Socialist Action No. 8, 6 May 1983
The scan: 008-may-06-1983-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
ACTION
30p No. 8 6 May 1983 ROCK THE TORIES! ROCK THE BOMB!
Page 2 scan of this page
JOBS NOT BOI
2 Socialist Action 6 May 1983 THIS WEEK the main
Peoples
March entered Eng-
land. The stage is set for
the march to become a
locus for the anger of
the unemployed and in
labour movement
against the
policies of the Thatcher government.
On the
march:
In the
North
East ...
THE NORTH EAST of England has the highest rate of unemployment
Yet only at in Britain. the last moment did a reluctant regional TUC executive agree to sanction a North Eastern leg of the People's March.
The march from Newcastle Middiesbrough will pass
By Dave Carter (Secretary, Cleveland Association of Trades Councils)
through areas where 30 per cent to per unemployment the
of domination by right-wing unions and UnCH sponsored
scheme
MORE THAN
quarter of Britain's
young people cannot
find a job. And it's the
same story in the rest of
Western Europe where
more than 4,500,000 of
the 12 million
unemployed in the
Common Market coun-
tries are under 25.
The Tories'
response to this
catastrophe is the slave
labour Youth Training
Scheme (YTS). By the
end of 1983 employ-
ment minister Norman
Tebbit wants 460,000
the majority of
young workers - on
the scheme.
These are the main
features of YTS.
• It is a year-long train-
ing/work
perience/place for school - leavers coverine the ma
jority of young employees
and trainees 225 per week will be paid An allowance of just
to trainees
The requirement for
off-the-job training and
education is only 13 weeks
• Emolovers will get
grant of £1850 for every
trainee taken on in addi-
tion to their normal intake
march approaches London. will be calling for ine
labour ment to turn out for thre
June demonstration
the capital mighty demonstration of the massed ranks of The labour movement.
Group' MPs
wholesate closures in the
unionists are Inkening it to
in ine 1990s, an era lol
TRONA.
How to fight Tebbit's slave labour
• The Manpower Ser-
vices Commission expects
that of the total 460,000
places, 300,000 will De
with employers, private
and public and
160:000 will be based in
training workshops, com-
full y education based schemes. projects and
By Graham Attwell
(Branch Sec. NUPE
Glamorgan MSC.)
In its booklet Youth Training a TUC Guide
and Checklist for Trade.
Union Negotiations the Brades Union Congress tells its members TO ANK employers for YTS and 'if it is not intended to run a
scheme, press for one to
run.'
The TUC believes tha " The race lor co-operate the government will introduce the scheme with no. trade union influence.
Guidelines
Public Employees also issued guidelines YTS. They point out the shortcomings of YTS and the dangers posed to trade unions.
Hall
Town Hall Middlesbrough
Yorkshire
By a marcher THE MARCH started at Keighley on 26 April.
the area; building workers,
We off for Halifax April
Bob Cryer is a
shell why march necessary.
ing
thousands 1112 on The The • local
council, and Tories
we slept in
where we
were by
were CICuut
Labour
We town
the trades
council the district
we're in
Bradford!
... Ireland.
UNEMPLOYMENT in
the South of Ireland is
now the worst
'Despite the
assertion that the YTS is
about an integrated train-
ing programme all
school leavers, in the con-
text of this government's
policies it can only be seen
as a means to keep young
people out of the labour
market and off the
unemployment register.
'At the same time it
acts in conjunction WILD
LICE other policies to
reduce wages, especially
for young workers. The
government doing
nothing to create jobs for
The young people
people.
will merely end up being
unemployed at 17 instead. Basis
The basis of NUPE's.
argument is that unlike the
Youth opportunity Pró-
gramme which was for the
young will me used the
YTS be used by
employers to replace
employees' by 'trainees" race. do not have
the legal rights and protec
tion enjoyed by employee
- for example the Sex and
Race Discrimination Acts
and the Health and Safety
Acts do not apply to them.
and Young WOlICI
young people from ethnic
communities have suf-
Western Europe massive 15 per cent. In addition to the nearly 200,000 jobless there, there are also 115,000 without work in the North.
That's why trade unionists and unemployed came together to organise a Peoples March for Decent Jobs which marched from Cork arrive in Dublin last weekend.
The protest is part of a movement which has in-
begun to challenge cuts in benefit and sit-ins against redundancies such vietorious Clondalkin Paper Mills occupation.
A Marcher's
journal
'MAGGIE THATCHER'S tragic; socialism's magic. Da ra ra ra Da ra ra ra.' You try dancing a bloody jig to that fifteen miles out of Cumnock, two miles to go to Sanquhar with sheep for company and the rain coming on. 'The reaction's been fantastic', a marcher from the north west says. 'I'm coming back here for my holidays.' is mill be
another turn of the screw.
power to pick and choose
and offer poor wages and
Schemes
counter-productive not to TUC had endorsed them
It has cooperated with the
Charter of Rights.
reduces first year
Misement wakes up ase
hundreds of thousands of
Charlie Howie comes
trom Ailmarnock. Alle six years of school and two years of college, nine months after leaving and I've still got no job.' According to Charlie, 'the government's responsible for the majority of unemployment. It would be under a million without it.' High
For Charlie 'the high spot so far is when we reached my home town - Kilmarnock. Up to then my feet were really sore. But with the welcome we got my feet didn't touch the ground. There were over a thousand following us around the town. It felt like a thousand anyway. It was great.'
Kilmarnock is a solid place. The one way system winds past the Palace theatre and an im-
- a brave front for a fringe party in Scottish
Whisky
On the left Johnny
Walker's whisky plant:
Distillers company, which
makes Johnny Walkers
accounts for half of Scot-
tish exports (extracting oil, services and finance).
£426 million worth of its
products were sold
'abroad' in 1981. It's the
stuff that stays behind
that's worth drinking.
Sanquhar is typical of
the next stage of the mar-
ch's long journey south. . Wee and windy' villages
and mining.communities,
interspersed with miles
and miles of countryside.
Through Cumnock we
pass a small council
'scheme'. Housing is one
of the vital bonds bet-
ween the Labour Party
and the Scottish working
class.
In 1915 thousands of
Glaswegians went on rent
strike. Led almost entirely
BRITAIN
Mexborough
Peoples
march
for jobs
by women like Helen
Crawford, they demand
ed, and won a war-long
Ten treeze.
Since then the Labour
Party has built municipal
housing for half
Scotland's population.
Most of it is worse than
what it replaced. Back in
Glasgow on the
Castlemilk scheme 48
tenants were arrested last
week, demonstrating for
Ebbw Vale
'83
APRIL = JUNE
new housing after a deliberate fire burnt out a tenement.
The scheme in Cumnock gives the march a good reception. Roy Cleary from Stranraer puts it this way.
•We have been taken in by the people.' 'Most evenings' adds Diane 'there's social life laid on and we mix and socialise with local people. We are
Per
101
PEOPLE'S MARCH on the 4000-strong picket agains
Page 3 scan of this page
MBS
definitely getting our aims
across with the people.
We are getting more and
more press coverage as
the march goes on. But
we need to meet more
people'
Diane wants to get to
Birmingham. 'I always
wanted to go to Birm-
ingham.'
Roy explains: 'Yes,
it's the big towns. That's
what we are looking for-
bles
ch
obs
itcher's visit to Sheffield
CHA
PLES MARCHED FOR JOBS,
ward to. That's where
they've got mass
unemployment, like us.
It's crowds that get your
spirits up. Up to now we
have been mostv mar-
ching in the country.'
Dumfries church hall Na-
tionwide announced a
'Peoples March' item and
as the cheers went up,
there was a real feeling
that the preliminaries
were over
NO NUKESI
nukes London. March from the
back 24 May
Day for Disarmament. And the
The call for the day was initiated by Greenham Common women and the women's
Speakpeace movement.
He a a ves converenc last week representative Helen John said that this backing showed how successful Greenham Common has been in getting trade union support for their action.
MAY
24
ENT:
The organisers expect that this will be the biggest day of women's international action vet held. On the day women will be taking the lead blockading, marching, picnicking and conducting die-ins
and internationally.
Men in the labour movement are being asked to support these actions, keeping to the spirit of a Women's While
Dav. most of the action is pected in Britain and West Germany, simultaneous action WIll be going elsewhere Western New Zealand, and Australia, New une USA and Japan.
Joan Grant, a black woman speaking at «treetnam CON ference, stressed that women in the West should be made aware of the 'hid-
behind the aen process nuclear arms build-up.
'Cruise missiles were tested the Pacific Islands. The people Kwajelein were moved off their island. but the wind was blowing in their direction. They got radiation sickness, their fish poisoned, they live
Socialist Action
YCND
COME to the Rock the Bomb festival. 7 May Brockwell Park, Brixton,
Music from Paul Weller, Hazel O'Connor, Clint Eastwood and General Saint. (Tel: YCND 01-263 0977 for further details)
TUC and Labour Party
LAST WEDNESDAY the Trade Union Congress general council and the Labour Party national executive backed the 24 May International Women's
People's March have declared 24 May a women's day of action.
barrack-like homes while the their land is used to test weapons.
Uranium mining taking place on the land of Navajo indians in Arizona and New Mexico.' she said.
The British labour movement has a special responsibility in relation to
By Valerie Coultas
mining Tinto Zinc employs Namibians to extract uranium for processing in Britain with appalling wages and conditions.
By drawing out the links between the testing production and siting of Lucical weavulls May women hope to explain the reasons behind the arms race.
While formal support from the labour movement has been overwhelming in Britain is has been more difficult to gain commitments to action.
TUC Congress. for example, and its last congress passed a resolution proposed by the Transport union calling on the TUC to initiate demonstration with other European trade union centres on Hiroshima Day on 6 August. But little or no work has been done in this direction. ex-
MAY
on
24
the
dos of The best response for 24 May has come from NALGO ACTTS, ASTMS and NATHE where the feminst lobby is strong, but here too there is no clear instruction from
6 May 1983 Embankment (11.00am) to Brockwell Park.
MAY
24
national leaderships.
Among manual unions NUPE officials have expressed support and will probably give publicity to the day but are reluctant to give a strong lead because of 'long struggles by our
OVCE pay privatisation.'
But among rank and file activists support growing quickly for the 24 day. At every union conference Greenham Common women have met with a fantastic response from delegates.
At the Scottish TUC they spoke at the biggest fringe for years and support came from the militant Plessey and Timex factories fighting back against job loss.
Labour councils have responaca lo resolutions from women's sections and women's committees. Council employees in Islington and Camden will be encouraged to participate in the day's events.
The Greater London Council's women's committee is planning tivities along the North • London rail line to protest against the passage nuclear waste through the city.
Jo Richardson Harriet Harman hope to get women MPs to visit the threatened South London Women's Hospital highlight the link between welfare provision and expenditure of arms.
Let's make 24 May the next big step to stopping the missiles in '83! • For further details contact the Greenham Office 5 Leonard Street. Londor EC3: Tel 01-251 3133, Special trade union kits are available for those who want to take action in their work places.
3 1lam with a
village *10-12 May ponents Expo Tor aclals
ed bi London Region committee. Details from ERCND meeting will include Ken Livingstone (GLC),
Trades Council), Organiser), Ron Jeremy ington North) *Sat 14 May Lawnmarket, Strang MP
CND. Speakers: Ken Livingstone, Alan Rogers MEP,
. Contact David Bays (01)-992 0287 Peace Party, Ruskin Hall, 2.30-5.00
Lucas Plan, open to
Livingstone, GLC; Gareth Daniel and Hilary Benn *Thur 19 May Meeting
*Thur 19 May Meeting
Children's Peace Peace week.)
Come ence • OCaKCIS
Workshops
TUs and
George Square, Glasgow. Rally from Greenham,
. For Peace' co ne women's centre.
from Carmel McConnel, Tel: (0273)-60426:
Speakers: Reg Race House, Victoria St., Bristol.
and Greenham Further details, 061-682 9334.
031-557 4283/4.
Send to CND Events, Street, London N1 2XP of
and
to
campaigning paper for youth.
Revolution
Buy Revolution. 10p.
50, London N1 2XP.
CND
EVENTS
*Sat 7 May Youth CND Festival for Peace. Starts at
demonstration from Embankment marching to Brockwell Park. Bands, speakers and a festival
Demonstration outside Defence Com'83, in Brighton. Contact (01)-278 1976
*Thur 12 May Day of Action against Arms production at Thorn-Brymar's Brimsdown site in Enfield. Organis
CND's Trade Union 6 Endsleigh Street, London WCI. Speakers at this lunchtime, factory gate,
, Jonathon Hammond (NUJ President), Paul Lefley (Sec. Haringey
Lou Lewis Blanchard (Haringey Councillor) and , Corbyn (Haringey Councillor and PPC for IstConference 'Nuclear Disarmament, a Trades Union Strategy. Starts 10.30am at Riddles Court,
Edinburgh. Speakers will include Gavin
Allan Roberts MP, Women for Life , Starts 2.00pm at Penrhys Community Centre *14-21 May Ealing Labour Party Disarmament Week *Sat 14 May Street theatre, Acton Precinct, Children's * Wed 18 May Meeting, Ealing North Labour Club, Th
LP members & their guests * Thurs 19 May Public meeting, Acton Town Hall, 7.30 Nuclear-free London — Nuclear-free World with Ker
Mary Kaldor, END; Greenham Peace Camp Woman; Norman Atkinson MP, PLP
•Disarmament: The Present State' Organised by S.E. Birmingham CND. At Friends Meeting House, Hall Green, Birmingham, starts 7.30.
• Speaker Bruce Kent. Starts at 7.30 in the New Village Hall, High Street, Orpington. *Sat 21 May Women's Peace Action. Southall bunker
2.30-5.00.
*Sat 21 May South London CND Labour Movement
include: Jo Richardson Alaistair Macrae (NUPE Nat Officer), Pat Arrowsmith.
NV.DA and industrial action, Alternative Labour Party Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11. £2/£1 admission * Tue 24 May Glasgow Women for Peace. Day of Ai tion for International Women's Day for Disarmament.
16-apl will spedhe.
Faslane, STUC Women's Festiva more information contact 'Womer I for 57 Miller Glasgow G2. Tel. 041 221 1177 Sats. after 1pm * Tue 24 May Women's day of action of peace. De::: *Thur 26 May Meeting organised by Bristol TUC\D
and Greenham Commo: woman. Also two films. Starts at 7.30pm at Transpor * Sat 28 May Greater Manchester CND trade union con ference. Speakers: Ron Todd (T&G), Les Huckfield MP
wonten.
* Mon 30 May Torness Festival of Re-Creation, 2pm t ate at Barns Ness, near Dunbar. Details from SCRAM
CND Events is a regular column in Socialist Action giving a round up of useful facts, news and dates o forthcoming events in the Anti-Nuclear movement
The listing of events is free and the details should
REVOLUTION
STOP THE MISSILES IN 83 JOIN YOUTH CN
ROCK THE BOMB!
GET the latest issue of Revolution, the
will be on the march to Brockwell Park on Saturday. Join us!
Come to see us at our joint marquee with Socialist Action when you get there!
For more information about Revolution and details of subscription write to PO Box
Page 4 scan of this page
'I hope from the heart that anyone with human
Socialist Action
IRELAND
UNFREE
Abortion rights and wrongs By Hilary Driver
'The state acknowledges the right to life
of the unborn and, with due regard to
the equal right to life of the mother,
guarantees in its laws to respect, and, in
so far as practicable, by its laws to de-
fend and vindicate that right.'
LAST WEEK the Dail, the Irish parliament, passed this amendment to the constitution in a defeat for the ruling Fine Gael party.
Originally, the proposal to constitution in this way was supported by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, who were falling over themselves in the race to be 'more anti-abortion than thou.
But although the massive debate brought a welcome relief from the spotlight on Eire's economic crisis, it had a stormy dynamic all its own.
The row isn't even really centred around pro or anti-abortion. Abortion has always been illegal in the South, with an estimated 5000 women coming over to Britain each year for them. The proposal to enshrine this in the constitution, this, but it has nevertheless provoked an uproar.
The Protestant churches viewed it as a sectarian provocation, 'the most divisive issue in the history of the state', and attacked it as a misuse of the constitution. Although of course they are anti-abortion, they believed that the laws as they stand are good enough.
Much of the row centred around the wording of the amendment. The term 'unborn' is neither legally defined or easy to define at all. There are real fears that 'unborn' coming into existence at fertilisation or conception. In this event contraceptives which are believed to act by preventing implantation of the fertilised egg in the womb, such as the coil or the morning pill, could be outlawed.
Similarly, the fact that equal status is given in the amendment to both the right to life of the mother and the foetus, may well lead to doctors refusing to treat women with ectopic pregnancy, cancer, kidney disease and so on if it may endanger the life of the foetus. Many women would die through being denied medical treatment - and of course so would the foetus!
It will be left up to the Supreme Court to interpret the constitution in law. abortion lobby (who adopt the ridiculous name
"pro-life') are gearing up for test prosecutions.
They hope to be able to obtain injunctions to pre-
vent women who they suspect may be planning to travel to Britain for an abortion. It has already
been suggested that the 1861 Offences Against the
Person Act is updated to make it a criminal of-
fence for an Irish woman to have an abortion
anywhere in the world
The pro-amendment lobby are now pushing
for an early referendum
referendum results in a 'yes' vote, this will only see
the beginnings of what will undoubtedly be a sus-
tained onslaught on even the limited rights of Irish
women.
• The Anti-Amendment Campaign can be con-
tacted at PO Box 1285, Dublin 7 (Dublin 308636).
A PIECE OF
Involving es fright peng
6 May 1983
died,
This
amend the won't change could be interpreted as
Already, the antion the issue.
THE
On.come on!
It's not that
POLICE in Stoke Newington have a long record of racial violence and harassment.
This has been a central factor in the widespread support locally for an independent public inquiry into the death of Colin Roach. Colin Roach — who showed no suicidal tendencies — was shot dead in the foyer of Stoke Newington police station last January.
The night that Colin
This father was questioned for three hours by the police
asking about son, he was told nothing after the interrogation did they tell him that Colin was dead
They then proceeded to search the house. At one point, a police woman grabbed Mrs Roach by the throat.
The death of Colin and the incredible intimidation
family and supporters • nas served to highlight the history thuggery of the local police
In 1981, Nellie Knight reported a burglary of her
The police arrived NOUSC. and Nellie LICI daughters, Jennifer and Janice, were dragged outside the front door.
Nellie was assaulted by the police and the three of
were dragged
screaming out of the house
of their protest that Nellie's six year old daughter was alone in the house.
Nellie was stopped
from screaming by being
Liz Thomas (left and Janet Pearce)
* CORMES
Colin Roach Campaign
feelings will support us'
the
hit in the mouth by object produced from police officer'S pocket which caused internal and external bleeding.
By Jeff Charlton
She was thrown headlong into a police van and the door slammed or her feet.
Jennifer, who was then only 13, was forced into a van by two officers, with her arm twisted behind her back. Nellie was lying face down on the floor while the police rested their feet on her. Janice's nose was bleeding.
In the charge room all
were subjected to racial abuse.
Nellie was taken Hackney hospital her mouth was stitched, and then taken back to a cell where her daughters nao been kool.
Both young women then started vomiting and in spite of numerous requests WelC denied any
assistance Jennifer was
still very ill later, and was
denied a sanitary towel
Hackney nursery sackings
It's a
I spiritual duty!
duty!
It wasn't until 7am the
day, after the tervention of a friend that
immediate ordeal ended
Nellie, Jennifer and Janice Knight are now all active in the Colin Roach Campaign.
Nellie says. •hope from my heart that black and white people if
THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE POLICE BILL has taken off. A mailing of 20,000 has been set out to get delegates to the conference on Sunday, 15 May, and to publicise the march organised by the Campaign to Curb Police powers on May.
About 10,000 - have ASLEE, NALDO, ACTI been distributed the Fire Brigades Union, the London region of the Labour Party and others.
are Univings, black organisa MPs, trade tions, police monitoring
CLPs, LPYS projects. branches and other organisations against the Bill have all given their
THE SACKING of two workers on 16 April by Hackney's Market Nursery is producing a profound upheaval within Hackney lett and feminist circles, and is raising far-reaching questions about problems of progressive childcare.
The management committee widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the
borough, has over the last few weeks been engaged in a blundering but determin-
ed campaign to sack two
of the staff, Janet Pearce
and Liz Thomas.
It has flouted basic
trade union and socialist
principles in the process
9111 fanned anti-lesbian
prejudices.
It has also provided
ammunition for scandal-
mongering papers like the
consists of sprinkling Holy Water on the bombs whict ok word
they've got any human leenng insiac tnem aovul the prejudice, brutality and hatred 0] the police towards the black community, will come out and give us their physical support and attention'.
• Messages of support, donations and requests for speakers should be sent to
Kill the Police Bill
support and are sending
delegates.
Organisations in the front line of the fight
zalll. police violence
ike the Newham 8, the Roach Family Support Committe, the Stoke Newington and Hackney Defence Campaign, and -the Free David Avondales Campaign, set up to strug gle the release David, young Afro-Caribbean from Southall wrongly imprisoned, all joining the campaign.
By Tim Wright
The conference is go-
ing to be large. It has not
been called just to discus
the Bill. All the delegates.
will be aware of its im-
plications. The conference
is about organising to fight
the Bill. There will be
By Helen Jamieson
Standard, and the Daily
Mirror WACE called the
women 'witches'.
On March the
management committee
attempted to sack Janet
and Liz outright
with no prior
warning and
Under
pressure from NUPE they represcitalion.
agreed suspend the
women and have a hear-
ing.
But this could not have
been a fair hearing - the
women had already been
sacked. The management
committee had already
stuck its neck out claiming
that all the problems at the
nursery would be resolved
if Janet and Liz were sack-
ed.
The management com-
mittee was the judge, jury
and prosecutor: the hear-
ing was used to try and
justify the sackings.
The charges levelled the women included.
negligence in their duties,
being disruptive influences
and having extremist and
sexist attitudes.
The only independent
observer at the whole hear-
Hackney Labour
councillor, Denise Rob.
son, wrote in a letter to the
management committee:
'It is my personal observafinal decision was reached however that the
without proper regard for
the evidence presented b
the defendants.
During the hearing
some charges were drop-
ped because they proved
groundless. Others that re-
mained cannot be taken
seriously, for example that
Janet told a child tha
Father Christmas does not
The policy at the nursery before Janet even 10 have a Mother Christmas.
News
the Roach Family Support
Committe co 50 Rect016
Road, London (01-254 7480). • MARCH RALLY for an independent publi inquiry into the death of Colin Roach. Sat 14 May, 12.30pm. Green Gardens (Bethnal Green tube), Called by RFSC
nientv ol time for contributions from the floor
and for the election of a representative steering committee to co-ordinate national activity.
The conference will mobilise for the march on 22 May and for a national picketing of police stations on 4 June.
Socialist Action sup
porters must build for the conference and organise TOT LICSC CVCHILD If a June election is
called the NCCL believe the Bill WIll through by the Tories. The Bill is liable to become an election issue. Democratic rights are being savagely attacked and the black commediately endangered by being the Bill.
The Bill can kill: Kill the Police Bill.
The real problem was
that these so-called pro-
gressive. had no clearly
worked poncle. non-sexist and I non-racist
practice,
management/staff rela-
tions, on behavioural pro-
blems of children and how
to deal with them.
Tensions arose over
policy open
discussion and debate.
Rumours abounded.
Eventually splits arose
between staff and between
parents. Janet
were blamed because of
they were outspoken, and
the progressives turned in-
to anti-uniol witch.
hunters.
With the sackings, in-
stead of everything return.
ing to normal, things are
falling apart at the seams.
The biggest blow to the
management committee
has come from a resolu-
tion which was passed
unanimously at the
workplace union meeting
April (one person
on zo
absent) called the
management committee to
agree to a fair appeal for
Janet and Liz, and to agree
inquiry into
workings of the nursery.
Anyone wishing to help
should write letters or pass
resolutions condemning
the sackings and deman-
ding an appeal, as well as
demanding an inquiry into
the nursery.
conies to the
Management Committee
Market Nursery, Wilde
Close off Pownall
London E5); to Anthony
Kendall (leader
Hackney Council); and to
TAP Jane Pearce/Liz
Thomas Support Group
Box 19, Sisterwrite, 19 Up
per Street, Donations would be ap. London NI.
preciated.
Page 5 scan of this page
Nuclear free defence?
News
AS THE PEACE MOVEMENT has grown concern to present a credible alternative defence policy has also grown.
Last week Defence without the Bomb was published by the Alternative Defence Commission, which proposes 'de-coupling' NATO from the US nuclear deterrent making NATO a non-nuclear defence alliance based on conventional weaponary.
The book
coming 'Nuclear Free Defence' (Heretic Books) collects numerous individual contributions around the same theme. How can Britain be defended without the bomb?
Paul Lawson
The problem with the 'alternative defence' ineorists is tal tney starl to give ground to CND's
1o gel involyed in the discussion about allcliativ. defence' means making an assumption about who we have to defend ourselves against. The argument in Defence Without Bomb starts from 'common sense'
accepted Tories, the SDP and the Labour rgnl willg WC have to defend ourselves against the 'Rus'sian' threat. Warriors
Once that is acceptea, and it is admitted Soviet Union does have a big nuclear arsenal, plans for 'non-nuclear defence' start to look threadbare. What's wrong is the assumption that we have to have 'collective
against the alleged Russian threat.
The idea the Soviet leadership is planning to invade and occupv Western Europe is a myth
the cold war warriors. ty of Soviet domination of
Europe ques tion, and its having probiems Willi its economy, the last thing the • Soviet Union is going to do is invade Western Europe. The USSR would gain nothing
Depo- Provera:
the case for?
DEPO-PROVERA is a
contraceptive drug that is
injected and whose ef-
:lects last Ior luree mon-
ths.
Upjohn, the US
manulacluer. 1wve
appealed against last
by such a crazy action.
The practical proposals produced bi the Alternative Defence Com-
are NISSION ulobiall NATO an alliance dominated by the United States and based on the first use of nuclear weapons. An attempt 'de-couple' NATO from Tne American nuclear 'deterrent' would be bitleny opposea nor just. by the United States, but the establishments in al Western countries.
ment for 'the defence of freedom' analist Soviet aggression. Is an ag-
alliance. The Soviet Union is surround. ed by US military bases trom Norway to Turkey and from Pakistan to Japan. Turkey, one of the most repressive countries in the world. is a member of NATO.
On 12 March 1947 President Truman came out with the "Truman doctrine' in which the United Moscow
States would aid 'free peoples who are resisting. subjugation by armed
meant the of the "tree world' the 'advance of communism'. rrom then on, tionary or national libera-
were labelled tools of Moscow'
The United States and Britain helped to put down left movements in Greece allu l'urkev. The 'Moscow aggression' theory was used during the Korean war, and again in 1953 when the CIA helped overthrow the Mossadegh government Iran and Truman doctrine was up- nack the Shah. The dated in the 'Eisenhower doctrine' in 1957, in which
pledged to help any right wing which needed help against 'armed aggression'.
This resulted in the invasion of the Lebanon in 1958. and was followed bi the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 and the invasion the Dominican Republic in 1965. The NATO alliance
aimed at the containment progressive year's decisions by the Health Minister, Kenneth Clarke, not license the drag for long term use.
Women injected with Depo-Provera have suffered from prolonged heavy bleeding and other
and revolutionary social movements.
The agressive tions NATO alliance can be seen
side effects including delayed return to fertili-
weight gain and public hearing presently being conducted has reveáled some very asturbing These have been made public dy pellionels will are for the licensed use of
drug Britain. (Groups opposing the license are not allowed to speak at the hearing!)
A lot of research on the drug as usual been conducted in third
Conclusions on the drugs effects on endometrial made from Thailand villagers, but it was admitted that as only 12 women were exposed to the drug, these were inconclusive.
The drug has been used as a short-term con-
Harry S Truman architect of US post-war cold war politics.
in Gerpost war Illally period. When Germany
was divided into US, French, British and Soviet occupation zones, the Soviet
traceptive in Britain. At the London Hospital in the east end it was revealed in 1977, only 22 per cent of women given the
were told about it discussed by their doctor.
Many of these women were Bengalis.
A junior doctor at the hospital said: 'It's no use explaining about beagle dogs reference cancer tests) she's an il. literate peasant from the bush'
Male
assault
FIGURES on the colour of assailants for 'mugg-
offences aroused criticisms of racism when they were released last year by Scotland Yard
The Met said they
:Union proposed the reunification of Germany as a neutral state.
But the Western powers were determined to
wouldn't be givell in Inel public announcement of the figures this year.
lected, however, for robbery and other thefts.
Although many •columns of Hansard (the official record of ceedings) on 22 and 28 parliamentary March are devoted to an analysis of assailants' colour, such attention is not given to the sex of assailants in assault cases.
Labour MP Frank Dobson asked the ques-
victims of male assault?
The answer from Patrick Mayhew was that *information seperately identifying male assailants is not collected
the Metropolitan
One of Britain's counter-insurgent gangsters.
keep part of Germany as a bulwark against the 'red menace In 1948 the British, US and French LUlIC were merged and the construction of the West German state set in train. Ine laea neutralised states Europe was thrown out in favour of a ring of i steel around the Soviet Union. When talking about "altermauve celence we nave la understand that the forces of Nato and Britain ar there defend the capitalist social The British army since the second world war has played a reactionary role everywhere it has been used — cypis. Korea, Aden, Ireland, Malaya and the Falklands. Today it is one of the best trained 'counter-insurgency' forces in the world.
But surely even
Britain would need to defend itself? Of course, out a socialist Bri. tain could not use capitalist army tor this purpose. To defend
Britain against
provided only disproportionate cost' City Limits, Stop
Halimat's
deportation
HALIMAT Babamba • came Britain September 1980 from Nigera lo om ner nus band.
In July 1982 she left him because of his
towards her.
Halimat is now settled in
young children, Hakeem and Mustapha.
Halimat says: 'If 1 go back Nigeria, children will be taken from me. I will face the
Socialist Action 6 May 1983 5 foreign aggression - and the only people interested in overthrowing a socialist Britain would be our pre sent NATO allies could only rely on working people.
Army
Faced with a foreign threat, WIth internal capitalist-backed subver sion only armed workers orkers could be relied would be the very opposite of the present army last thing that capitalism walls Is lor le pcopie le be armed.
Workers' militias could ensure effective and
resistance to any aggression.
SOUT advocating mass civiliar detence in a socialist Bri tain is very different to any scheme to 'reform' NATÓ or to make the army more powerful through con scription, relying on conventional weaponry wielded by the best trained anti-'subversion' force in the world.
same violence from my husband.
'I will not be able to
go to and no home there
• believe mi LOIC and my children's home is in this country'.
• For further informa-
speakers etc.
LOl. tact Friends of Halimat Babamba, Box HB, Cookridge St, Leeds LS2 3AW.
Compiled Send contribu HILARY DRIVER.
TON
Socialist Action, 328 Uppe
Street, London N1 2X) arrive noter than aur day a week prior to publica-
Page 6 scan of this page
6 Socialist Action 6 May 1983
fire.
Just two days later the!
and Morazan provinces from control.
America.
spelt out that successtul revolution area could easil!
the region'.
supported aggression. 'we should not, and will nor.
their oon people.
Nicaragua
Population: 3 million Main products: cotton, coffee, sugar.
Economic structure: banks, insurance com-
fishing industry Dallas. and mines are nationalised, together with 30 per cent of agriculture and 40 per cent of the rest of industry. State monopo-
credit for ramired
credit. 'mixed economy' but growing state sector.
Political ture: revolutionary
sandinsta National Libera-
(FSLN).
FSLN government based on mass organisations CDS (Sandinista Defence Committees), popular militias, CST
organisation) womens
youth orzallisalulls. organisations etc Political situation: -rection the FLN inrection FSLN herited an economy state of collapse. They have been engaged in long process of
Food has increased 40 per cent since the revolution. Free medical and dental care has been introduced. Infant mortality has declined spectacularly.
Illiteracy has declined
Manchester Rally
Hands Off
Nicaragua
Speakers include: Nicaraguan ambassador, Jenny
Pearce of
Barnett (North West TUC).
Monday 9 May 7:30pm Town Hall Basement, Albert Sq.
Fire in the Americas
GUERRILLAs of the Salvadorean EMIN dealt a devastating reply to President Reagan last wech. follow ing his speech in Congress in which he said that the "Americas were on
swept into the north western town of Santa Rose de Lima. effectivel! isolating large areas di La Union
government
Reagan's speech to a syncophantic Congress was a masterpiece of hospocrisy — bur during it he in effect spelt our what was evactIy at stake for the I'nited States in Central
He called the area our front vard, and
in the spread further afield in Latin America. He pointed out that half our suppliesto our NATO allies go via the seas of
Reagan's hypocris! lay in his diatribes about the region being a 'magnel for adventurin' and a victim of 'evernally
Not a word about the grinding povert!. the victims of the right wing death squads. the savagers of the military dictators, which even the Economist calls the piranha right'.
Most breath-taking of all was his assertion that the l nited States was not trying lo overthron the Sandinistas in Nicaragua bur
proreet the Nicaraguan government from the anger of
from 50 per cent to 10 per cent.
Political support for revolution among the middle class has declined as the FSLN has moved to more openly socialist orientation.
Opposition inside the country include COSEP (employers federation), Constitutional Liberal Movement (MLC), and the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Main voice of the opposition is the daily paper La Prensa US intervention: US supports, and finance guerrilla groups of the Somocistas, DuUporters of the late dictator somoza, based in Honduras.
They are organised in the Nicaraguan Democratic Union (UDN), led by Fernando Chamorro.
This force is responsible for the cross-border incursions in the last two months. us aims to br. ing down FSLN government.
Operation is controlled by US embassy Honduran capital TegCIA has new alliance with Democratic revolutional Alliance (ARDE) in Costa Rica, SUDDULLCID of former FSLN commander Eden Pastora. 'Under the Eagle'), Colin
MEXICO
EL SALVI
Pacific Ocea/
Despite the grovelling response 1o Reagan in the Congress, the biggest cheers were for his promise that diS combat troops would not be sent io Central America. The volume of cheering for that particular point caught Reagan off guard.
But as the Sunda! Times pointed out last wech, such a promise was in contradiction to everything else that Reagan said. Ii the threat to L's interests reali! is so Times. then troops would have to be used an some point.
The Congress has gisen Reagan half of the $100m he wants to boost the Salvadorcan army. "Our cup is halt full' said the President "and we'll come back for the rest'.
Without some dramatic more from the United Sates. the within months of falling.
Central America escalates, we publish belon a country-bs-country guide to the contlici. Womens militia in Nicaragua
Guatemala
Population: 7 million Economic structure: The Guatemalan economy is based on the export bananas, sugar, coffée.
CULLULl there is a developing oil and meat.
field and a manufacturing sector based on Guatemala Citv. & I Del cent of all US investment goes Guatemala. tiny oligarchy which controls economy includes many people of US origin, with links to business Du vile in the South-West USA
At the bottom of the social pile are the rural
caribbean sas great. argued the Salvadorean regime do the lighting in
Indian population, the rural seasonal labourers and the unemployed. per cent ot the population controls 82 per cent of the land. 30 per cent the populațion are permanently unemployed. 80 per cent of the children are under nourished. 90 per cent of the rural population are
Political structure: Military dictatorship led Protestant fanatic KIOS Montt. In 1982 Mont and the officers supporting him overturned the result of the (fraudulent) election and
El Salvador
Population: 5 million
Main products: Coffee (unira largest produce
in the world), sugar,
Economic COLLUL. structure: El
Salvador is dominated by
the 'fourteen families the top two per cent of the population who own the plantations. Poverty among the workers and
peasants is acute.
In 19/3 58 per cent
of the population earned
"10 a month 70
per . cent of children
five are under-
nourished. The _per capita calorie consump-
tion is the lowest in the
Western hemisphere.
Unemployment and
underemployment is
permanent 45 per cent.
Over 40 per cent of the
population is illiterate.
Political struc-
ture: disguised military
dictatorship. Last year's
phoney elections elected
installed themselves in power.
The army is waging a Indians, believing them
the of subversion.
The political 'centre of the country has been virtually destroyed by assassinations of leaders of the Christian Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party. The death squad: are fascist Mano
(White Hand) who work together with the army.
Montt is waging
campaign to win over r the Catholic peasants to Pro-
fearing that the Catholic Church supports revolution.
an Assembly, led by Roberto D'Aubuisson. and toe fascist ARENA head of the death Dall The president,
Magana, is an extreme right wing Nationalist. Army leaders like Jaime Guttierez and Jose Garcia play a crucial role in the government.
Repression: carried by the death fascist : ORDEN , the National Guard and the ar-
40,000 civilian dead at the hands of these butchers in three years. Political opposition: led by Democrate Revolu-
Farabundo tional Liberation Front (FMLN) - the allance of revolutionary guerrilla armies.
FDR includes Commass organisa- revolutionary mass
(LP-28. BPR, DONS
Opposition: The legal opposition has been terrorised into quiesence. The revolutionary op. position is tne URNC
(Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity) an alliance of four guerrilla organisations which the Guatemalan Workers Party (PGT) and the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP) are the strongest
liberated zones in the countryside are less
than 1n Salvador, but the guerrillas are active in over half the country
Besides the revolutionary left, the Democratic Front against RepressIot (FDCR) co-ordinates 150
International
FAPU, Central American Revolutionary Workers Party, MNR (social democrats), Social Christian Party, trace unous US intervention: 60-100 US Illlars 'advisors' Includes operational planning Green Beret counterinsurgency CAOCIEs. at the US emins military
embassy. weapons provided United States, including Huey helicopters. aid to government from US (open and disguised) over $300m per year.
situation:
FMLN has launched military offensive sinc January. Large areas of the countryside are controlled zones'.
Without substantia. new US collapsetion. military collapse government within months is possible.
organisations. , legal parties and church organisa. LUIS American intervention: During the Carter era US aid to Guatemala was banned because of human rights violations. Arms sales have now resumed to Montt. Although the US is increasingly worried that his regime is isolated.
the crucial country in the region the United States is concerned. If US intervention is at a relatively low level. this could change rapidly if the guerrillas more powerful. Israel makes miltary aid that the US
Page 7 scan of this page
Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada
International
GRENADA is a tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, with a land area of only 144 square miles and a population of just 110,000, making it one of the world's smallest countries. Yet in the four years since the 13 March 1979; the people of the island have made enormous gains under the : leadership of Maurice Bishop's People's Revolutionary Government.
But, in so doing, they have incurred the wrath of the United States governmen which directly threatens the revolution.
In these extracts from a speech he made at Kensington Town Hall
16 April, Prime Minister Bishop explains these gains, the nature of the United States threat and the links between developments in Grenada those elsewhere in the Caribbean and Central America. (Chris Palmer)
A LOT has happened since 1980, the last time I spoke at a London rally. There has been the world capitalist crisis and now the threats to peace. There have been invasions, and most recently the invasion of the free sovereign soil Nicaragua. It has been a difficult and challenging period but also in many ways.an exciting and successful period.
The crisis in the capitalist world has had very serious implications for the economies of developing countries. It meant higher interest rates, while even in the capitalist world, we have the phenomenon negative growth rates almost permanent economic feature. Under this pressure, unemployment figures in capitalist world have been staggering. All this has had severe implications for us in the developing world. These countries, western industrialised countries, have been buying less of our goods and, when they buy them, buying them more cheaply.
For example, in Grenada, at one point we had 10 million pounds of nutmeg in storage in a situation where
annual production is around 6 million pounds. We have seen cocoa. prices fall by 65 per cent in the last two years and, because of the fall in the value of the pound, we have felt Ins even anore
At the same time the capitalist countries have beet selling goods to us more expensively and so the vicious circle has continued. Such countries have erected more and more barriers to trade with us: their protectionist policies have meant that even when we produce goods the tariff barriers erected around their countries have made it virtually impossible for us to have access to their markets.
So we now have a situation in the developing world unparalleled in the history of mankind. At the end of last year, the developing world. was leit owing debts of over $600 billion and had to pay over $130 billion by way of interest alone.
Over the last three vears. as a result of loss of credits, as a result of low prices and high interest rates, we have lost over $85 billion in purchasing power.
And if this were not bad enough, ine cabianst coumines Have begun Wo create among themselves a huge trade in raw materials, which developing countries try to export. Thus the exports of developing countries have fallen from 40 per cent of the world total in the 1960s down to 25 per cent in 1979. At the same time, the share of exports from non-oil exporting countries from 25 per cent to 11 per cent. The
now and new
of has
of
the
the
developing
difficult for
Monetary
diture But the
their
higher you were United States threat
ON TOP of all this suffering, on top of the world capitalist crisis, on top of the crisis in the developing countries engendered by the crisis, there is another even worse phenomenon facing the world. This new crisis is called Ronald Reagan the greatest disaster to hit mankind
'Reagan claims that the tiny
island of Grenada is a threat
to the United States'
also invest back the gains of the world socialist
Fund.
World
since Hitler. He believes he can roll
movement, that he can roll back the struggles of the national liberation movements. He wants to establish a new Pax Americana — or maybe I
He is a man who believes it is possible to win a nuclear war with a first nuclear strike. Instead of asking scientists to develop ways of overcoming world hunger, he asks them to develop a neutron bomb - a bomb that will kill people but leave property intact. And now he's talking about
But his contempt for humanity extends beyond the developing world to his friends and allies in the west. He tells Mitterrand and the French people that they are not entitled to put communists in the cabinet; he tells the countries of the European Economic Community (EEC) that they should not give humanitarian aid through the Salvador; he tells the EEC not to repeline deal from the Soviet Union.
So now we face not just the usual amount of imperialist destablisation and pressure which popular and progressive movements have always faced, but increased pressure and aggression. We face propaganda destabilisa-
Cuba, the first successful revolution in the western hemisphere. Stands as a beacon for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. But the strength of the Cuban people means that Reagan will have to use nuclear weapons if he wants to defeat them
revolution. This tas Grenada, much younger revolutions,
processes which are still being consolidated, he believes that a combination of propaganda destabilisation, economic aggression and the use of mercenaries and counter-revolutionaries will be enouch to achieve theil
and daughters of Sandino have to face invasion. The counter-revolut-
trained by the United States been sent there by the United States as directly as if they had sent their own
Liberation Front (FSLN) are on top
In El Salvador, the oligarchs in power are allied to the United States, which is doing everything possible to keep them in power. Reagan tells Congress every week that human rights are improving, that there is nothing really wrong with the government, that if the guerrillas would just lay down their arms then everything would be all right. But nothing can stop the for-
of the people of El
ONE of the reasons that Ronald Reagan is so blue mad at Grenada is that not only has he seen us resist all anterpts al destabilisation. but be has seen our masir? go forsard. Lev growth rae of see ce
the last four years there has been sa
Socialist Action 6 May 1983
accumulated economic growth of over 15 per cent.
In the same period we have seen a substantial increase in the public ex.
million in 1978, the last year before the revolution, to $101 million in
production growth of 34 per cent las
unemployment - from 49 per cent in
year wages rose by an average of 10 per cent while the cost of living rose by only 7 per cent. This is accompanied by further growth in the social wage, the benefits which our people see but do not pay for. For example, health care is now complete. ly free as is education. So then Reagan says that we have no human rights in
must co on the oriensive - we nave
every five years. To us, it means five things, and if you lack one, then there is no democracy. It means accoun tability; it means responsibility; it means mechanisms for popular parbecome the rulers; it means bringing benefits to the people because you cannot talk of democracy if the needs of the people are not met but are stiffed; it means an elective component. work, Reagan claims that Grenada. the tiny island of Grenada, is a threat to the might of the United States. By chance, half the oil and 60 per cent of
Valeile off the coast of Grenada. Maybe he would be satisfied if we were to move our island! But our people would not
tional airport, which we hope to be completed by next fifth anniversary of our revolution, is really a military airport. On television, he shows spy plane photograph:
Why take spy plane photos? Go and take the pictures yourself. It is the most popular tourist project in Grenada. Just at the end of the runway is a medical school where 650 Americans are training to be doctors. Every morning they go jogging «own tie new runway
SUCL works; then sophisticated soviet-style
What
AT THE present time there are 77 warships and over 300 aircraft making manoeuvres off We have to alert international public opinion to this threat, just as we have to mobilise internally. All the facts have been provided to our people who have been organised into militia to guard strategic points and factories in the face of this threat.
warships have invaded our territorial waters, one ignoring
coastguards stretch of coast for 3½ hours. In the face of this we have to build a strong economy and maintain our defences if we are to earn the name of revolu
importance of total solidarity with the revolutionary people of Nicaragua. In Grenada we have held a Nicaragua
held rallies, we have made statements of
bees designated day of Peace and Solidarity with Nicaragua. one revolution! If you touch Cuba you touch Grenada! If you tosch Nicaragua, you touch Grenada: Whe also recognise that the fighters of the Faribundo Marti National Liberacio Front in El Salvador are in the fr
Page 8 scan of this page
Pachic Ocear Rrayan nil yuard. -, back for the rest'.
: tie
• falling.
le Americas
Despite the grovelling response to Reagan
in the Congress, the biggest cheers were for
hi promise that IS combattroops would not
no ent to C'entral America. The volume of
•heering for that particular point caught
Bur as the Siles Times pointed out last
:. litha promic nas in contradiction to
* hi do that Reagan said If the thread • Pride real i so great, argued the *a tup would have to be used all
- in his given Reagan half of
agnes de house the Salvadorean
a hali full' vaid the President
he dramatic more from the
salvadorean regime is y. the lighring in .. lates we publish belon i guide to the conflict.
carbosan sol
Main
cotton.
Economic per under
Popelation: 5 million
I products: Coffee ¡third largest producer in the world), sugar,
structure: El Salvador is dominated by the "fourteen families' ine top two DC. cent 01 the population who own
Poverty among the workers and peasants is acute. of the population earned per cent
70 . cent of children sive are undernourished. The _per capila calone consumption is the lowest in the Western hemisphere
Unemployment and underem dioyment permanent 45 per cent.
Over 40 ner cent of the
an Assembly, Roberto D'Aubuisson -head of the death squads and the fascist ARENA party.
The Magana, is an right wing Army leaders like Jaime Guttierez and Jose Garcia play a crucial role in Repression: carried by the death fascist ORDEN, the National Guard and the ar-
40,000 civilian dead my. at the hands of these butchers in three years. Political opposition: led
fionary Front (FDR Na-
Farabundo tional Liberation (FMLN) -of revolutionary guerrilla
led by FAPU,
Social
president,
extreme Nalulalist.
Includes
Green insurgency out squads, the
weapolis
Revolu- Militar
Marti
Front the alliance
International
Central American Revolutionar! Workers Party, MNF
democrats), Christian Party, Lac tillis US intervention: 60-100
US military 'advisors'
operational personnel countel experts,
provided by United States, including Huey helicopters. Total aid to government from US (open and disguised) over $300m per year.
situation:
FMLN ha launched military offensive since January. Large areas the countryside are controlled zones
Page 9 scan of this page
BOBBY SAN
hunger strike.
tragically
right
For this 'crime' hounded
tivities
Secretary,
ed to accept. nation.
Ireland
wounds.'
troduction
Life.
There
remarkable
until be
Strike
The
prison population.
of these.
This
March
special
BOBBY SANDS died on the 5 May 1981 after 66 days of
He was years old. He had spent nearIy the last nine years of his
short life in because of his support for the
of the Irish people to determine their own destiny.
The by the government. His political ac-
were "criminal' by Labour's Home
Roy Mason charge that Bobby Sands and his fellow Republicans refus-
Bobby Sands and his colleagues showed that it was the British army and the sec-
Who was
'THE DEATH OF BOBBY SANDS and his writings are but a fall-out resulting from the cruel interference by Britain in the affairs of the Irish
I wish it were possible to ensure that those in charge of formulating British policy in
would read pages. They might begin to understand the deep injuries
which British policy has in-
flicted upon this nation, and now seek to heal these deep
These are the words of Sean MacBride in his in-
to the Sands book One Day in my
is about
biography of Bobby Sands
began his hunger
strike. His life mirrored the
experience of thousands of
men and women born into
the forcibly created sectarian
state of Northern Ireland.
repression
discrimination suffered
the anti-unionist population
in the north of Ireland has
been responsible for the war
and the subsequently
Bobby Sands was just one The policy
crimilisation, introduced by
Roy Mason in 1976 is directly
responsible for his death.
meant that
artioners convicted. in not-
jar! policical corE afres
1976 were status as
prisoners, a concession which
Socialist Action
these bonk,
jail
uS
was British
labelled
ten comrades
fight justice.
Bobby Sands?
had William
these
It
Bobby
nothing
the Sands,
and by
huge
then all
denied political
6 May 1983
tarian bigots who policed the corridors of Long Kesh who were the real criminals.
excerpts from a new Bobby Day in My Life (published by Pluto Press, £2.75),
about the and brutality for a Republican in one of her Majesty's jails.
It is an inspiring story of dignity and courage.
When the Whitelaws and the Masons are long forgot-
Bobby will he ered by all those pledged 1o
exploitation and been forced Whitelaw previous hunger strike.
The first stage prisoners struggle against this
was the blanket protest which
later developed into the 'dir-
ty' protest as a result of con-
tinuous harassment of those
'on the blanket'.
is this perience which Bobby Sands portrays in his book.
Liberation
The hunger
many effects. Firstly it show-
ed that the north of Ireland
could dominate the attention
of the world's political com-
mentators.
embarrassing for the British
government.
Secondly it dispelled once
and for all the myth that the
war of liberation in Ireland
has no mass support among
the anti-unionist population.
The election of Bobby
tion of Owen Carron and the
continued success
Fein is proof of this. The fact
that Sinn Fein are marginalis-
ing the
Labour Party
evidence, if any were really
needed, that the war of na-
tional liberation is based on
the mass support of the com-
munity.
If this were not the case Bobby
others like him. Fould neser
kare bees is prison.
roud serer hare died on
banger strike fighting to be
recognised for
were - prisoners of war!
In
Sands: One
The tells
humiliations of prison life Sands and his
rememb-
infrom by
of the terrible exstrike had
This was highly followed by the elec-
of Sinn
Social Democratic
is clear Sands. and
Thes
what they
Page 10 scan of this page
It was still dark and
when I woke. I don't think I got more than an hours sleep during the long restless torturous night. The cold was intense, biting at my naked body. For at least the thousandth time I rolled over on my side, hugging the blankets close to my body.
The dawn broke and out of the shadows of the dead night materialised the daily nightmare. The dirt and filth, the scarred walls -the inner confines of my stinking, smelly tomb greeted me once again. I lay listening to my own gentle breathing and to the caws of the crows.
A key clinked against the steel door. Footsteps came charging along the outside corridor breaking the silence. The crows fled in an explosion of chattering caws, my mind fought to register the meaning of the confusion. Panic gripped as the heavy steel door rattled and flew open.
*Right,' screamed the self-appointed tyrant. 'Drop that towel, turn around. Bend down and touch your toes.'
I'm not bending, I said.
Within a few seconds, in the midst of the white flashes, I fell to the floor as blows rained upon me from every conceivable angle. I was dragged back up again to my feet and thrown like a side of bacon, face
DS MP downwards on the table.
Searching hands pulled at my arms and legs, spreading me like a pelt of leather.
The door slammed shut and I lay on the concrete floor, chest pounding and every nerve in my body strained. Could have been worse, I tried to tell myself
as a consolation. But this didn't convince me or my aching body one bit.
cell, an aching black-andblue frozen body, a bunch
it isn't even bloody well breakfast time yet!
to yield. If I didn't get a blanket or two soon I'd be in trouble. You don't ask for them either. I learned that a long time ago. Show one weakness and you've
there were 43 of my comrades in exactly the same predicament as myself.
scéal (news) could liven the wing up was unbelievable.
Dungannon march when one of the lads brought back an estimate of the turn-out, plus a smuggled photograph.
felt so happy in my life. disturbing ple, I thought. I felt proud to be fighting for them. It brings a lump to my throat even thinking of it now.
my family was comforting. ' It was the highlight and only highlight of each long tor-
of comparative happiness each visit. That's six hours of comparative happiness a year, six hours out of 8,760 per year. Six lousy hours and they harass you and your family for every minute of it.
Every minute of my nightmarish surroundings screamed at me. There was no escaping this nightmare
very few - had already given up. They had put on
ed. Not that they had wished to do this. They just could not bear the unrelenting burden of torture.
The depression, the beatings, the cold ... look
you.
An empty freezing cold
of psychopaths beating men to pulp outside the door and
The biting cold refused
dug your own grave. Besides
The way a good bit of
Like after the Coalisland to
1 looked at it and never
Aren't they grand peo-
forever?
The thought of seeing
turous month. Half an hour unless I gave up! A few — a
spirit. prison clothes and conform-
blankets.
'One morning I
am going to
wake up
out of this
nightmare'
out of the window and concentration camp screams at
Who among these so-called humanitarians who kept their silence on the H-Blocks, who among them could put a name on this type of humiliation and torture, when men are forced by extreme torture into the position that they had to embark upon a dirty strike to highlight the inhumanity poured upon them.
But I am determined that I shall never give up. They can do what they will with me but I will never bow to them or allow them to criminalise me.
And I thought of my dead comrades again. My friends who had stood beside me one day and were dead the next. Boys and girls just like myself, born and raised in the nationalist ghettos of Belfast to be murdered by foreign soldiers and lecky sectarian thugs.
How many more lives would be lost before the British had decided they had murdered enough and were forced to get out of Ireland •
But I survived. I beat them again. The torturous dungeons and the sadists who manned them had destroyed my body but had failed to break my spirit.
It was a skeleton compared to what I used to be but it did not matter. Nothing really mattered except remaining unbroken.
They have nothing in their entire imperial arsenal to break the spirit of one single Republican political prisoner-of-war who refuses to be broken, I thought, and that was very true. They can not or never will break our
I rolled over again freezing and the snow came in the window on top of my
"Tiocfaidh ár lá' (our day will come) I said to myself. "Tiocfaidh ár lá'.
Socialist Action 6 May 1983
Page 11 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action 6 May 1983
SOCiAlist
ACTiON
Why the Tories
witch-hunt CND
WHY ARE the Tories witch-hunting Monsignor Bruce Nuclear Disarmament? Over the past three weeks the Tories have waged an unremitting campaign of dirty tricks against CND and its leadership. They have • threatened to deprive the Citizen's Advice Bureau of half its government funds linking this to the spurious charge CND's chairperson, was not fulfilling her duties as a part-time CAB employee • put pressure the casting Authority and coverage between CND and such 'representative' groups as Women for Defence • put out black propaganda implying that CND is run by the far left • brought clerical influence to bear on Bruce Kent to relinquish his post and return to his job with the Catholic church. Dirty tricks
The campaign is by no means over yet. The • 'dirty tricks' department headed, as Bruce Kent quite accurately pointed
Winston Churchill, work, aided by No. 10, to the eve of the general election.
And this of course is the reason for the Tory campaign. Quite simply CND is the biggest vote winner that the Labour reciprocally the election of a Labour government is the only hope that CND has of realising its aim of stopping the missiles in 1983. ranks with recent polls showing that even Tory voters are deeply split for and against the installation of cruise.
So what should CND Heseltine's offensive? First of all it should con
chaens and vet bain the face the Tries
charges hit back against Bruce Kent nas already Secondly IT should not unilateral disarmament.— the policy that ties its fortunes to a Labour victory. It would be illusory to suppose that by soft-pedalling its policies, as some tried to do at the last CND National Council, that it can build a broader coalition with the Liberal SDP. demonstrated that they have no interest in taking the road to which CND is committed. Outline plans
Lastly CND should take the offensive and outline its plans to stop the missiles whatever government is in power.
That can only be done by the trade union movement taking industrial action to back up this political aim. The trade union support gained by the Greenham Common women for the 24 May Day of Action shows what can be achieved of CND approached its affiliates to organise such action.
A national strike against the installation of the missiles would be a warning to Thatcher; any other government, that the stationing of the missiles would be met with a determined programme of economic and mass action. It would of course redouble the Tories campaign of hate against CND.
But CND supporters should be flattered by such attention since it would merely mark their degree of success.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
Signed articles bv contributors do not necessarily repre sent Socialist Action's views. editorials.
Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London N1 2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180) Send all material for publication (including advertising) s. To socals Acon carlora a me same adaress. We regret that due to the high cost of postage we cannot return or acknowledge unsolicited copy or photographs unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
Kent of the Campaign for
that Joan Ruddock,
Independent Broad the BBC to 'balance' out, Thatcher will continue its
Party has. And
can also cause havoc within the Tory
do faced with
'dirty tricks as successfully done. weaken its line on
Both parties have or These are expressed in
sales
We've walked the course we've walked for miles we're back on the road and we've come a long long way for the Brockwell Park Roadshow banners proud voices raised couple o' cans o' beer we're out to rock the bloody bomb and get Maggie out of 'ère
We're mobilising our rank and file if you want ACTION it's us you dialwe'll tread that tightrope full of cheer we'll stop cruise from being based here
By Alex Warner Labour CND West
A STEERING committee met on 17 April Land agreed to hold the in-
augural meeting o
Labour CND West on 26 June.
We want to protect composite 51, to build
unions, trades councils and national CND. We hope to help Labour Par-
CND members and vice versa.
We want to maintain pressure on the Labour Party leaders, the Parliamentary Labour Party and lne nalonal executive committee and to
left by a 'British non-nuclear defence for Britain' which allows for a non-british nuclear defence for Britain
Labour CND West will cover the South West Region of the Labour rarty. Ine formation of Labour CND West was initiated bv Hadvn Thomas (PPC Westbury) and Jeff Osborne, the probable PPC for Somerton and rrome DAF LINCOLN, March Lane Bungalow, Galhampton, Nr Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7AU.
Labour CND West, Sunday 26 June, 2.30pm Taunton CLP meeting room, 24 East Reach Taunton. CERE ON Em
calculare
munist Party tells us that
his party supports strug-
gles working people
against oppression in this
colniry.
I would like to mention recent important
struggles in which the CP
nave a very audious ror
indeed
Manchester and Leyland Vehicles in North
During the
battle to save Laurence
Scott's the Communist
Party pleaded lads and lasses of Open-
shaw "to he reasonable'
They accused the leaders of the occupation, Denis Barry allu Longshaw, sibility' for refusing to acee July 1981 between Terry the agreement Dutty and Artnur smpe lo reopen three months the lactor the : emporary
Similarv. when 10.000
Leyland Vehicles Lancashire and Scotland the CP stressed the for caution'.
Jack
Rock
The
Bomb
Countr
future his
Hitching
CND
call for a Labour
Labour doesn't have
programmile for a
If the final manifesto
dratt neither
out in
CND's strength is as
politica. to test their's
We weren't marginalis-
presence often out-stripped
Paul should glance Longbridge and Chair o he BI. Combine Commit
reruseu alley. resolutions Quel plants of BI. in parficular Cowley to call a
sitiards ference to discuss how the fight in Lancashire could be spread through the BL empire as a whole.
Why? One reason was that ther thought national all-BL conference
lert wing influence
leadership cowiel blan and WOlO overall defeat and the CP
convenor and
Workers are willing 1o fight, if given a lead.
But CP obstacle and a blockage to
fight taking place.
They are too integrated into the lower runes 0I | bureaucratic ladder in the
gressive influe be in the
gressive influence
stone (SA 1 April), is right, the developed 'beyond the CP and left them behind'!
BILL DODGIN, Southampton.
Malvinas and
Thatcher*
JOE GUARNIERI (SA 22
April) obviously believes
in putting the clock back to Victorian times.
British imperialism
committed a bloody act
of aggression 150 years
ago when the Falklands
were called the Malvinas
and were argentllan ler-
ritory.
The Malvinas both
geographically and
listorically are part of the
Argentine. The people of
the Argentine have strug.
gled to expel the British
colonialists from their territory ever since, just like
the Irish people are strug
gling to expel the British
mperialists from Ireland.
The retaking of the
Malvinas by massive
force of arms. the armed
aggression against Argen-
tina, the violation of the
sovereign rights of the
Argentinian people, the
sinking of the General
Belgrano • all this is the
responsibility of British
imperialism. It has
nothing to do with
freedom. are or fascists per -
ple are not fascists.
are the victims of fascism
and they overwhelmingly
support the struggle for
alist programme than Labour - the Scottish Na. tional Party, one of whose members is chairperson of Scottish CND
This highlights what would be the effect of pushing his line to split CND from top to bottom.
At all sorts of levels ir CND right now there ar tendencies that actually follow Paul's logic to its conclusion.
They want us to campaign exclusively on cruise and Trident and lower the promie on olner poncies That's been argued at Na tional Council.
It's held by a minority of Labour CND. It argues we shouldn't embarrass Labour's leadership and gratefully grab what we've got. It falsely assumes 1 we do we'll get a more
That's a disastrous line that has fortunately been
THIS IS OUR NeWeST WEAPON IT'S CALCD THE FUNK FOOD BONs Free David Avondale WE ARE writing to re-
David Avondale Campaign.
In view of evidence on which David was convicted and consequently sentenced to 13 years im-
La re vinced that David Avonaale 01 a police frame up.
This is because he was continuously singled out
picked by the police, and he was not arrested until nine days after the crime had occured. Why?
the return of the Malvinas.
Thatcher and Reagan are not believers in freedom! They only want strategic Malvinas for a military purpose, to have British and American imperialist bases such as Diego Garcia, Israel and similar bases around the world!
323, pieS 1-359 8 180 N
rejected. would let the right in the Party off the hook, making it less likely even cruise Trident would go. It would also be
election prospects we
only It we Du unilateralism up front.
Finally, hitching CND to Labour would actually SUCTRECI • all the tendencies in that movement against which Labour and trade union members have been fighting for years. evidence which resulted in only police David Avondale's conviction. David Avondale was never questioned about the other people involved in the robbery. (The police
were only interested in David).
The members of the
public chosen for the iden.
Illy parale Dy we ponc
were significantly shorter
that Wavid. And of al the
forensic evidence taken in
that connected David to
the crime/robbery.
Letters
What the left must be prepared to do is to face the arrogant Victorian imperialist-colonialist Thatcher and tell her, 'Out of the Malvinas and out of Downing Street!'
Dear Joe, history shows that the days of colonlalsun is gone.
JOHN BAKER, Lambeth.
Write to us!
This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even congratulations. But please be brief — letters over 300 words will be cut. Write to: Letters, Socialist Action,
(Tel: 01-359 8180)
The mass of CND sup I see it as a cop-out. A lot of them would nail their flag to the individualist direct action mast We would thus destroy the very mass movement that is responsible for the victories we've won so far in the Party and that will be even more necessary to lorce a Labour government to deliver TONY SOUTHAEL, (Secretary Scottish Labour CND).
IT DESTROYS PEOPLE BUT LEAVES PROFITS INTACT.
We demand that David be released immediately and that the Home Secretary set independent public enquiry into police behaviour. Furthermore we demand that David and his family be compensated for wrongful arrest and imprisonment.
FREE DAVID AVONDALE CAMPAIGN; c/o
Southall Rights, 54 High Street, Southall, Midd (01-571 4920).
Page 12 scan of this page
REVIEWS
IN TOOTSIE Dustin Hoffman plays an out-of-
a female part in a television soap opera. The film then details his experiences of 'being a woman'.
It is a strange combination just a fraction what women endure evervdav of our lives, and yet, to every woman in the audience, it must have been obvious that it was a man's idea of what we have to through, and how we
As actress
'She' an.. macpenachl informs col-
film from
'My Tootsie, Honey, or
200l 2110
When inevitable
the men
they are.
silence. break-
hospital
Je
GE
CHOICE
Jeremy Irons
Tootsie
work actor, Michael, who successfully auditions for.
soap-opera — a wonderful sight!
Following Dorothy's advice Julie (a
Co-slal played by Jessica Lange who Dorothy/Michael inevitably falls for) gets rid of her revoltingly arrogant and two-faced lover.
Reviewed by Sue MacDonald
plays woman convincingly that all lals was BUI
Dorothy
Do wonten
This
the strongest, the most outspoken. the 'best' woman and there something unbearably conceited man
someway than
the film
Militia fighters in Beirut
vice to clus this long- when Michael treats suttering giritriend. Sandy, with as much disregard for her feelings as Ron did Julie. When Michael utters that age-old cry 'Can we still be friends?' Sandy replies with a phrase that many women audience must have stored up for future use. NO GONI take this shit from friends,
There are references to
the fim but thev never become reality.
film panstakulg-y reaffirms Michael's masculinity and heterosexuality whenever possible. Sadly, but not surprisingold, old role of portraying Tootsie nomosexually as numour, not challenge.
Although some aspects of the film were amusing and entertaining, other parts were positively menacing , For me, the fact
Dorothi could become so physically and emotionaiv close to Julie without Julie knowing 'she' Wan lllal. was distinctly threatening.
Also, there are times when it seems the sexual • harassment of Dorothy is
of Lebanon
Race and Class Special double issue Eds IBRAHIM ABU-LUGHOD and EQBAL AHMAD $3.00 Institute of Race Relations
tinuing occupation of the country.
One article in particular caught my
Galle tion - • Sami J. Al-Banna's The Defence of Beirut: report from the front-line. This is first-hand ac-
of the massive mobilisation of West Beirut's population, both Palestinian and Lebanese ‹as well as the numerous national groups who had found refuge In Beirut) who organised into many militias and committees to hold back the Israeli invasion of the city.
Their ability to do this, throughout the barbaric bombardments and
Moonlighting Thursday 5 May, 9.30, Channel 4 SHOWN in the cinema
year Jeremy Irons.
Moonlighting follows the story of four Poles stranded Britain following the imposition
martial law December 1981
More a study of personal relationships than an overtly political film, but it works well.
Afghanistan A View from Kabul Sunday, 8 May, BBC 2 PROBABLY more from
Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie only terrible because 'she' is a man — were Dorothy a real woman il would be somehow all right, 'natural'.
The most moving part
the film when Dorothy reveals 'her' true identity expecting that Julie will suddenly unders-
The invasion
RACE AND CLASS bring together, in this special issue, numerous articles, facts, documents and maps on the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the attempted genocide of the Palestinian population and the con-
days of seige is testimony
Colane and strength of this community. According to Al-Banna a conservative estimate of fire-power between defenders and attackers was 1.5000'.
Reviewed by Ros Young
fighters wino held off an wasn't army of 50,000 combined with sea attack: •Beirut was defended not only by the will and determination of its fighters,
the point of view of the Afghạn government they invited the French camerman to Kabul and then censored his videotape.
Leaving that aside it does have some new insights into the Afghan situation not seen before.
Vietnam Monday 9 May 9.00, Channel 4 IF YOU haven't watched any of excerem series yet. it's not too late.
This wet 0e 3 1966-6° perios =-c
the numbers FE
numbers
tand and cept compete
look complete betrayal on Julie's face, when she realises the
she confided everything to is a man, , is heart-rending .. and her actions are beautiful. Without a word she walks stares him in the face, and the
but by the innovation of its children'. The whole community was mobilised under the 'Joint Committee' to defend their neighbourhoods, to mine the streets, build anti-tank Darnicaues, TUIT and relief services; collect garbage the list endless
For example, the Joint Committee for Relief was set up to supervise relief, housing and finances for the thousands of refugees
flocked to Beirut after the Israelis devastated the South Their work, we are told, 'continued well after the withdrawal of the Palestinian fighters'. Joint Committee for Health was
TO TONI the pre-wal public sector, and by the end of July, it was running 25 new mediçal centres.
Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, who also lived through the invasion examines Israel's objectives in The Meaning of Beirut 1982 'Wher Israel spoke of the destruc tion oi the intrastructure of the PLO it meant the destruction of the institu tional bases of the Palestinian people in Lebanon'
It also looks at some of the methods used by the Americans, including the massacres and forced evacuations.
What makes this series so good is that it is so wel researched factually accurate that, despite the usua called "balanced' com-
nothing but side with the Coll Vietnamese.
Empire, Inc.
Wednesday, 11 May. BBC 2
Tie
punches him in the stomach
Hoffman claims that acting Tootsie has heightened his awarenes.
what women suffer. When interviewed he said, 'If I was a full-time woman
wouldn't put up with idiot men.' A fair enough sentiment, but to follow
And we only need remember the ruthlessness with which Israel attacked the hospital of the Red Crescent, the schools and cultural centres to see the truth in this. It was also a war against the Lebanese poor working class, national movement and their struggle for secularism democracy and Arab na
which Beirut had come to symbolise.
Report
This issue also includes reports from the McBride Commission (the International commission set up
inquire into Israeli violations of international law), a report on internanonally banned weapon. Israel used, interviews WILl Sabra and Chatila massacres and much more.
Providing so much information from so many different sources the journal's strength but also a weakness. , in that I would have liked more information on the defence of Beirut, the medical effort and the continuing resistance.
seduction, blackmail, corruption and manipulation makes this a must for those that en joy watching the sordid ways of the bourgeoisie.
20/20 Vision -Franco died in his bed Wednesday, 11 May, 8.30, Channel 4 THE programme takes
saying which implies tha
: the ac-
Socialist Action 6 May 1983 11 that with, 'I'd love to give people like Goldie Hawn and Jane Fonda a run for their money,' is just a bit too much!
Let's face facts, Dustin, for a man playin a woman, you weren't dac
but you'll never come anywhere near to the real thing!
Nevertheless, this is an important addition to an already
bibliography on the inva sion It Is a our should be read and can be particularly useful in arming you with the facts for your Labour Party and trade union meetings. Neither has it appeared LOO late, as we are approaching the first an-
_of the invasion on the 4 June.
Israel continues to occupy Lebanon, thousands
are still prisoners, the op
pression on the West Bank and Gaza Strip escalating — but resistance continues and the labour
Full support to stigive its
Hovencies. Values
Sami Al-Banna sums up
the heroic resistance: 'The major lesson of Beirut i that the Israeli army can be defeated. Our people can fight and win when collec tively realise tha they are fighting for thei way of life values and sense of dignity This is the reason why Beirut fought back'.
tivities oI his state machine (particularly the police), still intact despite Socialist government.
Ebony - Robert Nesta Marley Wednesday, 11 May, BBC 2 ON THE second an versal of Bob Marley's death. the BBC's fairly tame blait show devotes =
jamara's political scene.
Page 13 scan of this page
12 Socialist Action
DIARY
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MAY
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WOMENS
RM
• International Women's Day for Disarmament — 24 May. For more information please contact 'May 24'5 Leonard St, London EC3 women for Peace are calling 24 May • Glasgow a scotush Day of Action. Rally in George Square and Festival. For details contact ulasgow women s centre, 57 Miller Street or ring 061-221 1177 Saturdays after ipm. • Nottingham Campaign aginst Racisin and rascisi public meeting with speaker rom the Roach Family
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• rend and bavour public meeting with Ken Livingstone (GLC leader) and Clive Soley (LP deputy pokesperson on N. Melania) Calied by Islington South Labour Party. Tues 7 June,
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Come along to get
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_ 6 May 1983
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Contact SFI support group 36 Jackson Rd. London N7, Tel: 01-609 3925:
• Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom Conference and AGM, 7/8
May at Goldsmiths College
Lewishan wave London SE14. Details: CPBF, 9 Poland St, London W1. • Gav Socialist: special issue out now. Available.
rom GS c/o 19 Hamilton ka, southal, vidax.
• El Salvador nother
Vietnam? Norwood Labour Party public meeting. Speakers include John Fraser MP; Jaimie Lopez (FDR representative); plus speakers from El Soc and local trade
Film show, bookstals ane exmocoos. Thur 12 May, , 7.30pm,
Town Hall, Brixton SW2 • What is Britain doing in the Phillipines? Conference organised by the Phillipines Support Group and
Commonwealth, Development Corporation's investment in oll palm plantations in Mindanao. Sat 7 May, 10-5.00pm, Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Ave ondon Sease write to PSG, details please write to PSG, Box Iso, London weIN 3XX. • International Arguments for Peace Ealing/Southall Labour Party public meeung. speakers: Dennis Bartholomew (Grenada High Cssn); Fred Halliday; Joy
CND); Wolfgang Rudolf (on the West German Peace vivt). Mon lo May 7.30pm, Labour Rooms, 2-4 King St, Southall.
• No Pass Laws in the North West Camnaion confèrence on pass laws, passport checks and police Lalus. Sat 14 May 10-5pm, 8411 Centre, Moss Side, Manchester. Free admission,
book. The campaign can be cd., Londs/he Manchestort
ongsigh Manchester
2 (061-225 5111)
• Free David Avondale! (see letters, page 10).
Court of Appeal, the Strand, London Wi C2, Thurs 12 May al valle
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you feel that
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Hall, Edwards Lane Entrance. , Stoke Newington church si, Nio. speakers include Hugo Hunte, Jillian Whitelock and other defendants; Brynley Heaven (Chair Hackney police cttee); Socialist Action.
• Fred Tonge Memorial Lecture given by Ralph
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Roach Family Support Committee MARCH and RALLY FOR AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC
COLIN ROACH IN STOKE NEWINGTON POLICE STATION Saturday 14th May Assemble 12.30p.m.
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from RESC, c/o 50 Rectory Road, London N16 (01-254 140U).
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• Defend the NHS!
Socialist Health Association action pack against private mealchne containine information on all aspects of private medicine and how to fight it. Includes pamphlets and factsheets. Copies from SHA, , 9 Poland St, London WIV 3DG, £2.50 (includes post) £1.50/75p unwaged • Popular Planning for Social Need conference. . 21 May, County Hall. London
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Page 14 scan of this page
How Labour can win
News
SOCIALISTS for a Labour Victory held its press conference on 28 April in the House of Com-
Helen
CND called for the Labour Party to join up with the Greenham
People's March for Jobs — steps which they said could help to win
The press labelled SLV as a
Democracy and the Labour Coor-
for unity in the party around 'ex-
ship and existing leadership' and argue for compromise inside the
The CLPD have attacked Ken Livingstone and the 'extremists', and
left. This is rather an odd way of uni-
By Alan Freeman
Underlying all this is a debate on how we can win the next election and
Democratic Party. Some Labour letts think it is irrelevant to start arguing about coalitions now. 'Let's concen-
VIl
seriousness of the threat of the coalition should read the statements of the SDP who are appealing for Labour to drop its 'extremist' policies in return
right wing AUEW
coaltions, He tod the union's conference it must. stop saying Britain should get out of Europe. He added '1
ment will tolerate a Labour Party in permanent opposition of a hung parliament, Labour will not be able to work with the SDP/Liberal Alliance unless we agree to a referen-
with the Alliance, as the right wing are firmly in control of the AUEW. Other union leaders have to be more cir-
away in Woodstock on 7 May at the Trade Unions for a Labour Victory the record' chats about working with
coalition line because they daren't
But there is no doubt where Denis Healey will stand in a 'hung parliament'.
Tories' is not enough. Unfortunately te lories are not we omy enemy al
Labour has also got to defeat the SDP/Liberal Alliance. Bermondsey spelt out in letters writ large Argument
unanswerable Labour forming a government. They say Healey is a prisoner of extremism and doesn't really
The left can only block this argument and prevent Labour's voters backing the SDP if they can prove that an SDP vote will not put a moderate Healey
cidental as third parties were during the years of the postwar consensus. Since 1969 fundamental changes in tionism the issue on which the Labour
Party will founder or split from top to
command an absolute majority vote,
Thatcher. Since 1975, the ruling class nave deen
such a mess that they cannot make the compromises needed to pay for such policies any more. The labour movement isn't faced with a series of difagainst the ruling class or surrender the interests of working people over to the bankers and the multinationals.
agenda with an enemy struggling for
to coast into office with the quiet approval of the Economist and by toning down its programme so it does not
Two main lines will emerge in the
munist Party, will reason that because socialist policies do not command ma-
'moderate' policies. This means giving in to the bosses on everything that matters — just like Dutty has done at
ingstone and the SLY reasons that a
only come out of class confrontration not out of class compromise. To take the second of these roads means a radical change in the way that Labour
harnessing the energy and determina-
people like those
unionists fighting unemployment, the
attempting to extend their democratic
right wing's sabotage by themselves
as bermondsev and after the election they need a national. credible lett a ternative. campaigning for Labour's radical policies for the leadership of the party to show that when Healey surrenders to the SDP, others are ready to step in.
will win the vote' - which leads to a
Terry Duffy - no doubt where his vote will go in the coalition stakes.
reel ourcel
prevell broadcast in support ener
Labour is not going
minute knocking on doors. can
Policies
the
manifesto and candidates dictated by
policies that can link it to those actively fighting the Tories. Just imagine, for example, how Labour's campaign would prosper if they put out an elec-
Greenham Common women's day of action on 24 May and the People's
who care enough about their lives and jobs to travel hundreds of miles and suffer imprisonment for their ideals, Labour's campaign. Labour could at last come out fighting and prove itself as willing to fight for its class as That-
do this, the rank and file must. SL V is needed because constituency parties must not go into this battle alone or Fleet Street will cut them off from the very people they have to link up with
precisely the fact that such a respected
decided that if there are going to be Labour Party, she will back Labour's campaign instead of standing against
itiative by organising meetings up and down the country for the Greenham women and in support of their ac. tions, and by turning their election campaigns into a crusade in their support with demonstrations, festivals, protest meetings. A real campaign instead of a demoralising frenzy of last-
secrelal.
Derer turned matters on their head He says that 'another victory of reaction at the polls would find an inevitable reflection in a further reac-
draw in its horns or it will be accused of 'splitting the party and failing to take account of the conservatism of
The left will be accused of splitting because the right is dividing the party
resist them is called divisive and said Chancesting how do re defend ourselves against the charge of not taking account of the conservatism of
We propose to take account of it
ing that the left is clearly associated with this battle during and before the
Party is a broad coalition, unity is not possible without some kind of compromise,' he says. "There should not be a public campaign against policies as outlined in the campaign document and later the manifesto, the leadership determined by normal
proccutile. though this may mean the possible ac-
Labour victory depends on the left retreating. So he directs his fire at the left. He even says 'our appeal is not addressed to the witch-hunting right but to the broad Party union membership.' They are the very people who are opposing the right.
Grovelling to the right is not going to stop them, kicking out the policies
not the slightest intention of rejecting incomes policy. They will never agree to tell the Americans to remove their nuclear bases. They won't accept tha
women's right to have an abortion
with Labour's right wing is an absolute guarantee that the election will
the right wing to ditch Labour's con-
Should not argue against the Cam
policies that have been left out. So we have to let them get away with saying removal of nuclear bases, policy and women's rights on abor-
But these are the very policies we neea because tey are tne poncies Inal could involve hundreds of thousands of activists in Labour's election cam-
Labour can break the electorates' conservatism if it inspires people to go out and persuade others to turn out in
return a Labour government.
Socialist Action 6 May 1983 13
Linking
Labour to mass
campaigns
'Politics Party' in Southwark, south east London, which was the first in a series of events organised by local Labour Par-
and Dulwich) with campaigning groups and trade unions in
The aims were firstly to educate ourselves, secondly to link up with campaigns and local struggles in order to build solidarity, to turn the Labour Party out to mass movements and to jointly develop socialist ideas within the Labour Party.
The third aim was
ty got under way with a col meeting between the local Labour Joyable as well as caucallonal
It was this element with the use
tilm CLPS, 4 CND gropes and 14 other campaigns, pressure trade unions attended through the
John Harrison started the day
spoke on the effects of the crisis on and then three
and Black People and Critique
Harrison gave a critique of
for a socialist Labour Party and
Lurroue banancatar mcaus Labour Party what can actually be move beyond this to a wider layer
was small with only NUPE having
DCOCICE
Page 15 scan of this page
CPSA-Pressure for affiliation
14 Socialist Action 6 May 1983
PICKET
LINE
Swansea
occupation
STRIKERS at the Unit Superheaters Pipe Company in Swansea, subsidiary of Steel Corporation, are occupying the plant.
The dispute is over
Three the company WOrKCIS, 20. nonth tl announced another 50 WOLU
Ont.
week
clude
On this
members the
union, voted to st cupying | Thursday April at have now from man • them that they
adamant
there until forced redundancies are withdrawn.
Workers at Unit Superheaters have a long history of supporting OLLICI workers In strug. gle, from the firefighters dispute to joining picket lines of health workers. • Messages of support and donations can be sent to Fred Evans, Bishopston Rd, Bishopston, Swansea. (Sylvia Gilbert)
Greenings
occupation
FOUR HUNDRED workers are in ine sixin week of occupation the Britannia works of
Greening in Warrington.
Greenings is part of the same Johnson and
as Firth Derihon, another occupied factory in Sheffield.
attempt boost profits and break the factory's effective union organisation management presented a document to the workforce.
This demanded the sacking of 89 employees of their choice; the aboli-
negotiated holidays, negotiated subsidies, annual
effective trade
union representation including doing away with a full time convenor; the
closure of half the site
with more sackings
within six months.
The workers are tourto drum
up support. Money has
from as far
LULLIC
afield as Zoneon and
Bristol. Local miners
have been parucularly
generous. Messages of support
Tebbit's law
in Leeds
THE of 22
at Aire Farsley, Leeds
The
WCiC sacked tor the
working in the
ing and pay
•Now DOSSES Ar
with the strike using
the
picket particularly
7pm
change over and on Satur-
from the
March through
the DICKe
and support Dirkhill St.
Glass
MANAGEMENT Willam Holden's Glass
Birmingham have sacked 13 workers in an attempt
prevent effective union organisation.
On 22 March redun. dancy notices were given to two workers, one a Transport union shop steward. No prior notice
redundancies was given ano we men con cerned were not the last employed.
The TGWU responded by calling its other
The management came
management came back by sacking those who supported the call for 'breach of contract.
To get reinstated the workers need broader
With just 13 members, maintaining 24 hour picketing is difficult.
They also need money. Kirmingham trade unionists should support Holden workers to defend union organisation in the city.
Support is needed for the picket line, particularly between and Tam, at 286-292 Bradford Birmingham.
contribu-
tions and messages to hotel Glass Strike
Committee, 137
Digbeth, Birmingham BS
60R.
PICKET LINES. Short 150 word reports Thursday before publication.
Fores CORLACT
THE 1983 conference of the Civil and Public Services Association could pass a motion a continued campaign for the union to affiliate to the Labour Party, paving the way for a membership ballot.
Tory rule, massive cuts in public services and civil service jobs along with deteriorating pay and conditions. They are starting to think in class terms of the political party that represents their demands.
Motions on CND affiliation and opposition to cruise missiles touches on the jobs CPSA members in the Ministry of Defence. The fight to protect civil service jobs fundamental to the work of the CPSA, but awareness is growing. tor our work to be socially just out by Alistair
ship the
were by contradictory
headquarters.
With lack of leadership around conference policy members saw the 1983 pay campaign as a non-starter.
The fiasco highlights lack of membersmo conto over the general secretary touch tuic national executive committee.
DELEGATES to the Inland Revenue •Staff Federation conference in Bridlington on 10 May face an unprecedented attack on their jobs. Gone are the days when taxcollecting appeared to be a job for lite.
IRSF delegates face the wholesale destruction posts in the collector's grades as a result of the infamous 'Gracey Report'.
This document proposes the closure of scores
THE CONFERENCE of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs meets on 7 May. discuss the witch hunt in the Labour Party.
As in all unions, the struggle in the Labour Party reshaping political debate. There is
growing. concern
decline in the union's membership, its £3 million debt and the personalised style of the present leadership.
By Phil Ward (Secretary, SE London Medical branch ASTMS)
The bureaucracy is also trying to muzze the debate on the oppose the election by the
merbership of the union's TL C general council
the stractare of the
calling for
The membership have suffered four years of
bureaucratic carve-up of conference agenda means inal motions on troops out of ireland. solidaritv work on Poland and El Salvador, 2000 the 1983 People's March for Jobs will probably not be heard.
Only one hour of conference has been allocated to the position of women, including affiliation to the National Abortion Campaign and the work of the CPSA womens rights comBullet Left
With 80 per of union
being women, puts
the limited road • the
My branch includes members working in Manpower Services Commission oftices. have been mandated to oppose the introduction of the MSC Youth Training Schemes.
Our branch sees YTS as cheap labour, as a Tory attack on trade unions by te suppression rates and as no substitute for proper employment.
Left gains strength in tax union
of local collection office and their back-up teams
By Keith Legg and Dave Carter (Secretary and delegate, IRSF Stockton Taxes Branch)
The union also faces the automation of PAYE coding and assessing, which will be the biggest computer project ever undertaken in Britain, and the 'merging' (i.e. closure)
astms Labour debate muzzled
It is likely to open with a dispute on whether to
The Broad Left will hold founding con ference, in July. The main emphasis of Broad Left
at this conference will be the rally for union democracy. Its supporters will be arguing against the leadership view that Labour can only win the general election if it presents itself 'moderate' party.
The NEC has slipped in an emergency motion
upportin the TUC-Labour Part document Partners Rebuilding Britain which heralds a new social contract.
The view of Broad Left supporters is that only democratically organised labour movement which acts on socialist policies
Civil Service unions in 1981 pay fight
of local offices of tax inspectors.
The lack of significant resistance to the
govern ment's proposals has led
the growth of a Broad Left within the union which has successfully welded together most of the left in the IRSF. Its formation rocked the right-wing dominated ex-
unsuccessfully to suspend the Broad Left leadership from the IRSF.
As a result, the left has increased its strength in will be able 10 attract working people to a defeat
the executive elections.
The unwillingness of the Tories to negotiate meaningfully on pay limits, political ireciosures • 0г
freedom, meant that the executive is desperate for some success
place before the membership
Its strategy of 'negotia-
tation' is now looking
the latest proposals for office
arrive members' desks. of the Tories once and for all.
News
OFFICAL
PICKETUNG
This year's conference will be a further test of strength between the two sides. Important motions go beyond the immediate framework of the Revenue. Motion 49 wants to investigate the possibili
of merger with other civil service unions, mo tion 77 attempts to reverse last year's decision to atfiliate to CND, and motion 92 is on affiliation to the Labour Party.
Win lose, Bridlington strengthening of the lef should mark in the IRSF.
Clive Jenkins
Page 16 scan of this page
News
WHEN RAIL GUARDS at Lincoln struck two weeks ago, the National Union of Railwaymen acted quickly to make the strike official. But within seven days a 'truce' deal with the British Railway had them back at work with little gain.
The 54 guards came out against the tearing up of the March to Spalding branch line. The NUR instructed guards to boycott trains through Lincoln and strike could have spread quickly.
It could have been a shot across the bows of the BRB who plan to tear up
closed branch IWO OLICI lines Manchester Sheffield/Wath and Glasgow to Kilmacolm via Paisley Canal.
By Pat Sikorski (NUR)
of the union succeeding Sidney
light to
strike union
having got only a the no track
next ten
the Cowley deal. ul-
mitments manage-
Union
rabbits face of
members and the
management. With
SOUTH WALES
miners meet at their an-
nual conference next
week. Following the
victory of the national
Coal Board over the
closure of Lewis Mer-
thyr, miners face the
problems of seeking
ways to continue the
struggle against pit
closures.
By Barry Wilkins
The Board would like
to close half the pits in
South Wales in line with
Common Market policy of
running down LUCI SU•
called 'peripheral' and
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
Harrod's masses deal with Greenham LADY OLGA MAITLAND and Harrod's shoppers dealt another blow to the CND 'peace loonies' weekend. Addressing mass meeting Trafalgar Square
Serpell carve-up fight starts
Board
general election approaching they worry that industrial action will cost Labour votes. But it is the members who pay in lost jobs hardly a vote catcner lor Labour•
Their neutral attitude on against line closure does not give con-
workshop members facing closure.
addition to Horwich, Shildon and Temple Mills
Swinthree worksnops al don, Glasgow and Derby al C under immediate threat.
Trade union leaders
now wedded Labour's new incomes policy aressed as the new economic assessment. The Boare must now oc flore confident they can drive through offer under Tory or.
If , Labour serious about winning the election it must come out on the side of working people not the City, banks and pro-
That means aban titeers. doning wage control, Serpell, the Tory Transport Bill.
means. a commitment to invest and electrify the network, re-open closed lines
and restore wage values.
than policy pledges to roll
back Serpell and last year's
McCarthy type pay deals.
United and national in-
'uneconomic' coalfields.
At the annual Wales
TUC conference on May
day weekend •Emlyn
Williams president of the
South Wales miners said:
"Thatcher wants an-
nihilate the South Wales
coalfield but we don't in-
tend to sell our jobs.
Despite the setback
Lewis Merthyr we are not
defeated.
'We are again prepar-
ing our campaign. As
trade unionists, our func-
tion is to relaln oul
dustries, not only coal but
steel rail and transport
LOU. The Triple Alliance of
tended by 88 people, 141
pigeons, two cats and a
stray dog she introduced
her 'representative' and
'balanced' plattorm. surprise speaker
for was vice-
Admiral Sir John Roxused to be
horouch who
in charge of the Polaris Fleet. Another turn
for the book was Tory
MP Sir John Biggslast Davison who sonte peo-
ple say was sea in cruise Brixton and
Southall. ala
Shere-
IN
Shildon workers on the march dustrial action is called for.
This means ending the separation opposition
line and workshop closures. It means a rolling programme of mounting united national action.
Guerrilla action by one section of the membership at a time is nonselse will. the confidence of the vast
membership shaken by . the betrayals last year.
A national march, rally and parliamentary lobby have been called for
South Wales miners in conference
Inhy
Emlyn Williams
the unions in these in.
dustries must now be a ma-
jor part of any strategy to
fight closures and redun-
They there was
'Carry On' actress Dora
Bryan. You might think
her script writers are
bloody dreadful but
Dora proved the cast are
even worse if they have
to write their own lines like to hish too much did not
... about a nuclear war,
she suggested instead
shagine mandi or Hope
Land
singing
and Glory, as it does not
to matter much
then.' Nothing
good sing song when the
Armageddon comes!
Dr John Rae, head-
master of Westminster
public school, blamed
Ken Livingstone for sen-
ding the pneumatic drills
that nearly
voice. However the
Good Lord knows vou
need a nuclear deterrent
so he sent the rain down.
This had the effect of
stopping the drilling and
SAVE
SHILDON
WORKS
Wednesday May against the workshop closures.
From this march a date should be set for the first of a series of one, then two dav national stoppages ol the whole network to force LEC Board to unconditionally withoraw closure programme.
If BR Concede, then the time will be right to re-cement the unity of the rank and file for the union to take all out action in defence of jobs and for a basic living wage.
dancies.
Despite the meeting of national union leaderships last week to establish the Alliance, the Wales TUC conference narrowly defeated a resolution on this.
But lan Isaac, NUM delegate, explained its significance:
"The Triple Alliance can become massive force to mobilise and unite
rank and file against further attacks on these three related industries.
Following the Wales
TUC decision it is now up to the South Wales miners
conference point the way forward.
emptying Square.
audience going
and It's
of the New
cherite.
writing a
since
the view To Stevas MP
that a
in
terms.'
has. disJULILSUN
covered what has caused
the decline of civilisa-
tion; No,
mies, women, gays
FORD WORKERS in Genk, Belgium, are striking for two hours off the working week and the recruitment of 500 extra workers to compensate for lost production time.
The action started on Monday LO ADMII IOIOW ing a ballot in which 74 per cent of the workers voted to strike.
There is strong feeling in the Genk plant over job losses from automation, and this has been fuelled by Ford's policy of taking on temporary workers and sack-
ing them when they are no longer needed.
At the moment a ditferent department is striking each day as under Belgian law the company cannot immediately off other areas without pect on production is total. Nevertheless, the el No Sierra cars are being produced.
Ford workers
Ford workers -Albert Einstein's reply
Socialist Action: 6 May 1983
Ford - more jobs, shorter hours
everywhere have a real interest in the victory of the Genk strike. It is the first serious challenge company's policy of slashing jobs through automation and robotisa tion, explicitly linking the fight for a 38-hour week with the creation of extra jobs
Thousands of job have been lost in Ford
Europe and plante the United States, and
plans for the future raise the spectre of the workerless factory.
At Cologne, West Germany, Ford are discussin building a new automater
- the replacement (seventy!)
Play. 7000 iobs lost on the Dagenham
three the Jas years,
plant workers have wanted that
must go by 1985.
To, trade - practical need for internationalism
even Ken Livingstone. It's down to Albert Einstein. Einstein did the unforgiveable.came up the theory of relativity. Which means that God 1s not longer the big boss light Space, time
refuse to vote After that, you can say is that St John Stevas is not just relativecorrect. He is absolutely right!
How to
avoid lapses
WHY IS it that when our police try and do their job people start picking on them?
Take the Brixton police when Well searching for petrol bombs. JUS becaust they smashed up people's broke their televisions, and rip-
15 union delegates from Ford
Belgium.
Por-
between workers
to assist the workers
strike in first oppor-
the other major producing
La particular
to
now against loss, the
we will
and messages Louis Van
ACV Mulden,
7, Laan out the odd
bathroom fitting as the!
carried out their com
munity policing the
Police Complaints Board
accused them of serious
of professional
standards.
do the Board
expect them to terrorise
the locals if they don't
their homes apart?
Well some of the police
bosses have an answer to
that. They recommend
what the police have
been doing for years -
plant the evidence.
That makes
there are no lapses of
not the ones the
public can see anyway.
Compiled by BOB PENN-
INGTON. Send contribu-
tion Worm': Eye.
Socialist Action, 328 Upper
arrive not later than Thurs.
day a week prior to publica-
tion.
Page 17 scan of this page
BRENT EAST and Brent South Labour Parties are fighting back following the decision of the Labour Par-
National Executive Committee once again to delay parliamentary " selec-
On Wednesday 27 April the NEC met and it was hoped that both Brent parties - the only parties with sitting MPs who have not yet been reselected -would be given the go-ahead at long last.
By Graham Bash (Brent South CLP, Editor London Labour Briejing)
Both had completed their six month period of supervision assistant national Joyce Gould, agent, and her report had given them a clean bill of health. But the NEC once again delayed on the spurious grounds Brent East's sitting MP, Reg Freeson, Suas not vet been allowèd see Joyce's report.
Victory for
Turkish socialists
Selim Duzgun TWO YOUNG Turkish socialists (one a Kurd), Selim Duzgun and Nesat Tolunay, have been granted political asylum in this country.
The Home Office had originally refused their re-
suoscription
Inland: 6 months £8;
1 year 815.
Overseas: (1 year only): Surface
and Europe $17/Air mail S24. (Please delete as apropriate)
Name:
Address:
Please sena me as special orrer ..•••• •
acIsterto as a newso Published by Cardinal Enterprise
Printed By East End Offset (TU) Ltd, London E2.
SociAlist
ACTiON
Let Brent fight
the election
The decision has been referred LO I the 9 May meeting of the NEC's subcommittee. The aim is ob— to delay until an VIOUS election is called and then impose the sitting MP.
Important
This is particularly important in Brent East wnele rreeson nas no support left, and where Ker Livingstone would win any selection conference.
Both GMC s met on 28 April. Brent East agreed to proceed with selection b 71 votes to 4, and by 64 votes to 5 it approved the targets selection conference for 18 May.
In Brent South a motion instructed their HC tc meet within seven days and draw up an election time-table, and Secatic co-operation of the NEC was passed by 32 votes to South's sitting MP, Laurie Pavitt, has undertaken to intercede wiwn tne NEC to argue against further delay. quests but a punctual campaign waged by the Friends of Selim and Nesat forced that decision to be reversed.
A spokesperson for the Turkey Campaign said: 'This is great
still possible to win given the broadest possible united action.'
Nesat and Selim will be joining the struggle for the future cases like their's ШПИн polluca asylum in this country becomes right for refugees escaping from dictatorshins everywhere - even those dictatorships belonging to NATO.
subscribe SPFER
For multi-reader institutions double the above ratese.
Send to Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N1 2XP.
aper with the Post Off, London N
Ken Livingstone So there is a united front of the two Brent parties, and the ball is now firmly in the court of the organisation sub-committee. E herth ariamentare right parliamentary reselection - a right passed by annual conference two and a half years ago -or will they face an explosion from Brent on the eve of a general election.
Stop press: Brent Soutt
has set up selection timetable which would be complete by 26 May.
MODERN
TIMES Hi Bruce! How are ya?
Good, good. Listen, I've had this guy Heseltine hassling me something rotten this lost week.
What the hell is going on down there...?
SPECIAL
For readers who take out a year's inland subscription we are offering a free copy of Hard Times, a new book in the 'Arguments for Socialism' series by Bob Sutcliffe. The book normally costs $2.50.
Alternatively we are offering Alan Freeman's book, The Benn Heresy. For new readers there is our special introductory offer of 8 issues for S2. All subscriptions are posted first ciass on dav of publication
PH
WITH the
May, TENt labour movement Liverpool and Merton in South London are hoping for new Labour ad ministrations to reverse the Tory attacks on services.
In Liverpool, the Liberal-Tory council are trying to drive through
cleansing and refuse ser-
in lost jobs and union
Day is Ours!
the streets
union Solidarnosc. were violently
stronghold.
turnout, the demonstrations 40,000 people
in 18 other cities.
ASTRAIS 4000 angry demonstrators 'greel' Thatcher in Sheffield on 28 April.
rights and deteriorating service of In Merton the Tory council plans to abolish school meals, privallsi school cleaning and sack caretakers.
But the workers in these areas aren't waiting «Hotu ordei chance On 28 April 20,000 Liverpool council went on strike WUINCES and well over 1000 attended a lobby in the cily.
Solidarnosc: May
Tens of thousands of Polish workers took to
last Sunday (1 May) demonstrate their support for the banned
The demonstrations attacked by the police. leading to the death of one worker in Nowa Huta, the steel town which is a Solidarnosc
Despite attempts of the regime to belittle the
were large. Up to demonstrated front of the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk, 10,000 people took to
Warsaw and thousands marchec
In Gdansk the workers chanted: 'We wani
STRIKE AND VOTE
TORIES OUT!
They forced the divided council to delay a decision on the refuse hive-off.
On the same day in Merton public service unions had their bigges! strike ever in a second day of action against the cuts. In other London borougi. workers in education stopped work in solidariand banners from Leeds ant Coventri to attacked with tear gas
The well-ordered
spontaneity the illegal In ficial May Day marches. union's protests on their way home
had 'surpassed showed that Solidarnosc is far from dead
illustrated by the fact that on May marches are broken up by riot police
country
FEED THE
PaRi
EAT THE
RICHI
joined a march through the borough.
These workers are no1 deterret arguments about rocking Lahour's hoal dustrial action before the COTICI tions. Their general elec rights and
services are under attack now and they want to leave a future Labour administration in no doubt of their determination to see changes in their in terests. free unions, free Poland and Walesa'. They were
marches bureaucracy displayed none of the militancy and
Solidarnosc gather
Gdansk workers ordered to go on the of
joined in the bannec
said that the demonstrations our expectations' Indeed they The character of the Polish regime is vividly
Day workers the tirsi time it has happened in a so-called 'socialist
← Socialist Action No. 7, 28 April 1983Socialist Action No. 9, 13 May 1983 →