Socialist Action No. 161, 19 March 1987
The scan: 161-mar-19-1987-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
KINNOCK'S
LEADS TO DEFEAT
No. 161 LAWSON'S BUDGET is the final brick put in place to allow Thatcher to call an election. The two pence off income tax, the failure to increase duty on drink and cigarettes, the promised cut in interest rates to feed through to mortgage payments, are all designed to clear the way for a May/June election. Short of some disaster, and probably subject to the test of the local government polls, we are going to a summer election.
And the truth is Labour is in a disastrous state to face it. For four years Neil Kinnock nas steered Labour to the right. And now it's reaping the whirlwind.
ACTION
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
Each struggle which could have been used to turn the relation of forces against Thatcher — the miners, the NGA at Warrington, the fight to defend the councils, Wapping - has been sabotaged or attacked by Kinnock. Each step that could have been taken to widen Labour's appeal above all to radically expand its appeal to women, black people and
Kinnock has accepted that major problems facing the country are the Militant tendency, the power of the trade unions, and looney councils' -not unemplovment. poverty. racism and the arbitrary power of employers preschica Labour as little different to the SDP and Alliance — and sometimes, as on Zircon, to their right.
Labour must
19 March 1987
Given that, little wonder that the Alliance has continued to cut into Labour's support. it what Britain needs is the politics of the Alliance then why not vote for the real thing rather than a pale imitation?
Some in the labour movement genuinely believed that to win, Labour must go right. Even if what Kinnock was doing made you sick in une stomach at least it would win Labour the election - and that was the most important thing.
Now the record is clear. Not merely was what Kinnock doing, nothing to do with socialism, it had nothing to do with winning the election either.
There is a clear reason for that. The Tory government could only be cerealed by moving me reladon or forces in favour of the working class
• Soft left crisis pб
Black agenda p2
Lesbian/gay rights p3
Unilateralism debate p8
NUM election p11
Thatcher heads for June poll
ROAD
and against Thatcher. Every struggle that Kinnock sabotaged and attacked was another nail in the coffin of Labour winning the election. Every section of the back communitv Kinnock attacked, every demand of women he rejected, prolonged Thatcher's days in office.
It is desperately late to change course. But it is vital. Labour has to start to support those fighting Thatcher. It has to change its path drastically to the left to start picking up support in the working class, among women, in te black com munity, and among youth who are all Labour's natural constituency.
The left has two jobs. First it has to fight with every ounce of its energy to win the election — not just in working for Labour but in supporting
change course
30p every struggle and every policy that can turn the tide for Labour. Second it has to make clear why Labour is fighting with its back against the wall. Because for four years every proposal and every initiative of the left has been rejected - and the right has steadily led Labour towards a defeat.
The left has to try and turn that situation round. It has to make clear who is responsible for the situation. Most of all it has to point a way out tor the labour movement.
Precisely because it is the right, and those who have bloced with them inside the party, that have led Labour towards a disaster it must be the left that leads it out of that mess. That job has to start now, continue through the election and go on after it. It is a hard route, but it is the only one there is
Page 2 scan of this page
2 Socialist Action 19 March 1987
SociAlist
ACTION
The Broadwater
frame-up
AS WE GO to press the jury has retired in the Broadwater Farm 'murder' trial. Their
But the verdict of every person looking for the truth is already clear. The trial is a straight frame-up. It proceeds by the same logic that led to the frame-up of the Birmingham Six for the
government, demand victims to show they are in control' of the situation and to intimidate the and Engin Raghip, were picked out to be those victims. It could have been almost anyone else in Broadwater Farm or in the black community.
The trial is no different to the wave of pro followed the miners' strike. There too, the state
against workers who fought in defence of their jobs and communities. Last weekend was the anniversary of the death of David Jones, killed on a picket line during the miners' strike. No one was rought to court for his 'murder'. The events at Broadwater Farm were caused by the death of Cynthia Jarrett during a police raid on her home. No one has been brought to trial for her murder
Guildford bombings are still in jail. And if the state has its way three more black comrades will
Even in its own terms, the Broadwater Farm trial is grotesque. only 'evidence is the 'confessions of the accusthe accused were in police custody
The utter groundlessness of the police case has been thoroughly exposed in the course of the
• The 'confessions' of three of the accused who, being under 18, are legally defined as "juveniles, have been found to have been forced and inadmissible. Charges against them have had to be • One of them, mentally retarded, was not only forced to give his own confession but, in open contravention of judges rules, was pressured by police interrogators to give information about • A key prosecution witness admitted that not only had he openly lied in court about events at
and had been "fixed up' with two jobs by them.
The fact that the judge did not, under such circumstances, dismiss the case against all six is a travesty of justice in itself. The judge has not even directed the jury to find the accused 'not
These trials are not about 'justice'. They are
whether it be supporters of freedom for Ireland, Broadwater Farm someone must pay for the 'crime of fighting back and opposing the attacks
Increasingly openly the police and the courts are the instruments to deliver 'retribution'. With
role. Whether or not they seek to justify it by
spearheading the drive against black
It was revealed in the Broadwater Farm trial that the police had planned their riot at Broadwater Farm for over a year. The protests at Cynthia Jarrett's death was simply the occasion for
Whatever the outcome of the trial dozens of black people still remain charged with offences arising out of that police riot back in October
All charges should be dropped. All those already imprisoned or fined should be released and compensated. The police's actions should be
to an open public
disbanded. The entire labour movement has a stake in this. It is not an affair for the black com-
Winston Silcott, Mark Braithwaite,,
for riot, affray and murder which
Russel Shankland
There are no witnesses. The he had received been given £40 to £50 by the police
MARC WADSWORTH's chair's speech to the Labour Party Black Section AGM, March in Black Section over the last year and outlined its perspectives for the next. Its message was that the black community must not accept political agendas set by other people, it must impose its own agenda and demands. We print here the part of the speech (edited by Socialist Action) that outlines the basis on which the Black Section, and the black community,
advanced form
Britain.
monolithic
city
Li atcu
liberation.
has
supporting
Palestinian self
and
in the black poli-
the and
into the of self-
and for demo-
can soundly these elements.
Labour's leader, Noy Amir Khan and Kevin
from Sparkbrook What the for the
OT Amir Khan and Scally (CRAKKS)
on a prill-
that chair
the
close with
Group of MPs.
else
American of
ment. clearly revealed that the
held on 14 Nottingham, reviewed the work of the North Treaty
tion not alliance peace as is claimed. Bri-
from NATO
We're
struggle. vital
which catalyst there can be true socialism.
ingly against
blight personality
If we're we
ty.
the most rewarding challenge
employer also the
bureaucracy.
in this
pressed our
WOrKerS control
But as begin to
reject tokenism the politics
"allowed to
the system works. our ap-
for the Com-
Union workers. their
solidarity work the Kenure plastics Wheeler's
shown .on.
Our with the youth particularly
Handsworth, Hackney, Newham
another ingre-
of liberation cell
their
black
Setting the
SPECIAL OFFER
only $20.00
Black Labour
on poll offensive
weekiv ne meane communiy.
their • Spoke
marches in the city pro
of the visas.
Black leadership
which was chaired hairs black Madhav
to run Southall's bar trades and social club. Hounslow case Hell's Angel Mikklesen who was by the Campaigr
Amir As
they
city-wide Phil. Mur phy, from
his black politics.
sections held
volvement the
selection process
We've
black agenda
Cleaner
Top Selling Caribbean Newspaper
FIGHTING BACK
Loony Left focus on Tory campaign
The Black Section AGM was featured on the front page of the best selling Caribbean
— illustrating Black Section's deepening impact within the
We how real won't be easy. cuts.
So far
the will never again be same, and
Umons. fearful
Led u: loonies extremists. of our part as slow
Botha. of Bernie
- have been
ter The • Labour to
ahamst us. taking up anti-racist cudgels.
Wing class support; the black which, many inner city seats, six which our Black
Analysis
Panic in the camp?
general
ment.
to the needs community
the bag.
minimum demands
cast iron then we'll decide We
This Black Section annual conterence is a water shed in that historical pro
Before us for debate CEOS are the major issues of jobs, immigration laws ed ucation, anti-imperialism
the intervention black politics into parliamentary arena struggle Our decisions will tell our people whether or not : we have come of age. I sincerely hope the message that will echo LOUDHOS black Britain after today will be
forward to anti racist, socialist victory.
Page 3 scan of this page
Wolverhampton marches against racism
News
ANGER, ANGUISH and anxiety have been the reaction of lesbians and gay men to the letter by Patricia Hewitt leaked to the Sun. Millions of lesbians and gays who might have been expected to support Labour on the basis of the party's policy have been shaken and confused.
endorsement, are not just an outrageous assault on the human rights of millions of lesbians and gay men. It is also political suicide for the Labour Party.
so-called left' that by the
don Labour councils are
It is true that social policies
which ideological of the
rabid
approach retreating
prejudice entirely and completely incoherent,
Peter Purton, LCLGR (personal capacity)
The first is a simple reason of fact. If London councils like Ealing, Har-
Brent or Lambeth ingey,
'loony' then so was the 79. per cent of the last Labour Party conference when it voted for the im• premellalon ot a prehensive lesbian and gay rights policy. So too were Neil Kinnock and the entire National Executive commilice; which mously backed the suc-
resstul resolution.
The victories won by the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights at the last two national conferences were not accidents. They were won because the arguments WOLVERHAMPTON, SATURDAY 7 March was the scene of one of the largest demonstrations of black people in this country. Over 4000 people massed to protest against the the murder of 23 year old Clinton McCurbin by West Midlands Police. McCurbin's death was an act of wanton police violence, and a savage attack against the black community. Have the police declared war on black people?
In bitter, arctic conditions black activists from Brixton London, Paul's Bristol and LiverDOo 8 demonstrated their anger against the latest in a
killings and long Ine or maimings of black people
particularly black youth. murder broad daylight in a busy tun suce recel anon full view of Saturday shoppers, CHIL SRUK wave throughout the local black mitullly.
By Steve Jomoa,
National Youth
Organiser, Black
Section. Te Secido Labour Par:
Black plased Importal l C-zan ing black solidarii! Basners were out in torce. Bimingham Black Section
You don't fight reaction by
running away from it
Hewitt's letter, and Neil Kinnock's subsequent
Any
on socialist
equality and iberty,
grotesque in-
men in life and society.
The elementary adherence evel
sexuality. the Alliance such
'electoral Tons
, it would be 1c cobal y party devoted equality campaign for lesbian and
hay territying implice
terrifying implica-
Racist immigration policies may be electorally popular. That does not mean that the cabour Parthe sake of electoral gaior. should adopt them for Supporting capital punishment might win votes. 1nal does not mean lial Labour should favour of hangings. It has been. •rightly stated that heterosexism discrimination against homosexuality is the only remaining form of discrimination that is acceptable within ment. That does not make it right.
Either the Labour Party is in favour of equality rallied round and worked hard mobilise black
lo
/outh to publicly vent
sense of outrage This was succesful as militant black youth, including members of Black Section Youth, turned up in hundreds as a powertu contingent voicing collective rage and fury at police terrorism and barbarity.
Charges
Birmingham Black Section, in a widely cir-
release. are calling for charges murder to be brought
azainst PC Thomas
PC Hobday. Eye witness ICOI state they rained
repezied beart blows.
adistically grabbing his
for all, or it is not. It can-
tu alcalis position of secretly being in favour of legislating for lesbian and gay rights, but publicly aventude the popular prejudices which make life unbearable for the milions of homosex ual women and men.
But even in the crudest electoral terms, the current approach of the Labour caucisio disastrous. Every experience of tighting honestiv on les. bian and gay rights, whether It be 1ULd council policies, or around openly lesbian or gay candidates, is positive. The most recent council elec tions show that an honest campaign has actually benefitted Labour (as in Haringey or Lambeth).
But every time the Par-
in the Bermondsey Las
the Bermondsey byeelecton. or oca eco tions such as in Islington South, the been conceded to the Tories and the Alliance, and the party has been
Honest policies, throat choked him and broke his neck killing him instantly. Clinton's lifeless body was tossed carelessly like a piece of meat into a waiting police vehicle.
Natural
It is quite natural that the black community hold the police in bitter contempt. Leading the march for justice were the family of Clinton McCurbin. His brother, Ovey. and his distraught but de fiant mother who advised "fight, fight, fight' against such atrocities. She went on to say 1 want you le struggle to the end, don't give up will come again...and it may be your children next time.
The McCurbin family were 'allowed' by police to
La wreath outside the lay Next store.
The march radical protest black anger, and Wolverhampton's mass demonstration represented strong challenge 1o police brutali-
Park to the Fila journey lasting 2 bours, ne saw loud chanting in-
honestly campaigned for and explained, have been successful. A dishonest approach of pretending that
• support the rights of lesbians and
men has handed a gift to the opposition and has left the field clear for bigotry and prejudice.
In such a climate. , the
picacio which has been fanned for lesbians and gay men by the AIDS hysteria has been added by reactionary crusades the religious fundamentalists and the Tories anc Alliance. In addition to delng a calastropie tot icsbians and gay men, such a policy is also a disaster for the Labour Party.
Make no mistake. If the Party refuses to fight on the question of lesbians and gays then the next peo ple who it will be declared it is impos do supoori are black people. Then it will be women. Then trade unionists and defenders of civil liberties. You never fight reaction by running away from it •because
EXPRESS E
*'STIR cluding 'What next'. 'Black youth mave to organise and mobilise now to fightback and to defend ourselves by any means necessary. dill "Tot:enham routh are warriors Handsa orth youth are warriors/ Wolverham-
Tours •s the enemy simply increases their demands.
• guaranteed that the other parties will try to exploit popular prejudice against the Party's policy and the positive attempts
plement it Whether the Party wins or loses subport depends not on the called 'loony left' attemp-
olicy; it depends on Nel Kinnock Hewitt and the way they cau general election campaign.
• The Lesbian and Gay Pride Weeks Committee, in light of the growing attacks on lesbians and gays, ingely heterosexpredominantly ual organisations to supprt this year's lesbian and gay pride march, which is to be held on 27 June. For further information contact Mary Harper, 11 Rushton House, Albion Avenue, London SW8 2SE. details in our next issue.
warnors song made the connection between all black vouth in strugge
In view of the latest police outrages the Black Section makes its position clear on the increasing police racism
Socialist Action 19 March 1987
Black
struggle
ATTENDED by 160 delegates and observers, this year's Labour Party Black Section
the most representative in Black Section's history.
Nottingham
geographical expansion from the
Midlands strongholds of the Black Sections. The last year's activity
establishment of the first Black Section in Scotland, in Glasgow, the establishment of a Black Section in Man-
and moves to establish Black Sections in Car-
with the
reports, other material.
manoles
Key WEIC the police, on immigration
and
The paper the police
upholding the law by
of the more
'Police
corrupțion before the
LLLA
attacks on the black com-
legitimised by new laws which curb democratic right demonstrate and protest. roce powers without charge have been shamelessly extended
"Sus" has been replaced by the back door so that black youth already hammered by unemployment - can be ritually harassed by "stop and search" tactics'
It calls for: 'an end to the onoressive presence of police as a force of indimidation council housing estates. An end to their dubious presence in deeply rooted racism schools inver Ine
we do not believe the police force is a job fit for black people
The paper calls for the repeal of the 1984 Police
Black Section AGM.
and Criminal Evidence Act, the Public Order Act, and the Prevention of Ter•rorism Act, and demands the police are placed under democratically-elected au
country Black .Section Wall ( racists fascists dismissed from the police; disbandment
the 'support units which have replaced the Special Patrol Group; and the setting up of a fully in-
complaints dependent body.
Ban
The AGM also called for a ban on the manufac-
stock-piling and use LUC
fire arms plastic bullets and CS gas, and a duty enshrined in law on the police to prosecute perpetrators of race attacks. The paper also calls tor an insertion in counci tenancy agreements of an eviction clause for racists.
The paper also called for no co-operation with Donde conste con mittees, and states that 'self-defence is no offence when the state is either unable or unwilling to act
defend . US against racists.'
The resolutions
caucalo strongly supported Brent
councils, and Bradford council in
fight over the Honey ford case They called for an 'open door ov o black barcillo su that full and equal participation can be achieved; racism in schools to be a •dismissable offence for • staff and pupils; support
mother tongue teaching; support for the introduction of anti-racist
police lle mu
called 'multiculturalism'.
Caucuses
Positions adopted also called for support for black caucuses in teachers
appointment of more black school governors; riculal allocation of £5 million on celua coveranco. to combat under achieve-
due teaching; immediate 1Cv1cv of policies which discriminate against black teachers, and more training courses to ensure a big
black teachers
The conference called for the abolition of the immigration laws. parliamentary caucus was established with Bernie Valll as Ils secrelaiy
The AGM also adopted a resolution calling for democratic secular state in Palestine
Marc Wadsworth was re-elected chair of the Black Section, Gul Zarina Khan and Narendra Makanl were elected vice
serictaly assistant secretary, Linda Sanjav
Bellos treasurer and Madhiv Patil publicity officer.
Page 4 scan of this page
Warshawsky: drop the
charges MICHEL Warshawsky, charged under Israeli law with having relations with Palestinian organisations, has just been released on bail after being held in jail for over a month.
The campaign in his defence, however, must not be slackened.
Warshawsky, coordinator of the Alternative Information Centre in Jerusalem, still faces jail under an Israeli law which forbids contact betwen Israeli citizens and Palestinian organisations.
government is stepping US CHASON OILS front against the
inside Israel for opening up a dialogue with the
• A number or Israelis are currently on inal tor arrangine a meeting with the PLO in Rumania.
Warshawsky's case is a clear reprisal against the
International Viewpoint
AMONG the best publications for International Women's Day on 8 • March was a special issue of the magazine International Viewpoint.
It contains articles vu hole on Western Europe to Japan. south Atrica and Philippines.
A particular emphasis is taken up in an interesting article by Jacqueline Heinen, which examines the context of women's lives in Eastern Europe. It survevs the developments in women's social position, and women's response. The article demonstrates that in none of these countries have the initial promise of these revolutions been followed through into a fundamental change in women's position in society.
While women have been brought into the workforce in a major way cent in Russia and East Germany), there are not even the beginnings of an attempt to make Caduces i lie traditional family
- LiC Davate organisation of the
workforce through individual families.
Social services are
deprioritised, and the private family is ideologically and materia liv reintorced. This means women still
and carry out a double shift of work.
permeates these societies. women's role as mothers and
Socialist Action 19 March 1987
In Brief
AlC, which has been closed down bv the
police for six months.
The AIC has publicised the Rumania cases.
A week before Warshawsky's arrest and the centre's forcible closure, AIC had organised a
Jerusalem calling for a
international circulation
confronting the communities in the
One of the cases that a book on torture techniques was found in
charged with helping
information material is
Committee for Freedom
Palestinians and Israelis, BM Box 9585, London
housewives is idealised as that of the 'true
The article demonstrates the
women's oppression is rooted in the family system itself.
In tribute to International Women's Day the latest issue of International Viewpoint offers a valuable service of highlighting the conditions of women
E International Viewpoint carries news, documents and analysis of working class movements from around the world and is indispensible reading for all socialists.
International Viewpoint is available from most left book shops or by post from Other Books PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. Subscription rates: 6 months €9.50 (I2OFF); 1 year £18.00
• Cacouc payable to PEC and send to
2 Rue Richard Lenoir, 93108, Montreuil. Postal orees ora Account no 2-322-42T Paris.
Bank transfers to PEC, BNP
ACCULTI 230179/90, 153 rue de Paris, 93108, Montreuil, France.
THE TUC WOMEN'S Blackpool 11 March, with 400 delegates attending. There was wide support among all unions, including the traditionally male-dominated unions which sent delegations.
One important debate focussed on the blabour Party's decision to establish ministry for women. Strengthening the links between trade women so that it could such ministry,
WOrK for women, was demand from conference
In an effort to get the TUC take its membership much seriously, a motion calling for a women's department and greater resources was unanimously Female employment has increased substantially over the past three decades but women often find themselves in the lowest paid, most vulnerable
North West supports
Liverpool councillors
IMMEDIATELY IN the wake of the court decision
Noris West Tabour ed iverpool concilence
Labour passed a resolution in their support despite vigorous opposition from the regional executive. The resolution called for a Labour government to 'lift any surcharge imposed on councillors and any ban from office'.
It also called for the power
the district auditor to surcharge councillors to be abolished and for the restoration Ine rate support grant stolen by the Tory government.
Eric Heffer and Keva Of me spoke in suppore
the during debate. The carried 275:229 on a show of hands.
party saw
the region forged.
Campaign fringe miceling more than 80 delegates
A Tribune at ine Saltie with an
its first fringe ever the Labour
union and unerates. were
of Trade rich and
and Le. sucked TGWU-
Miners
people.
North West CLPD
some in the
slate Manchester alco Group
delegate, Paul
the conference
committee
Women's TUC rejects
attack on abortion
conference opened in
for the women's TUC
positions.
Amongst other things the motion debated called
Lic cerea . counch lo 'enable the TUC be recognised as the organisa-
By Pat Tough to most proper lives suited
improve of working women'.
Other conference debates looked at the increasing attacks being
on aspects women's lives: health care, child care facities, re child care facilities, name ust a few. emergency motion, moved by the women's council gave conference the portunity to unanimously
Regional round up
regional conference
Resolutions passed calling for an end to all racist immigration controls support of Mendis,
town-twinning solidarity with Nicaragua, and in solidarity with the ANC and COSATU.
By Dick Withecombe
con-
the executive's
ings. justification
Peter Killen,
frequently.
has 20 marginals, the largest
Whitty concentrated
and Speaking meltid by Heffer replied saying: "The attack
were Potter
Committee and Jim McGinley North Michael
CLPD.
for the 1967 Abortion Act full suppor against the backcloth of
trom anti-abortionists such . as the
earlier this month by an Oxford student trying to force his former companion to bear 'his' child.
In moving the motion,
Brenda Dean attacked the role of all the 'pro-life'
organisations. Women in the trade union movement
would not stand on
Lt t sidelines and watch the
erosion of women's aborwon nguts, sue sald.
Unfortunately, a com-
posited motion on South
Africa, had the stuffing
knocked out of it. It failed
suppor to SWÁPO COs.
ATU and the anti-apartheid movement No mention was made of any workplace actions.
Scottish conference
economy.
The party leadership in Scotland concentrated on the theme of 'confidence and unity. Controversial issues were wiped off the agenda. This meant that resolutions on Labour Party Black Sections and on Ireland were not debated.
A resolution that naLabour women's conference should elect the five women's places on the national executive was overwhelmingly carried on show of hands, but lost on a card vote.
ToWU nor GMBATU supported the resolution, but some unions did vote for it.
However, the report from the Scottish executive, which was agreed by conference, contained a recommendation that the women's seats on the Scot tish Labour Party executive should be elected by Scot-
Yorkshire
IN the interest 'unity' differences of approach to the problems the party faces were papered over in the debate at this year's Yorkshire region party conterence, in Bridlington on the weekend of 7-8 March.
A victory for the left came in the debate reselection. Conference passed a motion instructing the NEC to reopen the debate before the general election, in line with 1986 annual conference decision.
LAWO
QUR
BODIE C THE 1987 Scottish Labour Party conference concentrated on promoting the party as the only one capable of reversing the accelerating decline of the Scottish
Delegates heard a number of attacks on Tory ministers in the Scottish office and criticism of the Scottish National Party's attempts to put the 'doomsday scenario' at the top of the political agenda: that is what the Scottish Labour Party would do in the event of a reelected Tory government in Westminster and near obliteration for the Tory Party in Scotland.
tish Labour women's conference. A consultation process will now take place, to be completed by 1 June, to determine the composition of Scottish women's conference.
By Neil Cruikshank and Ann Henderson
Hated by
Strang the au-
wing
conference.
The democracy theme was also taken up by Tony . He emphasised tha 'real democracy' is what's required: the power of peo-
conference
But motions condemning the handling of the Knowsley North by-election were defeated, by 518 votes to 151. A motion opposing the Sawyer pro. posals for reorganising the LPYS was also lost by 558 to 139.
By Steve Vokes, Campaign Forum held successful fringe meeting, addressed by Bob MEP and Westminster candidate for Bradford Soe for Barnett spokt the abour women's Actio Committee, and Atma Singh for Labour Party
News
our bod!
our lives 7 our right co decide
PANI
ple to change society in their interests and not to be content with a parliamen-
manages it
Pointing to the struggles of the miners, the print
workers, and Liverpool city council, recalled AS C
of the Labour leadership's response which allowed these battles to be waged without full labour movement support. Benn emphasised that the most oppressed groups in society which the party claims to represent, are not accorded their rights in the party.
With only two women, and no black people,
the prospective parliamentary candidates in Scotland, there is ample evidence of this.
tion, Phil McGhee CLPD,
representing the Labour
fringe
LUICICE
The meeting jointly held
the Coordinating was dogged by controversy. Many in audience
clear state.
party.
of
ty.
Page 5 scan of this page
AE STOP STRIP SEARCHE
Politics Today
Britain out
says Adams
GERRY Adams, MP for West Belfast and President of Sinn Fein spelt out a strategy for decolonising Ireland at a public meeting at Hornsey Town Hall, North London, on 10 February attended by 800 people. He went on to call upon Irish voters in Britain to only support parliamentary to British withdrawal from the North of Ireland in the coming general election. REDMOND O'NEILL reports.
ADAMS began the inctilg saylllg how
the with the secretary Labour Party Section,
pealed to: 'Irish people
what
mon The more
the have
Adams pointed out that: O ne Ha British parties'
decolonisa-
and
Anglo-Irish Accord was merely attempt to
'this reality
nt realu. Hillsborough does not new
change
Adams
which
Ma al
OVER 100 women representing a wide range
women's and labour Hevenen partipated in this year's delegation from Britain to picket Maghaberry women's prison organised by
Women 21101 Ireland network. Women from
WI' groups, the labour Committee on Ireland (LCI), Labour Women for Ireland (L.WI), CLPs, and the Campaign
aralD Strip-Searching made up this year's delegation. added its voice to the protest against the inhuman practice of strip-searching used as a weapon against І ОНА НАНОСОЖ no After artving on Tri-
After arriving on day ed by Sima and being greeted by Fein, we went to stay with supportive families in nationalist communities Beltast.
Women on the delegation participated on Saturday in a day of workshops.
The workshops, organised jointly by Sinn
in one parliament
candidates committed
the peaccIu] in-
Fein's how such conne
of the of ure are
•UD EU British that Is no
Kingdom that the British political Vulv
Lalac withdrawal.
within the
withdrawal. Adams went
afterwards. But the buL DUSCo the public neconao benmeen all the
IL.
ON 8 MARCH 1979 an International Women's Day picket of Armagh women's prison was viciously attacked by the RUC. Every year since then on Inter-
international women's picket in solidarity with imprisoned republican women and all Irish women struggling for their freedom. This year was no exception. ANNE KANE reports from the delegation.
Feinn women's department and Irish feminist groups, covered strip-searching, military represSOlA sexuanly, the trade unions, culture and women in sinn rein.
Speakers at the opening sessions reflected the intertwining of the strugdetermination for Irish fight for the liberation of women in Ireland. Chaired by Sinn Fein, speakers included ex-Armagh prisoner, Brenda Downes Emma Groves from the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets and Helen Manonv trom the Dubln based Defend the Clinics Campaign.
The strongest theme to emerge day was the way in which sexuality has been used as a weapon against them in their struggle - both in the north, in fight against direct British occupation, and in the south.
stitutional, social and political
alrangements for a new Irish state
loyalist
firm OLiel guarantees their
'An
CUL-
tatives people
rangements,
government woUIC open to significant
01 Donuca. opinion in
toral this ovem mena suslem.
SuI alEyy
regardless
able to peaceful,
jority British people welcome
altte also doubt,
the British government
clusion.
"The thing
and steps are taken.
Helen Mahony
0 E0tested against the clam «МАЛОС ЗІЗ AОIMOD government, since JanLaly. against even intormation being given Wallail about abortion Tacmles In brilain. sne ex plained that 'along with strıp searchung and lauc this denial of information
counselling about aliu pregnancy is a basic viola tion of the dignity of Irish women'.
The focus of the weekend's protest, was the humiliating and degrading practice of strip-searching.
November 1982, OvelI serreres had been carried out
ArCalNE wUllcu magh. At Maghaberry strip searching is being sys-
carried on against women prisoners.
Amongst Tane 20 republican women held Lice sone mave beet sual searched literally hundreds W Lic. hose who are
In Adams
Britain support
tion British withdrawal.
consultative Conc cuce ucranu
the lifetime
ment, the Cenlr
strategy
change by and
follows the Irish
Section, National
Labour oludenls, Labour
_LA•OU
of
1986 Party favour of strip most,
LEOJEI
tried.
As the ex-Armagh prisoner presented the explained:
al c SLIID• searched returning
th, when
ton prison in London
and were strip-searched of times
simply tactic to
women GUW NI It • LUC vul die violation woman's body.
first time.
As correctly
taken these
ODeI the
and the Party
British communcul
The of Adams' was
make ite ano anl .the coming election
Ne Or
for and the
strategy
justified on the despicable record
view of Irish freedom independ-
OR-D0
you'.
On Sunday :8 March, International Women's Day itself, 500 women attended the picket Maghaberry women's ONSOH Speeches Mairhead Farrell, exhilal Disunci. women from Sinn Fein, the Irish trade union movement, ano ATTISO women's solidarity organisations echoed the call for action against the policy of strip searching.
Opposition to strip Britain. The Larour Part) Britain. women's organisation opposes it. The Labour Party itself has a position on paper against it. growing. .opposition in the trade unions. But still strip searching is going on.
The women who returned to Britain on 9 March were newly detèrmined to bulld awareness, and most importantly асtion, to highlight and stop strip searching.
Greenwich and
Party
THERE is a serious shift of power taking place within Labour Party. creasingly power is being diverted from the rank and file, from conference, and from the national executive, and into the shifted decisively away from the NEC. or its presentation. No of tation of the policies of the Alliance. the Alliance are saying.
as British Telecom and British Gas?
culladi. general election not because like the SDP then people will
Socialist Action 19 March 1987 5
the shift of power
inside the Labour
the In-
away
hands of the parliamentary leadership. ERIC HEFFER MP explains what's going on.
THE transfer of power in the party into the hands of the parlamentary leadership is able to takı place because nobody wants to be held responsible for rocking the electoral boat or be accused of helping the enemy remain in government. For ex ample, the policy-making committees of the NEC are now joint committees with the shadow cabinet. Control over policy and its implementation has
There have recently been iwo dramatic examples of where this leads. The NEC was allowed neither to see nor to discuss the defence campaign which the party launched last December More recently, Labour's job creation programme document, which was drawn up by the leaders's office, was distributed to the NEC and collected back at
allowed to propose any amendments to the policy
real discussion of these policies and their presentation took place at the na-
In the case of the defence campaign there has been a clear shift of emphasis away from contowards a situation where the leadership of the party not only decides policy but also how it will be
And look at the results. By-election candidates are increasingly being 'packaged" by headquarters In my view that is why the demand that the leadership must appoint by-election candidates is now coming forward. Of course, those who are pressing for that realise they cannot win the position right away. But it is part of a longer-term strategy
We are moving closer to American-style campaigning where the candidates, not party policies,
style of presentation that the SDP goes in for. In
wherever Rosie Barnes wei ner were smiles all round — but there was little presen-
welcome that. They don't want Labour to concentrate on its policies — and especially on its class politics and on socialism. Take housing. There are plenty of people living in terrible conditions of overcrowded and substandard accommodation Labour's job is to get them into better homes. Bu we are hearing a lot of talk about 'choice'. Instead of concentrating on the need to improve the housing conditions of those people who simply have no choice oun leadershipis concentrating on people's Labour is saying much the same as the Tories and
There are many other examples. Will Labour take back into public ownership the services such Labour government do to improve the health service dramatically run down under the Thatcher government? What about the deregulation of public
Labour can only rebuild its electoral support if we are prepared to make clear statements about what we intend to do. That means emphasising our Alliance — just what Labour failed to do in Green-
stood, but because there was a breakaway from
by the right wing, and because in the course of the election spokespeople for the party
The lesson of Greenwich is that if we appear 'there's not much difference'. Labour should be saying we are the only alternative to the Thatcher government. The Alliance is simply the other side of the Thatcher coin. It is the second Tory Party in
Page 6 scan of this page
soft left is THE CRISIS developing in Labour's soft left' since last autumn exploded into public last week. In the pages of Tribune, extreme right wing Labour Coordinating Committee (LCC) supporter, Nigel Stanley, launched an at- tack on Labour Left Liaison for exploding the soft left - and on other members of the soft left for supporting it. The same week the result of the ballot of its members was announced in which the LCC voted by two te one to overturn Labour party policy on the reselection of MPs — the LCC thereby openly attacking, for the first time, the democratic gains achieved in the Labour Party in 1979-81. Simultaneously the New Statesman, which acts as the weekly organiser for the right wing in the party, launched a call
looks at the developments ripping the soft left apart — and what attitude
6
TWO INCOMPATIBLE forces are today tearing the soft left apart.
The first is the deepening offensive
of the right - the
demands it is placing on the soft
left. The second, intersecting with
the first, is the process of political
recomposition taking place on the
hard/Campaign left of the party.
The immediate development which
has precipitated the crisis of the soft left
is the offensive of the right after Green-
wich. The 'soft left' as opposed to the
nign, could originally be delined as
that section of the party which wanted
to try to retain the gains of 1979-81
above all the democratic retorms in the
Labour Party and the adoption
unlateral nuclear disarmament
tried not to go beyond that.
The soft left tied this to support of
Neil Kinnock — who was in a bloc with
the right wing. This right wing/soft left
bloc has run the party since the election
of Neil Kinnock as party leader in 1983.
Nigel Stanley, in his
Tribune makes it quite clear that he is
for this right wing/soft left bloc. He
whiles. Pally unily -was a pre-requisite
for electoral success...A
of this new concept of
defence campaign. A polarised Labour
Party would have precluded it. Instead
both sides of the party have made com-
promises here!
Stanley makes it clear he is against
left unity: "The only basis for left unity at present, given perspectives on the left, would be the
right. This would
similar perioo lo unal arter tne 19/9 election where the party was deeply polarised.
Success Quite bizarely Stanley claims that this right wing/soft left bloc is shown to be correct by the electoral success it has brought the party. Stanley speaks of: 'the first task set by the realigned left -a short term programme for electoral Ictory. and then claims. Kinnock's priority was to make the Labour Party electorally popular once more. (and others) have done, many of us expected.
This analysis is quite extraordinary given the eight per cent fall in Labour's vote in Knowsley • North, the four per cent fall in Greenwich, slump in Labour's position since the 1986 party conference, and the fact that Labour did not advance in the polls at all for three years after Neil Kinnock's election as party leader.
Far from being a success Kinnock's right wing course, right wing/soft left bloc, has been an electoral disaster.
Labour, the understood on the left, is that Labour under Kinnock has refused to adjust itself to the working class as it is today. Kinnock's course has sabotaged support for working class struggles, such as the miners, Wapping, and trade union rights. It has been complicit in the attack on the inner cities councils trying to defend their populations. It has refused to change either Labour's policies or lls structures lo bring it into line with the revolution in the working class constituted by massive entry of women and black people into the workforce.
Mismatch
As Ken Livingstone put it in a neat but correct formula, there mismatch between the working class as It is now and the institutions of the working class.' The addition which has to be made to that statement is that this means not just changing the institu tions of the labour movement, vital as that is, but that Labour's policies, and Its support struggles, must brought into line with the new structure of the working class. must take in both the Labour Party and the trade unions.
The right/soft left bloc, by accepting rejection of anything would 'modernise' the Labour Party, in
profound sense of structures and policies into line with the reality of the working class, has itself ensured electoral disaster for Labour.
Socialist Action 19 March 1987
increasing
the working class
Left trade union
of - but left vocating.
of such a
article
left of the party good example olzanbalulai political choice. unity is the Base
represented by Nigel stanley, the widely different
mean entering
attacking the ty of the working class today. right wing This he bureaucract more than Callaghan
general
that everv penny
the course of the
conventional The real tallure of
increasingly
hospitals and houses,
• and on the
the paign SWCOL
their supporters.
Outcome
clearer. At least
ning
be of MPs is what is involved.
These changes divided the LCC executive
Wing the discussion on their
argued against any weakening that Susten
bringing its
Vote'
The only way to success for the party is to break up this right wing/soft left
bloc and embark on a policy of radically restructuring the labour movement to bring it into line with the new reality of
refounding' the Labour Party as Tony Benn has put it.
The only united left which would
take the party forward is one which
defends party democracy against witch
hunts, detends accountability of MPs
as won in 1979-81, grants the demands
of the Labour Women's Action Com-
mittee and the Labour Party Black Sec-
tion, turns to defending, not attacking,
rights, attacking
capital, not defending it, and in short,
adopts essentially the programme the
wing of the party is now ad-
The logical organisational outcome policy would be the split of the soft left/LCC, with one part going
over to the right wing and another part
joining with the left of the party. The
choices now tearing the LCC apart -
whether to unite with the right or the
are simply the expression
The situation is made still worse for
the extreme right wing of the LCC,
because
the right wing of the party hold them in
complete contempt, consider the soft left simply as a useful tactical tool for
left, and completely
refuse to accept even the changes won in
1979-81 — let alone the more advanced
which has developed since then and which are anderady unioninto lime with the reaty- necessary to bring the Labour
The right wing has tried to overturn mandatory reselection of MPs at every party conference since it was adopted.
The right is now engaged on a full blooded drive, headed up through the Daily Mirror, New Statesman, and the
of the trade union taking James route -to overturn The 'soft left' therefore inevitably now has to choose between its verbal support for the principles won in 1979-81 and its bloc with the right. Modern Britain in a Modern World defence cocument first brought this policy crisis to a head for the base of the soft left by the fact that Labour, for the first time, pledged
saved on nuclear weapons expenditure would be spent on
Labour government was now pledged to maintain military spending at the highest lever of any country in western Europe The TV political broadcasts launching this campaign were the most explicitly militarist in the Labour Party's entire recent history. Building more tanks, not
was lul a blalform to inspire even the soft left, nor, in the real world, is it a very good platform for winning working class votes — in addition to the much more profound political objections to this policy.
A wave of opposition to this cam-
party activists, The apologies which the soft left were forced to make for this campaign didn't convince even their own members and produced a crisis of confidence among
The issue of reselection is even
unilateralism Labour remained formally pledged to the policy - although in practice the way to overturning it is being prepared. didates But with reselection it is open v overtur. jected
of the previous gains made 1979-81, and weakening accountability
The question of reselection already
• parallellrelations with Labour Left Liaison. Livingstone
of the . or accountabilly of MPs to their general committees. The LCC 'right wing' argued for replacing it with a system of 'One Member, One
- which in practice would be to ecutive destroy any accountability of MPs to
the left should take to its crisis.
the only body capable of monitoring them, their GCs.
The right wing of the soft left has since been prepared to go still further than the LCC vote. Tribune editor Nigel Williamson wrote in last week's New Statesman: 'Deirdre Wood's defeat was, of course, partly due to the sustained and unpleasant media campaign waged against her. But therein lies the point. By-elections are now such a centre of national attention that the Labour Party has a duty to itself and its supporters all over the country to choose can-
who cannot so easily be subto such damaging, campaigns.
Opposition
It now seems clear that had Les Huckfield been allowed to stand in the Knowsley North by-election November (a right I championed in Tribune at the time) then that seat would have been lost, too. I reluctantly conclude that Labour's national ex
was right to impose George Howarth.
LABOUR'S PLANSO UTTE
DOLE QUEUES BY MILLION
Why the Left must stay reafigned
- Nigel Standey of coutre pages
Adrian Has on the budget - pace three
Why the
for a right wing/soft left bloc to purge the London Labour Party.
support the right of the party leadership to impose candidates on local parties. but no candidates unaccentable to the right wing media are to be selected!
The logic of this would be that there must right throughout the country anyone media. The selection committee of the Labour Party will be Mr Rupert Murdoch - and this from someone like Williamson, left!
personal wing on the soft left are becoming more
week's New Statesman. call for a purge of the London Labour Party. Its front page cover is entitled "The London Effect'. Its target is the legacy of the GLC.
last In its previous Statesman had editorialised that: "it is no longer enough, for example, simply to let a number of local organisations ¿ciliall dominated perpetuating clique whatever ideological stripe'.
Ken Livingstone
Labour's 'realigned left' is on the point of exploding. JOHN ROSS
Nor merely does Williamson now
wing candidates as clearly eise is unaccentable to the
alll.
inner who claims to be on the
The way the demands of the right controlled.'
is shown cleariv in las This carries a According
Brent, issue the New
paign and
by set. of activists of In last
week's issue it extended its target n simply to the injunction that "Trotsky! groups are poison but to a tul se: assault on London's white collar tra unions: White collar trade unions, li the local government, teaching, furthe education and even journalists unio tend more and more to use ward and . constituency Labour Parties to furthe
of militant union branch leaderships. Thus the teachers union it
London uses its powertu machine against the Inner Londo Education authority, which is labou
Also coming under the hammer at the leadership of the black community
New State man: Ethnic minority politics
radical at Its activist-leadershi level. All of the black leaders - Lindi Bellos of Lambeth, Merle Amory
Bernie Grant of Haring together with leading activists like Mai Wadsworth of the black sections ca
_Diane Abbott, prospecti candidate for Hackney North, are on o near the hard left, and most have show little sign of seeking a better relation ship with the party yet. They do diffe
Page 7 scan of this page
but they feel themselves to be represen-tatives alienated, poor discriminated against * many have also made common cause ¡with gay and feminist campaigns?
Campaign
The aim this
Statesman/right wing campaign is to
smash to pieces the alliance of working
class organisations with women, the
our
Panting peoR
splitting
and minority
wing trade union barons. on this
also the chief organiser New ched his campaign.
black community, the Irish in London, and the lesbian and gay community put together by the GLC under Livingstone
and replace it with the old regime of a London Labour Party run by right
that TGWU 'left' chairperson Brian Nicholson, who is
of the right and gays wing on the TGWU executive, has laun-
'Londoners for Labour' because
This development means the soft
left is going to be caught in a tremendous crunch in the London Labour Par. ty between the right wing on one side and the hard left on the other. Furthermore all the campaigns which the soft left claim to expouse to establish their
credentials the demands women, the black community, lesbians
will be objectively lined up in the same camp as the hard left
smashing support for inel demands Is precisely what the right wing in London is demanding. The soft
Nigel Williamson
left is going to be forced to choose rather openly between its bloc with the right wing and its support for working class, women's, demands.
into the core of the sott lett itselt. Liv ingstone has shown no sign whatever that he is going to retreat on women's, black or lesbian and gay demands - or the legacy of the GLC on these issues. He has hit back through the pages of the daily Tribune. Livingstone support of the soft left in this fight -support which can through breaking off the soft left's bloc with the right.
The fight in the London party is therefore almost certain to spill over into a central blow up in the soft left at a national level -pursuing a quite different course, practice backing Kinnock, over fight in local government.
It is against this background that the centre spread in last week's issue of Tribune by LCC right Stanley must be understood. This artiele is both a sustained diatribe against Labour Left Liaison (LLL) and the damage it is doing to the soft left. It is worth quoting at some length,
Realignment
Stanley writes: 'In the Labour Party conference edition of Tribune last year, Nigel Williamson contributed what was seen as an obituary of left realignment. "The soft left has probably become the least coherent grouping in the party at present," he wrote. This analysis was ringingly endorsed by Ken Livingstone at tringe meetings and. lust in case not every delegate had read Tribune, the various far-left briefings serialised extracts in a way reminiscent . of Jeffrey Archer and the Mail on Sunday throughout the week.
'At the same time a new alignment of the left was proclaimed to the world, Labour Left Liaison socialist stuffing back into the Kinnockite Labour Party and, what's more, had something new to offer.
'This was the first such coalition, we
told, women and black secured the Women's Action Labour Partv Black Section. influential individuals associated with the realigned left were impressed by this coming together...
Disaster
'But then came disaster. The annual meeting of the LCC was dominated by alleged "right-wingers" down links with Labour Left Liaison • the Labour Coordinating Not Davisons executive, reported the AGM decision this way to the eager readers of Tribune on 28 November: "As with any decision waCi tarianism than policies, it was a wrong decision..
What this really Labour Left Liaison is putting insupportable pressure on the LCC Nigel Stanley demands that people like of Williamson stop confessing in public its werkness. and ingstone stop calling for 'unity on the left' and instead serious business of uniting with right to smash the left.
This pressure the LCC is under is
black and other
This fight is going to extend right
Voting
press and his column in
will demand the
only be given
as Blunkett has been
in the conterence
rese recon ovurs.
winger . Nigel
which they
would
The LLL
tions, the LCC.
that week's
would put the
put the demands of
people first, and it endorsement of the
Committee and the
Solid
Campaign Liaison
they are
be built.
who voted
newly elected to The Committee principles
intiuenced
means is that Labour
and with the Women's people such Liv-
get on with the
Socialist Action 19 March 1987 7
STATESMAN
THE LONDON
EFFECT
amongst 98nd now getting fairly intense because it is the LLL dominated constituencies that are delivering the goods for the campaigns inside the party not simply for the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) but also for the Women's Action Committee and the Labour Party Black Section.
Analysis of voting at last year's Labour Party conference showed that nine out of ten constituencies submitting resolutions supporting Black Sec. tions were hard lett' constituencies. roughly similar proportion exists for constituencies supporting the new ap peal for the election of the women's section of the NEC by the women's conference put out by the Women's Action Committee. In the run up to this year's
• the LCC will be actively sabotaging the campaign for defence of
In fact all this is provoking a major crisis for the LCC — and is why Stanley
so vituperative In his attacks on Labour Left Liaison. For Stanley, and the extreme right wing of the LCC. issues of women's and black demands were a convenient smokescreen behind
of their energy into fighting the left. The right wing of the LCC never actually believed
expected deliver something for women and black rights - the only thing it expected to 'deliver' was knocking left wingers off the NEC.
actually demanding delivery of practical support, and not resting content with verbal genuflec.
has exploded the entire plan of Strategy
Furthermore the LLL's strategy is not based on some mci bally manucuvi The bringing together of Labour's tradi tional working class base - - represented by figures in the party such as Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner, together with the new movements of women and black people based on the enormous expansion of the working class since World War I!, is exactly the type of alliance which is needed to rebuild Labour as a mass. working class party today.
The soft left is disintegrating not because of internal party manoeuvres but because the essential principles the
Group and Labour Left have tought tor are correct Naturally the politics of that campaign lett can be buit on and extended. But
the indispensible nucleus around which the left in the party must
Policy
soft left is disintegrating
because, as a whole, it has defended no
_ except, as Nigel Stanley
admits, of forming a bloc with the right
to attack the left. That policy had some
success as long as all It was comronice
with was the infantile ultra-leftism of
Briefing or the crude
workerism of Militant. It cannot deal
type of politics that has
brought together the Black Section, the
Action Committee and
CLPD in Labour Left Liaison and is in-
creasingly linking the LLL and the
Campaign Group of Labour MPs.
And as the soft left comes apart the situation in the Labour Party is going to be radically reshaped.
Page 8 scan of this page
Unilateralism & foreign policy
8 Socialist Action 19 March 1987
Power or purity?
IN THE Socialist Action issue of 9 January (no 156), Carol Turner in an article called "The soft left and unilateralism' argued that Chartist and other 'soft left' groups had already begun to betray Labour's commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament. Chartist strongly denies this charge and nowhere in the editorial that she quotes rather selectively from (Chartist Jan/Feb), was there any evidence that this
view. Indeed the editorial was quite specifically talking about how Labour's non-nuclear defence policy might be achieved given all the forces that are lined up against us.
Contrary to your asser- nuclear power can give u tion, our editorial did ques- its nuclear weaponry, will tion the overtly militarist be no mean feat. Indeed it's tone of the recent party a programme which we can political broadcast that be proud of, but which has launched Labour's defence the added advantage of becampaign. And indeed the ing achievable. vast majority of Chartist supporters would support By Andy Gregg, Britain leaving NATO and Chartist Editorial cuts in Britain's defence budget. Board
However we argued that the overriding priority if we It is surprising that a were avoid electoral politica tendenc suicide, was to reassure or- claims to model itself on the dinary people that 'they will ideas of Trotsky shows feel safer without nuclear little understanding of the weapons and US nuclear necessity of transitional bases. At this late stage this programmes in the struggle can only be done by stress- to obtain political power. It ing a commitment to main- is also interesting that Carol taining our conventional Turner chose attack capacity at least until after Chartist and Tribune rather the election. Clearly for than John Lloyd, the editor your reporter, like some of the New Statesman who others on the left, this kind has openly challenged the
Dally sio-luckar accid treachery - five more years policy and questioned of Thatcherism appears to whether it will lose us the be their preference. next election. Of course it is
In a breathtakingly il- still possible that our argument Carol acience poncy will lose us Turner totally confused millions of votes if
becomes the arena tor tur. (which she appeared to ther in-fighting in the party think was party policy) with as Socialist Action appears
non-nuclear defence to want. policy which is party policy and which Chartist is quite Clear as committed to as she is.
Ironically of course this is Poll after poll has the same confusion which shown Britain's dogged the party throughout the campaign in 1983 a wil probabiy lost us the election.
The stark reality is that there are only two options for those of us on the left who still care about disar- NATO when
- about removing cruise and Trident in the eume or a labour ment that continued ministration and breaking membership down the cold war posture British of the superpowers Europe. We can either try to and engage with the real world and listen to the worries and the US insecurities that still fluence the vast majority of voters lal we will nave lo appeal to in a general elec-
which could be Socialist than four months away. Or LUIl LOSS But this we can consign ourselves to
more years OI ideological purity and and will
insignificance Thatcherite LOve CRE build a campaign to get
In the best of all possi- Britain We ble WULU have time before an elecworld that Socialist Action
mac such a lidamental change in peomajority of our supporters ple's perceptions. would be only too willing to
Socialist Action's consbuild the first barricades to tant carping confirms challenge the vast array of them as a group prepared Electoral victory ch order to chance of incoming Labour government committed to its pre- strike their favourite pose sent defence policy. In the world, removing US stance is exhibited rather as politically Pure This
ucicar bases ana issiles and cancelling Tri- cruise well in the article by the
constant use of such ent, and more importantly patronising. doggerel
emonstrating for the first 'the objective interest of
mistory that the population of this
The popularity
article to
Europe.
however
with against Lne right wing massive majorities.
tional
but popular defence militarism
tion for skyist
WITH
ventional
questions
all.
policy of
down the
nuclear war
direction,
nuclear
have been
time and
our they
policy election of
Indeed
massively Inal any
account
Trot-
has ever
questions
Illa
Socialist
Vicios
of non-
first
superpower
If
insists on
Labour
ideology that mitment to Luc
the left are carry
just
tive
alc
Third
are
rendering
and
attempts to WiLl structle
those
lota
have to demands achievable
burner.
or
Ine nature Lenin and
administration,
pushing This ap-
militarism
eventually
and
ensuring that
Canne face the dif-
all we
conference.
down their
to
Socialists
by Carol
finally sur-
terrain from
policies by
support Conideologically
support of lt. This
from
the back
That
politics as
them-
Socialist Action's reply
STARTING FROM the real world is high on the Chartist's list of priorties when it comes to discussing the Labour Party defence campaign. And so it should be. As Andy Gregg accepts, there are a 'vast array of forces' lined up against Labour's nuclear disarmament policy. Winning support for it is no mean task, and the national campaign launched by the party leadership at the end of last year occupies
222200
many are
cuts in budget'.
they that the Labour campaign
mining it, play into hands of
pOse disarma- Either ment.
The ties believe there Labour militarist
not. If do, they shouldn't and disasimportant events , not a
lie
to
That way the heart of Labour's the party go ahead and
In fact
tior general election. weapons conventional
mitment maintaining
LUCI arms
tion.
that? the
to get of nuclear from
come the United tists such States Western
Europe. of British electoral how
begin to arsena because is the of pursuing Party an foreign policy. The defence has and nuclear
the
will and season on do with in-
world.
of nuclear disarmament
its Those like many powerful
which want pendent' forces, we conclude
the dy USA. West Euro port the like West
party Germany, do not does favour of ROUSSEN but the NATO alliance, wolfel becaus
Gregg's is that the SOTE committed nuclear
them with 'the perialism.
Debate
Not only does the
Labour Party defence
campaign cut across sup
port for unilateral nuclear
disarmament per se, it also
makes a nonsense of the
party's claim to suppor
those in Central America
Africa
liberation
defending 'ordinary people'. nuclear
they •LOO are
does defence
spection.
article is would
out: toi like some
treachery five more
pears preference be
The disparaging
attacks this debate
the concerns . unilater-
prising
side with
disarma-
then today that demand.
That is
growing that the
dinating Committee,
posed electoral
ting the
defend
The of
campaion
Such
allies. explain
all nuclear are
fighting
support of those struggling
would that the I CoULLE by abandoning nuclea
tionally.
could
mament. a policy
all WICE
Page 9 scan of this page
South African NUM
Nicaragua: contras in trouble
International
congress
COSATU, the 600,000-strong union federation. JON SILBERMAN reports.
poster
display the
But by the time of the
president, 'We
organisation
istence found
responsible
state of emergency explained
BATEVICEL lans tie
in it was the
which increasingly gaining and
nergenc
state has
the anti-apartheid struggle for national liberation the congress endorsed the rreedom Charter, the liberation programme o he South African people drawn up at the Congress. of the People in 1955
The Freedom Charter s the programme advanc ed by the African Nationa I-famed contras are facing increasing difficulty getting their act together. Their failure has precipitated the worst crisis they ROBERTSON reports.
ARTURO Cruz has just resigned from the leader-
of the United Nicaraguan Opposition, the political umbrella that organises the contras.
Cruz is a former member of the junta government in Nicaragua installed after Somoza tell. Cruz is an ex. director of the Central Bank and ex-ambassador
to UNO is led by a troika
composed Cruz Maso elf, Alfonso Robello,
User former member oi the junta government, and
Lero who sents Nationa wing UNO.
alero is the only one of
three who has real backing In the
FIFTEEN THOUSAND delegates and supporters assembled in Soweto at the beginning of the month for the fifth annual congress of the South African NUM. The mineworkers union is the largest and most militant of the country's expanding trade unions. Its 360,000 members are the backbone of
non-racial trade
Congress for the South African revolutionary struggle. One of its profor 362 -tionalisation of the mines The South African NUM congress also decided to promote closer progressive lighting apartheid'.
The also
Wing for 'democratic
, class' . This follows to initiate
principles workers and control' on 'the
The anti-apartheid
proposals
and hostel The 100t •0
the mines.
threatening industrial action. The system workers travelling of
Clallipeu,
La single with no
indunas, represen-
divi AFTER THE MISERABLE failure to seriously challenge the Sandinistas on the military terrain, the
have ever had. COLIN
form of the Nicaraguan.
Democratic Force.
The disputes between the three led to the resignation Calero from the UNO leadership.
Obviously the US administranon, Irangate fiasco, is being forced to change Coulse The major difficulty facing the Americans is the fact that the military performance of the contras extener unattractive option for US foreign policy vis a vis the Nicaraguan revolution.
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, son of Pedro Chamorro, assassinated ov somoza and owner of the opposition daily La Frensa. had been
lust yeur.
along tribal lines. The union is proposing to immediately replace the in dunas with directly elected worker representatives, pending the complete abolition of the hostels within one or two vears
'We will fight every inch of the James
way emphasised 'to destroy the hostels, induna and migrant labour systems. 1987 will be the
WHel mineworkers take.control'.
The NUM congress also drew up a wage claim and Chamber of Mines to start negotiations on it in April instead of May. The claim is for a 55 per cent increase in the miners' average pay of f110 per month.
The union's general substituted for Calero. The change is aimed at improving the image of the contras and leaving leadership in the hands of anti-Somoza promellasts. designed to give the contras the 'respectability' they so badly need
The change is designe to get the approval by US congress of more funds for the counter-revolutionary armed activities of the contras inside Nicaraguan territory
The contras are highly unpopular due to the horrendous atrocities they have committed against unarmed civilians, in-
4t00l women. Their mance' makes it extremely difficult for would-be supporters to come out openly in their favour.
One of the main diffic ulties of UNO is the lack of control over funds and military activities by the
COSATU members mourn the 177 miners who died in the Kinross mining disaster
Cyril Ramaphosa made clear that the demand is not only based on union calculations of the industry's capacity to pay but also a way of changing the distribution of income in favour of labour'
Financial Ohmen if the
Financial Times Ivial wil.
The union is also pro posing that mechanisation of the industry be subject
negotiation. The Chamber of Mines claims that COST constitute 45 per cent of total costs and has embarked or drive aimed major mechanisation
boosting productivity and axing jobs. The union is deman-
ed in mechanisation plans before their implementa
olitical leadership, that i Cruz and over
Calero has • Deen denounced by the 'fighters of the south front' of having received all the money coming from the US and not having given them a single cent.
however the prUblems have found no solution and the racket continued unabated. The money comes from the ayatollahs in Iran, straight LULU the pockets of the leaders of the contras courtesy of Oliver North, Donald Regan Admiral Poindexter, and Reagan
Cruz has openly acknowledged having received US$7000 monthly from the White House
The leadership of the CORLE iter
Rica and tried to heal the internal rift to no avail. Cruz has finally decided to resign from the leadership on UNO, main
because despite all the efforts to bring the contras
UNION
Last year the union settled for rises of between 19.5 and 23.5 per cent after originally submitting
45 per Questioned as to whether the union would similarly
sette oris their
cent this y cal Ramaphosa said I leave that your judgement. But 1986 is not 1987'.
In that time the union has been subject substantial growth. In just 18 months. since the toun ding CONCEI COSATU November 1985, the union has increased its membership by 100,000. It now organises just over half the country's miners and is particularly strongly based in the gold mining industry. under the leadership of 'respectable', personalities, Calero remains strong.
The differences that have emerged bridgeablear
Besides. uncertainty about getting more aid from the US administration after Irangate
additional factor is acmoralisation
This does not mean that American imperialism has decided to repsect Nicaragua's right to self-determination. means that US policy is tem. porarily in disarray.
New will be found to attempt to crush the Nicaraguan revolution. Solidarity stepped up. Nicaragua must survive.
• Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign rally, Stop Blood Money: 7.30pm,
Westminster Central Hall, Storey's Gate, London SWI.
Mexico
been expelled from the Institutional
party and within the regime itself. Spanish state austerity economic policies
peasants and aomeutura labourers
South Africa itself. Sanctions now! of Philippines
family. This measure is obviously New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas.
Moslem rebels of the southern islands.
horizon.
Brazil
This highlights the atrocious balance of payments situation of the country and Interest due every year to foreign Danks
austerity economic policies.
Socialist Action 19 March 1987 9
World
in action
Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, sộn of 1930s
populist president Lazaro Cardenas and leader of the Democratic Current group, has
Revolutionary Party (PRI), Mexico's ruling party for the last 70 years. The Democratic Current and Cuauhtemoc have been voicing criticisms of the PRI's record and especially of its internal undemocratic practices. This affair may well open a split both within the old ruling
The episode comes in the wake of the all-time low standing of the PRI among the Mexican masses and in the midst of an acute economic crisis. The PRI has lately been increasingly exposed to accusations of corruption and persistent failure to give a solution to the deteriorating plight of peasants and workers.
An impressive show of strength was staged
by the Spanish working class when marches were organised to protest against redundancies and defend jobs from falling under the axe. . The demonstrations took place in at least 30 cities. They are an expression of the working class growing dissatisfaction with Felipe Gonzales
. In Madrid the demands displayed on the banners of the demonstrators were detence of jobs, real wage increases and a shorter working week. Marches in the south involved thousands of landless
The police clashed violently with the workers. The marches are widely viewed as a rehearsal for the general strike being prepared for April.
The Swedish Social Democratic government has decided to impose a total boycott on trade with South Africa. If followed through in all its consequences, this measure would deal a serious blow to the apartheid regime. In itself it represents a huge success for the anti-apartheid movement internationally and in South Africa
After winning the February referendum by a substallal majority, president equmo has retaken the political initiative. First she has bombastically announced that the government will carry out a vast land reform that will include even the sugar cane plantations owned by her
designed to try to reduce the growing peasant support for the
Secondly, the government has resumed talks with the Moro National Liberation Front, the organisation that leads the armed struggle of the
The possibilities of an agreement look slim. A colossal confrontation still looms large on the
The Brazilian government has decided to suspend the payment of interest on its $68 billion standing debt owed to foreign banks.
simultaneously underlies the unbearable burden on the economy that servicing the external debt represents for Brazil. However, the decision does not imply that Jose Sarney, Brazil's president, has adopted a policy of breaking with the diabolical debt-spiral that grips his and so many other Latin American countries. Sarney wants Brazil to be allowed to pay only half of the
This represents no threat to the international financial system. Moreover, there is already talk in the financial community that such a course is plausible if Brazil is prepared to adopt more
Page 10 scan of this page
Socialist Action and the NCU dispute
10 SOCIALIST ACTION carried material throughout the NCU dispute pointing to the role played in sabotaging that struggle by John Golding and the NCU executive. policies pursued by the Militant dominated Broad Left, Socialist Action called for building the Broad Left as the only alternative to Golding inside the NCU today — the forum in which militant workers seeking an alternative to Golding would organise. Articles submitted for publication by Socialist Action supporters in the NCU in London were rejected for publication — not, as is stated in the article which follows, primarily even because of the issue of the Broad Left but because they did not even mention the issue of Golding and the role of the NCU executive. The line taken by the paper was confirmed by a meeting of the Socialist Action editorial board. The following article represents a minority view among views in the articles that were rejected. Socialist Actin reaffirms its view that those like John Golding, the trade union bureaucracy, constitute the single most important line of defence of the employers and the capitalist class.
FOR telephone engineers, the three week strike which ended on 12 February markee a watersneu. Haicl 100 years without a national SIKe oLlIK file rebelled, took their leaders by the scruff of the neck, and made themselves a real union!
This will be a priceless gain in the struggle against
Collialcu 70,000 redundancy plans. How to build on it, ana prepare IOI the next strike in defence of jobs, is the question now facing hundreds OI new union minded engineers who have come forward from the picketlines.
• leaders kiekine aing
our leaders kicking screaming out on strike did we vote by 2-1 only three weeks later to go back and accept defeat? On the face of it the NCU faced none of ine problems walen auggeu the NUM or the printworkers at wanping the strike was solid, with no evidence of a drift back to work, hardship was as yet minimal, and despite massive press cover-up the strike was biting. True
To say that we were sold out is true. Golding and his executive wanted a strike and did nothing that wasn't designed to get called off three full weeks. But this doesn't explain how we managed to
first ouaco seriel in thr
place, despite leaders, we voted ourselves back work three weeks later.
In fact we overlooked the most important lesson orme ames aru cuc biull-
FREE NELSON
Socialist Action 19 March 1987 While not agreeing with all the Socialist Action supporters incorporating workers struggles: the primary reason that they failed to win was not that thev didn't wield the same industrial muscle as Lacune CuzCC s. lacked the 100 per cent backing of their union members. It was that they were forced to fight alone! a vev senous aliciol workers today to defend themseives brings them very quickly into confrontation with not only their employer, but with Tory laws ballots and picketing, with the courts, in the form of injunctions ane anes sequestrations, and with the police, through intimidation arrest and frame-ups.
By Ian Grant on behalf of London supporters in the NCU
This because the bosses Auu uCl Lyculment have made sure that anv worker daring to take on a fight has to face the united strength of the whole of their class. If we want to win then we need to be able to use the whole weight of our class on our side. The mistake we made was think we were different, that we could go it alone and avoid the problems the „lles and printworkers faced. When arter three weeks it became clear that this wasn't true the majority of engineers simply saw
way Jol waru 101 the strike to go.
Neither of the union's main currents of opinion were prepared to tell the truth about our fight. The NEC and Golding played on the fears of a drawn out Our fund drive still has a long way to go to meet its £10,000 target. To date, we have collected £2,371. The fund is due to be concluded at the end of this month.
The last weeks have seen a pick-up in donations «b VuI supporters have responded to our • days wages for Socialist ACUUT av ocal. Please consider making such a donation yourself. And if you can't get the actual money in immediate-
PIZZOS
C
right to point the finger at his' role?
strike and sat back while it
ran out of steam. The
Broad Left constantly
warned of an imminent sell
out, but did nothing to lead
beat BT and in doing so
beat BT in doing so
keep the NEC in tow.
Refused
Socialist Action refused
to print the article we sub-
miLLed I to the o rebruart
issue of the paper, which
tried to put forward, from
the experiences Lae
miners and printworkers
The esson we rawoca
if we were to beat BT.
substituted an article which
concluded that the main
task facing activists in the
NCU was to build the
Broad Left (BL).
The view expressed in
SA mirrored exatly
preoccupation of the BL
A day's wages for Socialist Action
ly, please let us know what you are pledging betore the end of the drive.
Here is a list of donations to date:
£84.39 Cardiff £24.00 Huddersfield £100.00 Leeds £6.40 Newport E London NW London
£133.00 London £112.41 OW London €130.00 Swindon® Anonymous £687.40 TOTAL £2,371.10
NO
RINGS
and the NCU strike: was Socialist Action
throughout the strike with
ousting and
right wing from the leader-
ship of the union. Rather
than say what was needed
LIKC WIll . ine
BL' : was more concerned
that blame for the 'in-
evitable' defeat was proper-
ly laid at the door of the
right wing and that they
themselves be elected
June. In the course of the
strike however the Broad
ottered SCLIO UN
evidence that it would have
done anything fundamen-
tally different from
Golding. Grasp We will have to grasp
that simply downing tools
isn't enough. We have to go
all out to build the strike in
walks.
our spouses and families so
Celebrate!
EAST LONDON is out to turn the Fund Drive into a fun drive.
They plan to celebrate the struggles being waged
working-class world-wide and make a little (or a lot of) money for Socialist Action in doing
They'll be mixing not just rum and coke but also politics and business and pleasure
The fare for the evening's entertainmentwill be varied: a three-course sit-
no one sits at home until its
all over. We have to build
the strike with other unions
June
and make them understand
that it's their tight too. We
especially have to win sup-
port from women and from
black people who come
under particular attack
from the Tories. All would
gain from our victory. Only
Oy caldec S
from all these people will we
be able to stand up to the
use of the police, the law
and the courts by
break our action.
Telephone engineers will
have to bulld on the kind of
international support which
was onterec toe sanke ta
time, in any future action
We will have to , take
fight in the Labour Party
not only for solidarity but
ensure Inal a
Labour government
plements policies to defend
us from the attacks of the
bosses.
It would be surprising if
the Broad Left were not to
gain as a result of the strike
in the NEC : elections this
year. However this is not to
say that they
credible alternative leader.
shịp to the right. As the
miners used to say: a leader-
ship which guaranteed you
could go to sleep at night
conneeu ual vou wouul l
wake up in the morning to
you'd been sold
tind thay
out! Such a leadership did
overnight.
Calciet
Before it can be built in the
NCU, telephone engineers
will have to take a few more
steps down the road we have
started on.
Learn
fight.
union today
have begun learn this
fundamental
members: fight
the strike,
70.000
redundancies BT
estimated
vCU its part in
building with
other nationally down slap-up meal and
by culvelcu cabaret turns, plus greetings person from ANC, SWAPO Women Against Pit Closures and others.
For just 'fiver they're inviting political friends and colleagues to
them on saturday, 4 April.
Further details and tickets avallable from: John Barton, 107 Nevill Road, London, N16.
See you there!
Inside
• Caterpillar
JOHN BRANNAN, convenor at the occupied Caterpillar plant at Uddingston in Scotland spoke to a fringe meeting at the Scottish Labour Party conference organised by the Campaign Group.
Brannan challenged the logic of the system whereby pronl determines whether workers have jobs, whether steel is produced at Ravenscraig or tractors are produced at Caterpillar.
'We are fighting for the right to determine that we want to work for Caterpillar' he said. 'The factory belongs to us. The only thing we lack is someone to pay our wages.
The occupying workers have built a tractor named the 'pink panther which they have • Bosses interfere in NCU AGM NCU members in the london City area wert shocked last week to receive a scurrilous red-baiting letter from their former union branch secrew —luwa manager and active strike breaker. Arriving five days before the City branch AGM, it is a clear attempt by management to influence its outcome.
By Jim Gordon and
Bridget Elton
The letter comes in the aftermath of the NCU's first ever national
strike, and is part of a management offensive against one of the
strongest and most
militant branches in the
union. Since the strike
more than a dozen branch officers and
members have been
subject to management
victimisations ranging
from arbitrary shifts of
workplaces to
suspension.
A campaign has been taunched in detence of those victimised, and an appeal has gone out to the labour movement tor support. London City branch is calling for strike action in the event of any sackings.
Some of those
In the Unions
the unions
donated to Nicaragua. They built it, Brannan explained, 'to highlight LC COSC Ua l which is making somehting that people need. We want to congratulate War on Want for accepting the tractor and for building a campaign for the tractor to go to Nicaragua where it belongs
Neil Kinnock visited the occupation on his way to the Scottish Labour Party conference where the Caterpillar struggle was, with the neal daast Eue cosulc of the Golden Wonder
feature of the conference. Tony Benn plans to visit the occupation 24 March. nuce naca door has been mobilised for the closure fight, which has also won international support.
On 5 March to coincide with a lobby of parliament, Caterpillar workers in Grenoble in Switzerland had a demonstration outside the US embassy and workers in Brüssels stopped work for 15 minutes. These actions were coordinated by a HuroDean combine established in the last MIONLO
victimised are standing for office in this week's branch AGM. The management letter mentions these and other left wing activists by name, and warns NCU members against those who argue for solidarity with other workers in struggle, and who stress the need for politics in trade unions.
Using the old tactics of divide and rule management are trying to smash the unity forged on the picket lines. NCU members learned during the strike the importance of support from the rest of the working class, when many union and Labour Party branches offered support, and MPs and others visited picket lines. The activists slandered in the letter were in the forefront of arguing for the need for this kind of support. Members know this and will not be tooled by management red-baiting.
No matter what the outcome of the AGM elections. the mos important task is to build a united campaign in defence of those victimised, especially those threatened with the
Page 11 scan of this page
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Page 12 scan of this page
black person on NUS executive.
College, London report from Blackpool
Younge beat his rivals
by 262 votes. Liz Millward.
SSiN candidate, polled 179
votes; Matt Cole of the
SDP, 160; and Tony Sam-
thier of Communist Stu-
National
Organisation of Labour
Students stood
candidate.
Younge's victory is a
vindication
paign in support of black
sell-organisalon Inal nas
been waged in NUS. The
fact that Socialist Students
NOLS soou d call-
didate against him is fur-
ther proof of their opposi-
non in practice to this
demand. Claim
NOLS also claim to support the black liberation struggle. The fact that they look no posion on this election is a disgrace.
•We believe that it is important to give the libera-
ion campaigns the space they need to develop,' said the NOLS manifesto, Labour into the 1990s. 'We also believe that it is important that the liberation campaigns have representatives at all levels of the NUS. This is one of the reasons we do not stand for all of the positions on NUS executive.'
Belief
Interviewed by Com-
Student. NUS president and NOLS candidate Vicky Phillips said: 'I do not believe that it
Name
Address
1 enclose c Action for E
Begistered as a newspaper with the Post Office. Published by Cardindl Enterorises. PO Box 50. London N1.
ACTION
Black victory at NUS conference
BLACK REPRESENTATION and self-organisation was given a tremendous boost at the National Union of Students Easter conference here in Blackpool on Tuesday evening, when Pat Younge was elected vice president-education. Pat was supported by the black student caucus and by Labour Party Black Section, as well as by Campaign Student. He is a member of the Labour Party Black Section, and will be the only
Polly Vittorini of SOAS and Robin Laney of Kings
(pluralism) is achieved by having a rep from each party on the NEC is certainly a need for better representation for black students.'
If NOLS believes what it savs. HOW Come they didn't call for a vote for Pat Younge in the VPeducation election?
The same election also witnessed SDP students calling for a vote for Communist Student, whose candidate received the SDP's second preference votes.
Education was a key debate at NUS conference.
But the main motion passed was empty platitudes and devoid of campaigning content. The majority of amendments calling for action were defeated, including those calling for joint student-trade union acton on the campuses Another amendment calling for the opening of a constitutional review which would allow NUS to call for a vote tor candidates and parties during
out.
Debate
This debate took place in the context of NUS having submitted proposals to the Baker review. No censure of this was moved or passed.
However, the Baker review and the incorrect position of NUS were raised in the hustings for VPcaucanion. Pat Younge's platform was a model for NUS.
Younge pointed out
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that the NUS was wrong to
make a submission to the
review. No money for
education was forthcom-
ing from the Tory govern-
ment, he pointed out.
In that context, negotiation was
substitute for campaigning
against Baker and
the Tory
Younge explained calcull. how NUS Wales, his own area, had used the Baker review as the springboard for student demos against education cuts.
The three NOLS can-
didates for NUS president,
national secretary and
treasurer Vicky and Maeve Adrian Long,
Sherlock have all been returned by conterence. No Labour candidates stood against
nem, but the posts wer contestea by Tories anc
'pro-life' candidates.
"The of Vp. welfare, being held as we go to press and tor which
no rested bet availa be. is
contested
LWU candidates. Jo Gibbons is supported by NOLS, Simon Pottinger by SSiN. Failure
In the wake of the siege and the massacres refugee camps, NUS con ference has yet again failed to prioritise a speaker on Palestine A student from Bir-Zeit University present
NUS conterence was not chosen in the ballot to select priority guest speakers.
Campaign Student however, will be giving this student a platform at its fringe meeting later in conference, together with speaker from the General Union of Palestinian Students.
With the exception of Pat Younge's victory,
conference takıng place between Sunday 15
Thursday 19 March has been a hollow affair.
students union has failed take the steps necessary to develop the alliances and campaigns need to mobilise students for a Labour victory.
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institutions)
posed Margam new mine.
The South Wales area
director has imposed ac-
duction at Margam before ceptance of six-day
talks between area
leadership of the NUM in
South Wales and the Board
can take place.
By Nigel Bevan,
committee member,
Tower Lodge NUM
This has to be seen as a direct attack on the five day week agreement which was drawn up between the
NUM and the Coal Board in 1947. The five day week Poreard inasmach astep forward inasmuch restricted the shifts worked ard guaracted mineds a
guaranteed miners a week wace negotiated gree meet This wa:
the NUM and is the property of the national union.
It is estimated that the Coal Board's plan for Margam willtake • sever years to develop and wil eventually create 800 jobs. This figure is in question because of the effect new nichnology is having on the number employed in coal mines to-
and the every aspect of mining, will probably mean the actual figure employed when Margam eventually comes
stream will be nearer 400
If you compare these 400 jobs, or even the 800 claimed by the Coal Board with the number of jobs that will be lost in the industry as a whole if the five day week agreement is lost, Margam pales into insignificance.
six-day the UK coalfield would mean, according to Robert Haslam's information, in the region of 12,000 job losses a year.
The question of other unions taking Margam has been used to sion follows a move in the South Wales coalfield to
for the opening of a new pit at Margam.
against the board by the union.
'The policy of the union is against six-day working
sevell-day working week. There are 15 decisions of this union, either at the NEC or conference level denouncing any extension of the working week. In 1987, we should be fighting for a four-day not six-day working week.
'At the meeting of the NEC on 12 February, South Wales officials tried to con-
against six-day working
THE COAL BOARD's attitude to negotiations with
the NUM has, since the end of the strike, been total-
ly unacceptable. Preconditions have been attached
to every meeting between the national union and the
coal board on wages, and this has now spilled over in to the South Wales Area on the question of the pro-
try and scare South Wales miners into accepting the Board's proposal.
Organisations such as the Two thousand miners and their.
Scargill urges NUM unity
THE NATIONAL executive of the NUM has called a special delegate conference to consider the coal board's strategy to extend working hours. The executive deci-
unilaterally talk with its area board on six-day working
Speaking at a 10 March 'future for coal' meeting in Barnsley, NUM president Arthur Scargill explained his views on Margam and urged a united stand
that the Coal | Board proposal for an eight-hour day and a six-day week over a three week period. and then a week off, would actually, over the period, bring a slight reduc tion in hours. Well it's not trueSouth Wales officials said that the Coal Board's proposal lor an eight-hour shift for a six-day period is 144 hours.
STAND FIRM
UDM, ISTC and TGWU
have been mentioned
prospective candidates
the NUM does not accept
the Margam project.
If we as a union suc-
cumb to these
and accept the six-day
coaling concept
Margam, it will be a green
light for the government
and the Board to introduce
NONAL ONION MIN HORNER
YORKSHINE AREA
families marched through South Kirkby 14 March in remembrance of David Jones, killed on the picket line during the miners' strike.
mineworker works the full But today number of hours to attain a full six-shift : payment, he WULKS 123¾ hours which is less than 144!
In other words they are asking every miner at the new Margam pit to work an additional number of hours for no more pay, workm: on a Saturday and possibly
Sunday 4-shift sequence
"The most diabolical thing of all' Scargill said 'is that no matter what the arrangement when there's a national policy, it's determined nationalt
This union is nothing unless its one united union, not divided into sections, Areas, or divisions. Once an area goes its own way, it not only weakens the national union it weakens itself.
new legislation and impose these conditions of work on every miner working on the UK coalfield.
we must stand firn and not accept what is ef fectively the first step to privatisation nationalisation conditions the that go along with it and the end of the coal dustry as we know it.
← Socialist Action No. 160, 6 March 1987Socialist Action No. 162, 10 April 1987 →