Socialist Action No. 60, 1 June 1984
The scan: 060-jun-01-1984-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Page 1 scan of this page
No. 60 1 June 1984 30p
ACTION SOCiAlist All out for the NUM! Battle for Orgreave
THE GOVERNMENT has mounted the biggest police
the Orgreave coke plant near Sheffield. Nearly 10,000 police have been mobilised from nine counties.
the police can smash by force
in her favour.
shows the real nature of the has opened with the NUM. These on the NCB to find a "successful' that can win.
union movement to join us.'
operation of the miners' strike at
Thatcher's goal is clear. She wants a 'Saltley gate' in reverse in the heart of Yorkshire to show that
action by the miners anywhere in the country. It is a decisive move by Thatcher to try to tip the strike
The police operation at Orgreave negotiations the National Coal Board negotiations no doubt reflect pressure settlement to a struggle the government never imagined would last so long.
But "successful' means only one thing for this government. Thatcher cannot afford to lose this strike. There will be no 'negotiated' settlement which will halt the government's pit closure plan - unless negotiations take place won. with a gun against the NCB's head. The success of the strike is the only weapon
Arthur Scargill was right this weekend when he said of the attempts by the TUC, ACAS and Labour Party leadership to 'arbitrate' over the strike: *I told the TUC and Labour Party that rather than talk about mediation, they should be asking the rest of the trade
So far the support from the rank and file of the trade union movement has been magnificent. Financial support
Demonstration against
Reagan Saturday 9 June
Assemble Hyde Park
12 noon
has flooded in from all over the country. ASLEF, the NUR, and the NUS have stood solidly behind the miners. Scotland and Yorkshire have had successful one day strikes. Wales have set a day of action on 12 June.
But now the most decisive battle of the strike is being fought out at Orgreave. If Thatcher wins this fight her police state tactics will be used to smash any resistance to the attacks on the miners - and if the NUM were to lose it would be a hammer blow to the entire trade union movement. The battle at Orgreave must be won
Now is the time that every pledge of support for the NUM must be turned into action. Every rank and file supporter of the miners, every leader of the trade unions and Labour Party who supports the miners must get to Orgreave. All stops must be pulled out for industrial action to support the NUM in this battle and block the operation of Orgreave coke depot.
So far there have been regional days of action to support the NUM. The urgent need now is to set the day for a national day of solidarity strikes. But first the battle for Orgreave must be
• It is urgent that picketing and solidarity action for Orgreave is organised. Organise coaches and delegations from your area and workplace now. Contact Strike Committee, Yorkshire NUM, Miners' Offices, Barnsley, Yorkshire S70 2LS. Phone 0226-84006.
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is listening to women
2 Socialist Action 1 June 1984
ACTION SOCiAN
Just a hint of
terror That was how the Financial Times headlined its review of the situation on Wall Street last week. The reason technical bankruptcy of Continental Illinois
the eighth largest bank in the United States.
The London stockmarket showed the same downward pattern - suffering the single biggest fall in prices since the fall of Edward Heath's government. same as New York — one stockbroker stating he felt, 'the smell of terror, such as I have not sensed since 1974.
Later in the week the panic spread still further up the financial tree with the shares of Manufacturing Hanover, the fourth largest bank in the United States, losing more than 10 per cent of their value in a single day.
The immediate causes of the banking panic are easy to find Manufacturing Hanover are the US banks most exposed to the enormous foreign debts of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American states underlying causes of the crisis.
In August 1982 the system was brought to the edge of collapse by the threat of Mexico defaulting on its international debt. The Reagan administration responded to the threat both by rapid loans to Mexico ing money into the economy and simultaneously and by reflating the American economy reducing interest burden.
The motor of US economic growth became its
massive military build up.
rose far more rapidly than taxation to finance it.
The entire economy was pulled out of recession
by the arms expenditure
policies associated with it.
fects were dramatic.
has risen by almost twenty per cent in the last
year diulie But as the United States economy recovered
new contradictions inevitably
government budget
military build up is colossal - it now stands at
well over $200 billion and its financing absorbs
two thirds of US personal savings.
funds going into financing the budget deficit lit- With such a high
tle is left for the needs of capital expenditure by
industry,
wellello economy has expanded therefore US interest of industrial
rates have started to move upwards again - a
path which started at the beginning of 1983 and
has speeded up recently. These rising interest
rates have been reinforced still further by the
need of the US economy to pull in foreign funds
to finance the savings gap.
debt problem becomes still worse. Each one per
cent increase in US interest rates adds well over
$1 billion to the debt burden of Latin America
and brings forward the day of a possible default
on the debt.
'Terror'
Because the world capitalist economy is caught
in a vise. If the United States suffers economic
stagnation the third world debt crisis worsens
because the Latin American states do not have a
market to export their goods. If the US economy
expands on its present course the debt crisis
worsens because interest rates soar.
past.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN
Published weekly except two weeks in August and the
last week of December
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily repre-
sent socialist Action's views. These are expressed in
editorials.
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was the sudden The words in London were the Continental Illinois and
But much more fundamental are the
international financial
• pour-
to lower the debt
Military expenditure
and the economic The short term efUS industrial production
in. The US deficit to finance the
proportion of available
consumer credit and the other reexpansion. the And with the rise in interest rates the foreign
Hence last week's banking panic. is a very appropriate word indeed. Don't imagine that 1929 is just a year in the
sales
'SCARGILL is listening to women now. He has to listen. We've made him listen.' That's how Lorraine Bowler from Barnsley Women Against Pit Closures, saw the impact of the miners' wives movement on the NUM.
This movement of women around the strike has now reached an unparalleled scale. In every area of the strike there are now women's committees, based on the organisation of miners' wives.
Women of all ages are joining picket organising wonels pickel. and marches, speaking at meetings and
Women who have OCIVIC any Cultial! with travelling up and down the
WHIT each other, spending days away from and building a powerful tional roansallull women around the strike.
In most areas iney now have representatives on the official strike committees.
The demonstration In Barnsley on 12 May, when thousands
and other women
marched through
was a remarkable
oWil.
show of women's solidarl-
ty with the strike. Women
on the march understood
its significance
were overcome with emo-
'The feeling that day
was incredible. don't
believe will be recap-
tured again SOI Hally
long day explained Lor-
raine.
It seems obvious that
THE tremendous bat-
tles that miners'
wives are waging in-
dicates some of the fun-
damental changes going
women in
on
Britain. It shows that it
not due some
special feature of the
peace movement
the Greenham
ment has emerged. Or
to some special feature
of the Labour Party
that the women's con-
ference is the most left-
A FUTURE
Why Scargill
this massive movement of women should command
support, both deepening support for the miners' strike and in bring-
women blic forefront of the struggle But this has not heen the case across the entire spectrum of the left.
By Jude Woodward
Stevi Jackson, writing in the May issue of Labour Briefing, claiming she was expressing the 'unease among many women in the
left about women's involvement' in the strike, because women are likely
be treatea as mere appendages to men'.
But women themselves who have come
forward to assert their role in the leadership of the
struggle. Women have
forced themselves onto the
NUM's platforms and into
the strike committees by
the power of their own
organisation.
Arthur Scargill and the
leadership OTIC NUM
didn't tell them to do it. It
Not just mining women!
wing section within it.
There is now a general
phenomenon women
coming forward Clo give
leadership to all struggles
pression is is closely
is closely
pression
connected to other facts,
like the enormous rise in
female membership of the
unions over the last fifteen
years, changing
voting patterns among
women - the fact that the
Tories' old preferential
women has
vote among
now disappeared.
Women are deserting
PRESTO MINES
ANCH/
can hardly he claimed that they went out of their way to 'trick' or manoeuvre women lagging behind them - rather the reverse!
It was women understood, more rapid!! then the that mobilising miner alone would not he suffi-
save the mining communities. They sisted on and fought for their role in the strike. and have forced the impor lance of women» upport 1L i leaderstip. attention of
In Barnsley Scargil!' speech marked a malor step forward when he said of the miners wives: 'This morement is so powertui the! just can't ignore any longer.' Rv "thev' ne meant the media, but he might as well have meant himself. Progress indeed when Tene lucI his spirited defence
page pin-ups
Yorkshire Miner!
People who sneer
this movement as lagging behind men miss
significance of what is go-
alliance is heing huilt bet- powerful
miners
wcei which will take
wullic! both forward.
It is not a small ques-
tion for the miners' strike.
John industrial
the Tories, the only ques
tion is whether they will be
won to the labour move-
ment or be attracted by the
psuedo-feminism
A militant
briberals.
vanguard of women
clearly making the choice,
launching
leadership of many strug
gles and forcing the labour
movement to change. , The
miners' wives have struck
a vitally important blow in
this fight.
The labour movement
is faced with a tremendous
challenge and opportuni-
ty. As the miners' wives
Financial editor of ine Times, spends a lot of time in his reports detailing examples or sexism on the picket lines. Clearly this is not because ne is ol-so concerned about women's rights and equality It's because the ruling danie
ilicis disposal to defeat struggles
The miners on Mansfield demonstration who sung 'Get your out for the boys' played into their hands. every hit of sexism on the picke! lines or anywherd else. Bu! it is the mine?
around the strike who have done most to counter this
The biggest against sexism in the NUM has already been struck when dul coll Douglas spoke at the Barnsley rally
'Don't insult the saying: women you see here, who
support you whole-
heartedly by shouting
crude and insulting
remarks to other women on une surcels
cannot exist
fought by abstaining from
The miners'
the struggle.
wives have graphically
shown that by fighting for
women's right to be part
of the struggle, by fighting
10 mobilise women in their
the space for
sexism is cut away from
under the feet of even the
worst male chauvinist.
movement snows, womel
Lercass see their
demands as being
ticulated through the
mainstream of the labour
movemen and not
counterposed to it. Their
fight is for jobs, against
the missiles,
hours, for democracy and
concerns which
SO On
are shared by large sec-
tions of the labour move-
ment, but to which women
bring their own particular
demands as well, like abor-
tion, childcare or positive
action.
It is still only a minori-
News
Kent miners wires demonstration in Mansfield
It is not by using sexism as an excuse to stay out of the miners' strike, the black movement, that women will combat it. Nor by the kind of sideswipes at the miners indulged
feminist like Bea Camphell of Murvism Tofili. • The miners are men' love opietly (H igun Pier Revisitern).
wives are teaching the labour move ment a lesson that will be vital for its future. Dealing with Thatcher and the rul ing class will require more that labour movement's existing strength. The mobilisation o! women has doubled the •ize of the army defending the mining communities
Dealing with Thatcher overall will demand that the labour movement links itself to the struggles of all the oppressed and takes
political demands of many other groups, as on Ireland, the
Scottish assembly, the
movement and ecology
First and most impor-
tant among these nowever
is women, ior we are ove
half the population. And that means that all the con-
cerns of the labour move
ment have to he changed
and shaken up. But we can
be sure will be
women who do it. That is
where es wives are
showing now, how women
wil do it
tv of wome wiu are ac
tively engaged in this fight
but struggles like those o
the miners' wives are help.
ing turn it into a majority.
And then the labour move
ment will have to sil us
and listen.
to those who
think the miners'
organisation is some kind
of flash in ine pan,
answer best given by
Lorraine Bowler: If they
think we are going to stop
organising when the strike
over, they've got
another think coming.
We're here to stay.'
Page 3 scan of this page
Judges-tried and tested
News
Pho MORNING STAR
JAILED Kent NUM President, Malcolm Pitt, due back in court just as we go io press. If he is not released Sogat '82 and other Fleet Street unions have threatened to call strike that would shut down the national press.
This is the only way for the labour movement to respond to the attempts use the police and courts to repress workers engaged in struggles.
Since the beginning of the miners' strike government and the NCB have clearly been weighing
whether the time right to against the strike.
retreated from using the anti-union laws
the agas lit way that they had done against the NGA Warrington, beause was clear that this would simply serve to umie we tiners in their determination to struggle.
No miners in jail!
Since then we've seen them using the police in a nationwide military operation against the strike. There have been hundreds of arrests, and many Strikers, dan wore supporters, have been detained in custody for hours.
By Jude Woodward
Early on in the strike there was the scandal arrested pickets being ask-
pontical alla tions and whether they
left papers. There's been
and probably 'agents 010l ul CurS on the picket fines
In Malcolm Pitt's book the 1972 strike Kent, The World On Our Backs, he details examples of how the miners knew their phones were tapped.
'On one occasion, tre
women the local
a collection for the miners
wirel ther the over to the
Hall, steward told the pickets that their phone was definitely tapped by
the police. The mes arranged for a phoney call to be made through the Hall or a numper ot "flying squad" men to move immedlately certain
station. subsepower
the power station contirm-
of carloads of police had turned up to anticipate the expected trouble.
All through this strike the police have denied that they are tapping phones. but it is obvious that the! are using this or a similar method lile miners' movements.
Other forms of legal and illegal harassment have been used against the pickets. One of miners were arrested for distributing a leaflet with a quote about scabs from a book by Jack London. on ine grounds i was orien sive and obscene. Others have been threatened with
arrest for simply chanting the word scab'
On the Mansfield demonstration they dug up medieval riot laws 10 charge demonstrators involved in clashes with the
police
Women arrested on one of the Nottingham picket lines were kept in custody for 12 hours without access to a toilet. One woman was kept in handcuffs until her wrists bled. They thought they could frighten women off the picket lines. but their response was to go straight back on the gates.
It is obvious that the would like to try the ahe NCk and the governmen proach of stepping up repression, sending a few miners to jail, in the hopr they can scare the miners into sealing down the action. Maybe the first one
jailed will be Malcolm Pitt.
If they choose to that they will have to learn straightaway that it is very big mistake. mediate response must be to step-up round the The
for from Sogat '82 lays a firm basis for that and must be built
For we can be sure that even if they draw from jailing Malcolm Pitt,
THE High Court decision of vice chancellor Sir Robert Megarray that the NUM must not instruct its Nottinghamshire members to come out on strike should come as no surprise to any socialists, or for that matter any
But that In no way means that it should not arouse our contempt and
with system of justice that is based on maintaining the status quo and which is used against working peoples' right to organise. decision follows the judgements against the NGA; the Kent
NUM whose members were threatened with arrest for driving along public highway. and countless pickets whose bail conditions have been set by magistrates in such a wav that they constitute 'house arrest
But Sir Robert Megarry not just reflecting the climate of opinion constructed by the
Thatcher government and encouraged by the media. He was acting in a manner
with the judiciary since its
Of course
Sir Robert does not ring up
Thatcher and ask for her instructions but like all the
rest of his kind who sit on the bench he is a political
The High
aboulice
Court and circuit judges recorders and even the
stipendary and lay magis.
rates are appointed by. er
on he actice. on the Lord
Chancellor who
member of the cabinet.
Lord Chancellors who
are notoriously conser-
vative people inevitably
dius with the senior
when the most important
judges postions are thil
ed. In the free masonary of
the legal world these apnod of assent it he can- pointments only
didate is considered safe
and reliable • ie does not
suffer from liberal inclina-
holl In the years from 1832
to 1906 50 per cent of the
judicial appointments
went to barristers who had
Doo. MORNING ST
it will only be a matter of
time before they try
The labour move-
ment has to say a resoun-
ding No to any attempts to
criminalise legitimate
trade union activity.
The World On Our Backs
by Malcolm Pitt, publish-
Lawrence and
Wishart, f2.95p.
Socialist Action 1 June 1984 militant miner. been MPs in the ruling political People who had done ihe job wel
be perform well in thett
to perform well new job was obviously the thought behind those appointments.
By Bob Pennington
Later there came shift from direct political nominees to so-called unbiased professionals. Lord Hailsham let : the cat! out ot the bag about thi
independence when he argued judges like everybody else are fluenced by the economic and political climate
If they were not, they would be considered either revolulonary or reactionary, and they would become political judges.'
According to Hailsham then the judge stands in the middle neither to the left nor too far right — but the middle is influenced by what is established and how best
detend it. so a non-
political judge by
Hailsham's reasoning one who stands for the present system.
The make up of the judiciary ensures the con. tinuity of man and system. Some tour five judges come from public schools and Oxford and Cambridge. Hardly
Notts leaders wrong to order members to strike
Miners win the
right to work
British miner speaks
at French rally
A RALLY of two and a
half people
the Rally against Austerity
organised the french
Trotskyist organisation
the Paris last
weekend, heard miner
on seniou Bold
colliery appeal for aid for
the British miners strike
Also on the platform Sandra Lenton. ner
self an NUM member on
Colin brought
special greetings from the
NUM the IG Metall
workers Germany
fighting for 35-hour
week.
IG Metall was among
the
represented on the plat-
Iorm, as was lie Basque
3 without exception they are middle or upper class males and generally elderover a long period or hee They only there
process described by EP Thompsor who says: 'They go through a cater pillar stage before lawyers. Then they pupate for a while in silk. And finally they blow in mine
This makes sure that in the end the right man comes out and it explains why no English judge has ever beer removed Megarry like the rest of the High court ludges is une tried and tested represen-
'British establishment ap-
and its properly win this strike and in the long term I LO defend our basic rights, Megarry and his courts have to be challenged.
In the shameful words of the Guardian that discredited voice
'liberalism', he gave decision which meant the 'Miners win the right work. ' Yes he did. But the
who work are the vics scabs. FOU! millior unemployed and 20.000 miners threatened with the loss of their jobs apparently don't have any rights, either to work or even to control their own union.
The labour movement must say no to the conspiracy of the judges and •
obediant echoes in Fleet St must maKt clear that it rejects any law and judgement
jures the interests of the
working class.
Trade Union Left and thi
factory councils in Italy
Keynote speaker at the ral-
ly was Ernest Mandel.
Apology
WE strongly apologise to
Barbara Edwards of the
Hirwaun miners support
group in South Wales. In
an article last week she
WaN wrongly named
Barbara Taylor.
mistake entirely originat-
ed in the Socialist Action
office, so we also apolog.
wrote the original article.
Page 4 scan of this page
Socialist Action 1 June 1984
Agecroft walk-out
The strike
LAST WEEK nearly 70 workers Agecroft, the only pit still working in I ancashire. walked and joined the picket for
About 10 ine nirst we cars were turned back.
In the day they elected a strike committee and are seeking official recognition. Man-
Confed and the Chester AUEW have already provided them with an office and a phone.
ALAN CHADWICK
is the chall of the strike
He spoke 10 Socialist Action.
THE MASS meeting at Agecroft on Tuesday was one of ine shortest l've ever attended. What really annoyed those of us who walked out wasd had no time even to ask questions, and we weren't allowed to put our views. Jim Lord, the branch
MARK my words, it's not
because it's a bank holiday
that those scab lorries are
not coming but because of
the 5000 people assembled
here today.
Br Joho Kirby, member
Heeley Labour Party
This was how Arthr
Scargill summed up the
first victory in the union's
campaign the
movement of coke from
the Orgreave coking plant
near Sheffield.
Birmingham
'I've been in Birmingham for two weeks and the response has been magnificent. We are proud to act as a figurehead for all trade unionists and the enuire working class of this country for as long as it takes beat this lunatic Tory government.' So said Alan Williams, a striking miner from St John's lodge, South Wales NUM.
Striking miners from South Wales and Warhave been touring Birmingham's trade union and Labour Party branches. The response they
still spreads
secretary, told the meeting that all Agecroft men have been suspended from the union, even those who weren't working.
ECROFT
MINERS
strike
So 40 of us went to the Bolton offices and Sid vincent old us this was wrong, and we wouldn't be suspended if we didn't work. The lads who came out toined the picketing in force, and we turned a few back. I'd say only 70 or 80 per cent went in on the morning shift.
The trade union and labour movement is look-
Miners'
Strike
Orgreave: no coke must move
For four days up to 40
scab lorries protected by
wire mesh and 3000 police
have removed coke from
the British Steel plant 10
the steelmaking works in
*cuttore
The pickets turned out
after a call from Scargill.
since massive police
presence had prevented at-
tempts to stop the forries.
The show of loree hy the
police
timidating the Yorks
miners.
Mass picketing will
continue unt me move-
supports the miners
have received has been excellent. Upon hearing being endured by the miners and their families, Birmingham's labour movement has been moved to donate generously to the hardship appeal.
The West Midlands Regional TUC and Birmingham Trades Council are cooperating 1o busi the idea of factories, Labour Party branches, and trade union organisations adopting a specific pit. This allows a working partnership between Birmingham's labour movement and the striking miners to be set up at the rank and file level. InIs work is supplemented by street stall
ing to the miners to win
We should all this battle. have been out from the start. OK, we did want a ballot in the first place, but now we've got 80 per cent of the NUM fighting for our jobs.
It wasn't very hard for
out. For Cullic many weeks now we ve been thinking we should join in. To the rest Agecroft l'd say this. Try and forget the past, It we do stick together then it will be a battle well worth taking part in. It can lead
for miners jobs and our children's
My message to miners still working is this. If you are adamant about ballot, realise that there isn't going to be one, please come out so that we can have strong anc united union.
Manchester Central Euro-Constituency Mall.
Jobs Yes! Bombs No!
Speakers:
LP candidate IG Metall speaker NUM European peace movement
7.30pm Friday 8 June Manchester Town Hall
ment of coke is stopped
for good Reinforcements for the NUM picket line
from the rest of the South
Yorks labour movement
would bring
quick victory in the fight
to close rereave
And the importance of angerined
by the NUM presiden
he addressed fi pickets: estate the Labor Park 'Instead
the TUC should be winn-
ing the support of the
wider movement.'
food collections outside
supermarkets. Last
weekend Over 20 such
stalls were set "p
throughout Birm-
ingham.
fortnightly
bulletin, Miners
Strike is published by
Birmingham Trades
Council.
The basic solidarity
tasks have to be extended
and regularised. Upon
this solid basis, Lilt
momentumn towards
solidarity strike
can be built. Solidarity is
key as Merlin, a miner at
Birch Coppice, explain-
'The scabs that are
working think that they
when they
will starve
come out on strike. bu
from what I've seen of
the organisation in Birm-
ingham, we won't starve
or eat grass or crawl back
to work. Mr MacGregor.
Mrs Thatcher, up yours.
MINERS
Barking Hospital
fights on
FOR THE last 13 weeks, 90 women cleaners at Barking Hospila been on strike against a massive their working conditions by a subsidiary of the dinosaur of the privatisation world
- Pritchards.
By Dave Benlow, Wandsworth District NUPE
Six years ago Crothalls (Pritchards) won the con-
clean Barking hospital. Conditions and wages were comparable to those of domestics in the NHS, they were unionised through NUPE, and normal negotiating pro-
told all heal althorities
winning tender based on
cul. some workers with a pay
FARMERS joined striking
grable as farmers lend io
one
dustries. you people are in
just the same situation.
'The whole social
fabric of our community is
threatened. I can't stand
by and see people starved
into submission. Our bat-
tle is the same. I only wish
we farmers had the unity
and courage you have
shown.
The farmers brought to
the rally 200 gallons of
millk which were given to
miners' families They
have promised further
deliveries milk and
food
These moves followed
miners from Cardiff sup
port committees joining a
farmers' demonstration in
Cardiff earlier in the week.
The farmers are pro-
testing against the
*M THE PTE
Crowthall's manager attacks a NUPE picker
nave pickets, and managements
Welsh farmers support the strike
for over four hours and
invited to join the
TUC day of action in sup
port of the miners on!
June. The day of action is going ahead despite recent pressure from Len Murray.
But Wales TUC Secretary David Jenkins has not intention of calling
on the
day. He is merely asking
affiliated unions 1o sup port the rally.
It is being left to rank
and file trade unionists lo
raise the question of strike
action, except NUPE
where the union is asking
members to strike.
The farmers brought to
the rally 200 gallons of
milk which were given to
miners' families. They
have promiscu further
escorts. This has led to a total of 19 arrests so far. with 'stay away' bail conditions like the miners.
NUPE made the strike official from the start and support is being organised
London through Health Emergency groupings.
The battle also been taken to outside Pritchards HQ. and national coverage caused share prices all. Women from the hospitals also demonstrated anerily out side the Pritchards AGM at the fashionable 'Inn on the Park' in London
NUPE national conference voted for national industrial action support of the women
as a
'test-case'. There are many
OYeE but the resolve of 100
As the struggle deepens their demands are derelop-
Increasingly the demand that worh he taken over
•He direct labour.
of milk
moves followed •.: Cardiff supjoining a
ermers demonstration in Wardiff earlier in the wcek
against the nev which drive
small farmers, especially
from the west of Wales out
At a recent demonstra-
tion at Liandysul members
of the Difed farmers ac-
tion group imprisoned the
minister for agriculture for
over four hours and vir-
tually sealed off the town
The farmers have been
invited to join the Wale
son. the a of an e
going ahead despite recent
pressure from Len Mur-
lay But Wales TUC
Secretary David Jenkins
has no intention of calling
tor sinke action the dayliated umone yo supe He is merely asking
port the rally.
It is being left to rank
and file trade unionists to
raise the question of strike
action, except NUPE
where the union is asking
members to strike.
In the Unions
Miners'
Support
Committee
Bristol c/o TGWU, Transport House, koom i. victor St. Bristol BSI
Manchester L/OFTAT. 37 Anson Rd. Victoria Park. Manchester 14
Preston c/o John Parkinson, Trade Union C'entre, St Mary's St Norin, Preston
Huddersfield c/o Friendly and Trades Cluh. Northumberland St. Hudder-field
Vauxhall c/o Joan Twelves/Greg
Tucker, I Alversion Hre Kenningon talk dial London SEll
Southall to 14 Featherstone Rd. Southall. London
Birmingham
- ederick st.
Lalinu
* Trade Inion cute siderion High St. i ondon li:
Southampton
Hants
Cardiff Roon: 214. Tran-pur House Carbedra! Rd Cardift. Tel: 0223 31176
Hounslow
i'o lan MadDonald. 220
Wellington Road Soutl Hounsion. Midds. Tel: 011.5773429
Medway c/o Vince Drongin.
Union Council, 19 Randall Rd. C'hathan. Kent
Bury c/o Brian Marden. 061-
769648
Oxford
c/o Claimants Union.
Princes Si. Outord
Leeds
c/o Distric Lahour Party.
9 Queens Sa. Leeds 2
Lewisham
c/o Labour and Trade
Union Cluh, Limes Girore. Lenishan. I ondon
li tomr local support con
mittee is not included here it
"e have no address
for it Send il in!
Page 5 scan of this page
Labour and Europe
South Africa's deal with Mozambique
International
Euro-elections
ON 14 JUNE the Euro-elections take place against a background of growing Tory unpopularity. How is Labour responding 1o the elections and is it taking advantage of the Tories' increasing problems?
BOB two articles, looks at what Labour is saying about the Euro-elections and what policies it is proposing. In this article he examines Labour's Euro-policies weapons, NATO and democratic rights. HARDLY MORE than a year after the Tories' election victory of June 1983 we will be voting in the Euro-elections.
Following the recent local government elections, people will have another chance to give the Thatcher administration a decisive thumbs down by giving Labour the biggest possible vote.
But Labour faces much tougher task than it did in the council elections. As tar as most people are concerned, the EEC is treated with indifference, educated guesses put the expected turn out
less man ss per cent.
Add to this many Labour supporters are hostile to the EEC and probably se no reason to vote on 14 June.
So it's not going to he an easy joh marshalling
ranks Labour's supporter.ic te polls. Nor is thi- urtill. empire in Africa crashed Frelimo troops marched triumphantly into Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), stimulant to the forces Africa. Mugabe's ZANU
battle against lan
apartheid republic of South escape route for the
forces of resistance.
Samor Machel unhesitatingly placed himself on the side of the continuing struggle and recognised
main Addressing a mass rally in Inhambane in March 1982 he told the crowd that the working people in Mozambique nao not oniy defeated Portuguese
but had fight and defeat the Smith regime Rhodesia.
He then went on to say: 'Now we are called to war
this time to liquidate the armed bandits who are the agents of the racist and minorit! regime in Pretoria, the agents le natona imperialism Let the South Africans themselves We don't want the agents, we want the noce fight against the organ-grinder,
Well, the South Africans did
LOme.
March the South African Prime Minister Botha met President
PENNINGTON, in the first of
on nuclear
but important, fight much
helped by Labour's
Manifesto. This is more bromide rader nhan a
bromide rather than
ponucar sumulant
Under the heading
Peace and Security
Manifesto comes out
against cruise and rident
and states the aim 'is the
all
weapons from the conti-
of Eurone adding
nell
'Labour will start hy
removing them frem Bri-
tain.
far good.
However, Labour's
Special supplement which
group in the European
parliament tails to men-
tion The
Manifesto says
believes in effective and
sound defence for Britain,
through NATO.' In case
you didn't get the message
about Labour's committ-
ment to NATO, Neil Kin-
nock told a Channel 4 au-
dience :ai ridal elening
red entirels to the security TEN YEARS AGO, when the Portuguese colonial
and Samora and his
# acted as of liberation in Southern
forces noW had hinterland from which they could advance in the Smith's white-dominated Rhodesia and a safe refuge for strategic retreats. The common border berween Mozambique and the
Africa provided an persecuted victims of the Pretoria regime and a base for re-assembling the
Machel at the border town
Nkomati and signed the
so-called Peace Accords.
This was a stunning blow
the South African
freedom movements and
especially to the ANC who
had made Mozambique
their main base for
operanons
By Charlie van Gelderen
The treaty provided for
no more transit facilities
for ANC fighters through
Mozambique: drastic
reduction in their perma-
nent presence doun to on-
10 people; non-
aggression pact with
Pretoria: an open door for
South Africa capital; the
aallubtillicill LICi
policy to isolate the apar-
theid regime.
There can be no doubt
that Machel was forced in-
ficult circumstances of the
economy.
After centuries of colonial
rule, the havor created by
and detence ol our own
tion in the Vorth Atlantic
Organisation But VATO N controlled by a super-imperialist power. namely the USA. whose political and military strategy is based on the use of nuclear weapons along with the concept of the "limited nuclear engagement in Europe'
Gordon BrookShepherd week's Sundat Telegraph
oelle then Neil Kinnock when he
Common Market remains the
and political arm the Atlantic Alliance Europe. Curiously, only the wing seems aware of this VIA K. many them in this country want us out of NATO and out
Europe... It's a pity Nett Kinnock doesn't think matters through as thoroughly as Mr BrookShepherd! Combat
Nor does the Manifesto have anything to say on how we can combat the nuclear threat, except a generality that 'work with other socialists and others who desire peace.' But there is a snag here, some socialists like president Mitterand are not too keen on campaign-
hulical weapons, in fait he is most emphatically in favour of the South African financed and trained MNR bandits, and one of the worst and most prolonged droughts in the area s history, the economically prostrate.
Workers and peasants
literally starving.
Morale was at its lowest
The one thing "hich could have saved the Mozambique revolution would have been massive economic and military aid rom the workers' states Mosion. aware of American sakes In the region, was ohiously not prepared for a confrontation.
Agreement
The Nkomati ment. while its chiel im-
South Africa, was not entirely the brain-child of the think-lanks Pretoria Speaking 'The United States anon Africa in the 1980's) February George Schulz. Reagan's Secretary of State explained the role of the USA in the peace negotiations: 'We have helped foster a dialogue .. . between South Africa and Mozambique
We have made clear noun siaes that our goal l 1o nurture mutual security. in such a climate we are prepared to do our part to assist Mozambique's development and holster its chances for genuine nonalignment... . We have mored swiftly to res-
their deployment!
As long as Neil Kinnock thinks a deal can be made with the pro-nuclear
like Mitterand, then the less CallaDour wide-based European anti-nuclear movement which is the only effective way to challenge the threat of a nuclear war.
Britain has not been alone in seeing an almosi unprecedented attack on democratic rights. The miners' strike has resulted in police brutality and intimidation. courts have been used to frame UD Dickes ane on week a High Court iudgement ordered the NUM pond cyclones alid drought that have frequently brought Mozam bique 10 the edge disaster.
While the Soviet Union, in its own way, has given support and encourgement anti-imperialist struggles, it is quite clear that it is not prepared 1o create la second Africa Soviet strategy has, generally, ( to
been •encourage the "noncapitalist' road of development for the newlyindependent African states and, Where socialistoriented intelligentsia had come. into heing during colonia times. democratic" struggle as a first stage towards even-
socialisi reconstruction has generally been advocated
This has not provided the basis for rapid economic advance and successful resistance to imperialism such as we have
in Cuba and Nicaragua and in Grenada before the counterrevolutionary overthrow of Maurice Bishop.
While we can understand the basic economic and political reasons abandoning his 'MarxistLe nEst programme and bowing to the pressures of South African perialist
CLonellie blackmail and blandishments, it is not so easy
why Machel has hailed the pact as a "victory for our socialist policy
not to instruct its Not. tinghamshire members to
On the streets young people, especially black youth, are subject to constant harassment and violence by a racist police force. Even Lord Justice carma chade sent Brixton riots of 1981 as 'a spontaneous act ot deliant aggression by young men who themselves hunted by a hostile police force
The new Police Bill will mean even more people will be 'hunted by a hostile police force' The government's banning trade unions at GCHQ and their latest attacks union rights in the civil ser-
Frelimo president
Samora Machel
of peace." Lenin and the Bolsheriks aiso had make concessions in the early years of the Russian Revolution BrestLitorsk. NEP - but they
called things by diwaly their right name retreat was a retreat and
The immediate conseouence ot the Nkomati Accords and the so-called South Africa itiatives pose grave problems for the liberation
in South Africa. There be 'peaceful co-existence'
Socialist Action vice is just one step along the road Britist Berufsverboten the West German lav excluding people from certain public sector jobs because of their political beliefs.
this erosion of democratic rights and the use CO T against the labour move-
British phenomenon. It arises out
the CrISIS Of all the
stitutions de muropen
European sultallulls capitalism. Labour should be right to the fore in defending democratic rights and building a euro. amnance on inis Issue
Instead the Manifesto lamely talks about: 'The protection and extension of our democratic rights and freedoms'. This will
ii oners no way forward now and because
misses the chance to win between South African and its black-ruled neighbours at an official level, but there can be no class between the rulers and the ruled inside the apartheid republic. The class struggle tinues as before
Already there are raised South Africa claiming the AcCOrUs ODCI the road dialogue between the
'authentic leaders' of the South African people and the government. This would not be talks between parties which are formally equal but between
1 June 1984 5
Labour's
Manifesto
for the
European
Elections Pla
75p
over …lo Labour many, many people who are not automatically Labour voles oul wnu de accorr concerned on this matter. to the roots of the matter
exposing, and opposing, the undemocratic acfails to come across as the champion the persecuted and oppressed
silence this almost certainly derives from the fact that Nei Kinnock is scared to let Labour be seen as a party against so-called law anc order. He also well aware 'socialist friends' like Mitterand have not at all been reluc tant to use cops against strikers like the French government recently did at Lyonnaise.
Next week we will look al Labour s euro-poncie on issues like employment. jobs and the missing factor called Ireland. the oppressor and the oppressed
The South African
wonv prepared for 'dialogue wiel une are faced with the fact that they are no
able to govern the old way. For the South African liberation _force the task now is to prepare for the coming struggle by strengthening their forces inside the country and to develop une pontical pow c of the black working class which will emerge from the rapidly-growing trade
movement of he black workers.
Page 6 scan of this page
-Return to
Socialist Action 1 June 1984
May 24:
IN LONDON International Women's Day for Disarmament was celebrated by a protest both outside and inside the AGM of Rio Tinto Zinc.
Inside women 'proxy' shareholders gained access to the Intercontinental Hotel, at Hyde Park Corner (they had persuaded allow their shares to be used by peace women) to protest at RTZ's huge protits from uranium Africa, Australia and worldwide.
Uranium is used to produce cruise missiles and it is mined in appalling conditions for starvation wages. Outside the AGM and at RTZ headquarters in ot. James Square, demonstrated, highlighting the protest
By Valerie Coultas
Earlier in the morning Southwark Greenham Women and women from South Hast London Elephant and Castle roundabout. Their leaflet said: 'We must stop production now, dismantle the arsenals and free our countries from the greatest threat ever faced by humanity.'
pointed out that £15.58 household IS spent every nuclear weapons when it could be spent on schools, houses and hospitals and transport.
The women then went on to join Lambeth Women for Peace to do the 'Lambeth Walk' down Brixton Hill for an afternoon of international events in St Matthews Town Hall, Brixton.
Wimbledon Women for Peace held a demonstration outside Merton Town
international
women's day for
disarmament
Hall, Broadway.
the film 'Arming Quaker Meeting house,
with shareholders to decorated bikes.
Turnham Green. mining in South of Defence.
Gardens Unemployed Centre for peace women party.
arms components.
Manchester demonstration in the cily centre
camped on the meeting. I ne only, with three representatives of liery women's group.
per «awl vul week
of CND:
and
the North Paddington women held a Women's Fun Day. East London Peace Pledge Union showed
the World'
Bush Road.
Brent women organised a march theatre, music allu Chiswick women camped from Thursday to Saturday on
Last year women had ended the days events by encircling the Ministry
This year women came together at the end of the day in Jubilee
Well Southwark a women's
Other events took place in most other areas of the country. On the Isle of Wight women organised a protest directed at Plessey which makes nuclear
women's Wal 100-strong public meeting Was Greenham speakers and the Bold colThe links between the use of the police at Greenham and in the miner's strike were clearly
• was less political than last year when Labour Councils were approached for support and local government trade unions took strike action. But the women's peace movement is still one of the most dynamic sections
Socialist women should be active in socialist men throuch their Labour Parties, trade unions and CND groups should give it their full backing.
ON 9 JUNE CND is holding a mass demonstration against DICK WITHECOMBE, a member of CND national council (writing in a personal capacity looks at the struggle to build the demo and the future for CND after it.
The movement against nuclear weapons is the largest international the Second World Wars i has the movement question since capacity to put in motion millions of people and wields a real influence in world politics.
Throughout the last four years of the rebirth of CND as a mass move. ment its national demonstrations have seen the movement in its greatest unity and strength. The October marches,
250,000 on the streets against Reagan's last visit, the demonstration
"Freeze" "no first use"
"non-nuclear defence"
sender
in October after the general election.
Reagan. the mobilisations women, have been the closest guage of the peace movement's growth. our best answer to Heseltine's claim after the election defeated and the clearest reply to those in the movement demoralised by the arrival of cruise. Building and mobilising for 9 June is not about 'just another London march'; it's our chance for the peace movement to say 'we're here, and we're here to stay.
will be smaller than our response 10 Reagan's last visit. leadership of the movement will want to use this to say no more big marches, prepare for the long haul. realism' of the nuclear freeze is already being resurrected from the dustbin it
LIVE
IN A NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE
Greenham CND
continuing
A massive turn out on 9 June will he
that CND
mas Unfortunately it is likely that 9 June
Sections the
the movement
The
leadership.
and
question answer of no! themselves.
Second,
Thirdly,
Union
class
factors
deepened.
was placed in by the movement's las
conference. Proposals are circulating in upper circles for a vision, gradual steps to disarmament from th next general election in 1988, a ballo
no first use and a nuclear freeze Voices are already raised on CND na tional council that it is possible to wit over those backbenchers who are sym pathetic to less 'hawkish' policies thai Thatcher's hardliners
The duty of socialists in the peac movement should be to give unreserve commitment to CND as a single issu
Callbalell against nuclea weapons, and to act as a unifying forc behind the slogans, programme and th campaigning methods that have see
grow in size and in fluence since 1980. Bluntly that mean all out for 9 June, build CND, and de fend it against the 'new realism' of it
But to do this we must explain wh is the real situation inside the mov ment, and ine real story behind the June demonstration. . Talk of a 'crisi
"demoralisation' of the movement is now widespread. But is really a movement in decline? To th
we must give a resoundir Strength
Since US imperialism embarked 1979 on its major campaign of nucle
of three developments
First the domination of the in perialist ruling classes has been weaker ed by the heightened exposure of the brutal nature in the Vietnam conflic and succeeding events, and by the pro found crisis of the capitalist economie
the developing colonia revolution has sapped the political an material strength of imperialism
despite overwhelmin hositility to the repression in the Sovie
Eastern Europe strength of the workers' states is cleart shown even in a distorted form in fea of their military strength. No signifi cant section of the Western workin
believes that a nuclear war wit the USSR is one that can be won
Can anyone argue that any of the posite, since 1979 these processes hap has lessened? Quite the
growin hostility to the actions of imperialis from the Middle East to Grenada. On could even say that there is an increase anti-us sentiment among millions workers across Europe. But its substance is a growing fear that foreign policy and actions can give r to nuclear holocaust. Fundamentally is that "fear' that has fuelled the grow of the anti-missiles movement amon ine mass or peopic
Where the movement has keyed il to that sentiment it has shown its re
Page 7 scan of this page
strength - from the 250,000 against Reagan two years ago, behind the spirit and determination of the Greenham women, and in the very successfui local actions outsice the Easter, The demonstration on could have been added to this list: but from the start the right wing in CND have done their best to sabotage it.
Support
As early as January many of us on CND national council raised the ques tion of Reagan's visit for the world croonlc resolution to organise CND's annual ullllil. We even
acmons alul coincide Reagan's visit and the European elecTOlI — for no cruise, no Trident, US bases. and for
That was defeated in favour of europe. a resolution, supported by the Communist Party, for actions at Greenham and Midiothian instead. But even that was a trick. It was dropped immediately atter the national council. it was simplv d cvice lo stop any achlons agamlsi keagan's visit.
But the movement is bigger than the national council. A loose grouping called Action '84 put out a call for nonviolent direct action against Reagan's visit. More than 150 representatives of CND groups from around the country crowded into GL.C's County Hall to lay plans. An impressive national network wac coon eczemec oco Recoa CND themselves started to organise a demonstration tor y June CND called for a national demonstration. Many CND groups, areas and regions started to book transport.
And CND leadership? panicked. Decisions to condemn mass
CND projects
session: the bases Tn1s newsletter Campaign. was
9 June
the national
non-violent direct action (NVDA)'
on into
weapons east or west Finally council came to WUl collalcll
with
nuclear-free now wanted tWo
within two weeks of each other.
Struggle
Somewhere up high, The youth mcto nacalal.
it's here to stay, fused. But
Well it
civil disobedience were quitetly hidden.
committee, executive movement, and otticers were out into emergenc
deadline for CND's aed a statement appeared: CND sup- back, London on 9 June, and well considered demonstration
The negotiations that followed went candlelight hours. But CND's national resources were still to be put behind a Coventry demonstration on 26 May calling for no nuclear
CND national ADHI senses. The ° june become a nationally organised action. h a.y Unite But in a fit of pique the right insisted on the same status for the Coventry march. trom a hatred of mass action. thei
national marches
Joe ence
Even then the struggle wan't over I'm stili not sure where, it was decided that 9 June would not be a demonstration but a rallv in Olchlallull Trafalgar Square. A great way for more means than 100,000 people to spend an afternoon! Scores of phone calls were made before even this was dropped. So even- per circles tually everyone finally agrees to 9 June
Campaign! appears late, leaflets organise and posters don't arrive until May, and the attractive large posters don'i even
gramme No, the movement isn't in decline. although a little conOND leadership? That's where our worries must lie. Those same activists based in CND groups around
the country, at the grass roots of the
who combined to force sense into (ND and win the march on y June, must now look to organising the fight for the future ot the movement Resolutions for CND conference must be in by b July - not long to prepare for probably its most important discussion in four years.
CND leaders are preparing for the 'historic compromise supposed!y finding a simple message for what we stand for which is acceptable to broad ecod s or e oba n ov rez neans winning an alliance including th SDP and 'wet' Tories
However ruling class circles are also re-discussing; much has already been made of the new Europeanisation of
particular moves towards the Western European Union Cici u o rumme cass cuces nuure such as General Rogers are discussing
Luv callvllal IUll2 1 alize lllas. destruction weaponry that can emerg from ine new technologies of the us arms industries. The popular frontist
of the CND caucisill that 'Europeanisation' 'Non-Nuclear Defencism' is likely to become intoxicating within CND's up-
Activists in CND must now start to within the movement:
British unilateral nuclear disarmament; to defend CND and put forward a pro-
Free Europe from Poland to Portugal; oppose no only US missiles but also trench and British nuclear weapons. These are the policies behind which a mass campaigning movement can unite.
ON 13 NOVEMBER 1974, Karen Silkwood was driving alone to meet a New York Times reporter. With her was a dossier she had compiled on the dangerous and haphazard work conditions at the Kerr-McGee plutonium factory where she worked as a lab technician.
She never ment. Later the wreck of her car was found by the highway. Inside was Karen, dead. The dossier was missing.
ficial verdict of accidental death. The case was declared closed.
By Paul Lawson
year investigation by family, friends and anti-nuclear campaigners grew into a campain to uncover the truth. recently February tempts were being made to prevent the release of Silkwood, Mike Nichol's new film about Karen, Streep.
failed, and with its twin superstar leac (Cher plays Karen's friend Sherri) the film is now on general release.
role in revealing the Silkwood story was David Burnham, as the reporter who uncovered the Serpico story New York city police.
subject of Oklahoma senators keen to defend the Kerr-McGee corporation, one of the state's leading companies.
when Karen was amassing information
Oa t. there were over 3000 violations of safetheres tomic Energy nutrity
Atomic (AEC). those were minor violations. and when it comes to plutonium there is such a ling as a minor violation.'
you of anything, it will convince you of the truth of that statement. Not only for that, it will convince you, if you needed convincing, that nuclear energy is inherent/s unsafe.
Ine euculcs taminated are 'washed down' chemicals, removing layer after layer of skin, are horrifyingly frightening.
Karen herselt plutonium poisoning, with the strong
Silkwood
pany.
kept that appointacutar.
her A hasty investigation led to the of-
suffers Not everyone was satisfied. A seven employers
As 1983 legal at-
Saltile Meryl somehow
But the attempt to suppress the film
HOyt.
sent reality One of the people who played a key
who came to fame
of corruption among the
For his troubles, Burnham was the
investigation by
Burnham discovered that in 1973-4,
Kerr-McGee,
drama.
Energy Authority But said the AEC, many of
Says Burnham: 'I don't think that Mile Island
If Silkwood is going to convince
Silkwood
where workers con- power, with
eventual suffers either.
Socialist Action 1 June 1984
Meryl Streep plays Silkwood in Mike Nichol's film of the same name now on release.
implication that it is deliberate retaliation for her investigation of the com-
The dramatisation of the dangers of nuclear powers is one or ihe nm'! strongpoints. Its other main strength is its portrayal of the anguish of isolation which can face anyone fighting a large company or bureaucracy, but which in this society can affect women in par-
As Karen becomes more and more alarmed at the company's activities, and more involved in union activity,
relations with the other workers sutter and her bovtriend Drew walk! out on her. All the pressures on her are to give up the fight and cut her losses, but she retuses to submit
Also well portrayed is the sinister sexual content in the harassment she
from supervisors and
There are two crucial werknesses First, the emphasis which is put on Karen's sexuality, the portrayal of her
Pervading the film is the suggestion that hostility to her, and indeed her self-assertion is
• linked to her sexuality. strongly suspect that this aspect of the
and the use of Meryl Streep in the lead role, owes more to the need to make a 'commercial' film than to pre.
The full extent of the cover-up over safety precautions at Kerr-McGee is not brought out. After all, the factory provided the fuel to get a fast breeder reactor on line. Karen was fighting not just a tin pot local management at a small factory, but all those in the nuclear in. dustry pushing this project through. By personalising the conflict as one between her and local managers, the full sinister implications of the conspiracy
force through a nuclear energs policy are somehow lost. With the ex ception of the contamination scenes the tim curious lacks tension and
When Karen Silkwood took up her fight the movement against nuclear energy in the US hardly existed. Three
had not yet happened.
Commonplaces such as that plutonium causes cancer were not even known amoug maly workers in nucicar planls Silk wood's weaknesses do not obstruc what is essential about its 'message'
Through her lonely struggle Karen
helped to create understanding of the evil of nuclear
and movement against it. Despite its pitfalls, the film will spread an understanding of nuclear power and a knowledge of Karen's fight to hundreds of thousands who knew little of
Page 8 scan of this page
Reagan to attack Iran?
LAST FRIDAY Panamanian-registered oil tanker heading for the Iranian port of Bandar Khomeini was sunk by Iraqi jets the first ship to be sunk in the Gulf war. Dozens of ships have now been attacked by the Iraqi air force, although this is the first to be actually sunk. The Iranian oil terminal Kharg island has been repeatedly attacked by the Iraqis, utilising the French-supplied SuperEtendarde aircraft and Exocet missiles.
But now the picture ha: changed, with
Saudi and Luwaiti planes headed for Iraq being attacked by Iranian fighters. There
likelihood that the retaliation will lead to a further internabonalisation of the con. ilict.
The choice of Saudi and Kuwaiti planes for the Iranian attacks was not accidental. Iraq has been Financed and armed by the Lacionary promperialist regimes to its
Mel Mason to
tour Britain
In June United States presidential candidate and black activist Mel Mason is touring Britain at the same time as President Reagan is paying his visit.
Mason is a veteran of ite (vas movement a i was a member of the Back Panther Partv in the tae 1960s. He is an active
: on the ticket of the Scialist Workers Party of the United States.
1980 Mason was eered to the Seaside City Council in central Califor-
in 1982 Tall governor of California
city councillor Mason has opposed Washingron's war policies -
spoken BeL Vietnam's with what
election appeal calls Their manacing potential
Socialist Action 1 June 1984 south in particular Saudi-Arabia. Indeed most of the Arab regimes have backed Iraq, not necessarily because of political sympathy with Saddam Hussein and his
regime, but because they fear Iranian Shi'ite expansionism.
By Paul Lawson
Saddam Hussein's decision attack Iranbound shipping in the Gulf was designed to internationalise the conflict and thus more rapidly end it. This move could successtul. Last week there Were urgent discussions between the United States and Iran about providing an aerial shield for Iraqbound ships in the Gulf.
The most likely force to carry out this task in the first instance is the Saudi air force, which has aerial reconnaisance provided by USAF AWACS planes. The Saudis are with the world's most modern jet fighter, F-15 but are thought to be caulous aboul laking on the combat-hardened Iranian air force.
If the Iranians attempfor escalating into nuclear annihilation.
Mason's taking him from one end of the United States another to factories, mines, mills, union meetings, picket lines, among Black and Latino people, the
the GIs and in schools and colleges.
Mason is taking time vul trail President Reagan and bring his own Hicosays JOU Bombs' to Britain. He is also supporting the miners strike and those fighting Washington's war drive. • Mel Mason will be speaking LONGOT Friends Meeting House, Euston Rd, London N.1. on 8 June at 7.30.
He will also be speaking in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham.
ted to close the Straits of Hormuz through which a quarter of the West's oil is transported, then the United States is likely to intervene directiv in the
Last week, Reagan formally
Saudi's perquested the mission for the US to use their air bases along the Gulf.
Even was the announcement last week ine had taken a policy decision to intervene in the Gulf war against Iran. if there wa any possibility of the Iraqi regime Taling.
Department official commented: 'We do not want
see be governmen Baghdad destabilised. We want to see a stable and internally Irao. We see it as the first line of neTence against Iranian expansionism...
Like the Arab states, the US has no great love of the Saddam
lussein regime, but fears the of an Islamic fundamentalisi surge in the region.
form of Us in. tervention currently being discussed is the use of US ON 19 MAY nearly 100 delegates and more than 50 observers gathered for the Labour Movement Conference on Palestine organised Solidarity Campaign and the LMCP. The call for the conference lay among activists on this question of the enormous strength of Zionism in the British labour movement represented for example by organisations like the Labour Friends of Israel and recently-launched Trade Union Friends of Israel.
Despite overall change in attitudes at the base the labour
represented for example by the resolution passeu at the 1982 Labour Party
which called conlerence for Palestinian self-
the fact act alon. remains that this issue is much less supported than
other antililally imperialist causes. Zionist
myths about Israel, the only "democracy in the Middle tast, the 'socialist' kibbutz and so on, are deeply rooted the British labour movement.
This situation explained by Richard Balfe MEP, who described how he had been recruited to Labour Friends of Israel upon entering the House
The person of Commons recruited him was lan Mikardo, a stalwart of the Labour left. At that time, explained Balfe, the left was associated with defence of Israel, while the right defectors John Cartwright and Christopher Mayhew were associated with sympathy the Arab cause'
Balfe also explained how Bernadette Mac*Aliskey had been 'leaned on' by left Labour MPs when she came into the Commons, stop supporting the Palestinian
Iraqi gunners attack Iranian troops aircraft to attack Iranian tanks and troop formations, and the staffing of
Iraq by US personnel.
Among the Arab states only Syria has maintained good relations with Iran and backed Khomeini in the war. Reports suggest
Labour movement conference
launches Palestine campaign
by the Palestine
an increasing recognition
cause, in return for their support on Ireland.
By Phil Hearse
The myths of Labour Zionism were explained to the conference well-
Uri Davies and Moshe Machover. Uri Davies also explained in detail the nature of Histadrut, allegedly the Israeli trade union federation, by in fact the second
Israel and a fundamental pillar of Zionist state.
Delegation
Moshe Machover, like Jeremy Corbyn MP.
the dar before the conference, on
plaining that the event had
seen cancelled - a typical product of the Zionist 'dirty tricks' department.
i ne conference also heard presentations by a speaker from the General Union of Palestinian Journalists, the PLO office in London and trade unionist from Palestine.
The conference passed resolutions calling for campaign to recognise the
that Syria is intensely worried by the prospect of a military confrontation between the Arab states and the United States and Iran and is urging an ending of air attacks on shipping. Saddam Hussein, however, has indicated that there will be no let up Victim of the Sabra-Chatila massacre PLO the legitimate
Palestinian people and for th expulsion of Poale Zion from the Labour Party Poale Zion, the British af filiate of the Israeli Labour Party, "socialist society' like the Fabians, and has representatives on uls, as well as the night to vote in the electoral college.
in Iraqi attacks to try to cripple Iran's oil industry.
Khomeini's regime in Iran is undoubtedly one of
anti-working class governments in the world, guilty of untold atrocities and Chic. But the working class and the poor can ex-
Speakers explained how the affiliation of the British should he capitalist party fought in the labour movement. By raising the issue
nature of Poale Zion the whole question of Labour Zionism could be raised in the Lahour Par ty.
To carry forward the work supporting the
International
pect nothing from an American intervention.
Opposition to Us intervention is a question of the defence of Iranian self-determination. The work. ing people and oppressed of Iran will have to deal with Khomeini selves.
Palestinian cause the conference decided 10
• labour move. ment delegation Pal-
1985 to report back on the situation the Palestinian general and the Palestinian lahour activists In parlicular. It was also decided to organise a speaking tour
Palestinian trade unionists in Britain.
Page 9 scan of this page
Surplus Value
THIS WEEK the started by Tony 'Alliance for Socialism' is taken up by Kent miners' leader JACK COLLINS. He spoke TURNER of Socialist Action about how he saw the miners' strike important part in building a broad alliance to fight for socialism.
MANY THINGS COULD happen as a result of the miners winning their strike. Not only will we save pits and jobs, transform the labour movement into a fighting machine, fighting to change society.
The basis of any alliance of the working class is that first of all you've got to determine whether or not you want to change society. I believe we can draw many people into such a movement - I'm thinking for exampie of the peace movement and le trade unions — and build an alliance of all the political forces on the left. The only condition is that those people must want a socialist society.
The only Waly forward for the working class in any society is through struggle. The Kent miners have never alempleu to run away rom & struggle. We've built broad alliances with many sections of the trade union and
the Kent miners are getting during the strike is overwhelming. support because we've built alliances and always stood by others. It's an alliance that has to be worked for.
For example, it's not enough just
discuss question without discussing the polities of it. Why have we got cruise missiles? For
society. Why have thousands the police miners about? Because the role of the police 10 defend the
If we come out of this miners"
preventing pil closures without anyone learning any political lessons, then we've lost. It's no good striking to save jobs it in the process nobody is politically developed. But. after three months, many miners and their wives and the pit villages have been politicied. They have learned political lessor. i the message is taken to the peoge. t0 will respond and delp to work lst a
Criminal
working class and trade union movement are running awa! struggle. Everywnere we can see ine confusion being created by the righ! wing. We can see it in our own union. and we can certainly see it in Labour Party. People like Neil Kinnock and Peter Shore are sabotagjng the miners struggle because they don't want to change society. But the activists in the Labour Party are doing tremendous work for the miners, financial. physical and moral. So we
differentiate between membersmp ano te readersmo. Im convinced there's basis establishing a socialist society within the Labour Party — but first the right wing leaders and their ideas have to be unloaded.
Those who control society know the potential of the miners strike. They will attempt to find a way to divide the miners. They will bamboozle some of the miners' leaders - scab leaders Jack already on the bosses' side, and others who might be wavering. We must not give in one little bit to the Coal Board.
we show weakness would ride over the top of us. They would shut pits and do all the other things that go with a defeat. This also means that when we win, we must go
debate
Benn's
CAROI
playing an but we can We get that
of peace
we got
pushing
but
young
17:110/
trom the
the longer holidays.
alongside other trade
the that goes for
He talks the
But the
Murrays.
more important.
are with the exception of scab workers But
the NCB
problems. They
for everything. For a shorter working week, for early retirement, and for
- which would have a tremendous ettect on the working
And the miners must stand unions and other organisations to make sure the! secure the things they are fighting for.
tions in the NUM who are noted for not wanting to fight. But of course
for other sections of the working class as well. That goes for the TUC and people like Len Murray, who's never fought a battle in his life.
way the TUC bureaucracy has always talked.
miners don't associate people like Ray Buckton with the Len
Buckton has made definite statement in our support and,
it's not just talk ASLEF has delivered the goods. . So have the NUR and the seamen, and —
haulage society. • so have the TGWU. then vou near peoole in the power industry saying we mustn't use our maustral muscie to sorve ponnical
are completely removed from reality. The fact that the miners are fighting is political.
An
alliance
for
struggle
The fact that there is a working class al all in a capitalist society is political.
Our problem is how to get leaders of the movement who are prepared to point the way will do this by putting trustworthy people in leadership positions. most important, having got them there we must make sure we've got control over them
Look at the miners' union. many years ago it was dominated b! the right wing on the national ecutive. We organised and now left have a majority. We democratised our union — and once you do that it's safely in the hands of the left. was no accident, it was worked for. It took many, many years of discussing and organising. If the miners could do it, with the forces that were against us at the time why can't workers take control of the TUC? But the TUC will not bring about a transformation in
That needs political organisation, Valt that wants establish a socialist society.
New leaders are being created during the miners dispute, who for the first time in their lives are taking
HINKS
NUR
A.S.LEF
SEAMEN
T. G.W.U
ON leading positions in the struggle. The Kent miners aren't directed by me, they have a free rein. And that creates the conditions which allow our men and women to bloom. This is the way And, ming society.
In the drive for more profits, captialists must intensify the exploitation
Not of working people. The way to defeat
people is by breaking the class organisations
the trade unions.
The Tories will only trade unions in Britain if they break This the strongest union. If they smash the
miners the rest will go. The miners ar on the streets because they're demanding not to be. make sure they don't have to keep fighting.
But I'm overlooking the most important thing communists, Marxists-
to call ourselves
Britain in isolation.
If there had been no revolution in Russia in 1917, there'd be no Cuba, no Nicaragua, and fighting in El Salvador. I suggest there wouldn't be many miners fighting in
of struggle.
Ing.
struggle Liverpool, HLLICIS
tain
taking place.
The Nicaragua
we're fighting
and Nicaragua.
police rioting people of when popular' from
established
meni. spectrum From
the ways
working especially the
break the
think
Led!
They are fighting to
As socialists, - whatever we we cannot look at
from prop
no workers
Socialist Action 1 June 1984
Britain either. Everything is a process
The workers in struggle are changing this society. If we look at the world as a whole we'd be absolute. ly 100 per cent convinced that the workng class on this planet are winn-
The outcome ot the workers'
be determined Greenham or the But they ale part revolutionary change. Perhaps we are not in a revolutionary situation in Bri-
today world •Nicaragua, El Salvador, Africa and Asia - there's a revolutionary change
System and EI that Salvador people al t
fighting is exactly the same system
Different conditions make them fight in a different way. I suspect if the capitalist system in Britain is pushed far enough, the British working class will have to fight in the same way as the people of El Salvador
In Britain today you see masses of
everywhere, breaking and entering houses in Nottinghamshire. At the beginning of the strike you wouldn't have thought that possible Yet now we see it. Leon Brittan set up the Gestapo in Britain when he gave police special powers recently. It was all on the pretext that miners had been
I was in Mansfield the other week and I saw the riots. The rioters had blue uniforms on. They were the people riding their horses into the miners. the people swinging their truncheons.
This society will become more and more oppressive That's why even tually we might have to do what the
EI Salvador are doing.
Nobody wants it to be that way, but the bosses will go to any lengths to maintain what they have. That means defeating the working class, and the working class won't stand for it. Socialist
Finally, I'd like to return to my first point, that the basis of a working class alliance is wanting to change society. would sav to Mr Hobsbawm
The proposes 'broad alliance based on support parties like . the SDP and Liberals - that he's not put putting forward that proposition in order to establish a socialist society.
socialist society won't be by all sorts of wierd alliances of that sort. The people who will change society are the people who have been won to the socialist argu-
But then / accept that meny, man! peole - ne saite colar sections o! the trade union, the peace movement
Were sering the cachers in action. the nurses in action, other protessional people in action - along witt the blue collar workers.
it's thai alliances are forged — but they've gor to be honest alliances. We can't makt alliances lust fo prop up the svstem
I'm not a member of the Labour Party but I don't have a sectarian attitude towards it. In the present strug. gle people right across the political
are allied to the miners. the Labour Party, right through to the extreme left. I am convinced that these people can unite.
They may argue about many of
acheving and developing the struggle, but I believe they are as sincere in their desire to establish a socialist society as I am. Because somebody belongs to what is referred to as an ultra left organisation, I don't write them off. I might
they' re misguided, but then again they might think I'm misguid.
I'm absolutely convinced that the unity the miners have created in this struggle can be developed to create a united front to build a new society. The Jack Jones and the Len Murrays in our unions will be swept away because they won't do anvtning apar
up the system. History demands they'll be swept away.
• Jack Collins is Secretary of the Kent miners, and has been a working miner for more than 30 years.
Page 10 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action
LABOUR ST BE LABOUR MOI M
MP ASEN PARTY PRIME
SOCIALIST ACTION has been sent the following iwo letters of resignation from the executive of' the Labour Co-ordinating Committee.
Neither Judy Sadler nor Barry #inter are in any way associated with
John Denham, Chair Labour Co-ordinating Committee, Dear John,
I am writing to inform you that 1 am resigning from the
Vow that I have a job, I must CULPE. cut down political
VII mitmenis. My unhappiness about the drift of the LCC means that it is no longer a prioritv for me and. on the contrary, I increasingly find that being on ihe executive is a political embarrassment.
I have always been in a 'minority
on ne execunve Dar lave
een willing previously to continue in In Is postion. I Have always wisneu le LCC to represent a broad sweep of ine en wao are rudame ally committed to the Labour Party. ineretore not expected mr coincide completely with members of the executive.
However, the present can no longer be said to be representative of the left. cerome a very Hartow has become much too
Labour leadership. Though I do not think the left has necessarily to take an oppositional position in relation to the leadership, I do feel the I.CC should be a pressure group ex-
anink fose close to Kinnock were pera naiv geni to argue as thev did over ir? une mem ber-one-vote issue, this incident is illustrative of the close ties hotireen the LCC and the leadership
practice only members of the executive were fored, whilst rumours on the issue spread).
I have also found myself increasmgly having disagreements policy. For example, I do not think the time is ripe for us to be arguing for
small private SCLEUF. haven't won the arguments
A PESOI THE AGTION
I was watching Dockor won comd a soie to the SDP and I heard
him say cnaw, wnen nis
fatherreturned from the war in '45. he "like many others failed to recognise him".
1 June 1984
MINISTER
Resignations
from LCC
executive
our pages.
LCC ExI have vIews (0 many years, supported the other
executive widely more crucial that those has YIVus anu li closely linked
wolels selected in- Chancl.
Decolt over
WuCH for Judy Sadler.
I can understand that a child might have some difficulties in recognising a father after so long an ansence •Du n, did "many others"..
Initially the LCC
'offered the left a broad forum to meet, exchange ideas and argue out differences". w s necone politically narrow and loo closely linked 1o the Labour leadership'. questions they raise regarding the present policies and tactics of the LCC, its refusal to oppose witch hunts, and its lack of independence from the policies of Neil Kinnock are questions of which very much merit being discussed on the left and echo points made in
ingls
economic planning and public control over enterprises yet. When it comes to
there arguments for it to be a community
trol, but in Thatcherite Britain we are a long way off from having to argue the pros and cons of this matter: it is at best an irelevance, at worse we are falling prey to the increasingly accep-
ecutive is taking a position on the left slate for the CLP section of the NEC which is likely to threaten the place of those who have consistentiv. and for
women in the Labour Partv. It is verv important that the number of women on the NHC is not reduced. but even
sciousiv seek to represent women do
noe one ano ule execuuvc Iul
or-alsauvn. because it is part of a general trend within the LCC to circumscribe very narrowly who is a legitimate part of
way it is at present, as it has done some gond work as an organisation of the left. I hope it does not become an
of generations within he Labour Party (i.e. a section of
establishment) but serves to swing the
He obviously meant that many other children in similar circumstances had the same problem.
To Paul Convery, Secretary. Labour Co-ordinating Committee Dear Paul.
Please inform the executive that after consulting with fellow memhers
the ILP (Independent Labour Publications), I haie decided resign from the executive of the L.CC (Labour Co-ordinating Committee). Put bluntly I see little purpose in remaining This is not simply because l have political differences with the ma¡ority, hut also because l am increas-
Lon eredao e " hich the LCC 'leadership' conducts the I.CC's politics.
In the four years that I have been on the executive 1 have had many political disagreements with the positions adopted, but I never found that being in a minority was quite as futile and frustrating as it is today.
Notice of my growing concerns was given in my candidate's statement for the executive elections. I expressed worres about the wav the Lc C was being led in the aftermath of the General Election. Too often public image presented of the L.C( seemed to be in advance of decisions taken by the executive, let alone the membership. I argued that it was important for the LCC to maintain itself as an independent socialist pressure group inside the party. I am not contident that progress has been made on either count.
Having called for a more organised and politically coherent left inside the party (something whịch Neil Kinnock expressly opposed in debates in Tribune and the Labour Leader, 1977/78) the ILP welcomed the setting up of the Labour Co-ordinating Committee. It offered the left a broac forum to meet, exchange ideas and argue out differences.
But today the LCC is becoming politically narrower and democratic. Important issues are not decided at annual meetings but are remitted to the executive for decision (even with the encouragement of executive members). That was the fate
foithe debale on "one member, one
Moreover the executive is no longer the political cross section of the left that it once was. One indication is the fact that eight out of its Iwenty members belong to the same SCoRMaE
Are you trying to imply that David Owen, in a caretully constructed party political broadcast, is incapable of saying what he means?!?
political grouping, others seem politically close to them.
executive do presence of any other group, but when one organisation has such a prominence focating. Clause 4's representation is in excess of what is reasonable and Gecirane
ecutive l made a caretul and measurec statement criticising this development and asking those concerned to show some restraint in the future. in anticipation of proposals from the then chairperson, and rice-chairperson, inal we appoint immicalalely do caisting executive leading member of Clause 4 - 10 the post of Organising Secretary.
pecause or me restarte Dul ur hy some of us the comrade concerned
honourable withdrew. elected Chairperson of the LCC, and the new Secretary is also a member of Clause 4. I have no wish to question the the qualities or the integrity of the tio comrades concerned, but i do oppose inis burener annedll growln in or group's influence.
4 members to reply to my comments Alter all it am wrong put the record straight. The group ha remained silent. I mar ne a suggest, that Clause 4 is not a hard. political tendency but nor is it entirely a bunch of organisation it does political coherence and rationale for its existence. Its origins in the movement, its battles with Militant. the way its key members
adesers as reorie dipol and
advisers) office (as MEPs) surely indicate aspects of its polițical character? This political narless rowing of the executive effects the political agenda and priorities of the LCC: a consensus is presumed anc those who disagree simply appear 1o he awkward.
Too much of the organisational rather than political in emphasis, and opposing such practicies is becoming increasingly futile.
example adopted any specific policies towards
defeated a motion from the ILP advocating Tories" the LCC launched financial support to the LCC youth committee. what does it operate I wonder, other than several of the (from Militani?
Those who l identity rent leadership of the LCC comrades are individuallv - have a political ap proach with which I am increasingly at odds. political course pragmatic and eclectic (for all its talk about campaigning politics). op party leaders, hisp to mo nage are
partv leaders. and to manage in LCC's image so that it does not upse anvone. he preference seems lo pe
Clause 4. and
Having represented the ILP on the ship's views on
noi oppose the carly LCC
the effect is often suf-
to politics.
At the first meeting of the new ex-
This was
Harriet Harman.
Peter Hain.
member and disunity).
thing and Now instead he has been At the first meeting 1 asked Clause
they should
iome
individuals. As have some
student
seek in-
the LCC generalized
practice
Line Lul nas nol uncomfortably should be.
outright opposition to the Youth Training Scheme. Yet
and has given
political basis executive, comrades concerned tile members Finally, Clause 4) being opposed 1o
as the cur good
and hardworking as they Hiako
but have no
The LCC has been set on a
that deeply
and Illas Barry Winter.
What now seems to matter 1s the
VOL
Surplus Value
for politivally fudged positions, whict
The LCC leaderseek to please all.
"one member, one voic" is a prime example. At least th
much as ! disagreed uith it — had a tirm position agains one member, one vote. The present executive, 'permisive' approach a it calls it owes more to acrobatics than
Vacillation and image consciousness do seem to he uppermost. An example of the latter is the much publicised appeal for lett unity. This appeal was sent 1o the left und to the media ai the same lime.
na sunported the appeal hecause I wanted to know just what its purpose was (so many appeals for unity are thin disguises for sowing
Nonetheless the appea went out and many left groups and individuals replied. but the issue has heen dropped. I can only conclude that it was geared towards gaining some pres» püblicity for the LCC and not much else. Part of the problem these days is struggling to tind out lus what is going on.
For instance I learned recently that during the parly leadership contest the 1.CC office was given over 1o ee manarki campaien. eventhae
maioril! executive favoured his election this may not hare heen unrea onable, although no decision was laten 1o devote lne
lo the campaign. and two of the LCC's three elected officers were never intormed
Had I felt that these and other matters could be usefully aired and resolved on the executive, then | would not he resigning now But ex perience tells me otherwise. Nor can I catalogue the full list of my concerns although this letter tries to indicate what I think is going sadly wrong.
1 have tried unsuccessfully to get the LCC to reply 1o fierce criticisn from one far left group which accused
being witch-hunt against the Teft. But nothing has happened. Instead of the matter heing cleared up it has been brushed under the carpet
Although 1 know of no desire hy the executive itself to support witch-hunts the situation (and perhaps the views of individual members) is more
ambiguous than
supporting n1y resignation from the executive the ILP has not decided to pull out of the LCC itselt But for the present at least we have no wish to be associated with the Cc
pretering 1o be rank and
can i thank those who voted for me in the past. I.et's hope it is not too late tor the LCC to sort itself out, and for the membership to
executive more accoun. table. I don't regret my experience!
desire 1o prolong what has become the A the nir
declared on her death-hed.
Yours in comradeship.
P.S. I would he grateful if you coutd let the membership read this letter in
next circular. This resignation will he made public
Page 11 scan of this page
News
THREE MEMBERS OF the Exeter Labour Party are under threat of expulsion over the production of Exeter Labour Brieting. always be resisted. the situation in Exeter is particularly crucial since the Labour Group of the city council went into coalition with the Liberals after the 3 May local elections.
The decision by the Executive Committee of Exeter Labour Party to start expulsion proceedings against the three editors of Briefing follows long argument over the name of
journal. For some uhne. cc have been trying persuade the editors to change the name of the publication, claiming that the views expressed there might be mistaken for Exeter Labour Party policy
the March general committee meelig resolution was passed instructing Labour Briefing to cease publication under that name. The issue was not discussed the resolution was passed on the nod as part of a lUng report trom ine CA" ecutive without being noticed by Briefing supporters at the meeting.
The three editors Peter Bowlg Mike Hingley and Mark Wilkinson- woo vc ov ccnz expulsion have refused to change the paper's name, wanting. identify with
policies Tat uldr Labour Briefing. Apart
this, no reading of the Labour Party constituL01l could possibly the general committee power instruct party members change publication's name.
theretore carried on publishing under the Briefing name, but included a disclaimer on the front page. Ihe expulsions constitute discip. illial y allU1
hiberal
TR MANON
Coalitions mean
witch hunts
While witch hunts must
from this defiance of the general committee resolution.
reality DOlLica hehind the arguments about the name is that, in a party where policy is rarely discussed. a small group of
activists are under attack tor irving io keen socialist principles alive in Exeter. This is particularly important since the city council elections in May.
By lan Clifford, Exeter Labour Briefing
Following both Liberal and Labour gains, the
control of the Tones OSL council. Without any consultation with the constituency party, the Lahour Group entered a 'working relationship' with the smaller Liberal Group.
Lib-Lab majority control all council committees. Long, leader of the Labour Group, is now leader of the council with Liberal backing. Needless to say, the policies pursued by this coalition are unnkely change much for the city
La point conceded bv ClIr Long in the local press recently. •Hlte tIC manifesto had to become the hasis tor the working relationship with the Liberals, it was necessarily
levoid of socialist cotent
may have been among the first to consider parlamentary coalitions. in exelel we are already living with
one.
One Labour councillor who considers himself left wing relied on the recent
Eric Hobswallles bawm when explaining to the
Univclsll LavouI Group before the elections why it would be necessary to go_into coalition with the Liberals after the elec.
The same councillor Lull. launched the most bitter,
witch-hunting attack on
editors when HC DCE calling for their expulsion And it was ClIr Long who proposed the expulsions at the executive.
It is imperative that all talk of coalitions is vigorously attacked. Tony Benn recently referred to Hobsbawm's ideas as 'the strategy of pesimism, the tactics or aereal . Quite right. Coalitionism is based on the oer tildl socialism is no longer achievable.
But it is more than this. It is a politics rooted in fear generated by the present econonC CIsis. provides an excuse for those who are afraid to take their place the struggles now facing ordinary people. It provides an excuse to abandon real struggle against capitalism and to mount witch hunts against anyone who tries to draw attention to these struggles.
The supporters of Exeter Labour Briefing intend to carry on fighting
such fearless, 10| democratic vision
starting by sUllalsil fighting witch hunt itself.
• For more information contact Peler Bowing.
Powderham Crescent, Exeter, Devon or phone E.teter 58692.
CPSA: Reject
merger with
managers' union
AT THE 1984 Annual Conference of the Civil and Public Services Association delegates voted (though not overwhelmingly) for a merger with the Society of Civil and Public representing managerial and executive grades. This move initiated by the right wing organised around CPSA General Secretary Alastair Graham and backed by Militant supporters spells naught but danger for rank and file CPSA members.
Taken at face value the proposition for a merger could be seen as advantageous to a union which has been losing thousands of members since the arrival of Thatcher's 'New Order', and the cuts jobs and services it has entaled In • addinon CPSA is also to lose some 40 0 members it's Post Telecommunications section which is aboul lo ballot it's members on joining the POEU.
By Howard Fuller, CPSA
However this particular amalgamation would not be reresesented by the aPses teres the who would face the prospect of attending union meetings with their supervisors and managers present - rather a daunting prospect in the civil service!
Although ian he argued that there are large number of good activists in the SCPS, it must be remembered that when
comes LN Ci crunch most SCPS members put anel managerial duties first! Although CPSA
receive backing civcl) from the Society over pay, there are loo many areas where the interests of the two groups clash.
Stopped
The advocates of the merger argue that the CPSA's aTLeT member ship will enable members
keep ulic caclutIve grades under control.
However one has only look at the experience of other top bottom' unions to see this is not goNUT is dominated by the to be the case. The headteachers and NALGO
well controlled by the higher grades.
Just being
matey
MOD ys not tert ir
nog nota
abuse, unlike the hateful
nigger 01 COOLI.
real world it is almost an
affectionate description
used all the time by peo-
ple who are in no way evil
racists.'
That must be true
because it's written large
SaSU week's Sunday
Telegraph. And that bas-
tion of anti-racism and
tolerance, the Sun, ex-
plains to all you carpers
that the expression 'nig
nogs' are just two
'naughty words'.
As they say it's not
people like him that use
the words 'nig nogs' who
cause all the trouble: it's
those dedicated warriors
sniffing out alleged race
discrimination (who) do
Servants (SCPS), the union
problems of the
1 ne merger TOr …Tne oronna. member stem from the way the ser vce structured and controlled. wnal kina or relanonship can be expected from union rep wno ls also youl supervisor responsible for your annual ICOUL It 19 likely that the CPSA's
rank and file militancy will be neutered
executive grades dominate the new unions' structures.
Facing
A campaign against the merger is gradually taking shape. sll une orces uo posed to the merger are as disparate as those who are in favour.
On the right a substantial section the 'Daylight" are op posed despite Alastall ran alli Only one group has so far actively cam-" paigned against the merger
the 'Socialist Caucus' an alliance of the hard left which operates within the Broad Left has taken the initiative and is planning to run a campaign for a no vote in the forthcoming referendum.
Frightening
However secuns of the non-militant left still need to be won ovel and this will be an uphill fight as the acolytes of Militant have thrown their weight behind right wing General Secretary Alastair Graham as ne manoeuvres io torce through the merger. Both Graham and Militant see benefits for their various strategies in this. Graham would secure nusel stronger base from which
pursue evel rightward licis Milan 'new realism' policies. hope to create (eventually)
one big civil service uniol (under their control) as-
COLinuC HIIUYCN away from Marxism.
far more harm to har-
mony between the dif.
terent communite. than a whole police force
of Peter Johnsons.
Our police reckon kicking SUllie black person around a cell in Brixton and calling her or him a
nig nog is the best way to
show i their affection
Now and again when they are beating up black prisoner they suf-
fer from what the Sun
calls 'a slip of the tongue'
and get a bit nasty and
refer to her or him as a
'coon' but then anyohe ce arke amsece.
After all some of those
Dachat
Belson made the same
slip of the tongue when they called those Jews
'yids' but surely they
shouldn't have lost their
jobs for what the Sun
calls a 'trivial slip'?
Whatever happened to the tolerance of the
Socialist Action 1 June 1984
Manchester:
right wing vote
for Tory mayor
cuts, no rent rises and no job losses.
The first meeting of the full council last Wednesday saw the Labour right volng wiin ine lories lo secure seats on the policy committee and defend the municipal monarchism of the Lord Mayor.
By Paul Atkin, Gorton CLP
The Labour Group proposed saving money by cutting out the pomp and circumstance of this post, replacing it with a functional 'chair of council', left winger Ken Strath.
The right wing voted instead for Tory Harold Tucker, thereby ensuring he got the job and the cermonial hoo-ha to go with
Further, in voting down Labour Group members or al arsUrt
MOLES
EYE
VIEW
white race? Degenerate WHEN TROTSKY wrote Revolution Betrayed he explained nOw the first workers state had degenerated
even he hadn't reckoned with the lot they have got running the show now
Soviet bosses, with the approval for sure of the party, have gone one
11 SINCE MAY's local elections a right wing rump has boycotted the new Labour Group of Manchester city council, now committed to party policy of no
ment of Tories, Liberal and old-guard Labour the right wing have served notice of their future intentions.
These old-guard are no longer a majority Manchester party, just as they are no longer a ma jority the Labour Group. They can only de fend their personal posi tions on the council by collaborating with class enemies.
These people must go! This unholy alliance is a threat to the succesful implementation Party policy.
cannot be won solely in the council caituer. needs mass support on the streets and
the workplaces. Building that support is the task of the whole Man. chester Labour Party in the coming months. step uTLoer along the path of degeneration and are buying Hill
programmes of ITV. M
Chichov-
vesevo cod sKV ex ers, explains thes , a Russian 'cultural' will scrub out the Hill jibes at gays official USSR line is they don't exist anyway • but 'the rest of the jokes and the girls will be kept in'
It's to know there won't be too much censorship.
Page 12 scan of this page
APARTHEIDI
THE VISIT by South African prime minister PW Botha which starts on Saturday is an insult to black people in Britain and world-wide. It is symbolic of the desire of the Thatcher Reagan and his friends in the United States, to bring South Africa back into the fold of international respectability.
During the next few days Tory leaders will huff and puff about tell upposition to apartheid, but claim that oly be achieved by tak- reforms'
ing to the South African leaders. This line is just a smokescreen for the rea attitude of the Tories and their friends towards the South African regime one of support and cooperation.
In the first place South
Resistered as a newspaper with ine post OTICe
Published hr Carding: nterprises. TO Box oo. LonGeR NI Printed By East End Offset (TU) Ltd. London E2.
NO-TO
NO TO
government, and of
Africa is regarded as vitalWestern ortiance important the from a military point view.
Despite the formal ban on arms sales to South Africa, this is regularly breached with a nod and a wink from the British government. Huge Rritish -11 -vestments in South Africa reap fat profits British monopolies and banks.
The hypocrisy of the
SociAlist
ACTiON
BOTHAL
Tories' arguments about reforming' apartheid exposed daily by events in South Africa itself. Far •LIC position of blacks in that country getbetter, it is getting rapidly worse.
The policy of transporting millions of black peoPands is being speeded up- outback 'homeMore than 4 million people will be transported under the 'Surplus People' project, while only useful"
DIaCK workers will be allowed to live in the bulk of the country reserved for whites.
That is the reality of apartheid white supremacy being
deepened and strengthened under Botha, while he is feted and praised by the governments of the 'free world.
South Africa, far from being treated as a respectable part of the international community should be treated as what it is - a racist regime based on institutionalised thuggery.
On the day Botha arrives Anti-Apartheid are promising their biggest demonstration for decades. 2 June must be made into huge demonstration of opposition to apartheid by the British labour movement and progressive public opinion. All out 2 June!
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← Socialist Action No. 59, 25 May 1984Socialist Action No. 61, 8 June 1984 →