In his interview on the Socialist Teachers Alliance (Red Weekly, 2 December) Bernard hecan rect tor action and attacks the IS-led Rank & or maso auton as the democratic bodies centrall sine to see Logies Al London Alowance campaign).
However, whilst accusing R&F of not seeing the difference between organising the left in the union and organising the mass of attacks hecan appears to see ine difference as one of the left constructing organisational forms for the somehow spontaneous action of the masses to be channelled InTO He sees the role of the left solely as Cam Daenne of union members tor against the Governhere, and was glowed or matter is missed conference, is the need for socialists to provide a political lead to he fight against Government pol* The role of STA is not merely to service and extend actions already taking place, OUT TO snape give dire only be done e organis direction to those actions. ing around a political and it is the formulation FUNNY THINGS are happening to Red Ladder. From being the most effective political group in Britain - surely a desscription earned through their excellent productions The National Cake, A womans work Is rever Done, and It Makes Yer Sick latest oriening, Sweating?, marks a distinct step backwards Conceived as a piece of popular theatre', to be played in pubs working men's clubs and commutheme but consists of a series of self-contained sketches, songs and monologues. These vary from the highly amusing, if apolitical, to the downright dubious — particularly those touching on the position of women in the home.
Scattered about were the odd gems, such as Leon Rosselson's anti-marriage song and a chorus pastiche on 'A Farmer's Boy'.
However, it is difficult to see what Ked Ladder tnink inis uneven production will achieve except as a vaguely political, directionless entertainment. Their usual skill and inventiveness is again in evidence comrades refused to take up at the Open Conference What is missing from comrade Regan's interview is an admission to of the nees to ouric a rank and nid movement in the teachers union which, to have any ongoing fightInne arounea ramme. imply that it is possible to bypass of teachers (permanently?) to an oreanisation merely by onto develooine posing unclear and inadequate demands in a vain attempt to win over large numbers ting anybody.
TEACHERS.
• We agree with the comrades of the ICL that the role of the STA i not merer to service ano extend actions already taking place, but to shape and give direction by saving that the STA needs a programme for action wnien can present an alternative to the Social Contract programme of the buranu forcing acceptance such policies as the sliding scale of wages at the first Open Confer'RED' wears off popularity. For example, past productions were mainly seen as a stimulus and aid to working class struggle, particularly through discussions following the shows.
Such a feedback and debate was an integral part of their dramatic process. But Anybody Sweating? Anybody could in no way contribute to the of working dever ooment action or act as a focus for vitally needed discussion.
What then has central stressing their need to play to mass working class audiences than the maligned theatre circuit, accommodated to prejudices and weaknesses of that audience. The social composition of the audience has become an end in itself, reflecting a very workerist' and uncritical stance.
A strengin or Inel work was the way in which they took assumptions ideology and skilfully undermined and destroyca tem process of dramatic confrontation.
In this play those assumptions, for example on the position of women, Inoroven needs to have over policies, in the course of its campaigns and at the the STA porcies dietu purely Tormar victory ton union nolicies at ine sLopen Lonel Hence could only have obscured the progsort of should be fighting for. secondly, difference uncerles ments of the comrades.
and of an adequate programme was by no means the only problem with IS INTERATON saw seir as a movement which itself could organise the mass of LEAGUE teachers against the bureaucracy we see the ST union oreanisio amongst the mass of union bers politically independent of the bureaucracy task of the STA is 'campaigning we do amongst the mass or umon men lems simply bers for united action against the Government's equate programme this, but had R & Fhad the bes programme in the word, becaus of its orientation it of have been incapable of meaningully confronting the bureaucrac in me union that if the comrades those won those which the STA La deeper com