Socialist Action No. 5, 16 April 1983
The scan: 005-apr-16-1983-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
ACTION 5 million out of work until 1990
against jobs slaughter
No. 5 15 April 1983 Unemployed
Photo: GM COOKSON
SEVEN of the best known leaders of the Polish free trade union Solidarity are facing charges of trying to overthrow the state by force'.
They include Andrzej Gwiazda, one of the best known Gdansk, who helped to negotiate the Gdansk strike Sugust 1980, and Karol agreement
avroozelewski well known in the West for
30р
GIVE US A
FUTURE
This 'Open Letter to the Party' co-authored with Jacek Kuron. others, all former leaders of regional committees Solidarity, are Seweryn Jaworski, . Marian Jurc-
SOEDARTY
SODARNE
Fight
AH... NOW IF YOU HAD BEEN IN LAST WEEK WE COULD HAVE OFFERED YOU
A JOB WITH THEEL
SALVADOREAN NATIONAL
Appeal for Solidarity seven
чук, Gregorz Palka, Andrzej Rozplochowski and Jan Rulewski.
The seven were all interned after the December clamp down. The charges against them stem directSolidarity leaders. from their activity as
Today Poland, despite the apparent 'normalisation' there are still 3000 Solidarity supporters sentenced or awaiting trial for their union activities.
back
JOB
CENTRE
GUARD
The Polish Soldarity Campaign is launching an appeal for signatures from trade unionists in support of the seven to go the Polish embassy.
The campaign to release the seven has already been supported
the International Committee Labour Party. • Add your name to the petition and get sheets from PSC, 186 Avenue Road, London
THE TORY LIE that prosperity lies around the corner has been nailed. A report by the National Economic Development Council warns that there will be no of unemployment for decade.
This is despite Britain's bosses predicting an upturn of economic activity.
news will be another blow to the million people
two more than the government will admit to.
Majority
Unemployment reaches into the majority of working people's homes which is why opinion polls show that the question of unemployment is the most important issue in the fortheoming general election.
Yet despite this the Tory government given the chance - intend to preside over further mass sackings. But workers •ale fighting against these Tory plans:
inside:
Drugs
and the
Third
World
Page 7
- where 100,000 jobs are at risk if the Telecommunications Bill goes through.
• in the steel industry -
on top of 100,000 jobs already lost BSC chief MacGregor is coming back for more.
where secret plans revealed by the unions show that a further 5000 jobs
in railway workshops.
All
In all these industries the workers are not only fighting against redundancies, also against the carve-up of industry into profitable sectors already ready for sale to the Tories' City friends.
These struggles have to be the starting point of a campaign labour movement to end the scourge of unemployment.
The People's March for Jobs will command the
HOUS THES or people length and breadth of the country. Labour should end hesitation and thoroughly identify
Stuart Holland
begins a
discussion on
the European
road out of the
crisis
Pages 8 & 9
Communist
Party reply to
Ken Livingstone
Page 13
the march.
The Labour manifesto should propose a tran radica nan for the reduc tion of unemployment based on the conference decisions to reduce the working week and for a
public spending This should be the starting point for the drawing up of a new trade union and Labour Party plan which - unlike the new social contract agreed bet ween wel - will put the cost of the crisis on the bosses, and introduce sweeping programme of nationalisation under workers control. • People's March for Jobs, Page 3 • Why the economic recovery won't mean more jobs, page 9
MODERN
TIMES
BOUR
This election business is all very well, but it's playing havoc with holiday plans...
Page 2 scan of this page
More phoney 'offers' from Reagan
2 Socialist Action 15 April 1983
CND
A sign of the times Snia Viscosa is a Milan based conglomerate which
world whoe reputation manufacture. large losscs. broken even, is set to start making nice fat profits, ana Is changing Ils Hanlic.
1979 Snia's defence and space section açcounted for 15 per cent of its turnover. accounts for 40 per cent dramatic an account of the extent of the war drive as one could find anywhere. blasé about its growing role in the death business. mc snæ æd cv cc o vo c c к whole company after its main defence subsidiary, BPD Difesa Spazio. Moral — it is more profitable to kill people than to clothe them ...
Jobs plus bombs?
One of the claims made by the Tories at the time the burchase of Trident would create more jobs because British companies would be able to get sub-contracting contracts from the main US contractors. The government even set up a special department to wished to tender in the US.. Atter a year of trying British companies have finally show for their efforts. Sterling Metals has secured a contract for the giro in the guidance provide
valuable contract — ted by the Ministry of Defence to be the only contract gained by British companies. I'm sure it will bring life long job security to millions of workers. Death bad Finally we would like to bring to the attention of all the capitalists Stan ley diy eiss, comment American company, Ámerican Minerals. He is head Stanley
of a group of business executives opposed to nuclear proliferation and excessive military spending. simplistically, being dead is bad for business', he says. What can we do but agree.
* Wed 13 April Meeting organised by Twickenham
CND on 'Nuclear Weapons,
•B'? . speaker Chris Church. Starts 9.00pm at the Aibany
Pub, Station Yard, Twickenham, Mddx.
* 14-20 April Films 'Atomic Cafe' & 'No Nukes' at Unit
4 Cinema, Brierfield, Lancs. Contact BANANA Mag,
Tel: Nelson 695899
*Fri 15 April Film
camperiey UNU Details
Camberley 64697.
*Sat April Desch ol on hudi C ND.
workolace organised by southamptor
10.30 at Iransport House, London ka., southampion.
Details from 4 Onslow Road, Southampton.
* 16-17 April Gay CND Event at Caxton House, 129 St.
Johns Wav. London N19
Lyme Street, London NW1.
* Sat 16 April 'Over Our Dead Bodies'. Women Against
the Bomb event to mark the publication of the Vırago
book of the same name.
gius cl.
com belaus rom
*Sat 16 April GLC Nuclear Bunker Party. 7.30pm at
Langdon Park Community Centre, Tower Hamlets.
SAnnveelg Allenauve
Friends
Organised by Leicester
*23-24 April North West London Labour Movement
Conference against the missiles 'Jobs not Bombs
Cruise Missiles' at Brent Town Hall.
ingstone. Pat Arrowsmith. Tim Webo and women trom
Greenham
Papoloi 01-904 7951 or write to PO Box 332 NW10 SHU.
Sat 23 April Day
Tact KoDert LOHs
details.
*Sat 23 April TUC/Labour Party Jobs march starts
irom ulasgow.
* Sun 24
Theatre Royal, Stratford East.
*Wed 27 Anril Meeting organised bv Levton CND.
Speaker Bruce Kent. At Leyton Town Hall. Details from
Chris Gray (01)-601
*Thur 28 April Meeting 'Greenham Common
Labour'
Helen John (Greenham Common).
Librarv. Holloway Road. starts 7.30pm
*Sat 30 April East London
ference Against Cruise and Trident, to be held in Queen
Mary Lortet Details/credentials
Waterhouse 01-359 8288 or Ken Cull Hornchurch 53518.
* May March from Truro to Exeter via Plymouth, Barn-
staple and Somerset (only for
slepnen hugget Tel: Plymouth 268724.
*Sun 1 May GLC May Day festival for Peace, Victoria
Park, London. Starts 11.00am
dNaresuva tor r cace. olarls al
11am with a demonstration from Embankment mar-
ching to Brockwell Park. Bands, speakers and a festival
village.
CND Diary is a regular column in Socialist Action, giv-
ing a round up of useful facts, news and dates of forth-
coming events in
The listing of
KyNISO neSk one weeklare ollelo
tion. Send to CND Diary, Socialist Action, 328 Upper
Street, London N1 2XP
EVENTS
In synineuc. nore In mid seventies it-started running-up In tue last lwo ycals, nowevel, Il Has
Why is this?
this year - worth about $1.1bn. As
Snia's directors are quite So was announced was that it
help companies who
got something to
aluminium investment system! This - worth a whole £4,000 is admit-
read Socialist Action a. chairman 01 LT Ci
"Put
Nuclear Power and Sizewell
Details a from Marie Knoanes Tel Marie Knowles
Detals Iom : Gay CND, 18
Masses of speakers, theatre Westminster, 3.30pm. NO
Tel: Leicester 554455 ext 150 foI
April GLC Bunker Party 7.30pm at the
and Speakers: Anne Cesek (Islington N. LP) and
At Islington Central
Tahour Movement Con.
from
the fit!). Details from
the Anti-Nuclear movement. de.
events is free and the details should
REAGAN'S NEW plan on limiting intermediate range nuclear missiles was carefully timed to coin-
Europe. Judging by the turnout it didn't have a dramatic effect in demobilising the movement and no wonder. The offer of 'reductions' is a fraud
In the first place, the
shing missiles to go ahead.
Europe are a 'base line'
putting no figure on the THE EASTER demonstrations in Britain and West Germany against the missiles have shown the power and potential Michael Heseltine in his visit to Berlin, were embarassing flops.
Nuclear Disarhave the date for another giant demonstration on 22 October and have proposed the main initiative of CND up to that date as being a
Camps
But is this programme, plus support of the
tiatives of the Peace Camps and Young CND's
May Carnival, enough lo stop ine sitine of the cruise missiles icela and Molesworth in December of this year?
The answer from increasing number of peace activists is no, and calls are being made to ICLE decided at last year's CND to the strategy
national conference.
Greenham Common women have given a militant lead
tion'. In addition, the US
What next for CND?
The conference did not vote exclusively for nonviolent direct action and the peace canvass: it also voted to campaign in the labour movement «OI O SOD Le Yet these latter decisions are virtually being ignored by the CND leaders.
By Valerie Coultas
It has been left to the women at Greenham Common to give a militant lead. Their cal fol strike action on 24 May -
International Women's Day for DisarH C — where womer in 20 countries are preparing to bring women onto the streets, the first serious appeal for labour movement action in 1983.
Action at every level of the trade union movement involving men and women, however modest, should support the women. only acuvItes planed for that day.
Vonno CN) too art appealing for labour Indveniel support build their 7 May festival at Brockwell Park.
Of course the responsibility I IOl all CND's Both the TUC and the Labour Party also have plans for stopping the missiles decided by their 1982 conferences.
is achieved: Except that everyone knows that Pershing and cruise are infinitely accurate than SS-20s.
Missiles
But the real doublethink is the continued insistence that British and French missiles not be counted Presumably Reagan expects .people.to believe that these are somehow not aimed at the Soviet Union? And to cap it all, submarine and airlaunched missiles are not going to be calculated.
The TUC however Congrackin decision on its 1982 Congress to; 'Initiate plans for European-wide demonstration with sympathetic trade union on Hiroshima Day 1983 .
The Labour Party is
PUC to act. tinis le tes
to act. This leaves the Labou Party waitin for the TUC, and CND waiting for the TUC and the Labour Party organise labour movement action. Cycle
The cycle of inaction showd be ITOKeI at the rank and file level by ac-
being organised around 24 May. The autumn should start to see labour movement action planned from trade union conferences and the local labour movement conferences being organised by CND.
The Greenham Commwomen, without the massive • TeNDUrCC. and funds of the British labour
have already
HO-CHICHE
started the of building European-wide process action.
The labour movement, the only force powertul
enough stop the
missiles, should follow their example.
Which would leave the United States with its already acheived massive nuclear advantage.
Reagan's 'offer' is not a serious offer at all. It is a propaganda ploy, posing a 'reduction' which would leave more missiles place
The danger for the peace moverenl is that Andropov has indicated that he is prepared to leave out of calculation British and French missiles to get some kind of agreement. In the past the- Soviet
negotiated Union has agreements, the most im- portant of which was the
MAY
2,4
PMA
For more copies of this leaflet/and posters write to:
ONE AN HOUR -
join Youth CND.
was réported to last
mittee which discuss-
rangements for the 7
Bomb' festival in
demonstrations in winn-
young have been dispelled as the festival
las
to join the movement.
By Jim Coutts (Youth CND National Officer)
Unfortunately that's only half the battle won, the next step is to actually stop the missiles. HIVE months after May. cruise missiles will arrive in Britain.
Obviously the best bet would be for the election of Labour government committed unilateral nuclear disarmament But despite the two-thirds majority TO1 unilateralism at the Labour conrerence the Campaign document which rejects cruise and Trident, it's not clear Labour will
News
SALT treaty, which allowed the US to plunge ahead with its development of nuclear weapons. Fake
The peace movement cannot tie itself to any Take "agreement' which the USSR for own political and military reasons is prepared to go along with. Thẻ basic demands of CND against cruise and Trident for unilateral nuclear disarmament and Britain out of NATO, must be fought for to the end. May 24, 16 Arundel Road, Brighton, Sussex; phone 01-226 1471.
Rock the Bomb -
stop the missiles
mobilise popular sup port lor nuclear disar mament at the next elec-
Principles
So we hope aDOl Will parlament,
into
coming are
national nuclear
confer• Cllc
youth day of action
reach
youil: workers the mass
national against
å lener CND has sens
letter the.
embassy condemning
Reagan's support for the
invasion of Nicaragua
and attacking his
aecı
sion to spend $247 bil-
lion on defence, cluding massive military
aid to the El Salvadorean regime.
Sorry!
Contrary to our byline or
page 3 in SA no.4, Ton
Southall secretar of
Scottish Labour CND
Page 3 scan of this page
News
march
by the TUC, leaves Glasgow on 23 April. It will be arriving in London on the weekend of the 4/5 June.
thousands more expected to join feeder marches and the main march as it travels southwards.
council, spoke to Socialist Action about the issues raised by the march for the labour movement.
People's March in 1981.
that coola ing, the TUC and the Foot
The People's March TODS movemen they yould railed a olich
be a huge success. It could mobilise hundreds thousands and help in turning masses OTI workers against the Tories. The labour movement should therefore unite and throw its weight behind it.
The march has the TUC and the Labour ParStrategy 's Alternative Economic
(AES) policy.
As with the 1981 march, the AES will probably be suitably watered down
TUC policy is to call on the government to make a U-turn..
Even at full strength ine ADD 1S not enough.
The only thing the bosses understand is mass action.
I feel that the AES isn't even half adequate policy for fighting unemployment, and in any case it means waiting for a
Of course, many workers who go along with the TUC want policies for jobs now.
Many of these policies are OK for a 35 hour
Peoples
for jobs
THE SECOND People's March for Jobs, organised
week and no pay restraint.
example.
But the steel workers have
Evolved as they are in a life and death battle to save
by the TUC for the 198
its weak and woolly call on the government to make
these shortcomings
ch. In many areas militants be
USC
mass acto I also feel the People's March AUCCUN workers versus bosses emphasis. More emphasis on
THEY ARE TO BLAME
1979
TOOK ONC
83
exposilig une system Inal creates mass unemploy-
rather JuSt criticising monetarism. An approach fighting unemployment that doesn't leave you twiddling your thumbs while you wait for a-Labour government.
This kind of change, though, will have to rooted in a campaigning reorganisation of militants in our movement.
Unlike 1930s, there's little resistance in the TUC to linking up with the unemployed and many
to solidarise and work with the unemployed. March
The government's threat to remove grants IrON unemployed workers' centres where inev support the march is a serious one. No doubt the unemployed won't be intimidated. The TUC, which sits on the Manpower Services Commission, should challenge this political blackmail.
In local areas aa-noc committees of the unemp loyed will be involved in town planning committees for the march.
In Ealing, as in 1981, strike action to greet the marcus bene encourag ed. The immediate job for us is to get leaflets and collection sheets into the local workplaces. We'll be using Inese lo win support for the march and build strike
OFFICIAL JOBLESS
MAY 81 VERPOO actions or delegations on the day.
Like last time, the march will terminate in Southall before going onto the final central London
being organised by the GLC, and the na. tional demonstration.
Southall a high unemployment spot scar red by the closure of dozens factories.
1981 community along with striking workers came out in their thousands to greet the march.
Local cafes and pubs heaped hospitality on the marchers while the temples provided accommodation Those marchers are still remembered with affection in Southall, and we expect a similar - if not better response this time.
The People's March for Jobs will be heavily centralised unde control. Nonetheless, it's important for everyone to get involved in the town planning cullice. along the route. And that doesn't just mean sitting in meetings there'll be a hell of a lot of work to do just making the preparations needed host the marchers.
Funds
Two years ago, many of the marchers came from areas through which the march areas, like the didn't pass. rest of the nose
country, will Talsilig funds and organising
1982 THERE IS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO
MASS UNEMPLOYMENT
'the Battle fuyi dot TUC
Peoples
march
transport the mass demonstration in Londor on 5 June.
The TUC, the unions and the Labour Party should really pull out al the stops to make this the biggest demonstration ever against unemployMilitant
Whatever the problems of the TUCs' policies, this demonstration like al the events on the '81 and on the 83 marches - will be a militant, anti-Tory atfair.
These are the best conditions for the movement
discuss out and develop a fighting alternative the AES
• The details and planning for the march vary by region. To find out more contact your regional TUC or your local trades council.
JOBLESS workers in
Birkenhead's negl-
ected Bidston Ward
reckon they've got
the first mobile
Unemployed Work-
ers' Centre in the
country.
They thought of
the idea several mon-
ths ago when they
heard that other cen-
tres were being set up
on Merseyside to fight
Thatcher's attacks on
the unemployed.
Bidston Ward is over
Pd Centre could be a lon especially if the
'Giro' was late. Local
So the unemoloved
got together wit local
union members and ap-
proached the
controlled Merseyside
Council, who
sold them a double-
decker bus.
the Bidston
Unemployment Shuttle
(buo.), I nas been nued
out as an education,
The TUC's preliminary jobs march map.
North-East feeder marches will be published later.
Unemployed fight back —
by BUS!
By John Nolan
recreation and suppor centre for the local North End and Ford Estates where unemployment 1s over 30 per cent.
But one of the BUS's biggest jobs will be to act as an Advice Centre support Merseyside County Council's "TakeUp' Campaign.
The County Council are spending f90,000 on
massive advertising campaign get Merseyside claimants
£20 million they are entitled
And the County Council are hiring the Bidston Bus - at more than the knockdown price they charged for it
- to take the Campaign all over Merseyside.
As well as providing the vehicle, the MCC are giving £3,000 towards the running of the BUS Many of pounds have been col
the Wirral Trades Council, trade unions, Labour activists, and the Merseyside Unemployed Fund. One spot the WIll visiting in the near future
3 A fuller map showing all the legs, including the Wales and
despairing at threw themselves off the dilapidated tower
will
by their
fightback needed.
Bidston the fight That-
Road
be getting on the road in
local campaigns and elections that will get savour elected and com mitted to the socialist policies that will lead to full employment.
As Len Stapleton, the BUS's Chairperson, said at last Tuesday's launch mecung, mis is only tne start!'
Page 4 scan of this page
FIGHTS CLOSURES New bid to close rail workshops
4 Socialist Action 15 April 1983
IRELAND
UNFREE
Young Socialists
debate policy
By Piers Mostyn
IF THE BRITISH PUBLIC knew nothing else about the recent Labour Party Young Socialist conference, Daily Mail journalist booted out during the Irish debate.
In Fleet Street fashion the hack said 'they can't gag the press, I give no assurance of what will appear in my stories'.
In a polarised debate the delegates from Accr
ngton YS said 'Every bullet in a British soldier is a nail in the coffin of British imperialism.' Another delegate called for the 'death of British troops' in Irelana ano descrioea tem as tne scum or brusn imperialism'.
The Miitant controled YS leadershin whipped up noisy support from the conference for the journalist's removal. But it had little to do with the fight for democracy. It was motivated by the tear or losing respectabity in the eves Labour and trade union bureaucracy by allowing Hree discussion edil.
There was much among the 2,000 YS members at conference. On Saturday night the Labour Committee on Ireland held a tringe meeting at which over 100 people heard Plastic Bullets Conference Organiser, Mar-
Collins, DUCaN, followed organiser of the Scottish Labour delegation to Belfast.
Collins explained that British workers could not make any decisive steps toward socialism, until
Irisn acmieve ineir alm British domination. He pointed out that if the Labour Party is going to fight the next election to win, it must campaign on its socialist policies, actively campaigning for Irish unity and the banning of plastic bullets. in this, being linked to the most radical and militant section of the callea lor 1o Drancaes ana members to arninate to the LCI to help break the labour movement from bipartısanship. Yo branches should send delegates on future visits.
A special conference issue of the LCI Bulletin Labour and Ireland made a real impact, putting an alternative to Militant's abstract calls for workers unity around 'bread and butter issues'.
It was unfortunate that delegates the paper Class Fighter could only offer equally abstract denunciations of British imperialism and calls for support for the IRA. speeches did let the YS leadership off the hook. Militant to whip up a furore about 'terrorism' when it should have been answering basic questions.
If the YS stands for a British withdrawal, what is it doins to build demand? If the YS is in favour of banning plasti bullets why did it not mobilise support for the recent conference? If the the witchunt, why did its NC line up with the right wing by denouncing Ken Livingstone during ihe summary of the Irish debate?
YS branches can start doing something now
getting these filiating the general April.
7 May Demonstration
TWO YEARS ago, ten young men who grew up under conditions of poverty, unemployment and foreign troops on their streets, died on hunger presence in Ireland
A fore thitres ultinirasi,e upsreiend apd
British withdrawal, in worldwide, with more repression and the farcical Assembly.
There is only one solution to Ireland's British
a ae emas tontog:
ror more details on 7 Mav demonstration con. tact the Organising Committee, Box 353, London NWS 4NH.
they knew about the of the
discussion about Ireland
by valulUks
of liberation from
The LPYS could play a big role
working class youth, and he DuDJUrUIA
The ultra left nothing to help the Irish people and
This helped
movement behind this
YS is fighting back against LcT sesi atsending its annua and attending its annual meeting in County Hall, London on 23
strike opposing Britain's
the present government has reacted
the Irish people!
THE CAMPAIGN to save the rail engineering workshops at Horwich, Shildon and Swindon took on a néw urgency last week.
by the Horwich Ariion Committee predicts further massive cuts in rail engineering, exploding the myth that once the three works have closed remaining workshops will be safe.
The document forecasts a 14.7 reduction in the work force. The closure countdown proposes: 1983 Temple Mills to close oy year ene 1983 Horwich except foundry 1983 Swindon: major
not yet 1cuunlualcic allivuliccu By Bernard Connolly (Rotherham BSC Crafts Convenor) and Steve Pilley (Rotherham BSC, Boilermakers shop steward)
OUR STRIKE started Templeborough works in defence of jobs. Management sent two men home who had been made rędundant under the so-called 'Survival Plan'.
Immediately the whole followed by the other Yorkshire, took action, some ten thousand in all.
This the first challenge to the decimation of jobs in the British Steel Corporation since 1980. Over the last three years, nearly half the worktorce nas gee xe• nationally by
alacvel compicie plant closures.
around We've 17,000 SUIlC in South from Yorkshire to some 10,000 today. At this rate there will be no steelworkers left in another three years. We can see the impact of our
A PIECE 9 *
I've bean thinking about Thatcher, unemployment
Cruise missiles, Reagan,
WWW, Zimbabwe, poverty
Sama ... and everything!
A confidential management document received
1984 Shildon: com-. plete closure 1984 Derby: major rationalisation involving 'sharing of facilities' closure ot one ot the two factories 1984 Glasgow: major reductions 1986 Swindon: complete closure
As Dennis Green, Hor-
'Survival' attacks jobs
with walkout at
of Rotherham works, BSC plants in South
lead by the one day stopVaLC Thursday at Scunthorpe and the on
possibility of further solidarity action IONI Scotland Teeside and South Wales, despite the complete inaction of Bill
and other national union leaders.
According to Sirs, this fight is about negotiations and lack of proper consultation. Rubbish. What difference does it make to a worker if Bill Sirs had
ACTION ",
And I believe i Have developed response to these problems.
HORWICH WORKS
wich works convenor plains in their bulletin •CA-
*unless we all fight together now we'll be pick ed off one by one, until BR have no major engineering facilities and all the work is done privately.'
The support is coming in. The major rail unions are backing the campaign and the NUR has put an embargo on any transfer • work noN Ho wICı lo other workshops.
As the Horwich workers bulletin says, the closures can be stopped "by using new imaginative tactics - requiring simple organisation but produc-
consulted before reaundancy HOUICC sent out? That worker still out of a job.
The so called Survival Plan is an attack on jobs and has to be fought as such. But more than this, it is a stepping stone to the privatisation of the Special Steels division of BSC.
Back November, management declared that there were two options. One to close the Tinsley Park works or second to slash 1700 jobs throughout the whole division. This was the Survival Plan. The question is, whose survival certainly ours. but rather GKN Lonrho and certain senior managers in BSC.
The Survival Plan and the 'saving' of Tinsley
Bac has benet by
BSC and their masters to sell us off to the a meaningtui
ing maximum effect.
I nIs •should include guerilla tactics involving
"key" workers on the railways signalmen in ' une large boxes, uckel collectors, guards.
'Instead of all-out strikes we need a series of lightning stoppages the unions payıng the wages or tne workers lak• ing action.
'A strike by a handful of power signalmen can cause as much disruption as walk-out by thousands of rail workers, without the financial loss.
'Workers in every industry must realise that
'privateers' of the private sector.
We have seen a run down of BSC assets, plant, stocks, raw materials and equipment to a level which will allow the private sector to nave the majority share in a new company, which they've even got name for the British Engineering Corporation.
So we are fighting the Survival Plan OOt iu because it means a loss of jobs but also because of the impact it-will have on the wages and conditions of the workers who are left.
We would lose all our long established conditions OI employment relating to rates of pay shift patterns, index linked pensions, sick
vay. guaranteed week at 80 per Coll. lump sum bonu S1 stick my thumb in my mouth-l crouch down on the ground in a foetal position.
News
our battle today will be
theirs tomorrow. We will
fail unless a stand is taken
now, and given maximum
support throughout the
miovemert
"The attitude of this
coverumel
demoralise, frighten, and
then attack the living stan-
dards and jobs of workers
every industry.
Together we can stop
them.
• Send donations and of
fers of help to: Horwich
MaCROn Committee,
Convenors Office, Hor-
wich Loco Works, Bolton.
Tel Horwich 66801 Ext
7351.
Bernard Connolly
scheme - not to mention
the redundancy and
severance schemes present
ly governing BSC - it we
entered the private sector
It is the whole future of
the steel industry in this
area that's at stake in our
fight.
• Messages of support to
ISTC, Edgecombe House
Doncaster Road,
Rotherham
By CORMAC*
I will, of course, be subjected to disdain and derision, scotts and jeers. ... but 1 am sure to be highty praised by Mrs
Page 5 scan of this page
Black workers organise
News
Labour students
witch hunted
WITCH-HUNTING in the Labour Party is not confined to the five members of Militant's editorial board.
Its ugly head was raised at this year's conference of the National Organisation of Labour Students. (NOLS).
John Dennis, Labour Party. student organiser, and the NOLS leadership feared they would lose the majority for their tendency, Clause 4.
By Liz Davies, University College Labour Club
To they disenfranchis d 22 delegate all suporters Militant and Socialist Students in NOLS — a loose left op-
which inposition group -cludes. Socialist Action and Socialist Organiser SUDUULLCLD The and поок
half of conference challen here conference ing. conference voted for a procedure allow Dennis on v a single
no proceedings sure ne
proceedings evening.
Clause 4 delegates and
pporte leaving
and
ates. Together these made
quorum half the registered delegates a voting majority agains Clause 4. Even
disenfranchised delegates we were only 9 delegates short of quorum. No wonder Dennis was worried.
Comparison
Wẹ invited Militant editorial board member Lynn waisn to speak. drew the comparison bet-
Lesbian
mothers
DID YOU know that
over 90 per cent of les-
bian mothers lose
custody of their
children?
And that those
women who do win
custody in spite of all the
odds are often forced to
awas
lovers in order to keep
their kids?
A woman at the les-
bian
conference said she was
even
female lodger for fear
that her ex-husband will
find out and take her
back to court.
Women who
forced to leave their
children under these
pressures are little better
off.
They face the guilt
imposed by a society that
upholds the supreme
of
and the reproductive role
of women — if they con-
form to a heterosexual
"norm of course!
(Val Coultas)
• If you want to get in
touch
contact for the lesbian
mother's custody Cull-
paign, write to Lesbian
Line, BM 1514, London
WCI 3XX or telephone
01-837 8602.
ween the NEC and Clause
4 actions against Dentis
threatened
method of procedure was not ac cepted.
Challenges
The challenges continued, with Dennis like nine on Bristols Cases like Bristol delegates who had been occupying at the time of deadline and had been given assurances by NOLS leaders that they would be accepted
Birminghan was Dave Mason, Cast of Forgery.
La Clause hack, had volunteered send in delegate cards for those elected Socialist Organiser and one Revolution supporter.
LABOUL
BRIEFING
When the cards arrived they were incorrectly filled
1V1asU private that he had forged the cards and conference went on to pass a vote oi no confidence in him. But other delegates excluded on the thinnest of grounds.
But hairsplitting was not the rule when it came to election tor chairperson of NOLS. The Clause candidate had only joined NOLS five davs before conference.
Because of this witch-hunting, conference only had time for three political debates. is vital this COC HOL happen next year and we get a truTerencep representative con-
Labour , clubs should send motions to the NOLS
Cull demning this year's shameful manoevres.
Infanticide
THE People's Daily,
China's newspaper, has
just published detailed murder of bat on the
murder baby girls,
which is becoming in-
creasingly widespread in
some rural areas.
In some villages boys
nine to one because of
female infanticide.
Daughters are
murdered or abandoned
at birth for a number of
- because sons
1 casulls
carry on the family name
and, work harder in the fields. it is believed, Call
Another factor
China's strict laws On x:
childbearing and popula
LIon control.
couples are restricted to
one child. and as in most
other societies today,
preferred for
SUns alc
social and economic
1 casuis.
Female
mutilation
STRONG evidence
points to the tact tha
female genital mutilation
'female cricumcision?) is
being carried out in Britain.
The March/April journal of the Socialist
NT STARVINA FOR.
BLACK trade unionists are organising to combat racism. The Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement is holding a conference on 4-5 June in County Hall London.
declaration of BTUSM aims states:
• The disturbances in Brixton, Southall elsewhere show that black
SITU prepared to accept unemployment, bad housing, police provocation and the institutional and individual racism inherent in British society.
Health Association car-
report from the Anti-Slavery Society following an article in the Observer last year which alleged that the practice
vas taking place regular ly in Britain
The Observer quoted a Harley Street doctor who estimated that dozen are carried out in London each year for a fee of €800 to £1000. The report in Socialism and Health also reveals that this practice isn't new to Britain.
prominent surgeon in the mid 19th century believed that women, particularly young working girls, would be happier healthier the
"burden" of their He
uality was removed. therefore performed many operations to cut out the clitoris from young women.'
• For a full copy of the report send 25p stamp to Socialism and Health (March/April 1983), Socialist Health Association, Poland
London WIv 3DG For further information comact are All-slavery Society for the Protec-
of Human Rights, 180 Brixton Rd, , London SW9 6AT (01-582 4040).
Black workers, like those at Grunwick, have fought bitter batties, only to be betrayea by union leaders. the day to day racism s,
to dav racism at the workplace must be of primary concern to us and we are aware that unemployment, short time working, redundancy and
other forms of direct anc
fect black people more than any OUCI section within British society.
• We have a duty to organise ourselves within the trade unions and the labour movement to com-
racism we are resolved organise in such a wav that we Coll promote and DrOLCCU the interests of black people in
MALE
ORDER
Benefits for women
'WOMEN, could you
Use is. the tille of a extra £25
week?
new leaflet produced by
the GLC Women's Com-
mittee to oubicise and
campaign for women's right to claim unemploy-
ment pay. It's well writ-
ten and designed, and
Not positive action
THE Labour Party's recently published campaign document calls for
increased women. (Although not
stridently, ticularly on the question of abortion).
But just week before it was published,
TUC COLLABORATION
trade
This appeal, which also pledges work for changes within the unions and labour movement to restore the confidence OI black people, is signed by
activists from NALGO, UCW NUPE, AUEW. TGWU.
NUT, GMBTU, NUR and ASTMS.
NUPE full timer Bernie Grant spoke for the BTUSM at a meeting of back Camden council workers on 9 March He explainea une work or te BUSM and said that the June conterence will will be a very useful aid in spreading information to women.
An estimated half a million unemployed women don't register
therefore lose benefits to which they are entitled. • Copies of the leaflet and. further information available from the GLC Women's Committee, County Hall London SEI 7PB (01-633 1038)
the inaugural meeting of the new constituency of Holborn and St Pancras
Parti • overwhelmingly for the Women's Section have four delegates to the nagemerong Committ General Management tee.
Socialist Action NEGOT opened by Grenadan High Commissioner Fenis Augustine and will have
speakers from South Africa and the USA
The 70 black workers at the Camden meeting discussed the issues that face many black workers - how to get the council and union to consider their interests when making policy; how to achieve real equal opportunities; how to get representation in the unions and orgnaise in caucuses avoiding the trap of setting up rival union organisation; how to allocale places Ior black
could
·25
John Braggins the head office official sent along to chair the meeting, told the party it could vote as it liked, but when the constitution went up for ratification the NEC would chuck it Out
"The NEC will not allow more than nominal representation for the Women's Section,' he
15 April 1983 5
workers in trade union
training courses and policy
making bodies.
From the conference
they set up the Camden
Black Workers Group
combat individual and in. stitutional racism.
Black workers
throughout the country
share these concerns. The
June BTUSM conference
on the theme of black uni-
will be an important
step bring these
periences together.
• For information con
Neville Adams. 115
Nevill Rd, London N16
WOMEN
you use an extra
per weeks
said. That means twn.
Once again, the fight for women's rights must start at home. (Humphrey Evans)
Compiled by HILARY
Send contribu tions "Male Order' Socialist Action, Street London NI 2XP to , 328 U
arrive not later than Thurs day a week prior to publica.
Page 6 scan of this page
6 . Socialist Action 15 April 1983
WORLD
Vietnamese offensive VIETNAMESE have launched a major
Thai kampuchean border in an attempt to
constructing
along the border to pre-
Por's Kwer Roose in
with Thai army units in trying to destroy the base camps of the rebels. The conflicts gives some interesting insights into imperialist morality. The whole of the Western media gave publicity the horrors of the Pol Pot regime, as a way of demonstrating once acam the savagery and barbarism of com-
Now the Western
refuse to give BOWCID diplomatic recognition
the pro-Vietnamese regime and the CIA pumps money materials and advisers into Pol Pot's Call S
Instead of the horrors of Pol Pot, all we get now is 'Vietnamese pansionism'. Brazil upsurge THE 'economic miracle' of the third world in the 190v s was brazil. But now the countries in the semi-colonial world have been the hardest hit by the capitalist recession.
week industrial of Sao Paolo erupted in riots
unemployment.
Sao Paolo is one of the biggest industrial centres in the world.
In a city of some 12 million people, some 770,000 are out of work
400,000 have lost their jobs in the last 18 months.
The promises of the new governor of Sao Paolo state to 40,000 new jobs won't go very far towards dealing with that problem even if they are fulfilled, which on past form unlikely.
We'll blow you up
DMITRY USTINOV,
Soviet Defence Minister,
warned the United States
last week that the Soviet
Union would retaliate
directly against the
United States, if Tine
Soviet l'nion was attack.
the I's • • Exrope agact dar de
L'aited States was 'offer-
ing its NATO allies as
the targets for nuclear retaliation'.
Duropean powers, said, making hostages American strategy • Borge banned
THOMAS
in the governmen has been from
States, had
Harvard and John
six other inversues have invita-
to speak.
LAST WEEK the Salvadorean army suttered its worst deleats al the hands of the FMIN guerrillas.
The FMLN ambushed part of the US-trained belloso Dallalon In Wit northeastern province of Morazan. Radio Venceremos announced
EMLN had in. flicted 119 casualties including 74 deaths on the US-trained brigade.
high command refused to give any figures for their losses.
At the same time the FMLN overran Verapaz, Guadalupe and Teptitan three towns near the provincial capital of San Vicente. Nuclear
Integration
Caspar
issued important
planning.
Fiscal
Defense
increases military
hardware, has
thinking.
Capacit
at every level of defence
canabilty. Or. to put it
another way, conven-
forces will be
routinely equipped with
'tactical nuclear
weapons.
Weinberger's instruc-
tion further breaks down
the distinction in US
ШлІКі between
nuclear and non-nuclear
war
The second item
which will bring joy to
hearts of peace-loving
dollie
everywhere, is the stepp-
ing up of the production
chemical weapons.
Weinberger wants to
derelop Tne
empie! existing
chemical weapons
worldwide by 1985'
'A DAGGER aimed at the heart of the Western hemisphere' — that's how Ronald Reagan describes the escalating revolutionary America.
region has increased dramatically.
• US-backed right wing forces Honduras nave begun lael seeping invasion ('a slow motion Bay of Pigs' 'as the Sunday Times it) of Nicaragua.
the border areas OI
was
SCUICI leaked last wilch gave proof
government.
leader of the Salvadorean FMLN Melida Anaya Montes ('Ana Maria') was murdered at her home an attack which had all the hallmarks of CIA assassination squad Nicaraguan government
WalCIs
First and foremost reflects
catastrophic the United Salvador,
Salvadorean revolution,
the dictator-
hitting
the revolu-
tion and
"rear'
Nicaragua.
Without doubt, the
overthrow the San-
dinistas be
revolution the whole
flicting a simple military
El Salvador
Conference
Get delegated!
weeks to the 14 May El
ment Conference.
against the people of EI
this conference will be a
labour movement.
Reagan takes aim at
Central America
struggle in Central
Over the past few months US intervention in the
defeat the revolutionary forces in Salvador itself seems more and more unlikely.
OLAT
am-
'hawk'
Central to the hilt the regime the United
Her CLO
Cancel defeat.
Caesala the FMLN
including
liberated which
'sweeps' are by the
and thé
While squad leader Roberto
now leader
in-fighting Cultilles
of devising militar! against
has where the of eccentric
Christian
rival army factions and
'prolifer-
in the Reagan's
aimed preventing
victory in
Salvador, at "roll
union and Labour Party
but there are areas not With not
much time to go, we are
asking all our supporters
to make a special push to
get delegations in the next
couple of weeks.
Trade union branches
tuencies and branches can
have two delegates each.
• Further informa-
tion fror El Salvador
Solidarity Conference, son No. Tel: 01-35, 2200- Park Lon
vances elsewhere in the region.
In addition destabilisation pro-
Nicaragua from Honduras, the Us is attemp ting to block the reneconalon of Çuba's international debts to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. As part of this international economic camDalzil. the Tory government Britain has already withdrawn trading licenses with Cuba.
is being
seas tiny
the United
peace Europe
play.
• self-same forces for the nuclear Europe engaged bloody counter-revolutionary war.
In the coming months all socialists should be active in ensuring the maximum solidarity witn ine revolution in Central America, and raising the demand that the Thatcher government ends its political support for Reagan's war aims in the region.
GUA
Los Ani INSONATE 'Santa-Tecla
" par la guérilla Zones ter 50 k
MELIDA Anaya
Montes ('Ana
Maria'), a leader of
the Salvadorean
FMLN, was murdered
at her home in
Managua last
Wednesday. Her
assassins were a three-
man commando dress-
ed in black.
According to the
pathologists report she
was struck 82 times with
an icepick, , her arm was and her throat was slit.
Ana Maria was, next to Cayetano Carpio, the
Women's militia in Nicaragua „SALVADOR
LA LIBERTAD
- a Libertad
FMLN-FDR controlled areas in El Salvador
CIA murders Ana Maria
best known leader of the FPL largest of the tions in the Miranisa- revolutionary She was buried last Saturday in Managua at a ceremony attended by the whole of the Sandinista leadership.
Ana Maria lived in exile in Nicaragua, while spending much her time in political work il other countries.
The area in which she lived was heavily ed. Without doubt the three men who assassinated her were trained experts - either Americans Centra
International
HONDURAS
san Francis Americans working for the CIA.
Her brutal killing is typical of the methods of the reacHollary forces in region.
statement the FMLN said:
"Although repression of Salvadorean opposition leaders new, tander Ana Maria is an murder Com indication of the US plans to increase a selective repression agains our leaders as a way to contain the great popular advances towards liberation'.
Page 7 scan of this page
How the drug monopolies pillage
International
CAROL had been plagued by a headache for a week or so. Now she was running a high temperature. A pharmacist in her Mozambique advised her to try a popular painkiller called Cibalgin.
The drug didn't help. Instead, Carol started develop cold sores around her mouth. Soon, her gums were coming off on toothbrush. When her face began to swell recognition, and new, painful infections along the veins of her arms, Carol was admitted hospital. Since it was clear her life was in danger, she was flown to Johannesburg for treatment.
The infection which started in her mouth erupted all over her body, and X-rays revealed abscesses on her lungs too. Her lips fell off, the flesh completely decayed. The jawbone, now posed to view, also proved to be diseased. Fortunately, laboratory in Johannesburg was able to diagnose the bacteria responsible and managed
halt Carol's disintegration.
Once on the mend, Carol mentioned to doctors that she had taken Cibalgin. There was no need to look any further for the cause Iness. The local office of Ciba-Geigy, the manufacturer of Cibalgin, at first denied any knowledge of the product — not surprisingly, since its sale is not allowed by the authorities. Amidopyrine, the active ingredient in Cibalgin, had first been shown to cause agranulatosis, Carol's complaint, 58 years before ...
The uncontrolled sale and promotion of Western-made drugs in Third World countries is causing avoidable suffering, even death, for countless people like Carol. A modest 'shopping list of essential 'generic' drugs not sold under brand name) could be used to treat diseases in the poorest countries in the world and save millions of lives. Instead, European and North American pharmaceutical companies are swamping the market with vitamin and mineral tonics, antidepressants, cough and cold remedies and 'body building' steroids.
Harm
These products often do little good and can do a lot of harm. But they are a lucrative source of money for their manufacturers.
The international trade in pharmaceutical proacts Is overwelmngly dominated by rich industrialized nations, like the US, France, Germany, Britain and Switzerland. Some 50 transnational corporations UN СОШО HOSORS.
Some leading corporations pushing, without proper warnings, drugs banned in the West because of their possible serious side Iney encouraging the development of drug-resistant diseases by an overuse of antibiotics. They are promoting powerful anabolic steroids as appetite stimulants for malnourished children. And they are charging ex-
higher in real terms than in the West.
Aggressive aimed primarily at better-off people in the cities, inevitably influences the
Besides reinforcing the belief JUUI• that Western-made medicines are the answer to all ils. sales campaigns persuade people to buy
town in
to
her
beyond
developed
to
had the
unusual
physical
of her il-
African drug manufacturer's
alternatives are available.
unequal distribution of wealth
of government controls.
sweets.
West jections.. Company doctors with samples.
are Doctors
effects.
latives as tere are doctors.
selling irresponsibly,
though governments rely
their products.
DIUIOLU1
Led good drugs.
more expensive name-branded goods even when cheaper, locally produced
HOIR
The problem is aggravated by the
and health care within many Third World nations themselves and by the absence
Antibiotics may be sold loose on market stalls like
Pharmacies statted unqualified assistants sell all kinds of strong drugs over the counter. Petty traders with no medica trainine tour villages, offering pills, potions and in-
salesmen woo
cluding
Such is the commercial pressure that in Nepal, Brazil and parts of Central America there are three times as many pharmaceutical sales represen-
To counter criticism that they are
Western drug doses, firms mav arque that it is un to third World governments to decide which drugs to accept. The truth is that these
largely the manufacturers for information about
Forty-five of the world's poorest and smallest nations depend entirely on imports of finish-
the Third World
By Kathy Kirkham
Recent research has thrown light on some shocking abuses of this situa-
• Amidopyrine, the painkiller that triggered Carol's horrifying physical disintegration, was restricted prescription usage in the US in 1938 because of its dangers. In 1963, in response to medical opinion, manufacturer withdrew it voluntarily from Britain. In 1977 Ciba-Geigy announced that it intended to remove amidopyrine from all its products by the end of that year. Three years later Ciba brands containing the ingredient were still being sold in Portugal and
Third World
Mozambique, where Carol took her near-fatal treatment in 1979.
• Entero-vioform and Mexaform ‹also made bv Ciba-Geigy) are products for the treatment of diarrhea. They contain clioquinol, which, when taken for a prolonged period in high
has led some patients becoming blind and crippled. Manufacturers have paid out compensation to such patients in Japan and Europe, and Entero-vioform has been effectively withdrawn from the British market. Yet it continues to be freely available in many Third World countries such as Bangladesh, and North Yemen, sold mostly in foil
strips without instructions or warnings. • Orabolin anabolic steroids, made by the Dutch firm Organon, are used in Western countries mainly to treat serious blood diseases. They can produce very nasty side effects like jaundice ano liver tumours. The comnant itself advises the Orabolin is children'. Yet its sales representatives in Bangladesh have been promoting the product body builder and appetite stimulant for malnourished youngsters.
• Antibiotics are being marketed by in- Western manufacturers for trivial, unnecessary uses, an alarming rate of drug resistance.
• Non-essential drugs flood many of the countries of the world that can least afford them. For example, in the Philippines cough suppressants are on sale counting for 12 per cent of total drug expenditure there in 1980. Fewer than a dozen of these are based on codeine, the only cough suppressant included in the World essential drug list. • Drug waste and consumer decepIndia tion go hand in hand. Vitamin B-12 is widely sold in many poor countries. It
Socialist Action 15 April 1983 Brazil.
necessities
sold
COC
глого: MIKE WELLS norance.
tion.
condition
Crying
The bumper
disguised.
MIKE WELLS country
materials.
Not
taken by British doctors that 'not recommended for
time! warnings as a known
thus encouraging
mass of the
162 different brands of
— ас- urban aress.
Bitter World Poor at f4. 05 h Health Organization's
7 is often contained in multivitamin tablets, even though experts say that taking B-12 by mouth is useless. It is also offered in large doses that provide no more benefit than smaller ones. Of the Vitamin B-12 injectables sold in Brazil, 106 are offered in doses of five to thirty times the maximum concentration recommended and sold in Britain by the Glaxo firm - including two which Glaxo itself sells in
• Name-brand Western drugs cost an incredible amount of money in relation to wages and the cost of basic
in poor communities.
Koche's Bactrim, the best-selling anti. bacterial drug in Mexico, cost 138.60 pesos in 1978 — enough to provide a basic diet for a family of four for two weeks. In Bangladesh, 100 aspirin,
under the brand name Genaspirin, cost the equivalent of 2.5 per cent of a poor family's annual in-
The tragedy is that many poor people are making sacrifices to buy these costly, often unnecessary drugs when the underlying cause of so many of their illnesses is , poverty and io
, A widow in a village near Dacca, India, sold her cooking pots, then her small plot of land to buy tonics for her fifth child, who was suffering from diarrhea and malnutni
The child's health did not improve. The basie cause of her serious
Black of food; yet, ironically, without land, the whole family were put at risk.
Bangladeshi woman was discovered by a doctor crying with her dead baby in her arms, surrounded by medicine bottles. Having spent all her money on these expensive drugs, she could not understand why they had not saved the child. The baby kad
severely . dehydrated from diarrhea. Her death could have been avoided with a simple home made mixture of water, salt and sugar.
drug enjoy returns from their Third World sales. These are sometimes well
Many companies are careful to mix developed and developing country statistics when publishing their sales and profit figures.
It is also a well-documented prac tice of TNCs with Third World sub sidiaries to transfer profits out of the
overpricing their The United Nations has reported that, in 1975, if subsidiaries of foreign firms in Brazil (many of them drug companies) had imported raw material at the going rate, the return on invested capital would have amounted to 65 per cent rather than the 15 per cent declared.
surprisingly, the highest prices and fattest profit margins are found where governments exercise few controls over foreign investors. The Philippines is perhaps the classic case of this. A recent study under-
the UN Commission on Trade and Development revealed that the least expensive tetracycline capsule in the Philippines cost over eight
Stall • cheapest available in the USA. Roche's best-
prouucts and Valium, were priced eight and fourteen times higher than in Britain
The Third World's drug problem can never be solved in isolation. At the end of the day better health for the poor can only be promoted if governments show the political will to bring primary health care services to tr
population instead of catering for the rich through costly Western-style hospitals and clinics in
This article is based on two recent books:
Pills: and the Third Dianna Melrose (Dublishec al ford 0x2 7D2, UK), Bad The Hald, 274 Banbury Road, of Nations: A North-South Investigation.
Mike ruler (puousnea al ts.s) D Faber and Faber, , 3 Queens Square , Lor don WCIN3AU; UK The case of 'Carol is taken from The Health of Nation.
Page 8 scan of this page
A European road
HAS become monplace to argue that there are three strategic demands which must feature Labour's election manifesto - 1) nuclear disarmament, (2) the alternative economic strategy and (3) withdrawing from the common market.
These demands — so long sought and fought over should not be in question. They represent Labour's response to militarism, monetarism and the dominance of the EEC by market forces and multinational capital. They represent the case for disarmament, economic development and the restoration of economic democracy in the sense of regaining autonomy. for people and parliament in key aspects of European and international affairs.
Nonetheless, one of the problems which the Labour Party mobilising mass support policies for peace, jobs freedom is avoiding the impression - not due entirely to the Tory press - that our strategy amounts
La position of being monetarism, anti-Market and antibomb. We risk giving the false impression that three policies are isolationist in a world of increasing tension.
It is crucial that we take advantage of progress which has been made in the last two or three years for joint policies against nuclear weapons: and for the transformation of the economic crisis mobilised and supported by the main parties of the European Left.
European Nuclear Disarmament
The campaign for disarmament must be one of the lynch pins of a socialist foreign policy. The deployment since the 1960's of an in-
Socialist Action
com-
in
GM COOKSON
nuclear
also
THE DEPTH economic
ward labout movement.
faces is
tional contributors. for and number
antiCHecil vocavulal.y
main acculaly and
nucical wal
be were the weapons used.
Thatcher-Reagan
weapons,
European nuclear
15 April 1983
out of the crisis
bloc Soviet tional
By Stuart Holland
of the British entails supranational solutions. This contribution opens a debate on the way tor-
for the Western European ruture issues will carry articles from interna-
of field weapons had littered Europe with the armoury of Armageddon long before the neutron bomb, cruise missiles, SS 20's or Pershing rockets became part of
'Mutually assured destruction' through the use of nuclear weapons has given way with increased
improved delivery systems to the concept of a winnable
Strategic deterrence theory has given way to a new theory of tactical deterrence. With it, the premise •that nuclear weapons are unusable has been buried, as most of Europe would
Challenging the militarism of the
nuclear strategies carries force without stressing that the Soviet Union has followed rather than led new weapons systems developments in the West (atomic and hydrogen
intercontinental bombers, ICBMs and others). Not least, it has to be asked whether the Soviet Union can really afford to maintain such an armaments effort when it cannot feed its own people, nor respond to rising con-
sumer expectations nor carry the debt of failing modernisation in Eastern
countries such as Poland.
Union itself imports modern technology through the circuits Western multinational companies.
European Economic Cooperation
Such double standards from the West
trading and lending • to a regime allegedly bent on world domination -must be challenged by a socialist policy
Europe wide. Just European nuclear free zone would not be real unless it included both West and East Europe, so European econcomic cooperation will not be genuine unless it does the same.
Economic and monetary among some of the Western European countries is unachievable on the suprana-
grounds favoured federalists. But economic monetary cooperation between and West Europe is an imperative that cannot be ignored if we wish to underpin peace with prosperity, matching increased security through a nuclear free zone with increased security of income and welfare for European countries.
By such criteria the so-called European Economic Community or EEC IS nothing of the kind. From a failed European Defence Community posed in 1954, and a European Political Community proposed a year later, the EEC has achieved a cartel for coal and steel, little more than OECD on trade liberalisation, • no enforcable policies against multinational companies. Its common agricultural policy swallows four fifths of its budget to the benefit of the large scale wheat and milk farmers in the north and against small scale Mediterranean producers.
In fact the CAP is a reverse regional policy, while the Regional Fund and Social Funds Community together represent less than a tenth of the EEC budget. This is less than one per cent of Community GDP, and less than a tenth of the Regional Fund changes hands between countries. Put differently, only about 1/100th of one
ceni Community GDP redistributed between member states. There has been much talk of the need for a Marshall Aid programme for the lower income EEC countries. But Marshall Aid amounted to some 4 per cent of US GDP over the four years 1948 to 1952. Even a ten fold increase in the regional and social funds would not
SOLIDARI
THE WITH
BRITISH
MINERS
FROM LIMBURG
BELGIUM
Mitterand, France The
of register a similar effect, while the funds
are shrinking share of the EEC budget. Such realities more than a quarter century after the signing of the Rome Treaty couraging more realistic analysis of the costs and benefits of EEC membership by socialists in not only Britain and Denmark, and Portugal.
as
union
EEC and East pro-
joint
* The failure of the Common Market
test of the EEC would come with the crisis of a major recession. has been with us now for ten years, but the Community has aggravated it by a retreat to monetarist have worsened the slump syndrome.
C DAVIES (Report) ments want to challenge this and trans-
cend the current crisis through socialist policies. They want structure and re-distribute. They also want to do so through a remix of the capitalist economy, public spending, public enterprise and planning. But France has been set back Photo: by three devaluations and austerity programmes. Economic welfare is at risk there, as in Spain and Greece, unless we
Frame. sweeen
- not increasing as a orthodoxies.
nationalism
but also in Greece, Spain
RIT
behalf It used to be claimed that the real
Parallel That crisis econmists,
policies which
Both the Greek and French govern-
British TUC
to reflate, Te.
• to reflate
can join such countries in their counter offensive against monetarism, backing their ideological challenge to capitalist
This is crucial for a socialist foreign policy. It is the positive politics of inter-
rather than negative posture of 'leaving Europe'.
Out of Crisis
So how can Labour gain the mobilisation for economic recovery with Euro pean parties of the Left while also leav. ing the EEC? Can we not only defend the case for the Alternative Economic Strategy but also extend it through joint action with the new governments of the European Left?
We now have the essentials of such a new joint strategy by which we can leave the Common Market but join with trade unionists, political parties and governments in a wider Europe
In Paris in January 1983 the Prime Ministers of Finland, Sweden, Austria Greece, Spain and France declared that President Mitterand of France on thei
would take a manifesto demands for transformation of the economic crisis to the Williamsburg economic summit in May.
and supporting this March 1983 in Paris, some 200 political
politicians and unionists from fifteen West European countries launched a Project for European Recovery - endorsed by Michael Foot as leader of the Party and by the
The European Recovery Project in cludes three strategic resource aims:
• to re-structure • to re-distribute
Complementary with these policies varying in degree and method between countries but including:
Page 9 scan of this page
Gonzalez, Spain
• public spending • planning agreements • public and cooperative enterprise
The project includes models for joint reflation of the main European economies and These have been developed economists from Cambridge, Bremen, Modena and Madrid. show that it is possible to create 10 to 20 million new iobs over the next ten vears
the European economies pursue policies of "better-my-neighbour' refla. tion rather than the present trend of 'beggar-my-neighbour' deflation.
The economic arguments are essentially simple. One country's imports are another country's exports. Thus if each country cuts domestic reduce import demand and improve its balance of payments it will deepen the vicious circle of deflation in international production and trade.
Inversely, if the main European and OECD economies increased spending and import demand they would thereby increase employment, income and international trade. The vicious circle of slump would be reversed and the conditions for a virtuous circle of recovery established.
Restructuring and Redistribution
However — tor reasons ditterent from those claimed by monetarists -cannot simply spend our way out of the CrISIS Even high and cumulative reflation will not of itself
the 1990's. Therefore the European Recovery Project stresses that reflation must be accompanied by policies tor restructuring and redistribution.
Restructuring cannot be conceived simply as rationalisation since through technical progress this could or would increase unemplovment. Nor can rellation be conceived only in Keynesian terms of increasing demand. policies be pursued redistribution which is: • structural — between firms and secLUIS • social between different social groups and classes • spatial between countries and regions
Restructuring of investment between public and private sectors, and of employment between industry and services is both feasible and necessary to gain a balanced recovery. tion of income and expenditure between firms and - industries, groups and classes and regions and areas of the European economy will facilitate recovery.
Joint Planning Agreements
When 140 companies now account for one third of the output of the EEC companies, joint policies for accountability of multinational firms are in-.
Papandreou, Greece
creasingly agreements or
economic
Greece, OECD.
by
Paris, ana the
They democracy.
including Finland,
'spending to
complementary to
joint recovery of the South.
ject has the EEC but also for EFTA, UN Economic
we simply for
sustained to the wider world economy.
unemployment by
Ing Wlal the
promoted
Western Europe.
Also, Wine
Both with
pean recovery,
US and OECD countries. should
and socialist
European Left.
of international institutions. the Scandinaviar
parties and unions.
social
for both
and Society.
socialist foreign policy.
• OUT OF. CRISIS:
European Recovery, Spokesman
feasible. Planning Agreed Development Plans on the lines of Labour's alternative economic strategy either have been or are being adopted in France,
Spain and other European countries, have a key role to play in joint accountability of multinationals
extension of
Joint recovery implies progressive action by countries in and out of the
sweach, Norway, Austria, Spain and Portugal as well as the EEC countries, and that Britain outside the EEC can act with both member and non-member govern-
Recovery does not exclusively depend on major institutional reforms of the IMF or other international agencies and OPEC countries have a vested interest in supporting governments pursuing recovery programmes since this would increase the price of oil.
The wuropean recovery project is
the global reforms demanded bv the Brandt Commission but focusses on the recovery of the North as the precondition for effective
Thus the European Recovery Pro-
implications 1101 only for OECD, Commission Europe and other UN agencies as well as for the IMF and World Bank. In effect the project is European rather than
Community Europe, and projects a dialogue which also extends membership or non-membership or the , does focus European Communities, simply stress-
crisis affects coloni western Europe as a whole and that policies to get out of the crisis should be
together by member ana non-member countries of the EEC in
stressing that Europe need not depend on the United States and the rest of OECD its case for Euro-
offers the prospect of major jobs and income creation in the
be clear because rather than despite the new austerity measures in France, this new recovery project nas wide support in the labour
movement Western curode. Il aerves nrom a process convergence in thinking and policy in the main parties and institutions of the
It also has sufficient support for an on-going process of widened pressure and impact in a range
Originally sponsored by the French Minister for Research and Industry, the project had major commitment for follow up from Andreas Papandreou in Greece, from the Spanish Socialist Party PSOE and from representatives of
Lauce framework provides a means by which the potential for transforming the crisis can be promoted by EEC and non EEC
It can make real our claim that we would leave the EEC to join a wider Europe based on an international AES
Economic an Alternative Strategy and an Alternative Economy
turn, we should not miss its potential for progress towards a
A Project for is published by Russell House, Gamble Street, Nottingham NG7 4ET.
380 INDEX NUI
340-
300-
260- U.S.M
220H
180-
1404
100
60 10 1800°
1780
ource: N.D. Kone tieft "Long Waves In Ec AFTER three years of deep recession the world capitalist economies are turning upwards again. JOHN ROSS looks at one view of the likely economic developments of the few years.
turned up
An economic analyses of situation mentator rinancial
idea
powerless change,
long wave (25
N.D.
dratieff, in 1920s...
dratieff looks plausible
dratieff cycle.'
the best established of all its features — even Brittan admits it. The short term business cycle has been observed since the very beginning of capitalism. It had roughly a seven year up and down duration prior to the Second World War and has since shortened to roughly five.
Thus for example, to take only the last twenty five years, 1967, 1972, 1975, and 1981 were the bottom years of recessions and 1960, 1964, 1969; 1973, and 1979 were the peak years of booms. The short term economic recoverv we are now enter. ing into in 1983 is therefore no sur-
prise or great hope for the future -indeed it is somewhat overdue
Kondratieff's Diagram
England
10 20 30 10 3060
nomic Life." Reprinted in Lloyds Bank Reviaw.July 1978
'An anaemic recovery
But British and
that these short
found 'long waves' of development.
next studied by
tion,
declining
twenty five
quarter. starting in Britain, the first
capitalist country, warus.
Interval
surprising in
there was a remain from 1945-75,
1849-73 etc.
ness. He writes,
limes.
World War...
recurs
had more
Wing development
KonKUrODe Kontoday the world.
minism', E.P.
duct of capitalist development. Long
Second World 1958, 1963,
and the reaching.
anne recoveries tional Business 'anaemic'
'90 makes the much more serious, and explains the 'anaemic' character of the recovery, is
cycles superimposed on much more pro-
Contrary to what Samuel Brittan claims these long periods of develop-
Kondratieff and others, are not an 'artificial' construc-
limited to the 1930s and the 1980s, but a clear pattern of development inherent in the nature of the capitalist system itself. The roughly
year expanding, then declining cycles can be clearly seen
major from 1700 onSamuel Brittan downturn from 1896-1914 boom from new
typical
ding the world.
Upturn
events
of-capitalist mentioned was
downturn from
Assam. late 1970s and early 1980s are right on schedule. They are not 'abnormal', or the result of a new force called 'exter-
Thompson has claimed, but a perfectly lawful pro-
bable precedent,
Thus during a long economic development. upswing, such as from the end of the recovery
War to 1975, cyclical slumps are brief and shallow
expansions long ánd far sperity. • In a long downswing, such as we are at present in. the depressions are progressively longer and deeper
. USt InternaWeek's term, are
What would turn the situation
Francer
1900 10 20 around for capitalism and launch a
period of expansion? Brittan already gives the answer. The most
mechanism of capitalist recovery is war. Taking the First and Second World Wars together, and ad.
intervening conflicts, the twenty five year post-war capitalist boom was purchased at the cost of approximately 100 million dead - and even then it should be remembered it never extended its benefits to hun. dreds of millions in the semi-colonial
But now the 25 years is up and capitalism requires another similar bloodletting for a new upturn. , This would not be irrational in capitalisi terms, but creates a new increase in exploitation and redivision of the world market. The reduction of real wages during the 1979-82 slump, the tens of millions of unemployed in the ad. vanced capitalist countries, the wars in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Middle East, horrors such as Nigeria,
and the famine in Ethiopis are only the tiniest beginnings of what capitalism would require this time around for a new upturn.
Whether capitalist accumulation could be relaunched after a nuclear
which is one of the most prohistorical of unlikely.
Despite Samuel Brittan's protesta. tions capitalism does have a logical
After the 'anaemic ' will come a new downturn in the 1980s which will make Thatcherism look like days of halcyon pro-
Perhaps as Samuel Brittan gets & considerably larger salary for writing nis column tuan t oo mine ne woud like to make a large bet on it. Socialst Action would find it useful to have some spare money for what is going to
Socialist Action 15 April 1983
Page 10 scan of this page
Socialist
ACTION
Tribune's
call to arms
AS MICHAEL HESELTINE gazed across the Berlin Wall, ignored by the world's press, half a million people demonstrated against the missiles in West Germany and Britain. CND had won the first round of the propaganda battle with the Tories.
But the theme which Heseltine was trying to place at the centre of the disarmament debate - that of an embattled West faced by an aggressive Soviet Union - has had an impact in some surprising quarters.
Moving left
In particular, Tribune, a newspaper which has been moving to the left under its new editor Chris Mullin, ran an article by him on its front page advocating a conventional nuclear strategy against the Russians. 'If some form of national service is the price that has to be paid for a non-nuclear defence policy then so be it' the article states.
It was even more surprising because in the same issue diarist John Street, who is known to be in sympathy with Mullin's views, correctly chastises Joan Ruddock responsibility for the arms race between East and West.
Main problem
But is defence against the Soviet Union the main problem facing the labour movement in relation to the debate on disarmament? Let that question be decided by a brief inspection of the active role of our 'defence forces today.
Apart from forays to defend our more distant colonial possessions, the major role of the armed forces today is holding down the nationalist population in the north of Ireland. In addition the frequent stand-by mobilisations and HMS Keren hijacking confirm the strike breaking role of the military.
Britain's standing army is best equipped fo counter-insurgency
In that context to advise the strengthening of the armed forces through the re introduction of national service is a suicidal course for the
Correctly, it would be rejected out of hand by the hundreds of thousands youth who are used to such blimpish proposals from the right as a solution to both unemploy.
against the 'invaders'. But the British Army is the last institution to teach such techniques to a conscript army It reserves this role for the elite counter-revolutionary squads of the SAS. cher's finger from both the trigger of nuclear argument for pacificism. does need to defend itself, but against the very forces that Mullin proposes we strengthen.
enough. As we argue elsewhere in this issue the trade unions now have to seriously consider industrial action to stop the missiles.
This should be the objective of papers such as Tribune. Not advocating the wrong answer to
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist callorials Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, sales and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London N1 2XP. sena all materlar for pubicanon (including advertsing, to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address. We regret that due to the high cost of postage we cannot return or acknowicare unsonculca copy or nolograons unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
instead for ascribing equa the
by xercises abroad and a objective should be to remove That-
The labour movement
demonstrations are not Action's views. These are expressed in
(Tel: 01-359 8180)
10
Ireland and
partition
YOUR editorial about Ireland titled 'The legacy of partition' (SA 1 April) deserves comment.
You state that a nationalist victory in Ireland would 'remove the Loyalist reactionary bloc and open up the way for a socialist Ireland on. Britain's doorstep'
Surely, socialists, our first duty is to unite the
To label a workine Cass. large section of the Irish
class "reac tionary Loyalists' can do no good to the cause of a united ireland and even less to the cause of socialism.
Socialists should seek to unite the Irish working class, Catholic and ProtesLaTE
As long as there is sectana votence une and the working class will remain divided and as long as the Irish working class
divided united socialst ireland Is a utopian dream.
TIM PORTEUS, Edinburgh.
KIMNOPORS
Newsline on Soviet Union
UNDER the headline 'The Revolutionary Way to Fight War' the Newsline, daily paper
Workers Revolu. tionary Party, directed a one and a halt page tirade
Alex Mitchell against mv intormationai piece or the Group for the Establishment of Trust between the USSR and the USA (SA 25 March).
Mitchell's main thrust was that the USSR did not need a peace movement presumably because the Soviet bureaucracy is doing such a good job that any independent activi Labour's
Campaign
Document:
LABOUR'S new
paign
New Hope for Britain',
based. upon Partv Con.
ference resolutions, will
undoubtedly allace le
support of millions of
workers suffering under
the effects of four years
of Thatcherism.
Militant supports this
programme and will
fight
plemented. If Labour
wins the election,
party ranks must see that
there is no retreat under
capitalist pressure.
Across the English
Channe. however,
France, a country one
Socialist Action 15 April 1983
MNOPORSTU
KLETTERSTU
automatically places you on the same side as US imperialism.
I shall reply to some of the points raised because they express ideas with a certain currency on the left
detence Soviet Union and our attitude the dissident movement Eastern Europe generally.
Firstly, since the rise of the Stalinist bureaucracy revolutionary have defended only the socialised property relations resulting from the October Revolution.
Secondly, the
has materia! bureaucracy
What
the left
press
said
third richer than Britain,
Mitterrand
demonstrated that a pro-
gramme
than this one cannot be loemened
power and wealth of big
socialist in-
•demo
cratically planned
the
tionalised wor-
kers and
management can the
promises
The Loyalist general strike in 1974. Working class unity has to confront problem of Loyalist ascendency
balale trom those of the working class,
actending Its ln terests it only incidentally
The possession of nuclear weapons should be
the light LU. which they contribute to the defence of these relations.
Neither Socialist Action nor, for that matter the independent Soviet
call Soviet unilateral nuclear disarmament in the face of armed imperialism occaust they threaten these gains for the working class.
However, and this the WRP completely fails to appreciate. real defence of the USSR is the extension tne world revolution and the bureaucracy has not been interested this for years.
The defence of the
Labour
HERALD
A WORLD crisis, and increasing danger of nuclear war, with nearly four million unemployed in Britain can be seen to demand radical solu-
Voters, anenter middle class or not, can understand the need for change, even if they do
what should involve.
What they will reject is a programme which looks just like a rehash of wat went Derore and did not work. There nothing to be gained by a further dilution of the Campaign Document.
Quite the opposite is true. It we take our cut from what the document savs. rather than the press reported, it is plain that too many of the most important issues are badly rudged.
is not yet the radical left-wing pro-
Soviet Union can only be guaranteed by the overthrow of both imperialism and the aster es bureaucracy. The latter not subordinate to the former but part of the same process.
The Soviet bureaucracy maintains its rigid control through monopoly of the forces repression and the dissemination of informa. Lon these circumstances the fight for basic civil liberties takes on
328 Upper Street.
gramme which would provide convincing SOURIS alternative to Thatcherism.
If the manifesto is to paign Document it must differ from the Cam-
stronger, much stronger, and weaker. Socialist ORGANISER THIS is not a battle plan for storming the commanding heights of the economy, but a scheme for co-opting the trade unions into taking responsibility for • the sickness or capitalisin
When the system of producton for proll la. brought us to today's crisis, why is Labour begging and bribing the pro.
expand business? Shouldn't Labour be fighting take over the major banks and , enterprises. putting them under com mon ownership and workers' democratic control?
Isn't that the ons • way have rational planning and jobs for all,
Letters
La fundamental character.
Socialist Action does not necessarily support the demands of the indepen dent Peace Group but supports its right to exist free of harassment SUISCISSOR CE an activity around Soviet foreign which apparently has become a taboo sub. ect for the WRP, can onl help the Soviet class break out of its enforced passivity.
RICK HELLMAN, Oxford
Write to us!
This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even congratulations. But please be brief — letters over 300 words will be cut Write to: Letters, Socialist Action,
London N1 2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180)
- rather than vague hopes of unemployment being belov one million within five years?
Such a fight would raise many other issues.
The millionaires would not submit passively to being stripped of then millions: the top civil service chiefs, the courts, the monarchy, and the police and I army hierarchies could all be expected to swing into action to support them.
The labour moveWOll mobilise the working class to meet sabotage by direct action; counterrevolutionary violence armed workers' defence.
Yet that is the consistent class stuggle alternative to the Campaign Document's new socia contract. And to build towards it now, we must
with its projected unity with the bosses and the bankers to support workers in struggle, rather than spinning schemes to persuade the capitalists to hand down some crumbs.
Page 11 scan of this page
REVIEWS
By Abel Paz. Published by Black Rose
Books. £4.95.
IN SPAIN in 1936 when the civil war broke out the anarchists had enormous influence in the working class and the peasantry. And among the anarchist leaders none stood out more than Buenaventura Durruti.
Barcelona on 23 November 1936 was attended by over half a million people.
For the revolutionary masses of Catalonia Dur-
aspirations. Unlike the Stalinists and the right Prieto be was not repared wing socialists such
subordinate the need for social change to a pact with the liberal Republicans.
He had no illusions in the capitalist government of the Popular Front. He said:
'No government in the world fights fascism to the death. bourgcoisie sees power slipping
Its grasp, has recourse to fascism to maintain itself.
"The Liberal
nent of Spain could have rendered the fascist elements powerless long
instead it temporis-
and compromised and dallied.
'Even at this moment, there are men government who want to go casy wiln the rebels.'
This statement made on › August 1930 was to be tragically confirmed by the bloody events of the next three years. Nor did Durruti think that the Spanish revolution should hold back in the interests of the Soviet bureaucracy's peaceful co-existence with capitalism.
He pointed out, 'the workers of Germany and China were sacrificed to fascist barbarism by Stalin' because this policy. He explained how the Spanish workers were 'setting an example to the German and Italian working class how to deal with fascism.
Whether he expected any help from France or
when Hitler and Dillai Mussolini began to assist the rebels he replied: *I do not expect any help for a libertarian revolution from any the world: sovernmen I
recognised 'the conflicting interests of the different
Impertaisine
Dallas
Wednesday 13 April, .
8.10, BBCI
JR, having arrived in
LuDa, has been thrown
into Hollywood's idea of
a Cuban jail. This stupid
plot would be completely
hilarious if it weren't for
the fact that some people
will actually believe it.
Could there any
link between the timing
or unis and kcagall s cur
rent activities in Central
America? alyway. the
plot thickens when Bob.
by discovers a box of
Cuban cigars ...
The Paras
Thursday 14 April,
8.30, BBC1
IN THE FINAL part of
advertising
series for the most brutal
the British
CATCHE
Army, the lads finally get
to see some action. But
after having been psych-
Recent books reviewed by Bob Pennington
Durruti - the people armed
After his death at the front his funeral in
might have some influence on our struggle.
doing his best to drag Europe into
He will not hesitate to pitch Germany against us. But we expect no help, not even from our Owil govellllica...
Unfortunately the workers' organisations did not heed Durruti's words. In the interests of unity with their own capitalist class and in an attempt to win the favour the Western 'democracies' Incy strangica une
and prepared the way for Franco's victory.
When a reporter told him he would be sitting on
pile ot. ruins the workers won he retorted:
•We have always lived in slums and holes in the wall. We will know how to accommodate ourselves for a Lufic. ror vou must not forget, that we can also build these palaces and cities nere in Spain and America everywhere. We, Durruti
ed up to blast the Argies,
they find themselves sent
to the North of Ireland
instead.
Perhaps this is where
their particularly vicious
training is thought to be
put to the best use, as the
residents of Derry found
out on Bloody Sunday in
1972.
The War about
Peace
Thursday 21 April,
9.00. ITV
THIS IS Central Televi-
SONS S 'balance-
restoring' answer to
John Pilger's recent film,
"The Truth Game'. That was the one they
refused to put out until
'Journalist of the Year'
Max Hastings could be
workers.
'We can build others to take their place. And bet-
We are not in the ter ones. bourgeoisie might. blast The bourgeoisie might and its own world before it leaves the stage of history. we cane world in our hearts.'
aus only denied the Republicans military leader but it denied the revolution an authentic and credible voice of opposition the compromisers.
Later, when the anarchists' leaders entered the government justifying this on the grounds of exceptional circumstances', they were able to overcome opposition in the ranks of the
It is hard to imagine that Durruti would have sanctioned such a move,
would he have been likely to have accepted binding the interests of the workers the brokendown machine of Spanish hoeralism
Abel Paz's. book tells the story of Durruti's life and explains his role in the civil war.
Anyone who interested Spanish revolution must
ruti. This anarchist biography about an
allal chist revolutionary helps to do just that. rushed back from the South Atlantic to produce this little number.
'I've tried to produce a personal report for uncommitted viewers rather than a propagan-
polemic against the disarmers, whines Hastings.
Heroically brushing aside bias Max goes on to interview Heseltine, George Bush, right wing protessor Michael Howard, variou US generals and Reagan's former coordinator, all of whom denv that the American Administration believe
winnable nuclear wars.
With 'personal reports' like this, who needs propaganda!
Zapata and Villa meet in Mexico City 6 December 1914
By Adolfo Gilly.
Published by Verso
Editions. £6.95
THE MEXICAN revolution after the Russian events in 1905 was the next popular uprising to show that the bourgeoisie was in-
capable of carrying one
tasks the democratic revolution.
When the revolution began in 1910 it was an attempt to modernise and transform the oligarchic state the modern bourgeoisie who cast envious eyes across the Rio Grande 'where they could see their US counterparts prospering on an unbelievable scale
Published by CND Publications. 40p
THIRTY EIGHT YEARS ago the Americans dropped a small bomb Japanese city called Hiroshima.
Within seconds 70,000 people died. The final count showed that 200,000 people died.
Today a Polaris missile submarine can wipe out more people than all the bombs dropped in the last war. There is no detence at all against megadeath that's a word the military coined for describing the death of a million people by the explosion a single weapon.
you live in Britain the prospect of megadeath is a real one. We have — or ment has - - more than 100 nuclear base here. So if there is a nuclear war then our opponents would concentrate on us.
Emergency services would disappear. Injured victims would lie dying of lack of attention, thirst, starvation, cold burns. Epidemic would sweep through the cities and the towns. Getting blown to hell is an expensive business. Every WCEK toes out e Bo as heek to British family forks pay for our arms programme and Trident will cost £10,000 million.
EN
But to achieve their aims the Mexican capitalist class needed the help of the peasantry who yearned for land reform
an unstable alliance with the liberal politicians the peasants took the road of revolution
the armies of Pancho Villa and from the south came the armies Emiliano Zapata. Both eventually entered Mexico City in December 1914.
Reform
Of course they were promised land reform by the capitalist politicians WIlU explained that thi would be done constitutionally and
Nuclear disarmament starts here
This pamphlet lists in a clear readable way all these horrific which need for the works can-
the pub; teen: arguing 1r moving a resolution at the trade union branch or taking on we right wing your Labour Party. So buy it. also says: 'We might need
Socialist Action 15 April 1983
The Mexican revolution
would take time. The revolutionary peasant al lilco were expected to whilst the capitalist ponti- disband and home cians go on with running the state.
Despite their heroism and their distrust of their allies the peasant leaders were not able to sweep the bourgeoisie aside and take OVCI
The working class wa: weak and disorganised and, unlike the Russian in 1917, did not have revolutionary party like the Bolsheviks to provide political leadership.
The radical impulses of the revolution burned themse ves out in politica frustration and by 1920 Obregon had stabilised NO LUV- THIS IS THE ARMS SCRAPHEAP - THE HUMAN SCRAPHEAP IS OVER THERE! fighter patrol boats, small submarines, helicopters and small non-nuclear; missiles.' It also thinks: 'We may need alice part-time armec forces
Here I part ways. The facts yes, the conclusions
We should be putting 10. across what nuclear war will mean to the majority
11 capitalist rule through the institutiona Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Ruled
The PRI has ruled Mexico for the last 60 years without interruption. However, has never been able to wipe out the memory of those stor my years when the revoluand Villa carried the hopes armies of •Zapata of the downtrodden and hitherto despised peasan try.
Gilly's book has beet through 16 editions in Spanish and this study of the Mexican revolution is particular when Mexico once again is heading towards crisis.
UNEM
of people in this country
that's a bloody painful death
But we should also be explaining , that,
Thatcher and her man Mr Heseltine having their finger on the nuclear button, we are also opposed to them having their hands on any weapons at all.
Page 12 scan of this page
12
CTION
16/17
April
After Bermondsey and the miners ballot, the Labour
enoers attack SocialIsts
passively watch the Tory onslaught against workers
rights. Yet there is a strong minority of working people
That relect taese dent wine dolcies. oocidilsts Wil Did
the central role in organising this minority into a left
wing that can take on the Tories and fight for a Labour
government committed to sociatist poncies.
the history of our movement in order to arm socialists
in the unions with the tactics and strategy needed to
Tace inis situation
Congress of the Comintern, the Minority Movement
and the principles underlying the united front. It will
Hashwa
Britain from 1968 to today.
The will aim to
programmatic and theoretical weapons for the next
steps towards a class struggle left wing. Introductions
will be ever
International labour movement.
The school will be
accommodation can be arranged.
write
London N1 2XP. or see your local paper seller.
Socialist Action Forums
SHEFFIELD Speakers Pat Hickey (SA), other speakers invited. Wed 13 April, 7.30pm, Burn Greave Vesty Hall (top of Spital Hill).
EALING 'Getting rid of the bomb'. Speaker Alan Lenton (London Region CND Exec., personal capacity). Thurs 28 April, 7.30pm, Three Horseshoes pub, Southall High St (opp Town Hall).
GLASGOW Speakers: Helen
ohn (Greenham Common) /al Coultas (SA), anc speakers from Glasgow Nomen for Peace. Thurs 14 April, 7.30j Conference Suite, Mitchell Library.
EXETER 'Socialist Action -a new labour movement
ewspaper', Speaker from SA. Thurs 21 April, 8pm, The Oddfellows Arms, New North Rd.
THIS week, Socialist
Action launches Spring Appeal for
£19,500.
It might seem sur-
prising, but the
economic facts about
producing a socialist
newspaper mean that
the cover price alone
will never pay the pro-
duction costs.
When we launched
Socialist Action we had
La 'realistic'
co combination bop, a
medium cover price of
30p discounted to sellers
and shops with an appeal
to make up the rest. Month
This month we are
planning a promotional
enve big
events like the Peoples's
March, the YCND Car-
nival and the May 24th
Womens' Day of Action.
We want Socialist
Action to have the best
Socialist Action 15 April 1983
TRADE
UNION
SCHOOL
movement The school will look at the Second
examination of the class struggle ir
provide some ot the
speakers trom the british and
held London and more details Socialist Action TU school, 328 Upper St
NOTTINGHAM Joint Revolution/Socialist Action day school on 'Central America and the Caribbean' and 'How to use SA'. Sun 24 April, 1-6pm, Queens Walk Community Centre The Meadows. For details phone Nottingham 256667.
support the May /ti demonstration for Britain out of Ireland and Self Determination for the Irish People.
For detalls of sponsorship etc contact the May 7th Organising Committee Box 353, London NW5 ANH.
Socialist Action Spring Appeal
Covelard U11 these events, to have the best photos, the best interviews and the biggest impact.
To do that we need • money. We need prompt payment from sellers, and generous donations from our readers. Every payment sent in will be credited in the paper. the Largel of £19,500? It is what we need to pay for our rent, electricity, rates, phone bills and all the other expenses. for producing Socialist Action.
By Martin Collins
We have no big advertising revenues like the Fleet Street press, so all the money we get is from sales and readers' support.
This weekend is the Socialist Action trade union school. All supt porters of the paper are the SCIU which will discuss building the left in the
DIARY
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• Labour Research Department AGM. Saturday 16 April, 2.30-5pm, Tudor koom. axion hal. caxtor Street, SW1. Details: 01-928 3649. • Black 1 nealri Cooperative benefit for Roach Family Support Committee. Guests include Saka Eati, Zephania, Spartacus, Indian
Moon Theatre, Mile End. Details: 01-254 7480: • Hunger strikers Commemoration Rally, 1 May in Birmingham Assemble at Spark Hill at 1.30pm.
*Plantation Workers of Sri Lanka'. An internationa conference on 23/24 April organised by the Sri Lanka.
Group. Further details from SLRIG, 9 Grays Inn
Rosebury Ave, London ECI.
Day for Disarma men = S4
May. ror more imormanon please contact May 24th', 16 Arundel Rd, Brighton, E. sussex. • 'Plastic Bullets' public meeting (exhibition and slideshow) with Alistail Renwick (ex-British soldier) and Andy Harris (GLC
Wed 27 April, councilor) 7.30pm, 1 Thorpe Close, Ladbroke Grove tube. Organised by West London Troops Out. • 'Towards a police state?' Hounslow Socialist Forum meeting with criminal lawye Brian Rose-Smith
ntroducing on the Police
7pm,
11. 0 44 81!
George Iv pub, , 185 Chiswick High Road, W4.
• Labour Committee Un Ireland Conference/AGM Sat 23 April, County Hall, London SEI. Discussion on new masane alu liauc unions. Details: Box BM 5355, London WCIN 3XX.
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— Bristol
ublic meeting 1 Sisers:
Martir Perry Lees (T&GWU) regional officer, persona capacity; and Solidarity
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atroduced by Peter Tatchell.
un • May. Icialls as abul • 'Why Labour needs to speak to Sinn Fein' Haringey Labour Committee on Ireland meeting with Steve Bundred (GLC councillor) Dius lul socaker. • Thur 14 April, 7.30pm, Brabant Rd TU/Community Centre, N22 • Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom correrence and AGM. 7/8 May at Goldsmiths College
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• Turkey - an evening of solidarity. Organised b Tower Hamlets trades connel with oIsCuSSIOns food, music, dancing and Guney's film The Herd. Sun
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•El Salvador • another Vietnam' free film show at Waketield Labour CluD Mon 18 April, 7.30pm Speaker from Leeds El Soc snonsors include wakenelo trades council. • Concert for Chile presented bi Chile Solidarity Campaign with Quilapayun
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• El Salvador Labour Movement Conference. 14 May, county hall, sel 10am-5pm. Speakers include Judith Hart MP and Dr savador voncada. senior FDR/FMLN London representative. TUs, LP and LPYS branches are invited to send two delegates. Details from El Salvador conca coma Islington Park St, London N1. Tel: 01-359 2270 — TOO AMDER THORACO will unilateralism win?' Newcastle CND public
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Page 13 scan of this page
"The influence of the Communist Party Gerry Cohen replies to Ken Livingstone
Surplus Value
The article by Ken Livingstone, in your issue of 1 April, contained a number of distortions of the Communist Party's position; several inaccuracies; some incorrect assessments.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to deal with some of these issues.
The article implied that the Communist Party is in favour of what is described as 'coalitionism'. This is, quite simply, not true. Ken's argument appears to be based on a very strange interpretation of our view on proportional representation.
Unlike most other political parties, we actually take our stand on democratic principles - ana not on
we think this or that particular fiddle will benefit this or that particular party.
Our position, unequivocally, is that the most democratic electoral system is that which most adequately reflects the view of the electorate. To suggest, as the article does, that this means that the Communist Party would be prepared, either itself to enter into coalition alliances with other parties hostile to socialism, or to encourage the Labour Party to do so, is a gross distortion.
Left
Ken Livingstone says, I'm not opposed to proportional representation in principle...........', but then distorted version of why come Com- state completely munist Party is not only 'not opposed to proportional representation, but is actively and deeply committed to
We in fact specifically argue in our programme the British Road to Socialism* inal proportional resentation 'would not only Britain's electoral system much more democratic, but it would create more favourable conditions for uniting the left and achieving Labour/Communist unity.
It therefore, yet a further distortion to suggest that the Communist Party would 'line up with the social democrats against the left wing of the Labour Party' as the article says.
As the Communist Party argues in its programme, the British Road to Socialism, 'It is clear, however, that if these movements and their struggles proceed in isolation from each other, they can do no more than challenge the position of the ruling class on a series of different issues, and overal dominaton. they are isolated from the labour movement, not VIlL will themselves suffer from the lack of its support, but the working class will be unable to fulfil its role of the leading force in society?
Mass
The Communist Party takes the view that the conscious construction of alliances between the labour move-
and democratic movements is also necessary because, in the process of such alliances being forged, the labour movement will become increasingly aware that the struggle against class oppression extends far beyond the workplace and embraces strata beyond the working class b — a concept dimly hinted at, albeit in rather limited fashion, in the article's last paragraph.
Through the dialectical process which will ensue in the course of this development, the labour movement will alive al a call sciousness of its role as the leading force in society, and indeed be better able to fulfil that role.
This is the basis of our principled
and Gerry Cohen approach to the concept of alliances
not some unprincipled approach based on 'coalitionism'.
With regard to the way forward for the left in the Labour Party, the Communist Party has always argued that the key is mass campaigning
into struggle around the issues of the day, alongside consistent discussion, explanation, and ideological bativeness. rep- A recurring theme of the most reWake cent meeting of the Communist Party
Executive Committee on 12 March 1983, following the setbacks of the outcome of the miners' ballot and the Bermondsey by-election, 'the battle for the hearts and minds of the working class will not be won only by initiatives from the top. has to be engaged in continuing fashion,
The Communist Party has consistently warned that the fight for left and democratic duvalice Labour Party should not be seen as more important to develop from, the fight to movement among the people.
Learn
'Palace Revolutions' in constithey tuency Labour Parties or elsewhere, which result in right wing Labour candidates being replaced, ultra-lefts or others, will not only not necessarily be helpful to Labour's
prospects. They positively harmful, the internal struggle is at the expense of. and takes precedence over. fight to take progressive policies to Lue code.
There are many in the Labour Party who have yet to learn that internal manoeuvering to win support for a particular political attitude within the Party no politics.
From this point of view, I am completely in acreement with Ker Livingstone's concluding point that What is needed is a campaigning party with radical socialist policies.
This brings me to the points made in the article about the Communist Party itself; points which I find dif-
making, when he think thất CUI® views were relevant.
1o assume that. munist candidate, Bob Gordon, got only fifty votes in Bermondsey, 'the
serious politician to draw.
bringing people by-election result.
arzucs in the which he does precisely that, was that alive and well, and living in Britain!
always by our friends, that the inlevel. '** fluence and importance of the Com-
scene is far greater than either the the votes cast for it at election times, or the size of its membership, would sugseparate mass
pointed with our small vote in Ber-
which minority parties have to con-
whelner Dy
comfort from Ken's view that 'history especially when has moved on past the British Com-
the to rejoice too soon. All the evidence suggests that history has yet to determine its own destiny, have it decided in advance by Ken Liv.
Coltimum arty does no exech the
for mass considerable, and in some cases quite decisive, influence. Class
the crucial arena of trade nice labour of the said that he didn't socialist advance. Communist Party's party is as deeply rooted in the work-
because Com- organisations.
is there for all to see'
Communist Party canvassing. Gordon McLennan, CP general secretary (centre) joins John Peck (left), national election agent and Bermondsey candidate Bob Gordon. Communist Party is dying on its feet' is an unworthy conclusion for any
In the first instance, it is most unwise to draw generalised political conclusions concerning any party, based on the experience of one particular
Ken Livingstone
"that Bermondsey was totally untypical of everything else in the recent electoral
Let me assure Ken, and all your readers, that the Communist Party is
enemies. it not
munist Party in the British political
for voung peoble
more votes, win seats, and have a
mondsey. The result underlined yet again the enormous difficulties with tend in the present British electoral
munist Party.' I would urge them not
Final, wnen
There is scarcely a major area of
Nowhere is this more so i*as =
movement struggle at the struggle for left an No other politica
ing class, or as firmly based in its
In a whole number of other vitally important arenas, the influence of the
Star.
its Communist Party is there for all to
gain positions, or any sort of sectarian advantage; it is so because we, as an
sincerely concerned to develop struggle around the great issues of the day, and to help the people to win victories
March for Jobs 1981, was initiated by the Communist Party as an important
Committee of the Labour Party were trying to resist the organisation of a People's March for Jobs this year, it was the Communists who were to the forefront in the fight to ensure it takes
Party members immersed in all the
racism and sexism, for a decent future
and the
few then members of our Party when it appeared to some that the left was all set to roll on to victory in the
that there was no longer any need for a Communist
have been shattered for many, as a result of the way in which the right
tenaciously fought back, and indeed
almost wholly under the control of
left argued that the traditional link
Labour Party should be was the Communists who abore ad resisted this view, and argeed that the tribution that the Communist Party has made over the years, and continues to make, is to maintain in existence a national daily newspaper —
Socialist Action 15 April 1983 13
The Morning Star is owned by a Co-operative Society, the People's Press Printing Society, whose members meet annually to elect Management Committee. It is this Management Committee which responsible for running the Morning
It is a well known fact, however, that the PPPS has a special relation. ship with the Communist Party, and
successive Annual General Meetings over the years have reaffirmed that, while providing a platform for widely differing expressions of left and democratic opinion, the paper will express editorially the position of the Communist Party.
It is equally well known that the Morning Star could not have survived without the existence of the Communist Party itself. No other political party of the left in Britain can point to anything like this achievement. The sustaining national daily newspaper, advocating revolutionar
Britain in capitalist crisis is an ex perience unique to the Communisi Party.
There are of course many non. Communist individuals, and organisations, which have supported and will in future support, the Morn. ing Star.
There are many non-Communist donors to the Morning Star Fighting Fund; and more will be welcome. There are many non-Communis shareholders in the PPPS; and more
that the Morning Star could have sur. vived without the committment and determination of the Communist Par.
whatever problems, and there certainly are many, the Communist Party.
to make a vital contribution to British politics. Given the possible avenues of development of the political scene and given the recent experiences of the Communist Party and the Morn ing Star, the pointers are that that
tradiction that, in the face of attack on so many different fronts, by one of
HUSL government Britain has seen this century, there has not been the massive revulsion
Toryism one might have ex-
you consider that Britain is ruled by a capitalist class that is still enormously
and incomparably resilient. No ruling class anywhere in the world is more
of coercion and consent to provide the medicine by which it maintains itself
tragic pre-occupation of the left with its self flagellation, tending to frag
represent and distort either the views. or the condition, of what is probably the most effectively organised unit for the generation of Marxist ideas in the British labour and democratic nore.
Dira Communis Per
227227
Both the above are available from te
• Next week Vladimer Derer of the
Page 14 scan of this page
Union democracy and the block vote
14 FOLLOWING the conference Broad Left Organising Committee on 19 February this year, the Organising Committee met on 26 March. paign on union democracy and the block vote. discussion at the forthcoming union conferences. The Committee decided to call a further conference in November 1983.
THE RANK-AND-FILE of the trade union movement will be looking keenly toward the defeat of the Tories at the general election. It is us who have suffered directly the blows directed by this reactionary
plementing socialist policies based on Labour Party
unemployment and take the economy forward.
the first step to fundamentally changing society in a socialist direction. But will the agreed policies by imdisarmament, withdrawal from the EEC, free col-
the rank and file of the trade unions must be fully vigilant, exerting constant pressure on the trade union leaders so that they in turn apply the necessary influence to ensure policies which will defend and advance the interests of working people are carried
Trade union democracy
Greater efforts must be made to further democratise the unions by union members alone and
PICKET
LINE
Sheffield
occupation
ENGINEERING
workers at Firth Derihon
Sheffield have been
occu 1 April.
For the
past two and a half years,
the workforce has been
short time
sometimes only two days
a week.
You'd have thought
the company is
everyone's dream in
Thatcher's Britain
good profits and
satisfactory order book.
The company have a 40
per cent annual rate of
profit, that's an average Aluminium picket
ELEVEN HUNDRED
workers at ite
aluminium works at
Rogerstone Ical
Newport, South Wales
have been on strike for
three weeks.
Following a merger
of Alcan and the British
Company,
management brought
350
redundancies
Christmas, the plant to
work per Cell
capacity and hiring of
countrallors for
various skilled jobs.
workforce op-
pose the use of contrac-
Socialist Action 15 April 1983
organised by the
This meeting decided to launch a vigorous cam-
The meeting issued the following statement for Only a Labour government committed to im-
The party's policy if fully implemented could be
have been blurred and
To prevent further erosion of conference policy The question arises how can the rank and file ex-
They are our organisations. we have the right to determine the methods by which accountability VOCLICOD. and democracy can be best
achieved. However, these methods have give membership control.
But workers don't The employers decided to close the shops to enforce
The 80
Wing, Electrical Building unions
• Messages of support and donations:
Michie, 21 Mather Rd, Littledale, Sheffield S9.
Cheques payable to *Firth Derihon (Tinsley)
Joint Works Committee'
tors and demand enhanced redundancy pay. The the attempt to replace 'first in out' with selective redundancies. This sparked off the strike by workforce known as moderate.
They see this as an attack on jobs, rights and return to hire and fire conditions of the 1930's.
Engineering union convenor Harry Jones explains If they get away with this, there no point having a union,
The block vote
The block vote provides a target for hostile criticism of the trade union move-
Much this criticism aimed fragmenting our collective decision making but
doubt ci cales
trade unionists.
We believe that the organised working class,
maintain and develop its
and this should be reflected on the Dasis each strength. As in all other
there must be uniformity and unity in action casting the votes which reflect each union's Savour either ab listing strength. We are or splitting the block vote (on proportional lines) as some have suggested.
The block vote, rank and file democracy
However, the casting of the vote tol policies and TUC and LP executives is often done with little in. volvement of the mass of
movement. Quite OUL often these vital decisions
are taken by a few ofmcials. subsequently evel. these decisions and how and wny uney were made are rarely reported back to
Asian
workers
TWO spin-
ners at Aire Valley
Yarns, near
new
shop was vic-
timised.
The have the
recently
TGWU protect
themselves from
official.
The workers,
mostly Bradford
to: Lia-
quot Ali, fund
Dirkhill Street Horton Road. messenger service* apart
The pickets have
found an ingenious way
of getting around the si icket rule. Up to 900 at
tend the mass 'informa-
tion meeting' held each
morning as office staff
and foremen go into
work
(Paul Eynon and Roger
Phillips)
PICKET LINES.
150 word reports by
Thursday before
publication. Longer
contact
Editorial Board by Mon-
daly week before
publication.
the respective unions. This should and must be changed.
The block vote should be the reason and basis for involving trade union members the highest aspect of industrial, politica and leadership questions via the organisa(Ors unions themselves.
following
Union to TUC
Conhalt lay
size up of delegations.
should rights, eg vole the
and on the There
conference
policy). their
3. Al and elec-
debated within each delegation.
ion meetings at the TU(
Party CUI" ferences themselves are in adequate. Extra meetings during the year to discuss the union's propositions and nominations should
Brent St, Hendon NW4.
also be held and decisions collectively taken by all the delegation unless the union's conference has already passed own judgement.
5. Decisions taken should fully reflect the conference decisions.
6. Minutes should be taken at delegation meetings and approved by them. Where
delegate wishes, the voting record on propositions and elections should also minuted. The minutes to be circulated in union journals or a special report. 7. Minority reports should be allowed to be circulated alongside majority reports. Both minority and majority should be allow. ed to justify their points of view. There should be extensive but interesting and debate provoking reports.
At a time of intense crisis more time to discuss Grosvenor House pickets outside industrial tribunal on 30 March. Support to GMBATU, Thorne House, 154
TUC and Labour Party reports at ferences become vital. The pitiful times allowed
rank and file Ove Seperate TUC and Labour Party delegate written
redorts honferences for
conferences for discussion and ratification. Tud Nominations to the
and Labour Party
UNIONS
executives should be apby union conferences where possible. Conterence should be allowed to express disap proval of other nominations. In particular now that most nominations to the TUC General Council are direct from individual unions and that this body represents the léadership of the trade union movement, elections for the nomination in each union should take place. After all, the who is elected is now only respon-
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARKLANEUO
SACKED!
FOM ASKING FOR A CONTRACT OF EMPLDYMEN
In the Unions
sible directly to the nominating union.
10. Minutes with voting recorded patterns of the TUC Council and Labour Party NEC on important issues should be cirulated to each union.
11. The terms of delegations should last until fresh elections are held.
12. The 'leader' of each delegation should elected by the delegation.
13. At regional level (for regional conferences)
deinations selected by
pointed selected undemocratic practices.
geneve that they should be elected and the
democratic procedures refered to above be applied.
Some or all of the above ideas feature in
unions. they do not. Individual rules may have be changed if they are to be accomodated other unions the rules may be
and allow undemocratic practices to flourish. In such cases codes of conduct could be adopted phe wilingness rule changes. The of leaders to so self-reform their sincerity and inten tion to maximise rank and file involvement.
For further Philormatolt contact: Holl Secretary BLOC, 108
Blvd, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside.
Page 15 scan of this page
News
IT IS as well that there are few Tory votes north of the border. Nothing much is risked when Tory in-
example of the regeneration possible in British in-
the North East (not to mention Northern Ireland).
rate of Britain because
been
has all but croaked.
LAST FRIDAY at
9pт, 100 Timex
workers stormed the
Milton Plant in
Dundee as they began
an occupation to save
their jobs. Works con-
venor Gordon Samson
said that all
possibilities of saving
the 197 jobs due to go
because of the redun-
dancies decided by Photo: MORNING STAR management 'have
been exhausted'.
The Milton complex
with the largest auto-
SCreW department
Europe contains
somewhere between £40
and €60 million which
makes particularly
vulnerable to the tactic
of occunation.
The decision to oc-
meeting of 700 workers
WHIU know " that
20,000 other Dundee
workers already on the
dole their chances of get-
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
Grand race,
grand profits
SAVING the Grand Na-
tional has now become a
national industry. Prince
Charles made an impas-
sioned plea for you and
me to dig into our
pockets and stump
towards the f4½ million
needed to keep the race
going.
Another two nobles
wno nave been working
hard to screw money ou
ПРАТАПОЛАРОН
Derby.
You remember Lord
Vesty? He's the guy with
all those millions who
Scotland on the edge
dustry spokespersons put up Scotland as a shining
True Scotland has fared less badly in the recent recession than the West Midlands and some parts of
Scotland's industrial story
not the product of its
lila
contradictory elements of
economy alre
IOUS
more like one fifth (con-
Brain
WE WLLFGTM
FORTHE ROT
TO WOR
ting another job are at
best remote and at worst
near impossible.
Deputy convenor
John Kydd says: 'We are
occupying for the right
to work and we won't be
leaving until we have a
generally manages to pay
zero tax.
Lord Derby scrapes a
living by being one of
Britain's wealthiest land-
owners.
Charles also has a few
bob, which you the
great unwashed public
cough up anyway.
Others dead keen to
keep the National going
because of its great tradi-
don are ine Dookmakers
who traditionally make a
fron the
Lace.
This year they and
their helpers loaded up
manufacturing jobs have disappeared.
Productivity . In Scottish industry has been consistently higher than in Britain as a whole for several
BIlL Dy ine ena of with o dutient running. cent above British Gustna oulour was so oc cent lower than during the time of the three day week. In the early seventies manufacturing accounted for some per cent Scotland's income. Today It is zu per cell.
The only areas of employment growth Scotland the last few years have been in the oil industries (now levelling
65,000); electronics Vul a (40,000); financing and
services. Less than 20,000 work in steel, less than 10,000 shipbuilding.
What's left of basic industry is weaker than its • UK counterpart. It is more dependent on exporting
Occupation at Timex
negotiated settlement.'
The Labour controlled
Dundee District Council
showed that Labour -councillors can and
should do other things
than put up rents and cut
back education.
tills
the are the
owners. and
jockeys. has
racing a
Calle but 18 races
Call WIll prize
money above
and collect
£16,112,
wno this year's
winner,
all
know
days, the money
should
keep the
MFI
firm Ed-
ward Haig
the Sun
newspaper.
and the Sun has
and 30 per cent more likely to be branches of multina. tionals which can easily be withdrawn.
100,000 Scottish workers now work for multinationals, and 60 per cent of Scottish income is dependent on exports. The economy absolutely dominated bv oil and oil related industry. Its inser-
capitalist market makes it part of the process taking place in the British economy as a whole. In Scotland they are carried through to their logical Concusoe
Upswing
What's happening to the Scottish economy makes clear that the latest econom upswing unlikely to do much for jobs. Mr. James Goold chair of the Scottish CBI according to the Glasgow Herald of 28 March, says that the recovery is being
LOCCUPATION
RETENTION
OFWATCH
INDUSTRY
magnificent gesture of solidarity
has voted £10,000 to the workers' fighting fund which is an excellent way to use public funds. The AEUW executive council has already given official
make horses It has
advertising and free publicity
body that should be anxious to
is Every punter • 4½ per of their stake ple.
trom them BLUR
the who
figure they have tidy minds you
wealth, bookies, owners, and commercial firms, discreetly by
are not Come humble
we all
led by (high technology industries. This will inthployment but would nothing down stimulate growth in the
racet is no he al
grace ministered to what is left of the battered industry of the Clyde. The bottom line of Scottish heavy industry, outside the pits (one tenth of their 1950 size) are the remaining shipyards Scott Lithgow and Govan
marked to loose 2000 now and 1000 jobs respectively and the Ravenscraig steelworks, where 4300 jobs are at risk.
Plans are well underway to turn une nignt in these plants to save jobs into a Scottish-wide jobs fight
The initiative is nOW with the Scottish TUC, which must develop a plan of action which can save the Scottish working class from the misery and poverty of the dole queue.
I0 WIN
support.
This determination not to take any LOTt redundancies could show the way across Scotland and herald a real fight back against the dole
Being misunderstood
awrul when
know you are misunder-
stood, particularly when
you are getting paid for
people
your government suffers
only from
tionshe US ambassador
to Ireland, Mr Peter
Dailey, thinks the casé of
the American govern
ment is misunderstood
Being bright and
perceptive chap he says current of distrust of US ne detects an under-
policies among Europe's
youth.
That must have taken
a lot of working out
industries.
US Ambassador Dailey, a much 'misunderstood' man.
because I thought all those demonstrations in Europe against nukes and the election of the Greens to the German parliament was caused by a small group subversives.
some strange reason, well Mr Dailey thinks it's strange, Europeans do not fancy the plans of the Pentagon for a limited nuclear war. They thin LnuS that the US government walls to restrict the shoot-out to Europe.
What they don't realise is that Europe has been given the honour of
Socialist Action 15 April 1983 15 Scottish economy is dominated by oil and oil related
the defend Christianity No wonder
jobs has persuade British
coming are If a the USSR
estimate
would 300 bombs, 220 megatons which would than
of
Mr Dailey GOes pussess
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Page 16 scan of this page
Kill the Bill!
Workers assemble for Wednesday's mass meeting AT MASS MEETING last Wednesday, 5000 workers at BL Cowley voted by 8 to 1 to stay on strike. This decision followed a unanimous recommendation by the shop stewards to reject management's peace' formula.
In a letter sent to the homes of al emplovees management said the 6 minutes a dar washing up time would be phased out by 6 May, and that a return to basis would mean speedy IndECIDI audited plant status.
The retter claimed this would mean an increase In possible bonus earnings from £18.75 to £30 per
WECK.
This is a worse deal than the loss of the minutes. APS means demanning 243 workers would go in exchange for the increase in
spaper with the Post Office.
Pablished by Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London N1. Priated By East End Offset (TU) Ltd, London E2.
SOCiALiSt
ACTION
BL workers reject
management's
'peace formula'
The shop stewards recommendation con-
rained four points. First,
rejection management's offer. Second, a campaign by the stewards and local union
be made official by AUEW T&GWU leadership. Third, all let-
threats sent by managedirect to should be dealt with through the unions.
Fourth, a further mass meeting to be held on Thursday 14 April.
By a Cowley worker
Management are trying to break the strike and divide the workforce, by encouraging workers to go back.
They are unlikely to succeed.
But we need to guard being sold out by the leaders of Over the weekend there were secret talks between national AULW and T&GWU leaders and BL
management. As yet, we don't know the outcome but going by the past
of like Duffy and Todd we have no reason to be contident.
We also need solidarity from other workers, particularly those in car and related industries, and from the labour movement general.
If we can win support from the wider labour movement especially public backing from
abour's leaders, the leaders of our union will find it more difficult to sell us out.
Oxford Trades Council and the local Young Socialists have organiser a rany to win une focal labour movement to support the Cowley strikers.
call made by Oxford LPYS delegates the recent national LPYS
10I from union, Labour Party and LPYS branches country-wide, WIll also help win the support of the labour movement naconally.
TELECOMS
(POEU London West Branch)
MEMBERS OF the Post Office Engineering Union at the Bank of England and Whitehall Repair Service Control are on official strike against government plans to privatise British Telecom.
further 22 telephone repair staff.
This action against the Telecommunications Bill and the blacking of the imminent interconnection of Project Mercury, the plan-
ousness only letwork, with the BT network has the government worried.
The Observer reported that Sir George Jefferson the BT Chairman, and Kenneth Baker, the Industry Minister, have had to cancel a sales trip to India to take personal I charge of fighting the union.
Bryan Stanley, the CLICIO of the POEU, called the suspens ion an act of grave pro vocation aimed at escalating the action.
He said that the union would be considering what retaliatory action was ap-
Operators the South Bank Exchange members of the Union Communication Worker: refused to deal with calls
faults in the Whitehall area.
Faults
Members of the POEU working at the Post Office Tower refused to test faults on w nitenall Ines going through the Tower.
None of them suspended
Colin Talbot, secretary of the POEU Westminster
savs that morale suspensed start ars. the suspended the TESTOT strong "branch is 'very good and very solid. The branch has
JOBS
Ý CHAN
PETER KENNARD's
montage in last
weeks SA came from
this excellent 72
page pamphlet from
the GLC, County
Hall, London SE1.
Price 90p
Management have retaliated by suspending a
been waiting since 20 October 1982 day of action for something to happen and now things are galvanising quite quickly.
messagha of ste a bot
ot message. from branches from around the • country now that the industrial action is 'underway, and we expect a lot more
The objective of the action against the Telecommunications is to Kill the Bill. While we •o-t Deueve ma moe m dustrial action by itself will
think. inLIaL dustrial action is an essential ingredient of the campaign to stop British Telecom being sold off into private hands.'
The right-wing dominated NEC's unanimous decision to call for industrial action is THADOR previous emphasis on parliamentary opposition plus electing a Labour government to stop the sale going ahead.
Pressure has mounted from moderate branches in the union especially threatened rural areas because BT has started to reorganise itself into 'profit centres prior denationalisation. Profit
Trunk and interna. tional calls currently make most of BT's profit. This pressure has added to the union's Broad Left's cam-
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paign for industrial action convince NEC moderates of the need to act 'As far as the next steps are concerned the policy of mv branch remains that we should be taking decisive activil both atalist the government and against the financial institutions 'We have the power in central London to have. a
grose institutions on said
institutions, said Talbot.
Westminster Branch has Cared DEANCI neeting in work time nex vy cancsuay to show unos that are taking industrial action that they have full backing.
Speakers include Tony
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Benn and Stan Orme, the Labour Shadow industry minister.
Talbot says: 'We've invited them to make the point that we have to in volve ourselves in the political process to defeat the Bill
'Campaigning and taking selective industrial action now will mean that if haven't already 'defeated the Bill it will be a central issue in the general election. 'People will be clear that only a vote for the _LADOUT Party will ensure that Telecom remains publicly-owned corporation.
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