The NUS conference in Exeter last week came a the end of six months of struggle in the colThe demonstrations, rents strikes and occupations of the grants campaign have been met with writs, threats of eviction and victimications by the college authorities. The NUS leadership had not worked out a line to deal with these counter attacks and at the conference this lack of perspectives was beginning to be felt even by the militants in the colleges. The NUS conference in Exeter last week came at the end of six months of struggle in the colleges. The demonstrations, rents strikes and occupations of the grants campaign have been met with writs, threats of eviction and victimisations by the college authorities. The NUS leadership had not worked out a line to deal with these counter attacks and at the conference this lack of perspectives was beginning to be felt even by the militants in the colleges. This disillusion with the Communist Party-led Executive's strategy was most clearly expressed in the election of John Randall as president. This election of a candidate who was bäcked by the right represents a set-back. Randall as an individual is no worse than the CP-backed candidate, Terry, but his victory will encourage the right and demoralise sections of the left. A victory for Terry would have been seen by militants in the colleges as confirming left domination of the NUS and would have encouraged the development of struggles in the colleges. The IMG therefore considers that the IS group made a serious political mistake by not SUBSCRIBE!
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calling on supporters of their candidate to vote for Terry against Randall.
THE GRANTS CAMPAIGN On the central question facing the conference, the grants campaign, the key immediate problem is now how to fight the repression. If this cannot be done it is going to be impossible to carry the campaign forward. One thing which was immediately clear is that reliance on a good press", winning over MPs and fostering 'good relations" with Vice Chancellors is no way forward. The CP-led NUS Executive has failed to work out any alternative strategy however.
On the national level their main response has been to produce a document entitled "Legal opinion for the NUS", which laid out the many ways the Vice-Chancellors could attack the rent strikers, and the particular techniques of legal repression they could and would use.
But they have failed to provide a strategy for fighting these attacks. When forced to come off the fence the Executive's answer to colleges on rent strike threatened with legal action was to pay up, minus the increases in rent. But this will only encourage the Vice-Chancellors to mount a fresh assault to regain the outstanding monies.
IM's perspective was that the conference had to work out a plan of action against the repression which would clearly recognise who the campaign's real allies were and work to gain their support. This meant forging links with the working class, themselves the object of a series of political attacks at the hands of the governI would like to subscribe to Red Weekly for 1 year/6 months. Rates: f4 per year, £2 for six months / Foreign: E6 per year, £9 airmail. I enclose P.O./cheque (made out to "Red Weekly").
I would also suggest that you send a sample copy to the following: An immediate perspective was advanced of making May Ist a day of mass activity among students, of occupations where possible, teach-ins with local labour movement speakers. strikes and participation in local working class rallies wherever this was possible.
UNITY IN ACTION When the question of unity of the left was raised at a broad left caucus' initiated by the CP, the IMG argued for unity in action - especially in cases of repression such as the Shrewsbury building workers case. It is only on the basis of such a united fight around the immediate issues facing the students in the colleges that any longer term and more extensive unity can be built. As a first step towards tackling the repression in the colleges, the IMG proposed that the NUS take up the fight against the suspension of victimised lecturer Steve Whitley, which was agreed unanimously.
In addition the IMG initiated a call for a conference to organise the fight against repression and consider different ways of advancing the grants campaign, and this move gained the support of many delegates at the conference. It is a positive sign that the International Socialists have agreed to support and work for this conference. It is to be hoped that those arguing for unity of the left, particularly militants of the CP, will also see the importance of this conference and give it their support. Preliminary arrangements for the conference, which will take place in London over the weekend of May 12th/13th, are under way and further details will be published in our next issue.
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REQUIRED URGENTLY: Fast, accurate typist - 35 answer to the policy of the TUC, which was described in such a brutal but truthful way by Guardian writer nein harper wnen ne wrote last saturday that: "The strategy behind the TUC's tactics is to try to isolate the hospital workers from all other groups. This would make it possible for the Government to adjust an offer without fear of its being used by others in their bargaining."
CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY LEEDS POLYTECHNIC UNION SATURDAY 12th May HISTORY OF THE FAMILY Sheila Rowbotham and Linda Smith THE FAMILY UNDER CAPITALISM Margaret Coulson, Lee Sanders-Comer SUNDAY 13th May THE FAMILY IN POST-CAPITALIST SOCIETY Mana Lottus Each session will be followed by workshop discussions and plenary sessions. Final olenary session with panel of speakers and closing discussion.
Papers will be duplicated for distribution at the conference if submitted on A4 stencils by May 1st. to the daress Delow.
There will be facilities for children ( a creche) as long as we are given numbers. The conference is organised by Leeds Poly. Woren's Lib. but is aimed at all those female and male who see the importance of this subject to our political understanding.
Coaches will be organised from these areas: London: Felicity Trodd 01-340 7031 Coventry: Ann Smith 0203-58991 Manchester Vicky Anderson 061-226 3328 BeLaIs Tom. Val Jones, 69 Bagby Rd., Leeds 2 Phone: 0532-27777 FREE THE STOKE NEWINGTON 51 Demonstration