Socialist Action No. 142, 30 May 1986
The scan: 142-may-30-1986-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
SELL OUT
BRENDA DEAN, leader of the print union SOGAT is to ballot the sacked News International printworkers over Rupert Murdoch's final' settlement of the Wapping dispute. workers have been on strike for 18 weeks demanding reinstatment and union recognition at the Wapping plant. This latest offer refuses both demands. It has been angrily rejected by the rank and file printworkers.
Murdoch's offer centres on a £50 million payout of the workforce and the 'gift' of the Times old printing premises. This is
Comodason with the derisory £15 million which had previously offered and only part of the Times Grays Inn Road buildings.
This foremost admirer of Maggie Thatcher has cynically suggested these old premises and clapped out presses could be used to print a Labour rally paper Unity Trust, the trade union bank involved in discussions over such a paper, has valued the freehold at a mere £l million.
Despite the character of the offer, the SOGAT leadership has refused to reject it. Moreover, Norman Willis. TUC general secretary, was fully involv ed in the secret negotiaTions water manne eu vul the offer. From the begin-
Wills has relused to appeal to the trade union movement to mobilise in support of the demands of reinstatement and union
SOCiAliSt
ACTION
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
NUS
Five and a half thousand
recognition.
Willis and Dean hope
ballot the printworkers will be baboozled into casting a vote. They bank the pressure of the media and ine serves strikers that there is no olner alternalive lo accepting Murdoch's offer.
This is what is so important about the London branches insistence on a workplace where workers can decide collecuvely wich course ul altion to take. Only in such a context can workers really feel their collective strength. it was through such a worknlace ballot that thev had decided to strike in the first place.
The planned mass meeting will play the same role. such adhered to, all the indica tions are that a majority
and contiue the fight.
Such clearly right. Norman Willis is of the opinion
that the trebling of Murdochs previous 'final' fer was the result of his negotiating skills. Nothing could be further from the truth. Murdoch is more and more Teellng pressure of the mass action
clear that Dean's tactic of
boycott of the News International titles has failed. But the upturn in mass picketing in recent weeks organised against the wishes of Dean and Co has begun to bite.
The regular demonstrations to Wapping have become a focus for the whole labour movement and a symbol of workers determination. They have resulted I in the demoralisaLIOT of Murdoch's scab workforce, even if they Have lul yet managed to prevent the titles getting out. But even this objective getting more realiable.
In addition, the net is tightening around the wholesale distribution cen-
and down the country. This is causing Murdoch major head. acnes. Il Is because or le success of the actions against Murdoch that he has upped his offer.
DUL. ot coulse. the printers cannot win alone. They need the active sup-
For the rest or te labour movement.
GARY PYE,
support group organiser: peace.
been at it now for 18 weeks.
that she 'did all she could'
basic demands. meeting gave her such a roasting.
dispute. We should decided
MURDOCH 1S BAD NEWS
Printworkers' response:
Times Clerical Chapel and SOGAT
THE sell out proposals can be defeated. The overwhelming sentiment is for rejection.
Even at the level of a bribe, the f50 million falls well short. With this, the maximum people can get even after 30 years service is €18,600. The Express paid out £40,000 last month to buy
But as against the Express workers, we have
We have put up with too much to throw in the towel now. We came out for proper recognition and reinstatement. We won't go back till we've won it.
Dean is attempting to put across the story
, But this is because she never tried to lead us to victory over our
This is why the last mass There is to be another mass meeting on Friday 30 May. There we should give the go-ahead to the London district council to take over the leadership of the
on a workplace ballot if we are going to have one. The fact is
WAPPING
LENDAY TIMES TIMES win a famous victory.
JIM MASON,
FOC, London RIRMA branch
is typical of the way
people's minds. lost in over four months of strike.
No. 142 30 May 1986 30p that we will be in a much better position to make the LDC responsible to us in struggle than we have been able to do with Dean and company.
The sell-out deal must be rejected. With the help of the rest of the labour movement we can
Sun and News of the World Deputy
BRENDA's attempt to do a Pontius Pilot on us
Fi she has (mis)led this dispute. Refusing to make a recommendation means handing it to the media to influence
Insisting on a secret ballot is to copy Murdoch. The forms should be available at the mass meeting and we should fill them out together.
What Dean and Willis are saying by refusing to reject this deal is that you're better off to be a scab. The scabs have got a job and all we've go with Murdoch's measly offer is the money we've
Page 2 scan of this page
The Kinnockites' racist offensive
2 Socialist Action 30 May 1986
ACTiON SOCiALiS
No expulsions
AT FIRST sight there might seem no obvious connection between the expulsion of Tony Mulhearn, and other members of Liverpool party, by the NEC last week and the wave of racist and other reactionary material which has been coming nockite press since the 8 May local government elections. After all Militant is scarcely in the vanguard women's and gay rights in the party - or in society. issues affecting black people, women, and lesbians and gays, with the very right wing bureaucrats who are expelling them from the party.
But in reality the racist, anti-gay, women's rights attacks and the witch hunt are deeply connected. Militant supporters are not being expelled from the party for what is rotten about their politics - their opposition to black sections, their capitulations to racism, British chauvinist position on Ireland, their op position to the demands of the Women's Action Committee. Kinnock, or the EETPU/AEU for that matter, is extremely happy with all those positions. Militant supporters are being expelled for building thousands pool, and trying to defend services.
This is in fact why the gale of racist, anti-gay material - as well as the attacks on WAC - is coming out of the Kinnockite press. what is involved in both the most dramatically in the black gains in the local government elections is two completely different conceptions, and two completely different roads, ment.
For the bourgeoisie the role of the labour movement is seen as a police force over the working class, and its allies. The role assigned to the Labour Party is to carry our such tasks as imposing incomes policies, decisions calling for an end to nuclear power, and all the familiar rigmorole we have seen for decades.
But the working class and oppressed built the labour movement for a quite different purpose. They thought it was an instrument to fight capital police these two different labour movement. that actually are dedicated to defending the interests of the exploited and oppressed win controi of sections of the labour movement.
Arthur Scargill did that when he led the NUM to fight against the attack on jobs in the mining industry. position to politically defend the black communi-
Broadwater Farm onslaught of the police.
Liverpool were doing it when they built council houses and tried to defend jobs and services.
Representatives of the oppressed also come forward to symbolise a way forward for the communities they represent -step forward to see Bernie Bellos, elected as council leaders as against the right-wing racists that for so Labour's 'corridors of power'.
But when someone does win a section of the labour movement and use it for what it was intended for, length to destroy it. That is why, two years after the strike began, the NUM's funds are still held by the courts. vicious individual racist years was carried out against Bernie Grant. It is also why the campaign was carried out to expel Militant, the real goal is to smash anyone who stands up to capital.
Scargill, Bernie Grant, you merely happen to be black, female or gay -that is your belong to one of the groups that make up the overwhelmingly majority of humanity - just expect to get it in the neck from Kinnock.
Tribune's support for the witch hunt is all of a piece with the vicious racist articles that have appeared in its pages, and those of other pro-Kinnock papers, since the local elections.
The left must defend Militant. It must also role back one of the nastiest campaigns of recent * years. Those who thought there was something progressive in 'realignment' should think again.
out in the Kin-
of the fight for black,
In fact it is ironic that on many
Militant votes solidly
and anti-
their
of council houses in Liver-
Because witch hunt and, communities'
for the labour move
defying conference
themselves. Periodically paths totally clash in the Because periodically forces
Bernie Grant did it when he used his
against racist With all their limits
and what a superb or Linda
long occupied
the capitalist class will go to any
That is why probably the most
call alel of modern
Whether your name is Benn, Hatton, Bellos, or government
THE LOCAL government elections saw a major victory for black Labour candidates. The number of black councillors increased from less than 60 in 1982 to nearly 200. Advances were made in Birmingham, Manchester and other parts of the country as well as London. vicious racist outburst by the newspapers which support Neil Kinnock, and by individual supporters of Kinnock within the Labour Party.
This racist outburst was demonstrably interconnected and co-ordinated. It was accompanied by attacks on women's self-organisation in the party and on lesbians and gay men.
Tribune's 16 May edition set the pattern with an article under the title 'Did Labour crucial sedise chis anti-black prejudice stated: 'Labour's strong showing in the last week's local elections may not have been aulte enougn to
majority Westminster because of an unexpectedly good Alllalile and some voters' showing in some aicas, apparent prejudice against
black openly. gay Labour candidates in the inner cities
The editorial in the same edition of Tribune makes ine attack even
baldly: *Several black Labour candidates polled less well than their white colleagues.'
Prejudice
Appropriately enough, the same issue of Tribune Contams an alack on unc
campaign. of the Labour
Women's Action Committee (L WAC) under the title 'Constitutional change will not win women's votes.
individual conIn an nouon to une ascissol on the election results in Islington South, Phil Kelly a Tribune staff jounalist,
acreatea waite male candidate, continues: 'For Loose ex istence of these prejudices, I invite them to examine the election results. Every single black or openly gay candidate, and even those
non-English names, wild regardless of party, polled fewer votes than white anes name coreates of the same party.
The 16 May edition of New Satesman echoes the same racist theme. selects the following
'Enley Taylor: attracted 180 fewer votes than his white running mate in Earlsfield
GLASGOW District Council's ruling Labour group, on 30
April, voted 35:14 to
exclude lesbians and gay. men from their
equal opportunities policy.
As Ine Labour group
accounts 59 of
Glasgow's 66 district councillors this is a serious blow to the advance of lesbian and gay LICS in
Glasgow. It puts Glascow district Labour group on a
par with Tory councils like
Rugby whose anti-gay prejudice was successfully met by mobilisation us ue lesbian and gay community.
It was pointed out by those councillors who support lesbian and gay rights
that this decision would
TUC policy and the 1984
But these successes have been met by a ward, Wandsworth — and 112 fewer than the suc cesful Tory.
By James Lark
The accompanying New Statesman article states: 'Racist and reactionary abstentions could also account for Labour's failure to win control in model Tory • Wandsworth where two black and one 'out' gay candidate lost in marginal split wards where
heterosexual candidates were elected Earlsfield and Furzedown. Veneer
New Society of 16 May the same line 'Enley Taylor is also black and given the existence of racism this almost certain-
accounts for the fact
was beaten into Soard place in tondon
LOHOON borough of Wandsworth, when his fellow Labour candidates topped the poll.
This racist rubbish is refuted by the Black Section which has pointed out the advances registered in those areas where the Labour Party went out to fight racism. This was the issue in Haringey where Bernie Grant increased his
by taking on and disgraceful racist Tory campaign. In other areas like Wandsworth racism was not tackled and black candidates were put up in small numbers, and in the least winnable seats, then blamed for Labour's defeats. Where Labour fails to fight against racism it is scarcely hard to find 'evidence' it exists!
This pseudo-intellectual justification given to racism and anti-gay pre-
Glasgow Labour group rejects
equality for lesbians and gays
district manifesto. These efforts were to no avail.
By Jim Whannel, Pollok Labour Party
Certain councillors expressed deeply offensive
and prejudiced views. One
stated that this would result the employing 'diseased human beings'.
The issue has been
remitted to the personnel committee. But unless the Labour group changes its
position the issue is now
dead.
The next day the leader
of the Conservative group applauded the Labour group's teason. They were clearly aware that Tory policie were being implemented by Labour councillors.
Glasgow NUPE local
doubled as a result of the Black Section's campaign judice by the Kinnockite press gives a cover for some of the most reac tionary and backward elements in the Labou Party to re-emerge.
Thus, Islington South — where Phil Kelly states 'People who were not going to vote for us told me that the council had done far too much for blacks and gays' — a new right-wing emerged demanding that racist, equal Oppor -tunities, and interna-
ed by the local council because nev arenale wille Labour group Vosed 35-14 voters. Glasgow not to include lesbians and gay men in their equal opportunities policy. To call it by its proper name this is a truly reactionary cam-
It provides a 'respectable' veneer for prejudices whose sole beneficiaries are Labour's most implacable enemies.
Racism
The Labour Party's long tradition of panderauthority branch has already sent a protest to the Labour group. NALGO is expected to follow suit.
CLPs all over Scotland are likely to send in pro-
of lesbian lests. A group and gay activists, as well as
are to picket the Labour group AGM on 28 May.
We urge every possible labour movement organisation and no alli protest as soon as possible. If the Labour group can be forced to see the opposition which exists amongst party members to this kind or ore udice wen we las be able to change some of he colors vules.
• Send letters and resolutions of protest to: Danny Crawford Secretary Labour group, City Chambers George Square, Glasgow.
ELECTION:
Did anti-black prejudice BY PHIL KELLY
cost Labour crucial seats?
The number of black Labour councillors in London has more than
ing to racism is now being revived by the selective presentation of cases where black candidates are standing in the least winnable seats - and omitting reference to those successes as Haringey, Brent and Lambeth based on mobilising the black community and tighting
It blamer black people for the failures. and racism, of the Labour Party itself.
It is ironic, but logical that Tribune and New Statesman, which flagships of 'realignment' on the Labour left have tried to clothe themselves
ca the reflected glory of the
campaigns women, black people and the fighters TOI desolar gay rights, are now playing the role of front for Kinnock's backers' futile and repellant attempt to win two or three UCI cent more voles bi pandering to reactionary ideas.
These journals sought to identify themselves the champions of a 'new style of politics' which put anti-sexism and antiracism centrally its perspectives. This
LCIGR comment
men is widespread. It serves to divide the working class and to maintain reactionary ideology. It stands as a major obstacle to progress towards a more just and equal
in recent years that it is possible to challenge prejudice successfully.
have taken up the challenge massive
London, and across the country, openly lesbian or gay candidates have stood successfully as Labour candidates, often
for an alleged fear of 'losing votes' is meeting its responsibilities
that the labour movement fights openly
no-one except the enemies of the entire labour movement.
for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Politics Today
against forces such as the NUM or their supporters who were allegedly 'macho and old tashioned'
Now, whilst the NUM stanes ov une acmanus o the Labour Womens' •Action Committee and the Black Section it is Tribune and New Statesman which are the flag ships of Kinnock's attempt to silence these campaigns Tony Benn has said that the only positive con tribution he's seen from "re-alignment' is the witch hunt. We can now add to its achievements' pseudointellectual apologetics for alacks on une movement of women, , blacks and les bians and gav men in the labour movement.
Platform This is not the first time such articles have ap peared. More than a year ago Tribune carried similar piece by D Cowling entitled 'A coalition of minorities doesn't make a majority. But when journal such Tribune provides a political platform for pseudo. intellectual racism it has reached a quite new depth.
'PREJUDICE AGAINST lesbians and gay
society. But it has been shown many times
'Where local authorities like the GLC
advances have been made. In many areas in
increasing their majorities. No party which capitulates to prejudice and discrimination
'Lesbians and gays are part of labour movement and we will continue to demand
against our oppression. To do anything else reinforces reaction and is in the interests of
Peter Purton, Treasurer Labour Campaign •
Page 3 scan of this page
Reply to New Statesman and
Politics Today
anti-gay, and other
press.
Tribune, the Society, and the ried pieces 'explaining'
reactionary purpose
are oppressed by capitalism.
ment elections have been by an open attack by
mittee inside the Labour Party.
of why this reactionary
bian and Gay Rights.
Why Labour lost in
Wandsworth
openiy gay candidates, Labour vital votes.
the real reasons why Labour lost in Wandsworth. FOR black people, the local government election
Wandsworth results were a disappointment.
More particularly because the response them was to say that it was black candidates that
Enley Taylor and
candidate. DOHT
Enley and I SUDE Males
of anti-gay backlash. experience
was that Labour were weak.
The campaign
of Mark II Toryism. must have themselves
114 211 been woud have
of race.
had
Party, ourselves the set policies that
policies. Enley and
Going the
WandParties
they
is important in gelling rigal a perspective on Wandswor-
The policies WCIE socialist policies which had any depth or meaning
THE outcome of the local government elections has been followed by one of the most determined outpourings of racist, reactionary propaganda ever seen from the Kinnockite
New Statesman, New Guardian have all carhow black candidates lost Labour votes. These articles are false factually, and serve a completely providing ammunition for those who aim to roll back the gains inside the Labour Party made by the black community and others who
These articles on the local governaccompanied Tribune on the demands of the Women's Action Com-
Socialist Action is printing an analysis campaign has been started by the Kinnockite press, and carries responses to it by the Black Section and the Labour Campaign for LesIN THE AFTERMATH of the local government elections Tribune, New Statesman and others have used the racism and anti-gay prejudices of the electorate to explain away Labour failures. Black and
they have argued, lost Wandsworth, where Labour failed to gain control from the Tories by only one seat, has been cited as one such example. AUBREY ESCOFFERY, an unsuccessful black Labour candidate in the Tooting ward of Furzedown, explains
and they totally left out blacks.
It is extremely important too to look at how black candidates were selected. There were number on the panel, including at least one black
Duncan Braithwaite, a sitting councillor, was selected to fight in his own ward. He had the highest
candidates. In other cases canutaaes were selected outside their own area and
Another type of disparity case of
stood for selection Nightingale ward Tooting.
creased vote for Labour. time he
have that Bute would been con-
That
of a Wile unale.
area since. to fight Why was
fight but from the Asian community
thright!
But it IS
Party. belief.
themselves to prioritising policies wonel. police, gays.
indicative
exist Wand-
THE FOLLOWING
reply to articles in the
New Statesman and
New Society arguing
putting forward
black candidates
responsible for Lab-
our electoral deteats
has been sent by Paul
Sharma, member of
the Black Section Na-
tional Committee.
DEAR EDITOR,
Black candidates win had hoped the
myth they
liability would have been
by the excellent results in
Haringey, and
Lambeth, where black
candidates received
huge vote of confidence
from the electorate.
vere in
share of the
as almost the Outside
with Labour
in seats taken
years ago to al votes.
gains owed transformation
rer the past four
to the Liberals
of power on a
:en the official the Labour left jet meeting the
rals combined to bour proposal to guard, including ey, won a few
"Tower Hamlets
three seats the Liberals by as Now only five of ure held by the old re councillors still
communities, and Liberal challenges tes. mondsey Factor' is
als took Limehouse y didn't stand last e votes. And in St eran Bethnal Green t Jacob popular ft and right - won a Trades Council; and Selly
tersley's Sparkbrook constitueney.
Amir ana nevin s ex pulsions will be considered
HOOOLL
meeting as announced as he had flown to zimbabwe liberation conference tica meeting he said: 'The pre-
Your article in the edition of 16 May is a mischievous corruption of the facts. Black candidates may lose the votes of a few racist objectors, but it is clear that these are more than compensated votes from the black com-
been spectacular in areas where a concerted effort to register voters has taken place coupled with socialist policies for example Hackney and Haringey.
Your columnist should have emphasised the fact that eight black Labour candidates Wandsworth did extremely well, with five polling more than their white running mates. Indeed one took a clear
London battleground, Labour's , within 1 per cent of the spec In Merton (otherwise know
Wimbledon) Labour gained 1
from Conservatives, in tw
Enley Taylor: attracted 180 fewer
rotes than his white Labour running
mate in Earlsfield ward, Wandsworth - and 112 fewer than
the successful Tory
New Statesman, 16 May 1986
Wide support for Khan and Scally
ONE HUNDRED and fifty people attended a public meeting in support of Councillor Amir Khan and Kevin Scally in Birmingham last week. It was supported by the Campaign group of Labour MPs; the Labour Party Black Section; the Labour Committee
Lades Cd CliPsa Il was part or Peoy bag cam-
paign of opposition to the witch hunt in Roy Hat-
from a minority of right
sente oie ccores
the grounds that they had
want these comrades out is
first place i n his ward for
the second Time that is
both in ine mu-
nicipal elections and in
1986. All increased
Labour's share of the
vote the 1982
results.
Enley
Earlsfield,
consistent. anything
the between
partner, Love.
that the two
Black porters
Statesmai
A DRAG
OPENSHAW & FERNIE: UK reacter risks
ANDREW LUMSDER Yawning in the alsies
ters more non-vo Labour supt In Granbs Black candid Labour's Dav. his majority by himself from M.
Similarly, acri !
Knowsley, wher
gets results whic
elections look lik tendency pros : Councillor Peti coalition in existence on
local county and district councils in which Labour and the Alliance
sharing the spoils of ai c
and the. expelled comrades are vocal in their opposition to this deal.
'Here in Birmingham
borough' constituency Sparkbrook provides another example of intolerance Kevin Scally and Amir Khan have been expelled for bringing the Labour Party into disrepute by supporting
Sections and appearing on television
oppose the Sparkbrook mafia's attempt to block the creation of a local Black Section.
He added: '! have no doubt that Kevin Scally's position on Ireland has
New Society
Only two of the eight
black candidates
Wandsworth came from
the Battersea constituen-
cy. This constituency has
having
Sak-
latvala, radical
class to the
House Commons.
Now Labour's
black
Black Section
comment
GOTCHAI
represents the community - as in
treat the black community like voting fodder we lose. Because the black
electoral fodder.
doesn't do that it gets results like Wandsworth.'
Labour Party Black Section, personal capacity.
also been a factor in his ex-
Lateu Ireland is weil
Diane Abbott explained that the self organisation of black people in the Labour Party challenged institutional racism in the party ana beyona llal its 'clientism'.
She said: 'The Labour
"like" black people • They like black people and want to do things for us. Give us a tew grants here. one or two of us councillors there. hev want to do things for us so long as we remain their clients.
'All that reflects is the relationship since time immemorial that the Labour Party, the Labour elite, has had with the working clas these
frightfully educated, frightfully nice.
Socialist Action 30 May 1986
support candidates Still the local failed com. munity - nearly 1 in 4 of Wandsworth's popula tion is black, but only 1 & of labours can. did on earth can torate place faith in pal equality
eq Wandsworth's an
party To win Labour mo
duty to racist myths, them.
Pa La Section 'What we are seeing is pseudo-intellectual racism. When the party rejects racism and
Haringey, Hackney, Brent, and Lambeth - then we win. Where Labour tries to
community is not prepared to be treated as
'If the party says it is going to fight racism it has to prove it in practice. That means both in policies and in the selection of candidates. Where the Labour Party Marc Wadsworth, national chairperson
frightfully well white middle
who stay blocks. every :ox pes:
then go taii : bioti: themselves case of blais fețe =TZ 1 intensified plicated by The ita Sections har= to ine rean tism tred 0.
We are ing :fo speas
Handle tintes
Page 4 scan of this page
Black and Asian Advisory Committee Labour's record of racism
4 rist Action International
student upsurge
against imperialism
THE LAST few months have witnessed a sharp increase in campaigning activity by students up and down the country. The Thatcher government's continuing assault on the By Anne Kane living standards and rights of the working class, women, black people, lesbians and gay men in Britain and her support, along with Reagan, for the most vicious and repressive regimes in the world if necessary through arbitrary international state terror raids widespread student notably students have building solidarity with struggles world-wide.
The overwhelming opposition of students to the British government's support for the apartheid regime in South Africa has been clear in local action and in the turn-out on national demonstrations. Banners from student unions and Labour clubs formed the biggest single contingent on the 2 November AAM demonstration.
Most student unions have banned barclays bank from using facilities on premises, refuse to take Barclays cheques and have banned stocks of foods and goods from companies that deal with South Africa. In the Polytechnic of Wales students with the loca counch prevented South African linked companies holding interviews and trying to recruit graduates on colleges proses.
Students turned out in demonstrations to protest against the US bombing of Libya and demand US bases out of Britain.
The historic shift by NUS Easter conference to commit the withdrawal took place in the wake of wide-ranging Sinn Fein college tours.
Solidarity with international struggles has combined with student action against the proposed Fowler attacks. Over 35,000 were February London demonstration and occupations in many colleges. Students too have been prominent at the
banning sales of papers, and spreading support.
These actions are part of a broader upsurge of student protest across Europe and the US. For many the leading role of youth and students in South Africa is a real inspiration.
Students in the US have been involved in wide-ranging political action. Action opposed to apartheid has been the most striking. On 15 campuses students have set up mock shanty towns, mostly in college administration blocks. There have been sit-ins, demos and pickets. College facilities have been renamed in honour of South tionaries. the Berkeley continuous student protests against apartheid since 9 April has involved almost daily police clashes, arrests and injuries ding that Berkeley's $2.4 billion invested in companies linked with South Africa are divested.
Fifty thousand students turned out on the 9
and 16 March demonstrations demanding
woman's right to choose abortion. US
have also
gression towards Central America, in support of
the American Indian movement and against their
forcible eviction from the Big Mountain area in
Arizona.
The most notable feature about all this activity
is its internationalist character.
The decision of Labour Party Black Section 1o organise tours and support in the colleges, of the Nicaragua solidarity campaign to organise a student network, and of the LCI to step up their level of organisation among students are big steps torward. They give an organised political lead to the campaigning activity and sentiment of students. Such political initiatives should be supported and built on as the way to want NOLS and NUS to lead rather then trail
behind the kind of actions students themselves have been taking.
30 May 1986 - a support backed up
have provoked mobilisations. Most shown lead in anti-imperialist student union coach loads lu
support for British
on the 26
Wapping picket lines and in fund-
New International African revoluUniversity of California
Students are deman-
students been organising action against US ag-
organise those students who
KINNOCK LOUDLY proclaims his adherence to 'democratic socialism'. But his opposition to any serious democratic principles is shown by veterate hostility organisation within the Labour Party.
No one would dream of proposing that nonminers should vote in the NUM, or non-engineers should vote in the AEU. But Kinnock proclaims that whites should decide the organisation in the Labour Party, and that men should vote in deciding the decisions of women's conference and the women's places on the NEC.
Continuing our series on the 'Black and Asian Advisory Committee' PAUL SHARMA, Midlands Organiser of the Black Section, looks at the colonial models of this committee and the way in which it continues the long, and rotten, record of the Labour Party leadership in refusing to allow black people to control their own organisations.
AFTER the Labour leadche defeat of Black Sec- had orchestrated tions at the annual party conference last year, they offered the Black and Aslan Advisory tee as an alternative. This aman outer was a walesa ed in the Labour Party's
with its black members and the black Debate
Conference in 1985 debated a report produced by the Positive Discrimination Working Group of the National Executive Committee (NEC). It went on, however, to rubberstallin the dissenting minority report, produced
two members of the working group. This proposed the Black and Asian Advisory Committee. working group as a whole was set un atter Black Sec. tions had started to take Tool ne varly.
The group began work more than a vear earlier. lt had previously produced a consultation The Labour Party and I ne Black Electorate. This discussed the issues raised by the debate on Black Sections and invited comments from the whole of the Labour movement.
The consultation was one orine woestever con ducted by the party. The response received was just
impressive. An overwhelming majority of the respondents, including constituency Labour Parties ana trade unions favoured fully constituted Black Secuons in the Labour Party.
Majority
This majority
rived at despite strenuous
by
leadership to undermine
the debate over Black sec
tions. Attacks the
working group reached
such a pitch at one point
that chair, NEC
member Jo
MP personally requested
Neil Kinnock refrain
from obstructing the
group's inquiry. Never-
theless the Labour leader
said on the 23 May 1985 'I
am adamantly against
Black Sections ...I would
not give a damn if th
whole Labou Party was
against me on this. ' Indeed
two thirds of those
sulted were against
Kinnock so much for
democracy OUI
and paternalism
This inwomen's self-
leadership of black. 'democratic socialist party.
Two months later the
Instead it
CommitASIE
ally policy formulation it has purely
role on matters'.
stubbornly refused to
working group's recom-
of This tensIon the first
Larry Whitty. went on
modate sorts of
for Blacks. Trust
Advisory The
Black Section
and the
communeer are a well tried and tested
ploy to thwart legitimate
black aspirations for demOcrate representation. It has been . pointed out before, but is worth repeating, that 'advisory' bodies, with no power, are a technique perfected by the British in periods of colonial rule. Africa
Urban advisory counintroduced in
Africa . 50 vears ago. 1his
occurred following the
strike by black African
mineworkers in Zambia at
Mufulira, Nkana and
Roan Antelope in 1935.
They were the brainchild
of a British Commission of
Enquiry who saw them
a ploy to strengthen the
hand of the trusted black
elders who had been ap-
pointed earlier by
British. The elders by 1942
were elected and now call-
ed 'tribal representatives'
The British Govern-
ment's response to the
struggle to achieve self-government by Africans was to sel up even Digger
committees African Provisional Councils. These were even
failures. Major political and social change was not achieved by the advisory committees by Africans' own organisations.
Much like in Africa, brusn imperlans m lndia was characterised by
outright antee oppression, concessions to rally the moderates and 'divide and rule'. Lord Cross's Indian Councils Act of 1892 enlarged the Indian membership of the Imperial Council — Wilc! was a national talking shop. By 1886 the Punjab Government of Lyall had already introducer ate elections for Hindus and Muslims in an attempt
divide in towns like Hoshiapur, Lahore and Multon.
Pressure for self-government 1n Britain's colonies continued CLO build up. Acknowledging this Secretary of State Morley wrote to Vicerov Minto in letters in 1906
bureaucracy Cas won't go on forever, some
Indians should be allowed in executive and legislative councils • of course (British) officials would retain the majority'.
The Indian Councils Act of 1909 allowed greater OSCUSS On budgets and resolutions but with British officials
AFTER A number of
resignations the Black
and Asian Advisory
Committee' is now at-
tempting to involve
constituency parties.
Virendra Sharma, full
time member of the
committee, has written
to CLPs asking them
to invite a member of
GREATER LONDON
Disabled access
overseeing events with a majority. This constitutional experiment WON shortlived. It neither rallied the moderates nor prevented unity between Hindus and Muslims.
Anyone who knows it will ACCORDI striking resemblance to the Labour Party's 'Black and Asian Advisory Committee which attempts to divide black members. The Black Section in contrast has unitec Africans, Caribbeans, and consituency Black Sections across the country under their OWE self definition of Black.
The British Labour Party's whole approach to Black people in Britain has been fashioned by the colonial experience. On the hand BaCK people have been denied rights of
How to respond to the Black and
Asian Advisory Committee?
the committee speak.
Several CLPs have been tempted to throw the letter into the waste bin. The Labour Party Black section however urges CLPs to adopt different course. It urge all CLPs to invite representative of the committee simultaneously invite to
PUBLIC MEETING OUR PARTY
LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS
A LABOUR MOVEMENT ISSUE
Speakers MARGARET MICHIE • NUJ Equality Council
FEMI OTITOJU LINDA SEMPLE • Gays the Word Defence Campaign
VINCE GILLESPIE • Haringey Councillor
KAREN BRISCOE • Civil and Public Servants Association CHAIR: SARAH ROELOFS • London Regional Executive
News
representation by the inSELDORd aCSH which exists in the Labour move-
visory committees been set up which pretendea lo lake seriously problems of black people These committees, largely comprising of white race experts' have history of failure. Their cynical role was clear from the start.
So now we have come full circle. The last 25 years have seen the leadership
Bantustan Ulte advisory committee another. All have closely followed colonial models used in Africa and Inala. All have come to nothing
Labour's policy mak. ing and management bodies consist of delegates elected by various sections which make up the party.
women, youth and Jewish through
elect members represen them. can't people? Advisory committees to advise white policy makers not good enough We don't just want a slice of the cake, we want access to the recipe.
We ask all those who are sympathetic to Black Section: who have cepted membership of this commullet to resign im-
mediately. They are unwit-
collaborating in a neo-colonialist structure which history holds in coneeting the
Labour Party Black
If supporters of the
'Black and Asian Advisory Committee move
invite resolutions
speaker, CLPs are asked
amendLUVE
ment/resolution 2150
invite Black Section
speaker.
Tuesday 3rd June 1986 7.30pm tombeth Town Hall (room 119) Acre Lane/Brixton Hill
Nearest • Brixton
• Haringey Lesbian and Gay Unit
Page 5 scan of this page
Women, the Labour Party and the unions
News
THE DEBATE around women's conference last week — which proposed the introduction of a trade union bloc vote based on female membership, but without any mechanism for women's control over this vote overdue discussion on the next steps in building Labour's Women's Organisation. What was at stake in this debate was not some formalities about the constitution of the women's section, but how to take women in the labour movement as a whole forward. LABOUR women's conference registered many policy gains.
An emergency resoluopposing
power and calling for the 1clalcillcull Labour's shadow environment spokesperson John Cunningham • was overwhelmingly carried. So was another emergency resolution condemning the US attack on Libya and callUS bases and withdra all for the removal of all from NATO
conterence also passed two resolutions condemning witch-hunt
supporting the seven na-
CACCULIYC members who stopped the March
NEC meeting planned to carry out the expulsions of
Liverpool members. " The
NUPE's resolution to
- opened up a long
IVERPOOL
NALGO
Labour women's policy gains
composite passed called on the leadership to cease its witch-hunting denver forthwith and concentrate
energies musical defeating Thatcher's vicious government'.
Conference also opposed the Anglo-Irish Accords by a substantial majority. By a smaller majority, conference called
for the withdrawal
British troops from Ireland.
Policy in support of
Labour Party Black Sec
tions was confirmed by
successful amendment
anti-racist resolution
supported by Militant.
The original opposed
Black Sections. Labour
women must ensure that
they work closely with
ensure
that stronger resolutions
Over the last two decades the massive entry
women into the workforce has dramatically changed the sexual com-
For many or the major trade unions, with a significant number unions now having a more thar per cent female membership. 1 Ke NUPE NALGO, USDAW, COHSE, the NUT and CPSA all have a female membership Talleilla between 52 and 80 per cent.
By Jude Woodward
This substantially increased presence of women in the trade unions has fuelled the moves towards the self-organisation and
women across the mOve ment. The development of the Labour Women's Action Committee (LWAC), although it grew out of the movement for increased democracy inside LIC Labour Party, was in fact propelled by these social changes affecting the posi-
In the labour movement.
WAC
The campaign of the Labour Women's Action Committee has equivalents inside the trade unions themselves, although in a less centrallsed and less organised TOTTA. vcar women at the TUC Women's Conference have argued for that conference
have more say in the TUC as whole. number of unions have established women's ad-
commitees. women's conferences and women's training programmes direct response to the increasing pressure the base of those unions. Pressure
The pressure from women in these unions nas; also found a reflection in.
of women in their national ex-
- although none: of the unions, except the National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers, yet has a maioritv of
on its executive. In 1985
NUPE and the CPSA dic next best with 42 per cent and 41 per cent respectively. A number of unions, including NUPE, NATHE
GMBATU have adopted or are proposing
reserveu olace. for women their
are put forward and carried next year.
Two fringe meetings, one organised by SWAPO ana ine orner by Labou CND were especially well attended. Two wullic! from SWAPO Salvador, oth of whon addressed conference,
standing Uva tions.
The daily briefing bulletin circulated by WAC campaigned for the shadow elections and took
issues at conference, including opposition to the NUPE resolution. material opposing the Anglo-Irish Accords, calling for British withdrawal
Ireland, supporting Black Sections and opposing the witch-hunt.
executive.
When it comes to the number women full time national officers the
again Goes best. with 21 per cent • which in itself is disgraceful for a
its women. Unions USDAW
NUT are with
of their
nearly unions
the ol unest unions at and
increasingly using the
women in to
and
WAPC
the male dominated leaderships.
and OI the demands women in those unions.
tivity
Women's
like Women
really national mass organisation
women across the NUPE's resolution aimed at contronting.
Hostile
Powerful objective forces, rooted the changed social position of women, are propelling forward convergence of women Organising movement Such steps are throughout labour tremendously progressive for worleil. and the working class as a whole.
Other Books,
W A M W
However each step in this
direction is beset by con-
tradictions and problems,
which forces hostile to the
increased organisation and
power of women are only
too keen to exploit.
Male
In particular the different of cacticince
women's self-organisation
within the Party
exploited create diviThe resolu
particular
trade delegations,
dinating Committee
women's
lo cast a
women's has everything do Will bringing women's under the
proposal increase the weren and
strengthen ase Women's and
be dreamt ovine
individual they could
and
throughout movement.
Labour Women's Action Committee pamphlet, price fl, plus 18p p&p, from
PO Box 50, London NI 2XP
(cheques payable to Other Books).
ME
D
N
R
E
IRELAND
UNFREE
Ireland
to discuss
unification of Ireland.
Congress of Trade Unions.
for partition
within the unions. On the
unions and
unity.
the unity of the Irish working class.
Socialist Action 30 May 1986 5
NUR delegation to
ANNUR London Transport District Council delegation has just concluded a visit to the
of a decision by the Irish Transport and General workers Union to make overtures to unions in Britain, and the British Labour
The TUC had urged unions to send delegations to Ireland following the NUR's
. The delegation was the result. A member of the NUR delegation reports on the delegation and its findings.
NATIONAL unity is a hot potato for Irish trades union leaders. They fear this issue could split the movement, leading to mass defections or split-offs in the North. Written and unwritten agreements that the division of Ireland cannot be discussed means a de facto loyalist veto exists inside the labour movement. This obstacle came up time and
trade unionists, including the general secretaries of 'the biggest unions, but one of our first experiences was the evasion of any meeting by officials of the Northern Ireland Committee (NIC) of the Irish
This represents the concern to keep partition off the agenda at al
- a backdoor method of supporting loyalists. Whether or not it is discussed, the realit! of partition affects the working lives of the Irish partition ensures massive discrimination in jobs
The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Ac • discrimination against Catholics in the six counties as equal rights legislation has been in removing discrimination against women workers in Britain! The problem does not just affect notoriously big. goted firms such as Shorts and Harland and Wolff - who between them make up about a third of the industrial workforce in the North. 'Modern' employers, who are unable to use old traditions as an excuse, carry on discriminating. A survey published a few weeks ago revealed that only 17 per cent of building society employees were
The so-called 'Progressive'
Society employs only 2 per cent of Catholics!
Of course, we should keep a sense of balance 'I wouldn't want you to think the building societies money!' we were told by a Falls Road Communit
a trade discom inate in bothes the refusal of the British and Irish based trade unions to take up these issues amounts to covert support
Schemes such as 'A Better Life For All' which have been supported are doomed to failure. Official studies into the economy of the six counties have concluded that social unrest, high transport costs and a small consumer market lie behind the
A principled trade union leadership could not delegation met rank and file trade union activists as well as top leaders, who presented a variety of justifications for not taking on the loyalist veto
other hand they applauded the position of the NUR for Irish unity.
Labour Party which would isolate loyalism inside the unions and/or lead to a Labour Government naming the date for withdrawal. So long as the British labour bureaucracy is able to point to their members in the North of Ireland and the effective support of the status quo by the Irish trade union movement such an initiative will be
The fact that the NUR pulled out of Ireland in 1952 so that, as Jimmy Knapp puts it 'in the Irish Association you can get on with your business of uniting the Irish working class' has meant that the basis was laid for the NUR itself supporting Irish
Over thirty years later we should call for other unions to follow this example instead of be ing content to take the 'benefits' from discrimina tion and sectarianism in the name of support y
Page 6 scan of this page
WHY BRITAIN MUST GE
Socialist Action 30 May 1986 situation in that country.
the labour movement.
5355, London WC1N 3XX.
THE 1981 NEC statement to party conference showed many advances from previous policy. It indicated Ireland was to be a signifi-
THE LABOUR Party NEC is taking submissions on Labour's policy on Ireland. The most important of these is by the Labour Committee on Ireland. This argues the case for total British withdrawal from Ireland - and outlines in detail why no other solution will solve the
We are printing here the entire first section of that submission, on why Britain must withdraw from Ireland. We ask our readers to buy copies of this submission and give it the widest possible circulation in
Copies of the Labour Committee on Ireland Submission to Labour Party NEC working Group are available price 40p plus 20p postage from LCI, BM Box
Labour's choice
couraging the Ireland.
success ve governments
the discrimination
tion of the British Isles'.
Diplock no jury
strongest isurgence
prison reform throughout the
criminal activity.
diwol. five ycals prisoners' 'special
is now more supported.
Led Its commitment to
Led its committment
storage of rubber sent British
proach, but saw
situation.
stitution of direct rule in 1972,
partisan approach for
stalus qua,
by the security apparatus.
courts.
since its pressure. tion
cant part of Labour's programme and recognised Labour's goal as en-
reunification of
It documented the systematic use of emergency legislation as an abuse of civil liberties and implied a criticism of
which had out, renewed such legislation: in that sense it threetold: broke with bi-partisanship. It described
and sectarianism direct rule. which is inherent in the Six County state created through partition and ruled out various unviable options such as an 'Independent Ulster' or 'Confedera-
the The prominence of the issue of H-block prisoners, political status and the
courts showed the background to the 1981 report - the death of ten hunger strikers and the
of nationalism since the twenties. But by recommending
united Kingdom, the NEC report sidestepped the the central issue at the time - that nationalist struggle cannot be equated to
Although the demands of the hunger strike were not
later republican status having been convicted of 'special' (scheduled) offences in 'special' (Diplock) courts -
widely understood and
Since 1981, the Labour Party has, through successive conferences deepen-
defend fun-
damental civil liberties. It has reaffirm-
ADOUSI the Prevention of Terrorism Act. It has callred for the end to use, manufacture and
olastic baton
rounds. It has called for the end of sex-
The case for
withdrawal
IT IS now widely acknowledged
that the Labour government which
troops to Northern
Ireland in 1969 was not acting upon
a considered long term policy ap-
itself as taking
measures to "keep the lid' on the
It was a policy of con-
tainment' or 'crisis management'. OCCl
From that point on, and with the insuc-
cessive governments have lurched from
crisis to crisis, whilst maintaining a bi-
been most or le
period. It is clear that unless it adopts a
clear strategy, a future Labour govern-
ment would find itself maintaining the
guaranteed by direct rule and enforced partition OI Ireland with
Since partition was imposed upon
the Irish people against their wishes ex-
pressed in the 1918 elections when 70
ual harassment of women prisoners by means of strip searching, and for the abolition of the 'Diplock'
The Labour Committee on Ireland
foundation campaigned defence of civil liberties and welcomes these positive gains. We hope the Working Party will make detailed proposals on how the whole Party might explain the issues to a wider audience and step up campaigns against the government
retuses to concede to public Weakness
The essential weakness of the 1981 •lament wace needs to be resoived 1986 is in its presentation of the central theme of Labour's policy which has become known as 'unitv bv consent The statement argues for the reunifica-
Ireland and a democratic political settlement. It recognises that Unionists cannot be allowed to stand in the way of political progress. But it also endorses the 1973 Northern Ireland Constitution Act, which gives those same parties the absolute right of veto over changes in Constitutional provi-
This Unionist Incol patable with a policy for reunification.
Once the more fanciful options like an independent Ulster have been ruled
Labour's policy options
• to maintain partition and direct rule. • to attempt to modify partition and
• to adopt a withdrawal policy.
Labour's policy up to 1981 plumped for the first option. We will show the disastrous consequences of this policy for
people OI both the North South of Ireland and Britain. Direct Rule
Labour's policy since 1981 has been that a future government, whilst maintaining direct rule would seek to modify the form of rule in co-operation with
Dublin government in order to prepare for more wide-ranging change at some unspecified point in the future.
We argue that the state of Northern Ireland established by partition is fundamentally incapable of reform, and that a future Labour government committed to maintaining direct rule will be unable to defend basic human rights and aberties. let alone introduce tar. reaching reform.
We believe the only policy option for a Labour Party committed to support Irish unity and independence,
for a complete military and
withdrawal. We believe this policy is in the best interest of the overwhelming majority of Irish and British people, regardless of religion present allegiances. per cent voted to break from the United
Kingdom; we can find no advantage that has been gained by working people
in either island. The only exception to
this being a section of the Irish working
viass in the the north east whose loyalty
to the British crown has been purchased
under the impression that their lot has
improved by virtue of social,
economic and political discrimination
against Catholics.
The phrase tuppence ha'penny
looking down on tuppence' has often
used to describe this spurious
'privilege. The elevation of this minori-
ty to a majority in the Six County state
through partition; the continuing sup-
port given it through the connection
Britain and the constitutional
guarantee, prevents northern
testants looking toward the future of
Ireland and have created
mentality.
The disadvantages of partition for
the social, economic and political life of Ireland have been well documented We should record at this point that these disadvantages have not diminished with the imposition of direct rule -to the contrary, they have become more profound.
Since 1969, policy in the Six Counties of Northern Ireland has cost more than 2,300 lives and 24,000 serious injuries. must be added the misery and grief of friends and relatives, the deterioration of the quality of life of all citizens and the special distress of the nationalist communities living military occupation. in the Six Counties has spilt over into the 26 Counties and Britain.
Attempting to solve the problems in Northern policing has led to the growth of a massive military apparatus. In addition to the units of the British army and the Ulster Defence Regiment; nore consists of one officer per 204 now consists of one officer per population, compared to one per 450 in England and Wales or one the east coast of the United States.
Agencies
Secret service agencies operate in the North, and the 'anti-terrorist' or are Special Branch units of police forces in both the 26 Counties and Britain con tinue to grow. Northern Ireland also has ThA largest population in Western Europe.
Liberties has documented how the use and abuse of emergency legislation to back up this military apparatus has led and to an unacceptable deterioration of democratic rights in both Britain and Northern Ireland.
Labour Party recorded its opposition to the use of plastic bullets, to courts and the use of the uncoroborated
"supergrass' informer evidence. ana to the strip searching of women prisoners as a further incursion into civil liberties.
The arbitrary use of police powers in nationalist areas which range from inlimidatory • stoo and search
to assassination of suspects ('shoot to
kill' policy) can only be viewed as an at-
tempt to break the resistance of the nationalist people to British rule.
Security
In the 26 Counties,
with British security policies has led to the introduction of Special (no jury) Courts, the Criminal and the Offences
State Act. Between
11,000 people were arrested under this
legislation. Few were charged.
Further infringements of civil liber-
ties result from the illegal operations of
British security
border. An extreme example is the use
of agents provocateurs understood to
have caused explosions in Dublin to in-
fluence proceedings
parliament.
Although reforms introduced in the
sixties alleviated some of the worst exclu-
sion of
employment and lower levels of the civil
service, discrimination
widespread. Reports
Ireland's Fair
(FEA) have pointed
discrimination in the private sector and
complaints have
discrimination in the Fire Service, Am-
bulance Service, Gas
Telecommunications.
The December
showed that the discrepancy between
Catholic and
unemployment had
1971.
Catholics (25.2 per cent) is almost two
and a half times greater than that
amongst Protestants (10.2 per cent), Ir-
respective of cosmetic changes, institu-
tional discrimination is fundamental to seige the Northern Ireland State.
In the last two years new evidence
has been brought to light about the ex-
the failure of British
To this
under foreign
Political violence
through increased
the police
per 510 on capita prison
Council for Civil
conference has
no-jury Diplock
fields ot routines employment. co-operation
Justice Against the 1980 and 1984, Propaganda
forces south of the
Section
in the Irish
stalentell
public Bias
still of Northern Employment Agency Irish
unabated
been
Service and their
• 1985 FEA report ridicule,
suspect.
Protestant rates I ne
increased since Average unemployment amongst area of
jority as disloyal
tent of discrimination against irish people resident in Britain. Aside from the discrimanatory application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, reports indicate significant discrimination in the
nousing cuucatiol and
censorship and subsequent doctoring of the 1985 BBC 'Real Lives documentary also highlighed political control of media coverage of Northern Ireland. The political protest strike of NUJ members recalls similar industrial action taken fifteen years ago by ACTT members when political pressure from the Independent Broadcasting Authority was used to censor • television comment on allegations of British torture.
Liz Curtis in her book Ireland, the
War explains and documents how political pressure is brought to bear at all levels of the media to reinforce the government's interpretation of events.
'In the 26 Counties, similar censorship has been institutionalised through
31 of the Broadcasting Act which prohibits members of a legal political party (Sinn Fein) from making
For appearing on the RTE radio and television network.
Slanted or biased news coverage; the stereotyped 'Irish character' and anti-
'humour denigrates the democratic and national aspirations of Irish people and has an adverse effect upon the Irish in Britain. Irish people have expressed insecurity about stating
political views, unwilling to become on the one hand an object of
on the other a 'terrorist'
report of the New Ireland Forum identified 'alienation' as a key
in the North. The reason is half million nationalists in the North find themselves not as part of a majority in the Irish nation, but as the minority in a state imposed upon them by force and characterised by the ma-
Since the Six County state was established to frustrate their political
Page 7 scan of this page
T OUT OF IRELAND
aspiration to a free and independent reland, they can be sala alienated' from the essential character of the state which rules them. Through discriminatory practices, eaders. have also ensured that the minority has been excluded from paracıpating in the functioning tate: From participation economic process liscrimination); from the political process (gerrymandering of boundries); and from the social tess (non-recognition of the language, flags etc.)
egitimacy
The lack of legitimacy of the state or the nationalist population and its iscriminatory practices has created a horoughgoing alienation spects of government and state.
particularly to odies (Stormont or Westminster), to udicial bodies (no jury courts, internnent), to enforcement agencies (secarian UDR and RUC). It also applies • the Housing Executive and Social ecurity agencies which at one time ere thought 'objective' gencies.
Since Sinn Fein decided to contest ind take seats in the district councils, he approach of the Unionist majority as been to exclude representatives of he nationalist community unning of the councils and to close own bodies on which thev sit. ritish government uch an approach and the Anglo-Irish cord gives the British government a ight to veto representatives elected by
Racism
The incidence of anti-Irish racisim
brilaln walnessed nol scriminatory practices on behalf of
aployers and housing authorities but
o by an insidious racism in popular
ture, is creating alientation of Irish
in Britain too. The discriminaagainst Irish people by the police recial Branch in their use of the
be
tain (see 'Rough Justice'
sion documentary on trial McGuire) have convinced many
of the
in the pect a fair trial. employment report
electoral
U1UIrish
operations by both countries police, special
from
ticularly the tourist industry.
This the legislative Violence
violence arising
million. state
from the
The encouraged
of multinationals.
ment,
north east
ONV
Many immediate improvement.
tally infringed partition.
PTA has created a distrust of the police. Frame up trials designed to quell press outrage after bombing incidents in Bri-
- a report on the Birmingham Six frame up, televi-
of Ann Irish people in Britain that they cannot ex-
New Ireland Forum documented the direct and in-
(which direct costs to the exchequers of the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom tional of the crisis in Northern Ireland since 1969. The direct cost includes security
army, services, judiciary, prison service and the destruction of
The indirect cost includes damage to industry through disruption of production, deterrants to potential investment and a loss of trade, par-
The overall estimate for the cost of
from the northern Ireland conflict over the period 1969 1982 in 1982 money values was £11,064
The distortion of the economy produced by partition is largely responsible for the collapse of economic life in the Six Counties. It is now the most heavily subsidised area in Western Europe, and has the highest rate of unemployment.
Partition is also responsible for the weakness or le mrisn economy as a whole. The Republic has the highest per capita national debt in Western Europe, a high unemployment rate and unstable investment patterns based on the whims Republic
From the point of view of the island's economic develop-
the separation of the initially more highly industrialised areas of the
from their hinterland was disastrous and prevents
of
The national sovereignty of Ireland and the right of its people to decide their own government was fundamen-
by the imposition of
only solution
IN 1949 in response to British government of Ireland Act
established the constituguarantee loyalists) unanimous declaration in the Dail reasserted the right of the Irish nation to unity and integrity of the national territory. It reaffirmed the sovereign right of the people of Ireland to choose their own form of government and through democratic institutions to decide all questions of national policy, free from outside interference. It pledged the determination of the Irish people to continue struggle against the unjust and unnatural partition of the country and called upon the British government to end the occupation of the six north eastern counties to enable the unity of Ireland to be restored and the age-old differences between the two nations to be brought to an end.
The Republic of Ireland is a neutral state which refused to participate in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). number Conservative MPs have made it clear that they see membership of Nato as a precondition for negotiations with the
over Ireland's sovereignty. Both Enoch Powell MP and Sean MacBride SC have accused the Government of the United States and Great Britain of acting in collusion to pressurise the Government of the Republic to participate in Nato.
Power
Irish CND and the Irish Sovereignty Movement have both expressed concern
Withdrawal is the
the over the activities of the Western European Union (of which Britain is a major force) which undermine Irish sovereignty. There is a widespread belief that Britain and the United States have covertly installed high technology systems in the Republic for military use. These installations and the military facilities in the North have made the 'neutral' 26 Counties a nuclear target in the event of hostilities involving Britain its against the declared wishes of the Irish people and government.
A further attack on the sovereignty of the 26 County State is being made through pressure applied by the British Government to facilitate extradition of individuals seeking political sanctuary.
The parton of fostered working class disunity in two ways. By dividing the Irish nation, it has separated the working class in the 26 Counties from the working class in the Six Counties which has led, as the Trade Unionists for Irish Unity and Indenendence founding statement, weakening of the trade union movement in Ireland'. Partition
Partition also gave a material basis
sectanansm County state which has further divided working people. In the North, the trade union movement has become identitied with defence of the sectarian state and has been unable to defend the interests of its members — either through attending to their political aspirations, fight against discrimination, or to de fend civil liberties.
Partition has cemented church and state and prevented secularisation. In the formation of the 26 Countv state the Catholic hierarch exercised an undue influcence, codified
economiç,
Whilst
the south; unity both sides
Progress education, state, riage/divorce,
yays Ireland
civil rights Britain. high
censorship,
with
context. suboor measures
microwave
Scenario
The
Successive
Ireland has
Could
explained
'disastrous Io a
side interference.
obstinancy committed institutional
іла. вола
Socialist Action 30 May 1986 7
in the 1937 Constitution. In the formation of the Six County State, the idea of ple provides the ustin
provided justification political and cultural
discrimination against Catholics in the north was not mirrored by discrimination against Protestants in
of church and state of the borde produced similar social inhibitions reflecting the churches' commitment to maintenance of the family and religious teaching
toward secularisation introduction welfare secularistaion Illal sexual equality legisla tion, legislation giving women the right to control their own fertility through the right of access to contraception and abortion facilities, legislation opposing discrimination against of lesbians and
has been impeded throughout
Whilst the Emergency Legislation in Northern Ireland may attract the praise of former Apartheid Premier of South Africa, Dr. Vorster, the maintenance of partition through repression, denial of
and the oppression of anne coul y alages tne repula tion of Britain throughout the world. A future Labour Government should not be open to criticism of Amnesty International; the last Labour Government was tound guilty first of torture and then of inhuman and degrading treatment by the European Courts.
Consequences
The consequences of maintaining partition also affect working people in
The cost is not merely a very financial one it involve the political violence, repressive legislation,
introduction the technology of repression and techniques of control developed in the North
police tactics during the miners' strike bear testimony to that. It promotes and maintains anti-Irish racism,
the attendant disunity the British working-class. In compromising Irish neutrality, it weakens our fight for peace and disarmament in a European
The maintenance of partition, whether through direct rule from Westminster or by any other mechanism, not only runs counter to our long term objective of support for the re-unificiation of leland (wich Is lne only way In wnick national sovereignty, independence and political democracy can be reclaimed); it also implicates the Labour Party and, automatically, a future Government to
and stances which run counter to the whole philosophy of liberty, democracy, equality, justice and peace upon which we wish our party to be based. These values, and the continued partition of Ireland, have to be recognised as mutually exclusive.
scenario : a future Labour government. must face is of a bitterly divided society in the North of Ireland.
governments Conservative and Labour, have turned their backs and hoped to contain an 'accep table level of violence. But whilst the tundamental injustiçe of partition remains, the downward spiral of social political and economic injustice will
There is no solution to the problems of Northern Ireland to be found within the framework or border of the seitarian six county state. The unionis: veto over political change can no longe: be allowed to override the democratic right of the Irish people to determine their own government, free from our
The biggest obstacles to withdrawa. will not be arguments. It will be tha
of security apparatus the quo. ars threats of loyalist backlash. The fire resolve of Labour's policy will be e best and strongest means of overse-ing such obstacles. There are no presse ditions to be set for British withdranz The course of a future Irish goverse is not for the British to decide
People are sick of gimmice: JE want honesty. For Labour a te ly soluton in irelane g: and unconditior: = 07a
Page 8 scan of this page
Thatcher's trip to occupied Palestine
Reorganising Nicaragua's economy
8 Socialist Action 30 May 1986
WORLD
Sri Lanka
Government forces have been bombing Jaffna, Sri Lanka's fourth largest city, and other targets in Tamil areas. Over 50 people are so far reported wounded with at least 12 dead. A further 60 people died in the previous three days of fighting during which ground forces failed to take Jaffna from Tamil rebels who had held it for over a ycal.
Then two planes bombed the city centre, hitting the hospital among other buildings, while helicopters strafed the area. But ground forces still made no headway and came under heavy attack. Bombing had been suspended in March when the government was accused of attempted genocide. Peace talks are still in progress. The new military offensive is one of the heaviest yet.
China
Leading Chinese Communist Party cadres
have partially rehabilitated Trotsky and attacked Stalin in recent writings. Li Xianrong's book, A critical biography of Trotsky, has not yet reached the West. in the journal Shijie Lisha (World History) by Zhu Tingguan, has now appeared in the West and is printed in the journal International Viewpoint with a commentary by Ernest Mandel.
Both writers say Trotsky was one of the chief leaders of the Russian Revolution and the creator of the Red Army, and condemn Stalin's expulsion and assassination of Trotsky. But they maintain that after 1928 Trotsky became anti-
West Germany
Over 20,000 people have protested at Wackersdorf, the country's first and only nuclear reprocessing plant. They clashed violently with police. Up to 700 suffered severe eye injuries from CS gas and 200 needed medical treatment. Meanwhile, the Green Party in Hesse, where it is in a coalcon will une socialses, las threatened to puil out unless the state government agrees to close down all its nuclear reactors.
France
France's new prime minister Jacques Chirac
has given unqualified support to Star Wars, reversing previous French government policy. It would be irresponsible, he said, for France, which is the world's third nation in space technology, to be 'left by the side of the road'. Belgium
On Thursday 22 May Brussels was paralysed for the third time in 17 days by a spreading vi service surike agalst goverment cals. Schools, transport and postal services came to a halt and employees in many supermarkets and factories walked out in support.
The recently reelected Martens government has launched a Thatcher-stvle attack on public spending. It proposes to start with cuts totalling €2.8 million in 1987, principally on social services and industrial subsidies in low employment areas. It also wants to privatise telecommunications. The government is already embroiled in a bitter struggle with miners in Limburg over attempts to close down the Belgian coal Luusury•
Greece
The 'Euro' Communist Party of the Interior is to rename itself the New Hellenic Left Party, dropping the word communist from its programme to attract voters disillusioned with the governing socialist party, Pasok. In the June 1985 elections the Eurocommunist party won only 1.84 per cent and a single member of parliament.
Party got 9.89 per cent and 12 members of parliament.
But a review of this work The pro-Moscow Greek Communist
THATCHER'S TRIP to the Israeli state is the first ever by a British prime minister. That is ironic as it was a statement by Britain, the 'Balfour declaration' of 1917, that first gave away the Palestinian Arab's land to the Zionist state. But for a long time Britain had its own axe to grind in the Middle East which meant maintaining a certain diplomatic distance from the Israeli government. That included, notably maintaining British oil interests and propping client regimes such as that in Jordan and, until the 1958 revolution, Iraq.
The reasons why Thatcher now prepared to risk a more open 1dentification with the Israeli state are twofold.
First within the United States the most openly fanatical pro-Israeli lobby has gained the upper hand over lic last vcal the 1970s, following the oil price increases in 1973, the US found it necessary to adopt at least a more con• ciliatory public position to the Arab states. But with a fall in the price of oil, and Egypt safely neutralised by the Camp David Agree ment, the US has seen progressively more and more openly
in the Middle East.
The American attack on Libya was itself a warning to all progressive Arab
Us interests in the area.
interests in the area. 1985 AND 1986 saw severe military defeats inflicted by Nicaragua's government on the US backed contras. It is also a major reorganisation of Nicaragua's economy.
The first deepening of the agrarian reform — with emphasis on distributing land to individual peasants. The second step was a reorganisation of the economy as a whole. MARIA MERRI looks at that second shift, and the economic goals being set by the FLN.
ON 9 March, the Nicaraguan government announced increases in prices and wages. The papers
pleasant reading. EveryoHe these steps would mean for them. But it cannot be said that this came as a sul
Since the national currency was devalued on 1 February, WIld the cordoba going from 28 to 70 against Ine colar, everyone had been wondering when une ases wouto cont
how big they would be.
Wages were raised by 50 per cent on 2 March, after having already been increased ov an averace or 89 per cent on 1 January.
Prices. on the other went up between 50 per Coll and 150 per depending on the product, and even by 200 per cent for 'high class' restaurants. All prices and charges went up in the food industry, transport, services, electricity, and so on.
These measures were a continuation of the line Te resented the taken in February 1985
the Wilt! removed the subsidies on necessities The prices of such products nac been kept at an artificially low
level since the revolution.
The US Congress has blocked arms sales to even such moderate Arab regime during the last month.
The United States also launched in April a cam-
of terrorism from bar
"terrorism' from Libya
Israeli government and Syria deliberately
WELC whipped up during April and early May. But these ran up against the problem that Syria much tougher nut to attack than Libya
First Syria's armed forces number over 400,000 — increased from 245,000 since the Israeli state's of Lebanon in 1982. Syria has 660 combat aircraft and 3,800 tanks including more than 1,000 advanced Soviet T-72s. It is also pro. tected by a military agree. ment with the Soviet Union.
For these reasons the Israeli leadership appears
cone about a military clash with Svria during the course of Reagan's 'terrorism' camDalell It is not that the Israeli state would not win
with Syria
war step in this economic shift was a
Officially, the inflation rate was 238 per cent in 1985. But this figure does not take into account the great disparities in price
What is clear is that the standard of living went down in 1985 and that the drop was relatively steep.
The Sandinista government has made no secret of the fact that 1985 was one of the most difficult years since the triumph the revolution in 1979. The war unbalancing whole economic system, which, in dependent country and in the midst of the world economic crisis was already vulnerable
estimated that defence is absorbing about
per cent of the state budget annually There is the army of 50,000 that has to be fed, clothed and transported to the war zones. Moreover, represents 11 per cent of the country's agricultural anc industrial labour force
For 1985 alone. the total cost of the material damage caused by the contras is calculated at $120 million.
In addition to maintaining economic
blockade, Washinitos of
vetoed certain credit 'extenaca Nic-
aragua by the internatona financial
Rolling into Syria? would But would be a bloody affair. After the debacle of the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the enforced withdrawal that followed it, the Israeli government does not want a second major war rapidly afterwards.
The Israeli state's diplomacy today therefore trying to seek an agreement with King Hus sein of Jordan along the lines of the camo Davi agreement with Egypt. To achieve this Hussein spent
ting involve Palestine berator Organisation (PLO) in the
But necoladoos. LIC Israeli government has no Defence: 50 per cent of the budget BONS
In total, in 1985, the cost of US aggression in all its forms (military commercial and financial) wa estimated to have reached the level of $608 million, or 26 per cent of the gross domestic product.
As if this were not enough, in the past year agricultural produchon was hit by series of
disasters, drought followed by catastrophic floods.
The volume of industrial production fell by
dropped by thile cort.
dropped by Of the late. cent. The value totalled only $300 million and covered only 36.2 pe cent of imports. The trade deficit has risen to $531 million dollars , the biggest ever seen in Nicaragua.
Moreover despite drastic cutbacks, the deficit in the state budget amounted to 23 per cent of
intention of offering the PLO anything, and these talks broke down.
The aim of the Zionist state today is to try to draw Hussein into talks by himself and use his alliance with responsible that is non-PLO, Palestinian representatives on the West Bank to give a veneer of respectability to such a deal. Britain, which traito al client links with the Jordanian monarchy, is an ideal intermediary put pressure on Hussein to involve himself in this pro-
If Jordan were LEDD 'neutralised' une! stae would be more able to carrv through a later wai on Syria. the gross national product
Even to be able to pro duce, Nicaragua has tirst duction of cousing oi and to import. prosoap of the five necessities prices
are guarantee debuted inte
recured l porting $42 million worth ot raw materials.
Here again, the war is blocking greater utilisa. tion of the country's own resources, which could, at least in part. reduce L dependence. For example the whole forestry elopment project which
to provide the basis Was for increasing nontraditional exports and to lay the foundations for lumber industry, has been thrown into disarray by the contras That means that "14 million in invest. ment have gone up in
smoke
We don't have bi what we don't have.
International
The 'negotiations' promised to Hussein, therefore are just the other side of the coin of the new US hard line in the
They aim to isolate Arab governments opposed state. Ever prepared to do
bidding, Thatcher therefore set off to visit the state of Israel
Whether it is supplying airbases to attack Libya or serving as a messenger to pressure Jordan, every step British imperialism takes in the Middle East spells trouble for Palestinians and Arab peoples who are under at tack by Britain's 'allies' -
Israeli and United States terrorist regimes phrase by Commandante captaics. ulc minister of internai trade, up •pertectiv the tacts about the population's numberone problem. suppiy. An' shortage feeds speculation and the black market. Nicaragua is no exception to this rule
Through the Workers Supply Centres (CAT) and the Sandinista Committees (CDS), the government provides monthly quota of basic food • products, hygienic necessities and clothing.
However, while products are distributed in accordance with number of persons livin in the same household other products, 1n ticular necessities, are distributed ac cording to a quota allotter
1n dividually. In other word
a single sage amount as
same amount one with a wife and five children.
Moreove since the CAT and CDS often do not have sufficient stocks to meet the demand, it necessary to resort to the free market where the prices are very elastic
In an attempt to im-
Sandinista government
launched a twofold battle. Its first objective is to eliminate, or at least try to eliminate, the 'infor mal' which is an
sculul. enormous cancer eating away at Managua. The second is to increase, at any cost, production and agricultural and industrial productivity. That is the
reforms which we will look at next week.
Page 9 scan of this page
SOCiAlist
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
NATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS
UNION
SPECIAL NCU
CONFERENCE
SUPPLEMENT
Produced by Socialist Action supporters in the NCU
IN FEBRUARY, John Golding MP
elected general secretary
Communications Union in a ballot of the
union's 158,000 members. The job carries an
automatic seat on the General Council of the
TUC. Golding's election threatens to move
the NCU closer to the right-wing alliance in
the trade union movement.
face escalating attacks on their jobs, the
right-wing look sure to win another victory in
the ballot for the NCU's Executive Commit-
tees.
years of Broad Left control of the NCU.
union supplements, Socialist Action readers
in the NCU report on the situation currently
facing the union as it goes into its annual con-
ference.
IN 1983 the Post Office Engineering Union now amalgamated with the Civil and Public Servants Association's Post and Telegraphs Group to form the NCU, elected an Executive Council with majority Broad Lett control. years that the union had been wrested from the hold of the right wing. certain to fall back into the control of the right.
left's 1983 victory likely reversal of that success.
The rise in the Broad Left's fortunes in the NCU began in a significant way in 1978. An expansion what was then Post Office Telecommunications led to a large influx of young workers into the industry
ana une avelage age NCU members is still under 30.
At the same time advances in new technology fuelled campaign for shorter hours. This campaign was led by the most organised and militant sections of the union
the central London branches — and broke out into industrial action.
The strategy used by the union was to target selective areas - the bank of England, Stock ExClange, CLC. — WIlcl Were sensitive to disruptive acLULI carried out by only small numbers of engineers. This tactic proved extremely effective, and City interests were soon clamouring for the Labour Government to concede.
Nevertheless the union's right-wing dominated NEC settled TOT GaLV what it's members were demanding
and Ludl costs of the shorter hours agreement would be born by increased productivity.
This deal was a big set back to the unions right-
ACTION
nLU
was of the National At a time when the union's membership
These results will bring to an end three
In the first of a series of special trade
Lessons of the Broad Left
It was the first time in 40
Three years later the NCU looks
Socialist Action looks at the background to the
— and at the events leading to the
wing leaders credibility, The Broad Left gained from the sense OI combativity this victory in the 35 hour week campaign generated in the rank and file. It increased the Broad Left's stature as an alter-
Bryan Seta of the ther general secretary POEU, made his famous statement in support management assurances that 'there is no plan to cut jobs'. But before long statements emerged from that between 45,000 and 100,000 jobs would have to go. (nce again the fight against de-nationalisation,
jobs which it posed, was
branches. Industrial action was launched against Mercury the company set up to undercut BT's monopoly by members impatient with ue execuuve s follow up the one day protest strike against privatisation in October 1982.
On CICL of this wave of industrial action Broad Left candidates formed the majority those elected to at the POEU's Jung 1983 conference Adopting the 'selective' strategy that had proved so successful in the 35 hour week cam-
years since Bryan Stanley, the right secretary of the Post Office Engineering
the union's Journal. It was virtually the last occa-
become the National (NCU), that all would be well in a private, British Telecom (BT).
The private BT has sold or given away shares to 96 per cent or lls employces, whilst at the same time surpassing Is own ambitions 15,000 jons shedding more than
in the last three years.
The industry is currently poised on the brink of radical modernisation its customer services set-up through computerisation, and of the telephone network through the introduction of 'chip' based exchanges.
One defeats and setbacks which the union has suftered, coupled with the steady advance on anti-
¡castaLon. LIC failure of the TUC to lead any opposition io it. and the defeat of the year long miners' strike have taken their toll on the confidence of the NCU membership. In addition the failure of the left galvanise resistance to BT's attacks has resulted
resurgence the union's discredited right wild
At the moment when Telecom are face the most serious Healey and Golding paign, the new executive
and eltecivenesthor the
and effectiveness of unions acuon against denationalisation. But things had changed since 1978!
Management responded to the selective actions with suspensions and mass lockouts the Illcald tional exchanges margets for ane seletive
action strategy.
One of the component parts of this strategy selective action was payment of average take home pay lo members discipin ed by BT for their part in the action. BT bussed in telecom workers from all over the country and suspended anyone who refused to cross the picket lines. The loyalty to the union shown by the total refusal to cross picket lines became a financial embarrassment the union, rather than a weapon, as payments suspended drained the DINOSS funds. But the Broad Left leadership retused to break from the selective action strategy or
for national strike.
A court injunction by Mercury against the
Fight for jobs
'THERE IS no plan to cut jobs.' It's only four short
wing general Union of (POEU), penned these famous words in the pages of
sion on which the leadership of what has now Communications Union even attempted to persuade its members
but 'caring',
onslaught onanagement tvy are ikey from
oe ica by an executive whose most radical aim is to haggle over the price of redundancy pay.
By Ian Grant, Met NW branch
The employers have been careful to ensure that their job cutting activities have laken place piecemeal and localised 10SuUll. Utilising uneven strength of the
NCU branches and the
double edged 'Job Securi ty Agreement' a procedure by which the union enters into negotiations with management in situations of management identitying 'Job surpluses' they have ensured a steady erosion jobs, same time avoiding any
which might provide focus for a national struggle. number of local disputes Even growing involving. overtime bans, work to rules, and strike action have been breaking out around the country.
POEU's secondary action
one of the first taken out under the new Tory legislation spelled the
end for the union's cam-
paign. At a special
ference in November 1983 the left on the NEC split over whether to obey the injunction and recommended Will the court's decisions. The
Mercury action was abandoned, and within weeks the rest of the industrial
action was called off. The
return to work, especially
the international exchanges was the excuse for widespread victimisation
The failure of the anti-privatisation campaign also marked the failure of
exclue capitalise on the mandate it had won for a serious fight.
The right have stepped up their campaign for a 'realistic voluntary redun-
and re cent moves by the NEC to run a ballot on a national overtime ban are unlikely to rally the necessary rank and file support to stop the right wing take over in this
tor NCU's executive mittees.
So far these disputes have only involved minority of the union's members. And their extent has been limited by their isolation. However these struggles represent the way
CLEC NCU.
As BT pushes ahead in its drive to maximise profits, it inevitably has take on and defeat larger and larger sections of the union's membership. Total job cuts are aimed to be 100,000. George Jeffer-
chair the SUll. board, has claimed the industry is 'one third fats' while documents leaked to NCU members employed at the Post Office admit 'compulsory redundancies will be inevitable.'
When John Golding was elected general secretarv. one of his firs statements to the press outlined his intention, contrary to current NCU policy, to reach , an agreement on redundancy with
The election of John coulding, amiled and executive voluntary redundancy, will turn the unior anal from any perspective of defending jobs, tighting for the implementation o shorter hours, or any of the other demands of the 'Broad Strategy' put forward by the previous exCoulive
To counter this threat a umea opposition aboration with BT is selling jobs indispensible. Accomodation to the witchunters in the union will undermine the building of a leadership for the fight against job loss and redundancy. This fight has already begun
One place it has started is in the West of Scotland - where BT are introducing arbitrary job cuts. has started in the Post Office with the fight against 50 per cent job cuts and the prospect of Collpulsory redundancies.
The the Broad Left in the NCU is inseparably linked with the fight to make these isolated battles part of national fight back against
Winning such a strategy in the NCU would be a green light to management to speed up redundancies and drastically set back the possibilities of seriously fighting to defend jobs.
On the other hand members of the NCU in the West of Scotland, in posta engineering, motor transport, and in a numo o one the union are beginning to
the lessons of just Icalll how such a fight can be waged. These lessons must De arawn rigal across une union - by the building of the strongest possible links of solidarity and support with those sections taking action
Although the experience of the NCU in waging the light against job cuts and redundancy is still limited, there aI Ci wider examples to draw
The Telecom unions Ulle anti-privatisation struggle, the iwelve month miners strike which tollowed it and currently the print-
battle arallls Murdoch, all show in difterent wavs that oniv a full and unreserved committ-
from the union organise and lead the
strength of its membership can hope to win. Without this commitment it is impossible to win the backing of other sec-
and labour movement
Untortunatelv the NUC's lead-in to the fight
waged has prepared well. The
Broad Left leadership of the union have put all their eggs in the basket of the 'Broad Strategy'. This is a
Postal engineers face
'certain redundancies'
AT THE end of April, a ballot on industrial action against job cuts among engineers in the Post Office was narrowly WOl. NCU members employed by the Post Office are threatened with between 30 per cent and 50 per cent job losses as a result of "scrutinies' carried out by private manpower consultants. This struggle is now at the sharp end of the NCU's fight to defend jobs.
Attempts to buy time through the use of the unions Job Securi-
Agreement with management had failed when Socialist Action spoke to the secretary of the London Postal Region Power Branch, JAMES HARGIS.
POST Office management are working hard to try and persuade individuals that whatever happens their job will be safe. Everyone is very frightened about losing their jobs, and that fear is something we must overcome if we're going to fight back. reople mus feel they can win. Only then will they put up a real fight. I think most of our
can win.
When held our
London prior to the industrial action we made things very clear. We said
Socialist Action 30 May 1986 9 well worked out manifesto for the renationalisation of British Telecom, its expansion into new job creating areas, and the introduction of a 32 hour four day week But credibility lies solely on the re-electior of pathetic Labour Government.
If more and more jobs are simply allowed to slip away. the ability of the NCU to mount its defenc against compulsory redun dancy will decline An arrecincul with BT
redundancy VUlulilal terms will further undermine fights being waged by local branches against arbitrary job cuts.
It is not too late to halt the slide of the NCU the policy of selling members jobs Every fort must be made to link up the struggle breaking out now, to pull them out of their isolation, and to build on the foundations being laid for a national sunke moerence o os and a leadership prepared to fight for this goal.
What distinguishes the right from the left in the NCU on jobs is that the right stands for accepting job cuts and the left for fighting them. But the fight against BT's redundancy plans also means having a strategy to do so.
means understanding that in the end only a national strike against BT's job cuts can defend our jobs. . Fighting to win the membership that means building a Broad Left which is not just an electoralist machine but is based on the real rank and file involvement. a 'yes' vote would mean taking strike action. No doubt about it If •they weren't prepared to go on strike then they should vote 'no'.
In this respect it was a
ballot, even our approach meant we got lower 'yes' vote. People knew what they were voting for.
The POis trying to undermine that support.
take on the smaller isolated offices first where the effects don't ap pear to be so drastic. Bu that's one thing our members are strong on. They don't want to be split up and picked off, they'd rather act together. We're all in the same boat
It worries me that in negotiations the union may have given away too much already. We are fighting nOW ODEI safeguards for individual's
employmen rather than against the principle of the arbitrar job cuts. Although means that the individua members who threatened will feel strong. commitment fight, it makes it harder to win wider support for ou action.
A victory for us agai the Post Office the rest of the NCU that it is also possible to fight aed W 11 against Britis Tets and redadancies te Telecom's plans for need all the morad physical, and finasci support from other Nat members in BT we can get
Page 10 scan of this page
10
SOCiA it
ACTiON
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
NATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS
UNION
SPECIAL NCU
CONFERENCE
SUPPLEMENT
Boycott South Africa
Africa.
The campaign for sanctions momentum despite baseless claims from those 00posed sanctions that they will hurt black people more than white.
It is undoubtedly true that some people
be found in South can Africa who oppose sanctions. It is not in ine Interests of those who occupy positions as puppets of the regime - bantustan
to rock the apartheid boat. But the majority have shown, both in opinion polis their actions, that they want sanchions. South Africa's growing non-racial trade ment has called for sanc-
The United Democratic Front (UDF), without question the most or back tou expression
black South African opinion, 2|50 supports sanctions
The real opposition to sanctions comes from those transnational Colpanies which profit from
apartheid. that disinvestment will
unemployment
among blacks has
foundation. The fact that a third or more vl black people in South
Africa are
unemployed or underemployed. Indeed the South African economy
relles on naving a nuge and
permanent black ICSCEVE
army of labour.
In any case direct
Political vettings —
putting up emergency
and political vetting.
The Observer newspaper announced in Oc-
1985: *British LUCI Telecom is compiling political blacklist employees it regards subversive." It exposed a contidential form used ll this practice by BT.
Cuestion seven on inis form asks managers to in-
Socialist Action 30 May 1986
foreign investment is con-
centrated the most
capital intensive sectors of
the economy, and of those
it does employ a dispropor-
tionate number are white.
The CasUll
theid, and the reason for
opposition to sanctions, is
profit. That is why foreign
capital is so deeply involv-
ed in South Africa.
the NCU's
with
- but it would
companies
interests.
Our funds are
biggest in-
against
South are not
moral 'We
question.
and
to
ODDUSC salll-
fringe
meeting:
with South Africa
Speakers from COSATU
and the Anti-Apartheid
Movement. Wednesday 4
June, 7.30pm. Blackpool
Trades LuD,
SEVERAL NCU branches, and the NEC itself, are resolutions to conference following the sacking of two ex-members of the NCU by Fords UK. This has further exposed the role of British Telecom (BT) in industrial victimisations
dicate 'any known 11 -
erests/activities outside
his/her normal
which might have a bear-
ing on alliludes lowards
security matters.
In an explanatory lette
managers are asked 40
solicit, without the sub-
jects knowledge, aclared
information abour polit-
ca arabs.
THE NCU lags behind other unions in having no provision for its black members at all and no serious policy for fighting racism. It has taken no steps to implement the 1984 TUC congress tion calling on affiliated unions to set up appropriate structures, eg Race Equality Committees and Black Members Groups to coordinate union work on racism.' This is a major issue facing the union. So far no serious steps have been taken in the fight against racism.
Golding, general secretary, put out an appeal in rebruary tor union members to support
Party •Black
mitee aThis is a wome
mittee'. wrong step in the fight against racism. This committee is not elecel black members of the Labour
No support should rally. be given to this committee
The real task is for the NCU to adopt a policy for fighting racism. The POEU did not even bother to reply to the GLC study
Within Trade Unions and has taken no
Support Justice for
the democratic rights of workers.
The fight LIC mineworkers against the Tory onslaught since the end of the strike has exposea ine UDI
union'. Even in the
›any
stronghold of Nottingham the NUM is
But the Tories' defeat of the miners strike has left a number of the most active miners sackea or im-
emergency
BT says that these lists are kept for reasons of national security.'
BBC journalists were the first group of workers
demand the end
British Telecom engineers are NOW Both groups of workers understand that 'national security' is a euphemism for 'national control'.
It was the campaign taken up oy the 1/1107 branch at Fords tildi ine reasons for the sackings.
Fighting racism
steps in line with TUC policy.
A start is being made to turn that situation around on 11 June when Marc national chairperson of the Labour Party Black Sretion, MANL
GLISSAND
Mineworkers Campaign
ANTI-UNION LAWS, the creation of the so-called 'Union of Democratic Mineworkers' (UDM), the banning of unions at GCHQ, and the arbitary sacking of print workers are part of the Tories' project to severely curtail the power of the unions and remove
prisoned.
The need for a campaign to defend the victimised miners Decone. clearer as more and more evidence of the wav the coal board is deliberately refusing to reinstate sacked miners. Events since the strike have also shown the way the state has criminalised class fighters of the NUM
Ironically it was the Daily Mail that spilled the beans admitting that secret memo from the women's previous employers alerted Ford bosses.
Unequivocable support for the fight against victimisation is essential it our members are to be pro-
national vetting operation and will be to permanently exclude trom employment BT employees who have been active trade unionists or wnose political
speaking at a meeting of the London political com-
Tuesday June 10.
Hullee Committee Room A, 6pm, Central Tall. West minster.
We urge all London NCU members to attend. HANDS OFF BRITISH
The establishment of the for Mine-
workers . Campaign is great gain for the labour movement
The responsibility of the carry out
resolutions adopted at the
TUC Cane Laboul Party conferences and ac-
fight
reinstatement the miners is vital to build the confidence ot own membership for the fight it faces in the future.
Adopt the resolution from LNCI on support for the Justice for Mineworkers Campaign.
suspect in the opinion of their bosses.
Correctly the NCU ex-
ecutive has already called
on the National Council
for Civil Liberties and the
TUC to take up the fight.
The aim of the emergency
reconnons lo Conterenc
is to expose the extent of
the victimisations. to chal-
lenge its legality and gain
the right of workers to be
active trade unionists, free
Trom exclusion lists and
victimisation TOI their
political beliefs.
Women in the NCU
CPSA post and telegraphs
affairs as the number
abortion womens health and other issues demonstrate.
Yet women are vastly under represented in NCU at all levels. In the clerical group all but two of the national executive are male, the membership is overwhelmingly female. the engineering there
on the even
where
The of the Committee over
been Ineasu great step
CONULLCC nationa level
such opportunities, pornography, cervical
nationally firs time.
Within union, now, what the role of the Womens Advisory Committee should be. And how it should relate to women members at all levels of the union wilal structure. we need to establish regional and local level. how to involve women
actively, and ment ber how to make the WAC representative of, and accountable to, women
This process is muct further advanced in other unions wacle uncy lave had women's structures tor some time. ror exam
Support Nicaragua
The transition from capitalism is deliberately slow in Nicaragua. In country where until five
ago illiteracy was over 50 per cent technical expertise is at a premium and the revolution is still dependent on those who have it. Reagan's policy Is to create conditions where the internal capitalist opposition in Nicaragua
SNOODCH with the armed counterrevolution.
The embargo is part of a strategy for laying the basis for an eventual US invasion in Nicaragua.
It is because of wha the Nicaraguan revolution represents US 1mperialism obliged to wage war against it. The threat which the revolution
presents capitalism
the threat of a good example.
The people of
Nicaragua have a govern-
capitalismon they have
capitalism have
changed which class rules
in Nicaragua. That is why imperialism has to overthrow Sandinista revolution and paradox-
ically why it is so difficult for it to do so.
The ditterences in the US ruling class which were
ret lected in recent votes ir
Congress on military aid to the contras, are only about how to get rid of the Sandinistas not whether to.
Reagan understands only a US invasion could
SINCE THE UNIFICATION of the POEU and the
group, we have over 30,000 women members in the NCU. Issues of concern to women are coming to the fore in the union's of resolutions on sexual rights, BTs pornography,
ple in the AEU where they have had a Womens Conference for the last
In 1979 the TUC adopted the 10 point charter 'Equality for Women Within Trades Unions' which
many unions break GOWN womens union affairs many ed their own and courage and promote women and leader
In have 'women
in work time, new v
the there tees at local, and national level. they roomi ive
since TOlO more wome stand cent women.
It will be important for us to look at the experience of these and other unions
developing proposals for how to build on the good beginning the
WAC
• NCU Women's Sup-
por 50 7.30pm. Tues
day
Blackpool Library.
WHILE THE United States has steadfastly refused to implement sanctions against the barbaric apartheid regime in South Africa it has imposed a total trade embargo against Nicaragua. This embargo is part of a strategy of increasing US terrorism against that
overthrow the revolution today
mobilise a significant sec-
Naraya
pop doors sue failed.
Contras lave failed.
Reagan's opponents are
prepared to pay the
political price necessary
for an invasion at LI10 moment.
the job of the working class around the
world to ensure that the
price remains too great fol
the US ruling class to be
prepared rush
invasion
The NCU took an im-
portant step at last year's
conference in affiliating to
the Nicaragua Solidarity
Campaign. Now let's make
that solidarity real by
responding to the appeal
from the Nicaraguan
telecommunication work-
ers for help to fund their
union education centre
A number of branches
have already voted to give
money to this appeal, but
far the National Ex-
ecutive Committee has not
responded Pressure must
be put on the NEC to open
a bank account for the : ap-
peal, and to send out a Let-
ter to Branches encourag
ing them to donate.
• Conterence fringe
meeting:
survive. Thursday 5 June
12.30 pm Winter
Garden. Organised by the
Nicaragua Solidarity Cam-
Supported by the
Page 11 scan of this page
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Page 12 scan of this page
LONDON SATURDAY JUNE 28
ANTI APARTHEID MOVEMENT 13 MANDELA ST. LONDON NWI 0I-387 7966
PREPARATIONS are in high gear for the Anti Apartheid Movement march and rally in London on 28 June.
Last year ove 100,000 people in Britain
show their solidarity with the peoples of southern Africa. This year there is every indication that the numbers will be even bigger.
The AAM nationally has printed 350,000 leaflets. Groups across the organising to ensure the largest possible turnout on the south
Africa, beginning there wil be a three-day 16 June,
stayaway general call over the country, to mark the tenth anniver-
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Registered as a newspaper with the Post Once Published by Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London N1. Printed By Laneridge Ltd. (TU), London E2.
SociAlist
ACTiON
MARCH
FOR FREEDOME
INNAMIBIA & SOUTHAFRICA!
sary of the Soweto uprisings. Throughout the decades South African and Namibian people have shown their desire for freedom and their willingness to fight for it.
The AAM has put By Larry Herman out a call for everyone in solidarity with the South and Namibian revolutions to assemble at 11.00am in Hyde Park.
The event will begin with a rally at which the main speakers will be from the African, National Congress and SWAPO The march will leave Hyde Park at noon for Clapham Common, South British bands will play unele throuch the evening. There will be also wide of
SUBSCRIBE
I enclose cheque/ PO payable to Socialist Action for f Send to: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
political and cultural as well as AAM material.
Anti Apartheid unte Movement is appealing for funds for this event.
The campaign has set targets of t200 from each AAM group and £50 each affiliated women's rand orp Labour Party trade branch. All donations towards making 28 June a success are welcome.
All groups and labour movement organisations should start now - and plan to make the 28 June demonstration in solidarity with the peoples of southern Africa a huge success. • Further information and literature is available from: AAM, 13 Mandela Street, London NW1.
Free Book Offer!
Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books: JUSTICE: The Miners Strike 1984-88 by the Campaign Group of Labour
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allow the Foreign Minister
stead smashed up by
prevented the meeting taking place.
But police collusion with the AWB's openly fascist thugs is hardly surprising given the role assigned to the 'security state itself: Shen Arica is services' apartheid not a fascist state. But the chief fascists are Ulldoubtedly in the govern-
Botha himself was an organiser of gangs attackinhile parties in the thir meetings other ties
Today it the apartheid state which organises the terror, torture, murder, and suppressio
the most lementar bourgeois democratic rights for the black majorıWhereby which is the sole means
the apartheid state can be maintained in
against South Africa's black majority.
This state is also increasingly organising Latin American style 'death squads which go . out murder anti-apartheid activists in the
townships. hack hardly to be wondered at then when such alice forces are riddled with support for the most openly fascist and white supremacist organisation.
theyes some lae black
they black townships.
The stories carried in British newpapers last week to the effect that Botha's governmen now threatened by 'fascist reaction' because reformist stance, and
among South
African racists
IT IS an indication of the depth of the crisis of the South African state when the police stand by and
to have his public meeting broken up by armed white thugs. But that is exactly what happened last week when the ruling Nationalist Party ordered the police to protect Pik Botha's meeting at Pietersburg. The meeting was in-
Eugene Terre Blanche's Afrikaaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB). The police stood by as thugs carrying swastika 'look alike' flags
Botha must therefore be supported, are ludicrous.
It is this regime itself which is the organiser of the colOssa SCat LONO necessary to hold back the black rebellion apartheid Compared to the Nationalistice regime organisations the AWB are just a joke. To olnerwise ano bre sent Botha as threatened by 'the right' is to cover up for the inhuman crimes of this regime itself.
The most vivid proof of the intention oI the Botha government came this week with the an nouncement by the South tends to railroad through still more repressive legislations will give the Minister of Law and Orde powers couvalent to martial lane which in any part of the country he deems to be an 'unres area Such powers are deemed to include: for the police to take whatever action they considered necessary, and to prohibit any activity they deemed a threat to security; only if a person were held for more 30 days in prison would the police have to release their name to parliament; no court of aw would be competent to give the validity proclamations and regulations decided by the Minister for such
Divisions deepen
'unrest areas: the proclamation unrest area would last three months.
In other words the purpose of the law is to allow the apartheid state's police to have the equivalent of the powers they exercised under a state of emergency without having the political embarassment of
actually declaring one.
Splits among , the white racists are excellent. . They weaken them all. But the
between the fascist ascist Tere and the
fascist Blanche, should not detain the labour movement for one instance. Botha, not Terre Blanche, heads the most powerful death squads ir South Africa
← Socialist Action No. 141, 23 May 1986Socialist Action No. 143, 6 June 1986 →