Socialist Action No. 121, 15 November 1985
The scan: 121-nov-15-1985-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
SOME LAW! SOME ORDER!
CUT TAXES to win the next election, and truncheon anyone who disagrees. That's strategy for the rest of the '80s.
It was spelt out in last May's White Paper on public order and reaffirmed in the Queen's Speech. It was put in context by Nigel Lawson's economic statement this week.
Understand that policy and you'll understand all the events on the law and order front in the last months. • The victimisation and imprisonment of hundreds of miners for participating in the strike. • The police brutality and harassment that led to the Handsworth. • The police shooting of
The brutal police break-in that led to the death of Cynthia Jarrett. • Why people in Brixton are having their doors sledge-hammered down at dawn Dy ponce searching for secondary offenders'.
A hysterical campaign is under way in the gutter press to link together crime and protest - to prepare the Wal 'public order'
represent far and HOST serious democratic liberties for fifty years. It is for that reason that a judge, for example, savagely football fan to life imprisonment for 'riot' - and directly declared this to be a lesson to pickets.
campaign whipping up the Thatcher ment are demanding the following laws already White Paper. • That the police demonstration they choose
They can tell you where you must
tain Stra
the Tory stop
• A
to be created.
'hooligans',
explosion in Labour
Cherry the
policies
ment, cuts in housing,
fight away the
sentenced a Chelsea you
employment,
they are govern-
Many
SOCA ist
ACTION
hold any open air gathering, many can come and when you musi
• A new statutory offence of riot will be created with a sentence of up
LeW statutory offence 'violent disorder' means you can be arrested and jailed for five years • A 'disorderly conduct' offence is
This is all couched in terms of "preventing crime. But the White Paper is careful to lump together
'pickets', 'protestors', and football crowds. If it moves,
that's the philosophy. As Party black section member Diane Abbot puts it the aim is to •brand as criminal anyone who resists
Tories, whether it's students, Greenham women, teachers or black kids on street corners.'
There is no doubt that Thatcher's
are producing crime and "disorder'. That is an inevitable product of policies of mass unemploy-
services, squalor in auracks on local ment, and savaging of the cities and the fact that people will rightly
back against these policies.
As Tony Benn correctly put it you will never have 'law and order' as long
don't have justice. not a SITUS force, is the only way there will ever be order and justice, in Britain.
The entire Tory and press campaign on 'law and order' is one of the most cynical operations even hatcher has ever carried out. It is on a par with Enoch Powell's notorious rivers of blood' racist speeches. It should be exposea will the utmost contempt D the labour movement.
how
of
Full police
Inside:
Gerry Adams
to cash for ballots
Eric Heffer on Labour Party unity
No. 121 15 November 1985 30p
on the Anglo-Irish talks John Tocher says vote no
Joan Maynard on Ireland
Page 2 scan of this page
The AUEW must vote no!
2
ACTION SociAlist
What is Socialist
Action?
THIS WEEKEND Socialist Action is hosting an 'Alliance for Socialism' event. It is a good time to emphasise what our paper stands for and fights for.
Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto the beginning and the end of all wisdom on working class politics: that Marxists 'have no interests separate and apart from those of the working class as a whole. They do not set tarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement.
Marxists are, he said: 'distinguished from the other working class parties by this only: in the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they bring out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proetariat, independently of all nationality. In the various stages of development which the strug gle of the working class against the bourgeoisie
to pass through, where represent the interests of the movement as a whole.'
He added: 'the theoretical conclusions of the communists are in no way based on ideas principles that have been covered, by this or that reformer. They merely express, terms, actual relations springing from an existing class struggle, from a historical movement going on under our very eyes.
Within its limited resources, that is what Socialist Action tries to present and to emulate. We are a paper with our own definite views on every major issue. But we don't see that as -counterposed to the actions of anyone else who is truly defending the interests of the working class. On the contrary we see those struggles as the ones which we champion.
Throughout the miners' strike, Socialist Action was inspired by the leadership which Arthur Scargill gave the miners - as were the members of the NÜM. We applauded Dennis Skinner when he talked out the Powell Bill. We have never seen a movement in Britain like Women Against Pit Closures. We stood with Bernie Grant when he defended black youth and denounced the police for their riot in Tottenham.
Internationally, and Socialist FSLN in its fight against first Somoza and then the contras.
Salvadorian junta. And we stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are fighting, and dying in the struggle against apartheid in
The pages of Socialist Action are open not only to our own views but to those fighting on any issue in the interests of the working class. That is why you find in our paper the views of alliances black people must make, the African National Congress demanding the implementation of the Freedom Charter, Tony Benn defending. the miners, freedom for Ireland, and as many other strug gles as we can find space for.
Even where we disagree, we still find room for causes and campaigns gressive. For example,
ocher on many things, out for his election as AUEW president, and for a 'no' vote against government funds for union ballots. On these, pages are always open.
Socialists have nothing to fear from the clash of ideas. Who is right and who is wrong is tested in the struggle, in real life. In today's world those tests come quicker than they did in the decades of the '50s and '60s.
It is for these reasons that we are hosting the 'Alliance for Socialism' weekend. And this is how
we try to present each week's issue of the paper.
Ne don't hide our own views. But our pages are always open to those who want a platform for the
cause of the working class and oppressed.
We agree very much with something Tony Benn said: ideas are very important in politics, but most important of all is which side on?' To pinch a phrase of Arthur Scargill's, what me try to build is a newspaper as loyal to our class as the Financial Times is to Margaret Thatcher's.
But that's just another way of saying what
Karl Marx said in the first place.
Smart guy wasn't he?
Socialist Action 15 November 1985
up any secthey always and every-
invented, or diswould-be universal in general on a higher level, supports every effort of the
We back the FMLN against the
South Africa.
of anyone
Diane Abbott arguing the type of
Gerry Adams calling for
which are pro we disagree with John but we'll campaign flat
and similar struggles, our
WE ARE living in very difficult times. Thatcher has introduced anti-trade union legislation and deprived people of their basic civil and democratic rights built up over 200 years.
At the same time, Thatcher is masquerading as some kind of 'democrat' that union leaders be accountable to the members. But here again, she is advocating a method of election in which the media can involve themselves
early non-cooperation
And while over NGA, GCHO and over
of the correctly
o1. unions.
Council majority changed its stance and, of course, overwhelming vote of the
accept government funding.
another issue has emerged which is more dangerous even than the acceptance of government. money itsell: an attempt by the ultra-right wing to exploit this. difference between file AUEW and the TUC to spill ine trade amon movement something that the lorv Government nas not even achieved.
We the LaYe DECI emergence 'Mainstream who are openly attacking the TUC on the basis that a spil should take place. and aligning the AUEW with unions such as the EETPU and non-affiliates such as the Nottingham tent breakaway organisation.
I am firmly of the opithat, they will not achieve their objective.
But members the AUEW should not allow the forthcoming ballot to allow the right wing to take Striking women engineering workers
- insisting, quite rightly,
most critical DO | Strong V
ceptance government By John Tocher, AUEW Divisional Organiser, Division 11 (personal capacity)
If the membership
have
vocate be con-
YIJC fin ac
and that
balloting
TUC.
union and avoid AUEW becoming, for
movement.
our
membership wish to be outside TUC or
as has Labour
vote in
tion of the political fund.
oniin n
AUEW Headquarters in Peckam ONLY A matter of weeks after the TUC declared once more its opposition to money for ballots, the EETPU and AUEW reopened their offensive against this policy. In advocating the case for taking government money for ballots, course for expulsion from the TUC.
*The special TUC at Wembley in 1982 rejected this offer of Judas money
1 clall their unions' integrity and independence from outside influence. The Tories may claim that they want to give the unions back to
members but, as the TUC has stated. the rea intention of the Tories' anti-union legislation is to weaken the unions and their ability to serve and protect their members.
Independence of the
EEPTU-beware
bearing gifts
taking government have
they have put their unions on a headlong
trom state interference central democratic traditions. The EETPU itself has in the past been one of the most outspoken critics of state Mice CuCt trade union affairs in some of the East European coun tries advocating the case for independence from the state Their present pras created dict nowever. sion and discord within the TUC at a time when max. imum unity is required it we are to return a Labour government. The EETU must stand by TUC policy in this regard. Democratic
The AUEW that there are contradic-
in the TUC policy and the actions of other unions she Tright is that The from trade unions accept
money for governmel TUC education, so why not for ballots?
Whatever the rights and wrongs _OT taking government money for union education, there is no TUC policy against it Simply
because democratic decisions ap-
, it does Dea conductory not give the AUEW
icense (especially after th
985 TU conference) to flout those decisions.
One could have some sympathy with them they were arguing the case that their bed-partners,
EETPU and others, the should be electing all their full-time officials like they do, and therefore costs may cause the TUC to rethink its policy in this regard.
Politics Today
enemies
"Contradictions' may well arise however for both
EETPU and LUC AUEW if they continue to By lan Brown EETPU, Joint Craft Convenor, Shell Carrington, Manchester (written for and on behalf of the Joint Craft Shop Stewards Committee)
pursue the case for accepting monev
ballots contraraving TUC policy. recently received massive members for the polthat 'yes from fund now deliberately inciting their members to contradict their own earlier votes in favour of this political fund. If they now vote to take government money they themselve outside TUC and hence be ineligible for af filiation to Labou Party.
Page 3 scan of this page
Politics Today
the AUEW presidential
memorial service for
cleared it up.
Nigel Lawson, Michael
Norman Tebbit, and David Owen.
But homage for vices rendered to capital
by Terry Duffy was not the
only reason for the Tory
and SDP The
memorial service 'fortunately' coincided with the announcement of the
AUEW election results.
The coincidence allowed the biggest possible press coverage for the message
MENT YOUR RIGHIS
LEADS
KEEP
should vote no
THE VOTE of the AUEW on taking state funds for union ballots, starting on 22 November will vitally affect the entire trade union movement.
In the last six years thousands of engineers have joined the dole queues. The employers have announced their determination to erode working conditions and living standards.
members interests the AUEW to do battle with the TUC.
and the Notts breakaway organisation, the AUEW executive are openly threatening to split the trade
is vital for every mesaber of the union to vote 'no'. Why is the AUEW ting a second ti
TUC keep
affairs of member unions!
First wasn't the TUC inal Torced ballot. It was the AUEW
- LIC highest policy making
Vote Tocher
IF THERE was any doubt about the importance of
election, the recent Terry Duffy should have mourners present senior engineering employers' representatives and a most impressive array of ruling class politicians —
Heseltine, Leon Brittan,
favoured by the right-wing leadership of the union — 'the king is dead; long live the king'
Bill Jordan who topped the poll in the first ballot for the presidential position was presenica as the heir apparent to Dutty.
For the Tory government, both the vote on
AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEERING WORKERS
-ENGINEERING FOURORY AND CON
VOTE R
"NO"
TO CASH
FOR BALLOTS
THE
NION
AJAW
Why every AUEW member
literally hundreds of
But instead of drawing up plans to defend its
executive has chosen
In association with the leaders of the EETPU,
Socialist Action AUEW members explain why it
body of the union. The naThe come cere the executive council by the massive margin of 120 votes to 1 for their handlHO I SSUC ment MORC for union ballots.
Second the tuc should intervene to subport congress positions on
cash for ballots and for AUEW president are central. Winning acceptance of state-funding for union ballots is crucial to the enLic package or anti-trade union legislation. Conti-
LIC right leadership of the the long-term aim of dividing the trade ment.
Gavin Laird's statement on Weekend World,
made two days earlier, that the AUEW was prepared
to split from the TUC was music to the ears of Tebbit and co. Their presence at
was a way of saying 'thank
BRITAINS
DEFEND
THE UNION THAT CARES
ATHETUC
THE STATE OUT OF AUEW
this issue as it is in the interests every trade
But what was wrong with the original ballot?
It is official AUEW policy to oppose the lory laws The executive council went against union policy by campaigning for yes
acceptance of vote to Ine government cash.
This was nothing other than d wat of bi-massing the rules of the union to
resut ther after.
Bet the AUEW ship decided to
повсу. Sandy
The issued a ballar atic saii. in almost as many words. Do you want tac ment to ave the umon i
recommends vOLC
you'.
But the eager Tory cry
of complete victory
still premature. It masks
the obstacles that lie in the
path of the Tory govern-
HICHE
The claim that Bill Jor-
dan's vote represents en-
thusiastic membership
backing for the executive's
line is fraud. Despite
backing from the govern-
ment, the media, and the union eadershil Jordan
till only gained 32 per cer of the votes cast. His
72,000 Vote represent
seven memberser cent of the
registered vote.
But the voting results were undoubtedly bad
news for the left-wing in the union. They represent
shift. away from the broad left candidates com-
pared with the last round
of elections in March
Right wing candidate Jackie Crystal won the post of assistant general secretary left vacant by the retirement of Bob Wright Right wing candidate Bill Morgan hammered Derek Simpson in the contest for the seal coeing tee bast
seat covering the East Midlands and East Anglia
In Scotland, the broad left SOCH DONE.
Airlie, only hung on to hi
executive council seat bi the skin of his teeth
test, broad esi naia.
contest left candidate John Tocher polled some 50,000 votes, or 23 per cent of the votes cast. This was enough to take him through to the cond ballot - Will will be a straight fight with Bill Jordan next March
But there is a huge task ahead if Tocher is to stand any chance and a long term challenge to the right wing is to be built. What
fige thacperspectives for a
was an election which took place against a background of hundreds of thousands of engineers on the dole, national wage rates falling behind price rises by eight per cent in four years, proposals by the employers to eliminate conditions at work built up over 50 years, savage attacks on trade unions by the Tory government, , and a possible split in the TUC
"yes"!'
No
not explain that the policy,
ing cash fo ballots. And
through was the quickest in the union's history.
So chance for counter-
vote
from the
Because
concinua
POVErTIED TORS BOT Taking ДОТОВИТ mont! for and
ELECTION RESULTS
President Jordan 72,311 Tocher 50,754 Graham 32,089 Russell 25,563 Powell 21,554 Lawrence 15,059 Evans 6,346
involving the AUEW. But
per cent the registered members did not feel motivated to vote
The combined vote of the two front runners, Jordan and Tocher, amounts ito only 15 per cent of the registered voters.
By Jon Silberman
This is partially accounted for by the sheer number of candidates, in-
cluding national figures like EC member Gerry Russell and national ul callse David Graham from Scotland. But this far
story here no doubl
story. that the right wing, combined with the failure of a clear cut campaigning alternative by the broad left, has produced apathy — a dangerous develop-
The right wing leadership does not have the enthusiastic support of the ranks. But the broad left was unable to take any advantage of this because it failed to genuinely campaign around a clear set of polich will defend ins res policies
terference in see de-
terference trade unions, will make it harder to fight for hospitals, jobs
oner things for which government money could be used.
Nevertheless the AUEW is pretty hard up?
The best way to improve the union's finances is to get more members. We've ost literally hundreds thousands. organised a real fight to defend standards TOD against and
government's attacks would start to rebuild Right wing policies have undermined the union. But can we afford to look
Bif se in the mouth?
the goverament's
Te FATE I I DIE Rr..
1 SEE TEa THE CITED ZITI Jopesdest ITAT
The ALEN already pose a long way 1o
Socialist Action terests of the members at such a time of crisis.
For instance the most prominent broad left leader in the union - Jimmy Airlie - over the past months attacked the cessfully fought for clain of the Ford machied the leadership or attacked the leadership the NUM, supported the employers proposals savage the apprenticeship system, and blazed the
in promoting prestrike ballots. As for taking government cash for ballots, Airlie's silence has been deafening as it has week and thur or week and a number crucial issues facing the membership.
not possible to challenge the right wing b the type of strategy which consists of trying to win elections by moving to the
implement the Tory anti-union laws At the Rules Revision Conference this year solicitor was presented to explain how the rules of the union con flicted with the Tory and how they needed to be changed. And they changed accordingly.
Following the Rules Revision Conference the executive councy issued a circular stipulating that
ballots mus be organised before any form of industrial action in line with the 1984 Trade Union Act. The issue of cash for ballots is the final one to whole scale acceptance of the Tory laws.
If the
exoptance of the izas i is so important. We
choose the terrain It's not the most favourable one it's true.
A victory would be a
15 November 1985 3 right.
One third of the AUEW's membership are women. How can their support be by denouncing — as Airlie di
the so called 'sexual' claim of the Ford women machinists as 'divisive' What a disaster for the left inside the union when it is the right wing in Scotlan which is appealing for sup port on the basis of its op position to Airlie's polic on women's rights.
On the other hand Tocher's presidential cam paign coul and strengthen the ving. The against the right wing. clear victories of broad left candidates Northey and Graham in the two assistant divisional organiser elections show's what is possible.
In the wake of the miners' strike Jordan has defined clearly where he stands with the scab miners' breakaway and all it stands for. By clearly campaigning on the key issues, and reaching out to develop the interests of the whole union, Tocher's
can strengther allocal he left in the union
step in the fight against the entire defeat
the entire movement.
split with the TUC if th AUEW votes 'yes'?
If there is a split the whole responsibility will be witt
leadership of the AUEW. Gavin Laird has made this clear. He an nounced publicly, on I TV that the AUEW, , EETPU
are rec. The real add
linked up with thi scab miners outfit through Main stream. They're sayiny ing to the TUC 'bact down or we go!'
It's not the TUC that's going abead with a brea of a splin. it's the ALEY icadership
OK, bat will the TC bad down?
The best way to preven any threat of a split at all i to defeat the AUEW leadership
A massive campaign s needed • for a vote
Page 4 scan of this page
4
again
THE NUM-TUC TALKS last week laid bare the TUC leadership's present course: that of abject capitulation to the simultaneously adopting the Tory argument of the inevitable decline the advising 'reconciliation'
Union of Mineworkers and Lynk's scab UDM, TUC bosses have made plain their intention to lie down and die in the face of government attacks on the working class.
They have shown that they share Margaret Thatcher's priorities. And the first is getting rid of Arthur Scargill and destroying the fighting leadership of the miners' union.
According the Financial Times last Thursday, to whom . the finance and general purposes committee report was leaked, the TUC view the prospect for the coal industry one of 'асcelerating decline'. They back this up by citing the number of pits likely to
closthe failure of the TUC
leadership to fight for ac-
IT HAS ALWAYS been the right who have split the Labour Party in the name of unity, argues MP ERIC HEFFER. Without against Thatcherism socialist solutions, Labour will never get its election strategy right. debate inside the party is the question of supporting those in struggle against the Tory government. Arthur Scargill is a 'magnificent leader', a shining example to the whole of the labour movement of how to do just that.
THERE IS a great feeling
in the party that we ought
to concentrate on winning
Because
of that, many people argue
SIOU
discussing important problems. But to do so could
easily mean we become a
'confirmist' group without any discussion LIC issues we're faced with.
I believe those issues
are the way in which we
deal with the crisis of the
capitalist system. I don't
think we can separate the
struggle against That-
cherism and against
capitalism from the strug-
gle for socialism. At this
history, That-
cherism is the expression
of British capital's reactionary ideas. She
epitomises their view of
now to night une aevelop-
ment of socialist ideas.
When we argue against
Thatcherism we must also
argue Toi a socialist pro-
gramme. That's not simple
to define, but I think there
are a number of basic prin-
ciples
In my view, we have to
accept that the class strug-
gle is not dead. It will con.
there 10 existass Socies.
there •a class society.
Labour has to be part and
parcel of that.
Second, we have to
understand the nature
In Britain the
tate defends private pro Sualt.
Krly on bena! of capital
against those who want to
get rid of that system.
If we wall to
transform society by giv-
ing class people
ecurity, full employment
peace, education some-
where decent to live, and
so on then we are hit-
ting at the roots of the
Socialist Action 15 November 1985
TUC dumps the miners ...
Thatcher government. By
British coalfields and the National
By Carol Turner
tion by other unions support the 1984-85 strike played no small part in the closure of the pits. however - a factor which the FGP committee doubt fail highlight. They confidently predict further closures, with concomitant loss in capacity and in employment.
The report also says that the misnamed Union Democrate Mineworkers is. 'solidly based' in Notts with ine prospect of expanding into other areas, especially in high-
The way forward for Labour
understanding that fight
necessarily a fight for
The issue most central to today's
capitalist system. It is as simple as that.
We have to understand that Keynesian welfare capitalist ConceDes dead. Welfare capitalism can no longer deal with the basic crisis we face. we beyond that, Have and the only way is on the basis of real socialist planning or me economy and democratic control. That means the involvement of working people all levels. Without that, Labour can't advance.
A Labour government Labour government, but better Than tON-
SUPPORT
THE
MINERS
pro unise circumstances
these circumstances mere seems to be miled scope, if any, for a further campaign to be mounica by the NUM supported by lne luc against the new organisation.
RUM, the FGP committee launched the Iepoil argues agallist illas. action Hillialives like the
proposed lobby of parlia-
Instead it suggests targetting what une TUC
winnable Cascs — with the clear im plication that others must be dropped.
Taken together, the passages , from the report leaked by the media paint
grim picture the TUC's attitude towards the problems of the miners' union. But this should hardly come as any surprise.
Throughout the NUM strike the TUC leadership refused to try industrial solidarity action
we have _ to go beyond reformist Labour governments. We need to properly understand the nature of this society to deal with the basic problems.
The pamphlet by Andrew Glyn which the Campaign group of MPs sponsoring is a step in that direction. Discussion on the
Dalli phlet in every constituency party in the country would
in a very poso grips step
how we deal with the crisis
at ine present time.
The Campaign group should not be criticised for what they've being doing. It was quite right to support the miners strike and
Liverpool council, right to consistently argue
public ownership
quite right to support black people and raise the terrible problems of the inner cities.
Those who argue that
this is divisive are similar
to those in the past who
SUPPORT
THE
MINERS
by other unions in support of the miners. And, like the Labour Party leadership, made clear at its con-
this that would stand back in the уса face of further Tory attacks.
As far as Norman Willis and Neil Kinnock are concerned Arthur Scargill is the real threat to the labour movement, not
and the capitalist class in whose interests it acts The Scargill leadership. of the mineworkers union clearly a threat to the pre
ent policies of the TU leadership. He offers a real alternative the within-the-law-regardless approach Norman Willis and company.
Scargill's answer is to CONLIC EU fight for the interests of his members and the interests of the working class. The whole of the labour movement has a stake in supporting that.
argued that the Bevanites were divisive, that Keep Left was divisive, that the Socialist League WON divisive. But when you look back at history, it's always been the right wing element who have let the party down, who have op-
posed basic sy occasions
Hilally have betrayed those principles and the party.
Take Liverpool council who are now in a very great CrISIS. What the!
don't need is the toackene
party attacking them. They need
assistance sheet mey
wage struggle they have been conducting.
In Arthur Scargill, we
saw for the first time in a
time •absolutely magnificent leader, fighthe did for the views o ais the consistent way
people hose
standing his
class. people who
attacked him of course are
those who didn't want the
miners to fight and don't agree that we should in
ourselves in that
kind of struggle
But socialists, evel
parliamentary
should identify themselves
with the struggles of work-
Any part of the
movement in struggle must
be supported. socalism is long and hard. The struggle
going have
defeats and setbacks. That
leads some people to say
'let's abandon the strug-
gle, let's look for alter-
natives'. Those alternatives
lical. understanding some sort the
SDP and Liberals, or with
breakaway organisations.
Unfortunately, there
was a majority of miners
tor ine Nolls Dreakaway.
Of course there will be in-
honest people,
rank and file party
members - who we need
to talk to seriously But
that doesn't mean we have
to allow organisations bas-
ed on scabbing to affiliate
to the party. That doesn't
mean we nave Cull
promise on the basic prin-
ciples.
YOU NEED THE
group launched
A and jailed miners
of MPs.
The plannin meeting was chaired by Billy Ether. ington of the NUM national executive and it adopted a By Dick Withecombe, North West Area Miners' Defence Campaign plan of activities proposed by Alan Meale, secretary of the Campaign group of participatin& Tony The campaign will be
the launch 'of Benn's Amnesty Bill in the spring - including the produc tion of a pamphlet on the Bill. Fringe meetings, jointly with the Campaign group, are for each regional Labour Par
During the miners' strike, for the first time,
large group of workers received the daily attention of the mass media over a 12 month period.
The gap between how miners and their supporters saw what was go-
1n their communities, picket lines and at the meetings and rallies, and the way it was portrayed in the media led deep resentment and frustration. "Shove vour camera up your arse' was a picket
chant that often greeted the arrival of the news crews
The strike proved to be a direct lesson for many working class people that the medias of neutrality arguments neutrality
avoiding "bias' only resulted in it putting across the views or tnose were holding the power.
Some media WOrKCIS both inside broadcast television and outside it
National amnesty campaign
national campaign in defence of the sacked 'held its first planning meeting The National Amnesty Campaign Group was formed out of a large fringe meeting at this year's Labour Party conference organised by the Campaign group
пс 5
ty and TUC conference.
A delegate • steering conference will take place in January of next year.
New miners' strike video
were sympathetic to the strike and tried to put over A handful of supportive documentaries did make the screens (mainly on Channel 4).
The most interesting and committed programmes were being produced television. Since the end of outside broadcast the strike a number tapes have been produced By John Hanlon, Active Image that try to build wider support in defence of the continuing attacks on the NUM. For example, Whose law? produced by Chapter Video of Cardiff, and Supporting the Miners produced the Miners Defence Video Project in This is not the end: Defend the victimised miners is a tape that was recently produced Active lll-
South Yoin the Minere , based in Rotherham,
involved the Campaign Tapes during the strike, and have main-
News
The campaign will see to publicise NUM resolutions passed by the TUC and Labour Party conference, the Amnest! Bill, and seek raise
LUGE THERWE
OD FOR ‹ YEAR
money for the NUM Na. fiona Solidarity Fund established for the vic. timised miners.
tained an active role in the local support groups and defence campaigns.
The tape aims to publicise the victimisations to a general audience by means of a short programme designed for use at meetings, • and a longer programme that also ings out the role of the police, the Orgreave trials. the breakaway union and the move to privatisation
Like many the groups doing. this kind of work, we don't receive any finance for it, so it is essen-
taken up and used by the
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Page 5 scan of this page
Politics Today
THERE IS a real shift in consciousness going on among Britain's black community, DIANE ABBOTT, of the Labour Party Black Section Committee and the Women's Action Committee. And even they're not participating directly in the development of black sections in the party, they're certainly watching closely. She discussed with ALAN FREEMAN alliances for Labour.
It's obvious from the Queen's speech that the Tories are going to make a big deal out of law and order. you back people?
It's really an attempt to criminalise dissent. Anyone who resists Tories, whether it's miners, students, Greenham women, teachers or black kids on street corners, is branded as criminal in public discourse. You can see this from the way they make a point of linking strikes, pickets, marches and hooligans.
The appeal 'to law and order is very seductive; it conjures up images of security and stability, peals to the fear of the mob. This has been the authoritarian throughout the ages.
In fact it's crazy. peace and stability, the last thing you need is water cannons and plastic bullets on the inner-city estates. It will just turn our streets into something approaching Derry.
Its aim, of course, is not to deal with criminal activity but to keep protest off the streets.
But it won't achieve this either. Every time there is a riot we are told there are 'outside agitators'. In Northern Ireland we are told 'IRA holds the community in thrall'. But just as the IRA couldn't survive without popular support, ment which young black people make has a resonance in the wider community.
These manifestations of dissent are not just marginal. just fringe elements. much wider feeling throughout the working class.
nepression alms to suppress this much wider dissent. In fact, however, it is having an opposite eftect. 1 was on the Anti Apartheid march and I noticed thousands of young people who had no previous involvement in politics.
Thatcher is forcing people into alliances. She is forcing recognise for the first time that they
Collie almost being politicised against their will.
Black people have been, I think quite rightly, extremely distrustful of the British labour movement Labour Party. Do you think this new politicisation indicates a change?
There is a real shift in consciousness going on. Many people used to vote Labour but were not interested in making alliances with Party. They perceive the Labour Party, as an arm of capitalism — with, I must say, remarkable clarity. But now they are coming round to the notion that they have to construct alliances, so they are becoming what is going on in the Labour Party.
Take Lester Lewis in Hackney, who 've known trom a long time back. He used to be a very strong Pan-Africanist. I was very surprised recently to see he has become a coun cillor: it indicates the sort of changes that are going on.
How do you think black people see the black section?
They see black people in the Labour Party Illaking themselves Whether or not they agree tactic, they still approve of the fact
Constructing alliances
that it is being done.
argues ing to,
National
if couldn't understand it. The
You said that what
LOOK alliances
Black people,
What do
LaCKS
the used?
whose interest does it work?
state.
and it ap-
analysis. appeal British colonialism,
If you want
what it represents.
self-organisation.
for us as soon as we raised it.
that the
the state-
They are not They express a
black
Diane Abbot
them to
They are
and thinks of older peaceful
protest against British rule
the Labour
Morrisonian
interested
Emit.
Party?
Labour Party need?
You have
felt. with the
I remember a white guy I wa: = 1-
who was up on brodeFarm recently and was amazed :: * that all the youth saw the biais ie: tion debate on the telly, and fo_c»=: the whole debate in the Guardi
they are extremely interested even if they are not taking par.
people were drawn into political activity in of alliances. What kind of alliaaces.
around the questions of state power.
unlonists, and people in Northern Ireland are all being drawn together by the state's at-
Do you mean an alliance around the existence of the state, or the way it is
Primarily around the way it is used. But inevitably this will lead people to question its existence, and to ask 'in
The labour movement has ignored the state. Black people can't ignore it. *We have always had an analysis of the
I don't mean a deep, theoretical
I mean our experience of authorities, the police, has taught us
That's one of the reasons, I think, why there is such hositility to black
moderate demand, yet everyone went
Kinnock came boring in to tell us we absolutely can't have it. Why? What are they frightened of?
I think they see us as a sort of virus which will infect people with opposi tion to the state. After all, we've beer fighting it for long enough. Everyone
Afro-Caribbean peochurch-goers, and forgets that 50 years ago their aunts and uncles were burning canefields in
Our approach is a challenge to all the Fabian assumptions that the state is a power for good as long as it is in the right hands. It is a challenge to the
theory of nationalisation; to the idea that all you have to do is set up big bureaucratic corporations without any popular control.
We are a virus, and I hope we'll start an epidemic: of refusal to sub-
What sort of alliances do you think black people need within the Labour
I would look at it the other way round: what kind of alliances does the
to start from an understanding that all white people are racist. Some of the most pernicious are those who claim to be 'anti-racist'. We can't just ally with
- TEET 1 TE 45 peopie =:
We canne: al arc do not accept inss. prepared to ассері а стас* reductionism that says 'at the end of the day, black people and women are expendable'. You can't have unity on the basis of white control. An alliance has to be around what black people themselves want.
The people who oppose this are really saying they know what is best for black people. We are fed up to the back teeth with this. Even Bill Morris, when you put his back to the wall even though in public he says what the bureaucracy tells him, rebels at white people defining what black people need.
The same applies to Women have really been turned over by the left in the Labour Party. Look at the result of reselection. In London, it looks as if Labour will have only two women MPs - after all the gestures and declarations of support for the miners' wives.
There were no male speakers in favour of WAC's positions at the Labour Party debate and WAC keeps losing its resolutions. This year it even lost a proposal that was backed by the NEC, that there whould be a woman on every shortlist.
And when you look at some of the men who have been reselected, it is a real slap in the face for women to say that they are not up to this standard
What do you think of what Neil Kin. nock has been doing?
No one can say he is a prisoner of the right any more, that's for sure. No one is forcing him to say what he says. It's his own choice. He is trying to distance himself from the party more and i tore in his presentation.
His speech was very popular even among some of the left because he attacked Militant, which is the left's weak flank. But he was actually attacking the whole of the left. When he attacked Liverpool, he was going tol all the councils who might prepared to take on illegality
He is playing on people's desire to win the election and get rid of Thatcher. But in all the rapturous press acclaim. Joe Haines made the most astute comment. He said that he made Steel and Owen look like 'pygmies'. What he meant is that if you want to know who is best at marginalising socialism and containing an insurgent working class, then Kinnock's your man
The point is, however, line can't win the election. He has accepted the Tory agenda: law order, selling council houses on. But we can't win by fighting on the Tories' agenda.
Why don't working class people vote Labour? Not because it's too extreme, but because they can't see the difference.
It's very distressing. If the only reason to have him is to win the election and he can't even do that, then what's the point?
Can this rightward trend be reversed?
I think there's a lot to be optimistic about. If I can go back to the Anti Apartheid march: there when I could go on these marches and I knew every black face. In the last two years there has been an enormous
women.
be that this
and
and so
untapped energy
young black : people.
the analysis and the black analysis been
was a time ASION of white
support us and meaning
coming in, the energy of black people and above all
You could see the same process in
strike. The feminist has accepted in the ranks of the NUM who were once the 'grenadier guards of the labour movement', the
male patriarchy.
What a change it is to see straight, white, male miners standing up
really
meaning it
Then take Thatcher's new legis tion. She reacts a bit like the So Alcan government. think that if you don't film it, the isn't happening. She thinks tha people don't march, then there any dissent. But the dissent is the and it won't be intimidated out of e istence.
History shows that once the work ing class starts to mobilise, straig repression will not work.
Page 6 scan of this page
"We do not fear the struggle...
Socialist Action ON THE day before he was executed, South African freedom fighter, Benjamin Moloise, during a last visit by his mother, said: Tell the world freedom is at hand.' The following day he was hanged.
Against the background of daily news reports of black people, some of them children, murdered by the terrorists of South Africa's apartheid regime Thatcher succeeded in preventing the imposition of sanctions against Botha's administration. The Foreign Secretary African National Congress to renounce violence.
Thatcher was accused of being the only apologist Dr Botha can depend on in the outside world. She is not. Dublin government also refused to impose sanctions.
Winnie Mandela correctly described the British government's attitude as an insult to her country's black majority. The Dublin government's attitude on this issue is not only an insult to the black majority of South Africa, it is an insult to the Irish people whose feelings are epitomised by the courageous Dunnes Stores strikers.
The Dublin governments' attitude is disgraceful. Indeed, I have no doubt that Nelson Mandela, Portlaoise prison, would be speedily extradited by Fitzgerald and his cohorts.
Sinn Fein's attitude is straightforward and well-known. We hypocritically call upon the ANC to renounce violence'. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their fight to develop their struggle by methods are forced upon them. We call upon those responsible for violence to
We condemn apartheid as immoral.
We condemn Dublin's refusal to enforce immediate and total sanctions and we congratulate the Dunnes Stores strikers. To the ANC, we extend our unconditional solidarity. To our black brothers and sisters in struggle we send
STOP
NUCLEAR
MADNESS
15 November 1985
Gerry Adams
on!'
government finds
STOL ot Its presence in this country. being
British called on the
in opposition to
The
the attitude of political and
of the far-off regimes.
Unlike of SUOS
if he were in
earth as is Central America.
do not
solidarity to
whatever throughout the
in our own country.
the Irish
Fheis
this struggle.
Sovereignty
Since the tirst
surrendered so long ago. be the relieving of the nig
with a treaty at the which endorses the
ment in Irish affairs.
this simple message of support: Fight
It is no accident that the Dublin
titude to liberation struggles. Dublin's attitude on these issues is but an exten-
attitude to the British
The natural and logical place for Ireland is alongside the Palestinians, the Chileans, El Salvadoreans and the Nicaraguans. A government which truly represented the Irish people would be in opposition to Reagan's backing of repressive regimes in Central America,
Israel's policy genocide against the Palestinian people, and in opposition to the British partition and occupation of this con-
Sinn Fein reaffirms its support for those struggling for national liberation and an end to exploitation throughout the world. In that regard it could be suggested that our position is not unlike
countless otherwise who are periodically vocal in the denunciations
This is most certainly not the case
those hypocritical organisations, we have that fundamental grasp or geograpny wach tens u: that Ireland is as much as part of this
There is an even more fundamental difference. We are anti-imperialists and the acid test of one's anti-imperialism and political integrity is in one's attitude to the struggle of national liberation in this country. So in extending
freedom fighters world we extend solidarity also to the freedom fighters
To the men and women soldiers of
Republican Army, republican prisoners of war in Free State, US and British prisons, to their families and supporters, from this Ard
we extend solidarity, and we rededicate ourselves to match their efforts and sacrifices by our continued endeavours to popularise and politicise
THE current London-Dublin talks are a compliment to all anti-imperialists. Never before have the Irish and British establishments been forced to spend so much time deliberating on how best to isolate and defeat Irish republicanism.
hunger-strike, in December 1980, Dublin and their Northern allies, the SDLP leadership, have been struggling to claw back the high ground of Irish nationalism which they
The Dublin Forum report, its ignominious demise at Chequers and the current talks have marked further dilutions of nationalist aspirations and attempts to lower na-
What started off as the greatest
political initiative since the '20s' is now
Part of a process". What was to LOt
Northern nationalists could well end up
United Nations British claim 004 C
sovereignty in the 6 Counties, thereby
partition and in-
sulating the British government from
international criticism of their involve-
It is fpolish to speculate on specula-
tion about what shape any agreement is three
likely to take, but we can sketch out our
Poverty in the heart of Dublin
attitude to the talks and their political
are not about Irish inre-unification, or on-federalism, or other the governm clean
When the F COUL MOSC ched, we asked w hat the Forum parties were going to do when Britain said
Margaret Thatcher said Dublin could withdrawn from a process which was
COLONIALISM
NEO-COLONIALISM IMPELLED BY the growth of Sinn Fein, establishment politicians from London and Dublin are the closest they have ever been to signing an agreement for an 'internal settlement' in the occupied Six Counties. In his presidential address, GERRY ADAMS stressed the need for a clear understanding of the social forces at work in creating this situation and a clear political response from the republican movement. Set in the global context provided by the
patently terests of the British govert not withdraw because terests.
Forum The talks are abour London political climate in which Sinn Fein car be isolated through a mix sion and appeas the repression will depend on how successful we are in developing our party 'No!' and expanding our support. have On that count ourselves for a lot of repression. Pro-
Free State guardai attack nationalist protest: 26 County taxpayers bear even greater burden in supporting partition than the British.
newspapers, to, the before, tribute
in this country.
They
subdue Their blatant used. being conducted in the in- will be
Lament. It did produced. : it shares those in-
creating a
ture of represThe extent of people
paganda. we can prepare They
struggle for freedom and dem Central America and the Mid bare the decaying fabric of Iri the establishment to countena report which flows from the h struggle against injustice in Ir thoroughly revolutionary. (Edited by Socialist Action.)
scription, attempted ostracisation, new
laws, censorship, the banning of ou
imprisonment (with
without trial), even summary execu
tions, have never defeated us in the past
Nor will they now.
Unionists
London-Dublin collaboration is no
new thing. The nature of this statele
and the ethos of the ruling class ensure!
its dependency upon, and subservienc
brusa government Neve however, since British gun:
were used to bombard the Four Court:
has the collaboration been so public
and so unapologetic.
The duration of the struggle, the failure of the British to defeat us, and the short-sightedness of the unionis leaderships are all factors which con
to the British government
need to involve Dublin more and more
in the task of stabilising their interest
can afford to offend th
unionists. After all, there will be n
constitutional changes and, for all thei
protestations, the unionists have faile
opposition partitior use of discrimination
gerry-mandering and coercion,
couraged by the British for as long a
they succeeded in fulfilling the Britis
need to neutralise opposition to thei
rule in Ireland, are now to be refiner
More sophisticated methods are to b
The predictable unionist utilised to exaggerate
substance of whatever concessions a
But ordinary nationalists will judg
these talks not by the rhetoric of its su
porters or opponents but by the
substance, its effects on their lives
its relevance to the struggle of the
for self-determination
establishment have made
mistake of believing their
believe that
flourishes in conditions of de
Page 7 scan of this page
cracy in South Africa, le East, Adams' report lays h society and the inability of ice meaningful change. It is a art of an unremitting land. It is a report which is
unemployment and one-sided laws.
They fail to note Sinn Fein's commit-
ment - while smashing partition — to
work alongside ordinary
as many gains as possible within the 6
and 26 Counties.
They also underestimate the in-
telligence of the republican electorate.
No mention was ever made in the past
of the Flags & Emblems Act (banning
the flying of the tricolour), the status of
the Irish language,
ponucal prisoners and their families.
Issues like these, neglected
SDLP and Dublin are now elevated to a
position of major importance.
The people alc
sophisticated. They realise that it is
tese issues,
support for Sinn Fein, which makes
Inese Issues so important now
Our opponents say Sinn Fein needs
the imprisonment of our comrades in
order to maintain our support base.
How little they understand! They are
our brothers and sisters,
daughters, husbands or wives, mothers
or fathers. They should not be im-
prisoned at all.
Any change in their conditions will
ty.
social inequalities. social demoralisation, housing and breeding ground lo.
tivism. total changes in this situation.
Wing these issues pertinent.
Occupation
fruits of victory.
stitutional nationalism so that
the long-term.
Apathy with, or loyalists.
The British
tion, and which people to win
ty with Britain.
they have often
the conditions of
by the
and improved Soldiers of the Cumann na mBan: 'We rededicate ourselves to match their efforts and sacrifices.'
developing nations. alre OCCH SDLP
sons and ing the
be due to their own resistance and that of their families. It will be welcomed by us as such. Not as a sop to the conscience of their jailers, but as an overdue recognition of their own incorruptibili-
Our opponents say that we exploit Unemployment, poverty, bad ill-health may be apathy, taking, alcoholism, and the battering of women and children, but they are hardly fertile conditions for political ac-
Where Sinn Fein members are involved with the people against the drug menace and other issues of social concern it is not for political point-scoring but because these evils hurt the communities that we live in and represent. Regardless of what way our motives are maligned or misrepresented, we will continue to campaign for proper and
We do not fear any progress on this front. On the contrary, we welcome any meaningful progress and recognise the cen- British trality of people's own efforts in mak-
Britain may of course make concessions. EEC and US financial aid may be made available as part of a mistaken analysis that we will be undermined. Such concessions are not attributable to the efforts of establishment politicians. They can be claimed by the struggling nationalist people as a minor appetiser on the road to tasting the full
The dangers of the present talks lie not in the conclusions that they may or mav not reach, but in their intention of putting a diplomatic veneer on British rule and injecting a credibility to con-
British rule and its interests can be stabilised in
Explanations for the doggedness of render the British government in maintaining its occupation ot the 6 Counties are many, including the ridiculous notion mat tney remam tere out of some sym-
obligation to, the tion.
occupation of the 6 Counties is one of political imperialism and which has weakened the Irish working class, North and South, because of the absorbing and divisive nature of parti- OLIe
created powerful vested interests in the unionist and Irish establishments which have a real affini-
Successive Dublin governments inherited a tradition of neutrality practice, the battered concept of which
stretched. Nevertheless, neutrality is a principle which coincides with the instincts and mood or une Irish peopie wno do not want to be drawn into any imperialist nuclear nightmare and who support the concept of an independent foreign policy
relations with the mooted and the deputy-leader, among others, has welcomed the idea - that the brin ciple of neutrality be bartered in return for British concessions on the national
Not only would such a move be tak-
Counties back into the told 'United Kingdom', but in joining with NATO powers Ireland would be joining the club of imperialists and former colonial nations notorious for their op-
pression of people across the globe.
Irish foreign policy should be based on a policy. of neutrality and non-alignment which includes the promotion of nuclear disarmament, the promotion of peace internationally, and independence in political, economical and ideological matters.
Sinn Fein is totally opposed to the 26 Counties being involved in the EEC Security Committee. In our opposition to EEC membership we have always pointed out the dangers of such in volvement. Strategic considerations have always been a major factor in the British government's attitude Ireland, which is considered by NATO as an important element in strategic planning. These considerations have increasingly led to a US interest in the stabilisation of the 6-County situation.
As a nation, we have a right to national self-determination. Ireland does not stop at the British border. No Irish institution, government or otherwise, has the right to sign any treaty with the
which encroaches on sovereignty. In the 26 Counties people should consider also why they, as taxpayers, were being charged f53 per year in 1984 for the 'privilege' of partition when the cost to their British contemporaries was a mere f9 per year. So much for economic planning!
Do not be confused by Dublin or SDLP support for the unionist veto. Northern Protestants have as much right as any other section of the Irish people to shape or veto the shape of any future independent Irish society, unionists have absolutely no right to veto that society's right to national self-determination. They have no right of veto over the British connection. Freedom
Dublin often attempts to confuse its acceptance of this veto as being part of a high-minded pluralist approach. It is nothing of the sort. It is merely sur-
reactionary undemocratic assertion of brute force.
Real proof of the Free State parties pluralist credentials is found, for example, in their attitude to divorce legisla-
Fianna Fail are backing Catholic hierarchy while Fine Gael and Labour pussy-foot around it. On this
related issues, their towards pluralism are exposed. Fein supports demands for divorce and
social Iegislation Decause recognise it as a need and basic right for people.
Sinn Fein was formally established 80 years ago this month at a convention in the Rotunda on 28 November 1905. Since then, this country has undergone many changes and in terms of social composition and policies Sinn Fein is a different party.The nature of British rule is different now also, but two fundamental things remain unchanged: the British government still denies us our freedom and we, like the republicans of that period. remain resolute in that struggle for freedom.
I will finish as I began. Inside the visiting area of Pretoria prison, with its glass screen between the visitor and the DESORCE Mamike Moloise spent minutes with her son. She told
looked, stronger than I have ever seen him. The next morning he was hanged. He
This mother *Freedom is at hand. The struggle must go on, nobody must fear it.
Comrades, the struggle will go on and we do not fear it.
RIG
ROP TORTURE/RELHO
NOWI TISH
THE DUBLIN talks are about
field MP JOAN Hypocrisy on Ireland must stop. The next Labour should untertake to and
within the lifetime of a single parliament.
the
policies Sinn
these talks.
They
support for Sinn Fein.
last few years. successfully combine the struggle for
liberation I agree with Gerry
well as in the North.
Party there's no Ireland the loyalists in the North.
typical piece
in such an unjust
built majority mandered in the Six Counties.
from which says 'we're
sent'. The unionist removed.
underwrite the
20 unionists.
the *Stronger,
they don't need to world: discuss the politics,
veto. We've got to change that.
that we intend to leave Ireland
Socialist Action 15 November 1985 BRITIS
Labour must
withdrawal
enmeshing the Six Counties more 'sense. closely to Britain, argues Shef-
MAYNARD.
government withdraw begin
ANY fruits of the Dublin talks won't difficult be the sort that will be in any wa helpful to a united Ireland. I think they are, in fact, the reverse: how to enmesh the Six Counties more closely essentat with Britain to keep Ireland divided. I don't see any good coming out of
The would never have taken place had it not been for the growth in
Under the leadership of Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein has made tremendous strides over the
They have begun to
socialism and the struggle for national
Adams that OSCUSS UH Sinn Fein should start organising 1r the South. It's essential that Sinn Fein should build up a base down there as
We aren't going to get any steps towards a real solution from this Tory government. But the same will apply to our government, unless we can get To a certain
accept that no possie consen a united consent of the brothers
I consider that position to be a
of British hypocrisy.
First of all, when we divided Ireland stop
way, we did it without the consent of the majority of the Irish people. It's a particular irony tion. now to talk about reversing that process only with the consent of an in-
that gerry-
We've got to shift Labour away
contradictory position in favour of a United Ireland but it must be by con-
veto must be
I would like to see the party saying that we are no longer prepared, and won't be as a Labour government, to
position of the Some unionists are sufficiently realistic to appreciate that they can no longer block a solution to the question of Ireland. At the moment
sit down and because of the
I believe an essential ingredient for months the next Labour government is to say
- In a learnt?
7
back
military, a political and an economic
We should make a commitment to do it within the next parliament. If we don't there'll be people trying to drag that out in order to see it doesn't happen. So I think Labour should set the limit of one parliament.
That kind of declaration would
absolutely transform the situation in Ireland. I don't suggest for one moment that it won't be very
- there aren't any easy solutions to the horrific problem that we have created in Ireland by dividing it in the way we did. But I believe the
are complete withdrawal from Ireland and withdrawal of our support for the unionists' position.
Labour Committee Ireland had done good work in raising the question of Ireland within the party. That needs to be expanded. Their resolution to this year's conference was excellent. It asked for a campaign against the Prevention of Terrorism Act, against the use of plastic bullets - which are now very much on the agenda — and it called for a general
throughout the labour movement. That's what we should be campaigning for
I don't think there would be great opposition in the Labour Party to the idea of a united Ireland and our withdrawal. That may not be for the reasons that I would be in favour of.
extent it would be because British people must be tired of having their sons, husbands and
killed over there. I'm convinced that people are sick of the kill ing which is going to go on.
There's no way it's ever going to
until WC decide to make a declaration that we will leave. Now it's no good just making the declara-
We have to use the intervening period to try to bring together all the various parties in both the North and South, and we ought to disarm the
I understand the difficulties. But difficulties are there to be overcome, they're not there to be used as a barrier against doing what is right.
who said that the British working class would never be free whilst the Irish working class is in chains. I have made that same point over the years. I say to comrades you can't retain freedom for yourself and deny it to others'
Lots of people who were involved in the miners' struggle, who previous. ly had great faith in the police, longer have any faith in them at all I'm sure that during that practical struggle which they conducted for 12
they must have asked themselves 'where were these tactic
Page 8 scan of this page
8 Socialist Action International
Solidarity
• United States. Thousands of people across
the country took part in a national day of
protest against apartheid on 11 October.
The slogans for the day were: free South
Africa, free Nelson Mandela and break all
United States links with apartheid.
Many of the participants were young and
black, including students who were preparing for
a student anti-apartheid conference on 1-3
November.
But many unions were involved on the day,
collecting signatures for workplace. petitions,
carrying banners on local demonstrations and laying plans to follow the lead of the Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union on the West Coast. A year ago this union refused to unload cargo from South African ships.
Most US trade unions, including the
executive council of the AFL-CIO are on record
against apartheid and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists supported the day of action. So too did the National Organisation of Women and the Coalition of Labour Union Women.
The United Mineworkers of America has just finished hosting a tour of miners from the NUM in South Africa. Before touring the US, the miners were the guests of the Canadian steel
• Sweden. month's trade boycott of South African goods from 23 October to 24 November. The action was to press the Swedish government to end all trade with the South African regime. • France. Members of one of the country's major trade union federations, the CGT dumped two tons of coal outside a government office in Paris on 3! October. This was a protest against South African imports.
How to join the
Anti Apartheid
Movement AAM MEMBERSHIP includes a subscription to AA News, a regular newsletter and details of current campaigns. • Individual waged membership per annum £9 • Joint membership for two people at same • Students and apprentices £5.50 • School students, pensioners, claimants, unwaged £3.50 • Local organisations affiliation fee £12 Contact Anti Apartheid Movement, 13 Mandela Street, London NWI ODW, tel 01-387 7966.
Other Books
The following selection of books on South Africa is available by post from Other Books:
South Africa: white rule, black revolt, Ernerst Harsch, Monad, 352pp, £6.25 plus 69p postage Class and Colour in South Africa 1850-1950, Jack and Ray Simons, International Defence and Aid Fund, 702pp, £5.00 plus £1.33 postage. Heart of My Soul Winnie Mandela, Penguin, 159pp, £2.95 + 25p postage.
To honour women's day: profiles of leading women in the South African and Namibian • liberation struggles, IDAF, 56pp, £1.00 plus 22p postage. Nelson Mandela: I am prepared to die, IDAF, 48pp, 50p plus 18p postage.
Nelson Mandela: The struggle is my life, IDAF, 208pp, £1.85 plus 46p postage. Make cheques or postal orders payable to IMRS. Orders with payment should be sent 1o: Other Books, PO Box 50, London N/ 2XP.
15 November 1985 Transport workers took part in a
of
TU FREEDOM
PANAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA
Labour leaders march against apartheid
Isolate apartheid
DOCKERS AND seafarers from 30 countries met at the end of October and agreed to block all oil supplies to South Africa. Industrial action will be taken against ship-owners or oil companies who attempt to deliver oil to the apartheid regime. Oil imports cover 20 per cent of South Africa's energy needs and 80 per cent of the fuel used for transport.
On the same day that oil supplies. were blocked, Swansea dockers refused
unload South African COa Inese are ine latest union actions to cut the
lifeline of trade with the apartheid regime.
The lory government has refused to apply sanctions. he Anti Apartheid Movement has proved that the government's 'restric tive measures' are riddled with loopholes. The latest
report shows breaches of the United NaLOTS dals charco by companies like Plessey.
1979 the ment issued guidelines banning North Sea oil, but deliveries to South Africa continue. In the first eight months of this year, traffic of refined oil to the country hit £5.67 million worth.
British Petroleum and onell alone meet 40 per cent of South African sales.
British computers and radar equioment continue to find their way, . to the south African police and airforce. More British sportsmen and women ap-
on the N register sporting contact with South Africa than any other country - in breach
Commonwealth Gleneagles agreement.
This evidence shows the need to step up a camDaciol
Already nase id nationat
already union affiliations, from workers Three million workers. hundred union branches Have oned. , 1 nis Is a springboard to force the
Impose sanctions and to implement these bv trade union action if they refuse
London AAM conference offered suggestions for union activity. Union members val. be made more aware of the issues
SMASH APARTHEID badges. 30p plus 13t postage. Bulk orders. over 20 badges, 20p each, posiage paid.
Over 50 badges, 15p each, postage paid.
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FORWARD COFREEDOM IN NAMIBIA AND SUUTH AFRICA! through workplace and union meetings, factory speaking tours of ANC and South unionists, videos and distribution of showings
leaflets and bulletins.
Sanctions
The November issue of the Yorkshire Miner is a good example. Its UnIC paou feature Nines about ANC, the Freedom Charter and the struggle of South African
The recent Canadian and North American LOuI of South Aircal miners could be repeated in the British coalfields.
Other suggested activities are boycotts and the monitoring products to prepare for sanc-
The Workers Union has already begun this.
Railway unions are enmove against South African advertising and goods on British Rai Trade unionists are asked to follow the example of
Dunne supermarket workers in Ireland who refused to handle South African fruit.
Union pension funds have been invested in South Africa and the ad ministrative union, APEX has joined those who have agreed to disinvest. Material aid is also needed for the South African unions and mass organisations.
In South Wales, the public service union NUPE has contacted local authorities to demand thai they break all links with South Africa. One nun dred authorities around Britain have already taken some action
Labour councils have a particular responsibility and local parties should put the pressure on those who have not yet broken all links with South Africa.
Labour members of
Cash
SOLIDARITY
parliament and the
shadow cabinet should be
asked to take a lead by us-
ing private members and
10-minute bills for total
sanctions. Already some
local Labour Parties are
approaching trade unions,
black community leaders
and the AAM to organise
large public meetings and
rallies with ANC speakers
such activities in the
labour movement are
vital part of the growing
anti apartheid movement,
which took to ine sireels
November demonstration. the 100,000-strong 2
The banners from black
people's defence
paigns. trade unions,
Labour Parties and SLu-
dent unions show the
potential for a mass move-
against apartheid
This throws out
challenge to the abou
Party Young Socialists. It
can become a mass cam
mobilising the young workers. black youth and students who
are incensed by the slave
system of South Africa behind the Anti Apartheid Movement.
Newham
against
apartheid
NEWHAM Anti Apartheid is organising a major rally sponsored by Newham council.
This aims draw together activists throughout the particular from the labour movement and black community. The council is putting posters on official nonce boaras inrougnoul the borough and the AA group will distribute thousands of leaflets. On the same day, the council will send a deputation to the South African embassy to protest the hanging of Benjamin Moloise.
• Rally at East Ham Town Hall, High St, London E6, wednesdav November, 7.30 Speak-
Cleanor Khanyile, ANC, Shapua Kaukun-
SWAPO; Tony Banks MP; Unmesh Desai, Newham Monitoring Project; Councillor Fred Jones, leader of Newham Council. Also, the film, The Anvil and the Hammer and ANC singers.
AT LEAST 34 Tory MPs have assets in South Africa or are directors of companies with subsidiaries there.
Over £1 million every year fill Tory Party coffers from companies with South African interests.
almost half the Tory funds from big companies.
Last year nine Tory MPs visited South Africa.
Well-known Tories with blood on their hands include: • Tom King, secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
Tilney Company, which
African subsidiaries.
: Prior, MP for Waveny and ex-cabinet meaper. rror is chair ol the General Electric Comball director of Barclays bank • Cecil Parkinson, MP is a director of Babcock International, Tarmac Ltd and Sears Holdings which all have South African connections.
'THE STRUGGLE IS MY LIFE'
NELSON MANDELA
GAOLED 5 AUGUST 1062
SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
I JUNE 1964 FOR HIS ACTIONS
MONIST APARTMETO
"DED ЯY THE GREA
Break all links
now!
THE AFRICAN National Congress has called on the British government and people to isolate apartheid in these ways: • End all trade links • Withdraw investment • Ban loans and other economic measures that assist the apartheid regime • A total arms embargo • A sports and cultural boycott
News
Blood on their hands African connections. bande mis Thatcher, hus band minister. Thatcher director of Burmah Retail both of which Hazell plc, have in- COLIN HEADWORTH terests in South Africa. • Eldon Griffiths, MP for Bury i St Edmunds and paid advisor to the : Police Federation. In 1981, Griffiths was a director of Red man Heenan, a firm found
be smuggling armsmaking equipment.
Photo:
apartheid just pointed banker the British
monwealth
He is Barber forme
interest in Africa WHEl tied up in system.
Photo: MORNING
Page 9 scan of this page
Grenada revolution"
International
SINCE THE destruction of the 1979 revolution and the murder of prime minister Maurice Bishop there has been great confusion among Grenadians in Britain and supporters of the Peoples Revolutionary Government. Two parties claiming to be heirs of the PRG are campaigning for support the Maurice Bishop Movement and an organisation which has adopted the name of the party that led the 1979 revolution, the New Jewel Movement.
KENDRICKR RADIX. minister in the PRG recently visited Britain on the second anniversary of Bishop's murder. He explained the facts behind murder and why British socialists should support Bishop Patriotic Movement. We publish edited extracts from his speech.
WE IN tiny Grenada come from a history of struggle. We come from a history that produced Julien Fedon, a man who in 1795 fought the Grenadian revolution.
We in Grenada are the children of Fedon. As we analyse the colonial condition in which our people mained for over 200 years, we realise that we have in our necessarv character. the necessary vision, the necessary values.
we were able to lead ourselves from the cycle of slavery and exploitation, from colonial imposition and neocolonialism and to usher in, 1979, a popular democratic people's revolution, based on the masses and taking power for the working class and for the working people.
In this context we have to see the contribution of late minister Maurice Bishop who was perhaps the most simple, the most honest, the most unpretentious, civilised human being and leader that I've ever met in my life.
evenever known him to be spiteful or petty, to be manipulative, to not pursue the interests of the worker, of the youth, of the women. It is not surprising that in a singleminded fashion. without any care lor himself nor for the pains of office, he participated in a process to usher in the 1979 Grenada revolution. Finally in 1979 we thought that slavery was a thing of the past.
There are those around the world and those inside our elements, who said that the revolution was not a revolution d'état, that it was not a democratic revolution because there was no secret ballot. When the New Jewel Movement maac Is revolution there was voting of a different kind, people were prepared to put their lives on the line in support of that revolution. That is the highest form democracy, not voting once every five years.
Over the years of the revolution there was democracy of a different type. Not 'Mr Speaker sir', favour say aye'. It was a democracy of the many, where the masses of the people, once the peasants, unemployed, and the woman sat side by side on a monthly basis, either in the women's organisations, the workers' organisations, in the parish and zonal councils regular basis with the leadership of Lie country. The leadership of the country had
to report and account to the masses. That is. wnlal we
people's participation
and people's power.
We had the life of the revolution and our people are well able to judge. Now that we've come all this distance we are marking an anniversary which has caused tremendous
disillusion and grief in the hearts and
minds. not only of our people in
Grenada but of all
democratic, peacc-lovilig
throughout the world.
We have to say that the demise of
the Grenada revolution,
though it is, must be observed and
marked. All the sceptics cannot deny
the dignity our revolution gave to the
people: the patriotic sentiment, a sen-
Patriotic
the
Maurice
SIC-
people the
in
themselves, but how they their country
none ecos
later
ship. told them, 'you but a coup would condemn
direction.
because tives were put into place.
organisation started by
well founded.
"those in create own
farmers, In, soldier
them at their word.
youlli
- meetings on a
call meaningful
suffering,
progressive,
people
painful
Go 9 EVE
Grenadians in Britain protest against US invasion of Grenada
"Long live the
timent asking not how they can build
can build
Amidst all these actions and the
of Maurice Bishop, there arose within our party a
who characterised our leader as a petit bourgeois right opportunist and
midst of this petty jealousy, rose up to create a hydra, a two-headed monster of dual leader-
Have you ever seen anywhere two captains on a ship, two captains of a cricket team? Where was this model from? Coard and company claim to add to the science of Marxism by application and extension of even Lenin himself. And if Lenin came back and
are wrong', they as a revi- tion sionist, as petit bourgeois and lost in
As a lead up to the events, a series
You may have heard of OREL, which was an
Coard. At that early time, when he came into the party, the New Jewel Movement was
He claimed that we in the leadership were middle class, that we were moving too slowly and that he would
foot soldiers and started OREL. But when they came
we had an agreement that they would dissolve themselves and that they would join our party. We took
But later when the morning of the revolution triumphed all members of OREL were put into the armed forces of the country to fight another day. All of them were put into the armed Technical and Allied Workers' Union, Grenada, on the march
MESS
AMER
MAL
TENAD
memory of the
forces, which were 'to usher in the proletarian revolution'
What was happening was they wanted to move Maurice Bishop and therefore wanted to move people in their path. Vincent Noel was
path. Vincent Noel removed, Jaqueline Creft was remov-
warned Maurice Bishop they would end up murdering him. I resigned from the party and government in 1982. Maurice Bishop asked me to rejoin the government when I refused to rejoin the party.
I told him that the day they moved against him, I would come out and fight them in the streets. am happy to report that I was the first person on the streets to lead the first demonstra-
against the house arrest Maurice Bishop, for which branded a counter-revolutionary and thrown in jail on the orders of Bernard Coard.
It is not widely known or believed that Bernard Coard was responsible for these events, because he allegedly resigned a few days before. But when they were moving to remove Maurice Bishop, Selwyn Strachen, the former minister of mobilisation, had gone into St Georges. He was chased out by the working people when he announced that Bernard Coard prime minister.
All these events show that these people did not respect the political power in the country not only Maurice Bishop's leadership, was only a personification of that power. What they refused to do was to listen to the people. Everywhere they went villifying Maurice Bishop the people said no. But they would
not listen to the people.
ine greatest that tragedy of Grenada has been its impact within the nationally. political left has been totally and completely discredited in the eyes of the working people. of the left Jamaica, which that hegemony, even displacing the sober judgement of our Cuban friends -the bastard father, disrespect to bastards, headed hydra of which I spoke
¡revor Monrof secret visit to Grenada, underpinning ideologically leadership. In the early days they put out disinformation, prime minister and others were neve of executed. was result of cross SITe should have said he died in bed of old age.
The damage to the left has been fundamental. The respect working working class values, the dignity of small countries and peoples has been cast aside
Grenada certainly was in irritant for the United States. there were supposed to Cubas. Grenada broke that law and Nicaragua is a living reality in defiance to that law.
Bernard fellow. He had a computerised type of mind. He was able, but he was obsesswhich ed by power. discipline and so plunged the country into a fate which is worse than death - to be colonised again sacrifices of Fedon, after the tremendous sacrifices of our heroes and martyrs.
under the yoke and jackboot of the United States imperialists, the most terrible experience that our people can have. These people have put us in a state of total dependence, where the integrity and independence of our nation is smashed undertoot. proud while it lived. But the NJM was murdered with Maurice Bishop, and all the others who fell with him
of the revolution, no one professing to the New Jewel Movement has hit the streets. hev cannot go onto int streets because publically they cannot accept responsibility for murder. All those who claim to be NJM people are
Richmond Hill
Socialist Action 15 November 1955
murder.
well themselves.
judge.
phantom to Vader
of these events.
The dead. historical.
Movement
Line neca lol
dead.
4000 votes.
ly we have foul-up of the poor, wole Caribbean and inter- Many Within the Caribbean the
The so-called doyen
the Workers Party of spontaneously?
claims for itself alliances
no of the twoYou call paid an almost masses.
concept of dual
saying that the
They said they died as a
port
prestige and class power Humphrey
phrey
After Cuba be no more
we de clever
He lost his control, his
pollical after the .will bring
These people have put us now The New Jewel Movement did us
Since the murders and the collapse
from: J.
New Eltham,
So the New Jenel MaEet 5 z phantom in the mind o: bose ta
exercise
There is a pamphie: pubise the New Jewel Morene:
accepting full residin for the events of last Oxtbobe: does that mean? I leave i: i0 1s is
Those who pretend and ala- ta the NJM is fighting for worker Grenada, don't you believe it. They have never held a public meeting, they have never organised anything. . It is a
discredit the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement.
The Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement was born out of necessity we nave to nignt an over agal to pur the real issues on the agenda, because our people's minds were turned back because of that savage butchery. They could welcome the United States in-
and could feel they were liberated by the United States. That is the dialectic of our people as a result
New Jewel Movement is contribution is now Its continuity is to found in the Maurice Bishop Patriotic
We participated in the elections to put the working class agenda - about the right to develop the state sector,
workers rignts mass popular democracy, the right of people to have human rights.
The United States spent $7 million to discredit us and say that the lett is.
. And in that climate our party was able to register something like
The people, particularly the young people are turning to ourselves. They are turning to the MBPM because on-
the programme for the for the exploited, for the
people are sceptical. But must we sit down and say that by fate we are a people who cannot advance? Are we to say that we are waiting for another liberation •process lo arise?
Are we to opportunistically, with the New Jewel Movement and join with them, because they say that both of us are ideologically on the left and so there is a basis of unity? We say no.
never justify killing
I must say something to show the breadth of vision of our party. Our party is not partisan. One question is the Chester Humphrey situation. few weeks ago we organised a rally and small demonstration. here wen 350 people at the rally. chester lumperet what be
Chester Humphrey, should not be extradited to the United States. Many people say that Chester
belonged to the Revoler. tionary Military Council, to Bernard Coard's faction. But Chester Hur
not being extradited for anything he did in 1983. It is our duty to protect Chester Humphrey because what he is alleged to have done was a patriotic act, for which our people are eternally grateful.
organising at home with very limited resources and many of our supporters are out of work. We appeal to you to exercise the highest degree of solidarity to help our poor
There is no other party at home in Grenada nor here in the United Kingdom thai
working class victory other than the MBPM
At this time we must focus our attention on the terrific out-pourings of democratic aspirations of the people of South Africa to have their freedom at the price of blood. We say break the links now with South Africa so that we can end apartheid. There car be no compromise with apartheid, it must be overthrown.
I remember the words of Julier Fedon when he said: 'all is not lost the hour will strike again. Long live the glorious memory of the Grena dian revolution. Forward on our feel never on our knees.
• Information about MPBM ex
and publications in Britain Charter, 48 Broad Lown, London SE9 3XD, or phone 01-851 3283.
Page 10 scan of this page
THE GUTTER PRESS is revelling in the campaign of slander and invective between two warring camps of the Workers'
HARRIS, who joined Healy's organisation in 1953 and was expelled in 1960, has been a Trotskyist for 44 years. She looks back at the disastrous sectarian degeneration which led the WRP to its present state, and asks: why did it happen?
AS, ever, more interested
SCA than politics, the media is trying to use the WRP split to discredit the Marxist whole. However we need
study the WRP's history, and that COT 11S SO CLUL the Socialist Labour League (SLL) in a more serious way to learn the lessons of their degeneration. Press
The press portrays Healy as the 'patron saint' of British Trotskyism. But the record of his break with Trotskyism has been well-documented in many
including Marxism versus Ultraleftism, How Healy and Pablo blocked re-unification, and Healy's Big Lie.
These publications are an invaluable source of Marxist education, SOWing how a once-promising Marxist nucleus could degenerate into a barren sect unable to relate to the real world of the class struggle and unable tolerate any criticism of its sectarian course.
Many readers. will know from their own ex-
erience that it is impossi
ble to draw the WRP into united action engage their members in genuine discussion. Thousands of
Healy's break with
Marxism
Three Education for
Workers Party. They are:
• Healy's Big Lie,
• How Healy and Pablo Blocked Reunification
price £2.80 plus 45p p&p, 102pp.
• Marxism Versus
Healy's break with Trotskyism, price f4 plus
£1.28 p&p, 255pp.
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10 Socialist Action 15 November 1985
What's behind
Healy's expulsion?
Revolutionary Party. CONNÍE
young militants have passthrough ment, wrongly believing unev were one arcyulutionary organisation and preparing a future socialist society, only to be disillusioned by its method of driving out minded individuals, its use of bureaucratic methods, physical violence, frameups, slanders and lies of the vilest kind political as SUDSLIHILC debate and united action.
These methods, , which are nothing do with Marxism or revolutionary sible, a bage been Healers along with Healy's ultraleft politics, decline and isolation of the
Joseph Hansen, in his introduction Marxism versus Ultraleftism, points HAL DOLS of the differences recorded in the SLL can be traced back to divisions that appeared in the Fourth international in the early '5os and led to a split in its ranks.
The issues involved conflicting estimates of the probable evolution of the soviet bureaucracy, conflicting tactics towards stalinist and socia democracy and sharp divergences on internai practices. The Fourth International split into two groupings as ine Socialists pamphlets are produced by the American Socialist
price £2 plus 31p p&p, 88pp.
Ultraleftism: the record of
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International Secretariat and the International Committee. The International Committee was led by James P Cannon, the founder of US Trotskyism. Healy took part in it.
By 1956 the main disputes had receded. Both sides reached similar judgements aust chev's revelations that year, and stood lugene. l. defending the political revolution in Poland and especially Hungary, against the Kremlin.
Leaders of US SWP felt these political agreements on SuCH decisive questions made possible principled reunification. They took initiatives bring this about in 1957.
McCarthyite howevel legislation prevented them leaving the country. Healy became isolated from his
international collaborators ana rightly feared his increasingly undemocratic albitrary organisational practices would be demned in a reunified International.
Facts
The facts show he tried DIOCK steps Lowarus reunification Lacking weignly reasons rooted the class struggle, he resorted to misrepresentation and downright lying.
Disregard for facts and doctoring the
became his hallmarks. The SLL's press became one of the most unreliable in left circles. In consequence he parted company with the
EDUCATION POR SOCIALS ..
HEALY'S BIG LIE
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real class struggle.
Hansen shows that the victory of the •Cuban
1959 Wan decisive in showing further resistance to reuniticatior was unprincipled and irrational. By 1961 both sides agreed workers' state
and had had been created. to be defended. But for Healy there was no substantial difference between the Fidelista government and regime it overthrew!
Course
He embarked on course which led to the escalating degeneration politically, organisational-
and morally of the ŚLL and the WRP, founded in 1973.
He ' discovered' _that the US of the world Trotskyist movement had been harbourin‹ CIA and GPU agents all along, namely Joseph Hansen alle George Novack. The 'evidence
Hansen's alleged 'criminal negligence' when responsible for defending Trotsky's household
His big-lie technique young opened Neil Kinnock last
of unemployed school party leadership is up to. AT LAST Labour leader Neil Kinnock has designed himself a project of winning youth lo volc Labour at the next election. It was that strategy he outlined at County Hall last Saturday His policies devised around an agreement he silal c with Lord Sthers, on the need to in others, crease the profitability of industry and wider shareownership.
'Fifty years of the last Labour government would be preferable to 10 more
linutes of this on said
1r Kinnock. But such a v sion is, of course, incompatible with policies to enc youth unemployment and provide decent pay and grants from trainees students. It is also at odds with any measures which would win support from
and WULACIS students by defending
Instead Kinnock's strategy relies on basking in the reflected glory of the
African National Congress and the Sandinistas, Weller or Billy Brase. But pop idols like Paul his solidarity with interna-
G. HEALY
News
Lines EXPELLED
Court keeps grip on
boomeranged on him. Un 14 January 1977 more than 1000 socialists packed into a public rally in London to express solidarity with his targets. brought gether, despite differences on other questions, all the maior leaders of the world Trotskyist movement to condemn Healy's slanders.
Healy's Big Lie is a collection the material prinea in interconunenta Press on the subject. strikes an important blow for workers' democracy, exploding the trumped-up charges against two selfless revolutionaries.
A statement on his THE FIRST in a series of 'festivals' designed to win
people to support the Labour Party was weekend But at {3-a-head for credentials, "Labour Listensto Youth' is hardly likely to attract the hundreds of thousands
leavers to whom Labour should be appealing. And just to make sure there was absolutely no chance of that, the party leadership didn't officially let the Young Socialists national committee know the event was happening The 250 who attended were drawn through consti-
parties and elsewhere rather than via the PAS branches RElocks at what the
tional struggles is confined pious phrases and his main action so far as party leader has been to attack those struggle against the Tory government. further series of regional istening to youth' festivals have been InTeresa Their main goal is to organise the par leader's base among young members. led by the Labour Coordination Youth and their attempt to win control of the LPYS The response of the YS Militant leadership to this political offensive is whol-
target of Kinnocks attacks will rebellious black youth from the inner cities. Kinnock's policies include developing 'community policing' means more black cops to put the hoot in against their own communities and against the working class. • The response of the YS and its leadership should be all-out support for the Instead Militant have echoed the self-same sen-
News
HEALY'S
ULSION:
CTS
News Line o Since the expulsion, two versions of Newsline have appeared on the
slanders entitled Shameless Frameup was signed by individuals and representatives of a wide range left tendencies covering 27 countries.
the statement by Mike Banda, WRP general secretary, in he vewsilt 30 October 1985 entitled G Healv's expulsion facts, it is reported that neuv rad beer found guilty of maliciously slandering David North, the leader of the US Trotskyist Workers League. Banda explains that Healy slandered him CIA agent without a shred of evidence
Today Banda and his
Labour listens
to selected youth
timents of Kinnock by condemning 'all rioting
Such a plan as Mr Kinnock's has no hope of winning a majority of young people to vote Labour But in the next few months the LCC Youth, relying on a base of support among those who wrongly hope to he exemnted from the rul ing class attacks, can grow
political tendency within the Young Socialists.
All those presently struggling against That-
Telecom engineers
debate strike action
LAST Sunday a special conference of the National Communications Union (NCU) discussed how to fight management cuts and reverse the privatisation British Telecoms.
As we go to press a second NCU conference on rules revision is deciding whether to comply with government demands for secret ballots before strike action.
An NCU delegate reports on Sunday's debate.
UNION branches facing the sharp edge of British Telecom's axe led demands for militant industrial action in 1986 in support of union policy, which • is to 32-hour week. But militant resolu-
did not break with the old policy of selective
News
REDGRAVE ISSUES
I DATHA'C
street. Bottom right: Healy's own rejects the expulsion
central committee have yet to speak out against the frameup of Hansen and Novack Until they do they will be rightly seen as accomplices of the very techniques of which they complain
There are many lessons from experience of Healyism: not least the impossibility of building exclusively British revol
movement. out side and separated from the Fourth International In that respect Healyism is only one variant the most grotesque, to be sure — Ot the political consequences tional break from working cher and coming under attack from the party leadership • must nep meet this challenge head-on. This
uniting Labour's youth organisations the LPYS and the National Organisation of Labour Students, around defence of the working class strug gles, especially the NUM
with South and solidarit Africa also means defending Labour's youth against the further attacks from Kinnock which are to industrial action and shied away trom preparlig ha tional strike action to detend lobs
NCU members already striking against cutbacks notably Glasgow, and also in Birmingham, North of Ireland and in Leeds motor transport division where picket lines are now oul
BT, which made £1.6 billion profit last year, is trying to sow divisions by attacking minority groups first - post office, motor transport, and supplies Without a lead from the Broad Left-led executive to build national action, they have been left isolated.
Differences on how to fight job cuts threaten to undermine resistance.
Despite disastrous result:
fighting privatisation largely the result of unwillingness to commit the union to all out national action, many lessons have still to be learned.
Page 11 scan of this page
people: 5000 march
Neus
Cherry Grace's For
BRITAIN's firs sational
pos sinced be acma tast assaire
since the ler Cross
Cynthia Jarrett. people. Over 5000 came to support that cry.
The march organisers
said they now intend to
call a national convention
of black people. A planning meeting is being held
Photo: TIM RIGB
NEITHER LIVERPOOL District Labour Party have so far made up their minds on the Stone-Frost Report on financial crisis. report and their response to it with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the body which might lend extra cash to the dications are that the Labour group don't much like the report's options, rates up again or debts.
But the council's problem is that the demise of une nignt by ouner councils against the Tory attacks
local covemomen coupled with the full fron-
Neil Kin-
assall nock has lett Liverpool isolated.
Kinnock's attack at the recent Labour Party CUllference isn't the only intervention he has made into the affairs of Liverpool.
After the Stone-Frost
through London on Monday 11 November to protest the shooting of Cherry Groce and the death of
They demanded justice for black
this Sunday in Tottenham.
Monday's demonstration was called on the initiative of the Groce Fami-
No decision yet on
Liverpool's future
MANCH
city council nor the
Liverpool's The council will be discussing the
city council. But all in-
which amount to putting the capitalising and rescheduling
Report was issued we comle statement spewed from the Labour By'Carol Turner
leader's office. It was hotly followed with a TV appearance bv environment spokesperson John Cunningham to the same effect.
Less publicity has been given, however, to a statement from two Liverpool
Justice for black
KALO
END
STATE
from Brixton at 11am after
marted or ive Housto ¿Cherry's brother,
Tony
marched for
a rally at Hyde Park. This
addressed by Floyd Jarrett, Lambeth
CULL cillor Imelda Inyang, and
Cecil Gutzmore
„O kie MPs, Eric Heffer and Eddie Loyden, who have the
ICDUll Labour leadership's response.
'The Liverpool councillors, we stress, have acted in line with Labour's agreed policy. For that they should be praised and suvourlcu, uol allalkco d
Bae e Donspe o the policies of the Tory
which in fact they are fighting against.
'The idea was to builo strategy al.
Labour councils , affected
rate-capping penalties. Liverpool councillors agreed to their colleagues elsewhere. The fact is that in the end only the Liverpool coun cillors stood united enough to continue the agreed party policy
uners, unfortunate-
minent.
cant trade union support,
well as a contingent
from the Labour Party
black sections.
London district
NALGO black workers
had called for support at
their conference two ly, divided ranks and the agreed strategy councils had to be aban- ONUNU doned. Liverpool,
good or ill, decided to con
tinue the struggle in lin with party policy...
'It is not true, as has been suggested, that the money has been there all the time. The report, TaCL. whoicaler previous councils and government policy.
'One of the important points made in the report is that some of the various options are available only because other local anise additional financial authorities help support for the city council... We are sure Liver pool councillors will seriously look this report in a rational in-
telli ney are as keen as
anyone to get a sensible SolluOl Liverpool's problems. But rightly, as laldu we understand it. they do not wish to place further burdens on Liverpool workers, rate-payers and industry.
*They need assistance not abuse, and much help should be given by all in the Labour Party based on party decisions at annual conference.'
PALGO
workers' gr which in cludes NUPE and AUEW members as well as NALGO members, brought a contingent of 60 ,with COMINI 0% C nO Councillors had agreed their workers coud take unpaid leave to attend.
ENCLOSE THE BASE
MAKE & 9 MILE YS Y messages, decorate the fence, exchange h vou can stav overniant or tor a Dedoino. tenis. Doncutters..
CONTACI|
DEC. I4th ACTION WOMEN'S PCAC:
CAMP GREENHAN COMMON NewBURY BERKS OR CND 01 250 4010
SiRiDE SINM IE DimATTT ISS
Pryce decision angers
Newham AS racist attacks grow in East London, the trial of Eustace Pryce's killer ended in a travesty of justice.
Martin Newhouse, who murdered Eustace in cold blood last year, wa convicted of Halislauzlilcı Earlier Gerald, Eustace's brother, was convicted of affray tor acrenaig ns brooner Though the Pryce court case is over. back neonle FigiNing h beside ol hers for Newham will keep ing racist and state artacks Last hursaa! 300 people artended a rall! ishar DEbdE seat=. B-ts= [=-Many different Asian and Afro-Caribbean groups were represented, along with some Labour Party contingents.
Speakers included Mr
Dhesi on behalf of the Kassam campaign, Colin Prescott from the Institute
İDENING THE
GREENHAM COMMON®
SATURDAY DEC. 14th 1985
f
What started out as a single thread of reistance to cruise has devetoped into a multicoloured web against all oppression and violence, racism, deprivation and war preparations.
INFORMATION BOARD AT GREENHAM - attach women's struggles all over the world - light up the base at dusk with candles, sparklers... AT 2pm LINK HANDS ALL ROUND THE BASE, TURN OUR BACKS ON THE MILITARY MADNESS AND LOOK OUTWARDS TO THE WORLD
SUNDAY 15th IF YOU CAN STAY - workshops at various gates: rea tooo mountains. ale ano develoomen oreen nuciedi mee and inaceendent raci orande Aparneio, Imperalsm. racism
'The rest is to be decided, bring info, come and do your own workshop!
. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMON - its our home!
BUT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T STAY THIS TIME, COME TO GREENHAM ON DECEMBER 14th, THEN WIDEN THE WEB AND CARRY GREENHAM HOME?
EMPOWERED AND STRONG Q HELP
WITH COMMUNICATING THIS ACTIOI BY ANO SENDOUTHISL-A-LE Va OUT IS WIDENING THE WEE
East Londoners
fight racist attacks
Satan PA=CE a citse and Airtagez ple Kenn! Pr= never chose s sepet ly active. Like aite sie people he had ite into activiry b on nis laml The Broadware. speaker CuRichC black peopie itere now no: allemed anything. AA ORE sicteu. vi • = :3:
BeTe
Antr-racios march in llford
Ali -nearts. li ioor inem ocl three days stitch youth for PC Blackełock's death in Tottenham. Bu: it's taken them six months to investigate the Kassam alne still they haven't come up with anything.'
EMBRACE THE WORLDS
mino witl ow violence againsi y, torture, orson, zappin‹
come prepared with warm waterproot clotnes,
DECEMBER 12th • Contac- vour-
Page 12 scan of this page
for Socialism
10am-11am Registration:
11am-1pm DEBATE:
Workshop:
Workshop: DEFEND GAY RIGHTS
the Miners.
Workshop:
Wales WAPC
1pm-2pm Lunch
2pm-4pm PLENARY:
Action.
Bishop Patriotic Movement.
REGISTER!
For tickets, creche facilities, details of transport from outside London and overnight accommodation in London, please fill out this form and sent to:
Alliance for Socialism, PO Box 50, London N1. Name Address
Tickets required Creche required for ... age(s)
Accommodation needed for
persons, or Details of transport from
An Alliance
A weekend of debate and discussion Saturday 16th November
Some tickets will be available on the door, but as seating is limited it is best to buy in advance.
THE NEXT LABOUR GOVERNMENT Speakers: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Campaign Group of Labour MPs; Alan Freeman Editor, Socialist Action. Ken Livingstone Leader, Greater London Council; Nigel Williamson Editor, Tribune: TRADE UNIONS AND THE LAW Panel: Jack Collins Secretary, Kent Area National Union of Mineworkers; Roy Butlin Executive Committee, Traffic Grades NUR, Chairperson L.D.C. Mantle Lane, Leicestershire; Pam Holmes Sheffield District Committee AUEW; Bernard Regan National Union of Teachers National Executive.
Panel: Peter Purton Treasurer, Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights; Polly Vittorini Lesbians and Gays Support
WOMEN AGAINST PIT CLOSURES Panel: Betty Heathfield ex-officio member WAPC. national committee; Pam Oldfield Notts WAPC; Ann Jones South
THE LESSONS OF THE MINERS' STRIKE Platform: Peter Heathfield General Secretary NUM; Betty Heathfield Women Against Pit Closures; Marc Wadsworth Vice-chair Black Section; Bob Clay MP, Campaign Group of Labour MPs; Dodie Weppler Socialist
CRISIS IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Panel: Stuart Holland MP; Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign National Executive; FDR/FMLN of El Salvador; Maurice
Workshop:
Democracy Workshop: DEFENDING THE NUM
Panel:
Evening Cabaret
Sunday 17th November 11am-1pm PLENARY:
SOCIALISM Action 1pm-2pm: Lunch
2pm-4pm Debate:
Action Workshop:
Movement USA.
Workshop:
Pryce Campaign Debate:
Scottish YCND.
DEFEND LABOUR PARTY Democracy
Speakers: Vladimir Derer Campaign for Labour Party
Colin Lenton Treasurer Bold NUM, Lancs; Mark Hunter Secretary Welbeck NUM, Notts
AN ALLIANCE FOR
Platform: Tony Benn MP;
Diane Abbot Women's Action
Committee Executive;
Narendra Makanji Black Section National Committee Secretary; African National
Congress; John Ross Socialist
WHAT ALLIANCES FOR WOMEN?
Speakers: Ann Pettifor Women's Action Committee National Organiser; Jude Woodward WAC Executive and Socialist
SOLIDARITY WITH THE ANTI-APARTHEID STRUGGLE Panel: African National Congress; SWAPO (not yet confirmed); Anti-Apartheid Movement; Free South Africa
IRELAND: THE CASE FOR WITHDRAWAL Panel: Martin Collins Editor, Labour and Ireland; Maire O'Shea (not yet confirmed); Jeremy Corbyn MP. DEFEND THE BLACK COMMUNITIES Panel: Haringey Labour Councillor; Handsworth Defence Committee (not yet confirmed); Brixton Defence Committee;
YOUTH AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT Panel: LPYS speakers; Black Section Youth Committee;
(All speakers in a personal capacity)
16 and 17 November
Sir William Collins School
Charrington St
London NWI
← Socialist Action No. 119, 1 November 1985Socialist Action No. 122, 22 November 1985 →