick of the Day'. The Observer announced: "Those interested in the sort of censorship that will prevail after "the revolution" should not miss this
the 'voice of CARM' assembled images
that our aropped,
We talked mises and looked
studio at itself. only
sound
with deeply the National CARM consistent in its cerning race.
The
the period to missing
on the
should be handled.
Door
of a Gloo Joe, Theatre — expressed in Why do I think that
Time Out's reviewer.
executives, black face to be time of my last magazine's office.
face to be seen in
It ain't half
racist mum
But as the deadline approached, such innovations were
along with huge chunks of the script. When it came to record the programme, the accumulation of compro-
time-restrictions first to have undermined the entire project
All the Open Door 'turn off' health cliches we had sworn to avoid were there: two presenters in a
CLUC mercy how far the people I've been talking to have internalised the Challenge]. attitudes expressed by CARM
sturdy
It is no exaggeration to say that it will be a hard job finding TOTECT one of these people who doesn't
like a liberal on the subject of race. Yet they are
involved in maintenance of current media For me, presentations of matters con
apparent paradox conceals a fundamental misun- that we all live. derstanding about the nature of Either
illustration of what 1 mean take
mysterious case the blacks. Time Out magazine in London might well be the publication that CARM
editors who supporters ought to find easiest media to influence. Elements within it are very much conerned about made the subject of race and how it without
Yet none of this prevents the
STOm its approval of a racist play
the Serierin blazoned in all the adverts across the nation. 'Man did it satisfy ma soul', wrote
And of course there isn't a
seen [at the censored for visit] in the I'm willing to bet that there isn't a black
Many of the organs where CARM supporters work and that would cover
left and liberal
JOHN THACKARA, describes the nine months of frenetic activity that went into the making of the programme; and MIKE PHILLIPS, a freelance West Indian journalist, expresses some doubts about its usefulness. ludicrously complicated technical apparatus. A long list of important questons lem out.
And, most humiliatingly, ghastly ending with CARM's address (PO Box 50, London NI - in case you missed it) on a bit of cardboard and a line saying: 'If you want to be active today, buy CARM for political
- or so it sounded.
The final result has been somewhat more positive. This was, after all, a rare example of newspapers, barring Socialist
To me, that situation spells a
barrier racial discrimination. CARM sup-
reply that discrimination is either symptom or mere by-product of a number of political factors and tendencies
it is much more important than that, because it is to do with the way that I live, and I would argue with the way
discrimination becomes the first and primary point at which we attack racist systems, or attitudes become a mere distraction.
So it is quite possible for the
ELES racist to capitulate and seriously discuss all the points
by Carl Gardner actually changing anything. And they have been doing so for years.
As a result, watching Open Door, while I agreed with what was being said and admired the professionalism with which the points got over, at the end I had to ask myself what they thought they were doing.
could racist content, what result will be obtained? Will it make it easier for blacks res get jobs, houses, and the
I doubt it. But then, I doubt that CARM is about that. And here again we start from very
secretary of CARM, criticism of television on television, and the programme did manage to explain at least some of the ways the media operate to promote or reinforce racism.
Sure, Sir Michael Swann hasn't resigned yet...but it's early days. And hopefully w have shown to other politica campaigns the possibilities o making use of even the very limited access offered by Oper Door. different bases.
CARM, in spite of what ought to be a backbone of hard-line political commitment, is still dominated by ar essentially way of thinking about race in which the problem of race is partly the result of right-wing propaganda.
Turn that view around and it is very • similar Daily Express view of the role of the left in industrial relations. disagree with both.
My own view is that racism in Europe is a fundamental aspect of the way the culture grew up and functions. Racial equality has to be the key. It seems to me that what CARM has done so far is merely to talk around that issue.
At one of the last meetings on race that I attended - a social last person was a hieral or last person was a liberal some kind of the participants tron Lambeth spoke about what happened
began to get black colleagues in the office.
"It was puzzling because we were all anti-racists, but having blacks in the office imported a kind of racial strain that we saw every day outside
At the moment what's wrong is that blacks are the object. The only way to change that CUuaLO! -Is to eno discrimi nation and it's time that CARM moves that consideration to the top of its list of priorities.
Socialist Challenge 8 March 1979 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge •WHO NEEDS ENEMAS WHEN YOU VE GOTENNALS?
the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Printed by Feb Edge Litho Ltd (TU),
the public sector pay battle.
industrial action for their claim.
accept the pay deal.
By Patrick Sikorski
Health Minister David Ennals has fallen in love. His heart has gone out to the Royal College of Nurses, which has renounced industrial action in favour of moral appeals for more pay.
It is the stuff concordats are made of - the same concordat, endorsed by the government and union leaders, which helped to persuade the majority oflocal authoritymanual workers that 9 per cent plus El on account was the best they could hope for in a BOOZI SCLECTICE.
Their vote in the NUPE ballot, announced on Tuesday, was to accept the offer by a
LOCAL government manual workers in Merseyside voted to reject the employers' national offer at a Sunday. The Merseyside liaison committee, representing GMWU, NUPE and TGWU, issued the following statement:
*This offer is an insult and we must reject it. How can we get a better deal?
'At present we are tied to a national agreement which covers all local authority manual workers in Britain, with the exception of those
EACH week one of us has to sit down at the typewriter and try to inspire you to send money.
Domestic: 6 months, £5; 12 months, £10
Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, £10 per annum.
Multi-reader institutions: double individual rate
Name
Address
I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of
"Socialist Challenge'. Complete and return to:
Registered with
HEALTH workers have moved into the front-line of
Ambulance staff and hospital ancillaries in NUPE have voted to reject Alan Fisher's pay package, and this Friday 80,000 nurses in NUPE are due to start
They will need to build for nationally co-ordinated all ou action if they are to confront the obstacles that have led the majority of local authority workers to
Support
the health
workers!
majority of six to four. The Transport and Workers and the General and Municipal had already accepted the deal nationally.
The I CaSULS for
lessons for the ambulance and
Merseyside fights on
groups who have broken away rom the national agreement and achieved local negotia-
"Our wages are at present the negotiated by full-time union officials. These people cannot appreciate our problems cause they do not have to bring up families on our wages. *The incompetence of these national officials self-evident in the way they have handled this dispute and HOW have the audacity recommend such
OUR FUND DRIVE
And even when respond magnificently us which incidentally you haven't this week — we still have to sit
SUBSCRIBE!
Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
XXX
General
ancillary workers fighting on for E60 and that hours, and for the nurses who
have now joined them in battle. The need, first of all, to
offer to us. *Merseyside does not even have a representative on the national negotiating body. •We must take the initiative shown by the workers in the London borough of Camden. be- They put pressure on their local
council and have achieved £60 for 35 hours. Local negotiations are the only has been Merseyside must break from
the national agreement and fight for local negotiations.
to •We must exert a maximum pathetic amount of pressure on our own
you do down at the typewriter and say:
'Great, now do it again'.
So it is a rather thankless task and inspiration is hard to come by.
But it is important. Without our weekly generous readers and their fund raising efforts this paper would soon go down the drain.
Less than a month from the end of the quarter we still have nearly £1,000 to raise to meet our target.
And we didn't raise all that would have quarter.
In fact we're trying not to panic - we have faith in our supporters depend mountains. And unfortunately our debts are looking rather like a mountain at the moment. With the
IN THE BANK
who are 35 accepts this offer.
on strike indefinitely,
answer.
negonanons Industrial tinue for the full claim. tunities
income from a day.
supporters.
for us as well.
liked last
those who but we can't against the
criminalise it.
SHOYC Meanwhile IMG member kos
weather getting
DEDiCATION EL THE AGE OF
INELATIONE
overcome the divide and rule tactics of the union leaders.
They began by settling the water workers' claim, weakening a united struggle, and will 17,793 has
offer.
NUPE
council to continue the fight even if the rest of the country
*The key groups of workers 'Who needs
can sustained providing the finance comes in. This is a fight that we are capable of winning.
It is a fight we must win.
"Reject the employers' offer Reject the sell-out by national union officials. Fight for local
action will con-
better there are more oppor
raise money outdoors. People always fee more generous in the sun.
Tread in some paper recently that buskers can make up to £40 keeps you fit.
I'm sure there is an abundance of musical talent knocking around among our
So why not give people some entertainment and raise money
You can do it anywhere you may get moved on but it's week. not a criminal offence yet. In fact you can add your voice to S Bradbury
are protesting proposal MB Middlesbrough R Withecombe Winn Anon planning to go on a 40 mile Anon sponsored walk over the North D Khamis
WE TOO
LIVE IN
form 1974.
now insist that the votes of the three sections in the NUPE ballot be counted separately -although in total a majority of
rejected the pay
ancillaries have thrown out the offer by four to one, and ambulance staff have shown their contempt for Mr Fisher's package by seven to one. The nurses who have asked
cucula. when WINCHESTER
Saturday, 10 March
The NF is marching for Robert Relf, convicted racist. ANLcounter-mobilisation, assemble lpm at Winchester railwaystation.
Yorkshire moors at Easter.
Why don't other supporters plan this kind of activity - a
you Just feel like sponsoring Roy I'm sure we can tell him if you write to us.
For the moment just bear in mind that E1,000 that we need by the end of March and send in any money that you can spare
Thanks to all our supporters who did send in money this
1.00 Norman Lockhart 10.00 Brunel Univ supporters 21.20
15.00
10.00 10.00 NI 2.00
you've got Ennals?' have also rejected the same offer.
Unity between these workers is now vital. NUPE nationa officer Bob Jones's call for local action committees to organise action by nurses should be extended include other unions and other workers.
The union leaderships' policy of selective action did much to undermine the local authority
battle. Nationally CO ordinated all-out action, with emergency cover, would trans-
the struggle in the hospitals.
Nottingham miners have already pledged their support
Many nurses request. It was that kind of solidarity which •lifted the nurses off the poverty line in
And it is such support from the labour movement which can put paid to the Royal College of
Nurses' cap in hand pleading which the media is anxious to encourage all nurses to adopt.
Local authority workers continue to fight for their claim in a number of areas, and this is now likely to result in demands for local settlements. NUPE's London divisional council is holding a shop stewards rally at Conway Hall at 7.30pm on 1: March to attempt to coordinate action public sector workers across London.
S Little 3.50 H de Ley (Belgium) 20.00 GCV Arbitrary 10.00
WEEKLY TOTAL £107.70 CUM TOTAL £1,647.03
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