Socialist Action No. 123, 29 November 1985
The scan: 123-nov-29-1985-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
Building an alliance for socialism
There is no
BRITAIN OUT OF
SOCiAList
ACTION
other solution
IRELAND!
"The liberation of all people is dependent upon women and the working class working together.
What Alliances for Women? pages 6 & 7
Mike Terry, Anti Apartheid Movement
No. 123 29 November 1985 30p
Called by the Coordinating Committee for British Withdrawal from Ireland, and sponsored by Labour Committee on Ireland and the Campaign group of MPs. Sponsorship/funds to: CCFBWI, c/o Peace through democracy, PO Box 551, London SES SJJ.
Withdrawal
Demonstration
2 February
Inside •Black youth would have given their last pound to the NUM We've got to understand why?
Marc Wadsworth page 5 •We have the power to impose sanctions on South Africa'
Page 2 scan of this page
2 Socialist Action 29 November 1985
ActioN SoCiAlist
Withdrawal: the
option they
cannot consider
WHEN THE BRITISH establishment wishes to change its system of alliances, it does so only reluctantly and only in the light of clear political evaluation. for change is long overdue, it waits and chooses its moment carefully.
The inability of Ulster loyalists to adapt to the pressure of the civil rights movement forced the British government to send in troops and rule the Six Counties directly When pure repression was a proven failure, manner of 'internal settlements'
Labour and Conservative administrations. But having created and armed the Unionist monster, having approved its racist, supremacist ideology and guaranteed it a permanent majority through electoral gerrymander, they could not then wish it away.
As long as middle class catholics could be relied upon to limit the aspirations of Northern nationalists in exchange for minor offices, British could afford to scratch bewilderment and try to maintain an 'acceptable level of violence'. The hunger strike changed all that.
In the North, the SDLP was forced to give ground to radical nationalists and was dangered by electoral challenge from Sinn Fein. In the South, the British embassy burned and hunger strikers topped the poll in a number of areas. Free State premier Charles Haughey and Margaret Thatcher would begin to shape policy.
The British premier the opportunity to claim he was acting fering the British help in maintaining partition by repression The present accord is the result of a protracted bargaining session in which by political pressure the Free State has been torced to drop all pretence of its constitutional claim to sovereignty over the 32 Counties of Ireland. return for a 'consultative role' and the promise of cosmetic reform in the North, Dublin is to allow partition and the tarian Six County state, to be registered in an international agreement. tificate about unity by consent, Margaret That- Unlike cher at least is honest. She is a Unionist and a loyalist to the core but no longer believes that an alliance with the Unionists alone will stem the nationalist tide. The have no executive role.
United Kingdom remains undiminished. Any atike tte Forum Report it seilly beted
Report fashion - Out! Out! Out!
The Dublin government can bask for a while in the glow of international acclaim, praise has come from Chancellor Kohl to President Mitterrand. over themselves to congratulate Thatcher. when the initial praise fades the accord will not lead to a solution.
Regardless of the mobilisation of loyalists by Unionist leaders which may or may not cast a shadow over the deal in the eyes of the world, it will not work because Garret FitzGerald and Mrs Thatcher do not represent the majority of Irish people. No bludgeoning of loyalists will break up the reactionary monolith which secures British interests. No amount of US dollars will succeed in creating jobs in an economy wrecked by partition. No wording of legal documents will conceal the fact that at the end of the tarianism of the Northern reformed away.
Northern against British imperialism for 16 years to settle for cosmetic measures which improve Britain's image at the UN. Only a struggle for a united Ireland which breaks the British link can find a democratic solution. Republicans do not pander to reactionary loyalism by claiming to respect its
'Unionist ethos' that the protestants of the North might expect more in the future than the drum-beating terror of 12 July or rallies outside the Belfast City Hall.
The instability of the 26 County state will not be
ended the day that the Dublin government gives advice to Westminster on how to run the North.
We have no brief and it would not be welcom-
ed to draw up plans or blue prints for a new Ireland. Our contribution (and it is the biggest
we can make) to fight remove the British
presence as soon as possible.
Even when the need
from Westminster. all photo: GM COOKSON
were tried by the their heads in
even en-
began a discussion which
were offering the Free State
economic and
In
legitimacy of the sec
pseudo-nationalists who
Dublin government is to Sovereignty of the
in singularly
In Britain Labour, Liberal and SP fall
But day the secstate be
nationalists have not struggled
- instead they hold out a hope
unconditionally to military and political
Black self-organisation...
A LOCAL PETITION against the expulsion of two supporters of black sections in the Labour Party has brought wide support from Sparkbrook constituency of Birmingham.
The executive committee of that constituency are trying to get rid of two Councillor Amir Khan and Kevin Scally for 'bringing the party into disrepute'.
Khan is a city coun cillor for the Spark Hill ward and Scally is a former branch secretary and elec-
agent for the same ward Khan's 'crime' that he set up a black section in this constituency whose MP is Roy Hattersley, deputy leader of
Labour Party and a virulent opponent of black sections, especially his personal interests are concerned.
At the inaugural meeting of the Sparkbrook black section, attended by
150 Khan said that black peo.
Amir Khan ple had failed to get a real stake in the decision making processes of the party and that this shoulo change.
Within a few days Hat-
A PiECE
First I worked for the East
I think-perhaps it was the
West - Anyway I was
recruited while I was
still at University - I
believe it was Cambridge
but it may have been
Moscow- I can't be
sure - Then 1 joined
the foreign Office -
party activists in the
longstanding members,
tersley, who is a strong supporter of all Labour's racist anti-immigration laws said I am totally and irrevocably opp posed to the creation of black sections.
divide • party, have spent 21 years in this constituency arguing that we are one people and wi hould not be divided.
At a later meeting he said that in Labour's ranks there were those who were intent on losing the general election to be confronted and that needed He called for the 'boil to be lanced' And the EC of the constituency responded by the move to expel the two leading supporters of the black section movement.
Hattersley supporters in Khan's ward tried to undermine the support for black sections by moving a
esolution opposing ther
nev were ucical
Scally's 'crime' is that he took part in a Channel Four programme called The Bandung File which
that had been made to enroll a large number of voters bogus party members. The Times described the programme as a 'sound expose of political corrup tion'.
It showed that towards the end of 1983 the local Labour • Party received a large block of membership
FF THE ACTION
- or the KGB, as it is more commonly known- and I defected and redefected and was caught and turned around and I betrayed my masters until I had a chance to betray my new masters, then I defected again-
...scares.racists
applications. Shalt on investigation of these
behalf of people who didn't understand what paid the su scription orr meant, who lived at non-existen addresses.
The programme made a strong case that Asiar voters in Birmingham Sparkbrook are being exploited as righ wing Labour voting fodder The programme produced interviews with a number of local speak English, some unable to speak wno claimea to nave beel signed winout their knowledge more less
Scally was branch secretary at the time and
Defend black sections
no expulsions
LABOUR PARTY Black Sections exist, all that is being demanded now is that they get official recognition. But one of the main reasons why they are not getting official recognition is because they break up the paternalistic relationship between a large number of right-wing, white, Labour MPs, and the black communities which have consistentl voted them into parliament.
returns Roy Hattersley as MP, is a striking case in point. The large Asian population votes Labour in its majority, and means Sparkbrook is a very sate seat for the party's deputy leader. But when a local black councillor, Amir Khan, moved to establish a black section in the constituency the result has been attempted expulsion.
The thinks that if Asian people were really organised politically in the Labour Party they
background to the Sparkbrook expulsions. mainly responsible for unearthing these malpractices. However when he took right whac they didnt want to dominated constituenScally wasn't surprised since the obvious aim of the malpractice vas to protect Hattersl against any threats to hi position. He tried and fail ed to have the matters investigated internally.
His appearance on The Bandung File with Amir Khan giving the facts of the situation has so enraged the leadership of the constituency that they are taking this drastic step expulsion The final deciSUl week. If expelled they in- beins taken this
Obviously the concept of loyalty doesn't mean much to you.... What will you do now?,
Politics Today
Birmingham Sparkbrook constituency, which What is Hattersley so worried about? Perhaps
might not choose someone with his politics as MP. The article on this page looks at some of the
tend to appeal to the na tional executive and campaign for their resinstatement "the black seo- be launched. tion national committee • Labour Commit. tee on Ireland have already taken the issue. Kevir Scally is on the nationa council of the LCI . There bo growing support for inside the Sparkbrook Pakistani and Irish communities.
• Copies of any •motions passed should be sent to the the Black Section National committee and the Campaign for Labour Party 10 Park Drive, London NWI
•CORMAC
Perhaps the British Labour Part is looking for a nen leader…..
Page 3 scan of this page
The onslaught on the NUM
Politics Today
a whole.
© Hancis Boyle
NO DETAILS of any pay offer until the NUM signs
surrender document market mentality. That, in a nutshell, was the Coal Board's position in five hours of fruitless and insulting talks.
When the NUM'S negotiating team reported the position to the national executive committee, the unanimous and angry - response of the NEC was that everv ettort should be made to expose the Coal Board the membership as a whole.
NEC anger further meleo ov that the talks with the
were held on the firm understanding that an offer Lallullai grade rates would be made.
The position had been spelled out in a letter to the NUM from Board's •e usuad canons Kevan Hunt. After rejecting wholesale the union's claims on working hours rate protection, shift
holiday pay and entitlement, solidation of incentive payments into grade rates, and payment of wages on a Mihans ne wrote
However, the Board are minded to make an orfer to increase national grade rates and to raise the payment for standard per-
ormance under the incen-
Surene. meeting on 1 November, the Board went back on its
THE NUM IS being attacked on all fronts explains general secretary PETER HEATHFIELD. The aim is to pave the way for the privatisation of Britain's coalfields - and at the heart of that is promoting Lynk's breakaway outfit. Defending the unity of the NUM is not only essential to protecting the job of every miner in Britain but to the future of the trade union movement as
Under Direct Management
V.D
HES,SIR
TE BAGS FULL, SIR THE CLOCKS GO BACK IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Behind the Coal Board pay strategy
accepting MacGregor's
word and point-blank rerusea lo orrer any increase on national grade rates.
They would not the barest details about any figure in mind. Only a reference to a 30p increase per shift on the incentive rate was made.
NUM negotiators persistently reminded the Board of the Hunt letter which clearly stated that the Board was "mindful' or making an orrer. The Board twisted and turned ment, coming up with absurd interpretations of the word 'mindful'.
It swiftly became apthat the whole Board strategy had been te lure the the meeting on false pretences, ensure negotiations quickly broke down and
pression that the NUM
aim was transparently obvious in the light of the offer made to the splitters' organisation: persuade
NUM was unwilling to negotiate thus acting as a
M
recruiting sergeant for the breakaway organisation.
But NUM negotiators immediately cut through the Board's strategy and insisted getting writing the Board's 'surrendel Lalk later' position. This information
being widely cir-
lUW culated among miners at
level, so inal the Board's tactics get the maximum exposure.
Meanwhile breakdown one one accence. by the splitters reveals
notable tacts. 9 all package is tre
ColL average faceworker comes off worst with 4.9 per cent.
In cash terms it breaks down as follows: £5.50 on
on standard performance
Live scheme For faceworkers on the Ul grade (the underground
Crease Dac Tale. the lowest since the Ted Heath days of 1973. The 4.9 per cent is only achieved when the 50p payments are taken into account.
Interestingly over •30
membership around 6500 — voted against ac ceptance. Assuming that ine vast majorıty oi Notts miners remaining In the NUM (around 7000) WOlO a So Have voted
VI"
Photo.
MANAGER 1926
DONT UNION against the offer, a majority for rejection would probably have been achieved In that case a minority has decided the level of pay increase the majority should get.
The in edict ble emphasis Board's Ininking was ine proposal to introduce new and additional schemes at pits and installations, making them dependent on yet higher productivity, profitability and better attendance. As
Coal Board can raise its productivity demands thinking here is clear: a ally time. it wishes, the boost in incentive payments for short period providing propaganda ammunition for poach it merryins. trying
Similar tactics were used in the formation of the Spence Then, when the workforce was suitably divided, harsher and harsher productivity demands would be introduced using as a stick the threat of cheap coal
from places like South Africa and Colombia.
Maximum profitability at certain pits would be achieved, setting the scene for privatisation it a Conservative government were re-elected for a third term.
'Splitting the
workforce is at
the heart of the
current struggle'
of Mineworkers is being attacked on all fronts. coal at around f39 a tonne.
Overall, the theme is line with our repeated warnings.
Favourable treatment, temporarily, walls be potent pits deemed to
potential big profit
earners while the rest o
he industry is run down
ing another Tory government) would then Lant place Or, Lord Stockton would perhaps
Past bit of she nations
of the nation's family silver would be sold off.
The key element achieving all this is the splitting of the workforce and that, essentially, is the heart of the current strug gle.
is a splits evideny
lead is LOU evident across the Channel. In Belgium and France the splitting of the miners pav-
UNION OF MINEWORKERS NOTTINGHAM AREA
Our Ref: RL: VR 7th November, 1985
• Road Sutton in Ashfield Norts.
Dear Mr. walton, you the matter vould again o wednesday, 20th November, 1985.
Socialist Action 29 November 1985 WHAT IS taking place now is virtually unparalleled in labour history. For daring to take a stand against the evil tide of unemployment, the National Union
Every effort has been made to get our funds released, yet the courts still turn the knife. At our pay talks the Board will not even tell us the figure they have in mind. The Plan for Coal is ripped up by a new Coal Board document which spells out that two-thirds of pits are at risk if they can't produce
Led the way for wholesale decimation of the coal industries of those two countries. The aim is to repeat that exercise here.
At present our biggest enemy in the fight against Spille allon is cle poison that being repeated ad nauseum. Inside this paper (The Miner) we provide the antidote to some of that noison. But that alone is not enough.
We need to start gettin positive messages all uss Crucially the splitters are not in a strong position. Outside Nottinghamshire they have just two per cent of the workers in their ranks. zoually important. as thi Lynk letter (below) demonstrates, they are anything our secures m Notts itself, resorting .to the crudest tactics in trving
Splitters demand
loyalty pledge
WITCH-hunts are gathering pace in the Notts coalfield with miners being threatened for daring to attend NUM meetings. Letters like the one here are being sent out pressurising men to sign loyalty pledges to the splitters. Newstead mineworker Harry Walton, who received the letter published here, said he was 'absolutely disgusted' with the situation. In true McCarthy style, paid officials of the splitters park their cars outside NUM meetings in Notts and then report those who attend to their Mansfield boss Roy Lynk.
MINERS' OFFICES. BERRY HILL LANE, MANSFIELD. NOTTS. NG18 4JU The Committee also agreed that l1 a written pledg discussed at theed meeting to ree need or
Yours sinc
R
R. Lynk General Secretary
The Miner special
issue
• This page wie
compiled from ihe
November issue of Ta
Miner, the first in me
montns due Io ine a
backs forced on ire
NUM as a result o
sequestration and
receivership. Copies it
available from: The
Editor, The Miner
NUM, St James House
Vicar Lane, Sheffield.
to stifle debate.
They fear greatly the NUM oxygen of publicity
ideas, and that precisely that area in which they must be
moment the media is
manufacture the idea that a bandwagon is in train. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The TUC and Labour Party have made it absolutely clear that a split, would disaster, ultimately causing massive hardship to all miners. The job in our union is to educate every miner to the lessons of history and show that progress - OI
pay hours allowances etc - is only forged in unity.
We need to seize the in. itiative and go on the of fensive, explaining in the breakaway pockets that splits have never helped working people, but mere-
the way for those toe people otherne the people who the labour. With clear-sighted and vigorou arguments
can rebuild the unity which is essential to de. fend every worker.
Telephone Mansfield 26094/5:6
Area Council
Page 4 scan of this page
4 of what's happening now.
:.. in Derby, Staffs
& Notts
THE a vital pi the NUM. on 16-17 November, across th the unio
Betty Heathfield:
along-
sign up the to the
bit DOLLONI signed to them
still in the NUM. raising
not
but also to
we have to pay our We try to
for those branches recognised the Coal
for the VULC NUM Coal doesn't recognise So they need money
Our clear.
Women Pit
closes issued
up the
and ticularly Derbyshire
where
It's
come to
but who can't.
They
Staf
councillors rule the
TOOSI
number of At the
moment
resolution our
women's arallisi
us.
Wednesday. LaSt week
Was occause
aren't to
Labour Party and the
Young Socialists waited
meet on Wednesday
nights. But we think we're
sorting it out.
Pam Oldfield,
Notts WAPC:
I'M in Don Concannon's
ward. Need I say more?
We took the Notts
resolution to our women's
section and said we wanted
to out it to the meeting.
The secretary replied: We
don't deal with things like
Socialist Action 29 November 1985
Defending the NUM
THE NATIONAL Union of Mineworkers continues to face the concerted onslaught of the Tory government, the National Coal Board and the media hawks. That attack is coming from all sides, as the material on page three of this paper shows. But the campaign to defend the national union goes on. We reprint below a selection
Don't bring
course we were organised into the section. While us were Labour
The unions.
but that
strike.
organised 1n the
ward meetings
We
We got
are making
us sooner than
they're going.
more pro-
else.
between the and the
almost every . GC Accor-
cannot recognise think
ignored, but very He is with the
we can't get that through our there are others that can. the of the Party has apthe national Against
to find out every every trades
and the Notts
Labour and the
The This will if we
this sort
It's working people.
locally alIe nationally
ble to the Tories
campaign.
Women
party, its union: its women's
It's campaigning body represents
politics.
fighting politics
of ideals. we must keep our identity and
The vote of the Bold NUM members, to accept the closure by 277:148, was a tremendous blow to
By Dick Withecombe
militants Lan-
cashire. It comes after a concerted campaign by the Coal Board, Mutua. and the UDM breakaway to close the pit.
The NCB offered large financial inducements and
followed up with planned
sabotage of production at the pit. The scabs at Bold,
some of whom had already
joined the UDM, organis-
ed a petition, an unofficial
ballot and strike action by
100 miners in favour of the
pit closing. They
were aided and abetted by
the NCB.
The NUM branch com-
mittee responded through
leaflets and won a majority
at a branch meeting
Arthur Scargill to address
their next branch meeting
due on 24 November. Un-
fortunately, the majority
of the committe buckled
under the pressure. They
gave up. the fight ana
organised a ballot before
that branch meeting where
could
have been had out openly.
The ballot result was
then foregone conclu-
sion. The minority at Bold
who argued against this
ballot and for a continuna-
tion of the fight are now
campaigning for the
largest number OI Mill
tants to take transfers to
other pits and to remain
within the industry. They
have also joined the cam-
paign across the coalfields
against the breakaway.
Only six pits now re-
main the Lancashire
coalfield. Of these, Agecroft Parsonage have to join the UDM. there
procedure ir the par-
at Liver-
tation of cheap South African with capacity
coalfield itself, noW
whole.
NUM leadership under Sid Ver. He su been
Bold _on raune]
be taken meeting.
in Notts and Derbyshire against breakaway. Rather, attempted make deals
cent has stated
not apply
keep
The coalfield supported
leadership Arthur
continue the Lan-
organise
cashire
Against Pit
in the area.
... in Warwick
have broken from the national union.
Daw
the NUM. do you
and what
Barry: Daw Mill
resolution was passed
Warwickshire district
would
are the only
was Out of
The
the bonus.
Barry: This could be seen
Dick Emery (leader or cab
breakaway at Daw announced that industria
would never be taken without a ballot.
The issue was democracy he said.
A few weeks after this statement Daw Mill was on strike. Not to defend jobs
DAW MILL pit is the only one in Warwickshire to
BARRY HOBSON, branch committee member of Keresley NUM, and CAROL HOBSON, national delegate to WAPC from Keresley Miners' Wives group, tok BERNIE KAVANAGH what it's like in the War-
sacked
their was There
Dick has built campaign
make general secretary
group thing
We been campaigning the sacked social at the end
resolutions we are
going take over But wev got them:
CAS
News
of the strike, but as the months went on and the NCB threats increased men startea to go back Most of these returned
increased, men started to go back Most .of these returned about Xmas, when the were getting desperate Atter the strike we had only one scab elected to the
Are moves to
breakaway leaders in
And there the same
pit meetings every
the NUM.
SIon
breakaway operating
are
open thei
the split is Ar-
in month
move by the NCB the
It has
ism
DEFEND
TU
Page 5 scan of this page
ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
ON 16-17 NOVEMBER
Socialist Action hosted a
weekend of debate and discussion under the rubric
of 'An Alliance for Socialism'. The conference
was attended by over 500
people who came to plenary sessions and participated in workshops.
Last week, in a special issue, we published the key
speeches on the general
strategic issued raised at
the conference, in particular the contributions
of Tony Benn, Diane
Abbott, Betty Heathfield,
and the African National Congress. In the pages that
follow we are publishing some more of the speeches
and discussion that took
place at the event. We are
devoting this space to the
ideas expressed at the conference because most of
the issues broached are of
keen importance to the whole labour movement. A new phase of development of the left has been opened up in the aftermath of the
miners' strike which demands new strategic debates. The discussions at the Alliance for Socialism weekend are reproduced as
La contribution to that process.
win.
WHEN we look at the alliances that have been built up, people, women, lesbian and gay people, in other words sections of the oppressed that Kinnock and his triend. want to dump overboard in pursuit of their electoralist road to Number len. we realise that they have been forged •v te anlasuc suruggc or uneational Union of Mineworkers, and by the struggle of black youth throughout Britain. I think it's very important that the left should examine and try to understand what is happening
When we look at the emergence of struggie in tne inner ciles and now black youth have stood up fought, we know something important about the wav that the political system in this country has alienated a section of the population. We can see how that section has moved onto the streets and fought against state oppression manifested through the constant harassment from the police and the aole queue
During the miners' strike, a black yuuli In Hacknev told me that he would willingly give his last pound to the National Union of Mineworkers, although he said there was no way he would spend it trying to get into the sabour Partv. We haveto understand why. We have to consider the party's record on race.
Every time the Labour Party has been in government recently it's sold out black people.
1968 a racist immigration power In 1aW i passea Tories another in '71 but Labour government did not repeal it, despite making a manifesto pledge to do so. We also know that the Labour Party drafted much of what is in the
Nationality Act. appalling.
We need to demonstrate to black youth that this movement is relevant to their concerns. and their demands. I hope that we're carule lal parucula also that we're learning how the constitution of the Labour Party is used against us.
we have heard the secretary of the party and Kinnock's other cohorts say that constituencies should relax the constitution so that no one is expelled becalise mev are memnerc ornal scan grouping, the UDM. I won't call it a union because it's not. We know that constitutionally vuu can't member of apc-amiaed bein. lember o
we nave Lewisham East where Russeil Profitt stood firm on the principle of black
«Black people are
prepared to organise on
a huge scale in support
of the working class"
AN ALLIANCE of the oppressed and the working class
has been forged out of the miners' strike and the uprisings of black youth said MARC WADSWORTH, of the Labour Party Black Section National Committee.
We can learn from the miners and black people in
struggle how to stand up and fight as socialists...and
between black where two black
we discovered something
relaxing of the constitution there.
and another for black legs. And we must oppose that.
which is raised against us, also understand the range of facilities and available to our opponents. I want to talk about the media for a moment, about the way that the news media covered the uprisings and the miners struggle. we all coverage of Orgreave
the way the struggle of youth in Handsworth was branded inter-racial strife.
to Handsworth during that struggle and made quite clear that we stand
in this movement. What happened in When we were in
Dassed the following
The record is
their aspirations
HeSsOl anle
general
Nottingham
be
black sections
Wing on
representation coming before any individual's parliamentary career and
section delegates services were involved in his selection. There black.
different. The bootboys from Walworth koad came in and decided that the selection meeting was not official and ing black. could not be recognised. There is no again.
There is one law for black sections attempted
In understanding the opposition
we must
the working Tories stand for.
know about the cameras were behind police lines. We all know about
The black section leadership went
united as Afro-Caribbean and Asian
IN BLUE
ARE AFTER
YAll
Socialist Action 29 November 1985 miorlalt.
We've seen the galvanising of two parts of the oppressed black peoples in this country, the coming together of the Afro-Caribbean and Asian.
Hattersley has said that what's go-
in constituency of Sparkbrook is extremist infiltration of the Labour Party. Work that one out if you can! He also says that you can't define "black'. The immigration
have no problem defining The social security snoopers looking for so-called scroungers have no problem defining black. The racist 'boys in blue' have no problem defin-
So turn again Roy, turn
Our opponents on the right have
shift autenuol from black youth by focussing the oca cenze on and order. Will Bernie Grant condemn youth violence? But not will Margaret Thatcher condemn state violence againsi
class? This is what the
It is absolutely vital that we don't buckle under the sort of pressures that will be mounted against us as we begır to unify. What is happening in the black communities. not iust in Britair but also in Azania, is truly and hugely significant for the whole of the work- ing class world-wide. That's why in me
the black sections we are concerned to build the international links to bring together the black family
We've got to support the demands
5 of people in struggle. We've got to support the demands of the oppressed. To those in the Labour Party who say we can't have black sections, well I've got something to tell them: black people in the party have voted witł their feet — 35 black sections in tw years. We've got black sections. What we're actually asking for is recognition. You're not going to give us black sections because we've already got them. And we're not coming to beg or crawl for the right to self-organise, because that is absolute and non. negotiable
6 We need to learn from the executive of the NUM.
They said to us: we'll
support you. You didn't
try to tell us how to run our strike and we won't tell
you how to wage your
struggle for black sections
in the Labour Partv.9
I want to look at the role played by unions to date. The black community is watching and watching very carefully. They're watching our actions in the party and our actions in the trade uLUIN They see the way that the demand for black sections has been crushed for Lwo vedrs rulee Labour Party conference by the bloc vote wheeled out against us. Where were the organised contingents of white trade unionists on the Black People's March for Justice? Where were trade umonists the recent Anti-Apartheid march?
We have to understand that the labour movement is not going to be taken seriously until we re preparec to go out and prove that we are part of
struggle. lal wal 'Alliance for Socialism' means for
We need to learn from the executive of the NUM. They said to us: 'We'll support you. You didn't try to tell us how to run our strike and we won't tell you how to wage your struggle for black sections in the Labour Party'. I wish a few more unions would learn from that principled position.
It is a position forged out of an
6 What is happening in the
black communities, not
just in Britain but also in Azania, is truly and hugely significant for the whole of
the working class world-wide.9 understanding, a deep understanding. of exactly what we're engaged in and how we should relate to the demands of oppressed sections of our move ment. precisely where we should be moving 1S all understanding 01
when we talk about an alliance that is true and right.
l'd like to say that the miners have taught us something. have taught us a lot about how black peo. ple are prepared to organise and raise money on a huge scale in support of working class struggle. It showed us that the potential for black people being the sharpest point of resistance in this country is huge
We really need to build on that comrades. United and fighting together we can win. We must learr from the miners and black people in struggle to stand up and fight a socialists.
Page 6 scan of this page
6 Socialist Action
for women?
IN MY contribution I want to take on the whole argument of class versus gender, because it is a central argument in the Labour Party. think it is a central argument both between women, and between men and women, on the left. In my view this has to be taken on or women are not going to be able to sort out where we go from here.
I am particularly moved to do so because, just before the Labour Party conference this year, I went to address the Campaign group of MPs. And it turned out to be quite an unpleasant experience. I had gone there to ask them to support WAC's demand that, between now and the end of the selec-
6 Women have to come up
front far more with our demands because we've been pushed onto the defensive, into the
background, by our own
refusal to say that our demands are truly revolutionary and truly
tion process, CLPs should draw up women-only shortlists. We asked for this because the number of women be. ing selected for parliamentary seats is so pathetically low that there is a very strong possibility that we may end up with fewer women in the next parliament than we have in this one.
When I said this I came up against
wall of resistance and which was led by the Militant MPs
and the Militant representative of th YS, who accused WAC, and me l particular, of not being socialists, not having 'socialist' objectives as our key demands. At one stage one very prominent member • of the Campaign group very woundingly The trouble with you is that you are just a radical feminist!' And of course I said: "no, I'm a socialist as well.
I went away worrying about why I had felt the need to say that. This argument is now not only occurring between Militant and other
the left but in secuUlls groups, like the SWP, who seem to
see women's demands as diversionary
and indeed reactionary.
I want to say here that I am going to come out today and admit to being a radical feminist. And I'm going to
go further and say that
describe myself as a socialist feminist
or a revolutionary feminist, because I believe that by doing so I imply that
there is something that is not socialist
revoluonay about
feminism. I believe radical feminism
is both. And I think that it is about
time that women said so.
confronted men in the
Time ta we
movement with that truth
If we look at the divisions in socie-
ty we can see why we are facing this
problem as feminists. For most men
on the left, and some women,
important division
horizontal one, the class division. But
what we are contronung as women Is
a division which is actually vertica.,
which runs through classes.
29 November 1985
What alliances
And 1 people. unites the struggle of
The first
tion,
1840. This was Slavery convention. women Cady Stanton and Susan who had
they were women
convention they
what happened:
ladies socialist. 9 A merca
Anti-Slavery inviting ladies. that this dissolved at this
adopted.'
hostility,
should be of
as they said to me:
ana exclusion or women terribly tical alvisions
those whose other horizontal divisions into class.
because I think that
are absolutely fundamental,
don't Movement le
which that
"I am going to come out today and admit to being a radical feminist. And I'm going to go further and say that I don't describe myself as a socialist feminist or a revolutionary feminist because I believe that by doing so I imply that there is something that is not socialist or
revolutionary about radical feminism. 9
horizontal division can radical the oppression of all.
It's about
will
aren't the ward.
argument inside the of Decause
Ann Pettifor
This vertical division on which oppression by gender is based is similar to another division, that is the divi- women. sion of oppression suffered by black
This is the main thing that women and blacks: that their oppression is a vertical question and not simply based on class. It curves through the classes.
women's liberation movement was triggered into life by the campaign against slavery. The one single event which set moving the first women's liberation movement, which led to the 1848 Seneca Falls conven-
the first one of the women's movement, took place in London in
the World AntiTwo American the come rele "Anthony, been fighting slaverv America and receiving much abuse and contempt for doing so because
When they arrived at the London
were barred from glossy entering by English Liberal men. I'll just quote from their own history of
Labour 'The Rev J Burnett made a most touching appeal to the
conform English prejudices and customs so far as to withdraw their credentials, as it pictures never did occur to the British Foreign
Society that thev WCIC It is better, said he, convention should be moment than that this motion to invite women should be
The women refused, but were nonetheless excluded and forced to sit in the gallery where they were fenced off behind a bar and a curtain.
Their supporters, the men on the conference floor who had moved they
included, said that the 'ladies had graciously accepted' being placed behind this curtain. So they were as angry with their 'supporters'
were with anyone else. The very Liberals who were recognising the oppression of black slaves were refusing to recognise the oppression
It is this recognition of these ver- about
can bring both blacks and women into conflict with
sole concern 1S the
The reason I address all this is not
Fi the horizontal divisions in our society along lines of class are not important. I think they
and it is TION impossible for the women's liberation
work from anywhere more except within the framework of class as well. But ways have to be found in
vera cal division and be brought
alongside each other to fight against
It seems to me that the only way
they can be brought into line is for the
class struggle to be led by women, and by black women, because then we will have jelled together those forces and
La truly revolutionary
force. But until we do that womer
going to be able to move forI'm saying all this because of the labour Party the defensiveness that
women feel about being feminist and
RADICAL FEMINISM is both socialist and about being radical feminist. We are embarrassed by supporting women as
We are constantly thrown back by the men onto the issue of
I am very, very active in the Labour Party, so active that 1 rarely see anything beyond it. And right now the Labour Party has a big marketing
So much of male revolutionary theory makes
it seem as though we are only around for some great
climax in the future which
I won't necessarily be around to be part of.9
effort on. Like many other sections ot the left they are suddenly becoming aware of the question of style, of how to project themselves in a more popular way. We were all circulated with a
leaflet our wards women's sections recently advertising
Party products. Included amongst them were bread-boards and tea-trays all of which had nostalgic pictures of Labour women in 1914-
• women making bread, making tea, women in the home.
There is nothing at all surprising about this. what the Labour Party understands about the role of women. This is as much as political statement about the Labour Party's understanding of the role of women as any academic tome could tell you
the Labour Party's view women at the moment. For me it is a great sadness. It shows how little we women have gained and achieved as feminists in the party. By 1985 we have to say we have failed dismally to transform and alter that political view in the Labour Party, more than 150 years after the Seneca Falls conven-
Women have to come up front far WILS demands. we've been pushed onto the defen-
sive, into the background, by our own
refusal to say that our demands are truly revolutionary and truly socialist.
In order to unite the working class it is going to be necessary for women to
lead the struggle of the working class.
Only then will verital horizontal divisions be overcome to
make the struggle against any of them
effective.
We must also assert what it is that
women are saying about
change, about revolutionary change.
want to say that 1 am a radical
feminist for one ouck
because radical feminism is truly
revolutionary in its practice. It is a
revolution that is taking place now.
myself, my le and esse lives of ofte the business
women. Radical feminism enables me
to see the possibility of doing that in
the here and now, in a way that a lot
of other revolutionary theory
So much of male revolutionary
theory makes it seem as though we are
only around for some great climax in
the future which I won't necessarily
revolutionary argued ANN PETTIFOR, Labour Women's Action Committee national organiser, at a workshop debate on what alliances for women. JUDE WOODWARD, also a member of the WAC executive, countered that socialists don't deserve the name unless
be around to be part of. It is a event future, which will be the result of the tremendous inspiration of our heroes.
But it is not something that 1 can be part of on an everyday basis. Radical feminism is far more optimistic thar that, far more hopeful. It says that it is possible to change things in the here and now, and that women are doing That is an approach that I can relate to as a person in a way that I can't to other revolutionary theory.! hopefulness of radical feminism needed if we are to energise the work-
Women have to more assertively and forcefully about who they are and what they are doing, and intimidated theories that place us the struggle and make us marginal We are not marginal. We are central And they need us. It's about time that and we asserted that and stopped being defensive.
I am economic independence of women. I am not a woman who thinks our pro blems can be solved by a bit of legislation changing work patterns in the home, by persuasion, amontell. For me the that ever happen worthwhile tor witch ansc
6 We were all circulated with a glossy leaflet in our wards and women's sections recently advertising Labour Party products. Included amongst them were bread-boards and tea-trays all of which had nostalgic pictures of Labour
women in 1914 — pictures of women making bread,
making tea, women in the home. There is nothing
surprising about this. This is what the Labour Party
understands about the role of women. y economic independence and ending their dependence on men as What worries me is thạt the Labour of Party and the left don't really see that as an objective, as a demand of central importance. I think that is incredibly revolutionary. We are asking for both things simultaneously.
I call this radical feminism. I see no reason to be apologetic about it. It is not separate from are about, it is absolutely the most revolutionary because raised. categories and theories that have been previously developed by but we have to go beyond them to define new objectives, new strategies because women have been ignored for so long:
and anything to do with liberal feminism That is always the charge that is made by men in the movement to make women feel guilty TUC and the Labour Party said in 1901 when they rejected the demand pontica. for women's suffrage, saying it was a
reason,
dependent upon those two cannelle
can't middle class demand. It made those women feel bad as well, because there doubt that women were going to be enfranchised
sometime in the optimism and
come out much
Mait way behind in
fighting for the complete
through only changes alre really women are those from increasing their
Photo: CM COOKSON
such. what socialists was mel
aemana Inal call Actress
We have to use many of the
socialists,
I reject the idea that this has got
That is what the
6 The way I see it, the liberation of all people is
forces - women and the working class — working together and not against class
eachother.9
middle class
WOME
aga
if the demand for votes for women
But we are not going to fall back
Joan Collins might well benefit from our campaign. Yes, what we are doing about asserting women's rights, and about tighting for women, is benefitting people like Joan Collins who get big parts on our televisions screens every week as strong, assertive women who own oil companies. But that doesn't stop me from saying that our prime demand is to get economic independence for women, that this is a very revolutionary demand and men nave got to unaelstanu hills
The only way we are going to overcome the prejudice that exists against women is by getting together women standing together, experiencing collective action together, talking about it, organising together. That's the only power we have. It's the only power the working class ever had
The way I see it. the liberation of all people is dependent upon those two forces — women and the working
working together and not against each other. I suppose that what I am saying is that so much of what the labour movement does for the working class is done on the backs of half the working class. And we are not going to move forward until they get off our backs.
Page 7 scan of this page
I AM not going to start by responding to what Ann has said, because there is much of it that I agree with.
Walt something of the enormity of what we caine will wich we say we lake on the whole question of how to fight
cumstances it can be abolished.
went on to explain that is is not the nationalisation of the monopolies,
democracy, or greater equality. These are a means to an end. The end, the goal, is the liberation of the whole of
impossible to talk about
one discriminated against because of their face or colour, one nation is oppressed by another. If we are talking about nooza society where not woman is oppressed because of her
ana 1 am not merested In setting a goal of anything less - then you have to grasp the enormity of the
Moreover, women's has been around for a very, very long time. A lot of people who describe -themselves as Marxists think that the 'Marxist' view is that women's oppression somelling capitalism as such. All you have to do is get rid of capitalism and women's oppression will somehow disappear as a result. This is not what Marx or Engels thought. In his book The Origin of the Family, Property and the State - a book that is much maligned from virtually all points of view - Engels described the oppression of women as the first step out of 'primitive communism'
He described the creation of a society in which women were oppressed as the result of the first class struggle. Or to put it another way, the first step out of primitive "communis. into 'civilisation' achieved on the backs of women, by
what Engels described as 'the world historic defeat of the female sex'.
In other words, the oppression of
women was the first real oppression to come into existence in the world.
And unfortunately I have every confidence in saying that it will be the last to disappear.
It will disappear long after nation has ceased to oppress nation. while the particular brutality of the oppression of black people is horrifying, and also involves a historic struggle to eliminate, I think sexism will even outlast that. The oppression of women is so built into the detail of our personal lives, so fundamentall! based within the family structure as
that it will require, generations to have been brought ip in a different way to wipe it our.
I'll just throw in another point
that Engels makes which many of our
so-called Marxists seem to overlook
because it touches a raw nerve.
says within
analogy is that the man stands in the
position of the bourgeois
woman the proletarian. It is not just
hey wage a serious fight for women's liberation. There was clear agreement on some fundamentals. Women's beration has to be central to the concerns of the labour movement, and if women don't wage that fight then obody else will do it for them. Women have come a long way - but they have even further to go.
that's Marxist orthodoxy!
Anyone who does not
socialism without. tion' is true in a very basic way. is not UlIC the reat job.
of capitalism
oppression
with
'naturally' Mao s government, aller
Private
even being able lo walk
into
was
•It is not just a problem of capitalism. Women were oppressed long before capitalism came into existence. The struggle we are engaged in is nowhere near its
conclusion, and it will not be ended by the overthrow of
capitalism. In many respects we will only then start
mental office (apart from number of queens) was
October 1917.
And China, the European countries,
capilanst revoluton
Many other literalis. union is the best.
women in
He family the
and the in society, have been made
Jude Woodward
the ruling class that oppresses us, but within the confines of the family it is truly men who are the problem! And
place une question of fighting women's oppression centrally does not deserve the name socialist. lhe old slogan no
women's libera-
JuSt a problem of capitalism. Women were oppressed
It is impossible to talk about socialism coming into existence as long as one woman is oppressed it, because of her sex. 9
long before capitalism came into existence. The struggle we are engaged in is nowhere near its conclusion, and it will not be ended ov the overthrow of capitalism. In many respects we will only then start getting down to
However, all that said; getting rid
will do women a gical deal of good. We have an absolute in-
societies that have taken the first steps out of capitalism into a new kind of
China. The most dramatic blow that has ever been struck against women's
was
hibited the binding of women's feet. A barbaric practice which more than anything symbolised the position of women in society. the aim of toot- better binding was to prevent women from
A similar statement could be made
USSR today are still grotesquely op-
hitle nas achieved on the road to women's liberation, certain things which we are still fighting for in the 'democratic' west were won at a stroke in 1917: abortion rights, complete freedom of getting down to the real job.?
divorce, and so on. Indeed, the first woman in the world to hold govern
La small Alexandra Kollontai in the Soviet Union after
There is one little fact which, as a member and enthusiastic supporter of WAC, I rather take note of. In Cuba,
USSR, all the Eastern North Korea, Vietnam. Nicaragua. Yugoslavia. every country that has had an anti-
even muc worst of them there are more women in the central legislative bodies than in any country in the world. And I mean
country. The Soviet with nearly 40 per cent women. The 3.5 per cent or so of
Parliament here nakes rather sad reading compared to this. It's not that these are our models, but it is important to note the tacts.
have been really changing the position of women
in the course of movements, struggles and
described revolutions themselves. working class. socialists
solutely
women been diabolical,
first Marxist • although
died Marx had with Hynd.
the early
Not only did the positions or as 'imperialist
currents. They deserve name Marxism, stridently
played an
example, •own daughter,
She
in building tion to the SDF.
emerged The suffragette
with her
Ireland.
World War I disappear.9
It is to that kind of tradition tha: we have to look to in rebuilding a socialist tradition in the labour morement and in the Labour Party today It was a socialist traditior. understood that while the wortse class is the only force In
capable of leading the struggle for the
we first condition capitalism,
with itself in
and against tionally
view, in was innot just the
own
been made to really changing the position of women in society have been made in the course of movements, struggles and revolutions which described themselves as socialist. As socialists we shouldn't feel ashamed of
the
Terested that
FO
also
is accused of it,
and services.
higher wage
cataclysmic al zullicill
that.
because been achieved: the vote, some abor tion rights, more women are in paid work than ever before, and so on
until we can get even a few women in positions of real leadership the understanding how we got the vote is a mystery. pessimistic. People's ideas do chang particularly in the course of struggi
ple of that recently during the miners' strike. A ferr Scargill was detencite a
water!
to get rid of
possibly be
keeps
interna- 1OU
labour move-
women.
this is so little
by himself
the British communities.
women's But we
points of view
saying that. 9
dependence past.
Ten.
self-
'Impossibilism'
fighting we de. until after from our The
takes the
already
think If we have to wait for socialism
more
movement, then the fact that
But, that is why I am not
We've had a rather graphic exam-
years Arthur
page three ==. and ou compart. chet
=es strike and
Socialist Artin 29 Norember 1985 7 the role that women played, he considers the demand for women MPs to be quite justified, and indeed nobody 'is more fitted' to lead the labour movement than women. And he
very quiet about pin-ups, I'm sure he's changed his mind on that
"If the organised labour
movement wants to unite with women it can only be
done on the basis of supporting the demands of
That means in the here and now, and not just
in some distant future.!
But he didn't change his mind all
Women forced him to And many other people's minds were changed too, not just in the mining
The Greenham womer made an enormous impact as well. I think we are making progress. It is slow, and we have a long way to go
can't afford give precisely because we are socialists and feminists. Putting our demands women up front is vital from both
I also agree with Ann that as ar off-shoot of our struggle, as a sort o ringe benefit, women like Joan Cr ins or indeed Margaret Thatcher ma gain. I don't believe Margaret Thatcher got there on her own, as she likes to claim. She got to be prime minister on the backs of all the predominantly working class women who have wag. ed a struggle for their rights, their in-
their freedom Without the suffragettes, without the struggles for equal pay, without the women's liberation move. ment of the last two decades there would be no Mrs Thatcher at Number
"In the end we have to rely
on the women who have
most to gain and least to
Close — working class women. For them the
interests of their class and
their interests as women
coincide.›
But that WORl make stop
We are not fighting for women like that — who make gains
struggles, out use inost gains to push the majority of women
What we are fighting for is the real economic independence of all women, not a privileged few — and to achieve that, in the end Joan Collins will have to give up her oil company
So, to end on Ann's points about radical feminism - and this is where the crunch comes, although I don't
for disagree. When it comes to it, which will be more important to a Joan Collins: the fact that she is a woman, or
she owns an oil com pany? Which is more important to Margaret Thatcher?
In the end we have to rely on the women who have most to gain and least to lose — working ciass womeFor them the interests of their case and their interests as womer :3c: Women like Margare: our hypothetica
passes tha: far: then i doc: ars » finally disagree
Page 8 scan of this page
ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
8
South Africa"
compelled even the Thatcher government to take
TERRY of the Anti Apartheid Movement. unions and the Labour Party have a special responsibility.
THERE is an unprecedented depth to the crisis of the apartheid regime in South Africa and its allies, seen most significantly in the South African decisIon to maintain moratorium on the repayment overseas debts. I ne South African regime is in debt to the tune of $24bn of outstanding loans, $10bn of which were due for repayment this year. The regime can't see its way out of the crisis, and its traditional friends in the financial community are very reluc-
That crisis is behind the initiatives which have been taken from within the white population and behind the divisions which are emerging. The Botha regime itself is in a state of confusion, internally and externally.
Twenty months ago the regime was talking peace and signing cords, yet it escalates its war of attrition and destabilisation azallisl neighbouring states. One minute it takes measures to make it easier for its allies to support it; the next it does things which pose problems even for its closest backer, the United States.
The most important tning recognise is that this has come about primarily because of the struggles of the oppressed people of South Africa and Namibia. the media sees change in terms. of the white community and white politics.
These perceptions which are essential-
SOUTA
Photo: (IM 6 XX)K.SO)N
Socialist Action 29 November 1985
"Stand by the people of
THE FORCE OF the liberation struggle in South Africa,
backed up by the solidarity movement abroad, has
measures against the apartheid regime argued MIKE
We have the power, through direct action, to isolate Botha. The trade
ly racist, have to be challenged constantly if we are to develop the kind of solidarity that can stand by the people of South Africa. their The depth of the crisis is reflected of in the level struggle sometimes even sympathetic people underestimate. The there alc 100,000 South soldiers now soldier for dolles, There is this other factor at work and that's the desire by the ruling circles of western countries to try to offset public opinion by seeming to distance themselves from the regime.
But there are others who believe their interests are best served by giving more explicit backing to that system.
That's what Thatcher has chosen to do. Wherever there's a prospect of taking the meekest measures to isolate South Africa, Britain's role has been to block them, as at the UN recently.
However, at the conference of Commonwealth nations, Britain was obliged to take measures, measures which to the shame of Labour administrations
KICAN
ATONAL CONCEN
EDINBUKCH
STUDENTS
SAY
implemented. They include: the ban on computer sales to the police; a ban on the import of Kruger-
effective oil embargo.
Thatcher described 'tiny-weeny shift in policy'. rand sales alone earn $140bn.
Mrs Thatcher but it's a lot of money to the South African regime.
the most government, measures which government has consistently refused to take. This is an indication that the mere fact that solidarity movement internationally is
African a much more powerful force today Namibia than it was ever before. five which this government can no longer assume itself to act as the number one DrOLCCLO. of South challenge has been most meaningfully expressed in the words of Oliver Tambo, the Labour Party conference and the 2 November demonstranon organised
é When we campaign for sanctions for the isolation of South Africa we understand that we are complementing the liberation struggle there, not substituting
by the Anti Apartheid Movement: 'people sanctions'. People have the OOWCIl South Africa if the Tory government isn't prepared to do so.
at the BTR factory in South Africa are on strike, brought in, that the previous movement in this country should take action at BTR and at Dunlop its sub-
FRICA
military South Africa. rands to this country; a ban on trade Whether promotion to South Africa; and an
these as KrugerSouth Atrica That may be a little bit for leaders.
We've seen the Thatcher govern-
pro-south being forced to impletrial, lawyers, LaDONt
munity on trial.
We have to create a situation in
gle. It's Africa. This elements who ing to protect president of the ANC, given to
denied to the regime
for it. 9 Southampton
capacity to isolate loaded.
Swansea dockers This means that when the workers
and scab labour Is trade role to play
ty. 2XP.
sidiary, to make it more difficult for that company to pursue its policies in
you're involved in the student movement. in the black com munity, or in the trade union movement, wnerever you look you can see struggles in South Africa which can be reinforced by action here.
Take the current trial of UDF
There's scarcely a section of our community which can't be touched in some way to express its solidarity with those intrepid leaders on trial for high treason. There is a doctor on
trade union leaders, leaders of the Indian and Asian com-
When we campaign for sanctions, for the isolation of South Africa, we uno estame war we are comoremer ting the liberation struggle there, not somehow substituting for that strug-
clear that some of the are currently talking about the need for sanctions are try-
western interests in order to control change. . We have to be wary when they talk about the need for limited sanctions or selective sanctions. Ultimately we must have total universal sanctions so that all forms of collaboration between this country past and the international community are
We welcome the action taken at our
docks when dockers along will otner umons lackca dowi military equipment which was being exported to South Africa, blocked it on the quayside and stopped it being
We welcome the action by who stopped coal from South Africa being unloaded The labour movement has a particular
"Ultimately we must have total universal sanctions so that all forms of collaboration between this country or
Those who talk about municipal socialism have a special responsibili-
here has to be a campaign to disinvest from those companies who operate investments and services in South Africa. The same is true of the boycott campaign. We saw the first rea breakthrough this when after 25 years the Coop suddenly got its act together and stopped purchasing South African goods. Within a
Other Books
The following selection of books on South Africa is available
by post from Other Books:
South Africa: white rule, black revolt
Ernest Harsch, Monad, 352pp, £6.25 plus 69p postage
Class and Colour in South Africa 1850-1950
Jack and Ray Simons, International Defence and Aid Fund, 702pp.
£5.00 plus £1.33 postage
Part of My Soul
Winnie Mandela, Penguin, 159pp, £2.95 plus 25p postage
To Honour Women's Day: profiles of leading women in the South
African and Namibian liberation struggles
IDAF, 56pp, £1.00 plus 22p postage
Nelson Mandela: I am prepared to die
IDAF, 48pp, £0.50 plus 22p postage
Nelson Mandela: the struggle is my life
IDAF, 208pp, f1.85 plus 46p postage
• Make cheques or postal orders payable to IMRS. Orders with
payment should be sent to: Other Books, PO Box 50, London NI
few days Sainsbury's announced that it had instructed its buyers to look for alternative sources
At the end of October, students took Barclay's advertising at its word and visited their Barclay's manager. They made 350 Barclay's branches across the country inoperative for
6 We are now at the point
where the Anti Apartheid
Movement can agree a programme to take the whole movement onto a new level. We've seen unprecedented levels of action in the past 12 months.›
much of one day. The Barclay's campaign should be stepped up.
We're now at the point where the Anti Apartheid Movement can agree a programme to take the whole movement onto a new level. We've seen unprecedented levels of action in the
That momentum must be maintained
many more activists working in our local groups, building
union and labour movement, ensuring that the Labour Party and other political par: ties take seriously their policies South Africa. particular we are planning a trade union conference to put a resolution to the TUC that it's now up to the trade union movement itself to isolate South Africa, and to follow that conference with a week of
the international commumity and this regime are
denied. ›
trade union action
At the heart of what we're doing is the need to send the message of solidarity to those struggling in South Africa. When we can get that message through it gives those people that extra renewed confidence to make their very courageous sacrifices to bring about the end of apartheid. In so doing they will have struck a very big blow to the racists in this country and abroad
Page 9 scan of this page
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Run] a4]
Page 10 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action THE MOOD at the recent CND conference was that the grass roots membership want to get more involved in direct action. They want to campaign around getting out of NATO, because they are beginning to understand that you can't possibiy get rid of the weapons and get rid of the bases, and remain in that alliance. For example, the way that that conterence responded to Paul Johns (the new chairperson) when he held a piece of barbed wire in his hand and said that he was in police custody the previous Sunday, having cut the fence at Molesworth. There was a moment there of surprise and then everyone was on their feet. Every favourably to that.
Time and time again throughout the weekend people looking for ways to bring the campaign out, to make it more aclive. But the impression that they'd on ented as that they'd not voted that effect. The way that LilC made it harder for votes business was done
reflect the feeling of the conference.
I think that for a hell of a lo cambiaian there has
there been a lack call vasil of direction and a lack of real commitment direct action. On
Greenham
DESPITE TREMENDOUS economic situation in El Salvador is pushing the urban masses onto the streets. That is how MANUEL, representative in Europe of the FDR, explained the situation today when he American workshop of the 'Alliance for Socialism', weekend conference hosted recently. Now is the time, he said, to step up support for the struggle throughout Central America.
military in-
and
naval with boats
coastal between Nicaragua and Salvador.
elaborating
EcatulCs JUul
resstepped-up making certain readjustments.
of forces. Instead, we organise highly mobile six fighters. see
at a time. extensive
not just one two
ours.
On developing mass movements have exposed
Via Briz!
29 November 1985
Cometo Greenham
14-15 December
single person responded
there are going to be a lot of people who take direct action the authorities and being prepared face But the leadership of CND
prepared to lead this. They would rather put it ott, put it off, and put it off.
By taking this tack, thev are taking a lifeline away from the movement. Saying that they support neone wier usev because they are not prepared to stand with them - that is the position the leadership is In. It's divorced from the cam-
New tactics in El Salvador
repression, the
spoke at the Central
by Socialist Action
response with involvement in the mass mobilisation is what will develop the FMLN from just being a front into becoming a real Nortea bariveu tital way we can respond better to the intervention of US imperialism.
The key task for solidarity activists is not
around El Salvador
tion of American imperialism Central America as a whole. The situation is becoming more complicated. The Americans have stepped up support for the contras now have not been able to Nicaragua but win a strategic victory over the Sandinista government there. It's important the solidarity movement to studv in more detall the Us military strategy.
The US government learned to a certain extent the lessons of Vietnam: that it's not just what happens on the ground but public opinion in the USA and Western Europe. At LIC been able to bring about a consensus among all the forces and institutions of Congress around his policy
central America know they're prioritising a military strategy
OCLaUSO
Another demonstration has been called Greenham to show that the long-awaited apathy hasn't set in. It comes as a call from the women's peace conference that was
ec n manchester were over 700 women attended
large gathering to restate OUI ousitiul. give women the ability to come and demonstrate in large numbers, lave UnIC security of working with
women and taking Olici their first steps unal probably get them active. That feeling is very strong.
On Sunday, a whole range LODICS will be discussed at the various gates. At the yellow gate is violence against women: and battered wives, and
and in third world being Countres tortured and being raped. At the
to be dealing with issues of the South Pacific, British testing and dumping and exploitation that causes
Pacific people have to deal WIld
'he blue gate will deal
they're boycotting in-
bring haver WICH call about political solutions.
Another important task for the solidarity movement 1S to unmask the false view that Duarte
extremely democratic because he was elected, while Daniel Ortega (who was eleciel democratically) un-
This definition of democracy boils
with the Americans or not.
The continuing violation of human rights in El Salvador must be de-
children of the secretary of use conmuucalons umon in San Salvador were kidnappec and tortured There was a tremendous response by the workers to this repression by the
The US
wants to win backing for its policies in l Salvador by cleaning up its reputaLon. Il Is pulling Il to lne UN to have El Salvador taken out of the category human rights. nations who violate
The people of America and Europe have contributed money struggle and we need that
We need continue. money to support our radio stations and for medical aid. We've had internationalists come into olr a berated zones o co tribute their medical skills, to look atter our wounded
that's important. But everyone can contribute money to sustain all our needs.
Central America Labour Group Founding Conference Saturday 14 December, 10-5pm County Hall, London SE1 ALG s supported by the Viaragua Soldan!! E Sahador Soldariry Campaign an
The conference is
e London SWAhone 01-2227719)
By Helen John
with the issue of the food moullalls
•com ing down will be
They were
Since
of have
arrested
There aren't any specific calls for
A lot of women moved
directions
done that nature think
and not ai C frightened.
SUPPORT
SILENTNIGHT
STRIKERS
SACKED!
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
the _delegates
Sandinista
Hotel only seven
troops
planaca.
The the
ists.
DENING THE
ENCLOSE THE BASE CONTACT
• this is the second one that is on 12-13 December
- there were 2500 women who took part. The ma jority of those women had never taken any form of action like that in their lives before. They were confronted, and very brutally confronted, by
DONI HI SILENTNIGHTSMASH OUR UNION SOUTH EAST REGION
TUC
CENTRES FOR THE UNEMPLO
Trade unionists defend Nicaragua
conference on behalf of the CST, explained the contras main target is to destroy
the
Nicaraguan economy and impoverish its Deodle. Ihe aim of the working class had to be to defend and develop that production.
The conference linked itself to that struggle tae Nicar gua must sur- on organising tate vive' appeal :the trade union movement here.
One of the effects of the recently declared state of emergency has been to encourage
the defence and Cross squads which guard the factories and communities against con-
emergency has bera
Nicarat arad except the CUS
The the Nicarag cam affiliate of the International Confedera tion of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which also inCate the us AFL-CIO and the British TUC. It
GREENHAM COMMONFO
SATURDAY DEC. 14th 1985
EMBRACE THE WORLD WIDEN THE WEB AND CARRY GREENHAM HOME EMPOWERED AND STRONG Q
the Thames Valley police.
It didn't put those women off at all:
I can remember seeing women picked up and head-first Ill. bushes. Instead of rushing away from the scene, they got up, went back and sal down and blockaded the
SILENT NIGHT
STRIKERS
NEED YOUR
SUPPORT
has just 3000 members. It . affiliated the Nicaraguan Democratic Co-ordination (CDN), the main right-wing opposithe Sandinistas, which also includes the mair employers federation, he TUC International Committee currently considers this scab rump to be the genuine voice Nicaraguan trade union One of the tasks ol the solidarity movement in the next year must to be correct this. As Luciano Torres put it, the CST has good mas wal maividual unions like the NUM, NALGO. NUPE, 'the problem is at the top'
Al the CST's fourth congress, Septeraber, there was the Britist nas strike and a photo eu abition of that struggle
unions to develop direct bilateral links with the CST. , to send delegations to Nicaragua, so they can report the truth about the state of the
News
base
itself is Thursday. 12 December is the date of the announcement that cruise would be sited at Greenham: There will be a whole range of indepen dent actions up and dowr the country
Getting back to CND, ank ner role das colu be to use such actions to eonicale people that the weapons are here and the all the time.
This
around December and again February
is the an niversary
that the
returned.
We are 1986, which Interna-
We've
Belgium
celerating got
with
last few years
For five months, 500 workers from the Silentnight bed factory ir Lancashire have been on strike. Their dispute, which has official backing from the furniture union FTAT, began on 10 June - when management announced 52 redun. dancies The strikers, who have all been sacked, are campaigning for funds and for transport and shop workers to boycott Silentnight products. With Christmas approaching an appeal has been made for food and toys for strikers families On 30 November there will be a solidarity march and rally at 10.30am in Victory Park, Barnoldswick, Colne, Lancashire. , Donations should be sent to FTAT, * Cravendale 92 branch * strike fund, 10 Rainhill Crescent, Barnoldswick, Colne, Lancashire
TUC policy, passed at the '85 congress, send a fact finding delega-
Three months have now gone by and there is not : whisper taking place.
Representatives at the conference from NALGO and ACTT expressed their
with this and frustration determination to fight to ensure that this delegation takes place unionists in the NSC will be making this a priority in the coming months.
The conference mark. ed a significant step for ward in building seriou: CONTAN with Nicaragus in the British trade union Huveicul. Many union were represented, amoR them telecom
and civi service unions, railworkers and spriakling fron many otber indestries.
• Furcher deraits on NSC trade union work from. Lilian Grewar, VSC, 30-21 Compier don il.
Page 11 scan of this page
News
'SIR KEITH JOSEPH, Secretary of State for Educa-
unions' side of the
altogether.
Joseph has this power under the Teachers* Remuneration Act governs lne terms negotiating teachers' pay No previous Secretary State has ever changed the composition of the union side in the middle of a pay dispute but Joseph is eager to e removather the that
tional Union of Teachers overall majority will result in a speedy settlement. His hopes aren't entirely unfounded.
The leadership of the National Association Schoolmasters/Union Women Teachers been prepared to side with anti-trade union, no-strike organisations like the Pro-
Assoclaliul Teachers NUT's influence.
London teachers
ON
day strike to their solidarity with nine
who were on picket protesting
ineffec-
racist Daneford in
London Teachers
and was supported London
Have
schools. this was
1H0181
warning
the Youth Action Day School South Africa and Black Struggles
Saturday, 14 December,
Marsh, Huddersfield, West Yorks Delails from: G. Hellawell, 4 Catherine Road, Huddersfield, (phone: Huddersfield 34467).
tion will have completed his moves to reshape the
Burnham Committee which negotiates teachers' pay on 2 December. That will be the day on which he removes the representation of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) from the committee
The rank and file of both the NUT and the
By Bernard Regan, NUT NEC in personal capacity
NAS/UWT however, are making demands upon the leaderships of both the two TUC affiliated unions to cut their verbal skirmishing and get down to building united action.
of the NAS/AUT declared its intention to call 'interim providing the
cent ovel
offer members.
strike against racism
While racism notning Sower Hamlets' the allalk. pupils has
mer. been place both CHONE schools, particularly
way home.
The ILEA are with the problems pupils are face.
Teachers clearly with supporting selfof black our SChOOIs. enter into discussions
vice which
demands in the rally held
Holloway Odeon, when they were addressed Dr speakers such as Kumar Murshid, of Bangladeshi Educational 1lam, St James Road,
, Wesı Yorks
Teachers in the frontline
mit a claim for 35 per cent for next year's claim which Is one ror sellement onl April 1986.
This would be viewed by the overwhelming majority of teachers sell-out since it would call a halt in what has become the largest dispute ever. would derail the campaign and inevitably
which Tory ment would be successful
imposing dramatic change in teachers'
The NAS/UWT
that they
La deal the pay.
education Chancellor declared his
Speech pro-
of teachers
This fight is about pay, but it's also about the Tower Hamlets; Michael Vance, Broadwater
Defence Can• Daneford pupils and teacher; and Monica Brady, Secretary basi London NUT.
what an une socaker emphasised was that this should be seen as the first step in the massive campaign that needs to be launched in our schools against forms racism.
THE WALES Labour Women's Conference, which took place earlier this month, saw breadth of discussion that we have not experienced before. But
going to have to work hard to ensure that the resolutions passed by tU l ference are really carried out.
their on
of resolutions at this year's conicicule The defense and development of cer-
childcare provision, social security and the health service were overwhelmingly endorsed. Though was left
wontel campaigning now rather than waiting for a Labour
The Women's Action Committee saw an crease in support with
calling TO woman on every shortlist
resolution on national elections
to the Labour Women's Committee was defeated, but by a small margin. As this was the first time conference had aebarea inis compiex Issue
whole future of education
the Socialist Teachers
-
alance. Tell current in NUT has been , the crucial
unity the
. At the mo-
leaderships away battle and
forward has been shown by
Scotland.
with MP Denis
MONEY?
again
Gains for WAC at
Wales women's conference
we can afford to be op
Although still increased in minority WAC its support on the Wales women's committee, and
section supporter
Labour
WAC
resolutions
munities.
An emergency resolu-
was adonted calling on the Wales women's
colorcallisallull laborate with Women
Pit Closures in Halls. organising LOUI women from Notts and Leics campaign against the UDM..
Carrying out suct • resolutions is vital if we are to secure women from the mining communities to the wales Labour rarly. despite the emergence WAPC in Wales few of its activists were to be seen at this women's conference.
Anti-imperialism was
Secretary John Pollock at the mass ; rally in Glasgow
day of the all 111C Scotland strike.
Meanwhile inside the NUT
evidence LIC
Sonias shoe flee
shown when Carole Regan came third out of five candidates for the union's presidency She lost by only 1,000 votes to a Communist Par-
supported Broad • Alliance Canoeale about 3,000 votes behind
right VLORIOUS NUT is not the NUM the Although the lessons miners strike still have an impact. Is coumonolace to rical so-called moderate teachers saying that things will never be the same again.
FAIR PAY
FOR
TEACHERS
UT The lessons of the miners' strike are having an impaci amongst teachers where things will never be the same also on the agenda, with a resolution calling for compulsory sanctions against South Africa and in support for the ANC passing unanimously.
The Armagh strip searches were taken up, in cucue unc orcausallol Ul a delegation. However the
and Lilall women agreed with them
accepted an amendment raising the question of 'civil liberties in Great
especially Northern Ireland)' and posing the issue of Armagh sear ches in the context of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.
This weakened the motion, but hopefully women will go on the delegation and tind out that ine pro blems of women in Ireland is not the passing or a new law in Britain, but years of colonial rule leading to an army of occupation and a negation of civil, political
WĂC supporters in the Wales women's organisa-
althouge gaininority,
although gaining
these resolutions, and by doing build up the women's secitons, will lay the basis for a campaigning women's in the Wales Labour Party.
Socialist Action 29 November 1985 More Valuable Than Gold
Closures, £1.50 + 22p post
1986 Big Red Diary, Nicaragua
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Ireland After Britain
assess developments in Ireland.
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leaders of the Nicaraguan revolution. Published by Pathfinder, 400 pages, £6.95 + 98p post
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Contains contributions from Tony Benn MP, Gerry Adams, Muriel Sadlear and others. Brings the voice of the Irish Republican, feminist and labour movement to Britain and the labour movement. Provides a unique opportunity to
Edited by Martin Collins, published by Pluto
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By Ken Luckhardt and Brenda Wall. The history of the South African Congress of trade unions. Written in 1980 to mark its first 25 years, it tells the story of SACTU in the context of the general history of the South African working class and trade union movement, from the first nationwide organisation of black workers in 1919 and the bitter struggles of the African mineworkers
unprecedented industrial strikes and the Lawrence & Wishart, 520 pages, £3.50 + £1.33
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Page 12 scan of this page
ACTION KINNOCK
Geneva summit
THE ISSUE at Geneva was the United States Star Wars project. Reagan wanted the USSR's okay for it to go ahead, Gorbachev wanted it stopped. The outcome is that it goes ahead.
Star wars. I it could be nuclear defence system that is truly effective, would pact of making the whole Soviet nuclear armaments build-up redundant although its technical efficacy is in big doubt. Far
Cruise the missiles, Star Wars alows the Us to attempl to achieve the aim set the notorious Presidential Directive JImll)
Carter's administration
Yunus wal decision change US nuclear policy from the old MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) policy to one of attempting to achieve a weapons superiority that would allow or d *winnable' nuclear war. If the DHIK could destroyed in space before getting to the
then the United could unleash nuclear no come-back.
Despite the pro-
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US 1 : Gorbachev 0
paganda about Star Wars being a defensive system to create the circumstances where US missiles can be used. But Star Wars also has powerful non-military purpose one that would be effective even Ir tne mintary derensive nature of the system was flawed.
That goal is forcing the Soviet Union to keep stepping up armaments expenditure to keep up with the AmerICAN collie Star Wars. This places the Soviet economy. And this is the vice that Gorbachev has got himself caught in.
But this vice is largely created by he poles pir sued Soviet bureaucracy itself. policy of detente and 'arms control was forced 0705 tOnight State in try through the victory of the Vietnamese people over American im-
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perialism. Today the only way such pressure could be
is maintained • on keagan through the struggles
people South Africa, the Philippines and Central America.
But all the advantage of the Vietnamese victory was thrown away through the pursuit of a dead-end пОШТО О bachev and his predecessor
class struggle internationaly was simply used as
bargaining counter WuY time for the Soviet Union to 'catch up' the United States both militarily and economically.
But with the Soviet economy less than half the size of the United States, this Is bure with no prospect of being successful.
The pursuit of this Geneva simply poncy forced Gorbachev to do all
payıng, by accepting Star Wars but at a slower
For Western
European movements this will be a
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Liverpool-
deeply-felt blow, giving credence to the argument that Star Wars is 'peaceful' step, and allowing Reagan to hide his nuclear warrior stance behind a cloak of international rapprochement.
And this is all • nearal
real aimed tain they
Geneva talks. were a propaganda exer-
pure and simple, though with some very
hestacit consented
Star Wars, Reagan is able
head-off opposition from governments Europe and liberal politi cians at home. After why should worry about Star Wars on behalf of the Soviet Union and world peace, wille Soviet Union has said okay?
As the Economist pu
t: 'Mr Reagan can tell hi anxious allies in Western Europe that Star Wars may, after all, be compati-
ble with talking to Russia. And for Soviet bureaucracy it means that the one per cent increase in
coming year can pro-
But it will not solve any of the fundamenta
problems of the Soviet
Union's economy. And i has helped 'world peace' one bit. A PIECE, 9 the ACTION
Let us now praise the leadership of the Labour Party!
SCABS
AGAIN!
ton's nerve cracked' headline.
Liverpool's deal with the Zurich gnomes.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Hatton himself explained that the new budget was setback' What is being proposed, ana won t be nilalsea un til a council meeting this coming Friday, is that the council maintains its pro-
or rates this year and, instead, adopt some of the Stone-Frost options on capitalisation.
This means moving money from one council account to anomel, hon the account which is used to pay for capital building programmes to the current revenue account. The deal that Counci negotiating with SWIS
will ensure that house building program-
aren't affected this year or next.
The sting in the tail appears to be, intelli promise by the council not to step And, with Liverpool on Lne list of raté-capped authorities next year, that could be a very significant promise indeed. According to current reports the council budget in the next financial year will be slashed by f20 million, from its current £256 to £245 million
There should be no doubt about the reason why Liverpool's council has found itself in
Let us admire the amazina courage witt which they supporter their comrades in Liverdool:
LAST TUESDAY Liverpool city council approved a three-page resolution on the council's budget situation, amid the glare of much publicity claiming that Militant-supporter and deputy council leader Derek Hatton was being forced to back down on the council's promise to protect jobs and services. 'How Hat-
was the Sunday Times Other papers followed suit, highlighting
this position. creasingly faced the situa tion where other Labour councils have dropped like illes ln me tace of Tory
that it now stands alone in its commitment to defend the interests of working people within the city The Labour council's own major tactical error in proposing to send redundancy notice letters to all its employees was an illconsidered way of confronting the Tory government's refusal to provide the citv with the resources Labore urgently needs. At Party. conference Neil Kinnock seized opportunity of Liverpool's. and the confusion caused by its own tactic to launch a full-scale attack on the council.
His intention was further _Livernool and to brand as illegitimate any section of the move ment prepared to figh now against the Tory at tacks. It is for that reason How they ignor
owned gutter press
that his attacks on the Liverpool council and HOW son Militant porters Liverpool haven't let up peared in print again to de This weekend he nounce the council for its deal with the Swiss bankers "Liverpool city councillors, ,' he said, 'have
the banks which were com pletely unicceosal y It is an act of political perversity.
The only perversity Kinnock's
OWI deliberately judged, that. First Kinnock helper to force the council into a position where • concessions are wrung them, then he attacked them for pursuing the very course which the Labour leadership themselves have thrust upon them
There can be no doubt that such a budget as that which the council is about to make is a setback for the people of Liverpool, one of the most deprived ur ban areas in the whole of Europe. By scabbing on the Liverpool city coun cil's fight, Kinnock has played straight into the hands of the Tories and their friends.
The blame for Liver pool's setback should be placed squarely where i belongs: first with the Tory government who are cutting back local authori-
Britain's economic crisis onto the shoulders of the working class; second with the Labour leadership have used the opportunity of Liverpool's isolation to launch an attack on the council. ® Cormac
i think that in a
Shural te roomy those
should be room
who speak a lot
of crap!!
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