ALL THE LABOUR movement must Cowley. It must stand up against the witch hunt of the media which is aimed against every socialist and union activist.
The press have written about 'plots' and 'moles' so that the management can sack people who are socialists and trade union supporters. with Derek Robinson and Alan Thornett. The reason the 13 people were sacked is because they have strong socialist beliefs and want the trade unions to be independent of the companies.
Leyland is only the tip of the iceberg. Britain's firms — supported by the Tory government — use political tests on their workers and ban those with radical opiShell's personnel director admitted to the Guardian that: We are interested in identifying overt opponents of the system to which we are committed. The last thing we want to do is have political subversives on our pay roll or on sites in which we have an interest.' By political subversives this gentleman means anyonewho is active in the labour movement.
Always the tactics are the same. Steph 'Red Steph', Alan becomes 'The Mole' and Derek Robinson 'Red Robbo'. After the press smear, the firm claims its dismissals have nothing to do with politics, but are necessary oppose the sackings of 13 people in, violated company rules.
work in Bermondsey.
This is what they did Party or about ed "Trots'.
pose be counted.
Thornett because these The press is always on hand to do the bosses' dirty whether it be at Leyland or character assassination of Peter Tatchell The present witch hunt is aimed at crushing democracy in every field - be it in the factories, the unions, the Labour social rights. The employers and their government want to crush all opposition to their scheme to make Britain safe for profit makers and their sights are set on all those socialists and union activistis who oppose them. British Leyland is not just about 13 allegIt's about the right of anyone to opexploitation without victimisation and sacking. people who have given messages of support to the Cowley 13 understand this and their protests must be just the beginning of a campaign to roll back the witch hunt. Every Labour Party member and every trade unionist should stand up and They should declare that the bosses and the press are not going to run the labour movement and hound those who dare fight back against them. Socialist Action asks its readers to support a campaign to defend the labour movement against the witch hunt.
THE TORY pres ful of praise for Eas European regimes who becausal beliefs.
'reds' have what is being done in cower Leyland popular press are effectively saying traut рошиса should be forbidden employment and the right to engage in trade which freedoms democratic society This is the thi of the wedge. oppression, The Ware an inaustria scandal. The 13 peopl • defended. just for their sakes, but people precisely aCUIVISIS activists the no rested at come If it's up by other employers end and it could lead to a West German-styk Berufsverbot.
FaSO because this part and parcel of th bosses attacks on the unions as whole Now Thatcher and Tebbitt are able to their friends in the media to done: do them. no longer righ ut a reward for bo man domen to the this as a guidelin attac defeat th look they We must draw work, defend truely represent the li terests of the worker
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Peter Tatchell
Dennis Skinner MP