Rail against apartheid A PETITION demanding the release of detained South:
African railway trade unionists has been launched by a Labour Party workplace branch of BR Southern Region.
It will be presented to the South African emoassv on o Mav General secretaries of the NUR, ASLEF and TSSA have been asked to be a demonstration outside at the same time.
The petition reads 'We the undersigned condemn the arrest and celennons or te general secretary of the South Atrican Kalwav and Harbour Workers' Union, Ntại Sello, and other representatives of that union. We demand Inal lney are relcased and that SARHWU is allowed full trade union rights.' EASTER 1987 National Union of Students (NUS) conference saw 100 per cent success for the NUS black caucus three black caucus candidates were elected onto the NUS executive.
cant. He introduced himself as a black caucus candidate supported by the Labour Party Black Section and as an active Labour Party member. He stood on a platform of black self-organisation, increased black representation, and for campaigning action against the Baker Bill. Pat's campaign was a pole of attraction for the left at conference.
The Democratic Left have failed to respond to the upsurge protest campaigning by students in response to Tory attacks, international racist police harassment of black people.
London NUS executive (personal capacity)
At NUS conference this upsurge expressed itself in decisions to adopt total support for the FSLN which is open to all black students. All The victory of Pat Younge was particularly signifiNicaragua, to reaffirm the support TOr OI women students elect IC their own representative onto the national executive, to recognise the black caucu: as the legitimate voice of black students, and to commit the NUS to fighting all immigration laws ucvoradous The Democratic Left's line of subordinating campaigning action Kinnock's view of secure a Labour victory in a genera election is at odd. with the needs, demands activities of the dill membership of NUS. This is why the Democratic Left lost two elections at conHowever, the incoming executive offers changes the present course. The election results were because, aside from the back campaign for Pat Younge, no attractive and serious alter. native to the Democratic Left was presented.
Alternative Socialist Students in NOLS (SSiN) in particular deepened its increasing right wing course. SSiN was •LADOUT organisation to run a candidate against Pat Younge. SSiN's reaction to a decision by the Socialist Worker (SWSS) not to vote for SSiN sup Simor Pottinger because of his position •E. support oi a Zionist state in Israel was denounced antisemitic. SSIN Clearly a campaigning alternative which, unlike the Democratic Left, does not drop action at the behest of the Icaucisip. wale unlike SWSS, is able to link with the labour movement around the Campaign Group O1 MPs, campaigning unions like the NUM, and Labour Left Liaison. and which unlike SSiN, consistently DUDJUILS the struggles national liberation movements, of black people and women, and of the oppressed world wide.
Campaign Student International Marxist Review Vol 2 No 2 (Spring 1987) is out now. Price f2.50, workers movement, the crisis in apartheid struggles, from Other Books, PO Box 50, London NI 2XP. the only current at conference which, with the black caucus, consistently supported Younges the only curren to Palestinian student Bir-Zeit university along witt the General of Palestinian only political view that can pro To this end Campaign Stu dent will be standing its own candidates in NOLS NUS elections. next yvai material includes 'Women and work in Western Europe', the Italian the PLO, antiand more. IMR is available
Socialist Action 10 April 1987