Socialist Action No. 153, 21 November 1986
The scan: 153-n0v-21-1986-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
whirlwind
No. 153 THE TORY Party has embarked on a course of preparing general election by stoking up a wave of reaction in the country. They have been able to do this because of the complete failure of Kinnock's right-wing policies, and witch hunts againt the left, to offer a credible alternative Thatcherism. The result of Labour Party conference which conceded the Thatcher case on trade union law, nationalisation and witch hunts against the left, has opened up the way for the Tory Party to drive the entire political spectrum further to the right.
One example of this came last
In House of Commons now demanding that Kinnock expels the leaders of
SOCiAliSt
ACTION
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
Haringey, Lambeth, Brent and Manthe chester Labour councils! Tory
vironment Minister Nicholas made the grotesque claim that the residents of Haringey or Brent live.in conditions like Poland or East Germany and in fear of 'the knock on the door in the middle of the night.'
Black Labour parliamentary can-
to didates, Diane Abbott and
Grant, were singled out for special racist attack by the Tory Party leadership. And the front bench response from the Parliason tory Jobo c Parin the person ingham, is to claim that these are only 'one tenth of one per cent' of Labour councillors.
Labour councils like Haringey and Lambeth have demonstrate, within the constraints the imposed upon them by the govern-
ment's attacks, a genuinely radical alternative to the Tory government's
Ridley fighting for
been a thorn in Thatcher's side.
Bernie
John Cunn-
The second campaign
tried to
AIDS.
TorS
of
policies. By campaigning for the interests of the black communitites,
positive action policies nuclear weapons. towards black people and women, seeking to overcome prejudice against gays and lesbians, these councils have
But Ridley's outburst was just one launch example of the hysteria Thatcher has been whipping up since Tory party conference. The first wave was the vicious campaign around visas for visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Ghana and Nigeria. This wave of racism in the press stimulated racist attacks in many areas of the country.
was on AIDS. Here a special Cabinet committee was established, and public attacks on gays and lesbians launched, to conceal the fact that the government refuses to take the effective Instead of measures that can be taken against
Sinn Fein conference
Crisis in the soft left CND conference Lesbian and gay rights
LOCAL COUNCILS, AIDS,
RACISM, TRIDENT...
reaction
Then Thatcher whipped up a campaign around defence of Trident and
need for the West' to have
Now the campaign is being whipped up against Labour councils.
But what has allowed Thatcher to
this latest reactionary onslaught, and to recover from the 01eanue camase to mer coveramen that the miners' strike inflicted in 1984-85, is the disastrous course of Kinnock and the party leadership. Instead of defending those under attack from Thatcher, Kinnock has added his tuppence worth to the attacks on Scargill. on the miners. on Bernie Grant, on Diane Abbott, on Brent council, on Lambeth council and so on. In this way he has undermined Labour not the Tories.
creating a pollica. alternative to Thatcher Kinnock has incorporated elements of Thatcher's
21 Nov 1986 30p Towards a two tier society? politics into Labour's policy. Instead of enthusing and mobilising the ranks of the labour movement for alternative policies, and the removal of the Thatcher government, he has opened up a disastrous series of witch hunts within the Labour Party, attacked the so-called 'violations of democracy' in the unions, and failed to answer the racist campaigns by the Tories. Kinnock's course has weakened Labour
and conceded the political high ground to the Tories. The result is Labour slipping behind the Tories in the polls.
The way out starts with the defence of those in the inner cities, Labour councils, the leadership of the NUM, and all those who now face Thatcher's most venemous assault. Without that -CoulSe Labour 1S heading for disaster at the election. Because the more Kinnock concedes to Thatcher today the more she will demand tomorrow.
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US bases out campaign demand
2 Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986
SociAlist
ACTiON
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
Kinnock is leading
Labour to
disaster
IN ONE month since Labour Party conterence the disastrous the last three years of course have all come together. Many party members sat through Kinnock's sabotage of the miners strike, sabotage of the rate capping struggle, support tional weapons build up, and launching the witch hunt with one thought: 'This may not be socialism but at least it'll work. It'll get rid of Thatcher and elect a Labour government.'
Well now the truth is coming in. Not merely isn't it socialism, but neither does it work.
The last month has told a horrific tale. The stage managed Labour Party. supposed to be a spring board for a Labour elec: tion victory.
Labour in the polls. Every single opinion poll since party conference has shown the Tories in the lead — lead over Labour. The dreadful prospect of a third Thatcher government is now very real.
The Knowsley North by-election was an even worse disaster.
George Howarth was supposed to be a clever move to ensure Labour's victory by the left wing candidate Les Huckfield. Instead it turned into an electoral catastrophe.
Labour's majority in Knowsley slipped from over 17,000 to under 7,000. Its vote fell by nine per cent on the already abysmal showing of the general election. On the swing against Labour in Knowsley North there would only be 29 MPs in the House of Commons at the general election!
Instead of the witch hunt in Knowsley aiding Labour it resulted in the worst Labour electoral setback in this parliament.
There is no mystery whatever about why these disasters have occurred. cumulative effect of three year's of Kinnock's line for the party.
The event in this parliament which did most damage to the Tory government was the miners strike. By September 1985, in the aftermath of the strike, Labour had a four per the Conservatives - and the Tories were level with the Alliance. Then wing speech to the 1985 party conference and
within a month the Tories had closed down Labour's lead to one per cent. This year, following Kinnock's 'I would die speech, the Tories overtook Labour.
In fact Labour now looks like a right wing party with a bizarrely left wing position on nuclear weapons - a contradiction the Tories and SDP
are going to utilise savagely in the election cam
paign. But for the last three years Kinnock has
let the Tories set the agenda. Now, naturally, it is the Tories who benefit.
It is going to be very, very difficult to turn the situation around in the Labour Party general election.
working against Thatcher situation in the economy, simple disgust at the
consequences of seven years of Tory rule it is now clear that if Labour wins a general election it won't be because of the present policies but despite them.
Two conclusions flow from this. First that the entire labour movement must unite to fight to get rid of Thatcher. Second that many of those in the party who have been prepared to go along with Kinnock's line should rethink. The left in the
party wasn't fighting for sectarian
the practical way to go forward to fight Thatcher.
Many people believed the course of defeating Thatcher lay in following Kinnock. By now they should know better. If the present course is continued it can end in disaster for the labour move ment.
consequences of Neil Kinnock's
for a conventhe conference was
Instead the Tories have swept past
with an average of a three per cent
Imposing Kinnock's candidate
shutting out the They are the
the
came Kinnock's right
for my country are reaping the political cil
before a
There are many things still
the deteriorating
but purity. It is
'DEFENCE', and that means nuclear weapons, is going to be one of the central issues on the next year's political agenda. The have already chosen it as one of their central battle grounds in the run-up to the general election. The Labour leadership is still committed to a 'defence policy' calling for unilateral nuclear disarmament but stressing a build-up of conventional forces and NATO membership against the 'Russian threat — a policy which is entirely incapable of meeting the Tory onslaught. Meanwhile, mains committed in practice to backing Kinnock's line, while the campaign's membership presses for mass action against nuclear TURNER reports from Blackpool.
ACTION not words was the verdict of delegates to CND's annual conference last weekend. For the third year running they rebutted the continued attempts by
CND leadership divert the campaign away from mass action against nuclear weapons. This was retected Loe eac for a campaign to get rid
bases and the strength of support for an emergency resolution calling lor a nanonal Caster march. It was also reflected in the election of Helen John of Greenham as one of CND's four vice chairs for the coming year.
The bases posite, moved by the Greater London Association of Trades Councils and seconded by Labour CND, called on CND 'to vigorously campaign fol
removal OT bases' and for a higher profile NATO withdrawal. The vote on this was significantly up in comparison to NATO
at previous conThis shows that after Libya raising the issues of US bases can be an effective 1 way out of the impasse on NATO campaigning that has existed in
movement number of years. however. Ill creased majority, CND's leadership is likely to attempt to derail the decision of conference
A clear example of this was encountered earlier LOTS year. national council met after the huge.
SUCCESSI Grosvenor Square against the United States bombing of Libya. Delegates heard one report after another of similar staged across tne country Coun-
called for CND
DEBATES ON the role of women within the anti-
missiles movement have taken place at many CND
conferences, but this year's was particularly impor-
tant. Among the emergency
which called for action against three rapes which
have taken place at the Molesworth peace camp over the last year.
CND leaders originally
decided that these 'unfor-
tunate incidents' should be
BUSCO UD because or une
adely to benity he were
likely
Bouciale
guaranteea une Issue Diew
up at conference without
ally vicalalul y discus-
sion within the movement.
three-point resolu-
tion was moved by
Manchester-Withington
recognised
'that rape cannot be
tolerated at any cost and
Tories and the SDP
CND's leadership re-
CAROL weapons.
CND conference in
launch a national petition demanding the removal of
US bases. When emerged, many weeks later, that had been 'translated' into a demand for the removal of only nuclear bases.
Dominated as the CND national leadership
by Euro-communists and Kinnock supporters there is no doubt they will seize any. opportunity diluting this year's conference's demand.
Conference's determination to continue mass action against weapons was reflected every main emergency* resolution from CND Cymru noted that nuclear weapons would be a major issue in the forthcoming general
callparga and called for four-day march culminating 1n major event in London on Easter Monday'
CND Cymru accepted reference back to the in-
which will not meet till January. Given the obvious reluctance of the leadership to stage such national mass actions, particularly in the run-up to a general election, this may prove a serious mistake.
Conference learned that member of CND nationally dropped significantly in the last 12
From 106,000 in Monas. 1984, the figure is down to 91,000 for '85-86. This goes hand in hand with the leadership's demobilisation of the activist base of the campaign.
But despite the predictions of a dire drop in membership at the beginning of this year, out-going treasurer Mick Elliot reported that the bombing of Libya, followed by the
A grave error
resolutions was one
the national council to: 1) publicly 'withdraw any support from those who camp Molesworth at the present time... 2) 'encourage positive ac tion in dealing with male violence within the peace movement..' 3) 'support further actions whether mixed or women only at Molesworth to stop
CND CONFERENCE 1986
INE BISINISS A MARY
CABERS QUITY* UCLEAR SARNAMENT VOT ALL
ACTORS
DE BLAN
Chernobyl disaster, had brought a resurgence support. These figures ilaustrate how disastrous the leadership's line of direc
Callivalz away from the very activities that bring CND its mass popular support really is.
The leadership's demobilising strategy was also contained in a constitutional amendment to replace annual conference wit a perman one came from national coun-
Bv the time tois was debated on Sunday afternoon, the massive opposition to it was clear, as the mover himself recognised. 'The amendment was deci sively defeated.
A significant development this year was that for the first time the issue of
floor of conference, with a resolution westmette Brown of CND'S
anti-racist working group However, the proposed constitutional change was
'withdrawal of membership' of those 'known to promote racist views'. It did not call for positive ac tion for black members.
Genuine concern to prevent expulsions became confused with opposition to positive action for black members. Eventually, supporters of the resolution accepted the proposal of
the arrival and operation of cruise'. refer back the resolution preliminary move to because rape is a matter for the police and the courts' was lost, but the resolution was voted in parts. Controversev centred on the first point, which was defeated.
The backward attitude of the conference majority
reflected delegates who heckled 'I came here debate nuclear disarmament and
'what's this got to do witl
The debate was sensitively handled sitatform: vice chair Elaina
Lieven took the chair for
YE BUSINESS I AMMAN TERRO
Bruce Kent to reter it back o nauotal coulcu 101 1u1 ther consideration
While the beginnings anti-racist consciousness was a welcome inclusion Conterenti discussion, the total absence of anv debate Ol CND's political perspectives in the run-up to the general election was a glaring gap. CND leadership
to recognise tha
Labour is the only ma: political party calling for unilateral nuclear disarmament and to set its political objectives accordingly.
dealing with the issue were among the best attended at con ference, including that of Labour CND on getting Labour to campaign which attracted 50 delegates and lively discussion.
The absence of plenary aebate on election policy
from the line the has theorised since 1983: that of pursu1ng the mythical "middle ground'. An injection of grass roots activism on unilateral nuclear disarmament and removing US bases would come as an extremely unwelcome disruption to the parliamentary lobbyist politics that CND leaders now pursue. It would also handicap CND's leadership from chasing after
the duration of the debate calling only women to controute. But the
issues were not addressed
Helen John pointed this out with great clarity
Women who have choser to live there now,' she said 'do so at the expense of the women who have been raped The chair failed to call a speaker from among the women who were at the camp at the time of the rapes.
Conference voted to pull the teeth of the resolu
by rejecting the de
nand that CND dissociate itself from the picscuici now at Moleworth which has refused to take any effective action against the rapes.
Instead conference ef-
Analysis
BUSINES
REAGAN
"progressive' Liberal and SDP candidate: line of the national leader The overall
leader ship of CND has led to disorientation among ac tivists, and turn localism which is now visibly taking its toll of membership
Ine collilgycal will be an important one fos anti-missiles campaigners The Tories have already begun their pro-nuclear pro-Reagan campaign, while the Labour leader snip remains crippled b
own contradictions is vital that CND does not allow cold war propaganda to make the running in what has already become a central issue in the next general election campaign There is only one way fo anti-missiles activists respond - by taking the offensive on the question of nuclear weapons.
CND's base — as con ference shows - is committed to that perspective The problem is that the leadership is still trying to break politica potential. "Defence and that means nuclear weapons, will be dominate issue on next year's political agenda. The movement is not go ing to be able to dodge the issues that national leadership has been busy fudging at this year's con ference.
fectively turned the resolution on its head by confirming lulure support for the camp as it is currently constituted. This led to a silent protest by women followed by a spontaneous walk-out from conference.
Throughout the mass radicalisation against missiles which began at the end of the 1970s womer have played a major role in leading the whole campaign, as the Greenham
amply demonstrated.
Few women activists will be prepared to ignore the political implications of conference decision. I is a decision that must bi rejected and campaigned against through the movement.
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'Soft left' crisis sharpens
Politics Today
THE LABOUR Coordinating Committee (LCC) is the Labour Party's most politically significant 'soft left' organisation. For several months now that part of the political spectrum has been facing increasing contradictions. This year's LCC conference saw that crisis coming out into the open more clearly than ever before. The conflicts it is generating are likely to be increasingly important over the next year. JOHN ROSS looks at the choices now facing Labour's 'realigned left'.
THIS YEAR'S annual general meeting • Labour Coordinating Committee (LCC) was an important one. It confirmed the crisis of perspective of Labour's 'soft left' — a crisis openly announced in
realignment' by Tribune's editor Nigel Williamson in that paper's Labour Party conference issue.
Williamson admitted that: "The soft has become probably the least coherent grouping in the pally. And that: 'the realigned left feels almost powerless to do anything about It 1s heavily locked into SURALCEY of supporting Kinnock (for the very best of electoral reasons, must said its criticisms of the party and its policies are tempered by this. As a result, a sense of what Peter Hain a lc cent paper to the LCC executive called "drift and even inertia" has set in."
This crisis came out clearly at Labour Party conference where sharply positions were put forward the Clause Livingstone and
4 grouping the LCC. Livingstone attackea une wilch null al the Tribune rally at con-
'There can be no suport for the
Those who warned at the beginning that the witch hunt would actually widen have been proved right.
The Clause 4 controlled Labour Activist, sup
the LCC however, started off its witch pant, usti stat the CONC CI IDoUC with witch stating: 'Militant asked for what it got.
The crisis announced in Tribune, and the differences within the LCC
expressed publicly Blackpoo. continued at the LCC's AGM
an extreme right wing bloc
around Clause 4 and the
LCC's new chair, Paul 1 nompson, wilmig must
of the key votes
Thompson's unoppos-
ed election as chair was in
fact a significant decision registered AGM.
Thompson, as well
Clause represents the
extreme right wing of the
His politics may judged by the article he
wrote in Tribune's 31 Oc-
entitled ing the
'Debunking myths
about "state interference"
trade affairs'
Thompson strongly
argued in favour of state
intervention in the unions
and claimed: we need to
recognise that individual
members of organisations
have minimum rights that
need to be guaranteed by
the state. stated:
*Practices, traditional
some unions or industries,
such as accision maklig Dy
of the
to
mass meeting, or strikes
ballots, were never likely to survive the HOIC difficult Circumstances of recession,
communication techniques membership awareness. The mie sunke was. , in mans ways, the death knell of these practices.
Thompson argued that: *Balloting to begin and, Tronny clu lustrial action, and to elect executives, Is in our view basic minimum right which is best backed up by legislation and legal
He in the Teles WaN
Loce to sionit evidence
submit evidence arguing for expulsions the enquiry into the Liverpool District Labour Par-
Thompson supported all the most right positions the LCC AGM On sucn questons as relations with LLL.
Charlotte Atkins defeated Anita Pollack by
48 for vice VULC chair. Both candidates represented significant shift to the right compared to the LCC's previous vice chair reler rialn wilo was
for reelection.
The meeting
on the Knowsley not even LIV-
the conference.
On both Thompson
so-called one one:
practice,
stituency tees. was
election, it
election. LCC was
system.
to
conference but referred
This is obviously going
to be a crunch issue for ine
LC. Hain debatet sea-
debate. ingstone's view on the
issue are unknown.
that on relations with Labour Left
tation to ally either with the lelt wing
relations with the political choices LCC has to take.
already come up at Labour Party conference. Liv-
argued lor the LCC to link up with the LL. He followea inis up ambiguously after con-
with an article In the Chartist which said: the shift in power within Labour Left Liaison
of WAC Black lavour Sections and those groups who have always made rese that there is greater com-
us mon TIU1 zulu awai ween and LLL than could have been imagined six months ago.
But Livingstone also attacked the destructive oppositionalism of the Campaign Group'. However, he drew the conclusion that the LCC should work together with the rather than the perspective of a 'centre/ Tribune majority'
In the same issue of the Chartist, Nige stanlev. one of the central figures in Clause 4, used his 'Inside Left' column for diatribe against the LLL.
Totally counterposed resolutions on relations with LLL were submitted Io the LCC annual meeting. Hain. adopting the same line as Livingstone at Labour Party conference, put forward a resolution calling discussion with the LLL. This concluded: 'Although recognising that some involved Labour Left Liaison display a sectarian hostillity to the LCC, nevertheless welcome LEt's invitation to explore the basis for joint cooperation and links.
LCC and LLL
THE CRUCIAL debate at the LCC conference was
because this summarises the LCC's choice of orien
wing inside the party. A few people with their heads in the clouds might want to avoid that choice, but, in reality, the LCČ has no option but to make it. Its
LLL in fact define the basic
calling for detaching , rather asking whether the
their
discussions LCC and LIL. put forwhich was
the policies of Kinnock
support for this against left' criticism Thompson's
Many links coalitions 'Labour
its motivation was deleted Thomas Clause However, only
Hain's amended
having no
by
by LCC
line with
INDEPENDENT LABOUR'S
WEEKLY
WHATEVER
HAPPENED TO
REALIGNMENT?
and are
Air •uLY
The and Thompson
they don't count for
If LivNUPE OI LCC allow
take place
Wild ingstone NUPE
The idea they
what Paul Clause decide ridiculous.
The has made
manoeuvrist. clear that Ill
sonalities but only policies.
the the
tee, the Sections,
for British
are well
on the
tne cam-
in the LCC
discuss with
the LLI or whether winchause sectarians
type, seen. One thing is clear,
Hain resolution
for the left.
links.
This was defeated by 68 votes to 48.
Thompson
at resolution
which characterises the ultra-left. damaging to our strategy
is
For in the trade unions. re-
the basis of this resolution.
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 3
LABOUR
CO-ORDINATING
COMMITTEE
THE RESOLUTIONS put to the ICC AGM on relations with Labour Left Liaison by Paul Thompson and Peter Hain are printed below.
The LCC would welcome closer cooperation with others on Labour's left especially over demands
women's rights and Black Sections. welcome and encourage examples of joint work such as over the Khan-Scally campaign and we invite the widest possible support for initiatives like our new trade union charter, our economic statement, and our key points for the next election
The LCC's present priorities do not include Promoting yet more new organisations on the left. We retain a commitment to our distinctive 'third road' strategy for democratic socialist transformation. But we are not a sectarian organisation and this AGM therefore instructs the EC to respond
to invitations to mutua cooperation with other groups or individuals on
Although recognising that some involved in Labour Left Liaison display a sectarian hostility to the LCC, we nevertheless welcome LLL's invitation to explore the basis for joint cooperation and This AGM notes that the left of the party has changed markedly over the last five years, with the emergence of two divergent political forces. LCC has committed itself to a third road strategy of working constructively for democratic socialism in the Labour Party. We have therefore rejected the politics of Trotskyism and the oppositionalism
This AGM believes that Labour Left Liaison is a sectarian political project whose aim is to reverse the decline of the so called hard left by hijacking
groups and campaigns under an anti-leadership
This AGM believes that any attempt to construct unity with the ultra left is pointless and
• There are clear differences of politics and strategy between the LCC and the ultra left which will no doubt become more crucial after the election of a Labour government when our strategy should be to build support to ensure that the leadership carries out the party's radical policies, while combatting the inevitable ritual denuncia-
becoming more and more fragmented. Dialogue would simply give renewed credibility to their emphasis on internal conflict and attacks on leadership, and would depart from our view that the demands of WAC, the Black Sections, and other groups should be independent of any par• Any dialogue or organisational link at national level could not be reflected by unity on the ground • To spend time and energy on inter-left debate would distract from our major aim, which must be - to concentrate on winning support for the party and on developing the radical policy commitments
• Of course the LCC, both locally and nationally, should continue to work with other left groups and individuals on specific issues. In particular we should give unconditional support to the central demands of those such as WAC and the Black Sections campaign. We seek to change Labour Party women and members of minority ethnic groups, and with those who are fighting to make the issues of race and women's and lesbian and gay liberation
reject any links with generalised ultra left coali-
The AGM instructs the LCC executive to conduct its relations with other left organisations on
Page 4 scan of this page
Tory racist attacks on Labour
Labour women's strip search rally
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986
Youth
in action
Campaign Student
launched
THE FIRST issue of a new student bulletin, Campaign Student, has been published. It contains contributions from activists in the Labour Committee on Ireland, the Labour Party Black Sections, the Labour Women's Action Committee, CLPD, Labour CND, the Labour Campaign Rights, as well as from student activists in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. We reprint below Campaign Student's editorial statement:
Campaign
Student
Students and the alliance for socialism
Students and the Socialism:
CAMPAIGN STUDENT is published to help link the student movement to the alliance for socialism which Campaign Forum is building in the wider labour movement. Kinnock's public relations exercise is providing a disaster for the Labour Party. Kinnock has refused to base Labour's campaign against Thatcher on support for the miners, the printers, the black community, councils, and support for anti-imperialist struggles. As a result the Tories have taken the offensive in a carnival of reaction since Labour Party conference promoting unemployed and spreading anti-lesbian and gay hysteria.
In sharp Forum - An Alliance for Socialism in September, marks the creation of the most effective left wing in the abour 'artv tor decades. Campaion Horum links the Campaign Group of MPs to campaigns ne une Labour tarty DIaCK
Women's Action Committee, Labour CND, the
Campaign for Labour others in Labour Left Liaison, along with trade union activists. imperialist foreign policy, British withdrawal from Treland, the total isolation of anartheid, for US bases out of Britain and Britain out of NATO, for the defence of the black community and for Black
Sections, for the self-organisation of women, and
for the defence of Labour Party democracy against purges and expulsions.
Campaign Student is convinced polities of Campaign Forum can be a majority in the left wing of the demonstration after apartheid, the callous Fowler proposals and above all in voting for the British withdrawal from Ireland -tNoe ticin opposition ot the
this campaigning opposition lacks the organised voice mn Noto ana Nus l necas to be most enec tive. Students are a vital part of the alliance for socialism Campaign create. Campaign Student will promote the campaigns of Campaign those who want to win NOLS and NUS to this alliance.
Campaign Student will be:
* asking Labour Clubs
paign Forum by affiliating to Labour Left Liaison.
* promoting Campaign
newpaper of the Campaign Forum. * asking Labour Clubs to invite speakers from
Campaign Horum
Group of MPs and campaigns like Black Sec-
tion and WAC.;
* organising at NUS conference in December.
• You can contact Campaign Student c/o' 51
Grayson House, Radnor Street, London ECL.
for Lesbian and Gay
Alliance for radical Labour
racism, attacking
contrast the launch of Campaign
Sections,
Party Democracy and
campaigns anti-
that the
student INCHC In
against
bombing of Libya, the
students have policies of this
Forum is seeking to
Forum and help organise
to participate in Cam-
Group News, the
including Campaign
-SIL-
councils
ON 3 NOVEMBER Birmingham city concil's ruling Labour group removed Murhpy from the position of vice chair of Birmingham's Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Committee. The decision, taken by 44 votes to 19, also removed Cilr Murphy from the committee itself. Phil Murhpy has been an outspoken opponent of racism wherever it has occurred including on Birmingham council. He had been threatened wii? group discipline several times before and just one month earlier was assaulted by a white member Labour group.
Speaking to the rightwing Birmingham Evening Mail Labour leader, Dick Knowlesexplainedthe deci-
DCCH Lakel because Clir Murphy 'doesn't Concell himself with anything other than the fact that he considers The oack connau moIc important than anything else. Knowles went on to say 'He doesn't appreciate that the problems of the white unemployed equally bad as the problems of the black unemoloved and that it is deprivation in our inner cities that is the fault. Understandably Licoe two glowing remarks editorials produced
the Evening, Mail praising Cllr NEUWIC. 'brand of socialism' and his 'earthly common sense'.
The Mail argued in an editorial on 4 November 'those who mould opinion about relationships within the community must look first to those areas in which everyone is united, not seek
divisions condemning as racist disad-
which all sections of society share. In vallanes other words according to the Mail Phil Murhpy got his just deserts for talking about specific discrimination Bat are prober like
But are problems unemolovment shared black and white alike? Certainly in Birmingham the facts say no. As the report A Different Reality, drawn up INlen •the Handswortt revolt in 1985 explains black people suffer from discrimination in jobs, housing, and education as well many other areas of life. It is this discrimination based on race that distinguishes the situation facing black people from that facing
A RALLY against strip searching, called by the National Labour Women's Committee (NIWC), took place in London last Saturday. It was attended by over 200 people, overwhelmingly women. heard Pauline Deary, who had served nine years as a political prisoner in Armagh women's jail, describe in moving detail the inhuman practice of strip searching, and the clear intimidatory motivation for its use.
'Strip searching was first introduced in Armagh in November 1982 four years ago this month. It was
ntroduced without a moHOLS SIOLICC Suddenly they just started asking WUCHI SLib
I was in Armagh at this time. I was so shocked when believe it would continue I said not to worrv it will bf stopped within week.
Now fours years later it is still going on.
"They say that strip searches are carried out In a
"sensitive manner" so they do not •use mne woner
stress. Well just three weeks ago a woman in Macha-
black councillor Phil
of the
many poor whites.
As the report noted, research carried out by the Policy Studies Institute showed that the levels of discrimination in the 10b market in Birmingham were
cities like London and WUISC tlall Manchester. 'In Birmingham, black and Asa oo aooucals Welc over seven times more likely to be discriminated against than a white job applicant? It was these findings that Te0 Birmingham dubbed 'the capital of racial
By Mick Archer
This general conclusion of the report is also borne out by the workforce of the city's principal employer, The conne se No con-
Buchensive statar sest-
voluntary selfclassification survey carried out in August 1986 and answered by 61 per cent of workers revealed tha mere 4.9 per cent were Afro-Caribbean and a further one per cent Asian or Afro-Asian. This in a city where the black populati one estimated at per cent.
obvious explanation for discrenanci discriminatory emplyment HOLLO Ua Duol Tory and Labour adminis-
trations.
Since its return to power in 1984 the Labour group nas conne ue uc casile pressure to seriously tackle this and other issues of concern to the black community. But the Labour group has done little or nothing to meet their demands.
In employment they have now agreed to monitor annew ICCU LO CuSuIC that 20 per cent are black, but they continue to fill new posts by simply upgrading existing employees. It is this berry jail who was there for non-pavment oi a fine she was not a political DI SULCI ched five times in four days. was strip sear-
She was pregnant and sh
ost her baby on her wa home.
anevler us McCl stress involved. Well that
obviously wollal Was stressed.
'Another woman miscarriea ner Dady willit
in prison and was removed
to hospital. on ner returi from hospital she was forced to strip search. She was stil haemorrhaging heaviy because they wouldn't keep her in hospital ior more than the bare minimum of time.
grounds of "racism'
the poison that is concealed in the red rose.'
Cunningham totally capitulated
capitulating
discriminatory practice that Phil Murphy was at the forefront in challenging at the time of the dismissal.
On the Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Committee have sought out compliant black politicians prepared to help
that in 1985/86 it underspent its budget by 33 per cent. According to the city's own accounts this was largely 'a result of the lower level of expenditure than ex pected on information and training, publicity and pro motional activity.
Despite repeated decisions by the district party to increase budget and status of the Race Relations Committee unit these changes have been
This even involved DOCKCO group officers writing these commitments out of this venr e mantesle overuuc heads of the district party
Is this "sensitive"? Does this involve "no stress"? They claimed thes didn't know why she hac been in hospital, but there were prison guards with her the whole time
'Anther woman was strip searched just after giving biren, and tose or you who are mothers will know how you feel physically ! a few weeks after birth. She was haemorrhaging and needed breast supports,
Searshe was foraed to strip
Sealen that "sensitive"? everyone, from 75 year old "They search women to 16 year old girls. Cathy Moore was strip searched 90 times while on re„voo æo vç cc quitted. They strip search the women when they are menstruating, and they are forced to hand over their sallilol, protection inspection
Since moving Maghaberry there have been 220 strip searches, and the prison was on-
TORY PARTY leaders stepped up their racist campaign against Labour-controlled councils this week, beginning with & statement in parliament from environment spokesperson Nicholas Ridley. Likening councils such as Brent, Haringey and Lambeth to Poland or Hast Germany, he said 'ratepayers" were living in fear of the 'knock at the door in ihe middle of the night'. Ridley went on: "They are afraid that chance remarks might lose them their jobs and their livelihood on the
.' The same nighi, Tory Party chairperson Norman Tebbit, speakine on the same theme at a public meeting in Ilford, claimed that: 'People like Bernie Girant and Diane Abbolt are..
Replying to Ridley, Labour's shadow spokesperson John 'only to one-lenth of one per cent' of Labour councillors! In fact it is the example of left councils like Haringey, Lambeth and Brent which shows how Labour can build the alliances it needs to defeat the Tories. U'nlike the Labour front bench these councils have responded to racism, anti-ga! hysteria and attacks on jobs and services — by fighting back instead of
That is why those councils, like the miners are the target of Thatcher. Their record, including at the polls, speaks for itself. They have built support for Labour by fighting racism, sexism and prejudice. Kinnock is leading the party to disaster by conceding the Tories case.
officers. The response of black party activists has The Birming occitaniu ham Black Section held a lobby of the Labour group on 3 November and has established a campaign to win Phil Murhpy's tatement. It is organising a petition and a further lobby on Monday 1 December in support of this demand. As samennen explains 'What is 3 at stake Las the refusal the Labour group and therefore the city council, to take a lead in the fight against racism.'
The District Labour Party also passed an emergency resolution on 12 November condemining the Labour group decision an lemanding Phil Murphy' immediate and uncondireinstatement.
Behind all this, however, there Is also growing recognition that the Labour
opened in March.
Sometimes they claim that the number of strip searches is lalling and product the figures from month to month, but they don't point out that the number prisoners on remand has also fallen. "There have been almost 4000 searches since 1982 and the prison population has virtually never been over 30, and it is now down to 25. 'Scott. the minister in charge of prisons, was questioned bv Petel Arener In the House of Commons about his claims that items of contraband DeCI found through the strip searches. In the end he was forced to give details - a f5 note, a bottle of perfume, and a letter! Hardly a grave threat to security! "The strip searches are there to intimidate and demoralise make ashamed of our bodies. It is nothing to do with security.
Ce es comme dl at the European Court for
News
Ridley's accusations, he said, applied group's reluctance to tackle racism head on is based on an unspoken fear that to do
would damage electorally.
In the midst of right wing attacks on authorities like Brent and Haringey which have adopted antiracist measures the response of Dick Knowles is to deny the problem exists. But as the Black Section statement says racism not go away. As the date of genera election draws nearer the Tories will exploit it to the full. It may not be as blatant as Peter Griffiths in Smethwick in 1964 when stickers appeared all over the constituency saying 'If neighbour vote Labour want nigger
but the message willoc same. . Removing councillors like Phil Murhpy merely ac comodates to that view. He must be reinstated now.
Human Rights in February next year. We will be presenling a petition. That is where we have our eyes now in this campaign. We hope you will sign the petition and add your protest to vulS Given the importance
of the issue, especially with the focus of the European Court hearing in the new year, it was unfortunate thạt much of the potential of this rally was in the way organised.
However despite these problems the fact that 200 women mobilised from all over mne country that a really well organised nationa united tront cam paign against strip searches
could, in the words of Anita Kierarel oI birminghau ICI: móbilise not just 1000
women rather than 200, but 10,000 women'.
This is the campaign which is needed by • IEK
women prisoners in the run up to the European Court hearing.
Page 5 scan of this page
Sinn Fein debates abortion
News
The 1986 Ard Fheis
(national conference)
of Sinn Fein took place
in Dublin's Mansion
House over the week-
end of 1/2 November.
The conference will be
remembered chiefly for
its decision to end the
65-year old policy of
refusing to take seats if
elected to the Dublin Sinn Fein's policy on abortion was the second most contentious issue at its recent Ard Fheis. Last year delegates had added the phrase 'We recognise that women have the right to choose' to existing policy narrowly passed 77-73 delegates had lett.
and it took different positions publicly.
Toni Gorton reports from Dublin
The Ard Chomhairle (national committee) commended the removal of the sentence in question. Overwhelming y carried, the policy now reads We are opposed to the attitudes and forces that
women have abortions, we are opposed to abortion as a means of
the need for abortion where the woman's life is at risk or in grave danger, for example, ectopic pregnancy and ail forms cancer.
Sile Fanning, officer for the women's department, set the tone for the debate. 'We export our abortion problem to Britain' she declared. 'No positive alternatives abortion are given. Women who become pregnant outside marriage are punished unwed mothers are forced out of their homes. Young girls are accused of deliberately "seducing' men in order to
pregnant and get the paltry government handouts available. We must continue education on this issue.
Rita O'Hare editor of Republican News emphasised the leadershin's
ramework stating categorically that the 'woman's life is paramount'.
Broadly, three position were put: abortion under any circumstances;
limited conditons (medical) and
choice/decriminalisation.
The discussion takes place against the back-
ground of Ireland being
dominated by the church. The south is one of the most Roman Catholic
church-dominated countries world. The church is active, aggressive, and remorseless IN its
Half an hour of conference was devoted to discussing foreign affairs. The main resolution adopted reaffirmed the basic policy of Sinn Fein "to a position of neutrality and non-alignment. both in the con. text of the 26 counties and
future 32-County state'. The motion supported attempts' to achieve unity: liberation movement' and defended Palestinian people's right homeland and the formation of democratic Palestine; it condemned the regimes of South Africa and Namibia, recognised the legitimate struggles of
parliament, Leinster House.
We reported the debate on tionism in the last issue of Socialist Action, in-
cludio Cubi iname
Adams' presidential address. In this issue we look at other issues raised at the conference.
after the majority of
The leadership considered the policy adopted was contradictory; the party had not been prepared
political campaigns especially against women's rights. The recent defeat of the divorce bill, and the ong delay in access to contraceptive facilities show the success the church has in maintaining its power.
The soçial conditions which allow the church teachings to prevail are a
way changed. The most important tactor is the partition of Ireland. Meanwhile thousands of women and men suffer from the lack of individual freedom which the church/state official morality denies them north and south.
Following last year's Ard Fheis, women Derry a working
party on abortion which drafted a new resolution that recognised the pro-
took as its starting point Sinn Fein's declared objective of
on: 'As secular we
its law and
embody narticular relicion ology or We
the In-
or pooreo
In the we
that present
rights beliefs of
must not
discus-
sion
all advancis i she this issue
aimed at
International discussion
those attempting to overthrow these repressive systems' and called for 'effective sanctions'.
motion also con-
British the tests be re
British and ments to remove the political exemption clause from the extradition
reaties and the polic of
tral America, highlighting
Washington's
Wallis all financing of the contras in Nicaragua'.
The chief issue of debate during the international session was a resoluLIUL Behal that Sinn Fein 'strict- moved by Richard
ly adheres to the policy on
Sinn Fein's women's officer Sile Fanning
overall understanding to that end. Non-directive pregnancy counselling em. bodying all choices should De freely avariaoie. was defeated: 117 for 212 against.
Daisy Mules, a leader of the trade union department speaking for this motion, said she considered the Ard Chomhairle posi tion to be 'disappointing - they had given it inadequate timewe resources thought. lead ine people of this question. Freedom of choice should apply to all areas of life.
She was supported by a number of women ex-
the life of Sinn Fein, who spoke as veterans of its maior campaigns. It included some who give day LU day counselling to prisoners' wives in the north.
Referring her republican beliefs, Belfast woman said that most people feel that life is
neutrality and non-alignment as laid down by the Ard Fheis'. Behal argued that this policy had
His argument that the Eritrean struggle had not received adequate support and that soviet submarines off the Irish coast were as dangerous as NATO ones narrowly carried the day: The motion had been opposed by Dannv Morrisor Chomarie who behalf the Ard
defended the record of Sinn Fein's Foreign Affairs Bureau.
The main internationa guest speaker was from the Basque country in the area of the Spanish state.
Gerry Adams and Daisy Mules wait to speak in the Ard Fheis abortion debate; inset
sacred but those here feel that other values are more important - justice and liberty for example. She felt people were using the 'sanctitv of lite' argument as a smokescreen to hide their real views which were that carrying through the
was a punishDicklac ment. If women don't make the decisions over their own lives, who does decide? Doctors are given power over two lives.
A very small minority characterised abortion as 'murder' ana expressed total opposition to it.
Queuing with all , to speak along the other delegates Gerry Adams said that last year the Ard
opposed the 'womans choice not because they're feminist but because it's identified with the abor. tion on demand' slogan
tory character and appealed for people not to 'go too far, too fast'; to keer the discussion going and
Noraid stays united
Contrary press statements that sections of the US organisation Irish Northern Aid, or Noraid, were supporting O'Bradaigh's bicakaway group, the organisation re-
for others not to reject the basic policy.
Replying to the debate Rita O'Hare objected that some delegates had 'defended the leadership's proposals for the wrong
Ours "progressive' stand she said. 'We will be taking a SLUl stand policies. We take positions because they are right and reasoned not because they'll win or lose votes
In other discussions the Ard Fheis reaffirmed poncy on ine organisanor of childcare to encourage women to become active especially as candidates. It voted down a proposal to end the system of positive discrimination to women at the leadership level. On gays and lesbians it said:
'Sinn Fein publicly demands the de-criminalisation of homosexual acts between men, and also calls • for full equal rights for lesbian women and gay men with their heterosexual counterparts.
Sinn Fein's paper Republican News carries a statement issued jointly by Noraid's national publicity director, Martin Galvin and vicine Flannery, the organisation's founder and trustee.
'any possibility of a • split between outselves or within the ranks of Irish Northern Aid following Sunday's vote on abstentionism Trish Northern Aid is, and
Will continue to be, fully united behind the Republican Movement and fully united in opposition to DrisI colonial rule 11 LIc
Ireland
Unfree
November Phoblacht/Republican News.
but iney are deeply should adopt to smash it.
Resistance Democratic Unionist Paisley,
Sinn Fein and the IRA'. escalate their protest. involved.
heard in the way reputedly 'moderate' from mixing with the DUP.
argues, not only nationalists.
'until the Agreement has
by 199 votes to 153.
throughout this year, of the North.
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 5
Loyalist fall-out
IN THE 18 months since it was signed the Anglo-Irish Accord has delivered nothing of substance to the nationalist minority in the North of Ireland. At the same time, it has produced new outbursts of sectarian terror from the loyalists. Hilda MacThomas analysed the developments in the loyalist camp in the 13
edition of An
ONE year after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Accord, unionists are still as violently opposed to it,
alvided on the lacues une
stance it the uster Hall Belfast. tee
Ulster Party (DUP) leader lan his deputy Peter Robinson and Ulster Clubs leader Alan Wright stood on the platform with the founding committee. The declared aim of Ulster Resistance is to 'destroy its real enemies
But there is more to his new fascist militia than just another attempt by Paisley to bare his fangs at the British government. Loyalists are frustrated by their failure to smash the Hillsborough Agreement. Loyalists are, to quote Alan Wright 'baying
- a euphemism for 'Fenian blood' no
The new movement has been launched at this time to clearly announce the loyalists' intention to
It is also an attempt to involve greater numbers of working-class loyalists in a campaign hitherto largely confined to career politicians. The fact that working-class loyalists also perceive Dublin's involvement as a threat to their marginal economic privileges makes them more than willing to get
There were few Official Unionist Party officials present at Monday's gathering, but little was
For condemnations OUP James Molyneaux. Molyneaux and many in the OUP leadership have opted for unionist unity as the best way to defeat the Accord, and by and large they have refrained from public rows with their DUP allies. But there are those in the OUP, in particular their 'legal and academic wing' led by Robert McCartney and the Young Unionists, who shirk
For months now, McCartney has lobbied the OUP for his 'campaign for equal citizenship', another name for total integration. If Northern Ireland was really part of the 'United Kingdom', he
could there be no question o meddling by Dublin in the affairs of the North, but there would not be any of this power sharing nonsense as the British Labour and Tory Parties would stand for elections in the Six Counties and majority rule would apply. These views have met with some success in the OUP, traditionally divided between devolutionists and integrationists, but united in its dislike of sharing any power with
However, McCartney's views failed to triumph at the OUP annual conference. Molyneaux, the OUP leader, decided to ban the press from his party's conference, and had an emergency motion inserted in the agenda to defer debate on integration
been smashed'.
Saturday, the amendment was proposed by Enoch Powell, himself an integrationist, and was carried
The ban on the media imposed by the OUP leadership shows a crisis within the party. Not the type of crisis foolishly predicted by John Hume
which would some 'moderate unionist leadership' emerging, but a crisis born of the frustration caused in the unionist middle class by London's decision to deal directly with the Dublin government. Unionists have been used to monopolising the political and economic power in the Six-County state for decades.
The fall of Stormont in 1972 chipped away at that power by taking away its parliamentary trappings. But while unionists absorbed that shock, they are not more prepared to accept the Accord than they were to accept Sunningdale in 1974. Northern nationalists will see in the new 'Ulster Resistance movement yet another loyalists murder-gang ready to intimidate, burn and kill innocent Catholics in its campaign to preserve the unionist domination
Page 6 scan of this page
•Towards tier soc
Socialist Action
JU CANT PLAY
CuMiCS WITH
"HER PEOPLES
DINED 1E8 Nuclear power workers lobby Labour Party conference.
THE LONG phase of economic depression in which the capitalist economy finds itself offers no sign of recovery. Before coming to conclusions about the overall employment and unemployment trends, let' us look at the trends industry by industry. They fall into categories: those where there has been a clear, absolute decline in employment, those where there is an intermediary situation, those where there has been an increase in employment.
In the first category, dustries hardest hit by unemployment, there is a combination of declining demand and the impact of introducing new technologies. Here there is a considerable drop in employment. Such industries include ship building, mining, steel, textiles, shoes and — to a certain
petrochemicals and oil extent fineries.
AEU president, Bill Jordan -"aggressively right-wing.
21 Nov 1986
JES TO NUCLE?'
tion.
industrial employment
three trical applances.
public works.
no decline in demand.
and
those in-
from country to country.
high-tech industries,
goods industry,
ceutical products.
Europe and
term it is about the same. lest at The drop in
felt to be in some circles Nonetheless have to he made
The second category is where demand, and therefore production, continue to increase, but at a siower tempo than in the past. and where there 1s a strong thrust of technological innova-
These are key industries, accounting for almost half the total volume of
Paulo, cice construction and
Here, in the medium term, there is
Demand continues to increase. But it is being accompanied by increased productivity, hence by the application of new technologies. Therefore, there is a combined ettect on employment that is hard to measure exactly, because competition plays a big role. The trends, therefore, are different
Finally, there is the third category -that of industries that are enjoying a greater than average growth in demand and production. Paradoxically, in these
the technologies are having far less impact employment than in the others. The most important are the engineering industry, the entire machine and producer
electronics, scientific medical and pharma-
If we put these data together, the first thing that emerges is that there is an increase in the numbers of unemployed and the rate of unemployment. But here there is a myth to be refuted -the idea that we are seeing fully fledged
'dewaging in North America The figures on the trends in the volume of employment in capitalist Europe are the following: a drop of 0.5 per cent in 1983, stabilisation in 1984, a slight rise of 0.2 per cent in 1985. Over the longer
quite minimal fluctuations. If you compare them with those in the period 1930-38, the difference is striking. Then, there were nose dives in employment of the order of 30 per cent. The present drops are marginal ones. This does not mean that they are not grave or without social consequences
employment in industry speaking has been sharper. But the shift is not so extensive as it is
particular remarks about youth and
female unemployment. Since the onset of the crisis, female employment has been rising, marked. Male employment has been declining.
In Denmark, the level of employment for women rose from 63 per cent in 1975 to 72 pe cent in 1983. In Sweden the rate rose from 67 per cent to 77 per cent. In Belgium the rate of employment for women rose from 44 per cent to 50 per cent, in France from 49 percent to 51 percent, and in Italy from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. Only in West Germany is the rise siow 49 per cent to 50 per cent.
This rising rate of female employment has to be qualified immediately by taking into consideration the scope of unsteady jobs. Most of the increase in female employment is accounted for by the increase in part time work.
This increase in part time work is different from one country to another. Between 1973 and 1983 part time jobs rose to 25 Sweden, 25m 21 percent to 24 percent cent of in Denmark, and from 16 per cent to 19 per cent in Britain.
In Europe women hold more than 80 per cent of part time jobs. In West Germany the rate is 92 per cent. In the other European countries, it is around
In Britain the proportion is lower, 70 per cent women as against 30 per cent tor men.
Unemployment among young people between 16 and 25 is rising sharpty.
term unemployment, Belgium holds the disreputable record. is also increasing sharply. The rate of youth joblessness went from 4 per cent of total unemployment to 10 per cent at the beginning of the 1980s in West Germany, from 15 per cent to 2o per cent in France, from 14 per cent to 22 per cent
'We are still largely in what is called the phase of "semi-automation" '
in Britain, from 25 per cent to 34 per cent in Italy, and so on.
ing number of young people who have never worked, who have never held any phenomenon has obvious political implications, which represent grave threats for
still in an initial stage automation what is called the - Iron automation'. There is no question of manual • jobs or radically eliminated from industry. In these conditions, the recomposition of the working class, the relations between labourers and skilled workers, and new skills, fluctuate greatly according to industries and from plant to plant, depending on whether the new technologies are applied to a large extent, partially, or only marginally. total in ing from high-tech industries, LOUL are often something that has not been proven that is that in the coming ten years all of industry is going to be reorganised on this model. No because no one knows that, and, for the moment, seems probable.
introduced, that brings on a reorganication of the whole labour in which there are a whole series of burdens that go along with this changeover, and it cannot be long they will have to be borne Learn. ing and trying out the new technology, and reorganising the work process, requires a lot of labour power. Likewise, plants have to be re-equipped as subse.
widening.
at the same
people In all these countries there is a grow-
left school. social and
WU KCID
If we turn to another issue, we are
of complete most of we are still largely in number phase OI "semi-
wage labour being
plied solely of old criteria of
count
Any conclusion drawn by generalis-
where profitably used, assumes
ductivity
one can say that,
extremely 1m- of capacity.
When a radically new technology is
But process.
predicted in advance how cal
IN BRITAIN today every division and differential in society is grow ing. The political gap between the Labour north and the Tory south is
An increasingly open and aggressive right wing in the
- Hammond in the EET PU, Jordan in the AEU, Golding in the NCU — is strengthening itself
time as powerful movements of women and black
have developed in Labour Party and the impacr of the miners strike continues to be felt Every pay differential — between skilled and unskilled, men and women, white and black, private sector and public sector, among teachers and white collar workers — is widening.
The gap between the employed and unemployed is becoming more
quent stages of the production proces have to be brought into line with th new technologyy.
This requires building new plant and new machines, with correspondin effects on employment - effects tha are very different than they would be i the technology was already in place
The bourgeoisie, th trade union bureaucracy, the bourgeo state and governments are deliberatel using all this talk about robotisation t frighten the workers.
So where is the real problem
ssessment of this process? It is that
the projections about th of robots and the trend robotisation, the question of market that is, the volume of production an sales, is left entirely out of the pictur The argument is built up as if the ne technologies were with
in accordance with technical efficiency reducing wage costs, without taking a
of the fact that these technologies involve an enormous i crease in the volume of productio They therefore require a big expansi of the market in order to be employ
In the production of the motor f the Fiat Uno car for example, the pr
of labour has more doubled as a result of the use of cor puters and robots. But the producti apparatus is utilised only to 30 per ce
Why? Because in order run it at 100 per cent of capacity t Company would have to sell two or thr times more cabs that it does today. Ai where is it going to sell two or thr times more cars? Today, auto sales a increasing in the order of 2-3 per cen
Obviously, there is competitic within the industry. Fiat can hope to i crease its share of the market at the c pense of other automobile manufa turers, but only by a little. This is wh
Page 7 scan of this page
permanent. Hysterical campaigns against gays and lesbians, on issues such as AIDS, accompany the adoption by the labour movement of its first ever progressive policy on gay and lesbian rights. Racist and chauvinist campaigns growing at the same time as Black Sections have developed and there
more support for withdrawal from Ireland than for many years. The political situation has moved to the right but with the continued development radicalised minorities.
All these developments have an economic basis. Capitalism today is driving to create a two tier society': an economy with a stable core of skilled, overwhelmingly white, male, and older workers — the base of the Hammonds, Jordans and
places limits on the introduction of the new technologies.
Overall economic growth, outlets, markets, . buying powel, figures have to be taken into account. The industrialists own projections and perspectives are pinned on that. At an international conference of robotics industrialists a vear ago. the figures advanced were quiet modest. predicted that from now to 1990, only 1-2 per cent of industrial labour would be robotised. This is an overall figure It does not mean
the figure may not be much higher. But in general robotisation remains quite marginal.
In the famous high tech workshop at Fiat mentioned, in which there are 103 computers and 56 robots, the total number of workers employed dropped from 3,100 to 2,670 — that is a drop of 13 percent in employment. the introduction of new technologies,
is far from having been totally automated.
we now turn to look distribution of employment between sectors of the economy then generally over the last ten years a decline has been registered — - altough it is much less pronounced than usually thought employment in industry, and a new increase in employment in the so-called service sector. However it is only in the public sector that we are seeing a net expansion of non-industrial employment, one that is continuing.
But here also we have to avoid extrapolation. bounced crisis of public finances the cutbacks this is countries could rapidly
cnd.
These sectoral shifts in employment
bringing about a recomposition of
working class. Do they inevitably 1 a weakening is movement? Here we have to
i a two
¡ety?
sharp in
are
British regular employment
of rising numbers
social spending.
general trend throughout
powerful HEALTH S
overall sales
SOCIAL SECURITY
was
111-
the trend to
Even with
at the unemployed is becoming more permanent.'
in
public sector by comparison traditional sectors. But this automatically
and leading to in all Today,
reverse this Consalco
of the organised
Goldings - and a growing number of insecurely employed, mainly female, black, and young workers.
These trends are particularly
Britain where the economic effects of the oil revenues have permitted increases in real to be felt. wages of over 15 per cent under Thatcher for many of those in
- coupled with drastic falls in income for those on low pay, unemployment benefit, pensions and with rapidly
and DUvel Ly savage attacks on many fields of
If Britain is an extreme case the
has developed Western Europe, Japan, and North America. In a
survey ERNEST MANDEL looks at the strength of these trends throughout Europe.
against "The gap between the employed and
beware of extrapolations. The only constant that seems to emerge is that there relative increase in the weight of wage earners, and therefore of unions, in the
with the does not mean weakening working-class militancy or of the trade union movement's striking power.
paralysing the telecommunications centres, the big transpor-
the electricity generators, or even the banks can hit a capitalist economy just as hard as shutting down the mines, steel or even the auto industry could have in the past. In more than a few countries, some public
Impact of the miners strike continues
workers unions are today the spearhead of working-class combativity. no reason beforehand to exclude the possibility that this trend may grow.
It is another question whether what have been traditional bastions of the workers movement, owing to the concentrations of workers and the traditions of militancy they represent, can be replaced by new bastions. Let me note only that the concentrations of wage earners in rall, the post office and telecommunications centres, the air ports and the electronics industry is considerable. New bastions of the union movement may well develop in such places.
What have been the long term effects of the crisis on the level of direct real wages, social benefits, and on the problem of pauperisation? The bourgeoisie has calculated rightly that frontal attacks against social security would provoke sharper reactions than attacks
wages. For example, touched sick benfits, the response could be a general one rather than from a limited group. The bourgeoisie wants to fragment the working class. So, it has
an interest in moving more slowly to attack social security. It is in fact thanks to the protective net of social security that the socio-political effects of the crisis have been more limited up till now than they were in the 1930s.
This does not mean that there will not be attacks against the social security system, quite the contrary. As the crisis drags on, the defecits in the social security system are growing. In these conditions, the system of social protection is going to be strongly challenged.
The result of this is that even if overall social security spending is on the rise, the number of persons and households below the poverty line is marked ly on lue rise. in Wes number of persons benefits has practically doubled, rising from 1.9 to 2.5 million persons. In Britain the number of people who can be considered between 1975 and 1984 - rising from 4.5 million to 8.5 million.
By taking economic weakening of the workers movement — which is gentlal although uneven from country to coun-
the bourgeoisie is achieve a lasting change in the relationship of forces among the classes and to institutionalise it.
dismantling the gains of the workers movement over the preceding quarter of a century, if not There is over the past 50 years.
If we want to sum up these gains in a single formula, workers movement managed to achieve a quantitive rise in the level of objective class solidarity through a combination of trade union power, control over the work process and politcal weight. The weight of the workers been a force in society for better protection of all the underprivileged strata That is the most general meaning of everything that has taken place since trade the crisis of the 1930s.
Moreover the bourgeoisie is not trying to hide what it wants. Its project is to deal a lasting blow not just to the incomes but to the status of a third or 40 per cent of the working class. This is why term justified as a characterisation of the bourgeois project, achieved, if a third or 40 per cent of the if they working class is deprived of minimum protection and countries such as Belgium, we will go back to a pre-1914 situation.
All the bourgeoisie's projects aim at 'Since the onset of the crisis, female employment has been rising, and this has been rather marked.'
increasing On Germany the living public
OCTICS poor had almost doubled
advantage of the by the depression and the relative
phenomenon,
trying to cases, general objectives.
AS
This means essential-
important tests, LIOSE
hand
we could say that the
movement has of society.
them up society strong. because if it
then, sondarily,
that
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 7
and institutionalising the divisions within the working class -divisions between native and foreign workers, between men and women, between young people and adults, between adults and retirees, between skilled and unskilled workers, betwen declining industries and high-tech ones, between public and private sectors and betweer the workers of different countries.
all levels, the bourgeoisie's policy aims at provoking, broadening and institutionalising these divisions. It proposes different measures, suited to each case, to freeze such divisions and increase their weight in the relations between canita and labour as a whole Some success have already been achiev-
wrong to UCHY Despite the very positive reactions by young people against racism, in a whole
of European countries chauvinism and racism have had real effects on the adult working class
We can see three kinds of reaction
working in capitalist Europe to this overall situation. There is a minority that is resigned to it. There is a minority that has radicalised. The majority may fight back in specific
but it is hard to mobilise for
for the anti-war and anti-imperialist mobilisations, youth pro-
and all the autonomous movements thev are a result of a dou ble desynchronisation On the
there objective desynchronisation, resulting from the fact that the various social layers are being hit in different ways by • the crisis of bourgeois society. On the other hand. there is a subjective desynchronisatior between the reactions of the organised workers movement and various strata
The workers organisations were backward on these questions. It was inevitable that others would take
Now the question arises of reuniting all these components of a potential challenge to capitalism in a crisis into a fighting bloc against bourgeois society It is easy to make such a reunification on paper, but in practice the revolu tionary currents are still weak, while the bureacratic apparatuses are still vers
In these circumstances the reunification in deeds will be long and ardous. This requires, moveover, that the socialist project, the socialist programme, again gain credibility in the eyes of the broad masses.
Marxists must fight systematically for
Page 8 scan of this page
WAC launches" votes for women" campaign
8 THE WOMEN'S mittee (WAC) has launched a major campaign around the review of women's organisation in the Labour Party decided the 1986 party conference. has two parts.
The first is a statement of principle, submitted for wide endorsement in the party, demanding the right of women's women's places on the NEC. The apcal altered by WAC states: "The 1986 Labour Party structed the NEC and the national Labour women's develop jointly proposals to make the
comerence women more representative and thus C increase its weight and authority in the labour movement.
Priorities
'To be in line with the party's eciared aim to make the interests of vomen a major priority, we consider •i essential that inese proposals must
provision or
i mens places on ne icc 1o be ¡ected by women at the national conerence of Labour women.'
This statement. launched by the VAC executive, is going to all major ampaigns and newspapers in the pary. Sponsors received in the first week 1 the campaign inciude Labour Lett iaison, the Campaign ior Labour
Democracy, Socialist ind Jane Prust from Labour Briefing.
Organisations which have been sent copies of the appeal include the Campaign Group of MPs, Tribune Group of MPs, Coordinating Committee.
Labour Party Black Section.
The 79 per cent vote to implement Labour's policy for lesbian and gay rights was one of the more striking victories of this Party conference. among supporters of the policy is well tempered with realism. There is a serious likelihood that the embarrassed silence with which the Party leadership arranged for the issue to be quickly troversially despatched Blackpool will remain their approach in the run up to a general election.
Peter Purton, Labour Campaign
for Lesbian and Gay Rights
The press and the other parties will not De so reticent. tionary furore whipped up against the pro-lesbian and gay policies Labour local councils like Haringey and Ealing is a mild taster by com-
WiLs VICIOuS mongering homophobia we can expect in a national campaign. A recent article by Paul Johnson in the Daily Mail claims that a Labour ment would aid the spread of AIDS epidemic through its lesbian and gay rights policy - when the truth is of course the opposite. It is evidence of the way that the ruling class and its mmons will rutiessiy. division within and among the working class and the oppressed. The only way to defeat such a campaign, indeed the only way to avoid capitulating to
1S to it head on and without compromise, in the way of the GLC and other local authorities.
Fortunately, that 79 per cent vote is not just a leadership manoeuvre! Years of work by Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights (LCLGR) and by organisations and individuals in the trade unions, through created by the miners strike, mean that the base of commitment to
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 Action Com-
paign is the submission of
of women's Labour Party. by ecutive member of This latest ISS UC News.
elect
conference in-
tions and trade
• reserved seats
conference to women only
party conference
the ive
Proposals
Action ward for discussion,
for
the Labour do use trol their own elect their own representatives.
Two steps forward for lesbian and gay rights
year's But euphoria
and uncon-
The Ical
of
scare-
govern ing.
Support the
exploit every
thirds.
Axecutive theretore
policy.
that we get the
and the break- detailed implementation
The second part of WAC's camdetailed proposals for restructuring all aspects
organisation Ann Pettifor, exWAC, some of the key issues on this in the
Campaign Group
In particular, she calls for:
• election of the women's places on the NEC by the women's conference • parity between the women's sec-
ululs In policy
for union women on the standing orders committee of the women's conference • restriction of delegates to women's
• the right of women's conference to submit resolutions to the NEC and
• election of the national Labour women s committee at women s conrerence. with reserved places tor trade
deltitor aiso supports the women's VEC places being increased to six with three of these io be elected by the vomen s sections and three oy ine rade unions at women's conterence.
While these proposals are put for-
WAC has made it clear that it will finalise its proposals
the women's organisatiuon at its AGM — and after discussion with those in the party who support its appeal for women to con-
viganisations and
lesbians
against
pit closures
lesbian and gay rights is now much others more solid. The support won in 1985 was consolidated at Blackpool. John posals Golding failed to prevent the NCU delegation from reaffirming its back-
The experience of Wapping and the solidarity of Lesbians and Gays
Printers print unions. Under internal and ex ternal pressure, the GMBATU changed its vote and guaranteed the two-
the
If some members of the National
making their unanimous recommen- tally dation of support, the massive majority which was in part a fruit of that cynicism will be exploited to the full by LCLGR and the supporters of the
Immediately, this means ensuring
promised national working party and that it oversees the like
For a.comprehensive policy. But lesbian and gay law activists have no intention of leaving
WAC's annual general meeting will be held on 13 December.
• WAC is asking for individuals and organisations to support its cam-
to organise for our rights. LCLGR has published its own pro-
'Legislation for Lesbian and Gay Rights: A Manifesto'. They will be the basis for a national conterence in London in May 1987, sponsored jointly with the NCCL and the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. It is aimed at the broadest forces from the lesbian and gay movements and the womens movement and already has
sponsorship of Wally labour movement tigures.
LCLGR's Manifesto is fundamen-
different from previous reform campaigns. It starts with the needs of lesbians and gay men, with what . we think possible. recognises the role of the law and the state in the oppression of lesbians, and is not narrowly restricted to male. oriented specific clauses of legislation
Cane 1967 Sexual Offences Crucially, it recognises the role of the
supporting and justifying heterosexism in society, and therefore
paign. It is calling for signatories for the appeal printed in the article above and for financial support for the cam-
ps from individuals and to troo
its validity as a target not just in terms of protecting individuals, but also in terms of campaigning society.
therefore, is that treats homosexuality as abnormal OI unlawful even when it is not criminal. In Stalllig in its "homosexual sex acts... arein no wav inferior from the standpoint of public morality or policy or the public interest to heterosexual acts' basis of legal oppression is turned on its head and the way cleared for subsequent clauses which make it illegal to
employment (clause 2(i)) or in child custody and adoption (clause 2(ii)). Clause 2(iv)) strikes at another root when it declares that public policy in favour of marriage or against sexual relations outside of law
not
Act.
It is requesting a donation of
Avon.
marriage..?.
to change rights of housing, The main target of the draft bill, Talon
the legal system
first clause that
'the whole 'There is no prosecution.
the
women'.
Next
around the
the
terms,
available for
WCI.
News
organisations supporting the campaign. Notification of support should be sent to LWAC, , Anni Marjoram, Secretary, 12 Chatham Row, Bath,
Subsequent sections make this concrete in terms of the
lesbians and gay men in inheritance and immig-
The draft proceeds to a radical assault on those sections of criminal law which concern "sexual moralty following the lines of Labour's new policy. A central theme within this is that there should be 'no crime without a victim'. The result is to propose an equal age of consent at 16 and the abolition of the 'public order' oftences now used against us. A new "Sexual Harrassment' offence supplies the sateguard.
One of the probably more controversial proposals concerns obscenity, in the wake of the 'Gays the Word'
Recognising the malesupremacist nature of society, and taking on board the debates around
connections betweer male violence and pornography, abolishes all the existing legislation on obscenity and replaces it with a new crime of 'inciting violence against
year's conference around these proposals will play two roles. The first, of course, is to debate as widely as possible what sort of legislation we should be demanding. The second, no less important, is to mobilise forces
demand that the next government does legislate, and in the process to strengthen the links being built between lesbians and gay mer and other sections of the oppressed.
pressure can be mounted to ensure that lesbian anc
and that the Labour Party is compelled to stand its ground.
• 'Legislation for Lesbian & Gay Rights: A Manifesto', by LCLGR,
£l from LGRB, c/0 CHE, 38 Mount Pleasant, London
The Conference will also: be organised from this address. Cheques payable to LGRB'
Page 9 scan of this page
Tory hand in 'contra' recruitment
International
Nicaragua
volved in the recruitment
NICK ADAMS.
Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson Georg Foulkes told the House Commons that the misnamed 'Committee for
Free Nicaragua recruiting mercenaries fight alongside the LONtras and is run by an of-
Students this
member for Lault
His research
former vice-
its affairs
Contras. Corbyn called on secretary of
collin
minister Eggar
the
and said,
by
law'.
Nicaragua terrorism
The s embassy Nicaragua
ed the rights'
agreed by mer.
The Sandinistas have described the aid package
marking a new stage I! US intervention in Philippines left-wing Olalia was identified by relatives.
two strange men.
Movement trade union federation and the newly-formed People's Party. 10,000 people demonstrated in front of the hear-
holding him responsible.
By Nick Adams
The day before saw an additional attack on the popular movement as
ader of the Communist
of the Philippines (CPP), Rodolfo Salas, was charged with being responsible for The CP is linked apacks.
the New People's Army still engaged in a conflict with the military. The NPA has declared in favour of a cease ire and the govern. ment has announced would resume talks to this
creased its armed actions.
Armed forces chief
Fidel Ramos had, a lew days earlier, ordered troops
ana cown and neutrd
what he described de NPA terrorists'. Enrile
REVELATIONS that a Tory MP's assistant is in-
of Nicaraguan contra mercenaries have been made in parliament, writes
Nicaragua - a 'noint of In addition to the S00 milion. the stepped US involvement lilcalls
• direct
that
the
fighters to
12 miles off coast 11 the Pacific
The Wol has already 33,000
12 years of The war
gains • revolution
CENTRAL AMERICA LABOUR GROUP AGM Speakers from Nicaragua and El Salvador Saturday, 6 December 10am to 6pm, LSE Students Union, Houghton Street, London WC1 Details from CALG, 13-16 Borough Road, London SEl
Philippines government threatened
ON 13 NOVEMBER the mutilated body of the
labour leader Rolando Olalia had been missing for 24 hours. His widow, Feliciana, reported that her husband had been followed for some days by
Rolando Olalia was chairperson of the May First
The day after his murder,
quarters of Defence Minister, Juan Ponce Enrile
is closely associated with Ramos, and the defence ministry is known to favour a hard crack-down against
La more general attack on democratic rights The increasingly beligerent stance of Enrile Ramos has fuelled speculation of a military coup. Aquino has publicly threatened to appeal to the people to take to the streets in such an event and on the day of Olalia's murder she
to Enrile's military headquarters for high-level talks.
Aquino has been spending the last months in an attemot to drum ur bold much-needed financial aid and investment from the US, Europe and Japan. She, issued a statement that she anxious resolve popular demands 'blood-
that the Nicaraguan workers and peasants are redoubling their efforts to fight back against the terror campaign.
Organising solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution will De the theme of a Labour Movement Conference on Cen-
London early next Backed by 15 trade unions, the conference takes place at the TUC's Congress House on 28 February Credentials
coroner from ELSSOC, 13-16 Borough Road, London SEEI (tel 01-928 3412).
activity in the region. lessly' through such inter-
tance but in a clear concession to the hard-liners, said she 'would not tolerate a non-democratic challenge to our government and people from any quarter' specifying so-called 'communist insurgency'.
The governments of the chief imperialist powers are providing aid and investment through an eye-
US visit provided aid of just $300 million and Japan is providing support another billion dollars. But as Aquino told the US Con-
ne coetrys or bimon
country's foreign debt. 'Half our export earnings - $2 billion out of $4 billion - went to
Filipino people received".
Moreover. the US insisted on political concessions even Tor Unis paltry aid. Washington wants clear
US military bases and is opposed the democratic rights that the people in the Philippines are seeking to extend. US big fears that the workers and
GUAI CMALA HONDURAS 'Three faces of victory: from left to right, Raul Antonio Acevedo, Byron Montiel Salas, Jose Fernando Canales, the young Nicaraguans who shot down the US plane on 5 October and captured CIA mercenary Eugene Hasenfus. The Hasenfus trial uncovered detailed information on ČIA
In an interview with the US socialist newsweekly, The Militant, the three Nicaraguans explain their commitment to the country's defence. Typical of tens of thousands of Nicaraguan youth serving in the army they explain that there used to be many contra attacks in the San Carlos region of southern Nicaragua but now 'they run into our troops first'.
San Carlos had been one of the poorest areas In Nicaragua. "The revolution brought us new housing, health clinics, roads and a land reform
As a result the contras 'don't have any way to become stronger here. We dominate the territory and have the support of the people — that's the principal support that we have. You can see this in the assembly (at the Sandinista Workers Federation meeting hall rally to promote unity against the US aggression), hear what the people have to say, see the love they show for the soldiers fighting int the mountains. Really, even with the $100 million, the contras can't do anything here.'
peasants are using these democratic openings to improve their living standards to their cost.
Wage levels in the Philippines are lower than any major country Asia or the south Pacific In 190› le minimul legally was less than £2.50 per day. In practice, wage levels are sometimes as low as 50p per day - according Enrile
Rus Ru:
COSTA RICA to the May First Movement.
The situation facing the working population in the countryside is no better. So low are living stancards that entire tamilies. including young children, ala forced work.
Such enduring conditions continue to fuel the mass movement. In the six months since the overthrow of Marcos strike action was twice period of the previous year.
Enrile and Ramos favour cracking down on the mass movement and cultall. democratic rights. According to Cesar Baguba, international liaison officer of the Philippines National Democratic Front they would like to do this without a coup, turnin‹
no a meer 'queen' while they take real
and eliminate powel "radical' elements from the government. But a coup attempt is clearly a serious option.
The popular movement has shown it will not accept attacks such as the Olalia Killing, thousand workers struck Manila on
strike is planned for 19 November.
West Ham represented.
in the opening
sanctions against the apartheid regime.' of SWAPO and SACTU.
all of us.' same kind movement.'
paign around,
students, and by Rail Against Apartheid.
International
VIEWPOINT
Internati
VIEWPOINT
movements from around the world
reading for all socialists
50, London N1. Price 80p + 20p p&p
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 9 East London Anti-
Apartheid
conference
THE FLAGS of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South West African Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) flew outside
Town Hall last Saturday. Inside nearly 300 delegates attended a conference called by the east London anti-apartheid groups. Seventeen different unions, and nine trades councils sent delegations, including teachers, railworkers, local government workers, Fords workers and striking printers. Labour Party members and student activists were strongly
words •OTAAM National Secretary Mike Terry the aim of the day was to 'ensure that the AAM deepens the understanding and support amonst the trade unions and amongst working people of this country both for the liberation struggle in southern Africa and for the campaign for
Speakers ensuring this happened included Dennis Goldberg of the ANC. Goldberg was one of the detendants at the Rivonia trial in the 1960's in which Nelson Mandela was sentenced. He was himself released only recently from detention in South Africa after twenty two years. Amongst other prominent speakers were Betty Heathfield of Women Against Pit Closures, Diane Abbott, Ken Gill, Andy Lavender of Portsmouth NUPE and representatives
In her contribution Betty Heathfield explained why miners wives were taking up the issue of South Africa. 'We know who our enemies are in this country' she said, 'they know who they are in their country. The sooner we get together and join forces in fighting against them the better it is going to be for
In a deeply moving speech Dennis Goldberg made reference to a joint statement made in March this year by the ANC, SACTU and COSATU, the new trade union federation. He explained, 'It says what I am saying now. Unity is a weapon in the struggle for national liberation. This is the role of the working class of South Africa now. We call for the same kind of unity in Great Britain, we call for the
of unity in building the solidarity
Ten workshops dealt in detail with issues to cam-
including the Front Line States, political repression, the South African trade unions, and the need for peoples' sanctions. Additionally luncn-ume meelings were organista dyeyoull anc
Advertisement
10 Novembor Issue includos: • Mozambiquer:
The death of Samora va che Poland Solidarnosc
The fight against Pinochet Hungary The example of 1956 Bollvia challenges government • Poru Peasants fight for land • Israoll State The Zionist bomb • Around the World Reports from South Africa, USA, Portugal, ireland. Britain International VIEWPOINT carries news, documents and analysis of working class
International VIEWPOINT is indispensible
International VIEWPOINT is available from
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Cult to PEC and mall to: 1Y, 2 roe Richard Lanals Account 230179190. 153
Page 10 scan of this page
10 Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986
Help Socialist
Action, help
yourself.
Buy a rafile ticket
OUR supporters are now widely selling our raffle tickets. They are finding easy sales for the first prize of the new Amstrad personal computer or the latest Sharp video.
Railworkers and activists Apartheid Movement are amongst the best buyers. Fifty nine tickets sold at the Willesden depot, 100 in Stratford, 11 at Marlybone. One Telecom supporter alone has sold £30-worth of tickets in East London and a supporter in Cardiff has sold a similar amount in her factory. (Please let's have the accurate figures, and the money Cardiff). Glasgow supporters write that they think they can sell more than their allocation, and supporters in NW London have asked for an additional 80 tickets.
If you are still dallying with your tickets move out now and get your money in. Remember, this raffle is to help clear the unexpectedly big debts we incurred as a result of the split in board. We need $1500 from this rafile on top of our £10,000 publication fund if we are to return to a weekly paper.
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FROM THIS weekend's Socialism' conference, launching €10,000. The purpose of this is to reinstate the weekly schedule for our paper. If successful, we hope to resume weekly publication from the New Year. Such a large sum will only be generated, however, if intensive ‹ effort is made between now and the end of next January.
Socialist Action is unique. It is a paper that understands the practical necessity for an anti-imperialist stance in British polities. Only in combination with the assaults of the peoples oppressed by British imperialism will the class be able to end the power of British capitalism. Because the British ruling class derive their power not just from the exploitation of British workers but from their world-wide operations.
This is why we lay such stress on solidarity with the fight against apartheid in South Africa and against British domination of Ireland. This is also why we stand full square with the demands of Argentina for the return of the Malvinas. This is why we consider the fight to defend the Sandinista government in Nicaragua against the imperialistinspired attacks on it should be at the centre of apor ovelicu colcc,
Socialist Action supports Labour Left Liaison and Campaign Group News. We gave our full support to the miners strike, and we welcome the campaigns of Black Section, the Committee, Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights, Labour CND, and the Anti Apartheid Movement.
We appeal to all readers to contribute to our fund drive weekly publication.
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Reviews
Hungarian Tragedy
I RECALL a visit made to Eastern Europe some time ago. On returning, a CPGB member insisted that my observations could not possibly have been true! How easy is it, therefore, to understand Peter Fryer's experience in a book reprinted after 30 years.
By Patrick Field
The Hungarian Revo-
of 190o was par ticularly traumatic for those members of the CP who had to face up events un Hungary. None more so than Peter Fryer, Creouucul uule the iprising in Hungary of the CP's paper, Daily Work-
Fryer wroit what he saw oal uraun was possible for the British Stalinists who censored or omitted Fryer's despatches from the Daily Worker.
ISLAND in chains is a remarkable book. Written by Indres Naidoo, a member of the African National Congress (ANĆ), it tells the story of his 10 year imprisonment on Robben Island.
By Ray Davis
The book starts in 1963 with Naidoo being caught planting explosives. Like many young militants of his generation Naidoo had joined the newly formed armed wing of the ANC.
Called Umkhonto We Sizwe this armed wing was formed in 1961 following
eaceful protesters Sharpville the DACV UUN year. Having exhausted all
Letters
Zionism
If Sophie Nichol (Letters, 7 Nov) is interested in a 'serious discussion' then it would be helpful not to attribute to me views which I do not hold.
Nowhere did I imply that Zionism was 'responsible Ior le Nazi noiocausl.
Czarist Russia.'
It is. nowever indisputable that Zionism was a legal movement in
for which it concentrated its energies attacking the Jewish revolutionaries which is whw the Bund. the major party of Jewish Wolkes, ,banned Zionists from their unions.
Although the Nazis were solely responsible for the Holocaust, it is also true that the Zionist movement collaborated in
apiece of the ACTION
There's somerning
co a
No censorship could prevent the crisis of Stalinism highlighted by the Hun-
again in a different form ir zallall revolution, seen zechoslovakia and Po. land.
Such a slim volume cannot be expected detail all the background
une voasg. the book reports most essential ingredients that precipitated the uprising
mainly discontent and une madlnly of lne regilt
advance any reforms and maintain control. particular we are told of
Ten years on Robben Island
possible avenues peaceful change the ANC concluded that apartheid could only be overthrown by armed struggle.
The regime's response was a vicious crackdown They infiltrated the organisation with provocateurs and Naidoo's arrest was one of the results. Brutally beaten and tortured Naidoo refused to give the security forces any information. He was tried and sentenc
a number of different ways (this was the finding of the Jerusalem District Court in the Kastner case 1953-6 and that in Western Europe the Zionists actively opposed lowering the immigration barriers, thus reinforcing the racist practices of the imperialist governments here and in the USA. It must have led to the deaths of many thousands of Jews who would otherwise have survived. Zionism was a quisling movement. a smal. minority of European SeWAs David Ben Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister wrote in a letter to the Zionist Executive (17.12.38): 'If the Jews are faced with a choice between the retuger problem and rescuing JCWS LUlI concentration camps on the one hand and aid for the national museum on the other, the Jewish sense of pity will Devan, wede msnr Zionism's very exist-
Perhaps it's tha avou sight of
trying to pass themselves off as normal human beinas...
the hate for the AVH -the secret police and how ruthlessly they were dealt with.
As Daily Worker readers were told of 'counterrevolution' , Fryer saw that in town after town there W ON no drive to restore capitalism. Instead we hear of democratic work. ers connes meenny lif towns and on the farms. Political revolution was on the agendo Hungary was cleansing itself of il sialnst bureaucracy
Fryer understandably but wrongly characterised these developments as dua DOWe OVOCO betweer the Nags government which had popular support of the people and the armed people themselves' Unfortunately the government had strategy. The armed peo ple trusted Nagy and TCTUBH coming from ADOVe and therefore in that sense didn't take up the question of power workers councils did not develop into organs of
ed and sent to the Robben Island prison where the story really begıns
The prisoners are sub jected to persistent and unprovoked violence by. the white warders. Kept half starved and frozen in filthy conditions the prisoners ICIUNC be broken and fight back in every way possible. The picture emerges of struggle against almost impossible odds.
book readable. Most chapters are very short — a couple of pages or so — and each tells a self-contained story. You read about the despicable role that the
ence if we allow the refugee problem to be separated from the Palestine problem.' (Arie Bober, The Other Israel, Matzpen).
Likewise the Zionist
campaign on Soviet Jewry has nothing to do with liberation and everything to do with providing more settlers in Israel. The Zionist organisation
Jews from settling anywhere but Israel. It has been part of a cold war campaign in the USA. If it was simply a humanitarian campaign, whv was there no simuar campaign regarding Argentinian Jews, some 2-3000 of whom died at the hands of the fascist Junta? Did it have anything to do with Israel's relations with the Junta?
US DONC a Jewish socialist today c c vc vc . support to Zionism and the Israeli state.
Tories
HUNGARIAN
TRAGEDY
PETER
FRYER state power. Nagy, being •aL o the bureaucracy. brought in during the crisis, could not provide that strategy. Dual power only has meaning if the ouue nucate was overthrown
Despite the inability of this book to draw conclu-
"liberal' prison visitors play, how Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders are kept in a prison within a prison and the lengths the unoues yu them isolated. You also to keer
read about the prisoners three successtul strikes two hunger and one work strike.
Each of the separate events related in the book go to make up the principal story. You can imprison men and women for vears but you ,never take away their spirit of freedom. Nor can you lock up the justice their
Tony Greenstein Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine
AAM
Appeal
, the
Nambia' greetings.
Oris it Nigel
Debate
sions in relation to tasks lacing ine proletariat in deformed workers states time has not devalued it valuable contribution and it is well worth reading.
• Hungarian Tragedy by Peter Fryer is published by New Park at £2.95.
cause
This book is a must not just for every Socialist Action supporter Anti-Apartheid activist. It's a book give to your WOr ECLeS friends relations, even if they have LICYC read political
book, pamphlet or pape
before. It will arouse thei maignaton inspire them with some of the spirit of the theid and encourage them to want to do something in solidarity with this mighty movement. • Island in Chains by In dres Naidoo is publisber by Penguin at £1.95.
This year with the very high level of apartheid repression, the hst is long and increasing all the time; however it represents only a fraction though of the totalnumber of men and women incarcerated under apartheid laws especially with the current numbers of people in detention under the State of Emergency in South Africa.
We know from letters we receive back from South Africa and Namibia that such greetings are very much appreciated; we do hope that you will find space for the enclosed letter or some other notice of the availability of the list.
The last posting date to Southern Africa is 5th December.
Thank you very much, Abdul Minty Honorary Secretary, Anti-Apartheid Novene.
• Cormac
Actually it's just apprehension about he childish antics o he riaht-wu a th abour Party
Page 11 scan of this page
In the Unions
The second meeting of Women Against Murdoch was held last Wednesday, 12 November. The meeting decided to step up their action - including picketing scabs and reaching out Closures
ted secretary and assistant secretary. They spoke to JON SILBERMAN about the decision to launch WAM, and their experiences and involvement since the very beginning of the News International dispute.
A couple of the other wives suggested to us inai we form some sort of a
and said thought it was a gond ide
Owed bees talkin: about anu ou months. So it was about time.
There were over 50 women at the tirst meeting We discussed whether
group. We WeiC favour.
We then decideo to have badges made leaflets
LIlC wives who don't come down to Wapping to wanted to get the men on the Saturday night marches to take them home to show. their wives.
We also decided to try to help the wives of men who
to be of some help to the wives of men who have died since the dispute started.
And finally see if we could give The kles families involved the
help L0U. make Christmas a bit easier for them.
To do all this we need funds. So we also decided on tune-raising. Il started off rather basic. We had acciaca we a gel a slall lo sell our badges, , but as the
for a fortnight someone
bread-pudding so that we coula nave a stall on the first Saturday after wed set
SIX HUNDRED engineering workers from all over the country lobbied the 6 November the executive of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. about the proposal of the engineering employers to make dramatic inroads into working conditions in the industry.
The employers are proeliminate guaranteed week and replance it oy a 'flexible' hours system. This would meas
facto opened for, week. would mak following at management's
overtime.
Line was of • struggle. such right
principle one worker, The cluvivers wall! 'flexibilitr ina workers car
- agaln at m tract is ar emplovers
would
terns the comp not the
Compulsory arbitration the E
In return, ferin, from the 39 to 37½ in three ½-hourly
sale' the lobbiers had travelled Preston, Liverpool,
to Women Against Pit — and to elect officers and a committee. EILEEN BEER and PAULINE GOOD were elec-
ourselves up.
Wed had a donation of £50 from our husbands' chanel the RIRMA Sun chapei wllh this we well
and bought 200 rolls
and cheest and we stong it.
noon ano made them and
We can': sell therr because of ine
Waoping W20d iook tor any excuse — so we ask 101 donations to the group when people ge" their roll and tomato. We ve done quite welt
Tne stall has been very
allowed us ustill. establish a presence down a: Wapping. Now we want to go on trom here to organise action and to get round the country and talk to peopie more. It's surprising how mue peopie know aboul int dispute.
A few weeks ago we had a march in central London. il was tc uay we WELC IUU bying the TU We walked the length of Oxford Street to Marble Arch and back We were amazed, talking to people, how many thought the dispute was over! That dispute was over! That the ine nrint workers were back at work! Many people who
on don't really know what's happening.
So we need to get out ana explain wnals really going on, act as emissaries
to think that we could end
'Our rights are not for sale' say engineers
meeting of
They were protesting
Guilford, Cheltenham,
Wolverhamp-
don. hundreds were sizeable delega-
ingham brought coachload, Baldwin
Rolls from Willesden, and British
and Conted Doucit. 'It's our voice dress them
Prophe: president 'AEL North district organısea the lobby.
ple from Employers
by. He come down the room in
, was be address
of a few did
them, John DEVIC Smith's and
ham,
IN AID OF
Eileen Beer at the Saturday night WAM stal!
up effective miners' wives movement. If
could go towards petrol of to une acoue bul luc nal! thing is getting out and telling the truth about what's going on.
called WAM because that sums up what against Murdoch. wve hate Murdoch that that was the obvious name WAM in. volves all women
allu friends sacked printers, and women workers formerly emplovec by News International. As long as they want to ignl Murdoch and support the
they can be involved.
We're beginning
We met some miners on the
5SC
DNT
SEL
nothing.
Confed secretary Alex Ferry did arrive when the OOD- full Confronted by Doughty Rotal convenor Bill Evans whose members had delivered a petition to Jor-
Ferry individual unions will be AVOI the opportunty consider what the posals are'. The Confed executive would make recommendation after takine soundings from the individual unions. Reports are that this could happen at the next meeting of the executive on 4 December.
picket. A groun of cour:ciliors from Newham came
port. They left their phone
contact we want to build up round the country.
It's early days yet. of course. Though we are getting more women invoived now than we did the beginning.
One of the reasons that women were but oft tron coming to Wapping was the level of police violence. No one will ever forget the first time they went down. The horses charge. Ore 20solutely terrified. You say VU | nevel come again. But, of course, after a while we did. And now we walk down there and we re no longer shocked. We've even been on flying pickets.
Bill Jordan told the delegation that any changes to working condi-
plant level negotiations. This particularly angered the lobby when it was reported by Steve Fletcher, convenor tional Se cany allo stock Stockport:
starting
weat gr wap nt workert
group of workers from Lucas CAV in West London — already facing
conditions. •We need clear national policy.'
WAM - here we go!
Pauline Good getting out the truth about the dispui
We've got used to it. But we were terrified the tirst night.
Experiences like this have taught us so much. To tell you the truth, when the
SELEKE Wa. had no sympathy for them
When widicve. husbands came home and said they were paying a fiver a week to the miners we went through the roof. What for! They're all anarchists, they are all militants, look at them on the televiSIon - we know ditterent now!
We went to a meeting in the early part of the dispute.
bloke from Sinn Fein. Tony Benn Was. there. . And a miner. It was in Hampstead Town Hall. It was a good meeting. They were all terrific speakers.
got down We
35 HRi
J.5.56
DONT
SELL
OUT!
Mick Martin, West London district president stressed what that meant for the AEU 'Lets remind Jordan that in the AEU, the National Committee is the policy-making body. If there's a recommendation
tional Committee that will make it'
Martir AEU members to be vigilant lest Jordan tried appea over the heads of the Na. tional Committee to thi members through a postal ballot as he'd done ove the question of accepting government cash
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986 there and saw there was a man from Sinn Fein, we thought what've you brought us here for? But we listened him and discovered we just didn't know what was going on.
And then the miner spoke and told us what the BBC had done, reversing the sequence of the films You only knew what you'd seen pickets throwing
then getting charged by the police. But the film had been cut about and it was the other way round!
Through like soins to meetings this and through the experience of the dispute we've learnt what the truth really is.
VITHOUT
YOINGS ballots.
North London district secretary George Anthony said that the lobby showed that engineers were not a spent IOrCe 'We want to return to the nagitatine table on the
taking the employers on, not selling our hard-won rights' District None EU das • The London called on engineers to lob by the 4 December meeting
the CSEU. Imperial Hotel. Russell Square, London WCI from 8.00am onwards.
11
CSEU
Lobby
comments
Aler Steel, Rots KOve Motor 'We've got about 25 here could ve filied coacnes
strong y memper
decades for trade unionists to fight to build up their rights. Iow ine umon leadersnio a prepared to sell them owi
But although the likes of Bill Jordan wants to sell i out when it goes back to th individua unions mempershi WIl leaders of the CSEU where:
Edwards with other workers from Baldwin and Francis A trincham where ne sille AEU convenor: 'There was a 250-strong mass meeting shop stewards in Mancheste
passed resomnior favour of a lobby of today's
We took that resolu Mette non nock o our acorr an we had a unanimous decision to send a delegation • and 18
our members, workforce of about 250, are here.
Dave Hodgkinson, convenor Thorn EMI, Manchester 'A. rerares une oriciers wro ur prepared to sell us down the river they're not fit to be where they They put theil
forget where they come irom They forget about the ran and file They ve got to go.
Steve Fletcher, convenor National Supply Stockor. ner seo for ine snorier working week with no strings attached ers sul members and we'll fight lik
did in 1979.' (when the 40-hour : was breached
Page 12 scan of this page
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← Socialist Action No. 152, 7 November 1986Socialist Action No. 154, 5 December 1986 →