Socialist Action No. 18, 15 July 1983
The scan: 018-jul-15-1983-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
Tories slash our health service Fight for your
MODERN
TIMES
TORY BACKBENC He's one of our new lads - just landed a plum job in the Department of beatana bocal e secure
No. 18
life!
days the Tories have: * announced cuts. in public spending which will mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and endanger the health of hundreds of thousands of working people
given the first reading to Tebbit's new anti-union legislation * allowed the hangers and loggers a grab at the return of capital punishment
By the Editor
leadership is still dithering And TUC about whether collaborate with the Tories.
Ine rigal wing traut union leaders are ingly open in their act of
15 July 1983 30p
SoCiAList
ACTION
THERE WILL be no honeymoon with the new Tory government. In the last seven
betrayal. John Lyons, the leader or the power station engineers, is proposing to discuss with ebbit how strikes can be avoided in essential services - Tori code words for smashing the public SCLEVE unions.
Frank Chapple, of the een cans to talk to the Tories on proposes that the trade unions
with the Labour Party and back the Alliance too.
These proposals will
to the enemies of the lavour movelle. Backing should come from union for Arthur CYCl Scargill's intransigent stand against any dealings
preparing industrial action
tation with Thatcher.
That means fighting to remove the right wing 'fifth column' inside the ranks of the labour movement.
Unions
In the trade unions the job of building broad lefts that can take on and defeat ine rignt wing has just begun.
In the Labour Party, it means fighting for the Heffer/Meacher ticket for the Labour leadership and theority oth the National the right Executive Committee.
The labour movement has been served a declaration of war by the Tories, it must act accordingly to remove its traitors and cowards before they cause further damage. • Behind Lawson's cuts -page 2 • Defend the NHS - page
U•S®
SPECIAL
ENVOY
CENTRAL
OVER 500 people took part in a picket of the United States Embassy on 5 July. They were protesting at the perialist aggression against the revolutionary Nicaragua and Grenada and US backing for the regime Salvador.
The crumbling El Salvador army is desperate even direct US involvement, to crush the popular
_ the MIN FOR
The US Congress will be asked in the next few weeks to certify increased
National demonstration
No more Chiles -
hands off Central America!
Sunday 11 September in London
Defend the workers of
El Salvador and Chile!
US Embassy picket
AMERICA
Said. US America,
continued im-
governments in
in El
for more US aid, and
organisations in El from Salvador.
STOP
HONDURAN
AGRESSIOIS
NICARAG
Photo: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA
special envoy to Centra Richard B Stone, made a special trip to Costa Rica this week in a propaganda stunt to counter op position in Congress
He sought-negotiations with the FDR-FMLN around the Salvadorean
elections due in December. The FDR-FMLN reject these phoney elections as a fraudulent claim for democracy. They refused to play Stone's little game and he went home empty handed
The only negotiations that interes the FDR-FML concern meaningful steps to real democracy and freedom
US backed repression in
Page 2 scan of this page
NIGEL LAWSON attempted to pass off last week's €1000 million of spending cuts and 'privatisation' measures as simply a small adjustment economy.
that a Conservative government had lied to voters throughout an election campaign. So, according to Lawson, there were no real economic problems. Just of bit of financial tidying up.
The City of London, which deals in money and not words, had a very different attitude. It is baying
the government's moves 1O121 inadequate. Share prices fell sharply on Friuay the day after Lawson made his economic statement.
The election boom
The background to the cuts is quite simple. government engineered major consumer the last year to help ensure The money supply increased by 15 per cent in the 12 months up to May. Spending in the shops increased by ó per cent in the same time. This consumer boom helped gain the votes lat Thatcher won in the South
and elsewhere.
By John Ross
The problem for Thatcher is that this surge of spending has nothing to do with the underlying state of the British economy. was consumer spending
for simply by oil revenues.
No sunicant wercase production in the
British CCULOULY took
place at all and huge quan-
tities of imports were suck-
ed in — the import being financed initially by North
Sea oil.
The result is that now the government
deterioration the
balance Datel
which is far worse than
Phone: JOIN MARKIS
Ann Pettifor: challenged executive
Socialist Action 15 July 1983
Behind Lawson's cuts
in the
It was too brazen for a Tory Chancellor to admit
In money
ing.
1981 was million of ГОП
ting €1500 million
was of
the has out worse even most what the had
of "a £6000 surplus on the in only iwo Without veals. €500 million month
North Sea oil d already toassive balance
payments dericit. This situation getting worse each month.
Manufacturing
Industry
What underlies this rapid deterioration of the balance of payments is the sharp decline of the competitive position of British manufacturing industry which has taken place
the Thatcher governel.
In 1978, the last year before
TGWU Conference
office, had surplus of million
goods. Br three months
ing rate
£2700
DESA
million
British
the rapid The
ПОИ collapse in COll petivity British
industry Thatcher
CAJOrIS British
Thatcher Canc Once. British manufacturing dustry was still selling 22 per cent goods abroad than were imported.
By the first quarter of 1983 Britain was actually exporting 6 per cent less manutactured goods inan
words British manufacturing industries competivity as shown by the struggle in markets, roughly 28 per cent in the four years of the Thatcher government.
without comparison the most
competiti collapse British
competivity British manufacturing industry in history.
Lawson's spending cuts are only just part oi the price that is now going to be extracted by the Tory government. In four years Thatcher maximum room for maneouvre.
With the single exception of the debate wollen . conference followed the lead of the executive.
It voted:
• Against incomes
policy, DUl for the Na-
tional Economic Assess-
• For opposition to Tebbit. but relected a commit-
ment to industrial áction
• ror independent trade
unions but also for a cam-
import control. (which will mean joint
with
employers)
Against the antipolicies
working class the Tory Government, but
for continuing talks
• For Kinnock as leader
of the Labour Party but
against taking
Meacher and
between • Hattersley for Deputy.
As a result. Britain's
largest union is set to continue the balancing act ll has maintained since Jack Jones retired • a balancing act which has always
landed it on the side of the right, when the crunch has
In view of the composi-
Percentage of manufactured goods
exported compared with
those imported
118%
1970 1971 1978 1979 1980 198
1983 (Ist quurter!
More empty wards on the way with Lawson's curs
smashed the
women
standards many
many AMID frequent assertions that the Transport and General Workers Union was 'the biggest and best' union in the country, the union's executive managed to fudge its way through the 30th Biennial Delegate Conference with a minimum of clarity and with the
The
current there, was having a executive dressed and spoke of need to
new 'whoever
TOT 1987. was no ex-
ovation, Greenson, that.
hope
94070
First will come the spending cuts in the NHS, education and other fields
with another round of reductions to come in the autumn.
Then will come reductions wages brakes are slammed on the worsening balance of payments. has already started with the in-
Tals and the reduction in living
The discussion on the leadership of the Labour Party adroitly manoeuvered by the ecutive to ensure that there was no discussion policy.
The choice of candidate was mixed in with a debate on two resolutions on the democratic control
the T&GWU's 1.25 million strong block vote.
A motion calling for a ballot members was rejected was a motion which called for a recall delegate con. ference lo decide on the leadership question.
Instead, delegates voted to leave the decision to ine executve verwee. BDCS. CP delegates sup-
that conference should DaVO confidence in 'our left Executive'.
The decision on the Deputy leadership was left to the executive on similar grounds.
On past performance. this could well mean that the T&GWU vote going to Hatersley order 'balance' the left drift There will need to be vigorous campaign for
The exerutive die =* haie everything
In ihe debaie or
standards it will cause.
The process has just Started Insea or lyig to talk the Tories out of i
Len Murray and the TUC leadership proposes, a joint plan should be drawn up between the trade and the Labour Party to prevent the -present cuts going through and to resist the inevitable second round later this year.
no policy to fight Tories
women's rights was dramatically overturned. The debate on this was due to be taken on Thursday, but the executive attempted to preempt it with a
procedura move on
using
y culicsuay u statement.
Marie Patterson made the statement on behalf of the executive a bland
had then a treate shal
had done great already, and would do
and the matter 1()I C should be left in their hands.
Despite the suprise attack, Anne Pettifor from 1/975 Branch led the counter-attack Several other women also opposed
Moss Evans
Such a plan must have as its firs principle sup port for all those in strug gle against the Tories, and a pledge that • nealt workers, rail workers and others who will be fighting against the cuts, will not be betrayed as • ley Were last year's battles.
*Fighting to defend our health - page 4. the statement, arguing that this was the first time the T&GWU had discussed this question.
One delegate (male) supported the women on the grounds that he was able to attend Conference with a clean shirt. because of his wife. To the amazement of almost everyone
Salemen wa. defeated.
Conference then went on to discuss the motions. All were passea. Marie Patterson made clear the executive's opposition to women's advisory committees, or the women's conference of the LP having members of the Labour Ine powe
union ecutive. The success at the Conference is a very good first round. But the battle has a long way to go.
• On the CND issue, conference voted 1o sup-
Many branch which boycotted work on nuclea bases, but avoided any suggestion of the union nationally campaigning for national strike action against the missiles.
As Moss Evans said in his 'I'll go to jail' speech, in fact it will be business as usual. that will be his in tention. It is not the intention of the Tories.
Page 3 scan of this page
Fortress Greenham
News
Photo: MORNING STAR
Women defy the police barrier MICHAEL HESELTINE informed the Greenham women last week that troops were being sent to the airbase to protect them! They were needed in case US airmen thought the women were terrorists and decided to shoot to kill! Some protection, having the police, Highland Regiment throwing you away from the 10-foot high fences during the day sexist abuse at you all night as lights flashed round the perimeter.
But despite all the
week-long blockade, women still managed to get into the base, and early on Friday morning started to dismantle part the CECe SCOT this aCI women were charged with
and face fines up to f1,000 and six months in jail.
Police massively outnumbered the women during the blockade until Friday, when 1000 By Kay Bastin (Manchester Greenham Support Group)
7.20am, Friday 8 July
at Blue Gate, Greenham Common.
THE CONTINGENT from the North West and Midlands numbers several hundred women. A row or poncemen are Denind the gate, a row of women
convoy is due.
Many of the women have never been before, but have come to give support to the action. band is playing and womei? are dancing and singing to prevent the paralysis or lear we Know how violent the police Have Deen.
Word reaches us that
and exposed 30 yards of fence at Indigo Gate -
coach has met the convoy on its way, stopped and
Women take on boys in green
military riot police and troops from the
-and hurling
turned up and 63 arrests took place.
By Valerie Coultas
Two features of the blockade were significant. Large numbers of women
Irom abroad
Australia, Canada, •weuet. Holland, France and Germany. Second, there sophistication of police tactics. A special training
Not just a camp
-but a movement
that the women lay down In ine road, wnich delayed the convoy by 1½ hours.
There is a feeling of strength and a roar goes up when police vans full or women rus past
The police pressure increases block the road. Mounted
forcements behind the gate. The helicopter swoops over us - the convoy is due.
Suddenly seas of police pour out of the Halt. some lining the road, some hauling women inside - and at the same time rows of mounted police ride straight into the womert. on the road. There is a
hooves, police shouting
and operations centre at
Newbury race course has
been established to covoy the workers into the base and organise LOC police/army operations.
Fortress
The sexist abuse was calculating and continuous. • Women without bras were ridiculed and women at the camp were singled out for verbal abuse and tougher treatment.
Spitting. swearing and the use of horses indicated one thing clearly to all the women the state peparing fortress Greenham for showdown Women can expect creasingly violent tactics from the police.
something else all women singing in defiance.
The convoy flashes past to a rousing chorus of whoops from the women. The police run back through the gate to prevent us getting in. No arrests but a great deal of
Amazingly
just extensive cuts and bruising. We have glimpsed, as has everyone at a mass picket, the forces of the state with the gloves off, sanctioned to do anything except shoot
to get the workers through.
12 noon
The next convoy is due. 'his time there are women in the road from the gate to the main road. Sigi, singie palled singing and dancing. together a cohesive block.
The motorbikes, vans and horses arrive. The
needs noting The numbers at the blockade were not what was expected the organisers had been banking on 3000 a day, but until Friday the turnout was more like 300.
debate emerging about uncle or women's peace mOve
Some women see direct action at the camp as the way forward. Others want
concentrate their energies on the European
Nuclea •Disarmament Campaign and the Euro-
Freeze Movement. Others, after the experience of the Women's International Day for Disarmament, wish to take
disarmament debate out from Greenham and push CND Into a strong I MAINGATE CARAYAN 12 GREENGATE 3 TURANOISE GATE ID BLUE GATE 5 INDIGO GATE 16 VIOLET GATE ID RED GATE 8 ORANGE GATE helicopter swoops. The convoy flashes into sight and around the corner, roars iowards us and suddenly swings let down s left dowr the road. they have gone through another gate where it is easier to get in, but we feel victory together.
Throughout the day a feeling of solidarity and une quesuon or une future of the movement is discussed. 've heard it said that Greenham is the largest movement of women since the suf-
labour movement orienta-
further difference exists among women in the peace movement about what attitude
LaKe towards the independent
peace movements
Europe.
masteri likely to be the focus for a big debate in CND as whole, given the meeting vetween some women and CND observers and Charter 77 activists at the Prague conference of the World Peace Council
Energies
Helen John speaking
Transport are union
conference on Wednesday strongly urged the unions to act against Cruise. She
RACE COURSE GOLF COURSi NEW TOWN
fragettes. There is no doubt that it nas drawn thousands of women into action for the first time - and begun to raise the issue of womens liberation for many.
Across Europe it has created a mass solidarity movement of women. It is no coincidence that the Tories plans on women came out soon after Greenham began
- 2 Mass oncanovener of women is a threat such a governel Call g nore.
Socialist Action Troops keep watch on perimeter
suggested that the trade unions might urge CND to bring the 22 October demonstr anon forwaron' one day and combine i with a peace strike on Friday 21 October. This bold suggestion received a mix.
reception Iron delegates. Most the meeting felt that this proposal was unlikely to win support from the union.
But the point was made that the unions must take a far more initiating role in the aisarmamen Helen argued that a trade unionists day action
be organised picket ports and airports wilere equipment might be brought in.
looks if 17 September will become the next important date in the
-GREENHAM COMMON AIRFIELD
At the end of July eighteen Women for Life on
Earth 'star' marches are being organised from
All eighteen marches will arrive on 6 August
Hiroshima Day. If you want to be put in touch
with your local march organiser contact
Town, Glastonbury. Phone 0458-34484. Fol
Sarah Meyer 054-884 2851 or the Greenham
Office 01-251 3133
15 July 1983 women's peace movement calender. massive protest Is being planned Geneva at the end of the disarmament Women are discussing get- LalKs ting London buses ULU drive 500 women over there. Cruise
Clearly this action will TaSt all the questions associated with the debate ove LOe Women should to Geneva, delegated by their Labour Parties and trade unions if possible but with the clearest possible derands - no cruise, no Trident or Pershing in Europe, no to 'independent deterrents' and no to NATO and the imperialist death plans.
Greenham Common and surrounds Greenham Star Marches
different points in Britain to Greenham Common.
Stephanie Leland, 2 St Edmunds Cottages, Bove
details of the 17 September event in Geneva ring
Page 4 scan of this page
Stop the Tories triple attack on health!
4 Socialist Action 15 July 1983
IRELAND
UNFREE
Why they prefer
assassination to
hanging
THE DEBATE in parliament on hanging has really very little to do with the morality of a barbaric Hicklis of order.
Even the Armagh bishops found secular issues uppermost in discussing the issue.
Although the calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty for terrorism have been as the Irish Times acknowledges 'as traditional as the call for the reintroduction of Stormont, chance of success', the strengthening of the hard. liners after Tory election gains and the increased influence of the Police Federation has rattled the stalus Cuu. Fears are that hangings would only escalate
violence in the province, reprisals, hostage taking, and assassinations of the judiciary.
The non-jury and little evidence Courts' would once again colt scrutiny. The limited successes of the supergrass campaign would be wiped out and every potential conviction would be met by waves of rioting.
The voice of the establishment says: 'we do not want to create martyrs' despite the fact that killing has been the one consistent thread of British policy in Ireland.
Of course the current problem is that if terrorists were to be exempted it would smack a little bit of a 'special' or should we say 'political' status.
Hence the rush to get the vote out of the way before the hang-em all brigade of the Tory conference gets unleashed.
We would point out that the death penalty is already in use in the North. It was hunger strikers. It was used on two Derry youths killed by a Landrover. It was used against 14 peo-
on Bloody Sunday demonstrating in Derry
It has been used 14 times against nationalists found guilty of offending British soldiers by their presence on the streets, sentenced to execution by
Troops Out
Delegation
THIS YEAR, the TOM delegation to Ireland on
5-7 August marks the 12th anniversary of intern-
ment and the 14th anniversary of the troops going
The delegation will join in the annual com
memorations of internment and have plenty of
chance to talk with local people and groups.
Transport is being arranged from London and
other areas. Cost is between £30-f40 from London
and other areas depending
fee for overheads, accommodation and food.
If you are interested send SAE to
Organising Committee,
NW5 or Tel. 01-250 1393.
A PLCE t ACT
/ you see, 1 wa: really pissed oif at being forced to pay a
political levy to the
Tory Party
maintaining law and
their minds when
with as much
increase ine SK
'Diplock under public used on the
found guilty and summarily executed.
on distance.
There is also an £8 (£4 unwaged) registration
Delegation Box 353, My employers, for example, frequently donated part of the wealth created by my labour to the Tory ¡Party!
THE GIANT CUTS imposed by Chancellor Nigel Lawson on the National Health Service have completely exposed Thatcher's post-election lie that the health service was 'safe in our hands'.
But the £140m reduction in health spending is only the latest in a series of measures taken against comprehensive and free health care.
The NHS also faces deadly threats from the growth of private medicine and the increasing use of orivale Contractors.
Of the £500m cuts, 4L4 MI will from defence, f140m from
£50m from tionalised industries, {36m
education, £30m from employment, £20m from overseas aid and transoon toll.
The cuts in a defence budget swollen by 'Fortress Falklands' Will spending per cent higher in real year By Steve Potter
For the health service it means a cut of 0.5 per cent
in the budget and a probable 2 per cent cut in the
renovation programme.
against the factors which
CoLaDuLe towards
growth of the health ser-
Britain's population is ageing.
year 2000 over one quarter
of potential health service
users will be over 60. It has
been estimated that just to
WILD LOUS
arcaticall
NHS budget has to grow
0.7 per cent per year in real Cost
Run TON OILOS LICIC N
the rapidly increasing cost
of medical Lectiology
which adds another
necessary 0.5 per Coll
growth into the budget. In
total it is calculated that
the budget must grow 1.4
per cent In real tells Just
to keep in the NHS in the
same black
Through the strict im-
plementation of the 'cash-
limits' system •OI
Health Authorities
budgets have had to De
continually trimmed.
Since 1979 government
policies have led to 90
hospitals being closed and
the loss of 13,000 hospital
beds. A recent pamphlet
produced . by Birming-
NALGO Health
Services branch* estimates
that there are now well
over 80,000 people waiting
for operations in the West
Midlands Regional Health
Authority.
Nationally, if all those
waiting for an operation
WelC to line one
queue it would stretch for
I buy in a shop without contributing indirectly to (Tory
nearly 200 miles
'he cash limits polic oo, with its assumed NH. rate of inflation, was the basis on which the Tories
against health workers in the seven month long battle for a decent wage in the health ser-
That defeat led to VICC talk in government circles of the health sons eine government's anti-union
This is also one of the
objectives of the government's privalisa tion policy now being applied with full force in the health service. Works
works in
VICe
out NHS On February, Nor-
cular Health Authorities,
private Companics draw up
of
* Expanding sector in the ing out of beds was
Pay
creased by since then. time
per cent
salary forfeiting
any of it.
ment.
assets.
Idle land'
luxury
clinics.
cular in 1981
people are
ettect on jobs working conditions.
While it will be the black SAnd what could
funds?!'
% GDP Spent on Health
weren
Netherlands
Switzerland
UN
Australia
Canada
Trance
Italy
US
West Germany
as
sources: (1) Health anc
39;
and women workers in the ancillary services that will be the hardest hit, no job is safe from privatisation
Crothalls, one firms recommended by the government SILS culars, specialises in health management.
CBY #18 7/83 CORMAC
I packed in l I the job up shoplifting.
I fear you have h
not situated your
problematic with
sufficient rigour...
Health Index % GDP % GDP Quality spent " spent Ranking healin
health (1975)(1) (1980)(2)
8.5 8.5 b.9 5.5 5.7 9.6 8.0 7.1 100 9.6 8.0
Health Index Quality Ranking is an index based on a composite of a number of health in
in and worthi. Maxwell, Lexington ooks (1981),
Wealth, 17.1.1983, (3) Public Expenditure on Health, OECD, Paris (1977). Labour Research
The basis exists for a
united fightback by all
health workers alongside
other unions hit by the cuts
and the public sector pay polithe chief obstacle
to.
• such a fightback is the
TUC leadership and the
national leaderships
health service unions. The
role of these leaders during
the healthworkers strike
amounted to the calling of
protest actions
to gradually wear out the
massive enthusiasm and
drive for action
ranks.
Result
One positive result of
in some arcas new
layer of rank and file
leaders, sometimes
organised through joint
shop stewards committees.
A national shop stewards
conference was able
meet in Sheffield to plan
action during the health
dispute.
The other result was a
boost for 'broad left' type
News
HOSPITAL
WORKERS
SUPPORT
THE
WATER
WORKERS
Photo. CM COOKSON
general ad. %
min costs as health
financhealth ex ed from
penditure (3) public
sector(1)
7.6(1972 91.6 2.8(1974 66.5 2.6(1975-6) 92.6 64.4 2.5(1973) 75.4 10.8(1974)
5.3(1971) 42.7 5.0(1974) 1/.1
deaths - taken from (2) Hansard, Co
formations in most of the
public sector union
Group , '81 in COHSE
T-strong maeeure al tr
recent NALGO confer-
ence in the Isle of Man and
NUPE the victory 01
Broad Left candidates in
executive elections.
These developments can link up with similar ones in other industries.
Link Area and regional con. ferences the health service can link together the anc the Labour Party in labour : wide action moveneill confront the danger that the workers movement faces in both its working conditions and its health as a result of the new Tory attacks. * Profit of Health NALGO Birmingham and Solihull Health Branch. £1.00. Reduced rate for bulk orders, details from above Travalgar House, Paradise roor.
Circus, Queensway, Birm ingham B1 2BQ
Page 5 scan of this page
Glasgow's miles better for rich bankers
News
THE Labour controlled Glasgow District Council have just launched a one million pound advertising campaign, similar to the one launched by the City of New York 'to improve Glasgow's image at home
Easterhouse, Drumchapel, Blackhill, Ruchazie and Hutchestown just do not exist. Instead it will con- centrate on presenting an image of Glasgow as a city
buildings erected during the industrial revolution.
drink, dirt, and crime still
unaware that the
seems
However Dr Kelly, who travels abroad a lot, is full fuller' e frytimete mend 'frustration and
ex-Glaswegian who life Easterhouse or Drumchapel. He worries that "Glasgow's bad image is the one that is always highlighted'. But his biggest worry about Glasgow's imace Is 'it hinders the economic
Women on trial
IT'S NOT only at the
nanas or tne ponce and
the Home Office that
suffer harass-
ment and oppression.
Prisons are packed to
overflowing in this coun-
What is not well
known is that more than
three quarters of women
sentences are jailed for
minor offences.
Women are twice as
likely to be sent to prison
for a first offence than
men are, and much more
likely to be refused bail
and held in custody pen-
ding trial.
Of women held in
custody during remand,
over 65 per cent of them
are subsequently not im-
prisoned.
These facts were
revealed in an excellent
documentary by the
Broodside current attairs
series Channel 4,
which is produced by
women. The programme
revealed that in one par-
ticular case a woman was
Called 'Glasgow's miles better' this campaign
Cemeters Councilor
meelugs to discover ways to sell off public land.
the New Private Housing Working Party councillors that 'the builders only con-
LWYU (LU
seemed to the council very 'specious reasons'.
Strathclyde Regional Council's Planning Department representative on the COLLECC convinced "that the bullders had treated sites in other disincis in ine same way with the obvious intention of discrediting brownield sites so that the Secretary
State would greenfield sites'.
MALE
ORDER
remanded for 7 months TOr stealing a bottle of milk
Women who step outside the 'acceptable patterns of behaviour treated by the courts as though they were mentally ill.
Judge David Wild takes his responsibilities very seriously in respect. Some heaters may remember him for his notorious remark last year in a rape trial, that womer Sa V don't always mean "по' and reminding the jury of the phrase 'stop it - I like it'
Well, Judge Wild has hit a new low in jailing a woman for months because she lied about how long she and her husband had been separated in an earlier alvorce petition.
Previously, Judge Wild had punished ine husband by binding him
when he held his former wife at gunpoint in her home.
The minutes also mentioned another document which hinted that 'builders were to be asked to асcelerate their rate of build,
refurbishment and conver-
3IN units per
annum with the twin ob-
of
replacement of the city's
housing stock and regenerating employment Sweet Ramparts: women ll Revolutionary Nicaragua has
published jointly by the
Solidarity Campaign and War on Want Available from The Other Bookshop 328 Upper Street, London (01-226 0571), £2.95 plus 40p p&p. Police assault
A WHITE rastafarian Parchmenter Margaret
from Birm-
ingham, has been sent to
prison for two years for
allegediy
police woman.
The police had arriv-
ed at her house at 8am
looking for her son.
They leapt on Margaret
as soon as she opened the
front door, not surpris
ingly causing her in-
juries.
They then took
Margaret to the station
where she was charged,
strip-searched and lock-
ed up all day. When she
Was eventually released,
Margaret's hands and
were swollen and
ДЕНО
bruised from the rough
handling she had receiv-
ed.
Incredibly Margaret
while the public sector building resources were restricted'.
Glasgow District Labour Party have consistently opposed the increasing housebuilders and the appearance of this document will further anger Labour Party members.
However Glasgow's assault. has now ACCL
and police of
be more
Parchment C/0 Box Birmingham (021-523 0580).
ompile HILAKY
RIVER. Send contribi tions to •Male Order' Socialist Action.
Street, London N1 2XP to arrive not later than Thurs uay a week onor to bullca tion.
consistently sought the line ance from Secretary of State, George Younger.
paigad of gaunching e campaign against Tories who are attacking the for 'overspending' decided to find other ways l mplement some or tael against themselves and redeployed.
tempts to force redeployment
action on 22 June.
They tried to go round
Inner London Teachers Association leadership by writing to every school tative telling them that the Executive think they should accept the 'deal'. By Carole Regan (ILTA Treasurer)
The 'deal' being that negotiate witi lee a the ILEA will voluntary transfer agreement, an end to temporary contracts and more supply teachers. All these are important, but they all hang on acceptance of compulsory transfer • a totally unacceptable deal to London NUT members.
Not only is the ILTA under attack from the Labour Group and it's National Executive, but now the SDP have joined in in the form of Anne Sofer writing in The Times on 4 June, in an article entitled *Class Warfare at County Hall'.
would have. been rather disturbing to Lon don NUT members read ing this article. (particula:-
Socialist Action 15 July 1983 policies by increasing rent and rates.
This means the working class will bear the costs thirs. But the use of privats rent and rates bills. nousebunders also means the council has to borrow
inflates the rent and rates bills WILl
Defend the ILEA
ONCE AGAIN many London teachers face being compulsorily redeployed by September. The Labour ILEA have chosen to ignore the protests of teachers
their colleagues being
The Labour Group are not alone in their at-
the London membership of the NUT. The National Executive of the Union have also attempted to thwart the strike
STOP
CUTS
By if they happen to be al SDP member) to note tha a GLC/ILEA member
what is going on in the ma. jor union with which she has to deal.
Largest
Not only are there no SWP members in leadership of ILTA (whicł is the basis of her attack or the present ILTA ficers). but none o D found in ars ieadership
5
BETTERS
terest rates which will take decades to be paid.
Their short-term solu tions wil leave Glasgow's working class with massive
problems housing and employmen! that cannot be combatted by any numer oe. paigns 'to change Glasgow's image' positions in the local branches of the NUT either
The present leadership were elected on a plattorm of preparedness to lead a struggle in defence of their members conditions ot service and the defence of the ILEA.
defend the
ampal:
tion of and
A defeat of the • short-
the case.
The strike
don NUT about trans-
ficial there has
1500 ove
50 the strike.
Socialist Action sup-
ing for
- to end this
pletely scheme for This •WIl
joint trade union
tacks are from the ment.
Page 6 scan of this page
Blockade the uranium!
]NAMIBIAI
FOR 17 YEARS Africa has waged a steadily escalating against the people's struggle for liberation. Today against 100,000 South African troops imposing the most intense military occupation in the soldier to 10 civilians), the resistance of the Namibians is stronger than ever.
From South Africa carries its war northwards, 80,000 square kilometres of southern Angola. force' large numbers of European mercenaries, reign of terror, havoc on the economy.
This war is financed from the revenues generated European corporations who ploit Namibia's resources. multi-nationals play a strategic role
economy, conditions described by the International Court of Justice as 'unique in its organised and efficient application of conditions that are akin to slavery'.
The wal technology from Plessey and Marconi.
In 1975 the Labour government used a veto in the United Nations Security Council against "Africa arallist South against economic sanctions being applied to the apartheid regime
Under international law Namibia is
United Nations.
Namibia was created to administer the Lenatory
Namibia's
workers
THE NUMBER of wage workers
in Namibia is second onlv to South
Africa south of the Sahara
45 per
adults are in wage employment; 40
per CelE of whom
workers from the poverty-stricken
established
partheid regim
Vhile 27,000 whites. receive
8 per cent of the gross domesti
product (GDP),
receive 9 per cent of GDP
In 1977, average income for
whites was Rand 3037, for blacks
Rand 126.
Profits and taxation
sis antic cent as been exported
abroad since 1945, testifying to the
domination of the economy
foreign corporations.
Numerous general Security Council without Britain's veto, obliged member states to refrain from any dealings with the illegal regime.
Following these decisions, Council for No. forbidding
Rally Namibia's natural resources and empowering the Council its behalf, eg trade unions) to seize such produce
Needless to say the powers with a huge stake in southern Africa's resources have UN's paper resolutions. tion came about as a result of the Namibian people's resistance strikes, demonstrations
organised by People's Liberation Army of Namibia.
UN SWAPO's struggle SWAPO's War regime started in failure of two decades of appeal and peaceful negotiation to anything for
Namibians. 6 Socialist Action 15 July 1983
South
and brutal war
Namibian
world (1
bases in Namibia
occupying
'Special units, incorporating
carry out wreaking
by US and exBritish
operating with
aided directly by
embargr al llls and 1n 197 mac oenucuce against
Evolved
cent of black Namibiar
are contract
under
270,000 black:
take workers been exported the first
assembly and
resolutions passed
, the UN Namibia enacted Decree
dealings
(or agencies on
imperialist ignored the The UN posi- Rio
through and guerrilla SWAPO and the
given legitimacy
1966 because of the labour
SWAPO supporters in Windhoek, December 1978
of workers' struggle
German World War which resulted in the annihilation of over 50 per cent of the population.
By Dale Gourlay
The famous general strike of 1971
the contract labour brought the economy to a halt and in-
mass mobilisations boycott of services run This was the trees or APes1969
Congress decision to establish a department of labour charged with assisting in the formation of an autonomous trade
the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW).
SWAPO itself began in 1959 as an organisation formed to resist the contract/migrant labour system. By 1977 workers had established a network of underground NUNW branches ready to use international trade union aid in a systemalic way
In February 1978 the murder of 26
in a workers' one of the regime's armed gangs led to
NUNW (strike down half of the wnanoek Widespread arrests, detention and torture of SWAPO and NUNW officials followed.
It was under a Labour
government that RTZ first
obtained a contract to
supply uranium oxide
By July 1978 the NUNW had steer-
office organisers based in winenoek strikes in the mines through 1978-79 led to numerous ocallnes allu arlesls
Tinto Corporation uranium mines at Rossing put forward demands on pay, housing and radiation protection. They also protested against victimisation by the security police and denounced the mines' illegal operation under international law.
A year later an international appeal by the Rossing workers to the British
movement to stop Namibian uranium led to smashing SWAPO and NUNW's open organisations.
The to Hirst solidarity
United
contract.
system
and the regime
community
went urallulll
compound by
closed that firms.
Wing used in
illegal
Workers time
(RTZ)
of the US,
between.
handling the regime
Rossing the uranium mine in the world, has become the international focus of a campaign
with the Namibian workers. It was under a Labour government in 1968 that RTZ first obtained a contract to supply uranium oxide to the
Kingdom Energy Authority. Supplies began to arrive in 1978. In the meantime the 1973 and 1976 Labour Party conferences had voted to end the Namibian workers appeal
BEYOND ALL logic and in de-
fiance of the wishes of the people
of Namibia and the international
'RTZ with the full
blessing of the British government
ahead to exploit
But it is not because of their
concern for the Namibian workers
that they have decided to go ahead
with this exploitation, but because
of their lust after profits.
It is of the utmost importance WOrKCI
Western European workers stand
together to end this exploitation.
It is your workers that are bethe transportation,
processing and sale of this stolen
commodity. Therefore in the spirit
of the true trade union solidarity
we are calling upon you to stop this
exploitation of
uranium by refusing to handle any
stolen wealth from our country.
Pevari Muniaro
National Union of Namibian
But the Callaghan government ig nored these decisions and instead col laborated with the US adminıstration to achieve a settlement of the Namibian
tavourable perialism. This resulted in the establishment of the Contact Group (consisting
Britain, France Germany and Canada), countries with major in vestements in the region putting itself forward in 1978 as a diplomatic go
While there has been a nine-fold increase in tne number or souin Alrican troops from 1976 to 1982, the Contact
worked
into making
regime,
SWAPO, workers at the present resources
field near
Dutch and a largest Capenhurst in Cheshire
DaTE South Africa
which includes warhead capability
unknown
partially
returned to Britain for use
ding Britain tritium in
The our
Canada and Australia
for energy) stated: and
Committee
Seamen, A conference for trade union solidarity
TIll
Street, London E2
Supported by NUM
Unionists Solidarity wovement
BOTSWANA SWAPO and the Angolan government
concessions on an inaependence sorunon to an increasingi aggressive and intransigent apartheid
particular demanding the withdrawal of Cuban troops in Angola. Their goal is a client state dependent or imperialist investments and open to cheap exploitation of its resources.
the NUNW and the Rossing have repeatedly called for the labour movement to stop
The significance of Namibian uranium is that it
is not covered by the non-military use clause insisted
on by Britain's other suppliers
trade in Namibian
Uranium oxide from Rossing South Africa is processed by Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) at Spring-
Preston and enriched URENCO (a consortium of BNFL, a
German company at
Uranium from southern Africa is
of a network of deals whereby acquires enriched uranium, technology and skilled personnel for its nuclear programme
While over half of Britain's needs (2000 tons per year) are supplied from Rossing, how this uranium arrives is
BNFL processes a further 7000 tons Pries, half or exhich cothes from
which comes tron Namibia and South Africa. Since 1979
enriched uranium has been sent to the US to be highly enriched and
: in nuclear weapons. This deal includes the US sen
return for the plutonium produced in Britain's reac tors to be used in the US weapons pro-
significance of Namibiar uranium in this trade is that it is no covered by the non-military use clause insisted on by Britain's other suppliers
At a recent enquiry into RTZ held in Bristol, Tony Benn (twice minister
'This government has a continuing interest in Rossing primarily for weapons purposes
The Campaign Against the Nami bian Uranium Contract (CANUC) was formed in 1976 by the Namibian SupApartheid movement. The campaign's and Antiprogress in the trade union movement nas resulted in the National Union o
the Transport and General Workers Union and the train drivers' Stop the plunder
Sunday 17 July 10.00 Oxford House, Derbyshire
ASLEF, NUS, Black Trade
Page 7 scan of this page
Tebbit's law
versus
international
solidarity
UNDER BRITISH law practical
solidarity
Namibian workers
Clause 15 of the 1982 Employment unionso ho suport of workers in
unions to support or workers
other countries — only acuon el-
fecting their own employment
allowed.
But the United Nations
obliged to support action to stop
illegal traffic from Namibia.
Trade union action would not
only materially aid the people of
Namibia and expose
government's sanctions-bustin
position on Namibia.
also bring onto the international
Tories' attempts to
slale lc vent British workers being able to
take solidarity action with other
workers in struggle.
asking their members not to handle Namibian uranium. as well as demands from a dozen other national unions and the TUC for the. government to cancel it.
The October 1980 visit to Britain by John Ya-Otto, SWAPO secretary for labour, gained a hearing for the campaign throughout the
international organised by the NSC in June 1981, the TGWU and the NUS, along with the rrenen ana Dulen uaue umon collfederation, pledged themselves establish ettective cooramnalel monitor the secret route and blockade
organised an inter-union conference in have been adopted by TGWU regions 3 and 6 and a motion before the recent Biennial conference of the union pro-
transport officials are expected to yield
non-union firm Edmundson's which is Uscu lil the shipment
WOKC uluovcuicul dlu colilallici bases used by the firm.
the National Union of Railwaymen to build support for the policy adopted by
uranium lies in the hands of the labour
the recession and under attack from the Thatcher government.
For serious action to take place to blockade the uranium, policy on paper s ol CHOue
support of those workers who will be the ones to actually put the policy into
workforce there is some support for
be expected to go it alone. Hackney and Tower Hamlets Trades Council and the Naniola Comttted organised a conference on 17 July for trade union solidarity with the Nami-
tion and other trade councils will be present to consider how that unity can be built up for a successful blockade of' f Namibia
with the
illegal.
is
British
but would
pre-
desperately needed. …abolaove-
to Liubicy nave
often after know they
the women
oi Healin ane
contraception.
I am Grenadan,
open dialogue movements in Debl" i must take place. from countrec chon ac
SWAPO
with western
women in Latin
We are Vomen's Organisatio
PENDUKENI KAULINGE is secretary of the South West African People's Organisa-
Women's Council and was previously a military instructor in PLAN, the armed wing of SWAPO. She recently visited Britain to campaign
thousands of Namibians who have fled South Africa's occupation and brutal war in
Below is a discussion she
various groups in a special women's meeting organised
dukeni explained to us the
Women's Council organises for women in the refugee set-
THE WOMEN'S Council has promoted several projects for women
useful now and in preparation for independence. The projects include traditional women's skills such as weaving, knitting and dressmaking
also given driving lessons and train-
chicken farming in Zambia. Ihe pro
weaving. are sold throuch our solidaritv groups. Ilke that in Denmark, to give us an income for
scholarships for students, to send them
Yes, büt I obviously can't give numbers because of security. 35,000 people now live in the refugee settlements in Zambia and Angola. Women leave Namibia to escape South Africa's war and terror; others leave to fight in the armed
liberation of their country, so there is no need to politicise them on this level.
Women who have no children serve in the guerrilla army (PLAN) at the
•e rume sumasted because of our emphasis on the educanon or womer. rur our exbenence u the struggle means that women are
In countries such as India and Bolivia women are used as guinea pigs by traseetivrugsomnies o ten
Yes it is. Women are given experimental pills and depo-provera. Women are also sterilised without being consulted,
giving Dirin. They don't have been sterilised, so this often results in enormous problems for
in families and with
In exile, the SWAPO Department
Social Weltare coer educate women on this and provides
and I would like to know if SWAPO has connections and
WEEN COneN Africa and the Cariband if not, I think this dialoguë A lot can be learnt Grenada and Ghana and experiences shared. I think
Women's Council is placing too much emphasis on building links
white women's movements and their governments. We have made lots of connections with
America, Grenada, USA, Cuba and Canada for example
, member of the Pan-Atrica
We get lots of invitations to conferences. but as a liberation movement we are poor and can't always afford to
This of course is a pro Western organisations send — so we go.
learn from the experiences of women in the west, whereas we can from women in other liberation struggles, there are important links to be built in the west and we cannot ignore them.
example is Britain, and the central role it plays in the exploitation of our country through the
growth of the anti-war movement will
Has support for Namibia been built in unc wonel s scace movclcI Ius
National Office
have for some time taken up the question of the use of Namibian uranium in
women picketing in protest ulcillll against this recently were arrested
wiln Greenham women to link the struggle into the anti-nuclear movement in Bri-
women's group organised a sponsored
Have the trade unions in Britain taken
CANUC (Campaign Against the Nami-
ment on paper to boycott uranium imports into Britain. It now needs to be
What will be the situation of women after independence?
No-one will tell
us to go back to
the kitchen sink
after all we have
struggled for'
Women will struction of the country how what kind we get we can't tell at the mo. ment and obviously that affects what will happen afterwards. SWAPO3nS are women making in What In SWAPO the role of women is changSTOTe 1974 We women members on the Central Committee. Now we have six. We have concentrated a lot on women's education, training, building co-operatives and so
in 1980, over 95 per cent of Namibiar women were illiterate. In the retuge set-
educational materials, and the situation
worse in regards to education. Many of ine teacners are armea souln Allica. soldiers who intimidate and discourage study. I was in a different situation because I went to a missionary school.
What kind of solidarity work can we do for people still living inside Namibia?
The most important thing people can do is to build the campaign for trade
struggle and also material aid for the refugees. Algeria has been very good in its solidarity work in providing us with aid and materials for our farming and
British mining companies, such as Rio Tinto Zinc, illegally export Namibia's
companies. secretaries miners.
However,
the male miners.
of South Africa.
The
most arid coulill y.
reserves they
low wages,
regulations,
the
impotent
days, available.
SWAPU
men s souaarlly
unev re
Compiled by
contribute to the reconBut exactly ndependence will be achieved o
ening and tc Campaign
natural resources, such as the uranium and exploit the people for their cheap labour in the mines and factories.
Do women work in the mines and how does it affect them?
Very few women work for the mining
If they do they work as accountants, not
the mines have far reachung ettects on women as wel a
, A migrant apartheid • labour system operates similar to that
Namibian people have been pushed onto reserves by the colonisers against their will. These areas are the
and unproductive the SO the men are torcea i( migrate to factories and mines on contracts of 12-18 months.
Since there are no jobs on these
are forced to do this and women are left with families to scratch out a miserable existence. The male workers, needless to say, are paid very
In the mines and factories black workers are not covered by
,so they work under extremely dangerous conditions. For example, the biggest problem is the con tamination from uranium. men return to the reserves tney pass oI
such as TB and the men often become
There are very few health clinics or hospitals and treatment costs money. So the women bear the burden of look ing after the sick, are forced to walk for
weeks in search of the few doctors
Lack of money and food means that the children die of malnutrition. So the mines affect everyone.
Rio Tinto Zinc's largest mine, the Rossing, exports the uranium to Britain , for nuclear power and weapons.
But hasn't the UN passed a decree prohibiting all companies from exporting gony is Britin stil doing this? from Namibia
Because since the British government voted against the UN decree, they say
bound bv this decision Although there is a glut of uranium in the world market. west will con tinue to stockpile and fleece the country dry before we gain independence - so that we have nothing left.
Ros Young
The Aims and Objectives of the SWAPO Women's Council are: embodied The
women as well as their full par TeOUO Ma
in coltarul with ail militar
Bma enenis.
USEFUL ADDRESSES:
SWAPO Women's Solidarity
Campaign, PO BOX 194, London
N5. Tel: 01-359 9116
Namibia Support Committee 53
Leverton Street, London NW5.
Tel: 01-267 1941/2
Against the Namibian
Contract (CANUC), c/o Namibia
Support Committee.
Socialist Action 15 July 1983
.7
Page 8 scan of this page
The crisis in the PLO
11 September — No more Chiles! Build this demo
8 Socialist Action 15 July 1983
WORLD
197dC7C
AIDS hysteria in US
AIDS acquired immunity deficiency synGrome - is being used by ultra-right wing forces in me unitea slates lo willp up an anti-gay crusade.
AIDS disease which causes break down the body's natural immunities, thus leaving the victim open
diseases. Most victims die within a couple of years.
So far there have been around 1600 cases. and 600 fatalities in the United States. The majority of sufferers are gay mci.
Other groups to have caught the disease significant drug addicts using syr-
and haemo- ty. usco philiacs.
Naturally the disease is causing concern in the gay community; its origins and precise causes are unknown.
right wing •Moral Majority' is using the disease to whip up
- RESEARCH.
NOT
Sao Paolo workers on
the march again
SAO PAOLO was
VICE the boom town of Latin America, with population of 15 million,
car plants and huge
Now unemployment ฿ 15 and thousands of metal workers have been thrown out of work.
Last week Brazil, which has the highest international debt in the world, received a delegation from the International Monetary Fund More trouble for Rios Montt
LAST WEEK reported the turmoil
which Walculad threatens to develop into ing. a military Cut arall president Rios Montt.
Last week the Interior Minister reported that Montt's sister, Maria Rios Montt, schoolteacher, been kidnapped by unidenSoweto black killed
PARIS MALATJI, A-year old black from Someto, has been found sbot dead Protea olice station near the
tack township.
He was arrested by security police under the Criminal Procedures Act which enables police to bold suspects without
anti-gay as uicy was God's of
now for 'perversion'
officials suggested that mere with
and that of America could be ludicrous
CISCO have asked for
and
The main demands the loony
nave been some cases of AIDS
and Belgium. It's only a mat-
time before Malcolm Muggeridge
Mary Whitehouse start our very own antipay call balell.
NEED which proposed (surprise,
for
The main point was the imposition of wage cuts. Last Wednesday 200,000 metal workers struck at all Sao Paolo's main factories and stagea a mammom demonstration bringing the city centre to a standstill.
The strike was led by leaders metalworkers union who support the Workers Party (PT).
tified gunmen. So far no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapp-
The saying little, refusing even to reveal where took place. But the assumption must be that she has been captured by left wing guerrillas. If so it will be a dire embarrasment for the regime.
trial. The police have instituted an "inquiry' to try to establish who shot him.
Naturally the South African Police Commis-
Genent 0RR!
Coetzee considers this
to mystery - and he must be about the only person in the world who does.
THE SIGHT of Palestinian fighting Palestinian in the Bek'aa valley will have alarmed many friends of the Palestinian struggle. that differences inside Organisation are settled with guns? What do the different forces fighting one another represent and what role are the Syrians playing?
The affair started in May, when Yasser Arafat
• the chiel Fatah commanders in the Bek'aa valley, and replace them with others loyal to himself.
The commanders who Arafat wanted out, cuang me leaaer or wilal is now the dissident group, HOU Musa. OCCI critical of the role which Arafat played as the PLO leader.
On the one hand they accused him of downplay-
the armed struggle against Israel, the other they accused him of international diplomacy which compromised the interests of the Palestinian people.
By Phil Hearse
Arafat tried to replace the dissident commanders and put the Palestinian forces Lebanon and Syria under the sole command of Ahmed Affani, an Arafat loyalist whom the dissidents consider to be pro-Egyptian.
The dissidents refused to accept this reorganisation and denounced Aralal s moves, supportcu by the Central Committee of fatah. as a hvpocritica action by Arafat and his cohorts designed to split the movement'.
The dissidents, with obvious Syrian connivance, took over PLO military installations Damascus. Since that time clashes between the two sides have continued sporadically, with the
lissidents gaining the up Der sand -because of Syrian support.
The first thing to note is that the conflict started as essentiallv a political dispute within Fatah, by far the largest and most important organisation within the PLO.
Prominent dissidents like Abu Musa and Abu Saleh (until 1976 the PLO commander in Lebanon) have long history leaders of the Palestinian struggle
Their opposition to Arafat has been based on opposition his diplomatic moves, in parOutside the Moneda Palace after the 1973 coup
Why has it come to this, the Palestine Liberation
ticular his support for the Fez summit agreement and
with sing svacuate the peo forces sein, and his from Beirut during the Israell Ilyasic Lebanon.
Without doubt the Fez summit agreement, drawn up by the reactionary Saudi regime, involves some compromises in long-standing positions of the PLO.
Basically the Fez summit proposed a state for the Palestinians on the oc. cupied West Bank of the Jordan. in return tor PLO recognition of Israel. This plan is acceptable neither to Israel nor to the United States, Israel's main backer. They see a West Bank state as being a permanent threat to Israel's existence.
Begin and Reagan want the Palestinians out of harm's way in Jordan
- not in any part of the occupied territorie: and certainly not in Lebanon.
But the objection of the dissidents is that the Fez plan involves promise on the PLO's objective of a 'democratic secular Palestine' • which would involve the end of the Israeli, Zionist state.
dissidents saw Arafat as relying on diplomacy after the military defeat Lebanon, rather than making further preparations for armed struggle.
Abu Musa declared that the dissidents had opposed the PLQ withdrawal
Beirut, and had threatened to open fire on the departing ships. They also demand democratisation of the PLO leadership structure.
The justice or other wise or tne complaints and demands of the dissidents is outside the scope of this article, but certainly as leaders of the Palestinian revolution they had the right to raise them within the structures of Fatah and the PLO
Arafat's to remove the dissidents was incorrect. But the alliance of the latter with Syria is a grave and potentially disastrous error.
Abu Musa has said,
Syria rejects the Reagan
and is pointing tanks in the direction of
That is my position too. If Syria retreats, I will take the same position as l did in Sidon' (a reference to his leadership of a PLO unit which destroyed Syrian column attacking the PLO in 1976).
The problem with this position is that Syria is not at all concerned with the success of the PLO strug • 2C Syrian president Assad is concerned witr consolidating position in the Middle
cast. and wants to bring the PLO under Syrian domination and control to make it 'Syria's card'.
In 1976, when the PLO and Lebanese leftists were on the verge of destroying
TEN DAYS ago YCND conference voted to mobilise its supporters for September's Chile solidarity demonstration. This year's demonstration has a special significance. It takes place ten years to the day after the military coup which overthrew the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende.
In the weeks that followed the coup at least 30,000 workers were slatohtered by Pinochet's gangsters But even this
of violence, and the torture and repression which followed, nas not prevented the Chilean workers movement from
Ansar prison camp — at least 5000 Palestinians are still held here by the Israelis the right wing Phalangist gangs, Syria intervened to prevent their victory Assad, if he brings the PLO under control, will then make a deal with Israel and the imperialists Palestinian expense of the
forcing them to recognise his cen tral role in the
dica would be a crime against the Palestinian revolution if Syria were allowed to take control of the PLO.
present plight of the Palestinian movemen is first and foremost the responsibility of the bourgeois rulers of the Arab states, who while giving lip-service to Palestinian rights have always acted impede their
Stra the Tight For istance
the fight for justice for the Palestinian people inreatens to spill over into
reorganising and fighting back.
But the demonstration has yet signif-
As Chilean workers prepare to finish off Pinochet, the people of Central America are struggling to defeat military dictatorship and Guatemala and detenc Nicaraguan revolution. The demonstration will thus be one of solidarity with Cen-
America well tral with the people of Chile
The YCND support
sign the demonsusands sa
sign that thousands people can mobilised for 11 September. Over hie shanne montas sup porters of Socialist Action will be building the demonstration in their Labour Parties, trade
International
their own countries in a revolutionary way
The leaders of coun tries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are hand-in-glove with imperialism. Assad
WILl perialism but on his own terms. Once again, it is obvious that the fight for the rights of the Palestinians is intimately bound up with the fight to carry forwara ine wnole Arab revolution
Syria should get out of the quarrel in the PLO Both PLO factions should put down their guns, and settle the long-overdue debate on strategy and leadership through democratic debate. Right now break his alliance with the Svrians which threatens the whole future of the Palestinian movement.
unions and CND groups.
Make sure that
organised from your area. If there is a Latin America or Central America campaign in your area they will almost certainly be organising for the demonstration, get in
Put a resolution supporting the demonstration in your local labour movement bodies. And march with Socialist Action the day!
• Demonstration assembles Clerkenwell Green. March to Trafalgar Square.
Moss Evans, Judith Hart and Ken Livingstone. Organised by Chile Solidarity, supported by
Solidarity, Nicaragua Solidarity, etc.
Page 9 scan of this page
REVIEWS/Letters
Baba must stay
BABA Bakhataura, the much loved and respected
Punjabi folksinger living in Oldbury West Midlands, is under threat of deportation.
Despite the fact that he has supported himself with his music during his stay and has not claimed benefit, the Home Office has decided to deport him.
He has already spent
upposedly 'overstaying •
Mhen his sentence wa
We're backing McEnroe
DOES Peter Purton think that sport exists in a political vacuum (SA 16)?
woes ne beneve lade television and media coveraze docs 10l llfluence what individuals think and that it exists outside the class struggle?
in nis letter ne uses the terminology which the right wing use to describe John McEnroe and other non-conforming sports people.
There are several good reasons why all seitrespecting socialists
hould support Johr McEnroe. First, he is the
tennis player who, after consulting a black colleague, , refused to play in South Africa.
Second he supports a united Irelana and Irish nationalism. Third, he rebels against the conservatism and English nationalism of tennis; which
What Went
Wrong?
Saturday 16 July,
7.30. Channel 4
JEREMY Seabrook,
whose book on unemp-
loyment has the same ti-
tle, three-part
stalls
series on the working
class movement in Bri-
tain.
The first programme
looks at early
du useles
Labour Party up to the
1945 Atlee government.
The second analyses
the decline Labour
since then and Seabrook
elaborates his theories of
the causes and the 'dif-
ferent kind of suttering'.
The third programme a. aebale WIll
Hall Philip Whitehead
and Paul Barker, editor
of New Society.
Don't expect all the
answers, but worth wat-
ching anyway.
The Best of
CLR James
11.25, Channel 4
JAMES discusses the
Caribbean and the tuture
for the West Indian
much along the
OCUDIED lines of his books such as
The Black Jacobins.
LETTERS
up, only a sustained campaign gained his release on bail from an
Crown Court then refused to order his deportation.
But the Home Office jumped in and issued a deportation order. Baba appealed, but tne nome Office adjudicator dutifulv upheld the order. Baba's defence campaign are now taking the appeal to the High Court.
stems from its upper class origins.
We believe these are the reasons why McEnroe is berated by the right wing press.
It does matter it a white South African, proud to be South Atrican. wins Wimbledon, and it does matter it an Irish nationalist wins.
As socialists we recognise that sport is political and for these reasons are pleased that Socialist Action and other socialist papers come off the fence and support progressive sports people. MARY BIGGAM, Christine McCall, Linda McLaughlin, Margaret Lynch, Ross McKay, Martin Edjvet, Gerry Kirk.
Glasgow CHOICE Tuesday documentary: Trumpets and Typewriters
Tuesday 19 July, 9.25, BBCI
IN WAR, should truth be the first casualty?,
It would be inconceivable that a white immicrant to this country, who came over and made an honest living in the entertainment industry, would be subiected to the same treatment.
In the June general election, Baba stood as an independent parliamentary candidate in Ladywood, Birmingham. His strategy was to expose the way both lorv and Labour Party have assisted the ruling class in exploiting black and Asian groups, by encouraging them to come over to work as cheap labour.
Then. they USE inhumane, racist and sexist immigration laws to cast them out when their usefulness is at end and jobs are at a premium, even for whites.
Baba called for the redeal of all racist Minister of Falkland misinformation lan McDonald asks this film.
Good question. and numerous veteren war correspondents readily admit that WWII reporting was a prograganda job
Other wars from the Crimea to Vietnam are covered, with unfavourable reporting sometimes helping to bring down
immigration and nationality laws and the end of deportations of acked bene recener a very large protest vote of over 300, in a constituency where the Labour Party attempts to take uo ine probiems of the black community in a Serous way
Deportations are now running at over 250 a month. Unfortunately too many people disappear from the scene without a
Campaigns like this and the Mohammed Idrish one do valuable work in bringing the facts to people and showing them a struggle can be Waltu BOB SMITH, Birmingham • Send messages. of support and donations to Baba Bakhtuara Defence Campaign, c/o Elite Сіпета, Soho Road, birmingnam 1. governments.
And Ireland and the South Atlantic? Well, they do get mention ('touches briefly' is the phrase used in the press blurb).
The obvious conclusion that should be drawn is that the reporting from these wars is no different from the past.
Review by Richard Walker, Salvadorean Film Institute Support Group.
sions, Vietnam and The Spanish Civil War.
Sadly, strengths of these earlier C4 commissions.
The film makers Jeff Harmon and Chris Wenner believe that the vast majority of El Salvador's people ente nothing or don't want to •KnOW their country's struggles. And that the Salvadoreans who are involved are confined to a statistically negligible group of political Malconicills who are divorced from the concerns of the majority.
The Front Line further contends that, whatever the ideology, the outcome is the same the bar-
actions Right are interchangeable
of the WIll. Lic actions Left.
Equal
All sides are presented
sibility if equal repon-
sibility the noncombatant deaths in the conflict, and an assertion
the forces FMLN torture and murder
prisoners is lett un. challenged, assumed to be lall The unknown cir-
cumstances of an unidentified man's death and the mock investigation which opens the film become symbols, in the hands of the filmmakers, of the victimisation by extremists of
involved in the conflict.
Or as the publicity for The Front Line puts it, 'civilian, peasant, parents, children - whoever you are, you may be the target or ine aealn squads, une Army or the guerrillas.'
An isolated statement from worker for the Commission for Human Rights in EI Salvador (CHES) used strengthen this same assertion And this, when the CDHES have stated publicly that it is rightwing groups and the Army who are responsible for
killing documented 37,392 vitals.
Rightwing groups and the Army have slaughtered over 37,000 civilians in El Salvador
The Front Line
THE FRONT LINE, the latest television documentary on the war in El Salvador, screened on Channel 4 on Saturday 9 July follows a series of C4 commis-
The Front Line exhibits none of the
The contention that the FMLN are responsible for a large proportion of these deaths is not a new one but, apart trom the most myopic sources who
put forward this line, it no longer has credibility Testimony given in March 1981 by Leonel Gomez, a former official in the Salvadorean Government, • to ine US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs, makes the reality plain.
Gomez, who is not
supporter of the mite
Subcommittee that the vast maioritv tea vuity of the killings are carried out
my 'search and destroy' missions in the countryside or by 'death squads' that operate under the direction of local army commanders.
Army
'The fundamental pro blem in my country is the army, army presides over military uctatoronto He Con tinued, 'the killings by the army have traumatized the Salvadorean pople. One is very cautious about rising up against the government when one na. bodies of people sawed in half, bodies placed alive in battery acid or bodies with every bone broken.
'I saw all those thing: last year. And I know who
AnA SO Salvadorean people So now we wall allu use ryi survive. But we will remember. That is why the army must eventually lose.
When questioned the press screening of The Front Line Chris Wenner said that, in fact, he had interviewed man who had identified the killers of the person in question as
death squad members but Wenner telt that thi sequence would have been 'inappropriate to include
Socialist Action 15 July 1983 9 in the film.'
The unchallenged assertion that the forces of the FMLN torture and murder their prisoners
more credible. The records of tional Red Cross details
the ICCiu prisoners from the FMLN and the return of those prisoners to the nearest army base is in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
The opposi-
militar the FMLN their
LOU progressive
of the
The Democratic Front and
encompass trade represenlaves and
international diplomatic
health care, production,
This
joblessness,
Mockery
Most disturbing of all is The Front Line's lack of respect for its • proposed subject — the people of EI Salvador. Contemptuous mockery and ironic detachment from this struggle is evident throughout
Sequences from The Front Line are intercut with a wrestling match where Iwa masked (analgous with the force of the right and left) growl and posture as they wrestle in the centre of the ring Around the ring the • 'audience', with particular concentration one women's severely disfigured face, cheer on the opponents in the match.
Thi callous analogy to draw of a conflict in which a people in the depths of pover-
y ana oppression are giv ing their lives and in whic they • are placing their hopes for the future.
Page 10 scan of this page
10
PICKETI
LINE
Unity in Aberdeen
IT'S not often that a pay curs reoorted as tory, but that's what has
Mugiemoss Paper Mill in Aberdeen. where i work as a welder on maintenance.
During the Aberdeen trade fortnight in July,
SLOUS 1OT maintenance and for capital projects to be carried out.
Management wanted this work completed within the fortnight •So inal lonowing production would not be disrupted.
So they offered the maintenance engineers a bonus package Ior cacn of the two weeks.
Their would have given skilled workers, fitters, instrument mechanics and welders around £230. water and labourers would get f180 for the week.
But this involved a discriminațory Bonus favouring. the skilled workers. We demanded a bonus the same for all.
To caly this came from the skilled workers
would make most out of the offer.
Management rejected the demand, was almost unanimously supportea by tne malllenance group They tried all sorts of tricks to split A vis
Ons
TEBBIT and Thatcher love a bit of divide and rule and inter-union
hands.
this year, Condules.
St Regis Packaging Company,
dant - 67 of the Workers Union, and
tional Graphical
Under instruction
six
officials appeared about
had lost
Despite
Bristol bakers dispute
WORKERS at Parkers Bakery, Bishopsworth in Bristol dispute
al c with . UVEL changed working pracrices.
The company, part af the Sunblest group are ying to force the * orkforce 55
VILU nour, five day week ather than the present ex day, eight hour shifts.
The company refused negotiate promise with the Baker's Lion, or go to ine Al• Stration Conciliation Advisory Service. ACAS. Management
Socialist Action 15 July 1983 us up and get their way.
Thev organised meetings and secret ballots just for skilled workers.
But we stood firm -it looked for a while that the majority of us would
g. on the gate demanding a cut in earn. ings for the sake of unity. But we won This a victory over management's efforts divide the workforce and over some very conservative stewards who keep telling us we can't budge management. (Jeff West)
Jeff West
refuse to
have now
cy notices been witnurawn. they
lo accell.
the NGA trying NGA members GMBATU members.
this split the workforce to
This nafiona
bargaining
common the employer.
must win this fight to be able to force the same
the group.
Their determination was shown when they drafted in scab management from other bakeries to do shop. floor work. Although the bakery still working, the workers believe that this struggle can be won. • Messages and donaLOTS O.
Serge Kuchanny Secretary of BFA WU 2nd. Floor, 200 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol BJ3 13F. (Danny O'Leary)
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OUT NOW!
Permanent Revolution, the theoretical lournal of the
Workers Power group, No
Summer 1983 Articles on British imperialism's decline
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• SE England Trade Union Conference on Namibia Sul
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THIS week is the finai
end of our Spring Ap-
peal which has been
running for 3 months.
Over that period
we have received che-
ques, standing orders,
notes and
and. this week, a
trumpet!
We know our readers
are not the rienest peopie
Britain, SO to have
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fantastic achievement
and a verv good start for
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Letters that have
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and new readers are
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of helpful criticism and
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who contributed and say
to those who always
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• Support Irish political orisoners in racist cao! Public meeting Thu 14 July. 7.30pm, Lambeth Town
, SW2 (Brixton tube). Organised by South London Irish Solidarity Committee.
women in nicaradua Public meeting (to launch the new book: *Sweet Ramparts') Mon 18 July. 7pm, Almeida Theatre Almeida St , London NI Speakers: Sarah Stewart & Jenny Pearce (writers), Maria Arcelia Urbina (Nicaraguan Embassy) Bernadette Barriste (Grenada High Cssn). Music ana cabarel. Tickets f2/f1. unwaged.
Troops Out Movement is organising a mass delegation to visi bellast in Augusi See for yourself what's going on in the North of Ireland rol uclall. contact Gail on
• Acid Rain Britain's invisible export. Public meels win speakers Irom Scandinavian organisations, Labour Party and scientific community. 13 July, 7pm. Grand Committee Rooms, House of Commons, London SW1. Details from Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA) Public Health Group. y roast conco! W1 (01-439 3749). • Preparing for Power Conference organised by the Revolutionary Communist
Polytechnic of Central London. Over 80 workshops including Marxism aller Marx, racism, women's
Ireland etc.
Phone 01-274 3951 for further details.
HOMES wanted for very cute socialist kittens Phone Sue 01-359 8288 (day), 01-806 9181 (eves).
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Don't let your summer holidays stop money coming into Not meeting the targets over spring means that we will be very hard pressed over the summer to pay our bills.
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• Labour Movement Conference on Ireland 1t July, has now been cancelled.
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• Has socialism a future?
Conference organised bv the Labour Co-ordinating Committee. July 22-2 Manchester Polv SU Details from LCC 9 Poland St, London WI. • Is Labour worth saving?
Debate with Jeremy Corbyn MP, CPGB. Socialist wreamser. Workers Powe and RCP at Preparing for Power conference (see above Tue 19 July. 7pm.
Tel
NICE TRY
COMRADES!
Page 11 scan of this page
"This is the age of the train" - or is it?
THE TORIES are set to sell off the profitable parts of publically owned industry and massacre the rest. High on their list is the national rail network.
National Union of CHRIS GOUGH, explains.
In 1981 the British Rail Board requested urgent
investment and an independent review. Thatcher's answer was the Serpell Inquiry.
The terms of reference ruled out plan for transport and looked only at the finances of the in-s dust he tinal Serpell repori
profitability and reduced public expenditure. It rejects subsidy, along with the social, énvironmental. and energy case for rail. Quality service and safety are ignored.
Serpell's options for the network range from a čut 10 1630 miles, with a
cut 380 miles, with 27,000 job loss.
Wales, west of Cardiff and Scotland, north Edinburgh, could be without a rail service.
Buses are promoted as a substitute. Profitable commuter ames will besold off. The London 10 Southend. Brighton and Gatwick services have been mentioned so tar.
Two banks
fuerchant and an insurance companv have put in claims to take
the London OVC1 Southend line, which BR's most profitable per mile. earns £20 million a year and carries
day, a useful subsidy for
rural SVICCS which are socially essential but don't bring in the cash.
Serpell being brought in through the back door already. British Rail are using arguments about efficient manage-
WORM'S
BYE
VIEW
Debategate
WASHINGTON'S latest
scandal may seem like a
minor affair, but it tells
us a lot about the Reagan
entourage.
The scandal
basically this. During thẹ
1980 election Carter's
aides provided him with
a 'briefing book' for the
TV debate with Reagan.
The back or ine
to the hands
the present
budget director David
Stockman during the
renearea tor
debate, which he
part
Carter.
• Despite this, Reagan
claims he never knew
anything about the brief-
ing. present
White. House Chief of
Staff James Baker did
see the book however.
And Communica-
tions Director David
Gergen, wate
remembering the brief-
ing book, did this week
by chance er discover.
stack Olivale
documents from the
Railwaymen member,
ment structures to set subsidiary companies like Sealink This
SICP towards eventual sale.
Talks are going ahead for food service Travellers Fare to drop the brush kal logo, win ine excuse that this gives the service a bad name.
Other subsidiaries like the National Freight Com pany, British Transport Hotels and BT Docks have already passed the private sector and BR rolling stock, DOIn new building and maintenance, could go the same way if there is no fightback.
Serpell recommends selling British Rail Engineering Limited ine engineering worksnops (BREL). In preparation TOT hive ott. the BRel workforce is being slimmed down. with the closure of Temple Mills in London and Horwich in Lancashire by the end of 1983 and the closure of Shildon near following year.
recent negotiations over BREL closures, the managing director laid out the future, 'An overriding OHHOSODIV of BREL their aim to become a free stanang coliDally responsible for their own financial stability on the same lines as any commercial company.
speech floated the idea of a Lon-
authority incorporating profitable commuter lines This points to turner hive London Transport. off.
Already London's Evening Standard anCarter camp in his own tiles. under the heading 'Afghanistan'.
Baker claims that the nerson wo coline Doo: was present CIA director William Casey.
During the election campaign Cassey was in Charge • of the Reagan camp's intelligence, and employed ficers to report on troop movements Carter tried another at-
the I cicase hostages in Iran, as a last He canvasil ble.
Casey, of course, doesn't remembe Lne briefing book either. his is also minor stutt in terms of American bourgeois politics, which is difficult to distinguish from gangsterism at the best of times.
What it shows is that Reagan is lying through his teeth. After Watergate he will be in big trouble if he gets caught.
nounced on 5 July that longer distance bus routes in outlying suburbs are on offer to private operators.
assault on the public transport system
and union organisation, as well as tobs and services.
The Virani and Seaco Group, who bought 13 of the BTH hotels, intends to run each hotel as an individual unit, with wages and conditions varying according to the profitability MCC to back
South
Africa!
load of old buffers ary WHAT reactionary cricket in this country. In what other sport would someone be left out of the national team because was
Now Tory MP John Carlisle in alliance with Denis Compton and Bill Edrich, are campaign for an tour Africa. Wednesday evening will see ¿ members at Cen MCC members at tral Hall Westminster, to debate out the issue of a South African tour.
_As it happens the debate at Central Hall is the same evening as the debate hanging parliament. John CarliSle hopes to be able to pop out of the Central Hall debate to vote for
reintroduction of hanging. I'm in favour of hanging them all' he says.
Compiled HEARSE. Send contributions Worm's
bye 328 Upper Street, London NI 2XP to arrive not later than Thursdar a week prior to oublica. tion.
The British Rail Board want to force through driver only operation on the Kings Cross 1o of each hotel. This breaks the unity of the union and attacks basic conditions.
The future one of station and line closures. job loss, manning reductions, high fares, poor serdeals yed produce or
scrapping electrification.
In the past, the NUR has accepted productivity deals in return for false hopes that this will prevent closure and sell off. But at this year's conference, the
NUR called for action against attempts privalise BAcL and iniroduce Serpell.
ne cambas workshop closure could be VUl tirs Dallit acallls privatisation. Nationally coordinated industrial action must organised against the assault on the rail industry.
The Tories are attacking every public sector industry in an attempt smash the collective
EXISTING NETWORK
Socialist Action
Bedford line, strength of the unions. We must unite and not get picked off one by one Alliance
Our brothers and sisters in British Telecom have already taken industrial action against privatisation and we need to do the same.
The Triple Alliance of rail, steel and coal unions needs to be transformed
15 July 1983 11 with removal of guards from a talk shop with the Tories fighting alliance against redundancies, closures and privatisation
Policies for an tegrated transport system based on need not profit, should also be discussed, with the Labour Party . bullding a campaign 1o. renationalisation and backing the industrial, extra-parliamentary action needed IO defend the unions and public services.
NETWORK AFTER SERPELL
Page 12 scan of this page
MARYLEBONE BR station is to be axed if the British Rail Board gets its way.
This would be the first London terminus to close and, as stated in
report in last Monday's London- Standard, will be a 'prelude so a major sale of assets
BR and London Iransport planned by
e government'.
By Tessa van Gelderen (Marylebone NUR)
Marylebone is a prime site for development and its closure will inevitably
jobs as well as call lOSt services. Line closures will follow fast on the heels of the station shutting down.
The station's depot has been under threat for British Rail apprentices warn of cuts to come
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SOCiAlist
ACTION
Stop the closure
of Marylebone!
many years, particularly since. no investment has been put into ILs antiquated signalling system, track and rolling stock.
But recent information indicated that closure was imminent and a local coordinating committee of National Union of Railwaymen and the train drivers union ASLEF has been established to launch a campaign lo keep Ivarylebone open.
The decision of the NUR's. recent Annual closures with industrial action has to be imo emented by the union leadership.
Not onv is this the only way to save Marylebone and the jobs and SCIVICES there, but it will give warning to the Tories that each and every plan to further erode the rail industry will be met with action.
BRITISH
RAIL
WHO
NEXT
subscribe. OFFER
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BR's engineering Like the Cosure work- of shops, the closure OTI Marylebone| is the imof welculation Serpell Report by the backdoor. (see page 11)
Marylebone's demise would also aid the Tories plans to abolish the GLC and set transport authority. table parts ne off profitable parts London's transport system.
Everv Labour council including the GLC has to totally oppose BR's plan and support any action taken by Marylebone's rail workers defend our jobs.
The campaign to keep Marylebone the same campaign to fight all the Tories attacks on BR and the whole of the public sector.
cerned at Marylebone, the SPECIAL
we are offering a free copy of Hard Times, a new book in tne Arguments for socialsin series Dy Bob Sutcliffe. The book normally costs $2.50.
Alternatively we are offering Alan Freeman's book, The Benn Heresy. For new readers there is our specia introductory offer of 8 issues for S2.
All subscriptions are posted first class on day of publication.
Len Murray DELEGATES
and union rights.
conference rejected talks hit the City
By Marcella FitzGerald
(London North Central Internal, POEU)
A MAJOR commodity Joseph as a director his broker, with Keith
without phones
week.
Post Office engineers
from their exchange are
on strike Tory
plans to privatise British
Telecom.
Eight members of the
London North Central
the
Post Office Engineering
INSTA
Miners prepare
for action
Mineworkers conference in Perth last week prepared to go into battle against Tory attacks on pay, jobs
union legislation and called on Nil members 'te refuse to comply with any nerves
Post Office Engineers
Union were called into action by their national executive.
Within 25 hours of refusing to mend faults on two City exchanges, commodity brokers Hoare and Gavette had no phones, Thatcher's backers at the offices of Confederation of DRUSI were running into difficulties and 330 line faults were reported.
Cardowen miners — determined to resist
Scargill
rebutts
Murray
of directly from there.
South Wales NUM president , Emlyn Williams
an undertaker, talks like
wants to bury us, , but we are going to bury his laws'.
This confrontation with could come around a campaign for in-
curbs on the union claim pay ill crease' or promised action avalotuals shut 70 pits with the loss of 70:000 jobs.
Miners' anger • and determination resist cosires came alive dune the conference week when three Scottish pits went on strike against the transfer of miners from the threatened Cardowan pit Lanarkshire Bogside pit in Fife and Polmaise colliery in Stirling joined a third Scottish pit Polkennet in a stand against tempts to pre-empt reviet Coal Board's procedures.
The results of an NUM appeal agalist the crosult
Arthur Scargill of Cardowan are not due until 10 August. but the NCB is blackmailing and bullying, with the premature closure or lwo . production faces at the comery, culs carlags and lock-out at
Scottish NCB director, Albert Wheeler CyCl ordered the Cardowan management to refuse admission South Wales leader Emlyn Williams, who wanted bring solidarity message to the pit.
But these provocations did not deter conterence delegates. An emergency resolution declared This conference of the NUM in-
executive and structs ine the national officials embark on a campaign to win the whole hearted sup-: port of miners, not only to oppose copsures, but all reductions and works
In manpowe
This was backed with a call for national strike action if the Scottish area request solidarity in the likely event that Cardowan is axed next month.
← Socialist Action No. 17, 8 July 1983Socialist Action No. 19, 22 July 1983 →