Socialist Action No. 40, 13 January 1984
The scan: 040-jan-13-1984-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
Identity cards, civil service witch hunt... Civil liberties
Thatcher backs South African raids
the irony of this week's announcement of the introduction of their new social security identity card. The hapless DHSS has waited until the beginning of 1984 to announce the introduction of what amounts to a national identity card system.
tion will be issued with the new card, which will be similar to a bank credit card.
The giveaway in its potential is that each card will have a magnetic strip on which invisible information will be stored. But the DHSS and the police MODERN TIMES Don't take any notice of her... she's just having anotner identity Cura CrisIs...
No. 40 13 January 1984 30p
under
attack
THE DHSS obviously didn't quite understand During the next few years the whole popula-
will be able to read the information. In effect a national identity card is being introduced by stealth.
The trend to a restriction of civil liber-
LAST week South Africa launched massive air and land raids into Angola, untilising 2000 troops. A resolution of the United Nations Security Council denouncing these at-
was carried with only the United States and Britain not voting for.
The British delegation objected the language' of the resolution, but not apparently to the violence used by the South African ment.
The South African raids were ostensibly aimed at Angola-based guer
Ine Africa Peoples Org
(SWAPO fighting for the liberation of South African-occapied Namibia. SKIT both SWAPO and the Angolan
SociAlist
ACTION
ties under the Thatcher government has been confirmed by the scandalous of Sarah Tisdall, a Foreign Office clerk charged with leaking a memo on
missiles to the CHISE Guardian. The memo only had the date of cruise missile arrival hardly something to be kept SOCCE trom the population. Yet the full weight of the Official Secrets Act is being invoked, and Heseltine ran to the High Court government clam that tne guerrillas were not attack-
raid was aimed at Angolan troops and installations.
By Paul Lawson
Planes and artillery
altacked the Beguela rail line which runs through central Angola. Infantry advanced 125 miles into the coun try. What is involved here
not another attack on SWAPO, but attempt by South Africa to bring down the Neto ment in Angola. It is part of a widening war engulfing the whole region.
South Africa is pouring money and arms into the UNITA
oro- western guerrilla movement which occupies something like 33
cent of the country. Pretoria has evidently con-
12 to force the Guardian to reveal its source of information.
Britain has one of the most restrictive official secrets laws in the world. The decision of the Guardian to comply with the High Court order will make every potential informant think twice, and further deepen government secrecy.
Thatcher has started 1984 by graphically
cluded that the threat from nationalist guerrillas can
stopped by the destruction of the Angolan government.
At the same time raids against Mozambique have been stepped up in an at-
force tions aimed at stopping Mozambique harbouring guerrillas of the African National Congress.
In lace or us new al tack on Angela Britise the refusal of government to condemn the raids shows where the Tories really stand. Despite all the hot air condemning apartheid, the Tories see South Africa as a crucial ally against communism' and vital for British economic interests.
The Labour government must do what previous Labour governments have baulked at break all links with the apartheid regime.
66 A
showing that this government stands for
restriction of civil liberties, for control of the population and government secrecy. These moves complement the sinister increase in state powers in the Police Bill. Orwell may not have been dead right about 1984, but Thatcher is doing her best to catch up with his predictions.
Reclaim 1984:
Stop the Police Bill
Picket outside New Scotland Yard,
Victoria Street, London
Friday 13 January 4.30 to 7.00pm
The picket is also to advertise the forthcoming national demonstration against the Police Bill on Saturday 21
January NEXT Tuesday is D-day for the greatest assault on local government in history.
THESE meeting with Tory local government leaders on Monday Thatcher and Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson rejected any changes in the government's rate capp ing Act. The Rates Bill will be introduced into parliament for its second reading on Tuesday January.
The Act has outraged even Tory council leaders. Despite Thatcher and Lawson's pressure tactics this opposition has been reaffirmed by the Tory dominated of County Councils.
The real aim of Thatcher's Bill was made still clearer by the attendance at last Monday's Downing Street meeting. In addition to Tory controlled councils major prominence was given Tory minorities
Local
government
assault
goes ahead
Labour controlled coun cils.
Irvine Patrick, leader of the Conservative op position On the South Yorkshire council emerged from the meeting „declare think a bill like this is the only salvation for an area like South Yorkshire
In other words where the Conservatives are unable to win any 17 popular support for their
policies locally they are demanding the government step in to overturn local democracy. Local electors will have massive spending cuts imposed regardless they vote for them or not.
The rate capping bill shows not only the necessity to defend local It is also crucil.
Labour's greatest oppor tunity so far to spell out that the Thatcher government not defender of liberty and freedom but its greatest on opponent.
Page 2 scan of this page
Hattersley questions union
2
SOCiALiSE
ACTiON
The gutless
Guardian
IT TOOK a liberal' newspaper like the Guardian to really plumb the depths of British journalism this week.
The learns is that sources for 'leaks' are never revealed. Journalists to their credit in the past gone to jail rather than reveal the source of such stories.
The reason is obvious. press exist, among other things, to ferret out those dirty corners of officialdom and public life. which governments and the powers that be want to conceal.
Given the actions and powers that exist in the real world those who give information journalists will inevitably be threatened with intimidation by the very deserve to be brought out into the open. Those journalists who reveal their sources therefore threaten the liberty and freedom of everyone in the country as well as propping up precisely those who deserve to have their activities dragged out into public view.
That intimidation is exactly what is happening with Sarah Tisdall - the civil servant charg ed with leaking information to the Guardian on cruise missiles.
The charges brought against Sarah Tisdall under the 'Official Secrets Act are absurd. No-one, including those who brought the prosecution, believe that Sarah Tisdall endangered so-called 'national security'. have been brought against her as a pure and simple exercise in intimidation.
The aim of this operation is to silence those who bring out into the light of day the consistent and constant attacks on democracy of the Thatcher government to have its activities exposed.
By giving in to the courts, by giving back the documents that would allow its traced, the Guardian has taken a significant step to make Britain a less free country even than it was before.
And why has the Guardian broken this most on BBC radio by Guardian editor Peter Preston. The Guardian had been arguing for weeks that the NGA and the trade unions must obey the law. That person or disagree with a law but a 'democrat' must always obey it.
Having served up this historical nonsense, which no jounalist involved on a major story had ever accepted before, the Guardian was then skewered on its own argument. It had to obey the law.
In its keenness to oppose trade union action the Guardian fell below the level of any second rate nineteenth century liberal -militant campaigner for civil rights it likes to build its image as.
For liberty, as they say, really is indivisible. Once you their right to break unjust laws then you abandon the basis on which most democratic liberties were won in the first place. fend the NGA, and who went to prison in the past rather than reveal defenders of democracy.
There is a widely known saying about the Guardian. This is that after long deliberation and hand wringing it always comes down on the side of repression 'regretfully'. It believes in slavery as long as the slavemasters should use softer whips.
is a fitting comment on the paper that started as a mouthpiece of nineteenth century Liberalism. But liberalism, scared of the organised labour movement. and of
Socialist Action 13 January 1984 most standard rule a journalist
have
Journalism and the
to people whose activities The poliçe charges
For any other that deserves
source to be organisation could • let alone the
accept that citizens must abandon
Those who de,
sources, are the real as always, is more 2 than of the suppression of dermocracy.
links
In a little reported speech last weekend Roy Hattersley outlined major thinking of the Labour Party right wing on the future of the trade unions and on their links to the Labour Party. He argued, 'I think that the trade unions themselves are going to be a diminishing force in British political and industrial life.'
Addressing a centenary Society Hattersley claimed that, cy" of the (Labour) Party on the trade unions is something on which I do not believe we can rely in the future as we did in the past.'
'a coalition of ideas' terests'.
Hattersley specifically argued that his own trade union, the ASTMS, would
dissafiliate VULC the Labour decline of the trade unions
Howevel general phenomenon based on the decline or ine manual working class and the effect of the Tebbit Bill.
By John Ross
What makes this Hattersley speech even more extraordinary that comes on ine eve or lne Introduction of the new round of Tebbit/King laws into parliament. This is a
when the entire
Labour Party would have been expected to put its maximum energies NICO campaigning maintain trade union attilation to the Labour Party. Instead Hatterslev's speech WeLs 'BRITAIN'S AMBITIOUS youth training scheme (YTS) is running out of steam. power Services Commission, month old scheme, 375,000 of the 460,000 places available. In fact only about 300,000 have been unlikely to pass 350,000. Places have proved hardest to fill in London and other large cities.'
January noted the crisis which is developing inside the Thatcher governments YTS scheme.
The results of the boycott the cheap labour YTS scheme by large numbers of young people are now beginning to work inrough to tre. parts tion systemin® and education
systclil Economist noted, 'Many colleges and private training agencies that geared up for greater (YTS) demand
face deep financial
Louble, since MSC (Manpower _ Commis
sion) grants are paid only for filled places
'And although the
sat, The dependen
'The
He argued the Labour Party must become more and less a 'coalition of in-
eagerly picked up by the Financial Times cast doubts on basic Labourtrade union links.
Writing. on the front page under the heading
influence 'Hattersley says will bulls decline' John Lloyd, the paper's industrial editor, noted "The unions are themselves beginning to grappic will these pressures and influential have privately come to many of the same conclusions as Mr Hattersley'.
This line is similar to the policy already outlined by Frank Chapple and others following the General. Election. Chapple, writing in The Times on 17 June, weakening of the links between the trade unions and the Labour Party.
Chapple explicity linkthis call for Labour-trade union rela-
Crisis in the YTS
By now the Man-
which runs the four expected to have filled about
filled, and the total is
That was how the Economist magazine on 7
MSC i likely to underspend billion budget for the scheme by
much as million there is no chance of any of the saving being used to
It nece college
agencies out. The cash wil
kept by a grateful Treasury.'
The fact that the Treasury would welcome a 'saving' of f200 million a year on youth education and training shows the reality of the YTS only too clearly. Instead of the government,
tions with support for urgng trade unionists to vot
Liberal, and not Labour, in a number ot constituencies Chapple argued, If we had not been so completely tied to
this we could have cra
our members to vote SDP. or Liberal if they had a Crafte of winning. Over and over again our loyalty to Labour let the Tories in on June 9.
John Lloyd, the author
the article on Hatterley's speech is notable for having written a two page review in the New Statesman defending Len Murray's position on the
scheme, being interested in real training and education for young merely interested in reduc ing their wages to the £25 a week YTS rate
The goals of govern ment strategy on youth wages WelC made clearer in a Department of
The Relative Pay and Employ
of Young People published just before Christmas. This report altempted to give a 'scientific basis for the government's culling youth wages.
By Brian Hilton
The Relative Pay and Employment of Young People claimed that a 10
cent reduction in the average wage young men would produce a 20
cent increase noos for them. A 10 per cent cut
would produce a 15-20 per cent increase in jobs. message was 'wage cutting is good for young people
for the report however •in addition to the question of wage cutting itself - its conclusions were tradicted by the figures it contained These showed 12=age or young peo-
5 2 score the na-
TE a JE
NGA dispute
What Roy Hattersley's speech shows is just how
up the Labour Party the influence of positions
rethink Labour-trade union links, and for 'non political trade unionism, has gone
Roy Hattersley's formal position is undoubtedYTS scheme was also spelt out dramatically
leaflet produced for employers by the National unsulule ol Hardware one of the YTS managing agents. This argued fo members to use the YTS
because it gave employers
extra workforcebut equivalent of a year at no exira cost
• long
interview ... (with) no long term committment.
• the venture will be a big boost to the small independent business providing welcome help
without having to pay
salary Insurance Contributions.
it at anv stage dur
ing twelve month
arsuitable, you are able to
culillall
simply by contacting the
National Institute of
43-14255
22 and won't have penny to
News
ly that trade unions should vote ir of affilia But his there analysis ob: But his entire analysis viously reflects the TaC that no really effective campaign on Labour Party affiliation is going to come trom the trade union or Labour Party • right. Their analysis rules it out. pay
With the real character of the YTS scheme coming out more and more into the open, and with an obvious boycott of it by large numbers of young people, there is a big opening for the TUC and Labour Party to reverse their previous policy come out against the YTS, and destrov this cheap labour scheme.
Birmingham trade
unionists will be meeting
on 14 January to discuss
the Youth
Scheme.
The conference, callTrades Birmingham
Council, will Mened by Clare Short
The conference
open to all trade
Registration
fee f1.
Conference
Assembly Rooms
Digbeth Civic Hal
9.30am-1.15pm
Page 3 scan of this page
Defeat the Tebbit laws
Union success in defending youth wages
News
THE LONG-PREDICTED Tory onslaught on the trade unions has created an opportunity for the movement which we should be ready to seize with both hands.
It is not enough to go on attacking the Tebbit laws, or the new King legislation unless we are also prepared to make the testing of these laws into the occasion for a major political campaign.
No-one should be in any way surprised at the attitude adopted by the TUC General which is in line with the views that they have long expressed.
But we cannot unions which are now in the front line, which would involve us in denying and repudiating whole history of struggle generations of trade unionists -and others.
What is really at stake is the whole tradition of political trade unionism, which we thought we had established when the Labour Representation committee was set up over eighty years ago, which led to the formation of the Labour Party itself, and then to the adoption of socialism in its 1918 constitution.
For it was the steady decline of political trade unionism in recent years which gave the Tories the chance that they had been waiting for, to attack unionism, and to try to break the links that it has with the Labour Party. The real test will come with the attempt to enforce ballots.
We must use that opportunity to re-create the politics of trade
MAJOR EVIDENCE was published last week of the role of trade unions in defending young people's wages.
steadily falling as a proportion of full wage rates ever since the election of the Thatcher government. The pay of male workers under 18 has fallen from 40 per cent of the average pay of all male workers in 1979 to only 36 per cent in 1983.
The pay of young women under 18 has fallen from 58 per cent of the average pay of all women workers in 1979 to only S1! per cent in 1983.
But a new study by the Labour Research Department shows that the reinve reakers pao are covered
has not fallen by anything like the same amount as among the non-unionised.
In 70 per cent of cases where young workers were covered by trade union agreements no decrease in youth rates of pay relative to other workers has taken place.
The majority of cases where young workers pay has decreased relative all workers, and wnieh are unionised, the
sector and in wage council industries. In both areas the Thatcher government has made a special effort drive down wages.
labour
teachers, the NALGO. such critical importance.
Council,
abandon
playing a leading role.
the
by
really understands the
in the front line.
and
ahead.
TUC, especially composition
trade
situation.
working board The average pay of young workers has been
four per cent of cases trade umons nau suc ceeded negotiating agreements decreasing the gap between workers wages and the rest of the workforce.
He cabour Research study also reveals clearly why the Thatcher government is so keen to use the
TS scheme to attempt to break unionisation among young people. Young workers not protected by union agreements have seen their wages cut back sharply since 1979. Young workers covered by trade union agreements have in the large majority of cases seen inel relalve wage. protected.
The Labour Research Department, in examining 245 wage agreements, could only find one case glove manutacturint.- in which a unionised industry had agreed a youth wage rate as low as the £25. week of the YTS scheme.
unionism and to campaign for the extension of affiliation to every union, and especially those which are not now affiliated, like the
civil servants and
But these campaigns must be organised and led by the branches and the rank and file membership. Here is where the relevance of the Broad Left comes in, and why workplace branches are of
For it can only be by strong and principled leadership at the place of work that we can hope to mount a campaign that will extend affiliations and give real political clout to the other industrial campaigns that lie ahead in the struggle to defeat the application of the present repressive laws, in which the courts are now
The solidarity that we need cannot be built unless everyone
political significance of attacks like those made on the NGA or the NUJ, who like ASLEF in 1982 are now
All social progress has always come from below and we shall be learning that lesson all over again in the weeks and months that lie
An increasingly non-political.
now that the of the General the Council has been changed, may not be equipped to cope with this
That is where the Broad Lefts
across the whole will come into their own. We have seen the transformation of the political prospects
Birmingham demonstration against YTS
Over 65 per cent of manual unions had negotiated WatC for young workers of at least f42 a week £17 more than YTS pay. Nearly half of unionised white collar jobs had youth rates pay of at least f51 a week more than twice the YTS rates.
In other words the trade unions since 1979 have been doing a major job in keeping up young people's pay rates. The unions are also negotiating rates of pay far above the
in a number of major unions over
last few years where necessary political work has actually been done. That is why the mineworkers shifted and the railwaymen shifted and why the POEU moved to a more radical position.
We would be well advised to ignore those supposedly left com-
level the government is trying to impose through the YTS scheme
At a time when the government is attempting to smash trade unionism, and when wide disenchantment exists about the Labour Party young people, this Labour Research Department study deserves to be given the widest possible publiciIt shows the real base which could exist for sLabour Party and trade union campaign to
By Tony Benn
mentators for whom the present the political situation seems to offer
nothing but gloom. For it looks as if some intellectual pessimists are actually engaged in trying to undermine our confidence, cover for a shift in policy towards the SDP, and some seem to be hinting that we might actually have to seek an electoral arrange-
SUrrORT
T.U.C
POLICY
10 COMPULSION win over young people to trade union membership
support for and membership of the Labour Party.
To be effective however this campaign has • to involve the Labour Party ana lue lolally breaking wịth the YTS scheme
which the government is precisely using to try to break down the youth wages and conditions which the have been defending.
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
The
mass
disposal.
of
as a VTS in practice p2 Angie of ates are find 17 year ok
Alcohol policies/p12
Bargaining news/p14 uarter of the new pay ro
odorodorot
Labour Research Department, Bargaining Report, December 1983.
Includes 'YTS practice' and 'Young workers pay
3 ment with the SDP.
This is just another way of re introducing non-political trade unionism in the guise of 'facing the harsh realities' of our 1983 defeat and we should make it ab. solutely clear that we will have nothing to do with it.
The answer does not, and cannot, lie with some cosy little elec toral arrangement, arrived at, al the top, with a handful of Labour defectors who hate the trade
even more passionately than the Tory cabinet.
The real answer will be found next time round, as it was before. in solidarity with those who are threatened with legal penalties for upholding long established principles of trade unionism, and in organising a real socialist campaign which will help everyone to understand what would happen to all of us if these attacks were allowed to succeed.
work-place branches. under principled socialist leadership could strengthen the shopstewards movement and remind working people that, even with
unemployment which weakens us industrially, we still have the political weapon at our
This political weapon is by no means confined to local and national elections, and it will be most crucial in the development
socialist policies and democracy within the unions, and in the ballots which may take place on political affiliation. This is how we should be seeing the challenge of the next period, and if we take the initiative and plan accordingly, we shall rediscover our confidence as well.
Bargaining
Report
DECEMBER 1983
negatione LAD survey of
wynent otters Young workers' pay p6 nary of settlements in the fir BR index issues 2130/p16 LABOUR RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Available from Labour Research Department, 78 Blackfriars Road, Lon 0I 8HF. Price £2.50
Page 4 scan of this page
Don't duck the witch hunt!
4
IRELAND
UNFREE:
Setback in the
South
IN THE aftermath of the Harrod's bombing, the Labour Party left behind the dialogue which has done so much to lift the 'wall of disinformation' well come under attack. anxious to preserve the bipartisan approach of previous Labour administrations. have no desire to make known Sinn Fein's views. They are happy to have them labelled as bombers.
But we will not return to another where labour movement. The balance of forces is Ireland cannot be completely different than 1974, after the Birmingham bombings. Popular
withdrawn. repression will not work. Calls to ban Sinn Fein have been put aside as impractical.
Photo: AP/RN, Dublin
Phil Flynn, Vice President of Sinn Fein. He may
withdraw from Sinn Fein before taking up his. union job.
In the South of Ireland however,
have a real
hysteria
soldier. This shoot out was the climax of the Tidey
kidnapping adventure.
At the Ard Fheis, Gerry Adams went to some
lengths to explain that building a party throughout
32 counties
task, it was also the most difficult. He said that the
tactics and methods by
achieved popularity in the North could
repeated in the 26 counties. His message
armed struggle was not to be extended into
South already difficult to get across due to the ban
on Sinn Fein appearing in the media, now seems to
be contradicted by events. This set back is already
being felt.
On 12 December,
place in Dublin: a rally of trade unionists, organis-
ed by Sinn Fein in alliance with the Communist
Party and independent workers, to discuss a cam-
paign inside the unions focussing on the national
question. This rally attracted over 1000 workers.
forces of trade unionism and republicanism. Phil Connolly
Flynn, elected Vice President of
Ard Fheis and shortly to take the leadership
Ireland's largest public sector union chaired the
this meeting could be tested. What had been a few
right wingers objecting to Flynn's politics, became
a full scale witch hunt,
Within two weeks, Flynn
withdraw from his position in Sinn Fein before
taking up his union post.
Sinn Fein have
strengthen the anti-imperialist movement in the
South. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have nothing to
offer workers but attacks on their living standards.
They
multinationals over the economy or challenge the
partition which disorts it.
neutrality of Ireland, and are being dragged into 1UTCaI policy
the NATO alliance.
Locked in a coalition partnership with Fine Gael,
ITGWU and FWUI openly discuss disaffiliation.
which challenges both
British imperialism could give political direction to
the massive resentment agalst tre governmene,
expressed through scores
and industrial militancy. Let's hope the ball can be
picked up from where it was dropped.
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
the prime movers
• could The right wing are
They
'dark age' discussed inside now
opinion wants the People know that increased Sinn Fein hattle to recover from the tide of
following the shooting of a Garda and
was not only the most pressing
which Sinn Fein not be that the the
an historic meeting took
Reference was made to restoring the traditions
powerful Sinn Fein at the of
The shootings came before the perspective of
whipped up be the media. promising,
massive opportunities to
will do nothing to break the hold of the
they cannot defend the
The Irish Labour Party is politically bankrupt.
Major unions like
A campaign in the unions for a new allignment
the mulunalonais
of strikes, occupations
AFTER LAST YEAR'S debacle, the 1984 annual meeting of the Campaign Democracy promises altogether. In fact, it promises to be three quiet af-
gregated meetings.
many activists -
There are a lew con troversial items an otherwise straightforward agenda: the witch hunt, one person one vote, con ference voting strength and slipped in by Clause 4?
Labour Party Young Socialists. rightist positions within these debates reflect the LCC influence inside the Campaign.
No agreement has been reached in CLPD on party unity and the witch hunt. A resolution from the Executive, priorities, patently fails to make up its mind: AGM recognises that the Party's top priority has become Party Unity and winning
election. This LOe does not mean abandoning our goal of accoun tability. It does mean that we must take account of this factor when pressing
for our aims..
the Executive dodges the central az all Issue: how cant there be unity around party policies and the new leadership, when the continuation of the witch hunt is precisely a threat by the new leadership to those very policies?
In place of a tirm posttion, the EC proposes campaigning to I Cul the arbitrary powers of the NEC and for "impartial conditions' haid down constitutionally.
Who, me?
MALE ORDER is back
But it's no
hie coull. back andrea ding i sitiry you sitting
self-activithout a bit
self-activity masses I can't promise to deliver the goods.
You can help make Male Order even better by sending in stories, picnews clippings anything think worth letting other people know about.
Send material to the address below, remembering to include
A scene from
ive us d
smile, a
cartoon film
FOL
violence
women
Tomm.
colour). Sex sho
Vie
Available
from beels
worksnoo. u women s
collective,
0532 484997.
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
for Labour Party
be quieter affair
voting at each of these
conference, atten-
This does not deal with the issue which broke CLPD'S back in 1983.
Other resolutions make explicit CLPD's conundrum. They call for a specific committment to support Inose consuluchcies which have refused to comply with the making clear that party unity, and hence Labour's electoral chances, are damaged by expulsions.
By Carol Turner
second resolution commits the Campaign to fighting for positive prorights of individuals and posals safeguard the groups inside DalLy. Both these resolutions
The LUC-CLPD dif ferences are clearly reflected Onc member one vote resolutions. The Executive main opposed to an il
which achocial would have the effect of making Labour's leaders less, not more, accoun table.
None of the opposing
positions go so far as to
suggest a postai ballot. In-
stead, they offer systems of branch voting ag gregated to arrive at the
consuluency s choice.
There are great problems
WILl least of
which is that the system
your name and address.
More bad
news
couse on weeks there
horror. story
papers about new
evidence linking the con-
traceptive pill to cancer.
Since the
research linking the pill
to cerva carica LUW
the pill has also been
definitively linked with
an increased incidence of
Women
breast cance.
who have taken the pill
1or more wan lour years
before having a baby
WOMEN
up in stream to rape
Women Speak Out cence
ed in
in city protest
tion more actions against
inst violence & porn anra
The
active members should This cuts
and the which
democracy isn't lost.
passes constituency
Bae countable general Constallice HE UTIS the
MPs and leaders
served
which branch the general This
curstilucil cies
committee anne main body of
risk of developing breast cancer So why are all these revelations just emerging about the wonder-drug of the seventies? Because all of us guinea-pigs are
Fust benards to rea ther
rewards unknowing participation in the great experiment. The pill was tested on unsuspecting Puerto Rican women before it reached us. but oniv now are the long-term effects beginning to become apparent. It might not be too long before the pill is seen, not as the great but nocrator. and killer of Hallic.
a Tables Turned on
Splash-Woman's Brutal Husbands
attacker ends active resistan FIRE GUTS PORN SHOP Angry women 'Glad to responsible see it's
sex shop fire gone!'
en's Protest I pride it me third world leshian
Curfew
on Men:
New rule makes streets safe
ber, and Vladimir Derer,
On this basis there -seems no sup-
change voting balance at conference
cy parles
for
year, that
the vote.
This completely ducks out of the issue of democratising the unions. Further , in a year
Tebbit laws when threaten the foundations ot Labour's relationship with the unions, such
would seem calliDalk premature and optimistic It would be far better for organisations like CLPD to take up a campaign to urge trade union members to opt into the political levy.
One final, naughty, resolution o eserve brief mention: proposal
the Young Socialists by allowing:
ORDER
Men club women
WORKING men's clubs
have struck another blow
Not
satisfied with ensuring
that women have second.
class status in most clubs,
they have now voted two
having the right to hold a
affiliation card.
This card allows
members to visit any club
belonging to Club
and Institute Union.
Ericca, the
Rights In Clubs Cam
paign, have said their
fight will go on. I think
Lenin's
the lines of having. to
Certall institu
tions which can't
reformed in the interests
, of the working class are
pertinent in this case.
News
wose UDOI
oranches
HOLI
• Supporters who want a say in the Campaign's fate must register to attend an one of the three AGM. before Saturday 14 January
Man's man
REAGAN is apparently a 'man's man' according to the results of surveys by his campaigns staff. His approach Soviet Union, big military budgets and aggressive use of the armed forces seemingly appeals strongly to many white adult American males.
'He's a leader' says Edward. Rollins, Reagan's campaign manager. 'He's not afraid of taking action, decisive action. And that appeals to men.'
So now you know!
Compiled Send COntAiRY HILARY DRIVER.
reach Us a Week before publication to Male Order, Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N1.
Page 5 scan of this page
News
cruise, sections of CND's prepare movement
occured.
proliferating. out the leadership's nuclear freeze campaign. The movement showed its determination to move to a new stage — a campaign to get rid of these new Euro-missiles.
The increasingly gressive actions of the US
rom Grenada to the Midale East Central America, is fuelling a mass fear of the growing threat of nuclear war.
By Dick Withecombe (CND National Council member, in personal capacity)
But after conference, the approach many CND leaders is to reorient the movement towards national Hon nuded defence'. This ticularly obvious In latest issue of Campaign, the CND groups newsletter. The major goal is to win a majority, by the
the preposition that Bri
the proposition that Lall call defended without nuclear weapons.
Likely targets for a nuclear attack on Britain. Each circle represents a nuclear bomb of several megatons. A real attack might of course be heavier
CND in '84
AFTER THE general election, Mr Heseltine and the media decided CND was dead. After the arrival of
leadership began to for more 'achievable demands'. However, this predicted decline has not
CND's membership is growing, and its actions
National conference decisively threw orientation towards a
The trend towards basing CND's campaign on a line defence 'non-nuclear
points. It makes a major concession to those who Be de tended from a sto defended from called Russian threat'. By doing so, it makes a concession to the very argument that Britain needs nuclear After all, if there a Russian LuTcaL. and the Gove Union has nuclear weapons, then there is al least an argument that nuclear weapons are needculorenoon.
Moreover, a fantastic
100 miles 150 km
Labour's options for defence
A Day School organised by Labour CND on NATO and Non-Nuclear Defence Speakers: Peter Thompson, Bob Cryer, Dr Paul Rogers Saturday 28 Jan Sheffield Town Hall
Delegate's fee f2.50 from K Edwards, Hammersmith CLP Greenwood House, 46 Uxbridge Rd, London
build-up in Britain's non-nuclear military forces would be more costly than nuclear weapons, and only forces of the British save. the repressive We've seen in Ireland and the Malvinas exactly how such forces would be used.
It no business CND and the peace move. ment to advise the British imperialist
blalc how best fight the so-called Russian threat, repress its enemies at home and abroad.
The argument for non-nuclear defence is used by very nignt wing people some who want European defence, and others like Enoch Powell who want strong British conventional forces. CND should not be in their camp. Problem
The real problem is the lack of a major national focus for the movement. The OT the 1000-plus CND groups
of Have alwavs veen one CND's strengths. But CND has been kept together massive, united movement by naLond duves suchase October demonstration and the Greenham events.
CND conference did call on the national council
organise major demonstration during the European elections June, coordinated with the peace movements across Europe. The date of this action has been referred to the National Council of 14 January
Keen
CND's executive don't seem keen on this decision It hasn't even been mentioned in the conference reports in Sanity and Campaign. Hopefully delegates National Council will ressurect this proposal from the executive's dustbin.
The European elections will be a major test of ine relaton or lorces on the 'nuclear question CND should take the lead in naming a date, jointly with other European groups, for action across Europe, outnumbering the three million mobilised in October last year. Already
are being prepared all candidates, joint European-wide campaign will be discussed Int April National Council.
Some European "roups are proposing
joint poster 'don't vote for those who support the missiles' self-managed Europe-wide referendum.
After the European election, there is a good case for taking up the campaign against civil defence regulations. When the date of the next major national verence exer cise is known, it is possible
concerted campaign to disrupt it, along the lines of the suc. cessful Hard Rock campaign in 1982.
Another focus is the decision, decisive majority at CND passed
conference, to organise a olll demonstration against cruise and Trident with the TUC ' and Labour Party. The Trade Union CND AGM on 25 February will be discussing building support for this ai LOUS year's trace union conferences. Decline
Far from bringing about a decline, stationing the Us Euro-missiles has sparked the continuing growth of the anti-missiles movement. Activists are currently discussing how to slop cruise missies and the plethora of US bases throughout the country.
The main discussion in many CND groups at the moment is on the preparation of non-violent direct action to prevent the effective movement of cruise
of Greenham Common. Unfortunately
there iS DAuch confusion
come unstuck. its embarrassment, blocked busy Christmas traffic on the basis of a false alarm. Hopetully confusion such
this can be sorted out WILO better coordination from Goodwin Street.
Proposal
The current proposa of CND's Executive is tha the onlv maior national demonstration this year should be in October, ly on the theme of Trident. SoleThe new campaigning inLOeS in Trident
Tridshin Co Vention
Trident Manchester on February should be supported. Scotland excepted, the movement has been weak in campaigning
Britain's own dependent nuclear weapons.
However, for CND to and the us Euro-mississ drop the cruise from its major demonstra tion would be an error.
CND can grow massively in the next 12 months. Many CND gives plan their local activity ac- are beginning
cordingly. For example many local actions arounc US bases are already being planned for Easter
It remains be seen whether the CND leadership is also prepared to grasp this nettle. it musi organise bigger actions to build a larger movement in
THE DRAMATIC occupation of the control tower by Greenham women after Xmas has exposed the vulnerability of the security base.
Events over the last week have given an indication of how the police and the courts intend to respond to this; the
wallick are to be silenced through fear and repression
Anne Petit, one of the initiators of the camp, and Helen John have both been arrested since the New Year for allegedly
heimer darinded
neither anything but go down tr the base and look at th silos with friends.
was congratulating one of the sooners on keeping the control tower so secure when he for assistance. Several jeeps arrived and soon a group of seven police.
'Anne had said and done nothing when a voice called out from inside the base "arrest woman" Ann d, Helen rested and charged, explained to Socialist Action.
A similar arrest of
on New Years day. place
on New Years day. women arrested were in
New bury and the magistrate — Mr David Miller - caused uproar in the court when he refused to give two women, Ceri
Socialist Action 13 January 1984 A mushroom we don't want to find in the English countryside
Greenham-the
repression grows
Helen John Drysdale and Chery!
Slack, ume 1o pay because he wouldn' accept Greenham Common their permanent address
public gallery was required io stop the magistrate sending them prison against their will Helen and Anne are likely to sue for wrongful
5 arrest. It is clear tha: a = detence campaign nests:: be mounted within. CND and the labour movene if the right of the pea women to commuc .c--test against the weapors ci death is to be guarantee
ring 01-226 8046
Page 6 scan of this page
IT WAS MARX himself, in The Class Struggles in France, who explained how breaks up. The crisis of any social system has its origins at its centre - where it is strongest. But collapse inevitably first begins at the 'edges' - where a social system is weakest.
Marx took as his own example Bri-
advanced capitalist country world. Marx compared Britain to states such as France, Germany, and Russia.
Marx wrote, 'although the crises produce revolutions on the Continent first, they nevertheless have their roots in England. These violent convulsions
tremities of the bourgeois organism Talen alLs ncarl. possibility of restoring the balance greater.
In Marx's own lifetime the centre of the economic development capitalism in Britain. revolutions which actually broke out were in 1848 in Germany, France, and Austria, and in Paris in 1871. By the end of Marx's life huge class struggles were beginning to take place in Russia - upheavels which finally culminated in the revolutions of 1905 and 1917.
This analysis of Marx was not a chance observation either. It mirrored the break up of all previous social SOLCHIS,
Power
The slave mode of rouna is greatest expression in the Roman Empire. Slavery's economic core was in the Mediterranean world -
Greece and what is now the 'Middle East'. It was in these regions that the slave system's economic contradictions were most acute.
But the actual destruction of the slave mode of production, and of the Roman Empire, was not carried out by
the Mediterranean.
TOTEC achieved by forces on periphery — in the forests of Germany.
The strength of the slave owning ruling class was tor a long ume sullicient to maintain its power in heartlands of the Mediterranean world. But the economic decline of the slave system led to its overthrow in those border areas where it was in any case weaker.
The entire slave system Roman Empire then collapsed under the combined impact of economic decline and external assault.
Feudalism, the social system of the Middle Ages. was similarv not over-
6
The crisis deepens
Germany, social system
contained and feudalism Was
feudal regions.
cessful overthrow of capitalism,
powerful capitalist countries
France. But overthrown first in the among the imperialist powers
the
Russia.
where the
and after the with ine rirst.
But the capitalist states.
Hitler.
War Il the entire system was then thrown into crisis.
But once capitalism did not
states.
production
North Vietnam
the most
It was
slavery's
of the
internal
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
thrown first in its core areas of France,
Italy and Spain. Here the challenge to feudal rule was initially
defeated. first over town Holland and England - states which had been on the periphery of the great
The destruction of the capitalist system also did not start in its strongest centres - in the most advanced imperialist states. The First World War, the event which triggered the first suc-
was created by conflicts between the most
- which at that time were Germany, Britain and
capitalism was actually "weakest link' states.
The same process occured during
Second World War as ine events which trig gered the Second World War were due to a crisis within the most advanced
The economic collapse of 1929 in the United States led to an even greater economic catastrophe in Germany and the rise to power of the fascist regime of
With the outbreak of World world capitalist system
again the overthrow of take place in the most central and powerful imperialist
Capitalism survived the Second World War in Western Europe, Japan, and North America. But capitalism was
in the weaker capitalist states of Eastern Europe and - after the war - in China, North Korea, and
Following the Second World War a prolonged economic boom started in
advanced capitalist
IF GRENADA FALLS
AND IF ELOALIADOR FALLS
THEN NEWFOUNDLAND FALLS.
AND IF NEWFOUNDLAND FALLS
THEN SWITZERLAND FALLS T
AND IF SWITZERLAND FALLS THEN
DISNEYLAND FALL,..
AND IF DISNEYLAND FALLS
THEN CHAD FALLS...
US marines in Grenada
economies. But revolutionary explosions continued to break out in the semi-colonia countries In Cuba 1959, and Indochina in 1975, capitalist He was overowa
Today a new economic crisis has begun in the most advanced capitalist states of North America, Japan and Western Europe. the revolutionary explosions have seen in the semi-colonial world.
The process started in 1979 in Central America and the Caribbean. Now major economic and political turmoil is spreading into other states in Laur America and into countries such as the Phillipines. Major instability has begun in Pakistan and a number of African
The new capitalist crisis since 1975
What makes a
THE REASON WHY authentically revolutionary struggles break out in the 'periphery' of a social
today in the colonial countries rather than the advanced capitalist states - is not hard to discover.
revolution, including socialist revolution, is often seen simply as a huge mass struggle. Barricades, general strikes, ruling class violence and working class defence against this violence are the pictures conjured up by the world 'revolution'.
But from the Marxist point of view
politics. is following its normal and inevitable pattern. The root of the crisis, its core, is in the economic contradictions of the
advanced capitalist states.
CULC of world tions the United and Western Europe. But the actual revolutionary outbursts and crises are biggest developing most rapidly and furthest in been Central America and the 'third world'.
The process is lawful and logical. Faced with a general capitalist crisis the revolutionary explosions, words. first break out. tremities of the rather than al its neart, possibility of restoring the balance is gi caler.
Capitalism breaks weakest links.
revolutionary crisis?
such a picture is quite inadequate by itself and therefore wrong. Even the most tremendous oppression of the semi- working class, even the most heroic and prolonged struggle against it, is not sufficient to create a revolution. Indeed noting ual happens simply 10e working class is by itself sufficient to create a revolution. possible only when the ruling class also is incapable of going on in the old way.
As Lenin put it in his famous pamphlet Left Wing Communism - An Infantile Disorder: *The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions... is as follows: for a revolution it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to raise the impossibility of living in the old way; for a revolution to take place it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the lower classes' do not want to live in the old way and the 'upper classes' cannot carry on in the old way that the revolution can triumph.
This is the reason why, for example, revolutions have so often broken out in countries defeated in war. In war
for example the First or Second World Wars — the capitalist classes are themselves forced to attack and weaken each other. The crisis produced in the ruling class by the war then combines with rising working class discontent to produce revolution. This was the pattern for example in Russia in 1905 and 1917.
A similar example to Russia, on a lesser scale, 1974. The Portuguese dictatorship of
IN THE
SINCE 1975 the advanced capitalist countries have been gripped by the deepest economic crisis since the 1930s. But the biggest revolutionary explosions have taken place in the third world. JOHN ROSS looks at the forces behind this development and how it is explained by a Marxist analysis of world
economic contradicStates, Japan
in Marx's at the exbourgeois organism where lit
first at Its Salazar and
A revolution For was seen in Portugal in 'events'
Caetano was gradually worn down by the long wars against national liberation movements in Angela, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. The Portuguese dictatorship was then overthrown by an internal military coup and the Portuguese ruling class fell into acute crisis throughout 1974 and most
More recently - - and again on a lesser scale so far - a similar proces has taken place in Argentina. The Argentinian military dictatorship was shattered by the war with Britain waged over the Malvinas. This released the ris ing social tensions inside the country and Argentine has been plunged into increasing political turmoil. duces a crisis in the ruling class. It may be simply that a political regime has lasted too long and has become ill suited to the needs of capitalism itself.
example in France a major cause of the general strike of May/June 1968 was that the personal rule of de Gaulle had lasted too long not simply Tor une working class out also for unl needs of the French ruling class. De Gaulle had already been challenged by sections of French capitalism in the elections of 1965. Then by 1968 his entire regime had become intolerable to the working class and was rocked to its foundations by the student riots and the general strike that followed.
Even although de Gaulle won the elections which followed the May/June
as capitalism did not wish a
Page 7 scan of this page
government to be brought down by a mass movement nevertheless Gaulle himself fell from office only a year later. He was defeated by the French ruling class over minor internal reforms. drawn out Gaullist regime however had by then produced the crisis and explosion of 1968.
similar developed during the early 1970s with the crisis of the dictatorship of Franco. The Franco dictatorship was originally established after the civil 1936-39. By the 1970s it had become unacceptable not only to the working class but also to significant sections of the Spanish ruling cass. wanted to pursue 'modernising' jects such as entering the EEC which the dictatorship made impossible.
The early 1970s therefore saw huge social and political discontent in Spain which only calmed down with the introduction of a form of parliamentary democracy after Franco's death.
even Lenin's point that a true revolutionary crisis cannot develop simply because seething discontent and struggle has developed in the working class. It is also necessary for revoramon unatte ruling class should be thrown into acute crisis.
For a revolution it is not sufficient that the working class should refuse to be ruled in the old way. it is also necessary that the ruling class should be incapable of ruling as before.
OSION.
THIRD
NORLD
capitalist crisis break out in
why the
states.
capitalist states
World War,
Japan, the ruling
classes in the
de The ruling classes States, Japan,
relatively The long
the entire world. capitalist colonial states situation
war of Classes.
The WELCH pro- class itselt
North America, Japan,
confirm
fects of the crisis.
WORKERS countries have
imperialist country.
THE FACT that socialist revolution depends not just on the situation of the working class, but also on the strength of the ruling class, explains why the first advanced revolutionary struggles during
the semi-colonial countries. It is also
first revolutionary victories occur in the 'third world'
The working class in the advanced
is fully capable of revolutionary activity. In the 20th century alone the aftermath of the First
Spain in the 1930s, and manv countries in Europe during the armed resistance to Nazi rule saw genuinely revolutionary struggles. But in Western Europe, North America, and
classes are measurably stronger than those which existed in Eastern Europe or which exst une sen-colona stales today
The different strengths of the ruling different types capitalist states is in fact an inevitable product of the imperialist system itself.
of the United and Western Europe draw for their resources and power not leaders. simply on the exploitation of the working class of their own countries but also of the working class and oppressed of
classes of semisuch as Argentina, Brazil, the Phillipines, or El Salvador — are in contrast only able to live from the exploitation of their own working
these colonial countries are themselves sub- than ject to pillage by imperialism - a fact which destabilises them and weakens the development of the local ruling
It is also in the semi-colonial coun LOH. tries that the most extreme expressions of the international economic crisis are experienced. The capitalist classes of
For Western Europe, in contrast to the Phillipines or E Salvador are able to use their imperialist position to defend their states against some of the most extreme et-
place.
Thus for example the real wages of advanced capitalist Cuba fallen, most, by perhaps four or five per cent in any year since 1975. But in a country such as Peru real wages in 1982 fell by twenty power five per cent in a single year - and this from a far lower level than exists in any
Even within the semi-colonial coun-
Capitalism in decline
tries the ruling classes have differing degrees of strength. The ruling class of Brazil, for example, is subjected to imperialism. But the Brazilian ruling class nevertheless has major economic assets and resources of its own
The ruling class of a country such as Nicaragua under Somoza, in contrast, was dominated primarily by a single corrupt family utterly dependent on imperialist backing.
Victorious
It is for this reason that revolutions, even within me semi-colontal stales have been victorious first in those countries with the weakest ruling classes of all - for example in Indochina or the countries of the Caribbean and Central Alicica rather than in the more developed states of Latin America
This development of victories of the world struggle for socialism most easily through the 'weak links' of capitalist system greater difficulties of victory in the advanced capitalist countries tact one of the chief lessons drawn from the Russian Revolution by
The reason the socialist revolution broke out first in Russia was not that the working class Russia was stronger than in more advanced capitalist states - on the contrary it was weaker than in a country such as Germany, Britain or the United States.
The reason that the revolution broke out first in Russia was that the Russian ruling class was far weaker
that the more advanced capitalist states.
As Lenin wrote in April 1918, 'a backward country can easily because its adversary has become rot-
because its bourgeoisie ..It will be different orcallscu Western Europe; there it will be immeasurably more difficult to begin. Culture
In fact a contradictory process takes
The fact that states such as Russia — and later China, Vietnam, or
were far more backward economically, with far weaker ruling classes, than in the advanced capitalist states made it far easier to conquer
tere lan in the advancea capitalist countries.
But at the same time such economic backwardness made the actual building of socialism far more difficult.
economic backwardness of Russia produced not only the Russian revolution
bases of Stalinism.
In the advanced capitalist countries the tremendous problems of poverty and bureaucratism which were faced in Russia or China after their revolutions would not be encountered. But at the same time the fact that Germany, the United States, Britain, or Japan have far stronger ruling classes than in the semi-colonial countries makes the ac tual conquest of power by the working class immeasurably harder.
As Lenin put it in June 1918, "The whole difficulty of the Russian revolution is that it was much easier for the Russian revolutionary working class to start than it is for the West European classes, but is is much more difficult for us to continue. It is much more difficult to start a revolution in West European Countries because tionary proletariat is opposed by the the higher thinking that culture, and the working class is in a state of cultural slavery. was in Conquest its
Again in December 1919, in Lenin's words, 'we have seen for ouselves that the revolution's development in more advanced countries has proved to be SOWCE considerably more complicated. This
not surprise naturally easier for a country such as Russia to start a socialist revolution that it is for the advanced countries.'
These views of Lenin were also explained by Trotsky - and by the Commumist internanonal In Its carly revolu begin tionary period.
is not As Trotsky put it, 'the conquest of power by the proletariat in countries which have entered capitalism very late in the day, like our country (Russia), is easier than in coununes with an history and a higher level of culture.?
Thus for example in regard to the United States, "This is the most important difference between the proletarian revolution as it occurred in Russia and the revolution which will occur, say, in America. In that country, prior to the conquest of power, the working class will have to surmount the most colossal difficulties but once it has conquered power, the pressure on those fronts on which we were compelled to fight will The be tar less.
Similarly
helped create many of the
it was for us.
capitalist world Crisis
there the revolu-
comes with states -difficult, The greatest
for it was
which is the path of
extensive bourgeois
dividual
an immense
avalon
years to come
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
Muslim militiaman in Beirut
Britain, 'for • the British working class to break through to real proletarian power, to dictatorship, will be incomparably harder than
This difference between the situation in the imperialist countries and in the semi-colonial states determines the development of revolution within the
The possibilities for actually constructing a socialist society, and for socialist democracy jectively greatest in the most advanced capitalist countries. But here the enormous power of the imperialist ruling classes makes the conquest of power by the worling class far harder than in a number of semi-colonial countries.
In contrast tremendous difficulties are faced by the working class after it has taken power in the semi-colonial
as has been seen in China, Cuba and Vietnam. But the working class of a number of these countries has a real possibly to lake powel — as cal be seen in Central America at present. This possibility does not exist in the imperialist states today.
The development of the capitalist economic crisis since 1975 is therefore coherent and logical in its effects. Its centre is in the great imperialist states
explosions it produces however are in the semi-colonial states
There is a crisis in Wall Street but it is the Samoza regime in Nicaragua
overthrown Detroit and American industry are in recession and therefore there is a coup in Nigeria and rioting in Tunisia
As the crisis of the world capitalist economy deepens even more extreme explosions will develop in the semi-colonial countries. At a later phase they will also begin to take place in the more developed capitalist states.
This process of world politics is not random or incoherent. It reflects the fact that world capitalism is not made up of independent states. It is the struc ture of world economics and world politics which dominates over every in-
Count within it. World capitalism exists as an enormous reality with its own structure and logic.
That structure today is producing
mounting crisis in the 'third world'. This is what we see on our television screens every night in the pictures coming from Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Tunisia. It is going to deepen in the
Page 8 scan of this page
8 I WANT to challenge your reporting of the TUC's abandonment of the NGA.
Your front page (SA so escapes ne events as the greatest defeat of We trade union movement for fifty years. There should be no illusions on that'. I think you have illusions and what happened in Bristol in the NGA dispute is the reality vour illusion obscures.
In the week after the bloody mass picket, and before the TUC decision, we organised and built in
IJKLETTERSTU'
IJKIMNOPQRST
DIARY
finese usuines are tree tor au major labour movement and campaign activities up to
display advertisements cost Sp per word and must be paid
cevunce Send to: Diary. Socialist Action, 328 Upper Sireet, London NI 2XP 10
later than Thursday, one week prior to rublication).
International
• The Politics of Health in Zimbabwe Hour long video
: incions. tiv (payable In
Send to Books for South a drile. Africa Fund, PO Box •. London NI
Sri Lankan Research &
provide speakers on the current situation there for
an Buildings, London EC1. • No Intervention in Let america (NILA) IS a broad based coalition of
vidarity groups, human
ACTION Sochise
Join the
fight for
socialism
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
NGA - biggest defeat for 50 years?
SMAS
Many workers supported the NGA on pickets and lobbies
five days an NGA support rally through the Labour Parties and trade unions. This drew 400 people
On the Wednesday of the TUC decision, the TGWU 3/111 branch, with 30 to 40 people present, passed without opposition a resolution condemning the TUC's 'traitorous role' It layed out a pan to nold a special meeting to discuss any action, when or if the NGA calls for it.
The rally showed that there was massive
KLMNOPQRSTU'
political parties. More details irom NICA 20/21 Compton Terrace, London N1 01-226 0/4/. • From War in the Third World to the Third World War new pamphlet
Solidarity Campaign, 50p.
Order from EL SSOC, 29 Islington Park St, London N1 01-359 3976. ELSSOC have also produced a 1984 calendar showing scenes
zones, f3 from same address. • Advertisemen
For a Reagan-free Caribbean Reagan Free Caribbean badges in yellow, black and red. 25p each (plus ostage); bulk orders 20p to PO Box 36, 136 Kingsland High St London E8. Cheques/POs payable to Hackney Book Club.
Name
Address
• Tel
Age Union/CLP (if any)
If you want more information about Socialist Action or to be put in touch with local supporters send this form to Socialist Action,
328 Upper Street,| London N1.
combative support for the lead the NGA had given. In this respect your criticism of the NGA leadership was the wrong empiasis al lne wrong
Our branch meeting showed that there was no sense of qualitative defeat of the working class, in the working class itself
There was anger yes but what was most noticeable was that the branch as a whole, left and right, attacked Murray - we recognised that our closed shop and lving Standards were On the line.
What's more we were not fatalistic about the possibility of winning.
Targreatest defeat for 50.
That would be a qualitative defeat, which broke the combativity of the working classy That's
•cen ra A merce anone Caribbean A series of open educationals with videos and socakers al recknam Labou Club, Lansbury House, 41 Camberwell Grove, London
Jan El Salvador; 31 Jan Grenada; 7 Feb Evening of central AncI Cullure Admission tubay tree Organised by Sth London Central American rrou
ontact Edwin 01-733.770 for details. • Guatemala benefit with new film about Guatemala and an eye-witness report from Nicaragua by Stanley
Rio Cinema Dalson. Thur 26 January, 7pm. • Trade Unionists from El Salvador Trade Union leaders from El Salvador will speak at a rally with Arthur Scargill. Tonv Benn. Ken Cameron, Fire Brigades union general secretary and a representalive or ine NGA. Mon 23 January, 1.30, County Hall, London.
25 Years of the Cuban Revolution • Celebration with Cuban AirDassauor. hill. Tood. music. 2.30-11.30pm, Africa Centre, King Street, Covent Garden. London. Sat 14
• Britain-Cuba Resource Centre Information about
not the story of the NGA dispute. Not only did the rank and file turn massively behind the NGA, broad sections of the bureaucracy were forced to do so too
Hundreds of thousands of workers now understand more
clearly the part Murra! the working clasy against and the TUC
The fact that Murray had to use his whole authority in the way he did showed that he could not fudge a compromise. His coming out as so open a saboteur shows the increasing polarisation of the classes.
That is the real underlying process at
JOHN Mathieson (SA 37) may not like Bob Pennington's version of the history of the Communist Party, but there is a considerable body of evidence to support what the article says.
It is no accident that Klugman's official history of the CP in Britain ends at 1926 because they have been unable to produce a credible account of their subsequent behaviour.
No doubt the rank and file were sincere,
sacrificing members of
working class. But Pollit, Gallagher and their like knew exacth what was going on — see for example JR Campbell's Soviet Policy and its Critics (Left Book
London 328 Upper St. London N1
telephone 01-226 0571
Open - Mon, Tues, Sat, 10-6 Wed 12-7
Thur, Fri, 11-7.
Birmingham 137 Digbeth Birmingham B5
telephone (021) 643-5904
Open — Mon-Sat 10-6 Closed Wed.
Mail Order Service - Add 20% for P&P
activities, subs to Granma week v review and newsletters from 29 Islington
: St, London N1.
Womens study tour of Cuba 4-20 April, information from BCRC, 29 Islington Park St, London NI.
Yiddish lessons. Learn
the language of the
Jewish labour
movement. Beginner and intermediate classes
commence weekly in
January, Central London. Teacher, Barry Smerin, organised by the
Jewish Socialist Group
cultural and anti-fascist
project. Further details from JCARP, Southbank
House, Black Prince
Road, London SE1.
Ireland • Day school on Ireland Sat
8 January, 11am
Chetwynd Room , Kings College, Cambridge.
work The NGA dispute
gain
Socialist Action's role should have been to organise its leaders to explain the lessons of that setback, in the context of modius ne tunne support for a 24 hour genera sunke or a recal TUC and so on
I hope you will alter a line that bears little relation to the thoughts or needs of worker militants • or 'at least explain why you come to conclusions that have escaped the rest of us.
MIKE EAUDE, trade union liaison officer, Bristol East Labour Party.
CP history, which version?
Club 1939).
They defended mass murder and slander,
declared that a vote for Fenner Brockway was a vote for Hitler.
Was this 'carrying the inner oran socialism' as Mathieson allege claims that he never met a Trotskyist. But if he was in the CP he wouldn't. The policy was to 'treat a Trotskyist as you would a nazi' see Clear out Hitler's Agents! by William Wainwright in 1942
Odd that so much warning had to be given about almost non-existent people!
RHONA BADHAM, East Ham, London.
For Marxist
books, posters,
postcards, badges
Feminist literature
, Advertisement Organised by Cambridge and Norwich Iroops Vul Movement. Creche available. • Day School on Ireland county nal. LOndOn Lo Jan. Organised by Labour Committee on Ireland. Agenda: Republicanism and socialism; Republicanism and feminism; Irish and . Drusn trade uniol movements; British Labour Party. Open to LP and LCI members. 10.30am-5pm Tickets at £1 from LCI, Box 42, 136 Kingsland High Road, London E8
Lesbian & Gay Liberation
Campaign for Gay Rights meets monthly . Next meeting lo Jall. ooll Salutation Inn, Maid Marion way. Delalls. Chris Richardson, 21 Devonshire Promenade,
London Labour Campaign for Gay Rights new ounce du Chippenham Rd, W9 2AH
01-286 9692, open Tues-Thur
11am-7pm. (V Grove tube. Bad access, help available). • Labour Movement Despais is a nc
gratulations.
to the new year!
all our readers who chipped in.
lan Parker
East L
South East London
Nottingham
Batti 57.50
organisation of lesbians in the labour movement to support each other and organise initiatives on issue
meeting 28 Jan, , A Woman's Place, Hungerford House
London WC2, 2pm Further information from Sarah c/o
Hungerford House, Victoria Embk, London WC2. Civil Rights • Campaign against the Police Bill National march and rally Sat 21 Jan, Brockwell Park. London Details of these and other events from NCAPB Keclory • Rd. London N1f 01-249 8334
• Brixton Campaign Against the Police Bill pre
,. Fri 20 Jall, place. brixon ril. Lonao. SW2. Speakers include George Jerrom NGA Paul Boetang GLC, Ted Knight, Newnam & Campaign GMBATU, NUPE Nationa Police Bill Campaign, Kelanives tor Jusuce (Ireland).
Stop the Police Bill Hounslow public meeting, 19 Jan, 7.30pm, Town Hall Treaty Rd oDeaker suresn crove (Chair National Campaign against Police Bill). . For details of local transport to demonstranon on ai Jal phone Hilary Driver 01 560
a leading member of us, elSalve or
Diary
Write to us!
This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even con-
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) Fund Drive: Good start
WE ASKED you to scrape together a little extra for the Xmas break and we certainly got it. Thanks to
bedal dinoladies 100.00
200 8888 100
385888883
is dinne 10.00
2OC 88
£9009.51
New pamphlet: Politics in the 1980's - The British Crisis.
Articles reprinted from Socialist Action and International -John Ross, British politics in the 1980's; Alan Freeman, How Labour Can Win; Steve Marks, Ine 1983 Election; John Ross, Facing 1984; Alan Freeman, Rebuilding the Labour Party.
Available from The Other Bookshop, 328 Upper St, London N1, price 35p.
Anti-cuts campaigns • London neal bery ci Campaign. Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ 01-249
• Hayes Cottage Hospital cca balion vulce, uralle Ra, Hayes, Middx 01-573 5593.
Miscellaneous • GLC workshops Employment and training for the future. 26 Jan Greater • London Training Board: 9 Feb Greate …oncon enternrise boaro 23 Feb Cooperatives. Black Women's Centre Brixton, London, SW9, 7-9.30 pm. 4 A stockwel • Ureel
RALLY COME AND HEAR LEADING TRADE UNIONISTS
FROM EL SALVADOR Edgardo Ortiz Ade thin ederate cutive member Juan Jose Varga! a leading member or the grapnica workers uriol Arthur Scargill
Ken Camero:
FBU General Secretary Tony benn
Speakers invited from the executives of NUPE and NGA
Monday 23rd January 7.30pm
County Hall (near Waterloo Station) London
Organised by the El Salvador Solidarity Campaigl
Page 9 scan of this page
The American spy-plane
Surplus Value
statement of 6 September of this year, documentary presented at the press conference held by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, as well as the testimonies of numerous foreign specialists have revealed pletely and reliably the true aims behind the military-political provocation committed by the special services of the United States of America in the Soviet Far East on the night of 1 September 1983 ...
We shall not repeat the evident facts that are already well known and have been published in the press. At present, new data is coming to light, which provides additional that the south Korean plane was not only fulfilling an intelligence assignment but represented just one link in
overall system of large scale intelligence operations. These were carried out on 31 August - 1 September with the use of a number of intelligence svstems over an area trom Soviet Chukotoka to the Primorye Territory.
Here are some of the additional tacts that have recently known.
Firstly, it has become established beyond any doubt that the Boeing 747 of the South Korean Air Lines had taken off from Anchorage in Alaska, where there is a stop-over airfield, 40 minutes behind schedule
An airlines representative explained the delay by 'the need for an additional checking of the equipment', although no malfunction had been found. Delay
But another fact has now come to light. That delay was needed in order to svnchronise the plane's approach to the shores of Kamchatka wakenelo with LNe American reconaissance Ferret-D.
This satellite designed radiotechnical reconaissance broad range of frequencies GOve radioelectronic The satellite is capable of detecting such installations within a strip or land about 3,000 kilometres wide. Its orbital period Is 96 minutes.
As can be seen from the diagram, on the night of 1 September the Ferret satellite appeared over 18 hours 45 minutes Moscow time, and tor about 12 minutes flew east of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands.
reconnaissance satellite
data
comevidence become onboard Chukotka and Kamchatka and determine their exact location level of activity satellite stage flight. for On its next see me vener used bu installations.
into Soviet
Chukotka at South Korean
strategic installations Uall Peninsula. 1500 km 1500km Path of the South Korean plane as it crossed the orbit of US Ferret
United States Secretary of State
George Shultz announced that the
Soviet Union had shot down a
South Korean airliner over the
the methods of US administra-
tions there was only one logical
airliner manufactured by the US,
On that circuit, the satellite had the opportunity, immediately before the intrusion into Soviet air space by the South Korean plane, to monitor
Novel the Soviet radioelectronic systems on
and to the and - thus assuring the or lne intruaer plane's
orbit the Ferret ove the soviel Union at 20 hours and 24 minutes. At 20 hours 30 minutes Moscow time on 31 August. preciselv at the moment of the intrusion of the trespasser plane
space, the Ferret-D satellite was over the area of Kamchatka. At that moment the second stage had begun of the flight of the
plane over Soviet and into the of. the Kamchatka of the Feet Cover:
Alaska
doubt
by
OCEAN
and owned by one of the United
course' over one of the most sensitive military areas of the USSR for iwo and a hall hours 'by ac-
organised or agreed to this flight and its 'error'. The reasons for this would eventual!
OREAN AIR LINES
It was only natural that the violation of the USSR's air border had Soried raiband radiatechnical
radio radiotechnical defence systems - which was what
organisers of the flight All this exceptional Countcu
radioelectronic activity was registered
by the Ferret spy satellite. At the same time the satellite could also monitor the work of the Soviet radiotechnical defence systems on Sakhalin Kuril Islands.
Finally, a new circuit of the Ferret satellite coincided with absolute accuracy with the last, third stage of the Boeing 747s flight over Sakhalin.
ence oare entered the USSR's air space in the Sakhalin at 22 hours 05 minutes Moscow time. The Ferret satellite appeared at 22 hours 04 minutes over an area of Yakutsk, and at 22 hours 07 minutes reached the latitude of the northern part of Sakhalin Island. At that time, as was to be expected, the Ferret satellite monitored the work of all the Soviet Union's newly alerted air defence radiotechnical systems on Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and the Primorye Territory.
No 'accident' can be used to explain such an accurate and repeated coincidence of the flight of the plane violating Soviet air space will une
flight of the spy satellite. There is no
that the moment of penetration by the intruder plane into Soviet air space had been carefully planned in advance so as to assure the
maximum gathering of information
the US Ferret reconaissance satellite. The Boeing was delayed at the Anchorage airfield precisely order to achieve this result.
Secondly, throughout its
tion, the flight of the South Korean intruder plane was carried out in the working area of the US Loran-S radio navigation system. This is capable of determining the true coordinates of a plane with high accuracy and at any moment.
This fact is being carefully concealed by the United States. Attempts are being made to prove that the main trouble was the accidental programming of incorrect flight coordinates into
has already been
West on the South Korean front ne
are printing here the official Soviet
account of the events.
pecause incre a a scueral any casi
Io believe accounts of events given by
nesolle government.
case the facts given are irrefutable.
The following article appeared in
the journal international
P. Kirsanov and has been edited by
Socialist Action.
the plane's onboard computer. It is not being revealed however, that such steady deviation course could occur only if the error had been committed not once, but on had at least 7 control points on the route.
It is clear that this is impossible and is totally ruled out as an explanation. And even if such an event did occur, it was only had been introduced quite conscious. and ly and deliberately by
prepared and telligence flight.
of the
Secretary of State George Shultz The same conclusion also follows from a study conducted by specialists of the national civil aviation authority of Britain. in nounced on British television on 14
September That dura- stated that the whole flight had been
modelled with the use of a computer and a flight simulator of a Boeing 747. Twenty seven variants of the flight had been examined.
The findings of the study revealed the absolute impossibility of such a large deviation of the plane from the set route occurring both in the case of malfunctions in the navigation system or of an incorrect programming of the flight assessment in the plane's computer. It was also stressed that the
Socialist Action 13 January 1984 produced in the
This is not
But in
Affuirs bi plane
the plane These
As lt
handed.
alca besides the RC Japan.
E-3A
tion of Soviet al
In short, September telligence
from the true
in Hawaii, and, because the 'error'
those who organised the System
possible
stallations Sakhalin
When
'strange'
members. people? specialists Their findings were an-
television report
meaning statements
others.
place in this
crew commander, using the onboard radar, could immediately find out the plane's deviation from the route by comparing the terrain with the map.
All the actions of the Boeing 747 confirm that at all times it was under perfect control. Only this can explain its manoeuvering along the route in terms of its speed and altitude. The
crew saw the warning manoeuvres of the Soviet air defence planes and tried to evade them although they realised that this ran the risk of weapons being used agains
actions convincingly demonstrate that the plane was com plying with orders from the ground
had specialised intelligence equipment on board it did not, of course, wish to land on a Soviet air field since it would be caught red
Thirdly, prior to and during the violation by the South Korean plane of Soviet air space, there were in the
of its operations other planes 135 reconnaissance plane whose presence has been admitted earlier. Another RC 135 was flying along the Kuril Islands, an Orion plane was over the Sea of Okhotsk north of Sakhalin, and a second plane of the same type was over the Sea of
The US frigate Badger was on duty in the area of Vladivostok. There is also convincing evidence showing that
(ĂWACS) plane was operating in the area where the viola
space had occured monitoring the flight of both the in. truder plane and our fighters.
from 31 August to there was a whole incomplex deployed and functioning in the Soviet Far East which included: a Boeing 747 equipped with appropriate radiotechnical intelligence systems; several specialised reconnaissance planes; a number of US naval ships; the ground track ing stations on the Aleutian Islands,
Japan and South Korea; finally the electronic reconnaissance satellite Ferret.
All these systems were aimed at obtaining as complete information as
on the Soviet air defence system in the Far East - especially in the areas of important strategic in-
on Kamchatka and as well as on the in. dividual installations themselves
these realities are understood then other, at first glance
facts, also come to light. The normal crew of a Boeing 747, in cluding flight attendants, is up to 18 people. In this case there were 29 crew
Who were these extra 11 Of Cuise they were servicing reconnaissanci equipment installed on the plane.
And finally the pilot of the plane was South Korean Air Force (reserve) Colonel Chan Ben. Chan Ben is one of South Korean airlines most perienced pilots, who has a reputation as the best pilot of the airline and is known for his links to US intelligence.
No secret is made of the collaboration with the US special services of the second pilot of the plane South Korean Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (reserve) Son Don Win.
Against this overall backdrop of facts it is not difficult to see the real
of the hypocritical made by Reagan, Weinberger, Schultz, Kirkpatrick and
There is a wel known phrase which immediately puts everything in
mystenous occurence Who profits? One only has to ask this question to make it clear whose interests were served by creating this 'incident' and who wished to benefit
Page 10 scan of this page
The Lebanese crisis and the PLO
10 The aftermath of the Israeli invasion and the split in the PLO have caused a debate among the solidarity movement in Europe. following article is a greatly abbreviated version of talk given by a militant of the Revolutionary Communist Group of Lebanon. The editing is by Socialist Action.
THE ISRAELI offensive in 1982
crushing the PLO militarily. But it's becoming very clear that the Israelis' boast that this had been
partial destruction of the PLO was achieved. The best proof of
resistance is playing a leading role in the fighting against the Israeli
That's why the Israelis are now carrying out air raids against the Abu Musa-led PLO 'dissidents'
Lebanese mountain area.
achieve was to remove from the PLO
Lebanon and West Beirut
various Arab countries is symbolic of SELLOIS
As far as the Lebanese left is concerned we have to differentiate between the anti-imperialist currents like the Nasserists and Communists, the bourgeois currents like the Druze
The latter are not anti-imperialist at all. The former were disarmed by the sraels. But the bourgeois cur
• for example Jumblatt's PSP
Sections of the PLO in the parts of Lebanon not occupied by the Israelis, and those tighters who returned from exile to the Bek'aa valley, are still in a
under much tighter control by the
have ought against
Iliary force. But their main role has been in the resistance to the Israeli occupanon In lne soull.
The problem of the Lebanese left is not just a military one but a political
to the Syrians and the PLO, which in the last lew vears aevelopea as an elitist military force, not relying on
LAST WEEK'S MILITARY coup in Nigeria overthrew the civilian government of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The coup has been given a warm response by Western capitalist powers. hoping that the Mohammed Buhari, will be able to provide order and stability to sort out the economic chaos which
product of the deepening
However Nigeria, like
rever les.
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
big
The
the gradual loss of mass support of
develop the mass movement, as opposed to relying on an alliancelwith the Palestinians and the Syrians, who
reDress ve has allowed the growth of the Shi'ite Islamic confessionalist groups. This is
Amal is not, as it is often described, an Islamic fundamentalist group - its demand is not for an Islamic state, as in Iran. They just want a bigger say for the Shi'ite bourgeoisie in the state apparatus, a bigger slice of The Shi'ite population, beboules was always a lilall
has been gravely weakened.
The Israelis put in Bashir Gemayel
leader of the 'Lebanese Forces' — the Christian Maronite militias which had some autonomy from the Phalange party. Bashir Gemayel's fascist militia had always been allied to the Israelis. But Bashir was soon assassinated, and he was replaced by his brother
Nigeria coup: product of third world crisis
that
ternates o
souandered in massive cor. Darks.
has been as "doned half
lustiales
LOCOLS. towards ‚wille Ine ente prospered The irony of the situation
aule the didn't benefit greatly from
class, even of a reformist
bourgeoisie, linked to big business in-
The economic interests of the
Arab world and the West. In other words they couldn't contemplate a simple alliance with Israel, to the exclusion of links with the Arab world.
and the United States, which brought the Phalangists into conflict with the Israelis. It started in a very bitter way in a row about who was responsible for the massacre of the Palestinians in
Gemayel the Israelis seem to have given up supporting a centralised state
course this is still the objective of the United States and the multinational force which has as its open objective the defence of the Gemayel govern-
leadership is one of further and furtner concessions to negoulated soil tions — a West Bank mini-state — as Palestine. It is now very far from its
begun. When the price of Connelle
lilasses nature has emerged. Until
organisation of the PLO. It included all sorts of political currents from ultra-rightist currents to even revolu-
nent political struggle between these different currents. But they could all remain in the same organisation as long as it was engaging in the military fight against Zionism. whatever its
invasion of Lebanon in 1982. first time there appeared to be a real possibility for a Palestinian involvement in a negotiated settlement. First there was the Reagan plan which call-
West Bank under Jordanian control.
opted or framework
Hussein's call, complementary to the
this proposal in 1972 time everyone in the PLO rejected it, denouncing it as a reactionary plot to eliminate and defeat the Palestinain
Arafat went to Amman for talks with Soldiers in the streets of Lagos after the coup
International Hussein. So the position of the radical nationalist wing of the PLO was to denounce these manoeuvres by Arafat. This is even easier to understand when you remember that people like Abu Musa and his original groups were composed of people who had been army personnel in the Jordanian army up until 1970 and who had left the Jordanian army to link up with the PLO during 'Black September'. Il was inconceivable for them to accept a Palestinain mini-state under Jordanian control
The Syrians were also opposed to Arafat's course because they saw it as
Palestinians and Jordanians but excluding them. In view of all this op position Arafat could not go forward,
understood that to go further in that direction of a deal with Jordan and the US, he had to break the opposi-
Conflict
deliberately provoked a conflict with the dissidents by appointing deserters to the key leadership positions of the fighters and ordered the dissident leaders to go to Tunisia.
After twelve years ot courageous even against the Syrians in 1976 which
Musa were prepared to go and rejected the new appointments. The fighting started by
dissidents. The Syrians at first were neutral, but quickly saw their opportunity to support the dissidents with the possibility of bringing the PLO
• as a to
is for the fighters to stay in Lebanon. Arafat is no longer interested in hav-
wants to rely on his support among
the Wes Bank to carry forward his diplomatic
dissidents should be supported — for a democratic conference of Fateh, for no capitulation, for the fighters to re main in Lebanon. But there can be no support whatever for their disastrous alliance with the Syrians, which will prevent them playing any indepen dent role and which Arafat has used very effectively to discredit them.
In the recent fighting in northern Lebanon neither side could be sup bourgeois leadership which is objec struggle of the Palestinian masses. On
despite themselves, acting under the control of the Syrians. Neither side
Page 11 scan of this page
In the Unions
COLIN BARNETT, secretary of the North West TUC has put out a strong call for the trade union movement to support the demonstration in support of the NGA
Writing in a personal Herald he said, "Thousands should turn out to take part in the demonstration to support the National Graphical Association, called for January 28 in Warrington.
'The North West TUC, which has organised the march. has taken the view that we are there to help trade unions in struggle.
"That is why we want
demonstration to be muen oigger even than te one that took place
when 3.000 trade unionists rallied to show their support for the NGA.
Barnett added, 'It vital that the issues trade union principle involved in the dispute bet-
Messenger Group owner Eddie Shah and the NGA are not lost sight of.
Any wade umon, tin. ding itself in difficulties alu help, should find the whole movement ready, able and willing to come to their
Birmingham Trades
Council resolution
Birmingham Trades
Council deplores the ac-
par-
ticularly the General
secretary, for not giving
full support to the NGA
its dispute. Birm-
ingham notes Council
gives full support to the
NGA and calls upon the
TUC to:
• Reverse its decision
immediately
Honour the decisions
of the 1982 Wembley
special conference LAND ROVER workers are incensed by BL's worst ever pay offer of three per cent. By a majority of two to one, the 8500 Rover workers meeting to strike from Friday 13 January.
Management claims that the deal is worth f12 a week. But the unions point out that this includes con-
bonuses already earned and that the real increase amounts to only f3.
The biggest vote for a strike was at the Solihull plant Birmingham,
Rally to
support
the NGA
organised for 28 January
capacity for Labour
of trade unionists
assistance..
in the tramework of
within the framework the Gees ons the Wembley conference of 1982
'In fact, the Wembley decisions are even harder than the action we are proposing.
Union
'And it is the responsibility of all the individual union Henders who make
the TUC General Council think
assiss a theon goin has
ass SI UNFOL unal always been very generous for its support ior others in their struggles.
Barnett finished by explaining what should be • Support all fights against anti-union legislation and employers using legislation
• Recognise that breaking designed destroy unions
Birmingham Trades Council urges all
to send similar resolutions to their nationa ex. ecutives. Passed unanimously.
Rover workers prepare for strike
voted at a mass
where 4774 voted for strike action, with only 381 against.
By Celia Pugh
But in smaller Blants threatened with closure the vote did not go so well.
have announced the
the response of the movement to anti-union laws.
It is absolutely nigal unal the labour and trade union movemenl SHOUIC tight this dispute right through LO LIC CHu
"That means we must
prepared defy with all the consequences that will arise unjust laws
"The history
Warrington....
NGA on the line'
AN ELEVEN-minute
VHS video tape called
'Warrington ... NGA
on the line' has been
produced about the
dispute the
Stockport Messenger
Newspaper group.
Made by members of
the TGWU ACTT, i Actores incidents of
it features incidents
last years mass picketting
giving the trade
opposed to that put out
Dy lie medla
It includes rank and
file eve-witness accounts
of the actions of the riot NGA March and Rally
Saturday 28 January
Coop Hall, Winwich Road
supported by NW Region TUC closure of smaller plants in Birmingham and the gearbox plant in Cardiff, with the loss of 1500 jobs. The work will be transferred to Solihull. In Cardiff only 25 workers accepted the stewards recommendation
strike against une pay offer, with 400 against.
be a firmer lead against
from national union officials, to achieve
vital unity against BL.
With no plan action
NGA pickets trade union movement has been one of struggle against unjust laws. The present NGA dispute part of that continuing history.
WHo Is BOl aware of the lessons of that history, that we mus stand up to unjust laws, is doing both themselves and the entire trade- union movement a grave disservice. police interviews with NGA officials immediately after the police had destroyed their communicatons van.
Copies of the tape are avallaDie from Merseyside Trade
Communily and Unemployed Resource Centre, Hardman Street Liverpool for €5 deposit. The deposit will be refunded when the tape is returned on the agreed date.
Telephone 051-709 3995 for details.
The tape is available for
SHOWERY union, Labour Party and solidarity meetings. Warrington
assemble Ipm from union leaders, smaller plants reluctant to follow the Solihull lead for strike action on pay.
Victory and solidaritty for the Rover strikers could be the blow needs 10 force a retreat TrOM tacks on jobs, union rights anu colons would be a welcome challenge to the weak kneed inaction of the union leadership.
UNION negotiators from the Confederation
pay offer.
tices.
With some small concessions — like talks over the timing of this so called 'survival plan and the backdating of the pay deal
November union negotiators Tael BS blackmail about national strike leading to yard closures
Yard closures and massive redundancies are already planned by Bs and the deal signed last week Knocks nume notes shop floor organisation and unity needed to fight
ONE HUNDRED and thirty workers at the Philips Rubber Company in Manchester have been on strike since 3 January to improve the company's four per cent pay offer.
Basic pay for process workers, most of whom are women, now stands at f48 a week.
The workers all members of the Transpor Union, are demanding £75
week for millers and
Overus for process workers
TGWU full time of-
Socialist Action 13 January 1984
Sell out in
the shipyards
of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions have sold out the 60,000 shipyard workers who voted in their vast majority to strike against the British Shipbuilders'
In November, mass meetings of workers rejected the 2 per cent BS offer which was tied up with redundancies, privatisation and changes in working prac-
This isn't the first time that national union leaders have fallen this
cessions to British Shipbullders to save our in dustry'.
By Sian Hughes
The 1979 Blackpool agreement accepted of labour anc voluntary redundancies.
Yards without work were placed 'care and
Rubber workers strike
Fficial, Walter Wainwright explains employees were working under COMEDIA when I first went to the factory. I wa: sick because of the fumes.
By R Wilkes
'We're simply asking for rate: of pay comparable with the rest of in dustry John Hood, TGWU steward at the fac lory addeo inal Ine sarel committee was powerless filthy, unhealthy conditions as management would
11 maintenance' basis and have never reonened the last six years the workforce has been slashed from 90,000 to 56,000
As with all practised blackmailers, BS manage ment are coming back fol more and the union leaders are running scared Stewards
But their members will not let things rest there shop stewards in the Na. tional Combine Committee are incensed by the sell out and will be reporting back to mass meetings in
Like Sid Weighell, the Weeks deposed rail leader, the sell out merchants of the Con fed won't hear the last of this.
allow them to meet.
Manacement have been just as obstructive on pay, despite £170,000 profit last year
The strike, which is of ficial, Evervone participates in picket duty, on four hour shifts.
Solidarity vital to win. Dunlop workers have already agreed not to han. die material from the com-
and Engineering Union fitters from Carte Dromers nave rerusco lo install new machinery. • Donations messages to: Mr Riley, Smeaton Cheetham, Manchester 8.
Page 12 scan of this page
WHEN REAGAN appointed Henry Kissinger as head of the special commission on Central America, he described him as 'a very distinguished American, virtually a legend in that field'.
1970's when, Secretary mended the elected Allende government of Chile, with the words 'I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people'.
Reagan echoed this in his speach to launch the special commission in the summer of 1983.
By Celia Pugh
•We must not allow totalitarian communism to win ov default he said Without the necessary
for us to prevent the light of freedom from being tinguished Central America'.
invaded population of Grenada know WICE this *light of freedom' amounts to. So
40,00 civilians too do the killed Dy -The army and death squads in the US backed regime Salvador.
US military and economic aid to repressive regimes in the region has rocketed - by 650 per cent Henry Kissinger
Inland 6 months 68; 12 months €15 Overseas (12 months only)
Europe €17; Air Mail € 24 soun e inese rates for multi-reader institutions) ease send me as special offer
Der with the Post Offee
ET Us U to London 32.
ACTION SoCiAlist
Kissinger commission
backs US war drive
A legend Kissinger certainly became in the early
of State, he comUnited States destabilisation of the
three years and by 500 per cent to Guatemala in the period. Now the Kissinger commission proposes another $8 billion in the next 5 years to aid imperialist intimidation in the region.
Of course, the popular Sandinista government in Nicaragua will get not a cent of this aid. Instead the US administration backing Contra forces who massacre supporters of the revolution and DONID Kev econome Installations.
The special commission on Central America carefully selected to WaN include only supporters of Reagan's foreign policy. 1o deniect -HOURS position from working people inside the United States, the commission has announced that ald must be tied to human rights improvellents.
But previous stipula tions of this kind for the
SUBSCRIBE
Close cheque/PO payable to Socialist Actin for f unlist Action Subs, 328 Upper Si. London N1 2XP.
nail Enterprises, PO Box 50, London N1
certification of aid have
not stopped Reagan get-
ung I. Inacca, ine com
mission gives the go-ahead
rupted aid to the regime in
Salvadorean President
Magana has just shifted 3
army officers roses abroad
diplomatic
because of their proven
links with the death squads.
But LICSC CUSHICLIC
tinkerings do not alter the
involvement of the
Lolai
Salvadorean army in the
death squads operations
like the killing of 118
villagers in EI
Salvador in November by
the crack American train-
ed Atlacati battalion.
Colonel Adolfo Blan-
don, the newly appointed
chief of the army high
command, who coor-
dinates the war effort has
carnica a revulalon as d
death squad organiser.
Keagan SWCCI
aside these abuses
human rights in his efforts
to crush the popular forces
of the FMLN/FDR in EI
Salvador and topple the
Nicaraguan government.
the commission's pro
posal for a 1000 strong
'special rapid
force are a sign that the
Reagan administration is
prepared for • direct
military intervention in the region in 1984.
Special free book offer!
Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books: Thatcher and Friends by John Ross Hard Times by Bob Sutcliffe or Over our Dead Bodies -Women Against the Bomb
Introductory offer for new readers: Eight issues for just f2!
Talbot strike
Nora Trehel, leader of the Poissy CGT
return to work.
Wednesday and Thursday
this fighting.
The strike at Poissy
decision by the Talbot management to sack 1,905 workers as part of their restructuring plans. The factory employs 17,000 workers, but Talbot has Deer by economic crisIs, losing
market share anu protits.
By Phil Hearse
Mitterrand's
Francois Socialist-Communist covesument negotiated decrease in the proposed redundancies from 2900 to 1900. On the basis of this agreement the Poissy secretary of the proCommunist CGT trade unsed acceptance or pro posed acceptance the deal. She was backed by the company union, the CSL, and the right wing union Force Ouvriere
But the deal was onposed by many workers at the factory and particular Socialist Party Lne usually pro
union, the CFDT. The battle ine. were set between unions as
the CGT declared a strike and sit-in at the factory
rejecting the negotiated
deal as '1905 redundancies too many'
The bitterness with
which the conflict between the unions has been fought out is tueled by two tac tors. First, the overwhelming majority of the workers al roissy are im migrant workers from
North Africa and French. speaking African countries. In a situation of
Left wing
leaders shamed
4K
LAST WEEK the strike at the Talbot Factory at Poissy outside Paris became the scene of bitter fighting between strikers and workers wanting to
For three days - last Tuesday, - pickets fought scabs outside the factory. Hundreds were injured during
growing racism in France and a growth of the inthe extreme right, the division among culous was bouru to be used as an excuse for racist attacks on the striking workers.
For many of the immigrant workers there is no possibility whatever of an alternative job if they are sacked.
Moreover, the CFDT has experienced a drastic decline in membership and influence since the Mitterand government came power •ane nas unu taken a turn to more miliindustrial Tantacles disputes as means of regaining its strength The pro-Communist CGT on the other hand is more concerned with the Communist Party policy of keeping its ministers in and has government
profile industrial CSDULES
Last week's fighting at the 0 all the decision of Mitterrand's Cabilici to send 1000 riot
Year's Eve evict the strikers. The CT and the two right wing unions
members to attempt to return to work a move militantly resisted by the striking immigrant workers
As result of the fighting the Talbot management closed the factory indefinitely.
Last Friday two marches were organised protest against the
In Poissy itself the Gaullist
organised Hialul tionary local people in a march against 'leftist violence'
In the centre of Paris at the the CGT led its loyalist battalions through the
SUCCESS shameful march suppor-
the WOrKCES who wanted a return to work and calling -10 more Dissident CGT workers demanding no sell-out from the
negotiations' with the management.
The Poissy events have disgraced the leaders of
LWO main reformist parties France, the Socialists and Communists. Both have shown themselves willing to try to solve Talbot's problems a the expense of the most ex ploited and oppressed in French society - the im-
WULKCIS. Both have connived in the use of riot police against strikers
In particular the pro Communist CGT, which prides itself on being the
hard union of the dustrial workers has shown itself willing to sacrifice workers interests to CP real politik.
Poissy makes many of the parts used by the Talbot plant in Coventry If work not resumed soon lay-offs could start ir
interests British workers however are same as nose or ut CFDT strikers, not those of the Stalinist-led scabs Every effort must be made
solidarity British workers for the Talbot strikers.
Socialist-Communist
← Socialist Action No. 39, 6 January 1984Socialist Action No. 41, 20 January 1984 →