working class.
*There was Labour's defeat at Stechford - a massive abstention by some Labour voters and a switch to right-wing Tory Mackay by others. Brons, the fascist candidate, got an eight DCICCIL VOLC The only ray of hope was the 871 votes cast for mass action against the Social Contract and the beginning of the self-organisation of the Asian workers against racism.
*The 3 April conference called by the Leyland shop stewards expressed anger in the working class. The 1700 delegates called for a day of action and a mass lobby on 20 April. But the rank and file leadership, particularly the left Labourites and the Communist Party, refused even to support the Port Talbot steelworkers, let alone to fight in the trade union movement against the leaders who are scurrying to complete yet another agreement on pay policy. Both events show the need for alternative policies to the Social Contrick:
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LETTER FROM TARIQ ALI TO PAUL FOOT LESSONS OF STECHFORD BY-ELECTION TWO EVENTS in the last fortnight have summed up the choices for the British *On wages - Noto any form of pay policy. Flat rate increases would compensate effects of Phases Automatic compensation price rises, worked out by the unions themselves, would keep wages up with inflation in the A national minimum wage of f50 and immediate equal pay for women would protect the lower paid workers. *On cuts — A programme of useful public WORKS provide jobs for the unemployed and restore and expand the dwindling public services. spending on the social services must rise to keep pace with inflation. * On jobs -should beshared out between all workers with no loss of pay. The bosses of firms creating redundancies must be made to open their books to the workers. This prepares Way Disgruntled British Leyland worker buttonholes Labourcandidate Terry Davis in Stechford.
nationalisation of these firms and industries under workers for control, guaranteeing jobs for 1 and 2. for These alternative mean the fight for an alternative leadership in the labour movepolicies ment - an opposition to the present leaders which fights for socialist policies and the unity of the working class against attacks on its living standards.
That should be the answer to Stechford, the capitalist budget 'new deal' around Phase 3. It isthe only alternative to the return of the Tories That's the choice. A Tory Government would mean more cuts in living standards, Jobs and social services. A fight for