Socialist Action No. 128, 24 January 1986
The scan: 128-jan-24-1986-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
TUC must back print unions!
THE RESULT of the NGA and SOGAT ballots on News International is a massive vote by print workers in favour of industrial action to stop Rupert Murdoch's attempt to murder their unions. The AUEW will be balloting its members on strike action at the end of this week.
These votes are a sharp rebuff for Eric Hammond's plan to go along with Murdoch's demand for a legally binding no-strike agreement at the LONDON
ACTION
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
the TUC, une Talworker
VATIONAL UNION Or MINEHORKERS YORKSHIRE AREA OUGHTON MAIN BRANCH HE DUSTY VE FLOURI
new Wapping plant. Now it is up to
backed by the miners and who dispute with the EETPU, to ensure that the full force of the trade union movement is brought to bear against Murdoch and the electricians leaders.
Signing the type of deal Murdoch demands would be the beginning of the end for the sort of trade unionism we have known in Britain for over 100 years. The experience of such contracts in other countries is vivid proof of how effectively the law would be
Inga
used to destroy the power strength of the trade union movement.
Signing a no-strike deal with Murdoch, even if it weren't legally binding, would be a toe in the door for every employer in this country and a tremendous blow to the print unions. Other print bosses would follow suit. And the rest of British industry would be hot on their heels.
NGA and SOGAT leaderships have moved towards accepting many of Murdoch's demands.
The EETPU has delivered no-strike agreements, with Eddie Shah and others. But accepting Murdoch's legally binding, no-strike, or sweetneart. acal is a quallalve step. It would herald open season for attacks on every single union, and be the beginning of the end for effective union organisation in the print.
La new opposition to Lesotho's newly deposed leader. and Already the with the breakaway UDM.
The softly-softly
previously
Hammond.
Roy ine rue on anis issue
DISSUIC
whole of the movement.
their fight with Murdoch.
print unions.
nga
South Africa's
coup in Lesotho
LAST Monday's military coup in Lesotho was directly engineered by South Africa. The basis for the coup was laid over two years ago when the South African government created
Chief Jonathon, As we go to press, the TUC goes anto session wu une on unions and with the NUM and NUR. The print unions correctly argue that the EETPU's conduct over the Wapping deal breaks TUC rules: that it is fundamentally against the interests of the trade union movement. The National Union of Mineworkers is arguing a similar case about Hammond's links
approach of Norman Willis and others to the announcement last year by the electricians and engineers that they would flaunt TUC policy on combatting Thatcher's anti-union laws laid the groundwork for this latest move by There Call be downplaying, and no soft-peddling,
Every single union must maintain on the TUC and scotch Hammond's moves to scab on the British trade union The print workers must be given total trade union backing in
• See page 10: 'The future of the
- No. 128 24 January 1986 30p
The apartheid regime brought MaLICISIU head simply by blocking
country Lesotho is surrounded on all sides by South Africa. A more completely pliant government ther easily installed.
Lesotho is not
South African bantustan, , though Pretoria treats it like. one. Its origins lie in successful African resistance to Dutch colonists last century. Its people secured a
British mandate. It won independence from Bri tain in 1966. Shortly afterwards Jonathan, at that time backed by Pretoria, took power in a putsch after losing the 1970 election.
Lesotho's formally independent counts for nothing in Botha's eyes. His government already sent hit-squads into Maseru Lesotho's capital, last year killing ordinary
pursuit of 'ANC tel rorists.'
The aim of the coup is clear. It is to cut off any potential base of support in Lesotho for the struggle rising against
Africar regime. 'He's a (Botha) boy and he'll toe the line,' is how Brian Branch of the South African Institute of International affairs described the relation between Lesotho's new leader and the South African foreign minister.
Three days before the coup US secretary state Schulz publicly lambasted Europe for failing to support sanctions against Libyan "ter rorism and subversion.'
One law for Gadaffi, one for Botha.
Page 2 scan of this page
Why Thatcher and Reagan are winning
2 Socialist Action
ACTiON SOCiALiSt
More than a
storm in a teacup
WITH THE Heseltine crisis scarcely behind her, Thatcher this week series of economic and political problems.
On Monday the price of North Sea Oil for the first time ever fell below $20 a barrel. The result was the rapid slide of the pound on the foreign exchange markets. On Tuesday the Bank of England was acting to prevent interest safeguard the pound. The reason was obvious: any new rise in interest rates, the second within a month, would certainly have meant an incease in mortgage rates and a new political crisis for Thatcher. Whether such a rise can still be averted remains to be seen - it will certainly be difficult.
On Monday evening Thatcher was hit with a new row: a Tory backbench rebellion over rates. Thirty-two Tory MPs voted against the government and about another 20 abstained.
Thatcher's credibility continued to be struck by the Westland-Heseltine affair. The first opinion poll after Heseltine's resignation and row between home secretary British Aerospace's chief executive Sir Raymond Lygo carried out for ITN by Harris polls showed that 70 per cent believed Heseltine had been 'more honest' than Thatcher.
Fifty eight per cent believed Lygo's initial version of events rather than Brittan's, 49 per cent thought Brittan should resign, 64 per cent backed the European bid for Westland, and 54 per cent thought Thatcher should retire before the next election.
The first poll on the state of the parties after Heseltine's resignation showed the third place with only 29.5 per cent support.
A number of these blows are interrelated. It is clear that a series of Thatcher's economic policies are now being blown substantially off course.
For seven years since its election Thatcher's government has been riding high on the flood of black gold from the North Sea.
British manufacturing industry could shrink when high priced oil was there to plug the gap in the balance of payments. on public spending could be avoided as long as the tax revenues from the North Sea continued to pour in. A high exchange rate of the pound kept down prices for the imported videos, puters, and cars that fed the consumer boom. Tax cuts cold be made - financed by oil and privatisation — to buy electoral popularity.
But a decline in the price of oil undermines it all. Inflation edged up over the last two months. Another rise in interest rates would hit the house buyers vote cultivated. A fall in North Sea tax revenue wil force more harsh choices as with that taken on rates. Half Nigel Lawson's room for manoeuvre for a tax cutting budget in March has already gone.
No one should have any illusions but that the Thatcher government is very strong. Labour's opposition under Kinnock is pathetically weak -which is why the Alliance have been big gainers. But more political storms are on the way for Thatcher's government. A government which since the end of the miners strike has seemed overwhelmingly powerful has encountered real problems.
The left must begin to write that clearly into its perpectives and tactics in weeks to come.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN
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24 January 1986 faced another rates rising to Leon Brittan and Tories in The harshest choices
, CO Thatcher has so carefully
AFTER HAVING reached a peak on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, when Leon Brittan came close to being forced to resign, the lid is being put back on the Westland affair.
Brittan has been saved from resignation. British Aerospace is under great pressure to withdraw from leadership of the European consortium bidding for Westland. The two events are tied together in the agreement negotiated berween Leon Brittan and Sir Raymond Lygo, British ecutive, that their famous clash was based on a 'misunderstanding •
There of course purely immediate reasons why the lid is being pushed back on the affair. If Brit-
had been forced to resign it would have been By Dick Carter Thatcher's OWIl neck which risked being on the chopping block.
Phi Leon Brittan
Furthermore Aerospace dependent for its profits or ment contracts. If Sir Raymond vgo nad pursued his original course - and
people believe his first letter would not only brought down the Home Secretary but would have Deen culllllalcly about some of his future Contraca win LuIs ZUvClu ment.
But behind these immediate questions lie much more fundamental torces It is totally wrong to present the struggle berween capitalist Europe and
which lies shin dity Wise a sterisis, nichica,
in any sense a struggle between LWO equivalent capitalist forces. All the decisive cards lie with the United States.
ANIM
behind the news
You may be wondering how the stitch-up between Lygo, chief executive of British Aerospace, and Leon Brittan was worked out. As week s Sunday
Times contains a blow by
which DON account couldn't possibly improve
on. So we are quoting it at length:
'One of the industry
sente as (Leon Brit-
tan's) biggest problems
the conflicting ас-
counts about his meeting
with Sir Raymond Lygo..
'Lygo said bilial . had» told . him his com-
pany's participation in the
Aerospace's chief ex-
The ability of the United States to exercise relentless pressure on its capitalist allies Is nol question of the threat to ban the European airbus from the United States which Brittan hinted at ir his interview ITV's Weekend World on Sunday. Nor is it simply the United States control of Ine world monclar system, the fact that possesses a unified state and its west European rivals do not, that US trade freaker compared to their unions much
uropean counterparts, ( that the JIlELC States possesses overwhelming military superiority although all these are fundamental and weighty factors.
What is involved is the entire relation between Western Europe and the United States which has existed for over 70 years. Ever since 1914, and the outbreak of World War I there is no evidence that capitalist Europe has any economic, social or political equilibrium independent of the United States.
After World War I it proved impossible for the European imperialist states to recreate internal economic equilibrium themselves. It was. not un
US economic aid through the Dawes and young plans, ocgall to al
on a large scale after 1923 that economic stabilily was restored. When US economic aid to Europe tas 1929 crash in ine
1929 crash
АЛЛАМААН!
European bid for
Westland against the national interest' and had pressed him to pull his
out. This would have left the way clear for the rival American bid
'Enter Michael Mar-
shall, Tory for
Arundel, and British
Aerospace's narliamen
tary adviser. Marshall
is part of the network that
once prompted the com.
ment that " the Church ol
England may be the Tory
party but
aircraft industry is
Tory party at work.
•Marshall, studied the • varying •aceouits. of the
United States the European capitalist economies collapsed as well
the same atte!
World War II. Despite the successful efforts of the Socialist and Communist Parties maintain capitalism Westerr Europe after 1945 Capitalist Europe did not succeed in reviving •itself. It was only when US aid began to flow in with the Marshall plan, that European capital stabilis-
The rapid growth of the West European economies from the late
9a0 Pethe carly direc
direct American aid, by an inflow of American investment to Europe, and by an Thatcher
contused meeting line by concluded that the discrepancies could have arisen "misunderstandings' The exception was Lygo's claim that Brittan had urg ed him to withdraw BAe (British Aerospace) from the European consortium.
•Last Wednesday Marshall told Brittan Bril an saile e ad this. "perplexed" referring not to a need for BAe to withdraw from the consortium altogether, but to pull back from its high
appeared anti-•American. In other words here too there had been a
misunderstanding
'On Thursday the Marshall gIOS: the
meeting was endorsed by
the Commons...
'After this, said Mar-
shall, were in
business." Talks bet-
ween representatives of the
company and the industry
department went on at the
DTI (Department
Trade and Industry) until
price kept low American pressure. When the US reversed its policy - sharply from 1973 on wards - the growth rates of the west European economies came shuddering down
This is the fundamen-
through western Europe. Without the relation to the United States, the west economies are not stable or vlaDie
This why no capitalist force can resist the Stater western Europe and why all the hopes on this matter entertained by journals such as Marxism Today or Tribune are always dashed.
DATA
nearly midnight on Thurs day and a deal appeared to have been done: Lygo and Brittan would exchang letters putting ferences down to "misunderstandings"
•Marshall almost wrecked the operation by prematurely announcing
BBC
Breakfast Time on Friday.
Lygo was furious and new negotiations
started on Friday morning
Britta o is behavio rifl
about Lygo's behaviour.
was after 5pm before the
Central Office of Informa-
tion was able to announce
that the admiral and the
minister had exchanged
'The damage limita-
tion had succeeded
just.
AFTER 10 days of confusion the Morning Star decided to take its
editorial line in charge on
Throughout the preceeding week the paper
had been publicising Ken
Gill, and TASS's, support
Politics Today
A capitalist break with the United States would
economic social and political instability in Europe that would place socialism or the order of the day. Only a western Europe, that hac
Inclu could thorough going break with the United States.
Naturally this fundamental relation of forces does not work itself out mechanically on every issue. Il Is not lDossiok that European capitalists could defeat the
such as Westland. esto is
impossible western Euopean capitalists to win on the decisive clash. This underlying relation of forces works itself through even. affairs such Westlands
It provides an underlyaid the pro. American camp of Reagan and Thatcher The "Euro-
are by far the weaker of the two con: testants within the ruling
For finally it is not capitalist alternative, only a working class one, which can defeat WCSI European and American capital in this continent.
for the 'European option' for Westland.
But on Saturday, sternly remembering that the Soviet leadership against the EEC and all its works, the Morning Star attempted to make a sharp
'clarification. The paper's editorial carried the nexolle! 'Private enterprise has failed.'
But even 'then however, it couldn't help
straying back toward th
'European' line. The Mor ning Star noted, after con
demning Sikorski-Fiat's
American bid, that: 'As
for the so-called "EuroPean" deal championed
by Heseltine, this has at least the merit of keeping
the firm within the grip of
British based multind
tionals, though their brand
of patriotism has never gone beyond what is best
for their own profits.'
Evidently the dreaded
*Huropear option
Marxismn Today continues
1o be a temptation even foi
the. "anti-revisionists'. of • the, Morning Siar. •
Page 3 scan of this page
The politics of Tarzan
Politics Today
and patriotism.' principle editorial of Daily Heseltine's walk-out from the cabinet. Ken Gill of TASS has given public backing to the EEC bid for
defence spokesperson Heseltine himself remarked in the House of Commons following his speech last Wednesday: 'I have never been a sluggard when it comes to dealing with the Labour Party.' Does the now-departed minister of defence deserve even one jot credibility ROSS answers with a decisive no! MICHAEL Heseltine is an unlikely hero *° Tabour section. movement. For a start, he
the Was member of Thatcher's Cabilicl
He owns Thenford House, officially describcuas grammed iron gates.' Set in 400 acres near Banbury bhenford House possesses Oxfordshire,
a lake, blue tinted swimming pool, stables, a private equestrian course, ana a restorea mosaic Roman floor in the grounds. worth around f2 million.
Hece me aso owos d formatiarby Chacombid £350,000. His company, Haymarket Publishing, paid £500,000 for another arm a mile from ThenTOTO
CND
The Thenford- House mansion howeyer is only UlIC of Heseltine's three homes. The others are a four-storey Georgian house in Belgravia worth around a250,000 house al Exford, £800,000 and
in the middle of the Exmoor National Park
1 ne base Heseltine fortune is the Haymarket group. His family owns 50 per ceno a conDas currenlly worth more than £50 million.
But Heseltine's wealth is a kev to his politics more fundamen-
still his political career.
Heseltine was appointed minister of defence in January 1983 with a very specitic purpose. His assigned goal
CND in the was to utical run-up to the election. Mersey
Heseltine was well equipped for the dirty tricks brief he was given. During his period minister tor ine environ ment, immediately following 1979 Heseltine had started the
local UII ment and the cutbacks in government rate support grants to local councils.
Despite this however
had deliberately cultivated a 'liberal' image
particularly when ap pointed minister for Merseyside in 1981 following the Toxteth riol. He made long visits there, and loudly proclaimed his anguish' over the state of the city while continuing 1o cut back the funding of the big cities.
In Heseltine, likes to present the Illaze of a 'bleeding heart' liberal while in practice pushing through harsh unrelenting ruling class policies.
This was the policy he continued in the ministry of defence. 'The Guardian
'A MAN WHO has resigned on a matter both of
hat how the
Mirror characterised
Westland put together by Heseltine. So has Labour Denzil Davies. But
of support or from the labour movement? JOHN
accurately summed up his record on 10 January: 'his public confrontations
accompanied by characteristic garments like combat jackets and zreen wellies - nave ocen
irected traditional
targets like Bruce Kent, the Greenham ComL101 wollich, and the Molesworth demonSulaluls
'It is fair to say that few people in the Tory parly — not even those on the loony right - are quicker on the draw when it comes to denouncing CND supporters UnOCICOVCI Commies or agents of the Kremlin.
Rob Shepherd, lobby correspondent for Channel 4, also put it accurately
the New Statesman:
went down well with the wets. who tend to be hardline as any diehard
on defence.
The Times. reporting on Heseltine's resignation, noted: 'many of the service chiefs and senior civil servants are the departure of a man they came to regard as a
defender their interests and a firm believer in te curopedi cooperation they favour.
Spend
Heseltine was fanatical supporter of every torm oi European military cooperation, and advocated high military spending to this end.
He strongly supported the reactivation Western European dependent European Pra Defence Union. body for European defence collaboration), and he took Britain back into the European Space Agency: he wagea a ma jor battle in the cabinet in
ensure support for the $40 billion European fighter project decided on earlier this year.
Heseltine's advocacy of high military spending led the press to accuse him of financial recklessness following his resignation.
In line with his military spending policy Heseltine ser abou autoessiv alack' ing CND on his appoint-
Hasci defence. He immediately established Defence Secretariat 19. anti-
all CND propaganda department staffed by officials of the defence ministry Ac-
foi coror Massier.
Cathy Massiter, Meseine also usca inor mation from MIS about CND for purposes. This is in direct violation of MIS's legal charter.
Having achiered its purpose of political campaigning Defence Seiretarial 19 was dishanded immediately after the 1983 CICLON. But Hescitind Kepi up the scistained cam-
paign against CND — in-
ROLOHOU.
Molesworth episode when
appeared a flak
acket 10 evict the demonstralor: And he saw to it that Sarah Tisdall was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act TOr making it known when cruise missiles would arrive in Britain
As well as his sustained campaign against nuclear alsarlament, Heseltine directly organised other
of the ment's activities in the military field most notably the cover-up over the sinking of the Belgrano. He played direct role in misleading the House of Commons select committee on the Belgrano sinkingar ine end of the 1984.
Heseltine also insisted
Clive Ponting for his leaks to the press exposing the government cover-up on The Belgrano. Ponting was acquitted.
Last Thursday Heselune casos secoesat out within a week, when he refused appear Channel 4 Neurs programme because Ponting was He forced the
ting's appearance that night.
The originator of the attack local government, te orcaniser or enc dirty tricks brigade against CND; military spending; organiser of the Belgrano cover-up — Heseltine is a vicious and ruthiess runng class politician:
ME TARZANSHE PAIN
Socialist Action 24 January 1986
-Tories want
MICHAEL HESELTINE has become the most prominent Tory since Edward Heath to publicly associate himself with 'European' cause in British politics. But other capitalist political forces have made support for the EEC the basis of their entire politics.
The Liberal Party rebuilt . from 1950s onwards as the party which stood for membership of the EEC, and 'modern' European
wesl methods of governiell. against the 'archaic Tories who had refused to join the Common Market when it was formed 1958
Before they formed the SDP the gang of four Jenkins, Owen, Williams, and Rogers - were identified as the pro-EEC curTell inside the Labour Party. Taken together Heath, Heseltine, the SDP, and the Liberals form a group which can be identified as the 'EuroTories' — that is capitalist politicians who make central of their
CULC for the DOlLICS EEC and its policies. Looking at the politics of other parts of this current helps clarify what Heseltine arguing for
wal around Westland.
Probably most coherent statements of the Euro-Tory view are the ar-
David wrillen Owen. Owen, in his book A Future That Will Work, explains his strong support for the EEC, and for Euronean militar development. But he makes clear that this does not imply any basic break with the United States.
Owen aroues: If is noi in Europe's interests to set out design contained European defence structure without the United States.
Owen calls for the EEC states to have a bigger weight in dealing with the United States. He points
'We in Europe nov provide 91 per cent of the ground forces, 80 per cent of the main battle tanks and combat aircraft, and two thirds of the major ships in the European area of the (NATO) Alliance.
Owen argues that because of this: It would
3
A FUTURE THAT
WILL WORK
DAVID OWEN
What the Euro
dangerois blind alley i0 going down continue into the 1990's without building up at a faster pace than hitherto the capacity to develop a specifically European deence •• Doucy lo wor
and influence US policy within NATO.'
Owen argues that the US has been abusing its position not only militarily but also economically. He
'Western Europe has tolerated a 10:1 imbalance transatlantic trade defence ment despite the fact that our own manufacturing industry has the skills and capacity to match those of the US. On economic and trading grounds alone, the European community can no longer stand aside from this imbalance.'
Owen is totally favour of nuclear weapons and gives this as a key reason for the SDP's break with the Labour Party: 'In Britain the postwar all-party UYCI defence went when the Labour Party finally endorsed the full unilateral nuclear disarmament position.
Alongside nuclear arms however Owen argues for a strong build up of conventional weapons: should special British contribution to Western Europe to maintain a strong navy ... (we) have a particular need
grapple with ways of improving our conventional defence.'
Alongside the maintenance of nuclear weapons. and the build up of conventional armaments. Owen advocates a 'social market' the same term used by Thatcher's
characterise economic policies. Owen outdid even Thatcher his calls for attacks on the miners and for stronger laws against the unions.
Anyone reading Owen's writings will recognise Heseltine's politics mediately. European defence build up; support for nuclear weapons; more powertul Europear military weight but strategic break the United States; strong attacks on the working class and trade unions. That is the politics. of the Euro: Tories.
Page 4 scan of this page
4 Socialist Action 24 January 1986
The Public Order
Bill IN HIS SPEECH to the House of Commons on the Public Order minister Giles Shaw said this was one of the most significant legislative events in the last decade. Hailed by the Thatcher government as part of their 'law and order' campaign, in fact it won't have any effect at all on rising
By Harry Cohen MP
Since November 1979 one million more crimes per year have been recorded. The reality is that crime is on the increase under the Tory government. During the miners strike, the police were usmovement. They. have played the same sort of role among the black inner-city communities for years. The police are not accountable to the community. And the community is increasingly alienated by Order Bill. It has little to do with so-called law and order — and much more to do with inhibiting the freedom of the traditional political processes.
Three significant aspects of the Bill are worth highlighting. demonstrations a lot more difficult to organise -and dangerous to attend. Freedom of assembly is a basic civil liberty. This Bill means we are going to need permission from the police the government.
The police can impose conditions on tne auration, route and numbers involved in demonstrations. And seven-days' adyanced notice of marches is required. This latter requirement is likely to be used to rule out urgent and immediate responses to local grievances — like the protest at Brixton nole soon Groce, or at Tottenham against the death of Cynthia Jarrett or national
been held at the South African embassy.
The police will have discretion to waive this notice, but that means they are being given an explicitly political role. They whether not they demonstration politically. this Bill there will be more rights on the public highway for vehicles than for people.
The second aspect of the Bill is that 'disorderly conduct' will be introduced as a criminal offence. This is a catch-all. A police officer can claim it — and there is the devil of a job to prove otherwise. For example, you could appear in court charged with breach of the peace. After you had successfully defended yourself and the charge had been lost, the magistrate could announce that he found you guilty of 'disorderly conduct. Ergo, you are guilty of something you were never charged with in the first place!
The police already have breach of the peace powers to arrest violent offenders, so what is the purpose of this additional offence? It will be used
Third, the Bill purports to deal with racial harassment. It introduces an offence of 'incite-
welcome any tightening of the law on this, the Public Order Bill does not do that. On behalf of the Campaign group of MPs, I have introduced a racial harassment bill aimed at making racial altacks and harassment a specific criminal offerice. That very point is rejected by the Tories and absent
The famous acquittal of Kingsley Reed -remember showed how Under the 1965 Public Order Act, the attourney general's permission is needed for a prosecution.
The new Bill doesn't tighten up on this. Neither does il extena lne existing broadcasting. As far as I am aware it deals only with the distribution of literature. So, you could be stopped from giving out racist leaflets. But you could appear on radio or TV immediately and repeat verbatim leaflet.
The intention of the Bill is a political clamp-
women, at strikers, And it is intended to enshrine in law what the police are already doing.
'Capitalism gives to each and everyone of us a great opportunity, if only we seize it with both hands.'
Owen who said that — it was Al Capone. And that 6. is what the Public Order Bill is intended for: 10 ratify by legislation the Al Capone tactics that the state is already using against the British labour HUVCHICL.
Bill, home office against the labour
LIC That is the real background to the Public
the
intended make
- and that means of Cherry
and international - like some of the protests that have
deciding regard a march or acceptable.
'one down and a million to go'? -
thin legislation against racism is.
legislation to cover
whatever was in your printed
It is aimed at the Greenham Common
and at the black community.
It wasn't Margaret Thatcher or David
'PRE-ARRANGED RIOTS', 'lakes of petrol' and "major criminal activity' were the main elements of the metropolitan police report issued last week on the events surrounding the Broadwater Farm upris-
for not understanding that the death of Cynthia Jarrett was central to those events. The whole thrust of the report, and the media coverage it received, has been to make the case for heavier policing on the
and of all Brita
The message is: black
Thousands more police armed with plastic bullets, CS gas and the provisions of the Public Order Bill are needed to keep them in line.
The police report claims that the riots were organised in advance, with huge stores or pelrol cumulated in garages on
proof? 'Anonymous' telephone calls and well-known 'rumours' circulating
Farm the weeks netore o october.
The whole report was exposed as blatant lies at a
COMMUNITY POLICING and closer links bet-
ween the police and community were part of the *Scarman recommendations after the 1981 spate of inner-city black rebellions. more than a crude attempt to coopt the black com-
munity behind police harassment, as the Brixton experience shows. After another uprising.in response
to the shooting of Cherry Groce this autumn, the
Brixton police replied by launching an anti-mugging
campaign. CECILIA
Groce Support Campaign explains.
AS consequence
Scarman's proposals,
Lambeth council unn-
plemented initiatives
lessen tensions in ponce
relations and
table police force: the
Police Consultative Group,
and community policing.
The PCG met once a fort-
nignt, as a means wuercoy
the public could air their
grievances
police strategy.
Talk-shop
Five years later, it is
still running. This
- and still re-
mains — a talking-shop.
Community leaders
question
police, while the police
simply reply in their own
defence. There is no forum
for implementing changes;
no system of voting on the
There has been no im-
provement advance-
Broadwater Farm: Police lies exposed
Reading it, you might be forgiven Thursday. Statements
week. ominous they adJarrett invoked the disturBroadwater Farm Defence Campaign press conference refutes police lies
Brixton: Police round up
They represented no
PROSPER of the Cherry
ment in police-community celim hey Bave good rela tions with the black comBut results show differently.
The shooting of Cherry Groce was met with a com-
50-strong outside Brixion police station. subsequently joined
sizeable had been
the
and In-
munity police unruly black
bances. Furthermore, other inquest findings are skipped over to make the case for unprovoked criminal activity.
The inquest established that police officers illegal-
entered Mrs Jarrett's house. Heavy police reinforcements were in ine area before her death, and when local youth attempted to demonstrate at the Tottenham police station the estate sealed.
The petrol lakes were refuted as s physicacouncil possible council WUIKCI Broadwater present Farm at press the
conference: there are no enclosed garages in which to store it, and the open parking space which does walls constructed to seal off any such 'lakes'.
Pam Heyers, also from une cerence camoann. explained that the report was part of 'the criminalisation of oppressed minorities in
DEPENCE
heavy hand of the law. Police poured out of the station, and more were aranea in mrom olner arcas armed with riot shields.
Prior to this, Lambeth Police Committee Support Unit had received many reports of armed raids on people's homes. une cast which occurred towards the end of August was of a
woman her mid-20s whose home had been raided by a number of armed SPG She was subjected to physical and verbal abuse and intimate body search without the presence of a doctor. Tension Cherry Grace's home Mad The been simply one in a nevered raids. She made the headlines like many others, because she was 'unfortunately' shot and her community were not silent
Since the shooting of Cherry Groce there has been no change in police policy concerning the use of firearms. Furthermore. Brixton police have stepped up their 'anti-street crime campaign'
Launched on 16 December, it has recently been reported 1o be 'successful. so-called
explained Mrs Jar-
police.
an average which
rebellions.
the way
techniques
Ireland
allul-
rights as people'
Ber-
community have all anti-mugging campaign Dased Brixton and Clapham North, involves the of SLUL and search' tactics (the replacement of the old SUS laws) and also the deployment of 50 uniformed patrolling officers.
Five years of so-called policing has done little to alter the tense
in brixton. rOI many, Brixton police prac-
Dirty deals in
Haringey?
HARINGEY Labour right winger Vic Butler has proposed a unique road to Labour victory: a pact with the Tories and Alliance.
In a three-hour meeting of their local leaders earlier
The said they month, should make a three-way
This would agrecnic!!
mean a single anti-Labour
candidate who would be Tory. Alliance
'Labour independent'
would stand in each Har.
ingey ward so as 1o unseat
leader Bernie Grant
Butler apparently doesn't have much sup-
port. Though the Stan-
dard and the Mail elevatec
his squalid manocuvre into •a plot by rebel Labour.
News
events the
against all after the events are police exposed,
Their ag
silence Public
of
ble throughout
Tangmere, Willan Road,
Tottenham
DE, MINDINA CMAD
tice still means malprac lice
• This is an extract of a speech made at the 'Black
campaigning, and called
by the Roach Family Sup port Campaign, Sunday 12 January. More information on the Cherry Groce campaign, c/o 105 Brixton Road, London SWO (phone: 01-326 1397).
moderates tor Bernie's members think it unlikely anyone else is yet involved. Butler doesn't even live in the borough
His only base is in the Wood Green Labour Club, of which he
secretary. "The Labour Party has been boycotting
the club for over a year because of its racist and
sexist practices, ' explained
Councillor Narendra
Makanji. Complaints
against the club included its use of strippers, and
rules preventing travellers
The Liberals seem 10 understand the issues. •Vi
Butler has only gone half
way
'He should join the SDP:
Page 5 scan of this page
Anglo-Irish Accord
IRELAND
UNFREE
Six Counties goes
to the polls
THIS THURSDAY voters in 15 constituen-
cies in the North of Ireland go to the polls in
by-elections created by the unionist parties as
a referendum on the Anglo-Irish Accords.
They are fielding joint 'Ulster says no' can-
didates in all 15 constituencies. Sinn Fein and
the Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP)
are each standing candidates in four marginal
seats.
The massive media attention given the Anglo-
Irish agreement certainly ensures it will figure pro-
minently as an election issue. What is less clear is
the effect of the different stances towards it taken
by Sinn Fein and the SDLP on the nationalist vote.
While Sinn Fein has trenchantly rejected the deal
as phoney, SDLP leader Hume has abjectly sup-
ported its every dot and comma.
He enthusiastically threw himself behind the
Thatcher government's attempt to subordinate
Irish interests to Britain. And the bourgeois press
have acclaimed him as a statesperson for so doing
The SDLP claim that the latest Hillsborough deal
shows that Britain has
Ireland'. Few nationalists are likely to
that claim without a large measure of salt!
Under the slogan 'Keep the pressure on', Sinn
Fein launched its election campaign at a press con-
ference in West Belfast a week last Tuesday. Three
of its four candidates
(Mid Ulster), McAllister
and Frank McDowell (South Down). Owen Car-
ron, the fourth candidate for Fermanagh-South
Tyrone, was represented on the platform by Paul
Corrigan, Sinn Fein chair for Fermanagh district.
Gerry Adams opened the conference by ex-
plaining: 'Sinn Fein is contesting this election on
republican policies. Our
changed.' He described the Accords as a:
and stick agreement, a mixture of repression and
appeasement'.
response to Sinn Fein's growing electoral success.
Competition between Sinn
candidates, of course. risks splitting the nationalist
vote and leaving a path clear for a unionist victory
in the four constituencies with nationalist ma
jorities. This would play straight into Margaret
Thatcher's hands.
had this to say: Had the SDLP leadership been in-
terested in the overall nationalist interests, they
would have consulted their grass roots about our
offer of a boycott or of coming to an agreement'.
They have kept a 'guilty silence' too, said Adams,
on the harassment of Sinn Fein campaign workers.
The British government is clearly hoping that
the Accords will eat into Sinn rein's success anc
divide the nationalist vote. In the medium and long
term
Whether it will have any immediate effect on th
by-election voting remains to be seen.
WOMEN!
Join us in demanding
BRIMSH WITHDRAWAL
FROM IRELAND!
«Bloody Sunday' Demo
and rally. London
'no strategic interest in swallow
were there: Danny Morrison
(Newry-Armagh), demands remain un-
The deal, he pointed out, was a
rein and
The Sinn rein election addres.
prove a forlorn hope.
nina y dar
2nd Feb. 1986
nners!
News
The reality of the Anglo-Irish Accord, and its role in reinforcing the partition of Ireland, becomes clearer with each day that goes on. A key feature of the Accord was the involvement of the NATO powers both the United Kingdom and Western Europe seeking a closer political relation between the London and Dublin governments. This was set out in an important document Britain's Undefended Frontier drafted by the Institute for European Defence and Strategic Studies.
of Labour and Ireland, looks at the crucial international dimension to the London-Dublin deal - and at offical British and Irish reaction to it. STRIPPED if its rhetoric of peace and reconcilation, the Anglo Irish Ac COLU signed Hillsborough Castle on November recognises in a formal and binding agree. ment, the subordination of the Irish government to the interests of the British establishment. the negotiating table by 16 vear unbroken liationalist opposition,
Thatcher has enlisted government to help main1aln Loe parunion of Ireland upon which both their interests depend.
Security
Speaking 'as a lovalist
and a Unionist' the prime
Houser expaCommons
House Commons debate that after 16 years it was 'not enough for the government to rely solely
Ine securi forces, valiant though they are, to contain and resist the tide of violence'.
The thinking of the government which largely acknowledges the plausibility of a military solution rests heavily upon a remarkable document:
Britain's Undefended Frontier. This 'policy for Ulster' was researched and
for European Defence and Strategic Studies wing pro-Nato thinktank
Whilst its supporters claim the Accord is a 'foot
the door' Garret FitzGerald the Daily Mail said it gave Dublin 'access to the very roots of power Undefended Frontier Ulster'. Britain's plicitly advocates the involvement of the 26 County government in order to stabilise British rule. Far from being 'Maggie's brave Irish gamble' (Daily
June agreement represents calculated British tactic to use the weakness and dependency of the Dublin government to its own advantage.
Garret FitzGerald's argument with the British government has never veen inal ll mainlals an army of occupation in his county. on that ll continues 1o bolster and defend a bigoted sectarian six county state; but that does so in such a clumsy
He is not again inne principle no-jury courts, violent attacks on nationalist demonstrators or emergency legislation; all that goes on in the 26 Counties. But when noJury courts lead to. supergrass show trials, when peaceful demonstra-
• Downes
Behind the
- in
The following article, taken from the latest issue
murdered in front of the world's press or the PTA drags in the likes of EEC commissioner Michael O Kennedy at Birmingham Airport, , he is forc-
vould be better if the ac vocates of a slow process of reform in the North WCIC sullic couragement He fears social and political upheaval will spread to the South.
As if it were not clear Margaret Thatcher spells
that lne agreement: 'makes abundantly clear
there whatsoever Unionists' hearttelt desire to remair part the United Kingdom.' It provides in a formally binding interna tional Accord: 'a recogni tion by the Irish government that the status of vortner reland will re
main unchanged as long a that is the jority Northern Irelandeople the of
... (I n1s Is an exonel recognion of the legitimacy of the Unionist position."
Haughey
In the Dail, opposition leader Charles Haughey correctly points out that if the Irish government recognised Britain's right to rule the Six Counties. would abandon the Irish consulanon s claim to na tional sovereignty, and endorse both the loyalist veto and British military and political presence in North. In exchange for this the British govern ment acknowledges in 'a
practical and strictly defined way the concern which the Irish government has HILA mallers relating to Northern Ireland'
governmen thinks it can, by timely ad-
the DRUSI government make conces-
will reverse the rise of Sinn Fein and . DOOS the full stitutionalists of the SDLP
like them, consider Isa unily to de part old 'process in the long term, which takes second place to restoring stability. By inis means. they hope the threat 10 the Dublin government of further growth of socialist repub-
canism might be averted
ine ophon or an in tergovernmental conTerence a vehicle for such collaboration was one recommended by in Tory strategists of the In
turopean Defence and Strategic Studies' Dublin
The Times explained British thinking by saying the republican movement 'cannot be seen off, under constraints imposed by liberal democracy, without redressing the civil balance in tavour of the Catholic minority The novel element in the new agreement is the recruit-
For admission, of Dublin second guarantor.
Whilst Dublin highlights the novelty value of its new position fluence, Thatcher underlines its lack of power: 'Yes, we will listen to the views of the Irish government. Yes, we will make a determined effort
Many differences.
But at the end of the day
HOTU border will continue to be made by the of the United Kingdon'
Whilst Dublin highlights a programme for the conference discussing reform of the legal system. the RUC and UDR. economic and cultural co. The Anglo-Irish agreement subordinated the Irish government to the interests of the British establishment..
Socialist Action 24 January 1986 operation, discrimination, and possible Bill of Rights, Thatcher underlines that whilst the British government prepared in good faith' to listen to Irish proposals it is under no commitment to act upon them She Boweler more optimistic
tighter security
Policing
The Irish
governmen already spends propor tionally tar more than the British on policing the border. The
ClicH ment steps up this commit-
promising greater joint work between the Gardai and the RUC easier extradition, and — what Thatcher calls the really vital element in the programme fuller and Taster excance
especially prelilallull emptive intélligence.'
Again to quote Charles Haughey: "the whole trend •i mese develooments toward seeking to bolster
existing poluca structure which is in itself the cause of the trouble the source of violence and instability and will be so long as it remains
The new conference is designed... to help reconcile the nationalist com munily win a brush ad ministration which they Hale awas seen as anel and oppressive. The government will be led in. to an impossible situation
which they will find themselves assuming responsibility for actions and becoming involved in situations, particularly in
securly over which they will have no COLLO
Alone in the British DIess. the Daily Mirror editorialised under the headline 'Empty promise': 'The only test of the new Ulster agreement waelner can end or reduce the violence. Unreason to believe ii can there reason to This is a treaty which has no clothes. It cannot do
THE BETSY
5 what it claims to do or carry out what mises
'The Ulster unionists will never yield an inch to the Republic as long • as they know that in the last asso Westminster British army and Dalid ment are behind them
'This is an agreement for politicians, not people. It may help Garret Fitz Gerald who is a long street behind the opinion polls. may help Margaret Thatcher, who is threatened DV OOLA Labour and the Alliance. It gives new life to the pernicious Dr Paisley and the Clockwork Orangemen who support him and thus makes the religious divide even wer Thatcher
'Mrs Thatcher has nearly all of Westminster's politicians her side largely because all parties have failed over Ireland in the asl. But failed because they refuse to recognise the heart of the problem, which is the British presence in Ireland We will not take the first step to peace until that is removed.'
Partition is the pro
lem. British presenc is
are solved there can be no justice, and only justice will bring peace
• This article is reproduced from the latest issue of Labour and Ireland, out
3XX
NOI
Page 6 scan of this page
The Ches Manifes
Socialist Action
objectives'
the labour movement.
THE Chesterfield Labour Party 1S socialist and internationalist party, with a growing membership made up of men and women, young and old, who are widely representative of all aspects of life in the town; closely linked to the trade unions, and other affiliated organisations. in pursuit of the historic role of Labour as a non-doctrinaire party of class struggle.
We are an integral part of the British Labour Party, its constitution and policy, as laid down at its annual conference. We work for the election of Labour candidates, in all local and national elections, on the basis political programmes put before the electors.
We believe that the Chesterfield party has a duty to defend working people and their families, and to campaign actively for policies that will help them. This statement ol our aims and objectives has been prepared to provide a focus for political discussion and education within the party; to allow those who join the party to understand the policies for which we stand; and to be the basis of our long-term political work.
We believe
That there should be certain rights which must be won and maintained • The right to life, free from fear, oppression, ignorance, preventable ill-health or poverty. • The right to useful and satisfying work, balanced with leisure, to meet the needs of society. • The right of everyone to receive an income sufficient to maintain a decent standard of living. • The right to a good home for all in which to live, and care for all dependents. • The right to receive possible medical care, free, and at the moment of need.
The right of access, throughout life, to the full range of human knowledge, through education at
24 January 1986 CHESTERFIELD LABOUR Party, whose MP is Tony Benn, this month
adopted a statement of 'aims and
, containing both long term aims and immediate policies. This followed several months discussion in the local party. Chesterfield have sent
a copy of the document to the NEC
and hope that other constituencies will draw up similar statements of
policy. Socialist Action is printing the
document in full for discussion within
Constituency democratic, provide accurate news,
of views.
full life,
possible.
and accept
voke international hostility the weapons of mass destruction.
sex, race, life-style or beliefs.
The right
Wing the belong
means of securing justice.
national
the community.
In democracy
economic, ministrative spheres,
whom
of the people.
In socialism
bring up children realised in the best capitalism, now, has entrenched by
of social
school, in college and afterwards. • The right to mass media which
free from bias or distortion, and a diversity
• The right to enjoy dignity, and a
in retirement in suitable accommodation, free from financial anxieties, with proper medical, and other facilities, including personal care, necessary to make that
• The right to expect that any government in power will work for peace and justice, and will not pro-
conflict or or divert resources from essential purposes to build up the
• The right to equality of treatment under just laws, free from all discrimination based upon class,
of free speech and assembly, the entrenchment of civil liberties and human rights and the right to organise volutary associations and free trade unions for the purpose of protecting and improv-
the right to withdraw labour as a
• The right of elected local and
authorities provide those jobs and services needed by
We are deeply committed to the democratic process in the political,
social and adand believe that no person should have power over others unless they are accoun table to, and removable by, those
they exercise that power or by elected representatives
form
We are socialists because we believe that these rights cannot be fully
Many society under which, as in Britain law, power of capital over labour, and their subordinated human values to the demand for profit, at the expense
justice and peace.
Chesterfield's famous by-election: Tony Benn was returned as MP there in February 1984
In internationalism We are an internationalist party believing that all people where are entitled to demand the same rights and with this in mind we have set up and international committee of the Chesterfield party to work with those who share our view.
In the rights of self-determination We believe that the people of every nation have the right to govern themselves and to be free from any
of colonial or imperial domination.
In solidarity We believe that we have a moral responsibility to defend all those who are attacked for protecting
own democratically rights, and with this in mind we are establishing workplace branches so that each can help others more ef-
fectively.
That conscience must be above the law We assert the right of all people to follow their own beliefs even if it involves them in breaking the law; and that while there may be a legal obligation to obey the law there is no moral obligation to obey unjust laws; but we also know that those who break the law on moral grounds, face punishment for their beliets, and the final verdict on their actions will rest with the public and with history.
In the rights of all to their beliefs We believe that which have been evolved in this country and abroad, over the cengained turies have given heritance; but we do not believe that truth can be captured in any one creed to
to hold their
conscientious
mote them,
to our cause.
action may experience,
socialist ideas do,
us a rich in -
community which all must
subscribe under threat of expulsion or exclusion; and we respect the rights of all members of the party
own views, and to organise within the party to pro-
being convinced that diversity of opinion adds strength
In progress through collective
We believe, in the light of our own
that the only secure basis for social progress must lie in collective action; and that those who have the privilege of representing us, at all levels, must remain accountable for what they say and
and that no one can demand blind obedience, from us, in the name of loyalty or unity.
That we are servants of the
We see the Chesterfield Labour
Page 7 scan of this page
to-
Party, and all its representatives, as crvants of all those who live and vork in the area, and with that in nind we have helped to establish he Chesterfield and District Compunity. Defence Campaign to work ~ cooperation with others who hare that same approach.
• more democracy in the Labour
Ve want to see the Labour Party nade into a more democratic and presentative body, with ights for women and the ethnic inorities and we would welcome he affiliation of other groups. We so believe that the Parliamentary abour Party and Labour groups aould be more closely linked with
membership and that hadow cabinet and cabinet should ¿ elected by the electoral college, ith similar arrangements made in spect of local government.
erfield
The policies
we want
county and
ing and manutacturing.
to make that possible
needs of all those,
elderly.
* The establishment
ing.
free health care for all.
agers in the public
elected local
their
area.
councils, to
LICCCOS
communties,
ty council CN borough council,
whatever is
abolish blood-sports
legislation relation
abuse.
For Britain
necessary
including.
panies
ship. equal
earlier retirement.
which will
standards of our people.
the nation and injustice.
the present gross
wealth and income.
ly For Chesterfield and Derbyshire the
* The provision of jobs for all those who live in the town and the * The
in particular the development of mining, engineer-
industry, and the provision of public services
* The pursuance of a big housebuilding programme to meet the
including the of a fully comprehensive educational system tion. for all students, and the right of all to continuing education and train- ment
The establishment of full and
fit. * The accountability of all man-
sector to the authorities, should have the power to require
replacement if they do not meet the needs of the people in the
* The granting of comprehensive general powers to the Derbyshire county and Chesterfield borough
do whatever tion ry in the interests of their legal. free from administrative control by Whitehall.
The banning of all blood-sports on land owned by Derbyshire coun-
and Chesterfield and also possible to seek to altogether, and the enforcement of all existing
… lo animal * The
political
The return to full employment and the adoption of the means
that purpose by, amongst other things, the common ownership, under democratic control and management, of the commanding heights of the economy,
the banks and finance houses, the land and all the com-
which dominate our industrial system, and the development of new forms of social owner-
* A shorter working week and
* The establishment, as of right, of a comprehensive welfare system
safeguard the living
* The elimination of all discrimi-
* The introduction of a system of like to taxation which will radically reduce
inequalities of ble.
* The provision of good housing, health and education for all, by absorbing those private facilities that might be necessary to achieve a ful-
comprehensive system real choice to all. * The introductin of a major programme for the democratic reform of the apparatus of the state including the abolition of the House of Lords; ending of all patronage in making major public appointments; the democratisation of the magistracy, and lay supervision of the judiciary by the introduction of assessors from all walks of life into
High Court; and democratic control of the police by elected local authorities.
ending of all nuclear weapons and bases in Britain; and the phasing out of civil nuclear power in favour of coal, conservation and alternative benign sources of energy. * The provision of cheap and safe public transport for the use of the public, to protect us from the chaos that would follow from leaving key decisions to unrestricted competi-
* Thé protection of the environ-
So that this, and future generations may enjoy it, free from pollution and exploitation for pro-
The proper provision for a leisure and multi-cultural society. * The protection of the animal kingdom so that this, and future generations may enjoy the natural wild life of Britain.
The upholding and enforcement of existing legislation relating to animal abuse, and efforts to secure the introduction of further legisla-
making all blood-sports il-
In international affairs * The adoption by Britain of a non-aligned foreign policy, mitted to the United Nations but free of all military alliances, so that this country, with others, could help ease international tensions, reduce arms expenditure and assist the development of the third world
development Colelice industrial, social and
links between working people here and in other countries, free from the control of the Treaty of Rome or NATO.
An appeal to
the people of
Chesterfield
We appeal to all those in Chesterfield who share these aims, to work with us for to help to realise them and we invite all those who would
do so, to join us as individual members so as to assist, in a practical way, to make this possi-
miners
Terry French
giving
home but I feel that,
country,
from millionaires;
unionists; ordinary
sycal
the that system
more determined.
ing, only one battle',
and I am
don't believe they
because they
do you can't quit.
beginning.
we nave not to dive Il
ithink a . OI
leave their consciences there as well.
discard your
their consciences at the
and what goes on.
down and finish you.
world —
Syd Wilkin
AT 14 YEARS of age, in 1923, I went to work down the pit. It was soon after the Maltby pit disaster, when 28 men lost their lives. In the first three months I was there, one of the lads I was working with was run over by a tub and was killed; I was the first to find him.
pony that was wild (a lot of ponies WelC wild). My might have killed me. ment did not care two hoots abom children or adults safety; they were serving the private owners.
to improve safety. But it was not until we had a national union and the pits were nationalised that we saw any improvement in conditions and safetv
I remember Cresford, miners lost their lives and they put it down to an act of god.
Markham Main disasters;
- Socialist Action
Two reasons to
demand justice for
TERRY FRENCH is a Kent miner serving five years in Maidstone jail on a frame-up charge. He was recently visited by Tony Jeremy Corbyn, and we reprint below the interview he gave them. SYD WILKIN is a retired miner living in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. He wrote, as 'fifty years a trade unionist', an open letter to Margaret Thatcher and lan MacGregor which we also print below. Terry and Syd give the two best reasons why every single person in the labour movement should support the national Justice for Mineworkers Campaign.
BEING in here it's hard. I want to go ulas
when I do go through home and look back, I will, in a way, be thankful for this time because | have had the opportunity of seeing
every single aspect of it: from top trade working class that have people that helped us all through that
- and I have met with some of the people that have suffered through
And, you know, I think I will be a bit thankful. It's made me a lot more humble. It's made me realise what I am. They have not knocked anything out of me. They have just made me
Many times during that year of the strike we said: 'this is just the beginn-
and I hope the miners remember it, because I worry that some will say: 'We've done a year of strike, we've suffered and that's it
• going to call it a day.' But I should do that have given everything and when you have got nothing left to
It's just that they all know it is the
We said all through the got beaten in this battle, they would come out hard and smash us into the ground and they are trying it and the lads can realise it. So
of the staff here understand why I'm here, and what for. But unfortunately they are in the sort of job, where, when they pick up their keys at the gate, they have to
When you first come into prison you resent it a bit: Fancy being able
conscience. after a little while, it becomes self-evident to you that if they didn't leave
gate they would soon end up unstable in their own minds, because of what they saw
Don't stop fighting because if you do they have not finished with you yet. Your only chance is to fight. If you lay down they are going to come
I have had letters from all over the
New Zealand, America -all England, Scotland and Wales. And they are all saying the same thing: "You won't be forgotten.' Especially on the Christ-
people
They sent me pony driving with a
The manag
their
The unions were always fighting
miners have against tem when 365
There was these and other were frequent ac-
24 January 1986 7 Benn and cards, that message comes time and time again some of the letters from friends, from my own community, have helped me to have a greater understanding of myself. Because I don't think I have ever really had time to sit down and consider wnat I am. And Inese letters
come from home have shown me that, even as an individual, I matter. I'm important to somebody and that's important to me.
TERR FRENC
I think that what's important is the trade union movement, the way it's going. And I'm not too pleased at what's going on at the top.
me, but all the miners. I should like to thank all those who have helped us and all I can say is that I will never desert you, because I know who 1 am and where I come from and where I belong and that's with the working people in this country and they are the
who had f5 left out of his dole money
that f5 in, rather than take the bus and split into it. How can you quit
time of that suffering
is no substitute for struggle and that
awareness of what is going on and you
doing and hope I can repay it one day. cidents on the paddy-mail, often with
• losing their lives. Miners deserve better treatment than this
Throughout the 1984-5 strike they struggled, not for more money, but to preserve jobs — as they had fought all their lives to make the pits safer for all those who work in them, including the management. Those miners who were sacked in the aftermath of the strike also deserve better treatment. They are not criminals.
were sacked after the 1926 lock-out did not 1946. Does vie missement intend to victimisation lifted until give these sacked miners the same treatment, in 1986? Most of these
only trivial offences
If the managers have any compassion left in them they should reinstate
miners. They have suffered enough. Stop dividing the miners and let us get back peace in the mines.
Page 8 scan of this page
Euro-Tories and
8
I WANT to analyse the place that
American capitalism assigns to European radicals and Mensheviks, Social Democracy of Europe... Social Democracy has been issued an
- and i do not at all sa) this for polemical purposes render pollical ala capitalism in placing Europe on rations.
What is the Social Democracy of Germany, of France now actually doing? What are Lne throughout Europe study this closely and ponder over it.
They are themselves and they are trying to instill in the working masses the religion of Americanism.
European
They are teaching, or trying to teach, the toiling mases that Europe cannot maintain herself without the pacifying role of American capitalism and its loans. They are leading the opposition to their own bourgeoisie, as,
exalloic. do the Cerman socia patriots - an opposition not from the standpoint of the proletarian revolution, nor from the standpoint of some sort of reforms, but from the standDUllil of exposing the bourgeoisie as intemperate, CHaT VIISEC and incapable reaching an agreement humane, democratic, capitalism of America.
This is now the central question of une pollucal lite or curope. especially of Germany. In words, the European democracy is becoming, very eyes, the political American capitalism.
Is this development expected or unexpected? If we recall _ and it is hardly a case that calls for recollection
that the Social Democracy is the agency of the bourgeoisie,
clear that the Deconc democracy, political degeneration, become the agency of the strongest and most powerful bourgeoisie, bourgeoisie of bourgeoisies. This is the American bourgeoisie.
To Lne that Can las undertakes Lne 'unifying' Europe, Europe and 'educating' Europe how to cope with the questions of reparations, and so on, and to the extent that the purse is in the hands of the American bourgeoisie, to that extent the entire dependence of the German social Democracv upon the German bourgeoisie, and of the French Social Democracy upon their bourgeoisie in France is gradually transferred to the chief master. American
Yes, a great master has come to Europe, American capitalism. And it
only natural that the democracy should assume a position politıcally dependent on the master of its masters. This is the basic fact for
present condition and the present policy of the Second International. Those who grasp this clearly will fail to understand the of today
cyclis tomorrow and will keep sliding on the surface, subsisting on generalities.
vote that: one deserves another! The democracy prepares une American capitalism; it runs ahead of the chariot, talks of the salutary role of American capitalism. sweeps the road, cleans away the bestows blessings. This is not unimportant work!
Imperialism is accustomed to sending missionaries ahead. The savages in the colonies usually shot the priest, and sometimes ate him. Then the warrior was sent to avenge the saintly one, and hard on the heels of the warrior came the merchant and the administrator.
order to colonise turope. to transform the latter into an American dominion of a new type, capitalism has no need of sending priest-missionaries to Europe. On the
on the curopean there is a political party whose entire
Socialist Action 24 January 1986
the The
American
Socialists doing? Let us
educating
German
greedy,
social with the Trotskv
pacifist
and other social before our
of
it will
social
is bound to
the
American
asK 'pacifying
own social
do not
of
alla
service social
rubbish, task consists in
people the gospel
rings or in ideone
writings Chicago STOCK
Menshevism.
German Social Democracy
American
Cultucil.
shown the violence with which inter-imperialist competition can
politics. Less clearly understood on the left however is the way in
shaped by the relation and competition between the imperialist
United States in particular which have been the key international development shaping the politics of the European social democratic parties. This is perceptively discussed in the follow-
Common benefits from the imperialist powers. The colossal economic power of the United States after World War I led the European social democratic par-
United States to the policy of their
A similar development took place after World War Il when the United
Dues
democratic leaders such as Gaitskell looked directly to an alliance with the United States — and US presidents
Kinnock proclaiming to the seeking, according Woodrow Wilson, the evangel accor-
the holy New and markets. precisely the mission of present-day
But. I repeat. one service deserves another! The Mensheviks gain not a
Anally nue inereby. As a maller or lace, te German
not so long ago had to assume the direct armed defence of its own bourgeoisie, the same bourgeoisie that marched nonder to shoulder win me asciss. Noske is, after all, the figure that
VOU symbolises the postwar policy of the
Euro-Socialists
Renaudel, Blum, Noske looked to US presidents such as Woodrow Wilson
equivalent of Marshall Aid after World War I was the Dawes plan to
But with the relative decline of the economic power of the United States
powers to striking blows against them
Kennedy was the last American president to enjoy mass popular sup-
imperialist competition between the
Market and the outed.
Italy, Gonzales in Spain, Kinnock in
to look towards the EEC, and not the United States, for their base of sup-
don a cloak of 'anti-Americanism' to gain popular support. By these means
SIDOr. dination of the West European working classes to the West European ruling classes. In a number of cases this involved direct coalition with pro-
Mitterrand
German Social Democracy.
And today? Today it has a different role. Today the German Social Democracy permits itself the luxury of being in an opposition. It criticises its own bourgeoisie and thereby keeps a certain distance between itself and the parties of capitalism.
How does criticise its own bourgeoisie? It says: You are selt
dull-witted, cunning, here is a bourgeoisie on other side of the Atlantic which is, first of all, rich and powerful; secondly, it is humane, reformist and pacifist, and it has again come to us and wants to give 800 million marks cash in order to restore the currency
And this sounds very well in Ger-
- the gold mark! But you, the bourgeoisie, al l obstreperous. After you have pulled our dear fatherland up to its ears in the swamp of poverty, how dare you be so stubborn before the American bourgeoisie? Why, we shall expose
mercilessly the eves of ine popular masses of Germany!.
The 'Euro-Tories' of the type of Owen, Steel, and others found their equivalent in the 'Euro-socialists' of Craxi or Gonzales.
The following speech given by Trotsky in 1923 entitl-
Perspectives Revolution, graphically illustrates the mechanisms by imperialist only ruling class but also working
politics.
Owen
This is spoken almost in the tones of a revolutionary defense of the American bourgeoisie. This is the paradox of the German Social Democratic Party
The same thing applies to France. Of course, political situation in France, and in consonance with the more respectable reputation O1 but everything in this country takes place on the sly and in modulated tones. But essentially the same thing is being done there 1o0.
Blum, Renaudel and Jean Longuet bears full responsibility for the Versailles Peace and for the occupation of the Ruhr territory.
After all, as we all know, it is already incontestable loday inal ine Herriot government, the Socialists, stands for maintaining the occupation of the Ruhr. But now the French Socialists are enabled 1o say their ally Americans clear the Ruhr under such and such conarions: doll...
mand it now.'
They
French million
franc any
croach
Renaudel,
bourgeoisie
working class. countries Democracy represents
articie from
European
which inter-
mission.
shapes not
in Europe
for semicorpse. tional, like Union reestablished
spine, American
I ducs
machine.
they
maintaining Peace
tribune in
perialist
in consonance with the
cupation.
French tranc,
The party of Leon
entire activity. united the
and Switzerland.
supported by
"The are demanding that you
We,: 100, de-
In Depth
are demanding this not through the will and strength of the French proletariat, but in the name of subjecting the French bourgeoisie to the will of the American bourgeoisie. It ought not to be forgotten that the
bourgeoisie owes 3,700 dollars lo ine American bourgoisie. This means something!
Ac catal! topple the French time pleases. Of course, the American bourgeoisie will not encroach on the franc. Oh, no! After all, the American bourgeoisie has come to Europe to restore order and not to bring ruin. It will not en-
. but it can encroach, if it so wishes. Everything is in its hands.
against the background of this debt of almost four billion dollars, the arguments of
Blum and others have a rather convincing ring in the ears of the French bourgeoisie At the same time the Social Democracy in Ger-
isa enabled an oppose cos ories
enabled oppose carry on 'oppositionist' policies on some concrete questions, and thereby regain the confidence of a certain section of the
Menshevism
Nor is this all. Certain possibilities of ioint 'actions' are opened un for the Menshevik parties of the various
•OI Europe. I ne of Europe already rather harmonious chorus. In some respects this is a new fact. For ten years - — since the beginnmig or ne pedalst wal - it has had no opportunity for presenting a common front. Now this possibility exist: and the Mensheviks have now come forward as a solid chorus, supporting America, supporting her programme, her demands, her pacifism, her great
And here we come to the question of the Second International
Here is the key and explanation
certain signs The InternaAonsteroam International, being Of course, not in the same form as before the war. The past cannot be resurrected; old strength is gone beyond return. The Communis International cannot be obliterated.
Nonetheless, with this damaged
they are seeking to rise on crutches, straightening themselves up as best they can. The change that is taking place must be appraised to its fullest extent, com-
During the imperialist war, the German Social Democracv remained most closely and quite openly tied to
machine those French Social
French Social Democracy, to its own. What kind of International could there be so long as
savagely fought each other? There was no possibility whatever for
mask of interna tionalism, or even a shadow of it.
In the epoch of the drafting of the peace, the same situation existed. The Versailles Peace represented simply the seal set upon the results of the im-
• war on diplomatic Where was there room for solidarity? the situation remained essentially the same in the period of the Ruhr oc-
But now gical American capitalism comes 1o Europe and it says: Here is a plan of reparations for you, Messrs. Mensheviks!
And the Social Democracy accepts this program as the basis for its
This new program Social Democracy of France, Germany, England, Holland
Once again we see here the same paradox: when American capitalism launches into outright brigandage, it is fully enabled to step to the fore in the guise of an organiser and pacifier as some sort of humanistic. historica principle. And in passing, it creates a platform for the Social Democracy
1o ine latter's na •tionalistic platform of yesterday.,
Page 9 scan of this page
Gorbachev proposes ban on nukes
International
TURNER looks at what lies behind this development and the reactior
AT the end of the USSoviet arms talks last November, statement from both sides promised
speed up the Geneva talks with use *preventing an arms race in soace are lo terminate it on earth'. The new pro-
from Gorbachev, made on the eve of the reopening of the Geneva talks last week, is a con-
step towards just that.
Gorbachev's statement outlined a three-stage plan
eliminate all nuclear weapons ov lie year zuvu It also contains proposals to extend the 1963 test ban treaty to include underground tests which are not coverca by ine VIUSCOW treaty
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union has announced a three-month extention of its unilateral freeze on nuclear testing, which has been in operation for six months and was due to end at the beginning of this year. Invited participate, with a bilateral further extension of the freeze. president Reagan declined. He had
option however but to welcome proposals as 'a helpful further step'
But the Financial Times' ' US editor reported last Saturday. that the Reagan administration admitted 'confusion' over
Civil war in Aden
John Bull figure', Queen's yachi and out of Aden last week.
crazed blood bath.
The Mirror forgot to mention what Peter White's 'heroic' predecessors did.
Britain seized the territory of South Yemen in the middle of the last cenlury. It carried out an occupation against the local people for 139 years without putting penny into the countrv's develon. ment. The territory . was important because of the strategic situation of the Port of Aden al the entrance to the Red Sca
During the 1960s Aden became a by-word for torture and British brutality.
LAST WEEK Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev proposed, on behalf of the USSR, a concrete plan for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. CAROL
fessed having been
pected move Cano said indicated new.
chev. US
past.
The which missiles would
Stage :Within the 5-8 USSR lexi will reduce by one the nuclear
the
warheads.
tion intermediate
Stage I nIs would begin no 5-7 years.
Stage would con-
begin disar-
Europe
without
the bomb?
A Socialist Action pamphlet which analyses
the emergent trends in European defence and the role of the anti-missiles movement during the last half decade. Price 50p (plus
20p postage), the pamphlet is available from PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
'RETURN OF the great British hero', trumpeted the Daily Mirror when ex-copper Peter White, 'a 6ft 3in
escorted evacuees onto the The fighting in South Yemen has been presented as a
When the People's Democratic Republic of South Yemen was finally liberated by the National Liberation Front in 1967, it was one of the poorest countries of the region.
The tensions which led io the open armed struggle, , between rival factions ed by President Ali Nasser Mohammed Socialist Party secretary Abdul Fattah Ismail, were not concerned with foreign policy. loyalty USSR, though Ali Nasser leant more towards friendrelations with the
Al Geneva: 'a difference in stance agreement "to freeze all their nuclear arms and not to have them in the territories of other countries'
All nuclear powers would eliminate mer tatical nuclear arms, namely upto 1000 kilometers'. Additionally, there would be a ban on the development of non-nuclear weapons with comparative destructive capability.
Stage Three: This would begin by 1995, completing the elimination of all remaining nuclear weapons.
would be dismantled and destroyed
'By the end of 1999 there will be no nuclear
on earth. universal accord will be drawn up that such weapons should never
come into being On-site, inspections would
The United States and the Borer coon aæe areas tabled proposals to reduce their nuclear arsenals or su
cent. But while the USSR has been adamant that Wars research must also stop, the US is equally determined that it will not.
even une super cent
proposals are not as straight-forward as they might seem. There are different wavs CONHiroshima after the bomb
NORTH RED YEMEN SEA ETHIOPIAS
DJIBOUTI Djibouti
100mls SOMALIA
Yemeni Arab Republic 10 the North, and with the other oil states of the region.
The core of the dispute lies internal policy Ismail stood for a hard line against private agriculture But the issues have spilled over into the structure and
puting the total arsenal
But, in the
¡cally.
Strategic In-
progress to nuclear
The new
'Such
mutually the
testing, and
weapons. under
space weapons
to become
datory of
The Financial
Gorbachev's Salemen.
compromise' Star Wars. ban
testing and suggests, makes no
, there is: 'some Washington that Mr Gorbachev might have eased the way to an agreement
intermediate-range missiles.
This position is a con. It has more to do with the
SOUTH YEMEN
›Aden
GULF OF ADEN
Africa privileges of the state apparatus. Differences came
debate over the Five Year Plan, due lo start this month
Ali Nasser has been introducing agricultural reforms ammed at increas: ing the autonomy of the private The
Cella!
"imaginative' reaction that the rinancial limes calls on the US to make in response to Gorbachev than it does with real steps towards ridding the world of nuclear death weapons.
But such steps, after all, are not the purpose of United States negotia-
Keagan's deter mination to press ahead with Star Wars shows tha the real object of the US CACILISC decisive nuclear advantage over the Soviet Union. The only deal that Washington is prepared to make is one
tive.
The United States has been responsible for every initiative on the build-up of nuclear weapons since World War II. The Gorbacher proposals, and the US's reaction 1o them, show once again the dil ference between their two Stances
Whatever the USSR's leadership's record on other issues, there can be little doubt that they con-
their economy, and even of the Soviet bureaucracy, are served by the deceleration and eventual elimination of the nuclear arms race. The Gorbacher proposals are to be welcomed as a genuine step towards freeing the world of the threat of nuclear annihilation. brakes have been nut of forced collectivisation, and being given individual titles 1o
their land and more control over ine sale of neir produce.
The reforms have crod. ed the privileges of those in charge of the co-operatives and oversee the agricultural programme -
supporters of Isman. After live lears o
evile for health
the country and to the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Socialist Party
The obviously buil up a among disaffected layers of the
The chaos in South Yemen is a severe blow for the USSR as the South Yemeni government is the Soviet Union's closest ally in the region.
Socialist Action 24 January 1986 Guatemala:
Hours before M
1982 and 14 January 1986.' major part of the junta's state terror. West Germany:
elsewhere in the country
35-hour week strike campaign.
factories, successfully shutting down the industry
FDP KNE ATI
KAPITALS, Food mountain:
Commission report issued last week. By
30 million people for a year.
Denmark:
forced to call
EEC Commission,
loing #icasules 1984.
WORLD
Guatemala's out-going military junta have
declared a general amnesty for themselves Vinicio Cerezo took over as the country's first civilian president in 16 years last Wednesday, Chief of State General Oscar Humberto Mejia Victores signed a decree authorising: 'a general amnesty for all persons responsible for... or connected with political or common crimes committed between 23 March
Lawyers say that though in theory the amnesty could apply to the guerillas, the decree, which precisely covers the junta's period in power, was 'clearly intended to cover any personnel Involved in numan riehts abuses.
In his inaugural speech Cerezo hinted that he mignt dispano ponce dearn squads but polntedi refrained from saying anything about the army's notorious G-2 unit, considered responsible for a
West Germany's cabinet has approved a
new anti-strike law, which it wants to pass this year against strong union resistance. The lav will withdraw state benefits from workers laid off because of strike action by their union
The government claims it is merely 'clarifying the interpretation' of the existing law, unde which I-G Metall members successfully sued the Nuremberg Labour authority during the 1984
The authority had tried to withhold benefits from motor industry workers who were laid off after I-G Metall called selective strikes in components
Last month around 1 million German workers took part in strikes, illegal under the German constitution, against the proposed law.
Europe's food mountain trebled during the Ethiopian famine, according to a European September 1985 European food stores held 17 million tonnes of cereals, 80,000 tonnes of beef and one million tonnes of butter: enough to feed
EEC officials expressed concern that the large surplusses will depress market prices.
The Danish minority coalition government thinks it will not win a majority in the Danish parliament for the package of EEC reforms agreed in Luxembourg last month. The country faces a constitutional crisis and the government may be
referendum U1 issue
The reform package would speed up European integration by introducing majority voting in the
which means that individual countries could, in theory, be prevented from ve
they with
The government's problem is that it needs the support of the Social Democrats, who are not in the coalition, to win the parliamentary vote. But the Social Democrats are facing a groundswell of anti-EEC feeling in their membership, and see the anti-EEC and anti-NATO Socialist People's Party as a growing threat on their left. The latter's support has risen from I1 per cent to 15 per cent since
Page 10 scan of this page
10
Part of my soul
NECESSARILY AN Mandela, whether it be conventional or unconvenforemost because of the role she and her family is tional, is bound to occupying in the national liberation struggle of the
Secondly black people.
Winnie the person, has been in the thick of it, giving part of her soul no less than anyone else. Lastly, she is the first black woman to have broken the neck of a policeman singlehanded.
The book is basically about Winnie as she lives the life of an 'adult Bantu female' the • Mis made documents say. up of interviews with Anne Banjamin edited the manuscript the letters from Nelson Mandela
Winnie, the tributes from Winnie's friends, such as Dr Manus
Dr Motlana, Rita Ndzanga and others He SLUREIC The first interview is
about her forcible eviction from her home in Orlando in Soweto to Brandfort, a smal town in the Orange Free State, where apparently the Boer population has yet to realise that we are in the twentieth century and that Paul Kruger has long died. The police did their job first before dumping her there with the hope that she'd forge be forgotten. They told the blacks uncle lilal the Communist' they were dump-
their doorstep should not be greeted or talked to, let alone have chloren colo net house
The exact opposite happened. It did not take long for ine nacks know who she was, what che was angoul helped her, took part in the schemes she organised
combat malnutrition, and, all,
reported to Winnie what
WCIC those of them who were forced to inform on her.
This, and much more, is vividly explained in the
book.
She also speaks about neTi Cale TOOd. of her nine- the cir-
cumstances
MemocI family which back Families, like so many
becomes
sinnes parlearned heard
things she learned,
and observed. The way she
talks about this life is ge-
nuine and real.
•I became aware at an
early stage that the whites
Tell superior Io And
could see how shabby my
father looked
parison the white
teachers. That hurts your
pride walth yUl are
child
The life itself is or-
dinary. Her
development, finding
herself in the ANC and
getting married to the na-
tion as she is, is told with
true to life passion. Here
too the story is ordinary
and typical. Ordinary
because millions of black
women daily live that same
life of police harassment,
separation,
under apartheid which
Winnie ably talks
about.
'Detention means that
midnight knock when all
aDOl quiet.
means those blinding tor-
ches shone simultaneously
through every window
house before the
YUUI
door Is KicKed
means the exclusive right
Socialist Action 24 January 1986
Reviews
autobiography of Winnie
attract attention. First and
because Winnie herself,
the security branch have to read each and every letter in the house. It means pag. ing through each and every book on your shelves, lifting carpets, looking ünder
lifting sleeping children trom and looking under the sheets. It means tasting your sugar, your mealiemeal and every spice on your kitchen packing all your clothing and going through each pocket.
BOOKS
'Ultimately means you! dragged away from little SCiLUI C dawn, children screaming and cl inging 1o your skirt, imploring white man dragging mummy away to leave her alone
And Winnie Mandela's book must be read by all black women precisely having
nothing out of the OI-
dinary about it. For being
typical black
women under apartheid.
African
black woman, whether she
is fighting with the police
in their mass removal cam-
paign, whether she is pro-
tecting her right to sell
Magwinya (fat cakes) at
the street corner, fighting
the so-called madams
melt kitchens their
husbands in their factories
their relatives in the
farms, in the Bantustans
the black woman is forced,
like Winnie, to fight back.
Winnie's description
of how she grew politically
fits lots of women who are
daily resisting the Boers
who strip them and try 1o
poke their fingers into
their genitals. In this way
the book merely ar-
liculates the experiences ol
black women. The book is A PiECE of the ACTION hit Beney even Dear me! The now.
Lantrums!
ME
R
•
bound to inspire even more Winnie Mandelas to come forward
What is out of the ordinary about the book is the extent to wich conrade Nelson Mandela deccalec to the struggle of the African people. Winnie writes fondly him, and rightly points out that they have never had a married life together.
Like so many blacks widowed by the hangman, the bullet of the police or the soldier. Intlux control and the prisons, she knows
responsible.
Reading the Comrade Mandela to Winnie, nis coiaren and nose for the nation, in
10 say parison, a venure the Bondon, affection the feeling and bond the same. •He Is our man the man of the nation.
rinally, u unis i nol a powerful indictment against apartheid, nothing will be.
Winne Mandela, Part of My Soul, Penguin, London, 1985, $2.95.
Other Books
Congress, December 1985 edition. price 50p, annual Part of My Soul South Africa, as
payable 1o IMRS and sent to PO Box 50,
with all orders.
The peremptory heaomis cross, one teacher's pets, and
From the cassroom in a suik
Defence of the
the stern reply. response to the question in the negative. 'Hero' Nick Mullen is • reporter workle lur li Daily Dispatch. Mulen ex poses a sex-spy scandal involving Dennis Markham, a Labour MP and a former defence minister, and KGB agent named Kleist.
Reviewed by Terry Luke
With only circumstantial evidence and words of from Bayliss, Mullen nonetheless deterto probe further.
When the story breaks big Markham resigns his seat in parliament.
Bayliss reacts by taking 1o more drink than usual and hints at a frame-up involving the Special Branis foshd dead in tis flat of Shortly afterwards he a 'heart attack'.
Mullen is motivated to investigate further and enlists the aid of Markham's secretary Nina Hackman. As the vestigation proceeds, the truth becomes clearer.
Mullen is lead to the inevitable conclusion blal the Markham affair 'has been usea as a cover-up iol a major state secret involv-
nuclear power dustry. It also involves the proprieter his own newspapel Despite minor flaws in
editing, and a beginning Inal gives away the fact that there's more to what follows than meets the eye this is a gripping thriller. In some respects it compares WIld brilliant BBC series The Edge of
Whether it's viewed as a liberal film exposing the worst excesses of a demoa radical Canc staic. one exposing the state for what it is, the result is very effective.
The Mandela review is reprinted from Sechaba, the official journal of the African National
Single copies,
scriptions cost £6.00.
many other books on ell as copies and subscriptions 1o Sechaba, are available from Other Books. Cheques and postal orders should be made
London N/ 2XP. If ordering Part of My Soul, an additional 28p should be enclosed to cover postage and packing; payment should be sent
It may be important • but I find it difficult to take it
•I find it difficult to believe that it's real.
realm: a dark thriller
AT ONE POINT in this film, Defence of the Realm, seasoned hack Neville Bayliss says to the hero reporter: 'It's a free country isn't it?' No answer was The events that follow provide a
CINEMA
The perrormances.
from Hackman to the slob
reporter, are of the highest
standard. Special praise
must go for the portrayl of
Bayliss the veteran
reporter with a left wing
past who 'quit the party in
56' - and to the fine Irish
actor Gabriel Byrne
Mullen. (Doubtless as his
reputation grows
media will start calling him
British!)
It's a dark film in more
ways than one. Without
wishing
cliches, the terms Or-
wellian and Kafkaesque
apply. One scene in par-
ticular, where Mullen
'interviewed' by three
upper-crust state security
men as •Cols
without any physical
- as the Winston
Holence
Smith-O'Brien encounters
in 1984.
Defence of the Realm
not only rubbishes the
state and the Street
Shame, but with the help
of a very good script and
cast is does so convincing-
ly. Go and see it.
Defence of the Realm,
is on London release.
present it is showing at
the Odeon Haymarket.
none lingress south tatice BARRICADES IN THE STREETS CORMÄC
I suspect that
opera • со сототшот
print unions
unions, indeed,
up the Wapping
will follow.
By Annie Brady
He's cut out the print unions altogether.
he is successful not only will
is of
no-strike deal for
unions.
unionisation here in Britain.
contracts in
else to so d0.
house-trained in
ing devised to match.
leadership, is attempting lo do.
sluggish
fact.
unions, backed
must back the print unions to the hilt.
UNIONS
The future of the
WHEN RUPERT Murdoch set New International's £100 million-worth of presses rolling last Saturday he was breaking new ground — for the print industry and the Fleet Street
for the whole trade union movement. He described his decision to open
green-field site as: 'a pioneering effort. I have no doubt that others
Murdoch is a pioneer alright. Many aspects of his ultimatum to the unions are similar to those which other newspaper barons have demanded and in some cases already forced through. Robert Maxwell's Mirror Group secured a deal at the beginning of this year, creating 2100 redundancies and longer hours and worse conditions for those remaining. He is now carrying through a wave of victimisations. Eddie Shah signed a no-strike deal with the EETPU last July for his new newspaper.
But Murdoch's demand is a qualitative step which goes beyond any union deal signed in Bri tain so far. He is attempting to give his no-strike deal the force of law, to make it legally binding. If
unions and in dividuals too for that matter) be liable to prosecu tion if they go into dispute with management, but the implications for every single trade unionist in this country are huge. The EETPU is undermining every trade union by going along with Murdoch.
The production of the Sunday Times at Wapp ing last weekend was the culmination of five years' work and 'intensive negotiations' for Murdoch. Those talks have so far resulted in the employment of a new labour force: electricians on short-term contracts and no involvement of the print unions. But for Murdoch this is the harbinger of the new management-union relationship to come. Already the EETPU is attempting to agree a legally binding
their members, against the pressure of the TUC and the rest of the Fleet Street
Such legal agreements are already in force abroad. The resulting effect on unionisation and trade union power is disasterous. In the US all union contracts are legally enforceable. Most contain elaborate grievance procedures and no-strike clauses of the type the EETPU is prepared to sign. Real wages in the US have not increased since 1966. And the percentage of the workforce which is unionised has dropped from 35 to 19 per cent since the '50s. This compares to almost 50 per cent
Union agreements are treated in law like civil
France. Here 1oo the percentage unionisation has dropped to almost 19 per cent. In West Germany it is not only illegal to break a union agreement, but also to encourage anyone
West German unions are the most West Europe - and have been since the end of World War II. Now there are new signs of militancy, and new legal sanctions are be-
To introduce such deals in Britain would fundamentally weaken every union. And that is exactly what Murdoch, with the help of the EETPU
Even the usually leadership of the TUC recognises this
Under pressure from the rest of the print
the miners and
railworkers unions, Willis and company are now frying to persuade Hammond to back down.
This is a vital battle for every trade unionist in this country. There must be massive pressure from all unions to stop the Murdoch deal and to suppor the NGA and SOGAT '82 in their fight. The TUC
Page 11 scan of this page
News
Teachers
action
on racism
AT THE NUT special conference Mast weekend, Bradford teachers moved an amendment to the executive motion calling for further strike action over pay.
Bradford teachers are already engaging in unofficial action, ignored the NUT executive. What the executive haven't chosen to turn a blind eye to, however, is their action in support of the mond rarents Committee's call one-day aCON racist head, Honeyford.
Bradford teachers now face NUT disciplinary proceedings over this. This is outrageous. They are supporting a clear NUT policy on racism and multicultural education.
The executive must drop the discipline and give black parents confidence that the NUT will unequivocally support them in their fight against racism and racist schools.
Support the North
Wales slaters
into the
Gwynedd The workers,
equipment and attempted to withdraw the agreement. Their strike is official.
miners. Their work IS
roofing slate. IONA women's strike support
was all about.
FIFTY-three men at three
quarries Blaenan Ffestiniog came OUl strike in August 1985. The dispute started Frestiniog Slate Cominny
the Mr
WIICH
Williams, introduced new
machinery and new
bonus scheme which effectively meant that although
were produc-
ing up to 200 slates more
were £28.50
worse off at the end of the
notos.
week.
Slate workers began a
work to rule and were soon
MORNING joined by others from two
other more quarries run by
the same The
directors of Cwt-y-Bugail
Ouarrv threatened to lay
off the men unless they AR worked normally. When they refused they were
locked out
Levels of hardship vary
from family to family.
toy appeal for Xmas,
organised by the women's
support group for the
strike, was a great success.
Our strike is part of the across the country There
across the country.
bad unemployment
situation in this area.
owners are trying to take
advantage of this to im-
pose wage cuts.
They have tried to
employ people who are out
work break the
strike. But so far they have
failed.
be said,
however, that nine out of
original
FOR
EACHERS
UT
'Will this never end?'
NORTH WALES slate quarry workers are now well
sixth month of their dispute with the
Williams family who own three regu mesines
members, struck, refusing to accept a cut in bonus payment, when management introduced computerised cutting
bonus
Slate quarriers face similar conditions as coal
hazardous by the possibility of explosions and of landslides, and they are liable to lung complaints caused by dusty conditions. The North Wales workers mine high quality
PRICE, secretary of the group told JAN WHITEHEAD, herself a member of the Deeside miners support group (personal capacity), what it
have returned. But the 44 still out are firm.
The important 18 issue stake IS OVCI sacked men. The owners issued letter of dismissal to
September. The others are refusing to gọ back until the 18 are reinstated and until ot payments are sorted out. employers have will consider, at taking Iner them back individually but will not deal with the 18 collectively or on the initiative of the union The women's support group held its first meeting in mid-September. one or two of our members have
group, but most of the group had never been involved in this way before.
A new layer of people have been drawn into struggle — and the inspiration came TONI women's involvement in the miners' strike.
Quarrymen in other parts of North Wales, branches of the Labour Party and Plaid Cymru, as well as many trade union branches are actively supporting OUI strike.
• The women's support appealing donations. Money and let ters of support to, and ther informanion lona Price, 7 Uncorn Terrace,. *jestiniog, strikers ' Gwynedd; Wales:
all-out
one-day
EAR PAYStrike
be held soon.
their struggle to defend state education.
Bernard Reagan from ILTA also spelled out to conterence the immealale need to build bridges with
By Pat Tough, Secretary Solihull NUT and delegate to special
(personal capacity)
other TUC-affiliated unions and unite this campaign.
Keith Joseph, secretary state for education, who had hoped for an early settlement last November has so far had those hopes dashed due largely to the level of united grass-roots
DeLWCCI! of the two largest unions.
Unlikely
The NUT executive's version of an exodus from the NAS-UWT the Nut is not only unlikely but would come too late to stop the sell-out they cor-
rectly warn against.
Now the NUT is committed to the joint meetings and action Will NAS UWT and NATHE carole Regan Dullet
the enemy here oul,
government not Fred Smithies general
secretary the NAS UWT although Smithies obviously needs firmly bringing with the mood of his membership
With Conference time allowing just three and a
FIGHT
ALONGSIDE:
NUT
• Teachers demand more action::
Teachers call
TEACHERS GAVE massive support to the call for a one-day national stoppage and demonstration to
Almost 2000 delegates at the NUT special conference held at Wembley last Saturday heard Jan Shallice from the Inner London Teachers (ILTA) describe the need for teachers of all unions to show the government that they are serious in their demand for f1200 flat-rate increase in pay and in
halt hours of debate, only handtul of the 338 amendments to the exmotion were taken. Of these, not one called for a retreat.
The discussion around an amendment calling for a total boycott of public examinations indicated the of the MOOd Hially delegates. They wanted to step up the action.
Refusal This amendment was narrowir defeated on Int argument that teachers are already too involved in the exam system to be able lo create total boycott.
However. une orosoccu mains of a refusal by NUT
members to invigilate sumexaminations when the NUT annual conference in April further debate on the campaign.
Time prevented this debate but certainly the mood again appeared to be in favour of such action. escalation of unpaid strike Amendments action and a regular levy of the membership were lost at conference. Quite clearly these proposals were important in carrying the campaign forward. continued debate e socal COnLEICU local associations. associations
should put forward mo. lions to executive of this, or consider adopting such ac
. This will put pressure on the executive to spell out all members the need to up the action and maintain a strong strike fund.
More than ever alliances must be built. At all levels the union must seek out allies: from within the Labour Party and the trade unions, especially the public sector; from parents groups. like the All-London Parents Action Group
Links have to be built on the understanding that the state education service faces a common with a clear vision of what its goals are. Fighting these attacks alone would mean a longer and harder fight.
It's not just teachers in England and Wales who
The Scottish teachers union, CID, has been engaged in a much longer dispute. Mc. Callman of Glasgow EIS speaking Socialist Teacher fringe meeting at
outlined how Concicuce teachers in Scotland were effectively boycotting curriculum development and examination. Teachers in England, Wales and Scotland are certainly natural allies. They rapidly developing a clear picture of who their common enemy Is. • Labour Party and trade union branches should be
motions in DusS support of leachers, to in
speakers from local VIte NUT associations to their
meetings, and place demands on Labour coun cillors to give their lotal support the leachers fight.
FIGHT
ON!
Socialist Action
WE'RE WELL
BOUR WAY!
UDM defeat
in Leicester
vote comes only one week after
vice president seats by a majority of around 2:1.
Uptil recently the 2200-strong Leicester area has been widely tipped as a UDM strong-hold. In last December's issue of the UDM's paper Terry Hughes, the president By Carol Turner defeated in last week's
was gloating about the decision ballot the area member-
ship The
choice is obvious, he said. 'The Union of Democratic Mineworkers is the only way that Leicestershire miners are going to get true democracy and control from the grassroots
Judging results last week, the choice facing Le cesici miners is obvious - • and Tor the same reasons. Bui it won't be the breakaway iney l De vollng iol
The Leicester election a trend result commun which is now emerging across the coalfields. Far from the swered that UDM leaders have been trumpeling, suppor for an organisation clearv tied to the bosses shirttails is both limited in numbers and confined to peripheral grades
in South Derby, the UDM's support comes not from face workers but from the
Justice
for miners
THE JUSTICE for the Miners Campaign got under way in earnest
week when eight sacked miners arrived
Greenwich Labour Party rooms to start the build-up for the March concert and rally in the Albert Hall.
Geoff Hartnell, member of the Durham Mechanics the Tursdale Workshops. himself sacked last May without being allowed to hear the evidence against him, explained: 'There are over 500 of us still sacked and many still in jail. The jailed miners' only crime was defending their jobs and communities.
'It could have been any of us. They are the heroes and the labour movement should treat them as such.
Heroes is the title of an I.P in aid of the sacked and jailed miners which manv well-known group! collaborated to produce These Delulucas and many supporting acts will be playing at the giant rally • and concert to be held on 2
24 January 1986 11
THE LEICESTERSHIRE 40,000
plus
MINER
members - ano more want to
ON
join every THIS FRIDAY Leicester miners will vote in a ballot to decide whether to stay in the National Union of Miners or join the breakaway outfit, the UDM. The
UDM supporters suffered a severe defeat in the elections for area officials. Pro-NUM candidates won the president and
transport grades. There a majority has already been won hack for the Nationa Union of Mineworkers
In Point of Ayr, North Wales, the UDM vote was derisory: only 68 of the 564 who voted supporter the breakaway. After the announcement, , the UDM called off al 'inaugural meeting' which was planned to take place a few days after the result was announced.
The NUM won over 88
er cent of the vote in tha
›allot A leaaing NUM spokesperson at the Point of Ayr told Socialist Ac. tion: 'It was the biggest turnout ever. And more encouraging, abou
joined since he ballot re
so more maners navi
He described the UDM dirty before that ballot: anti-NUM graffiti
letters, and more. But they didn't work
'Now we are united,' he said, 'and going forward with a common pur. pose: to keep the pits open
dismantle the and Customs and practices
from the Coa Board. • There's more to join us than divide us.
These trends are good omen indeed for th National Union of Mineworkers.
March Scargill, Benn Heathfield and Skinner are also speaking.
The miners are work ing from Greenwich party rooms and staying with local Labour Party
of whom members. Hally put up miners during the strike
We are looking for in
vitations from Labour Partv wards and sections.
GMCs, trade union bran-
cue. and anyone who
walls LU support said Geoff us
Ical vul case
They will be promoting the rally and concert, selling
the Heroes LP and raising
money the NUM
solidarity fund.
All our readers are urg
ed to arrange for sacked
miners o dress tour
movement meetings ber.
ween now and 2 March.
To contact speakers phone
01: 858 7055 (please note
the number has changes
from that given before.
For the Justice for Miners
campaign ring the
secretary Ed Fredenburg
on 01-607 4773, or write 10
44 Milner Square, London L'NI.
Page 12 scan of this page
needs you
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We are now asking our supporters to dig in their pockets once again and help us reach our £15,000 target by Easter. Many supporters have responded to our appeal by donating a weeks wages.
The editorial board led
way this. Many other supporters have promised this sort of sacrifice, but have not yet taken the plunge.
MOST unions such as the AUEW and NUR have pledged a
Where this weeks Wayes. has not been possible -with our supporters in the NUM and Women Against Pit Closures
have thought up money raising schemes.
The supporters of the paper in me Num have
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football ground
TE FAIR PAY
FAIR PAY
FOR
TEACHERS
LAST SATURDAY'S special NUT
conference voted for a one day all out strike
February.
sonal capacity)
The NUT is rightly boycotting the talks taking place ACAS ry here education Keith Joseph is seekin her persuade the teaching unions to DaCk off from this year's claim But while the leadership of the National Association of Teachers/Union Women Teachers are taking part in the ACAS talks, unity action between NUT NAS/UWT members has been rising the campaign. It is vital.
Formation
Another important development. in the last week has been the torma tion of the All London Parents ACUUI Group (ALPAG). This shows continued growing public support for the teachers.
SUPPORT THE TEACHERS!
NUT demonstration Thursday 23 January
Assemble 1pm Highbury Fields; March to Arsenal
Speakers: Fred Jarvis, NUT General Secretary. June
Fisher, NUT Executive member for Inner London
FAIR Brian sp FOROn Edit FOR
TEACHERS
Teachers
support
keeps
growing
conference
showed the tremendous determination of teachers to
fight on for their demands. Voting will start soon in
the ballots for two half-day strikes. The special NUT
which will probably take place at the beginning of
By Bernard Regan (NUT executive member, per-
Bernard Regan
The public meeting of the campaign on 4 Januarv. was alleno ed by 600 people. It overwhelmingly passed a mo tion expressing support for the teachers action and ricisin National Conthe National Cons federation sot Paren
Dia yo
PA R ES Teacher Associations (NCPTA)
The NCPTA is composed of bodies that also represent independent private SChOOs BOOTHE Parent Teacher Associa tions don't belong to the national body while others, like the Cheshire federation have already
themselves osassoc alcu from it.
Lockout
The NCPTA threatened to take legal action against teachers. move echoed Thatcher's call for local authorit! employers to lock out
whose guerilla teachers strikes were closing
schools for long periods Front
ALPAG nemi
however took a quite di
ferent stance onE
member put it: Teacher
have been on their own in
the front line of defending
education for 1oo long. li
is time parents entered into
the against this
government's attacks on
FAIR
The ALPAG meeting was positive not only in supporting the teachers but also in developing a wider perspective education itself. Speakers who addressed the meeting included Gus John of the Black Educa
vovement. Equally positive was the way many
took the Dal CHILS UD teachers case at their workplaces and through their own trade unions
Steps
in Londos have already taken steps to link up with the ALPAG
Espe
23 Januar
teachers actions Contact ALPAG
speakers and informa
on 01-228 0801 c/o
London SWII.
• See Teachers
2110102C0213
← Socialist Action No. 127, 17 January 1986Socialist Action No. 129, 31 January 1986 →