Socialist Action No. 27, 30 September 1983
The scan: 027-sep-30-1983-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
WHETHER OR NOT Neil Kinnock made the insulting comments about Tony Benn and Michael Meacher attributed to him by the press they would be in line with his hostility to the left of the labour movement.
Labour Parties and disastrous defeat in the general election prompted them to embrace a candidate who had supported the left in the past and claimed to be able to unity the party. It is true also that the defeat of Shore and Hattersley signals the decline of the old PLP right.
conference will mean the beginning of a war against the left.
The reasons for this lie in the response of the labour bureaucracy to the general election. They did not conclude, as this paper
-une reason sol Labour's defeat lay / in the Tour years waen the labour movement leadership virtualv abandoned the tield to the Tories, allowing the sealm workers and workers to go down to ter-
No, the reaction of Len Murrav and the maiorit of the TUC leaders was to start talks with the Tories, to throw a question mark over the trades union alliance with Labour and
La regression to the
Lib-Labism' which bedevilled British
novener a me turn of the century.
NOW We co! bureaucrats are pulling out
stops DUSE through their shift to the right through the Labour Party. Frank Chapple's support for Kinnock signals that they are confident they have such an instrument.
Kinnock's election will
the erratic unitarianism of
- instead It
Kinnock
shows his
Many on the left have voted for Kinnock in their trade unions. Labour's
But Neil Kinnock's election at the Labour Party
will mean a sapping opera-
tion against the left
policies adopted by
abour conterence and a
new round of the witch
In these circumstances
it is criminal that
were those on the left who
were hesitating and doubt-
ful in their support for the
only left alternative to Kin-
nock — Eric Heffer.
This ever applies to
Michael Meacher and
Tony Benn who now find
themselves the victims of
Kinnock's tongue.
Is all the more
shameful that there are
have com-
pounded this error, by
calling for support for Roy
Hattersley against
Meacher.
This includes leading
figures in the Communist
Party like Hugh Wyper,
Scottish
secretary of the Transport
and Workers
the Sunday accores nas
the Sunday Times,
been energetically working
to reverse the decision o
executiye to
back Meacher.
A stop must be put to
this back-sliding. Instead
the
LUCI
No. 27 30 September 1983 30p
SOCiAList
ACTION
Heffer and Meacher are
the only left alternative
true colours
substantial minority which exists in the Labour Party and the unions to win the majority of the movement against the JOI SHOUIE Tories. This will Lucal fighting against Kinnock and his backers among the trade union leaders.
The publication of the national Labour Briefing
supplement starting from this Labour Party conference, the formation of groups supporting it and their links with the Broad Lent aevelopments muc THE LAST great achievement of the 1945 Labour government lies on the operating table ready for the Tory knife. The NHS and its patients are going to be murdered by the Thatcher government if we let them get away with it.
In region after region, jobs are to disappear that money can be saved In Virginia Water and thi other watering holes of the rich they will be rubbing their hands at the thought of the tax concessions to come from their government. here is ess enthusiasm on Merseyside, and in Bermondsev. Swansea and Stockton. In these places the health and lives of the
unions is a first modest step the lesson of the election defeat for the left is the building of a new fighting minority, which
Save the NHS!
sick, the aged,
But the don't care. Why
are doing
heart and
ridney and other ucal ment on
Threat So what is the Labour Party going to do about this threat uves and health of the great majority of the population?
Is it going to hide behind the coward v •CAcuse - mouthed by Chapple at the TUC - that the
can begin to resist the Tory attacks on every front and open the way for a Labour 8121103AAA0 socialist policies.
Tories are the democratically elected government'.
This means giving them the go ahead to wipe out the NHS. Hor nose that think that the health an aves or bramaly peo ple don't matter much such an excuse wil do
But for every socialist, militant and caring person this untenable. The destruction of the health service cannot be permitted. It must be resisted in parliament, in the hospitals, the workplaces and on the streets.
Whatever the Tory majority parliament decides must not stop the
save our hospitals. Parliamentary constitutionalism pales into insignificance compared with the health and life of the people.
ERIC HEFFER
ON THE TUC
AND LABOUR
PAGE 3
and the employers.
Heffer when it was announced.
meaning of
single supporter need is urgent: Please act today.
EMERGENCY
APPEAL
IN THE LAST two months, Socialist Action has been the victim of an unprecedented attack by Fleet Street
Our supporters have been hound ed out of their jobs in British Leyland
The right wing of the labour move ment have chosen this time to attack our supporters in the Labour Party.
We have campaigned up and down the country against these developments as well as championing the fight of the left. We were one of the few papers on the left which immediately supported the candidature of Eric
We have also tried to explain the real
what is happening British politics and the threat posed by the SDP.
But we face massive financial problems as a result of our activities. We appeal to every
to send a contribution, however modest, to aid our fighting fund. The
Page 2 scan of this page
No solution to move right
In the Unions
Conference '83
'WHAT WENT WRONG at the general election?' is the central theme running through this year's Labour Party conference. For many delegates a major factor will be that demonstrated a lack manifesto and its own rank and file.
ing that the defeat was brought about as a result of Labour surrendering the political stage to Thatcher during the whole four years of the Tories term of office.
conversion Labour's leadership patriotic
When and
did speak
policy. have been the Their failure to for
sellout struggles which place
train drivers paved the
show the election result rules out this policy once and for all. But the TUC answer is, if you cannot get what you want by sitting still then move - to he right! In the name of recognising . the democratically elected government' we get talks with Tebbit and a refusal to oppose anti-trade union legislation.
Tories 'right to govern' becomes a license
target. Backtracking on policy, SUCI with maiden hind with weeken- unilateralism,
the links with the Labour Party. The stage is set for talks with the SDP.
photo: Pete Grant
Freeze is a cop-out for fighting for unilateralism
the Party leadership of faith both in its own
But underlying this judgement is a growing feel-
path
with spectre of
on the Now at Labour's the
working We must stop driving
If the right
the somelning
of left 4101
general Wak
the right defeat themselves.
ing _the ac-
individuals. attempt
organise
the right. regrouping around a new strategy, the left also has a duty to learn from mistakes. We need to build a united left opposition
DOWNING STREET
CN.D.
OUR MOTTO DROP IT"
'What went wrong'
is prepared to organise from the ranks of the labour movement upwards, in both the Labour Party and the trade unions.
overcome be the
wielding
change in the voting system Party conference.
moves seriously
cannot hide
merit
The
trade leaders
of
of - one vote'
Organising Committee
criticism aimed
decision
vote for done
should
members the highest
industrial, wvect political leadership questions.
superficially easier road of weakening the role of the union vote the left has to
say in
Shift
shift.
Office LIC Union and Union of but if it is to is a
dinated across the
BLOC is a HOIS
the breaking that standing (sic) agree-
from "politics'.
the Party which
hospital
left and rank and trade unionism. by
to let underway
sink in. an
with out with trade
much lookout for are the insidious shifts in
future.
pear.
The preliminary agendon cained only on for a
openly multilateralist
the AUEW now amended by the EEPTU to include support for NATO! The rest contain a commitment to unilateral
Bds alamen one form or another - - but with some important additions and ommisions.
A non-nuciear detence thread runs through many of the resolutions, reflecting the pressures from the election defeat tackle the Tories on their ground for defence, not our ground of disarmament.
Whilst it is necessary to take on this ucoale. must framework of clear from
active commitment to unilateralism. The multilateralists in our party will use this terfain as an opportunity to
2 More transe Labour lept How can the Labour win the confidence of the ranks if it is unprepared to organise against the right and build towards mass ac-.
defence of _our class.
Our potential strength was shown in the solidarity
organised defence of the healthworkers weakness in the inability of
of the drivers to organise after the sell-out decision of the TUC.
Long
The Labour movement faces a long hard struggle to lay the
eturn of a Labour govert
The right have shown that they will not fight. It will be up to the left to build a movement which can give leadership. This will mean turning political strengths of the Labour Party to bear the industrial battles which
undoubtedly break O'! The POEU has taken a stand against privatisation of British Telecom.
Their decision to approach other public sector unions to fight a coordinated battle against privatisation without necessarily waiting for the TUC shows the direction that needs to be taken. But
Pr political is an intense-
'political' labour left must also join forces in the battle that the POEU will be waging.
Only such an active policy of going out, forg ing links in struggle,
unions and the Party at all levels can lay the basis for rebuilding Labour showing in
Defend unilateralism!
NO ONE FOLLOWING the Labour Party mood in the last few months will seriously expect this year's conference to be dominated by dramatic and public reversals of party policy. What they should be on the
emphasis which are the harbingers of just such reversals in the
The debate on nuclear disarmament is one important area where such cracks are beginning to ap-
win back their lost ground.
Similarly, the • discussion around freeze policy Obviously we should support freeze position the United
In the absence of a CND-type mass campaigll, the freeze movement there represents something positive. But what would a freeze position represent in Britain?
By Carol Turner Labour CND Executive
In reality, would mean a reversal of what CND campaigners inside ana outside une party nave won over the years. It would allow a campaign to support the status quo, after the missiles have arrived in Britain.
practice the importance of the Tory attacks on i
Tory attacks should be ooposed• show. ing in practice that the Tories not invincible and that it is possible to stand and fight.
will not be easy. We need to organise at all levels, from the shop floor to the TUC General Coun cil, from Labour ward branches to the NEC No single current can do this. Only by uniting the left can we build such a movement. It means learning from our mistakes
Above all we have to learn that, on issues such as or unilateralism is not enough carry resolutions at Conference. Good sentiments will not save the NHS. We have to be prepared to go out into the population building CND, defendin for their workers fighting jobs
01 Labour behind the fight of health workers to defend their service. Only be building a united left opposition can we put these tasks on the agenda. • Greg Tucker is one of the delegates trom aux hall to the Labour Party conference, writing in a personal capacity.
- Fringe meeting THE NATO QUESTION A DEBATE with
Jo Richardson MP
Denzil Davies MP Bob Cryer and Mary Kaldor
Starts 5.30pm
on Thursday 6 October
at the Royal Albion
Hotel
Whilst it's unlikely that the last year's composite 51 wil be openly disregarded, it's on the cards that the overall majority will be reduced. And it's even more likely that the final composite will contain only inadequate proposals for what action the Labour Party should take on disarmament over the next year.
Rub
This is the real rub of this year's disarmament debate: will we make our commitment to unilateral-
leadership hook, or will delegates ihsist the fights regain some of the lost ground in the general election?
Committees to discuss the ins and outs of non-nuclear defence policy are no subsulule for a buon campaign cruise and Trident. WC passively back while the missiles arrive, • Hu alloun of sub-committee reports at next year's conference will convince people that the Labour Party is serious
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
MODERN
TIMES
HiL
Personally, I think they
got out of the Maze
because they couldn't
stand to watch the
Labour Party conference
on TV....
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PacE
Marc
SUNDAY CYT 2ND
TOMY BENM KEN LYINGSTONI
HELEN JOHNERCATHY ASHTON
RICHARD BALFEE LIZ FREUTHA
KEN CAMERON BOTHERS
about its disarmament policies. We will abandon
fight agains _Thatcher's war drive.
The action demands in Labour CND's model resolution cal tor an anti-nuclear weapons campaign organise public activity and tor the Ple to use parliamentary procedures to put the case
This together with sup port for CND's 22 Oc
tober demonstration still represents clearest course of action. Calls for the NEC defence group to explore the issue
alternative defence should not be seen as an alternative mass public campaign. Practical
All • Labour party members have a very practical opportunity to show
continued commitment to unilateralism by
demonstration, and by
the fringe meetings during the week OI conterence organised around the issue of nuclear disarmament and defence.
Page 3 scan of this page
Labour and the TUC
News alarm the
and its relation to the Labour Party.
quently which will, in consequence, arise.
The shift should CHOL overestimated, and the battle for the TUC's soul is by no means over. The block votes may have gone as the so-called 'moderates? wanted, but the rank and file are not all with them. That holds both in the white collar unions such as the Teachers and Local Government Officers and civil service unions, and in the blue-collar unions like the engineers, electricians, General and Municipal and Boilermakers.
But we must ask, what the right's goals are. The Frank Chapples of this world want to transform the British trade unions into an American 'business' туре trade unionism, with complete acceptance of the capitalist system. In the USA , most union leaders act like business executives - and some like gangsters.
Objectives
And there is a consequence. Chapple's speech from the chair was a serious attempt to weaken the ties between the Labour Party and the trade unions, were also the speeches of Alistair Graham of the civil servants' union, despite his protestations of Labour Party membership.
What are we actually seeing! It is Gomperism' a British context. True, the TUC's actual resolution calling for a fresh look at relations with the Labour Party was not too clear in its objectives. But it is the first step towards the depoliticisation of the unions, and the deunionisation of the Labour Party. This trend has to be opposed and defeated.
There are always voices at given moments of history who argue that things have so changed that the basic socialist concepts are no longer valid. That argued by Edward Bernstein in the Second International, and in the German SDP. before World War One. It has been argued in Britain by Anthony Crosland and other revisionists in the 1950s and
in less articulate form, similar arguments are being heard.
But the point is that while capitalism has changed to some degree, it is still capitalism. The class divisions and interests are still
MANY TRADE UNIONISTS must view with
TUC's serious tilt to the right at Blackpool earlier this month. What they 'have perhaps not considered are its longer term implications for the future of British trade unionism
At this Labour Party conference and subse-
we must come to grips the problems
there and cannot be wished away. The capitalist system is basically responsible for mass unemployment. long as it exists there will be booms and slumps, and the growth of makes high unemployment
capitalism inevitable. truth has to be faced, and it was hardly touched on at the TUC.
Destroy
The government wishes slowly but surely to destroy the trade union movement.
It is using both unemployment and legislation to do it, and is stepping up the use of the blacklist. as in Chapple and Murray at the TUC
Leyland is a publicly owned enterprise, and it is there that some of the worst black was listing and witch-hunting is taking place.
What is the objective of this offensive? It aims to turn the unions into tame pussy cats, with sible' leaders in charge, and shop floor weakened or alternatively destroyed.
There ate argue that the class struggle is a thing of the past. If that is so, then why do the Tories conduct it daily, bringing in legisiation designed
As
technology
competitive
This emasculate and destroy the trade tions of working people?
And this background decision meet British Tebbit. I believe they were wrong to thought the against, put at the TUC congress, wěre overwhelming.
Unions
I accept that because of high unemployment,
'respon- unions are not
strong situation as they were 1971 when troduced the Relations Act. those who unions had great difficulties
interwar ween 1918 and 1939. and thei ize The 10 132 = m
'Deunionisation and
depoliticisation
have to be opposed'
are
the to the TUC • Norman outside parliament. do so, and I arguments in such a
Heath Industrial But
years bet-
were ultimately ever-
by Eric Heffer MP
hoped that no concessions
given away to Tebbit
and his Tory colleagues. His
proposals, in my view, have the
to be fought both inside and
I also
Socialist Action 30 September 1983 most successfully is at the point of production.
Not only do I wish to see
Party membership dramatically increased, but
want to see every
3
ABDUR
PART
Conference '83
perience of legislation being used against the unions which led them to decide to create their own political wing in 1900.
The truth is that everything working people have got in Britain was won by struggle. It was not given
them by benevolent employers or political leaders from above. When progress has been made by legislation, has been through the combination of parliamentary and extraparliamentary activity. This is true, both for the unions and for measures such as votes for women.
who the of the
Page 4 scan of this page
We still need NAC'
4
Peace
women
confront
Reagan
IN JULY this year 75 American women ched from Seneca Falls to camp in Romulus, rived they blocked from marching to the camp.
For days bomb threats, gun and verbal harassment.
The tracted ace camp at-
hundreds of however Dorsued thecks of men DurSued Wolle the camp Used rade and waving flags and screaming 'Dykes go home and take YUUl witch-craft with you', and 'Commie queers go gone to kissa.
Arrests took place when the wonder Sall down in the street rather
fight way through the mob. Then THIS WEEKEND'S National Abortion Campaign conference is the most important since the end of the campaign against the Corrie anti-abortion bill.
stead set up a new campaign around reproductive rights. This comes at a time of a resurgence of attacks on the right to abortion.
Since Corrie there has been a drop in the number
, people campaigning on abortion. some people in the paign have concluded that this is due the 'nar-
LU rowness' of NAC's aims
that it doesn't challenge
new on women's rights which are
They believe that aborDon can't be isolated but has to be part of a wider campaign, and that broadening out the issues *ll help stimulate renewed interest and activity.
Other sections of the abortion campaign. especially activists in
A PIECE OF
Do come in...
I'm afraid the place is in a bit of a mess...
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
the women's peace New York. When they ar-
townspeople
subjected threats, actual violence
they carried out a successful night raid into
Army depot, where missiles are to be SILCO. The following day 2000 marched to the
position the one of the
position from military police and local residents.
Undaunted, 200
women, of whom were later arrested, successfully scalled. the fence.
downtown Newbury woren are An attempt will be made to dissolve NAC and inTradand union in the NAC Trade Liaison Committee and Labour Abortion Rights Campaign disagree with this interpretation of events and what course NAC should take.
By Ann Potter (NAC Steering Committee member)
Alongside them, supporters of Socialist Action Will be arguing that the demand for a woman's right to choose, far from being
narrow aim, encom-
THE ACTION
•I've just had the Americans in.:
Doing a little peace-keeping.
and posters at the Labour Party conference, presented by Card-Tel.
facing similar if slightly less brutal attacks. Greenham women are banned from Tesco's in Newbury and banned from pubs and the local
The very latest hypocrisy of the council
after promoting DICSS campaign to claim that the women's camp is a public
is to refuse to • collect rubbish the camp. and to stop the women dumping rubbish in the Council's tip.
Greenham women have Deen subjected to vile abuse in the press particularly playing on the issue of "irresponsible mothers' and stirring
hatred against those passes women's needs on all the issues this demand raises. The right of women to choose whether or not to have children is a crucial issue - either for women forced into sterilisation or for women denied abortion.
It is true that fewer people are involved now in actively campaigning for abortion rights, But this is not because they disagree with the politics of the campaign, because other issues - such as stopping cruise missiles and Trident have appeared to be more urgent.
If another attack was launched support would flood back. Indeed, it is in the event of such an attack that NAC's role becomes so vital.
NAC the only organisation which can respond and organise rapidly to repel any moves
business.
Outside Greenham last December. From 'Wish you were here' — an exhibition of postcards
who openly admit to being lesbians.
Local residents
'Get Greenham Out' groups have attacked the women at night with bricks. Stones and maggots have been tipped over the So much
callly.
Tor. British traditions free peecr and
tolerance of dissent! Political
Sadly, even in CND and the Labour Party there are those who succumb this foul witch hunt. They conveniently 'forget' that the
women have done more than anyone else to push the political arguments against cruise to restrict current abortion rights and that can effecLINCEY campaign for adequate legislation. If the
'broadened callball have the time or facilities. out' simply wouldn't
All the activists involved in NAC realise that the right to choose is not solely about abortion. Issues such as financial inacpenaence, accent nousing. and good child believe that the right to abortion remains central because a woman's right
control her fertility is fundamental to controlling her life. This right, on-
very won in Britain, under great threat.
present there is an enormous amount of anti«DO LION activity
The
Zanu abortion organisations, They're really experienced at this peace-keeping
missiles.
Jean McKrindle, at a recent meeting of the Labour Co-ordinating Committee, said that she was verv worried about Greenham and the bad publicity
Wan rece ing. _Jan Davidson, who must have
Deer another planet when the general election was tak. ing place attacks the Labour left in Marxisn Today for wanting fight the election, year after the Falklands, on the line of
nuclear free Britain.
the campaign put the disarunanicul case
It's a testimony to the resilience and strength of the women's peace SPUC and LIFE, have held rallies and meetings with very little in the way of counter-mobilisations.
The right wing offensive woman's right to choose has been centred on abortion world wide. The recent referen-
Ireland, Cultu CUEL which added an anti-abortion clause to the constitution, shows the strength of these reac tionary forces. They will be looking to build on this success. And NAC, along with the international campaign for rights, has been central
providing information about and solidarity with the fight of women worldwide for abortion rights.
NAC needs to be there to fight any anti-abortion
LIC)
com thrsh the cougs
through parliament.
One day they may bring peace to the whole world...
women today.
On contrary, although are aware powerful forces against them ingenuity
Geneva for 'embrace' of the disarmaHe li Last weekend from all over Manchester tions up December. They also discussed
the Labour Blackpool. build Greenham on the 22 CND
Finally we must come
women's to step
citizens have constitu-
Only Congress can according to this consutution to wage and there
that doesn't have over
button.
No socialism
without
gay liberation
little.
grass roots level.
usual socialists in the Party will be interested not
only in what is said,
we will be ignored.
By Brian West (Labour Campaign for Gay
Rights)
gay men since last year's conference.
and her escapades in the 'Falklands
uals,
to the rantings and ravings of Fleet Street.
are left unscathed by the press,
pose a threat to tree enterorise Britain.
against
world the natural
Brighton gay community, which helped the police
inquiry as far as possible,
over the local newspapers.
lesbians and • gay
Police Bill is the first in a long line of attacks, aim-
ed predominantly at people
great discrimination.
The Labour Party,
within it, must be able to show what can be done.
alternative' ticket. We must present an alternative
to queer-bashing, and to all forms of discrimina-
tion aimed at homosexuals
Gay Rights has as its theme 'No socialism without
gay liberation'. This is not just a 'good slogan'. I
is, in fact, the truth.
Campaign
meeting with Reg
Corbyn is on Wed 5 Oct. (See listings on page 12
for details).
News
Greenham Women Against Cruise plan to legal case through the Federa Court in America to explain why it is necessary break the law fend international laws guarantee the right GOLDWATER (Network) people to live tree from the threat of war.
Mania Perhaps at last this the its towards ing issues in the or the the of liver risk its
by Support for acAll
about the legal the US adcontact Against Cruise, 344 South Lambeth lon SW8 8UQ (Donations for very welcome.)
WHAT HAS the Labour Party done nationally about discrimination against lesbians and gay men? The answer, of course, is very
It has been left to rank and file members — and the left wing in general — to agitate at
The national conference is upon us, and as
but what is left unsaid.
Although gays are ten per cent of the population
Several attacks have been made on lesbians and of the Party understand the role played by the media in denigrating Michael Foot; in shamelessly denouncing Party policies; in glorifying Thatcher
But when such tactics are aimed at homosex-
even those sections of the Labour Party who consider themselves enlightened have succumbed
Peter Tatchell was not attacked by the media solely because he was gay - he was denounced for putting forward socialist policies to combat years of capitalist rot. Members of more 'moderate' (ie right wing) parties Who are known as homosexuals
since they don't
anti-gay hysteria surpassed even the campaig
latchell recently, as the press showed th progression between child molesters, paedophiles and all homosexuals. The
was rewarded with an A-Z of where to find your local queer plastered all
It is all too easy to see what the future holds for
men in Thatcherite Britain. The
who already suffer and especially socialists
Thatcher was elected, partly on the 'there is no
At this conference, the Labour Campaign for
for Gay Rights fringe Race, Jo Richardson and Jerem
Page 5 scan of this page
•We must strengthen the women's organisation'
News
Eric Heffer on the
women's organisation
'IT IS CRUCIAL that women receive a fair deal from the Labour Party. Women inside the Party are rightly demanding greater power and responsibility, and in addition Labour must persuade millions of women to support socialist principles and positive action if a Labour government is to be elected at the next general election.
I am glad that the been raised by the CLPD Women's Action Committee and the London Region Women's com mittee in this leadership election. A Women's Manifesto should be drawn up by the NEC in conjunction with the women's organisation in the Party
The links between the women's organisation and the rest of the Party could be strengthened by the adoption of a formal rules in line with the rest of the Party. through SUCK formal women's organisation will be able to operate in a truly democratic manner and present itself as a recognised force
'I believe that ways should be found to give policy-making powers to ference: this could partly be done through tabling notions women's conference.
'This will have two advantages for women. Firstly it will give direct access to the policy making structure of the Party organisation, and secondly it will mean that the views and aspirations of women will be brought directly to the attention of the whole Party
"I support the principle that the women's section of the NEC should be representative of, and accountable to, the women's would prefer to see all elections for the NEC conducted at annual conference so that conference remains the supreme policy making body.
"I also believe that we may face problems from other groups such as the local government conference and the parliamentary Labour Party who may wish to change the character of the NEC and demand similar representation.
'However, election of the women's section of the NEC by
CALE CHICY welcome discussion with women in the Party as to how best we can achieve this aim. Carmichael).
beginning of the Newham 8 trial.
women's question has constitution and It is only structure that the
the women's conto annual conference from the
to the women's
organisation. the arguments concerning the
strong, and I would To mark the anniversary of the arrest of the Newham 8 for defending themselves against racist attacks about 1500 people marched through the streets of Newham.
The march grew to 2000 as local youth joined in and finished with a rally at Stratford. The rally was addressed by Kwame Ture (formerly known as Stokely
Unmesh Desai, secretary of the Newham 8 Defence Campaign, called on marchers to turn up at Snaresbrook Court at 10 am on 24 October for the
THERE IS a massive groundswell of support for women having a far greater voice and influence in the Labour Party. But the present structures are an
Committee spoke to Jude ARKWRIGHT about the urgent need for change.
ference for the women's campaign wil be the de-
terence. and the demand
is the most crucial, because at the moment we have a set ot rules imposed by the NEC and its officers which don't correspond to the aspirations of rank and file women in the Party. Shambles
"The women's conference at the moment is a shan oes "he
are not properly represented and until we get a formally constituted and democratic organisation we will get nowhere.
'We must strengthen the women's organisation tirst in order to Have on other issues base to go forward
'Our chances of suc-
the T&GWU and ASTMS LOOS al c good. We expec delegations to vote with us
both have conference decisions. NUPE is also enthusiastic. We want to make more links with the
unions. We now have trade union
we're pro moting the campaign in all ine unlons
BLACK COMMUNI
ANN PETTIFOR from the Women's Action Debate
of women's organisation
want women from the unions more heavily represented and so, how? Who should select our executive? And so on.
It's unfortunate that at this conference we have such a dearth of resolutions on policy for women
KAMAL KAMUR has applied to the Court of Appeal to over-rule the Home Office decision to deport him.
This is the first appeal of its kind and will be a test case for the hundreds of black people threatened each month with deportation.
Increasingly, the Home Office is bending immigration legislation in order to harass black people living in Britain.
Kamal's case shows this very clearly. He was admitted in 1978 for three months as fiance and then applied for indefinite
Support black self-
organisation
By Anstey Rice (Peckham CLP)
THE Peckham CLP motion on race was rejected on a technicality by conference arrangements committee. We therefore sought to bring the issue back into the centre of political dimension at the conference by amending the Richmond and Barnes resolution 81 to include '... Conference recognises in particular the right of black members of the Party to organise together in the same way as Women's Sections and Young Socialist branches.'
The resolution as amended does not, in my
go far enough. But al icast ll is an allempl . LO NEC con the sand be race, make them recognise race as a serious problem and not just somelling lney nouce al election time.
Black people will continue to drift away from supporting the Labour So-called left cause on e not because of its but because of its continued racist practice, both in and out of government
We in the Party are not going to be used to recruit black people to the Party wilch proresses lo Deleve in an equal and just society, but which been consistently over the years
— but to me it's not sur. prising when we have no organisational framework which can enable women
formulate and act on such issues.
'The vita issues are economic independence, fertility control and the ex ploitation of women's bodies.
Vital
"hese issues were not raised clearly in Labour's election manifesto - the were touched on marginal.
and often watered down. This shouldn't come as a surprise as it comes from men. Labour did promise to raise child benetits, you didn't hear it shouted from the rooftops. It was only raised at the end of the campaign as
just doesna look cromote
can't promote women.'
Defend Kamal Kumar's right to stay
leave to remain in the UK through his marriage.
By Mark Hackett (Manchester Blackley CLP)
The immigration rules entitle people to indefinite leave so long as the marriage is intact one year
in this case it was. But the
in this case it was Home Office deliberatel delay such applications -sometimes for as long a three years in the hope that the couple will separate.
The practice is a completely arbitrary extension of Home Office powers. It is so widespread that the majority people the instrument to legalise racistore active black par-
More active ticipation will brought about by radical
changes within the Party. It is therefore in the interests of all sections in • the labour movement to seek to have the Richmond and Barnes
amended placed on the conference agenda. ane debated by any means necessary.
All delegates, especially those on the left, should therefore support it. Labour Race Action To dus conterence 24 September at County Hall also called on all its affiliated organisations
members suppor Resolution 81 as amended.
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
DISCOVER
From 'Wish you were here' (see photo caption facing page). Photomontage: CATH TATE.
deported due to the breakdown of their marriage were still living with their partner at the time they applied to here.
This is exactly what happened Kamal.
Kamal's marriage fell apart long anter made his application, but
Home Office would consider his case and decided to deport him.
Kamal is a member of my local Labour Party ward which along •with the Constituency and City parties is supporting his campaign against deporta-
A public meeting in August launched a defence campaign
5
THEI Conference '83 YOu
STRENGTH
broad-based committee to oversee it. They have produced thousands leatlets and petitions and are planning a demonstra. tion and a lobby of the ap peal.
There are many, often quite isolated, campaigns defending those threaten. ed with deportation. It is we begin to fight for the Labour Par and unions like NALG( to organise nationally to cam paigns and provide a na. tional focus. • Further information from the Kamal Kumar Defence Cttee, c/o AlHilal Community Projeci 443 Cheetham Hill Rd Cheetham Manu hester M8, 061-740 0577.
* Stop deportations now! * With the support of NALGO, the MUHAMMAD IDRISH Defence Campaign calls on labour movement and anti-racist activ sts
to support a NATIONAL
DEMONSTRATION against racist deportation laws from Booth Street, Handsworth
BIRMINGHAM, 11am,
SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER
* Stop deportations now! * Contact your local NALGO branch for
travel details
Page 6 scan of this page
6 Conference '83
by the British ruling class, evidenced by its centrality to all the major party conferences this year.
After an election in
in the North of Ireland where opposition to Tory policies grew stronger and more radical.
Sinn Fein's victory was. not merely the election of Gerry Adams in West Belfast and the 102,000 votes for their candidates; it was the shudder their campaign sent down the spine of the establishment.
like the All-Ireland Forum mitiated bv the Southern Government or Prior's Assembly in the North have been rendered useless
the Assembly because Sinn Fein have forced a nationalist boycott, the Forum because it enjoys Fein are excluded. legitimacy whilst Sinn
By Martin Collins
So what can the British do? When
habitually unleash more repression.
Having failed in their last attempt to criminalise the nationalist prisoners
removing political status, they have now moved into a new area the super-grass campaign.
The security forces have scoured the jails of the Six Counties for prisoners
are intimidated or bribed into incriminating others they may or may Hot KnOW. Crumin Road ail was of- Jimmy Brown •fered £80,000 make false statements by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. How much have the RUC got in the bank,
where is it coming from? Convictions are
word of informers, often serving tong sentences. is taken as gospel by judges presiding
NEW
IRE
LOYAL ST
VETO
MUST
GO!
New issue of Labour and Ireland. 40p.
Copies from LCI BM Box 5355. London WCI N3XX.
Socialist Action 30 September 1983 THE IRISH CRISIS is central to the problems faced
which the British labour movement was divided and sent reeling, it was only
Under these conditions the only voice that has grown in authority is that of Sinn Fein. That is why almost 50 per cent of the Liberal Assembly were in favour of their party having talks.
Responses • to the Liberal's debate were predictable. The Official Jnionists (regarded by the press the 'moderate' wing of Loyalism) said that the Liberal policy would "initiate bloodletting on scale never previously witnessed'
As it turned out, none Auvertsemeni
ABOUR
LAND
Irish debate central
to all parties
the militant Young Liberais demanos suca as British withdrawal got
only the suggestion that Dublin and London should get troods from the European community to siey I. much the same as the SDP who hosted a tringe meeting 01 the Social Democratic and Lavou. Party their Salford conference (The Guardian was not slow to point out that there were
EEC LWU that were ideal candidates for policing Ireland the British and the Irish.)
Police
One of the resolutions at the forthcoming Tory party conference calls for a police state to be set up in the North. Never let it be said that the Tories are
FLAND SOUTLAND AND HALES
TROOPS OUT MUNEMEN END BRITISH RULE
IN IRELAND NOW
The Troops Out Movement joined Sinn Fein to picket an army barracks
says Sinn
Fein
UNLESS bureaucratic
pressure wins the day,
delegates at Brighton
will be able to listen to
the views of Sinn Fein
at a specially organis-
ed fringe meeting. We
asked DANNY MOR-
RISON of Sinn Fein
what message they will
be trying to get across
to delegates.
•WE CONSIDER the
decision of the Liberal
conference to support
a united Ireland as a
small but very impor-
tant breakthrough
although we of course
regret the fact that
they won't speak with
Sinn Fein.
• Although they
have hamstrung
themselves, we , vieW
their decision as
frightened of challenging the status quo!
But much the most important conference TOT reland Labour's.
Sinn have poken to a fringe meeting
Let's hope the dialogue Brighton. Will continued
With Tony Benn speaking on the main Irish resolution and the
aupearance of the _Labour Committee on Ireland's new magazine Labour and Ireland there will be chough pressure lo ensurc a decent discussion on an issue so long neglected.
There will be diversions of colise The 'Labour Representation Committee' will be more rabid than ever in their insistence that Labour is being 'racist' by refusing to
'Let's continue the dialogue'
Sinn Fein MP Gerry Adams visited Britain on Ken Livingstone's invitation
breakthrough.
'we presume the Labour Party conference will be preocupied with the reacersnip question Some of our members will be attending a fringe meeting. personally don't expect breakthroughs as they seem to be going through a reaction.
'We would call on delegates to support a dialogue with all the par-
allow membership apoucation. IrOll Ulster unionists. Their PR machine will ensure lots of publicity if little sense. Partition
Socialists will be contheir on pressing for talks with Sinn Fein and making Labour's policy on Ireland
definite. Delegates will be calling for the Party to reject the Loyalist veto over actions of the British government, given as result of the 'pretend' majority resulting from partition
This will strengthen the fight wittawa in Britain which is the vital
LO the building of a movement throughout the 32. Counties for a socialist republic. ties in the Six Counties. This can lead to greater
We bauerstanting are pleased that Martin Flannery and other MPs met with us despite the attitude of Don Concannon.
'These visits begun with Ken Livingstone's invitation for our representatives • 10 COle to Britain. All these things help to support a dialogue.
Ken Livingstone addresses a memorial meeting for the dead hungerstrikers
Livingstone
brings united
Ireland message
to Scotland
September.
As he arrived at the meeting of the Edinburgh the headGuaiteis district Labour Party, mob of 40 members of the TOCA Orange Lodge screamed abuse. One steward protecting ingstone got a black eye.
By Neil Cruickshank
Livingstone later told the local Radio Forth that on the few occasions when
has trem pre National
from National was Front with understood the Orange
in Scotland had strong links.
Livingstone explained his message for Ireland to the 70 Labour
dance.
He had gone to Belfast for discussions with Gerry Adams because it is clea that Provisional Sinn Fein are the legitimate representatives of the nationalist community Coles Stalemate
Peace will only come through the negotiation of
united Ireland and hopefully a socialist one
Fein and the leadership of the British army know tha there is military stalemate
there always will be, so the
negotiation.
Such approach not possible until the British government be it
Concannon recognise the legitimacy of
them towards an metale wildeawa British troops and the re establishment of a united Ireland.
News
Boey SAND
1 ом KEN LIVINGSTONE, leader of the Greater Lon. don Council spoke at a meeting organised by the Edinburgh Labour Committee on İreland on 16
It is up to the Labour Party, the . overwhelming majority of whose constituency members support British withdrawal, to ensure that future conference motions for
ot cynically butchered be
Le LADOV Party leader ship and the trade union
The rank and file of the Labour Party and trade unions have to take up these arguments forcefully and make sure the next
government doe not continue the disgraceful record of the past in bolstering British imperialism in Ireland and prolonging war which has already lasted 800 years.
Vital
Other speakers took up these points. Mary Pearse from Birmingham LCI and Troops Out Movement explained the trouble
harassment people discuss British rule in the face when they
So of the vital that Labour Party and the trade union movement in inis countr advance the arguments for British withdrawal
Letter
A letter smuggled out of the H block from the commanding officer of the republican prisoners there was read to the meeting
This expressed solidarity with those in Britain cam paigning against British TudE and asked that should continue and grow stronger government withdraws the troops and enas lls intervention in Irish politics.
Page 7 scan of this page
News
LABOUR PARTY democracy is under attack in Birmingham Yardley constituency where to date the Acocks Green ward has turned down three transfers and two new applications for membership.
members would in any normal circumstances have been automatic. The three have been party members for two, three and four years respectively — all are active trade unionists. One was previously a GC delegate and vice-chair of a Labour Party branch.
In fact, at their first branch meeting on 4 July, one of those transferring
accepted membership. At his next meeting on 5 September he was asked to leave as his transfer was 'up for discusion'. The initial decision was dutifully reversed.
The other two transfers weren't given even this respite.
At the meeting on 4 July they and two new apPoir nis vestre sinned out o
'investigation' when the Membership Secretary claimed that she had been 'reliably informed' that
Havertisemen Labour Against the
Witch Hunt
Speakers: Ken Livingstone, Anne Pettifor,
Jane Stockton, Colin Talbot Chair: Jeremy Corbyn
Saturday 1 October 6pm. Apollo Hotel, 135 Kings Road (opposite pier)
Tamil victims of massacre - demand for independent state justified?
Witch hunt
rumblings in
Birmingham
The transfer into the ward of three Labour Party
"30 Trotskyists had decided to move into Acocks Green, set up a commune and take over Yardley Labour Party'
By Mick Archer (Birmingham Ladywood GMC -personal capacity)
Since the four were all living at the same address this was itself considered suspicious. Subsequently 'interviewed' by the Membership Secretary for periods of between 15
Labour conference fringe meeting
minutes and three hours, all three were asked questions which throw some light the process •of political vetting employed.
Besides being asked Acocks Green, Acocks the interviews included questions like: 'Do public demonstrations help party?', 'Why did you canvass for CND in the General Election?' and 'Do you belong to CND?' and more bluntly 'Do you have left wing views ike the rest?
On 5 September both the and
•ICW applications then
WelC turned down. The debate lasted approximate v one hour and only confirmed what was everyone's suspicion that they were facing exclusion from the party because the views which they held and the campaigns which they supported.
To date the five have all indicated their determination to appeal against the decisions. statement of the facts surrounding their exclusion has been produced, and a statement supporting their right to be members Acocks Green ward is being circulated within the Yardley constituency.
Support will then be sought throughout the City Labour Party and nationally. As Labour Party activists they recognise that more than their own individual memberships stake. Socialists throughout the
party should also recognise this and rally to their support.
ing class, systematically demolished by the
directed against the Tamil-speaking people.
The Tamils are demanding the establishment of
independent state in their homelands, referred to as telam, which the Northern and Eastern
of Sri • Lanka.
LUVICCO They have opted for this
solution as a last resort to ensure their safety and survival.
Today the only 'effective challenge to the ruthless Sri Lankan regime comes not from the once. powerful left Prom the two Tamil libera tion groups who are wag. ing 'an armed liberation struggle to Secure dr dependent Eelam the LTTE and the PLOT. bying
ference.
The NEC have recently changed their reasons for the closure of the party On April National Agent David Hughes in-
CHINESI officers that irregularities
the annual meeting of the constituen-
that the party would be closed down.
In the NEC report the closure based on "failure to reply to a letter alleging irregularities in the AGM'. Since that time the administration of the
party been in the hands of the
pointed local represenLauve Joe Tayl But was this same Joe Payn wild sialucu over l ministration of the AGN and who would presumably have been responsible for any "irregularities.
The alleged irregularities (to which the Wythenshawe officers have had no proper right of reply) revolve around a ruling made Dy Payne,
Tamils
THE organised movement of the Sri Lankan work-
its parties and trade unions, are being pro-imperialisi government of J.R. Jayawardene. The most vicious attacks however have been and are still being
While socialists have a genuine interest the realisation of a socialist Eelam, they are forced to constructive and MaKe commade CHICSH these liberation groups.
By S. Manickham
Like many groups of their type, they put the em-
logistical aspects of their
the political mobilisation of the Tamil masses, the need for mass political agitation and self defence, consistently down played.
The need for active
Wythenshawe appeals
against closure
WYTHENSHAWE Labour Party are this week lob-
Labour Party conference to protest against the closure of the constituency by the National Executive Committee of the Labour party. They will be campaigning for à reference back of the item on Wythenshawe in the NEC report to the con-
then the secretary/ agent CLP, delegates' papers had not come through were therefore not entitled vote.
Ruling
Neither of the two, Pat Jones from the shop workers union USDA W and Barclay Patois from the Amalgamated . Union of Engineering Workers, challenged the ruling at the Barclay Patois has still not complained.
Neither did the ruling have any significant influence decisions taken at the AGM.
However Pat Jones, a well known right winger, has since linked up with NEC right to bring about the closure of the The result has CLP been in Wythenshawe VIC SUI
since April - during both the local and general election.
Socialist Action
Sri Lankan
fight for
survival
support from the South of the country, from left and progressive forces, for the Tamil struggle cannot br overemphasised. Without doubt, the national libera tion struggle of the Tamil people has an anticapitalist dynamic The right of national self-determination should always be championed by socialists.
Unfortunately, the struggle for Eelam is viewed by some socialists as driving a wedge between the Tamil and Sinhala workers But alas this wedge has already been driven in by the two main bourgeois parties. The failure of the left parties to resist racism since the 1960s when they had the strength to make a real impact, has unfortunately contributed to the tragic situation today.
Therefore to call for
The Wythenshawe executive completely demy any irregularities the AGM and in Pat Jones delegation. Officers like 7: year old Annie Shepherd, who has been in the party for 35 years Wythen shawe and attended many of its AGMS, refute the charge of irregularities at the 1983 AGM.
The Wythenshawe officers have now reconvened the constituency. More than 40 delegates attended its first reconvened David Hughes has called on 9 September. David this meetino invalid. the chair Councillor Alf Home ha: declared 'as far as we are concerned the Wythenshawe is now fully re-established.' Continue
The NEC is determined to continue with its one-person constituency at al costs. They have encountered problems however. David Hughes has been unable to find sufficient numbers delegates to attend reconvened AGM since a large majority of both the Labour Party ana trauc union delegates continue
: 30 September 1983 7 the unity of the Sinhala and Tamil workers as a precondition before an! solution can be found to the rights of the Tamil con On the contrary to misconcep very process of re-unifying the Sinhala and Tamil
• a meaningr and lasting way can today
• be started by fully supporting the Eelam workers and ensuring thei struggle culminates In socialist Eelam. • The Felam Solidant! Campaign (ESC), in conjunction with the Labour Group for Human Rights in Sri Lankan, is holding a fringe meeting during the Labour Party conference Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP and Amrit Wilson. Monday 3 Oc. tober 12.30pm the Salisbury Hotel, Brighton (three minutes walk from Conference Centre). to support the constitues
officers against the
The closure has to be Wythenshawe seen against the attempts to stop the movement t the left in the Manches City party as a whole, particular preventin those councillors who port party policy cuts and no rent increase becoming the majonty ou the council.
Vital
It is also significant fo the Labour Part
whole since, as Alf H
says, 'the foi Wythenshawe is vital if the witch hunt is to be stop ped.
Wythenshawe is callin
for this week's conferen
to reject the NEC's clos of the constituency. T
discussed with Bakers Union movin
respective of the result of COLICCIC. they will be continuing their fight to re-assert a democratic con stituency over the next
Page 8 scan of this page
FIGHT THE
1983 WILL BE remembered as a fateful year. The year of US imperialism renewing its role as world cop in Lebanon and America. The year of the Tories romping home to a second term of office.in the dection. This rightward shift is the background to all the current witch hunts.
It has given the green light to employers to root troublemakers' as at British Leyland. It has opened the door to further attacks on civil liberties through the extension of police powers and surveillance. It has prompted the union and ¿bureaucrats to start a purge of any opposition to the TUC's new right strategy. Every now a target, and organised resistance is vital.
The Tories desperately need to drive down workers' living standards still further. The economy is in a dreadful state and getting worse. The miraculous pre-election boom has disappeared, exposed as a votewinning con. Inflation is up, production estimates are being revised down, and the jobless keep rising despite Tebbit fiddling the figures. Three per norms, further cuts in welfare services and the NHS and hiving off profitable state concerns British Telecom to the City are centrai projects for the government.
Bitter
But these plans will meet bitter resistance from many rank and file workers. They will turn to their unions, their shop stewards mittees, and to the Labour Party to oppose these attacks. There too the Tories and the employers have plans up their sleeves pulsory secret ballots strikes, ballots on the political levy inking the unions and the Labour Party, and moves to weaken shop floor organisation in favour of 'incorporating' the official structures and officials.
Opposing privatisation and the Tebbit proposals are vital tasks for the left. But incidents like the infamous 'mole hunt' at Cowley used as an excuse to attack a militant work force and its stewards committee — will also be 8
on the increase.
the and build a Central against political victimisation.
to worry about.
election. remember
just after the out
should drop disarmament,
if it was to government again.
Labour Policies
wing
don't immediately socialist is
some others! numbers
. Colll" Day tion with
Alliance to get the Tories out. like
Thatcher SO the unions
across the
parties, which will
Labour leaders aim to launch
com-
Tribune,
com-
before
union
Labour left.
The
shop
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
tack:
premises alleged
cillors,
Every union activist is a 'mole' to the Tories and the bosses. That's why the left must respond to the appeal by Alex Lyon
ment. national campaign
But socialists have more than just the Tories and the employers
There has also and been serious rethinking within the labour movement since the general
my general management committee discussion
election result. paper was circulated by a right wing delegate arguing that Labour
unilateral nuclear opposition to the EEC and to incomes policy, and concern with issues like gay rights,
become a party of
In other words if the electorate
like your policies then drop them and find
This right wing has balance sheet of the election result, blaming the left and its policies for the defeat, has been adopted by the TUC leaders at their recent con-
Rather than rebuilding Labour as a mass campaigning party with more socialist policies, the majority of the TUC have now consciously adopted the reverse approach. They have opted for a move to the right and a course towards coali-
the SDP/Liberals
But just as the Tories will meet resistance to their austerity plans,
and Labour bureaucrats will not find it easy to drag Labour to the right and coalitionism. A massive left wing exists
labour movement, especially within the constituency
oppose this strategy. That's why the union and
massive witch hunt against the left.
But the Labour leaders are not stupid. They will not take on Benn,
Scargill and the best known lefts straight away. After all they have a few years to carry through this project. They will start with those which have the least support within the broad Bennite left, and having disposed of them move on to bigger fish. The witch hunt will not be skin deep this time - it, aims eventually to crush the whole
Switch. hunt is already underway in many areas without many comrades on the left realising it. Not only have the five editorial board members of Militant been
expelled, many more are under at-
• Sales of Militant have now been banned from all party meetings and
- party members locally face expulsion for defying the ban • The NEC, having refused to admit Tariq Ali into membership on the grounds that he used to be a member of the International Marxist Group, now plans to expel him
• Wythenshawe Labour Party has been, suspended for months
'irregularities' over refusal to select right wing coun-
and now Party chair Alf Home faces expulsion for allegedly speaking at a WRP rally • The LPYS as a whole had its budget cut amid threats of closure due to its strong Militant involve-
Tọ carry through the witch hunt the party leadership seems set on banning certain left publications
threatening disaffiliation parties which refuse to comply with this or with NEC expulsions. Banning left newspapers has always been the decisive step in previous witch hunts in the Labour Party.
The broadest possible opposition to such steps must be organised by Labour Against the Witch Hunt and every section of the left. Socialists inside CND also face a witch hunt. As the CND leadership tries to force the 'nuclear freeze slogan on to the peace movement instead of unilateralism and cruise, so it has gone on the offensive against all those on the left who oppose this right wing shift. That's why the CND leadership wound up Youth CND, and why it
pul four CND executive
members with veto powers Labour CND executive. And that's why CND leadership was not slow to join in the press 'mole hunt' last month as part of its against opposition inside CND.
A vital part of defence against the witch hunt must be organising the left throughout movement. In many unions broad left currents have emerged committed to greater union democracy and left wing policies. black trade unionists often play a for leading role in these developments. its The Labour left has taken the initiative in workplace Labour strengthen the links between the party and the unions.
Within the Labour Party itself local Labour lefts have re-emerged often linked to the Briefing journal, which has now launched its first national developments should be welcomed as crucial steps in organise the left to resist the right wing onslaught. to left wing movement needed, within both the unions and the Labour Party.
The witch hunt will not go away inside society as a whole. It is too important for the ruling class and their Tory government to break the back of any organised resistance to austerity within the working class. But nor will it go away within the Labour Party, as many comrades wrongly suggest, because Kinnock is Party leader with a left NEC.
The majority of the Labour and no union leaderships are absolutely determined to crush resistance to moving right towards coalitionism. Opposition witch hunt will form a central part of the work of every union and party activist over the coming year.
LABOR PARTY
onto
campaign
the labour
Women and
some areas to start
branches bulletin. Such
the fight to
A new national
is urgently the left's
this preparing tion.
Wing suspended, presenting a
entryist organisation
da'.
resolved that
letters to
Build a
natione
campa
agains
politica
sackin
THE
LABO
Conference
The NE
witch hi
SINCE LAST year's annual conference the NEC has probably spent as much time on witch-hunting as it did on
the general elecNEC meetings were dominated by who was being expelled, who was being kept out of the party, who was be-
and whose papers had to be proscribed.
The last conference voted to set up a register for non-affiliated groups of Party members. It did not vote to expel people. Undeterred, in December the NEC - after weeks of agonising over how best to expel Militant supporters while
facade of 'natural justice' to avoid legal wrangles — defined Militant thus: 'a Trotskyist
group ... a political with its own pro gramme, principles and policy fo distinctive and separate propagan
Having established these ground rules the January NEC went further. It
the key question deciding whether Militant supporters were liable for expulsion was: 'their in volvement in financial support and/or the organisation of and/ or the activities of the Militant tendency?. Having sent
the five editorial board members of the Militant newspaper with carefuly legally worded charges, the February NEC went in for the kill
The Militant five were 'interviewed'
Page 9 scan of this page
VITCH HUNT
1
gn
1
IS
83
inters
and 'questioned' and unceremoniously expelled, Hebruart meeting. At no time did the NEC ask the views of the local parties of which the Militant five were members. Had they done so they would have found no support for their expulsions — all three local parties were on record as oppos-
ing such moves. Both Islington South &
rinsoury. and Hammersmith Parties
have not implemented the NEC's re-
west to celete me mama ave on
heir membership records.
By Davy Jones (Islington
South & Finsbury CLP)
Throughout the year the NEC was
also preoccupied with keeping member out of the Labour Party.
Tariq Ali. His crime? Having been a former member of the International
Marxist Group, and disagreeing with
Jim Mortimer on the relationship bet-
ween parliament and democracy.
Hornsey party voted each time with a
greater majority to admit Tariq into
membership but the nationa party
refused to accept him.
In a classic piece of witch-hunting
pragmatism the NEC's report to con-
ference this year has the answer
you can't keep him out then let him in
and expel him! It's surprising the par-
ty's election campaign was so dull when
the NEC is obviously capable of such
imagination.
The NEC report says that to test the
authority of the NEC's ruling to keep
Tariq out could be 'a long and costly
process. However the authority of the
NEC expel all individual
SINCE THE sackings last increasing numbers of trade unionists have realise how serious are the issues raised by the affair.
No one seriously believes that BL management sacked people for their views at Cowley. Nor does anyone think that they were terrified of the threat of Socialist Action supporters being in the plant. But what the sensational media 'mole hunt' whipped management got away with was to legitimise political vetting and victimisations.
membership of the Labour Party was clearly defined in the constitution. procedure expel Mr membership has now been initiated by the NEC'.
Having dealt with the Militant the talents of the NEC witch-hunters moved on, this time to Manchester Wythenshawe CLP. In April the NEC suspended the party officers, the GMC and its executive and put the Party's affairs into the hands of the National Agent in London. The reason given was alleged 'irregularities' at the Party's annual
the left wing Party's refusal to select right wing candidates for the council.
With the distraction of the election out of the way the NEC witch-hunters were able to get back to the serious business of uniting the party through purges. The August NEC got its teeth into Militant again, this time banning them from using Party facilities, banning the sale of Militant at Party events of premises, and collection funds.
Presumable the Party intends to implement this at national conference. Certainly it has given the green light to everv witch-hunter in the local parties to take action. Already there are moves NEC to expel Party members defying this rule in at least one constituency.
waste bins of most Party offices - has been used to start banning other left wing publications like Socialist Action.
numoct hunt. There would have been more but
party's resolution out of order on the grounds that it referred to more than one subject (which could be said of cepted for the order paper). Could it be that the real reason was its demand for the reinstatement of the Militant five two
the amendments centre around opposition to the bans on socialist papers, op-
unless they stand or campaign against
unlikely at this year's conference, winning conference support for an end to future witch hunts and the ban on sales
possibility. It would put a 'left' NEC in - 11 a difficult position to break the con-
fight will be vital for the whole left. Don't forget, there are only the Euro-
pean elections next year to distract the
NEC from its 'real work' of expelling people!
• See page 7 for articles on the witch from hunt in Birmingham and Manchester
Cowley
month, have been commonplace for as long a
they can remember. and in certain come to
for years. to bend the truth when applying for such jobs. received serious public attention.
political By Steph Grant
degree. Now millions of people know that companies sack. people for their political views. And many also learnt about the witch-hunting activities of like up by BL
out of a job.
Hundreds of
'The
Ali from
T&GWU
The real reason was
for its
watching you' undel Concerned
For union activists these practices
On building sites against industries company blacklists have been standard practice
So has the need for activists But rarely has this issue doubt -that
Cowley has changed that to some harassment for their
the Economic with industry chiefs to keep activists and socialists
prominent trade unionists and Labour Party members
Cowley witch hunt
In the September issue of the
paper Record David Buckle, Oxford district secretary of the union, wrote
pleased to reproduce that ar-
headlines from
were sacked from the British Leyland plant at Cowley in
world in which big brother is
'thought police' who make sure that individuals do not think outside accepted lines
Buckle, argues that trial by
Havoc
'guilty before they had been
THE THIRTEEN BL workers sacked by the company for allegedly making false statements on their job application forms have been denied natural justice by virtue of a massive media
I am a Justice of the Peace and I know that if their case had been tried newspapers which tried and found our members guilty would have been had
had a chance in the McCarthyite at-
mosphere which has been whipped up. Many of our members in the assembly plant are now worried about speaking
news
thought to be contrary to those held by
becoming common in Britain, designed
amongst other things to weaken trade
unionism, then I smell fascism around
Let me repeat to T&G RECORD
readers what I told a press conference
last month. It will be new to most of
you because the press in the main does
have now signed the appeal launched by Alex Lyon, former Labour minister, anionshits supporte should ne political harnessed into a national campaign which can permanently highlight an right these practices. There can be n
the need for " such campaign will grow under the Tories, given their plans to defeat the militancy of the British labour movement.
What would such a campaign do? First, it could draw up a charter of employees rights to a job free from
political views Such a charter could be fought for throughout the labour movement and win endorsement from many unions
Second, it could work with other national, regional and local organisa tions to set up inquiries into the ac
operating blacklists, and the national groups like the Economic League. Third, it could act as a focus for workers across the not care to report what the workers' representatives tell them.
First, the matter of the 13 lost jobs is a question of industrial relations to be resolved in the normal way — not a political football for the media to kick
the members are said to have done but! do understand it. In the inter-war years it was quite common for job applicants to give false information in a desperate
belong to the political party of their choice. Many are Tories. Nearly three years ago Mrs Thatcher advised the filtrate' (her word) unions, seek office
saying we as a union should weed out
height of hypocrisy that our members have been criticised for their political views. It is none of the media's business and it is none of our business to act as
are all good workers. They were causing no problems. That is more than you
can say for the havoc that this doc.
trinaire Tory government has been
• 50 per cent of the BL labour force
have lost their jobs since the arrival of
Michael Edwardes in 1978.
• several BL plants have closed down
completely including MG of Abingdon
with the loss of 1,200 jobs.
• thousands of export opportunities
the government's slavish adherence to
Leyland wanted to give way, accept the
basis of our arguments and reinstate
the sacked workers they would not feel
able to because of the massive political
campaign the media has conducted and
the difficulties the government would
The media has denied T&G
members any chance of natural justice
If you want to put the business of
false application forms into perspective
take a look at Mrs. Thatcher's record.
public that the National Health Service
was safe in her hands? But she has still
got her job and not a squeak from the
Socialist Action
country who are victimised to make their case heard and to campaign for their reinstatement.
In West Germany they have a la forbidding socialists and communis employment in certain jobs. Despite an international outery against it that law is about to be reinforced by the Kohl government, which is no more right wing than own Thatcher government.
Bosses
We should make sure that Thatcher and the bosses in this country don't try to build on their success over Cowley to go down that road. The best start we can make is to build the broadest support for the Alex Lyon appeal and to turn it into a national campaign supported by the whole labour movement, and civil liberties lobbies.
at Cowley of workers for their
views is merely one example of increas
evidence of thi CHISELOI
socialist. In our view an employer i:
not entitled to censor ideas or penalise ment of tine Corles
story was gravely disturbing in assum
WEN Yet
few voices were heard in criticism. This
is a new McCarthyite tendency to con with theople by demn association and, taken
activity of organisations like
which ought to be reversed. We would
to counter
and to give support to those who ar
convicions.
Initial signatories (all in personal
capacity)
Terry Marsha i Asian General Secretary Tobacco
of Railwayme, General Secretary National Unio
en Cameron, General Secretary Fire Brigade
Maurice ones, no rks. NUM, editor The Miner.
Clarke, NUM Executive
Maynard MP
Eric Heffer Mi
Ingstone, leader GLC ront: Dohenn MI ernard Reagan, National Union of Teacher
Ted Knight, Leader Lambeth Council.
Morrell, Leader of ILEA dustin Walker, Leader of Greenwich s. National E.C., AUEW
field, Tribun c Peckham CLP , editor New Socialist secretary Political Committe
Universits main Bill Gre, alre Co Revier tuart Hall Universit
• Ellery, Chair NUPEC 30 September 1983 9
Page 10 scan of this page
New stage of Polish struggle
10 Interview with OLIVER MACDONALD, editor of Labour Focus on Eastern Europe
What was the function of the Pope's visit from the point of view of the Church and the Polish government!
For the regime the Pope's visit had a number parposes demonstrate to the world that the regime could handle a Pope, to maintain order: Secondly, it was hoped that the Pope's visit would help to break the diplomatic isolation of the regime. Thirdly, the visit was for the population in the contry
the population in
And the regime used the Pope's visit as a bargaining counter sorts of opposition forces, saying that uniess tney benaved the visit wouldn't take place.
The regime-had hoped that by the time the visit was due, underground would be on the rocks. At the beginning of
achieved this with the underground in disarray. However. things turned out the underground rallied in the spring and managed to mount counter-offensive, culminating in the successful May Day demonstration The central church bureaucracy and episcopate was attempting to use the Pope's visit to clinch its efforts at detente with the regime, and to exert pressure on the opposition to give up heir activities.
Calm
Cardinal Glemp declared that it was essential there should be 'calm' in Poland and there should not be public protests for example, he opposed the May Day demonstrations.
Glemp hoped that as a result of the Pope's visit there would be a deal between the Vatican and the regime, and some sort of blessing from the Pope for Glemp, who was hard pressed by people who said he was too conciliatory towards the regime.
The Vatican was well aware of the importance of trying to consolidate the gains of the Church of Poland, where as a result of the crisis and martial law they had been given big concessions by the regime. that these gains were opposed Most. So this was a ta pressure to and a great deal could the Pope to use the visit to make a deal with the regime.
Second, the Vatican also saw the Pope's visit in the context of East-West relations. The Pope has carved out a role for himself as being a champion of Catholicism against the left. He has swung forces inside the church quite sharply to the right. ealy ne nas cone us out or genunic conviction that his task was to engage in a battle against the left, behalf of the nationalist forces inside Poland. So the Pope faced very con-
anage or one ains of reches and
the bureaucracy and it there would be powertul forces wanting to use the Pope's visit in order to cement a new relationship wịth the
and that deal saying ' 'goodbye' to Solidarity.
Crowds
So the Solidarity and Walesa made big efforts to use the visit to force the regime to make Coles ons, And it wanted to make sure that Solidarity's presence would
theatrical convincing Western media and the crowds that he was on the side of Solidarity. At the same time, une ropes Ical micssage was that the fundamental thing in Poland was the Church, that Solidari-
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
First
visit by the
the country
with all
the Solidarity
this year they
success m
political
repeatedly
that Stefan Olszowski (left).
Iney knew
by phase Poland': speeches tended
Undoubt-
Solidarity dilu
cess. There
knew that
organisation maintained?
involved fundamental change since the had
it in 1982. But underground signs that
Solidarity tradition.
magnificent
the the security
ty was really just one part of this fundamental thing — and it was just one
'the revival of Christian Consequently to imply that the has 'Solidarity phase' has in fact passed.
seems to have suffered some reverses since the Pope's visit -in particular the attempted go slow' doesn't seem to have been a big suc-
Hardek. To what extent has Solidari-
is it demoralised? Is the underground
There doesn't seem to have been any
the period Pope's visit. The underLUSL the capacity to the mobilise the mass of workers behind
there are no strong the bulk Poland have turned their backs on the
Indeed the lack of success of the regime in building the the new trade unions indicates the
The problem is that in any set piece confrontations with the regime,
forces and workplace management have been able to bring gigantic pressure to bear. The mass o workers really indicated early in the martial law period that there was little
Above, Lech Walesa with supporters. Below Jaruzelski with the deposed Kania (right) and pro-Moscow hardliner
Oliver MacDonald
possibility confronting pressures and defeating them.
what has changed is that inside the middle class and intelligensia there
been a growing trend to write Solidarity off, and this has down very heavily on the Solidarity leadership. These pressures have been heavily reinforced by the Church. Ihe regime using the same about the underground as is Gremo that this is a movement without a progrannie or perspecure.
What the debates inside the underground. leadership strategy!
The recent statement by • Walesa where he is reported to have said that
'Solidarity phase' is Shone replaced strategy — indicates what is obviously now.the chiet debate his is the debate on whether or not to continue to claim the Solidarity tradition for
underground as an organised national movement.
This is then tied in with debates which have gone on since the imposition of martial law a perspective of being able to overthrow the regime, and if there isn't then is the perspective to make accomodation with the regime? alternatively, to go for a diversified
those 'underground society', composed of
numerous semi clandestine groups doing particular little activites
borne name of Solidarnosc, and replace il
with ditterent streams of opposition. goes hand in hand with saying two
phrases olner bullgs. ble to overthrow the regime. Second.
that alternatively tempt to get a deal with the regime either:
Wing the name 'Solidarnosc' would be interpreted by the government as a about very great success. If big strikes or
demonstrations would not be a central force in Poland
mean the end
and underground leadership
called regime. Great
the great obstacles to detente with the regime would disappear one couldn't say any more that there were three great movements operating anne bas or las ean view with Walesa, Or sala exachy wilal ne is allegea to nave said, it's clear that it represents the
tellectual forces.
using the
hostage. adopt? other is Willy Order
of working collulla this,
the intelligensia,
limiting
the
Hotter a maintain
The party
because Soviet crushed.
tion?
and totally
Hirst. that it's not possi-
shouldn't atUlIc
But it should be said that disclaim-
tions,
OOKe out, LS CEC telligensia,
It would
of the TKK the Solidarity
- which has the mobilisations against the
with This would also mean that one of
because
whether or : not he that happens,
Interview
pressure of Church forces and in-
It is very likely that the regime is
SCVCI jailed Solidarnosc leaders and the jailed KOR leaders as
this bargaining process about the future of Solidarnosc. It's not impossible that the regime has in. dicated that if the name "Solidarnose is disposed of and the TKK goes, these trials can be forgotten.
Is there a debate inside the party leadership about what approach to
There has been a real battle inside the regime and the party since the beginning of martial law before It's over nothing less than the future of Polish Communism Basically there are two schools of thought. One is around Jaruzelski and Rakowski. The
the . so-called 'Grabskiite'
As far as the latter are concerned, they basically argue there should be a revival of the party as a so-called 'Marxist-Leninist' strong workerist anti-intellectual and anti-Čhurch thrust. They want a great effort to try to maintain working class living standards and to make a big onslaught against intellectual dissent at èvery level, including a purge of party intellectuals.
On the other side the Jaruzelski strategy has involved an emphasis on the restoration of order, a repression
class resistance using and police measures for , and an attempt to construct a bloc between the Church leadership
, technocrats and the peasant coad suth it wike this she
could put it like this.
Jaruzelski leadership has tried to take all the elements of the so-called 'self-
revolution' which don't directly interfere with the functioning of the state and apply them. That means they have tried to decentralise
economy, 'marketise the economy, offer something to the intellectuals (though not much so far),
great deal to the Church and support private agriculture and so forth
powerful forces inside : the who oppose this Jaruzelski policy have not been totally crushed
Inere 1s every sign that the Union doesn't want them
What is your assessment of the relationship of forces, does the regime have the basis to stablise the situa
The great success of the regime has been its capacity to demonstrate that it can maintain order. Its second great success up till now has been its ability to do business with the Church.
its great problem is going lo be that it cannot consolidate its relation ship with the Church and the intell ¡gensia until the Solidarnoss period"
The problem is how to do that. how to say things are 'normal without raising working class expecta
the working class moving forward We see this con tradiction right now. when vou nave enormous pessimism inside the in-
the first signs of economic strikes.
For the future a lot depends on the
underground leadership.
The regime definitely wants Solidarity to go so it can divide up the opposi tion and deal with it piecemeal The great fear of the regime is that the working class will start to move forward on the economic front, and link
organised national sondarity Melwork
The great card that the regime has had is that of the Church. But its role stores up future problems. The question is: will it give rise to oppositional currents in the future that are much more independent of the Church? If
, that spells enormous trouble for the regime.
Page 11 scan of this page
REVIEWS
puter freaks scare the pants off me.
I can just see in twenty years' time everything will be run by computer and credit card, and all us old time computer illiterates will be out in the cold. Time was when you could function by knowing the Ning s English and your twelve times table, plus a
geography. But to pro-
War Games is a movie about: a 17-vear old computer genius in the States flood of bills, threats and rent reminders that filled last week's Socialist Action postbag we were surprised to find a single for review.
Chilean Warning is by the New Model Army and comes complete with stickers and factsheets describing the coup in "73 and the repression in Chile today. And as the band's first single released by their own company tney ve odviously pul a lol of energy into getting their
But what of the music? Chilean Warning is a vivid description of 'totalitarian repression' which toco guitar and drums to give a hard sound reminiscent of two years ago when synthesizers were still cheque-book away from your average band-in-thestreet. The combination works, particularly the carefully rationed shrill guitar sound - which l've always been a sucker To
and the mumbled background
succcil. though ! didn't catch a word of it. Model
New Army describe themselves as 'a surreal, symbolic dream
always ready champion the cause of
War Games
For some time now, I've had a sneaking suspicion that the younger generation (for oldies like me that means people born after 1960) had the drop on us. All these seven and eight year-olds who are com-
who links up his bedroom with what he thinks is a toy computer 'What games do
hero play askar,
'Backgammon, poker. chess, , chequers Global Thermonuclear War' responds the computer.
So as they start to play the game, attacking Soviet
USAF Central War Room display screens deep under the Mid-West mountains.
Chilean warning
people living under They "stress they political band' - and this shows in the way they describe op pression without asking
When Mom calls him down for tea the computer freak stops playing - but the War Operations Planning computer doesn't, and later rings him up to demand the next move. Panic al round.
By Phil Hearse
'War games', does not have an entirely believable story line. But it's close enough to reality to be chilling reminder of the precarious state of the 'nuclear balance'
and the irrationality of the nuclear
'Is this a game allis tale or is it real?' asks com-
- CHILEAN WARNING
why it exists or what to do about it.
But since a percentage of the single go to the CSC that seems like a political act to
puter freak. 'What's the difference' replies War Operations Planning Computer. Quite.
War Games has
teenage audience in mind, with its youthful central characters and backdrop of young love. But that doesn't intrude if you're
Cosmonated but mated by
computers, terrified thermonuclear war and like good thriller. 'Strange game' says. the computer 'that neither side can win'. See, they're cven Inventing compulels cleverer than people. (John Bradham 1983, 113 minutes) me, as does their recent demonstration outside the Chilean Embassy.
Hope the New Model Army . wins plenty of recruits.
future with a line like this?
Hor tive. well-written chapters he details the history of the Labour left and its relations with the right. There it is in all its horror and if you do not have time to read Ralph Miliband's Parliamentary Socialism this useful short sharp introductory guide to the inadequacies of reformism.
But then the snag. His conclusions are about as much use to a British marxist as a pair of snow skis are Bedouin. All he comes forward with at the end is an exhortation to bulld the revolutionary party here and now'.
Review by Bob Pennington
This apparently can be done by 'not pretending to be stronger than we are, passinil attended grand reso mons
ward meetings capturing union positions without any real base and building every real workers' strug gle we can find, no matter how tiny, and arguing unambiguously for our revolutionary politics with the small minority who will listen.?
This Socialist Party of Great Britain-type au" proach, which owes more to Fabian gradualism than it does to the traditions of the early Third Interna-
never going lead to social revolution.
Revolutionar • socialism is only going to go or the agenda when million of people are convinced that things can't
go on in the same way. And they are equally convinced that the reformist organisations can't deliver the goods.
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
Is there a future for
the Labour left?
A SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY PAMPHLET
Is there a future for the SWP?
PETE GOODWIN'S pamphlet Is there a future for the Labour left? made me ask the question has the Socialist Workers Party who published it got any
This means mass break with the right-wing The author ad-
Dominance in the party's DOWC suructure from their great weight in the working class itself. They organise and affect the day-to-day lives of millions of workers.' How right he is. So the 64-dollar question is how are the workers going to break with reformism? Pete Goodwin suggests it is going to be done by a revolutionary group building from a never-ending succession of strikes, where presumably growing number of workers wil learn that their leaders are just a bunch of traitors. But the unions are no1 made up of, on one side, a perfidious leadership whose task is to sell out and on the other side a and file who straining at the leash to overthrow capitalism just waiting tor some marxist to come and show them the way. The majori. ty of workers think that capitalism, apart from few blemishes is OK is why they often give their support to the right ving union leaders and the Labour leaders.
Even the activist wing in the labour movement is overwhelmingly left reformist. They may be more militant than the average rank and file member but they still reckon reform not revolution the answer. This acceptance of rerormisu elabici right wing to get away with their policies , oI class col laboration. But it is inese workers that marxists have to convince.
Hidden away in a corner somewhere are not • millions unsullied
11
PETE GOODWIN
revolutionary workers to whom reformism is a dirty word. That fact grasped by the 3rd International in the early days when it urged the young British Communist 'Party
build a bridge to the reformist workers and this led to the formation of the Minority Movement and the National Left-Wing MoThey knew that
They the marxists could only win the leadership of decisive sections of the working
11 they could united action and common WOrk snow te retorms workers that there were practical solutions the crisis which needed dependent: working class action.
Bridge
The SWP have learned nothing from that perience. Their strateg outlined in this pamphlet will not make a bridge to those will simply erect a pier - and
› off the end of those you fall over and drown. The pamphlet does not even have the merits of saying anything original. The idea that factory floor struggles will triumph over politics was a cherished myth of the syndicalist movement.
It got a new lease of life in the days of 'the thirc period' Every now and again when a British far left organisation tires of
world it surfaces again, and some group discovers that it all begin. at the 'point of produc tion
Meanwhile righ! wing breathe a sigh oi relief, happy thought that those blood! marxists won't be disrup ting their Labour Party. Is there a future for the Labour left?
A Socialist Workers Party
Price 95p
Page 12 scan of this page
No
DIARY
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Rebuilding the Labour Party
British politics facing 1984
Socialist foreign policy
The struggle for black rights Grant Kingsway Princeton College,
ACTION SociAlist
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Labour Party Conference
fringe meetings and events
• New Socialist forum, Tue 4 Oct, 7.30pm, the Dome, Pavilion Estate • Speakers: The Leader & Deputy Leader
• Chile Solidarity Cam-
paign Latin America Fiesta,
Tue 4 Oct, 8.30pm, Sussex
Rm, Bedford Hotel. Chilean
folk music & dance, bar ex-
tension. NATED, Labour CND/debate on
Thur 6 Oct, 5.30pm,
Royal Albion Hotel, Oic
Steine. Chair: Pat Ar-
rowsmith. Speakers: Jo
kicharason Mr, Denzi Davies MP, Bob Cryer,
vary naidul.
• Labour Briefing meeting
'Organising the fightback',
Sun 2 October, after con
Terence session. Cuccus
Hotel. Chair: Jeremy Cor
byn MP. Speakers. . Ken Liv-
Inestone Ann Pettifor, Merle Amory, Jane stockton,
Labour Women's Briefing
discussion, Mon 3 October,
7.30pm, Kings Hotel. Led by
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7.30pm, Metropole Hotel.
Speakers include Ken Liv-
HUESLONC
• Cttee for Defence of
Democratic Rights in Turkes
Oct, 5.15pm, Old Ship
Hotel, Kings Rd. Chair Er-
nie Roberts MP. • Speakers:
, Aydin Meric.
ÚS imperialism in Central
America & Chile Tue 4 Oct
5.30pm, Bedford Hotel,
Kings Rd. Chair: Richard
Hate var. opeakers.
Salvador Moncada, len van
den Heuvel, Dick Caborn.
• The Labour Party &
Black People, 5 October
renue & time to be announc
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Movement with Tony Benn,
Fenner Brockway, Ken
Tam Dalvell. Stuart
Holland MF Michael
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Kings Rd, Brighton.
(Organised bv Bertrand
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• CND National Demonstration London, 22 Oct. Details: 01-272 8896.
• No socialism without gay liberation. Labour Campaign for Gay Rights meeting with Jo Richardson MP, Reg Race, , Jeremy Corhun r ane older socakes.
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• International social -
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Africa, Asia, Middle East,
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Admission fl. (Organised by
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walsus
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Coates); Defending Local
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Blunkett). At Brighton Tech
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Details: Steering Citee, 143
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tingham 0602-708318.
• Stop the witch hunt
Labour Against the Witch
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6pm, Apollo Hotel,
135 Kings Road,
opposite Pier
Speakers: Ken Livingstone,
Anne Pettifor, , Jane
Stockton, Colin Talbot.
Chair Jeremy Corbyn.
• Campaign for Labour
Democracy meeting
Sun 2 Oct, 1.45pm, Corn
Exchange (Pavilion com-
plex). Speakers: Margaret
Beckett, Eric Clarke, Bill
Deal, Eric Heffer, Patricia
Joan Maynard
Michae meaner. unar
Alistair McRae
• Peace march organised by
'LADOIT CNU • Dun L UC
tober, assemble 1.30pm, The
Level, Brighton (nr BR stn).
Rally 2.30pm Sea Front nr
Metropole Hotel. Speakers
include Tony Benn, Ken Liv-
ingstone, Helen John,
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/PLUTO DIARY AND DIRECTORY DISARMAMENT BIG RED
1984 The famous illustrated Big Red Diary this year
Speakers: Jeremy Corbyn MP
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Sponsored by Socialist Health
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Labour Herald Rally, Mon 3 UCt, Dome Pavilion Estate.
Speakers: Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone. Arthur Scargill Joan Maynard MP, Matthew Warburton, Allan Roberts Mi?: Faisal Oweida (PLU re LPYS meeting Youth & , Kate Allen.
, Thur 6 Oct, the ale 7.30pm, Wagner Hall, Regency Rd. Speakers: aurence codies. • Steve Morgan, Dave Nellist MP.
Diary
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Havertisement
LONDON'S HEALTH EMERGENCY
Public meeting The closure of the Highgate Wing, Whittington
Hospital Tue 11 Oct, 7.30pm, Caxton House, St John's
Way, Archway N19 This closure will affect services for the elderly and children, as well as many other patients. The situation is serious. Please come along and give us your
support.
Michael Meacher MP ngton CHC), Syed Boukhari Association, London branch, 01-455 9621.
• Women Against Kapt Thur 6 Oct, 7.30pm, Curzon Hotel, Cavendish Place Chair: kuth Hall. Speakers John Tilley, Dawn Primarolo, Halimat Babamoa. oale beymour Deborah Knight. * orkplice Branches, •Building Labour Party Tues 4 Oct, 5.30pm, Kings Hotel.
Speakers: Alan Fraser (UCW), Rob Dawber (NUR) followed by discussion.
Meeting organised by bocaust organisel • The New Labour and Ireland. Labour Cttee on Tues 4 Oct, 5.30pm, Sussex Sunday Football League room Queen's Sq, (opp Churchill Sq). Speakers include: Ken Livingstone, , Martin Collins, Sheila Healy • Ireland rally organised b Royal Arsenal Co-op & LCI Wed 5 Oct. • Speakers:
Richard Balfe MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Clare Short MP, Helena Kennedy, Angela Birtill.
Page 13 scan of this page
Struggle for Lebanon
International
Lebanon
ISRAEL Who's who in Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party. movement led by Walid Jumblatt. son of the
Druze leader murdered in 19/1. Main Lebanese army today. Lebanese affiliate of the Socialist International.
Amal. Shi'ite Muslim militia. A recent arrival on the Lebanese scene following Iranian revolution. Strong in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Before Israeli invastion engaged in clashes with Palestinians and Arab nationalist forces. against Israeli invaders, fighting against Lebanese army today.
Palestine Liberation wings have their own militias. Main forces: Fatah, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine,
Fatah split between proMain forces in Bek'aa Valley and Tripoli (proArafat).
Independent Nasserist tionalist militia.
Israelis in West Beirut earlier this year. Largest of several Nasserist movements.
Ba'ath Party of Syria Lebanese front for the Syrian government, one of many front organisations maintained by Syria: Equivalent of Saiqa the Syrians' front in the PLO. Lebanese Communist Party. Founded in 1940. Many of its leading origin, but has fought against the Christians with the Lebanese left.
Phalangists. in 1936 by Maronites. 'Mountain', ancestral home of Gemayel family. Bashir Gemayel, gangster leader of the Phalangist alles. was made President assassinated in the same year. His brother Amin is LUW 'Lebanese Forces' and co-operated closely with president. * narangist
Lebanese army.
Tiger militia. moun. Main militia responsible for the Tel AlZatar massacre of Palestinians in 1976. Sleiman Franjieh. Former president at time of civil war. Allied with the Syrians. against Forces. His militia engaged in bitter feud with Gemayel following assassination of his son, Tony, by Bashir Gemayel's militia in 1975. saad Haddad. Cashiered major of the Lebanese my. His militia has control of large chunk of th extreme south of the country ('Haddad-land'). Puppet of the Israelis. His forces will be the 'barrier' protecting north Israel if the Israelis ever withdraw.
SYRIA JORDAN Druze nationalist
Kamal Jumblatt, force fighting the Fought hard
Organisation. Different
organisation and anti-Arafat wings.
Movement. Arab naFought bitter battle with the
Lebanese branch.
members are of Christian
Right wing Christian party founded Pierre Gemayel. Main force among Centred on town of Bikfaya near the
in 1982 and
militia today called
Christian militia of Emille Cha-
Lebanese
AMERICAN intervention in the Lebanon marks a new stage in the struggle between the forces of imperialist-backed reaction and the forces of Arab nationalism which has been under way in that country for 25 years. But without doubt it is one of the most complex struggles anywhere.
In Lebanon today there are five foreign armies, the PLO, the Lebanese army and dozens of different militias involved in the dramatic aspect of the fight today is the escalating involvement of US imperialism, overlaid with numerous other conflicts. In order to disentangle these disputes we have to look at aspects of Lebanon's history.
A convenient starting point is the revolt by the Druze people 1958, Lebanor had Deen dominated by Christian in-
gle between Muslims and the Christian communities derived from this basic fact of Christian dominance. Lebanon itself is an artitica creation 01 imperialism; the product of the French-British carve up of Syria in 1919.
By Phil Hearse
Since the Middle Ages ine area nas ocen a palchwork of conflicting religious communities The Maronite Christians preserved their identity and exclusiveness by denying that they The Maronites weirdly
the Phoenicians. Ever since the sions of the Levant by the Crusaders, they looked to the West, and in the 19th and 20th centuries Western imperialism, for protection and support.
For centuries the region - around Mount eno devolutas the mythical homeland of
the Maroniles) dominated by Druze landlords and chieftans.
The Maronites, mainly peasant farmers abourers, were liberated Ton De conalon o the French intervention in 1863.
Three main coll-
co-exist Lebanon today: Christians, Sunni Muslims and Shi'a muslims. The Druze sect which dominates the Chouf mountains is an exclusive order of 'initiates'
itself a split from the Shi'a branch of Islam.
Since the foundation
in 1943 ene co tesional
1943 the confessional character of the state has
THE United States is on the verge of war in the Lebanon, in alliance with the French, Italian and British forces. Sine the withdrawal of the Israelis to the Alawi river, the vacuum left behind has been filled with battle.
The Druze militias have rushed to re-occup! their traditional territory in the Chouf mountains. In doing so, however, they are challenging the US project of creating a strong, centralised government controlled by the Maronite Christian Phalange.
weeks before their departure the Israelis seemed tukewarm their erstwhile Christian allies. In effect they seem to prefer the carving up of Lebanon into walllle enclaves, on the basis that a weak, divided Lebanon was better than a strong
struggle. If the most
then the war is
been enshrined in the constitution. Each community with a certain number seats in the parliament, the President a Christian, the vice-president Sunni Muslim.
The Shi'ites, as relative late comers to the region, have shared power less despite their domination of the southern part of the country. At various times the Christians have attempted to exploit the divisions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims today with less suces stil although there Shi'ite Muslims in the Christian militia of Saad Haddad
However, the constitutional confessionalism of the state failed to prevent conflict between the Chris tian ested Druze and and dispossessed Muslim peoples
The conflict between them was overlaid in the early 1970s by the arrival in Lebanon of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian fighters and refugees, evicted from Jordan after
Black September' in 1970
Although the PLO head quarters were formally in Cairo, Lebanon was
state, trom which Israel could be attacked.
1973 the Israelis mounted commando tacks on the PLO offices in Beirut, in which three top leaders of the PLO were killed. Muslims and Palestinians mounted
demonstrations against the Christian
of Sleiman Franjieh, accusing the government of complicity with Tne Israeli attacks. The scene was being set for civil war, which duly broke out in 1975.
In the mid-1970s the Phalange party of Pierre Gemayel with its ruthless militia, became predominant Christian torce In the 1975-6 war the Christian militias
US goes to war
Christian-dominated state.
President Amin Gemayel has made no secret of his belief that the best allies for the Christrans are the Americans, not the Israelis.
Syria, the force that
for mercy Kamal Jumblatt — assassinated in 1977 fought the Lebanese National Movement, an alliance of the Druze Pro gressive Socialist Party led
Kamal Jumblatt, the Palestinians. the Nasseris militias, the Lebanese
Party numerous other left and nationalist torces
In this struggle, despite terrible Christian massacres of Palestinians and Muslims, the National Movement and the left got
stopped an imminent left-nationalist victory arallls l the Christians in 1976. on this backing Ine Druze primas
politica Deleis Lebanese government , bui
wneumer amenable to them. They calculate that a stridently pro-Western Gemayel government will be hostile
the moment, the Syrians back the Druze militias.
The new cold warriors the United States government see the strug-
Socialist Action 30 September 1983 The massacre at Karatina, 1976. Muslim woman begs hooded Phalange militia man
Pierre Gemayel the upper hand. Without doubi, in 1976 the Chris tians were on the verge of an historic defeat. It was prevented by the intervention of the Syrian army. dressed up as the • 'Arab peace keeping force'.
The Syrians above all wanted a government in Lebanon under own patronage — • the National Movement and the Palesti nians represented a force 1OO HICE ORISCIS COR trol. While in 1976 the
gle in Lebanon in an uncomplicated way For them the Lebanese left and nationalists are tools of the Siriars. w 028:
Risa orgie
Mari Vietnam
In the United States there has beer long struggle by the right wing to overcome the mood of
tion to foreign interven-
which tollowed the Vietnam war The ascendancy of the Reagan-
13 - founder of the Phalange Christians saw the Syrians as allies (Franjieh has remained their ally to this day), this alliance proved temporary and fragile
The Phalangist objective remained the establishment of a state dominated by themselves Their opportunity with the Israeli 1982 invaBashir Gemayel, Prader ot which propelled the Phalangist militia, to the presidency.
Kirkpatrick-SchultzWeinberger foreign polic: team has taken the communist cold sistena
The Lebanese wa gives them the possibility to force the acceptance of Soas ang imposits
ago direct military intervention in a third world country
If the US planes and marines go in, it will be the
Preparation and reharias
similar activities around the world - starting in Central America.
Page 14 scan of this page
Reject incomes policy!
14
AlnUP
Conference '83 THE 1983-1984 PAY round has started with a Treasury announcement of a three per cent limit in the public sector. But as inflation starts to rise again there is evidence of discontent with low tements. Shop 14,000 manual workers rejected the company's offer and miners are calling for a 24 per cent rise.
full square behind the fight of those like the public sector and Vauxhall's workers, but also reject the notion of incomes policy disastrous for the Labo
health service the establishment of the independent pay
for the nurses. abolition of the council system and the introduction of widespread privatisation of ancillary
undermine union organisation.
In the water industry the winding up of the National Water Council as the chief negotiating body and its replacement by a new body has been accompanied by an attempt by the water authorities aim15% OR WE
STAY
OUT
NOSI
#'aterworkers took on Tories and won
PICKET
LINE
Redundancies then
the 84 hour week
SHORTLY after
organising a branch of
the National Society
Metal Mechanies at the
Redditch near Birm-
ingham Asial
workers were made
redundant.
The factory, owned
by Aberplace Ltd, had a
workforce OI LL Asian
workers, eight more on
The entire night
shift and the day shift
shop stewards were made
redundant without
notice or re arder she
hours after
NSMM applied
negotiating rights.
Younis.
the sacked night-shift
SHOP stewarus says
Director Geoff Mor-
ris went to the rest of the
work force and said that
be 'wanted no more of
'He then put the re-
maining workers on
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
wage setstewards representing Vauxhall's
The Labour Party should not only place itself
whose results were so
covering industry's
In the of the health the
of the defeat by the health after of the
port to
ing the strength won the
AILB
NEWEL MORKERS STRIKE
FAIR PAY JUSTISE FOR WATTS MORIEN WATER VURKERS
84 hour week - seven 12
hour shifts. The remain-
ing union members were
100 terrified resist.
I ne job crisis
desperate in the West
Midlands, you do not
fool around.
"The management
LICE WELl OU!
recruited 10 scabs to
work for the same hours
and conditions that we
had formed the union to
fight.'
Unfortunately the
NSMM failed to turn up
and speak to the remain-
ing unionised workers to
give them the confidence
fight. Instead they
took the 'Redditch 9' to
111113iX21
which accepted the com-
pally s
lack of work was the
cies, not victimisation of*. reason for the redundan-
trade unionists. The
workers are awaiting an
appeal.
Fight the three per cent
workers a famous victory in last years pay round.
What is at stake in the 1983/84 pay therefore not only a fight to defend living standards, but also to confront the multi-faceted . threat trade union organisation posed by revision of bargaining procedures privatisation and threat of the Employment Act.
Even small
settled Stockport
tional
the Tebbit's law.
ine between
importance Labour's
of Tory
by
the
BATU
FOR
WATER
Mohammad Younis
went on to say,
•Mr. Morris paid us
When Friday afternoon,
about lacke protested
of notice he
poltea to two nouces on
the board dated two
months, before which he
had just stuck there. But
we aw ever seet aren
before.
•Just before the
redundancies Mr. Morris
spent £396,000
equipment he had
ELUL WOEK
Holiday
'Our minimum week
was 44 hours. Yet when it
came to nonaay
was 40 hours. Wages
were ‡.95 for
nights, and £1.75 for
pay of £95 for 60 hours
of nights.'
With so much cheap
labour
vious that management
were determined
crease profits by restric-
ting rates and
round the clock working:
The 'Redditch Nine'
Defence Campaign calls
on trade union branches
to write to s. Langtord
Branch Secretary NS-
MM, 70 Lionel Street,
Birmingham B3 1JG
demanding vigorous ac-
tion against this com-
pany which ULCO
trade union movement as a result of the defeats suffered by the health workers, the train drivers, the miners workers.
Unequivocal support from the Labour Party both nationally and locally can contribute to the confidence of workers preparIllg Lake employers and the Tories.
It was remarkable that the Tory government came
the side the employers immediately in the five week washing up strike at Cowley before the general election while the Labour Party never took a national stand in support of the unions.
Prospect
Neither is the prospect of victory over the Tories in the coming pay rounds a forlorn hope. The results o1 last year's pay round show that despite gradual decline of the level of pay • settlements to 5.5 per cent in the last quarter, most workers received pay settlements consistently above the level of infla-
According the Labour Research Department's annual review of pay settlements this represents dramatic reversal compared to the pay year for 1981-82 which
completed showed that only 8 out of 309 were above the rate of inflation.
But the employers have ShOW tremely resistant to reductions in the working week. It is for this feason that the engineers claim, including
The in-
fervenes
Northfield
Drug Ltd,
Brist-
ol Road, Birm-
ingham.
and BirCoun through: 49 Colville I Guilis
Road,
Massey
workers taken to court
FOUR HUNDRED
clerical workers have
been on strike for over two weeks at the Massey
Ferguson tractor plant in
Coventry.
Having paid nothing into the company pension fund for two and a
the demand for the 35 hour week, would be of great significance - if the AUEW leaders had the
of signtest MaterLon fighting for it.
But the shift to right in the TUC, not only towards an accomodation with Tebbit political understanding of the possibility of SDP/Labour coalitionism, but also towards American-type business Lauc unlouisill. micalls that the possibility of any serious campaign being waged by the right wing union leaders is negligible.
This particularly plies to the skilled workers
among whom Labour did so badly in the last election, suffering a 9 per cent drop in their proportion of the vote. Neither is half years, management came up with a derisory
pay offer of £1 per week plus a freeze on workers contributions the fund.
ACTSS and the APEX members are not prepared to •swallow cut in their real wage and pensions on retire-
As the Canadian multi-national erodes the capital base of the fund
Sixty-five final assembly workers have also thrown down the gauntlet to management
Nurses confront Murray during last year's NHS dispute the reason for this fall in support difficult to pin down.
Among this group of workers (and indeed among employed workers as a whole) real wages have consistently risen since Thatcher arrived in office. Under the Labour government, particularly in the years 1976 and 1978, real WaLc dropped more rapidly (by 12.5 per cent) than at any other time in this century. Result
This result of Social Contract has not been lost on these workers. If Labour is to rebuild its base in the industrial working class the solution is not the shift to right advocated by the leaders of by renewing strike action bonus saiments pursuit of improved
Within a week both unions made the clerica workers' dispute official and round-the-clock
picketing of the plant has
been organised
As the action began to bite Massey Ferguson responded last Thursday
serving them High
Court injunctions • to named pickets forcing
them to take down barricades and picket outside the plant.
In the Unions
NHUT •04d
such unions as the AUEW and EEPTU, but a fight against the Tories' policies of mass unemployment and cuts Labour must also reject those policies of Labour's right wing which hold down working class living standards, particularly incomes policy.
In the coming wage round Labour will • face a double test. Firstly, whether it will take the side of workers in struggle a promptly and energetically as the Tories take the side of the employers. Second ly, to reject incomes policy itself.
Whatever the result of Ine Labour Party conference the rank and file of the party must strengthen their links with the trade union movement on this basis.
Masses Ferguson's use of the courts came as no surorise to the work force who are in ino mood back dowr now. They are actively
for support can alill from the local labour movement and workers
other Massey Ferguson plants
• Collection sheets are available from Dave Davies ACTES/APE On Voint
Joint Committee,
C/0 Transport House, Coventry.
Page 15 scan of this page
In the Unions
MOLES
EYE
VIEW
Let Sir Philip keep his job
LIKE NO other police
force the West Midlands
close the too s
close the locals.
usual their efforts have
been decried by the pro-
fessional knockers of the
left.
called in
tally and firmeber
about this never
know. The
into a High
no-one
In
how they to
her
held at But
coppers for that. You
these days, even
elders.
poliee later gave the
for five
held for
three Why Mr
charged with
There are those peocomplain that Nest Midlands officers
Reinstate
John
Kirkpatrick
MEMBERS OF the local government union NALGO are on strike in Kent to defend a victimised worker. A striker • explains the
On August, John Kirkpatrick, senior NALGO shop steward was asked to transfer a child to
home hired by Kent County Council which employs non-union labour.
Since June, NALGO
dispute with KCC who refuse to negotiate a pay claim for workers in similar family centres.
An official NALGO instruction was issued that members should
They produced medical to
fair Everyone
innocent they never have the
that tain's crime
alarmingly high rate.
is the subversive Madeline Haigh started writing the
her, even someone from her had
'the invented
But else can
•worried Birmingham Mail
'Not resigning matter.?
This mob didn't exist Moles Eye View would have
to In vent them - but the real thing is so much better
undermine the claim by
admitting children to these
homes.
For refusing to scab on
his union, John was sack-
ed. Fellow workers in
Canterbury and Gill-
incham promptly walked
out and have been
strike ever since.
An emergency mass
meeting of social workers
the next day voted by 400
to come out in support of
Picketting of social ser-
vices
escalated and a 24-hour
picket is set at KCC
supplies in West Malling
This is proving extremely
effective.
Demonstrations of 300
to 400 people have march-
ed through Chatham and
activists
map out This branch meeting at the union's Roger Kline Birmingham Union explained that only does privatisation respond to the monetarist •to cut public
that essential
the al c repsonsibility of as a whole.
This leads to these services being thrust to women in the family.
the drive for privatisation, the Tories stress the importance of efficiency. So in Dudley, schoolchildren who take sandwiches instead of school means are refused access to fresh water by the council. Why wash cups TOT children who can't pay?
Thatcher vandalises public services. This postcard is from 'Wish you were here' — an exhibition of postcards and posters at the Labour Party Conference. Maidstone and strikers lobbied the TUC at Blackpool for support.
Talks with the Arbitration Conciliation and Advisory Service ACAS —
KCC refused to discuss John's reinstatement. Lord McCarthy has been called in to arbitrate.
We do not see this as
a deliberate attempt by the County Council to smash our unions.
On 6 August, a NUPE
NALGO
members meet
privatisation
threat
September, government Leeds to against privatisation. organised by the Leeds
from broad left
annual conference.
The applauded call from lan
ecretar Bury
action rivatisa
He his Lol. own had successfully privatise collection.
Bury branch went on
COCCOR delivered leaflets to every they collected Bury Labour was tively 1n the campaign
near total the council back rather than face piles rubbish elec-
has a clear policy privatisa tion,
resolutions The naEDLCA ION member, Kevin Pitfield returned from holiday to find a letter of dismissal which claimed 'you are no longer neededi fulfil your duties'. The next day his job was advertised at the local job centre. Perhaps it's no coin cidence that Kevin had just signed up three new NUPE members the day his holiday.
Messages of support to lan Smith, Strike Committee NALGO Office, County Hall, Maidstone.
tional executive must be forced to translate these into a national plan of industrial action.
Tory victories over
boroughs such as Wand. SWOLLE are the pay for leaving branches to battle alone.
Campaign
Executive member Harry Crapper explained the need • tor a cam. paign aimed at the users of puone service. least the magnitude of
Put People First campaign. Other delegates argued that the Labour Party has a vital role in such a campaign.
The most significant aspect of the conference was its recognition that steps nave to oc laken lo organise national broad left. The Rail operations.
Serpell's conclusions.
Serpell's aim, in line with the Tory plan to cut nationalised public services, was to reduce the
such
internal costs, by ot our puLs in the words of Parker,
rhage of will con-
this will
BR to give a
on the list.
British Rail vival Engineering Ltd workshops BREL
means the loss of 2000 jobs, while driver-only operation on profitable suburban routes and locomotives means substantia reduction guards drivers. Office staff will be hit by computers and automa tIon
Privatisation and ra tionalisation, the twin stars of Tory monetarism,
centre of the are at int
Socialist Action 30 September 1983
broad left is essential for organising effective opto the Tory tacks.
After the retreats of the TUC congress it vital that a class struggle opposition built tọ fight for joint union ac against the Tory offensive. this spirit, the NALGO conference on privatisation mes Telecom -of support Engineers union special conference taking place the same weekend The Leeds conference gained broad support from union members, including sup-
Action not words
to save rail
BRITISH RAIL's Corporate Plan for 1983 to 1988 is intended to answer the Serpell report on British It has done so by agreeing to
Corporate Three regular •services
services, Marylebone to Northolt Junction the service
Property has
perty'.
The Property
ment Ltd-
like BR British Hotels
asset allowing
the hands of private business
Serpell
Profitable lines also being considered for privatisation, notably the Fenchurch Street Southend, Victoria to Gatwick and Windsor Slough lines.
Serpell said that BREL should be privatised. The Corporate Plan says it will be made more 'independent' in • line with the
15
'SAY NO
PRIVATISATION
MEANS
DEPRIVATION
UNITE & WIN
porter. of Militant Socialist Action, Socialis Organiser and Labour Party members The Communist Party was among those present absence were members of the Socialist Workers Party. Hopefully they will not stand aside from the opportunities now have to organise a national NALGO broad left.
NALGO Metropolitan district broad lefi
no intoberonferede ot
October details contact Bill Hamilton c/o Newham NALGO, Chapel St, E15. 519 7457 general drift towards privatisation of all BR sub. sidiaries.
Since the Plan's
the Board have tha BREL
IU1I2C get orders for stock.
with liavi • other abroad.
into pockets and Response
The unions
has been The have yet to put forward a fighting strategy to save Jobs.
In the latest NUR News, members are aske to send printed postcard: to their MPs, urging support for the high investment rail strategy and op position to cuts.
This is a far from ade
situation. The NUR and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering unions have failed to call fo united industrial action to SLO the closure of the workshops
The Tory onslaught or a public service requires a united fightback by the federation of rall unions. with the unions of the Tri ple demands to be placed on the Labour Party for an active commitment to sup port industrial action by railworkers
Fighting words are no enough. Industrial action has to be on the agenda.
Page 16 scan of this page
WITH REAGAN'S war games reaching new levels in Central America, the people of the region need increased solidarity to oppose US intervention and the backing for this aggression from government.
labour movement figures on a tour of Nicaragua daring the summer.
sapplement of Labour Labour Party Conference from which we have taken extracts.
'Since 1979 the changes in life in Nicaragua are quite incredible. With rears in their paor people told es very
me that they had been to see a doc-. tor and that their children visited the health centre regularly to be checked.
"Intil 1979 — hefore the liberation from
the very idea of everybody being able to visit a doctor was hardly a pipe dream for most people ago fifty-
'Four years five per cent of the people were illiterate. The current figure of twelve per cent is
second lowest Cuba — in the whole of Latin America. Yet all these achievements, and
1U1C are under threat ...
Raids
'American ships are steaming along the Atlan-
Nicaragua,. and Pacific 6500 CORSES US around forces are on 'ex. ercises" in nearby Hon-
and Amercanequipped ex-Somoza guards make nightly raids into Nicaragua from the comfort of their bases in Honduras and Costa
Ria. follow up their
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SoCiAlist
ACTION
'Nicaragua
needs help
not charity
the Thatcher
Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn joined other
His call for solidarity is publicised in the national
Briefing, produced for
military threats the United States government is now mounting and directing an economic blockade of the country ...
The real reason why the USA are trying strangle Nicaragua because the White House cannot allow the example of genuine liberation to the inspiration and example that it is to millions Latin America..: Years 'Any developing country has terrible problems. To has theratin on five American bankers in a few would be remarkable achievement in itself, but to do this in the face of blockade and military invasion is to be saluted... 'Nicaragua needs our help, not our charity, and the poorest people we spoke lo said "tell _ your friends what we are doing, tell the USA to leave us alone and let us liberate domination. rom their The British delegation in which Jeremy Corbyn took part is must one from around .the
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world. In June a delegafrom cluding a number of trade WHORESS.
Nicaragua.
Their tour sponsored by the Sandinista Workers Federation of Nicaragua - CST - and Sandinista National Liberation Front FSLN. During their visit LIev met with Tomas Borge, a founder of the MOLN and Nicaragua s minister of the interior.
Tomás Borge hopes to be in Europe at the time of * ine Labour Party ference and may give greetings to delegates. His message will be the same as that to the Canadian ponents of US aggression. 'We have to say that the situation is becoming more serious every day.
There is a lot of talk about the possibility of peace. And mave made substantial efforts to preVell wal.. World
We see that the people of the world, through their own organisations, trade political val lice
populations cation athe
populations Latin America, North America and Europe can apply pressure to that demented mind of Reagan — to put certain limitations on his desire to inflame all Cen• tral America 'It's obvious doesn't want peace. He wants peace on the basis of us turning ourselves in. He wants peace as long as we don't carry out our revoluHe wants L01. peace on the basis of turning
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METINAM
at a May Day rally in Nicaraguan people into
'He wants peace long as we go down on our knees. That is to say, doesn't want peace.
Because we are not going to go down on our kuces
'We are not going to stop the revolutionary process. And we are not going lo stop being In sondarily with other peoples of the world. And WE will not allow imperialism to
OUL countries again. So he doesn't want peace
'There is absolutely no way the US government is
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LEE-SYNADOR
ANOTHER
MP Jeremy Corbyn joins vigil outside the US Embassy to protest US intervention in Central America Nicaraguan minister of the interior, Tomas Borge speaks
Managua going to solve the problem in Central America - only internanonal sondarily ol the people. 'The position of certain open-minded governMICHES that Call DICSSUEC the US government may avoid war. We are not saying that prospects for
But solidarity doesn't yet the magnitude and force necessarv to pressure the US gover not o.... am not optimistic in regards to peace. But 1 am absolutely optimistic in terms of victory!'
REAGAN'S BIG STICK: EXERCISES IN POWER
GUATEMAI Tegucigalpi EL SALVADOR This map of Reagan's war games appears in the latest bulletin of the El Salvador Solidarity Campaigr
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NICARAGA Managua
ian Jos t'as a second sh
U•S.
Photo: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA
SPECIA
ENLA *We are not going to go down on our
knees. We will
not allow
imperialism to dominate us again'
Tomás Borge
BRIEFING THERE IS A LEFT CUBA COLOMBIA
← Socialist Action No. 26, 23 September 1983Socialist Action No. 28, 7 October 1983 →