Socialist Action No. 12, 3 June 1983
The scan: 012-jun-03-1983-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.
Page 1 scan of this page
All out for People's March demonstration 5 June
VOTE
No. 12 3 June 1983 30p ACTION SOCiALiSt
LABOUR
Digging for victory?
1979
LABOR PARA
march ONLY ONE week to turn Labour's retreat into a full scale offensive against the Tories. But Thatcher and the Alliance are gloating over Callaghan and Healey's sabotage of Labour's campaign.
is right. The left must launch an immediate fight and speak up for the policies that can win the maximum possible Labour vote.
Those policies are: • unilateral disarmament • out of the Common Market • for an end to mass unemploy ment and no incomes policy
Labour's traitors must be stopped. Callaghan and Healey have shown they would rather not have a Labour government if it means being elected on the basis of these policies.
Michael Foot has
actually endorsed the actions of the right by handing them control of the
Peoples for jobs '83
OWEST MIDLANDS ON THE
Fight for
socialist policies
Arthur Scargill LABOUR ROOMS
See back
" page
By the editor
national campaign.
Whatever the result of the election the fight for socialist policies must go on. That means rebuilding the left in alliance with all those fighting back against the bosses' offensive - the left in the unions, the youth in CND, the women's movement and black people.
The aim should be to • sweep the right from the leadership and to start to build a mass movement that really fights for the interests of the working class.
Sack
the
right
wing
traitors
MODERN
TIMES
OMMITTEE Oh, it's been OK. I won three votes for Labour on the doorstep last night.. the only problem is, Healey lost us 50,000 on the TV this morning….
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2 Socialist Action on the left after the election.
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
Organisational hit man Golding
O0: JOHN HARRIS
3 June 1983
WHO'S NEXT
FORA
TORYCUT
Whose next for a Tory cut? Labour's manifesto is. In opposing the rank and file on the EEC, nuclear disarmament and incomes policy, Jim Callaghan is acting as the front man for the whole right wing. The right wing attack heralds a full scale assault
WHEN Callaghan attacked policy on nuclear weapons last week he spoke for the whole right wing. Callaghan was Healey act of a disenchanted individual.
policy and nuclear disarmament and is due to make a similar speech on the Common Market. All are designed to attack Labour's conference policies. The speech on nuclear disarmament was released in advance and the press was specifically asked to quote parts of it attacking unilateralism.
It is clear that the Labour right wing failed to get their policies adopted try and sink Labour's electoral chances. It now will need a major turnaround in Labour's campaign to put victory back on the agenda.
The manifesto is quite _clear that Polaris will I be scrapped. But Healey will not tolerate that. Attacking the manifesto on 19 May Healey said
'We want put the Polaris force into negotiations with the Russians. So we don't get rid of them
the Russians cut their forces aimed at us.
That seems common sense'.
Healey went on to reinterpret non-nuclear. defence policy as meaning 'no first use of nuclear weapons', not getting rid of nuclear weapons unilaterally. Callaghan said nothing that Healey had not already said - he merely pointed out that this re-interpretation was not the manifesto policy.
Missiles
Michael Foot has been
sent into unbelievable con-
LOrLOnS try to explain
that what Healey says is
what he himself says,
which is exactly what the
manifesto Days In
numerous TV and press in-
Foot has
therefore been incapable
Chapple and Duffy. Chapple openly supported SDP
Right wing knifes
Labour's campaign
Labour's
Behind - this was not the
Callaghan has now made speeches on incomes
- having. - have decided to
of giving a straight answer to the question 'will give up Polaris within five years, irrespec tive of what happens in negotiations?'. The result is a political shambles.
By Phil Hearse
Foot opened the door to the right by fudging the manitesto Now they have kicked it down and clearly preparing to foist a right wing leader on the Dally.
What lies behind this sickening betrayal and Foot's acquiescence something very straightforward. Labour's right wing don't accept the opinion of the majority of the party and the trade unions on three crucial issues defence, the Common Market and policy.
They believe that the • bosses will never accept a Labour government pledged to unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the Common Market Quite wrongly, they believe it is candidate John Grant in Islington North, and got away with no sanction at all. Terry Duffy has spent the pre-
impossible win with radical policies on these questions.
Callaghan Seems believe that a Tory victory would be preferable to a Labour victory on the basis of radical policies His doubtless shared by his right
Labour
On the basis of a Tory victorv they wan! to impose Healey leader the period before the election many
left, for example on ine tony benn in mis meet vicy with Socialist Action (SA 22 April), argued that the party was united arounc the manifesto, and that fears of a right wing offensive against the left were 'pessimistic' That Viev
been proved wrong
Labour's main problem in the election is now that it appears inconsistent blem is not that left wig. disunited. NOTO radical policies al t herently incapable of winning a majority.
Arthur Scargill put i very well at Wednesday rall Camden last when he said that if Labour fought hard behind its radical policies it could still win. But at the same time as Scargill was arguing for policies, the Labour right's
Callaghan was speaking in
Cardiff.
People
The offensive of
Labour's right wing has
put the party on the defen-
sive, not only in relation to
the Tories, but also to the
SDP/Liberal Alliance,
who as result have
undergone slight
resurgence.
ELECTION '83
The is that if Labour had been united around unilteral disarma. ment, and had vigorously attacked the Alliance for its pro-nuclear DONCICS ground could have beer won away from them.
There are still many Liberals support unilateral disarmament. If
too great to repair, and if the Tories win, then after the election the right will say 'you see what happens if we go too far left and get out of touch with the elec. torate'
Capture
They will launch an all-out offensive impose Healey as leader, ditch unilateralism and opposi tion to the EEC and in. comes policy. The left should prepare itselt now, whatever the result of the election, to sweep the right
wing Tony lenship
Tony Benn re elected as MP then his standing for the leadership of the party will be central to rebuilding the left in the years ahead.
But above all the blame for sabotaging the election
campaign must be
where it belongs - • with
the right wing and with Micheal Foot who let them get away with it
Meanwhile, if the right have given up on Labour's election chances, the left must not. anne com
week the radical policies of
manifesto should be
shouted from the roof tops
and hammered nome or
the doorsteps.
FOOl must cease his
equivocation and say loud
and clear that a Labour
Britain will get rid
nuclear weapons The
alternative is electoral
catastrophe. election period attacking Labour's policy on incomes policy, the Common Market and nuclear disarmament.
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Alliance
junks
Jenkins,
attacks
Labour
FOLLOWING their weekend 'summit', top Alliance leaders have decided to drop Roy Jenkins as a leading figure in the campaign and step up their attacks on Labour.
The shift marks a considerable victory for David Owen's strategy for the Alliance. From the beginning the ex-Labour right winger has said that the Alliance should concentrate on attacking Labour as the main target. The eventual aim is to marginalise the Labour Party from DESH DOES.
However Owen can't concea that the policies of the Alliance represent a watered down Toryism.
Indeed on certain questions curbing the trade unions is one - the Alliance manifesto is more reactionary than the Tories'!
But as our picture above shows, taken in London's Holloway Road, the truth will out!
• Why 'tactical voting' is wrong page 10
Rank and file
LABOUR's campaign in Bristol got off to a flying start on Wednesday 25 June when 700 people crammed the main hall in Transport House for a joint Labour Party-antiwar movement rally against the missiles. But at the time the audience were angry and confused with the cynical betrayal of their struggle for a Labour victory by Callaghan and Healey.
The purpose of our rally was to rally support tor the Labour Party from Greenham Commor ALtivitists, Youth CND and CND itself. We hoped that the Alliance Vote in Bristol this would also break where the Liberals are strongly identified with
By Alan Radford Bristol Trade Union CND
We also felt that the rally would strengthen Labour's commitment to UND poncy. Tont Benn was welcomed thunder-
DUI audlence were puzzled and disappointed when he explained that he was not going to comment on the dispute in the leadership.
But when ITN cameras walked OuL halfway through his speech he won everyone's support by pointing out that they were only there to film scandal and dissent rather than the argument against Thatcher.
speak out against
Callaghan and Healey
But if Tony Benn could not comment on the right wing's betrayal other speakers could and the audience rose to them.
Helen John in a strong speech said:
"The SDP was created so that people like Healey could ZOll Wa. elected as deputy leader by OLIC vote from someone who defected the next day. We don't have a deputy leader — we have someone funded by the North Atlantic Committee.
Project
"No longer are women prepared to let people do things in their name, she said. 'Greenham Common
the Labour Party to get out of its manifesto commitment.
'No other party than the Labour Party has unilateralist policy WaCI it is willing to put into practice. I was willing to challenge Jim Callaghan in Cardiff. But I felt with the missiles due to arrive it was
THS WON T WOR more important to fight tor a Labour victory lilan step aside and allow myself the pleasure of taking that man on.
Helen's message was endorsed by other platform speakers who included Pam Tatlow, Labour candidate for Bristol West, Pat Arrowsmith of Labour CND, Terr Thomas of the Welsi miners and Paul Green from Youth CND.
Paul explained: 'Youth should be against Thatcher Cieve son we had a gro ip started YCND of seventeen and probably oniv four were socialists But when you start looking at the issue you realise solution is needed Political that deeper
He went on to read out a statement:
'We the undersigned members of CND call for a Labour vote at the genera
bv all CND members and supporters as the best way of achieving our aims. In particular we call for a vote for Tony Benn in the Bristol East constituency to ensure that a radical socialist and unilaterallsi presence is maintained in the Parliamentary Labour Party.'
ELECTION Tony Benn
SHUT-UP AND KEEP SMILING AT LAST THERE S ANOTHER CHOICF SDP '83
Socialist Action
remove the right'
IT SHOULD have been no surprise that Jim Callaghan acted when he did. This was exactly LINe Callaghan, Healey and the other antidemocratic elements in the Labour Party would By Helen John
In the same way as the right wing threw away the last election they are doing it again. They would rather see the Conservatives hold the country, because its
only way the Labour right's real policies can be carried out.
The Labour Party he only party with a clea unilateralis policy. Roy Jenkins and others left the party because they I wond not serve in a unilateralist coverinel the Healey said he wouldn't
3 June 1983 3
'Fight like hell to
So if he and others who are opposed to a unilateral policy , would feel happier in the SDP or the Conser vatives they should go and join them.
If Labour is elected it can and must put policies effect. Pressure groups like CND
Common must make the Labour Party imo ement their con ference decisions.
need this treachery. The whole rank and file of the Party is against this tiny handful ot evil men They are fly. ing in the face of con. ference decisions
This means somethin for the left of the party an
like lo make It ciea that I don't consider Neil Kinnock category, The left now has
the right wing who are damaging the Labour Par. ty.
Some people may feel that things are so bad that it isn't even worth voting But that's not true. The Labour Party represents the majority of people who want unilatera policies now.
A vote for the Labour Party is vote that recognises absolutely no time left 1o SEOU the missiles. If the weapons are brought here
Thatcher there IS way that we will be able to
their return Michael Foot has claimed. Now is the time to act.
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4 Socialist Action 3 June 1983
IRELAND
UNFREE
Albany roof top
protest nails
Home Office
THE ALBANY prison protest is over. But the grievances behind the root top occupation are still there. At the root of the protest lies the scandalous way that the Irish political prisoners are treated in HM prisons.
The four IRA soldiers who waved a banner from Albany's roof demanded the right of repatriation to Ireland. Like another 70 of their colleagues they are forced to spend their long sentences in England.
This process inflicts a savage hardship on the prisoners as they are often switched from one jail to another to prevent them from escaping — or so claims a spiteful Home Office.
This 'ghosting' system has meant that on a number of occasions relatives have made the long and expensive journey from Ireland only to find the person they have gone to see has been moved. In other cases relatives have not even been allowed into Britain to see the inmate as the authorities have used the Prevention of Terrorism Act to stop them landing.
In contrast the thugs of the British security forces who have been convicted of crimes in the North of Ireland are immediately whisked back to Britain. Even Loyalists sentenced in Scotland have been allowed back to the province, in order to protect them from other prisoners.
The home unlice nothing to say about the threats made to IRA prisoners by prison officers or about the way these officers persecute and victimise the prisoners.
However, the labour should have a different attitude demanding that Britain cedes the right of every prisoner to serve their sentence in Ireland.
It would help to wipe Labour's name put there by British politicians like Roy Mason who 'criminalised' the struggles of the nationalist population.
Army and police
harass Sinn Fein
campaign
AS GERRY ADAMS has become the oddson favourite to win the seat of West Belfast police and army harassment of the Sinn Fein campaign has been stepped up.
In scores of incidents SF candidates have been stopped from electioneering, have had blank shots fired at them and have been arrested and injured.
Having won equal time on television with other candidates о BBC analıy, tney nave been denied access to the broadcasting station time there has been a Loyalist effort to 'stop Sinn Fein!' by standing down candidates.
Despite this and the slander campaign of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, looks as though they will increase the 35 per cent of the nationalist vote won in the Assembly elections.
and Mr Whitelaw have
and Call
Irish political
away the stain on Sinn Fein
MAY
24
as the press saw it
THE INTERNATIONAL Women's Day for Disarmament was an women in over 600 towns and cities throughout Britain and numerous large scale action in other coun-
'nuclear' election. Yet the media ignored it.
We took into account the problems that decentralised action might pose the press, so; • a press reicase was seni out a week before in many Cases accompanice phone call
personal visits were made IO each key press centre to update them the day before • on the day itself a communications room was set up in an office of the New Statesman where details of action throughout the world were phoned or telexed in • cach press conlact was phoned during the day to check thev had sutticien and accurate information • finally on the day itself held to catch the first edis conference was tions.
Yet out of seven daily papers only the Guardian and Times spared any words for details of the international action. Despite the potential TOI eyecatching photos only the
and printed pictures
Guardian coll
preindedismad reporting
dismal reporting through referring to me throughout as the 'spokesman for the women'!
The TV and radio coverage was worse. ITV carried no report whatsoever of an event whic had touched millions of Jives. On enquirv we were told that they had "technical problems'.
The BBC which covered the same event last year quite extensively Nationwide only three quick shots of difterent action (al in London) and a brief interview
GR
My dear father leading and much-loved member of the TORY PARTY in this city. J
event involving thousands
It was halfway through the campaign for the
at the Clapham Common Peace Camp
By Carrie Pesher
Then to our horror they Olga Maitland (Ladies/Families
elence, InLO une studio to presumably in the name of
balance'. I can't recall us being asked to comment on Lady Olga's mass rally * of 100 in Trafalgar Square which received such wide Luvare
Only the BBC Nine O'Clock News managed to have coverage of events outside the capital.
Yet the day was tremendous success. The action in Britain which involved "dicind block-
aru
ides The candaloni
fidence trick defence was exposed.
Internationally action took place in eight cities in the USA. In New Zealand there were 20 or so actions including 1000 Wellington and an astonishing 20,000
Eight seperate actions LOOK place usuald (including a rally of 4000
in Adelaide). We wullicil were told about other ac-
Switzerland, Lulls France, West Germany,
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, abwe. Weeven had a Ireland and Zimbabwe. telegram of support from Costa Rica!
Of • course getting the national headlines was not the main aim of the day.
But the lack of media recognition merely confirms the establishment's tear of the women s peace
AM
But when someone whose features are not those of a white anglo-saxon appearson thé television screen the word "BRITISH" does not spring to his lips
ON 6 JUNE the inquest begins into the death of Colin Roach in Hackney police station. The Roach Family Sup. port Committee appeal for a picket of the Clerkenwell county court in Islington.
The "coroner Dr Chambers already tried to prevent a wide hearing for the case by obstructing Greater London Council attempts to get the inquest moved t Hackney town hall
In their latest bulletin Committee state Aler Committee state: what has happened no one
A PIECE OF THE ASTIO
includes "Coon"
ROAC
Independent Enquiry
Colin Roach's father protests against the circumstances of his son's death
Colin Roach
inquest starts
can have any faith in the independence of the coroner in the inquest The bulletin hammers this home by describing Simms seho died in Stoka case Mrs Aseta Newington police station in 197]. At the coroner's hearing a a race de toe doctor reported: body of Mrs Simms and found that she was a well nourished coloured
There was swelling and bruising above and below the right eye. There was deep bruising over her head but no fracture, but the brain was swollen. The heart was not the cause of
I have noted the
words commonly used by him and his friends
This charming list
'nigger", "darky".
News
death. There Was 11U evidence of alcoholic
"There was little evidence inhaling vomit. I cannot say what was the cause of death' After this strange evidence, the coroner hurried to "process' ' the case by placing himself on the jury! The verdict • was 'death by misadventure with no judgemen of police involvement
The coroner involver
in this whitewash was non other than Dr Chambers.
• Picket of the court. 33 Duncan Terrace Isl ington, London N1 from 10am on 6 June.
CORMAC
why I vomit so fre
I vomit so often
Page 5 scan of this page
What does the election hold for women?
ELECTION '83
WOMEN make up the biggest section of the population to be hard hit by Tory policies. Under Britain's first woman prime minister, women have lost jobs, pay, rights and opportunities.
It's not surprising, then, Tories among women is declining. But what alternatives do they have?
women during the election and beyond.
Women's place society has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. They have gone out
paid JODS vast numbers. It is now an ex-
to work.
But women are still of-
Women and Work
% increases in paid employment women
1921-1971 60%
7 of women in paid employment
10. 0
1971 37.9%
1979 39.8%
% of women according to profession Higher Manage-
essional Admin
1921 5.1% 17.0%
1971 6.0% 15.6%
Voting for the Tories
(Opinion polls) Men
35% 4 / 0
1979 1500
1983(MORI) 48°%
Voting for Labour
Men
1979 40%
1983 29%
(This means that almost the entire loss of electoral
support suffered by the Tories since 1955 is due to
its loss of support among women. Also that, for
the first time ever this year, more women than men
will be voting Labour if the polls are correct.
MAL
ORDE
Sexual
abuse in
Armagh
'A CURTAIN is fasten-
ed across the cubicle
from about waist hich to
the floor. You are always
in view of the prison staff
who sometimes number
as many as ten.
•When you are naked
up is visible to all the
prison staff in the room is ordered to gather it in Anyone with long hair
their hands and hold
on top of their heads.
This makes the en-
tire sordid aftair seem
like slave trade
market.'
This is a description
of just some of the hor-
ror being suffered
women prisoners in Ar-
magh, who are forcibly
strip-searched and then
assaulted if they refuse.
that support for the
HILARY DRIVER looks at the choices facing
fered the lowest paid and most boring jobs and usually with the worst conditions. People may argue that women have equal opportunities men nowadays, bull s just not LIuC
Take for example the Men 16% Clerical Unskilled skilled manual
21.0% 43.3% 16.8% 14.4% 70.9% 36.8%
Women 43%
4507 145%
Women
34% The Stop the Strip
Search Campaign has
been set up by women in
LOndon draw attention to the conditions in
Armagh ana lo put an
end to this degradation.
•Moan can contact the
Campaign c/o
Woman's Place,
Hungerford House, Vic-
toria Embankment, Lon-
don WC2.
There will be a full article shortly in Socialist
Action about the situation of women in Armagh.
Breaking
the ice
This article appeared in
the Stoke-on-Trent
Evening. Sentinel (it
not a misprint):
'Comic Bernard Manning was planning a return visit to Newcastle
'higher professional' jobs such as lawyers, doctors.
proportion women in these 10bs bare v increased from 5 to 6 per cent in the fifty years up to 1971.
Amongst
hallascis administrators and skilled manual workers ine proportion of women actually declined!
Thus Thatcher has not so much slartcu a massive onslaught against the rights rather consolidated and built on a trend already in
presses and their pe
bosses and their government have to fight harder and dirtier soueeze me ast drop of profits from working people.
Forward
Every step forward for women decreases their chances of exploitation. That's why the Tories are desperate tò reverse the
ne women 0æve made
While full political, socia
women certainly haven't been meekly асcepting their lot in life. Quite the opposite.
They are leading many campaigns and struggles in the unions and the Labour Party against the cuts and supporting disarmament.
The „tOT contraception and ade•udle cnnucare. as weld. against sexism and sexual harassment. nas been initiated and led by women.
The fight for women's uberation is tar trom over and the result of the election will have important effects on the outcome. So what do the major parties have to say about women's. rights?
THIS beautiful mural in West Belfast's Iveagh district is entitled 'Solidarity between women in armed struggle'. It shows women freedom fighters from Palestine, Africa and Ireland. (An Phoblacht)
today. after booking
300 Dinincer LOOK miles to the wrong venue dience The Ss0-strong al-
left with WCIC nothing to smile about when the star failed to turn up.
"It was very frightening. I thought that at any moment the crowd would start throwing
The Alliance manifesto, in line with its general 'do-gooder' tone says that the pressures of une recesson nave baee an increasing burden on women in particular'. But apart from this mention buried halfway "through the document, you would' need pretty good eyesight to find any other mention of 53 per cent of the population.
There are no proposals
pay, education and opporlumues, cqual pay, abor
specificar indeed anteching
women. We're just one big
women. happy family
In their strivings to pre sent themselves as government for a classless society, the Alliance have managed to ignore the differences of class and sex that do exist. For women, their manifesto has nothing to offer that you couldn't get from an offduty social worker
Unlike the other two manifestos, The Challenge of Our Times, the offering of the Conservatives, reeks WILl smugness and
authority. The word freedom' so many times you almost begin believing it!
The 'family' gets good mention wen. along with that old favourite, the 'individual'.
But whose freedom and which families and individuals are they about? Certainly not yours or mine. Although there is
lengthy. section animal rights, women's rights don't merit a men-
We're given the freedom to choose to have children whether we want them or not, because there aren't adequate abortion facilities; to look after glasses at me," said Mr
Morgan, Appleyard director of antertainments
"Fortunately one of the strippers who were also appearing slipped and fell on her back and this helped to break the ice.
What a piece of luck! (Douglas Bailey)
Women played leading role in the fight against cuts
them at home due to lack
of nurseries maybe up
until the age of thirty when
they eventually find work!
On top of this is the
glorious freedom of low
pay, weakening of union
and legal protection and
ine chance to see, hree, ine
first nuclear holocaust in
your own back yara.
With a sigh of relief, but not euphoria, looking at Labour's manifesto The
Ivew nope yor bruain, a
least you get the feeling
It stands way above the other outlining measures government could take 'achieve equality between women and men'.
Graphic
design
LABOUR
THE Labour Party Scotland are using design as their logo during the election.
It shows man,
and child with Scotland They're se background. pleased with that they've said they'll keep it permanently.
Apart from the fact that the are OD. viously not going for the feminist or gay vote, couple of questions come to mind.
Why has the woman only got one arm? And is the fact that she's standing at arms length from the man significant?
Compiled by HILARY
Send contributions 10 •Male Order' Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N1 2XP to arrive not later that Thursday a week prior to publica tion.
циррон N.U.PE.
WOULD MEMBERS
LESS
Top of the list of proposals are positive action
equal pay work of equal I value and strengthening the Sex
on Labour's agenda
the Lestors employment rights, benefits and social vices.
There are many other 'We will take DI ullisco steps to end discrimination; give more support to VICs rape; In Crease the maternity grant to at least t100: end VA. sanitary protection' and so
While Labour's manifesto is the best of the bunch, it's nearly Asian women on the picket line in the NHS dispute last year
Socialist Action 3 June 1983
Photo: JOHN
radical or bold enough to make a serious bid for the liberation of women.
In parucular unle sec tion on abortion is a scandal. It refers to defending 'the existing right of choice for under the 1967 Act. Nowhere is party policy of free abor. tion on request put for. ward. Nor does it unambiguously campaign for a woman's right to work Women should join with the labour movement and other Oppressed ple like youth and blacks campaigning Labour victory. But equal ly they should continue to organise themselves DOIn within and without the Labour Party to fight for their liberation.
TGWU
demands a
FAIR DEAL
for
HEALTH
SERVICE
WORKER:
Photo: PETE GRANT
Page 6 scan of this page
Pinochet regime in crisis
Fighting escalates in Central America
6 Socialist Action 3 June 1983
WORLD
War threat
AS WE reported in last week's Socialist Action, the drift towards war in the Middle East is ac-
Last week Syrian planes attacked Israeli aircraft overtlying Lebanon, and a Syrian missue doldit cow! dil Israeli pilotless aircraft.
As a result the Israelis have reinforced their LOONS the Golan Heights
Meanwhile the revoll against Yasser Arafat by military leaders of the
Release Liu Shanging!
LIU SHANQING,
Hong Kong and supporter of the Chinese democracy movement has been rested and charged with counter revolutionary activities' while on a visit to Guangzhou (Canton).
Liu went to China in
the family of a political prisoner. He then disappeared, and it has only just been confirmed that he is indeed a prisoner of tne Uninese regime.
Liu's father was informed by high ranking officials of Mandate of heaven
LAST week an application turned up for a postal vote the
Fermanagh-South Tytone constituency. Nothing very peculiar in that you might say - except that the voter question was dead.
The application accompanied by a doctor's certificate Julia
MANY readers will
remember the Jane
Fonda-Vanessa Redg-
rave film 'Julia'. Based
story by Lillian
Hellman, the film
outlines the story of an
American woman active
the anti-fascist
resistance
eventually killed by the
Hellman has always
refused reveal the
identity of 'Julia'. Now
Muriel Gardiner
81-year old American
woman has published her
memoirs Name
Mary'. She was
member of anti-
ascist underground, and
properly used her as the
PLO in Lebanon continues. Arafat is trying to remove Abu Musa and other leaders because of Iner O•POS LOn the Arab leaders' Fez Summit peace plan. The same leaders were also oppos-
the withdrawal of ea to the Palestinian fighters from Beirut last year.
Abu Musa has
dicated that he and his
intend to stay in the Bek'aa valley to continue the Israelis.
the Guangzhou Intermediate Peoples
been sentenced, but further details were refused.
Prison in China for 'counterrevolutionary activities' are long and harsh. The Chinese regime is set on crushing any support for the democracy ment. Action appeals to its readers and supporters to send letters
protest calling for Liu's release to:
People's Porind Place London Republic China, WIN 3AG.
dicating that the said elector was incapacitated and unable to attend the polling station.
The dead frequently vote in the elections in the Six Counties, but as
Canvasscl pointed out 'they don't generally apply for postal votes'.
model for Julia, without
permission.
Contemporaries of
both women claim thai
they know of no other
American
in the Austrian resistance
prior to world war II.
Hellman refutes these She still
tains that the real Julia
waN murdered by the
Nazis, and that she
(Hellman), unable to
find Julia's mother, had
the body cremated. The
were so long ago'.
Ms Hellman evident-
ly isn't going to tell
anyone the 'real' story of
Julia. The mystery will
continue.
THIS YEAR marks the tenth anniversary of the military coup which overthrew the Allende
Despite government. len years of military dictatorship, the Chilean workers' movement is reorganising as the regime slides further and further into crisis.
On 11 May the Copper Miners Federation called a day of protest which was widely supported. Despite the decision of the copper workers themselves not to strike. because of fear of victimisation and military occupation of the mining areas, groups took some form of protest.
Street demonstrations clashed with the police and
resulting two deaths and hundreds of injuries. Shops opened late, and dozens - of protest meetings took place.
The protests were not confined to the working class barrios which round Santiago and the major cities Lawyers, students from the Catholic university and other middle class groups also took part — a clear indication that many who supported the 1973 coup have moved into opposition.
Following the 11 May demonstration, there were widespread disturbances coinciding with the funerals of the two people killed — one of them was a 15 year old youth shot by plain-clothes police.
In response the regime organised an discriminate round up of men and the working class areas, her-
into football cling EnCI stadiums in scenes reminisCCiL ot the 1973 coup. More than 300 people were detained.
LAST WEDNESDAY the first United States soldier to die in El Salvador was shot dead on the Western outskirts of the capital San Salvador.
Commander Albert
Schaulfelberger was depu-
head of the US Em bassy's military group.
member the navy's
'special forces' The
death of Schaulfelberger
highlights the
US military embroilment
in the Central American
conflict.
By Paul Lawson
The US soldiers in El
Salvador have been direc-
ting battles and leading
patrols, not just discussing
military theory in the con-
fines of the US embassy.
before the assassination of
the
left wing FMLN guerrillas
launched an attack on the
crucial Quebrada Seca
bridge which spans the
Pan-American highway
Forty four of the 80 defen-
ding governiel troops
were killed and the bridge
sent crashing into a ravine.
Last week the Popular
Literation Forces (FPL),
one of the five groups in
the FMLN, announced the
formation of a regional
the
coveramerl
Chalatenango province.
The FPL controls 26 of the
33 townships in the region,
after government troops
have given up the attempt
to permanently occupy the
region.
While the fighting in El
Salvador continues to go
Ten leaders of the copBeen charged with workers union have tion of the state security law, which carries sentence ranging from months to 5 years
The political isolation of the regime and its loss of middle classs stems from Chile's chronic economic Pinochet's monetarist experiment has colle searin
face world Huge sums of capital have flooded out of the country.
and classes who supported the military coup. . Unemploybadly for the US and its local allies, DICSSUIC against the Sandinista government being escalated.
Over the past two weeks the counter-revolutionary guerrillas being sent over the border from Honduras has sharply increased
In the Auditic cudsi region Sandinista militias have fought a fierce battle with Miskito Indian guer-
the leadership of the well known rightwing leader Steadman Fagoth. At the same time on the Pacific coast in the
province of Nueve
Segovia, Somocista forces making their fourth tempt to capture the provincial capital of Jalapa have dere led by nee once against
Nicaraguan army.
A recent poll in the United States revealed a six-to-one majority oppos
to US intervention in
carold But that has not stoppod the Reagan
government. CIA director
William Casey made
prediction last week that
the Sandinista government
would fall a statement
hastily retracted. the
first time the United States
has admitted huge
surveillance operation,
regular or Nicaragua plane
overflights
and El Salvador.
Hundreds of Chileans were arrested in round up after Il May demonstrations.
cent is more than 30 per
cent working population in the towns and Since 1980, textile predac- cent overall tion has declined by 35 per cent, steel by in. per cent, construction by 40 per
ine average lever o wages is in real terms well over 40 per cent less than in 1981. The extent of Pinochet's isolation is indicated by the fact that the independent truck drivers
which played role 1111001 lalli destabilising ute Allende government, now declares itself to be 'part of the opposition'.
the 11 May demonstrations women in
The present military
operation against Nicarag-
ua will not bring down the
Sandinista April demonstra
The 28 demonstra
THOT 150,000
Managua - in reponse to
Reagan's speech attacking
the Sandinistas - showed
mood popular
outrage with America and
support for the
ment.
many areas, including the middle class areas, banged pots and bans in protest against austerity. The irony of this will not be lost on Pinochet the middle class opponents of
ISCO exactly the same form of protest in 1973.
The sickening repression of the regime has not ceased, despite the growth in opposition to it from the church, and other sources class opinion. Amnesty Iniculatolal dicated that torture is still an everyday occurence in the prisons of the regime.
But Pinochet still has one solid base of support US marines on the attack. Will they go into Central America?
But the war is dealing a
severe blow to Nicaragua's
hard pressed
The mobilisation of coally the
population against the at
tackers inevitably sets in-
austry pack. mine cross
border raids, numerous
agricultural specialists and
doctors have heen killed.
Now the Nicaraguan sugar
quota to the United States
International
- the armed forces. In re•cent months a new Dalr clothes security group has made its appearance at the
demonstrators agen
demonstrators organising 'disappearences.
The new fragility of the Pinochet Reich is a reflection of growing instability in the whole region Argentina the military are besieged by a new rise of
WORKER movement Uruguay driftin towards a new democratic 'opening
The generals who thought destroyed 'Marxism and the workers' movement for decades are in for some rude shocks has been cut back by 90
per cent.
The precipitate milit-
ary and political collapse
.the Salvadorean
governmen makes the
Unite States more and
more determined to strik
a major blow at revolution
an ine region. More thar
ever solidarity with the
revolutionary forces is
needed.
Page 7 scan of this page
6THE ACTION INTERVIEW
IN THIS election the Labour Party has selected black candidates in only a few areas. At the same time a number of independent black candidates are standing.
We interviewed two black candidates with long records in the fight against racism - BEN BOSQUET, Labour candidate for Kensington and ROY SAWH, Consortium of Ethnic Minority Group's candidate for Brent South and a leader of the black nationalist movement in the sixties.
Ben Bosquet
Given the Labour Party's poor record on racism, wny snowle black people vote Labour?
Within the Labour Party we can articulate our problems and we are able after a time to influence policy and effect change.
It also means that as black people we are able to get through to the biggest political force which is active in the working class. the Labour Party.
In what way can black people make ine Labour rarty represent ineir interests? Is there role rights campaign within the Party?
I see a tremendous role for such campaign. We can effect change by actively going into the Party, one thing I would stress.
into the national executive, GMC's and the various committees within the Party and participate in the
Staying outside and criticising is possibly tne casest uning to ao bul we must go into that kitchen and get the
DIOWI into our face, what really tells.
Black people must start becoming more political and go into parties. you want to call that infiltration, let's call lt intitranon, so long as we can get what we want articulated. Some black activists outside Labour Party say that if you go into the Party you will be ignored and integrated.
If these people hold this view, it means they never really cared about black people. If they not allow themselves to be ignored.
It's like walking down the road and coming across a showroom and seeing the most beautiful cars inside. You cannot do anything by looking from the outside.
You have to break that window to
your hands on those cars. Maybe that's what we've started doing, we're breaking the system down and letting it know that we are around, that are not going away, that we won't be pushed away.
Does Labour do enough to help third world struggles?
Party does enough to support third world strug-
sive n quite considerable space. this new manifesto
It probably needs a few black MPs to emphasise this problem. If elected, I would like to be a member of the foreign affairs subcommittee Parliament to be able to point a finger at South America, at Africa, at and say that these are places where things must be done.
1 am particularly concerned about Central and Latin America. my brothers is editor of the Freedom
for a black
this is
We must
the the
did they would
we
country hemisphere apart maybe Nicaragua,
not do people down.
dard of living of our people seems to be
we can afford think of and
Asia massivelinjection of aid suares allacice
400 years.
One of skills they need.
COLIN ROACH
pa er untrye nin thareat of the
that from Cuba and which does not have a policy based on keeping the
I says we want io ralse inc slal , we want a torm of government in which all our people can get all the benefits which
this is something future Labour government should supply them with everything it can. It could send them a
- with no
We have had too many strings for It could send them young people to supply them with the
Should black people
support Labour?
DED 1I OLIN ROCH
You are a founder member of the Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement. How do you see its role?
We formed the BTUSM last year because we felt the unions were not representing black people. They only gave us lip service.
Having got this off the ground forming groups in local government and various other places, we have now been able places where it is really needed.
More and more black workers are this wayore are making the trade
are making the trade union movement realise that racism is not something you just talk about but something you do something about
The BTUSM may not get the sanction of the better known unions but
Ben Bosquet Roy Sawh nevertheless it is there. When we grow somebodv better beware because we will not let our black people be used une way lney where the black people were the ones on the picket line.
will close people will be effective and that's imJUl lalll
How has your campaign been going in Kensington?
The campaign has been going well and the attitude of the electorate has been great, there has been no racism here. I think we've won it, but we're not going to be complacent. There is a damn good chance ington for the first time.
Confederation
These
the 1962
opposition.
black.
Act when Jim
to come to Rhodesia
dian declared UDI. tonali
Led
We
tain
policy. see what
Labour Parti
wait non-racist
If the
equality.
were in the NHS strike
some sort of
relationship.
When we call our people out we down because ou You
promised.
of taking Kens-
Socialist Action 3 June 1983 7
Roy Sawh
What are the aims and objectives o the Consortium of Ethnic Minorit Groups (CEMG)?
The CEMG came into being about a
Inaran Stand su Conterete West
Standing Conference, largest West Indian organisation, the
of Indian Workers Associations, the Pakistanı and the Bangladeshi workers associations
people had supported Labour in the past but were fed up and disgusted with Labour's attitude to race relations and immigration ror instance Labour did not repea
Immigration Act despite publicly saying it would when it was in
It passed two watered-down race relations Acts when Roy Jenkins was Home Secretary and ironically the first
WCC I was one of them and I was cha e also had the 1968 immigratior
Callaghan Secretary which denied a lot of Asian people with British passports the righ
Britain. We hac the situation when Harold wilson renuser o sero larooos ou then did not hesitate to send in police
two smal West islands, Nevis and St. Kitts
We saw the Labour Party drifting to an anti-black stand
Don't you see a role for black peoph organising within the Labour Party to make it represent their interests?
There are already black : people and and if roey carnot get the lato!
cannot get Labouraly to come lois scuscs to ate g stand on anti-racist issues • both na-
and internationally, ther what is the point of more of us joining the Labour Party?
For 25 years Labour has not plac
black candidate in safe parliamentary seat.
are not forming a separate group because we want to oppose the
abour Party. We hope that we can a
point alllllale lo me Labou Party as a group and use our position as a pressure group to bring about cer-
changes
But then if we do get changes we are worried that a Labour govern-
We are also worried when re would ignore happening to Militani Benn and Livingstone.
Shouldn't black as people will help them the
force the working class, their natural allies, to support black struggles?
How much longer must black people
before white workers become that hall work together to bring about a just society?
Is this not the attitude of the old slave/slave master relationship where you always have to wait until the master does something for you?
white working class were there would be no need for the formation of black groups. It there is going to be any sori of meaningful relationship with the Labour Party it must be based on
We are saying that if the Labour Party can show us that black people within the labour movement are given
equality then we are prepared to talk of some meaningful
mentioned Ken Livingstone What was your attitude to the reselection battle in Brent Jast?
We were very disappointed that Ken was not selected and did not stand.
If he had stood in Brent South my group would not have put up a can didate, because he must be one of the few white Labour councillors who has actually delivered the goods which he
It is not only colour, it is the stand they take on various issues.
Page 8 scan of this page
Tories and the truth about the
DURING the Sun's rabid campaign against Labour a sickening series of interviews appeared under the headline 'Why the jobless are voting Tory. Those duped by Tory lies explained • There's a world recession at the moment so you can't blame the government • If the steel industry had not been nationalised would be open today • Inflation has come down and so will unemployment • The Tories have increased productivity so the economy s now on the road recovery.
So let's examine the arguments.
Getting it wrong: the Government's forecasting record 2 to show."
recession."
May 1979
Election
1979
8 Socialist Action
The Tories and the truth about the economy The Tories' record in office can only be described as a catastrophe for the economy.
* National output has declined by 6.7 per cent * National income has declined by 5.6 per cent * Unemployment has risen by 154 per cent * Prices have risen by 52 per cent
Commons Treasury
cher's arguments.
in the UK dropped by
dustrial to and 13.7 per cent respectively. 5 3 "There are now clear signs that the worst of the recession is over." "1981 will be the year when results begin
— Prime Minister
"We are reaching the trough of the
- Prime Minister 3 June 1983
'It's the world recession'
THIS is the biggest lie of all. Even top Tories don't believe it. Edward du Cann put his name to a report of the
and Civil Service committee which said that at least half the amount of unemployment was attributable to the government's policies rather than the international recession.
Nor do the figures bear out That-
Since 1979 the change in Britain's national output is 5 per cent down. The average change in output over the same period amongst the major capitalist countries has been 1.4 per cent up. Industrial production
11.9 per cent against an average drop of 1.6 per cent, and Japan and Italy have increased in-
production by 10.9 per cent
This shows itself in comparative unemployment rates, Britain's was 12.4 per cent the first quarter of this year as against the average of 8.3 per cent. This is within an international context where
"The evidence of a start of a recovery is all about us and not even the most blinkered pessimist could fail to see it." — Chief Treasury Secretary
"The recovery that we foresaw, and worked for, is now taking place." — Chancellor of Exchequer
— Prime Minister 1980
to offer an alternative.
all the governments of the advanced cau lalsu countries pursuing austerity policies like Thatcher's — including Mitterrand's France.
In the same four year period, in underdeveloped Nicaragua or Grenada, hit much harder by the international recession, the revolutionary governments of these countries have succeeded in reducing unemployment from 40 per cent to 15 per cent and 30 per cent to 13 per cent respectively.
In these countries, unlike Britain, the government has challenged the laws of the international capitalist economy, not obeyed their every imperative.
Thatcher has deliberately boosted the effects of the international recession to weaken the British labour move-
Nationalisation is to blame
THIS argument is being promoted strenuously to make the case for the vast programme of denationalisation, privatisation and hive-off legislated by the Tories to the advan-
1981
* Manufacturing output has declined by 19 per
And yet despite this record the Tories are still gaining in the opinion polls. Labour's leaders have virtually conceded the election. Below we look at what the truth about the economy really is and why the Labour leaders have been unable
Stage of their City friends.
Government control has been used to put butchers like lan McGregor in charge of industries like steel and coal Under Common Market rationaltiny isation plans these industries have been ruthlessly pruned down in the interests not of the workers employed there nor of the consumers they serve, but in the interests or a European capitalism.
This is irrespective of the high levels of productivity within the coal industry or the huge profits of nationalised industries like British Telecoms.
The Tories are not satisfied with the enormous sums that are paid to the City through interest repayments, they want the whole cake.
if the interests of workers and consumers are put first in a labour movement plan workers' control. work if the banks and finance companies are nationalised and the massive debts of these industries cancelled being "these are the basic steps needed towards a planned economy. 1982
UK Italy streamlined Western Nationalisation can be progressive
Julia Lit increase
enforced Nationalisation can
ercast still afloat. suggest
working class unions
(millions)
worse.
hellots
Registered unemployed
in 1988
be five million.
end of the
productive
profit.
Britain does worse Output change
-5.0
USA -0.1 OECD average 1.4 West Germany 1.7 France
Japan 8.6 11.83 AUStralIa
ELECTION '83
'The economy is more efficient and will therefore start to beat international competition
THE TORIES say that unemployment has been a necesary price for transfor
• COLULLY. They point to the productivity (output head) to back up their arguments. But average productivity in manufacturing industry is still only half that of Italy's and a quarter of Japan's
The Tories' argument conceals the fact that the rise in productivity been almost solely due to the destruc.
of British industry - not from an in-
production in those OCCIDE
That's why the Tories are fighting for increased speed-up and productivity among those sections picking up pro duction such as BL Cowley.
The real solution lies not in competition between imperialist countries, whether through making British in dustry more streamlined, or through import controls as the Labour leaders
It rests in international action by the
starling will une trad across Europe fighting for a 35
'Inflation has come down.
So will unemployment
WHILE the government blames the rise in unemployment on international factors, they don't say that inflation has also gone down in most other ad. vanced capitalist countries. But this trend will not last.
In Britain, in particular, inflation will begin to increase again from the last quarter of this year. This was one of the factors that made Thatcher opi for a cut-and-run election
But prospects for employment ar
. Thatcher has managed to sup press most of the authoritative report on the economy in the lead-up to the
But Cambridge Economic Policy Group, which ha produced the most accurate forecasts
unemployment during the pas years, predicts that a further five year
Thatcher would take registered unemployment up to over four millio.
the highest in Westen Europe. By 1993 unemployment would
THE PLAIN truth is that with the Tories there is no light at the Tahour victory the fight begins tunnel. With for a society which doesn' cruelly dupe its unemployed
but guarantees every person:
role in a societ! which plans for human need no
Page 9 scan of this page
economy
- 11.9 UK 12.4
-7.0 Italy •9.1 herlands -2.7 Netherlands 8.9 CD average - 1.6 USA 8.6 nce 0.0 OECD average 8.3 st Germany 0.9 France 8.2 tralia 6.3 Australia, 6.2
10.9 West Germany 5.5 an 13.7 Japan 2.2
WHY THE
BiLE
JOBLESS
ARE VOTING TORY
The balance of payments in 1982
Oil
Invisibles Oil
Invisibles Visibles
1st quarter 2nd quarter
Visibles
Note: Figures for visible trade exclude oil Source: CSO
The 'productivity miracle' in manufacturin!
Despera
Notes
1 Change from the seconc
auarter of 1979 to the hirsi
quarter of 1982. source OECD Main Economics
indicators
Standardised unemploy
conomic w
vuly look
Change from 197
• 198
THE SUM, Thariding, Wary 76, 1983
THURSDAY JUNE
9
Blues ro
Oil
- +1,000
invisibies
- +500 — -500 3rd quarter
Visibles 1—7.000 -11!
- 110
All granhics from TUC Fronomic Poview 108:
- 105
- 95
PETER SHORE, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, makes no bones about Labour needing an incomes policy. He says that the National Economic Assessment proposed in Labour's manifesto is for 'moderation in wage matters... whether it is expressed as a social contract, a national understanding, or in any other way'.
Jim Callaghan and Denis Healey echoed this when they both made keynote speeches calling for wage restraint.
The ruling class agrees. Papers like the Financial Times insist wage needed whoever governs.
The pro-incomes policy lobby sieze on the experience of the Labour government in 1974 when free collective bargaining ruled. They say inflation galloped away, the pound collapsed and ultimately the government had to give in
the International Monetary Fund's demands for cuts .in wages, services and jobs.
The argument that it won't happen again doesn't wash either, as a glance at Mitterrand's France shows The causes of the 'economic chaos' as the press like to describe it however
not in the wage demands of the workers but in the capitalists' thirst for pre chaos of inflation is the result of the workers' struggle being restricted to wagę demands and not
fighting the employers by measures which stop the bosses punishing the working class by inflicting prices increases
In 1974 when a Labour government was returned on a tide of mass struggle Wilson was forced to impose a rents and prices freeze. . An extra £2 billion was pumped into the social services, pensions were jacked up and real wages increased by 10 per cent.
later when the right wing leaders had dampened struggle were the bosses able to take their revenge by swingeing price rises.
A slump is not a national disaster like an earthquake or a flood. It arises out of the fact that capitalists can't get big enough return on their capital.
Thatcher claims she has a solution to this and sets out to slash wages in real terms by about 40 per cent. This is
sell-dercaung policy. wages for the workers mean reduced ourchasile DOWC. which Lull means workers buy less goods and therefore the bosses can't sell enough goods to create new jobs.
This why most economic forecasts assume that if her policies carry on there will be no appreciable fall in unemployment this century.
Have the Labour leaders got an alternative? They claim that by pumping money into the economy people will buy more goods which will stimulate increased production and create more Jods. But the canttalsts object that such a policy won't restore
When Shore took his that Treasure cer age i that only a wage spread over five years would make his policy i work.
The New Statesman (26 November 1982) explained such wage cut would send profits 'into the stratosphere' The choice is not between so-called chaos and sanity. It's a choice between cutting wages or profits. Any economic chaos which came out of a policy that cut profits would
be the result of the bosses withdrawing their money and sabotaging the economy.
This opposition can be dealt with But it needs measures that attac capital by taking control of th economy out of its hands. Here, of course, National Saconomi Assessment falls flat on its face.
It bases Labour's strategy on col laboration between unions and
employers cutolucis. know The what they Tories and the wage cuts, a big run down of the NHS and other public services, reducing the railways to an inter-city business travel network and conscription for youth.
The National Assessment would not give the unions any right to im. pose their will on the employers. All they have is the right to 'consult' and
'present alternatives much the same as under the Social Contract'.
conditions and defend jobs with such
policy DIOSCIL climate. . They have to use the time. honoured weapons of strikes and oc cupations
future Labour government would then have two choices. It can either do as Healey and company did last time and accuse the unions of dragging Britain into chaos or it can legislate in favour of the strikers and against the employers, encouraging the workers to take over the factories, run them and nationalise such con cerns.
These are the two options before Labour's left. Either it's more of the same or an alliance of the Labour Party, with the unions_and the mass struggle — in or out of office. That is the only way to stop the employers imposing poverty and mass unemployment.
It is also the only way that the left inside the trade unions and the Labour Party can defeat the righ wing - the willing prisoners of the In ternational Monetary Fund and thi British establishment.
Socialist Action 3 June 1983
Page 10 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action 3 June 1983
SociAlist
ACTION
Why 'tactical
voting is wrong'
SOME LABOUR supporters, despairing the
chaos produced by Healey and Callaghan in
Labour's campaign, might be tempted to follow the advice given in last week's New Statesman.
Predicting a Thatcher landslide, it advised its readers to vote for the Alliance in 22 English constituencies and for the SNP in six Scottish constituencies.
This advice is wrong both in principle and practice. The Labour Party is still the only party that can realistically beat the Tories.
Advice
The New Statesman's advice will be heeded not only by target but right across the board. It effectively calls for a vote for the Alliance. This may or may not have been the New but it certainly boosted David Owen's jumping on the tactical voting bandwagon, with an appeal to back the Alliance.
Neither would a vote for the Alliance be an alternative to Thatcher.
Many of Thatcher's policies are contained in the Alliance manifesto. and Steel have said that if the Tories are the largest party in a hung parliament, they might enter into coalition with them on the basis of electoral reform and vague promises to reduce unemployment.
Remains
That is why a vote for Labour remains the only possible vote for the labour movement. .Vew Statesman and all those who are thinking of repeating their movement, aiding the Alliance and consequently the Tories.
Only the largest possible Labour vote on 9 June can defeat, and in the worst case, deter Thatcher.
Respectable
racism
WHEN THE Daily Mirror exposed Thomas Finnegan, the Tory candidate for Stockton, as a
have come as a great shock. members of the League of St George have been
As the Tories have steadily stolen the right wing ground from the fascists, so have the racist fascism for the more respectable
Nor have they been unwelcome. Mr Finnegan was adopted for a fairly safe Tory seat. Rightwing racist groups like the British Union of
Of course the Tory party is not a fascist party. But it is a congenial home for racists and holders
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views. editorials.
Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, sales and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London NI LxP. (lel: 01-339 6180) Send all material for publication (including advertising) to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address. We regret that due to the high cost of postage we cannot return or acknowledge unsolicited copy or photographs unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
those in the constituencies thev
Statesman's intention,
Photo
Furthermore Jenkins
advice are hurting the labour
These are expressed in
left.
DINMINGHAN CAMPAION TOR NUCLEAN
DISARMAMENT
CND at work
EARLIER this year the
ASTMS group of St
Mary's Hospital in
Paddington initiated a
work place CND.
The group agreed to
keep it as open as
unions (NUPE, G&M,
and medical students.
The organising Ultra-left humbug YOUR editorial about the coalitionist tendencies one nore ront benea (SA 29 April) has to be the biggest piece of ultraleft humbug this year. minent supporters of your Jauer are aso wel KnOwI advocates of proportional representation. vou are in no position to cast the first stone.
Listen to what Peter Zentner, an SDP journalist, has to say:
"The Alliance groupIng Is nke communism: once in power, it is in munism does this by abolishing elections and installing a dictatorship ot the proletariat. the Alliance would achieve
JOHN HARRIS
through the introduction of proportional represenDemocracy in Britain, p197).
That is the prospect justified ostensibly by a few trivial commonplaces about abstract democratic theory , but in reality br your willingness to sacrifice the prospect of working-class majorities in Parliament in exchange tor me crance or one or two seats for the ultra-
Why are you so keen to kill off the possibility of confirming Marx's view that there was a
Broad to working class power in Britain!
JULIAN WELLS, Greenwich CLP
meeting was a great succes, attracting five midwives and also members of ASTMS who were not previously active in the union.
The St Mary's luclear disarmamen
the International Women's Day of Action with a leaflet. This will Jenkins and Steel the road to working class power in Britain?
Write to us!
This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even
congratulations. But please be brief -
letters over 300 words will be cut. Write to: Letters, Socialist Action. 328 Upper Street, London N1 2XP (Tel: 01-359 8180)
CND on the march: now's the time to
take it into the workplaces
be followed up by a showing of one of the excellent CND films of the medical effects of nuclear war.
Effective work place groups are both possible and necessary to win nuclear disarmament.
ASTMS, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington
80P
riberal
Bombs and jobs
LABOUR CND is
pledging its support for
the People's March for
Jobs
We believe there is a
clear link between high
military spending and
mass unemployment, and
totally reject resemine s
scurrilous smear that
Labour's proposer
defence cuts would lead
to lob losses
The Tories have
boosted defence spending
while slashing spending
on housing, transport and
— Ineir recora
of job destruction now speaks for lesel.
Far from creating
exhorbitant military
on the nation's resources, hindered advances in civilian technology, and been a major factor in industrial decline and job losses.
Defence spending
Complaining socialist
AS A socialist, I like to think that answers to the
problems of society can
be found, and like to take a positive view.
I found Socialist Action to be one of the most cons stent negative publications I have read.
it is a common charg laid against socialists that they complain bitterly about world conditions, but can offer no workable so tons
I disagree with that charge and like to think that we socialists are workme our a vadie alternative to self interested capitalism. but the kind of moaning and
Socialist Action Sue Slipman - should union pay for SDP campaign?
NUPE resolution
HAVING just returned from the NUPE National Conference I would like to take the opportunity, 'through your pages, to make an appeal to all NUPE members who read you paper
All NÜPE members and your readers, must be aware that Sue Slipman,
NUPE is standing for the SDP in the Basildon constituency.
It is the weeks contributions of low- and poorly treated NE
members that pay Slipman's £10,000 p.a and provide her with a brand new car every year.
NOPORSIU'
LETTERS U
provides far fewer jobs
per pound than doe
social production; as the
defence sector becomes increasingly more capital-
intensive things can only go from bad to worse.
It is no coincidence that Britain has the highest defence budget among our West European Allies, the lowest productivity and the worst unemployment.
If Mr Heseltine had bothered to read Labour's manifesto he would know that Labour plans to give material support to industrial conversion plans so that no defence workers are thrown out of work.
Crucially, by diverting resources to labour-intensive and socially useful production Labour ‚Will bring back the two million jobs the Tories have destroyed.
LABOUR CND, London
perpetuates the myth of the blind-complaining
Anyone who reads your paper knows already that Thatcherism is bad, they , do not need to be told over and over again, almost as if it were a sublect to gloa , over
Get rid of the carping and complaining, and fill the paper with what the paper calls itself, socialist ACTION, and you will be on a winner, but at the
down from me.
This letter is intended as constructive criticism, and I hope vou wil accept it in the spirit it IAN F MCRAE, Dundee
CHRIS DAVIES (Report
It is theretore disgusting that she has been granted three weeks paid leave by the union to go off and campaign for the SDP's repressive and reactionary trade union and incomes policies.
We are urging all NUPE branches to send resolutions direct to the Executive Committee and calls for her dismissal on the grounds that her actions directly contravene Rule 2 (1) under the objects of the National Union of Public Employees.
GEOFF MARTIN, Branch Chair, Sutton Area Hospitals NUPE
Page 11 scan of this page
REVIEWS
TARIQ USES the scalpel of Marxism skilfully to dissect the body of Pakistan. If the state is still clinically alive today, this is mainly because it is kept going by the attachment of a life-maintaining apparatus provided by imperialism and, chiefly, by US imperialism.
The opening chapter of the book i gives a brief but concise nistory or tne Indian sub-continent from
Moghul Rue rue On emperors, through the period of the British Raj to the division which came with the denarture of the British in 1947.
This gives a clear picture SnOWIll: how, by
and deepening the divisions between Hindu and Moslem, the British laid the seeds for the eventual rupture.
In India, the powertul capitalist state had an instrument to nand to take over the reins of statepower. Congress had a genuine mass base in the rural and urban petty bourgeoisie and a limited following in the working class. By contrast, JInnah's Muslim League was
organization Wild limited mass base 'but
TV CHOICE
Opinions
Sunday 5 June
5.30 Channel 4
PATRICK Watts is the
who was awarded
the MBH tor keeping the
Falklands radio going
the dastardly
Willis!
Argentinians overran the
island. Here he deliber-
ates on why the Malvinas
should be British, after
being flown to Britain at
great expense by Channel
Election Results Thursday and Friday, BBC and ITV WITH the likely out-
com of readers may noi
of readers not blay feel up to watching the results into the night. For Inose • vou latera to settle down with the Party rour's. what should you watch?
The BBC kicks off before 11.00 with Jusl anchorperson David
Dimbleby. Sir Robin Day interogates the punGHTS and Will become more arrogant as the night wears on. Peter Snow will twiddle the
Can Pakistan survive?
strong in the countryside because of the grip which landlords and religious mystagogues exercised over the peasantry.'
Reviewed by C. van Gelderen
In some parts of the
the north-west frontier province, Pathan countryside, the League almost unknown. The Punjabi landlords had, until recently, been extremely hostile. further com,000 miles of Indian ter ritorv separated West Pak. istan from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
From the beginning the unstable and unreal nature of Pakistan became manifest: hese contradictions were accentuated by the wind of revolution which General Zia: hailing the army as 'fountain head of inspiration
computor. No swingoRobert Mackenzie pegged meter this time,
out last year.
ITN the
pathetically-titled "The
Nanon Deciacs stalls al
10.00 with Alistair
Burnet In charge, yUu
can be sure that impar-
tiality will prevail just
like when he was editor
of the Daily Express.
Peter Dissons tries lO
out do the BBC on the
micro-chip front Wills
ITN's computor. Wim-
pish allyl Lewis is giv- ing the results. If you're
Sull awakc al 4.00 you
can watch Bullet with
Steve McQueen on ITV
and then back to the elec-
tion at 6.00.
If you want to be part
am. The BBC carries on
through Breakfast Time
and then Sir Robin and
Co are back until 4.00 in
the afternoon. the
thought of all this is too
much for vou Channe 4
are showing good
film trom 1959,
Room at the Top
12.25 the
BBC2 has Klute. with
Jane Fonda and Donald
Sutherland. My
was blowing through Asia. Fearful for their future, the Pakistan rulers turned to Washington for aid. It was aid which did not come without strings.
As an official US document. said
"lechnical Assistance is only one of a number of available to carry out (our) foreign policy and to promote (our) national interests abroad. Pakistan was strategically important to the US as a buffer to the Soviet Union in the north and the new threat from Communist China.
The book deals graphically with the vorable history and the recurring crises which have earmarked the decade and a half since Pakistan's bir That seems a neak future for a country which should never have come into bein . The centrifugal forces
the different Ilalioll alities will continue the process begun by Bangladesh and tear it apart Real unification and a reRay Winston who plays the leading role in Scum
mendation is to stock up with plenty of cans, turn the sound down and have a wally
Scum Friday 10 June, 11.30, Channel 4
united India will only come in the aftermath of a socialist revolution.
important chapter, headed 'Geo.
and In f Super Powers' Tariq deals with LIC SiludEot Afghanistan before and after the Soviet invasion and in Iran under the Shah and Khomeini. He shows that, despite Soviet claims, the Red Army Afghanistan, not at the invitation of the Kabul
but for reasons of Soviet foreign and strategic policy. Far from rallying the people to
armed resistance to the Soviet pupper regimic m Kabul.
Prophetic
About Stalinist Tudeh Party, who remain. ed loyal to Khomeini despite his politics he is almost prophetic.
'Some of its leaders are no doubt thinking •After History, however, our turn.' History, may have some nasty surprises in store for them.
Iran, under the Shah, played an important role in sustaining the various reactionary regimes Islamabad. Now, under Khomeini, it is encouraging the Islamicisation of Pakistan under Zia, with its accompaniment public floggings, execu tions, repression of
Of the future,
Targ ha thinto say:
voluntary Federation OI South Asian Republics must remain the Cal not on or socaists but also of democrats who should not accept the cruel and arbitrary lines drawn by British rulers to divide nationalities and tribes from each other..' Can Pakistan survive? The death of a state Tariq Ali Penguin Books, f2.95 AS EVERYONE must know, the BBC banned the original TV about life in Borstal. The film version was made by the same team and there's no indication that C4 have cut any of it.
CHANNEL 4 gave viewers late-night bonus •on Tuesday. Scrapping their weekly
black proramme, pica
bably - political sidney Poitier's Tribute reasons, they to Paul Robeson.
Robeson had been an outstanding scholar, being Law Scholar of the Year,
was a lot class aunielt and had magnificen baritone voice. Normal! that would have assured him of a glittering future in America.
But there were snags. Robeson was black and to
was a member of the US Communist Party. All. his life he suffered the
of a white society.
in Broadmoor
August 1981
got massive coverage in the media.
Almost everyone agreed that Reeve, 'criminally insane' and a double-murderer, was best kept out of circulation for life. keeve d autobiography should change
This clearlv written and intelligent book gives a devastating insight into the British prison system and the treatment and control of the criminally 'insane' which will broaden any socialist's understanding of how the state deals with 'deviance' and dissidents.
Reeve's story
fascinating and terrifying. A disturbed and disrupted childhood led to a trail of petty crime. Each incident, and the increasingly brutal. and uncaring
of authorities, isolated the
Alan from his parents and placed him and his elder brother in a state of individual revolt against the adult world.
This familiar story has
Socialist Action 3 June 1983 Paul Robeson playing Othello with Peggy Ashcroft as Desdemona in London 1928
A tribute to Paul Robeson
Poitier shows through Robeson's famous song "Ole Man River' how Robeson's political con sciousness developed. When he first sang it in the musical Show Boat, he.did so in the traditionai Uncle Tom idiom, complete with the word 'niggers'.
The following year he replacco tols wit tae mor acceptable (only just), 'darkies'. But this was on In the beginnin he Through the years became more political, the words
the song changed significantly.
'I'm tired of living and
of dying' became 'we must keep fighting until we're dying Robeson first used this version standing Man's Land during the Spanish Civil War, bringing the fighting to a stand-still as
A revolutionary
ALAN REEVE'S escape from Broadmoor in and his recapture in Amsterdam following a shoot out with Dutch police a year later
a tragic twist. While on the run from Borstal, drugged and in a state of high tensIon, Alan killed another boy during a quarrel. At the age of fifteen he was committed to Broadmoor for an indefinite period under the Mental Health
Reviewed by Peter Purton
The most interesting part of the book describes how Reeve survived periods of brutal maltreatment and solitary confinement, and being framed for another murder, and came to terms with himset and his relation ship with other people and society as a whole.
This was done by an intense period of study, starting with Marxism. . As one or biose people the edge of society who suffer the sharp point of state violence. Reeve was able
beyond the dividual response and
11 both sides listened to li superb voice.
'You get a little drea and you go to jail' becau 'you show a little grit sad you go to jail.' During th McCarthy period. Robeson 'DOR
outstau achievements scholar
shaped editiom n
disappeared from records
Forbidden to trave abroad,. he stood on the American-Canadian border and sang, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians coming to hear him. His courage never deserted him.
The last time he sang Ole River Was H Sydney, he knew he was a uying man. Now the word: were: must go fighting until I'm dying'. understand the nature of capitalist society and the repressive and divisive role of the capitalist state
•He also came to iden tify as gay, developing not only a series of deep per sonal relationships with other achieving a high level of 'cons' but also
understanding of sexual oppression. Most extraor dinarily, he managed organise series political discussion groups anu a string or pontica and set sipe Brin a Cory ana set up both a Liberation Front and a Maoist organisation!
It was this political action, and especially his uncompromising defence of the Irish national liberation struggle, which led to the rejection of three ap The full backing of the
full backing of medical and psychiatric staff at Broadmoor
disturbins book. It deals with thing most of us would prefer to Ignore That is why it should be widely read Notes from a waitingroom Alan Reeve Heretic Books, £3.50
Page 12 scan of this page
12
DIARY
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ul vance sena Diary, SOCIaLSI ActIon, 328 Upper Street, London NI 2XP 16°C not later thar thursday, one week prior to publication).
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• Fred Tonge Memorial Lecture given by Ralph Liliband on 'Marxism and de Labour Movement'. Postponed due to election to Hyde Hall, Irish Centre, ~ cu zy June, opm, Dougla Camden Square. Organised
Si Pancras and Holhorr Labour Party.
Well, we said it all
along. The Labour
Party's right wing has
sabotaged the election
campaign on nuclear
disarmament, and has
connived in silencing
working class protest
over unemployment in
the Peoples March.
After • June there
will be reckoning
within the labour
ment. If you, like us,
struggle for socialist
policies which we have
been fighting for these
last few weeks, then you
are raced wiln a simple
question.
Are you going to individual
battle or are you going to
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class struggle
resistance? Socialist Ac-
Socialist Action 3 June 1983
• Walk for Life from
Faslane nuclear submarine
base to Greenham Common,
19 May to 6 August. When
the march arrives at Torness
nuclear power station a
festival will greet them on
Bank Holiday Monday (30
May) with music, theatre.
stalls etc. For more details of
events contact the Scottish
camoaen to kesist ine
Atomic Menace (SCRAM),
11 Forth Street, Edinburgh
NUCLEAR
FREE RALLY
Albert Square Manchester Saturdav Tune 4 198:
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June, 1.30pm.
Harlesden Library, Craven Pk Rd, London NW10. canised by Brent East • Irade Unions and Revolution in Nicaragua. New bulletin produced by Nicaragua Solidarity. from NSC, 20 Compton Terrace, London N1. • People's March for Jobs:
Mass Rally with Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone and Ray Buckton Thur 2 June, Brent Town Hall.
Ealing March arrives at Ealing Hospital Fri 3 June al 1.30pm come and greet the marchers. Followed by Rally at 3pm at Southall Community Centre, Bridge Rd with Michael Foot speaking.
GLC Festival to welcome the march, Sat 4 June, -12-8pm, Crystal Palace Con cell bow. Admission tree. National demonstration 1lam Sun 5 June,
DaLleISCa Park. South London to Hyde Park.
After the election - what now? RCP public meeting with speakers Mike Freeman (editor The Next Step) and RCP election candidates. Tues 14 June, 7.30pm, Holborn Library, Theobalds
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BLACK
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• Arnur scargili and Jack Jones are just two of the speakers at the Hounslow ¡auc unions lot a Labour Victory Rally. Others include Pete Rowlands (PPC Brentford & Isleworth), Russell Kerr (MP), Vernon Merritt (Sec Hounslow TUC) anu vultay Kowianas Irru Spelthorne). Wed 1 June, 7.30pm., Hounslow Manor School, Prince Regent Rd, Hounslow. • Kurdistan News & Comment May edition now available and includes an interview with Youssef Ardalan (rep of KOMALA abroda. Ine largest kuroisr movement in Iranian Kurdistan) 35p plus p&p Irom the kuraish sondanty Citee (UK). 29 Islinglon Park Road, London 1OB. KSC has regular meetings on the third Sunday of each month at 7.30pm, Prince Albert Pub, Wharfdale Rd, Kings Cross. • Release Nicky Kelly Committee can be contacted al ll wrange errace Blackrock, Co Dublin Dublin 801 438. • Anti Trident Convention, Arena, Glasgow 11-4.30pm Details from ATC, 420 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, 041-332 3141.
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the election
WHATEVER the outcome of the election, one thing is for certain: socialists across the country will need to urgently discuss how to respond.
If the Tories win, we need to discuss how use the strength of the
movement resist the next wave of Tory attacks.
If there's hung parlament socialists need to guard against
by leadership towards coalition with
against Thatcher. And if Labour wins We SHOUld organise force the government to call anticapitalist policies.
Across therefore Socialist Action will be organising dis čussion meetings in weeks following the election on the theme What next for socialists?
Socialist Action supporters in every town urged contact
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* Alan Freeman, editor of Socialist Action and author of The Benn Heresy to member of the editoria "geNe 0159 board and Greenham Common 24 May plann-
* Pat Hickey, trade
and former deputy convenor. Rover Sollhull * Redmond O'Neill, the editorial board member and member of Socialists for a Labour Victory steering comMitter John Ross, a member of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International, and author of forthe thcoming book on the Tories
of Write to:
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Page 13 scan of this page
The future of the Tories
ELECTION '83
'CUT AND RUN' describes why the Tories called the election. The local "government elections showed them gradually support. By autumn economic situation will be worse and unemployment will be up again.
Thatcher on a decided pre-emptive strike - to hit the labour movement hard and before Conservative port declined.
The Tories have two objectives. First, of course, to ensure that they are re-elected. But second, to smash the leit in the Labour Party, and to ensure that the alternative to the Tories is not
Labour government, Labour/Alliance coalition.
To put it another way, the aim of the Tories and the ruling class is to make sure that Margaret Thatcher is prime minister and that Denis Healey leads the labour Partv.
The two are related right wing would much rather have another Tory government than a left Labour government which took Britain out of the EEC or was committed to a nuclear-free Britain. The way the
right sabotaged campaign in Bermondsey Brent re-selection confirms this.
But are the Tories really as strong as they appear? Despite riding high in the opinion polls all the evidence points to the fact that the Tories are undergoing an historical decline. Contrarv created by the media, in 1979 Thatcher did not halt the trend towards a lessening of the Tories' share of the YUIC. Thatcher won because of the decline of both parties simultaneously.
The figures below downward trend of support for the Tories since their highest ever vote in 1931. The fifty year downward trend of support is massive.
Tory Victories Year Tory % of the vote 1931 1935 1951 1955 1959 1970 1979
X'A Join the
fight for
• socialism
aptly
losing
the
therefore
fast supbut — the Labour
Tatchell's
and the
Thatcher
show the
photo
1945 1950 55.0 1964 53.3 1966 48.8 1974 (February) 49.7 1974 (October) 49.4 46.4 43.9
Name .
Address
Union/CLP (if any)
Age.. •If you want more information about Socialist Action or to be put in touch with local supporters send this form to Socialist Action,
Street, London N1.
ALO UC
Tory Defeats 39.6 43.4 43.4 41.9 ly. 37.2 35.8
The trend here is obvious. With the exception of the 1945-51 period
trend.
sions.
the
ruling
Alliance.
By John Ross
when the whole Tory vote shifted massively down and then up because of the post-war landslide, each Tory victory and each Tory defeat was won or lost on a lower vote than previous-
Of course these figures cannot be projected mechanically into future. With large oil revenues to offset the economic decline, has a relatively favourable situation. Fluctuations within the general decline can always occur. But Thatcher has not, and will not, succeed in reversing the general downward
One of the most intelligent comments on the future of the Tories was
me shy that peep ople read:
that (read: canitaist class should have no illu
If Thatcher won the election this time she could not win the one after. If Labour's polities continued,
outcome might be the most left wing Labour government in history.
Jenkins' conclusion was that the
class ought shift allegiance to the SDP/Liberal
The highpoint of votes for 'third'
parties was in 1974 — when 25 per cent of the electorate voted for the Liberals, Nationaists etc the SDP/Liberal Alliance comes near to that will be the real measure of their
But what happens to the Alliance the is small beer compared with what happens inside the Labour Party. The ruling class want desperately to do a job on the Labour left, to prepare for a possible future collapse of support for the Tories. At the moment the Labour Party's policies are totally Anacceptable to the ruling class.
No serious section of capitalist opinion pledged to unilateral disarmament, opposed to the EEC and opposed to incomes policy. Ihis means a cam paign to break the Labour Party from these policies Healee mehhanics of dre
1ne mechanics Labour and making it fit for a coalition with the Alliance are already being worked on. For example, wing Labour MP comments in his book The Case for
Socialist Action Duffy would be happy to cast a vote for coalition. Healey
pamphlet
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PRESS! JUST 25p
The policies that
Socialist Action
stands for in this
election and
beyond. Send 25p
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Whether
Able coalition. cess.
accept a government
decline.
and impose "re-centering'
rightAustin Mitchell And if
3 June 1983 13 Jenkins What we stand for
WE
STAND
MARDEN
the Labour Party that 'the most' the Labour Party could accept on elec toral reform is a referendum, is a clear sign of clearing the decks for a possi
Terry Duffy's call for Labour to abandon its policies on unilateralism, the EEC and incomes policy is part of the same process.
To carry through this project requires a reversal of the relationship of forces inside the Labour Party. crushing Labour defeat at the polls would be grist to the mill in this pro-
The ruling class safeguards its long term as wen as is saor term miciess The more clear sighted realise that the Tory Party is undergoing an historical
To sleep safer at night it wants Margaret Thatcher as prime minister and Dennis Healev U SU meone under his thumb, as leader of the Labour Party.
The same papers that are today extolling the virtues of Thatcher will after the election explain how Healey
greatly increased his stature. you think that that is contradictory, you'll believe anything.
Page 14 scan of this page
Left action needed Black NALGO members to lobby
14
in Telecom
THE POST OFFICE Engineering Union is in conference at Blackpool during general election week. The Bill to privatise British Telecom fell when the election was called, but the Tories are pledged to reintroduce it if re-elected.
mediately called off the selective industrial action against the Bill.
DAVE WARD, branch and a Broad Left candidate for the NEC who polled 57,439 votes at last conference, told us what faces the POEU Broad Left.
tant ever for the failure by T me lo win majority on executive
allo the had
VICWS
orvalsaThe City allu branches aulul,
were
to stave off were
.from
vein, but the ex cutive tried to limit the
vli alu use ll olly lo
Viro LUyclarc They ad no intention of winnag the action.
Ground
The very ground on shich those two branches iota mas deing cul away
the executive. The ex« Chune was nol Dart ol loe solution but part of the p.obiem. They are hoping aşainst hope for a Labour story to let them off the book.
The executve are
embling with members'
alvertng Ine hole of the members' at-
Lowarus Lnc elec-
on thev failed to
JOYFUL Metal BOx
workers in Hackney
unanimously voted
return to work after win-
ning their fight against
management attacks on
"There was a O OHIOS I ng' laughed Jim Wills =
leader of the strike com-
mittee.
'Our members work-
ed really hard to bring
this strike to a successful
CONCISOR. Worde was
high on the picket lines,
w hich
Were
24 hours a day through-
dulC wo weeks.
'Many of the strikers
visited other unions and
solidarity oto be lab tur
solidarity
movement. Management
really freaked out
, aVULl
the porta-cabin donated
by the Hackney trades
knew we
siere prepared for a long.
strike it necessary.
'The
ne'те won means that
everyone who has been
moved from shift to day
Fork £400. A tor-
mula has been worked
oat for a 12 month con-
tract on day work ensur-
Socialist Action 3 June 1983 The POEU national executive committee im-
secretary of the Horsham
Many leadership. We have to argue
Colterence ior the union take industrial action against any government which attempts to privatise DATS OI brilsn i ciccom Ihat will the major
British Telecom
lett. Win
issues even the Broad
more and
the union
must be bring these
and give them the
without the
ches.
sent leadership will find itmore and more difficult to hold down the forces ranged against them.
Other issues will come up at conference. As far as the leadership concerned, our affiliation
uvo ls oniy a paper one. The Horsham branch
Metal Box victory
ing that no one can be ar-
moved GILU
shifts'.
The bosses have
abandoned any talk of
reducing manning levels
and have given a com-
keep the
IICHe
Clapton factory open.
Jim explained that not all the strikers are at-
fected by the loss of shift
premium anu won l gel
£400 won from
you for their solidarity
action. those who
compensation are putting it into a kitty. Chis
will be divided to give to
those who do not benefit
financially by going on
strike. "This branch has
to force hon be recined
force reckoned
We will be using
our extra funds to get the
D alci oI ICCL. chelin ackney reaffiliating
trades
council.
"The redundancy
fight led by the engineers
union just prior to our
strike paved the way for
us. We have showed peo-
pie that you can fight and
win something".
(Frank Gorton)
circulated a letter in the UMOT support the
of Greenham wollen Common members that we are affiliated nationally CND.
If we are going to be invo vc ousa adon against the government then a sensible thing to do would be to black cruise missies ds well. so, in tne general election we be taking industrial actior against privatisation and Vl Ulse
the Newbury which
would
If the Tories
• The of the Greenham women have in Soiree a Cal TOrSruS Telecom engineers to black work on the missile sites.
British Telecom major contractor on these SELeN and Women Telecom has started a call
the Post Office Engineering Union for this work to be boycotted.
ine norsham branch of the union sent a letter to all branches arguing case for this action and a MOROn nOs the national conference
Bs eoos 'That the POEU join the protest against Cruse missiles Britain by blacking work
comman canons systems of the relevent oases Labour's message to Metal Box pickets.
conference
THE RIGHTS of black workers will be a major Issue at this year's National. and Local Government Officials Association conference.
Last year black delegates walked out of the conference giving clenched fist salutes. Their HIOUIOH had been carved up by the executive and an alternative adopted which claimed the solution to racist discrimination is to educate black workers.
By
which
and • Labour bureaucrats - that the
rather than institu-
labour movement.
At this year's con-
organising a major
district COlle the biggest
The COurCH entouragllg
conference and many
bATEN ouser vers.
Colla aeol employers and fellow workers, a national black workers conference, local black
coutee WillI representation on branch
and legal cacculives Brian Sedgemore and Ernie Roberts, local candidates, bring
financial assistance to victims of immigration and nationality laws.
The adoption of this motion by the Metropolitan district is the product of a concentrated
nalga
IF THE TULCA
SUPPORT ASLEF
HOW CAN THEY
FIGHT TERBITT
Black members of NALGO fighting for their rights
ampaigı by black NALGO members over
the pais hass
has included picket of the union's token race equality workino nar. ty in February, the forma-
PICKET
LINE
Unit Superheaters
struggle on
A PACKED meeting of local shop stewards called by the engineering UlOl Broad Left Swansea last week heard Unit Superheaters con Pete Thomas pledge to fight on against the British Steel CorsoraLol The workers at Unit Superheaters have been on strike for over four weeks. At first the dispute was over forced redundancies, but now the BSC , has announced the total closure of the Planli David Jenkins, the Wales TUC research and administration officer, hit out at the BSC Unit Superheaters parent company. 'This is an example of management at its worst. BSC has utilis
In the Unions
Photo: CM
tion of local black
worker' groups and a na.
tional NALGO black
worker conference in
May attended by 150
workers from all over Britain. ed this dispute to close …Ine lactory COWl aue disentitle the workers
their redundancy money'
Following. High Court writ forcing the end ot the occupation the workers have now mounted 24 hour picket of the plant.
At last week's meeting many strongly critical at the lack of support from the AUEW leadership and officials. Material is now being removed from the factory and blacking and solidarity action is now
io Messages and supporg
Fred Evans, Bishopston Rd, Bishopston Swansea. (Graham Atwell)
Page 15 scan of this page
In the Unions
IN APRIL BL Cowley workers ended a strike with a formula cooked up by national union officials. This involved four management attempts to scrap washing up time at the end of shifts.
week 5000 assembly plant workers voted, with only a handful against, to support the stewards' recommendation to refuse to give up washing up time.
This enormous vote of confidence for the stewards is one in the eye for the sell out of national union leaders Duffy and Evans.
By a Cowley assembly plant worker
Management proposed
implement the cut washing time on 7 June. It is now likelv that thev wil drag out national cedure to avoid confrontation. 1he last thing they want is flare up just before the general election.
While the inquiry was Oll. drove ahead on an effi-
with the full agreement of the national leaders. i nis involvea speca up on the Maestro, by three cars
and Hacrensed workloads led to other models. This the highest levels of produc-
for years. •But management refuse to raise the maximum bonus evel return, until washing up time goes.
They organised a camference of the guards, shunters grades,
Alfred Goldstein as the chair of British rail.
Alfred Goldstein is the author of the called 'minority' section of the serpell report. Ine maiority report is totally hostile to the nationalised railway system. Goldstein's option involved even more
narche job slash the present 10,375
1630 HIC FCLWULK miles.
By Patrick Sikorski, NUR
The delegates were determined to fight back, even though they have been buffeted by the sellOULO vers ske against flexible rostering; driver-oniv-operation trains and the trainman's
By Ken Livingstone
IF THATCHER wins the election she has pledged 1o abolish Metropolitan councils like the Greater London Council and Manchester. On 24 May GLC leader Ken Livingstone hit back with a report to GLC meeting. We print extracts below.
THE TORIES have announced their plans to abolish the GLC and
Cowley fights on
weeks of local: negotiations over
These talks have brought no solution and last
paign of individual in timidation to force through their proposals.
In breach of the return to work formula, they did a. survey. Even then only 30 per cent agreed to give up inelr su minutes a week.
Through our mass meeting we macer oenoacay clear where the workforce stands. As well as agreeing to keep washing time we instructea by Transport Union convenor Bob Fryer to refuse to laik to management on an individual basis. We have said no to blackmail and intimidation.
Audited plant status is
next suage of phe attacks
next stage attacks started by Edwardes. includes Tory manifesto plans to privatise BL. For this a determined attack on the unions is vital. 1he strength of the four week strike last month shows how the Tories will have to go.
Allhouen une end of the strike was a set back for our fight, we returned knowing that had shown we are not going to
Only a fight can save jobs!
'WILL WE meet again next year?' This was on the minds of delegates at the 49th annual rail union con-
shunters and chargemen
in Southport last weekend. The nightmare of the complete disappearance of 15,000 guards in British Rail and London Transport is more real with the rumoured appointment of
concept.
There was a small increase in the number. of delegates this year.
Resolutions from the Nor. thampton and Nottingdica out by large majorities because thev accepted the trainman's concept as an accomplished fact Thère were also important changes in the executive committee. Strong class struggle candidates from Tinsley in Sheffield and Streatham in London ocal rigal wing and communist Party candidates by solid majorities.
The Broad Left fringe meeting attracted 50 of the 265 delegates. Delegates from Kings Marylebone and East and
Stop Tory bid to kill GLC
remove the democratic right of Londoners to have a say in their city's future. This cheap election gimmick is a ploy to distract attention from the devastation of London caused by Tory policies over the last four years.
It is also a sop to convince their own 1119 the government 'doing
another alta where the covernment record is one of total failure ...
The Lones attack public spending as the root
Cowley pickets out last month to save wash-up time
be easy prev. the nearb body plant shows this too They did not strike but continue to walk off their job for washing time even though this has officially been cut.
The issue now goes to national negotiation and
scene JOOKS sel another battle. In the comIng weeks stewards should be ready to take the issue oui lo tc lavour move-
West Ham branches pointed out that Serpell is being carried out already with BR attempts to close the engineering workshops and the Lincoln branch line.
They explained that effective
VODOSILIUl Serpell could only be built by resisting the productivity measures being pushed through now by manage. Sack
Unfortunately there was no conference resolution mapping out a clear strategy for protecting jobs and dealing with new technology, apart from an emergency resolution from Kings Cross on the use of 'retresher rules anc regulation exams to weed out alla sack guards.
Serious co-ordination must now be organised by those orances are fighting back.
ilified il concilmare
government spending has expanucu massivery
The Tory manifesto says that the GLC is irrelevant. When they say that,
because the GLC is
The Labour GLC relevant to the millions of Londoners threatened
policies. The
ory Party is so intunater by our refusal to follow
THE MRACLE MAESTROIS BORN
ment nationally.
Last week thousands of leaflets were distributed ' in the assembly and body plants proclaiming 'vote for jobs, vote Labour'.
were produced by the local Labour Party and contained a message from LaDou Carotoates tor une area. Factory gate MCCLICO ot around 100 didate for oxford East an- workers heard canRailworkers battle against Serpell carve-up
the Tory line, that they are flying in the realities of urban govern.
western capital cities have a tier of
taking a view of the city as a whole and being accoun. table to its residents...
Abolition is being pro posed for purely politica reasons. It is supported by the banks multila. tionals of the City because they see an opportunity cease paying a contribution to the cost of maintaining London's vital services and to throw those costs onto others, much less able to pay.
tack plans to seil of BL.
This strengthens the Cowley workers stand
followed with a firm Labour comHullicil DaCk the workers in dispute. A Labour victory will boost
confidence to fight Edwardes ment. If the Illallage Labour backing fightback will be even more vital.
SAY NO TO
SERPELL Ken Livingstone
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
Lost and found
SCOTLAND Yard has Toled yel another RA plot to blow all up. Sharp-eyed Sleuths spotted Sean O'Callaghan enerlid the armed with an Armalite rifle, two tons of ex. plosives and wearing A badge which said 11 am a fully-paid up terrorist'.
O'Callaghan could not be arrested however as he had craftily paid duty on weapons. The ever-alert Yard immechately put guards on Foot, Steel and Jenkins, which gave a few lads at the Yard a
Consistently
wrong Jim IT WAS good that Jim Callaghan has done his bit for Labour's election campagn. Callaghan is
at getting things right
What a record th man has got. When he was Labour's Chancellor from resisted devaluation Ther in a remarkable gymnastic act
devalued - which was a bit late and cost economy some billions of pounds.
But he is a trier who is never put off by making a balls-up. From 1967 to
The was Home Secretary where he was responsible for sending the troops to Ireland and pushing through laws on immigration that cost •Labour lots of black votes.
No wonder the dog is pissed off
'Dizzy'
Michael
LAST SUNDAY Foot was interviewed by Brian
on World One Whenever he was asked 'would Labour gel rid of Polaris after five years' if there
sires, ens position s-
position clear. He said it either would would not get rid of Polaris. Surely you can't fet clearer than that. was another
Socialist Action 3 June 1983 15 bit of much needed overtime.
Then the IRA let off their 'real bomb'. .On Sunday • they Tralee holding hp a sui Sean home day newspaper with its headline about the
Scotland Yard naturally stood firm admitted they were studying reports that Sean
Seein that hadn't lef Ireland for five years this was hardly a surprise.
Meanwhile London's Capitol Radio announced he had 'been found', presumably by the Yard But how can you 'find' someone who was never lost in the first place?
Labour loves a lose so he when Harold went. Her the top job
he dis played sure touch. Septembe 1978 Labour was ahead in the opinion polls. So Callaghan decided not to hold an election who wants easy victories?
Then followed 'winter of discontent where the poorly paid public secto worker discovered the benefit. of Jim's five per cent and his attachment the he IMF. When he called the election in May 1979 this the master of timing had made sure that Thatcher would win.
However slander to suggest that the Tory Central Office sends regular donations
Scam paigns. . He is not a Tory agent. He is lust a no very bright man who loves capitalism. 'throw the election away performance.
not rename the blasted animal 'Disaster after Foot's abject performance.
Compiled by BOB PENN. INGTON. Send contriba was tions Worm's Eye, Socialist Action, 328 Uppe Durce LONDON arrive not later than Thars day a week prior to publics
Page 16 scan of this page
Tories out! Jobs not bombs!
SUNDAY 5 JUNE is a massive opportunity to strike a blow at the Tory election campaign. On that day the People's March for Jobs concludes with a mass demonstration — just four days before the election.
Despite Tory claims that 'there is no alternative' the case for the prosecution is simple. Since the Tories came to power on the slogan 'Britain isn't working', unemployment has skyrocketted from 1¼ million to over 4 million.
Tory unemployment is deliberate — an attempt to demeralise and discipline the working class. In this election the Tories have made no promises on unemployment whatever; they don't even pretend that their policies will bring it down.
Price
More than anything else unemployment shows the utter irrationality of the capitalist system. The construction industry is a classic example. 400,000 building workers are unemployed. The countryside is littered with huge stocks of unused
The banks and finance houses are awash wim money has the need for housing been greater. Any rational system would find ways of putting the unemployed back to work.
It's no secret that the trade union and Labour leaders didn't want the Peoples March, especially so close to an election. But that is precisely the wrong approach. A massive turnout can throw the Tories onto the defensive.
The organisers of the march have done everything possible to give the march a 'non-political' character, slencing tnose wno wanco to snoul anti-Tory slogans and distancing the march from the Labour campaign. This is ridiculous.
Next Sunday's demonstration — should be a monster anti-Tory demonstration. It must be a demonstration for Jobs not Bombs, for expanded public services and a shorter working week.
Most of all, Labour Parties must turn out with their banners to show who is fighting for the unemployed in tais election• • The truth about the economy see pages 8 and 9
The following open letter
to the Morning Star was signed by 19 marchers,
following an article
which suggested that
the march should appeal
to 'Tory businessmen'.
THE People's March for Jobs '83 was called not
unemployment but as an opportunity to mobilise the labour movement around its alternative policies.
That opportunity is being missed.
The broad non-party political appeal is an obstacle to mobilising the
tered as a newspaper with the Post Office.
anu Level
To Bab labour movement to fight unemployment.
• for support for
workers fighting redun-
dancy
• for a Labour govern-
ment
• for demands on the
Labour Party to spell out a programme of policy
ane moonsauon or lat
labour movement to
make full employment a
Rejecting such a class
perspective to woo "Tory
businessmen' as suggested
in last Friday's Morning &.
Star (20.5.83) is misguid-
ed nonsense. Tory busi-
nessmen benefit from
PO Box 50, London N1,
SOCiALiSt
ACTiON
Open letter to the Morning Star from the undersigned marchers
That's why they create it.
To succeed the March must: • have factory, labour movement and youth club tours in all towns en route, not just stage manger ralles with ndentikit speeches. • demand a platform at all major Labour Party election rallies. • be seen as a clear part. of a campaign for Labour government responsive to workers needs. • and, as a matter of course, reinstate the four comrades from Liverpool expelled for taking up anti-Tory slogans.
We're not walking to
Peoples
march
for jobs
'WEST MIDLANDS ON THE N
London with our caps in our hands asking for pity.
We're angry and we demand action.
Signatories include:
Joanne Mulholland (NALGO) K. Wade (Greenham Women support group) M. Johnson (NALGO) V. Parkinson (NGA) Gerard Flanagan (APEX) Peter Stainton (Merseyside Docks shop steward) Paul Atkin (Lancs Assn of Trades Councils) John O'Brien (Southwark Trades Council Jayne Smith (UCATT) Alastair Hughes (Mid and East Lothian Trades Council)
S. Singh (Southwark Trades Council).
• Thursday 2 June 2pm Mass rally Brent Town Hall
• Friday 3 June
Michael Foot • Saturday 4 June
Palace for afternoon rally
• Sunday 5 June
183
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Greet the Peoples March
Ray Buckton, Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone
3pm rally at Southall Community Centre with
10.30am Assemble Battersea Bridge. March to Crystal
12 noon Assemble Battersea Park for march to Hyde Parl
9 JUNE 9 JUNE
VOTE 255
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