Socialist Action No. 25, 16 September 1983
The scan: 025-sep-16-1983-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
US and British troops
No. 25 16 September 1983 30p
SOCiAList
ACTION
THE UNITED STATES, Great Britain, Italy and France are at Lebanon. The decision to send 2000 extra troops, the casualties among peacekeeping' forces and the decision to British citizens Beirut all point to the fact that alongside the forces of President Gemayel the armies of the powers are at war with the
lightly-armed Druze and Shi'ite Islamic militias.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting over the last two weeks. US shore and naval batteries have shelled the militias of the Lebanese left.
British Buccaneer jets, fully armed, have flown from Cyprus British positions in the city,
out of
Lebanon
timidating the militias. war in
US obvious. growing the US forces were engaged in
hostilities this
recall or endorse the US forces, evacuate
mission.
from
involvement troops. A recent Gallup poll in Newsweek Western
that a clear majority of the
of withdrawal.
been no such public alarm as to British involvement.
involvement but also because there has been no sufficiently vigorous condemnation from the labour movement of the supportive role
the US military adventure. over
back-up This weekend
demonstration in London to
Sabra and Shatila Anniversary Committee MARCH • RALLY • DEMONSTRATION
SOLIDARITY WITH THE
PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE
Saturday 17 September, 1.15pm, Embankment
with the explicit aim of in-
Both Thatcher and Reagan
deny that they are involved in a
war. For Reagan the reason is
If he admitted that
would give
American Congress the right to
But the American people
are increasingly alarmed by the
of American
magazine shows
American people are in favour
In Britain there has as yet
This is partly due to the
currently small scale of British
will
which the
British government is giving
whether in Beirut. sees say:-
Lebanon
NO MORE MASSACRES!
mark the anniversary of the ghastly Sabra-Shatila massacre of Palestinians by right wing Christian militia. It should be a reminder that imperialism and Zionism hold no answers to the Lebanese crisis.
Only the withdrawal of imperialist and Israeli troops from the country, the release of political prisoners and the granting of the Palestinian demand for their own democratic secular state can begin to open up the way for peace in the Middle East.
But two further points have to be understood by the British labour movement.
The first is that the state of Israel is a racist state, whose very basis lies in the denial of democratic and social rights to Arab people and that far from playing any progressive role,
being further Sabra/Shatilas if it is allowed to.
The second is that British imperialism is incapable of playing a peace-keeping role
Ireland or West For these reasons we
* Reagan and Thatcher out of
* No to Israeli aggression! * Self-determination for the Palestinian people! • 'Peacekeepers' prepare for war - see page 5.
Page 2 scan of this page
Campaign ATOM defends
2 Socialist Action CLAUSE FOUR is a grouping of Labour Party NUS and in left wing Labour bodies like CLPD. In a recent discussion Four argue that they should back Hattersley rather than Michael Meacher for the Deputy Leadership of the Labour Party.
of Labour Solidarity, quite openly a candidate of the right wing. In response to a recent letter from a constituency arty, he savagely attacked party policy on nuclear disar-
rament, the EEC and incomes policy. ateresting insight into the way the 'right of the left' is dereloping. Here we publish selected extracts of the Clause Four discussion article. 'MICHAEL MEACHER is the "left" candidate for Deputy. His campaign focuses opposition against the right and makes an emotional appeal to the Labour Left which is significantly not being made by Neil Kinnock. In this way, the knee-jerk left-right strife that brought the party such bad publicity (even among its supporters) is maintained.
•FOI many on the romantic/adventurist left, Hattersley-Meacher presents an opportunity to rerun healey-benn.
ssons appear to have * this time of crisis
'At this for the party we should be cmphasising our common purpose, rather than
ighlighting points of difference. ing the Party as being made up of incompatible demenis is to welcome a further and more extensive spiTt. Lie
oblivion for socialist and working class politie do noi "bump"
•He do not propright ving the
"righi wing The Labour Party not (pare or sullied) socialist
16. September 1983
Clause Four to
back Hattersley?
embers who have made their presence felt in the
article 26 supporters of Clause
By any stretch of the imagination this is an extraordinary stance for socialists to take. Hattersley is, as a chair
Nonetheless the Clause Four supporters' position is an
party, but an alliance of various forces within the left and the labour movement. This must be recognised times organisationally. fact, NO L OVCenamoured of the division different within the Labour Party into a crude "left-right dichotomy. There are overlaps and contradictions that make such rigidity of analysis naive and sectarian.. "However. the real significance of the Meacher campaign is not what Meacher himself
tivists and the wider public. Indeed the evidence so far suggests that what Meacher himself
Arthur Scargill's letter to the WRP paper Néws Line on the Polish free trade union Solidarity has opened him up to a massive press onslaught.
cynical. The Fleet Street
cynical. The gang couldnt give about the fate of the Polish workers concerned with trying to destroy the left leadership of the NUM and the trade unions in class conscious should understand that.
Nonetheless
views expressed in the News Line letter says will be almost totally ignored by his supporters.
'In the Guardian article (by Meacher — eds) he talks about the need to put the "talk of politics of betrayal" behind us. The most enthusiastic Meacher groupies. Tribune, greeted. the election defeat with a centre Guilty page Men" story. while the
paper's columns have carried letters demanding the inclusion of Michael Foot among the alleged guilty ones and calling for an NEC inquiry into "sabotage' of the election campaign by the right. "Sadly, these do not appear to be isolated views and are promulgated by
precisely those people th
campaign will mobilise. It is surely the iob of an organisation like Clause Four to recognise this allu these nonsensical views.
'If we take Roy Hatthat his we must be clear that politics are not wholly with careerism or attacking party Dolicy. rar trom it. He is deeply committed to the development of many our most neglected initiatives, and where he does criticise policy does SO cogently and coherently...
'Within the party a Vic. tory for Meacher would strengthen those elements says, but what he is seen to & of the Bennite and far left
will be an obstacle to any attempt to save the Labour Party as a serious force In British politics...
Socialist
Action
Arthur Scargill
and Solidarity
wrong, misconceptions Solidarity
This gift to the is utterly as hypocritical
La fig Salvador, oblivious to - they are only Eastern Europe Scargill
general. Any worker opposed to socialism. adaptation Scargill's views. are profoundly September council meeting.
unanimously by the 40 delegates present.
press reports alleging 'moles' in CND.
CND is a broad based movement campaigning for nuclear disarmament.
As such we welcome into membership all those who support our minimumn
this. year grammatic
argue against
There
with socialism
rule.
week
and represent and about which are widespread inside the British labour movement. They are a capitalist press. which wants to paint the left
freedom in countries like but completely repression in you
in his letter News Line says that he is 'ut- that, but terly opposed' to the Solidarity organisation because it is more than a trade union and This is bureaucrats, to Stalinist
The underground Solidarity steering committee earlier Arthur
un Trail
rights of CND activists
CAMPAIGN ATOM, the Oxford CND, discussed press allegations of left wing subversion at its 8
The attitude of Campaign ATOM to this is of particular interest, since the press accusations have centred on the role of Oxford YCND. The following resolution was passed
'CAMPAIGN ATOM, the Oxford Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, dissociates itself from recent
"left wing infiltration" and
demands, principally unilateral nuclear disarby Britain, regardless of their views on other issues. UND Is no aligned to political
published pro manifesto which puts forward its objective of a
self-managed republic : They
Faltering the balance of forces in Europe' -that is against taking Poland into the capitalist camp.
is nothing in Those Solidarity's aims incompatible
but there is something in those aims in compatible with bureaucratic
In a press statement last it.
Scargill the Polish government of acting in a clumsy, savage and brutal way' against the Polish people
Solidarity. But that chorus method of operation cannot bashing be divorced from the domina. tion of Poland, and the rest of press. the Eastern European states, more by a privileged bureaucracy.
It is no answer to people who demand condemnation of
brutality of the bureaucracy to say 'why don't content
condemi imperialist slaughter in El Salvador Of course socialists should say
they should not the disarm themselves by lending one iota of crederice to the lies and slanders of the Polish Such
who didn't hesitate to slaughter miners
and in Silesia when they resisted the Jaruzelski coup.
Scargill does a OUTTHE MISSILES Youth CND organised a successful lobby of the TUC despite the CND leadership's attempts to call it off
party and we welcome into membership members from all political parties and movemens trade unions, churches, womens organisations etc. 'We recognise and support the right of members have views on other _topics. All members of CND have equal rights to decide Or CND policy, and stand for office, free from intimidation. 'We condemn the attack in the media on the right of socialists to be active in CND and recognise that this is part of an at-
News
disservice to the left and undermines his own position in the NUM when he appears to sanction the Stalinist lies about the Polish workers.
There is another aspect of this affair the role of the Workers Revolutionary Party.
familiar with this organisation will know that it
the demented sectarian remnant of what was once a Trotskyist organisation. Its behaviour on this issue shows
Scargill wrote them a letter in June, but they held back its publication until the TUC
Arthur Scargillwhich they knew would be going on in the
Could anything be despicable from an organisation which claims to be socialist.
The WRP must have known the real anti-socialist
of the witch hunt against Scargill on this ques tion. But they chose, through the timing of the publication of
letter, to provide capitalist press with the ammunition to rubbish Scargill.
behaviour is the equivalent of strike breaking
scabbing. perpetrators have no place within the ranks of the labour movement
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
tack on CND and the mass movement for nuclear disarmament as a whole.
'We call on the leadership of national CND (the Executive, Council and Conference) to endorse This statement to be published in ine Campaign AJUM bulletin and presented to the local press, Sanity, Radiator (Southern Regional CND journal), Peace News, Morning Star, New Statesman, Tribune, Socialist Action and the CND executive.
Page 3 scan of this page
rights at work
News against political discrimination at work. Congress also
and General Workers'
secretary
tee.
and the list of initial signatories. The appeal's instigators aim to establish a campaign around it in the near future, when full details of its activities will be released to the public.
To established and gets off to a flying start, we ask our readers to collect signatures and money on the widest possible basis. Appeal forms, and other information, can besobtained from ALEX LYON, 23 LARKHILL RISE, LONDON SW14.
Campaign
for political
Appeal against political
normal trade union activity. victimised at work for their political convictions.'
Oxford East Labour Party has unanimously endorsed a national appeal for action
Its General Management Committee voted to back the appeal on Monday 12 September. The statement was signed by 12 Oxford Labour councillors, including the Parliamentary Prospective Candidate for Oxford East Labour Party, Andrew Smith.
Key figures at last week's Trade Union
endorsed the statement.
These included Alex Kitson, the Transport
Union assistant Senerur Party National axeete com he- and a member of the
Below we publish the text of the appeal
that the campaign is
victimisation and vetting
We are deeply concerned that the recent dismissal by British Leyland at Cowley of workers for their political views is merely one example of increasing victimisation of workers who are considered radical or socialist. In our view an employer is not entitled to censor ideas or penalise
*The press statement of the Cowley story was gravely
disturbing in assuming guilt were none was proven. Yet few voices were heard in criticism. This is a new MeCar-
thyite tendency to condemn people by association and,
taken with the activity of organisations like the Economic League, it is a tendency which ought to be reversed. We would welcome your support in forming a committee to counter this tendency and to give support to those who are
Oxford Party backs national appeal
Alex Kitson, Assistant General Secretary TGWU Terry Marsland, General Secretary T00CCO Workers Union Geoffrey Drain, General Secretary NALGO Alan Sapper, General Secretary ACTT Jim Slater, General Secretary National: Union of Seamen Jimmy Knapp, General Secretary National Union of Railwaymen Ken Cameron, General Secretary Fire Brigades Union Jack Collins, Kent area NUM Morris Jones. President Yorkshire NUM
Initial signatories, all in personal capacity.
Ken Barlow, Midland Region UCATT Eric Heffer MP Jo Richardson MP Martin Flannery MP Tony Banks MP Jeremy Corbyn MP Harriet Harman MP Dennis Canavan MP Ron Brown MP Ken Livingstone, leader GLC Richard Balfe MEP Mabel Goldwin, Southwark councillor Peter Troy, Southwark councillor Penny Newell, Chair Peckham CLP Alex Lyon Les Huckfield Jeremy Hawthorn, Sec Peckham CLP Lloyd Trott, Treasurer Peckham CLP James Curran, editor New Socialist Glenys Thornton, secretary Political ComMillet Royal •Arsenal Cooperative Society Ansley Rice, Southwark Black Peoples Alliance Peter Industrial Organiser, Party
Six thousand
through pouring
others said it in costume (above). Jeremy Corbyn MP
Prof. Sheila Allen Prof. Hilary Rose, Bradford University Prof. Steven Rose, Open University Prof. Stuart Hall, Open University Sue O'Sullivan, Spare Rib Helen John, Greenham Peace Camp Robin Blackburn, editor New Left Review Anthony Arblaster John Saville Anthony Kendall, leader Hackney Council Gultekin Bekdemir, ecutive member of the banned Turkish DISK, and a leader of the underground Turkish mineworkers union.
people marched through rain to Chilean Coup. Speakers denounced the tottering Pinochet government while
Socialist Action 16 September 1983 3
London last -weekend commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Jo Richardson MP
No new Vietnam in
Central America
• Council Chamber Camden Town Hall Judd Street, London WC1 Thursday 29th September 7.30pm Jeremy Corbyn MP - just back from Nicaragua Maria Urbina, Nicaragua Embassy Jaime Lopez, FDR/EI Salvador Silvia Beales, No Intervention in Central America Chairperson: Sue Lukes, Chile Solidarity Campaign
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The leadership elections
4 SOCIALIST ACTION reprints below an article by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy on why Labour Party members should support Eric Heffer in the leadership contest.
THE ELECTION of a new Labour Leader and Deputy Leader is being presented by the media as an American-style personality contest. meaning Party and trade union members untortunately also see it in this light.
The real significance of this election, however, political. The choice of the electoral college, together with the other NEC elec-
will probably decide the Party's woole mure direction. This why CLPD is urging all Labour Party members and trade unionists to vote for Eric Heffer.
One of the major factors which contributed to Labour's defeat was the internal party tension produced by the reluctance of the Parliamentary leadership to accept the two reforms which made more accountable
reselection MPs and the electoral college. "ne traghe which was laboriously constructed during the last few months came too late • 5 have an effect on the election result.
Danger
This foundation should now be built on.
Unfortunately danger from influential minorities within the Party who are trying to re-open
to reverse the Party's democratic gains bv blaming them for the election defeat.
Eric Heffer is the only candidate who has called for acceptance of the constitutional changes which have been made. Both Peter Shore and Roy Hattersley support proposals in relation to the electoral college and on mandatory re-selection which would render these reforms ineffective.
Under the banner of one member, one vote they
promoting a system which will undermine the Branches and General Committees of CPs bi using postal ballots in the tenersio elections and holding a one off meeting of members in the CUlISLI tuencies to select MPs.
The effects will be to ercourare media inter-
Now, don't be silly, Billy! You have to
In go to school! If
you don't you won't4
get a decent job when you grow up!!,.
Dorit wanna go to
¿schod! Don't warna!
Don't WANNA!!
Socialist Action 16 September 1983
Many well-
ference, to ensure that the process for electing the leadership elevates them above Party policy, and to by-pass the only ettective body monitoring an MPs performance.
Demand
Neil Kinnock, of course, is not identified with this demand for the reversal democratic
He has stated that he regards mandatory Teacellul that is here to stay, and presumably he views the electoral similar way. past record on the NEC
lowever, must throw some doubt on the degree of his
to democTaul cons.
In 1979 it was his vote favour of the NEC withdrawing its own constitutional amendment which prevented the Party conference trom making a decision which would have transferred the final decision on the manifesto to the NEC. In May 1981 he voled authorise the shortlist of one, this was an abuse of mandatory reselection.
Abstention
His abstention in the Deputy Leadersnip electior:, and his campaign to persuade MPs abstain ensured that the
was deprived of majority favour
and opened the door to the NEC'S subsequent 111terference with the democratic rights of members.
The fundamental basis for Labour Party unity is the agreement to abide by
major policy decisions of the last ten years have been for the Alternative Economic Strategy, unilateral nuclear disarmament, and withdrawal from the Common Market.
A PIECE : " ACTION
wander
Eric Heffer — most in step with the CLPs and unions
Like the rest of us, Eric Heffer undoubtedly does sente position on these
position issues as the last word. Out of the four leadership candidates, however, clearly the candidate most
step with the broad outlook of the majority of CLPs ang trade unions. Principle
Above all, he is the only one unequivocally committed to the principle that Party conference must have the last word. and that Labour MPs must fight for LADOUIS policies.
Alongside the acceptance of majority deci-
The battle.
The Great
A
sions, the fundamental principle of democracy is the right of a minority to campaign for change: Eric Heffer is the only leadership candidate who upholds this right.
The manifestos Shore and Hattersley cal for purges opponents, while Kinnock has voted in the Party NEC in favour of almost every step in the victimisation of Militant supporters. Eric Heffer,
has however, been solutely consistent in his public statements that disagreements must be settled by democratic and not Stalinist methods, and that nobody should be expelled
trom the Labour Party because of their views.
The most significant aspect of Eric courageous stand against a witch hunt 1s Its. importance for Labour's future. The Party's overriding need is to face up to the lessons of the last Genera Election so as to make sure Inar we wn tue next ore
Scapegoats
The approach of the last three Party …Leader has been to search for scapegoats the actions of the unions CLPs, sonnetic the decisions of Party conference, and
BY CORMAC $24 H33 Congratulations, William! you are this city's unem. ployed school leaver number 5000!!
This is where
they stand
Before you vote, discover how
the leading candidates voted on
the critical issues at the NEC.
Although Gwynneth Dunwoody,
John Golding and Jo Richard-
son are not standing, their votes
are nevertheless recorded as il-
lustrations of typical responses
by different parts of the Party
spectrum.
Key to symbols
F for
A against
O abstention
* not on the NEC then
No action against Militant
(Dec 80) 'shortlist' of one (May 81)
3 For trade union rights for Youth
Opportunity Trainees (July 81)
4 Support NEC commitment to
nuclea r weapons from
Endorse Peter Tatchell (Dec 81)
No enquiry into Militant (Dec 81)
Endorse Pat Wall (Feb 82)
Immediate easefire in the Falklands (May 82)
'unilateral disarmament' in Labour's Programme 1982 (May 1982)
10 Reiect Militant Tendency Report
(June 82
11 Keep the • commitment to
nationalise clearing banks in NEC statement to conference (July 82)
12 NEC should not oppos
conference amendments calling for removal of NEC's arbitrary powers over pressure groups anc
for the operation of pressure groups (Sept 82
13 Total opposition to income
policy and support for guaranteed ninimum wage (Sept 82)
14 Keep Benn ; not Golding, as Chai
For home roncy Commite (Nov 82)
15 Carry out 1981 conference
out a full re-selection in the event of boundary changes (Feb 82)
16 Against expelling Militan
Editorial Board (Feb 83)
the fringe groups. whose real influence is, of course, negligible.
Eric Heffer is the one candidate whose record shows wholehearted commitment to Labour as a broad church, and as a mass which campaigns outside as well inside Parliament for working people.
Help
Heffer!
CAMPAIGN material and details of
MP (Middleton), House of Commons,
London SW1. Donations are welcome to
cover the costs of printing, postage and
above address, payable to Jim Callaghan
MP (Middleton).
News
KINNOCK COLDING
A
*F- A F TAF
→> AF F
• A A P
A F
A A A F
A FA A F
A FA - F
A FOAF
- A I
A F
He is the one candidate certain to resist the pressures for precisely the public displays of disunity which played such a large part in the e election defeat.
Eric Heffer is the one candidate who can be relied on not to sacrifice socialism and democracy in the process of the sear. ching reappraisals that must be taced meetings are available from Jim Callaghan
necessary travel. Please send cheques to the
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Lebanon peace keepers' prepare for war
International
REPEATEDLY
over the
*peace keeping' force in Lebanon have come under fire. The US soldiers, at least, have returned that fire.
Two thousand extra US • Wal lics have been despatched to the Mediterranean, while an American aircraft carrier has bombarded Druze militias the Chouf mountains. Thẹ scene is being set for intervention in force by the Western armies.
There not the slightest doubt that any Western intervention will be to defend the Phalangists the right wing Christian militias against their left wing and nationalist Muslim oppolicils.
The crisis has been the
its forward al llly
ed on thus military vacuum. Lebanese
army, the Phalangists, the Druze militias the Shi'ite Muslim militia,
void.
that they the
waiven
the last century, the
BETWEEN THING DRUZE ANDLAT
Air attack
launched on
Nicaragua
Puerto Sandino.
One of the two planes airtart tire nd crashed aircratt and crashed killing both the pilot and co-pilot, later identified as Nicaraguan exiles.
DUlll the air raid and the sabotage of the oil installation were claimed by tne Democratic Kevolltionary Front Honduras.
Last Friday jet fighters (US-made T-38s) rockets at oil storage tanks al lic . 50 miles West of Managua Reports differed as to the damage done, some saying the rockets landed in the
storage tanks were damaged.
Ominously, the Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel D'Escoto
past week, British, American and French soldiers of the international
Lebanese Christians have looked to the Western imperialist powers for support. venerally the wealthiest section of the community, the Maronite Christians have fought to their position against the more populous Druze and Muslims.
the Socialist
Their been
the mountains
- battles
Wing.
The conflict between the two communities in the early 1970s was complicated by the arrival in Lebanon the main fighting forces of thẹ Palestine Liberation Organisation, driven out of Jordan by King Hussein in 1970. They became the aile LNe Lebanese left.
In the civil war which developed in 1975-6, the
LEBANESE ARMY UNDER DRUZE ATTACK
PALESTINIANS r
SUCHARDO
CHRISTIAN TOWN A FOR two days running last week rebel plans based in Honduras launched air attacks against Nicaragua. On Thursday two light planes attacked the airport at Managua, and machine gunned and rocketed an area of the city. On the same day, contras blew up Nicaragua's only dock for unloading crude oil at
indicated on Friday that an air and sea battle was taking place between Nicaraguan and nOnduran forces in the Laguna
duran and Nicaraguan Castl This escalation of the
Yes, according to the InterHerald Tribune after CIA officials had exDressed disappointment that the rebels had not made significant military inroads in Nicaragua Clearly the launching of air attacks from Honduran territory is an act of Wal notes The CIA has decided to step up
and the situation is drifting
Women mourning after Palestinians and Lebanese left came close to overrunning the Phalangists, but were stopped by the Syrian
the so-called alilly 'Arab peace keeping force'
The Svrians had no love of the Phalangists, but were equally opposed hationalist and Palestinian leftistpresence on their borders.
Syrian-policed stalemate between the two forces was broken by last year's
Seeking to deal a permanent blow to the Palestinians, the Israelis moved into West Beirut to defeat the nationalist and left wing guerillas as well.
Temporarily the Maronite Christians saw the israels as their allles After all, the Israelis were battering their most bitter foes. With Israeli support the Phalangist leader, Bashir Gemayel, was: installed as President.
But all the evidence is that the Israelis were play. ing a double game. At one
Attack on
Greenham
women
IT'S getting impossible
these days read
newspaper (present com-
pany excepted) or watch
the news on l'l without
screaming loudly. The
seem to be on a
right wing rampage even
more than usual.
Here is an example of
objective reporting from
the illustrious Daily Ex-
press (take note especial-
ly of the last four words):
'A group of normally
peaceful citizens decided
to take the law into their
own hands late last night
with a hit-and-run raid
on the Greenham Com-
Dacking strong centralised
by the and interest. maintain Israeli dominance region
the part Lebanon but
Israeli of
coplabic, number casualties
occupation was . sustain-
WALE
women's peace camp.
'Wearing wis vigild and boiler suits the antes" businessmen,
young couples launched themselves into the tatty tented complex armed with all the revolting refuse they could lay their hands on including maggots.
"The raid began
11pm when carloads of vigilantes rippeu ground and flung sackloads of maggots, offal and farm manure over the site.
'In just two minutes the vigilantes were back in their cars to vanish into the night. There were no police on the scene, and no violence UL" cured.'
in reality become the Israeli project 1olowing their withdrawal to the Awali river.
The problem is that what's temporarily good for Israel is not necessarily what's best for the United States. Reagan and company still seem wedded to the idea of a Lebanon dominated the Phalangists. Victories by the Jumblatt milițias would probably allow the return of many more Palestinian fighters, and in their minds contribute to the further destabilisation of the region That's where the marines come in.
The international peace keeping force has one brief, not to 'keep the peace' but to defend and support the central Lebanese government. This government is now in reality Phalangist government. Is wot runs only in East Beirut and the
ding the city
To establish itself na
Is the Pope
real?
speaking to a posse of
speaking to a posse American bishops, denounced homosexuality, premarital sex, artificial birth control, abortion and women priests
The question has to be asked: "Is the Pope real?'.
Anyway, can judge for yourself. Here
what the Pontiff actually said: consciousness or ine sues
Socialist Action 16 September 1983
New protests
in Chile
RIOTING swept the
working class areas of
Chile on Thursday
September in new
day of national
DIU
test against the
Pinochet regime. At
least four people were
killed and dozens were
injured by police gun-
fire.
killed in seperate in-
and were
WCLO demonstra-
cluding Santiago,
Valdivia Concep-
demonstra-
tionally it needs to militarily defeat the Druze, Shi'ite and other Arab nationalist and left wing forces. This task it evidently incapable of accomplishing on its own
If the Americans reinforce their contingent in beirut ana ger aceply Involved in the fighting, then the VICSCUCC of British, French and Italian troops will inestimable diplomatic value as cover. Just as they did in
'The compassionate bishop will proclaim the incompatibility of premarital sex and homosexual activity with God's plan for human
bishop must give proof of his pastoral ability and leadership by withdrawing all support from individuals groups who in the name
progress, Jusuice compassion promote une roman or womer to the priesthood
'The bishop is called As the TUC discusses women's rights, Len Murray demonstrates an advanced
5 In
police fire
obviously off duty
right
wing.
evening more
tained the police
law students
port of the copper
Seguel, failed for
allegedly insulting
Pinochet article
Korea, the US will presen
the whole venture as an ac
of upholding internationa
law - approved by the in
ternational community.
Socialists 1n Britai
should start a campaig
for withdrawal OI th
British peace keepin
The experience
Torce
Ireland shows us only to
well now those sent by l
perialism to 'keep th
peace' the advanc guard of its counter
revolutionary strike force
Sabra and Shatila First Anniversary Committe
DEMONSTRATION
Embankment
sat I7th sept I.15pm
ISRAEL OUT OF LEBANON!
discrimination women by reasons of sex teaching on the exclusion The Church's of women from priestly ordination is extraneous to the issue of discrimination.'
Answer on postcard, please, column and the funnies reply will win a copy o. the new book Greenham Women Everywhere. (Positive discrimination will, of course, apply).
Page 6 scan of this page
Chapple shows the way
AST WEEK'S TUC was reeted by the edia with something akin to aphoria. They welcomed the ght and sound of Chapple 3 he came to the fore and set se pace for Murray and the ther right-wing leaders.
They read the writing on
TUC's wall which
talks with osening of the links with
Labour Party cognition of emocratically vernment' which means no Sitical strikes against antiade union legislation.
They relished the humilia-
altrIffs say
•y Protection Pay Justice
-for at nHs staffs!
Stealth Service union health unions conducted the most militant struggles
TUC shows
the need for
new
minority
movement
capitalist
Men their grip on the TUC.
spelt the whole Tebbit,
and the elected Minority Movement,
look at Movement.
COHSE
Socialist Action 16 September 1983
tion of the left whose policies clearly offer no way forward against the Tory attacks. The left has not just let Murray and company off the hook, but allowed them to strength-
A stop has to be put to this process which threatens
future of the labour movement. This week PAT HICKEY examines the role of both right and left inside the TUC and stresses the need for the building of a new
whilst BOB PENNINGTON takes a
the old Minority
COHS
NO. 8 REGI N and weakening marked.
Photo: GM COOKSON
million
contrast, ment
the unions.
FOR THE TORY press the 115th annual Trades Union Congress was as almost as joyous an occasion as the mole-hunt two weeks earlier.
Alongside weighty editorials welcoming the 'new mood of realism' were jubilant headlines glorying in the defeat of the left. The Times carried an article entitled "The Beginning of the End of the Unions?'
The question mark at the end was well-advised. Although the outlook for the unions - and the working class is grimmer than at any time since 1945, the ruling class in Britain still has a long way to go before it can achieve its aim
breaking the back ot -organised labour. But the signs are ominous.
There is certainly no room for complacency on the left about the situation. The 1983 Congress marked the biggest political shift in the TUC since the left leadership of Jones and Scanlon emerged in the late '60s to replace the right wing dominance of Carron and company. Then the shift took place in the context of the long boom, of growing shop floor strength, and the burgeoning of the stop stewards' organisations.
This present shift however is in the context of a worsening economic crisis, of a new round of attacks on the unions
the weltare state, a dramatic of the shop stewards organisations, particularly in heavy industry, and a catastrophic decline in the fortunes of the Labour Party.
When Thatcher came to power in 1979 trade union membership stood at the record level of 12.2 million, or 52 per cent of the working population. To-
Deou working population. It is in the major manual unions that the decline is most
The Transport and General Workers Union has dropped from over 2 million in 1979 to 1.5 million; the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers from 1.2 million to under
La value coesn 850,000. In engineering, the number shoo stewards has about halved
National and Local GovernOfficers Association and tional Union of Public Employees have made small gains. As a result about 4 million of the TUC's 10.5 million are
white-collar and public sector
Did Frank thump him? Or did the 'left' just politely roll over when Chapple spoke?
Given the depths of the recession such figures are not surprising. they could not in themselves account for the rightward move at this TUC Much more important are me pontica defeats suffered by the labour movement since 1979, above all the inability of the Labour leadership to take on the Tories. It is an old adage that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them. This certainly applies to the left in the TUC.
Their failure to campaign for clear socialist policies, their face of the right's attacks on socialists in the Labour Party, and their refusal to support struggles against the Tories
as with the health workers, the train drivers, Labour's debacle on 6 June.
By Pat Hickey
The Tory press, and the right wing on the TUC try to defeats to some fundamental and irreversible process going on in the working population of Britain. They point to the rise growth of the service and banking and insurance sectors as evidence that the trade unions have 'to adjust to the last quarter of the 20th century'
Such assertions are rubbish. They must be firmly rejected by Unions such as NUPE and NALGC organise some of the poorest paid and most oppressca sectors or lne population in Britain. And the health unions conducted the most militant struggles that happened in 1982.
Even trade unions such as BIFU -which covers banking, and finance - are remarkable not for being based on a new elite section of the working class, but for the fact even in SuCT traditionally workers have found organise to defend their interests. Civil and Public Servants Association is : of not based on pin-striped civil servants By but on low paid clerks and typists etc
These changes Na- position of the TUC membership are not some sudden new discovered by a guru of the right 1983. hey have decades and have been speeded up by the crisis. True traditional industries
But however
would
sociological
silence in the
and British Leyland led to
organise
drivers.
attribute these of the right
the working class. of new technology, the
socialist
socialists
Talks
political
insurance Party.
privileged areas
tion.
in the social com- policy
development in been going on for
bosses.
have been declining. At the same time letarianised - as Marx predicted they new areas have been
Tory Britain has not brought forth a new aristocracy of labour embracing the bulk of the working class. In fact with four million unemployed it has done the opposite. The issue is not a
VilC that demands political answers. The problem is not the membership. The pro blem is the leadership. And particularly that section of the leadership which claims to lead the left.
Throughout the life of the last Tory government they refused to organise the forces at the base of the movemen who were prepared to take on the government. They made no attempt to.
the ranks for example, against the TUC's sell-out of the train.
They failed to build on the potential of the health workers dispute.
In the run-up to this TUC they accepted, by their silence the framework
wing. This framework focussed on Labour's election defeat, and the undoubted shift to the right in
The conclusion from this was not the need to put forward
policies and campaign for them in the unions. but the ... need for a major reassessment of the TUC'S policies and role'. What this will mean was made clear during Congress.
It will be talks with Tebbit about anti-union legislation, opposition to
strikes, dropping unilateralism, opposition to secondary industrial action, and acceptance of the weakening of links with the Labou
So in a situation where the Tories are engaged in the most serious attacks on the working class for 50 years, the TUC General Council will be swimming with the stream of ruling class reac
This will be in the hope that they can do a deal with Tebbit. But this
will only to further demoralise the working class. It will reinforce the myth of Tory invincibili ty. It will drive even more workers into the hands of the Alliance and even the Tories. And it still will not satisfy the
Page 7 scan of this page
for Murray
Chapple and his allies on eneral Council have already made it
that they regard the mocrat/Liberal Alliance as a useful il to a left-dominated Labour Party. ad amidst all the hullabaloo about the orean airliner and Scargill's stance on lidarity there was a deafening silence - the question of Tebbit's attack on e political leva, Confident
The right wing are getting mach ere confident. They know tha sea:
e third of the unions in the
t affiliated to the Labou: zy see this as a base for ther pace:
talking to the democraticall! ees==
ernment' and eventually opening up
with the SDP. If they succeed in
ing the trade unions' links with
Labour Party this would deal a
- olow to tne interests of the work.
dass. It would undermine its in-
cadence and help to deliver sections
workers' movement into the
Is of the bourgeois parties.
the
Social cowardly
TUC.
ingly unlikely
the Lazu: 2: 1= 25 The tast is:
===:
I: wi
for a new Minority Movement.
next few years.
Party had
had set in.
of miners,
114)
leaving
'Stop unions.'
unions derisively
base
workshops was
leadership.
This danger can be fought only by the most vigorous opposition to the
positions adopted at this The practices of the left trade union leaders of the past five years have been shown to be woefully inadequate.
sectoral responses, or even worse, which confines its fight to the committee rooms of the TUC, will not be able ie mobilise che 30 per cen:
CEME period will beto gate 25=: ==
com the General Counci io the sto; ==d atte floor. It will be to build sup-
struggle against =: he welfare
the right across, the labour movement whose sharpest political expression will
Labour Party The lessons of last week's defeats is the need
This must be the watchword of the left in the
IN 1922/23 the British Communist
just about got itself organised. But by then the slump
Unemployment was rife. In industry the working class had suffered a series of major set-backs.
In 1921 'Black Friday' had meant that the much vaunted Triple Alliance
rail and steelworkers had given in to the Tory government and in 1922 the employers lock out had inflicted a big blow on the engineering workers who during the war years nad been in the vanguard of the workers? struggles. The war-time shop stewards' movement lay In ruins and possibilities inside the unions looked very bleak indeed.
For the infant Communist Party the most important question was what to do next. Certainly there was no talk of
the TUC and forming new unions. In fact they adopted the slogan:
the retreat Back to the
Wherever they could, they rank-and-file organisations inside the
- which one right-wing leader dubbed 'minority movements'. These gained their first miners they
engineers transport workers. argued for
based on th and therefore be more representative than bodies simply based on trade union branches.
Influence
They also aimed for trades councils to be represented at the Trades Union Congress to bring workshop influence
In 1924 the first annual conference of the National Minority Movement
held with 200,000 workers represented. It called for the setting up of factory committees which would be a step towards industrial unionism and for making the local trades councils into centres of genuine working class
Minority Movement wanted the TUC General Council to be given more powers so that it could act as a general staff of labour.
The Minority Movement did not suffer from the half-baked illusion that ,the people who led the TUC could be
LIVING-IN SYSTEM
144, 5 DR. CLIFFORD
JAMES MACPUCRRON
transformed into action'. It fact that 'when the employing realise the General Council is really the head of the trade union movement much more capitalist "influence"' wil be brought to bear on it ...
But they explained, Minority Movement desire a General Council which will bring into being a bold and audacious General Staff of the trade union movement.' Their way becotong a machine of the capiolisti" stopping and becoming Staff' was by tionary class consciousness the the trade union membership.'
Finally they emphasised that they had to alter 'the constitution of the General Council so as "to ensure that those elected thereon would have the closest contact with the members'.
By Bob Pennington
The Minority Movement thus plac ea isel nea to tne orerron or l struggle to build the trade unions on democratic and accountable lines and and at the
leadership with real power.
Throughout 1924 by its association with a number of strikes the Minority Movement gained in prestige and extended is influence.
Movement had a basic strategy which was to build a fighting leadership on a series of limited demands to replace the right.
They knew that the crisis of leadership inside the unions could not simply be solved by winning people one by one Communist understood that they had to work with left-reformist leaders who did have the confidence of thousands of workers. Failing to do that and just saying join the Communist Party was not the route to victory, but was the path to defeat and disaster.
As the Communist Review explained in 1932 '... at the beginning of the 8150 National Minority
siderable time and energy had to be expended to fight down the belief that there was no room for a movement dealing with immediate and "narrow" economic issues ... and that such al organisation would stand ir LIVING-IM
SYSTEM
STSTE
DR. CLIFFORD
CLIFFORD
JADES MACPHERSIN White collar workers had begun to organise even before the turn of the century
'revolutionaries of made no bones about the This fight
class
'we of the
General Council
'a workers' General 'developing a revolu-
amongst its sympathisers.
Strike of 1926.
means British same time to invest the union
fruit.
The Minority
height Movement's
Party. They out the Movement working class.
front of SISTEM Socialist Action 16 September 1983
and hide the party from the workers.'
against propagandism was necessary if a genuine mass movement was coine Io be built inside the trade unions and in which the Communist Party could win by its policies and examples thousands and thousands of workers with reformist views.
The crucial question was its relationship with the left reformist leaders in the bureaucracy. If it had failed to work with these leaders then it would have remained ineffective. After they commanded the support of hundreds of thousands of workers, whereas the Communist Party had a following of a few thousand even if you included
But at all times it had to avoid providing a left cover for these leaders. Unfortunately it fell into the latter trap. In 1925 as a new wave of working class militancy was sweeping the country and the scene was being set for the General
In Russia the newly established Stalinist regime had its eyes fixed on the trade union lefts of the TUC. Stalin wanted to use the Anglo. Russian Trade Union Committee as a
of establishing detente with imperialism. The policy of peaceful co-existence was about to beal
Pressure
Under pressure from Stalin's Comintern the Communist Party at the very
of the National Minority power began to softpeddle their criticism of the TUC 'lefts' like Purcell and Hicks. In the General Strike the following year the 'lefts' in obedient collusion with the right sold
miners. The workers' movement suffered an appalling defeat.
From then on the National Minority Movement went into a decline. But it still stands as a testimony in its earlier days of how Marxists should work inside the unions. It started in a period of downturn with the aim of democratising the unions, and of making them in-
organisations that fought for the
It recognised that the Communist Party would have to build a mass resistance involving reformist leaders and reformist workers to replace the right-wing union leaders.
7
Page 8 scan of this page
THE ACTION INTERVIEW
8
a 23 year old shop
assistant from San
2½ years.
Mexico about her
experience.
What were the trade union activities you were involved in, and for which vou were arrested.
worked in a large store in San Salvador. There was operating in ine store that filiated FENASTRAS trade union federation.
conditions for us workers. were very JOW. awful and they treated us very badly.
worked to irv and get our demands met, and became one of the leaders of the union in the store. That's why I began to be seen as danger the boss's interests, unal s wily I was lalel alesicu.
How were you arrested?
: one morning in December 1980. When I'd got two DIOCKS the road found myself surrounded by soldiers of the 1st Infantry Brigade.
From that moment the violence was pretty well constant. They grabbed hold of me violently and told me they were taking me away because I'd gol mixed up In 'stupidities' Mbs together the face tid and thumbs with a cord blindfolded my eyes.
Then they put me up against a wall and. cocking their rifles, said they might as well kill me there and then. All this happened in full view of the passers-by.
A. bit later, they shoved towards a pick-up truck, threw me in the back and drove off. I didn't know where to.
On the manhandling me and obscenities about my body. They even pulled my trousers down. tried to resist they told me to 'keep quiet, you bitch, because you're in our hands now?
We arrived at the San Carlos barracks, although I didn't yet know that's where 1 was.
I was taken to a small room with a bed, alid blood-stained clothes in it. Here they changed the cord around my thumbs for hand-cuffs, with my hands behind my back, and I remained blindfolded.
I stayed like that for the five days 1. was there. I was questioned constant-
day and night,
who continually threatened to kill me. insulted me, and hit me when I didn't give satisfactory answers
For refused to
hings they accused me of
The would say things like 'where
da you want us to leave your body?'.
Socialist Action 16 September 1983
JOSEFINA PAREDES is
Salvador. In 1980, as an
active trade unionist, she
was arrested, tortured
and held without trial for
In May this year she
was 'amnestied'. She
talked to a Socialist
Action correspondent in
For 'how you?', and so on.
union was afsexually abused
Our wages WCIC
suosance oole
and human being so much.
beginning. 1 ney suddenly volvement was,
the methods for you'
rogator after totally exhausted.
OSCROOSed
Iran the
to pieces.
me ing to take me out and kill me
started talking
dreadful conditions, bed and rotting food all place.
that I was Women's Prison tions weren't much better. man s
us hardest negiect we suricicu.
reason for my arrest.
their admit the
would you like us to kill They pulled my ears and breasts, grabbed my hair and beat my head hard against the desk bet-
Also as a form of punishment they
me In the most disgusting way and threatened to do it again if I didn't give good answers 'During inese live days inev gave me nothing to eat, only on one occasion they brought me a tortilla with some it was because I was still blindfolded.
look one be our colton a cellae stuff down my throat. I felt complete. ly humilitated, they degraded you as a
After that I was moved to the National Police barracks, where | was threatened and interrogated from the
said, nere you re really going to tell us what your in-
we're really going to get the truth out of you, we've got just
I spent three days of questioning there, during which time they didn't let me rest for a moment, one inter-
another, until I was streets.
In these barracks too, torture and
WCIC the methods used to extract statements.
blade machete across my neck and said they were going to lop my head off and chop me
They put a pistol to my head and said that at 12 that night they were go-
- ana they did do a simulation, taking me out to a car and switching it on. But the motor wouldn't start so they said they'd have to do it the next day.
Then they took me to a cell with
damp, with no over the
I stayed there three months. After
transferred to llopango where our condi-
There were many restrictions and deprivations, but one thing which hit
was the complete legal In my case, 1 spent two and a half years there without ever being told the
How did you come to be released? their I was released on the 24 May 1983, "benefiting' from the amnesty decree. I had no warning, they just told me I was tree and had to leave althougn without any documents it was ex-
tremely dangerous to be out on the •
This amnesty wasn't a gift from the government but a political manoeuvre to. make their human rights image more respectable, so that they could go on receiving economic and NO LAT aid from the US and thereby continue their war of extermination against the Salvadorean people.
We political prisoners became a real problem the Salvadorean government because of pressure exerted and demands being made Dy te alerent assoclauons, committees and humanitarian institutions seeking our release.
So they came up with this halfmeasure of an amnesty which doesn't release all the prisoners in Tacl more people are still being arrested. I doesn't begin to deal with the question of those who have disappeared
The decrees under which many of us were judged, are totally repressive illegal allu anu-consulutioldi they remain in full force
Decrees 507 and 943, introduced in December 1980, 'legalise' the use of statements extracted under duress and without witness.
They allow the police to act as own prosecution witnesses, allow for 6 months detention without any right to defence - although actually this period is often much longer
and cancel any exemptions minors, meaning that many political prisoners are just 12 or 13 years old.
How would you like
us to kill you?'
Despite the government anmesty, the right wing death squads continue their murder campaign
How do you see the situation in El Salvador today?
the moment government and armed forces are facing one or tel worst crises will lat economy, their own and their lack of crediblitv both al home and abroad.
On the other hand, with the increasing advances by the Farabundo National they are beginning to see that they are the
This means they have to be a bit sharp about looking pollical proJect make a come-back.
That's why they are pushing this plan of political pacification, which includes the elections, the amnesty, the governmental human rights comprepare the ground fort These last • two ment. the nolding through which they claim to be restoraill ing democracy and a constitutiona.
regime In fact the elections would just be used again as a political instrument to try and gain time to defeat the FMLN, and not as a peaceful means of solving the conflict in El Salvador
measures in order to win more supDUlt the counteract the posal for a dialogue. for
But their fundamental aim is to improve internal and external condi-
Tensive,
the salvadorear
We know internal decay
beginning Liberation
front
for new ministration. that will let them
How solidarity? meant the main ele elecons Salvadorean
tional pressure.
'democratic' ex-prisoners
Congres: and FDR-FMLN's pro-
ment
Interview
tions for a future political-military of-
including more open North
American intervention.
This plan is destined to failure.
formulae only too well, and they don't begin to touch The case causes or me sao we al living through in El Salvador.
Peace can on v bi achieved in El Salvador through a political solution
the FDR-FMLN'S Will proposal for dialogue
The whole of the political plan 01 the region shows how much they are a tool in the hands of the Reagan ad
It's a manoeuvre by which th Salvadorean government and the US can talk of peace whilst they prepare to deepen the war.
do see international
International solidarity has played an important part in all aspects of the
COTIC our OWI release had a lot to do with interna-
ex-political prisoners we are now worried about the safety of our brothers and sisters who have come out of prison and are still inside the country, because the persecution of
and the population in general Is continuing
The international solidarity move-
snot continue campaigne for the releasé of political prisoners, because far trom evervone was releas ed with the amnesty.
Page 9 scan of this page
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Page 10 scan of this page
10
DIARY
These listings are free for all avior labour movement and campaign activities. SemiGisplay advertisements op per wora and must be paid
advance. Send to: Diary, Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, NI 2XP
Thursday, one week prior to publication).
• National Abortion Campaign conference
. ror details please contact NAC at 374 Grays Ian Road, London WCI.
Tel. 01-278 0153. Once Conference 17/18 Glasgow Polish Solidarity September. For details contact Gordon Morgan, 59 Durward Ave, Glasgow
017. • Lo DepiCHOCI from
Defence HQ to London Fields, Hackney. For details vitate last dava Box 5, 136, Kingsland High Si. London E8. • Stop the witch hunt!
Public meeting Weds 14 Sept, 7.30pm, Abeng «community centre.
Gresham Rd, Brixton.
Speakers: Ted Knight nader or Lambeli Council); Stuart Holland MP; Graham Norwood (Cllr); Dick Evans (Waterloo *ner unmesa Desal (Campaign Against the Police Bi ill) and also from * neards Wandsworth:
UCATT; NUT; POEU.
Swansea YCND Festival 24 Sept, St Phillips Community Centre, 1-6pm.
Stalls, videos, music, food and workshops. Admission 3p, all weicome. rurtne info from Gareth Harding, 2. Overland Rd, Mumbles,
le. oooou.
CND National
onstration L ondon, 22 Oct. Details: 01-272 8896. • History Workshop 17 Manchester 1983 Industrialisation and after. sanchester rovichc. All Saints, Manchester 15. 11-13
Registration and History Workshop 17, 47 Albany Rcad, Manchester 21. Full
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Socialist Action 16 September 1983
• Gay Young Socialists next London meeting 18 Sept 6pm, at Gay's the Word. Discussion on the Police Bill with speaker from Gay London Police Monitoring UrOUD. Future meetings on 'Gays and Central America' and showing of South London GYM video Revenge of the teenage
Further info from Goodsell, 1? Ruxton Ka. NI9, 203 9404.
Lambeth Labour Campaign for Gay Rights open meete on as e Lambeth Council 23 Sept, 8pm, Lambeth a dude Lavour Party Conference Labour Committee on Ireland public
19 Sept, 8pm, venture Community Centre Warnington Road, London W10 (Ladbroke Grove tube). speakers. onv benn (Kensington), Sheila Healey (Brent), Clir Pat Smyth (Kensington), CIl 1Oll) Powell (Fulham) - all conference delegates. Information Group will Sri Lankan Research & orovide speakers on lie current situation there for
Write to 9 Grays Inn Buildings, London ECI. o too vo inervention l Central America — new badge produced by LAKILA vo cacli Available from CARILA 298 Islington Park St, London N1 359 2270. cash with orders.
Sinn Fein and Labour Hornsev & Wood Green LPYS public meeting. Mon 26 Sept, 7.30pm Stroud Green School, Woodstock Rd. Tondon N4. Sneakers: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Sarah Roelofs (LCI) and rep. fron "Veterans against the War'.
Against the Witch Hunt public meeting. Fri 23 Sept,
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Tues 27 Sept, 7.30pm, Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham. Speakers Stenh Grant. Clare Short MP, Peter Tatchell. • Stop the witch hunt! public meeting Thur 15 Sept,
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Finsbury Sq, Tower Hill, St Paul's Cathedral steps all
meeting 24 Sept, 6pm, 6 Endsleigh St, London WC1. Details 01-809 1346 • Back to the Sink?
Discussion of the effects of
Thur 22 Sent. 7.30pm. une Anchor (upstairs room), Uxbridge Road, ' West Ealing. Organised by Ealing Socialist Action supporters
Israel out of Lebanon -Victory 10 LU Demonstration organised by
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no inter erene Grenada, Central & Southern America Public meetine organisca Dy Kensington Young Socialists. 27 Sept, 7.30pm, The Tabernacle, Powis sq London. speakers Iron Grenada, Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua.
• Against Racism and Racist Attacks! National march called by Newham 8 Defence Citee and supported by National Campaign
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John Archer invites all who sympathised with and wish to commemorate the work of MARY ARCHER to come to
Memorial Meeting, Sat 24 Sept In room 152, County Hall, London SE1 at 7.30pm
International speakers. Discussion. No charge for admission. Collection for memorial publishing fund.
Jonathon Hammond,
1942-83 Ex-President, NUJ abour Movement Memorial Meeting Wednesday, 28
September 8pm, Bishop
Creignton Mouse, Linie Road, Fulham, London
AcTion
•
Join the
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FACING 1984
discussion on
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CrIsIs.
Speakers include:
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Rd, London WCI.
Registration costs £5 you book in advance), 2.50 for one day.
Famous faces
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portrait
4I01C year
The arrogant, scow! ing infant is fully confident that tacks on the health ser-
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International
A weekend of socialist debate and
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Stuart Holland MP; Ernest Mandel; Unmesh Desai; Joy Hurcombe; Ken Livingstone; Andrew Gamble; John
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October 29/30 at Kingsway Princeton College, Sidmouth St, Off Grays Inn
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vice will allow private medicine to flourish so that all the Cal that money, can buy will be lavished on him.
The firm set jaws shows contempt for the TUC leaders crawling to Tebbit, and LOOK the purging of the left in the witch hunt being unleashed in the Labour Party.
As we have every interest in unsettling the plans of the ruling class, we set our cartoonist Hil try for the Sun's Royal Baby sketch competition. If she wins the f100 prize will to the Socialist Action Fund Drive.
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National
Newham Eight
March
AGAINST RACISM AND
RACIST ATTACKS Saturday 24 September
Park, Plashet Park, East Ham E12 (East
Newham Eight Defence Camsupported by National Campaign ...Tel..
MOLES
EYE
VIEW
The howling of Sid
I HAD always thought Sid Weighell had had get out of the NUR general secretary's job because had been caught with his fingers in the ballot box.
Now writing in the Sunday Telegraph — out of work bureaucrats
somewhere he tells us the real horrifying truth about the NUR and why
really forced quit. He reveals that 'the real trouble las in the 26-strong full-time executive'.
elected body wouldn't give poor old Sid any peace Do know when they didn't agree with him 'they used to demand meetings at the drop of a hat' which is bloody inconvenient if „vOu trying to keen well in . with the rail bosses.
Then there were those awful people from
pamphlet proposing 'the re-election of officials al the branches every three years' and they wanted 'every branch to have a delegate at the annual conference'. Another subversive suggestion they made was to
The reasonable
revolutionary
YOU RAVING lefties always thought tionaries were bloodyminded people wanted to overthrow capitalism.
That's nonsense, so Roy Hattersley thinks. He is going on telly next Monday to tell the great British public what a real
*reasonable revolutionary' is like. On BBC2 in programme called Attlee Reasonable Revolutionary he reveal all about Attlee's revolutionary role
As the BBC press blurb says he will amine characteristics gave Attlee's govern-
distinctive stamp'. notes one of these was 'the building of Britain's own atomic DOMID
dead against unilateralism. He think.
would be betraying Clem's revolutionary
Cultural shock
US retaliation against the Russians over the Spy Plane (.) Is sO
unfair. cultural Wargo means unal all we
the west will miss is things like the Bolshoi Ballet.
But the Russians will
really miss
Americans have punished them by putting complete ban on classics
winas of war, Ronnie Reagan's movies
Diary
committees, who would
Sid
know the members would be damn the officiais Sid tireless-
but
burden for a man to carry
defending his members, the members kept voting those dreadful lefties on to his executive. It just goes to show that there is no gratitude. legacy.
Maybe Roy won't tell us all about Clem's dabwho
politics. Like the time when as Labour minister he used British troops to fight the Vietnamese revolution. Then got involved in the Malayan revolution. But the snag was that it was on the wrong side. went and sent all those nice people like headwill hunters to exterminate
the Malaysians who had fought the Japanese they occupied ex- Malaya, and then had the the impudence to fight
the Brits when they did the same Finally he was such a reasonable revolutionary — just like Roy? — that under his government the arms bill went up anc the capitalists never lost a night's sleep What could be more reason He a cr em-
The
Page 11 scan of this page
In the Unions
THE CONFERENCE against privatisation sponsored by Leeds NALGO marks an important step forward within the union's fight back against privatisation.
It will also aid the building of the Broad Left
a national scale. The concrete out old very successful Broad Left
this year's NALGO conference where over 200 delegates alienaca
A national campaign is level in the union if the Tories privatisation plans are to be stopped. The Leeds conference will discuss the detailed strategy needed at branch, district and national level for the union so that it can win Ins battle defence of the members' ios and save the services of the public.
The lack of a national Broad Left in NALGO has been a barrier to organising resistance to the Tory attacks as the national executive is not prepared to
PUT
PEOPLE
FIRST
поІдо
NALGO 'put people first campaign' can be put to good use
NALGO Broad
Left takes off!
ISA Or & !
There can't be any fight
wack aralist luc ucicasile
privatisation of public ser-
vices unless all sections of
NALGO and other public
service sector unions get
organised to resist it.
The development of
links between shop
stewards and the members
which then reaches out to
the users of services is a
must.
way involve all the
union's members and
public support. But
JALGO can't win this or
its own. It will nave lo
build an alliance with
other public sector unions
which means organising
joint shop stewards' com
mittees in the workplaces.
United response is built then the Unless united
privatisation proposals
will divide the workforce.
For some, privatisation will
mean onuses and
called job rOI
others will mean the
dole. Unless unions like
NALGO can win the users
over to their side in their
opposition to privatisation
the struggle will be lost.
This means a campaign among the users by use of
leaflets and acHICCULES tions which can win their
Ultimately the SUDOULL issues be decided at national level. Unless NALGO and the other unions through their national conferences force their executives to act and go for industrial action privatisation will be carried out.
The experience gained in the 'put people first campaign' must be put to
La national use in campaign to win over the
of public services USCIS The Leeds conference can start this in NALGO. It can provide the basis of a national grouping whieh can force the executive to
and in Hally Casc. make sure that the local struggles have an effective leadership. Socialist Action supporters will be arguing Leeds TOOL district-based committees
Due SHOD Slewares systems in every branch.
Nobody must be left to fight along. At the very least on district level solidarity action is needed.
they call it.
nationalised industries.
tion of British Telecom.
After the TUC we have special Post Office Engineering Union conference to consider how to
Tory plans to Many engineers dustry. engineers are asking 'can we win?'
The resolutions to this
pecial conference reflec
his with doubters arguins that there is no point struggling, so privatisation should be accepted.
Others warn about the threat to iobs. COLORS and union organisation and that fightback the pirates will
To win we need a union leadership determined to take ettective not just in the POEU but in the whole trade union and labour movement. That's why public alliance against privatisation is cruciat.
But must be fighting alliance. The Telecom engineers are the front line troops facing the Tory offensive, what they do could give confidence
workers other dustries. They are looking to the generals tor a lead
But the TUC tops are not going to take on the Tories without a push.
In the course of our actions we will need to fight
COWLEY-style witch hunt is being prepared by George Jefferson, the Tory appointed chairperson of British Telecom.
ANN, FIANDER,
But the threat
current mation technology freedom performing agand minority withın th action in yand i tement by chairman
•i Hate
the run!! p.....
weaken opposition to
No piratisation in
British Telecom
POEU ENGINEERS dressed as pirates lobbied the TUC Congress in Blackpool to alert other unions to the dangers of privatisation - or 'piratisation' as
The Congress passed a resolution agreeing to a coordinated response to privatisation across all the
DENNY FITZPATRICK, a telecom engineer from the London West End branch of the POEU, explains the next steps in the fight against privatisa-
for leadership and policies take the Tories.
To date our action has beer selecuve. mainly London branches.
This can lead to isolation.
The whole membership needs to be involved in industrial action.
The London City branch resolution to I conference calls for he ruhlic sector unions 1 join with the POEU in a coronauce national strike against privatisation in spring 1984.
Across
This is what we should work for from the bottom The campaign of selected and across the : unions. industrial action in British Telecoms should be step. ped up with backing *for resolut Callis boycotts of stock-broking tirms and maior tinancia and business institutions.
This is the kind of action needed to build a national public sector campaign.
It's no good waiting to and visible threat to jobs' before we Cocalalt actioll. SULLIC POEU leaders argue. By then it may be too late.
La member of the City branch of the POEU, explains.
Jefferson is organising the campaign for privatisation in British Telecom.
MILITANT Bill
Management cartoon in Telecom Today forewarns a • witch hunt of the left to.
prevalisation
Socialist Action 16 September 1983 Pirate pickets warn against privatisation
Witch hunters at British Telecom
He is preparing to divide up the industry into profitable packets and propaganda campaign to win the workforce to accept his schemes.
His include
JUBS
stop aprall me mos
11 intimidationinion othe 'intimidation workforce and
of union activists.
The Tories know that they have to smash the unions if they . are tr piratise BT and reap enormous profits for bis business.
So Jefferson wants tr follow the tactics' . 01 Michael Edwardes in BL And Edwardes is close at hand to give advice. He is chairperson of private telecommunica tions firm Mercury and has recently been ap pointed to the British Telecom board
The POEU needs to prepare bern tact n
members' right organise political witch hunt designed to disarm and discredit the union.
Our best defence is to publicly oppose all witch hunts, and support the campaign to defend the Cowley BL , workers.
The POEU should go on record as a supporter issued natione yea issued by Alex against political vetting and victimisation in in
We need an emerg ency resolution on this at our next national con ference.
Page 12 scan of this page
war a step closer.
most critically in Central America.
The original case for
tional tension the apparent cold blooded and
leliberate shooting down
f the Korean civilian je — has been revealed as a tissue of lies.
The dramatic tran-
of Conved tions of the Soviet pilots who. conducted the operation against the the trene were splashed
aLOSD pages of the world's press and feature •as the first item television and radio news. They have
Sheen corrected -inside pages and in brief newo leus, Even the Pentagon now admits: • That the Soviet jets did fire warning shots to warn the jet originally strenuously denied by the
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ACTION SOCiALiS
US lies on jumbo exposed
Reagan
fans the
winds
of war
A NEW campaign of hostility towards the Soviet Union is being orchestrated by the US government. This escalation has brought the threat of world
The new Cold War is part of and seeks to justify a massive increase in military intervention by the USA and their French and British allies around the globe - in Lebanon, Libya, the South Atlantic and
US and Japanese military • lhat the Russian interceptors did not "stalk the jet for two hours' originally claimed but had scrambled their jets only 30 minutes before the jet was shot down.
By Steve Potter • That the fighter pilots had not identified the plane as a civilian air-liner then cold-bloodedly shot it down, but, as the Duleuy Times said that they had shot down an unidentified aircraft operating in Soviet air DUale.
The Sunday Times also reported that there was a 'growing conviction' military, political and aviation circles that the jumbo was 'not in Soviet
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air-space by accident'.
Standing instructions call for Soviet • DIOLS shoot down such uniden-
line with Soviet military policy, which is to defend the borders of their state.
This is done by the Soviet rulers in and bureaucratic, brutal ineffective way as Soviet intervention Afghanistan, repression in Poland and similar anti-working Class aclon in the past has shown.
But the chief reproach of imperialist not that the Soviet Union defends its borders in brutal way, expansionist power, bent on wonu ommaton.
It is under this banner that Reagan and Thatcher justify intervention around the world. But unlike the USA, France and Britain the Soviet Union does not send in its armed cohorts to support its allies.
Expansionism and the consequent threat to world peace is the preserve of the imperialist powers.
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OFFER
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Alternatively we are offering Alan Freeman's book, The Benn Heresy. For new readers there is our special introductory offer of 8 issues for §2.
All subscriptions are posted first class on day of publication.
There is evidence too that the main objective of the imperialists is not to punish the Soviet Union.
The British sanction, a CeSaOI Aeroflot flights for two weeks, will
sleepless 1UU CausC nights in Moscow. Likewise supposed Greek intransigence provided convenient reason for the aic lo Issue a milu stale
which did not condemn the Soviet Union but merely 'regretted' the tragedy.
There are real differences between the USA and its European allies on what attitude to take to the
between friends?
on 01-251 2133.
M DONALD
MURDERED
Anti-communist hysteria in the USA; but a majority oppose intervention in Lebanon
Soviet Union, as has been previously revealed by the differing the bovcott of the Olympic Games, the Siberian gas pipe line and SaLCEIOLS after martial law was declared in Poland. Unity
But the fundamental unity of purpose that exists between the capitalist powers Deen amply demonstrated in the last weeks with joint imperialist operations in Libya and the Lebanon. About 780 women turned up with placards saying 'The issue is Cruise not Pink Triangles' and referring to
Peace Movement. See next week's Socialist Action for details of coming events or ring the Greenham Office
PUT A
FREEZE
ON
IURER
This growing international escalation of war ir the third world, designed LnOSE coalisse firmly under the domina-tion tuen alOld capital, needs to be matched by the building of movements against such intervention in the major countries responsible.
There already exists a massive reservoir of sympathy for such BIHovemens medieia ly coordinated through the peace organisations.
Socialists must draw the links between the arms race and campaigns of intervention being waged in Last Tuesday women supporters of Greenham Common marched on Fleet Street to protest at press coverage.
Women Daub Spy Planes' the placard pointei out that 'All charges have been dropped". 'Well - What's £250,00l Manchester Town Hall was the scene last weekend for a Greenham meeting to discuss the future of the Women's
*THIS GUTLE:
CRIME CANNO
GO UNPUNISHE
the interest of profit against the struggles of workers and peasants.
The building of the most strenuous opposition the basing the missiles in Western Europe hampers drive and therefore helps the fight of all those in the front line against imperialist aggression.
At the same time peace activists have to be shown that peace lies through active opposition to the imperialist intervention Africa, the Middle East anu central Alclica, allt support for those fighting against that intervention.
DIT DIKE DAFUSS
'Peace
← Socialist Action No. 24, 9 September 1983Socialist Action No. 26, 23 September 1983 →