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it 41 Apr i ] a —] ha al
MANCHESTER BULLETIN
n1) art For Be :
struggle alternative to Kinnock'’s The decision of Tony Benn and Eric capitulation and betrayals and to prove Heffer to run for leader and deputy that there are people in the labour leader of the Labour Party presents all movement who are not going to stand back socialists in the Labour Party and trade and accept those methods. Unity behind unions with a clear task: we must Kinnock is the unity of the graveyeard: campaign flat out to ensure maximum A vote for Benn and Heffer is a vote for support in all section of the party and the sacked and imprisoned miners, a vote the movement for their candidacy. for the surcharged Liverpool councillors, a vote for the health Some comrades might suggest that the workers, a vote for the victims of campaign is an unnecessary diversion at British shoot to kill policy in Ireland the moment, or that it will be divisive and a show of defiance to those who at a time when maximum unity against the think that opposing the Tories means Tories is required, especially in the begging them for mercy and rounding on wake of all the recent attacks on your own peaple when they fight back. working-class people. We argue that unity is only relevant when it includes Socialist Action supporters will be unity with, an support of, people who active in support of Benn and Heffer are in struggle. Even on the issue where along with many others. We appeal to all there is overwhelming opposition to the socialists to unite in this campaign, Tories - the NHS -, the failure or the whatever our differences, either with Labour Party leadership to throw its the candidates or amongst ourselves. weight 100 percent behind striking nurses is a stark lesson to anybody who wants a real fight against the Tories, Pubilia ds mea ti mse: that Kinnock is not going to lead it.
On the other hand, while neither Benn nor Heffer can be considered perfect on every issue where a fight is necessary, their recent and past records show that they do represent a genuine alternative that at least attempts to relate to the aun & May FT. Sop m class struggle. Moreover, they are standing with the support of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs, which, at Motihes Mac's Prub the level of the Parliamentary Labour Back Piccadilly (first small street toa Party and many CLPs, provides a focus of he right down Oldham Street trom support for many of the policies and campaigns which socialists should Piccadilly Gardens) champion in the Labour Party: support Cay ty te ‘i Le for the rights of Black people and women to self-organisation, uncompromising 1. Geoff Ryan, Nurse, Manchester Royal support for workers in struggle, most notably the miners, and recently health [Iniirmary, workers, support for British withdrawel 2. A HHS-shop steward from the trom Ireland, etc. joint shop steward committe in A/c.
Ve have no illusions about the chances 3. A shop steward from Thorn EMI, Msc. of victory in this campaign -— they are slim. But we do believe that the 4. Jan Whitehead, Socialist Action. campaign will be a chance to put socialism back on the agenda of Labour Socialist Action, Manchester.
Party politics, to argue for a class-
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Defend the National Health Service
The massive wave of industrial action that welcomed in the New Year in the National Health Service has abated for the present. The reason for this is simple - the Trades Union and Labour leaders failed to offer any perspective for winning the dispute. Every action that took the campaign forward (such as the strike by nurses at North Manchester General Hospital on January 7th and the London Day of Action on February 4rd) was organised independently of the Trades Union and Labour bureaucrats. Instead of campaigning for industrial action in the Health Service and amongst the rest of the working class the leaders of the Health Service Unions proposed only very limited protests, usually in lunch-times. The Trades Union Congress contented itself with a demonstration in London on March Sth in the vain hope of persuading Tory Chancellor Nigel Lawson to give money to the WHS in preference to tax cuts.
In fact, rather than organise a real fight against the Government, some Union Leaders went out of their way to sabotage such action - for example the HUPE officials in Sheffield who told Nevertheless, although the movement has South Yorkshire miners to reverse their currently declined it has far from been decision to take strike action in defeated. Some concessions, particularly support of the NHS =on February on pay for nurses and Blood Transfusion 14th. Workers who did organise solidarity Service workers, were won. The union action were often left isolated by their structures in the hospitals remain own officials. intact and in som cases are stroncer.
And while there is no action on a In Manchester, for example, the national scale workers in the localities Confederation of Shipbuilding and are still fighting back. Engineering Unions agreed to organise strike action in support of the NHS on For example at Withington hospital February 19th but then did nothing to nurses, doctors, domestic workers, win support for that decision. Only the catering etait, ancillary staff, workers at Thorn ENI in Stretford took physiotherapists, occupational strike action and management then therapists and the chaplains have all attempted to victimise the Convenor and pledged to resist attempts to close 3 3 shop-stewards. The failure of Thorn wards by South Manchester Health management to get away With their Authority. They have continued to admit blatant attacks on union organisation néw patients and are working on in the was due almost entirely to the wards, South Manchester Health willingness of the Thorn workers to risk Emergency, an independent community their jobs, and to the support they organisation, is organising Public received from Health Service workers. meetings, lobbies of the Health Authority and Social events to resist The role of the Labour Party leadership closures. has been no better. Neil Kinnock and Robin Cook both attacked nurses for Workers in and outside of the WHS need going on strike —- a political line that to organise the greatest possible put them well to the right of the Manchester Evening News. By failing to Support for such actions . Such support Will ensure that when further battles endorse the wave of industrial action break out in the NHS - most probably the Labour leadership threw away a following Thatcher's policy review - the golden opportunity to put themselves at union leaders are not able to derail the the head of a campaign against the movement again. weakest link in Tory policy.
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Vote: Labour on Sth Mas
On May Sth we will have local elections for Manchester City Council. We urge 23 April: Fight the Alton Bill (FAB) — every one ta come out and vote Labour activities. Assemble 11,30 am that day. To vate for the Tories or the at Queen Victorias Statue. Alliance will only increase the attacks European anti-racist day of on the working class. The Tory action: the new Immigration government has already taken 4600 Act, the Church of Ascension million in grants from Manchester since 4-6 pm and a social in the 1979. The government is now taking the evening. Local Government Bill through 26 April: FAB lobby of Parliament. Parliament, which will further reduce M/C Area Campaign Group meethe powers of local authorities. ting on the Benn-Heffer campaign, 8,30 pm, Town Hall. We will fight for the maximum vote for 27 April: FAB Day of Action. Piccadilly Labour. However, the mistaken cuts gardens 12-2 pm and 5-7 pn. policy of the Labour Council has 28 April: Lou Kushnick speaking on the weakened the popular base for winning situation in Panama, M/C Town support for Labour. The Council decided Hall, 7,30 pm. CASC. to make a budget cut of £110 million, ie 30 April: May Day demonstration in 25% of the budget. 3,750 council jobs M/C, from All Sants 11,30 am will disappear and the services will and ending with a rally at worsening. The cuts are a result of the the Mechanic Institute government's cuts in grants to Clause 28 demonstration in Manchester. But instead of mobilising London. the labour movement for more grants from 5 May: Local elections. the government, the Council (and the FAB protest at Parliament. City Labour Party) decided to make the 7 May: Luis Enrique Godoy, the most #110 million cuts. famous Nicaraguan singer and composer, at the International. Wot every one in the City Labour Party 15 May: National Palestine demonstration or in the trade unions agrees with the in London, Embarkment 1,30 pm. cuts policy. A large minority want to Coaches from Manchester. organise a fightback. The reason is Central America Solidarity Campaign simple: if no one fights against these (CASC) meets on the first and third cuts the government will come back year Thursday of each month, 7,30 pm in after year demanding more cuts. That is Manchester Town Hall, except on Sth Nay. why Socialist Action took part in establishing Manchester Fightback.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
International Viewpoint is published The Fightback campaign has to continue every fortnight with coverage of the after May Sth, whatever the results of class struggle in main countries in the the local elections. The massive cuts world, including Soviet Union, China and have already created demoralisation Nicaragua. Each issue has 28 pages for among many Labour activists. This can 85 p. very well cost the Labour Party votes on International Narxist Review gives Sth May. As members of the Labour Party background analysis of the international we will take part in the election class struggle and has theoretical campaign to get as many votes for Labour articles on Marxism. Each issue cost as possible. But we will also take part 42,50. “3 times a year). in the fight against the cuts, in the The Notebooks for Studies and Research unions, among the tenants, in the Labour are special publications on different Party etc. aspects of Marxism, such as Ernest tory Crean youll fave fe qe... ee oon t Mandel on the roots of Marxism, Pierre = ie - —— ied your rt ete Se Laos Rousset on the Chinese revolutions, Daniel Bensaid on revolutionary strategy today, etc, Each Notebook costs é2i250, You can buy these publications as well as Socialist Action from Grass Roots Bookshop (near Piccadilly Gardens).
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Stop the Clause! Kursad Karamonoglu is an activist in the North West Campaign for Gay and Lesbian Equality, He spoke to Finn Jensen about Clause 23 and the campaign against it. Gay men and lesbians were expecting @ concerted attack from: the Tories.
The aim of the Local Government Bill was to curb the democratic powers of elected local government. Jill Knight's ‘amendment adds that local government cannot “promote” homosexuality, The word “promote” is key, because it is a word lawyers do not recognise. Once the Bill is law the word “‘pramotion" will have to be tested in the courts. “Promotion” could mean: gay and lesbian books in libraries; lcences to gay clubs and pubs (because gays and lesbians meet there); services like gay centres, and advice and information telephone * lines for lesbians and gays — the whole range of services provided at the moment as a natural part of local gowern- This campaign has raised ment for the community, under control. The family has political awareness among strike lesbian and gay support historically always been the many, gay men and lesbians. groups all around the country Consenting unit used to control society That is our biggest strength, In found it difficult at the and we are obviously a threat Manchester, for example, it is begining because miners — in to the family institution, The law that homosexual very important for us to inspite of all their militancy and acts between consenting volve lesbians and gays who radicalism — were quite Defined adults over 21 years of age is are mot normally part of. suspicious, legal if done in private gave us campaigning.
But after a year of sustained We refuse to fit into the the same problem as we now The Manchester demonstra- Support things started to well-defined roles: And that is will get with “promotion’'. tion in February was the bigchange. Only last year the gay really a big threat to the kind The lawyers did not recognise gest in the city for 20 years, pride march was led by @ of society the Tories want to the word private’, so it was but it was also the bigest les- South Wales miners’ banner! create, Remember, there are interpreted by the courts — in bian and gay demonstration We realise the importance over six million of us in Britain, the most ridiculous way you ever in this country. We were of support of the organised There has been sponcan imagine. ; very determined to show that labour movement. That is why taneous and unexpected op- Two men kissing in a car is lesbians and gay men are the North West Campaign will position to Clause 26, not only not private; mor is a locked everywhere and that the North approach trace: unions, in Manchester. One of the first hotel room. If you live in a West has its own share. especially those whose things we did was lobbying block of apartments and thera The national demonstration members will be directly is just one other pérson in the’
Parliament ta get the Clause on April 30th in London should influenced by Clause 28 — tke changed. whole block who gets offendbe followed by actions of teachers, who will be under But with the Tory majority ed by you living as a homoseximmense pressure not to supporters abroad on June we did not stand much val you are not in private. mention homosexuality at all, ist, when the Bill is likely to chance, although some very become law '
Private senior Tory MPs did not vote Attacks for it in the Commons. When it We are asking people to went to the House of Lords, Wf this is how the courts inorganise protest meetings in The attacks on lesbians and Tories. brought in every possiterpret “"private’* you can imfront of British embassies and gay men can be linked closely ble peer to make sure that the agine what they'll do with consulates in ther own with the oppression of black Bill passed. its now back in the “promotion”. country and to let us know communities. This was clear House of Commons, so When the government what they are doing. Solidarity in Britain during the AIDS there's still some lobbying to realised the extent of opposimessages to our hysteria, be done. tion to the “Bigots Charter’* demonstration on April 20th The press in Britain tried to But we have to be prepared las lesbians and gay men now are also needed. say that AIDS is a gay plague: for the implementation of the call it) it tied to modify it.
There was a really massive or, if not, a black plague, Day Bill once it becomes law on They added one word — protest within the Labour Parby day the newspapers said April 30th. We have to prepare “intentionally — which ty to the front bench's halfthat AIDS came from Africa, for a long battle, because we makes it even more vicious. hearted opposition to the that it is common in Africa. cannot accept a law that Many Conservatives are Clause, | know from Man- There were even calls from $owould mean a denial of making the intention of the chester that there were literalcalled respected journalists ourselves. Clause quite clear, both in inly thousands of letters to and politicians to have terviews and in Parliament.
Labour MPs protesting the compulsory tests for visitors Authorities They want to drive lesbians despicable lack of response. from certain African countries. and gay men back into the Within weeks we suddemy That makes the-link in the We will work to make sure closet. After 20 years of parsaw the line changing, and minds of many blacks and that Local Authorities understial recognition they want ta now Kinnock’s calling the lesbians and gay men in this tand the issue and will fight push us underground again.
Clause “the bigots’ charter’, country. At the end of the day the law. There will be battles But we won't go.
The trade unions are too we have a lot of things in in court, all the way to the We are an easy Scapegoat often scared of the lesbian and common, not least & common European Court of Human itis so easy to divert people's gay issue. During the miners* enemy Rights. attention from serious social Stop the Clause Calendar and economic problems by us ing popular prejudices.
Simply by living the kind of The North West Campaign life we do, lesbians and gays April 30th. Mass demonstration in London. Meet for Gay and Lesbian Equality are the biggest threat to one of can be contacted c/o Gay at noon on the Embankment, rally and festival at the fundamental ways the rul- Centre, 61A Bloom St, ing classes keep the masses Kennington Park Manchester.
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advertised our jobs the day SENIOR COLMAN: before we were sacked!
The company had recruited a new workforce of scabs into the factory to replace the old workforce. Just like at Wapping Judith works 12 hours a The Senior Colman strike in Sale near the company had planned the week, so that is a help, for we Manchester has finished. In the article dispute. You don't have a have two children. strike, sack the whole workforce The Senior Colman sirikers why. The explains below Tony Lowe and recruit a new one without a have done all kinds of fundraisinterview with Tony Lowe on this page lot of preparation. ing in the labour movement.
The miners were quick to come (taken from Labour Briefing) was made And today there are 29 out of with financial support and are finished. Ve the strike just before the 99 still on strike? continuing to do so, Their sup- .
Yes. 2% still on strike after a port has been superb. think the interview brings lessons to be year is still impressive. The 29 used by other strikers. In that sence it are committed to stay and fight.
Could you briefly explain how But the vast majority of people the strike started and whal the is not out of date. stuck if out until Awgusisituation is today?
September last year, when the The company was taken over in company made their third July 1986 bya very big multinafinancial offer: a cash inducetional company with interests in ment and an assurance that - Europe, America, Australia, should any vacancies occur the etc., called Senior Engineering By Tony Lowe, Ex-Secretary, former employed would be Group Lid, whose chair is pro- Strike Committee. favourably considered, Unforfessor Roland Smith. tunately 66 people took the He was a former chair of financial settlement from the Silentnight, and he ran the 18 one week and three After 13 months, month dispute there. company.
At that time we wanted to Within two weeks he forced the strike at Senior Colman is days, thank these 66 for being with us redundancies on non-unionised for nine months but in hindsight staff. He tried to impose comover. pulsory redundancies on the my feelings have certainly The majority of the strikers accepted an shop floor, which we successfulchanged. | now think they let us increased financial settlement offered down. They took the easy way ly fought. out, using excuses like family by the Company. After such a long, hard The company then tried to inpressure — which we all know troduce” a whole series of struggle I feel both disappointed and changes in working practices: very well — and took the new contracts of employment, money. The rest of us just had disillusioned. By accepting the offer we which they refused to negotiate. to Carry on. jobs but our not only sold our They tried to force us to take proudly holidays when it suited the comliow would you describe the we had principles, which pany, four weeks in the winter response from you union, the defended for so long. and no weeks in the summer.
AEU, to your strike?
Absolutely disgusting — They wanted to time people at work in order to make cost cutwithout any reservations at all. Manchester is a hive of activity at the But the rank and file have been tings and at the end of the day redundancies. moment, and is leading the campaign in absolutely supreme.
We refused to accept any ‘of Certain officials have been defense of the NHS. the things the company put in supreme. But we have been a The strikers from Senior Colman, who our way, until the union and the great embarrassment to the full-time Officials - had union and the labour moveenjoyed tremendous support from rank and ment, especially during the elecwill now rally tion campaign and at the TUC We managed to get a mecting file trade wnionists, arranged for January 20th 1987.
Conference. around one of cur biggest and most solid We headed off for Christmas L have no faith in the full-time whose four shop but noticed the company was officials in the AEU. | make a supporters, Thorn EMI, stockpiling our work. There was few exceptions, but they have stewards have been victimised for coming overtime when we felt it was undone absolutely nothing for us out on strike, with over 500 workmates, necessary. People worked seven at top level. days and 12 hours per day. And We called for a one day strike in support of the recent health service we suspected that there was during the election campaign, something in the air. We tried ta which we wanted through the demonstration. explain to the workforce that it Confed. We had the support of was not right to stockpile that the rank and file, convenors, lessons We must also not forget the amount of work — and we etc. And the full-time officials could smell a rat. and the standing Labour can- We hope we learnt during our strike.
After Christmas the company didate. campaigned viciously (that includes issued time sheets which hadn': have proven to others against this. : been agreed and instructed four At the TUC Conference, for trade union officials) that at some time people to follow them, The example, we were unable to you mst stand up and fight for your company then sacked the four have a stall. They insisted on us people, who refused to use the paying £1,500 for the stall. | rights. new time sheets. have got no faith in the leader- We decided to have a secret ship of the AEU. ballot for industrial action. The Of course. Judith (my wife) has The Senior Colman strikers feelings were very high; out of But you have got a tot of supbecome radicalised by the the 112 workers 110 voted for have been on strike for 12 port from other unions, the strike. She has now joined the industrial action, The company months. They travel 2,000 NUM, for example.
Labour Party and has given was notified of the result and The miners have been absolutely mile per week to address 100% support to the strike. asked to re-employ the four superb, When you have been in meetings. ““We will Financially it has nor been a dispute you find that the vast sacked. continue to do that until we easy. The first four weeks of the majority of the support you get They told us to get out of the have gol our jobs back,” strike were the hardest — to is from people who have exroom and not to waste their says TONY LOWE. realise you don’t have a wage. perienced some of this time. As could be appreciated making cuts in our spending.
FINN JENSEN interviewed themselves. The miners have the feelings went even higher.
Because we no longer live on a Tony for Briefing. been the main.. | can't find the We walked out and withdrew big estate we don’! get the supwords to describe it, it's very our labour. We elected a strike port from the neighbours we us- How does it feel to be on strike emotional actually. committee, we organised a ed to. But our families are At Christmas, for example, for more than a year? 24-hour picket rota and visited Five years older! But you also behind us. they turned up with toys, etc, factories throughout Manlearn more during one year of for the kids. And that support chester and Stockport.
The union has stopped paying surike than five years on the fachas been throughout the year, The company then told us you strike money after a year, tory Moor, or ten years being a from Durham, South Wales, quite clearly that if we didn’t because thai is the rules of the union official! it's a real and Nottingham — where the return to work the next day we AEU?
NUM fas its own problems. education. would all be dismissed.
That's right. We are now wholly They are 100% behind us. They We received confirmation dependent on the support of the are a credit to the trade union But i must have affected your about dismissal on the Thursday trade union movement. economy and family life too? morning. The company had movement.
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Mobilis= for the S-2St+h Ma~+
The Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign ‘(VNDC) has called for a national demonstration VIRAJ] MENDIS on Saturday 28th May at 12 noon from WILL STAY Albert Square in Manchester. This demonstration should be built in the STOP] trade unions, in the Labour Party, in the campaigns, ete. Last summer the VNDC ALE had a demonstration in Manchester with DEPORTATIONS 4,000 people. This years needs to be even bigger.
Viraj Mendis has been in sanctuary in the Church of Ascension in Hulm in Manchester since 20th December, 1986, which is over 16 months! If he leaves WHAT CAN YOU DO? the church the Home Office will deport him to Sri Lanka, where he is likely to i. Nobilise for the 26th May; get your be killed. Viraj has been living in Britain for 14 years, but the Home organisation, church, trade union etc to support the demonstration, distribute Office calls him an overstayer. leaflets about the demonstration and In a few weeks Viraj Mendis" final bring banners on the 28th May. appeal will come up. The Home Office has every Friday at already indicated that if Viraj loses 5,30pm VNDC has a demonstration from the appeal the Home Office is likely to Piccadilly Gardens to the Church of send the police into the church to Ascension. And every Sunday evening at 7,30pm, it holds an activist meeting in arrest and deport him. The VMDC is the church. therefore working flat out to make sure that he will win the appeal. o. Lobby at the appeal: when the date at the appeal for Viraj Mendis is known But, of course, Viraj Mendis is not the VEDC will organise a mass lobby. Coaches will go to London from Manchester, so only one who is under threat of deportation. About 50 black people are contact the VMDC if you want to go to deported every week from Britain. Many the lobby. families are separated, because the Home 4, Help the sanctuary: You can help Office will not let a wife, a husband or Viraj Mendis in sanctuary with all kinds of practical tasks - 24 hours a day! even the children into Britain. With the governments new Immgration Act, it will Contact the VMDC, Church of Ascension, or phone 061-254 3166. be even more difficult to unite families. More black people will be 5. Other campaigns: Paul Ho has started his campaign for his right to stay in deported, and we will see more people in Britain. - Begum has a campaign for her sanctuary. husband to be allowed to come to Britain. - Both campaigns need Viraj Mendis has shown that it is activists. Contact Greater Manchester possible to fight back. For 16 months a Immigration Aid Unit, Room 713, Town public campaign has made it impossible for the government to deport Viraj.
Hall, Manchester M60, tel. 061-254 3994. 6G, The Greater Manchester Immigration Others have followed his example of Aid Unit is itself campaigning for taking sanctuary when under threat of being deported. And as a result most of funding, 50 it can be properly established. If you want tosupport the them have won their cases. Barbara Ahmed setting up of an Immigration Aid Unit and her child have just won their right then come to the open steering group to get their husband and father into meetings in the Town Hall. Ask for this country. It is possible to beat the details on OO0l-e34 9394, Home Office if you build a campaign.
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Since mid-December 1987 a full-scale popular uprising has taken place in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The British media have shown some of the things happening all over the areas of Palestine occupied by Israel in 1967, It is no longer possible for Israel's supporters to deny the reality of a brutal occupation that has lasted over 20 years: over 100 Palestinians civilians have died in the territories as a result of violent suppression of the popular protests at the hands of Israeli soldiers and settlers.
When the Israeli policy of shooting was ‘changed’ to beating to reduce the death toll tand international criticism), the first few days saw the hospitalization, according to official Israeli statistics, of several hundred ele ee Palestinians, mainly youth, with broken limbs. Tear gas and rubber bullets led to further casualties. Yet the uprising continues, supported in many areas by a complete commercial strike and reaching even the most isolated villages and * Show your solidarity with the Palestinians: rural commnities.
Demonstrate on May 15th! The uprising demonstrates the total Assemble al the Thames Embankment, London, rejection of Israeli military al 1.30p.m., Sunday, May 15th. (Embankment @) occupation. Since 1967, over half the land of the West Bank has been brought Caled by the Interim Joint Committee for Pak: sting, under direct Israeli control: one third cfo 21, Collingham Road, London SW5 ONU of the adult male population has spent some time in Israeli prisons for alleged political offences: some 20,000 houses have been demolished: schools and universities have frequently been closed, trade unions and voluntary Organisations harassed and obstructed: trials for political offences are carried out by military tribunals without the richt of appeal and a recent Israeli report has established the use of physical violence and torture as a The Sharpville six won a stay o routine method to extract ‘confessions" execution through international and from Palestinian prisoners. internal pressure. The five men and a woman were sentenced to death for a The Palestinian people urgently need the "crime" which even the procecution and solidarity of the British labour judge admit they did not commit: movement. If you want to get involved in building such solidarity work, or arve our total The Sharpville six de S require speakers/model resolutions etc nsure permanent support in order ta 2 YOu can either contact: reprieved. = Further protests are Palestine Solidarity Campaign, therefore needed in the coming weeks. BM PSA WCIW 3XX. or Manchester Anti-Apartheid Movement is Manchester Palestine Solidarity campaigning for the Sharpville six every Campaign, c/o Grass Roots Bookshop, Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm in front of Newton Street (Near Piccadilly Gardens).
Mark and Spencers. If you have some M/C PSC meets the first and third spare time, come and help. Tuesday of each month at UMIST.
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Fischt +the <_< rete a
contrary to party policy. There must be The Alton Bill will reach its third a continuing campaign to replace these reading on Friday May 6th and the men with women who will act in the outcome is still less than certain. It interests of women's rights in will come back from the committee stages Parliament. with certain exemptions such as for severe handicap and rape victims under The following Labour MPs in Greater 16 but essentially unchanged.
Manchester have failed to vote against the Bill at its @nd reading: Alfred The Fight Alton Bill campaign (FAB) will Morris, James Lamond, Tom Pendry and step up its activities locally and Gerald Kauimann. nationally to show the high level of Lastly we must defend a woman who is opposition to this attack on women's being witchunted for her activity in rights. The 27th April is the 20th FAB. Lesley Farrington from Leigh Labour anniversary of the implementation of the Party is facing an enquiry from her CLP 1967 Abortion Act. 20 years of safe and possible the WEC. Her ‘crime" was to legal abortion, if not on demand as write ta the NUM and the local paper women really need, at least available to saying that Lawrence Camliff, MP had women up to a 2&-week limit. We are voted against Labour Party and his going to have to fight very hard if union's policy on the Alton Bill. Lesley those rights are not to be significantly must. be defended. Look out for a model reduced by David Alton's bill. resolution to be circulated later.
A tim limit of 16 weeks would be Get FAB literature and mode] disastrous for thousands of women who resolutions, invite a speaker: contact need late abortions for a variety of Cath Potter, 93 Ewan Street, Gorton, reasons -— not least of which WHS delays Manchester - Tel. 223-4470, and cuts. Even the reduction to 24 weeks which has been suggested as a compromise would be a loss of rights for women. It would mean doctors and women being faced with a completely arbitrary limit of 23 weeks of pregnancy which it is not possible to prove. Yet the burden of proof would lie with the women and her doctor in defending against prosecution. Which doctor would risk this? The answer is that a 24-weeklimit really means a 22-week limit "to be on the safe side", thus affecting a large number of women.
FAB has organised a number of activities in the coming weeks, on 23rd April in Manchester Piccadilly from 11.30 am to 3 pm, on Tuesday 26th April with a lobby of Parliament in London, and on 27th April with a regional day of action with activities at Piccadilly Gardens 12-2 pm and 5-7 pm, followed by a FAB meeting in the Town Hall. Lastly there will -be a demonstration on the eve of the third reading in London on Sth May. We need a big turnout for this.
Labour women through the Labour Women's “DEFENDING: Action Committee have played a leading role in FAB. [It is intolerable that ABORTION: Labour MPs contributed to the Bill's RIGHTS, successful end reading by voting