Socialist Action No. 99, 28 April 1985
The scan: 099-apr-26-1985-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
POWELL! For a woman's right to choose
ACTION orak
Lincolns Inn Fields,
SORTION
BIRMIN
RES STOP
No. 99 26 April 1985 30p
Saturday 27th April Assemble 1pm
CAMPAIGN
ABOR
RIGH
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The state of the
2 Socialist Action 26 April 1985
ACTiON SOCiAlist
The Lib-Lab pact
revisited?
THE NEWLY-FORMED stitute has just launched its 'Charter For Jobs, with much ballyhoo but little chance of getting off the ground. This is hardly surprising. Its fuel is a strictly non-volatile mixture of watered down Keynesianism and wishful thinking.
The notion that a cut in employers' national insurance contributions, spending will overcome the crisis of the British economy is farcical. The proposal to employ the
unempioved on Props for all nes. ects is another cheap labour scheme - a
The scheme accurately reflects the political composition of its sponsors: Tory wets, the SDP-Liberal Alliance and the Labour right wingers With a few trade union leaders and some liberal capitalists thrown in, it is the Communist Party's dream of the grand anti-Thatcher Alliance come true.
As a campaign against unemployment it is a damp squib. however. It is a step towards preparing a coalitionist alternative to Thatcher.
The miners' strike has done serious damage to the Tories' plans for this term of office. It has halted them in their tracks for 12 months. They are approaching mid-term in this period of of fice, and are nowhere near solving the basic problems of British capitalism.
The sections of the bourgeoisie who are backing this project are preparing for the possibility that the Tories will not win a third general election. A Labour government, even with Ramsay Mckinnock at alternative. A Labour government in coalition with the Alliance, or trapped in some form of Lib-Lab pact is acceptable.
Such a government could be relied on to pursue kind policies Callaghan followed. demoralising blows at the working class, prepare the way for an even more virulent form of Thatcherism.
The politicians involved in the campaign are just the coalition of forces to carry out such a task: Hattersley, Healey, from the Labour Party; Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams from the SDP. cabinet revived.
Basnett and Tuffin also involved it is like the 7479 all over again.
Roy Hattersley was not at the launch of the Charter for Jobs. He was at the AUEW national committee offering the trade alliance with the Labour Party. course, called a social contract. This time it is a 'social compact'. In exchange for wage restraint, a Labour government will provide jobs welfare benefits.
These developments are designed to consolidate the rightward move in the Labour Party. nock is getting together a project that will win the approval of the ruling class in time for the next election, or create the basis for a possible coalition should that be necessary.
The Labour left must start rocking the boat as vigorously as comprehensive alternative.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views. pressed in editorials. send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, sales and receipts to socialist Achon Distridution, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Send all material for publication (including advertis ng) to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address ne 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.
Employment Inand increased public
community service Its real purpose is more serious
head, is not an acceptable
that Wilson and could strike similar and
Wilson and Callaghan
It is the '74-79 Labour With trade union leaders like
unions a new It was not, of
and
Kin-
possible by putting forward a
These are ex-
THE CAMPAIGN against the TGWU over alleged ballot rigging and the AUEW'S single-union deal with Nissan at its car assembly plant in Washington, Tyne and Wear, have little connection on the surface. But they are closely connected.
The campaign against Todd is part of a new offensive by the right in the unions. The Nissan deal shows where the right intends to take the trade union movement.
The Nissan deal is an excellent 'business unionism'. The deal will make strikes by the workforce virtually impossible.
The shop stewards will be 'replaced' visors, and there will be complete flexibility between trades and grades. Power will be in the hands of tull-time officials not workplace representatives. And the union will police the agreement
The AUEW won thi contract as a result of a deal with the EETPU. . Ir return for the AUEW accepting the electricians' single-union deal at the Hitachi plant South Wales, the EETPU gave the engineers a clear run at Nissan.
By Pat Hickey
In this US-style trade unionism the membership figure mainly as duespaying, bargaining ploys in the union officials, relatons with the emplovers The new realist right in the TUC see this as the future for trade unions in Britain. It is the direction in which they intend to take the whole TUC
The fight around Todd is important in this. not just the size and intuence the TGWU, although that is very imDul lalit.
In the next 12 to 18 months there will be some crucial changes at the top
Due TOI retirement are Basnett
(SOGAT 2),
neyes (SOGAT Buckton (ASLEF), and (GMBATU). The elections which will result are vital for the left.
The aim of the right -
APIECE Of the ACTION
There must be more to
life than this. There must y be better things to do than
slouch in an armchair with
a can of beer....
and the bourgeoisie - is to ensure that these posts fall to the right. They intend to take the TUC away from any policy of resistance to anti-union laws, away NOIO any support tor strikes such as the miners' anu to ustalce it on unt Labour Party.
Sabotaging
The success of the right in sabotaging support for the miners was major victory for the realists. They intend to build on that.
Their refusal to lead any fight against the anti-union laws, and the betrayal of the miners and Ine NGA, 1 has taken the TUC substantial steps along this road. The Tory anti-union laws are now being accepica by major
is not just the AUEW and the EETPU
Maybe 1 should make another жето War and Peace"? maybe not.....
Maybe i should get on my bike and.... ... get on my bike and
unions
who have rejected TUC policy in lavoul of col
25000 tine.
CPSA and the NUT are all conforming to the law on
non-pontical basis possible. All of this is preparing
take the TUC back on the course that was set in 1983
they have been since the
proach of the left leaders to this situation is entirely
Get on bike and.... to read what?
Or futile visit to
centre! with Norm?
Get on bike and....
photo. INEN HAPPI
mpaign the ith the aid of
campaigns, with the aid policy, the left leaders by TUC their inaction and silence are allowing that policy to become increasingly purely formal stand that means little in practise
Inadequate
The weakness shown by the left in the face of this determined right wing drive is a fundamental pro blem that must be tackled The traditional broad leftist framework is increasingly inadequate. The basis for it has been undermined by ine economic crisis and the ferocity of the attacks on the labour movement.
Scargill wing the NUM challenged this framework. But ane attempt to unite all sections of the 'left' on an unclear
#96
Make another
the job Visit Japan
News
pollical oasis was main tained in the local government ligal, waere i war yet again shown be useless. In the trade unions this approach disarmed the working class in the face of the social contract an idea which Hattersley is reviving.
Yet the broad left framework continues to dominate in the unions. Indeed, under the impact oIne CrISIS Communist Party is pressing to extend us bauework l the right, under the rubric
the all-lattic alliance. The argument that the working class won't fight is the justification for this line.
Surrendered ucw Tuffin
gave classic demonstration of the real meaning of this argument. In the face of Post Office roace a national strike, he management's threat ignored conference deci Sions and surrendered to the blackmail week later more than 7000 UCH workers fought back.
The line that the membership won't fight is
self-fulfilling prophecy. Where determined national lead is given, and
leadership bases itself on the militant sections of
membership, as in the NUM, the story is very difDecisive
It would be foolish to pretend that the working class is spoiling for a fight, and that only the betrayals of the bureaucracy prevent it sweeping the Tories ou of office. ment and defeats have taken their toll. But the
decisively defeated solidarity movement in the miners strike showed tha the basis for a fightback exists.
This is of decisive im portance in the recomposi tion that is now working its way through all sections of the movement : in the wake of the miners' strike In pushing forward that process, it will be essentia to distinguish between the fake left that will merely talk and those who really want to fight.
CORELIC
• 4/85
Wa-hey! A return to Victorian values!!
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The lessons of the miners' strike
News
DURING a strong position when the next strike comes round.
At the third Socialist
outlined management's latest attacks. the special links between
first to join the Coalville picket line last January and that women from the Kent mining community braved the hostility of the town to come and build support for the miners fight during the strike.
weekend speech.
LAST Monday I went to the Clarendon Hotel Derby. We're meeting management in four-star noteis now to sorten us up! It was about a scheme to LaKe ous away Mantle Lane.
We managed to salvage one, a domestic cleaner. We couldn't do anvthing about the others because they're taking traffic away from our depot.' The work is being taken away as a punishment.
On Tuesday, went to the Belmont Hotel in Leicester, and discussed
sudden closure Desford colliery signal box. When the Leicester
po in March me, somes
in March '86, some small signal boxes including the ones in our branch have been cluded. The were to go later, , in 1987
Not a word about brIllging forward ever came up during the miners' strike. We've been back work six weeks and now they're go-
March. So that was another three signalmen's jobs down the chute, as punsnment, that wasn't in the original scheme.
Un Hotela We the it's the Railway Hotel. vened there for lunch and we're told from July we're losing our Rugeley traffic.
Leicestershire coal has
gone to kugeicy powel station in Staffordshire since steam days. We've drivers
40-odd years. That trad
40-odd years. traffic's been given Stoke and Essington Wood, and depots in the Crewe area as a punishment.
It's also cut off an important market for Leicestershire miners' coal. So the 2500 Leicestershire miners that scabbed have just lost market for their coal as a pumsament to tne rauwaymen. How's that for Ironv!
On Friday we had another meeting. This time about shunt locomotives.
Our yard used to have unree one That's been eroded to one. We've been told that from 10 May that locomotive
Roy Butlin, Coalville NUR
THE last year ROY BUTLIN led Coalville railworkers' strong and determined stand in support of the miners' strike — refusing to move coal through the depot. When the workers were victimised for that support, Coalville struck. Now the miners' strike is over and British Rail management looks set to retaliate, taking away depot jobs and making sure that the Coalville workers aren't in such
Action International Miners' Solidarity meeting, in Kent last weekend, Roy
He stressed his Kent hosts and Coalville, pointing out that Kent miners were the
We reproduce below an edited version of his
will go and there's driver's job gone with it.
Call vi for a medically restricted Hall. Ruling
Old Agatha's going to the scrap yard on a rridav afternoon, the busiest day.
When she of the junctions the one lads are going to drop the plug. She'll up. 've got some advice for you: don't travel to Sheffield that day!
All this is happening in a matter of a month. By railway standards, that is the speed of light. There's a reason, with geography.
Our depot is situated exactly between Leicester ailu Burton. freight-only , railway linking two main lines. That strategic position was why we were so successful in supporting Ine miners.
That's why management is taking WUIK gradually away till there's no depot They'll chop this sec. tion out and work what's left of Leicestershire coal from the eastern end of the branch. They'll work the South Derbyshire coal and other jobs we've got, like the quarries, off the western end.
They don't want to be in a position again where a Stal group alway workers can seal off working coalfield. There's always possibility another miners while Arthur Scargill's the president. You can see the long-term thinking behind it.
Locally, they've got a problem. There's a lot o feeling building up in the town - I've done my best to tuel ll - about restoring the passenger service.
There's local elections coming We've even got one of our MCLUCIN Labour councillor. Every-
Body is in favour of restor ng une bassenger servic The excuse in the past Was But the new light-weight units are 10I branch lines. So we say let's have
them and provide the service. It's. new business, linking several towns with good sized populations.
The lobby to return the passenger service to our line interferes with the plan to sever the middle por tion of Leicester's rail network. It's become as big
obstacle Illallace ment as the signalman who wouldn't remove coal.
Even the Conservatives say they're for restoring the railway. They're our side!
Aylesham, Kent, last Socialist Action
This was underlined by Jack Collins, , secretary of Kent NUM, and other speakers who pointed out that not only were pits threatened through miners taking voluntary redundancies and the Coal board unreatening closure but the entire branch committee had been sacked a1 Betteshanger
Jack Collins explained this was why Kent had been so strongly opposed to calling off the overtime ba"Mark Jones,
father of Davy, who was killed on the picket line, made moving speech that showed that he blamed the TUC for failing to give the
58006
There's three lessons been learned miners' strike at Coalville: one by the mangement and two by ourselves. The management's lesson lon't let a small group o rue trade unionists bloc off a working coalfield.
They've learned a lesson 410011 geography and about planning traffic We're going to suffer for it.
We've learned two lessons. One we
The Third Socialist Action International Miners Solidarity Meeting
ONE HUNDRED and fifty people gathered in
Saturday for the Third International Miners' Solidarity meeting. Kay Sutcliffe summed up the message of the day when she asserted that the strike had finished but the struggle to defend pits and communities, and sacked and imprisoned miners, was in no sense over.
miners the deserved. 'Norman Willis was about as much use as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest, he said.
Greetings were given to the rally by Jaap Van Kleef of the SAP (Dutch Section of unle Fourth Muleria tional) and Hans Christian Nielson, an aircratt shoo steward from Copenhagen Airport who reported general strike Belfast anti-union laws. councillor People's Democracy member Fergus O'Hare roused the meeting with a speech that explained brought 'joy into the hearts of people in Ireland to see other people rise up
can't rely on our NUR na-
leadership. When yanuary, there wasik lot of had strike trouble and pain and gel them anything. So we're disillusioned with OWI
leadershi both the
NUR and the TUC Railway Board 300,000 in Our strike the lost revenue. They haven't taken ASLEF or the NUR to court under the new
and fight against oppression'.
He interrupted his specca lo conale a placut Sno down branch NuM James _Connolly Phil Sutcliffe, exchanging an NUM plate, said that "as long there was a Snowdown branch of the NUM there would hea place for James Connolly in their office.'
The key political lesson of the event was that while the NUM had fought and made new alliances with oppressed groups and with the left in the unions and
_Labour Party were willing to fight, the
realist leaders the TUC had let the NUM be isolated.
Militants' main task is to keep backing the NUN HOW leadership that stands and fights the movement.
legislation. They won't -because they're scared to.
The regional
lilallar hold you personally yeshold personally
lobbying:' And I said, I'll pay What 1 says: To guit 'You willing to pay it. Stop it at 50p a week
The other lesson we've learned from the miners strike is about fighting. , At our depot the miners' struggle throughout the
SOLIDARITY
Sat 4th May
Creche available WOMEN'S £1.50 waged
50p unwaged
Socialist Action 26 April 1985 3
Photo: SOCIALIST ACTION
coalfields was an inspira. tionwe've learned how to fight, how to lobby, , how to campaign. We've learn. ed how to be a pain in the management, everybod union, the lot.
When we're locked into our next fight — it'll be a bigger one than we had during the miners' because it's our livelihood we're talking about know i can rev on the NUM.
NATIONAL
Digbeth Civic Hall
Birmingham
wanen!
anarst
DETAILS 021 236 1240
CONFERENCE
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NUM militant released
DENNIS PENNINGTON, editor of the Lancashire Miner and member of Bold NUM, rom prison last Friday 19 April, after serving three months for causing damage to a motor vehicle at a nass picket outside Goldthorpe colliery. He is one f 70 miners sacked by the Coal Board during this ispute. en would only be reinstated 'over his dead body', 7 are now working..
peted out by the courts and the Coal Board to iners who stood by the policy of their union and pught for their jobs and communities and points put that the NCB, at the moment, has the and' in the pits.
WAS found guilty of ausing damage to a motor chicle belonging trike breaker. Three of us
harge myself, John McGrath, Alan Cowley.
There was mass acket at Golborne colliery
Lancashire. A car was
There was some looped. amage done in the crush ui the police came in with
ich squads and arrested
• people.
At first we were charg-
with breach of the peace
much aler We were
rged criminal
I:'s hard to believe that
was just a coincidence
the three miners arged Will the most erious offence came from old Colliery.
Bold achieved proriety in Lancashire as Anhur Scargill's ronghold'. The
KOlO ckets were under cons-
roughout the country.
three were harged arious offence.
We elected to be tried
Bolton je all pleaded not guilty.
Wednesday after17 April,
"ll.
uhammad Idrish, lengali, received notice rom the Home Office,
This appeal against
ir adjudicator's decion to recommend his eportation, had been ejected.
The following day, round 100 labour move-
activists and 661 l
embers of the black and
sian communities, with hom Milnamad lives
works, gathered shamber ain Souare. Bir-
ingham to protest at this allous ruling. Notice was ven that the fight con-
until Muhammad obies de
en the right to stay
enlated by Labour wienemient
Muhammad stated: ¿here are many people in similar situation who do
trade СУСИ have
ion to fight for them.
be put out, what
* 261
arre torinem!
There are divided
and
endents for many
only relatives are over What can they go
racist be will fight
Socialist Action 26 April 1985
was released
Despite MacGregor having said that these
Dennis below tells of the 'justice' that is being
'whip
ted while I received a three month custodial sentence.
immediately launch ed an appeal. My grounds for appeal were that one of the jurors was a working miner. I had objected to Delig LICu Bolton because of its close proximity to Agecrott collierv which in Lancashire was the main pit that retused to join the strike.
Many miners work at Agecroft and live in the Bolton area. Both councils in the trial assured us that the normal procedure was
no interestea party would be allowed to serve
— this did not on lne jury nappen.
My solicitor only learnt after the trial when the juror in question applied for expenses and he stated his profession as a miner.
We also learnt that on the same day as my trial had taken place, February, preparations another judge and council were being made IN BOLO COWE COUL IO another trial concerning an oftence committed during the miners' dispute.
The judge in question advised the jury members before they were sworn in that if any of them had any
Muhammad Idrish fights on
and I will not go voluntarily, they will have to come and take me.
By Bob Smith, Defence Campaign Treasurer
Muhammad had fallen foul ine Illegal Immigrant Intelligence Unit.
A social worker and active member of NALGO had been voluntarily helping the black and communities in the inner city alco obvious v undesirable in Thatcher's Britain.
Campaign
The next moves in the campaign visit to the Home Office bs the West Midlands Grour of MPs.
Uroup and a luc delegation at NALGO's instigation, will make proaches to dington, the home office master.
Muhammad has only a few weeks to prepare an appeal. could be rejected — unless the labour movement makes the
olitical price too high for Waddington.
connection with the mining industry that this would sway their objective judgement and they should stand down. Four of them did. The jury had been drawn from the same panel as my At the Court of Ap-
peal, Cast callic Chief Justice of England Lord Lane Lord stated that 'bias of a juror
grounds for unfair trial'.
My council, Mr Mansfield QC, toid the judges that I'd been dismissed although I had a good work record and that there was terness in the area as a resuit of mv dismissal.
I am the only miner to have been dismissed in the Lancashire coalfield. Other miners have been convicted and served sentences for more serious crimes and they have not been dismissed.
He argued • that my dismissal was a torm of double punishment by the Coal Board The judge replied that the Appeal Court was not an industrial tribunal.
He deemed the sentence of three months for an offence moderale gravily was nol over-harsh.
My appeal was thereby dismissed both on the grounds of conyiction and on grounds of sentencing.
In prison 1 received only three letters a week. lot of my correspondance was stopped by the prison officers.
They treated me much Ine same as ne der mates but a lot of them were ex-serv centu and they seemed to think that the miners were led by the 'demon king' Arthur Scargill as if we couldn't • More please contact: Barry
30, Antrobus
think for ourselves.
One of them said to me
suggesing 1 as a com
suggesting I was a munist Partv member
ottence itself!
much that editorial.
Since Pse Friday 09
last Friday April, I've realised that the wives support groups and associated support groups
and that are SUlU aCuve they've diverted their attention to amnesty and the support of the imprisoned men's tamilles
This campaign will ensure that men will not be forgotten
Together with the politicisation of women in this dispute the international links that made have been one of the big gains for the NUM
I have been requested by Belgium members of the Fourth International to participate in the May Day march in Brussels. visited Belgium last Осtober and very close association has developed wild He Dis in cancasure and the labour movement
• Be gium Forty will be going on May Day.
The men fortunate to go abroad in this dispute have changed their at-
foreigners.
Titleer British working people can
very nanonalistic and the dispute has knocked this attitude out of us.
We've made lots of good friends and this is a
positive gain of the great strike.
I've made a formal request to management and local. management given a good account ot my work record. But the NCB's policy on reinstatement is unclear.
Road, Handsworth, ingham, B21. Phone: 021-523 8923.
Some areas are reinstating miners, others like Scotland are taking a hard line.
Ian MacGregor
said that insubordination
go unpunished and there's obviously a battle going on within the NCB with the
and the hardliners WeLS over what scale of the witch hunt should be launched.
in Bold, the miners are LEWISHAM EAST Labour Party is very near the end of its process of selecting its MP candidate in the next general elec-
It's likely to be the first consituency Labour Party to select a black person its prospective parliamentary candidate But what's the reaction of the Labour Party national executive committee?
Is it welcoming this likelihood as an example of black people having some Ls thur winning this Tody the first step towards marginal, which contains a large number of black people? The answer is no!
Instead it is preparing to disallow the because Lewisham East has allowed its black section to nominate a candidate and bu forward two delegates with voting rights the general management committee
What wonderful advert to black people for the Labour Party! Here is a cr attempting to • I-
solvetbres med possibly
su unlule possibly about to select a black candidate and the all white leaders of the Labour Par. ty want to squash them
Lewisham wast is only one of six consituencies which have changed their
very angry with conditions in the pits. They are stopp ing all DONES payments clawing back all the ren owed in the aispute and the wages being paid are so low it's hardly worth going to work.
The Coal Board and the media are trying cover all this up with propaganda by silence The
NCB has the whip hand and disatisfaction.
Defend Lewisham East
rules to allow black section delegates to play a part in ure reseecuon The other five are: Vaux-
tingham, Newham North West, and Hornsey and Wood Green. Other CLPs have indicated that they will be changing their rules soon.
tinue to allow black is as to rak apart, the NEC it these parties COll
asking GMO delegates to sign an 'oath
Party constitution. This
constitution. This bureaucratic move will only create unnecessary divi-
Labour should be moving to attack the Tories, whose popularity is sinking to new depths.
By Chris Khamis, Black Section National Committee (personal capacity)
No such oath has ever been used before in such a wholesale tashion. It's be ing introduced to cover up political differences
These moves take place as the national executive working party on livorying black people in the DOU Party after the 1983 conference
— is about to give a guard-
News
here are two camp. now among miners. Those
consensus with manage-
and then there's those who know the only way ahead is preparing for another strike. My branch voted not to work.
These are ordinary miners al bola wno were not militants until this strike began.
ed welcome to black sec. tions. This will not be enougn unless une working party's report states that not only should black sec tions be allowed to exist at the constituency level with voting delegates on GMCs, but that black secLIONS Should represented on regional
nationa bodies cluding the national Culve
Black sections will be wet rags if ther are no given constitutional
Resistance has begun. On Sunday April,
Party called a meeting of black section and CLP delegates to plan out what to do next.
They decided the following:
• to encourage as many Labour Parties as possible
change allow black sections to
delegates to GMCS and local government colleces • to push for all CLPs and unions to send to the NEC resolutions condemning the loyalty oath';
of support for Lewisham East when they are visitec by a national agent on Friday 26 April , at 7.00 pm at Lymes Hall Labour Club Lymes Gove, Lewisham.
Page 5 scan of this page
Kinnock joins TGWU
News
Postworkers fight
back
blow to Post Office management's efforts to introduce productivity proposals. Coming, as it did, within a fortnight of the agreement between the
new productivity agreement it is also a blow to the UCW executive, which hopes to win the approval of the union's national conference on 19 May for this agreement.
The dispute started when postal workers were refused for the additional work waylichl involved in delivering polling cards. Management attempted to over-ride existing practice and refuse payment for the extra work lavo ved. rosI workers at Northampton TeSCO LO naruc Lc cxla work, and there was an immediate walk-out over the suspensions which resulted.
By Paul Dwyer
Management then tried to divert mail to other offices. Refusal to handle diverted mail from striking offices led further suspensions. More than
7000 workers were eventually involved in the action. The Post Office was Torcea lo reued.
Allan Tuffin, UCW general secretarv and main supporter of the
MCCCHl productivity deal
was clearly worried. He did not approve of the solidarity
WolC a Lne spread of the dispute. He said; 'Our members aren't going on strike in support of those at Northampton. As the Post Office moves ш o vær ae blacking and the Post OICC senlang peupic home. We are trying By John Kirby, Sheffield Healy Labour Party (personal capacity) SHEFFIELD'S fight against rate-capping has received its first major set-back. But it was not at the hands of Jenkin or Thatcher. This was an own goal.
The
neeting on Wednesday
4 April will vote to defe setting a rate yet again. However, it is proposed that financial losses made by the counci should be made up by contributions from the WOrKorce and council members.
continuing this tactic the leadership the Labour preparing the to abandon the fight.
Were i Blunkett has put forward
bauer OSINICL Labour Party proposing a deficit budget. This is a clear retreat on the tactie
ACTION LAST week by postal workers at 23 sorting centres from Preston to London dealt a serious
UCW executive and the Post Office on a sweeping
contain it and telling our members not to be provoked, but it is very hard for them not to respond.
Blow
The strike, and the solidarity action which led to the escalation of the dispute, is a big blow to the union executive's hopes of SeTES productivity deal to conference on May. The proposed deal would mean a big deterioration the working conditions of UCW members. In particular the rost vince plans to nire up 20,000 part-time workers is a major step to the casualisation of the service on the US model. where workers turn up in LOC HOruEe with
that work will qual alilce be available
Tuffin and his co-thinkers on the executive thought that the deal could enve e ooco the union conference. Last
MUECA LC that the left have got a real base to tight back trom. not only are the members ready and able to struggle. They can win.
RATE
CAPPING
Sheffield
of not setting a rate. It will mean the end of ans campaign against the Kates Act
Council workers have already had a taste of what HeTlell Becaisei ot would mean. Because
oificers have imposed Str¡schl cunuus ou socll' ding including freezing recruitment. These 'economies' will intensify
council's own goal
with deficit budgeting, pecause courci omten will not allow the council to go into the red.
The result will be disastrous. fighting with the council asdlst une covernnlell. council workers and
will be forced to UNCIU fight the council.
The fight is not yet over. One-third of
witch hunt
Labour councillors and District Party members have voted to step up the campaign by resopition at the 24 Apri adopting council meeting.
Now ein tse campaign Cirry on the fig ha. T his carry on the fight.
mean that the Labour group splits and the vote is not carried on
GM COOKSON
photo.
tack on jobs and services next year.
jobs and services.
In Newham, which has a massive Labour majority, the Labour group voted on 15 April for a 20 per cent rate rise. It also volea lo ena tne victlisa tion of NALGO convenor Bar This followed an inten- Gray sive campaign within NAI.GO and the local Labour Party, and nut ber or one-dav sunkes The campaign however dantucu the SLADOH group.
council because of Labour detectors.
This issue must be faced up to. Only bi tempting to continue the LallVay could the Labour Party retain any kind of credibility for Cre Hewet fight in future.
This is more important than the spurious 'unity' of the Labour group.
NEIL KINNOCK's decision to join the press campaign against the TGWU shows, once again, the Labour leader's determination to strengthen his alliance with the new realist right of the movement. His call for a new ballot is designed to pre-empt the investigation which is due to finish on 29 April, and to be considered by the executive on 9 May.
It puts him alongside SUCH figures Chapple and Terry ( Duffy
HOLLU CHLOE David Owen and Fleet Street.
The fact that he 'MP TGWU-sponsored makes his treachery all the greater. Kinnock has strong interest in securing
general secretaryship of the union for George Wright
By Pat Hickey
A left-led TGWU is a major obstacle to Kinnock's drive to the right which has accelerated since the end of the miners' strike. The TGWU supported Benn
deputy Headerson campaign, and stands on the lett on Dolcv issue. most notably on nuclear disarmament and incomes policy. Labour's shift to the right on policy will include Hattersley's incomes policy position.
Important
Wright would be a ma-
TGWU's stanc these questions. The TGWU has played • an important role in the Wales Labour Party
the right. The contribution from the Wales region of the union is a resolution which seeks to bar Militant supporters from holding office in the union, and exclude them from the Labour Party
Newham council attacks NALGO
AS NEWHAM Labour council's fight against ratecapping sinks into a quagmire of creative accounting and cutbacks, the way is being paved for a savage at-
The Labour group, which could not unite to confront the Tories, now looks set to unite against any section of the labour movement with the political will to defend
It was clear that NALGO would be in the forefront of resistance cuts. To ensure that in the future it will be impossible lor NAbuv lo carry oul such campaign, counculors were urged to trv to stop NALGO addressing ward meetings.
By Carolyn Sikorski
If this should prove im-
possible, councillors were
to make sure that the 'tru
picture' from management
was also given to the ward
One councillor put the
group's s position in a nut
shell. "There are lies, damn-
Led lies and NALGO allega-
Councillors then voted
to retuse ally further
most immediate
ana serious allack was lc
give the chair of social ser
vices the green light to sack
residential social workers,
Socialist Action 26 April 1985 5 which the union is conducting and
While the press campaigr centred on Todd's vote there is ZO a COH Wales about Wright's VOLC Ihe turnout there was 6! per cent, , which is very high Wright got 89 per cent of the vote while Todd managed only 4.9 per cent.
seems extremely unlikely that the vote there would be so out of step with the national picture. These are questions for the
— IO the media or the courts. Internal
The campaign is being conducted with the
aim of Dillil discrediting the left. It is clear that the right wing is assisting the campaign, the belief that after the defeat the miners the right will be strengthened 1l a ical ballot. Moss Evans sharp rebuft to kinnock should deliver
for his disloyalty, and insist that the union's internal investigation be allowed to proceed without in. terference.
Kinnock's stand will
SDP's campaign aid the against work-place Dalluts and will alsl damage Labour's
the politica SUCCL funds ballots. The left in the Labour Party must defend the TGWU's right to deal with its own affairs, and dissociate itself from Kinnock's position.
for attending shop
all( SaCK
stewards who undertook
union activity without per.
mission from manage
The union activity
luclll
extends to talking about
the union with someone
else one social work
steward has been docked
pay for discussing union
activity with another
steward. Failure
The attack, which was
led by a right wing coun.
cillor, has been supported
by the 'soft' left and ever
some of the hard left - all
of whom voted originally
not to set a rate.
The failure the
council to fight the Tories
has put them in the posi-
tion of administering the
cuts. That inevitably
means confrontation
wilh une most muldal sec
tions of the council
workforce.
The choice facing
Labour councils is fight
the Tories or fight the local
government unions. New-
ham appears to have opted
for the latter.
Page 6 scan of this page
Socialist Action 26 April 1985
class issue
THINK the record of this government in recognising that a ensitive subjecty(ie abortion) is a atter for individual conscience is mparalleled, boasted Barbara Castle about the last Labour administration from 1974-79. On 3 Mar a large number of Labour IPs will follow Barbara Castle's advice and, ignoring the votes of aree Labour Party conferences for
woman's right to choose, either go into the lobby with the Tories
nd vote for the Powell Bill or stay way frightened to CHow laces.
The reason for this unparalleled lisgrace is the free vote. When it comes to votes on abortion, marty whip is not applied. The conacience of male MPs is more imporlant than the abortion tights of working class women.
The Powell Bill and the Gillick High Court ruling represent a change in tac-
anti-abortionists. Having been defeated on three successive occasions in parliamentary attacks on the 196" Abortion Act they have now turned their energies to the courts.
Victoria Gillick, mother of 10, took the DHSS to court — as a result doctors can no longer prescribe or give coniraceptive advice to the under-16s w thout parental consent. Gillick has already announced she does not want to stop there. She wants sex education banned in schools.
Enoch Powell Walils to research on the human embryo and give legal status to the foetus from the moment of conception Such protection has only been given in fascist countries and since 1983 - in Southern : Ireland where abortion is completely 1llegal.
The debate in parliament clearly showed that Powell's aim is to outlaw abortion and some forms of contraception such as the coil and the morningafter pill.
At the second reading of Powell's Bill only 41 out of a total of 267 Labour MPs voted against this attack on the '67 ACL When the implications of Powell are made clear basically, backdoor way of getting abortion outlawed by giving legal status to the
no Labour MP could argue TOCLUS that he or she was not mandated to vote against it.
(Monklands), Michael Cocks (Bristol S.), Hogg (Cumberland), manton,
David Young (Bolton S.E.).
Box 110, London SE21 8ND.
Abortion is a
While the Labour Party needs to get a policy on Powell and the Warnock Report as quickly as possible, the ranks have already made their views clear: for a woman's right to choose.
Moral
So why is it that the Labour Party in the House views abortion as a moral and not a class issue? Defining abortion as a matter of individual conscience allows an MP to ignore party policy if he or she disagrees with it personally. their This reflects a long tradition in the British labour movement which con siders that these issues are not properly the concern of the labour moyement. It lets the ruling class off the hook. the In every capitalist state the ruling womens rebrooucuve rights. The labour movement has every interest challenging fighting for women to have control of their bodies.
Freed from unwanted pregnancies, the justifications for paying women badly and depriving them of their rights WUIK will be lessened. dependence on men will be less if they can plan their children volvement in the labour movement will be much greater.
At each Labour Party conference where the issue of a free vote has been discussed, the trade union bureaucracy has blocked wiln une parliamentaly party against ending the free vote.
This is out of line with the expressed stop wishes of the ranks of the unions who have not only voted for abortion on request but also won TUC sponsorship for the anti-Corrie march in October 1979. Unions like NUPE Tobacco Workers, which have a high female membership played a key role in that.
It is because of the elitist, unaccountable nature of the parliamentary party and the trade union delegations to party conference that MPs can get away with treating abortion as a moral Issue and trampling rights.
The working class is the only class in society that has the power to win the It's a struggle for abortion rights. This struggle involves a head-on challenge to the right of the ruling class to use women as reproducers and servicers of labour power.
It is vital at a time when unemploy-
Labour MPs who voted
for the Powell Bill are:
Allen Adams (Paisley), Donald Anderson (Swansea), Jeremy Bray (Motherwell), Dale Campbell Savours (Workington), David Clarke (South Shields), Tom Clarke
Harry Cowans (Tyne Bridge), Jim Craigen (Maryhill), Eric Deakins (Walthamstow), Donald Dewar (Barscadden), Don Dixon (Jarrow), Richard Douglas (Dunfermline W.), Albert Duffy' (Attercliffe), Harry Ewing (Falkirk E.), Frank Field (Birkenhead), Norman Godman (Greenock), James Hamilton (Motherwell), Peter Hardy (Wentworth), Norman
John Home-Robertson (E. Lothian), Denis Howell (Small Heath), David Lambie (Cunninhame S.), Ron Lewis (Carlisle), Terence Lewis (Worsley), Tony, Lloyd (Stratford), Geoffrey Lofthouse (Pontefract), Hugh McCartney (Clydebank), Kevin McNamara (Kingston upon Hull), David Marshall (Shettleston), Michael Martin (Springburn), Bruce Millan (Govan), Austin Mitchell (Gi Grimsby), Gordon Oakes (Halton), William O'Brien (Nor-
Robert Parry (Riverside), Tom Pendry (Staiybridge), Peter Pike (Burniey), George Robertson (Hamilton), Smith (Monklands E.), Nigel Spearing (Newham S.), James Tinn (Redcar), James White (Pollock),
This list of MPs was circulated in the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign mailing. LARC can be contacted at PO
ment is high and the ruling class wishes to throw back the gains of the abortion legislation of the 60s and 70s - to indivisions between
rallies its rowell and unlick.
Since 1968, some women have had safe, legal abortions. Yet abortion is still a criminal offence, and over 50 per cent of women are forced to go outside the NHS.
The last Labour Party manifesto failed to adequately represent established party policy on abortion despite an extensive section on women's rights The miners' strike showed the im- portance of having women involved in the struggle munities. Now every member, male and female, must return that support by putting on the pressure every neve 10 SLOD Gillick. Unions must that, and policy on the Powell Bill, and how to
win support for the pro-choice move-
Disgrace
Women's
- and their in-
have to be brought out, and people's prejudices and fears about experimentation on embryos confronted. Above all inside the trade unions and the Labour Party, the argument against the free vote has to be taken on.
than women themselves or than Labour
reproductive rights. That is simply not and the true.
free vote must be ended. That is the only way to stop Powell and also the other anti-abortionists queueing up behind
women's
male and that the lauvul forces arallls!
million to save jobs and comtrade union
Powell and discuss their The real issues behind this attack Labour MPs think they know better
women's sexual and
The unparalleled disgrace of the
Spy RSEP
Victoria's v
now,
SAFE
VETT
'EVERYBODY knows that once young women have sexual inter-
they lose all interest in academic studies'. This is the view of Victoria Gillick's husband in justifying his wife's campaign to prohibit contraceptive advice to young people under-16.
As is clear from Mr Gillick's statement, the issue is not really the under-16s in general, but an attempt to control and punish the sexual activity of young women in particular.
This implication has already been picked up of Waltham Forest education authority interpreted the ruling to mean that under-lo yea old women were no longer to be given sex education in school. No similar guidance was issued in relation to boys. The NUT in the area objected to this and the status quo has been reestablished pending further clarification. But we can be sure that Waltham Forest will not be the onl education authority to see the ruling this way.
Many youth clubs and youth groups have already been affected. Advice and educational groups on sexual matters for the under-los now have to vigourously curtailed discussion wanders onto the 'dangerous' area of contraception!
Drawing the line between legitimate discussion on the 'facts of life' and the,
illegitimate discussion of contraception and abortion means an arbitrary halt to inquiries that naturally lead onto all aspects of conception and sexuality.
The impact of this ruling on young women will be devastating. Surveys
Page 7 scan of this page
alues
have shown that among young people hemselves there is a majority for mainmining some form age mainly from the point of view of provi ling an element of protection from the exual older specially men. However alongside this here is also a clear majority for freely
vailable contraception and abortion LaVIce.
The views of young people are quite explicable, they want the levelop their ace, with the right to the necessary adice if they need it.
For young women, hoose or are coerced into early sexual elationships, this ruling is simply an atempt to enforce unwanted pregnancy s a punishment for their sexual activi-
By Jude Woodward
While the implications vomen are tremendous the ruling also andermines young people's rights in general. The DHSS's appeal against the aling gives a number of where young people's legal vould be unclear, or overturned.
For example, can a young person of
sex discharge memselves mom hospital without parental consent? Or contrarily, can parent discharge from hospital without the oung person's consent?
in the area of contraceptive advice the dangers are obvious. 'oung woman allends a lamly plainng clinic asking for grees to her parents being contacted, ut the parents fail to respond. She exlains they are not interested in her sex-
RIGH
WOMAN'S
NEW PACK NEW PACK
LONDON DISTILLED
Dual activity. Can advice be given:
consent,
virgin,
people, this examination out?
Property
choice Her own If a young
who either
informed?
views are?
The Gillick
young of their own.
Dilnu eye to male
examples
lives of women. rights
insist
views known in no uncertain terms.
What if a Wesley House,
contraception, aign, fact sheets, petitions
same address.
the ability vitro restricts Or if a parent asks a doctor to examine a daughter to see if she is a
which the daughter does not agree to. Does the doctor have to carry
woman in advanced pregnancy attends a doctor's surgery, can the doctor carry out an examination and give ante-natal advice if she does not consent to her parents being
Who will decide if a young woman may have an abortion or not, herself or her parents, whichever way round her
ruling makes young people the property of their parents, with no independent rights or opinions
Secondly, it reinstitutes the old double standard which turns a
sexuality, but attempts to coerce and punish the sexual
Gillick's ruling must be reversed. Women, young people and the labour movement must be out on the streets over the next months, and on the 23 vune march In condon, to make neir
Contact the Youth Campaign, c/o 70 Great Queen St,
condon W1, for details of the cam
leaflets and badges. And affiliate to the National Abortion Campaign at the
ENOCH POWELL'S Unborn Children (Protection) specifically claims that its provisions: •...do not involve any issue concerning abortion, surrogacy or legitimacy. But MP after MP, in supporting his Bill, gave arguments that could equally be applied to abortion.
Norman St John-Stevas said: 'the embryo is ... human and alive ... the interest of the child comes first.' (He means the unborn child.) Tory Ann Winterton claimed that : basic humar rights are applicable from the moment of conception...civilised tradition must exclude the killing of the innocent.
MP Campbell-Savours said that if Warnock had defined when life began: 'it would have put the arguments about abortion on a different plane and...the law on abortion into the area of absur -dity? Sir Bernard Braine believed that the embryo is: 'a member of the human family from the moment of conception'. And so on, ad nauseam.
These MPs and Powell claim that 'experimentation' on human embryos (or, to be accurate, concepti) is wrong because all such research should benefit
'patient' and not kill it
The Bill, as Sir Hugh Rossi spelt out most clearly, gave the embryo legal protection against this
But Powell's Bill affects more than just the possibility of attacks on abortion and contraception if the embryo is given legal status. It directly affects the
Not doctors to give women ir fertilisation treatment. It also many promising areas research which promise benefits for women and their children.
The anti-abortionists have played on fears concerning modern technology and medicine. Norman St John-Stevas referred to Brave New World. It is true that scientific advance is not always Drooress ve Dul most nas progressive features - it is a question of who controls it in whose interests.
Infertility affects one in 10 couples in the UK. In some parts of the world it is even more serious. in some areas Africa, there is a veritable plague of infertility. For women in the affected
How Powell threatens
women's choice
areas, it is a very serious matter indeed Bill — their status and to a large extent their economic security depend on being able to bear children.
Finding the causes and cures for infertility would radically alter the lives of millions of people. In vitro fertilisation iș a treatment that enables about one in 10 of those women undergoing it to have a baby.
By Leonora Lloyd
Powell's Bill restrict the effectiveness of cedures that many doctors have said that they would have to either break the law (and face unlimited fines and up to two vears lall) GI women would still be prepared to abroad or find some way of getting the
treatment here. Poor women would suffer. The right to abortion - the right
not to be forced to conținue with an unwanted pregnancy an absolute right. The 'right to have a child' is not an absolute right and cannot be. But the right to be treated tor a curable condition should be a right in a civilised society.
To argue that women (and men) should not be obsessed with having children is to ignore much human suf fering and to forget that knowing that you are infertile in itself creates part of the need. It is to forget that women can have children and people'
Not all infertility can be treated by in vitro fertilisation and one important area of research that will be affected by the Bill is into the causes of infertility and the search for possible treatments. Some couple dare not have a child, or they face the prospect with mixed feelings, because of the risks of passing on some hereditary disease ror unem, too, rowell's bill nas alre consequences in terms of (in vitro fertilisation can be used to screen embryos) and causes and cures
Recent research has shown that ex. isting contraception is far from adequate. We have to choose between ease
bined
(the pill).
More
would so Severel
the pro- the Powell Bill.
proposals • stop doing it. Rich
Other
• is (or should be)
by the research.
still be 'whole
decide.
citing
research.
For defect.
treatment
research into our choices.
Socialist Action 26 April 1985 and safety in use, but low effectiveness (the sponge), high effectiveness com-
with problems in use (barrie methods), near certainty of protection, but a high risk of sterilty or ectopl pregnancy (the IUD) and nearly 100 per cent effectiveness hut high health risks
research on contraception that can be used bv all women. male contraception, and contraception that can be used in conditions often found in the Third World, where few or no doctors are available, is urgently needed. This research, too is threatened bi
Almost certainly, the Bill will not reach its third reading, , but the same
will be made when the government brings in its own Bill in the next session on the Warnock Report.
areas affecting women's reproduction will be up for grabs, too.
We cannot turn the clock back. The technology exists and can be used for our benefit or against us. We must use the time between now and when the government Bill comes out to increase our understanding of the issues at stake and to develop policies on how we, and expecially women, can control these new developments.
Ethical committees set up to control and oversee research must have a majority of lay members and a majority of women — it is us who are most affected
We must determine where the resources are to be directed — is the development of a new con traceptive more urgent than finding the causes of handicap? It is we who must
We are on the brink of many ex-
break-throughs much more worthwhile than many areas of dubious
We should develop positive policies in relation to them
Only a few years ago, effective contraception was almost non-existent and abortion dangerous and difficult. The
could radically expand
The labour movement must throw its weight behind our campaign to increase women's choices. This way lies a better life for women and our children.
Page 8 scan of this page
No to puppet regime
Lebanon crisis deepens
8 SWAPO fighters THE LABYRINTH of Lebanese politics has taken a new twist with the resignation last week of prime minister Rashid Karami, fighting in West Beirut which left 36 dead and 150 wounded. The fighting Muslims' Amal militia and their Druze allies against the Sunni Muslim's Murabatoun (apparently assisted by pro-Arafat Palestinians) -described as 'left wing' by the Western media.
The result was a clear victory for Amal the humiliation of the Sunni community, the resignation of Karami (the chief Sunni leader), and the collapse presenl Gemayel's 'national unity' government.
What lies behind the latest shift in Lebanon's complex pattern of tarian alliances? First it is necessary, to understand LIC relationship between Shi'a and Conmunities in West Beirut.
ALAOUSE Sunni have traditionally been in the ascendic over the past 30 years, an influx of poor Shi'ite peasants from the south into Beirut's Dell of misery' has transformed the demographic balance.
The Shi'ites were asserting their authority even before the 1982 Israeli invasion. Since then Amal has emerged increasingly strong contender for hegemony amongst Lebanon's warIng sects.
Whatever the feelings
of the Shi'ite masses,
Amal is far from being a
Khomeiniite or fundamen-
talist current. Its leader,
Socialist Action 26 April 1985 following 15 hours of
had pitted the Shi'ite
all groups usually
Nabih Berri, sophisticated bourgeois politician and his organisation essentially re presents a 'bourgeoisie of the dispossessed
Similarly, although the Sunni community relies for its military force on the Murabitoun militias (basically lumpen street gangs which were formed in the late ' 60s and have developed assente ideology), the old
based estaousnucill. the merchant and landowning classes remains in firm political control.
By Bernard Gibbons
What the current situation represents then, is a war betweet establishments in the context of a disintegration oI the Lebanese state.
The Shi'ite and Druze establishments have formed alliance around changing the distributione
power within Lebanon's sectarian state, and see the Sunni establishment as being in league with Gemayel
against them. It represents a big shift from the days when Lne and Druze communities were wanted around Lilc 1975 programme of the lebanest national ment which called for the abolition of political con-
The situation is further complicated by the roles of Syria and Israel, and the
relevance the Palestinian question in Lebanese politics. Israel invaded in 1982 with the
of establishing strong unitary pro-Israeli state in Lebanon.
That goal is now unattainable, and the Israelis seem quite happy to see Lebanon Warring statelets. This fits break into the vision of the Zionist far right of a Middle East shattered into myriad sectarian states
Whilst maintaining their control of South Lebanon through their own forces and the puppet South Lebanon army, syria is concerica lo cacat its traditional predomin-
ting cross-border attacks on Israel and guaranteeing itself a leading role in any imperialist 'settlement' of the Israeli-Arab contlict.
Traditionally Syria has allied itself with the Sunni establishment, but the growth ot anks between pro-Arafat Palestinians and the Murabitoun posed the question of an anti-
THE 19 APRIL is the 25th anniversary of the South West African People's Organisation's struggle for the independence of Namibia against South African military occupation. At a 25th anniversary rally 18 April in London, representative for the UK and Western Europe, explained the current stage of the struggle. Below, we print an edited version of his speech.
'You could not have helped but notice the considerable coverage Namibia and Angola in the media during the last few days. It is all related to two events: the apparent withdrawal of the remaining South Alrical TOCe from Angola, and the expected announcement this afternoon by the regime of
another puppet government in Namibia
"Pretoria nas altempted, in its usual arrogant manner, mast of these revent LICi
events as some sort of magnanim. ous gesture. outrageous that the regime should expect praise when they cease their illegal occupation of Angolan territory. They should never have been there in the first place
"The racist South African regime decided it
produce something which.. the Reagan administration could use to defend its constructive engagement
policy with Pretoria the same time they declared that during the course of this year they would scrap the Mixed Marriages Act and the Immorality Act South
Africa, two pieces
legislation, while Dellig Syrian alliance emerging in Beirut. So the Syrians turned to Amal as the onlv force. strong enough to curb it. the Lebanese army being an impotent joke.
However Amal was rather too enthusiastic in the offensive against the
Sunni. Karami (tradi-
pro-Syrian) was to resign rather
than endure the humilia. tion of his community. He
remains as caretaker prime
minister. But now, he and
Gemayel are begging Syria
to save what remains of
their regime.
Confused? You will
be, as the crisis deepens
and new alliances emerge.
However it's cleat
what socialists should be
calling for in the current
situation: self-determina-
tion for the Lebanese peo-
ple free from the
of Western
machinations
Imperialism, the brutality
of the Israeli invaders or
Syria's cynical power-
broking. Most concretely
this means calling for the
and uncondi-
tional withdrawal of
Israeli troops from the
Lebanon, and building
solidarity with the heroic
resistance south.
defeat for im-
perlalsin that scale
would provide a breathing
which the
Lebanese could
regroup and renew itself to
offer a genuine alternative
endless communal
bloodshed.
on Shapu Kaukunga, SWAPO
. symptomatic the vile nature of the apartheid system, the repeal of which will do nothing to
the fundamental nature of the exploitative and repressive system..
'Both of these serve as the smoke-screen behind which Pretoria intends to continue with its ploitative apartheid system in South Africa and its contalion Namibia. As our president, comrade Sam Nujoma, explained a couple of days ago: "The withdrawal the mainder of South African troops from Angola is a trick aimed at perpetuating Pretoria's influence in Namidla and deniecung altention from a so-called 'internal SCLUCUCUL our coully
"This afternoon PW Botha announced in the south Aircan parliament that he intended to proceed
the of ment in puppet govern-
Namibia The racist South African regime has tried this once before. The previous puppet administration collapsed a couple of years ago as
of considerable corruption and quite evident mal-administration. believes that it is possible
An Israeli concentration camp
SWAPC which will be attractive to the Namibian people then they have simply failed to learn from history. We can tell them
pue pet government will go
wal governments throughout
They will be DISLOIV. jected by the masses of the people with the contempt and the derision they deserve
'Botha's statement this afternoon is again a state. ment of rejection of UN resolution 435, the UN plan eleculon. Namibia leading in-
Botha says that they will continue to work for an internationalyat he clearly means what clearly means is that South Africa intends to seek international approva. for its own plan to impose on the Namibian people pseudoindependence dissimilar to that imposec on certain South African
'The racist regime has consistently avoided the implementation of resolution 435 and in recent
has more openly campaigned for its destruction. The so-called contact group (Britain, US, France, Canada, West Germany) must cease defending Pretoria's defiance of the UN Security Council Failure to act mers continuer collaboration in events like the brutal massacre of seven men at Ochikuku, in Northern Namibia, a few days ago...
International
'Of primary importance. when British im-
is itself a fun damental obstacle to the implementation of Resolution 435 , is the solidarity work that you da here ir Britain. preciated over the past few vcal. the work thal lla. been done by the solidarity
trade vasalvils unions, the peace move-
and the many dedicated friends SWAPO.
'We welcome the campaign for the release of all political prisoners which the Namibia Support Committee nas launchea this and which will especially draw atten tion to the way in which British collaboration directly the perpetuation of the
regime's atroc. ities and reprisals. You have the capacity to raise considerably the consciousness of people in this country and extend your solidarity work still furSWAPO. ther support of
contact: The Namibia Support Committee, PO Box 16, London NWS Telephone: 01 267 1942.
The Namibia Support Committee the
converco following campaigns: Campaign Against Namibian COMICA (CANAC); Namibian Support Health
Collective; SWAPO Wo men's Solidarit Campaign; Political Prisoners and Repression Campaign; Action on Namibia
Page 9 scan of this page
Latin America is.
International
THE FOLLOWING is an excerpt from an interview given by Cuban President Fidel Castro February. It was taken from Intercontinental Press, 15 April 1985. It begins with Castro's answer to a question on the 'process democratisation' in America.
I think that these democratic processes take on a strategic importance
this time and have significance.
The US administration may that democracy is
advancilig. what is advancing is the crisis of the US system of domination in Latin America. This process signifies that military dictatorships are decline; that resorting to repression and force to maintain the system has failed; and that the murders, sophisticated torture, the missing -things the United States taught the repressive forces, the army and the police in Latin America these atrocious methods no longer serve to maintain the system. crisis is so profound that the military has understood that these countries have become unmanageable.
They are withdrawing government and transferring civilians after having totally failed in the leadership of the state and also after having ruined the countries greater or lesser degrees.
Argentina, and Uruguay they ruined LICI aegree, In Brazil, they handed country over to the transnationals so that they could go there and produce with cheap labour in the
Legacy
But I detect a certain difference between the policy followed by the Brazilian military and that followed
LuC Chileans, Argentines, Uruguayans, who opened the doors wite to comrocuton national industry. The policy of the Brazilian military was different, but they all know that their countries have become unmanageable and they are Hallung over the power to civillans That is, the crisis is so profound that they no longer consider themselves capable of ruling.
They've been handed a tragic legacy: in Argentina, a foreign debt of $45,000 million; in Uruguay, million; in Brazil, inherits a $104,000 million debt; that of Chile, where there will inevitably be changes, is now $22,000 million. During the period of the Popular Unity government, the debt was $4,000 million, the price of copper was not so low, and the situation was becoming very difficult.
Of course, , Allende's situation was compounded by being refused foreign credits: The United States economic measures against government. But now the civilians are receiving a tragic legacy. una, as in uruguay and brazu, were is huge, unmanageable inflation and extremely serious cumulative social problems
A few days ago a journalist handea me an Argenune one-manon-peso bill and said: 'Do much this was worth a few years ago?' I said: 'Not exactly'. He said: hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Do vou know now much it 1s wortn now? Seventy-nine cents.
Perhaps the great success of these military governments is that turned all the citizens minorialles. Inflation economy unmanageable. Living standards have considerably declined in all those countries. I estimate that in Argentina the standard of living has dropped by 65 per cent in comparison with before the military's ascent to power; by 50 per cent in Uruguay; and in Brazil, I don't know exactly, but it coula be belween os ana /V, al least 70 per cent, although I do not know precisely.
Twenty-four years ago, Kennedy promoted the Alliance for Progress as an antidote to prevent social convul
on 13
Latin
deep
say but
the
Ine
The
from
In Chile,
the
midst of
were imaginative.
and social problems. and
and wiped out
problems have
what interest
the interest rates.
$5,500 to pay the debt
The
there's an
Elect those
adopted
In Argen-
the and the protectionist
you know how Selfish
they This is not into governments lakes the
one reacts thinking.
unemployed; dustrial French and the Spanish.
Wing to 2.6 million.
in many countries.
La financial
He proposed reforms and economic aid totalling $20,000 million over several years to solve the problems of development
The population is now twice as large as 24 years ago and the social
multiplied. The foreign debt is 18 times greater than
Kennedy proposed as aid and $40,000 Davilels million a year, $400,000 million in ten
with years. So it's not a matter of whether the countries want to pay the debt or
weeks.
It's that they have Brazil. no alternative; they cannot pay them
If these democratic processes try
- not the debt, •HIl simply the interest rates — they will be ruined politically. And the danger will not be the return of the military tor the military do no want the government even if it were given to them.
danger is a complete pollicai destabilisation and social explosion. i nat s what i say is going to occur if
attempt to impose the Monetary Fund's formulae and col-
interest payments.
So I suggest the following: that deficit. Latın America needs a grace perioa oI approximately 10 to 20 years as a minimum in terms of its foreign debt obligations, including the interest.
As I explained in the beginning,
problems of unequal exchange
measures will have to be solved for the development of trade. In other words, it would only be a breather for a new international economic order, lust a respite.
easy because the the industrialized driven countries have their difficulties. Each
about its own aomestic probicus. I Have so llan
1 am undergoing inmodernisation, say the World, Ther Gersince mans see their unemployment climb-
figure, while the British have three muon upendovneat is on une use
adopted the Slates most selfish of all policies. It imposed
monetary Saucill sup-
and based on high interest rates which than
a powder-keg
extracted hundreds of thousands of millions from the world economy, including the economies of the Third World countries.
Everyone was depositing
money in the United States, because if they kept it in tne currency or ineir country, it dropped in value. would be a devaluation and for all those who had money, let's say someone with a million pesos, to use a currency with a certain value, like
the Mexican devaluation, worth dropped by 25 per cent in a few
The same in Argentina and With free exchange and inflation, no one was molivalca le deposit money that was not secure anywhere and it was taken abroad, attracted by high US interest rates. For the time being the United States has solved its economic problems this policy of high interest rates and the extraction of money from other countries. But neither can the United States withstand this situation much longer. Another affected the world economy is that country's $200,000 million budget
The history of the Vietnam war, which was waged without taxes, is being repeated. now we flave al arms race which is being conducted without taxes and a $123,000 million trade deficit which is untenable for the US economy. Thus, these are objective realities that must be taken into account.
In 1984, 24 per cent of the net savings of the United States was denosited from abroad. The interna tional economic crisis has not been solved; everything's hmited o optimistic words. The US government said that the United States was the driving force behind other countries for economic recovery. It has in fact
them, not to recovery rather to a worsening of their difficulties.
Regarding the debt of the Third the following: we propose the creditors are primarily private banks, the solution will be for the industrialised countries to take over the debts owed to the private banks if bankruptcy of the financial system is to be prevented.
ne united States has a public debt of $1,650,000 million and this would only increase aggregate Third World debt is less
what is spent every year
military expenditures and will have to be cancelled in the long run.
nauve exiss. their debt, at least in Latin America, would
be socially explosive.
What do the There civilian governments propose?
Argentine government
said that it recessive measures or allow the consequences of this debt to fall on the peoits pie, that they cannot halt develop
ment. The presideni-elect and other political spoken in a similar vein. But if the countries have to milion everv vear. now is develor ment possible? They would have to adopt terrifying measures on top of living standards which have declined considerably. will
Divide
want to do this, that, and the other. But the formula has not been men tioned. divide the Latin American countries in the debt renegotiations, negotiating with each government now many unes dave une mam deo tor countries met solemn found a debtors' club, a front, a committee, wildLever meet with the creditor countries? The creditors are already closely united in the Paris Club and the International Monetary Fund.
problem is political? Simply that the seriousness of the situation and all the foreseeable consequences discussed on a political level. but
now the threat is not that the military will return to power; the danger is that Latin American societies will explode. will give Bolivia, where there is a whom I really desire to salvage the democratic process, a Communist Party even which not involved in subversion disorganising the country but is rather an alv of the government, which participated in the coalition that won the elections, which policy of the government. And yet the in real situation now is that no govern-
Socialist Action
labour make new
other, jective ones.
longer Indications (American
next day?
Clear elements
My opinion is that no other alter-
To try to collect this prices
recently elected The The has clearly social Is unwilling io accept developed are
for the flame. of Brazil
to put it out. extract
terested situation.
The positions are clear: I don't
torture, The United States has tried to
alternative?
separately.
and made the promise that they will not
is necessary, and
change
What does it mean to say that the profound;
must be
What I am simply saying is that Brazil.
coups, another example would be crazy. president wien esteel, WILl
Brazil, States
paratroopers fairy tale.
26 April 1985
ment party controls sectors of the
movement which refuse sacrifices. Inflation increases, strikes come one after the
the social situation untenable, and the communists are not the ones stirring up protest, it is the unions, the workers, peasants, the people in general who can no longe! take the sacrifices. You see there the presence of objective factors, not sub.
Who will they blame for subverting order? It is the people who are no
resigned, no longer accep: limitations on their standard of living Ah! Because the debt must be paid the interest rates and the demands of the Fund must be met.
Less than four years ago, a civilian government came to power in Peru in elections where they won more than half the votes cast and obtained a mayoritv. in parlament. Now that part' which won the elections has the support of only 3.8 per cent of the voters.
are that APRA People's Revolutionary Alliance) will win the elections with a majority, but then how will it handle the debt and other social problems thi
The problems of the region are clear. In my opinion, according to how people see it, there will be social revolutions, for better or for worse, there will be social revolutions if this problem Is dul solved
This issue came up recently when I was asked about the tamous question of exporting revolution, and I said: it is impossible to export the conditions which give rise to revolution, because
Halt to talk of subversive lila the measures of the Monetary Fund, the foreign debt, the $40,000 million in interest rates every year, the international economic crisis, the drop in the
the main export modities of Latin American nations, protectionism, high interest rates, are all verv subversive factors
enormous economic and probiens nave cumulated and the crisis which has
the objective conditions for revolution. There is no need
There can be spontaneous combustion, and then not al the water in the world will be enough
I think these are the factors that determine social change. I am not in-
preserving the existing social order; I think it must change. Nor am I interested in preserving the svstem of Us rule ovel our cubies My view is that this order can't continue and that system of rule can't be preserved. It will change, and I think the change will start in the light of this
In many parts the military took power and implemented fascism and
disappearances; they ruined the nations they ruled. What is the
Brazil the opening came as a result of the people's struggle, the mobilisation of many millions of people on the issue of direct voting the intelligent action of political parties that united and, although they lost in parliament, won in the elec toral college which had been set up exclusively to elect official candidates.
Now you can see
which has taken place il Brazil. It was not violent but it was
that is, the opening is serious and solid
Now the people are on the scene In my opinion, there is no risk of a military coup in Argentina, Uruguay.
There are always military with those inclinations, eight or lu per cent, maamen wno laik vi
but the majority realise it
problems like Grenada's are not on some small island, , or in Nicaragua, or in small countries of
when a profound social crisis breaks out, in Chile, Peru,
Argentina, the United would be powerless to do anything, because such problems cannot be solved by landing a battalion of
with some pretext or
Page 10 scan of this page
10
IRELAND
UNFREE
THE 1985 conference of the Labour Com-
mitee on Ireland, attended by double the
number of delegates from 1984, marked an
exciting new stage in its development. Editor
of the
MARTIN COLLINS, looks at the committee
Three years ago, LCI conference was like a
WaTe themselves the credit for the awakened in-
women of H-block and Armagh, attempting
to give respectability to the Irish solidarity
movement by watering down its programme.
The majority of lett groups were fighting to
score petty debating points and factional ad-
vantage. This year there were greetings from
spokesperson on Ireland, Peter Archer, from
Sinn Fein and from South Wales NUM.
Officers' reports took a cool look at pro-
and who
was 'unity by stealth'. and Socialist republican movement, deal with Dublin ceptable to loyalist establishment know
underwrite
Ireland. It would future and South, which stability, and the
British rulers know
debate boils
Ireland,
deepen and continue.
Bundred
prove the calling for withdrawal.
cludes a special feature on the church in Ireland with articles Contraceptio:
Theology, the Kerry Babies trial, Paisley's Prorestantism. Also has a review of a new biography of SDLP leader John Hume Adams and of Sanity on Ireland by Desmond Greaves.
Articles on Europe and neutrality, the Philippines and interview with Plaid Cymru's Daffyd Elis-Thomas.
Socialist Action 16 April 1985 LCI magazine Labour and Ireland,
for Ireland, a strong
Westminster traditions
with Militant distrust the
reaction. The British
be acceptable
investments, ensur-
in to guarantee the
church, North protects the social
of women.
La deal is i-
think the
government to politically Liberation
written by Gerry
CND's annual meeting last weekend, at the City University in London, to discuss the continuing campaign to win full support for CND's platform within the party. After a year in which the energies
supporting the miners' heroic strike, attendance at this year's LCND meeting was a gratifying reminder that support for unilateralism in the party is not on
When Labour's policy
for Britain, was Duelsted resummer
breathed a hearty sigh of relet to see the ment to unilateral nuclear reflect. The result of that showed in the discussion and resolutions last week-
concern that the policy of unilateral nuclear disarma-
something Labour's leadership would preter to keep very quiet.
Unilateralism doesn't figure in any of the party's national nor are there any plans that it should.
Resolution after resolution, speech after speech
Lne meeting demanded such campaign. also focussed on the sting-in the-tai: the document's commitment to remaining in America's nuclear club.
The recognition that
The loss of services and probable 1500 redundanchamber.
Labour groups with bigger
that has softlinced coan
commit any illegal acts which could lead to surcharge
This stage is now at an end. The next council meeting on 15 May will be faced with openly illegal choices.
Two councillors have declared that they will not break the law, SO the Lambeth parties are now canne on memo residi honourably or face the consequences. Even it ther efuse to go, the Labour roup still expects to be able to avoid setting a rate.
The approach of the Labour groun has had un. fortunate demobilising ef-
especially the government is obviously preparea manipulate the money market to allow councils to borrow money
for unilateralism
THAN 100 delegates attended Labour
labour activists have been bent towards
to NATO mars eralist showed
person, Davies,
asKcu OIC
invaded
Nicaragua?' Mr Davies thought would be alright, would use
their own not
that many
Labour's defence policy.
Labour CND's
ecutive left in no
ference. committee
paigning, withdrawal of discussion NATO's lICW (Airland
precept the police
repayments?
some councillors to prosecution but
A debate on these sorts
CONS Sundav. As fight in the council ceases to be the the spotlight to the council
Any decision taken by
the ground for
of rallying
Labour must campaign
the next flight of cruise missiles in Britain at the as yet un-
tion of cruise activists up and down the country. missy ve police presence didn't deter hundreds of thousands of anti-missiles cam-
Monday.
beaten up by silent assailents.
ribs. soldiers from the Greenham base who remained silent to avoid detection.
withdrawal from NATO.
Not content with resolution-mongering though, the meeting instructed the LCND committee to win a higher protile in the ing that all constituencies
bombarded with the CND case and become ac-
igger
public support behind them?
The question of
and interest payments 1s not one of principle but one of tactics to be decided in conjunction with the council trade unions. From the party point of view it must not •e sevarate o esc sion of how we go out and campaign for our policies amongst the people of Lambeth.
Linking
Having spent six months out on the streets link.
miners we know we have the support of local Deo ple Inside the council worktorce a campaign of workplace meetings, leafletting, etc has
prepared conners.
cannot keep holding back week by WCCK
We have to be prepared to go into action.
We need to work out a financial strategy which brings matters to a head
the blame fairly ning
blame squarely on the government's refusal to give councils back their stolen rate support grant.
When that happens onfrom council workers all-out strike action
will be sutticient. The talk of limited occupations which has Cullic trom sullit quarters must be rejected.
But council workers will only have the
confidence to take action if
CND DEMONSTRATORS WILL NOT BE SERVED ON THESE PREMISES THE RECENT Molesworth demonstration against siting
brought renewed publicity for the determina-
The and the rotten weather!
paigners joining the 20,000 plus demonstration on Easter
Meanwhile, renewed harassment of the Greenham camp took a new twist last week when two women campers were
As a result, one of the women nas veen in nospual yor several aays wun oroken Both women believe their attackers were American
tively identified with it.
The annual meeting gave Labour CND a good start for 1985. It's up to every unilateralist in the Labour Party to make sure Wal Culms ass Luruel into new . campaigns and new policies in the vear to come.
they are convinced that people are behind them.
That now must be the role of the Labour Party mobilizing support on their behalf.
Duties
the party has three duties. ensure dual concororesenta clear united opposition to the government whatever the risks. Then to mobilise the community explaining the issues. And thirdly to be clearly standing in unity with the council workers.
In Lambeth the next opportunity to put that in to practice will be 15 May the next meeting of the Council. Unions and Labour Parties are organising a mass rally to snow tell reelngs.
Beyond NATO
A CND Dayschool
Polytechnic of Central London 10am till 5pm Saturday 18 May
Registration £4 (£1 unwaged) please register by 8 May by contacting: NATO Dayschool, 11 Goodwin Street, London N4
speakers:
Ben Lowe • Mary Kaldor • Diana Johnston Eakins • Bruce Kent
News
Support the Newham 7
JUST over a year after their arrest, a national demonstration is being called to support the
at the Old Bailey on May. The
the to the case:
offences
those them-
fend against
the of the
the widest says the
fight. • The
al this April, at Plashet Park, Plashet Grove, London E6 (nearest tube is East Ham). • Gunter Minnerup • Paul
Page 11 scan of this page
News
LAST WEDNESDAY the Scottish rail network was closed down completely for 24 hours. This was part of the campaign which has been going on for the last 18 months to save over 1200 jobs at the Glasgow Springburn British days before, the NUR repeated calls from NUR branches in the West of Scotland and declared the day of action official, instructing its 13,000 Scottish members to take strike action.
The West of Scotland NUR district council had
tion to proceed with strike
support of the workshops, whatever the outcome of the executive decision, and much ground work had been done membership. The decision to make the strike official was welcomed and pickets were rapidly organised for all depots around Scotland.
Ray Buckton structed Scottish ASLEF members not to cross official picket lines and the majority OT ASLEF members did not go was WORK argued by railWOrKCIS that ASLEF should have also called for official action. The Transport and Salaried Staffs Association was, however, story, and their members cut themselves fight to save jobs in the rail industry, by crossing
SIGN SERPELL
THE DUSTBIN
DURING THE COURSE of last week the management of London Underground Limited (LUL) made the first move to impose the next stage of one person operation (OPO). This is being done at New Cross depot on the East London line without agreement with the unions, sharing with no loss of pay to save jobs and protect operators from the massively increased stress and strain of OPO.
In addition, Ilallacement completely bypassed
highly structured negotiating machinery inherited from LT which is composed sectional councils on which management and staff representatives have operated the classic Whitley Council manner since the 1930s. -onsensus, supplemented by une occasiona tussle fought strictly according to buccusocuy uc.s oc ing rapidly replaced with
no-holds-barred confrontation.
that Tory
it s Ccai
Scottish rail workers
strike for jobs
Rail Engineering Works. Five NEC had responded to
picket lines
British Rail have
alreadv indicated their in-
tention to run down the
BREL workshops at Spr-
By Ann Henderson,
NUR, (personal
capacity)
ingburn employing over
2000 people: would
have a disastrous effect on
surrounding area
where unemployment
already and
places other aspects of the
rail industry in Scotland at
Already the mainten-
Scottish line locomotives
been Las cacu
Crewe, although the skills
and facilities for this work
exist at Springburn. NUK
members have been par-
„char worned overe.
cent BR announcement
unev are secking
tenders abroad for the new
investing in jobs and pro-
IRT bosses go for blood
who have been arguing for job-
transport minister Nicho-
las Ridley expects his new
team to earn their recent
massive pay increase.
Directors have received
rises between 10.5 and 77
per cent over the sums
by their GLC.
appointed predecessors.
Although
Hallazclichl
have made their intentions
clear the implementation
process could take at least
another three weekse.
complete.
The NUR national ex-
ecutive have responded
rapidly by instructing its
members not to cooperate
Work has been done to involve the community and broader labour move. The Scottish Labour Part. . this campaign. has already declared support as have the district
cil in Glasgow. The Scot-
TUC mecung week in Inverness gave its unamimous Dacking Battle
The overwhelming support that came from the NUR membership for the that
would indeed be battle, using industrial action not relying on
allu alone. Cleanly, as pickets and petitioning alone. in Glasgow on 17 April ex-
the fight to save Springburn works is part of a much broader fight to save and develop the rail network.
Despite attempts _ LO cover up the lack of investMCOL tHOUS promotions with the new
Rail alle endless 'customer care' courses, the reality is that the network is being progressively run down. We shone remenoer ma one option of the Serpel report propose no trams nort of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
LONDON TRANSPORT DISTRICT COLN
with any moves to implement OPO until such time
may be reached with the unions. In addition has stated 102l any further Move. from management will result in the immediate Issuing of a strike instruction to all NUR's 15,000 members on LUL.
By Patrick Sikorski, NUR
The position was reported to wellattended and angry meeting of the traincrews at the New Cross Depot which finds itself in the front line of plans to slash 6000 underground obs next three years. During the meeting a vital message of solidarity was telephoned through from a meeting of LUL signal operators who voted unanimously to
Threats to jobs still hang over many rail-
Scotland WULACIS following tne miners' strike and negotiations continue for the return of the Ravenscraig coal
deliven 17m pril to ail.
April morale was high in the West of Scotland. Given the recent •cical with the NUR executive accepting 4.8 cent the strike showed that a high level of
organisation and opposition to the Tories remains. As one NUR divisional onCe 'The response to the strike cal was nothing short of magnificent'. There will be
recall West of Scotland NUR meeting to discuss further Will also Discussions also continue with ASLEF through the rail federation.
Call
The threat of legal action by the BR Board to regain the monev lost dur-
Scottis trike bert deter
Scottish NUR. British Rail should respond to the call from Ine NUR discuss alternative strategy for 1OD the West of Scotland, rather than usIllg ICUUECES research into legal actions
SERPELL MEANS SAY NO TO SERPELL
support any strike call over the issue OI OPO and defence of jobs.
LUL made their move at this time not only because they fully intend to force the issue strike if necessary bul also le test the strength and resolve of lne umons in aavanice pay talks being held this week. Threats
Management have threatened a nil wage increase plus the withdrawal of a 7½ pe cent produc tivity bonus being paid the moment LUL workers in the train grades line of i promimite as result limited introduction of OPO last autumn. Of course they
Area
Aberdeen
Bath
Birmingham
Bristol
Brent
Camden
Cardiff
Coventry
Ealing
East London
Glasgow
Haringey
Huddersfield
Islington
Leamington
Leeds
Leicester
Liverpool
Manchester and Oldham
Middlesboro
Nottingham
Newport
Oxford
Preston
Sheffield
Southampton
SE London
SW London
Swansea
York
Dundee
TOTAL
could dangle the 4.95 per cent given to BR — as long
there total cooperation on all productivity.
In their recent communication . with the unions convening the talks they explicitly included reference to 'major items of productivity'. But outside of a total capitulation by the NUR there is little chance of such co-
Unfortunately it is now clear that the head office and executive committe
of ASLEI are no longer opposing the introduction of OPO in any way.
Socialist Action 26 April 1985
Socialist Action Fund Drive
Raised f Target f
115 180 40 200 500 85 160 50 650 150 320 300 100 200 240 300 1100 15 280 70 200 35 280 560 180 340 80 80 1000 40 100 280 180
59000 40
160 420 60 500 800 600 300
40 3195 9170
However many of their ranks have a diametrically opposed line. crucial meeting of the Federation of Rail Unions takes place
following UNUS week pay talks.
But even ASLEF leadership stil deeply traumatised by the 1982 defeat must be aware of the rapid development of fully automatically trolled trains - FACT which will be introduced on the Central line within the next seven years. As one local union poster says "The FACT that noone's job is safe'.
11
Get the
money
rolling
in
THE FINISHING touches are being made to our new premises. After weeks of work building new offices and rooms for our print shop, we can now see the results. And there is no doubt that your money has been spent wisely and well.
With its new design and typesetting TOOLS and its own purpose-built
rooms, along will the big investment we are making into new equipment, our print shop is already attracting new customers. We are now poised to make a big leap forward in efficiency and in providing a better service for our readers and our customers.
To take full advantage of this new breakthrough means we must raise our fund drive target and if possible go over the top. Below we list what our supporters' and readers groups have sent already. Make sure that your area at least reaches its quota, or better still follows South West London's example and surpasses it!
We have also received £24,000 in individual donations. That gives us a grand total of £27,195. Now make sure we close that gap and raise that vital f5,975!
The leadership of the
London Bus Section of the
TGWU is also under
severe bessure on
ranks. 2000 bus jobs are
threatened this year alone
Delegates from 40 garages
NICI last week at Poplai
bus garage - one of five
scheduler for closure thi
year - and threatened an
all out strike unless
management withdraws all
its cuts.
Whatever the problems
a fight must be waged this
year. Next year we will be
thousands of jobs weaker
and workforce
much more demoralised.
Page 12 scan of this page
Anti Apartheid Calls
action, ending in a National
abour Party
blocked
LABOUR PARTY national agent David Hughes has moved quickly to prevent the implementation of a resolution on Ireland passed by London Labour Party annual meeting. The resolution simply calls for 'open and wide-ranging debate and discussion throughout the labour movement on the matter of British withdrawal'.
It goes further, saying the basis for discussion should Tony Withdrawal Bill, publish-
the debate proposes BADOU hold public meetings with, al0k
and Irish Oue s wolte speakers.
LOHSCY and Wood Green women's section and Hayes and Harlington constituency, who moved the composite. nave made it clear they want to see the involvement of all Irish natonalist and Republican opinion, including Nr n ren ao ce Republic's Labour Party.
Irisl peopie living in London, particularly organisations like the Trish
Britain Representation OULU and the London Irish Women's Centre will be involved.
David Hughes' response is a disgrace. There
Inland 6 months £8; 12 months £15 Overseas (12 months only)
Europe £17; Air Mail £24 (Double these rates for multi-reader institutions)
Name.
Address.
Please send me as special offer .
Her wit, the Po.t dtce
SOCiAlist
ACTiON
National Demonstration
The Anti Apartheid Movement's national
committee has decided on a programme of
Demonstration on Sunday 16 June. The
theme will be an end to the police killings
and a demand for the British government
to act against the apartheid regime.
Ireland discussion
is now mounting evidence of the disinformation and
on Ireland. London CADO HO eHCIES bellbureaucratically prevented HU U ally open debate on this issue.
Policy
This is nothing Dul å witch-hunt which Hughes is seeking N COnNe tion for. Open discussion villawsll within Labour Party policy and Labour spokespeople on Ireland, including Peter Archer, have said they are prepared meet all elected Irish representatives.
Ine argument agamnsl
formulating policy at variance with nationa. policy doesn't stand up
SUBSCRIBE
I enclose cheque/PO payable to Socialist Acdon for & ... Send to: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London NI 2XP.
nomen raaiionalondon Nl,
either - London Labour
Asoot a ver aie-
ferent TalC capping for a start!
Hughes' letter George Page, LUIIU
Party ODONT SCS EHOL tO LIJIC" ment the resolution passed and says Hughes is seeking an NEC decision 'preventing your council complying with the resolution.
All concerned LIOSe with opening a debate on the question of Ireland allu fighting the bureaucratic moves to stop
should support the following resolution as a ilc ol uleccy.
'This body calls on the London EC to implement Composite O in line with standing democratic procedure. As the paid officers have been told not to implement it, we cail the elected members to implement
themselves and that all necessary made available to enable them to do this.'
Special free book offer!
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Eight issues for just £2!
THE ANNOUNCEMENT by the South African government that it was proposing to scrap the Mixed Marriages Act, which made inter-racial marriages invalid, and Immorality Act, which made sexual relations across the race barriers a criminal act, will do little to appease the civil unrest which still ravaging the Eastern Cape townships.
Although between 1974 and 1982, 1916 peo ple were prosecuted and 1586 convicted under these racist acts, this legislation did not touch the lives millions of black people living in the townships and 'homelands'. Through its DUnIC y of residential segregation of the officially-designated ethnic groups, There little social contact between the great mass of the black and white popula-
Middle Class
What comfort the withdrawal of the legislation will bring will mainly arecl the small, aull ln creasingly politicall saucanl. middle class which the government is trving to woo to lts side Even when their marriages and liaisons will no longer lead to police harassment
prosecution, the 'mix-
couples will still find themselves confronted by racist obstacles to any relationship.
By Charlie van Gelderen
The Survey of Race Relations in South Africa for 1983, reports that in the whole of South Africa
ahide 34 restaurants wiels
and restaurants with 'international' status which permits them to admit people of different
aces. Fifteen application: for multiracial cinemas WEIC Department of Communi- received by the
ty Development; 11 were successful, and TOUT were not. In April 1982 there was an outcry because
Richard Attenborough's
Gandhi was to be premiered in South Africa in front of segregated audiences. Refused
Despite claims to the
contrary, sports facilities
from equal in the land of apartheid. In June
1982, an under-13 soccer
team was refused permis
sion to stay in residence at
Rand Afrikaans Universi
ty because coloured
schoolboy was a member.
Golf clubs and country
clubs still ban non-whites.
SA Swimmer,
mouthpiece the
Amateur wimming
Association, was not possible to have ge-
nuine mixed swimming in
Apartheid
Life in Soweto South Africa hecause blacks could not use pools set aside for whites. These. of course, comprise at least 90 per cent of pools in South Africa
The newly-wed couples would also find it difficult to plan a seaside holiday together because for hes tes oil des blacke
'whites only' only', 'coloureds only', 'Indian only'. The same
and morality
applies to camping
Above all they would have the problem of wher. to live. Unde Tae racist laws, blacks are not allowed live dica designated a Indian 'white', 'coloured' or and there is no proposa to do away with these laws which are the very COInerstone of apartheid This will also affect schools which their
photo. pap SANDEN
children may attend
Quite clearly, this is not a major step toward the dismantling of the whole pernicious system, but simply anther exercise in cosmetic change to
world avocast Apartheid itself is the rea
immorality, and this will nol end until the whole system is brought down
resistance of the people.
← Socialist Action No. 98, 19 April 1985Socialist Action No. 100, 3 May 1985 →