*the most rigorous and Draft for discussion the latter and the decline of the They will be unsure of the many references to 'socialist revolution in the dratt and confused as to whether this marks a real change of line based on the lessons the last years. They will give the debate in the pages of Comment and the Morning Star the credib ility which the CPB claims for it.
So, over the next few weeks, Red Weekly will be taking up some of the central ideas of the draft. A critique of the CP's attitude towards Parliament, on the strug gle for women's liberation, on the Labour Party and trade unions, on the transition to socialism is vital to the elaboration of a revolutionary strategy Red Weekly will be making its own contribution on these and questions, and we
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS will take presidential majority: the Gaullist place throughout France on 17 March. Jacques Chirac and President Valéry These elections are especially import- Giscard d'Estaing. The only solution ant this year and will serve as the workers parties are offering in the political test of the state of face of the government's austerity confrontation between the right and plan and the growing discontent of the left parties, latter grouped the workers is to patiently wait for the behind the Common Programme results of the municipal elections and the Union de la Gauche [Union of the then, above all, for the results of the bloc composed parlamentary erections in 18ro Socialist Party, the Communist Party, To the great mass of workers the and Left Radical politicians. Union de la Gauche appears as The right has been in a minority only credible alternative. It is in this since last cantonal elections, context that three revolutionary org which were held in March 1976. The anisations - the Ligue Communiste political crisis is intensifying day by Revolutionnaire [LCR Revolutionday and has now led to a break ary Communist League, French Secbetween the two components of the tion of the Fourth International], Lutte THE ECONOMIC CRISIS which has VC TOSSIS obstacles in one another's lasted for two years now, far from moving paths, trying to trip one another up. With towaros reso union. is insicad zerune worse the creation of the RPR (Rassemblement Inflation has scarcely slowed down, despite pour la Republique Rally for the Republic, the new Gaullist organisation), for three months. Unemployment is spread- portion of is seeking ing. nousanas orlay-ons are sul beig the means through which to evade responst announced, in the steel industry for ex- bility for the economic crisis and the policy of the government: it is preparing The employers are openly and cynically alternative. demandine the right to lay off whomever There is a constant possibility of a they want. It may be that in the coming political crisis which could lead at any months the number of unemploved in the moment to a government crisis, dissolution country will no longer be one million — a of parliament, and the calling of early legislative elections, even if neither Giscard, figure that appeared enormous two or three years ago, but has been a reality for a year nor the major right-wing politicicans, nor and a half now - but two million. Through even Chirac wants it. In face of such an the Barre plan, the present government has anti-working class offensive, the defence of thrown its full weight into the balance to the most immediate interests of the working make the workers pay for the crisis. It has class and the popular masses requires a openly given employers the green light to united response of all the workers, who lay workers off. It has decreed a wage must counterpose their demands to the freeze for the coming year. And, setting an claims of the austerity plan of the employexample itself, it has annulled the so-called ers and the government. All the organisacontracts for progress which had more or tions and all militants concerned about the less guaranteed that wages in the public and derence or une interesis of ine workers nationalised sectors would follow rising should take part in such a response: prices, although with much delay. • Against the spread of unemployment, Nevertheless the government we say no to lay-offs. We demand jobs for president of the republic himself are facing all inrougn a massive reducnon in te worke increasing dissent, and even discredit. This week (to 35 hours) and an increase in the Is true even winin tne ruing majonty. ne num Der or workers. resignation of former Prime Minister • Against factory shutdowns, we demand Jacques Cnirac was a good mustanon or that not a single worker be laid off. not a this. The various formations of the majori- single factory closed, maintenance of all Ouvrière [Workers Struggle] Organisation Communiste des Travailleurs [OCT - Communist Workers Organisation] - have just signed a 'pact of alliance', the text of which we are publishing below.
This pact should enable revolutionaries for the first time to present in a united manner an alternative to the policy of the parties net caim legiance to the Common Programme. The accord was concluded on clear bases: first, unequivocal denunciation oi me common rooramme soro gramme of class collaboration which places itself within the framework o bourgeois institutions; second, a call for the centralisation of struggles jobs. When private employers prove incapable or guaranteeing ine Jobs or un workers, we demand the nationalisation of the enterprise by the state with no compensation and no resale to the capitalists, under conditions imposed and controlled by the workers.
• We reject the wage freeze and the cancellation of wage gains:
- maintenance or purcasing power, not on the basis of the index of the government, but on the basis of indices worked out b the workers and the trade union organisa- substantial and across-the-board wage increases (of at least 300 francs a month);
- no wages less than 2,300 francs a • We reject the challenging of the social gains that have been won: for the elimination of personal charges, extension of social security, free health care • We refuse to let our struggles be broken and our organisations repressed by the official or parallel police and the judicial system of the regime and the employers: for workers self-defence.
Fearful of being carried into the government on the basis of a workers mobilisation for their demands, the Communist and Socialist parties, with the support of the leaderships of the union federations stead of assembling the workers and thei allies in action around such a platform and against the consequences of the crisis and against the austerity plan around a platform of unifying demands; third an initiative of unity toward the CP and SP, which is concretized in a call for a vote for their candidates on the second round of elections. [French elections are held in two rounas. ir no canaldate tor a giver post wins an absolute majority on the first round, a run-off is held between two candidates in a second round.
•oe sure. many aisagreements continue to exist among these three been achieved will not fail to generate the European far left as a whole.
translation by imprecor the present government, are trying to limit and control the workers response. They are essentially devoted to preparing for parliamentary majority in the framework of the electoral calendar defined by Giscard, if possible without any popular mobilisation The leaderships of the CGT (Confédération Génerale du Travail - - Genera conredera tion of Labour) and the CFDT (Confédératon Francaise et Democranque au travai French Democratic Confederation of Labour) are organising days of action but at the same time they are preventing any real They back down before any test of strength witt une reame The CP and the SP are allying themselves with the Left Radicals: they are extendins VOS their hand to the left Gaullists. And above all, they are preparing to govern along with Giscard, with full respeci for the constitution of 1958. They commit themselves to administering the profit economy; they are thus prepared. once they enter the govern ment, to impose on the working class and the other toiling layers the austerity policy that the right is having difficulty imposing today The workers must make no mistake. The Common Programme offers no way out of Ine CrIss.Tor alloW eliminating the system that causes the crisis.
(Union of the Left) represents neither workers power nor 'the road to socialism".