Socialist Action No. 116, 4 October 1985
The scan: 116-oct-04-1985-SA-UK.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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COMMUNITIES
2 November March against apartheid FREE MANDELA!
Cherry Groce, shot by the police THE OUTRAGEOUS shooting of an innocent wman in the back, and Brixton's revolt against it, refutes everyone who claimed that Handsworth was a product of 'criminality' and the answer was 'law and order'. Handsworth and Brixton are the result of Thatcher's Britain: the result of
SOCiAList
ACTION
&6 On platform after platform I have referred to the problems endured by the ethnic minorities. But it wasn't until our strike when I witnessed at first hand the full fury of an organised state machine that I truly identified with the problem of black people in the heart of our major cities in Britain... Arthur Scargill
racism, social deprivation, and repressive and racist policing.
There is only one course to guarantee Labour's victory: to align itself with all those who have the courage to stand up to Thatcher: black people, miners, councils facing
DEFEND
Greenham women.
them - not, like Hattersley and Kinnock, to lead hounding them. Defend the 400 arrested in Handsworth, the 250 in Brixton, the miners jailed and sacked for fighting back.
doubted gains Kinnock have made, the Labour Party conference has registered three steps forward on which its future must be built.
First, the prospect as we press of a vote to back the NUM's demands to conference. ly, the similar prospect of support for surcharged councillors. And, as significant as both of these, the advances made by the black section. The black trebled its vote. It brought to its support the NUM, NUR - against Knapp's opposition surcharge, the kind of alliance
THE BLACK
And the first step is to defend
the pack in after the debate:
That is why, despite the un-
Pauls, Hattersley and
by
go to
Second- labour movement.
section nearly
NUPE, the
and other unions. This is
on which they
Inside
Amir Khan on Sparkbrook
Labour's real future will rest. As Marc Wadsworth, vice-chair of the national black sections told us
WE IN THE black sections warned that Handsworth was signal of the fire next time - in Southall, Bradford, Toxteth, St
Brixton, and all of Bri-
winsventer cities ed is a tragedy
wehave been proved right. cannot solve the criminal neglect of black people in the inner cities
police repression, brutality, and containment. Black youth are involved in a class struggle and must be defended by the whole
In the black section debate we almost trebled our vote. We made significant headway in CLPs where we got almost a half, compared to less than a third last year. The NUM stayed with us, and we gained support from NUPE after tions
consulted their black
No. 116 4 October 1985 30p
Black section debate
Tony Benn 1 South Africa solidarity members — who said a resounding 'yes' to black sections. The NUR and ACT, who supported
once more, also voted for black sections. All these unions should act as an example to the rest of the labour movement.
They are not telling us how to win our struggle, they are supporting us because black people are making the demand for the right to self-organise. We've seen, in Brixton and Handsworth, what happens when black youth fail to be given a real voice in British politics.
Hattersley has sent waverers on the left a clear message. He has replaced John Goulding on the national executive as their chief witch-hunter of progressive issues in the movement. The left must now make a clear choice: support Hattersley, or support black sec-
the struggle for socialism.
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2 Socialist Action 4 October 1985
ACTiON
The answer to
Kinnock
THE BEGINNING of this year's Labour Party conference summarised perfectly the situation in the labour movement.
Overall the conference was a clear shift to the right. But there was significant minority op position on three key questions - on the miners, on the black struggle, and on the fight of the inner cities.
Neil Kinnock's slashing attack on those who cling to old dogmas is all the more disgusting because those he attacks are those who are leading the fight against Thatcher, those the Labour Party thusiastically also testifies that there is a fightback, though a minority one, and that those involved in it are a forces to be reckoned with in the labour move ment.
On the miners the path was clear. Scargill's leadership of the NUM has reaffirmed itself as the only leadership oriented to solving the problems of the working class by class struggle means which exists in the labour movement. It is only necessary to contrast Scargill's fight for the amnesty resolution with Knapp's capitulation on the question of the ballot to see the difference between Scargill and a traditional Broad Left leadership of a trade union.
The second crucial step forward was on the question of the black struggle. The step forward taken by the black sections at this year's conference was qualitative.
Last year the question of black sections could still be portrayed as a 'fringe issue'. Only one major union, the NUM, and a number of constituency parties voted in favour of black sections.
But this year three major unions - the NUM. NUPE, and the NUR - voted in favour, black sections moved to being a powerful, and significant, minority force. Given what is taking place in Handsworth, Brixton and the other black communities nothing could be more timely.
Third was the fight of the inner cities. While the majority of councils and Liverpool have so far déserve the support of the entire labour move ment — and got substantial support. and Liverpool are part of the most deprived areas of the entire country.
What is taking place in British politics is dear. The right wing is considerably strengthening itself. Not only has Thatcher moved the consensus' to the right but the SDP/Liberal Aliance has strengthened itself in its role of atlempting to prevent the formation of a majority
government. Within the labour move ment the hard right around the AUEW and EET-
grown bolder and more organised. But this shift to the right is not universal and not homogeneous because Thatcher cannot absorb and integrate those who suffer the cutting edge
They have stood firm since then despite their defeat and refused to compromise the principles on which they fought.
Faced with the intolerable situation in Bri tain's inner cities, back people on the streets and in the labour movement have shown that they too will not be crushed by Thatcher.
The situation is that relatively small, but inQuential minorities are fighting back and, indeed, are radicalising dramatically through the experience of their struggle.
This st wws how labour's left can build an fiance which can both propel labour to office and defeat its misleaders; an alliance of the working class, the oppressed, Fighting Thatcher which is forged in struggle.
We apologise to readers for an eight-page edition of the paper this week. canistances beyond our control.
and hence should endorse. But Kinnock's speech
capitulated Lambeth stood firm. They
Lambeth If The miners fought one of the
and bearing the brunt of it,
full.
and all those
de.
This was due to cir-
Tony Benn
STU
rolice.
WE REPRINT extracts from TONY BENN'S speech to the packed Campaign Group meeting on Saturday evening before the Labour Party conference opened. The dominant issue at this conference is not now we look in the leading articles of the newspapers on the following day, but whether we measure up in our decisions the magnitude of the situation that confronts us. That is how we will be judged, and that's how the miners issue must be faced. The miners fought for all of us.
the Labour Party deserts the miners now it would be historic blunder that will never be forgiven or forgotten as long as the party remains a political party. That's the first thing to be said. Policy
If we let the miners down, no policy would be safe. Not a single policy on any issue would stand up if the pollsters told you it
immediately popular. If anyone honest-
whatever the outcome of the vote Lus week never whelming majority of the trade union alic movement will give up the fight, they are absolutely wrong. Nothing will divert us until every miner is out of jail, till justice has been done and until the fines Have been reimburse@ ln
Miners
We shall hear a lot about miners in South Africa this week, I wonder Il anyone on ine platorm will talk about violence in South Atnical wonder it anyone will say that the
African •VULI should have had a ballot before they took action against apartheid? The truth is this is a plain, simple, straightforward ques-
"We must refound the
Labour Party"
NATIONAL UNION OF
MINEWORKERS
tion which Joan Maynard- has taught us
'Whose side LUI are you on?'
Strength
It arises around Liverpool and Lambeth as well,
the other strength. One half of our strength is the trade union cara and tne orner nall 15
le right to a ballot pap
he abolition of the GL the rate-capping of coun cils, and bankruptcy LUC disqualification of coun
cillors is an attack on the central principle democratic Then we hear tonight of what has happened in Brixton.
no wonder wonder the Handsworth riots occurred the day they announced that Ted Knight, Hamilton and the others Liverpool and Lambeth would be surcharged.
Future
We should be talking now much more about the
The luture 1s future that the miners, the Greenham Common women, the councillors told us is in our power to shape. As you know I have the great honour to represent a mining area and what I saw there during the
— e o c tion groups, the women drainst bit closures and the mining communities -was a whole mass of people discovering ; that they were a hundred times capable as society had ever allowed them to believe. Peopie realise now that we don't need to be governed in the traditional way. We can govern ourselves.
I am 60 and I intend in the remainder of my active life of Ireland, to see us out of the Falklands, to see us out of Gibralter, to see us out of Hong Kong and to see the American forces, all of them, out of Britain. This
ul about maurasu It's about self-government and democracy. We wan the right to govern Britain Not just the vote once every five years, but the right to control the economic power which is the wealth created by those who work. And that is why we must look beyond the idea that we are only permitted put few workers the board which is all that Labour Muses de Transform
Our task transform and it wouldn't be anything like as difficult as we are told would be. If we are to rise to that task that history
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has placed on our shoulders, comrades, we've got to change the Labour Party too.
We musl nave a re founding conference of the Labour Party. It's not for me as a man to talk about demands of women although they are made insistently. But are not a representative party. If we had a founding conference now as in 1918, the balance betweer wholly different. It must
different. be different. The black secnons, to lake an exampie is only a tiny incursion into tures work. Ve must r found the Labour Party on the broadest posssible basis — open, democratic, accountable internationalist, and socialist too. Lesson
Just to finish. If there's one lesson to be learned, it's that hope our
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I enclose cheque/PO payable to Socialist Action for £ .. Send to: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London NI 2X+
News
NATIONAL UNION OF
MINEWORKERS
greatest ally Fear
say to people there will be paralyses us. When
a nuclear war, there will be
radiation, there will be a
winter, you
frighten people into inac-
tivity.
Our strength lies in
awakening the hopes tha
were awakened in 1945, o
putting to bed the fears
that led to the growth of
fascism and the return of
Thatcherism. It's a hope
Tuture vision ang an ab.
solute determination to
stick by d women, ensh
men and women,
black. gay, miners.
railwaymen, teachers
that is the way our move
ment will recover its sense
of direction.
Then you won't have a
hung parhament.
have a parliament with a
ple who put it there know
what they want done. All
we'll show we are serious
about trying to do it Special free book offer! Take out a years inland subscription and
we will send you free Over Our Dead Bodies -Women Against the Bomb
Introductory offer for new readers Eight issues for just E2!
Page 3 scan of this page
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4 THE APARTHEID regime South Africa bans the most important black political organisations. This includes the black {VILsciousness organisations of the 1970s and, most importantly, the African National Congress (ANC).
legal political opposition to the policies of the apartheid regime has therefore been
primarily through two united front organisations United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Natonal rorum. vi lat lwo the overwhelmingly
Democratic Front
THE MUNICIPAL and General Workers' Union of South Africa's response to this issue must begin by outlining how we see the present political situation. This is because our decision to join the UDF was made as part of our response to certain political events. These events directly affected us both as a trade union, and as people who identify ourselves with the struggle for a free and just South Africa.
There are four main political issues that effect workers today. These four
The increasing push towards bantustan independence for all the homelands and therefore the forcing of bantustan citizenship on all black peo-
LE USI
workers.
The
on this month. d.
are linked.
Bantustan independence All black workers are faced with the fact that they and their children are being forced become citizens of one or other homeland. homelands become independent - the situation
of the workers from that homeland detenorates
Thizease of Soure erica
South Africa but as foreigners coming into South Africa to get a job.
The new pass laws
The pass laws have
always been the way in
which the government o
South Africa has made it easy for the bosses to ex-
ploit black workers. These
are the laws which make it
possible for the governwonders got are not need ment to get of
ed in the urban areas.
The Community
Council Elections
The community councils
are another attempt
confuse people about who
the enemy is. This is done
putting stooges into
power in the community
Socialist Action 4 October 1985
South Africa:
trade unions
and politics
important is the NOTe UDF. This claims 600 atfiliated organisations with two members.
question for the black, non-racial, trade
African Trade affiliated to neither the
National Forum.
black
the CUSA
The MGWU on the United
councils and then oppress-
ing the people through
The new Coloured people are "included', a step in.
from the black we can see
If are no black
South (only
Vendas etc whites These are also of apartheid DalL
system oppresses
other
classes other com-
munities.
Colare
black are the
black
working the
struggle
not oppressed
people. must stand
together people
• unity of
of CYCL
of
be done
the capitalist
its affiliates the National Union of Mineworkers.
The non-affiliated South African Workers Union, the
General Workers Union, and the reneral Allied Workers Union, have joined just The Su.
In our next issue we
Here
Municipal
Both excerpted from Black Workers, unions,
for
by Denis MacShane,
Ward.
Trade Unions and
Our on these
but how can oppose them
ability the
with possibility stopping
immediate facing in the workplace.
Because structures workers together discuss
discussed. it is
tively as ine first line of
Alliances
Africa, the imain organisa
We are T0119 faced ways of
organisa-
blem.
The present politica situation demands a far greater and more united response than we have managed for a very long time By ourselves whether community organisations,
- YO will achieve very little.
•rODICI then
becomes how to bring al
different types
organisations together.
Herein lies the strength of
un organisation like the
In the real sense of the
work - the UDF is not an
organisation at all. It's a Focuss or a range of die- point. It's
focus
ferent types of energies.
represents the pooling of
resources;
of a range of
very different, auton-
omous organisations.
It is in all these ways
that the UDF is a United
Front of a broad range of
and
SOLIDARITY
put to the National Executive Committee during April. It was agreed that the matter be diseussed at the Joint executive Conn. cil (JEC) of CUSA on 30 April 1983.
request together with a draft resolution was
structure.
primarily
that themselves
unions are
class auton-
an in-
itiative the *new
deal'. This independent
opposition should
Even if
the WYC
tinues to as
union
BLACK TRADE
WITH SOUTH AFRICA
litica
SALB
various other
and the recom-
in resolution; the commitment was able to
tional Proposals.
posals of the regime on the
The other alternative would be for the unions to seping up of a Workers the any tat of a Party' will lead the workers the struggle against the 'new deal' This type of political grouping - it is argued would that the political goals of the working class are promoted. We disagree with this position for the following reasons: a. No 'working class par-
ty' ys ever composed
only workers.
Anyone who
prepared to fight for
the kind of fundamen.
tal changes that would
enable 10 0C
free would be welcome
working class
party.
Ali is true that a pro-
cave one cred
tion can most naturally
Lake rool amonest the
working class It 15
not true that a political
UNIONISTS...
Having further exanuned ine basis or toe cal.
various organisations regarding the constitutional proposals;
Noting that the Nationalist Party is presently in disarray and that these proposals may therefore
changed to white rule under different guise through reterendum,
Knowing that the white opposition forces and parties are themselves divided and without any effect. The Council of Unions of South Africa now therefore:
wishes to place record its complete and total rejection to the proposal;
• pledges itself to par-
ticipate forum work leadership composed of workers is automatically progressive. b. We mentioned — in the
first part of our discussion - the fact that it is the black workers South Africa who have suffered most under
tie vanous parts or tae
apartheid capitalist
This is because this system functions in such a way as to enable the bosses to make the
highest possible profits
workers xpany other
workers. other people have also suf Tered terribly at the
the rural poor for ex-
ample Some who will unite
with us will not be
Broad
freedom - but because it
is the same roac
unite and work together
Some believe that we will
be betrayed by those who
towards the achieve. ment of a just and democratic society;
• calls upon its
members lend their individual sup port to all efforts of community organisations to end this foolish plan;
• pledges itself to all
forces and all efforts to work towards a common citizenship Individed democratic and just society.
Following the response of various unions and the nature oi press reports together with intransigent positions adopted by some sections of the community CUSA is involved currently in an ongoing examins. tion of its attitude and role in the UDF and the NFC would get rid of racial discrimination but are not too keen to-shake things up any further. Our reply to this is quite simple
We believe that it is impossible to separate off apartheid from the capitalist system it has fed. A truly commited opposi tion to apartheid (and its consequences will lay thi foundation for fundamental change in the entire system in • South Africa
Our present struggle
does not have to be base on some abstact "idea society of the future. A struggle which aims to get rid apartheid - to get rid of the homelands get rid of the inequality graties of wealt, Ine
land, education, etc. kind of struggle — if it is taker to its logical conclusion -will undermine the foun dations of apartheid capitalism. The rest is up to us.
Page 5 scan of this page
solidarity grows
International
backed it worldwide are in a panic.
black ghettoes despite 1,000 deaths and 2,500 arrests.
limited concessions
campaign for a boycott.
but they yet lack the
beginning to panic.
the downfall of apartheid.
THIRTY THOUSAND
The majority of marchers WELC either members or members of black
vitalialUs cording to the Militant newspaper on 30 August
Harry Belafonte told the huge crowd 'We're here to tell Reagan we're going to bury apartheid
CHALKHA DI
August 2,000 members of Alpha Phi Alpha - the oldest black fraternity in the USA and rally against apartheid.
In Washington DC on 12 Augúst 5,000 people marched chanting 'Freedom yes, apartheid No' as part of a 'national day mourning for the
people of Semo strati®
demonstrations reflect strength of the Coalition for a Free South Airica in the US. Randall Robin-
leader or this new movement, pin-pointed why it was growing so fast: 'We march longer will 22 million so that no of
our people ne landless, voteless and oppressed
Black people ANCELA trade unions, on campuses and in their own organisations - are playing a vanguard role in this new upsurge in the anti-apartheid move-
So the organised labour movement. Among those manners Ine Washington 12 August
were American Federation of (government emplovees. the American Federation
• 100 people picketed the start of the Round the World Yacht Race in Gosport. TGWU member Jim Lowe had been sacked
refusing to service the yacht "Portatan, entered by a South African crew.
AAM, who organised the picket,
Contacing the New Zealand government have the yacht blockaded there. If that doesn't work they'll be there to 'greet' it when it gets back in March.
South African
BIG BUŞINESS in South Africa and those who'
The State of Emergency introduced on 21 July in 36 of South Africa's 300 districts has not been able to quieten down the situation as Premier Botha hoped. For a year now there have been continuous revolts in the
Western capital is anxious to get Botha to make South African capitalism. Even Reagan and Thatcher have been forced to make token concessions to the growing
While not yet on the brink of revolution the South African volcano is beginning to rumble. The black masses have the power to overthrow apartheid
means and the political organisation necessary to lead that overthrow. That day will come and the white western capitalists are
Below we report on what the labour movement is doing internationally to hasten
marched from
State Employees, Food and Com-
Service Employees International Union of Elec-
By Valerie Coultas
American students quick off the mark with protest action this time around IN the spring of 1985 the Jniversity of California in Berkeley 156 students were for demanding
$1.6 billion investments in South Africa. Five hundred longshoremen joined proles CAULCDS solidarity with the student blockaders. They too were
South African
Similarly at Columbia University students manded that administration stick to its divest the campus of 42 million dollars worth of South African stock. They won the supBUIL of clerical workers and a lot of community came from black trade unionists teamsters' union local, had divested their own pension funds, 51,00 and pledged 5100 a initial cheque 22-day blockade. government workers' union donated a
lare he area where toe
tect area where the doc acers vigil LOOK
• Sixty people came hear Betty Heathfield, sacked miner Dennis Pennington, North Wales Keith Hett and Nkosazana Dlamini, Weren doctor Fastener ting the ANC, at a public meeting in Connahs Quay, Chester. 'Being among you is like being among my said Nkosazana.
• Huddersfield trades council held a meeting of 70 and a picket of Barclays
sitt place and unions donated musical
the contrast between help to
tempts lo
elected COCKIN Sandinista
dent, and women
torced the
the United Even
South has been
An order, operative 11 tober, port of arugertand which educa-
blacks.
In these
banks and corporations
as 'not even flea bite'
token
the Botha They
isolate Bank with the Colne Valley After the picket a square in the renamed Nelson Mandela COrner The meeting part of a week of activities celebrating the trades council's centenary. meetings included
Betty meeling Watr Heathfield on the lessons of the miners' strike and a black workers evening which heard Marc Wadsworth speak on black sections.
ment — in particular if the labour movement leads the action.
Actions
The US is not alone in spawning a new wave anti-apartheid although as with Vietnam, LUNC has emerged in the United States first. In West Germany on 21 September 10,000 people demonstrated in Bonn and 5,000
West Berlin. clashes are taking place in government circles BOnn about not to implement sanc-
Debate
The coalition that built the September demonstration includes protestant youth organisa-
the Socialist ty (SPD) Youth, the SPD itself, the Greens, Communist Party anti-apartheid groups.
LOOK pace UVCI what representation should be given to different forces fighting in South Africa. The CP was opposed to representatives of the independent trade unions speaking from the platform As many West German trade unions have no boycott policy, direct lnks with trade unionists in South Africa
Swedish Metalworkers will also be campaigning at the upcoming engineering union conference to force that union to adopt resolution supporting practical economic measures. The Dutch Labour Federation, FNV has produced a pamphiet arguing for a complete boycott of the aparIncid regime. It las alse focussed attention on the activities of
Activists
diary
Saturday 12 October State of Emergency day
action nationwide focus detainees political prisoners repression collect signatures for AAM's sanctions petiLOKS and to build for November march.
March and Rally Birm-
Assemble Lan caster Circus, 11am, ral-
Aston University students union. Tel: 021-784 4156.
Shell in South Africa.
now sel d dale lor a lla-
Lemonstroven
financial relations that still
special responsibility to express their opposition to the
abide by EEC guidelines show established in the United
November demonstration
ment us be moved. Anti-Apartheid is to build
capitalism in South Africa
just as astute in defending
fight and dare to die so that one day the black ma-
South African Embassy Town Hall, St, WCI. Speakers fron ANC, SWAPO, GLC Tel London AA: 01-607 6460.
Saturday November March Against Apartheid, London For further details tel: 01-387
ment without trial, South apartheid regime there.
victims of apartheid terror.
publicity Danny
counties of Ireland.
have institutionalised that injustice.
desriminaion in
jority black population loyalist/white South and in the absence of any democracy, 01-387 7966, 13 Mandela St.,
Socialist Action 4 October 1985 5 Sinn Fein condemns
apartheid
THE FOLLOWING front page appeared in An Phoblacht, the paper supported by Sinn 'Fein in Ireland, in response to the imposition of the state of emergency in South Africa. LAST weekend, as Irish Republicans were commemorating the introduction of intern-
well over 1,000 black Africans had been interned by the
Just as the funeral of IRA Volunteer Charles English was followed by heavily-armed RUC personnel and British army helicopters through the streets of Derry, racist police in South Africa have launched savage attacks on the funerals of black
In Belfast last Sunday, Sinn Fein's director of
Morrison emphasised the similarities between the apartheid state in South Africa and the Orange state in the occupied six
Both states are based on injustice and both
in the sir counties, loyalist supremacy over nationalists has been guaranteed politically, through partition and
economically, through
through the virtual criminalisation of things 'na-
perpetuated their unjust supremacy over the ma-
through a plethora of discriminatory laws which we know as the apar-
In denying justice to the nationalist community in the six counties and in denying justice to the black population in South Africa, both the loyalist demonstrated the same perverse superiority which the Nazis used to justify genocide in the concentra-
Britain props up loyalist domination in the six counties and it is Britain which uses censorship and
. In South Africa continued investment by British business interests and continued support from the Thatcher government have been major factors in stifling effective international opposi
unwelcome visitors who might expose the truth are simply barred. The Dunnes Stores strikers brought international attention to bear on the need for Martin Galvin has focused US attention on British
dissent? With plastic bullets, mass arrests, showtrías and shoot-to-kill. Taking all these things into account, we should not be surprised at the mutual
and support which has characterised
African Minister for Justice, Jon Vorster, when introducing a new Coercion Bill to parliament, said that he would exchange all such legislation for just one clause of 'Northern Ireland's Special Powers
Laws will occasionally be rewritten to appeal less offensive and cosmetic reforms will be troduced, but in the six counties as in South Africa the basic injustice will not be removed until the loyalist state itself and the apartheid system are
Just as the regime in South Africa has been allowed to survive because of the refusal of major world powers to do anything more than utter the occasional verbal criticism, so too the Orange state has survived largely because successive governments have refused to confront British rule.
In the absence of any pressure on their behalf
people of South Africa and the nationalist people of the six counties must rely on their own resources and especially on the spirit of resistance which unites the African National Congress with the Irish LONDON ACTION AGAINST APARTHEID CONFERENCE Saturday 19 October, 10.30-5.30 Camden Town Hall Details from Anti-Apartheid:
London NW1 or London AA, 01-607 6460
Page 6 scan of this page
6 Socialist Action 4 October 1985
Why we set up a
black section in
Sparkbrook
Photo: LEROY
ROY HATTERSLEY and his Sparkbrook cohorts are threatening a witch-hunt against members of the constituency who set up a black section two weeks ago. An emergency GMC called two days after it was formed decided to look into disciplinary action against those who took part, and also those involved in Thursday night's Bandung file programme on Channel 4, which exposed Hattersley's methods in maintaining his
The day before, Hattersley addressed a public meeting in the constituency at which he announced that 'Sparkbrook Labour Party will not be divided against itself — particularly by that most vicious of all combinations, extremist infiltrators damaging the real Labour Party with the enthusiastic cooperation of the Tory Press.'
Hattersley's threats are the vicious sharp edge of Kinnock's attack on black sections. They hang ominiously over a conference in which the black sections already claim a million votes in their support — including the NUR, whose executive voted last Wednesday by 11-4 to support black sections, against Jimmy Knapp's express
Socialist Action spoke to AMIR KHAN, the Sparkhill councillor leading the move to form a Sparkbrook black section.
WHY, despite all the of self-organisation. That's hostility to black sections why 1 think we have to
resist all amtempis to pre tersley, did you decide to vent this. We have to stand
It's I think it is very important very important this that black people discuss stage that black people try the issue of black sections, to explain our white inat they discuss their own collades lial we Suller a problems and the question lot of problems and it's us
Handsworth arrest
toll reaches 400
By MICK ARCHER
THIS WEEK the number of arrests in con-
nection with the Handsworth "riot" reached
400 — nearly half the number arrested during
the entire miners' strike, and a clear indica-
tion that the police are out to inflict
punitive vengeance on the black community.
Even more alarming is the way the police are
preparing their evidence. Reliable reports tell of
shopkeepers who have been asked to sign lengthy
statements drawn up by police with the suggestion
that if they don't, their claims for compensation
could be compromised. Youth have pleaded guilty
to charges like criminal damage when told that
otherwise they could be accused of arson or eyen
involvement in the Post Office deaths.
In lue circulistances tie Hrst lask racing ine
labour movement is the defence of these youths. A
debate which identifies the social, economic and
political causes of what took place, but avoids the
fact that of predominantly black
unemployed youth are being sacrificed to the law
and order lobby will do nothing to convince the
black community that the labour movement is
prepared to detend their rights.
The Handsworth defence campaign, which is
organising the defence of all those arrested, needs
labour movement support. It is organising a public
meeting this Friday, 4 October, at the Muhammed
Ali centre in Hockley, Birmingham. Messages of
support, and requests speakers
should be sent to: Handsworth legal defence cam- •
paign, 104 Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birm-
ingham. The defence campaign can be contacted
by ringing 021 554 0026/2747.
that have to decide how within the best to raise these within the party. Black people Roy try to stop me? have to get together to do this. And that means black sections within the Labour isting Party. The Labour Party has always been the mass organisation of the work- beople! ing class, and black people have always supported We therefore have a basic right in the Labour Party to organise black sections.
Roy has said discuss that section in tney
saying
DAL. would YUL they
black
don't Roy Hat- even have
only representa- tatives.
last year,
COMPLiCI good enough.
. Some of
many
wno Will of the people who
Are you Roy Hattersley is wrong when he says that coun people, cillors in the constituency been were selected and elected
No, don't think it is LIONE when stood there
lot hostility i stood as a black candidate and won. Roy didn't want me and he worked against me. leaders is But I got selected. People high. voled tor me because 0] my political beliets, not because I am Amir Khan. Roy or whatever, and part oi my political beliefs iș support for the black sections and indeed racist.
party. If that was on merit, then why did «ine oranary
not
them who
people
They even
We don't
right
It's worse
without
The
So
taken for
city ward,
the feeling
Party very
has said
I don't agree. There are specific a black people. fect black people,
Afro-Caribbean or Asian: unemployment, apalling living conditions. police harassment and racist attacks. He can't compare OuT problems with those of white people.
He also said that to divide the party between whites and the rest is better than apartheid
What do you feel abou that?
Apartheid is part and parcel of the oppression of black people by white peo. Phat with black sections. can't compare
We aren't oppressors. We are the oppressed. We have to organise to defend ourselves We have to organise to get our rights like women's groups. an insult to us to compare black sell-organisation within the labour party with apartheid
What has happened sinc the launch of the black sec tion?
black sections is increasing every day. When you walk on the roads, everybody wants to discuss the issue At least the debate is taking place. In the Sparkhill ward meeting on Thursday we had a very good discus-
News
Look, it lack people s People were saying right organise whichever way want. It's our basic right.' They
oreanse. threat of disciplinary measures is, of serious. But it is a matte
conscience. Peopl believe what they believe and I don't think i anyone is fois intimidation doesn
intimidation doesn't work, and at the end of the day it I will be our beliefs that will win through. Sup. bening to a Lot People beginning to when you going come and help us organise" our own black section?
Photo: ANNETTE SANDY HELEN CARR (TURC
Page 7 scan of this page
Unite to defend Liverpool - unite to defend jobs
Teachers' action escalates
News
spending cuts.
workers
vices without massive rate increases.
fend them.
Ine council's latest
moves, however, have
opened dangerous
divide in the labour move-
melll.
One of Labour's cen-
tral policy commitments
was to increase the number
of jobs in the city council.
Last week Labour voted.
however, in full council, to
make all 30,000 of its
workers redundant on 31
December.
Over the past two years
the council have valiantly
TeNSIEO pressure to make
cuts and big rate increases
csDunse Tory
Aorerny Livere-capsie
Already Liverpool s
Labour councillors have
been surcharged ior over
£2000 each, and face being
barred from office,
TUESDAY 23 SEP-
TEMBER saw the biggest
ever London teachers'
demonstration when staggering 25,000
members of the NUT came
the UlEd sutels represents 70 per cent of the London membership.
In the last ten YCa1s teachers' living conditions in real terms have worsen-
portunivers per .eno men
portunities w willl
4eC ne0 despite Me ILEA who caim toiee measures authorities equal opportunity employers.
The new term has seen an oscaalon acuons pursuit of the teachers'
ong-standing claim. Over-
Notts breakaway
in trouble
OVER 350 Notts miners and miners' wives packed into a Wellbeck school on Wednesday
ęeroer hear Arthur Scargill speak at a keep Notts na-
campaign rally.
Both the meetings size and
reflect the Notts that belief of many the people tide has In turned against Roy Lynk and his breakaway movement.
Scargill pointed out that only two months ago David Prendergast, the leader of the
breakaway "federation clalmea would have some 60,000 LICHIDCIS. Now bal ooæs rings very hollow. Of the five groupings Lynk hopes o join up with, only on
South Derb remains possibility. Of the others, the Lancashire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire unions have
NO-ONE who sees deputy leader Derek Hatton dealing with the national media can doubt that Liverpool Labour council has been leading a splendid fightback against Tory After years of Liberal neglect, Liverpool elected a Labour council pledged to improve ser-
Their refusal to back down in the face of Thatcher's attacks places them in the front line of the battle to defend local authorities, jobs, and services. The whole labour movement has a duty to de-
because they have set
rate that leaves the city
t80m short on its budget.
Labour are demanding
this amount back from the
Tory government as
of the f350m taken away al L
By JOHN NOLAN
from the city sirice 1979.
The immediate crisis is
caused by shortfall of workte u to pay £25m needed to
April
next year, when a new
budget IS The City
Solicitor and Treasurer
have stopped making
DayLiClILs to contractors
and employees. Anyone:
making these pavments
would face criminal
charges for fraud. This
would apply to the coun-
cillors: hence the redun-
Colcv nOuLes.
whelming majorities have
been recorded for half day
strike action and for
strict work rule
teaching and marking in By RAY SIROTKIN,
Lambeth NUT
school time only. Quite
clearly, any Tory hopes
that the teachers
cave in and accept what
Wy as U11 otter have Cocen
dashed.
The Tories. via
Department of Education
ana science. nave attemo ted through various offers
to attach strings to any settlement. Teachers' actions at present make it clear that any attempt to link decided to remain within
NUM, while the breakaway grouping Durham is visibly crumbling through voluntary redundancies.
Even South Derbyshire, polls report By ANDY BUCHANAN significant majority for the NUM
La urveuament which was boosted when CAral cd DICOCIH Ken Richards added his voice to the national camValsil n
The collapse of the projected federation leaves the Notts splitters in positiun wrere they will have to 'go it alone'. , Their ówn forces, moreover, are deeply divided whatever the outcome of the balløt
UI breakaway. Scargill pledged that the NUM would continue to organise the many thousands of Notts
The council have pro-
mised that following the
December sackings the en-
tire workforce will be re-
engaged on 1 April. But
there can be no guarantee
of this, given the threat
ing in government com-
ROTM SAP CISIOrCCIIT
legislation to privatise ser-
vices from April 1986.
So the city council's
joint shop stewards'
CUll-
mittee - who have backed
the council all the way so
- rejected the redun-
dancy plan two weeks ago.
LISLedU tne) vecucd
call for against the Tory goen- all-out strike
ment support of the
council from last week.
largest union, the
GMBATU, together with
vAil ana une l.uwu.
backed the strike call; but
and
NAS/UWT refused even
to let members vote on the
issue. NALGO - the se-
cond largest union plus
EEPTU and NATFHE
LICHIUCS voted CLU
strike.
With the collapse of
the strike, the Militant pay to changes in working conditions will be
LIAL" ceptable.
The problem facing NUT members now is how
coralale turther ballots are being held calling on teachers to support haif day strike action each month to september This should be supported, but does not représent a new initiative.
First, the direction of. the dispute is mainly in the hands of the executive, who have been prevented from negotiating any deal largely because NUT members' persistence. However,
11U guarantee against such a Roy Lynk turnets wno nave already signed up tọ remain in the national union.
Many miners signed forms
I Cuilclli at the end of the Wellbeck
mcelllg, cluding right through the number who worked strike.
On top of all this, the government's own tification officer,
wilo lde to be convinced that the breakaway is a bona fide trade union, having a hard time of it. That's not
breakaway is bound hand and foot the Coal Board, but the upshot yet more delays for Lynk. The ballot on the
leadership the
GMBATU put a motion to
last Thursday's joint shop stewards' meeting to ас-
the redundancies Some delegates objected
on the grounds that the
stewards' constitu-
tion has a specific aim to acrend arunA workers
When chair, lan Lowes
FHE NALGO
NALGO
mecllng
5000 Hla viily
went on
strike
At the Liverpool on Thursday
evenilig NALGO Pete Cresswel called
It should be remembered that Liverpool NALGO fought long and successful battles to deal, and therefore a recall national
Within such con-
sider
extended This could be
colic areas, extended others.
LcallCs preferably
Institute of Scotland NATFHE
tion is until
breakaway. recently set
now
There a powerful
antils the breakaway is allowing
men
araw CONCH
Party conference would inforce this.
government legislation
appoint
He also to outline attempted
the Orgreave Mansfield 55 riot explaining
"It I01 no others',
The received thunderous applause
Jeadesnd
whole labour movement.
defend jobs against
previous Liberal council.
Despite the employ-
sonnel COunC1
Militant
Dam
black Pete
Cresswell
have
Labour
ing budget
Thid s net s
solution. labe!
NALGO
sack workers
direct of
ceptable divisive
response
redundancy
noticês Liverpool's
PIOWIY
NALGO another
strike unTOr
tunately, Liver-
pool's Labour council.
per cent strike pay for the
The NUT's
funds are unlikely
strike pay
order prepare for
NUT the
that
struggle
Bluzeic
which,
dowut pay,
whole of state
education That-
cher's axe.
Faced with growing isolation and crumbling support, Lynk's only answer has been to step up his campaign of villifica tion against the NUM
leadership. Lynk's
'policy is to appeal to Notts men on the basis
'You will become the best-paid men in the coun-
you have
want. ing Post, 27 September).
This, too, being treated with growing sceptism as the board's new round of pit closures unyeiled. Lynk has tried to belittle the NUM campaign stressing the strength of his hi-tech operation. The fact is that the modern 'communicaOSMeLOCON Lynk has used, such as giant posters and pop records, have failed to convince anyone, whereas the 'tactic. of the '20s and '30s' used by the NUM through public meetings, ralles and mass involvement are beginning to drive home the message of loyalty to the national union.
Socialist Action 4 October 1985
Coal Board
dismissed miner
unfairly, says
tribunal
On 19 February DENNIS PENNINGTON, a
the Lancashire
Court alleged
car, which picket
The next
later as its
found in 'British court of
Dennis reports board's
February, letter of home priso
When the colliery
Western NCB Mr
ing
But in June much to the
producuon manager. my dismissal
appealed
The
E LIVERPOOL
Coal Board called for an
adjournment of the hear-
dn cne catetan l cnc
third day let them
gather further evidence.
One of their main ob.
jections to reinstatemen
• ШП as I had beer
found guilty by a 'British
Court Justice' I was
unacceptable to the men ai
pit. I'his argument casual
ly omits the fact that many
vuCo olO ay in the
court, but who had choser
W CLurI wOrK beToTE
the end of the dispute, still
remained 'acceptable
their peers.
After six weeks the Inanimous decision that 1 tribunal reatener had been unfairly dismiss-
ed. Their full report was an indictment of
NCB's reasons for dismissing me. It said tha they had broken accepted aei cehiculs dismissing me because of my imprisonment, news of which was only reaching the management 'on the eta evine The manager wrongly believe that I had been sent down for six months
The tribunal is to meet the board on 15 October where it will order reinstatement. The response from the boar
far Is a deafenin silence Despite MacGregor's statement in a recent Coal News article. Savilt tha those who thought they had been un fairly dismissed could follow accepted legal pro cedures and make plication to an industrial tribunal, many men who ‹have won their appeals still remain on the wrong : side of the pit gates. Whither the coal board's adulation
British courts justice now?
Page 8 scan of this page
22072
SoCialist
ACTION
An
Alliance
for
Socialism
Socialist Action is co-sponsoring a weekend of discussion, debate, and
agitation on the theme of 'Building an alliance for socialism' on the
weekend of 16-17 November.
Speakers include:
Diane Abbott, Tony Benn, Jack Collins, Jeremy Corbyn, Vladimir Derer, Betty Heathfield, Peter Heathfield, Stuart Holland, Ann Pettifor, Russell Profitt, John Ross, Marc Wadsworth, Jude Woodward, Doreen
Weppler. plus speakers from Black Sections National Committee, the FDR of El
Salvador, and many many more.
Venue: Sir William Collins school, Charrington St, London NWI (near
Kings Cross Station)
£5 for weekend, £3 each day Tickets from Socialist Action. PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
water s:
"Orgreave,
OVER 1000 people packed into the Rally called by Labour Herald at the Labour Party Conference last Monday evening. Speakers included MPs Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner, Joan Maynard; the chair of Women Against Pit Closures, Ann Lillburn; and black section leaders Sharon Atkin and Paul Boateng
Below we reprint excerpts from Arthur Scargill's speech.
I FIND it sad that tonight we've got the attention of the media focussed on one single issue at this conference. I feel sad because it should have been dealing with the major issues confronting Britain's people.
I happen to have a particular interest in the problems that have erupted over the last couple of weeks in Handsworth and over the last weekend in
A more definite interest than at any time previously in my life.
I confess that on platform after platform over years I have referred to the difficulties by black community, ities. but
minorities.
CLILLEC wasn't until our strike when witnessed first hand the full fury of an organised state machine that I truly identified with the problem of black people in the heart of our major cities in Britain
I remember the conference well 1984 heard the glowing speeches from all sections of our movement who appreciated at that time miners had been on strike for almost eleven months.
I also recall vividly speaker after speaker in leadership positions condemning my members termed 'violence'
If there's thing
that emersed in trial at
that trial Orgreave where Dul lads were not only cleared but the police were shown to be guilty of conspiracy fabricating evidence, , forg ing documents it's that our lads were guilty of on-
one crime. And that's fighting retain jobs. There should be
apology from those who condemned our lads during the 12 months miners industrial dispute
I've had a Dil
perience of this matter.
blue hit me with Ute ot those rot shield that's becoming common place on the streets of Britain. What happened at
Handsworth, Brixton
and vou next"
Orgreave, what happened
happening in Brixton everyday now apparently, with our police quite open-
becoming military force - is going to happen to you next. Because it's been allowed to happen to miners and workers black COMmunities throughout the length and breadth of our nation.
We are asking this conference and we are asking our party to recognise that the struggle goes on. Since the end of Ine strike in March, there's not beer one single week free from industrial disputes in the National Union Mineworkers. and, under McGregor's stewardship the Coal Board have lost
the end of March 1985. ,£1½m per week due to industrial disputes. The man ought to be dispatched back to the States quickly possible, because he is a liability on the British economy.
In July 1984 we'd all been removed as trustees from the miners Densior scheme because we refused to agree or accept the vestment policy NCB, who sought to invest mineworkers' money the rotten corrupt system
apartheid in South Africa. I believe we were right to stand firm on that issue tell you something else. It's time that other trade union
who are trustees of pension funds, took the SalLIC determined stand a the NUM took as far as that barren system is soncerned
I've gor a major conMier at this conference. It's a conflict with the Thatcher government, a conflict with capitalism, and a
conflict as far as my class is concerned to see socialisn established in Britain soon as possible
believe that when you listen some of our leaders in the trade union and Labour movement they talk about our demands being 100 • militant. And they talk about it being an electoral liability. It makes me cast my mind back.
Many years ago it was written by James Connoll on this very question, and it could equally apply to day when he said 'Some men, fainthearted ere seek our programme to retouch/And will insist when ere they speak, we demand 100 much/Tis passing strange declare such statements give mirth/For VU. demands moderate are/We only want the ear-
th. Surely, 1985, the spirit the constitution of our party, the Idea which movement was built should be determining and influencing our policies! Is it not remembered that our party and our trade union movement were built t with Damn and sumering and I struggle? They were built
saw the only alternative to a capitanst system thal Op pressed was to change this sytem, was to bring
quality of human life by renalise better than ane trying operate Tories You change capitalism and you build a socialist system. Lel la be our rallying call. I hop!
miners, will
CONCILICO support the resolution, comrades
← Socialist Action No. 115, 27 September 1985Socialist Action No. 117, 11 October 1985 →