Socialist Action No. 104, 3 June 1985
The scan: 104-jun-03-1985-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
No. 104 3 June 1985 30p
SOCiAlist
ACTION
All out 16 June
Demenstrate
against
Transport from:
Birmingham:(021) 784 4156/772 3204/440 0858 Brighton: (0273) 697245 Bath:(0225) 29592 ext 63051 Cambridge: (0223) 812229 Colchester:(0206) 8163211 ext 205 Exeter:0392-219796/0392-31466 Leicester: (0533) 703036/554455
apartheid Merseyside:(051) 647 4214
University: 511773 Sheffield:(0742) 24076 ext.200/862588 Stroud:(04536) 70531 Leeds: University SU (0532) 439071 Nottingham:(0602) 472440 Coventry: (0203) 417220
Oxford:(0865) 53035/249087; Polytechnic: 250180;
Anti
Apartheid calls national
demonstration
The Anti Apartheid Movement's national committee has decided on a programme of action, ending in a national demonstration on Sunday 16 June. The theme will be an end to the police killings and a demand for the British
government to act against the apartheid regime.
black population
the growing
tion.
Two
trial for treason,
Supreme Court in July.
the repeated killings
denials.
movemeni
June.
maintaine ta test, only the thusiastic, refusal IO
clearly.
wide and
tion along unions:
BASWU, NALGO, Students, UCW, ASTMS. district
Trevor Huddleston.
solidarity resolutions
apartheid.
Stop the Massacres All Out on 16 June
THE RACIST regime in South Africa continues to terrorise the
as each day passes. Against a background of
economic and political crisis the full legal and military apparatus of the regime is being used to curb the growing opposition of the black popula-
The latest attack on the deter mination of the black masses to fight back comes this week with the jailing of an African National Congress member, Jabu Ngobese for 15 years for treason. Ngobese was accused of bringing weapons into South Africa.
black trade unionists Meriman Nduna and Zane Mapela who were accused of helping Ngobe, were each sentenced to five years. A further 27 people are still awaiting
including the 14 United Democratic Front member scheduled to appear in the National
With the continued police and military operations in the town ships,
and use of the courts to suppress the black rebellion we must redouble our efforts and show the real international solidarity that exists for the fight against apartheid. Only this week South Africa had to admit to its continued presence in Angola despite repeated public
There can be no compromise with such a murderous regime. The full weight of the labour and trade union
world-wide be brought to bear on the racist state. The best way we can do this immediately in Britain is to support the national demonstration called by the Anti Apartheid Movement on 16
Britain is involved up to its neck in support for the apartheid regime both politically and militarily. Historically, Britain has a disgraceful record in
apartheid. Thatcher is if the example of this. Her allow Ene 'Durban asylum in the British embassy and Botha's visit here last year show this
The 16 June demonstration has
important sponsorship across the labour movement including the Labour Party. The Liberal Party, SDP and Communist Party are also supporting the demonstration. The TUC has sponsored the demonstra-
with the following trade APEX, AUEW TASS, CPSA, FBU, IRSF National Union SCPC, TGWU, UCATT COHSE, NUM, ACT and addition, Edinburgh council Labour group, the British Youth Council and the British Defence Aid Fund have sponsored the march. The main speakers at the rally so far are Neil Kinnock and Bishop
All labour movement activists and those who want to see the end of the racist, apartheid state should step up
immediately move support for the demonstration. Turn June 16 into a massive show of solidarity against
Page 2 scan of this page
Steel's open letter to
2 Socialist Action 3 June 1985
ACTION
A significant
step forward
THE DOCUMENT by Tony Benn and Eric Heffer presented to the Labour Party NEC which we print on our centre pages this week, is the most extensive critique made of the present direction of the Labour Party by leaders of its left wing since the election of Neil Kinnock in October 1983. The national executive has refused to discuss it.
t is a searing indictment of the party's pre sent course -nock. As Tony Benn has written elsewhere, the present course of the Labour Party is a distancing from those in struggle, a shift to the right, and blocking those who want to fight against Thatcher. By these means Kinnock is also objectively preparing the way for a coalition government with the Alliance. course that the leadership is forced increasingly to attack democracy in the party.
While it is not necessary to agree with every part of the document, and we have differences with it, it does outline correctly important parts Thate direction td he rigad against the painst Thatcher leadership which is blocking the struggle against Thatcher.
The Benn-Hefter document is a correct alternative to the positions mistakenly, think that the way forward today is for Tony Benn, or a similar figure, to run against Neil Kinnock for leader of the party. The real way forward for the left is not such a campaign which would actually understate the support of the left and thereby seriousiy weaken it. The way forward is three priorities.
The first, and Eric Heffer, is support for those in struggle. Despite the defeat suffered by the NUM, continuing assaults made by Thatcher leaves no choice but for sections of the working class to fight back againt them. for the Labour Party, and Labour left, must be support for all those engaged in such struggles - support of the type which the solidarity committees of the miners, and the Campaign group of MPs, gained during the miners strike.
This support must also tionally. Particularly urgent is building solidarity against the US blockade of Nicaragua, support for those fighting missiles and the right of the Irish people for independence.
The second key task is to fight to transform the Labour Party into a real 'party of labour party adequate to the real composition of the working class and its allies. This means winning the fight on the political levy, black sections, Women's Action Committee, total commitment to British withdrawal from Ireland, taking a debate a clear party liberation. The perspective of a party of labour corresponds in practice to Tony Benn and Eric Heffer's call for a refounding conference of the Labour Party.
The third crucial question is opening up the fight on policies within the party - not policies primarily which a Labour government might im plement, but policies which can be fought for by the mass action of the labour movement. Here Tony Benn, Eric Heffer and the Campaign group of MPs have also taken the initiative. their proposals timised and arrested withdrawal from NATO, nationalisation of the land — we endorse withdrawal from NATO, linked to the removal of all US bases, can readily be campaigned for by the mass movement. Other such as the celer that democratised, we do not support but welcome opening up a debate on all these key issues.
But on these three key priorities — support for those in struggle, fighting for a reai party of labour, opening up the issue of policy linked to the mass struggle -Heffer document is a real step forward for the, left.
and the leadership given by Kin
It is to carry out this against the party
of those who, as correctly outlined by Tony Benn
The number one priority
be given interna
weapons in the black struggle in South Africa, and
- a
the creation o
winning the demands of the
policy in favour of gay Some of
- full amnesty for those vic-
in the miners' strike,
The issue of amnesty and
proposals of theirs, the police can be
we consider the Benn-
Dear Neil, personal remarks
WYCIC political obseryations ill founded.
I can well understand that you will see your task as leader of the Labour Party to be one of taking your party to a majority at Ine next election and therefore into a Labour
(It will not that SuI DISC YUL respondingly David and I see or ask a velo muster sufficient support
form an allance government). It must therefore, I well understand, have come as a shock to see your party drop 124 seats in the county elections and decline in the two opinion polls since published.
whether vou like it or not you owe it to the public to
tive thought to what Will happen if the electorate decides to deprive Mrs Thatcher of her majority but to give no clear majority to anyone else. That is what the Alliance leaders have done.
The national crisis especially the scourge of unemployment surely demands that if the electorate so decides pullulcians of different parties should at least attempt to agree a priority package 0f reform and provide a sufticient v stable nient to see it through. The DUDIC will lightly forgive those who refuse to join In such an approach but who prefer instead to inflict another general election on them in the hope of securing a different result.
Rule
We can rule out our mutual friend Margaret Thatcher from such considerations. As she told us repeatedly 'the lady is not
even l bie
A PIECE OF THE ACTION
I had a nightmare in which Francis Pym joined the Labour Party....
Neil Kinnock
and your Any
leadership yet unknown.
Fool
with you, HENCE
of your creation, recalle
If Labour has majority
deny this.
Indeed the
and 10 per If
were me
and your antipathy David
not De
the SONS
to sav 'here Is my DrO gramme sanitised of items such as Ten noon
take it or leave it' Without a coalition agreement we would leave it for LNO very good reasons
First, such a minority government would liable to tall in anv week al any unforseen hurdle, and
because of that there would be a lack of international confidence in
which coveraci would itself damage the attempt at industrial
would just remind you that although Labour had to sacrifice some of its policies during the Lib-Lab pact, in the 18 months' duration inflation was brought down from 20 per cent to nine per cent with only a ½ per cent increase in unemployment.
The same vigorous determination now needed to combat unemployment. That more likely to be achieved by a broadly based government, secure in parliament and representing a majority of the electorate.
Power
If you are not prepared to contemplate power sharing and dusting down Lne Labour Party's pre war commitment to electoral reform then you must not be surprised if the Conservative Party moves last in these direc tions post election and you find yourself continuing as leader of our official opposition, while we get оп with the job of restoring the nation's economy and sola smo.
Naturally I do not expect to read any reply to this open letter. Your party would doubtless not allow you to respond positively. Instead of further negative arguments, what I am suggesting to you is a period of constructive silence and con templation on these serious issues
Yours sincerely, David
sigh of relief...
GOTH FOR MIDS
A TORY MP FOR EVERY
No Lib-Lab pacts
next election, if the Tories are defeated and no party
tempt to open a discussion on coalitionism.
Labour is not Alliance.
Steel also makes it clear that the price for an agreement with the Alliance will not simoly be a abou programme 'sanitised' of policies such tionalisation, but agree ment "priority package' of proposals to deal with the economy and a legislative programme.
To make the point absolutely clear, steel relers back to the Lib-Lab pac with Wilson Callaghan the 74-79 Labour government. Then, in return for support from the Liberals and, it should be added, Ulster Unionists the
government introduced CONOMIL austerity measures.
These measures reduced working class living standards by 10 per cent in two and doubled unemployment. It led directv to the "winter oi discontent', Labour defeat at the polls in 79, and Thatcherism
The Lib-Lab pact and the austerity programm
was ushered in by the sterl
Mr sin events and ther
intervention followed. Steel Kinnock that a minority
have to face 'a lack of in ternational confidence ie.,
capitalist-inspired economic crisis. The
with a sudden start I awoke and heaved a
News
VOTE THE OPEN letter from David Steel to Neil Kinnock on the question of a coalition government atter the
has an overall majority in parliament, is a clear at-
Steel openly threatens to form a coalition with the Tories willing to play ball with the
British ruling class are preparing for a possible defeat for the Tories at the next election. For the ruling class the issue is not Thatcher, but That-
If the Tories fail at the general election they to ensure that the basic programme of Thatcher is carned 0i. Even a right wing Labour government ' Is not an accentable instru ment for this. The left WILLS IS Alliance is therefore vital in holding the balance of power, and using it to force Labour on to course that will help weaken and demoralise the working class and prepare the way for an even more virulent form of Thatcherism.
Labour's answer
this proposal must be the firmest possible rejection. InIs means not simply a formal reply repudiating
Alliance, but a clear pro gramme SOCIALISI policies that makes an
agreement impossi ble. The left in the party and fight to stop the drift to the unions - 11L1D
the righ party policy and to refound the party as Which defends the interests real 'labour of the working class in the way suggested by and Heffer elsewhere in these pages.
#100 6185 CORMAC ..but I'm still Krying to figure out whi felt so relieved!
Page 3 scan of this page
The case for Black sections
News
Kinnock's basic
values
'I AM ADAMANTLY against black sections. The overwhelming majority of the them. constitutionally gave separate status on the basis of colour of skin or ethnic origins. I would not give a - damn if the whole Labour Party was against me on this. This is not the case, but it is a matter of basic values.'
That's what Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock told a Times reporter the end of last week, after the positive díscrimination working party's tial support for black sec-
balein yev leaked in the press. The working LALLI will meet this Thursday to consider a draft report, based on proposals TINlE members and submissions Irom & varely of groups and interests within the labour movement.
By Annie Brady
will be putting together a final draft for the national executive's organisation committee to consider on
dille. from meeting, the report will be submitted to the NEC the end of June along with the comments of the sub. committee. So, 10 June is a vital date in the battle for black sections.
The final report of the positive action Working party will take up many of
ADRENS against black sections and
in the affir«ISWC ICI mative. For instance, the accusation of apartheid.
It is an utter travesty to claim that the demand for black self-organisation bears any relationship whatsoever _Io a system whereby a white minority enforces by law its separalaoi rt]ll jority and completely suporese black uEbIe y rights. Those opponents who so accuse black sections say such a thing to black community groups.
The fact that Kinnock's statement plays on such sentiments shows he's prepared to use the lowest level of racist arguments to reinforce the instituBlack people are among the lowest paid workers
NEC are against I would be against any development which
tonalised racism of the Labour Party.
Marc Wadsworth, who is a member of the positive action working party and onne alonA Otter of black sections, described Mr Kinnock's outburst as 'irritating but relevant'• Neil Kinnock isn't the Labour Party,' he said.
"t is 9 mass movemen! not just one individual. here HOTC support than ever for black sections. There are more than 30 already established: that's more than there are workplace branches. That attests to the success and suppori ior black sections at rank and file level in the party.
'Kinnock, democrat, trying NeetoO Vu TeO Colo to the NEC. . I place my emphasis on the rank and file of the party. Once they stir Issue thev re convinced of, then he's got problems.
'Once party members understand what is admittedly a complicated issue. taey spoken to union and party branches trom Glascow to Brighton, and that support's coming in.
'People Kinnock talk about playing by the rules, but they're prepared
leyte nen IK MIA them. There are disaftected black groups up and down the country who are talking about withdrawing the black
VOLC ITUI Labour Party — and Kinnock's arguments will fuel moves for dependence.
*We call on the NEC to suppor their working party's report, and to present it to national party conference with a recommenvanon ror conrerence to support That's democracy.'
N.Y
her view of black sections' role in the party.
the situation in that party and what vour view oi thí
like 46 per cent of the com-
lal s
LOLIQUI.
they' re committed to hav-
Dal lits — it's likely to have a black candidate.
•I eleCuUR
wrong not to have realised
ceter selection till after na.iena! party conference.
ches should have -licii suspencec the process permit a -ule-unange io go througa alewing Diack
that way the been in a bette: support olner sies They
COLIC DOSIOn WHer a would have Accolae wil es aool..... role of black secuien:
i hat's should have actuaily gene
what was aricCu black section nationa. committee.
Brent GC _ine aiready frozen to ensure
BRENT SOUTH Labour Party looks set to select a black candidates to stand in this safe Labour seat at
general election. But it's decided to go ahead with the selection process without the involvement of its own black section. One of the three short-listed candidates, SHARON ATKIN, chair of the black section national committee, doesn't agree. She told CAROL TURNER why not, and explained
process -flas nl what I think the Brent par-
What do you think black sections HOTe the Labour Party actually is? tre Iney encer Ine leadership fears?
Trey re a danger to raciss ihe party They are a :anger peopie iren ! in fayour oi eota.
CODUTLUEHECI hu ld • .arus. They're sanger to any other ?ement in the party. * vou have a muitiac:a1 society and cor. t :ave a muiti-raciai party,
ereg Sobtack seceo
wrong. blacx sections
One party, and to highligh! sc lus DIvis :al ing piack people in Bricain
'Black sections are a danger to racists'
today.
in some areas race attacks would te an issue: in other housing
Edl car unemplovment. The tional perspective of black all these local campaigns, to have an overview. and ensure that we get some kind of redress inrougn
Pevely formation at every
Phot JEN CEA
Sharon Atkin
Black people are among the most solid Labour voters are not at all represented
Labour. What do you think the effect of having active black narticipatio. in the Labour Party would be?
If you exclude certain secsjons of the community then you're not going te zet a very representative party, committed to good -OCAS ONECO C. dilu policies. Ultimately that
and Labeur LOI LY government. 1s galng fall short of the reeds and aspirations oi beogie as a whole.
• rate black involvemen! in che party then cou re ükeis to get a tarrer The
strategy.
Thére is à document floating "ounu the
Socialist Action Parliamentary Labour Party from Peter Shore, unal says allei une wor king ciass, ditch black k ie os LUCSC QCODE Labour votes at the next election.
The party was founded to represent working class interests. It relies on black people to elect councillors ana MIrS
But if Labour aims to win the election next time round inen inev nave lo find a place and a base and a recognition. lt is a way o. saying yes we want you in the ValLy, welcome, we are interested in your ideas - on a whole range of issues, nol Jus race.
That idea fits into a more hon an dion siba about
and what basis Labour will win the next election. The arguments you mention are about ap pealling to 'middle ground drop any policy that might
contentious. Ilhe mand for black sections slots right into the middle of that.
Labour can do that. It can move away from the very people who look to the Labour Party to provide an alternative way of life it can become the party of the middle classes and ourdo the SDP
But if you are in the Labour Party :o nange society, then thai outlook of tinding ane mladi ground is not the way for-
Further split in the party.
People who think the
nebulous direction vill just move out. "Ve l see a situation nere he .abour elected as the government. The icaueisii rethink.
here are more and more people in the working class whe co want e radical change in society. In mest areas of the counerv al ine .ast elechon inere was hostility co the party,
3 June 1985 3 they didn't put forward socialist policies
People are looking fo some alternative to That cher, some alternative to the status quo. They won't stay with Labour if people lKe RINOCK collie lu duck the issue, to run away
• did during miners' strike, as he did over latc cappus
And what role do think black sections have in this?
Our function is twofold It's recognising that a larg tuer o bac. •CUDIt
vote, vote Labour; and making sure that they don't just vote at election time but that they have a voice in the party and how it's run.
- Black sections can do two things very • well: not
but actually change policy.
For example in my own black section in Streatham we had a recent discussion about rate-capping and the effects on black peo. ple. How it would affect jobs - by and large black people are the lowest pad workers. How it would aftect services to the blac community, housing and social services, and so on
There is a great deal of support for the campaign against rate cong black Lambeth among people. Inrough s nlacı sections we're able to express and identitv areas o concern of black peopie. and o tormulate paigns and support among hose people
The miners' strike was another example There are 3000 black miners Black peopie played a ver active roie in supporting chat strike. The links have not been lost - they're there for life
So, black sections can influence policy locally and nationaliy. And xe can help build a mass party committed io change.
Jiven the constitt: charges we they'!l piay an ever, greate LUC HILuC :LLuIC
Page 4 scan of this page
4 Socialist Action
LCLGR model
resolution
This conference opposes all discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and notes that existing Labour party policy with regard to Lesbians and Gays (L&Gs) fails to meet the legitimate demands of L& Gs, and that a consistent and principled campaign conducted over a number of years is necessary to reverse that failure.
Conference welcomes the progress made by some Labour authorities and looks for an end to the institutionalised oppression of L&Gs.
It therefore:
a) Instructs the NEC to draw up a L&G rights bill, which should specifically: i) declare that L&G acts and relationships are not contrary to the public policy of the law: ii) prohibit discrimination by the courts against L&G in child custody and in unfair dismissal on grounds in any way connected with sexuality or lifestyle: iii) abolish criminal laws that discriminate against L&Gs: iv) make discrimination on grounds of sexuality an achonable discriminatory regulations and by-laws: v) prevent police harassment against L&Gs and calls upon the PLP to introduce such a bill & support bills to reform the law in this direction with a three-line whip:
b) Calls upon all Labour local authorities, district and county Labour Parties to adopt practices and policy to prevent discrimination against L&Gs, and in particular to 1) adopt and enforce equal opportunities policies in relation to sexual orientation along the lines of Islington... ii) end discrimination L&Gs in housing policies: iii) provide funds for L&G switchboards & centres: iv) publicise the anti-discriminatory policies listed above:
c) instructs the NEC to: i) organise a campaign of education amongst the membership of the party on the oppression of L&Gs in conjunction with the LCLGR: ii) place adverts, in the L&G media and produce leaflets using the slogan ' ports L&G rights — join the LP.' d) Instructs the NEC to set up a sub-committee in collaboration with the LCLGR to organise the implementation of this policy.
NB Please remember that resolutions count as one unless the wording is at least slightly different.
Labour Compaign Mer Gay Rights
Islington Socialist Action Forum
"Gay Liberation in the Eighties'
"A discussion around the book which describes the origins and the forms of gay oppression. Reaction that in the elaborated that will ensure that gay people and heterosexuals are no longer separate and opposed groups.
The discussion will be led by Jamie Gough, 4.
one of the authors of the book.
Sunday 2 June, 7.45pm Queens Arms,
Dueensland Rd N17.
3 June 1985 discrimination against single people & 'The Labour party supDressed rent in own stungle West and a programme for change is
ON SATURDAY 18 May, women in Edinburgh made clear their total opposition to Powell and Gillick. An open conference had been organised by a joint meeting of Edinburgh Labour Women's Seetions, and was chaired by Val Woodward, an Edinburgh district councillor and member of the counci women's committee.
Alan emperon. at the Edinburgh University Centre Reproductive Biology Research, stressed his total opposition to the Powel Bill. 'It would be a disaster for reproductive research in this country if this Bill went through.
He outlined the many
research would be stopped. highlighting the work be ing done on infertility, and all conditions like Down
Powell pops
up again!
POWELL'S SUP-
PORTERS are deter-
mined push
through the Unborn
Child (Protection) bill
at all costs.
The latest move by
leading anti-abortion
MP Andrew Bowden
(Brighton Kemptown)
highlights the fact that
they wish to prevent a
wide ranging discus-
sion taking place
the country On the
issues raised by the
bill.
The governme
could move DIC CUL
Mr Bowden's рго-
ceedural resolution
which would casure the
house does not rise on 7
Scotland against
Powell & Gillick
Syndrome.
He also pointed out a contradiction in the views of those supporting the Powell Bill at the mo-
By Ann Henderson
ment 50 per cent of human embryos just peter out, and only research will allow us to tind out
appens
concert: to these : caiming to be interested in preserv. June until the bill has compieted its stages on the grounds that it would sel an unwelcome precedent.
By sticking "neutral' stance, and not opposing the motion, as
likely, the government will
Then it will go to the House which
been more "liberal' on these issues.
It is important now if YOU lave allcau done so to write to your MP opposing the bill. The Nationa Abortion Campaign is continuing to accept petitions which will be presented on the morning of 7 June before the debate on the bill.
DON'T LEA
THIS MAN
STOP
THE POWELL BILL!
Anne McClery, speak ing Scottish drew out the links between
Powell Bill and the Gillick ruling. Whilst the Gillick ruling does not apply in Scottish law, figures released by the Brooke ad visory centre in Edinburgh already show a drop in attendance of under-16's. that more work shoes be The conference done to expiain that under-los should go lorward for contraceptive advice in Scotland. Women agreed attend the demonstration in London against Gilich on 23 June and to try to involve LPYS branenes in ims campaign Warnock
Yvonne Vrachon. it: newly appoinica WancoOfficer for the IGNC Scotland, and Rosina Me Crea of the Scottish
Women's Com mittee both referred to the experience of the mobilisation of the labour move. ment in the Corrie Bill campaign
While the Powell Bill and the finding of the Warnock Report appeared to raise more complicated issues it was vital that the labour movemen
onded once agai
Rosina AcCre explainea Laboli totatopposition to the free vole mone MPs on this issue. All MPs in Scotland have been approached by the Scottish LabourWomen's Committee
Bite against the Powell
The conference of over 40 women agreed to take Intormation on and Gillick back to their VAMOUS
CHOOSE
FOR US!
Scottish Abortion Campaign and it seems likelv a new group will be set up in Edinburgh now.
It was recognised that the warnock report also needs fuller discussion and the meeting agreed to cir-
resolutions under-16 contraceptive avalably all unatur tion rights.
Attack
conference in Edinburgh the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland launched another attack
women's rights. heated debate on abortion
cutes tha abor-
There birth a woman's life The foetus was Full rights by the general assembly.
This position backwards for the Church of Scotland, and has pro-
maned an minister amongst
flially ministers, medical profession and in
he pres
press describes the deci-
dark ages' and oints or
hat less than 0.25 per cer of abortions occur because
woman's life is at risk.
Brooke Advisory Centre was also quick to condemi the decision saying that it would not lower abortion rates but simply add to women's emotional stress.
This decision, in addition to the threat posed by Poweli and Gillick, shows how vital it is to build a mass campaign to delcuo women's abortion rights in Scotland
Irish
victory
LABOUR WOMEN for Ireland scored an important victory last week at the Labour Party national executive committee.
David Hughes, the national agent, had referred a resolution on discussion on Ireland grasslu London Labour the Greate Party
conference to the NEu This was an attempt to prevent its implementa tion and stop discussion.
The resolution simply calls for 'open and wide ranging debate and discussion throughout the labour movement on the withdrawal.' It says the
discussion should be Tony Benn's Withdrawal Bill published last summer.
Hughes reported on the immediately taken up by iony benn. It the NE working group could Witch d • SOrt: of DeoDlE during its deliberations : why couldn't the rank :and file? Obviously there's one law for the leadershp and another for the membership.
Tire ebjection raised Hughes was • that le: restions of the i movers of the resoletion
unclear. All that was decided was that the London executive com
should te asked for clarification of intentions'
This has now been relegated to the minutes of the committee and stage no further action is proposed. In other words progress has been made
It is clear that David Hughes in particular was taken by at the amount of opposition to his original letter freez ing tae resortuon. Mos important it shows the need to get resolutions through women's sec tions, genera commit.
tees and so on and th
weight they can hav
Mort information from: Labour Women for ireland, c/o Feminist Library, Hungerford House, Victoria Em. bankment, London WC2.
Page 5 scan of this page
News
port of Mining Communities. The conference is being held at Maesteg Town Hall in the Llynfi valley near St John's colliery which the NCB has announced is to close. GRAHAM ATWELL reports.
The aim of the conference. the Congress states, develop united of resistance and action for the future.
Congress undoubtedly will act as a locus for Ine support groups still active in South Wales, it is unlikely to succeed in its aims.
The Congress was set up last year by supporters
the Communist Party with the ales NUM.
South Wales drew in Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour MPs as well as the backing of many trade union officials.
During the strike the Congress organised little activity but provided 'think tank' for the rapidly rightward-moving South Wales NUM leadership.
They stressed the need to
and OVCr criticised public Scargill's support for Orgreave and refusal condemn violence.
Following the end of the strike the unholy alliance behind the Con-
cracking. Radical Plaid Cymru's monthly journal, has warned that 'the Wales Congress faces its own extinction through the sectarian sabotage of
PASTILL MARCH
SATURDAY JUNE To Mattora!
Wales Congress
at crossroads
THE DEMAND that a future Labour government grant a pardon will be a key issue at this Saturday's All Wales Conference of the Wales Congress in Sup-
an increasingly irrelevant LUCT criticise the Labour Party for failure of its MPs, many of whom were members of the steering committee, to turn up lo meetings, let alone make
tions to the miners' strug. gle.'
But in an article entitled 'Congress at they come UD
forward. ides deshe wad
forward. Besides raising, they propose turning the congress into 'back up team TOT miners in Wales' undertaking social audits, helping the NUM research department dig facts and arguments in favour Meanwhile the Communist Party sees the Conress as an 'anti-Thatche broad alliance' bringing together sections Welsh society to defend They want the Congress to start taking up local community issues.
Neither offers hopes for the miners' jobs under threat, or the miners facing trial for offences in the strike. St John's col lierv will not be saved by a social audit of the Llynfi valley.
N
PAŞLONDON
FREE THE PRISONERS
REINSTATÉ THE SACKED MEN
STOP THE VICTIMISATION
PASIYULI
Demonstration
Women Against Victimisation
(Co-ordinated by South Wales Women's Support
Groups)
Assemble Swansea Crown Court 10am Tuesday 18 June This is a silent demonstration to support the 102 Welsh miners charged with riotous assembly for the occupation of the cranes
at Port Talbot
Contact: Barbara Edwards, Hirwaun 814576 or
Margaret Watkins, Mountain Ash 472951
last week in solidarity with
pent sogether hit the walk-outs at Merthyr Vale
And in three weeks time
LOYCLICIEL
only mass ac
SavE
Black
delegation
policing
conference
miners' strike and the
posals put forward by
have clearly indicated
Delegation to the Mining
make vistbie une suppor
NCB
Nantgarw Windsor
Kinnock
P (Ebbw Vale) and Ted
brilliant
demonstrations that have
the legal irregularities then cane the stablise this
Steven
should be doing is arguing for an independent review
has been very sucDing Hill cast
were able to collect over
tion has been organising
andure strugeet the the
visited his constituency
their thousands to salvin wear amarasser Lee re-
TO THE MINING COMMUNITIES
I SON ERENCE
hopes to highlight the ex-
insurrection and insubordination'. been singled out for particularly vicious persuade the miners inside to end their
proceeded to sack him for trespassing
any Justice lowards te miners tnere with the 670 by the NCB. for these men to get their jobs back.
Campaign demanding the Labour Party
Socialist Action 3 June 1985 5 TOWARDS THE end of the miners strike Ian MacGregor promised the NUM that people would now discover the price of
That promise is now being made to come true with MacGregor's statement to the parliamentary employment committee last Wednesday that the Coal Board would not reinstate those 670 miners who have been sacked as a result of their activities in support of union policy during the
Arthur Scargill and other leaders of the NUM denounced these measures as 'vindictive justice, pointing out that Kent and Scotland had
While 79 per cent of miners have been reinstated in South Wales not one had been given his job back in Scotland or Kent. The punishment in these areas is unrelated to the crimes committed. It corresponds instead to the objectives of the Coal Board. It is these two areas that pits have already been designated for
The high number of NUM branch committee members among those sacked proves that the NCB wants to cleanse the pits of militants, who
Three cases of injustice were highlighted by miners' leaders during the inquiry to prove that victimisation had occurred. Arthur Scargill reported how a Kent miner had gone into the Betteshanger colliery with management to
Peter Heathfield told of a Scottish picket we v coll scab miners not to go to work. When he asked to get off the bus management refused and then
He also mentioned the case of another Scottish miner who was sacked for placing his foot on a white line illegally drawn by a colliery
The pattern of revenge in Scotland showed that the Coal Board had no intention of showing
Eric Clarke pointed out that 71 per cent of those sacked in Scotland were branch committee members. This included miners who had been found not guilty in court and those who had
Going over the heads of the NUM and relusing to talk unreatenca sarely lo lne pils Already two miners have died in Scottish pits since the end of the strike and six have suffered serious accidents because of dangerous working
MacGregor was adamantly opposed to the miners leaders demand of a general amnesty. He argued that all miners should go to the industrial tribunal set up to deal with unfair dismissals and there should be no special procedures to deal
It is rarely the case that sacked workers receive anything more than compensation from such bodies and MacGregor obviously hopes that he can wish goodbye to these men forever.
The 670 miners, living in areas where work is hard to find outside the pits, deprived of social security by the DHSS who assumed they were still in dispute to punish them further are among the best fighters for jobs and the defence of trade unions anywhere in this country or in any
It is our responsibility as labour movement activists to support any initiatives taken by the NUM or other labour movement body to fight
The Campaign Group of MPs has launched an appeal for a general amnesty. Activists should make it a top priority at their next trade union branch or Labour party meeting to pass a resolution calling for a National Amnesty
reinstates all miners sacked when it comes to power and donating a regular amount of mone!
The Miners Solidarity Fund is the official fund. The account no. 30000009 is at the Co-op Bank
Page 6 scan of this page
Planning for a Labour victory
A Memorandum by Tony Benn and Eric Heffer Introduction This memorandum is submitted to the NEC for its consideration. It begins with the election defeat of 1983, and the various reasons given for it, goes on to list the changes that have been made inside the party since then, some of which have been put to conference, and concludes with a series of recommendations designed to assist the party prepare itself now for victory at the next election.
Everyone in the party is determined to work unremittingly for the defeat of the present government. There is no one in the party who is secretly hoping
some suppose shift to the left' after another election defeat, and tions that this view is held are both untrue and deeply damaging.
We are, all, equally united in our resolve to secure the Labour government. with a large work. ing majority, at the next election, in the interests of the people whom we represent who are, now, suffering real hardships at the hands of the Tories. The real question that we have to discuss. and decide, in a spirit entirely free from personal animosity, is how desire for victory may be realised in practice and we must also accept that there will be genuine and sincere ditferences of opinion about it.
The aftermath of the electoral defeat
The very serious electoral defeat suffered by the party in the 1983 general election has, quite properly, led to an examination of the weaknesses in party organisation. Some of this examination nas involved a poncal allalysis, the organisational aspects have undertaken by the 'Review of Reviews' committee, whose official task it was to re-examine the organisational recommendations made by earlier committees of inquiry, to see what lessons might still be drawn from them.
This 'review' committee was made up of members of the NEC, the PLP and trade union representatives, and will report to the NEC for decisions. Inevitably its work extended far beyond the problems of administration and, as
shown, it has discussed a whole range of subjects including finances, even the need for a change in the NEC sub-committee structure.
Differing views as to why Labour lost
Many different reasons defeat in 1983 have been offered depending upon the view point of the people
The consensus or liberal view
The consensus, and liberal media explanation of our defeat may be summarised as follows:
fell into the hands of the extreme left. The party, and especially the NEC, b. Under the influence of this NEC, COCIC Was persuaded to adopt a whole range of detailed policies, many or wilich were unrealistic, and unacceptable to the electorate. c. The 1979-81 campaign for greater democracy in the party unnecessary and electorally damaging.
6 Socialist Action 3 June 1985
of the Labour Party National Executive
day, summarising the present course of the
of the left wing of the party since Kinnock's election.
Benn and Eric Heffer raise is in this week's editorial on page 2.
the SDP.
voters and lost us the election. f. Therefore the
sugges-
likely to win public support. election of a
our defeat
party, very different factors: best that
deputy leaders cabinet everyling to luc atle
been
and attack upon the party. for
as a peace party.
members, amongst
Ine ciccuon campaign.
The attacks upon within the party,
wild extremists. te call
was divisive,
AT LAST week's meeting
Committee Tony Benn and Eric Heffer presented a major paper dated May
development of the party under Neil Kinnock and presenting an alternative.
It is undoubtedly the most important criticism of the
party produced by leaders
Socialist Action's view on the issues Tony
d. These events forced a lot of decent moderates to leave the party and form
e. This, in its turn, split the Labour vole, leu to mass acrecuons by LaDoll
party should now return to a more middle-of-the-road party, position, leaving key decisions to the more moderate PLP, which is more
Another explanation for
NEC.
There is however another, and quite different view, widely held within the
which attributes our defeat to
a. Mistakes made by earlier Labour governments. which lost us the support of working people and, in particular, b. The defection, to the SDP, of 10 per cent of the PLP, including two former
and other former people who owed has, ing
NEC,
party.
leaders,
money but who were hostile to the role of conference and to socialism, and then, with full media support, launched a vitriolic TULV
c. The apparently unqualified support initially given by to the Falklands war which damaged the party's credibility
With, d. The fact that many Labour MPs, including a number of its most senior Have
them the two previous party leaders, had spoken out
against conterence decisions and the manifesto before, and during, tees.
the left, as at Bermondsey, which gave the public the idea that the party leadership itself actually believed that the party had been taken over by
It is necessary to recall this background if we are to understand what has happened inside the party over the last 18 months and look ahead to the future.
What has happened since 1983
The new NEC, elected after the general election, has reached a number of very important decisions about the
which have • been plemented. This quiet revolution is still in progress, but so far, its effect may be summarised by listing the decisions that have been taken:
1. Removal of policy making from the
Basic policy-making is no longer undertaken by the NEC, through its subcommittees, many of which have been wound up, but by joint committees composed of selected NEC, PLP and TU members, who are charged with the task of drafting these new statements
NEC to change them at the last stage. 2. A shift of power from the NEC to the PLP.
The role and authority of the PLP and especially the parliamentary committee
result, been immensely strengthened, as compared to the NEC and is, increasingly, separately financ. ed through: a. continuing with the allocation of all the - extra -money to the PLP, some of which is used to finance research assistants, work-
personally front spokespersons, who are not paid trade union rates, are not answerable to the
For conference, and do not have security of employment; •. Couns with the principle that trade unions directly finance some PLP spokespersons money that does not go through the central funds of the
3. A shift of power from the NEC to the Trade Unions for a Labour Victory. The TULV, made up of trade union
, or their deputies, who are not elected by the Labour conference, have been given a more influential role in managing the party This has been
by the NEC adopting practice of applying to the TULV for
for specific purposes, then has to be justified, to the TULV case by case, rather than by using the
as a collective fundraiser, leaving decisions as to expenditure to the NEC itself, subject to conference
A downgrading of CLP members on the NEC.
one exception, NEC members elected by the constituency section,
• been removed from chairman ships of all the main NEC committees thus eliminating them from their exofficio membership of other commit-
In addition LICW campaign committee, including NEC, PLP and trade union members, has been set up, from which other NEC members are excluded, which has been Justified by reterence to a wrong interpretation of a conference decision. This committee has established its own subcommittees still further distancing the NEC itself from real power. 5. Changes in party policy The party's policies have been altered in a number of key respects, some of
which have gone to conference. a. The 'Alternative Strategy' has effectively been replaced by a more general 'Jobs and Industry' campaign, clear socialist commitments on public ownership. economic plannıng and ex change control have been omitted.
CommuncH would withdraw from the Common Market has been reference to 'an option the exercising of which, has been left deliberately vague. c. The committment to reduce tain's detence expenditure to the same percentage of the GNP as our European allies in NATO, has been explicitly dropped and in its place we have a committment that such a change could not be made during the lifetime of the first Labour government, and indeed, there is a new pledge actually to inLicabo expenditure weapons as British nuclear weapons are place bal. d. Other policies that Labour Programme 1982, and in the 1983 manifesto, have either not been bench the
which referred to, replaced by 'Charters' which are more vague, illustrative and general. 6. A purge of the Left.
Despite solemn conference that there witch-hunt based upon the opinions of party members, the attack upon some of the left has been stepped up.
An apocals and mealadon commo tee has been set up, with only one CLP representative on it, and its main work has been to carry out this purge. Some of the key decisions made by this committee, and confirmed by the NEC, inSULLIC clude: a. The expulsion of one party member for selling Militant in another constituency from the one in which he lives. b. The refusal of membership to a party member who was alleged to have sold Socialist Action. c. The expulsion another party, mainly on the evidence of a Labour councillor, who then left
Economic
from which some of the included
the NEC, tha Britain tinued
replaced by to withdraw'
Bri-
campaign
advocate them
conventional
had been in
gle
changes LIUl outlined above. that existed when or appear to have been
of these assul dulle given to
would be no The
a ransier or
of members of elections,
the party and joined the Liberals. d. Non-registered organisations are to be denied a listing in the conference diary, whereas all-party groups may be
This may be contrasted with the confirmation, after a recorded vote on
of Frank Chapple's conmembership of the party, despite his refusal to take the Labour whip in the House of Lords, and his consistent attacks upon the party in his column in the Daiv mai
This purge is, presumably, designed to fend off attacks from the media, which has run, and is still running, a
designed denigrate socialist ideas and those who hold, or
7. Distancing the party from struggle A stand has been taken, by some in the PLP, against any suggestion that non-compliance with Tory laws could ever be iustitied. and strong criticisms hav been voiced, within the PLP, about the conduct of industrial disputes, notably during the miners strike, which appeared to distance the party from certain aspects of that momentous strug
8. Re-organisation to support these
Though apparently limited to the task of dealing with the efficiency of the party HQ and its staff, the thinking behind the 'review of review's' committee seems to be that there must be a further, re-shaping of the party's organisa-
support the malor change Conclusions and recommendations
The changes described above are all of fundamental importance; represent a tar bigger change in the party's con stitution than occurred in the 1979-81 period; take us back to the structure
pre-war, and post-war, PLP and the general secretaries of some major unions effectively ran the party and the NEC was weak and ineffective; and though some
changes have been to conference, others have been carried out without the party, as a whole, really realising what has been happening.
I is cosentlat inar any leporl on party organisation issued by the NEC to the 1985 conference should make ab. solutely clear what is happening, and what is now planned, so that the party may know precisely what is going on, before it makes its own decisions.
recommendation. given! below were drafted to help secure that victory. 1. Campaigning around real struggles. To win the next election the party must be seen to be giving whole-hearted sup port to all those who are in struggle against the government, and that all party campaions should centre around those struggles, as well as during all by-
local elections and the TU ballots, and all must be used for basic socialist education.
Page 7 scan of this page
LESBIANS & GAYS
2. The NEC and conference must run
SUPPORT THE MINERS the party.
The central direction of the party, its policy and administration, must, under its own constitution NEC which is elected by, and accountable to. conference. since conference is the only link that the have with political decision-making
Photo: GM COOKSON 3. The PLP must be integrated into the
The PLP must be brought closer to the party, the NEC and conference; a. by integrating PLP standing orders into the party constitution b. by channelling all through the NEC, government funds (which would then be used by the NEC for PLP work); and all TU funds (leaving the unions with the right to earmark their own money, if they wished to do so, for certain purposes — including the support of the PLP). c. by providing greater accountability of the parliamentary committees, and the cabinet (when Labour is in office) to conference, perhaps through annual election by the same electoral college a: now elects the leader and deputy leader.
4. The need for win.
Policy-making has a major role to play in the present deepening crisis, where the government has Labour must be able to respond with a considered socialist alternative that has been discussed, agreed and, put to conference for decision as soon as possible.
The 1983 policies, too radical, are likely to prove quite inadequate to deal the situation that the next Labour government will inherit, which will be so critical that we shall almost certainly be forced to consider the development of stronger policies to deal with it. We therefore intend to submit anotner paper to ine which will COlICCHLIaLE policy. 6. A socialist dialogue purge.
The Labour Party is the principal political insturment for working people in Britain, having been established by the trade unions for that purpose, and having consciously adopted socialism as its objective. Here and world-wide. the socialist debate is rich in variety and experience of successes and failures and we must be able to learn from both, and then build our own brand of socialism, based upon social morality and a deep committment to democracy and human rights.
There are a number of different
IRER schools of socialist thought in
country, many organised around their own newspapers or magazines, and attracting a following of a few hundred or a few thousands. None groups are capable either of taking over, or of replacing, the Labour Party, and their contribution should be seen as a part of the on-going discussion about socialism. Nor is there any evidence to suggest that any of them are actually planning the overthrow of democracy
brian. engaged preparation of violence.
Most of them, are made up of de. cent and serious people who work hard for the labour movement and whose arguments deserve tion. If such people, or organisations, put up candidates against Ine Labou Party then they are ineligible to join us, but that should be the sole criterion by which they are judged to be eligible to join the party.
Any policy by the NEC of seeking out, and then expelling them, or more generally of attempting to isolate what the media choose to call the 'hard left' - whatever that may be — is a mistake
falsely
remain with the
bish,
membership
tionally,
cut walt means.
PLP finances including all
range of
party
ethnic communities,
evidenced
Luis dic Socialist policies to
initiative. crucing, ethnic seriously consider
trom being
past.
party membership, Ine
NEC future
instead of a
He ence If these
tional conference,
acceptable party nov support
this ning the next
situation, of these
next century.
the that is can discharge,
years ago.
serious considera
Conclusion
back to the NEC
Tony Benn Eric Heffer May Day 1985
Socialist Action
a. it suggests to our opponents - quite
that the deeply penetrated by a whole lot of violent revolutionaries whose secret objective is to destroy Britain's democratic insititutions — which we all know is rub-
b. it diverts the party, locally and nadefeating the Tories and the SDP. c. it gives the impression that we are frightened of socialist ideas, but are unable to answer. them and prefer to
them organisational
7. Extending affiliations to the party The NEC should recognise that a whole
political issues, and organisations, have emerged since the
was founded 1918. More recently the women's movement, the
, the peace movement and a mass of other special interest groups have come into existence,
by the long list of registered groups within the party itself and by the campaigns for greater rights for women and blacks within the party.
Many of the most active people in these new movements and organisa-
socialists, or Labour sup porters, much as they are in the trade unions. The issues and policies that the party takes up are designed to meet the needs of many of these groups, in-
For course, wollen and the community and we should • opening up affiliation to allow those that wish to do so to join, on the same basis as the unions and the socialist societies did in the
This would broaden the range of
help us to escape
.. largely legitimate - charge that the party is dominated by white males, and help to make us the instrument for all working people in this generation, as we were in the past. There is, therefore a strong case for establishing a committee to exarine this possibility, to report to the NEC in time for the 1986 con-
proposals were acceptable there would be, later, a major constitu-
like the 1918 conference, to which all appropriate and
movements and groups would be invited, with a view to their affiliation to the party, basis as the trade unions and socialist societies are now affiliated 8. Organising for victory All the organisational changes that the
makes should be geared to this alternative view of our future. We believe that this would also offer the nep sector, by so win.
election showing ourselves to be sensitive to the ner
the new issues and the new structures are emerging in the politics of Britain in the eighties and nineties leading on to the
The time has come for the Labour Party to look to the future, dare to have a vision of 'Socialism in our time', , and have the courage to re-shape itself so
, for this genera tion, the historic task that the founders of the movement dreamed of so many
The national executive is invited: b. to refer it to the appropriate c
to refer it to the appropriate comc. to consider it again when they report
3 June 1985
Page 8 scan of this page
More support from
8 Socialist Action
Palestinians
sacrificed
in Lebanon
IT WOULD be difficult to imagine a more bitter and tragic irony than the events since 19 May in Lebanon. The Syrian-backed and Muslim Amal militia are carrying out an attack on the Palestinian camps at Sabra and Chatila that is at least equal in scale and ferocity to the massacres in those camps carried out by Israeli-backed Christian militia in September 1982.
By Pat Hickey
The attacks mark another stage in the collapse of the Lebanese central government in the wake of Israeli withdrawal. It is another step by the Syrian regime of president Assad in its attempts to win control of Lebanon.
It shows yet again the cynical disregard of the Arab bourgeois regimes for Palestinian interests. Although the Shite militias fought the Israelis, this attack on the Palestinians demonstrates that they are not a revolutionary or anti-imperialist force. Nabih Berri. the Ama leader and Lebanon justice minister interests. The Palestinians are being attacked, as they were previously utilised, in the interests of Assad's role in a future Middle East settlement.
When the Israelis invaded Lebanon they two aims. First, to break the strength of the PLO. second to estabish a Chmstian- halaneist bro Israeli state. The first was achievable, the second was not.
A christian state no longer corresponds to the political, military or demographic forces. The main political factor now in Lebanon is Syria.
The Israeli 'withdrawal' to the Awali river -which in reality leaves them in control up to the Litani river — has opened the battle for control of Lebanon. This struggle, given the decisive weakening of the Christian forces, is concentrated on the issue of who controls West Beirut which is mainly Muslim. bund musums. 1ne raesunlans noweyer nave been building up their forces in Lebanen over the past few months.
They represented a threat to the Amal forces, hence the attack on the camps. The Assad regime has an interest in ensuring that no section Lebanon assumes dominance. It wants a divided client state, that will ensure Syria's place amongst the Arab bourgeoisie in future negotiations. crisis in Lebanon, with shifting alliances by Syria between Shites, militias will continue.
The losers in all this are the Palestinians. Arafat's policy of relying on Arab bourgeoisie for the adyancement of the Palestinian cause has ensured that the PLO has once again entered a blind alley. I Is surely me crowning holy or tat sluation that the anti-Arafat Palestinians around Abu Musu, whose aiternative was the alliance with the Syrian regime, have been as much under attack as the pro-Arafat wing in the camps.
Syria's Shiite clients have their own interests as well. The result has been that the pro-Syrian faction has also been forced to fight for its life. The conclusion must be that the choice of alliances between bourgeois Arab regimes is no choice. For the Palestinians. unless their fundamental interests are placed above those of the ruling groups in those regues, aere will be no victory.
3 June 1985 represents bourgeois nationalist
had
balance of The Shite Amal has pushed back the
in
The
Druze and Maronite christian
to ject
Nicaragua
LAST WEEK Socialist Action published the appeal from the Sandinista trade union CST, for aid for Nicaragua following US president Reagan's economic HOLLAND, Labour shadow minister for overseas development and cooperation, TURNER how Labour could be doing more to support the popular government of Nicaragua from the American threat.
AMERICA'S economic blockade of Nicaragua is scallualous. demonstrates the double standards the US is applying to one of the weakest and
the BUULCOL world, allegedly on the basis that Nicaragua is
At the very time that president Reagan, at the
Bonn summit, is arguing tor a noeralisamon or Lade
offer markets to he 1s simultaneously seeking to
unilaterally sancI0IFUSC tions on Nicaragua.
Labour's position is well illustrated by my state-
the House Commons challenging this.
We demanded of Timothv Raison. of overseas development, inat ne dissociate himselt from support for sanctions given by Geoffrey Howe and Margaret Unsurprisingly, we got no such commitment from him. Britain's position especially interesting. Not only the government coat-tailing the Americans wherever they go on Nicaragua, it has also has invented technical reasons for not supporting the British aid programme to Nicaragua.
first took this up when I was in Nicaragua in November 1983. 1 followea il up agal in une sun
1984, when I asked
the details of the aid pro-
the World Bank
They first class The Nicaraguan National Centre for Economic and Social Research (CRIES
headed Xavier
Labour needed
federation, the
blockade. STUART
told CAROL
Gorstiaga, a Jesuit and a Cambridge-trained He is one of the HULLESL most outstanding economists in Latin America, who was the minister of planning in the first Sandinista government.
Aid
Nicaragua utilises people like Jorje Sol, EI Salvador's ex-executive director on the International Monetary Fund These are people of world. class standard. Their sub. missions are as good as any.
grounds for
report by Observer
repor, nOW that an ficial Overseas
parable to the Ponting case but less
has been seeking mislead House 01
been lying.
We've
Commons, challenging Raison
outside
but
ly high weeks on trade em-
bargo, but the aid em bargo is going almost unSUI. It's important tha the national secretary of the Sandinista trade union
has made the statement he has,
DULL the cost of the war to Nicaragua running over $500 million - and the cost to
Nicaragua projects from aid cuts.
The reality is that the United States has been leaning on both the World BankR and the Inter-
Development Bank to cancel lending to Nicaragua. the World Bank committed
million to Nicaragu: just under $50 million. In 1982 '83 and *84 it committea nouin: at all.
The Inter-American Development Bank granted over $100 million in 1979, 58 million in 1981. and $1 million in 1983 Now nothing at all.
The Reagan administration claim this showed willingness support Nicaragua aid programmes. That is un-
SHIS money is for programmes already agreed by the Carter administration.
People who argue
should leave the World Bank have a very strong point. is dominated by the US. At a
increase our quotas to the Bank while it's behaving like this.
These issues should be fully considered the Labour Party. My own inclination is to say that were we in government, insicad of increasing our contribution to the Bank we should make bilateral contributions to such countries.
Party policy is agains tied aid. But even if you
cent the generated are likely to benefit first world coun Loes should not be tied. But the problem isn't solved simply by untying the aid.
What desperately needed in Counte like Nicaragua is support for their needs gramme: housing, education, social services, food
even qualify for World Bank lending. Party policy debate should focus on giving sizeable aid to countries such as Nicaragua for HUE COULD well as economic projects.
Support
Another area where it's
ference takes a position is on the scale by which a future Labour government would be committed to in
The party is already ing at one der cent which would actually double the aid programme from around billion to £2 billion a year in current prices.
And what countries like Nicaragua desperately need is not ald toi non-economic
NCU supports
Nicaragua
TELECOMMUNIC-
ATIONS is an inter-
national industry. It's
time the horizon of
union went
beyond Britain.
By Ian Grant,
NCU. Met North
West Branch
That's why two Na-
Union branches have
week's annual
proposing
Solidarity Camira ta
Solidarity Campaign
allow a full debate, the
NSC will be holding a
during conference.
International
mes, but also credit lines.
The point is that countries like Nicaragua are now ir such a chronic balance of Davittens situation that they literally can't afford to buy essentials.
In the immediate term
statement of the ST ahe
possible support within the party I'll be doing the best I can to help gain that.
We have our own difficulties here - with anti-trade union legislation. with rate-capping, with other acts by which the Thatcher government is trying TOl back the frontiers of the organised working class - but these pressures are insignificant in term! of what Nicaragua is facing. One of the most effective acts solidarity could come from the labour movement macades an cial contributions for pro jects and development work and the assistance of
activists Nicaragua.
Last December group of TELECOR (the
telecoms company) workers were ambushed by US-backed contras and killed.
They were erecting poles province bordering Honduras in the north of Nicaragua Their vehicle was riddled by gunfire and set on fire
will no survivors
Reagan's trade embargo, backed by Thatcher, is the latest blow aimed against the popular Sandinista government there.
Trade union solidarity is urgent. The NCU's affiliation to the Nica. ragus Solidarity paign would be just a first step
Page 9 scan of this page
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Page 10 scan of this page
10
Coalville
THE LESSON we learnt at Coalville during the miners' strike was that nothing is inevitable. You don't have to accept anything that is against the interests of railworkers. We stayed solid right through the strike, and that spirit is continuing now. The depot is more united than it's ever been before.
We've had a significant success since the end of the strike. We've stalled the implementation of scheme to reduce eleven posts at the depot even though our sectional council, the London Midland Region negotiating COlImittee, agreed to the loss.
We did it bv threatenine industrial action, an overtime ban and a work-iorule. The latter would have been particularly effective because nOW move before the mioved shi lie 1101C coal than we did
We've proved the that put about by malaKCHICuL during the strike that our support of
Juliels would mean loss of coal tonnage permanently. Not only have We OSUNDOCOICTUSL' optimistic predictions, the fact that we're moving so much more coal has embarassed them.
Threat
Management triea divide ASLEF and the muk a tactice inal workek during, the early days of the strike. inev convened separate meetings believing that the drivers would capitulate, but the drivers have been hardened up by he struggle to support the
.uners.
They immediately called a Federation meeting in Coalville, which a ail from the open meeting on
November 84, was the
irst time such a meeting
had taken place. VUR and
* SBEr nave never work-
ed closer than we do now, and this is a direct result of the miners' strike.
Socialist Action 3 June 1985
COALVILLI
New threat at
We're under no illuSions LTCLI nuana cical will stop trying to reduce TOA NID SIAPO TO SAL tinue their plan to close the
But the most immediate threat to us now is the introduction of driverошу орегано aud silgic manning on freight trains.
By Roy Butlin
As Rail News, management's paper said, now that the 4.89 pay claim Deel a4 ccu. they want the 'outstanding productivity measures which affect only one fifth of the staff, crews, to be implemented.
The workshop day of action showed what could
done by completely closing down the Scottish region. one or lne mal problems we are going to
the crisis of leadership in ASLEF and the NUR.
I agree with Arthur Scargili when he said at the AUEW/TASS conference that we are now entering a decisive phase in industrial relations in general, and that the fight TS OL DYCI for the miners or anyone eise We were involved in a fundamental and principied struggie with the ruling class' and 'you either take your stand with the ciass to which you belong, or by your inactivity you give ald to those who oppose it' he said. I think the rail leaders
should take heed of these words. We want a tighting union, not a union that says it is against produc-
tivity and then cave in at the first opportunity.
Productivity measures are designed to pay for the modernisation of the railway system with our jobs, and with reduced wages, willcu Is wilat d pay settlement below the rate of intlatioo realv is
BR management, inarcheo ov lic luncs, alc using their tried and tested tactic of divide and rule. They are paying a bonus to drivers, power box signalmen antol uraliic supervisers agree to Crive coniv las
We all know how the destroyed DOIS SYSLCILI the unity of the NUM, and
Arthur Scargill always took a principled stand against it. We want
see the Federation of ASLEF/NUR take similar stand against such tactics Decalsc doesn't will be destroyed.
There is no alternative work for guards and
secondmen either at
coaivile acpol, or ni inc Leicestershire area.
So for us this is a life and death struggle
can't afford to lose.
Plan
Our experience is not
unique in the and
Midlands, and like the
miners it's either pur up a fight or go on the doie
Productivity is na-
tional question tor the raii
unions, not iocai
Coalville, and that's how it must be fought. instead
of NEC members describing at meetings what unice policy on productivity
we need a plan ol action
The NEC needs to give local Departmental Committees explicit instructions about how to stop
management forcing productivity on us through the use of Clause 80, a clause which management use to assume negotlations have taken place.
We need a national strategy to fight productivity deals, otherwise depots and workshops will
picked off one by one. It productivity deals seem to affect only one grade or workers UlIC SCELUI become isolated then the and vulnerable
This is what happened last week with the dispute I London transport and the union leadership failed to overcome the problem.
The NUR sent out a circular this week saying that BR • had confirmed that they would be Introducing DOO Eastern Region in October and in the Strathclyde area at the end of the year.
Kings Cross and Hitchin depots already know Inal lney dle lose one hundred guards jobs. The circular says. 'be alert to what managment are doinformed: Put thats nst Unity House informed. enough.
We want national campaign throughout the Federation ductivity. We against want this pro
campaign to be taken into the Labour Party. reconvened Guards and Shunters Conference heroosaly. We need national tours af railw worrs foon depors
WOKSOCS mediately under threat.
The lobbies of ihe NUR
ASLEF conferences being Kings Cross No forward by
Fi branen
YUR at the Guards an Shunters Conterence ihis week shouid also be back-
This is what we need if we are to get the industrial action that is necessary lo save raliworkers jobs.
FOLLOWING THE defeat suffered by
future.
The recent defeat of the union when the malonty or tc memoer ship ignored its call for an
indetinite strike against management's imDUSILIULI of OPO on the East London, District and Metropolitan lines. makes it essentiai io go back ti the drawing board once again
The post 1982 discussion correctly identified the nub of the problem. All currents opinion were agreed that a large and very dangerous gap had opened DeLWCET the activists in the union
the rank and file. It was decided to campaign for an overall policy of op position to all job loss and
establish network Snop stewards and a reguíar District Council bulletin to fight for that Pustulou
The policy of No Job
cos estaressed on ile
ckly established District Council against the position of those who only wanted to fight compulsory redundancies. was DOILLCL ULI! that management does not call for compulsory redundancies nowadays. inseau they need job loss"
of unit costs'
These only become compuisoly redundancies if the union fights for every job
However the fight for a shop stewards system and a regular bulletin never go1 off the ground. A major opportunity to launch this work was missed during the miners' striké. There
Why railworkers
must vote Yes
vote 'yes". Why is a 'yes' vote right?
First we must know a little history In 1899, a fighting railworker from Doncaster, Tom Steel mmalgamated Society MenENeI the
of Railway Servants (ASRS) doern a mesotution for the down a resolution for
TUC "onercile From this the Labour Representation Committee was set up which eventualv became the Labout Party.
The first Labour MP was ASRS leader Richard Beil in Derby. The rich capitalists were against this. Twice with the help of
neno eees CvLvul
cur union to court. In 190
n the Taff Vale case an 1909 with the Osborne Judgement. They were like someone trying back the waves irom beach. Our anion used its industrial and politicai muscie to deteat inese al tacks.
Today once again our anemies are irying
lignten their grip on what
we can and cannot do
union members. The Tory Doventc Kuvcalr ment of the rich. It lives
Rebuilding on LT
the rail unions on both British Rail and London Transport in 1982 the NU'R London Transport District Council attempted to assess the reasons for that defeat and map out a way forward to prevent repetitions in the
War alot excellent solidarity work done at the level of the District Council itself. A lot of money WY d. raised and bilcll militants were centrai le their local miners support groups. nonele WILI tew exceptions no consis tent work was done at the workplace. was ruled out that the 40 or so activists could have conjured up a shop ceware DCLWWEY IrON 15000 members even over 12 of the HIOHILI miners epic struggle.
Patrick Sikorski NUR (Personal capacity)
Within this framework the leaders 1l1C rail unions also failed. While they and Slater of the National Union of Seamen did order ihe попmovement coal, massive opportunities 10 go onto the oitensive ir support of the NUM were deliberateiv a ACU These were around the pay claims and the victimisation of the Coalville railworkers. But while these obstacles were always going to determine ine overal oltcome or lue solidarity battle on rail could have been ELU C done on LT The eventual outcome of the miners' strike reinforced all the tendencies the District Council had identified previously. The corrosive effect of 4 years mass unempioyment and of acreal strongest section of the British working class IT'S CARDS on the table time for railworkers. The Tory Trade Union Act of 1984 says our union must have a vote by all members as to whether or not we keep our custom of supporting the Labour Party. NUR and ASLEF policy is to ask all members to
off our labour and has no right to order us how to run our union. We decide what we want to do at our union branch and at annual conference.
By Dave Russell, NUR (personal capacity)
This law is part and parcel ot a cicp oi antlaws which at the stroke of a judge's pen attack the mgni to strike and rigrt to picket The anion is ceing ser up ic. ne si! : necessary and rossible :o celea: :Hese cians. ke NUR and ASLEF are organising a campaign tes vote the politicai fund. Posters and leaflets nave been produced tor branches io use al ivork. The problem with this is thai •nazalila there is 100 much aoout whai our i1 MPs are doing. Of course tney are unportant ana unton musi protect them '30 vote would cut their link io However what tit cilil.
In the Unions
widened the gap between the activists and the ranks.
The numbers workers who mistakenly believe that are salt and demand a ballot as an excuse struggle became larger. When the strike call came it was they and not the activists who led the middle ground
Firstly the majority of sectional council representatives and some branch officials argued against the District over • period of severa months. Over the years the Sectional Council system has rotted the union from within. It must be discard
shop stewards system is going to be buil on LT the activists will nave lo Callualeil from now on for their branches to refuse to have anything to do with this system of colaboration with management.
Secondly major con sessions in the Cal Ualki were made to the leadership or ASLEF in order to maintain unity Federation for as long as possible. This was a wrong approach Its starting point was not the develop ment of unity from the ranks upwards coupled with demands for unity in struggle on the leaders of both the NUR and ASLEF; but was an attempt to have unity between those who were go ing to fight — the Distric
Counci and NEC representative of the NUR and those who weren't — the ASLEF District Council and their representative
The probiem of the Sectional Councils and the Federation can overcome by getting down to the task identified three years ago of building shop stewards system on LT. is missing is leaflets and posters on what union members are doing day by day to detend jobs.
Pay
This years pay claim had a demand 'as agreed by cone ence for £100 minimum basic
L at cutting the ware dllllcu massive overtime in the industry. That claim
sold was
miserable 4,85 per cent
MPs words do not count for much when outside parliament our union is not backing them with industrial action.
Our leaders are not helping rank and file fighters to get the message
all railworkers that politics is not just about Labour MPs in parlia
Real politics is the ilicill NUR organising nationa industria actioando ehs tor abour taking that strike ac- acullallus
members of the
Labour Party getting them on our picket lines and us to their meetings. Taking pur fight to the masses in general allt workers in particular
In doing this we would bend and shape the Labour Party to our will ano our neca lol pay, jobs and investment.
Page 11 scan of this page
News
ANGER ERUPTED last Tuesday when Hackney Council decided to set a rate. Local trade unionists and activists occupied the council chamber and, despite appeals from council leader Hilda Kean, refused to leave. When the meeting was reconvened the following day, there was no doubt that the unholy alliance of right-wing Labour with the Liberals and Tories would pass a cuts budget.
outlined The spending. by Labour Dialis 'moderate'
Millwood involve mimon 'negative contingency' ie unallocated CULS .. and rely on as vet unpromised money from
GLC and the District Health authority, together with the sale of commercial property finance current expenditure.
As a resut local neonle will have to pay an average £1.03 everv WCCA Icic for the 'privilege' of lousy Sol vic.
The worst crime of the Labour right is their attack
those who voted them into
let down the other councils
Liverpool Lambeth who looked Hacknev as an examole. It is also a slap in the face for Labour activists who, . over a week before, reaffirmed the no-rate
Borough Conference. Not
right-wing LILE
drift to the right
THIS YEARS CPSA conference took place amidst a major and perhaps irreversible split in the forces of the left. The dynamics of the split can be traced back to the '84 conference when the Stalinists and the Broad Left Labour Alistair Graham, the CPSA after the debacie over GCHQ.
Many rank and file activists were dismayed when at last November's Broad Left conference there was a major walk out staged by the Communist Party and
section of the Labour
Their timsy excuse for this divisive action was that the Broad Left had become dominated by the Militant. Rather than fight some the H CONTCCI policies Militant politically, they chose in true stalinist fashion to try
isolate Militant bureaucratically. Such strategy in a finely balanced union like the CPSA
doomed failure from the start. The CPSA
the largest and organised right wing
union in the country, ana une only way the leit has been able to challenge
'moderates" was through unity.
Unity moves were undertaken try and reverse the but the crunch for hard left came over this years fiasco. The Broad Left group (as the splitters had reconstituted themselves) voted with the right wing to obey the Tory anti-trade union laws. As a result of the actions of these wret-
individuals the pay fight collapsed, and
Hackney agrees
to set a rate
councillors had argued their position, indeed they voted to re-elect the coun-
leadership. Wednesday's vote was truly negation of both democracy and accoun-
Ruth Gee Tably Deputy Leader of ILEA — attempted al guc
By Jeanette Findlay and Chris Bertram
following the sell-out, that councillors were bound by a four-year old maniesto anu mitment 'the electorale . Where nave vou heard those arguments before?
The council leadership has resigned. It is a correct
the other left-wing councillors of Labour have declared that they will fight ine implemenlation of a cuts budget. It is good
Civil and Public Services Association
Conference 85 — halt the
Group refused to take On 'new realist' General Secretary of
thousands low-paid
two ine JeTI
different
Howard Fuller CPSA (Personal Capacity)
perspectives. Within the Official Broad Left, the
quite clearly been forced to the left, and will probably continue to do so under pressure torm supporter of the ' 'Socialist
alliance of the Contalig Socialist Action and Socialist Organiser porters, but mainly consisting of otherwise non-aligned activists.) and the Socialist Workers Party woo have now turned baci to the labour movement.
se nigo, premie Left
right, presenting quite clear defeatist outlook, refusing to even attempt to mobilise the membership against Tory attacks. Indeed most of
energy was spent in witch-hunting Militant, paralleling the disgraceful actions of the Labour Coordinating Committee
that they have done But while the left is united in its condemnation of the
nervous about a public breach in Labour's unity But it is the scabs who have DIcacicu Labour is not to pay the price must publicly break with the right and fight in an unconditional
with and community groups to prevent the implementation of cuts. In this respect, , Hilda Kean's condemnation of Tuesday's occupation gave the wrong signal. Yes, we will also replace the scabs, but it world be both and counterproductive to subordinate the struggle against cuts to the internal battles of the party.
Many ask: what went wrong? In the end
dustrial action could have defeated That it did not occur is not the fault of either local trade unionists or the left councillors all of whom fought bravely and at considerable personal risk The left councillors did lead the campaign in the BOTOLHIS national Labour Party and trade unions that should have taken on the responsibility. By refusing to Indeed BL
up
VLANDS. Say-
Many 84 leaders are revolutionaries themselves, Micky (ex SWP)
lap ched in unions
trom the
their degenera-
to
Public Fortunately conference
this peuvre otherwise
tal the lower civil grades
The card at
the 86,000 10 to the and file membership, the merger would been even more defeated.
This year's election re effects of the split results show
the split.
With the lett vot
aproximately 50-50 the right wing r regained con-
of NEC. ror.
unately the largest singl section of the union - the DHSS -- remained firmiy
MANDS DF fight, Kinnock and Willis gave a green light to the
ana newer Hackney and elsewhere. It Is Labour voters who wil pay the price.
The way
is to build branch Militancy
the West
re-organse,
the
placed task, and only
events The
building
tivists must
SWP to challenge new right emerging in BL 84 and
whilst their right to in the
• The Socialist Caucus will shortly be holding a national conference of it's supporters, for further information and a copy of the Caucus Newslette
write to the Secretary, 15/ Crescent Road, Londor EI3 OLU.
DSOr PIEPHONES! BRITISH TELECOM
TE DOURS
Dhoto: CIVCOOKSO
A national strike
to save jobs
and PO workers.
called Job Security
However it lacks the means to achieve them.
The NEC campaign on the Broad Strategy has SO far tated to mobilse the membership for a fight against the job losses im-
introduction of new technology the pro. Ht anve the conDenon. British Telecom trying to avol a nattona controntation has cleverly used the uneven nature of profit centres etc to carry out its strategy of shedding jobs
by area taking on Branches piecemeal.
Ian Willer Watford Branch NCU
This could leave the membership demoralised where the union does not fight, without achieving any concessions to the Broad Strategy. The Național Executive Council is
danger of leading the Union into the same trap
W di SCCI with privatisation campaign,
Error
interview with
Parkin week's issue. Rent increases 0j
18 per cent were not in.
cluded in the budget pro. posed and then passed by
right-wing. Saving
will be made in the staff ing budget but it is not proposed to mare milton in suas ° mediate cuts two
Socialist Action 3 June 1985 The Broad
strategy
THE GOVERNMENT'S still clings to its remains. over 6 days and the re-nationalisation of BT for all jobs must not be missed. THE THREAT to jobs hangs like a cloud over BT The NCU conference will be dominated by the debate on how to fight to save jobs. Until now the Union has put its faith in the so Agreement, and the Broad Strategy. The merit in the latter lies in its demands.
tion leaving those that are fighting isolated and eventually demoralised.
The union must recognise the fight for jobs is being waged bu individual brancher throughout the country. A response is needed and it's the role of the National Executive Council to campaign within the union for solidarity with
the fight for jobs
Postal sevices.
The BT board nounced last year that the first phase of their job cutting excercise was completed: 30.000 workers had left the industry since 1982. In the next they wish to accellerate this wastage.
BT manacement have
announced their intention to cut exchange statt by yi per cent by 1990 and postal engineers by 50 per cent in the next two years.
In many areas management have declared suplus staff to meet the budget requirements. Since the end of the miners' strike up their attacks on the workforce test the
11 intention to privatise BT brought a response from the then POEU membership who elected a Broad Left leadership in 1983. That new leadership led the union into the fight over privatisation. The selective industrial action crumbled after the NEC failed to stand firm against a court injunction ordering the union to stop industrial action against the private Telecoms
At the time the infamous job security agree ment (JSA) was upheld by the courts and the GEC as the saviour of the Telecom workers. Since that action the JSA has shown itself to be no more than
as redeployment agreement. Unfortunately while the membership now recognise the JSA for what it is. the GEC (Engineering Group Executive Council)
Since the failure of the privatisation campaign
vocations by producing the 'Broad Strategy'. This document is well researched and compreensive but it has no strategy for saving jobs NOW. The strategy gives the union's response to every aspec of the new profit orientated BT. Its main trusts are the negotiation of the 32 hour 4 day week spread
This strategy is shown to be inadequate at best
. While BT and the PO take on branches individually the GEC had advised branches not to take industrial action but instead to wait for the negotiation of the Broad Strategy. The membership in numerous branches have ignored this advice and launched overtime
The longer the leadership of the union wait, the more jobs will be lost. The opportunity at the first annual conference of the NCU to lay out the fight
those branches in the front line ressed in temas ber expressed financial support and also terms of action. This will undoubtedly mean an But the membership must not be ted alll ilusions that anything other than a national strike will defend those that are fighting not only for their own jobs but everyones The NEC must build for the national strike that will be necessary to defend those branches that fighting now for jobs decisive fight now will la the basis for defending al jobs in the future. Conference tackles
THIS YEARS National Communications Union (NCU) conference is being held under the shadow o! the newly Privatised British Telecoms and vicious government preparations for the privatisation of
strength of the union. This has included naming surplus worker and changing long established work practices without consulting the union Where the local union has responded with industrial management has climbed DIFE situation is fast coming to a head.
Strikes and overtime bans in Swansea, factories Bournemouth, British Internationa and Glasgow have shown membership prepared to fight over jot losses. What is needed is a national leadership capable and prepared to lead that fight.
Page 12 scan of this page
Parvaiz Khan, him a warrior Everywhere you go, you hear them say. Parvaiz Khan, him a warrior, warrior! THE TRIAL of the Newham 7 finally began on 21 May, over a week late, and will be a key battle for the black community. Already two demonstrations in Newham have resulted in over 40 arrests and an Orgreave style clearance of Plashet Park by police. Four pickets outside the Old Bailey have been arrested, something which never happened in the six week Newham 8 trial. Is this a result of policing the pits? Or is the state so ashamed of this case that it must suppress the protests?
In fact ten people not seven stand in the dock.
Three whites are also Coreee lu give pearance of balance and to HaKe DOLLCC boill neutral. But the details show up this farce.
The whites are accused of attacking a car full of Asians. The charge is com-
assault the very lowest offence OOSSIDC Two are accused of antrav but oniv in terms of
on the offensive when attacked. Clearly the police expect this charge to be thrown out early.
Luce WILLES do however disrupt the unity of the detence. Even the prosecution agreed to have
on the some black people jury, but a racist barrier 'challenged' three black jurors. Usually defence challenges are done as team; here it was impossible.
The real villains of 7 April 1984 are not on trial at all as it took the police a
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SOCiALiSt
AcTioN
Newham 7 on trial
the whole year to arrest them.
In Newham on that afteroo ıæo a c d white woman carried out a wilulc sellco ul allakna ul Asians amounting to orgy of psychopathic violence.
The Newham 7 are accused for their response to this murderous threat to tnem ana nel communlty. The charges are affray, possession or an orleuslve weapon, actual bodily Hlal lnl. criminal damage and conspiracy.
This time the prosecuna ve dUTE racist attacks took place.
The jury has heard how one the attackers brought hammer that afternoon use on the victims. The case is rather that the Asians should have waited for police to catch those responsible.
Already the police bias is clear. Two whites were arrested carrying poles, yet
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released the same evening and not charged for three weeks. Any Asian arrested was automancaly urcalcu as a suspect and kept overnight. Can such police be trusted protect the ANAN COHLY
Even in court the
On CHES OE. Luliiues day two, defendant Par vaiz Khan refused to eat a pork pIC religious reasons and ask-
for vegetables instead All he got from the prison officers was head injuries so severe he could not attend court for two Delence lawyers wee nor told about this until he appeared in open court half an hour later.
It seems as though the state is keen to provoke inMuclLs du every stage of this complicated trial cover this one sided prosecution L UT LEICI criminalise the black comTOWNILY that tise Nevoan er
that the Newham defence inside and outside court will put up maximum resistance. place of the Did Baileo on mass took
Wednesday 29 May. It is oroooseu to hold such pickets every Monday after that at 9.30 am. The next one will be Monday 3 June at the Old Bailey. Nearest tube St Pauls.
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The march to the Welsh Office was headec declared e c are fighting banner which declared for justice while GuneI banners called for 'Justice
compassion' and stated 'Found guilty before their trial'
At ine demonstakor outside the Welsh Office a letter was handed over to1 delivery to Mrs Thatcher.
In the letter, president of the South Wales NUM, Mr Emlyn Williams, said the sentences had left them 'stunned and dismayed at what is overwhelmingly viewed as a gross miscarriage of justice.
The rally was addressed by Bedwas councillor Mr Ray Davies Rhondda MP Ted Rowlands, national NUM women's organiser Betty Hentanee and South Wales NUM president Emlyn Williams
Councillor Ray Davies called the rally, the march
Neen bee renea
week drew massive cheers when he deciared 'Our boys are not murderers.
"The Iwo boys who were jailed were involved
THANGOCK
AN
MORE THAN 3000 people marched through Cardiff last Saturday in a show of solidarity against life sentences for the killing of taxi driver David Wilkie.
Dean Hancock and were joined by Welsh MPs, miners' leaders, and pit workers and miners' wives
in a struggle for jobs and to build their communities to provide jobs for the next generation, but Thatcher's picketing laws put an obstruction their way', Mr Davies said
By Graham Atwell
He said the police denied pickets their liberties by refusing them permission to talk the working miners. 'Out of these incidents bt w ty incident frustration at Rhymney and the
Bridge was a direct result of that frustration. And what happened Dear and Russell could have happened to me and any two of you' he told the crowd to great applause. "If Thatcher and the police think that after this CCIOASLU vena away and keep our mouths shut they will have another think coming, because there will be iwo campaigns. One through the courts, and the second to ol ee ca paign to have Dean and Kusseli freed. It our campaign through the courts
KLA
ritiet.
fails Walll the next LaDOLI veacel grant the boys a pardon.
The campaign to fre the Rhymney miners, and last week's demonstration and rally, have provided an immense boost for the miners and the solidarity movement in South wales.
The campaign was initiated by the Rhymney
15 OFF RAIL Miners', the story
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
AND
ND!
Valley miners' • support committee The rapid growth in support, and the spontaneous walk-outs, at Merthyr Vale and Oakdale collieries, have forced the NUM and Labour Party leaderships off the fence.
This week the South Wales NUM added their supor Michael Foot called for p Ebbw Vale MP retrial.
RAILWORKERS
AND MINERS
atlag the tay oy Coslva Uniee agoins the Toreeic® •Nors Anea NUL
BOTGRAV
Socialist Action supporters in rail have produced a pamphlet called 'Railworkers and
of Coalville during the 1984/5 miners' strike. It costs 50 pence per copy and is available from Socialist Action,
← Socialist Action No. 103, 24 May 1985Socialist Action No. 105, 14 June 1985 →