Socialist Action No. 127, 17 January 1986
The scan: 127-jan-17-1986-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
Tory cabinet crisis: 1domp 21 togo-
WHAT HAD been a squall only six weeks ago has now turned into a cyclone for the government.'
That was one minister's response on Tuesday to the Westland's fiasco. With the resignation of Michael Heseltine being followed by lisgracing of Leon Brittan in the House of Commons, the That• cher government faces the biggest internal crisis since it came to office.
The reasons which have brought the Tory splits to a head are clear. • Westland's is an important issue in itself. Military production is the area where the EEC countries have achieved the greatest cooperation with the United States.
The 'pro-American'
EEC' lobbies within the Tory party, and within British bloodily fighting Westlands. • Thatcher's economic position is being undermined by the fall in the world price of oil. Interest rates had to be sharply raised to 12.5 per cent last week, hitting industry, to prevent the slide in the exchange rate of the -pound which was decline in the price of North Sea oil.
The Tall In North Sea oil has already cut half the 2 billion in tax cuts wiien Lawson intended to give away in his March budget. • Following the miners' strike, and last autumn's inner city sections of the establishment continue
Tory cabinet
the public
and 'pro- still
industry, are
over caused by the tion.'
from revenucs
Nigel
rebellions,
SociAList
ACTION
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
to fear that Thatcher's policies will finally lead to some sort of social and political explosion. creased given the new problems with the government's economic policies.
Put all these things together and you get not only a sharp fight within the ruling class but a struggle breaking out within the Tory party for the successor to Thatcher. That Tory fight is likely to get worse and not better.
What is criminal in this situation is the policies being Kinnock and the leadership of the Labour Party. is the moment when Labour should be smashing into the Tories in a totally united fashion. Not only is there the Westland's crisis, mass ment, the welfare state, and the other attacks of the Thatcher government, but lurking in the background is the
smouldering Johnson banking scandal.
But in this situation the leadership has instead turned the party inwards for a witch-hunt. As Ar-
Scargill said, Lambeth's on Sunday: It is almost criminal while the Tories are turning on each other to divert our energies in an inward attack on ourselves. should be fighting for nationalisa-
The response of the party to Kinnock's failure must be clear. meeting of the NEC must drop the witch-hunt. must turn the outwards for mass against the Tories.
Only by doing this can Labour make the gains which are now possible from the Tory crisis.
This fear is inpursued by Neil
parliamentary
This
unemploy-
Matthey
party
speaking
We
The next
campaigning
INSIDE Heseltine's
When scabs get together p2
No. 127 17 January 1986 30p
war machine p6
Labour women p4 Labour's witch-hunt p5 Kingsley Abrams on the LPYS p3
Page 2 scan of this page
When scabs get together
2
SoCiAlist
ACTION
A threat to every
union
THE TUC was right to take a hard line
negotiate a legally binding no-strike deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Internatioal Wapping plant. The partial back-down by
meeting amply demonstrates that point.
Murdoch's ultimatum went far beyond what other newspaper barons have secured. Indeed, it went beyond any union deal which exists in the type Murdoch demanded are nothing more than a proposal that human beings should be placed on the same legal level as animals or in-
The idea of legally binding contracts has been a key part of the almer, umorously entised Fair Deal at pork. paper, humorously entitled Fair Deal at
agreements on a par with any other type of con-
the Heath government's Industrial Relations Act tried to practice this.
unless there was an explicit clause to the contrary. That was defeated at the time. First by the
while the Act was in operation did include such a clause. Second by the action of the dockers and the threat of a general strike when the Pentonresistance of the tions Court which had been established under
Thatcher raised the whole issue again in 1981 with a 'consulative' green paper on trade unions. It extolled the benefits which legally enforceable agreements 'appear to have brought to other countries (and which) could be realised here.' But she didn't yet dare attempt to make union contracts legally binding.
At the beginning of this year, the Financial Times surveyed the problem again. The best way to introduce them, it thought, was on new sites. It singled Wapping out.
The reason for the pressure is simple. Legally binding agreements have been shown internationally to be a tremendous weapon with which to weaken union organisation and power. British unions stand almost alone in resisting them. introduce them here would totally alter the basis of industrial relations. And that is exactly what the EETPU leadership tried to do.
All along the electricians have their defiance of TUC policy. In a letter to Nor-
stand on Wapping) is a massive extension of negotiations.. Our members cannot be made to conform to decisions of other unions, even with the backing of your "advice". I fear your letter is the beginning of an attempt to do so.
Far from opposition to legally binding deals
CHUCTS
the union movement in this country from its very
against the onslaught of the ruling class. The TUC position on this must be upheld Published weekly except two weeks in August and
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily
Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions.* PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Send all material for publication (including advertising) to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address. We regret that due to the high cost of postage we cannot return or acknowleage unsoncitea copy or photographs unless accompanied by a stamped ad dressed envelope
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Published by Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London N1.
Printed By Laneridge Ltd. (TU), London E2.
Socialist Action 17 January 1986
Legally enforceable contracts of
union strategy for almost every agreement concluded
engineers to the judgement being a new development in
Maintaining that status quo is a
LAST friday's 'energy conerence between the wrI
leadership and the UDM was a calculated in-
nave VUCLI
PU's conference centre at
lauve
The UDM delegation in-
tion included its general
no no ano
LalIves
Board. It is worth noting that Hammond, who
The meeting was con-
the mhe NuM executive
June
support, both publicly and
'It is our view that the
matter and take action..
issues that will form part
Right
UDM president Toon outlined wider goals for the relation of the DOM with the EETPU, and the right wing of the TUC. He announced on 4 January: 'We've already got a relationship, with, the electri-
mounted an open attack on the NUM, and holding a well-publicised 'conference' with the UDM. ALAN MURRAY looks at the significance of the link up between Hammond and superscab Roy Lynk.
engineers and with other
prepared to meet in secret.
We intend to try to create
DEFEND
T.U.
RIGHTS
WEEK the EETPU leadership
KEEP FIGHTING Defend
Defend NUM
SURPORT
great deal in commor
with them We will be having an exchange of ideas, he said
Questioned on 10 January on the hee subles violation of that might be involved in
with the UDM. Hamond openly stated: "Any rule that prevents our friendship with the leaders of another democratic organisation would not be worth observing
Hammond appeared at press conference following the Friday meeting flanked by Lynk and Toon. Hammond argued that what had taken place was: an innocent meeting between two democrane •tions trying to deal wịth the problems of their industries! More bluntly he stated that: It's important that the UDM recognise that they have friends inside the TUC!
Hammond made
clear that he was against any attempt by the TUC to isolate or crush the UDM
decated don't believe there is a chance of there being a mending of
breach without the UDM that has friends inside the TUC.
"The only other way to deal with the UDM is destroy it. I don't believe the TUC or the NUM have
Up means to destroy the
Toon echoed Ham mond, stating that: 'Both the TUC and Labour Party will have to acknowledge
Lynk used the platform of the press conference to declare that: 'Everything we have done in the open! He added that the conference was just the physical manifestation of
friendship between the EETPU and the UDM
The conference decid ed that meetings betweer the EETPU leadership and the UDM would continue It specifically determined that further conferences of the sallic lyUC would be held This will be one of the bases of
for TUC action against the EETPU leadership.
Crush
But the real significance of the meeting was admitted by Breakell at the DICS. conterence when he said: 'Some of us saw in the dispute completely and directly, images of the communist dictatorship _ oi tne electrical trades union. We : are beginning perhaps we ought to start fighting agair
The meeting, in short was based on the EETPU leadershin's hostiltv to the miners' strike and the type of fight for its members jobs the NUM waged. All the stuff: on 'com-
Politics Today
munist dictatorship' is just piffle. The EETPU leader ship ruthlessly sup pressed democracy in the union US L as the UDM leadership has in that organisallull
Significantly the UDM
the SCal organisation with which the EETPU leadership is alleged to be talking altnough it is bv tal the most important. Last August the no-strike, anti-union Professional Association of Teachers an
discussions with the EET PU leadership. Ihese wer to cover how to apply no. strike deals and 'pendulum arbitration' teachers. This announcement was directly motivated as flowing out of the no-strike agreement the EETPU had signed with Eddie Shah.
Jimmy Knapp and Ray Buckton have also written to Norman Willis asking for enquiries into reports that Hammond and the non-TUC scab Federatior
Professional Railway Servants had been talking to each other. Hammond denied this accusation.
The significance of the EETPU's conference with the UDM is clear. The UDM sees it as a way to
'energy union' which would bolster their
protect from the fight back from the NUM, and take it into the TUC. The EETPU sees its links with the UDM as a crucial part of organising Hostility extreme right , wing, management forces inside and outside the trade unions. This also provides part of its plans for an
TUC
when, this should become liccessar y.
Last week's meeting between Hammond anc the most significant scab
organisation Britain shows
leadership is now prepared to go:
Page 3 scan of this page
Black youth and the LPYS
News
THE LABOUR PARTY Young Socialists must be turned into the radical campaigning wing of the party that it has the potential to be, argues KINGSLEY ABRAMS, the LPYS seat on Labour's national executive. But for that to happen the LPYS has to learn to build links with young people in struggle. That means championing the cause of black youth, he explained to ANNE KANE. The LPYS will never be able to do this until it comes to grips with the demands of black people and women for self-organisation.
THE Labour Party Young Socialists has the potential to be an active, progressive wing of the party. But that means challenging the current YS leadership which is Militant dominated. Ihal is the first reason why I am standing as the black section candidate for the YS place on the party's national executive committee. We must turn the youth section une
Labour Party into a progressive, and socialist movement.
reason is because black sec-
started our main opponents on the lefi nave been Militant. black sections nave lo ve active within the youth movement un oracrlo lake up the issue of black self-
the youth section.
The official position laken by the LPSY leadership on the rebellions of
youln SHOW LUCI backwardness in addressing themse ves 1o struggles going on. Instead of looking al the wider aspects of the rebellions, seeing them as a consequence oi "na nas been gong years in terms e! police racism, and victimisation instead ot cong al inose aspects of the struggle of DIOCK DIOCK vouill. thev demned looting etc. Ballot
The Salle goes for other struggles. ror exam-
Ys leadership supported
leadership supported the call for a ballot instead of looking at events within une communy The failure of the youth leadership address themselves 1o the struggles within our movement bears comparison with the Labour leadership, who also refuse to support such
The black section has long recognised that if we are going to get black self-organisation within the
Party, then WC
must inside the self-organisation of black peo-
ple within the community.
Le pave re
ed the need for building our links within the black
community, with the
and
•erence CanDaleus also with international Suedies
Black have SCULIS been involved in those defence committees
because we see our role as helping LO and
mobilise black youth
struggle. And we recognise
thal these defence camDaigns are a very impor-
lant aspect of that.
The basic problem with
attracting black vouth
the ys leadership reduces
leadership reduces-
black section candidate for the race oppression 10 class
ppressior and hence
address itself to racism. Because of that, it does not see the need for black self-organisation.
Unless the YS understands that need for black self-organisation there will be no way it can come 10 grips with the
problems black woer
il chi ce paind no way
can campaign black into the
• as active as they ought to be
for And lhe same goes young women.
Another aspect of the right to self-organisation is the situation Treland The position of the black section is first of all for British withdrawal from reland and tor a united Ireland. We support the right of Irish people to decide their own destiny. That is what the leadership of Sinn Fein talks aboul, linking that to the historical aspects of Irish oppression.
That CaSU applies 10 black deople We
ecognise the parallels between us and the position of Irish people and Sinn Fein. We must both know vul history and know where we are going. must both be able to decide our own destinies
These issues would be priorities for me to take up as the youth member the NEC
Government
Youth in general and especially black youth face high unemployment.
full Black section support to the Campaign group of MPs' position as
Andrew Glynn which talks about the need to create a million jobs a vcal. 1o create jabs for everyone. Economic policy is another important Issue lor NEC youth member lo take up.
The YS representative must oppose the position of the party leadership who are saying that Labour government not be in any position to make jobs available for everyone. black section candidate, But standing the am particularly concerned with the politics of forming alliances. We have to recognise that-we need to build a broader movement for socialism, that the
tion which should have a broad appeal: lo gay mer and lesbians, 1o women, 1o black Phan is a cistestion ple. quesnon which the Young Socialists leaders have not addressed themselves 1o, because they al c reductionist in their approach to politics. I mean especially the way they argue class politics. I am standing to challenge that position. Model
heroes, Husl NUM leader Scargill one of them
He has
ferences. him how to
should sollic position of recognising peoples ins
That means going to them 1o find out what they are about and then supporting what they are doing.
The miners recognised une ooon maev receveu from the black community
Kingsley Abrams on
"Why I'm standing for the NEC"
during that historical period and from women as well. In recognising that, they have seen the need to link struggles make alllances We in black sections 100 have seen that need for long lime now. wOld contrast that with the approach of the YS leadership
not from cass politics
one Class
of important
the
The miner:
alliances the YS
and them.
away from the
the the rebellions sallic the inner-
the way would have
the state.
enough for ClIC
These links are crucial to building support for socialism within the party and especially in the youth movement. Instead • Mili-
nave allowed themselves to be part of an alliance with the right wing in the parly, 10
black sections and others on the left. But the right wing have used Militant, for example
black sections, then turned
Militant and attacked
Militant
The enquiry into Liver-
pool District Labour Party is basically front more expulsions
black section is totally opposed lo witch-hunts.
think that everyone should
their opinion within the
Labour Party. In fact, we were the first people to write to Militant to propose working with them in opposing witch-hunts
Those witch-hunts against Militant and others continue"re sont continue But don't helieve that Militant har yet grasped the need to work with the rest of the left opposing witch-hunts. We have seen black section supporters being witch-hunted as well
supporters. Yet Militant has failed so far to
against the witch-hunt of the right wing.
The lefi of the parly doesn't witch-hunt. It has Looked at historically, ilys never the always the right who have divided the party. The SDPs on v one example
The shone am tor ne.
sallie 1vl unions. It is the right who are splitting the unions. The Eric Hammonds and the like are splitting the NUM by giving support to the UDM.
GIVE US A FUTUR
So I would call on Militant to recognise the need to organise with others on the left to oppose the right wing offensive. Black sec tions will defend anyone who is witch-hunted. The best defence against the witch-hunt is to join forces with others who are under attack: that means organising WIld and black sections, CLPs ana trade ulnols
The LPYS 1s also under attack through the withdrawal of its tunds Combatting that means a change in direction change in policy and ideology for the YS. We must build a bigger youth movement by building the sorts of links with youth in struggle that I have referred The bigger and
LU. stronger Labour's • youth movement is, the better it can combat witch-hunts and other attack
•UoviousIy., we're not
Socialist Action 17 January 1986 going to change the YS leadership overnight. My campaign is only the
of changins the direction of the LPYS As the black section candidate I am ap. pealing to YS members on the need for a united cam-
challenge the policies now being carried out in the LPYS
So tar. I have been nominated as NEC candidate by Manchester Gorton, and supported huddersfield Dumbarton, and others. My campaign is also supported by Youth Action, the Chartists,
Black section
round-up
uphold its decision
with black section votes.
Vauxhall's refusal to toe the line is not con. sidered likely to affect Holland's position. called on party members
decision and their support for back sections.
By Carol Turner
•Sanity has prevaned once said Mari Wadsworth, black section vice chair and himset a member of the Vauxhall party. "The NEC's call to reselect was , a further at.
black sections, thinly disguised as trying to get parties to abide by the sanctity of conference decisions.
'As far as we are concerned, , our full participa tion in all the processes o1 the local parties is nonnegotiable. My answel the "constitutionalists" is that when the party leadership abides by Clause IV of the constitution - then we're in business.'
But the situation for black sections good in Newham North West however. The reselection meeting there wa: Janice Muir on behalf of last WCCH D. the NEC, She ruled that the meeting go ahead because black secnon delegales were HvoIr. ed.
Newham North West MP Tony Banks said . afterwards that. bis first. thency annual moetings.
3 and NOLS. And also the Labour Coordinating Committee are supporting
It's high time that Young Socialist activists began to confront the problems of building a mass. radical movement youth - and that means a Ys sas and the prohicies it sort of leadership the has pursued till now. Stan ding a black section candidate for the youth place of the party's national executive is simply one way of beginning to do just Inal VAUXHALL LABOUR PARTY voted last week to that the local black section should be fully involved in reselection, despite a call from party headquarters to reselect without their participation. Early last year the constituency confirmed sitting MP Stuart Holland as its candidate
loyalty' must be decisions of the local par-
As one Newham dele gate • aptly commented. with one-third of Neham's residents from elnnk minorities, the argument is not aboul une constitutiol but 'the representation of
local community within the party'.
Things are looking u though For the black ser tion in Tooting. An anti racist conference held by the local party last Saturday overwhelmingly confirmed support black section delegates to
be given full voting rigats
on the general committee
Despite the fact that a black section has existed in Tooting for over a • year. the party has only offerer
fraternal. non-voting delegate places on the GC. This has been described by
black section porters 'bantustan tokenism.'
Tooting's next GC will be rediscussing the position of its black section.
The demand of the black section national committee for party with the women and youth sections or une party lnal c two GC and one executive
with full voting rights. In view of the continued attack on black sections, this will be an important issue to press at the 1986 round of consti-
Page 4 scan of this page
4
Women's Action
THE ANNUAL Women's Action Committee, (LWAC) meeting in Manchester last weekend, launched its most important campaign for a number of years.
to elect the women's section of Labour's NEC, this year the anyway, LWAC will then campaign for support for the women elected throughout the labour move-
took place at the end of a
which has seen come struggles of women, orit at DO Lau the same time, virtually no
gles ine leading role on
women by the Labour Par-
The Women Against Pit Closures movemen showed that women can lead the working Cass Since the strike ended WAPC has played a key role in fighting. for justice for sacked and imprisoned miners and in defending the NUM against the scat breakaway.
It has transformed the attitude trade unionists to the role
the labour Unfortunately it made no impact at all on the Kinnock/Hattersley leadership of the Labour Party, except to reinforce their view that women were as dangerous to their Labour Party as Arthur Scargill, LIVErDOUL Coullcil, the black section and
Within the unions there is the beginning of a real shift in the influence of women. the recent election Executive of the Tailor and Canell Workers Union women swept the board taking 11 out of the 14 national CxcCulIve posts.
tion the traditional vote' of
However, alongside these successes - and an Chullous amount rhetoric by Kinnock and
no progress has otners -been made in making the Labour Party more accountable and representative of women.
The number of women celected to stand in safe Labour seats is truly disgrace. Party conference even rejected the modest proposal that at least one woman should be included
every short-list for parliamentary selection.
The next parliament will show the sumifer of change in the number women in the PLP. And
can be sure that the failure to represent women will be accurately matched by a failure to support and demands of LWAC are so This
decisive, just
women but for the whole
future of the Labour Par-
ty.
Fundamentally there
Socialist Action 17 January 1986
'Shadow' election
general meeting of the Labour
In the fight for the Labour Women's Conference
women's conference will hold elections
women's Organisation There is the approach of
some other sections of the
Tony Benn, the
By Jude Woodward, Labour Women's Action Commitee (personal capacity)
NUM, the black section,
other MPs, trade unions and constituencies
- that the potential function of the women's section of the party Is as powerful organise women, give them collective voice and to forge an alliance based on mutual support between women and other sections of the party.
The approach of Kinnock, the majority of the PLP, the majority of the unions and many constituencies, is that the Labour Women's Organisation is a way to get women out of their hair, a place where the 'little women can get together and discuss their problems without interrupillig "real' DONELS. which takes place in the rest of the Party. While the women's section of the NEC is iust a mechanism to get some more of their supporters and 'yes' people onto the executive to ensure a built-in majority for the Labour right.
LWAC's platform, has HOW overin the Labour Women's
Firstly
and the
turn women's organisation
Teal
a ical
demands une
have been raised
since the
ference women's
conference, the
tion NEC for
by democratic contro
seats.
campaign launched
Party particular
of the women's the
Party five of
Ene careers • illally dividual leading to Ical from many go ahead put the women's organisation of the party on a collision course with the party leadership.
ference in •LWAC will be for
TOT right
Lauve All uniors.
campaigns and that have committed
for
asked to counted by weight the
The AGM
Lallcd OI decision,
the The issue must at every
The
constituency now, to
nomination
the conSUIC ference supported.
The greatest and most difficult task in the immediate months ahead going to be persuading the
which support LWAC's demands to participate in the elections.
From this point of view there was a real set back at the LWAC AUM wiel
women organised by Lon-
don Labour see sur
cessfully persuaded the
meeting to remit a resolu-
tion proposed by the ex-
ecutive on trade union par-
ticipation in women's con-
ference. The resolution
proposec
LWAC's polic for trade
union women to have bloc
vote women's 'con-
ference in accordance with
the size female membership by
stitution.
put
valous
to that the trade aren't
mean men controlled ference, there
ried weight
This major
work with the
tions.
resolution women's
for the February. revealled supporters aim abortion
forms
uch as coil and
Bill will
virtually
of fertilisation
(IVF), enables
have
children.
hereditary
disease.
urgent for sup-
that
law. But its so soon after
Powell's
tempt by
shows anti-abotionists
LWAC
the officer of the
genuie women ILWAČ Briefing answers for LWAC 'open
elections
'shadow' campaign agreed
the
new unity
New attack on
abortion rights
ON FRIDAY 24 January the second reading of Ken-
dren (Protection) Bill
dmits that his private
he one unsuccessfully
OVe!
confidence
only 267 MPs voted against it.
Korv Labour
ference. In response to these
Party aban-
on
On we publish this resolution carried by
2f parliame on a demon
January and a demon-
stration on 24 January to
oppose the Bill. They are
asking for letters of protest
to be sent to all MPs and to
the minister for health,
Hayhoe the
DHSS, Alexander Fleming
House, Elephant and Cas lle, London SEI. NAC, tel
405 4801.
LOK WHOS US
CHOOSING
FOR US
Labour's conference policy:
protect,
House of Commons on 15 February 1985
as to when and whether to have a child.
vote for Enoch
mutters. the
for Powell:
Allen Adams (Paisley), Donald Anderson
(Swansea), Jeremy Bray (Motherwell), Dale
(South Shields), Tom Clarke (Monklands),
Don Dixon (Jarrow,
Harry Ewing (Falkirk E), Frank Field
(Birkenhead), Norman Godman (Greenock),
James Hamilton (Motherwell), Peter Hardy
(Wentworth), Norman Denis Howell (Small
Lloyd (Stratford), Geoffrey Lofthouse
(Pontefract), Hugh McCartney (Clydebank),
Marshall (Shettleston), Michael Martin
(Springburn), Bruce Millan (Govan), Austin
(Riverside); Tom Pendry (Stalybridge), Peter
David Young (Bolton SE).
News
WE WONT
LET ANYONE
CHOOSE FOR
QURBQDIES TY EVERYMO
A WILL
OURCHOICESIT MOTHE
• EVERY CH A WANT CHILD This conference believes that the freedom to decide whether or not to bear children should be a woman's fundamental right and is committed to
, restore and extend the provisions of the 1967 Abortion Act. This conference deplores the decision of 44 Labour Members of parliament to vote for Enoch Powell's socalled unborn Children (Protection) Bill when it was introduced in the
In the meantime, abandoning the idea that there can be 'conscience clauses' or free votes on such matters, the Mational Executive Committee to mount a concerted campaign ... on the clear attacks on a woman's right to express her individual conscience 1967 Abortion Act. This conference deplores the decision of 44 Labour members of parliament to
Powell's so-called Unborn Children (Protection) Bill when it was introduced in the House of Commons on 15 February 1985... In the meantime, abandoning the idea that there can be 'conscience clauses' or free votes on such
national executive committee to mount a concerted campaign ... on the clear attacks on a woman's right to express her individual conscience as to when and whether to have a child.
Labour MPs who voted
Campbell Savours (Workington), David Clarke Michael Cocks (Bristol S), Harry Cowans (Tyne Bridge), Jim Craigen (Maryhill), Eric Deakins (Walthamstow), Donald Dewar (Barscadden),
Richard Douglas
(Dunfermline W), Albert Duffy (Attercliffe),
Heath), David Lambie (Cunninhame S), Ron Lewis (Carlisle), Terence Lewis (Worsley), Tony
Kevin McNamara (Kingston üpon Hull), David
Mitchell (Gt Grimsby), Gordon Oakes (Halton),
William O'Brien (Normanton), Robert Party
Pike (Burnley), George Robertson (Hamilton), Smith (Monklands E), Nigel Spearing (Newham S), James Tinn (Redcar), James White (Pollock),
Page 5 scan of this page
Fighting the Witch hunt
Birmingham councillors back Amir Khan
News
Why not shut-up and
wait for the evidence?
THIS is the second leader that Tribune sas felt obliged to devote to the Militant roblem in seven weeks. That in itself is omment enough on how embarking on * purge generates its own momentum to he point where it can dominate
aroblem created tv
Tribune backs
LABOUR асti ed at eviden
the
eft by right wing.
In response to this growing opposition to the witch-hunt opened up by Kinnock, the Tribune newspaper has come out
sions after the Liverpool
Last week's Tribune editorialised: 'But neither can the left naively call for
'no expulsions" If the enquiry INTO Liverpool evidence of practices unac- comes with hard ceptable a democratic
tion must be taken against those found guilty. Depen-
THE DECISION of Labour Party to expel city councillor Amir Khan isn't at all popular among his fellow councillors. Khan was expelled by the constituency party recently for his involvement in setting up a local black section on Roy ('My Asians don't want black sections') Hattersley's patch.
Kevin Scally, a Labour Committee on Ireland activist, was expelled along with Khan for attempung to expose the corruption of the constituency's right wing. Another Asian party member Mohammed Rafique, a county councillor who is no supporter of black sections was expelled the following month, after accusing
Hattersley of racism.
Birmingham Labour group have subsequently discussed Khan's
LABOUR'S campaign strategy committee the body which decides the political campaigns that the party will mount nationally. And recently it has taken two pretty serious decisions.
The first is that, starting this spring, Labour wil 'Freedom and Fairness' campaign.
'his will tackle issues the welfare state. But if the re-
be trusted, will at all costs avoid the use of those two nasty emotive words.
The second is a decision to follow up the "fairness' campaign with
all
mool
Liverpool expulsions
ding on the nature of the evidence, that action may well include expulsions.
By Redmond O'Neill
'The enquiry must
the standards • 9 natura usuC and fair play. That means no
the enquiry and exactly the
which the evidence justifies
COntraSI Wilar Tribune's claim, seven
earlier, support the Liverpool enquiry, but
expulsions: 'Yet criticism, of the abusive and uncomradely style employed by Derek Hatton, was never reason for expulsion. Disciplinary action against mavdas would oc lappropriate at this stage, not
Birmingham-Sparkbrook expulsion from the party. They unanimously decided that he would continue to be a member of the city
By Annie Brady
Labour group.
group have now written to the national execulive polling vul Enal Khan's record as a coun cillor As far as they are concern-
Defending unilateralism... yet again!
even vaguer one: 'A Modern Britain
World', likely to begin at the end of
By Carol Turner, Secretary, Labour CND (personal capacity
Those two decisions (Uumn inches worth of com-
the daily UNICOD But they should alert all unilateral nuclear disarmers in the party that composite 21, passed overwhelmingly annual conference and caning or a campaign yu Labour's disarmament
TRIBUT
clearly some on the Right who see thi enquiry as the means to a preconceiver end. They probably already have a lis
they want expelled. Such. ar approach must be opposed by a parts which is just about to launch a *free dom and fairness" campaign But neither can the Left naively cal for "no expulsions", If the enquiry inte
comes up with hard evidence eceptable in a democra ciplinary action musi TOSe tound guilty ure of the evi
mention Counter. productive of rallying support to people whose actions have shown that they so not deserve it. (editorial, November 1985)
In the space of seven weeks Inoure has transformed its position from opposition to support tor expulsions. In here nas been no cviucuice of malpractices in Liverpool quite the contrary.
What occurred that Kinnock and Fleet Street have opened campaign for expulsions
as fighting tooth and nail to win to this as much of the 'left' as possible.
Tribune nas reduced itself to a witch-hunting mouth piece of Kinnock.
It should be treated accordingly.
Roy Hattersley
question his loyalty to the party.
Amir, who has been a councillor for The Sparkhill ward since 1983, told greal lal ine comrades have unanimously decided to support me. I have received loads of letters and phone calls in sympathy. And 200 peo-
policies, looks as if it has brushed under the Cartel quite specifiso instructed The resolution the NEC 'develop a coordinated camstart in 1986 Vallelu (the International Year of Peace of the United Nation).
As far as Labour CND knows, no explanation or comical as wee evel d. to why this demand for a campaign on disarmament policy has, yet again, been ignored.
Labour CND is preparing a model letter which wil go out to all COSTtuency parties by the end of this month. It should be supported, returned
with the
diff, Isle of Wight,
fact that he voted for the Liverpool enquiry. By Kevin O'Reilly, CLPD Executive Committee
The atmosphere created has encouraged the right to use administrative means to exclude dissent in the constituencies they control.
Supporters of Briefing are being disciplined in Exeter and Dagenham for ar ticles they have written in
applications and transfers are being refused following allegations of support for Militant in Newcastleunder-Lyme and Mansfield, and Socialist Action in Birmingham-Yardley. Former members of the Comatosi Party Rhondda have been refused membership.
Supporters of CLPD have been expelled for repeatedly raising question of procedural irregularities in Central Fife and Warley
In Middlesborough
questioned the credentials
GMBATU uciceate who were not eligible to be
of that union.
He was ruled out of order when he raised the matter and expelled when subsequently spoke to the press.
In Dudley East 33 delegates names were subple turned out in the pouring rain to lobby the GC meeting my expul-
"The Labour Party will • lose a lot of loyal supporters in Birmingham it the expulsions continue Kinnock wall a home at al the la is i more black MPs and councillors, • Birmingham
yes-men.
I appeal to all comrades in the party to write to the NEC calling for an independent enquiry into the corruption in the Birm. ingham party.
• Messages of support and copies of resolutions passed by parties should
be sent to: Amir Khan, 56 Phipson Road, Sparkhill Birmingham BỈT 4JH.
to headquarter: (with a copy to LCND) postLADICI Came the Labo will be
the theme of
annual
scheduled for Saturday 12 April in London. In view
of the campaign strategy committee's
recent ed-
sions, it is more important than ever that anti-missiles
activists get their parties
• Copies of the model let-
ter and details the
availaban ual meeting are
Turner, Secretary, Labour
Stodmarsh :
House, Cowley Estate,
London SW9.
DESPITE ASSURANCES at the 1982 Labour Party conference that the NEC was only seeking to dea
editorial board, the persecution of supporters of Militant has spread to those who sell the paper. Cases have come to light in Coventry, Car-
Wrexham, Liverpool and elsewhere. The recent vote, by 14:13, to expel Sheffield councillor Paul Green for selling Militant was condemned by David Blunkett as foolish despite the
Emitted to the GC between 22 March and April 1985. When the CLI discovered that three unions submitted names of persons who were not DOUd fide members of those unions they retused now risk expulsion it any them delegates and refuse to obey a direction from the NEC that they must accept them.
The position of fulltime officials in some of these cases has been deplorable. They have connived in unjust decisions and breaches of Labour Party rules. Those accused have often been given insufficient time to prepare their cases and inadequate details of the allegations, as well as being faced with evidence by letter or wordof-mouth from persons who would not attend and allow an opportunity to question their allegations.
The report which the the enquir ared me dor appeals mediations committee, and ultimately for the NEC, is not shown to those con cerned and in at least one case left out relevant facts.
Amir Khan Kevin Scally are available to speak avour inel case d any Labour Party meeting and can be . contacted at the above address.
Amir Khan LA PA
Socialist Action 17 January 1986 Local party members who have given evidence against the person being disciplined, or whose credentials have been questioned, have been allowed to vote — Inus De ing judges in their own Cause
Irregularities such as this cannot be glossed over by allowing an appeal. As the courts have stressed, a person has a right to a fair
learing as well as a fair ap peal. Despite this David Hughes, the senior
agent, claims that the CLP and NEC enquiries carry out their procedures fairly.
Most seriously the NEC has failed to carry out its obligation to report such cases to conterence in a culualil. with clause
X(2)(d of the constitution. This has denied conference and the individuals right to seek to change the NEC's decision by ensuring that a reference back is
Joan Maynard,
Photo PETE GRANT
5 An early meeting of Labour Against the Witch-Hunt, sel up by constituencies to defend socialists from expulsion
In view of the in tolerant atmosphere now developing the party and the need to fight back a conference has been ar ranged Labour Left Coordination with sponsorship from • the Greater London Regional Counci of the Labour Party for 7.45pm on Z1 January Ir the GLC's main hall. The speakers include Joan Maynard, Diane Abbott, a trade union leader, and a speaker from Liverpool.
• The Labour Left Coo! dination and CLPD in cooperation with the Campaign group of MPS is monthly Witch-Hunt News as a service to the labour move ment. Copies of the first ASue КО И available (details alongside this article) Information about expulsions or corner mar ters which come to light in your area reported to Kevin O'ReilWalthamstow ElT. 36 Melbourne Road,
Witch Hunt News —
Out Now
Labour Left Coordination and CLPD, in cooperation with the Campaign group of MPs, is producing a monthly newsletter as a service to the labour movement. Order
your copy now!
Cheques and POs should be made payable
to 'Witch-Hunt News' and sent c/o 36
Melbourne Road, London E17
Witch-Hunt News costs 20p per single copy, or £l for 10 (including postage in
both cases) Stop the Witch-Hunt!
Public Meeting — 21 January
7.45pm, County Hall, London SE1 sponsored by Labour Left Coordination, Campaign group of MPs and the London Region Labour Party
speakers include: , Ken Livingstone, Diane Abbott, Amir Khan and others A Million Jobs A Year
A Socialist Society conference on
the theme of the pamphlet sponsored by the Campaign group
of MPs
Friday 21 February, 8pm and
Saturday 22 February 10.30am till 5pm
County Hall, London SE1
Speakers include: Andrew Glynn (author of the pamphlet), Tony Benn, Ken Livinstone. Hilary Wainwright, Bernie Grant, Narendra
Makenji, Audrey Wise, and others
Conference pack, including a copy of the pamphlet, costs f3 from The Socialist Society. 9 Poland Street
London W1 (phone 01-734 8501):
Page 6 scan of this page
EUROPE'S
Socialist Action
Westland's
ration.
seltine's lead in
been
¿actions
bour's election defeat in
ditical move, and
aself favour
EC.
signifies an entire ers in Marxism Today
technology,
-operation mas, public
the Thatcher government.'
pendent
European Airbus
cing?'
article by Jon
cember ctively
This book
argues
European
European
ability.'
Marxism Today,
articular, has
progressive' ompetition with another set
aropean
Stalinism' the
Curope and the left
crisis,
seltine's resignation, have posed int blank the left's attitude to the EC and to European military inbe Labour front bench, the SDP, ad the Liberals have all followed
backing aropean bid for Westland. That is to be expected. But. equally riking has been the logic those actions of the left who support the EC and 'European integration'
forced into.
ARTER looks at some of these
Neil Kinnock's first policy step after
1983 ich was announced before any other
before came party leader — was to declare
of abandoning bour's pledge to withdraw from the
To many on the left this may have emed a small question. But in reality
political orienta-
for the Labour Party. The subornation of Labour to the imperialist mers of the EEC has now become the
underlying political basis cit and explicit - both of Labour's aligned left' and of its political ad-
Anyone who picked up last week's sue of the Communist Party weekly 7 lets. for example, would have receiva considerable political education in me of the consequences of this line.
According to 7 Days, writing under
headline 'Thatcher strategy goes ina spin', the following was the situa-
a facing us: 'whether it is in civilian Miners, with the Airbus consortium, space with the Ariane (rocket), or in.
West vernments have sought to encourage
agreements private. They have ked that encouragement with public
ads and orders for the product. Not
The article concluded: 'if the British avernment would happily allow its in-
helicopter capacity to
win the drain what sort of gumption
it show in the fight to defend the-
project from Tite House pressure in support of
7 Days however, simply carried to
logical conclusion the argument of
Bloomfield in of Marxism
posed the choices facing the left
clinging to a special relationship
th Washington or participating in a
re independent Western Europe.'
In the 'realigned left' of the Labour carty others draw the same conclusion. rances Morrell, in particular, has been
campaigning for the left
det a polley based on support for the
For a Pluralist Socialism Michael Rustin goes further
explicitly favour nuclear weapons, autonomy Moence will only come about if the
governments
ne control over a minimum nuclear
The reasons for these positions of
Days, realigned left' are not hard to find. The fundamental axis of Communist Party policy since the rise of Stalin, in
been the subordination of ibe working class to making pressure
one or other group of supposedly
imperialists
Since 1947 that Communist Party policy has been consistently to support de United States. For all is alleged anti- imperialist
policies Toda: — which is the leading force in
17 January 1986
and
fits
for
the
Party
DICK
The
least - Im•
adopted by' and member
The
CanC American redundancies warns European Gill.'
between
'Despite
go
the market"
Today.
Sikorsky Westland's
stating
Instead and option —
retain
and the
European
planation of
supporting
against the
tolow me of Marxism Common
all the currents we have mentioned —
pertectly Marxism Today stands unequivocably
supporting progressive capitalists who look to the EEC against the United States.
development has been the line taken by the Morning Star. split between the Marxism Morning Star wings of the Communist
was their attitudes to the EEC. The Morning Star, following the line of Moscow, stood for supporting purely local European capitalists against the United States. It remained resolutely opposed to the EEC.
But under the Heseltine crisis the Morning Star has moved distinctly closer to Today in its orientation — although its position may also be influenced by the fact that Gorbachev for the first time is alleged to be considering giving Soviet recognition to the EEC.
The Morning Star began to give at
implicit support Heseltine/European January when it noted approvingly on its front page: Westland directors are facing a growing shareholders revolt after continuing to back an American take-over bid instead of an improved European offer.' real campaitAss The paper then began to mount its
around
expelled European offer.
Star campaign in ine issue when it noted: "TASS, the engineering technicians union, yesterday published a booklet Westland in Crisis which put the case for the forgotten people of the
option with TASS general
By 9 January the Morning Star had become unequivocable declaring that:
frenzied efforts diplomats abroad, nion pressure is bullding up to reject the American take-over.'
By 10 January was beginning to get a favourable press from the Morning Star: 'Mr Heseltine favours more state intervention, closer links with Europe and a degree of industrial recovery. wịth the prime minister's subservience
US, faith economy finance capital.'
But pride of place in the Morning Star's coverage came on 9 January with a prolonged on en it Gell spen
of the position of Ken out, with the Morning Star's approva the ultimate logic of the 'support Euro
ability develop helicopters. " Mr Gill outlined
"Neither does it provide jobs in th
coming year." "
'Choosing the "an equal partnership
was based on tried and tested work with
European aerospace industries.
has produced the Tornado, Airbus and
now the European fighter alrcraft, for
which TASS had fought, Mr Gill said.
Here the line is spelt out with total clarity. British trade unions, with Com-
munist general secretaries, lobbying for
fighter
maments to be built.
If anyone on the left wanted an ex-
oppose the EEC, and the entire line of
European capital United States, Market
Westland's affair!
framework.
supposedly
in terms of
A key part of the Today and pressure of the Marxism the position on position general secretary -Communist Party Ken Gill, supporting the
started this of 8 January
Westland workers. The
would more to come, secretary nen
by British international opi-
Heseltine himself
sharply contrasting
'free and backing of reported: offer "does not guarante
to design
European
This planes and
why it is so vital to totally
againsi they need simply development of the pro-
left during
Page 7 scan of this page
WAR MACHINE
CRISIS over Westland deseltine's resignation orced out into the open of the key opments in European British politics. ALAN
LTINE's spectacular resighas flushed out the close but
between European ry, the military, and growing
In these field. Many people how the military-industrial lex dominates Washington.
its shadowy role in Europe. FREEMAN reports.
Ginnockite left see the EEC as a
gressive alternative to US nuclear
claim that curopean holds the key, not just lo proY but to peace — so they turn a eye to its military implications. a these champions of a middle of
find themselves virtually in the camp as Britain's answer 1o RamTarzan Heseltine himself. asking why. se EEC is not Europe. It is an arI creation which unites the main wist nations of Western Europe. cent moves lowards grealer unit! integration among these powers been designed 1o give a capitalist ith the USA - and military pro*from the USSR. Unfortunately ism only spcaks one language .competition is concerned: the age of force. European unity, and arging of a more united European
apparatus, ted. estland illustrates this. per cent of Westland's work is the This is no accident.
world's" market 01 33,00 piers is accounted for by the US 27 market alone. In Europe 4000 ry helicopters are required every Helicopiers, as George Orwell stea, are indispensable to modern те. le European consortium offers Westland guaranteed sales four European governments for helicopter projects. These are:
medium-weight NH90 NATO pter currently under study by BriFrance, Wesi Germany, Italy and etherlands.
new. lightweight battlefield pter which would merge i wo currojects — a Franco-German proand the PAH2 Anglo-Italian pment. = military development
naval and utility pier, the fruit oration berween Westlands and Augusta. Failure 1o develop the ry application of this helicopier is lered one of the main reasons for and's present difficulties. ch guarantees, given the present f the 'free' markel, can only be
by governments, and aments can only give fees because of the increasingly military coordination they - and 'ine — have promoted. us, as soon as the threat of a US ver became clear, Heseltine sumI a meeting, which took place on ovember 1985, between the na armaments directors of Britain,
, Germany and Italy. The Euroconsortium was born from the ration they made. This declaraa turn was in line with a policy
FREEMAN looks at the
European military integration that lie behind Michael Heseltine's EEC backers. DICK CARTER looks at how major sections
they had operated since 1978 was to cover their needs 'solely from helicopters built in Europe.'
Broad agreements in this type were being concluded as early as 1978 and before. Joint civilian projects such as the European Airbus have gone hand in hand with joint military ones such as the European fighter project. The interrelation between civilain and military projects is obvious.
three years that European governments began creating political institutions to oversee and coordinate this collaboration. The fact that Heseltine felt moved 10 call a meeting of defence ministers
discuss the fate of a small bankrupt heliconter firm. these institutions are taken.
The framework for such bodies is It is not outside NATO. all io break with Reagan's military diplomacy: it is to compete with it on more equal ierms. absolutely clear on Spain, which joins the EEC his month, has been under extraordinary pressure 10 join NATO, and it has more or less been spelt out that this is the price
must be paid economic integration Therein lies the folly of any notion that 'European' alternative alliance. Defence Eighty
The main bodies which coordinate Nearly Europe's defence activities are NATO bodies. In mid-1984 the EEC member states revived a largely defunct NATO body, the Independent European Programme Group, which specifically excluaca ine UDA and autumn this body identified six specific projects for collaboration on weapons claims development.
At the same time a second moribund body, the Union, was revived to assist the European which was first outlined as a policy goal at the June 1985 Milan EEC summit -namely, lo begin to European states would formulate common foreign policy ticularly on defence matters.
Nor is such collaboration confined 1o the battlefield The Franco-German Eureka project, a of the EH101 programme which aims to fund and coordinate basic research among EEC previous countries and was initiated as a direct
response 1o Star claimed non-military. therefore, that its prestige project - a European supercomputer found, as its principal backer, to the tune of £6.5 million, no other than the Ministry of Defence.
EEC What is the reason for all this? And such is a 'non-aggresive' possibility? The simple answer is that as long as Europe is aggressive Western Europe. is a coniradiction in terms. Its whole function and purpose is lo present capitalist front against the USSR, that aggression is written into its very
However more specific and immediate causes lie behind the recent acceleration of the European arms race -
policy.
which
principle of
matter
technological
However, it is only in the last two or
four nations,
shows how seriously
True
The idea is not at
Heseltine has been
this Moreover
of their
for any real into the EEC.
defence represents a soft
European
militarisation diture is the
Canada. Last
European Defence
member states in an objective
Policy
ensure
positions, par
weapons industry.
economies
Wars, is often pro-
Strange, can
has
less.
Europe and
divided, Illal Kel
La united so
peaceful
of the left became lined up
behind Heseltine - and the
consequences of support for
a 'European' military as well as these long term considerations. Of these the most important is the present economic situation of the EEĆ member states.
As Reagan's Star Wars has shown, keeping up the arms race is not just a
building bigger guns. maments are always in the vanguard of
development. Virtually every area of hi-tech research targetted by the Eureka' project planned by the EEC states has military applications. and the Eureka planners know full well that in order to build an independent arms capacity they have to stay ahead in these hi-tech areas. To guide missiles you need genetic engineering and a sophisticated chemical industry. To put
neea space rockets. And so on.
But the converse is also true. In an
climate in which private capital is unable or unwilling to invest in basic research, the only way that capitalist governments can keep their economies afloat, let alone siay ahead
is to use ine military machine to bribe and stimulate
terference, which drives them to a frenzy
privatisation when concerns health, education, housing or any ordinary people's needs, just melts away when the magic word 'defence' - that is, war - is mentioned.
governments have been forced to come to terms with the economic consequences of Reagan's
drive. Military one side of government spending which has not been cut by Reagan. On the contrary it is now the highest percentage of government ex-
Korean wal.
Military spending, at the same time that social spending has been cut to the bone. has been the investment pump which reflated the US economy. In this sense, as well as socially, the capitalist world has gone back to the 30s. The
race part of its hope for economic survival.
Reagan's new economic policy also used the USA's military predominance to squeeze its capitalist rivals. Reagan pumped billions of dollars into his war machine, but his machine : was a closed and protected market. US defence contractors enjoyed the benefits of huge
of Where French manufacturers make ships in batches averaging at most 13, their US rivals
count on orders averaging British firms produce an average of 800 aircraft per run: US firms 2000. US unit costs are therefore nearly 40 percent
To match this threat, European capital understood very quickly that it had to transcend national boundaries
Europe-wide military
When John Maynard Keynes launched the idea of the welfare state on the world, he believed that the Western nalions could save their economies if they put the same economic resources into
construction they had previously put into war. The 'salvation' offered by loday's heads of state whether in the USA or the EEC - is to reverse this equation.
AS THE Westland saga unfolded, labour leaders from Neil Kinnock to Sheffield council leader David
with the 'Britain needs the Euro-
television apperances, they joined the chorus of those conning British workers to back the bid of the five
turers for the ailing Westland com-
British Aerospace and GEC chair, James Prior was reponsible for
minister•
Dutch defence minister, the West German delence secretary defence minister. The European comthe carve-up of the European steel insteel jobs — described the Sikorsky-
January observed: "The govern-
about itself than most people suppose. There is blood on the moon
Under the headline 'A very resignation', The Times editorial said
government is a subject of widespread concern among the Conservatives ai
'The prime minister's mode of
TUCKED away 'miscellany' colum dian letter page of 7 January was an observation from a Cambridge reader which is worth investigation. He noted the limits forced on the American over the supply of military equipment to South Africa.
He then claims: 'If Sikorski buy What do Scargill and
A DAFT question think. But AUEW-TASS general secratary Ken Gill complained on television that the vultures of the press were treating poor Heseltine like they did Scargill in 1985.
Multi-millionaire Heseltine must be cheered by such support. Heseltine is head of a f50 million publishing empire and has €750,000 mansion in Oxfordshire, a
Socialist Action . 17 January 1986
Behind the
Who's backing Europe?
11l What the editors said
Thatcher must try to South Africa connection?
in the Westland, of the Guar- helicopter
it.' government
total British
Heseltine have in common?
might modest holiday worth £100,000
400 acres of farm and stables.
three homes
news
freeze Westland out of the five nation collaboration to produce the battlefield helicopter, the NH90 military transport helicopter and an Augusta model - all tipped by Heseltine as the core of the
Manufacturers Association added his name to the defenders of the European
In an effort to block the Sikorsky offer, helicopter operator Alan Bristow put money behind his mouth with a f5 million swoop on the stock exchange to
nie cenar
legion in Indochina, for which he won the Croix de Guerre. This is a fitting reminder that, whoever produces the helicopters, they will be used to crush lineration struggles across the world ing people owe Kinnock and Gill no
ment that the only enemy is American had a sense of urgency, to control the unions, to bring down inflation, to win the Falklands war. It is less acceptable if the momentum is seen to be
11 January remarked: "These muffs
ment is no longer clear about its own
set of objectives for the rest of this
can manufacture gun platforms here and ship them legally to South Africa. That's why Sikorsky wants Westland and why Thatcher is keen to secure
If this is true, than all the more reason to step up the campaign for
sanctions against apartheid South Africa. £500,000 house in London and a
home in Cornwall,
His Oxford hire house stands on
land, with a lake The whole complex estimated at f2 million. Last year he forked out £350,000 for another farm in tne area and us puousning con pany paid f500,000 for a farm a mile away from his home.
Page 8 scan of this page
The anti-imperialist united
8
front
THE POLITICAL which are being forged in the struggle against apartheid South Africa are very different to those which socialists are faced with or familiar with in Britain -although they would be recognised by a socialist in Ireland for example. The difference arises from the alliance in struggle between the organisations of the working class and a revolutionary tionalist organisation, African National (ANC).
JOE GREEN looks at a key idea for understanding the basis of united action of working class and revolutionary organisations, and the struggle in South Africa the imperialist united front.
In South Africa the leading mas: organisations of the working class anc oppressed are evident. organisation of the black working class is the Confederation of South Africar Trade Unions (COSATU). powerful political organisation of the oppressed in the country is the ANC. The main organisation which brings together the different United Democratic Front Waches 1½-2 million members.
These latter include trade unions, supporters of the ANC, decisive role, and a whole series other organisations.
What differentiates the UDF from ne more ama e os woc socialists see in Britain is that it is based on a united front between organisations of the working class and a revolunonary nationalist organisation,
The most powerful mass actions in South Africa have been those which involved, and brought together. these iwo forces. The Transvaal strike of November 1984, the highest point of mass struggle in South Africa so far, was based on the united action of the Federation Trade Unions (FOSATU) UDF.
The reason why the united front in South Africa takes the form of united action between organisations of the working class and a revolutionary nationalist organisation is nature of the objective tasks which face the working class and oppressed in that
UDF demands
SOME 400 delegates attended the three-day annual conference of the General Council of the United Democratic Front in Azaadville, near Kantontein, in early 1985. The UDF general council issued the following platform of demands:
* The immediate scrapping of the 1913 and 1936 Land Acts Group Areas laws, and an end to an! form of forced removals.
the bantustans and the ending of the labour system. * ine scrapping of the tricameral parliament and other
Autorities Act and other instruments of racist rule. * A unified and democratic education system. * The repeal of the pass laws and all other restrictions freedom
Socialist Action 17 January 1986
alliances
Brilall. WICH in British nationalist ¡caclollaiy. naIor national demands Congress dominated by imperialism,
struggle.
unity of the country, nationalist
anti-
is totally progressive -
The strongest Confronted
tional struggles
The mosı
with organisations waging Inese demands: forces is the
This question (UDF),
affiliated
who play
other classes of Irish society —
the But Connolly
general tionary nationalists.
rising against South African
and the
lion of the Republic the political basis of the rising.
its politics. aue lo the
munist International
movement.
bareain and the
April security of
benefits, as Rights Charters of Urganisation The release
and all
return of exile:
migratory and assembly.
disbanding. (South African puppet
Police), African repressive apparatuses.
Declaration of Human Rights.
country. In an imperialist state such as
DOUT LCUl. democratic revolution centuries ago,
organisations are
But in a country dominated by imperialism, or one which has not had its bourgeois democratic revolution, nationalist organisations have a quite different signiticance. Even in these coun. tries, there can be, and sometimes are, lolally reacnonary nanonansi organisa tions. But fundamentally the struggle
In a country or which has not had its bourgeois democratic revolution, is an entirely progressive:
In Ireland the struggle to secure the
and throw out British imperialism from the north, is completely to be supported. The fight for democratic demands against apartheid in South Africa, as well as that to constitute a single nation in that state,
• and the main axis or le struggie m une country
with progressive naan oovous ouesuor which is posed is what alliances working class organisations should make
bourgeois and pelly bougeois a struggle for and democratic
was particularly sharply posed for example, in Ireland at the beginning of the twentieth century. Here James Connolly, following Marx, pursued tactics which prefigured those which were later adopted by the Communist International after its founding.
Connolly set about organising the Irish working class independently of all
- through the formation of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union and the Irish Socialist Republican Party.
simultaneously class. argued for the independent organisations of the working class in Ireland 1o enter into united action with the revolu-
The outcome of Inis alllance was tne most importan event in Irish history: the 1916 Easter
British imperialism. Accompanying this was the 1916 Declara-
- which formed front.
When the Communist International was formed in 1919 it placed the struggle against imperialism at the centre of
radical
At its second congress in 1920 and I its tourth congress in 1922. the Com- -
discussed relaof workers to freely organise in trade unions, to collective-
right 10 strike without being penalised, the right to
employment, housing, ANC social welfare, pensions and materni-
laid down in the UN and International Labour
of all political prisoners, the unbanning of the banned individuals and organisations, the
and the lifting of all restrictions on the freedom of speech
SADF Defence Force); overa countersurcell force in Namibia), the SAP (South
and all other
* The scrapping of all barbaric securi-
Universal
tions with bourgeois and revolutionary nationalist organisations. These arrived at, in theoretical form, essentially the same conclusions on alliances Connolly had developed practically in Ireland. The conclusions were adopted in the position on the anti-imperialist united front adopted at the fourth congress of the Communist International.
The outline of the position for those countries which had not had their bougeois democratic revolutions, were dominated by imperialism, clear in terms of its class alliances.
• A revolutionary working class party had 1o be created 1o fight for political autonomy
• The working class had 1o be organised independently of all other classes through trade unions and other mass working class organisations. • These organisations of the working class had 1o enter into united front action with the revolutionary, and where a basis exists for this bourgeois nationalist, organisations stituting the anti-imperialist
As long as the working class was not able 1o fight directly and immediately
power • 11 ha0 10 [1g]| democratic demands political democracy this of course constitutes a basis for united action betweenne working class and revolutionary nationalist organisations.
This framework allows the dynamic of
laking place Africa, and the tasks and tactics which flow from it, 1o be clearly understood. United action between the organisations of the working class today the trade unions and COSATU,
developing. precisely the most developed form of this united front. The demands of the ANC Freedom Charter and more partial demands which flow from it in the struggle against apartheid such as are taken up by the UDF demands on which this united front can be based.
A revolutionary working class party must be buill in South Africa. however must have, and can only be built by having, a correct united front approach 1o the ANC, the trade unions and the UDF.
order 10 help understand the dynamics of the struggle in Africa we are printing the resolution of the Communist International on the anti-imperialist united front and the platform of demands of the UDF.
THE FOURTH congress of the Communist International passed a Resolution on the East' dealing with tasks In une those countries still tasks of national revolutions. This resolution contained a specific section on the tactics of the united front. full below:
the THE workers united front is the working slogan advanced in the West during
the transition period, characterised by the organised Similarly in the colonial East at the present time the key slogan 1o advance is the anti-imperialist front. Its expediency follows from the perspective of struggle with world imperialism thai will demand the mobilisation of all COll united revolutionary elements.
This mobilisation is made all the more necessary by the tendency of the MONCCIOUS for compromises with and directed against the fundamental in-
terests of the mass of the people. Just 1n the West workers united front has helped and is still helping democrats sell-out of proletarian inso the slogan South imperialist united front will help to
expose the vacillations of the various bourgeois nationalist groups This slogan working alasse. revolutionary their class consciousness; it will place them in the front ranks of those fighting not only imperialism, but the remnants of feudalism.
The workers movement in the colonial and semi-colonial must first of all establish itself as an are the independent revolutionary factor in
the Only when its importance as an independent factor is recognised and its complete political autonomy secured can temporary bourgeois democracy be considered permissable or necessary.
Similarly, the proletariat supports and advances such partial demands as South an independent democratic republic
the abolition of all feudal rights and privileges, womens rights etc., insofar as it cannot, with the relation of forces as it
Resolution of the Comintern
colonies and facing the further democratic
anti-imperialist This is printed in
gathering of forces
united
long-drawn-out
ruling classes to make
foreign capital the country
the slogan of the
to expose the social
sonnelles
antistruggle
will also help the to develop their
will and to increase
perialism.
countries
common anti-imperialist front.
with de cemenl
government.
does not and the introduction of tion,
In Depth
exists at present, make the implementation of its soviet programme the immediate task of the day.
At the same time the proletariat seeks to put forward slogans which
political links between the peasant and semi-proletarian masses and the workers movement. Explaining to the broad working masses the
untv will tue michlalluld proletariat and the Soviet republics is one of the most important functions of the anti-imperialist united front. The colonial revolution can triumph and defend its gains only if accompanied by a proletarian revolution in the advanced coutries.
The danger of a deal between bourgeois nationalism and one or more of the rival imperialist powers is much greater in the semi-colonial countries (China, Persia), or in the countries gaining state independence thanks to inter-imperialist competition (Turkey), than it is in the colonies. Every such agreement means a wholly unequal division of power bet ween the indigenous ruling classes and imperialism; though it may be disguised as formal independence, it leaves
exactly as before -semi-colonial buffer state, the puppet of world imperialism
While the working class may and
make partial and temporary compromises to gain breathing-space in the revolutionary
liberation from imperialism, it must be absolutely opposed 1o any attempt by the indigeneous ruling classes to maintain their class privileges by agreeing to open or tacit power-sharing with im-
The demand for a close with the proletarian Soviel republic is the key-note of the anti. imperialist united front.
This slogan must be accompanied by a determined struggle for maximum democratisation of the political system, which will give the workers organisations the freedom to fight fo their class interests (the demands for a a retro he a system me
system, organisation of the administrative ap paratus on the basis of popular self
labour legislation, the restriction of child labour, maternal and child welfare etc). Even in independent Turkey the working class
enjoy freedom of associa which is a good indication of the bourgeois nationalists attitude to the proletarial.
Page 9 scan of this page
Reagan snubs test ban offer
International
ON 28 DECEMBER the Pentagon conducted its
Vegas, times stronger than
view to using it in the Pentagon's weapons system. This is part of its Star Wars programme.
There was nothing exceptional about this núclear test. It was one of 2.. One seris Washington underground tests
Nevada site as part of its development billion : anti-satellite weapon.
But what is noteworthy is that on une very day. as the 28 December
Con was pried in the
calling on the US government to olm a moratorium on nuclear tests. The statement, which originally appeared in the 19 December
ravda, the principal Soviet daily, was published in the Post was a paid advertisment by the Soviet government.
statemen noted that on 6 August 1985, the
Union unilateral moratorium on
nuclear tests until January 1986. be extended beyond that firmed, 'if the United
moratorium as well.' Joint
The statement noted that joint Soviet-US moratorium on any MAOSOIS Would become a major landmark
way toward eliminating the nuclear danger
The Donlical significance of such a joint step by the USSR and the United States would be great. It would also give a signal to other nuclear powers, the statement said.
France, for example, is currently engaged massive gramme in the Pacific prat testing
has provoked widespread opposition from Pacific islanders US-Soviet moratorium would give a big boost to the struggle to halt French tests in the
The proposed moratorium. would apply underground tests. In a ship in Haiti.
Port-au-Prince capital.
Haiti IS the poorest country the western hemisphere. Duvalier took over the government from
infamous father 1971.
crisis CURCHI the regime, which was installed 1957 notorious 'Papa Doc' erupted 27-28 Neveren •linted (wo days of demonstrations in the
-JULICH Gonaives. The army open• ed fire on the crowds killing four sludents and a Protestant clergyman
This was followed im-
latest nuclear test about 100 miles northwest of Las
Nevada. The explosion produced a blast 10 the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The objective was to try out an X-ray laser powered by a nuclear explosion, with a
anti-satellite
1963 treaty, the US, Soviet, and British governagreed halt ments
By Doug Jenness nuclear testsing in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space. The Gorbachev Freńch government continued carry out almospheric tests the Pacific until 1974, when a strong international canMitterrand
Reagan responded to Gorbachev's offer on verification with a letter proposing that experts from both together to discuss it. But this is simply a stalling tactic, as Washington pushes ahead with nuciear testing programme.
The real reason for Reagan's obstinate refusal to agree to a moratorium • a move that would have widespread support both in the United States and internationally was reffered to in an article in the 25 December Ivew lork
Haiti: dictatorship in crisis
A COMBINATION of mass demonstrations, opposition from the army and church, and pressure from the United States has produced the deepest crisis in the 28-year history of the Duvalier dictator-
On Sunday leaflets calling for a general strike to overthrow the regime of 'Baby Doc' Jean-Claude Duvalier, were being circulated in the
mediately by protest demonstrations the southern town of Jeremie.
During the first week of December further demontook suialiuls Jacmel, Les Cayes, PetitGoaves, and Cap Haitien.
A memorial mass for those killed in Gonaives was held in Port-au-Prince and attracted 5000 protesters.
These demonstrations helped exacerbate differences within repressive forces when further wave of protests broke out in Gonaives at
that Us officials pointed out last summer: 'that they rejected even if it could be verified because it would interfere with the development of new weapons for the proposed space-based missile defense programme
The Pentagon is driving full speed ahead with
Star Wars MUSSIC has already SVSLCHI spent sl.z billion on the programme and has fired
weapons into
When Codess voted 18 December to bar funds
lites in space projected for
departcelense we'll find a ay to de official declared: ahead.' Another Pentagon spokesperson said continuing the programme 'will keep the Soviets' feet to
fire A CURLO talks.
The Reagan administration has been barrelling ahead with its Star Wars programme despite the Soviet government's 1983 halt anti-satellite weapons tests.
Moscow's statement in the Washington Post said that if Reagan continues to reject moratorium on underground 'this the beginning of January. On January the 7000 strong army incalcuca Ic overthrow Duvalier. The official army is nowevel outnumbered two to one by the armed secret police
the notorious Tontons Macoutes.
United States,
Ine
will lead to the Soviet com-
Ounce the whate a morator De 31900neCI valid after the announced deadline, which is only a short time away. For obvious reasons, Lue lace military preparations overseas, USSR cannot sacrifice the interests of its security and the security of its allies and friends. Expand
As has generally been the case with nuclear arms, Moscow forced develop and expand its weapons systems in order
defend itself from threatening imperialist armaments.
Washington's determination to push ahead with nuclear testing and Star Wars is part of its ongoing military build-up. It continues to reinforce its arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles, which it is deploy. ing in an ever tighter ring on land and sea around the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Cuba, Vietnam, and other countries wher avilaus ll las uccll auv ished.
The publication of the Soviet statement in ine Washington Post was part ot a series of initiatives by discontent, started to in alarmea by the
put pressure on the Duvalier regime to make concessions. At the the month the US forced Duvalier to release from prison the leading bourgeois opposition figure and former govern-
Washington the moratorium Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reiterated this proposal in his stalcilicil at the conclusion of the November summit meeting with president Ronald Reagan and again in a 5 December letter to the US oresident.
At every juncture the White House nas turne down the Soviet offer When it isn't simply call'ing the proposal 'propaganda move, the Reagan contends that it would be
lo very soviel compliance.
The Soviet government has reponded by pointing out that immediate verification could be achieved by agreeing to a proposal
governments Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico. Sweden. and lan zania to SCL up special
stations in mentorie their countries. Moreover, the Kremlin has stated that it is agreeable to on-site monitoring of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union, In August the Soviet government permitted the first international inspection of its nuclear reactors.
Reagan
Moreover, Washing IOn stepping up assistance revolutionaries who are at-
LODDIC the governments of Nicara-
and Afganistan. And it beeting up military forces, which are being readied for bigger interventions, including the massive use of US combat troops, in Central America and other areas of the world.
• This article is reproduced from Intercontinental
24, No 1, 13 January 1986. ment minister, Hubert de Ronceray. US warship: are stationed off Haiti's coast.
The Catholic radio station, began broadcasting antigovercal Last Sunday they were joined in the protests by the normally conservative Protestant church leaders
Duvalier has survived so far because the rising disorder has not yet reach-
capital. By Monday, however, discipline
Tontons Macoute was reported as beginning to break down in the capital where antiDuvalier literature was openly distributed.
Haiti looks set to because antother hot spot on Reagan's Central American doorstes.
Socialist Action 17 January 1986 Phillipines:
New People's Army, the main guerilla
by the Filipino student association.
eighty four people died during the 1984
Benigno Aquino who was Marcos' last
Star Wars:
defence research association.
minutes. Not nuclear destruction but Armageddon all the same.'
the scale of a nuclear winter.
France:
racist activity.
December demonstration. is
Angola:
African government.
aid to UNITA. forces.
that. He isn't.
Congress.
beginning of December.
Shultz noted that,
confrontation.
South Africa:
recent report.
9
WORLD
Open civil war looms in the Philippines as
the 7 February elections draw near. The
organisation, is reckoned to have at least a millions supporters. The KMU (the First of May Labour Centre), with a membership of half of million workers, has called for a 'broad, militant and sustained boycott' of the elections, backed
On 29 November last, 60 prominent political figures published a list of demands for free democratice, fair and meaningful elections'. They are unlikely to be met. Three hundred and
elections, because of government terror. After 27 months of trial the Marcos regime has just acquitted General Fabian Ver, the murderer of
challenger. Aquino's widow may well be the only candidate in the election apart from Marcos.
Laser space weapons being developed for
Wars could more easily be used to incinerate cities, says a report just issued by a Los Angeles
"A laser system powerful enought to cope with ballistic missiles can also destroy major cities by fire,' it reports. The attack would proceed city by city, the attack time for each city being only a matter of
Government physicist Caroline Herzenburg adds that the smoke and dust generated in such a war could also bring about climatic changes on
"This is not a problem we are addressing at this time,' said a Star Wars spokesperson when questioned.
Thousands demonstrated against racism in Paris on 7 December. The demonstration was the culmination of three months of anti-
'Alas, since 1983, nothing has really changed. Racist crimes are growing. That's why we're still here together in the streets,' said Kaissa Titous, a veteran of the first French anti-racist march of 1983, opening the rally in Paris at the end of the
Early in December the New York Times reported that the Reagan administration is to supply $11 million in covert aid to the UNITA forces fighting against the Angolan government. UNITA has the active support of the South
Earlier in 1985 the US congress repealed a law barring US aid to anti-government forces in Angola. Since then bills have been introduced into the congress to provide $27 million in military aid and $27 million in 'humanitarian'
On 22 November last year Reagan openly stated for the first time that the US government will be supplying aid to UNITA. Reagan's remarks came in response to a question asking why his secretary of state George Shultz was opposing aid to the South African backed
Reagan responded, 'I'm glad you asked me
He added. 'We all believe that a covert operation would be more useful to us and have more chance of success right now than the overt proposal than has been made in the
Shultz himself made his views made known during his trip to Western Europe at the
.. Speaking to the Pilgrim's Society in London on 11 December
covert action has been part of the arsenal of states since time immemoria. providing a means of influence short of outright
Did you know? The country with the highest number of sponsored visits from British MPs is South Africa according to a
Page 10 scan of this page
10
rehabilitating
romanticism :
'THE ONLY thing I dream about,' from Kirby at the end of Letter to Brezhnev, drinking Vodka, getting chickens. ..that's all.' capitalist progress, ever onwards and upwards along the yellow brick road of mass consumption, is 10 years dead. Visions
take unexpected forms.
Reviewed by Paul Atkin
There's nothing nostalgic about Letter to Brezhnev. Elaine,
a life Seyeeace in kiroy.
SCuLClICC Liverpool - like millions ot us do, in dead ends from Hartlepool to Stoke on irent her ship comes in literally with a soulfull Russian sailor called Peter Mayakovsky.
With a name like that, he has to be a poet: Peter stares at stars and ponders deep InouCnLs aDoul seegulls. His 24-hour shore enve oluc luwil tulls Liverpool into a different place for Elaine.
becomes a city of which glows in the ulyslel y dark. They watch the petty
rows in the alley and the late night chippy, between couples who fight each
Women Under Apartheid
plus text, £3.50 + 46p p&p
Africa
Part of My Soul
South Africa: The Struggle For A Birthright Mary Benson, IDAF, 314pp, £4 + 59p påp
Women and the Cuban Revolution
Women and the Family
€2.95 + 34p p&p Reform or Revolution
to: Other
Socialist Action 17 Janwary
Letter to Brezhnev:
says Teresa is fucked and stuffing The dream of postwar
of the future turn nasty, nostalgia becomes a cultural language, and dreams
other to pass the time, with new eyes.
From Peters' departure on, it's a question of having the bottle to live the oreza Elaine must over come the resistance ot family, friends, cynical journalists, and creepy Foreign Office officials 1o gel 1o Russia and her freedom.
The idea of trying lo escape ine dead end of decaying industrial Britain by fleeing 10 the Soviet union is nol widesprcad 'In Russia, says Peter, if vou don't work vou don't eat.' 'Its a bit like that here 100.'
This is not a hymn 1o Mother Russia, the promised land in the East. emphasises emotion between the wo centa
Other Books
The Other Book's mail order service offers a wide selection of socialist, anti-imperialist and radical literature. The following selection on and by women is available by post:
International Defence and Aid Fund, 120pp black and white photographs
For Their Triumphs and For Their Tears: Women In Apartheid South Hilda Bernstein, 136pp, IDAF, £3.50 + 34p p&p
Winnie Mandela, Penguin, 164pp, £2.95 + 28p p&p
Shifting Horizons: a testament to women in the miners' strike Lynn Beaton, Canary Press, 265pp, £5.65 + 40p p&p
Edited by Elizabeth Stone, Pathfinder Press, 156pp, £3.95 + 28p p&p
Leon Trotsky, Pathfinder Press, 78pp, £2.25 + 18p p&p The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Frederick Engels, introduction by Evelyn Reed, Pathfinder Press, 190pp,
Rosa Luxemburg, Pathfinder Press, 79pp, £2.25 + 18p p&p Make cheques or postal orders payable to IMRS. Orders with paymenı should be sent
Books, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. If the total value of books ordered is over f10, then simply add 15 per cent for posiage and packing. These and other books, together with a wide selection of magazines, postcards are also available from Birmingham's Other Bookshop, 137 Digbeth (just off the main shopping centre) (phone 021-643 5904)
characters.
It is also a comment on the widespread notion that whatever else you do with Russians, faling in love with one is just not socially acceptable 'Why do yọu think Brezhnev
SCLL LIIC
the minitr the man dom
don't HILISLI V care,' replies Elaine.
Brezhner
Lellel isn'l just a story of 'passion conquering frontiers' Il's about not accepting the way we are - not accepting the lies they tell us, not accepting that we have
Wildl we ve away. been because we're good for nothing else. This film is about dreaming our own dreams and 110 l getting ground down. It is done with a sharp humour that rehabilitates the romanticism.
Letter to Brezhnev, directed bv Chris penaru, wars niexallura Pigg, Margi Clarke, Peter Firth and Alfred Molina. It is currently on general release across Britain.
posters and
Reviews
Kiss of Spiderwoman:
new food for thought.
ly good film.
Reviewed by Harry Ring L s ae is a men. jail. revoluJullay. the other homosexual. Raul Julia plays Valentín, the revolutionary, , and William Hurt plays Molina, the homosexual. Julia's good performance is overshadowed by Hurt's spectacular performance as the homosexual.
Spider Woman is the story or ine compiex Iela tionship that develops betWeek eseWu VCy different cellmates dif-
not simply in the ictelll sense that one is gay and the other straight, but in their makeup and personalities. Molina can be silly and petty. But he's a very sensitive, creative person who relies heavily on a rich imagination to survive the blows he suffers as a
repressive, homophobic society.
Valentin is a strong. resolute person, commitled 1o his comrades of the underground. Actually, there's room tor speculation as to whether he's a revolutionary or rather if he found himself involved with revolutionaries as a result of an act of human solidarity on behalf of a endet the ground.
Molina seeks refuge from the harshness of life in the make-believe world .of film. Valentín scolds
TOI escapisin but finally, succumbs 10 his marvelous skill as a storyteller and actor
Valentín as the revolutionary, emerges as something of a stereotype. He is an honest, dedicated person with a not unreasonable quota of inhibitions and repressed emotions.
Molina's character
anluch more successfully drawn. The audience is attracted to him as a very complex out immensely human person. sometimes affected mannerisms perhaps basis of the criticism that the tim is anti-gay - are simply that, mannerisms
Because Molina is so uniquely individual, doubt that many leave the cinema thinking: the way homosexual's are.' But the depiction of Valentin could leave people with the idea that's the way revolutionaries are.
Almost provocatively, Molina insi valentin ea crealing for movie • romance about
woman in the World War
French underground who lures a Nazi officer into an affair only to fall in love with him and decide he's really a noble person.
Early in the Valentín spots this piece of tripe as a Nazi propaganda
film and angrily berates Molina. Doesn't he know
REALLY GOOD films tend to create controversy, and Kiss of the Spider Woman is that kind of movie. In New York, it's been playing to capacity crowds, and most people seem to like it very much. While hastening to concede that, like many things in this world, it's not perfect, I do think it's an exceptional-
what the Nazis did io homosexuals?
With a flash of equal anger, Molina responds: Of course I do!' But he insists on enjoying the film pure camp perhaps more precisely enjoying his obviously superior recreation of it. He insists on the right to NOICC his imagination without restraint.
Valentín finally
him onto another film, The Kiss of the Spider Woman.
CINEMA
It has been argued thai the film anticommunist. Putting aside the fact that I don'i believe it is, I would offer one strongly held opinion. That is, simply, in terms of a film's artistic merit, the point of view of the filmmaker is beside the point. The only valid criterion to a creative work is the extent to which it succeeds in capturing cand co reaviy. aspect reality, without regard to form or 1o the artist's opinion of that reahty.
To insist otherwise: is about films with social
themes would lead lo the idea that only Marxists can create such works. I know that's reducing it to the His proverbial absurdity, and
that no one would argue the for such a notion, but l do
think that is the logic of it. ommend Kiss of the recommend Spider Woman. I enjoyed vi ded me wily, alod of poro immensely, and it for thought. These days that adds up to a pretty good movie.
Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Hector Babenco, stars William Hurt and Paul Julia. It goes on London a release on Thursday 16
January at Screen on the Hill (Haverstock Hill), Gate Cinema (Notting Hill Gate), and Lumiere (Covent Garden).
IRELAND
UNFREE
reject Accords
Independence
represents a
Accords.
ding negative.
brought under control.
.Without
the use of plastic bullets, or
Ireland.
money from president
of the US and NATO in closer
cooperation.
and Larkin
against London and Belfast unionism.' calll and internationally,
soonsored among
(Amalgamated 1 UW U).
(Federated Workers Union of Ireland), ana duol
(Amalgamated TGWU),
Distributive
oul workeisi
WOMEN!
Joinus in demanding
BRITSH WITHDRAWAL
and rally. London
Irish trade unionists
THE TRADE unionists for Irish Unity and
(TUIUI) organisation significant body of opinion within the Irish trade union movement. In a statement issued recently they slammed the
'Does this agreement advance the cause of Irish unity?' they asked. And answered with a resoun-
. In their view, its intention is to create a situation in which the alienation of the
North can be deflected and
addressing the basic problems of supergrass trials, Diplock courts, strip-searching
and the widespread harassment of the nationalist population by the army and police - that is, the problems of partition
the disaffection of the minority in the North cannot be overcome. The deal represents, they believe, a repudiation of the New Ireland Forum position for the establishment of a unitary state in
TUIUI sees the Anglo-Irish Accords as: 'the culmination of a drift in Irish government policy towards closer political and security cooperation with Britain, the EEC and NATO. The offer of
Reagan and the orchestrated support from other American politi cians, the EEC commission and likes of chancellor Kohl, indicate the strategic and military interests
Anglo-Irish
'The members of TUIUL. believe in a united Ireland as a necessary step towards achieving a united working class, thereby facilitating the advancement of Irish workers. Our desire to see a united Ireland is hard-headed and practical and is not based on sentiment. We desire a united Ireland so that we can progress towards a 32 County workers' republic, the cherished aim of Connolly
'This agreement will not advance the cause of Irish unity and it must, therefore, be rejected. Instead, the Irish government and those within Ireland who believe in unity, must assert this belief in a positive and vigorous manner and should develop the alliance with progressive forces in Bri-
in a new campaign
sp Tsare Unioniss for loish (nily and Independence ss
Bonass Gerry remine anonal Penter ad d Deic storse hipers), Eoce coaerin
service workers), Eddie ben nearnes John Mitchell (Irist and Administrative workers), Daltur O'Ceallaich (higher eduacation union). Seamus de Paoi (post office engineers), Seamus Redmond (marine and
bring your banners
FROM IRELAND!
"Bloody Sunday' Demo
and Feb. 1986
Page 11 scan of this page
Defend the surcharge Councillors
News
court cases.
'We took OVCT dil
authority which was
wreck. she explained.
'There are now more than
23,000 workers in employ-
ment wno wole nor oe
otherwise. There are more
Souvouses
would otherwise be
SHOU
there.
'Over 300 affiliated
bodies support She
told the audience. 'But the
district partv is not allow-
We are not
cu to niccl
allowed to organise.
'We have the support
of all but one of the wards
in une city
does not allow people to
join because it says it is full
up! But while I am in
court, next Wednesday the
Labour Party will send in
its enquiry.
'We need the parted. united
response from
Kinnock should be defen-
ding Thatcher will
us, as unere aerenaig une
bankers when they go into
Drift back to the
NUM
UDM efforts to sink
country.
Last October, South Derbyshire miners voted
votes to join the UDM. The NUM have now
WOR back a majority of the South Derbyshire miners. lus is no small achieve. ment as miners have had to lake an aclive step to rejoin the NUM and be iden tified by management for doing so.
On 10 January, 89 per cent of the miners at the North Wales Point of Ayr colliery voted to stay with
NEARLY A YEAR ago teachers began a pay campaign to restore the 34 per cent loss suffered over the last 10 years. On 18 January, the two biggest unions the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters-Union of Women Teachers — are holding special conferences to plan for the 1986 pay campaign.
These come at important time. The Tory ment is anxious to blunt the teachers action and last
sear han ente turnerm
side the Burnham negotiating body to remove the NUT's majority. would ead to a rapid settlement
The NAS-UWT
were prepared to line up with
eadteachers'
virallisaand ine anti-strike Professional Association of Teachers, to strip ine NUT of its leadership role in the pay body. But they have been forced 1o
'WE GO INTO court this week with our hands tied behind our back,' said Felicity Dowling, secretary of the Liverpool District Labour Party and a councillor facing surcharge. She was speaking to a packed hall in Lambeth last Sunday on the eve of both councils'
crisis.'
Felicity Dowling pu the problem for Liverpool and Lambeth Councies in a nutshell. They are facing surcharge and dis-
qualification in a situation
where the party leadership
have made it more than
clear that they will throw them to the wolves.
By Carol Turner Deliberately and
publicly, done all in his power to Ila.
assist the Tories and the COULL Lose councillors prepared to stand up for the interests of the working people who elected them.
Speaking at the same meeting, NUM president Arthur Scargill pointed to the hypocrisy of Kinnock's DOSILIOU Liverpool Lambeth councils are being attacked.' he said. 'tor carrying out the policy on which they were elected in THE MISNAMED Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) got off to a shaky start in 1986. roots outside its Nottinghamshire stronghold suffered set backs across the
the NUM. Although only
a third of the Point of Ayr
miners joined the strike, a
mere 68 voted for a split to
Ine CD.I. berore ine vole
50 men who had previous• loined the UDM reloin.
ed the NUM
By Celia Pugh
This followed a pre-
Christmas rebuff to the
UDM at the other North
Wales colliery. During the
strike, miners at the North
Wales Bersham pit return-
Teachers plan more action
unity created at a local
level between the L.WO
unions. In London for ex-
ample, the Inner London
Teachers Association and
the London NAS-UWT
officers put out a joint new
years' greeting
members, expressing their
intention to work together
in the pay campaign.
First the majority of
the NUT leadership were
opposed to this develop-
ment but in December ther
adopted a call for joint
talks on the claim between
the TUC affiliated unions.
This call was initiated by
Socialist Teachers Alliance
supporters on the national
exccutive commantlee
The government's dec-
laration of cuts in educa.
tion spending of five per
cent in real terms has ex.
posed their attitude
education. This has sour.
red teachers to keep up
their fight.
Labour Party,
which now dominates the
Sue
negotiations, has made lit-
ile
Dalk
teachers. Labour spokes-
person on education, Giles
Radice has only made milk
and water statements call-
ing for an independent en-
quiry:
individual ballot. Where are the advocates of ballots now?
"The saddest thing is those who join the dawn chorous of jackels from weel Street and attack anyone, black white, woman or man, who dares to stand and fight against central government ed to work en masse in a Dare gloating press publicity. But this time it
as miners voted ten to one to stav with the national union.
UDM general sectetary Roy Lynk has been forced
comment this drift
back to the NUM, trying to brush aside than 1000'. Even if we accept his figures, that's not a bad start.
In Durham, six UDM members rejoined the NUM last month and the breakaway organisations' membership is being further eroded by members taking redundancy. By Bernard Regan (NUT Executive member, personal capacity)
The union conferences will have to take up these problems. The NUT executive resolution has routinist, business as usual approach. The conference must make sure that the current selective strike acCUlE ana sancuons are intensified and that teachers art not elt to light alone
number of local associations have amendments to the NU comerence lo lackie inese tasks. One of them calls 101 local branches the NUT and the NAS-UWT 1o get backing when they work together and instructs the executive to aim
policy:' 'It has been the policy of UHOI adopted under my predecessor, because WC saw the evil of witch-hunts and what they did to our movement in the '50s that if there's one thing we don't want, it is to turn a class. We should fight the witch-hunt UWIl
aid UDM
NOTTINGHAM members of the National Union of Mineworkers have accused the National Coal Board of intimidation, misappropiation and dirty tricks against the union.
The NCB insist that Notts miners must register NUM membership with them before dues can be deducted source and sent to the national union.
Henry Richardson, former Notts NUM secretary, se signed NUM forms that
were sent to the Board, but these were rejected on the
Strike
against racism for a joint caucus of TUC affiliated unions lo take forward the campaign.
Another amendment aims 1o broaden the campaign by calling for solidarity from other unions, linking up the
of Ine Scottish teachers with that in England and Wales, and calling together all public
who have pay claims in the pipeline
discuss a co-ordinated
against the government.
Action must be taken which will put the squeeze
Fi ne biggest impact of the cam-....
was before Xmas
1 AMBETH
class enemy'.
That same message came from the 800-odd trade unionists and party members who marched on the Strand law courts last Tuesday morning for the beginning of the Lambeth trial.
These court actions are a stitch-up. Liverpool and
NCB: dirty tricks to
could
nave been forged. Fer Me embers have to
suffer the indignity counter-signing the forms, or signing their name on blank pieces of paper, NCB offices, in the presence of a management witness.
Joe Mohammed of Cotgrave colliery said that 200 NUM members at his pit have been subjected to this procedure. He said: *They want to intimidate members by getting them to sign in front of management representatives. It's a dirty business.
Some of the Cotgrave miners have turned up
times Sign the when the NUT adopted guerilla strike tactics based on members coming out for half a day a month
In many schools this resulted in virtual closure for a week or so and led Thatcher to call on local aacherses Par the local lock employers have held back from this as they are unsult the teachers response to this provocation
The Inner London Teachers Association calling for these half day actions to be increased
one a week. This would escalate the action and resuli in the virtual
Socialist Action 17 January 1986
Message of
support from
Haringey
nie Grant. 'As recognise what you are going through.
and over 150,000,000 in
in fields to deal with our homeless.
cause.
oppressed.'
Lambeth councillors have already been found guilty of fighting for the interests of their class.
Combatting the policies the Tory government must be made synonimous with defending all councillors now forms, to be turned away with claims that a witness is nol avaladle
Barr Smith a Sherwood NUM member protests that the NCB is delayNUM
members. While there is a hold up, NUM members accuse the Board of 'misappropriation of employees money'.
Some NUM members
turn counter sign the NUM forms are being interviewed management to get them to join the UDM. This is proof that the UDM is a bosses outfit and that the NCB is determined to give NUM a rough ride.
STEFORD SCHOCO
STUDENTS DEMAND
closure of many secondary schools for weeks on end
Unable intervene directly, Thatcher has now turned to her allies in the
The attack is led by the Daily Mail and Daily Express following an article in the Times Educational Supplement.
These articles are in-
spired by Anne Sofer, an
SDP representative on th Inner London Education Authority. . They are a gutter attack on Socialist Teachers Alliance officers OT the Inner London Teachers Association.
The STA officers attacked for manipulating. the London members and
11 'GREETINGS FROM the black young people of Tottenham,' said Haringey leader Ber-
disadvantaged people we
'You are in this position because the Tory government has stolen over 100,000,000 in revenue
capital. Without that money we can't provide jobs and we can't build houses. In Tottenham we will have to put up tents
'Liverpool and Lambeth councillors didn't set out to be martyrs, but to carry out their manifesto commitments to support the poor people and oppressed who had no one else to champion their
"Our job is to support you, not to tell you what to do. The Labour Party must be the party of the
donatior councillors court should be sent Cllr Hood, Room 42.
Municipal Buildings, , Dale Street, Liverpool L69 2DH. For Lambeth tact town hall on 01-274 7722. Forgemasters STRIKERS at Forgemasters Sheffield stepped up their action with a hundred strong picket of the company's River Don plant on Monday 6 January.
Only a handful crossed the picket line, where workers voted to ioin th strike over Christmas.
The dispute becan al the Forgemasters Atlas site three months ago over the right to centralised trade union representation and an elected convenor. Foremasters Send donations Strike, AUEW House, Arundel Gate, Sheffield.
tor their support of anti racist activities. The Dail Express article is writte by Nick Woods, a declared supporter of Thatcher. It attacks progressive resolu tions submitted for the NUT's Easter conference.
The main story on the under the headline Class Express front war in the classroom' and designed to drive wence between teachers and the public, with a view to splitting the union and type • pressure via discontented parents More needs to be done i get the teachers' case ove to parents Scores of meetings have been organised and a good example is the London Parents Action Group. This activity will when teachers refuse to invigilate publi boards which run them as profit making concerns • Messages of solidarit to the ILTA officers from trade unions and Labour Party branches should be sent ILTA Hamilton House, Mable don Place, London W CI
Page 12 scan of this page
UNIONS
'WE EITHER fight now or not at all.' That was the truth which Brenda Dean, SOGAT, told print workers at Rupert Murdoch's News International on Monday. ting into operation its long publicised plan for the biggest attack on the print unions since World War II — a fight organised around News International's new £100 million Wapping plant. Murdoch himself flew into London last week to personally supervise the fight.
News International carried out an open provocation last Sunday when they unilaterally announced in the Sunday Times that 16 pages of the paper's colour supplement would printed the Wapping plant this week.
was December that News International the first time publicly admitted what SOGAT and NGA had known all time - that the Wapping plant was to be used to try to smash union organisation on Murdoch's Fleet Street papers, The Sun, News the World, Times, and Sunday Times.
Until then Murdoch had claimed that Wapping was simply to be used to print his proposed new London evening paper The Post.
Now that its positions are out in the open Murdoch's company is revealing its plans for the most brutal possible attack
the print unions. Asked on Monday's World at One
radio news over wieller
International was seeking contentall
with the print unions, the companies
director Bruce Matthews
Send
SociAlist
ACTION
DEFEND
general secretary
The Murdoch management is now openly put-
declared: 'If we are forced into it then. yes, that what it will be.
Elaborate preparations have been made by News International for the fight.
The Wapping factory protected by barbed wire and guards. Electricians short term have been operate the presses. News International Uccl seeking to sign strike, legally one union deal with the EETin clear violation of TUC policy. The EETPU executive was still meeting to take a minal accision on this as we go to press.
News International has also been scullig alternative distribution network for the plant. was reported at the end of becember that the TNT distribution company had purchased a fleet of extra lorries for paper distribuSÓGAT also LUlL reported that the company was taking on extra staff for handling newspapers.
TNT shares with News International the ownership of Australian Ansett commissioned by News International last summer to
SUBSCRIBE
ternational last summer to undertake feasibility study about establishing an alternative distribution network for newspapers to exists ones
Murdoch has legally separated his companies in order to prepare for court
the NGA and SOGAT. It would be illegal under the Tory anti-union laws it, for example, Sun workers took action against scal
abour at Wapping
The NGA and SOGAT have balloted News International workers for industrial action. The results should be known at the end of this week and the beginning of next.
Aware one on leaderships have been
betore Murdoch's offensive. Brenda
reaction to Murdoch's demand for a legally binding no-strike deal was to reject uns our say 'What we are saying is that we are prepared to break new ground.
now the NGA and DO U SOGAT have their agalis the wall. Robert Maxwell's Mirror Newspapers have already pushed through redundancies, If Murdoch succeeds in his attack it
would be a body blow to the print Winon from
which it would be difficul to recover.
Total labour movement given ic suppor the NGA and be
SOGAT'82
• See 'A threat to every
union' p2.
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ANC
Umkhonto we escalation of our military struggle'.
This is a stepping up of the South African people's struggle to make the aparmable, and for its replace- ungoverment by a single nation where black people have democratic rights.
As white supremacists used more brutal forms of resisting the just struggle of black
Africans against their rule, the ANC had no choice but to meet the violence of the slavemaster with an armed response.
After Sharpeville massacre of 1960, Umkh onto we Sizwe was born.
1986, its traditional guerilla activity against military and government targets will be extended to a people's war, with mass bases in the townships and bantustans.
This ANC offensive -consinfuneral the heels of mass demonstrations and the formation of the unified trade union federation COSATU deepens the problems of the Botha regime, which is in economic and political crisis home and becoming more isolated abroad.
This is a signal to step
international pressure to break all links with the apartheid regime. The anti apartheid movement in the United States has taken lead with an international campaign
ducts made by the AngloDutch Shell group.
Shell has been selected supplying
crude oil to South Africa it is the only big oil company
LAUNCHES
OFFENSIVE
THE AFRICAN National Congress has declared this the decade of liberation for the black people of South Africa. On 9 January ANC president Oliver Tambo celebrated the seventy-fourth anniversary of the Congress stating: 'We declare 1986 the year of
Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the people's army? He called for 'a rapid extensive
to breach the embargo.
Shell has significant vestments in South African pipelines, refin eries, filling stations, chemical plants and coa mines. Shell protests that it is 'unequivocally oppos apartheid', but newspaper been discovered where Shell announce 'We're backing South Africa'.
The US › campaign against Shell is backed by the auto and mineworkers unions and the AFL-CIO union federation.
By Celia Pugh
The Anti Apartheid Movement in Britain is appealing for more activity against South Africa se gression in the region. sanctions against Namibia and a campaign to end the South African occupation of the country.
Last week, the apar theid regime continued its undeclared war against Angola with a raid on the hamlet of Mupa, 95 miles inside the country, and the kidnapping two Angolan militiamen.
The tiny country of Lesotho, surrounded on all sides by South Africa, faces famine level shortages because, January, the apartheid Tegime has imposed border checks and restrictions. regime claim be searching for ANC Repression continues
regime on Souths of ta regime South Africa and Namibia. In Namibia teachers have been detained, accused of planting bombs.
In South Africa, the banning order has beer reimposed on ANC leader Winnie Mandela. Winnie Mandela is due in court on 22 January charged with ignoring an order banning her from Soweto home.
On 7 January 20,000 action
Picket in solidarity
Wednesday 22 January,
House, Trafalgar Square.
of limited space.
National lobby
Trade union week of action, April 14-20
day 28 June.
February, 7.30pm,
Road, N7.
SWAPO, Tony Benn MP and others.
centre Eric Biddulph, 0484 658175.
miners in Western Transvaal dismissed by the Impala company after a five day strike. Thousands of these miners were back to the homelands.
The Anti Apartheid Movement's 1986 agenda for action with demonstrations, lobbies and a national trade union conference of 1 March -offers a solid base to res pond to the ANC's appea for solidarity.
AAM agenda for
WIld Winnie Mandela, 1-2pm, South Africa
Picket to demand release of teachers detained in Namibia, Tuesday 4 February, 6pm, South Africa House, called by Namibia Support Committee. Trade union conference called by AAM, Saturday 1 March, 10-5pm, London School of Economics Houghton Street, London WC2. Registration, £5 for national delegates £3 local. AAM recommends early registration, to guarantee entrance because Nednesday 19 Marcharliament called by AAM.
Day for local demonstrations, Saturday 22 March.
National demonstration and rock concert, Salur-
• Islington Against Apartheid rally, Thursday 20
Red Rose, 129 Seven Sisters Speakers from ANC, • Huddersfield AAM demonstration, Saturday 8 February, 11pm from Beck Road. Rally 12 noon,
Nelson Mandela Square. Contact
← Socialist Action No. 126, 10 January 1986Socialist Action No. 128, 24 January 1986 →