Socialist Action No. 107, 3 July 1985
The scan: 107-jul-03-1985-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.
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No. 107 03 July 1985 30p
SOCAliSt
ACTION
THE GOVERNMENT, the NCB, and the scabs within the miners
union suffered a severe defeat on AREA UM
the first day of the NUM conference. Delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse 'all actions' of the executive which led to the national strike. The Nottinghamshire amendment to con- N
demn the executive failed even to EAST
get a seconder.
In his presidential speech Arthur Scargill called for a future Labour government to release and reinstate all sacked and imprisoned miners.
Scargill's speech thereby gave clear backing to the second step forward for the NUM last week — the publication of the Amnesty Bill being proposed by the Campaign Group of MPs - this proposes, in addition to
BER
reinstatement and release, that compensation will be paid for fines and
loss of earnings both to the union and REME
to individuals. This excellent initiative has already been condemned by Neil E: LETS Kinnock.
The support given to the NUM ex- THE PIC
ecutive, and the decisions taken by the area delegations, means that the bulk of the rule changes will be endorsed by conference. Media hopes of a bit-
terly divided union turning on the WHO
Scargill wing of the leadership of the NUM have been dashed. The leadership's determination to stand by the victimised miners will undoubtedly help prepare the way for future action
GAVE
in defence of the industry.
Arthur Scargill spelt out his rejection of the critics on the 'left' who have attacked the tactics used in the strike. The strike did not see a failure
of mass picketing, but a failure to THEIR LI ES.
carry out sufficient mass picketing.
Neither was a ballot the issue: by the time of the April 84 conference 80 per cent of the membership was on strike.
While Scargill did not deal with them by name these were clear attacks on Neil Kinnock's supporters and on the Communist Party.
While there should be no underestimation of the difficulties facing the NUM in meeting the at-
tacks of the Coal Board and govern- ment it is also clear that the Scargill Amnesty for
wing of the NUM is determined to
rebuild the strength of the union. It
continues to base itself on the young
militants who came forward in the
strike. This is the base that has enabl-
ed Scargill to deal not only with the
right but with critics on the left -
such as South Wales which wishes to
move the union to the right.
But one crucial rule change is
almost certain to be defeated. That is
the one giving associate membership
to the Womens Support Groups. all victimised
While Arthur Scargill has declared
himself firmly in favour of this pro-
posal there are many on the left who
will not support it.
This attack on the role of women
in the strike is being hidden behind a
banner of 'unity'. In reality it reflects
the backwardness and divisiveness of
the right wing and the Communist
Party — who are in open alliance on
this question. This rejection
associate membership is a bitter blow
and the entire left must fight against it miners!
and campaign to reverse this decision.
It is in clear contradiction to the other
decisions of the conference which are
victories for those who recognise that
the class struggle represents the only
way forward for the miners and the
working class.
In addition to building the huge
campaign for amnesty that is now
possible the fight must be kept up to
win associate membership for
Women's Support Groups.
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2 Socialist Action 03 July 1985
Action SOCAiN
The union conferences
NEIL KINNOCK'S speech to the TGWU conference
presented as an attack on the hard
left. It was in fact a cover for his own
retreat to the right.
Despite Kinnock's advice to 'those
whose politics to 'take
Labour's left wing is too strong to be
easily removed right may desire it. Kinnock's speech was also designed to fly the flag for future witch hunt - although there are still considerable obstacles in the way of this.
Kinnock's attack on the left was in reality intended to strengthen the shift to the right that the Labour leadership has been pursuing since Kinnock's election in October 1983.
The current round of union conferences has seen the right, centre, and Kinnockite many cases against considerable rank and file resistance, a retreat from the struggle against the Tories' anti-union laws.
Knapp intervened directly and personally in the NUR conference to overturn a reaffirmation of the union policy opposing complying with the Tory laws on ballots. Knapp secured by a narrow margin a vote 'that it be the policy of this union to have a ballot before national strike action.
This is an Hamilton Connolly, a senior steward at BREL's Springburn works pointed out, the decision makes the fight against closure of BREL workshops much more difficult. It turns away from a policy of allowing those most directly threatened to lead the way in the fight for national action. adopted by the NUM the 12 month strike would never have happened.
In addition both the NUR and ASLEF are to get involved in negotiations with BR over the demands for £200,000 compensation for the one-day strike.
NALGO conference saw gains for the right on the union executive, and a retreat on the policy of total opposition to abolition of the Metropolitan counties and GLC. The UCW conference saw the executive push through support for a massive productivity deal.
On the right of the party Alisdair Graham has proposed that a future Labour government important aspects of the Tories anti-union laws.
This line is not having it all its own way. The TGWU has rejected incomes policy and reaffirmed its opposition to the anti-union laws. Todd's re election, the support for political funds and the rise of Labour in the polls, indicate clearly that the mood of the membership is not for wholesale retreat. It is the Knapps and Bucktons, and those who are trying to form a bloc with Kinnock, who are pushing this retreat through.
The stand taken by the Campaign Group in support of the victimised miners and by Scargill on the issues facing the NUM are response to this retreat. It is on such moves, and the major resistance to the retreat by the union executives that the left must build the fightback.
was widely
concern is the outer fringe of
themselves off
however much the 'left' pushing through, in important retreat. As Had this policy been should maintain the correct
WHILE THE LABOUR Party leadership are fighting determined battle to head off the advance of black sections within the party, activists in the constituencies are showing in practice their commitment to supporting black members' rights to self-organisation and better representation. Black sections are springing up - and being recognised
in constituency after constituency. And just recently the third black parliamentary candidate, -Keith Vas, has. been chosen by Leicester East.
Paul Boateng was the se cond, selected a couple of weeks ago by Brent South.
Paui is already actiye in the London Labour Party, GLC councillor who chairs the police committee, and as chair of his own Norwood party's black section. He sees the battle for black sec-
TGWU
demands a
FAIR DEAL
for
HEALTH
SERVICE
WORKERS
tions and the selection of black MPs, as an extension of the fight black activists have been waging for better representation local
overnment based on close
inks between Labour coun
and the black communities they represent.
lawyer in a practice that specialises in civil liber. fies cases, especial v those of the he describes YUCK 'geared to using the law as an instrument of community defence _ recognising Ine cass mature of the lau and recognising, as the labour movement must. that the law has always been used as a weapon against working class people. Anyone who believes it isn't is living in cloud-cuckoo land.
Paul relates this to his DUCEIVES as MP for Brent South. *My political com ICE 12. veen loward. making the link between institutions like County Hall and parliament, and comMy sugges, ne says.
He wil be anxious take up those issues of par-
ticular concern to his Brent constituents. With a high proportion of Irish peopie, and the biggest black community London, that means 'the reunification of Ireland is a key issue', and that the difficult areas for Labour's leadership the
ssue of women and blacks won't be forgotten.
He describes his 'overall parliamentary job' as mak. ing sure that those dimen. sions of policy that may not be obvious to the leadership or even to the whole of the Parliamentary Labour Party' are taken up. "That
ment alongside the campaigns that already exist within the community':
Like today's generation of black Party activists in London, Paul is much influenced by the alliance between Labour and black peo. ple that the GLC has fought to build. And influenced too by the impressive links forg ed with the NUM during the 12 month historic strike.
PAUL BOATENG discussed this with CAROL TURNER.
WC
SON
THE black section struggle has but the issue ot race and
representation high on
everybody's agenda. That's
important.
Brent has been tackling this problem for many years now There was TOOLS struggle Brent,
organised by black activists with te support or wille ac tivists, for black coun cillors. 10 make sure that thi policies of the party recognised the potential that existed in the black communities. The black section movement has brought that to the fore nationally.
What is important recognise and, in my view. is all too often torgot ten in the discussion about black sections — 15 that It's not simply about more black faces in town halls and parliament. school
governing bodies and so on
It's also about policy: get ting the policy of the party changed so that it reflects the multi-racial nature of our society, and black people have an opportunity to make a policy contribution. It's about broadening the membership base of the party and mobilising within the black community on behal of the party
So we mustn't get hung up the question representation of black sec nons, important though it
Policy is the battle. Representation without pol icy is futile.
At the end of the day it's no use having black faces in parliament anywhere else, if the party is not able to deliver policies that : are relevant to black people, to women, to workng peopic It means organisation and naving a constitution that enables us to focus on this issue, but it also means sup poite members of the pany from both black and for those policies.
The party is challenged by the concept black autonomy, just as challenged by the concept of women's autonomy. There
sections of the party's leadership who see themselves "umbered with women's autonomy. Very many of the people who ar now vehemently opposed to black sections, if the truth be known, are also opposed
The C
Black Section strug
are making the link
to women's sections.
But the Labour Party
from its inception
recognised the right of
organisation. recognised for
cooperators for trade
unions, so it's a logical ex-
tensior L of that to recognise it for black people
There absolutely nothing inconsistent DeL ween the right to organise autonomously and unified action. On the contrary, one
leads to the other. Because the party becomes tha much more acceptable vehicle, and that much more rich if it's able to give ex-
black people, women and so on
It's a completely false analysis that says a recogni ton of sectional interest s somehow divisive. It isn't. I stand four souare benind the right of black people to organise
alleludes within the party. That is the
best way I know of enriching and broadening the base of the party
The alliance between Kinnock and the Militant
sections, is a strange and unholy one bascu un a rundamental mis conception as to what black
Look at the : experience of Labour
Pm local govern ment.. We had many of the same arguments about apar theid and about separate development when began to identify race and ethnicity as aspects of loca government deserving special attention separate resources as now hear levelled agains black sections.
When we first started talking ethnic minorities committees about consulting the bac community as a community about Oli government, this was regarded as divisive. It was regarded as patronising', to use a word that Kinnock is often quoted as using in relation to the creation of black sections.
The very reverse has proved to be true. There never has been • a greater identity
the black community and
black community local government than there is now. The support of the
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se for Black Sections
les
black community against abolition and rate-capping
as well as the support the black community gave to
miners' dispute has been enhanced by the fact that the Labour Party in terms of local government is perceived as naving identified itself with the struggle of blacks.
for Militant, their handling of the situation in Liverpool towards their own black community is a classic example of the way they misunderstand it. They really aren't in a position to lecture black or white activists about black sections, about the unity of the working class, when they have fracfured the unity of the workng. Liverpool heir attitude on race. We
alliances with the workers in ine areas where our view of plack sections and our view pf local prevails.
Kinnock and Militant have lessons to learn from local government and work of black and white activists in this area. And Militant also have ressons learn in terms of effectively mobilising black and white people together.
One of the great gains of the miners' strike was the Jinks that were established in
taken bst okse examile They
arose from the experiences
mining cay when they came to places like. ingham canvassing support.
black people gave, and gave
Of course the black comidentified with the miners' struggle, paruculatly on policing. They saw the same techniques been used against them used against the miners: the same brutality, the same complete disregard for civil liberties. It struck a chord, as did the prospect of mass unemployment for the miners.
Black people know what it's like to have communities wilcie mere s no chance or kids getting job. That • describes our communities. ¿They knew instinctively
Collection for miners at Notting Hill Carnival.
what the miners were fighting for.
But also there was a willingness on the part of the miners to learn from the experience of the black community, in terms for exampie or organising commanty defence. They were prepared to learn lessons from the experience of the black community, and they were prepared they had a lot to learn. That's something for a white working class organisation, look to blacks for leadership.
It didn't end there. The influence of miners and the mining community was
theid in South Africa, when LIC livelihood were being undercut by the import of South African coal. White miners have been over to South Africa talk black miners, to tell of their experiences.
There are links that have been developing during the strike that aren't going to go away. It's noticeable that the only vote in support of black sections from a major union at last year's Labour rary comerence Came Iron the miners' union.
Lessons have been learned, and it will pay dividends for the movement generally.
STOP PRESS
LEICESTER East joined
two other Labour Parties
Lewisham East and
Brent South - a week or
Labour's selecting
third black
candidate fight the
next genera election.
eth vaz is a Londo
activist and a member of
hack
tional committee.
He successfully beat
local competition, in-
cluding city council
leader, Peter Souisby.
One delegate described
Keith, quite simply
'the most competant and Leicester East has yet to candidate'.
establish black
section with representa-
lion on the general com s
mittee.
What's behind the
THE VIEWS of the Militant tendency on the question of racial oppression in general, and Labour Party black sections in particular, well-known by now. What is more surprising perhaps is that they have the nerve, after the Liverpool council fiasco with the black caucus, to spell them out for Labour Party conference. But that is exactly what their anti-black section resolution does.
Militant's resolution stinks of the sort of British chauvinism that is rife in the labour movement. The sort that ensures Party and the trade unions
controlled predominantly white-male hierarchv that has always existed and that never operates with the interests of uniting movement divided by race and sex mind. The sort, in fact, that plays into the hands of the Tory bosses who welcome a labour bureaucracy doing their own divide-and-rule dirty work for them.
Black people, say Militant, will only join the Labour Party if they al c convinced it will carry out policies that tackle the problems they face. Quite true. But. in a white-dominated party, how snouid black people make sure this happens? The Militant answer is simple: rely on the whites who think they're socialist
BLACK LIN
NO MORE
Black organisations and
sections of the Labour
movement demonstrate
against the proposed
appointment of Sam Bond as Principal Race Adviser for
Liverpool City Council.
and who think they know what's best for black people!
Racism, a product of capitalism, is used means of dividing the working class and diverting attention trom the main enemy. they say. Yes. But let's have
tiny bit of analysis about how this operates.
Such analysis scares the pants off groupings like the
- because it would force them to begin to face ed on their ora pol
on their own political
Militant argument?
concessions to the ideology of British imperialism.
They argue the same basic case against black self. organisation and -selfactivity Incy argued against women: 'wait till the revolution. dear. then we'l make sure you're alright'.
As ever, they completely fail to take up the notinsignificant question of how to bridge the gap bet. ween what exists and where we want to be. That gap simply won't be bridged unless black people - and women, and all the other people who are oppressed under capitalism have a real say in how to change
society therests or
interests of the working class are objectively opposed to the interests of capital. There are infinitely more working class people
an advanced capitalist country like Britain than there are ruling class. One 01 the why this sheer weight of numbers doesn't change things is because the ruling class have been tremely effective in dividing
WUlAIIE class persuading them that they are
competition with each other for the resources of society.
Racism powerful tool in capitalism's armoury
but it's powerful because sections of the white work ing class are persuaded, in a word are racist and no amount of moral exhortation by self-righteous sects changes the facts.
Only by united action between black and
SPECIAL ISSUE
RACISM
COUNCIL
angi
workers, will the working
learn in practice that their interests are in fact the
This is what the NUM Salic learned during the course of
12-month long strike, when black people Were
the strongest SuD porters of the strike
But the condition for such action can never be that black people tag along with. white demands Thei experience oppression which is specific to the colour of their skin. They want that taken into account, and they know that they are in
an infinitely better position
that than any white so-called socialist who al gues otel wise.
By arguing that "diviSIons along lines should never be allowed to enter the labour movement', Militant square the circle. They simultaneously ignore the tact that such divisions do exist are, in fact, fundamental to the disunity of the labour movement and imply that hack demands are what creates the divisions.
This is nothing other than a racist argument. The
of their party conference resolution.
Black sections are out, because ther will provide 'the gateway to a comfortable few' Parliament and town halls have, for decades, provided
comfortable career for white men - if women and black carcerists get in on te act then the worst you can say is that nothing changes.
In fact black sections are not that at all. They are a way of ensuring that Labour's black
CHICCI tatives are accountable
black people believe that black representatives will improve their national and local lot, and that they can have a say in electing them by participating in the Labour Party and its caucus of black members, then they are going make damn sure that the black representatives they fight to elect
social services which they suffer
to divide
enemy, the Tories and the system which they maintain
the labour movement. Racism can only be defeated by a
united campaign by black and white workers mobilised
logether around socialist policies
career for a fen
the party their lives remain unchanged unless the Labour but for the mass of black
Party takes up socialist policies, campaigning on them and
implementing them when next in government
We therefore oppose the setting up of formal black
sections but give our support to the setting up of anti-racism
committees, involving black and white members of the party
and call upon the party to give full support to trade unions
involved in action against racist bosses.
stick to the policies they meet thine same to ment l5 the same reselection.
Far from being a home for aspirant careerists, black sections will ensure the opposite: that people who ge nuinely reflect the demand of the black community are elected to the positions of
and control within party and outside.
Militant's argument more than a demand that white careerists preferential treatment over Diack Careensl
Given their views on the 'danger' it's not surprising that Mili
Socialist Action 03 July 1985 9
The Militant resolution:
This Conference welcomes the initiatives of the NEC to
investigate the reasons for lack of active participation o
black people in the Labour Party, by the working party being
set up. But we view the working party's preoccupation with
constitutional arrangements and disregard for political issues
with disappointment. Black workers (and all workers) will
only join the Labour party when they are convinced that it is
committed to policies that will tackle mass unemployment,
bad housing, poor education and inadequate health care and
Racism is a product of capitalism, which is used as a tool
workers, diverting their attention from the real
Divisions along racial lines should never be allowed to ente
Black sections may provide the gateway to a comfortable
• workers outside tant advocate a false alter native: anti-racist committees, composed of black and white members, devoid of any teeth. Militant support the politics of the ghetto, sc why not advocate specially for the up Labour Party If and when this resolu tion gets to party conference in October. it is not simply the duty of every socialists in the party to throw it out They must also call it what it is. anotner racist argumenl means of institu tionalising the racism that is already so rife in the Labour Party.
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KUOMET
The letter circulated jointly by the Campeign group of MP's and the National Union of Mineworkers in defence of 'Sacked and Jailed Miners' can be used widely in the labour movement to really get a NATIONAL amnesty campaigo off the ground.
It is just what is needed to really begin to mobilise broad forces to raily behind the NUM's calli for a general amnesty for well thes
By Maureen Lansbury
The letter points out that 'scores of miners and some supporters remain in prison following the NUM dispute. The men, from virtually every coalfield in Britain, are enduring prison sentences ranging from months to years. 'Of key importance is the need to maintain maximum outside contact so that their spirits and their families are not allowed to sink.'
Arthur Scargill, Peter Heathfield and Mick McGahey on the other side of the leaflet point out that 700 miners have been sacked by the National Coal Board. 'Despite all reasonable arguments lan McGregor refuses to reinstate them. Most have been dismissed for trivial or no offences and the majority are union branch officials whose crime was to fight for jobs and mining communities.
Their statement "welcomes the assistance of the Campaign Group of Labour MP's in bringing this message to you.' The list of proposed initatives at the end of the leatlet urges supporters to make donations, organise benefits and support meetings; pass resolutions; write to all Labour MP's; visit the families of miners; ask MP's to write to jailed miners; write to local newspapers trade union journals in support of victimised miners.
Above all to 'campaign through trade union, TUC and Labour Party conferences to commit the next Labour Government to a General Amnesty, reinstatement and compensation to all miners sacked because of their activities in the "dispute'.
Copies available from Alan Meale, Secretary, The Campaign Group of MP's, House of Commons, London WC1.
NAME
William Christopher Haifield
In many cases the prison authorities are stopping mail getting through. Two ways round the problem are a) to write your letter to the prison governor asking him to pass the letter on b) write as though you know the person concerned. If your mail still fails to go through consult your local NUM area.
MINERS SOLIDARITY FUND, St James House, Vicar Lane, Sheffield. Cheques and postal orders made payable to Miners Solidarity Fund, Co-op Bank, Sheffield Branch, Account No 300000009. Sorting code 08-90-75.
SENTENCE-PRISON/CENTRE
24 year-Wayears . 2 уеягу-у
launched
Back the NUM rule-
change on women
THE FIGHT for amnesty for sacked and imprisoned miners has received a welcome boost with the decision by the NUM and the Campaign Group of MPs to launch a 'Solidarity with Victimised Miners' campaign. An appeal is to be circulated to all labour moment bodies asking them to campaign in support of victimised miners, and to raise money for the families. Individuals and organisations will be asked to contribute to the Mir
A central aspect of the campaign will be a fight to commit the next Labour government to gullcia. amnesty, re-instatement and compensation tor al miners sacked for their activity in the dispute. Ins aspect of the campaign will
confronting the scabbing role of Kinnock on this question. The centre and right of the party will not wish to abandon their defence of the 'rule of law' and face the hostility of the media.
The ruling class is determined timisations shall stand as
whole labour movement. Following the refusal of the TUC to give financial support to the NUM the raising of
Amnesty campaign
The photos on this page are taken from Unfinished
Business which can be obtained at £3.00 (plus 34p
p&p) from the Acorn Press, 240 Water Street, Ac-
crington, Lancashire BB5 GQP. Limited edition
only - order now. extremely important.
Many of support groups, womer
issue.
will be
every •union and
branch in the country to the
leaflets have been sent to CLPs, trades councils, and trade They Coll tain a statement by the as a letter from argill, as well
letter from Heathfield and McGahey, and it names all of the im-
miners The Campaign Group has over 1,000 requests for speakers
and will respond to all efforts to publicise and build support for the fight.
The rally at party con ference this year will b given over to this issue.
vital and regional rallies and meetings are organised soon as possible. SERTUC and Kent NUM organised a rally on 18 JuIy around the demands toT reinstatement and release
miners, which will be addressed by Arthur Scargill. Euston
SERTUC is printing a large and posters to build the rally which is at friends Meeting House, Euston Road. It is essential tha this rally be built as widely as possible in the Londor Labour movement, as it should provide an opportunity to get a widely based and active campaign off the ground. • Also planned by SERTUC and Kent is a
Parliament in October
suppoli which played such a vital role in the strike can play an equally important role in this campaien The aim must be to keep the issue ot victimisations alive anc in front of the movement. Inere is wide opposInor to the victimisations and this pressure must be To See oR the fight to commit the Labour Party leadership custale ment and amnesty.
rule change that would membership in the union.
dreadful Arthur Scargill.
But Arthur Scargill has stuck to the promises made by the executive women during the strike and will be proposing that the conference adopts the clause that would allow women become 'an associate member wnc shall not be eligible to vote recieve benefit, attend meetings (except by invitation) nor hold any specific post in the unions'.
By Valerie Coultas
This limited concession is likely to be the focus of a lot of controversy for now the most ›owerful sectio
NUN Yorkshire, has added its weight to VOLC down the change. This reflects the pressure that is on the militants the pits in the wake of the defeat of their 12 month long battle for jobs and the fact that the gains of that battle are under attack both within the NUM and ine labour movement as o whole.
Kent NUM has stood firm over the issue of
involvement in the union. Both at the beginning of the strike and now will defend the position of the national executive
The women's support
groups in inis area have
been allowed to send representatives to branch meetings and were allowed to keep their own funds.
This has meant that the women's organisation and women's organisation and confidence has increased
Large stake numbers of women have decided to join the Labour Party although the local party officials in the area seem to have been reluctant to let them in - fearing their socialist ideas, according to Sue Bence, , the secretary of Ayelsham Women's Support Group.
Jack Collins, Secretary of Kent NUM puts it this way. 'We think the strike
Jobs Massacre
son. This decision goes against even
October last year.
prevent NACODS
fortunately, price for NACODS cowardice
job loss in this
tinue to close pits,
requirements'.
challenge this plan.
BEA CAMPBELL must have had a shock when she heard that South Wales NUM were opposing the
give women associate
She had projected the South Wales leadership, in her articles after the strike, as less 'macho' and more syinpathetic to the demands of women that the
brought new forces into play. Everyone said the women did wonderful job. It was that was true was then we should build on ana go forward. We should recognise the organisation of the women as a positive, progressive development that should be supported.'
This is why it is vital that the left backs this rule change in Sheffield this coming week. It was onl to sustain the strike for as long as it was because of the commitment and enthusiasm of the women's support groups who organised community as in a wat operation to keep everyone fed and mobilis ed behind the battle
againse i cages.
The courage the women on the picket lines confronting the police for the first time in their lives should not be forgotten.
Nor should the dedication of women be forgotten, who had never previously been actively involved politics, to defend their communities and the Na. tional Union of Mineworkers whatever the press threw at them this rule change would deny But it LuIS would do more than that it wowd mean that womel everywhere would be encouraged to distrust the labour movement.
The miners strike challenged the rotten class collaborationist traditions abou leaders. The strike also challenged those traditions by entering into an alliance 1n their com munities and outside. To go back on the commit ment they gave to give women associate membership of the union when the strike was over would be a betrayal not only of women but of the working class as a wildle
THE NCB has decided to bypass the unions on the review procedure and to unilaterally impose the criterion of 'economic', as well as imposing an "independent' review body consisting of one per-
the very limited agreement that was given to NACODS in
That agreement was clearly intended only to
joining the strike, and the NUM's position that it was not worth the paper it was written on has been proved correct. It is, un-
the NUM that will pay the heaviest
The NCB has announced 16,000 redundancies since the end of the strike, which, with the 4000 announced before the strike began, brings the total
Around of closures to 20,000.
MacGregor and his deputy James Cowan have both rubbed home the Boards intention to con-
in order to achieve 'a highvolume low-cost industry consistent with market
What this means is that the Board's medium term aim is for up to 70,000 redundancies, as Scargill has argued all along, with the eventual aim
The task facing the left in the NUM is rebuilding the strength of the union to
Page 5 scan of this page
Stop the Moral Right
Labour Women support
THREE THOUSAND coln's Inn Fields to Jubille Gardens on 23 June call.
which makes it illegal to give advice on contraception and abortion to under 16's without parental consent.
The appeal, which began in the Tuesday, is being made by the Department of Health and Security against Vic-
Gillick case last December in the High Court by challenging the DHSS guidelines counselling with regard to young people, which urged parental involvement in normal circumstances but recognised that there were exceptional circumstances where this decision should be made the doctor
This ruling made it il-
advice or treatment on contracention or abortion and for schools to do the sallie without parental consent. Whether or not it is illegal to give information, like sex education, is tion is still ambiguous.
The presence of a large number of young people - the ruling affects young men's access to contracep-
well YOURS women's right to choose
behind the NUS banner, Young Socialist banners and YCND banners at the front or behind far left banners at the back, made unanimously supported the composite resolutions
then went on to set a precedent by suspending stan-
agenda and its amendments to be discussed even though the mover of the resolutions was not present.
The composite resolution on reproductive rights condemned the 44 Labour members Powell's Bill and called for the women's committee to
socialist women's policy on reproductive rights and the ending of the conscience vote on these issues.
A note of caution in the debate by a clause which referred to the 'selfimposed standards of scientists' on embryo experimentation were ready very strict as people felt that shouldn't place trust in scientists to act in the best interests of women.
This was to some eye
corrected resolution from Man-
women's council CIESLCE which called for working
control over the health service and health research.
However the mover of the resolution from the Militant stressed that embryo and other research on
irolled by working
trolled working class men as well as womer prospect which I find alar-
16|E women are the onYor themseives! people who can decide
people marched from Lin
ing on the Law Lords to reverse the Gillick ruling
it• clear who would be Leading the fight against the values Victoria
Taken with the recent changes housing benefits forcing young
swinging cuts benefit for the thousands of youth on the dole it is By Valerie Coultas
clear that the moral majority is on the offensive, to roll back the gains of the *permissive society'
At the centre of this offensive the need to stabilise the family and defend the British way of alTe What crankish 10 years ago
and more acceptable in Thatcher's
But the speaker from the Brook advisory said on the demonstration a very large number OI parents would rather their children used contraceptives than became pregnant and forced into early motherhood. Il s lne pall and misery of being forced
naye children young people cannot afford and are not ready for
Right to Choose
THE LABOUR Party women's conference virtually
condemning the Powell Bill and the Gillick ruling. It
ding orders to allow the abortion resolution on the
The one mistake that conference made was lo vote for the Leeds Central, University women's section motion which stated that conference 'does not believe that the high technology approach of in vitro fertilisation 1S propriate for most
nor does it find
By Kath Potter, Manchester Gorton Women's Section
surrogacy an acceptable solution, given that it can be exploitative of other
Instead the resolution urged more money to be placed into research into causes of infertility 'such
pelvic inflammatory disease, contraception, iatrogenic causes and malnutrition'.
This of course was a false choice being offered TO conference. High technology research is not aup ip is for some and
for some and money should be invested
n all areas of research
ex-
ploitative when controlled
by profit-making agencies but if women choose to do this for other women under conditions which
visit the back street abortionist that has to be understood. 'I had a child at 15 and I don't want my
through what went through,' was the reaction of many parents according to the speaker.
The so-called "problems' of under age sex Will not go away because of Mrs Gillick's ruling. The myth that 'nice girls' don't was destroyed long. ago. breaks through class and
what right have the Victoria Gillick's of this world to tell young people how they should or shouldn't behave?
The National Union of Students representative pointed out that this was international Youth year and young people of 14-16 would be able to vote the next election. 'We will not forget a government that overturned our rights. wv e will noU allow Gillick to trampie all over
us This fighting message
needs to be taken into the schools, colleges, workplaces and dole queues to prepare a huge response in six weeks time when the Law Lords announce me ocus on.
But most crucially the
to the Labour Party and the trade unions. The Milithev control it does not have to be exploitative and Call gIve children women who wish to be
The debate on abor-
nearly didn't tion happen as the proposer of the rather weak resolution from Windsor and Maidenhead CLP was not present.
However good amendments to the resolu-
Can Portall that the item appeared on
archca. The ference voted by a two-thirds majority to be suspend standing orders to allow the resolution to be debated an unprecedented step showing the concern of women on this issue.
The resolution as amended called for woman's right to choose by the decriminalisation of abortion, improvement of facilities and an end to the Conscence vole.
If the women's conterence had the bower to influence party policy by
five resolutions directly to party conterence suen issues as tnese would be at the top of the agenda.
As it is women will have to fight to get such resolutions through their
against host of competing interests or remain at the mercy of
views MPs representatives in P thia- when they their ment to vote for woman's right to choose.
tant led YS National Committee did not implement its conference mandate and build this demonstration in a big way.
Young people have to organise and go out into the labour movement and explain why they should have the right to decide why. banning -contraceptive and abortion advice
nothing them and why knowledge
is the best way to improve the lives of young people today.
Jo Richardson read out a message from the ACTT supporting the demonstration but Labour Party and Trade Union banners were few and far between
The left-wing in the trade and the Labour Party cannot be complacent because Powell's bill has been defeated as Jo Richardson pointed out. 'If this decision goes against us in the Law Lords we have IO campaign for a change in the law. We have to defeat them resolutions, demonstrations, by lobbying our MP's'.
Even it we win the moral right will . look for another loophole law or another private memners nik. new are or the offensive and the pro-choice movement has to be re-built to be in a position to counter attack.
young people's anger on the march a week ago,
ruling,
to under 16's.
audience listened to the music of the Guest Stars.
dangerous precedent for us all' Nathalie from the
campaign explained
Catholic zealot Victoria Gillick was the focus of many
called by the Coordinating Committee Against the Gillick
, outlawing advice on contraception and abortion
The march, starting in Holborn, ended up in Jubilee Gardens where Maggie Stead compared a rally and the
Although this ruling affects young people it sets a
Women's organisations, youth groups and left-wing
Socialist Ac our let our bodies our right to deade
REVERSE THF
GILLICK RUVI
law and miners wives from Ansley workshop in Warwickshire,
0203 395972 if you can help.
contingents made up the bulk of the march along with smattering of trade union and Labour Party banners.
Sheila and Ellen Smith (see picture above), sisters-i
were among the marchers The worksh faces closure at the end of this year and they had leaf on the march appealing for donations to be sent to the Women's Support Group to save a Warwickshire striking miner from eviction because the building socie will not give him adequate time to clear his morigage arrears caused by the strike! Contact Ellen Smith on
Page 6 scan of this page
Why the Lab wrong on th
Socialist Action 03 July 1985 Earocomments Marx- horning Star a
ise line
JOHN ROSS looks at why any
ism Today: support for the polities of the Mor-
ning Star is a disastrous error for
of the Labour Party.
the left wing
THE reason why millions of determined socialists on a world scale still support the line of the pro-Moscow Communist Parties and why a significant number of militants in the labour movement give a credibility to the politics of the Morning Star which they would never give to Marxism Today - is easy to understand. No Socialist, or Labour Party anywhere in the world has ever capitalism.
In contrast parties themselves Communist have overturned capitalişm in Yugoslavia, China, Vietnam and other states.
The organisation threw capitalism in Cuba, the 26 July movement, also later became the nucleus of the Cuban Communist Party. The FSLN Nicaragua was openly inspired by the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party.
Organisations such Phillipines Communist Party are lading a major struggle against the Marcos dictatorship in that country. All this gives a prestige to the Communist Parties ¿lately not possessed by the social democratic and Labour Parties.
USSR
In addition to various Communist Parties internationally there is the tremendous weight of the USSR itself. Again this is a formidable question for anyone who seriously thinks about the struggle for socialism.
The existence of the USSR is a tremendous weight in the world in the interests of the international working class - no matter what were the horrific crimes carried out by Stalin and his successors. destruction of the USSR would be a historic disaster for the international working class.
If the USSR had not emerged victorious from World War II we would today be faced with an inter-imperialist nuclear arms race threat of a repeat of World War 1
and World War II only this time fought out with nuclear weapons. If anyone imagines that the world today is a dangerous place just imagine what it would be like if an imperialist Germany, the States, and Japan were today competing with each other building up of nuclear arsenals!
Nazism
Furthermore each overturn of capitalism has in turn built on, and 'only been made possible by, the existence of the USSR. It was the victory of the Soviet armies over German Nazism that provided background against Yugoslav Communist Party under Tito could liberate that country. The material aid, and military support, from the USSR also allowed the Chinese state to survive after 1949 when it was directly threatened by the United States.
The joint aid of the Soviet
overturned
calling
the USSR,
which over-
In
as the
which is ab-
the role of
The United first the French 1n the United States. around the world.
the why many
which the labour movement
tempted to give, at support
of Marxism Today.
support blind
the USSR.
Polish workers at the Lenin shipyard fight for the creation of Solidarnose
Union and China allowed Vietnam to win its war of liberation against
and then the material aid from the USSR which allows both Cuba and Nicaragua to survive. It is similar material and military aid in from the Soviet Union which supports many liberation movements
If you add to all this a more 'militant' tactical line adopted by the Morning Star then it easy to see
serious people in the give, or are least critical the Morning Star against the openly right wing line
Nor are all those giving such
to the incredible crimes that have been committed in
Virtually
anymore doubts the reality of the mass murders and crimes carried out by Stalin. The invasions of Hungary in 1956 Czechoslovakia in 1968 — together with the imposition of martial law
Poland and the economic crisis in Eastern Europe
have severely shaken both the mass support of the Communist Parties and the confidence of their militants in the system they defend. Europe
But despite all this there is still a feeling among many that 'after all it is absurd to believe that socialism could be built without mistakes'. People see bureaucracy in Eastern Europe and don't like it, but they fail to see that the bureaucracy of the USSR and Eastern Europe
represents a definite social layer, a social caste.
Take the FSLN for and Every single major founding leader of the FSLN, except Tomas Borge, was killed in the evident Somoza. The FSLN waged a twenly ycal revolutionary against dictatorship perialism. Every single leader of the FSLN fered, extreme personal sacrifice and repression. They have nothing personally, or morally, in common with Chernenko, Jaruselski, or the corrupt average bureaucrat of Eastern Europe.
But the attitude many militants have internationally to the Soviet leadership is rather like the famous remark of one Somoza. 'He may be a bastard but
example
struggle against they
socialism. struggle and im-
faced, and many suf-
danger,
Brezhnev, Gorbachev,
declaring
US leader on
he's our bastard.' The idea is that naturally the leaders of the USSR and Eastern Europe are guilty of great crimes, they are conservative and even distasteful. But somehow
are still part of a force for
Solidarnose
This is also rather directly the attitude of Arthur Scargill. As is well known Scargill had a wrong line on Solidarnose in Poland. He accused Solidarnose of interfering in 'politics'. He failed to support Solidarnosc against Jaruselski which did not, to their great credit, prevent militants of Solidarnosc
their support for the NUM during its strike.
Scargill's position on Solidarnosc however did not stop him
Page 7 scan of this page
our left is e Morning Star
publically and viciously attacking the Jaruselski government for its scabbing role during the miners' striké. Scargill publically read out a letter contemptuously rejecting the Polish government's holidays for miners children long as Jaruselski continued to send coal to Britain.
But despite this Scargill still spoke out in support of the Morning Star - a paper that supports the Polish government. declared it stood for socialism and peace.
'Jaruselski may be a swine but somehow he is still a swine in our camp.' That is the logic of Arthur Scargill's position nave similarities with say that of the Cuban's or FSLN. This is not surprising Scargill probably identifies more with Cuba than any
revolutionary organisation failed to Writers such as Isaac
tionary nevertheless
the USSR,
case.
World
tion on the
Moscow to do so.
The first
trol of the
to break with Moscow Yugoslav. Under World War II Tito
Yugoslav
Vietnam The Vietnamese
support from China Ik
Kinnock promises to
cut apartheid lifeline
offer of as
He
talks by both Chinese leaderships. - one that does
and without any agreement Moscow.
other international political cur-
against
Other forces in the world have a similar attitude to Scargill's. The
nationalist Basque ETA, for example, support Solidarnosc.
Deutscher and Perry Anderson express the view that while Stalinism is reac-
in innumerable aspects the Soviet bureaucracy is still somehow 'revolutionary' force either inside
outside the USSR, or both. The problem is that the facts show the exact opposite to be the
First no force in the world has ever carried out a socialist revolu-
line of the Soviet bureaucracy. Every party that has overthrown capitalism in a revolutionary struggle had to break with
major Communist Party to break with the line of the Soviet leadership was the Chinese. In 1935 Mao Tse-Tung took con-
Chinese Communist Party away from Stalin's representatives and began the long struggle which in 1949 finally resulted in the overthrow of capitalism in China.
The second Communist Party
was the the impact of broke the Yugoslav Communist Party from Stalin's line of subordination to the
bourgeoisie and overthrew capitalism in his country.
defeat.
Communist Party developed its struggle in the 1950s against France with major
but was Young broke Morning Star then sabotaged in the 1954 Geneva
the Soviet The relaunching of the struggle in South Vietnam at the beginning of the 1960s was undertaken independently of,
with
Castro developed his struggle
the Batista dictatorship completely independently of the pro-Moscow forces in Cuba — they Arthur Scargill supported his struggle against the regime only at the last minute.
Far from following the line of Moscow aiding a struggle against imperialism it is only by breaking with the Soviet bureaucracy that a successful struggle against capitalism has been carried through. No party following the line of Moscow has ever succeeded in carrying through a revolution against capitalism. Where Moscow has succeeded in imposing its line — as in Spain during the civil war, or in France, Greece and Italy after World War II — the result has been
1 ne material aid from USSR is one thing. The political line of the Soviet bureaucracy is quite another.
The contradictions of Arthur Scargill are of course quite plicable. He was a leader of the
Communist League. with that organisation to move sharply to the left — figures such as Jimmy Reid who broke with the Communist Party to the right. By becoming a leader of the left wing of the Labour Party, and forming alliances with figures such as Tony Benn, Scargill continued to hold positions to the lett of the Communist Party — a position of course shown graphically during the miners' strike itself. Bureaucracy
But this is why it is a disastrous error for both Arthur Scargill and any section of the Labour left to support the Morning Star. Because the Morning Star is not a paper 'defending the USSR'. It is a paper defending the Soviet bureaucracy
which is quite a different matter. As we have already shown support for the struggle against capitalism means the necessity to break with the line of Moscow.
It is also why Arthur Scargill was wrong on Solidarnosc. doubtedly one of the worst of the
of the East European
regimes is to completely discredit
the very name of socialism. This
helps explain why Solidarnosc did
not have the leadership that does,
for example, the
Nicaragua or Sinn Fein in Ireland.
Lech Walesa, for example, lagged
behind the most
developments of Solidarnosc. He
also had close ties with the Catholic
church. Walesa But this political weakness of its leadership does not alter that the immensely progressive dent trade unions under the control of the workers, reduction of inequality in the society, elimination
•MAPK
of the bureaucratic repression were completely and unequivocably to Photo be supported.
created for socialism in Poland are those created by and by
Jaruselski's represent 'errors' crimes against the working class and each day his regime goes on will result in a further discrediting of socialism in Poland. The way forward in Poland Jaruselski and not with his regime.
Scanlon
In Britain the record of the
positions of the Morning Star is
equally clear. During
1970s it supported Jack Jones and the Hugh Scanlon without criticism -
which strengthened their position
in 1975 when they broke the back
of the support for
government with their support tol
Harold Wilson's incomes policy. ex-
unlike
The Morning Star today refuses
to differentiate Un- Scargill, who led forward the strug-
gle of the miners in defiance of the law, and Jimmy Knapp who has
Socialist Action 03 July 1985 comply
FSLN
advanced indepen-
problems
the bureaucracy
Solidarnosc.
regime does not Stalin
represents
lies against in Britain
of Moscow
the early
heart.
the Labour Scargill, or
ning disasterous between Arthur
tell them so.
7 just successfully urged the NUR to
with the law. Certainly Jimmy Knapp is a step forward over Sid Weighell but he is not a figure of the same type as Arthur Scargill either in words or, more important, actions.
The reality is the same whether
For internationally. In order to fight against capitalism it is necessary to break with the line
- and not support it.
Czechsolovak revolutionary socialist Peter Uhl put the right position very well. He said, ' am an enemy of imperialism anc therefore I fight against Stalinism.' • It is a phrase every militant in the labour movement should learn by
When a figure like Arthur
Tony Benn gives any support to a paper such as the Mor-
Star they are making a MDEN BR Tony Benn mistake. And those who most supported the miners and most supported their role in that strike have the biggest duty to
Page 8 scan of this page
8 'THE INVASION is on,' Senor Francisco d'Escoto, Nicaragua's ambassador to Britain declared to the launch meeting for the new book Nicaragua - The Sandinista People's Revolution.
lacking is the word GO.
The meeting held on Friday 21 June the Caribbean Centre, London was attended by 130 people. The platform reflected the growing determination build solidarity for the Nicaraguan revolution.
Speakers included Stuart Holland MP, Jack Colins of the Kent NUM, as well
of the Nicaragua Solidarity CamBalle Patriotic Movement, Maurice Bishop Bri-
tain/Cuba Resource Centre, Socialist Action and Pathfinder Press.
strike back
NEARLY THREE million Spanish workers downed tools for 24 hours last Thursday in the country's first general strike for nine years. Called by the traditionally Communist-led Workers' Commissions in protest against the Socialist government's plans to slash state pension rights, the strike won support that was 'much higher than we hoped for'.
Seventy five per cent of
fact of eras dis pee
COUL WENCE transport and service secLuis were estimated have joined in. The mines
Asturias and main dustrial centres of the Basque country and Catalonia were paralysed. Valencia and the industrial outskirts of Madrid came to a virtual standstill, whilst press and y coverage was blacked out and artially air traffic severely disrupted.
About 100 arrests were made workers in the better organised, larger plants mounted mobile pickets to bring out their colleagues smaller workplaces. then went or to hold protest rallies in the city centres
Socialist Action 03 July 1985
NICARPSUA
THE SAMDIN
RECE
Nicaragua book launched
D'Escoto explain'the US troops are ready, the only thing that is
Stuart has visited Nicaragua three times since the 1979 revolution, described what he called "The real popular base' of the Sandinista government. Referring peech by Tomas Borge Womet and the Nicaragua Revolution'
Holland argued 'the involvenelo mie women ic for real. It's evident not in the front line, in the in the front in the militias.
The message of Jack Collins was summed up by
Spanish workers
part of Madrid there were even reports of police firing live ammunition over strikers' heads.
By Stuart Piper
is of the hard on the heels of mammoth, million-strong demonstrations against NATO membership that welcomed Ronald Reagan to the Spanish State early May, this 20 June general strike suggests a growth of mobilisation
co's dictatorship.
Jy the strike call had a lot to do with manoeuvres by different
PEOPLES
banner in the which read 'NUM Nicaragua: front line.' Collins said, "During
struggle the fraternal greeting the Nicaraguan DeoDe It was a message from the neart or a revolutionary people, and we wish them well in their struggle. Crime
"The the
Only crime Nicaraguan people are
road they are following has been lit ov the cubans before them. The Nicaraguan
Deople. like the Cubans, have committed the crime of irvine to
their UWIl society. disintegrating Spanish Communist party . in the eadership of the Workers' Commissions.
But none of this, nor the refusal of the rival Socialist-led General Workers' Union (UGT) to back the strike — they called their own diversionary protest weeks earlier
basic fact: hundreds of thousands of workers saw this as a first real chance to
premier Felipe Gonzalez' "socialist polies, policies that
have raised unemployment to 23 per cent and cut wage-earners share of the national income by several per cent.
Warning
Nobody expected the strike to ment policies immediately. Its success has be measured against the
They're guilty of trying to provide education, medical care, cause ones tor people who've never had them before.
'All these things in Nicaragua are a challenge
the US, to ideal where money and capital rule supreme and labour is a commodity. Many people believe capital and labour can be reconciled, even many in the working class. There can be no reconcinanon.
Other speakers at the meeting included • John ROSS 10I1 Socialist Action, Brian Lyons from Pathinder Press e Jessica Datta from Britain/Cuba Resource Centre and Andy de la Tour from the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign. dramatic fall, in union membership in recent years, by its ability generate new confidence amongst rank and file trade unionists including those in the UGT) and to draw 1n the support of social movements well beyond the traditional workers' organisations.
It is this. twith win care
tne peact movement especially, but also with neighbourhood organisations, unemployed youth, and the national movements which may prove to have been the strike's greatest achievement, posing a real obstacle to the right-wing social democratic plans for modernising capitalism the expense of the peoples of the Spanish state.
That obstacle should stand as a warning to the like of Kinnock and Hattersley who would like to
path this country.
Campaign
Andy de la Tour, representing the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, spoke to the meeting: Nicaragua's GNF is now Forty cent * spent on defence. In order to do this, 'Nicaragua has to take
resources from other areas ecnomy. It has had to take, in une last year, some sev. erely drastic measures.
sidies — the cornerstone
their aericultural policy. It has effectively stopped building
health centres, schools. and many other
stepped up
and the rise of their activity in the south.
Despite the hysteria however one simple rule will guide finding out the truth about the Thatcher's claims. The saying 'Who profits?' Who would gain from IRA attacks on scaside resorts, the British government or Sinn Fein? Evidently British government, not the Irish Republicans.
In reality the IRA and Cinn Fein have continved to show both their military and pontical successes
After the district council elections, despite unionist attempts clude Sinn Fein representatives, Republican
Nicaragua Solidarity
'Such measures bear some resemblance to the austerity policies that the IMF ensures its client states in Latin carry out. In the Dominican Republic, for such measures could riots against the government, but in Nicaragus there is increasing support for the government.
"Why? Because behind these decisions something more fundemental has happened because in the final
not about the specific social reforms. he major conquest of the
Anti-Irish lies
THE THATCHER government and press has launched a vicious campaign about an alleged seaside bombing campaign' to be launched by the IRA. The aim of this is to whip up hysteria to cover over the major political successses which have been scored by Sinn Fein in the elections in the north of Ireland -
chairs of local councils. and one deputy chair, have been elected. In the majority of councils Sinn Fein can now truly represent the nationalist minority for the first time- - gly. ing aid in exposing Loyalist privilege and discrimination and defy
Militarily the IRA in Crossmagler came prett close to knocking an army out of the sky and recently struck again in the centre of Belfast defying brush Clannis normalisation. Even the of RUC stations not in-
International
revolution is the con-
quest from fear.
"The people know
their government won't
negotiate that, they have
undertaken historic
change and they know it, they have seized destiny
into their own hands'.
*Nicaragua can make no more concessions
there's only sovereignty left and that's negotiable. The US has also run out of options the trade embargo won't work, the won't collapse, the contras are base - there is no doubt invasion is on the agenda.' vulnerable - as the attack in Newry showed.
In the 26 county state, despite the reactionar Section 31 of the Broad casting Act which denies Sinn Fein access to electoral broadcasts, Sinn Fein polled well gaining 48,000 preference Monaghan Sinn Fein way votes county the second largest party.
Sinn Fein is making major political successes It has explained a thousand times that it has no quarrel whatever with the British people simply withany British government that continues to oc cupy the north of Ireland. It has no interest whatever in attacking British holiday resorts.
Thatcher's is a crude and blatant frame up from beginning to end.
Page 9 scan of this page
Gay Liberation in the '80s
From the Land of Milk and Fruit
Surplus Value
IF YOU want to know more about the lesbian and gay liberation movements in the advanced capitalist and so-called 'communist' countries, and especially if you want to know what Trots say about them, read 'Gay Liberation in the 80's', by Jamie Gough and Mike McNair. (Pluto Press 1985, £4.95)
The book's main thesis
basically thạt 'the capacity for homosexual relations is in our nature' fie as well as heterosexual ones) that the identification of a group of people
"gay' specific to capitalist society, and that * lesbian and gay liberation implies the eventual disappearance of heterosexuals and homosexuals
Yes, IT's The 'we're all bisexual really' argument, presented convincingly in a Marxist framework. For
'the liberation of gay peobuilding a sociatst society can and 'fighting for socialism today, therefore also Alicals fighting for liberation'.
While the authors call for a system of workers power, though, they leave open the question
could be brought about without a 'civil war', world revolution, which as TrotSAYISUS must say couldn't. But in taking up this cowardly retreat
part, far be it from me to cry 'where is the
fOr smashing
the state tomorrow morn-
What comes across very clearly that gay liberation 400l liberation of everyone's sexually rate anasa group of people who identify as homosexual. That
that capitalism, through the economic unit of the famiThus it is not exily gay heterosexuality.
THE TIMES of Harvey documentary: unusual in its power at the same time to move one to anger and to tears, to pride and to despair. It is a magnificent film and should have lesbians and gay activists, and all socialists scrambling for tickets.
Harvey Milk made history when he became the first open gay to be elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.
When he was assassinated eleven months later (November 1978), tens of thousands of people - les; bians, gay men, black people, chinese, latinos, senior citizens, rank and file trade unionists - marched in a deeply moving candlelight procession demonstrate their collecave griet outside the City Hall
When the murderer of Milk and Mayor Moscone ty a given derisory sentence by an all-white, all-straight jury, those thousands came onto the streets once more outside The nai o vent sen fury at the injustice of the
the 111Harvey milk had fearlessly which fought, a struggle of which he had become both an unquestioned leader, and potent symbol.
The film eloquently illustrates the circumstances
which Milk Decair a heroic focus for the strug-
and gay men, but also of
people who are affected by gay oppression; but it is gay people who experience this oppression in its sularpest most inescapable form'.
Apart from the odd phrase which could only have been written by two gay men (VIZ economic independence trom men has a particulal importance for lesbians', which implies that most important rejection of men is a sexual one!) the book does include, to a
lesser degree. almost all the issues relevant to a discussion of lesbian and gay liberation.
While the discussion with respect to lesbians' situation may lack detail, there in that at least are essential aspects authors maintain that the repression of 'gay' sexuality is fundamentally linked to the regulation of women's sexuality through monogamy and the family. By Polly Vittorini
Thus they avoid the traditional misogynist gay male theorv that are oppressed by the family because they have to marry women! Secondly they point out the role of lesbians as the political. I not numerical vanguard of
and gay moyenients.
However the book rather a discussion of gay men's liberation rather than anything more representative.
Perhaps as far as the gay men's scene is concerned the family is break-
Milk is an unusual
all the downtrodden and oppressed in the untrammeleo cocain didn my Carter's America
It was a time of the beginnings of what was to By Peter Purton become the 'Moral Majority' and its spearhead was the national campaign led by people such as Anita Bryant to reverse the gains in civil rights made by the lesbian and gay ment.
In a number of cities and states, lesbian and gay rights legislation was overturned. California, senator Briggs' Proposi-
bians and gay men - and those who defended them — being teachers.
A massive grass roots campaign, led by Harvey Milk involving coalition which drew forces from across the spectrum of the oppress-
confronted the Briggs initiative head on and suc-
eeded in furning back th vensive position 6 by 59 per cent to 41 per cent.
The victory was possible because Milk had cam-
ing down visibly, but the fight for women's liberation necessitates serious view of the constraints still imposed by the family in the here and now
The authors confuse a (real) historical breakdown of the family with an immediate one: thus their statement that 'the family is obsolescent' comes out looking more glib than it ought
The whole text of the book is also linked rather unnecessarily in
VICH to the idea that there is a transhistorical human nature which gives us the • capacity for homosexua Tenons
This human nature is also supposed to contain a desire for collaboration and a commitment to the future. Whether or not, it
perfectly possible posit 'more diffuse human sexuality' without tying it to such prescriptive paigned for the right of all the oppressed. had fought openly and without
trom his first day in City Hall to his last; and had alongside them, participating in and encouraging their campaigns, not as Leadera distant self-appointed
Black people, senior citizens. women interview. ed on the film give per onal weight to the over whelming evidence of this support presented in the
expected to be the major literary trial of the 1980s
opened at North London Magistrates Court.
It involves the nine directors of the London
customs officials as part of 'Operation Tiger' where
detained at the ports. Over the next seven months
formal seizure notices were issued on a total of 142
titles.
it was for heterosexuals. It is only possible for this to
that imported books are subject to the 1876
completely legally in this country. Once again a little
known, and largely disused law
"blasphemy' case in 1976 — is being wheeled out to
Andrew Hodges on 01-286 2084.
notions of human nature Also very importantly Gough and McNair point to the continued existence of the family as the reason for women's and gay op pression in the so-called communist countries.
This, they say is fundue imperialism and the rise of a
deepening interest 'stable heirarchy of relations'. The argument that gay sexuality 'bourgeois perversion seen to be only a defence of the ruling caste's stake in the regulation of the people through Loe family In the last section of the book is contained a 'manifesto for action', including the demand for an end to all laws and discrimination against gay people, for women's economic and legal independence from men, and for children to have footage of the marches and the funerals.
But Harvey Milk's most important achievement was for the rights of lesbians and gay men (and we should note that the gives unusual pro• minence to the position and role of lesbians).
Milk was a product of the San Francisco gay movement; but he gave it aiso a political focus and a strength and coherence which enabled it to register genuine gains. Most im-
ON MONDAY 24 June the committal hearing of what is
bookshop Gay's The Word who face a staggering array of criminal charges under a century-old customs law of "conspiracy to import indecent or obscene literature'.
This follows the raid that took place in April 1984 by
thousands of books on the way to the bookshop from the United States were denied customs clearance and
This literature would merit no particular comment if
happen because of an anomaly in the law which means
Many of the seized titles are or have been publisher
- as in the Gay News
attack what lesbians and gays can read. (If you want to know about Gay's The Word Defence Campaign contact
LESBIANS & GAYS
SUPPORT THE MINERS
the right to determine their own sexual lives.
stresses the need for autonomy of
ments as neil a ver
ment, autonomy lesbians, since they will lead the
against heterosex uality.
The gay argue the authors cannot avoid taking sides on other phei teal ques ons, cory government or anti-trade union legislation, since these also have direct effects on gay rights.
An essential point that this section ignores is the galls to be made mom gay people organising around these otner Issues. a lessor we have learnt in the past year through the astoun-
of Lesbians Gays Support the Miners.
This 1S perhaps excusable since the book was finished before the strike portant, he challenged something against which one canpot legislate for.
His achievement was to give the courage and support to lesbians and gays
to come out the closet, not ¡ust in san Francisco. across the USA. But it also began to change the con sciousness of other groups of people. An old trade unionist says at the end of the film, most people once thought it was natural and right if fruits and faggots got beaten up by the cops;
Socialist Action began, but the way was already being shown by the Greenham women.
The book also makes, lesbian
and gay rights bil ject which is likely to be taken up by the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
As the authors envisage it such a bill would 'abolish all the principal discrimination on grounde alie 'make of sexuality actionable as a civil wrong'
I would differ with the view that there should be a new crime 'homosexual rape' The courts would use such a crime against gay people and when une police have so little respect
it is half-baked to suppose that they will take steps to protect a gay person in the same situation.
The book links the exposition of women's oppression in the family to
it was because of Harvey Milk's campaign that he and many others had changed their opinion
A socialist will see once that Harvey Milk whose politics were radical not revolntionary did not have all the right
This weaknesses pale into insignificance beside the achievements of his brief Cal Cal The lesbian and gay have countless martyrs. Most are anonymous. Harvey
GAYS THE WORDST
03 July 1985 9 the oppression of children There is an explanation o the false division of the population into , 'children and 'adults' a call for no age of consent and for children's rights 10 'divorce' their parents.
What completely lacking is any discussion of how "the family' affects black people, since the authors concentrate on a classical Euro-centric explanation of capitalism io white people critique from black people in th lesbian and gay movement is badly needed!
I would have preferred
more international
Liberation in the '80s' is an important addi tion to the theory of the
and anyone who is senou: about the subject shoul read it. So should people who aren't serious about the subject - yet!
Milk was very definitely
See this film at any cost. You will come out with a new sense of pride
potential power, and above all of purpose
are never again pushes back into the closets.
(The Times of Harvey Milk won an oscar as best documentary in 1984. It i currently showing the Academy, Oxford St.) ORY SHITEHBOR 0:83
Page 10 scan of this page
Liverpool stays in the fight
10 AS REPORTED in last weeks Socialist Liverpool city council has agreed a deficit budget which involves a nine per cent rate increase. A proposal by the council's leadership to increase rates by 20 per cent was eventually withdrawn after strong representation by local trade unionists.
Opposition had also COLLIC from some of the delegates to the Distric Labour Party who argued
pother Lambeth and
path Lambeth and refuse to make a rate at all until the government returned money taken in grant penalties. new budget conforms with the position taken by the joint shop stewards committee which was one of no cuts.
rent rises and no
The budget brings the council into direct conflict "Ith the aw it meng !dividual councillors could
surcharge and disqualification from holding office for five years for setting a rate too low to cover WHEN THE prosecution case against the Newham
ended it had several unanswered. How could an official police record say 15 whites were fighting when no officer admitted seeing any at all? Did police know of or suspect a link between the hammer attacks on Asians from a silver Granada and the racialist Duke of Edinburgh pub?
was right at the scene when the Asians attacked' the pub. He saw no whites until Asians ran into the pub, after which there was an 'ebb and flow' outside. In his desire to exaggerate the number of Asians he had 30 of them throwing missiles from behind a doubledecker bus!
•Bonzo' also revealed he politics underlying this Forest Gate are trying to stir up trouble about racist attacks', including detendants Zafar and Parvaiz
the hammer attacks that day, the Wimpy bar where
youth However, he did later take Scott Young from the pub to the police station think-
of the Granada attackers.
Next came a series of DSU officers who arrested three Asian detendants the next evening. Two officers
Socialist Action 03 July 1985
Action, planned expenditure.
There already the threat of action by the district auditor who started moves to recover
original delay in any rate. If successful, that could lead to surcharge
disqualification anyway.
Liverpool leader John Hamilton, in pledging support to council workers taking action, demanded that • between £30 million and £50million should be passed over to us to provide work and give us the services needed'. Derek said on councills deputy leader. said fully understood the danger of bankruptcy and disqualification after last Fri-
{VICTORY TO THE MINERS
Newham 7 in the dock
centrai questions still DC Bonczoszek was the star police witness: he had been discovered in court beforehand, 'checking on the layout'. Cross-examination showed ther had made their notes together without properly recording the fact; the on-
one who hadn't omitted all the incriminating details. None of the three defendants was interviewed about alleged
'offensive weapons' in the car. The only description they supposedly fitted was 'young Asian'.
It was for DS Gillie to explain why the white оетелокик welc released without charge. "Tack of evidence was the reason even though they
day week's vote, but Cried that 'the government's polic
jobs destroying vices of the people of Liverpool has lett us choice'.
Last Friday. week the Liverpool council joint shop stewards committee, at a meeting attended by over
to take immediate strike action if any moves made against individual councillors. It also planned a series workplace meetings throughout the
denartments and pledged itself to total non compliance cooperation with the district auditor. this Is especially important since a number
nave been threatened with, and in some cases had imposed on them, a £200 fine for
Future plans by Liverpool's council workers in-
LIVERPOOL 7-foot poles. Of course, WEIC arrested carrying when Aisans were kept overnignt Il due delay! He called the case the Khan inquirv' and only charged the whites with affray after his legal advisors told him to. He himself retired very shortly after that, pleading overwork: the judge refused to order release of the Home Office Inspector's report made around that time.
Right at the end was Pavinder Sain, one of the hammer victims the police had failed to trace. He had been kidnapped and only escaped by jumping. from the moving Granada. In
The unexpectedly admitted being present at the final incident and seeing one his attackers among whites throwing glasses and other missiles from outside the pub. The prosecution were furious: how could Sain be both a 'victim' and part of an 'attacking mob'?
But that is exactly the defence in this case. Asian youth were under attack by whites who at any rate seemed to be based in the Duke of Edinburgh. They went in numbers to wall the racists that they could
cluded a mass rally last Wednesday addressed by Lambeth leader Ted
Knight and Alex Wood. leader of the newly-elected Labour council in Edinburgh. The aim now is to spread the campaign
national level both through support
allists the trade unions and the Labour Party.
As echoed in the views of a number of Lambeth councillors following their refusal to set a rate, there will now need to be gicaler co-ordination at a national level This means a CULLI mon front between Liverpool, Lambeth and newly elected Edinburgh councils. A good example of the type of action that is needed came last Thursday week from manual unions in Lambeth who occupied the town hall in support of the council and against any cals in Jods and serVices that are being
MINER
defend themselves and to
prevent further attacks
Barrister Rudy
Narayan stated the case in
a powerful opening. 'This
Laus nol aboul calle wal-
fare, it is about racism and
It was unsafe to
walk the streets that day if
YUU quoted were une Asian' Steven He
Waldorf case where a pre
emptive self-
defence was allowed.
Reasonable force can be
used in prevention
crime.
'he first defendant,
Athar Chaudhri, was at-
tacked three times on 7
once by Scott
Young (for which
Chaudhri faces an ABH
charge). Police interview
notes refer to him admit-
abricated. He sal the
fabricated. He said
were going to confront the
pub, the attacks had to br
His first witness was
subjected to harassment
whites at the Wimpy
earlier that day and saic
Chaudhri protecter
him. In the past he had
been viciously stabbed by
a white gang and when h
reported it to police had
been accused and nearly
threatened.
Initiatives of this type particularly on a national scale. are the best way tor local authority workers to defend services and jobs as well as local democracy against the Tory attacks.
Pete Cresswell, Liverpool NALGO, said of the decision by Liverpool
lo agree a delicil budget that it was correct
setting a rate would have been confusing in the present climate. The nine pe
МІСА ІН 10 borders of legality and is in line with the aim to get through this financial year with a huge deficit.
'We have been preparing for this confrontation for two vears now and it k coming to the crunch. We fully anticipate the need to go on strike in defence of the council over the next two weeks. The money runs out shortly and that
Harassment and arrest of Asian youth continues
outside the Old Bailey
charged with wasting
police time.
As the trial continues it
will become obvious that
no line can be drawn bet-
ween Asian 'victims' and
'attackers'. Victims are
will speed up the proces
a confrontation with the Tory government. them we will be dealing with The court may well be delayed as result decide what action to take. 'no-rate' position.
On 3 July we will be mobilising our forces outside the council chamber. Inside our councilors wal
By G Tucker, Chair Lambeth Labour Local Government CHee
fight it out to the finish.
meeting two Tories could not be bothered to turn un so we do not rule out the possIbilty of success. Bul even if a rate is set we will still carry on fighting
Firstly, our councillors still face surcharge. Our campaign for their defence has already begun to attract support from across the country.
elected Labour council carrying official Labour porey can b forcibly removed from office that has widespread implications for the whole
subject to police abuse as
though they were responsi-
ble for the attacks that
threaten their lives. They
look for protection to their
own community when
necessary.
News
"If the action drags on through Sultane could go to Labour Party conterence have to take it to the con-
there is full support from the Labour Party lor our fight.
Lambeth ~
deadline
3 July?
LAMBETH COUNCIL — the only authority yet to set a rate — looks likely to end that stand at its next meeting on 3 July. With the resignation this week of one Labour councillor and the continued 'rebellion' of two others there is no longer a majority for the
But the fight is far from over! labour movement. Labour Party and trade union activists should be raising the cause of Lambeth, together with Liverpool and Edinburgh, as a major priority.
Secondly we still have a people Lambeth. We stand by our oledge that no cuts will be made. Our conference and rally on 22 June showed clearly that the support exists for a continued stand.
CHILL emphasis will have to shift towards the BIONS. CUUcillors are removed from office thi effective answer will be an all out strike to bring Lambeth to a halt. • Lobby of. the next CURTLE meeting July from брт outside town hall. Speakers meetings 01-582 2955.
And one conclusion the police cannot escape after the Duke of Edir burgh was confronted in this way, the silver Granada was never seen again.
Page 11 scan of this page
Why trade unionists should vote "Yes"
In the Unions
AS UNION AFTER union returns a 'yes' vote in favour of keeping their political fund, it's been one in the eye for the Tories' efforts to break the links between the Labour Party and the trade unions. Even more worrying for Margaret Thatcher is how the campaign to maintain the funds has prompted a number of political fund for the first time.
The voting results have astonished the Tories and union leaders date every union has
Four ballots have been announced print and steel workers, FOR SEVEN years the open right wing has totally dominated the situation in the AUEW. last year the left has begun to make limited gains again. JON SILBERMAN looks at the develop-
IN APRIL the AUEW executive committee put the finishing touches to its latest piece of 'new realism'
the deal with Washington, Tyne and Wear.
The agreement sums up Terry Duffy and Gavin Laird. A so-called 'company council', i management, day-to-day affairs at the plant.
There will be no shop stewards. While the AUEW given sole negotiating rights there
will be closed shop.
Workers will wear identical dress and there will be Just two grades or workers
with no job descriptions
complete flexibility withhth dgradeas
The deal been publicly hailed by both management and union ofticials. While it stops short of actually including a noserdural agreement is a long strike clause, drawn-out allan. in-
cluding a mandatory stag deal ong to ACAS. The
has class collaboranon wallen all over lh.
But despite the Nissan deal the present AUEW national the
latest election results in the
union, and THIS year's
Broad Left conference
new unions to consider setting up a
makers and postal workers in the Union of Communication Workers. currently being counted, or are
They all expect a
Left gains in AUEW
But in the
Nissan for its new car plant at
the whole policy of
with 'representatives of employees' and will be the main body dealing with
nave emered cred le opposition to Duffy and Laird.
In the agenda at the national VUL of the union's 26 divisions suomitted ICOULDLIS which anticipated deals of They ruled out the possibility of the concluding поstrike arrangements.
This year's national committee held under the union's new amalgamated SLIDECLUE.
Its 124 members now include delegales from engineering, construction ana rounary section — as well as the union's women youth Despite the fact that the AUEW still has no authentic conference, and despite the dominance of the executive, this Vers means wemt smoe hiy for tional committee
'yes' vote.
Yet
mittees of of the 40 unions fund
likelihood of defeat. our affairs
democracy
with the dictatorial aly is
run.
why
coffers
SOever?
This helped the
UlUl
orchestrated campaign which the
ballot.
considered its response to Norman Tebbit's 1984 Trade Union Act, ií decided to implement only the
which forces unions themselves every 10 years if their political fund is to be maintained. Opposition was registered against the other two sections of the
Duffy, Laird and co.
Discontent has been fed by the purely lokel support given to the
La donation of £10,000, and by the fact that at the same time the miners were battling it out,
negotiated a derisory $4.70 increase national minimum rates — a figure worth just 66p after stoppages according to one national committee delegate.
Anger has been further fuelled by Duffy and Laird not merely failing to pro.
solidarity OLe genuilit with the miners, including
but also choosing the middle of the strike to break ranks with the TUC and accept
for ballots.
This last issue helped bring things to a head. The ballot organised by the ex-
cept the Tory money was held in COLE TEDI ot the rules of the union and the policy of the national committee.
The ballot papers failed to explain the policy of the union but included an appeal by the executive committee to aid
million was allegedly due government. Not surprisingly the vote was 12 to 1 in favour.
despite their the
that a "no' vote have
stance, the
national from the unions.
result, Walworth would
financial
is cut.
unions have a lot to lose. part of the general attacks weaken the organisation
Since 1913 have been legally
special
And
La fresh
it they
definition
funds. this hall be was
and more
BATONAL LION OF RAILA
manoeuvre however went too tar evel for the traditional wing base he eaten ship. Tynesider Crystal accused
national committee of 'sharp prac-
favour resolution
'With thousands of jobs disappearing in industry after industry, what resistance isn't political? We've got the government In office we're going to save jobs.
With these considerations in mind, executives of of union: launched campaigns to get a 'yes VULC It has clearly paid off, and will have fur
dividends in the future. The National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) with its August ballot is a case in point.
Extensive resources have been poured into the political levy campaign. It is seen by activists as part of a more general attemp
re-build the weakened by years of misleadership under the company unionism of past general secretaries.
Over 1000 union activists have attended one-day schools to learn about the issues, and about how to effectively campaign for a 'yes vote. Lost wages have been met by the union.
Activists are even given the green light to establish direct links with the campaign office at NUR head-
without the Catchs backing of the local union branch, if it's dragging its heels. Posters, leatlets and campaign bulletins have been churned out in their thousands. Meetings promote a 'yes' vote have been encouraged at every eve the Weekend schools have been organised.
of course the cam pa wond be encomings
would be enormously strengthened if went
HANDS OF
AND DE severely censuring the executive council resolution instructed the executive 'not participate in the funding of postal ballots from the
Tory government.'
The national committee voted 120 the critical motion which, in
Socialist Action 03 July 1985 hand in hand with an aggressive recruitment drive
Labour Party, would inspire more workers if the promotior material explained why the working class needs unions that are more political today. It would have increased powerter indes up
other industrial unions and WIll Labour party activists nationally and locally. And some branches are just too weak to respond to the campaign. But even with its limitations, this effort
Staring e
HANDS OFF
WORKSHO! RAIL PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. addition, provided for new ballot to be held with
provided
for already cepted to
on other at this
• The reaf-
policy multilateral
endorse policy of
commit-
to 'free
cal door
commit-
the of and Unions which supported by Duffy, the
ap-
increase national rates
11 has been a big step forward for the NUR If the same determination were applied to the other attacks faced by the thousands of ecially, union the job losses suffered - then members would have more confidence to stand up ano fight. With the correct lead, trade unionists insist on their right decide now • union action should be organised without interference from Тогу laws or the media.
RAILWORKERS
AND MINERS
That 190 Calvite
Notts Area NUM.
SOTGRAVI
Socialist Action supporters in rail have produced a pamphlet called 'Railworkers and Miners', the story of Coalville during the 1984/5 miners' strike. It costs 50 pence per copy and is available from Socialist Action,
and setting a definite
Other
venor Mirrlees BACKSTONE Stockport, won the
the first for many
: for the
Ten out o the candidates
simple back to Lile the Gerry the Broad
secretary,
La knock. ings John Tocher, • Left candidate this year's
received month
build on these
Page 12 scan of this page
Lebanon
BLOW
THE OUTCOME of the Beirut hijacking is a sharp blow to United States prestige throughout the Middie East. It became a crisis, and a proof of the limits of US power, almost of the same type as the Iran embassy hostages siege of 1980.
The demands of the Amal millita for the release of 720 Lebanese
incarcerated in srael prisons was a just
supported. Throughout Israel's last three years occupation of Lebanon the Israeli forces indiscrimately rounded up thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians. The whereabouts of many of these people is still not known. Many have undoubtedly 'disappeared'.
Typically, the press concentrated its coverage almost exclusive-
on the American wite he rost Unce
By Laneridge Lad, (TI), London Ez.
SociAlist
ACTION
TO U.S.
hostages rather than what forced Amal to take this form of protest. The hijacking was the consequence of Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the backing to this. To Amal's credit, and that of Nabih Berri as mediator, they used media coverage of the hostages to Crolla interike tional publicity and to influence the 6 0ubics growing annoyance over he intransigence of Israel in refusing to band over its prisoners.
There is no doubt that in the end the Americans gave in to Amal's demands
SUBSCRIBE
terprises, PO Box 50, London NI.
- and forced the Israelis
to do the same. Reagan may claim in public that
no deal was done but the
whole world knows there
is a private agreement
as will become evident as
the prisoners are released.
The United States also
forced Israel to back
down.
tant the long run
development in the area
was the evident inability of the United States,
Israel, to act decisively in
the crisis. The Us moved
fleet to the Eastern
ened an economic block-
against Syria and
Libya. But it was in reality
unable to take any action.
Neither was Israel.
The United States is of
course using the Beirut hi-
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Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books.
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jacking step its crusade against international "terrorism'. That is the threatens waI against any anti-imper-
liberation ments which threatens or challenges United States aggression and domination. In particular Reagan is stepping up preparations for action against Nicaragua and Central
PRIDE, ANGER and solidarity: these words best sum up the magnificent Lesbian and Gay Pride march
ast saturaay. Weari
10,000 Lesbian and Gay men turned out to make it one of the biggest ever in this
But unique to Pride '85 was the presence of a large contingent of women and men from the South Wales Mining Community at the head of the march.
Their lead, and the large contingent of militant Lesbian and Gay banners and organisations which assembled behind them, gave the march a mood of anger at the attacks on the Lesbian and Gay communities in the last year - from the trial of Gays the Word bookshop to the mass hysteria whipped up around AIDS
It gave it also a mood of public resistance and greater confidence as a result of victories already won like that over Rugby council.
Above all, it was the sense of solidarity gained through the miners' strike, and demonstrated by the fantastic response given to the sister from
Dulais Valley who spoke at the end of the march, which gave Pride '85 its
sense of purpose and made the celebration, and Lesbian and Gay pride, what it always should be: a true carnival of the oppressed.
By Peter Purton
America.
But the outcome of the Beirut hijacking is a blow for the United States. shows a strong continuing
the United States against foreign military a venture and the new limitations of
East. That is a welcome development world
How far
Party conference.
Organisation continues to grow within a number of trade unions; NALGO for example has now established a national Lesbian and Gay Steering
NUPE and NALGO have issueds
for their Canne membership on AIDS which seek to counterac
press hysteria. The debate within the LPYS: continues despite the hostility of Militant and the weakness of Lesbian and Gay Young Socialists.
But it was the development of Lesbians and Gay deeper into the labour
than ever before. In the two previous mates strikes, around the Right to Work marches and within CND, lesbians and gay men have
We have organised. had visible contingents on
politics.
Any reprisals against Lebanon, military or economic, should vigorously condemned by The people of Lebanon have suffered enough the hands of US and Israeli aggression. saviours of Lebanon. Only Amal not the
Pride'85~
we have come!
THE LAST year has been a very positive one for lesbian and gay liberation. The Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights has continued to grow and we look likely to see the first ever debate at Labour
most major demonstra-
By Terry Conway
But despite all this we have been ignored or scorned by many labour movement took the great strike of 34 activists. these notions to Challenged in a new way -not only by lesbians and . — but by.significant numbers trade heterosexual unionists.
Dai Donovan, from Dowlais NUM told us at are wish want and along with women black people are not separate from the working class, but a crucial part of Hopefully his Dail unents are now snarco o militants not only within the NUM but
a few weeks ago this samne organisation hundreds of Palestinians
the refugee Beirut. But in their present action ther are striking a' blow against imperialism.
The labour movement must clearly and une quivocably demand HANDS LEBANON! generally within the labour movement.
Given all this, would have hoped that the organisation of Pride 85 would have sought to build these developments. After all, Lesbian and Gay Pride primarily celebration the Stonewall riots where peo ple in the pubs and clubs rioted against police repression.
Sadly this years organisers seem determined to make the event apolitical as possible. As socialists, we would agree that as many lesbians and gay mina possible should
'invo ved including those who spend their time one come sease
Neval Was born, here
Stonewall Lesbians and _Gay men support the Miners often had a warm hearing working class lesbian and
zay pubs. But for the gain
of the last years to be con solidated then we have to develop an even firmer
tion throughout our activities.
← Socialist Action No. 106, 21 June 1985Socialist Action No. 108, 19 July 1985 →