People's Press Printing The faction led by Communist exGuardian been — as at various times have Tribune, and should put into effect its The British Road to We think, however, that it will lack CPGB committed to Marxism But If the would follow like That particular brand of Com'class against class' ultra-left lunacy the needs of the and probably, the split over the will speed up this desirable procontributors do not necessarily repreThese are expressed in LIKE EVERY major struggle the miners strike has clarified the nature of the forces in British politics. JOHN ROSS looks at some of the lessons so far.
had far bigger goals in mind than the rationalisation of the mining industry. She intended to thur Scargill and the left wing of the NUM and thereby permanently forces in the trade union movement.
Remember the immediate background to the dispute. In December the TL C directly sabotaged the NuA siruggie wan Ladie Shah. It was the first time government peeit able to successfully impose the 1927 Trades Dispute Len Murray's open sabotage of the NGA, his famous 'Black Monday' disavowal of the decision to support the NGA by the Employment Committee or lne ill was tne nign point of the 'new realism If Scargill and the L M left could be crushed then the shift to the right inside the TUC be made structural and irreversible.
No matter what the the Thatcher has already lost that battle. The right wing of the NUM executive collapsed like pricked balloons at every key turning point. Arthur Scargill the NUM left have established a political hold over the 80 per cent of the miners who are on strike which is not going to be broken.
Instead of Scargill beDo my eye leceive me:
Look... through that window... When Thatcher provoked the miners strike she smash Arshift the entire relation of ing crushed it is the TUC centre which has collapsed under the impact of the and GCHQ — a collapse dramatically symbolised by Len Murray's resignation.
Basnett and Alan Tuffin, pillars of the lud tre', were forced to initiate TUC'S withdrawal from NEDDY.
the 1C w realist right - • on the conthe EEPTU is more rapidly signing 'no strike' the AUEW has broken TUC Licht launcy for ballots. But for the moment the most open 'new realists' have been put in the minority.
The miners' strike has shown clearly the conditions in the struggle have shifted since the strikes of 1972 1974. There has not been working solidarity as in the early 1970s — solidarity has had to be much more conDo I see three constables of our wonderful British police force assault. ing a defenceless picketing miner? sciously organised. would have been inconceivable that key miners leader like Malcolm Pitt could have been held prison without reaction in 1972 or for more than two weeks.
Indeed one of Thatcher's big gains in this strike has been the abiliti to use a level of repression difwhich is or a quite ferent order to the earl! 1970s — and one the working class movement is not yet equipped to confront. use as or been able to utilise the Tebbit laws against the NUM.
The miners' strike has not overturn. ed. the existing relation of forces between the classes Thatcher not strong enough impose the crushing defeat NUM and trade union left she wanted. NUM, and trade union left, is not strong enough smash through the government's policies in perhaps the way Arthur Scargill expected. We continue long bruising war of attrition between the classes.
Sharply But the miners' strike has confirmed the relation of forces between the classes it has sharply shifted them within the labour movement to the advantage of the left. Twelve weeks ago, radio says about it..
when the Cared were the first signs of trouble in well SHOCK, reall with the is true. very great opposiport Liverpool But this was wise Isouc Divide But the miners is something else. drawn a real line of divide berween ninnock and ver.
large of Parti file. It has been Arthur Scaroil and oni Benn who have been the trade union and Labour Party Neil prestige floundering done resolutions.
More ternal of Neil project. There onli two colerent that right. To the distance the To LUTE miners coalition the Let's hear what the Today a miner was charged with assault after he he had attacked chree... Labour Party and the The second coherent alternative that ad. vocated by Arthur Scargill Tony Benn: to turn the Labour Party sharply lo le elt ana place ll al the head of all the mass struggles against ThatCher The line of Kinnock the line of 'I support the miner our i back te rigal in demanding a ballot, 1 support me strongly condemn violent coherence nor credibility. Kinnock has found him. self squeezed between lef and right.
Inspired And as for the Labour left the miners strike has given it a coherence not seen since Tony Benn's deputy leadership cam paign. The struggle waged by the NUM has inspired the entire trade union and labour movement left. The greatest ovation this year's Labour Party conference would not be for Veil Kinnock or even for Tony Benn. It will be for the NUM representatives • and not as individual but for the tens of thousands of miners whe have revived and inspired the labour movement.
The outcome of that will last far ever than the details of the final settlement itself ° GORMAC well, gee whiz!
That's a relief My eyes aid déceive me!
Yeah... sure
Socialist Action 8 June 1984
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Che A PIECE
Realists Thrive of wae stops