Socialist Action No. 166, 29 May 1987

Socialist Action (IMG / Socialist League) · 29 May 1987 · 12 pages, 19,157 words read by machine

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No. 166

ACTioN

BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM

FOR A

29 May 1987

ALL OUT

LABOUR VICTORY

LABOUR X

30p

Inside

• Women and the election. • Thatcher's war on local government. • Phase two of the campaign • Eyewitness from South Africa

Page 2 scan of this page

2 Socialist Action 29 May 1987

SOCiAiK

ACTION

Be

thankful

for small

mercies

LABOUR supporters throughout the coun-

last week. And, to be blunt, heaved a sigh of

It is true we have had a ridiculously TV oriented campaign. And the first TV broadcast was an almost non-political embarassment. But so far the campaign has concentrated on some of the most popular, and progressive, aspects of Labour's policies - rebuilding the health service, defending education, attacking the government's record on unemployment.

The results also show what a waste of energy, and how damaging, was the four years effort the Labour leadership has spent in witch hunts, attacking the left, bashing the Black Section, similar activities. The idea that putting into Kinnock's first TV broadcast his 1985 conference

surge in the polls is simply daft - Labour was already going up in the polls long before that.

People, quite rightly, believe that unemployment, the destruction of the National Health Service, the threat to comprehensive education and similar issues are important enemies which confront their lives Black Section, and the Militant tendency.

We may also be thankful that, apart from the opening shot of the first TV broadcast, hysterical flag waving, and undying pledges of adherence

'defence' issue. Against his entire previous campaign Kinnock was even forced to come out with the truth at the Monday press conference - that there is no Russian threat to invade Europe, or.

So far, in response to the 'looney left' taunts of the press, we have been mercifully spared anthousands' or 'ali Labour blacks to be expelled". Given what could have happened in the cam-

and the potential of the situation, should be grateful for small mercies. The left has also responded correctly by understanding that between now and 11 June the main task is to defeat the Tories — and to concentrate the cam-

Tories and Alliance, for their own reasons, put attacking each other in the forefront of their first

heat on Labour as the second week opened. The possibility for Labour to shoot itself in the fool then became endless. Just let Labour slip two per cent in the polls, or the Tory press cut loose on a particularly outrageous assault on the left, and Labour's right will start demanding Militant or some similar diversion, be made the central

The left can do little about the campaign — as it doesn't influence it. All it can do is pray for that the campaign shows some of the things Labour should have been campaigning on for the

In one sense, of course, the campaign doesn't matter. The real reason for voting Labour is not amha iat least by the Lasour leadership et is

at least by the Labour leadership. defending the unions against the attacks of the theLabour Party itself against the assault of the Tories and the Alliance, defending the services provided by local authorities against the attempt to break them up. t us everything progressive in the world, and most of all those fighting for their liberation, will take a step forward if Labour wins on 11 June.

Because what matters in this campaign is not

tionary patriotism he has been spewing out for four yers, the 'human face' presented in the camdCN DCACLSVOLLO COSCOnuI

labour movement and the forces of capital in Britain. who wins that fight, not what is said in the

Watever the campaign, whatever the next two weeks brings: All out for Labour victory on

is responsible for Labour's

not Derek Hatton, the

have been kept to a minimum on the

understanding that

LAST WEEK, the Tory Party launched its general election campaign with a manifesto promising even sharper attacks on local government. In addition to introducing a poll tax everywhere, the manifesto commits a third Thatcher government to setting a fixed and universal industry rate. It promises an increase in private rented accommodation and further erosion of council housing, as well as the widely-publicised changes in education and extensive privatisation of council services. According to The Next Move Forward, local government and especially inner-city problems arise primarily from the policies pursued by left wing Labour councils.

gives her views of what a third Thatcher government would have in store for the inner-cities. Linda Bellos

THE forv Partv wants to decimate local government.

It wants to further restrict our finances and break up more of the services we provide than the Thatcher auveillll has already done in its eight years of otfice. That is why attacks on

local government are at the heart of the Tory manifesto.

TocaL0 e alcd bastion of Labour's power.

The Tory Party cannot win

power in local elections, sc

it wants to destroy local

covernment div wav l cal

That is why Margaret Thatcher has already abolished the GLC and metropolitan councils.

don't think local government should have power for its own sake. The

fact is that councillors are more responsive and ac countable and living in the CommuBlICs lncy represent.

Local communities are in the best position to deter-

mine what Is in our

terests. Some of us in local

government are critical of

webetald as local

authorities, believing that

WC MU LI responsive

enough to the needs of local

people. Thatcher is deter-

mined make the

possibility of local councils

responding to the needs of

local people extremely dif-

ficult, if not impossible. Poll tax

The attack on local

root of the Tories plans

Just before the dissolution of parliament they brought

in the Scotland Act •In•

hocuce a poll lax, une so•

called community tax, for

which they have no man-

date. hey have almost no

seats to lose there; they

don't contro anv councis

Tory plans for the

inner-cities

LINDA BELLOS, leader of Lambeth council,

in Scotland. And they have said they would introduce a poll tax elsewhere.

The net effect would be that the people of Lambeth would pay approximately £117 more in rates than they currently pay. That's contrasted with people boroughs like Westminster paying less. The richer in a communitv would pav less. the poorer would pay more.

The Doll tax. coupled with the proposal for a standard industry rate, would bring the overall rate revenue down. Employers have been encouraged over decades to relocate, from sites'. mne-cuc. This will further reduce employment in areas like Lambeth.

Tory manitesto says: 'in many of our inner-cities the conditions for enterprise and pride of ownershir llave been systematically extinguished by socialist councils.' That is crass dogma.

Socialist authorities have been seeking to encourage cooperatives and also private businesses. But the powers

we have to SUDVUI ! local employment are restricted by this government.

The Tories are pursuing a twin-track policy. First, by branding Labour councils as "oonie ett'. thev have attacked our policies which TIOA AN GIA OTeNAe mon prejudice against. Now they are using that to attack the foundations of local government: housing, education, social services. The lot.

Housing

Their proposals on privatisation would attack street cleaning, rubbish colthing. The Tories are seek- just about everything.

decimate local authorities and local democracy and the control that people have over the services that they want to see provided.

Take housing. They want to take ownership and control away from local counclis. Sav group tenants decided they might get more out of a property company.

The property company wold soend a lot ot moner on renovation. It would then do what the private property market has always done: start evicting people

jack up the rents and harass people to leave, so it

TO LET

Shops Showrooms

W H ROBINSON

19 Mosky Seat M 061:228 641 could sell those homes. That something we already have evidence of — it has happened in Wandsworth.

I know that many peoDie are alssausinca wil te repairs service from-coun-

am DIOuu Lambeth's •record we take too long. and we are devoting a lot of time and attention to improving that, asc coteames coler councils are. We readily acknowledge that becaust of the financial constraints imposed on us we are nol able to spend as much on council house repairs as we want.

But we know from our experience through the environmental health services that record private sector is appalling Even 10W. Lambeth takes less than half the time to carry out repairs than the private sector does.

Old people

Or take social services. The Tories have about privatising council

people's HOncs Westminster City council Lnco can wel scc Coll panies coming into existence to milk the market, to exploit old people for profit

A over the CounL v privatisation SO unpopular with working class people because they know that with all the faults in social services, we have stati who do their job with commitment. staff weTe working for a private company that degree of care would not be forthcoming.

The caring services, particularly where there are large numbers of women and/or black people, are low-paid low-status jobs Private companies would make a profit by reducing oav ane cauc le cuc cae available for each person being cared for.

In January this year, in the cold weather, caretakers in Lambeth were knocking on the doors of people they knew • DE vulnerable, doing shopping,

te 10 X Kahe o service

oi counci action. Quality

Equality SCHOOs. roads and pavements,

how quickly repairs Some of the things we do

Gues lave "loony left'

in Lambeth.

We Dulsuc

within LULI society, in Lambeth.

imbalances.

rabidly racist.

have pursued policies. Initiatives

gav zals

ty oi lt

for

been supported.

learned ITCTH

something I

TOCaI goverlllel

Election '87

THE NEXT MOVES

FORWARD

heard. And slowly and sure ly we are trying to respond.

duty to consult the communities. wond also sat that working class people have a responsibility to raise their voices and say exactly what they need and want.

We want money and we want resources Central government must iccoguss that inner-city areas are here to stay, you neglect them at your peril need redistribution of resources, which is what rate support grant was supposed to be about before Tory government eroded it.

The contribution that used to be made from central government lo Lamiecu was 56 per cent. It is now 39 diference, is coming from cent. The balance the ,local majority lalcvayeis are living But the

poverty.

Misery

I want to see rate support grant restored to all local authorities, with the balance in ne aotl working class communities. ne ones ook tak awe because those councils were habour-controled and the had no electoral gains to make by giving us money

Socially, economically, morally we need that mones to spend on building and repairing homes, on more sheltered housing tor ou increasing elderly ..com. aluillly. We need Ichiva tional and education facilities for young people.

And more than anything else we need jobs In some parts of Lambeth there is 70-80 per cent male unemployment. That is the level öf unemployment on some of our estates. Putting the hope back by building HONC allu providin licceosal y iobs of ÝTS schemes. jobs not sham

That is what councils like Lambeth would want to see a Labour government do. All the Tories promised is more misery for the inner-cities and for Britain's working class communities

Page 3 scan of this page

Thatcher's war on local government

UTS IN JOBS AND SERVI

Election '87

THE CENTRE piece of the Tories election

manifesto is a programme for an all out

assault

JOHN ROSS looks at the Tory battle plan

for smashing local government.

why that assault on local government is so

politically necessary

popularity of radical Labour authorities

such as the GLC.

How the Tories plan

to smash local

government

THE main goal of the first two terms of the Thatcher government was to break the power of the trade unions and the Labour Party itself.

Thatcher's policies against the unions culminated in the struggle against the NGA at Warrington, against the print unions at Wapping, and, above all, against the miners. Almost 4 million members been lost by the trade unions since 1979 over a quarter of their members.

Against the Labour Party assault meant, through the creation of the SDP-Liberal Alliance, smashing down Labour's vote from 11.5 MATION In 1979 million in 1983. This combined loss of 4 million trade union members, and million Labour votes, some measure of the severiThatcherism. OI assault of

For its hoped for third • lena wale keeone let altack on the unions and the

picking out for special assault the third bastion of the movement Labour's control of local governmell.

Despite the weaknesses in local government often bureaucratic character, the attack of both right and lelt Labour councils on the trade unions - it has still been one of the ways the working class has defended itself against the onslaught of Thatcher.

Labour's strength local government also in-

on local government finances.

And at

- the tremendous

with the trade unions - as much of the unions strength is in tne public sector.

At the beginning of Thatcher's government 82 per cent of workers in the pubne sector were umontsed compared to 70 per cent

17 per cent in private services. Much of that public sector strength lies in local government. The assaults

culs and privausalion mean tremendous weakening both ot local government services and

So severe are the proposals in the Tory manifesto for local government that if Thatcher wins a third time Is noo see now erec tive local government can

thar government sufferance. The

ory machinery of controls, already in place wiln rate sappinestrenged manifesto proposals. Each measure is designed to fit together with the others to speed up the disintegration of local government.

Right

The poll tax is the first step. In almost every area of ine country anyone below

the top ten per cent income

level will be worse oft

The shift of resources from ordinary and away

low income families will be

tremendous. means

literally that the Duke of

Westminster, with an in-

come of €100 million a year, will be paying the same as a

person in a low paid family.

Line pol lax, logelne.

with taking rating of

businesses out ot local con

trol, is aimed to smash the

base of local

government.

The measures on local

government nance interac

with the proposal to allow

tenants to opt out of coun-

cil estates — and for whole

estates to become indepen-

dent. If there is a major cut

back in local spending,

because of rate capping and

capital controls, at the mo-

ment ween unes ones dre

offering tenants the right to opt out of council controll-

ed estates, many probably

will do so. It will smash the

provision of council

lousing

same annies

education. Labour controll-

ed authorities are generally

major areas of deprivation

with middle class, pro-

sperous, pockets. Labour

councils usually pursue

once or owe coo

boundaries so there is a mix

of ability and income ir

each school.

THE REASON tor tne ferocity of Thatcher's

local government is not just economic. It is because local government is one of the areas where Labour has built up

notable that a higher proportion of people for Labour in local elections than in national ones. In particular local government has been an area where Labour has built support against Lue Alliance and the Tories, in many big cities, have become fringe group. The evidence is that Labour's support is more readily built up by radical left wing polices than simply. competing for the middle ground.

mean 11UL Labour councils simply projecting a nebulous 'left image' by doesn't cut any Ice. means councils developing clear specific policies and making it clear they intend to carry them through.

Nothing confirms this lesson more strongly than ine most impollant exami ple of radical Labour local government Thatcher the GLC. Indeed much of Thatcher's sent assault

and Kinnock's complicity in it, designed smash the legacy of the GLC. So it is vital to be clear how popular the GLC was and how much it changed political perceptions favour labour movement.

First the GLC itself

The legacy of the GLC

directly popular Voting in London tradi tionally matches pretty ex actly national figures. Bu' the GLC consistently built up Labour leads in Lon

far exceeding anything nationally.

By September 1984

Labour was four per cent Denunu the Tories tionally, but 28 cent ahead in London Throughout the last uwu years of the GLC its support consistently ran ten to twenty per cent ahead of Labour nationally in the polls.

Socialist Action 29 May 1987

HACKNEY JSSC

This support built up.

before the fight

underway Ine election the swing to the Tories Britain as whole was 5.2 per cent. In England it was 4.2 per cent. But in the GiC area the • swing was kept down to 3.8 per cent.

Political other issues

pread inte

han simply the popularıt of the GLC itself • BI September 1984 support for disarmamenl unilateral nuclear stood at 39 per • tionally but at 44 per cent in London. • Support for subsidised public transport was 10 per cent higher in London than nationally • The view that crime should be dealt with by blems that the social problems cause it was supported by Sl per cent in London compared with only 46 cent tionally. • The 19 per cent national majority in favour of the government's anti-trade union legislation was reduced to seven per cent in London • In London five per cent more thought Labour kept its promises than the national percentage did. Six per cent more people gave their reason for supporting Labour in London as the fact that they liked Labour policies

The GLC received support both from inside and outside Labour's tradi tional base. Traditional support was shown in the difference the

3 London view on the anti-trade union legislation and the national view There was also remarkable sup Bur Labour also ens deeps. among pensioners into the 'yuppie' vote

Alliance had tried to pick up

Among 18-34 year old white collar and skilled manual voters, the Tories averaged 28 per cent sup port nationally and in

But the popularito thetic transomen

situation between Labour and the Alliance

Nationally 40 per cent of this the Alliance and

• 39 per cent supporting Labour and only 30 per cent for the Alliance.

The policies of the GL.C, in short, built on, but did not replace Labour's traditional support. The GLC maintained or increased support on

such as fares, opposition to trade union laws and disarmament. But also won whole layers which other parts of the country went to the Alliance.

It is this combination of support which explain-

the The GLY of the GLC GLC proved Labour's support was built more by radical and left wing policies than by simply competing tor right wing and middle ground

Tished is he Tea that abolished the Thạt is the political reason she is determined to smash popular local government.

Page 4 scan of this page

4 Socialist Action 29 May 1987

In Brief

Thatcher's plans

for youth

THATCHER'S plans for youth are part of the Tories 'radical manifesto'. To any young person who has passed through state education in the last eight years, or is in the 80 per cent of 16 year old school leavers annually now who do not go into permanent jobs, or has been coerced onto a YTS scheme or has to move home every eight weeks to qualify for housing benefit, or is a student who has lived through the decrease in grants by 24 per cent from their 1979 level — the approach is not new. The Tory mises to round off the policy aimed creating a vast pool of cheap and easilymanipulated youth labour.

The Tories' place on the Youth school leaver under 18 who is not going directly into a job'. Only 20 per cent do. 'As a result, none of these school leavers need to be unemployed' and the added incentive is: 'we will take steps to ensure that those under 18 who do deliberately choose to remain unemployed are not eligible for benefit.

By Anne Kane

That is, the Tories will literally force hundreds of thousands of school leavers every year into unsafe, non-unionised, they would get for being on the dole and which now. or course oss tur two vcars.

Having promised industrial conscription for the weakest and most workers, others are promised 'guarantees' mild by comparison. the 18 and 25s unemployed between 6 and 12 months, is 'a place either on the Job Training Scheme or on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme or in a Job Club'. The third, for those older, is a place on a 'Restart' scheme.

Although the compulsion is not spelt out, the implication is obvious. on too of the £100 million yet to be cut benefits of those between 18 and 25, beginning in April 1988, and the avallable lot work questionnaires being introduced. This initiative is planned to cut' 200,000 from the unemployment figures.

NUS: let women

decide

THE WEEKEND of 30-31 May at Newcastle

University sees the first NUS women's Campaign Conference with the right to elect a

women's officer as a full voting member of the

NUS executive.

This right was created by a large majority at

the last two NUS conferences.

By Polly Vittorini

But the timing of conference in the middle of ex-

ams has meant a very low and unrepresentative sub-

mission of motions — 64 per cent of motions come

from Manchester University where the 'Democratic

Left-supported candidate, Julie Grant, comes from.

On v six colleges have put in motions and the contesi

for women's officer looks set to be decided on a low

poll. The conference is further undermined by the

fact that it is not even standard practice for delegates

to be elected.

Concrete proposals for discussion include: at-

filiation to the Stop the Strip-Searches Campaign

and support for the anti-strip-searches demonstra-

tion in Durham on 13 June; affiliation to the AAM

in recognition of the struggle of womein South

Africa; support for the campaign for abortion rights

in Britain and the north

backward motions call for NUS women's campaign

instead to onioritise campaiens for tampon machines

and work on 'bread and butter' issues.

chauvinistic stance ignores the life-and-death issues

of women being psychologically tortured in British

jais in Ireland, women who are raped or deported,

and the many other issues central to real women's

lives.

• Campaign Student fringe meeting, 9pm Saturday

30 May, speakers from Stop the Strip-Searches Cam-

paign and Labour Women's Action Committee.

manifesto simply pro-

'first guarantee' to youth is 'a

Training Scheme to every temporary jobs at the rate

vulnerable of potential

The Tories "second guarantee, for

These 'guarantees' come from the Ireland. Some very

This deeply

'PARENTS DO not want their children taught positive images for gays'. Margaret Thatcher, explaining the Tories' education policies, was quick to go on the offensive in supporting programme.

* The Tory manifesto is clear. Education will be battered from nursery to further education. The Tories have prepared for this not just through government but, prior to that, through building a reactionary coalition which includes everyone from industrialists to heterosexist bigots. The consensuse for comprehensive education in the mid-seventies is being challenged and Labour is unprepared in mounting a serious defence of it - partly because it accepts the parameters laid down by the Tories. RAY SIROTKIN looks at the Tories education plans.

THE Tory argument is simple. The 101IC0 call for

moral values' and hard work to be laugnt - in-

parents the sort school they

Inis means 'higher standards'. To achieve this

rid itself those subjects deemed irrelevant. The Tories therefore call for a core curriculum — Labour does too. and there isn't in principal anything wrong with that. What lies behind this is a package to ensure that the education mould is very rigid and not to allow for regional needs or specific local policies. In particular anti-sexist and anti-racist teaching will be removee Tragically, much of the left have dodged this question while the Tories have been on the offensive. Policy The Tories' proposals for reorganising education.

which are not unrelated to

their ideological ones , are

equally horrendous.

Despite the limitations of

Labour led authorities such

as the ILEA who often

pay mere lip service to pro-

gressive policies the

Tories, desolle Svetal ali

tempts, have been unable to

oust them trom control

London's education.

Tories know, however, that

jority, can always

change the rules. Thus they

have already, before the

election, piloted the prac-

tice of 'financial devol-

This system means the

school given fixed

budget. It can nave a sel

number of teachers or have

larger classes so as lo pul-

chase necessary equipment.

In the Cambridgeshire ex-

periment, serving teachers

pick headteachers up from

On this system,

school needs extra funding,

It coula opt for ine cly

Technology College model

¡wnere It is alrecty spoll-

sored by, and therefore ac-

countable

enterprises such as Dixon's

orine nason use.

It is also worth noting

these proposals are design-

ed to split teachers and

smash the solidarity of the

now teachers have attemp-

ted to resist local authority

threats to move teachers.

This was seen recently in

ILEA. But if a teacher in a

particular school felt that

maintaining a full staff cut

into their own wage she or

he might be less likely to

resist their colleagues being

Thatcher's assault

on education

their repressive educational moved then at present.

With ILEA particularly

mind, the Tories will allow school management

opt out _ot ine local education authority and become 'indenendent'. in the case of inner London thev will allow boroughs to declare UDI from ILEA.

Once again the Tories plans combine attacking education with attacking the leans uns The Tories are simply

new sallulla schools - which they do want, and allowing the richer London boroughs such as the City of London, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea to withdraw nel aes. I ney diso Have directly political tasks. The best way for the Tories to break up the Inner London peachers associaton (IL TA), the most powerful part of the NUT, is to deal with ILEA first.

The privatisation theme of the Tory doesn't forget the under fives either hatcher would wish to see local education turn private SOUrCE where possible. This can on v mean a turther assault on the nursery end of the coucal ol chain the Tories urge councils to turn

the voluntary sector rather than providing nursery education

Campaign

Significantly, the rural schools will not be subject to the same capitalist rationale. Perhaps because the Tories have no expectation of winning support in

but have much to defend in rural areas, that they aren't prepared to take any risks with their support in rural areas of Britain point.

As regards further education, the universities will be run by a new University Funding Council (UFC), with "nonacademics' fully par ticipating. Polytechnics will

removed from _Local

Education Authority

(LEA) control. This com-

bination of proposals

adapting further

education to the direct needs of modern capital as never before.

Education, always used serve Line

capitalism, has traditional-

organised mainly through the local state. The

post war consensus whereby

Labour controlled councils

would assist this purpose is no longer reliable. The deep

economic and social crisis has prompted the Conser-

vatives to prepare for a new structure by which educaHON Can DesI Serve LIC le terests of the ruling class.

Effective local government, as the GLC abolition and rate capping indicated, was an optional • aspect of bourgeois rule. so are loca education authorities. The Tories have therefore decid ed to radically restructure

local and functions.

The tragedy for Labour is that it has joined in with the ideological offensive which the Tores have as a

grammar schools

all.

The Tory manifesto is clear. It states 'we will allow state schools to opt out of LEA (Local Education Authority) control... They would become independent charitable trusts.

What would be the status of the schools that were allowed to leave the local system? Kenneth

was Ccal and there has been no retreat. Schools opting out of local authority control COle become grammar schools.

Baker said that when a school applied to opt out of the local authority system at first he: would want to

assured that the character of the school and its range of ability would be retained'. However it at a later time a school wished to change that character:

HIGA

A FIELT OR

ENOL

BAKER

cutting edge for gaining support for their policies.

NEC pandered to and accepted the stream of Tory filth The working class needs positive images, not bigotry. The Tory offensive though resisted by the NUT, at least in terms of policy has now been carried through • to its logical conclusion.

Education has proved to br

just for teachers, but also for the class, women, lesbians and gays and black people.

Tories plan to reintroduce

THE TORY campaign on education was a shambles at the end of the last week with Thatcher and Secretary of State for Education Kenneth Baker appearing to publicly contradict each other. But the row was not because there was confusion as to what Tory policy was — as the press claimed. The reason was that Conservative policy was drastically unpopular and they had mistakenly let the cat out of the bag. Comparing the policy statements by Thatcher, and supposed corrections' of them later, shows no ambiguity on policy at

'they would be able to make application under the 1980 Education Act which allows local authorities to request change in school's ethos.

Thatcher made it clear last Friday these schools could re-introduce selection. Thatcher said selection was already in use by direct grant schools and navate dee noos. is up to the school to pursue its own admission policies Thatcher spelt it out without ambiguity on Sunday. 'I am a great believer in grammar schools, particular v in large cities... It there are proposals to set up Slalla. schools, either from local education authorities or from teachers and parents, that too would be considered.

News

BURY

BAKER

A political solution for teachers - which includes

Party is essential to defend the gains of the postWail the period. NAS/UWT Uniting wil give with

teachers greater organisa tional strength, but will not

itself allow for the alliances which need to be made to challenge the Tory strategy.

One thing is certain. Not only for teachers but for the entire labour movement caucallon is now rigil at the top of the politica agenda.

There was no ambiguity on Tory policy - Schools removing themselves from local authority contro would have to remain comprehensive for cosmetic period. coll But then initia

they would be allowed to change their character to become selective grammar schools.

payment of fees Thatcher also opened up the door She said on rmday: 'Schools which opt out

education authorities will still be state schools. We do not and will not charge admission fees at state schools. ' However she also said: grant maintained school (one that has opted out loca authority control) wishes to raise extra funds as a trust for specific projects then it will be free to do so' Thi obviously is the thin end of the wedge to payment for education

Giles Radice quite right ly said: "Her hope Is ot viously for a commercial schooling system in which there would be low-cost, low-grade provision for the majority and a different

strata of schooling at dif ferent prices for the buyin minority.

Page 5 scan of this page

Election '87

THE the step fo Hamn the

denou GMB/ ferenc on single union deals

of WIUlC the GMBATU,

DOSaIS a restrictive practice conserve

If these

votes year's conference, could lead

stud tion over continued

The TGWU. GMBATU, NUPE pro-

for-

strike deals mainly in Japanese companies.

sought cut TGWU and out of

regional of Wales declared

neutered union at his home by a loyalist death squad.

for any other party, but instead tacit approval.

vote in the six counties since 1983.

This goal of defeating Sinn Fein is shared by the

Fianna ment in Dublin. Their sup-

Party (SDLP) was made

the Dublin government in-

Haughey, SDLP leader John Hume

The unionist Alliance

THE Tory, Labour Party

Alliance manifestos all support the Anglo-Irish Agreement and its central provision which antees no change in the constitutional position of

six counties without the agreement of the majority of people in them.

This is the infamous 'loyalist veto' whereby minority of the people of Ireland, in an artificially arcalca statelel, are given a veto over the wishes of the majority of Irish people No a united, independent Ireland.

Even within the six counties, at least two of tem would vole to seceae from Britain if a referendum were held tomorrow.

Hammond's threat to TUC and Labour

at any was also exat the UCW conove EETPU

TUC. Alan TufUCW general asked the con-

the

opposed similar the UCW conlast year, now the con-

however, declared his deter-

EETPU's policies of the conse-

The election in Ireland

THE WESTMINSTER elections in northern Ireland kicked off with the attempt to assassinate West Belfast Sinn Fein MP, Gerry Adam's election agent. Alex Maskey, a local councillor, was shot and badly injured

The response from the British press was not the outcry that would follow the shooting of an election agent

The number one issue for the British adminstration in northern Ireland is to defeat Adams and Sinn Fein in West Belfast. As the table shows Sinn Fein have built up their support to 40 per cent of the nationalist

Sinn Fein. unionist

Frank general secretary

Parties, Paisley's

Tripartisan position on Ireland

A veto for a six county 'majority' over the wishes of a 32 county majority is democratic as saying that there will be no constitutional change in South Africa without the agreement of a majority of the whites.

On civil liberties the Labour Party's manifesto is totally right-wing. While it savs Labour will abolish strip searching, it leaves other policies VUL DalLy such as the abolition plastic bullets and the supergrass trials.

It leaves out Labour's CONC CICE decision repeal the Prevention "terrorism which

Eric Hammond with Roy Lynk of the UDM

members, kind

ed

that fail

OT touch out Icaucis.

but also resolutions to the

ecutive for Wapping

NI parties' share of the votes

Official Un. 10.0 DUP SDLP Sinn Fein Alliance WP

manifesto with the promise to support a new government which agrees to scrap the Agreement. They have concluaea a pact not to run against sitting unionist can-

has been massive tensions

. CallID

Robert McCartney, OUP candidate for North Down in 1983 has been expelled by the OUP

hated in the Irish com-

will good reason 55,000 Irish people were stopped and questioned under the PTA in 1985

If Labour's manifesto the

Lordly Alliance position is simply

Not content with British rule over ine six counties they nropose in

long •CUllfederal relationship bet-

the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Both the Tories and the Alliance offer an incentive to the unionists in the form Or be mean co restore •devolved' government in

TOr the first time since the fall of Stormont in 1972.

didate John Aitkin.

Labour's overall election

would receive

The union also decided

tribute to those who were have Table showing the percentage of the total vote gained by each party in the last six elections in Northern Ireland.

who

will be Ulster George

cinerated, running Belfast chief

Fein,

SuD

walters

Specifically singled out tor mention as not receiv-

Group of MPs and Ken

arted to nave democr

stated it would be finan-

John Grant, the EET fact

10 must be preferred outcome of

ding

treaty, with

counties claims

logical of that: the which

southern bourgeoisie actualv calling for SUDOUT for the most anti-Irish pariv in Britain - the aptiv named 'Conservative and Unionist Party'!

Irish Post

THE IRISH POST, ty and the below its editorial. for the Irish abroad in 60 years.

STOP

Socialist Action 29 May 1987 5

Vote Labour says

which with 76,000 readers is the biggest circulation newspaper of the Irish community in Britain, is urging its readers to vote Labour, and take part in Labour's campaign where candidates with a record of support for Irish freedom are running. We don't endorse the Post's arguments but we heartily agree with its conclusions. The alliances necessary to secure support for British withdrawal from Ireland can only be built within and not outside, the Labour Par-

labour movement. We reprint

THE general election on 11 June is the biggest test which the Labour Party has faced since 1945. stake is not only its stature as a party of governmen but even its credibility as an opposition. The majority of the Irish community has always been partial to the Labour Party — whether out of identification with its social and economic policies or on the Nor-

Labour's response in the latter area has always been inadequate to say the least. But recently the direct Irish input to Labour has been considerably improved. Led by the Labour Committee on Ireland. that input has resulted in Labour now having a policy which pledges the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and an end to supergrass trials, the use of plastic bullets and strip-searching as we know it, as well as the gradual elimination of Diplock courts. Labour is committed to Irish reunification 'by consent' and to working to achieve that objective Many Irish people would wish for more from Labour. But neither the Tories not the Alliance offer anything at

Irish links with Labour are, however, most of all Clare Short, who have stood with our community in good times and bad. There are about 30 outgoing Labour MPs who quality in that regard, as well as, perhaps, as many as 60 other Labour candidates. We owe it to ourselves as a community to ensure in every way possible that these people are elected. Our loyal-

On the broader spectrum, Irish people must ask themselves if they wish to see a consolidation of government and the Tories will have eliminated most of the hard-earned social advance achived by Labour rule atter the ast war. Kv then it will be a Britain

The shaping of society in this country is up for grabs on I1 June. A Labour victory will bring back an element of caring. Another Tory victory and it will be almost a one-party state with the relegation of socialism to a dissident creed to be barely

In the main, Irish interests in Britain lie with socialism. A huge proportion of our Irish-born community is aged. Labour is also the only party which, in London boroughs especially, has facilitated and resourced Irish cultural facilities for our young. Ken Livingstone's GLC did more for the Irish in London in a few years than Dublin governments have done

No matter how shifty the Labour leadership may at times appear on the Northern Ireland question, we owe it to ourselves to stand on 11 June with those in

ween now and polling day we should be doing more — like working to ensure that they get elected.

Stop strip searches in Maghaberry and Durham

STRIP SEARCHES

End imperialist violence against women

National demonstratior DURHAM Saturday 13th June 2pm

Page 6 scan of this page

Women and the election Fighting for the majority

Wheele orat the my torite per

the electorate - fifty three per cent. The Tories have maintained themselves in power since World War Il almost entirely because Labour has not addressed itself to winning women's votes. Labour defeated the Tories among men in 1951, 1955, 1959 and 1970 but lost all these elections because it did not reach out to women voters — handing the Tories 16 years in power.

But traditional Tory dominance of women's votes is crumbling more and more women enter the workforce - and less and less vote Conservative. In 1955 eight per cent more women than men voted Tory. This gap had fallen to five per cent by 1964, to 2 per cent in 1974, and to O per cent in 1979 and 1983. - » But Labour has not garned ther. votes of women deserting the Conservatives. Since 1955 Labour's support among women has fallen by 14 percentage points. In the same time Liberal and Alliance support has increased by 23 points. JUDE WOODWARD assesses Labour Alliance policies for women.

WINNING women's vote has been key to the General Election preparations of both Labour and the Alliance.

The Tories have always rested on their

vUle polls have repeatedly shown that it is among women between the ages of 25 and 45 that there is most at stake electorally both Alliance.

The Tories have simply reiterated their insistence that there 'women's question' in politics, there is only a family question, a law and order question and so on. So which party will be most effective in winning women's votes? And which, on its record, ought to be?

In terms of reforms that make a difference to the majority of women's lives the single Labour introduce minimum wage is head and shoulders above the rest in significance at this election leveral easier lee inde election.

it was fixed at. Of nine and a half million women in work nearly 10 per cent, that is nearly a million women, currently earn less that t80 a week betore tax One quarter of all women in work, 2.4 million women, earn less than £95 a week before tax.

Minimums

A national minimum wage that applied to both full and

at the derisory level of worKers. evell £80, would make a material difference

women's lives.

Lambeth Council were used, which has introduced a minimum wage of £123, then S0 per cent of all women workers would benefit - four and three quarter

Labour also puts forward the proposal to create a Ministry for Women with the task of framing policies to meet the needs of women.

conducted is own show that the idea of a ministry is welcomed by over 60 per cent of women- and it is therefore potentially an effective proposal in the

WIl from However the same poll conducted by the party revealed that over 90 per cent

women thought that Alliance and not Labour that proposed to bring in the ministry.

In man® respects this is the single most telling fact about Labour's campaign. There is no doubt that it is Labour that has the most substantial policy on offer for women, one that, if fully implemented, would make a real difference to women's lives. But it appears to be the Alliance which is seen as Ine Darly Illal Is lakig wollen a Dilully.

Socialist Action 29 May 1987

and Opinion

and

no would

proposal of

national

part-time

model

also Polly Toynbee, Julia

Shirley Williams.

TV broadcast.

women. ITS

The party pallameular y polls which publically

women's Labour's failure on this front.

The arguments

presented wUllicil.

response to it was the

wouldn't

The policy of the Alliance is high on propaganda value, but low on real content. Prior to the election it established a high profile on women by a combination of strong promotion of its women candidates, such as Rosie Barnes, but

Neuberger, Sue Slipman and even SDP president

Rosie Barnes was picked out to star in the Alliance's first

Great prominence was given to the Alliance's promotion of

'one woman shortlist' policy was and vocally compared to propotional representation have been continuously

being particularly favourable to the promotion of women and black candidates. Shirley Williams'

› a question on Black Sections on BBC TV's Question Time last week was typical: In a five or six seat constituency it is inconceivable that at

candidate from each party be black'. Of course she didn't point out that it is also extremely likely that the black or woman candidate would be the ones to drop off the bottom of any prioritised list!

The Alliance manifesto continues in the tradition of high profile promotion of women. The word 'woman' appears on virtually every page, it is featured in

the summary of major manifesto promises, it is pulled out as an issue of special priority in the design of the manifesto, and some of its promises sound exceedingly dramatic. ticular it highlights its promise to ensure that there are '50 per cent of women all puoncany appolnieu bodies within ten years'which, in itself, Labour should certainly adopt. Appointments

But singling out the proposal for increased appointments to public bodies is a key indicator of the entire Alliance strategy on he present aD. pointment of women to public bodies averages around 23 per cent. Even the Home Office, which appoints the Equal Opportunities Commission and Department of Trade, which appoints to price and consumer bodies, manage 30 and 29 per cent respectively. The Department of Education and Science only appoints around 12 per cent women to its public bodies!

For a certain layer of professional women the Alliance's proposal would undoubtedly open up a whole range of highly paid administrative posts which have previously been closed to them.

However given that only 28,500 posts total are involved, already occupy approximately 6,600, this 'dramatic' proposal of the Alliance boils down to an offer of 8,000 jobs, exIn par-

clusively for highly qualified women, over the next ten years.

a policy will benefit the most of us. But for the

relatively restricted layer sional women it is an offer not to be sneezed at, and it has the added advantage of being very establishing the Alliance as a 'feminist' party.

The proposal Alliance sulalesy. through in every aspect of the Alliance manifesto as it affects women. The net effect of the Alliance proposals is to offer some real gains for a restricted layer of professional and highly qualified women. However for the great majorithe ty of women the proposals are surich

cosmetic, and the Alliance's manifesto only would lead to a deepening of the pro

blems confronting the low paid, and unskilled women workers.

the privatisation policy of the Tories, and their restrictions on local government finances. been in the public sector, especially in local government, that women have made the most gains in pay, promition

sectors significance

ments.

the

national minimum Sale illul

manifesto.

it.

unaware

minimum and women

This is clearly not a proposal that

there

OI prores

good propaganda in

the surinarisco followed da.

bally

party

The Alliance proposes to maintain

• But it has particularly

positive stand

and job access. The continuation Tory policies by the Alliance in the

has far negatix for than positive impact of Alliance promises a a small number of public appoin

But if this is the real truth aboi Alliance policy, why has it managed t successfully present itself as the rea party of women? The answer to this ti in a combination of shrewd tactics b

Alliance thorough failure of Labour, and th labour movement, to place women demands at the centre of its concerns

First, the key Labour policy of th

minimum wage was established last year — after a decad of fighting against entrenched oppos tion from the key unions representir higher paid and skilled workers. TR vanguard of the opposition minimum wage came from the ABU, union which, along with the EETPI can be considered as a paradigm ‹ everything that is corporate and narro in the British labour movement.

Following the adoption of th

wage policy last year th conducted a rearguar battle to get it dropped from

it is the fact th unions like NUPE and GMBATU which championed the policy putting up a large part of the money fo Labour's election campaign that save

The failure to campaign for th policy until so late in the day means th

workers are complete of the proposal, and t absence of any precise figure for t

creates great distrust Labour's commitment to it.

Débacle

Ministry for was the Women. Once the poli debacle around had been agreed in the labour moi ment Kinnock himself led the reargua

this time to get the propos down-graded, and the ministry automatically included in the Cabin Kinnock was defeated, but the pr was that the Ministry for Women w not placed high on Labour's own age

To these failures on external poli we can add the fact that Labour as

has failed to introduce measures of internal positive action f women in time for this election. On again it was not until last year that t

conference adopted the woman on every shortlist' proposal too late for it to have any impact parliamentary selections General Election, and allowing t Alliance to both field more women ca didates than Labour and get all t kudos for being the first party to ta

measures to get

The Alliance has adopted a clea

Page 7 scan of this page

and straightforward, strategy women. It aims to introduce measures to benefit the growing layer of protessional women and present a propaganda gloss this as being a policy Denentling women in general

This is a coherent strategy based on the facts of women's changing social position. The last two decades have seen a major increase in the entry of women into further and higher education. For example in 1966 there were 140,000 Lunc undergraduates, 27 per cent total, and in 1984 there were 244,000, 41 per tent of the total. Today 47 per cent of medical graduates are female. The number of women members of the Chartered Insurance Institute has risen trom 4 per cent to 14 per years, and the number of solicitors from 6 to 17 per cent.

It is this social layer which the Alliance is directly appealing to, and on that basis seeking to build up its support among broader layers of women. It is taking advantage among women away from the

which has completely failed to party, updale Its strategy on women and is still stuck in the mould of appealing to the housewife' rather unal WULACE. The Tory party manifesto had made

some adiustments in poncy lo lake alcount of the female

child benefit directly to the woman, rather than shifting it to the husband's wage packel which was their previous proposal - a policy shift initiated by the -vative's own women's However it offers no other policy although it has sent Edwina Currie and Emma Nicholson on a speaking tour of

of female 'yuppies', or 'high groups

flyers' in Tory terminology.

Hidebound

The Tories may be feeling the same pressure as the Alliance, but they appear incapable of making the kind of shift in policy that would allow them to retain their old unrivalled dominance of women's votes

It looks likely that the shift of women's votes away from the Tories is set to continue through this General

Election.

emma Nicholson traditional

Able, leading dispute with regional execuuve. female of the

adjust

cent in ten

WHICH ist.

Mesmerised

On the

of the shift

Tory its upto promotion of key personalities.

to the Labour leadership, WUlllai. mediately brings

Womens Organisation. vole. It relals a The

paid NEC in the women's section -

Betty Boothroyd because they

Conserorganisation.

specific points or view women,

limited support vi callsallull.

unle Women like Bellos,

leadership. The

This

The Tories hidebound approach is summed up by the fact that

went through the pre-election rushed wedding, to ensure it coula not be claimed she was 'living in sin'. Although it must be said that Labour also explicitiv encouraged its candidates to present a traditional "family' image where possi-

much-publicised the party's London

The Alliance has clearly targetted a section of the female electorate as the Lal locus for its strategy. Ine lories are looking at the same facts but failing to

block ott the Alliance. And what about Labour? It has a policy that has failed to take advantage of the huge openings which ex-

hand Labour's strategists are clearly mesmerised by the efficient manipulation of the media by the Alliance, and would like to imitate

female However there is a proviso. the women have to be acceptable their

which imup against policies and positions of the Labour

women elected to the Labour - currently women like Gwyneth Dunwoody and

al t not there sense regresca! dicated women. They represent the right wing, Electorally they are a liability from all

The women ine party leadership would like to promote, like Joan Ruddock and Harriet Harman, have no position in the party, and only

the women's and even this support would crumble if they were imposed as

Diane Abbott, Linda Joan Mavnard. Ann Pettitor. Audrey Wise, who have a broad base of support in the women's organisation, are totally unacceptable to the party

result that the Labour leadership has both made the decision to promote women and then failed to do it in a way that would really

contradiction runs through

every decision the party has made on

As with the minimum wage and the Ministry for Women, abortion rights and nursery provision, it has adopted progressive policies then failed to promote them adequately. There is evidently a reason for what is so painfully consistent a failure.

The policy of the present Labour leadership is incoherent. It seeks to meet the demands of various different sections of the working class without adopting any policies that fundamen-

contradict the basic interest of capital. Hence the adoption of the minimum wage was accompanied by a speech from Hattersley indicating that it would have to be paid for by wage restraint — a totally divisive strategy inside the working class. Even an obvious source of increased finances, by cutting the nuclear weapons programmes, • ruled out bv the commitment to increased conventional arms spending and an assault on capital to raise the finance is totally excluaca So minimum wage policy stays in, given no priority, and a large section of the working class thinks Labour will introduce an incomes policy that will cut

Instead of having tremendously attractive policy Labour wakes risks losing out.

Comprehensive

Finally, the increased impact women on all political parties

by the that all manifestos contain a commitment to full scale breast and cervical cancer screening. , However only Labour has a comprehensive health policy. Its proposals for women's health this time have a clear source of funding - by cutting out public subsidies to private health care.

should vote Labour.

Labour also has the only policies which even begin to address the needs of the great majority of women. But until the Labour Party puts forward a clear and comprehensive policy based women organised within the labour movement, and which does not depend on playing one section of the working class off against the other - then there is a real danger that the Alliance will: reap the rewards of women's revolt against the Tory party.

THE Alliance today

sunning

candidates

SO BACO

campaign

THE TORY election campaign is being run to a precise plan. cher's calculation is that Labour cannot win. Therefore the first goal of the Tory campaign was to smash down the Alliance being seen as the only force, with Labour's current could eat into the Tory vote. This is why the entire first week of the Tory campaign was devoted to attacking the Alliance, why Thatcher took Alliance defence policy as her target in her first speech of the campaign, and why manifesto made the extraordinary charge that the 'fellow travellers'.

The Alliance also calculated that Labour could not win. This is why they devoted their first attack to the Tories. They hoped to push down the Tory vote to a level where there would be a hung parliament.

But the Alliance, unlike Thatcher, drastically miscalculated bourgeoisie wanted. The first demand of capital in this election is that Thatcher should win. As long as the Alliance was directing its main fire against Thatcner is was rubdisned In ble Consistent editorials were carried in the press demanding that should concentrate Labour -capital in ths election is that, if possible, Labour should come third.

Media By the end of the first week of the campaign, the ruling class had got what it wanted on both scores. ceeded in blasting down the Alliance vote to manageable proportions — 21 per cent. The could not win, and getting the message from the ruling reorientate its fire against Labour.

This was all the more necessary as, for different reasons, both Tories and of the Alliance had relatively easy ride in the first week of inthe the campaign. It is true the gutter press had carried on an insistent campaign on the "bash the left' theme trating its fire on Ken Livingstone. But for the first week the Tories had been targetting Alliance, Alliance concentrating on the Tories The result was that Labour had been given a relatively easy ride to move up the opinion polls. trast, made the drastic tactical mistake of trying to run on the 'positive' aspects or inelr mannesto -extremely unpopular and led into a shambles on about their policy on education became clear.

The second phase of the campaign was therefore launched on Sunday. Its theme was simple

This was gleefully greeted in the Daily

Telegraph on Monday as "The election

Socialist Action 29 May 1987

LABOUR'S

'101 REDS'

Alliance lists the

far Left candidates

Phase two of the

That- Thatcher

- the Alliance

policies, that promptly did so.

gusto yesterday'

Tory

Alliance were return to colours

Denience Labour Party?' the campaign Labour.

press.

the Alliance attacking because the second aim of the weekend of 24-5 May

The Tories had suc

knowing i

class,

given Labour

- concen

and the

The Tories, in con-

which were both

the truth

combined

fight.

By John Ross

finally came to life yesterday with Mrs

and the Alliance leaders savaging Mr Kinnock'. The Times daily analyst, Geoffrey Smith, accurately announced on Tuesday: "The Alliance has relaunched its campaign in the time honoured fashion. It announced that it was not altering its tactics, and then

Having earlier in dicated that he would not waste his time on Labour because ney could not will. Dr Owen was laying into them with

The style of Owen's policy was his attack on Labour on Monday charging it with being infiltrated with Kussiar agents: 'He (Kinnock) wants a Dad's Army back and Captain Mainwaring's

For does nis con fidence stem from his own extensive ex-

titth columnists the

There is nothing to chose betweer Owen's attack and The Sun which on Tuesday headlined page two Labou would let reds march in, says Maggie' Both Alliance and Tories will be joining in the last two and a half weeks of the

with all out attacks on There will be no repeat of Labour's easy first week. From now on it is an uphill battle all the way. Campaign

all, even if they are not the most signifiAlliance as part of a 'progressive anti-

defeating the Tories they would have been delighted by the first week's campaign. The poll of marginal constituenshowed that after the first week of the campaign the Tories' potential majority in parliament had been reduced to two. A combined attack of Labour and the Alliance was steadily eroding Thatcher s posiuons and neading lo a nung

pose the Alliance would have lost seats

and could have picked up

nothing to do with fighting the Tories.

their

polls, far from being seen as a victory for the 'anti-Tory forces', was seen as a turned brutally against Labour. Their fire is now going to be directed against the Labour Party - quite regardless oi whether that gains Thatcher a third

Phase one of the campaign was the

phoney war as far as Labour was con-

cerned. It got an easier ride than it

could possibly have imagined. Phase

two is a brutal bruising fight against a

Tory Alliance

onslaught. The task of the entire labour

movement in the next two weeks is to

turn out to ensure Labour wins that

Page 8 scan of this page

'race card' in West Midlands

8 Socialist Action 29 May 1987

In Brief

Mendis job frozen by

Labour group

ON 18 May the Manchester city Labour group decided not to let Viraj Mendis start his job as immigration and nationality officer until the home office gives him the right to stay in Britain.

The decision has created a lot of dissatisfaction, not only among Labour Party members but also in the black community.

Mendis has now been in sanctuary for more than five months to stop his deportation to sri Lanka. This is the official excuse for the Labour group not to give Mendis his job straightaway. It claims that he can only do the job if he

The real reason is somewhat different. The city council has been under tremendous

Lesbian and gay rights

charter

FIVE hundred people attended the Legislation for Lesbian and Gay Rights conference on 24-25 May.

It was the largest, most representative gathering ever of supporters of lesbian and gay rights in Britain. sponso ship frange wide range of

Whitty gives gay rights committee pledge

AN LCLGR delegation will be meeting Labour Party general secretary Larry Whitty on Friday 29 May.

The Labour Campaign for Lesbian

IRIsh SociAl

"DOONICANS

ANY SUPPOR Con

Saturday June 6th

Lewisham' Labour Lines Grove,

Plus Irish videos, Exhibition, Bookstall, Raffle, Disco.

entrance price t l unwaged, £2 waged, p+p. soualist action

pressure from the home office, the right wing media and from racists.

instead of standing firm against this racist pressure and defending the council's equal opportunity policies, the Labour group decided to back down. But when you please your enemies you lose your friends.

Before the group took its decision, the city LABOUT CAVAG already voted to support Mendis taking up his job

pointment, an

ALGO has written the council leader Graham Stringer asking why Viraj Mendis is not allowed to start his work Labour Party wards and

individuals like joan Lestor PPC, Sharon Atkin and others are sending letters to Stringer to protest the decision. many trade unions, Irom UMBAi U to the NUM. Ken Livingstone

platform that a Labour coverimicul would rapidly enact the legislative demands of the lesbian and gay movements.

Line conterence resolved to continue the weekend's discussions in order to produce a detinitive charter for lesbian and gay rights. and Gay Rights has now received a walter assurance from him that the party will honour its pledge to set up a national lesbian and gay rights working party. The lobby originally called for that day has therefore been cancelled. 1987 8.30pm til late

Club.

Lewisham, London SEI3.

WHEN NEIL Kinnock was painting his vision of a compassionate and caring society in Birmingham town hall on Tuesday 19 May, I hope he spared a thought for NUJ member Som Raj who has been fighting a battle against deportation since September 1985. The Som Raj Defence Campaign and the NUJ decided some months ago, as part of this fight, to cal a national demonstration in Som's home town of Wolverhamp. ton. The date set was 6 June.

However, issues of race are clearly beginning to worry Labour politicians in Tne vidangs.

In Wolverhampton, for

LUC council's financial support for the family of Clinton McCurbin, choked to death by the

was largely blamed for the loss of seven council seats which has now resulted in Labour losing overall control. Ana in bırmingnam

councilas iust abolishec its race relations and equal

despite strong opposition from party activists and

Policy

In Labour-held marginals the cracks are also

Peter Snape, who holds wect Bromwich East 289 votes, was amongst une fist to demand action against

BACK Section supporters who spoke at the Birmingham rally April.

Calling for their expulsion from the party, he said: "They not represent black people. sent only themselves and their own ambitions. Ther THE NORTH West of England has more marginal seats than any other area of the country. Twenty-two are on Labour's target list. In Liverpool, the Alliance expresses itself confident of making gains, particularly in Broadgreen where Terry Fields won the seat for Labour at the last election against an uninterrupted Tory rule. Fields was aided in 1983 by the fact that the Liberal Party and the SDP both stood candidates in the Broadgreen seat. This time round the Alliance is sporting a single candidate. ERIC HEFFER explains the significance of the local election results for Labour and why the fight is on in Liverpool.

AGAINST all odds, Labour did extreme v well in Liver-

ment elections on May.

Once again we control the city council.

This was a clear deteat for the SDP-Liberal Alliance which as confident of continuing to lead the counci atter the elections - and a vindication of the Labour council's fight against the Tory attacks on

With the local government. publication Ene general election manifesto,

It hatchel were elected for third term. the attacks on local jobs and services would be accelerated.

Labour won 43 of the 59 seats at stake in Liverpool on a higher than usual turnout. More than 50 per cent

electorate which was 5 per cent up on

Labour right plays

have undermined us long enough. it is time they had the present

Buls themselves under their own banner and policies, which are nol and never have been — those of the Labour Party'

By Mick Archer

What the specific policies of the Labour Par-

are on issues of race is difficult to say. Certainly they are not planning to use Som Raj's demonstration to focus national attention on

plight of those faced with deporatation

In fact the campaign

recently by the was lulla Labour lord mayor to ask whether they would consider postponing the march until after the general election date. Ine campaign said no.

Given all this, black people's ears pricked up when Bill Morris started his speech about what the election meant to him 'as a black person, as a socialist, and a member of the Labour Party. Having discharged his responsibilily by calling on all socialists to oppose the Tories attempts to shove black people out of the political mainstream, he turned to

Defeat the Alliance in Liverpool!

the poll of the previous year.

We retook the city coun cil by a majority of three seats. Labour holds against the Alliance's 44 and the Tories 4. The Tories

the 10S LIlICC scals Alliance, but Labour also lost tour to them. three from Broadgreen.

Labour's vote not only held up but increased Liverpool city. While the Alliance vote went up overall, it did so mostly at the expense of the lorv Party. Their vote collapsed -they lost all three of their contested seats.

If this support for Labour is continued in the general election, the party

would do well in Liverpool. But not all seats are safe. In Broadgreen and varston. the Alliance did better than they ought, partly counted for by the fact that last time the SDP and

elections.

Labour's record on issues of rac Ours, he explained, 'is the party of equality. Ours is the party of freedom, of ustice. anu oursis lic bar ty of tolerance.

'But comrades, our party is also the party of non-sectarianism Our party is a party of self-discipline, not self-indulgence. That is the Liberals stood candidates against each other. Work is needed here.

The Alliance is cock-ahoop at the collapse of the Tory vote. They are hyping this up, attempting to sug Dest alour Is on the decline. But this has already been disproved in the tirst week of the general election CanDaleil.

The local government elections in Liverpool show exactly what the Alliance is about. They are no alternave to caboutnereds elsewhere, their function has been to provide an alternative to Margaret Thatcher's government which is deeply unpopular. The purpose of the Alliance is to attract the anti-Labour vote. It is the junior Tory Party.

Media

And that shows the purDOsC and the danger of the tactical voting campaign that the media have run at full steam over the past few months.

In Birkenhead, Labour MP Frank Field has publicly joined the tactical voting campaign. But his efforts to persuade the people of Liverpool to vote against left wing Labour candidates have come to nought. The truth of the matter is that if

MALGO

BERNERA

TRADES

COUNCIL

On the day that Labour launched its manifesto with a rally in Birmingham only 24 hours after the launch of Labour's campaign on women — formed part of the picket of the Birmingham city council meeting which voted to abolish the women's and the race relations and equal opportunities committee, Labour leader Dick Knowles' response to the party's poor showing at the local

price that our leader demands of everyone who wants a ticket on this road-

and General Workers Union fully supports that condition, and let that be recorded.

Hattersley besides himself with glee.

As for Som Raj postponing his demonstration, perhaps tactical voting took place on any scale it is his own seat which is danger

During the local elections the local press did not support the tactical voting campaign. For the first time in my lifetime the right wing Liverpool Echo tually callea for a vole lo.

Labour on the eve of the local election. The Echo, of course, was critical of Laoul. our bonicu our li achievements of the council, like its house-building programme.

The local government results for Labour in Liverpool also give the lie to the claim within the party and outside that left wing can-

and left wing policies loose Labour votes.

ISSUM

Merseyside in the general election will be unemolov ment. We will be campaign-

all la need a Labour government that will back up the sort of policies pursued by Liver pool council and the local parties Drille ment back to this area and to defend the rights of those who are unemployed.

The health service, where Labour has a strong showing in the current opinion polls, is another important issue for the people of Liverpool. And so is the question of nuclear power

Election '87

- ana NALGO workers

its a ticket price he's just not prepared to pay • Som Raj Defence Campaign-NUJ national demonstration. assemble 12 noon, June West Park, Wolverhampton; march to the civic centre for a rally. More infor

contact Ray mallori

Wolverhampton 735295 or 54183. and nuclear weapons. What goes on in Sellafield directly affects Liverpool. The Irish Sea is one of the most polluted in the whole of

Britain

ple on Merseyside want the

that SOr DOLLIC.

Labour government would pursue it tne Tories were returned to Westminster it would a disaster for areas like ours

Local government problems would continue and increase. So would the at tack on trade unions. Area: like Liverpool are the living example wnal a Tory government has in store for the working class comnutes or lus Country

Voting Labour is the on •geL • them Voting Labour is the only alternative to a svstem tha puts profits before people.

Page 9 scan of this page

Eyewitness from South Africa

International

IN MARCH of last year, activists in the NUR formed a group called Rail Against Apartheid (RAA). NUR executive member, London guard, DOREEN RAA's chair and secretary. Last May they met with Mike Roussos, a representative of the NUR's sister union in South Africa, SARHWU. They decided on a number of solidarity projects. When the rail strike in South Africa erupted, RAA turned to mobilising the broadest possible solidarity action.

to Britain as part of the solidarity effort but were refused entry. So it was decided to send Geoff Revell and Doreen Weppler as an official NUR delegation to make contact with their South African comrades. They were tremendously mark of solidarity, were made honorary members

piled the following report.

"This is not the trade

unionism we've been

educated in'

year and even the leadership were caught, as the acting general secretary says, by the reaction to the disciplining of a member.

What had happened inWOrKCI whose job entailed some kind of cash payment handed it in late, and the worker was suspended

If as strike occurred every time something like that happened at BR, there would never be a train running. I mean it is a simple misdemeanor. was

La background of asalist continuing allacke SARHWU. It was a spark.

SARHWU, like the unions here, is a national union with a head office.

Rut each area and district. while they have a central point, MOUCH sicaic. autonomy. It is very much

1c1 o gec bn thing. So the way the reaction to the incident spread

so rapidly kind of surprised everybody.

We were told about this

group of what we call 'per-

manent way workers. YOU

workers who mạintain the track. put gravel

down, and so forth. They travel daily from the

townships where they live in

hostels and compounds.

day, they come into

work and while they

working on the side of the

track, On the bank there

were these men there with

contacts. They were

underground existence is difficult

escort

Out in the townships

it's even worse. The world

see what 's going

Lalliul

on. There have been

many, many murders.

Indeed there have been

many murders inside the

police stallols. Since the

declaration of the state of

been cillergency, 68 people there die have

detestion John

oerster Souare police

station alone It's in that

place that Mike Roussos

- who we originally had

contact with a yéar ago -

is being detained.

Mike is under a murder

charge. He's being sutched

up the murder of

railway workers! The

GEOFF REVELL, and WEPPLER, became Two representatives of SARHWU tried to come

well received and, as a

of SARHWU. On their return this week, they comWE MUSTN'T for a moment imagine that building a strike is the same in South Africa. It is totally different. SARHWU came into operation in the main last

'with our pants down',

guns pointed at them. One ot the senior black workers saw the white boss in charge and asked, 'What's going on? I mean you've got these people standing there with these guns pointing at us.

Are they going to shoot us if we continue working, or are they going to shoot us if we What is all SLU WUIA: this??

Ine Doss told them: *Well, what's happened is that they are frightened that you might go on strike. And if you go on strike they will shoot you.

The workers said 'On strike?' mean thev weren t even members of a union. strike?' 'Well SARHWU are on strike in Johannesburg. So they went back and carried or working.

That evening the hostel they all came to a decision. On Sundav atterwhen security at the HOSIC. Was 1110Sl relaxea. they all sneaked out to the station, got on a train and travellea down to Jonannesburg to find SARHWU.

They ask what the strike is all about. It's explained to them, and they immediately join the union and all go on strike.

That's how the strike

Union leader 'sleeps in car boot'

DESPITE the obstacles, we managed to make our

marvellous people. Their to appreciate. everywhere. They live like that all day, all night. The round. union leader sleeps and travels in the boot of a car.

media and the state have launched a big campaign claiming that these workers were victims necklacing by trade unionists. Mike has beer interrogated naked He has been humiliated in the process. And all for murders that were really done by security forces.

One day when we were there 15 SARHWU shop stewards were arrestec The entre leadership of SARHWU has been detained. And when you're detained under the emergency powers, disappear. The security forces are under no obliga-

Striking rail workers battle with police

gets built!

Ana ds lney come together like that in struggle, they produce these incredible leaders.

t ney don t lunction the way unions do in this coun-

They Ll. .u vallicl without approval from the membership They could non evenk wo es witaoui approval of the mass meelig

It that Knar democracy which allowed the raising OI Inel demands. The demands for a decent wage, IOT SCLLCI food In lne compounds, Genante aralus! racialism, for promotion at work. 1ob security based or non-racist criteria, an end

the compound system This is a whole confrontation with apartheid and explains une orutal reaction or the

What the union is saying is that they want a settlement from which they can go forward to build. Their

bottom line for a return to work is the reinstatement of all the sacked workers and a commitment to meaningful tion to say where you ares

Against background the young

leaders of the rail strike are

incredibe. ner numour

and their strength. One of

them told us that the night

before they had been spot-

ted by the security forces

who he railway workers

railway workers

immediately drove

street the wrong

vulc way

way, ditched their car, ran

through a shopping centre

all this to meet up with

us!

Another told us of a

'terrible time' he had the

previous week. They were

arvis allg d road and

were spotted by the securi-

Lv OILES A car drove in

front of them and forced

them to stop. The security

forces put pistols against

their heads, 'opened the car

doors and forced them

out.

negotiations, conducted by the union's negotiating committee, who are prison. So their second minimum demand is for their release.

They believe they can

this. Contrary WIl

ports here, the strike i building. They'r using every avenue they' ve got including involving the church. In tact thev invite(

ust Dishoes met ino han-

bishops Johannesburg. atives of Britsh representatives British railworkers they thought would be additional

Call pressure.

Their first demand is that the bishops sit in on the negotiations witness what's going on. SATS, the railway company, keep on

posts so Hov ne tuc they wanted have the bishops there state publicly what the company was doing.

The church leaders indicated their willingness to perform this role, so then the acting general secretary ot the union savs: by the

They were sure they were going to be killed and lett in the ditch bi the side of the road when a BBC reporter drove up to report on a nearby incident. Because the BBC had a camera and started filming, the security forces put their guns away.

Under the emergency regulations, it appears that

the security forces are a

comoicte lan uiltl

themselves. heey ve sot

blanche to

val lc

anything they want.

They don't do it so

maca mn bne calles VUU

don't shooting up

shopping cillic in a cil

because the world can see

what's goin But in the

townships it's different.

with the bishops,

Olt SARHWU leaders yo u'he them

asking us to influence the

. way, we have trouble mecke

Because of the bombing of COSATU House, their only meeting place is a building three floors which can accommodate about 300 workers on each floor. So they have to have their mass meetings in shtesev cant nicet vulside. Iwo people together outside can be picked up under the emergency powers. So they ask one of the bishops tor cathedral for alass meeting.

After some toing and froing, the bishop finally agrees.

So then another bishop

that there's another saye problem. We agree that it's à sensible proposal for us to sit in on your negotiations and we're willing lo au that because you're part of our congregation. But what are we supposed to do if the employers say they are not willing to cooperate?

'Well, take their YUu names and excommunicate them'!

security forces and we cannot do that' and he told a StOry OI meeting hed had with the secretary of state tor securitv or some such.

While he was there, making an appeal for de-

cent behaviour, , a colonel

in the security forces overrode the decision of the secretary state!

secretary of state - hiding

genne LOC Statt

emergency — turned to the

bishop and said 'you see my hands are tied'

The Anglican bishop told of this scene out in

one of the townships and a

brigadier South

African police said there's

DOLINE here,

we're withdrawing' and a

the security

Curcumi

forces instructed him to go

and the brigadier

followed this captain's in-

structions!

railway workers every

tion, waiting to meeting over their dispute.

withstood an unrelenting attack by

continues to deepen and spread.

onslaught the government has come up with.

miles away on the barren bantustans.

formed, blow by DOw.

chanting and singing liberation songs

provide a COCUS

cond in size only to the miners union.

munities

East Cape region.

in the dispute.

rapidly developing explosive situation.

forces.

poula evietdis

cupanon by secunly lorce.

tactics.

THE president of the South African Rail and Harbour Workers Union, Justice Langa, was pickeu up Dy Uie

security forces at 4am on

25 May.

This is the latest in a wave or arrests and detentions of rail strike ¡cauch uruer uc emergency powers.

Emergency letters and telegrams protesting Langa's detention and

Socialist Action 29 May 1987

Rail strike spreads

JOHANNESBURG is a tense city today. Last week the magistrate's court was bombed. Meanwhile thousands of sacked and striking

day mill around the blacks-only parks near the city's major line sta-

be summoned to a mass

For over two months, these railway workers have

the South African Transport Services (SATS) and the entire arsenal of the apartheid security forces. But the workers won't budge from their demands. And so the strike, which is the largest and most disruptive dispute ever seen in souln Amm dutsc dic mmc.

SARHWU, South Africa's fastest growing union, with queues of black workers waiting outside makeshift offices to join up daily, has faced every

And as the dispute continues, the union is also faced with desparate pleas for aid from workers whose families are being driven to stark destitution. A railwary worker's wage supports on average over ten other family members who are forced to remain

Yet every day, after the union's co-ordinating committee meets with the shop stewards, a series of mass meetings are convened. The workers are in-

Not developments in ine disputes. And when the meetings draw to a close, workers can be seen filing away with fists held high,

The dispute has now evolved into a major confrontation with the apartheid regime. It continues to

for the anti-apartheid TOTCC. throughout the country. It takes place at a time when the trade union movement is registering major advances. Last week, the merger of the metal and car workers unions produced a 100,000-strong union, se-

The dynamic of the dispute is conditioned not only by advances in other sections of the liberation

movement. Union leaders explain how the antics of the state forces have spread the dispute into the com-

and amongst railway workers in other parts of the country beyond the Transvaal. The latest

workers to join the strike last week came from the

It is this spreading of the dispute into the community which is at the root of the decision by Johannesburg's major Church leaders to become involved

They hope to be seen as a force capable of helping to get a government backdown. They recognise that the dispute is growing into a

And they fear, rightly so, that continuing intransigence by the authorities will unleash an upsurge of uncontrollable action which will spread will beyond railway workers.

It is not difficult to see why they have drawn this conclusion. Management is using every device at its control to crush the workers determination. Workers

who have joined the dispute at depots outside of

Johannesburg have been served with eviction notices

from their living compounds. Food supplies have

been cut off from the compounds. Last week, even

the first delivery of food by the relief organisation

Operation Hunger was turned back by the security

The union is resisting on several fronts. This

week, the union tried to press ahead with three tes!

cases in the courts to establish that SATS had acted

outside apartheid's own laws in sacking the 18,000.

Legal moves are also being made to stop the com-

and to get the union's property

released from COSATU House which is under oc-

. SATS response to these

moves has been to simply delay and postponement

Free Justice Langa!

demanding the release of all the detention SARHWU leaders should be sent to PV Botha, Union Buildings Pretoria 0001, South Africa, and to the South South Africa House, alai-al oulale London WC2.

Copies should be sent to Rail Against Apartheid, NUR, Unity House, Euston Road, NW1 2BL.

Page 10 scan of this page

10

British support for coup

against

tion. JON SILBERMAN developments.

The Queen's representative in Fiji has put his full weight behind the destruction of the democratically elected government of Timoci Bavadra. He has sworn coup leader lieutenant-colonel Sitiveni Kabuka as premier, backed proposed changes to the ed that fresh elections will be held following the constitutional changes and backed the repression meted out against the new mobilisations.

This is the real meaning of his struggle to resolve' the crisis' that the press told us was so upsetting Her Majesty.

By marching into Fiji's parliament with 20 soldiers and placing the newly elected government under anest, coup leader Kabuka had apparently snubbed the Oueen's authoritv. she still nominally head of state or the 300 islands which gained dependence in 1970. Monarch

The thereby created 'constitutional crisis', which general Ratu (chief) Penaia Ganilau had no dif ficulty in sorting out.

By asking to be sworn in bv Ganilau. Rabuka recog. nised the authority of the distant British monarchy.

Ganilau then gave his support to the council 0. monsters convened Rabuka and supported by a l cle great council of the islands' Melanesian chiefs.

His endorsement of Rabuka's proposa 'amend' the constitution, and announcement of tresh elections thereafter was

than the Queen's representative using the authority of British ruling power 'legalise' the coup.

ouch macuuduous were

Stop the Tories

THIS is our second weekly issue of Socialist Action coming out during the general election campaign. And with the carefully controlled Labour campaign, which has kept policies well out of the limelight, It Is crystal clear why Socialist Action needs to be coming out every week.

Socialist Action 29 May 1987

Fijians mobilise

new government

A MAJOR wave of mobilisations is reported to be taking place in Fiji. Mill workers and shop keepers have gone on strike. Cane cutters have set fields ablaze The new government has been unable to stabilise the situa-

reports on recent

mace necessary by the mounting opposition to the COLD. Shop keepers,

and WULACES others went on strike and mobilised their thousands Timoci Bavadra refused to particpate the government'

The media has attempted portray these

communal conflict between the indigenous Melanesian population supporting the coup and the country's consulunonally landless Inalan population• - descendants or people wrenched by the British from the Indian sub-

and broughl lo work on plantations.

Community

Rabuka has certainly attempted to encourage such communal strife. The changes he is proposing to ¿ne consulunan de desoed to prevent the Indian communitv trom decisivelv affecting the formation of a government.

racterise the toppled

characterise toppled

Timoci Bavadra an 'Indian' governmen. l ne reverse Is the case. It was the first time i rais nistory lal people had not voted strictly along

lines Davalla himself is Melanesian.

The real objection to the government which underlay the coup was not that it was a government of the Indian community. but that it was the first time since independence that Fiji had a government which wasn't a simple pliant representative of imperialist interests.

The coalition govern-

Labour Party and the National rederation partv was moving to taking Fiji into the Non-Aligned Movement and had banned ships carrying nuclear weapons tom king a te Islands

Support our fund drive

However it we are to keep it up we need a fast and furious response from

We don't just need your money, we need it

In the first week of the campaign we have already had a cood response with a total of £177 in extra donaLUIS specifically for the election fund. This sum includes €100 from supporters in south-east London, f12 from supporters

ports

This also explains the actions of the governorgeneral. Ganilau is a key figure in Fijian politics. He

one of the island's high chels. Uwner or a trucking firm and govermentsponsoreu pine plantalion. Ganilau was involved in

stitution in 1965.

Educated Oxford, Ganilau has been a loyal servant British imDcllalsul and was awarded in Leicester and f35 from Bristol. This is good, but not good enough. Keep it coming in.

this issue Linda Belles explains how the Tories' plan destroy

government by privatising housing, ser-

support grant. If we don't get Illal 'newspaper Sull port grant' from you, our

and supportels then we can't keep going

Gonilau: Oxford educated servant of British imperialism

the DSO for his part in leading the Fijian tingent in support of Britain's bruțal suppression of the Malayan independence struggle in the 1950s.

He was appointed governor-general in 1982 wIel against a proposal in parlia-

that parliamentary seats be reserved for Melanesians. Five years later and it looks as though he and Britain have got their way. either. And already practise creative accounting and deficit budgetting!

Labour has had a good first phase campaign, it's up to you to WaKe our that Socia ist Action does even better.

Send your cheques 'Socialist Action' PO Box 50, London NI 2XP.

ON 31 May the National Com-

munications Union opens its annual

conference in Blackpool. It is the

union's first

stock since its three week national

all-out strike earlier this year. NCU

member IAN GRANT reports.

The strike, which defeated BT's plans

to smash the union decisively, failed to

win the rank and file's demand for 'No

Strings' pay claim. In a deal which tied

the worktorce to a two year pay selle

ment, NCU. leaders also signed a far

reaching 'return to

This package adopted overwhelmingly in

ballots at mass meetings,

orderly end to the dispute, but opened

the door to sweeping changes in job

demarcation and grading agreements.

Agreement by local branches of the

amon to baese new working practices Is a

condition of an 0.8 per cent pay incre-

ment payable from the end of this mon-

th. The effect of these attacks on work-

ing practices will accelerate job loss, and

pave the way for massive redundancy.

In line with engineering

BT is also pressing ahead with the in-

troduction of short term contracts under

an agreement signed by the union's ex-

ecutive prior to the strike. meeting during the strike.

TWO MEMBERS of the London City branch of the

have been sacked.

Their sackings are a direct resull BI'S orensive against the union in the wake of the strike Manage ment have used sophisticated tactics in an attempt to divide union members and weaken the branch that covers the strategic financial district in London national response is vital to defend what is the largest

economically, the strongest engineering branch in the unfollowing the return to WOTK management disciplined members in the Citv branch itselt. moving them off their jobs, giving them a record'. , etc; other members in the City area were suspended. This was part of a wider campaign of victimisations and attacks on conditions nationally.

The ex-City branch secretary, and former leader of the union's broad left, Jock Campbell, now member of management, Intervenea into ine branch's affairs by fingering and witch-hunting al tivists in an attempt to effect the outcome of the branch AGM. A letter written by him was quoted extensively in the London paper, Evening Standard, adding to the witch-hunt

Victimisations — key issue

for NCU conference

opportunity to take

of union branches.

facing NCU response to

since

work agreement'.

brought an outset of the strike;

tionally

employers

union members.

Building a John Deason, victimised NCU member, addresses a mass

atmosphere

At stake in the AGM was what aramide to take to BT's Officers

Cabael. opposed to mounting strike action in the event of sackings won the majority of positions. Nevertheless, the Hila olll the Danci committee endorsed a prousal wo lolze a callpale! in the union and throughout the labour movement in defence of victimised members. Such a campaign would have been a useful springboard to strike action un une event or av re sackings, but it never reall got off the grounc

And when BT sacked John Treadaway for alleged verna against strike-breaker's wife, seven

tions rather than mount a fightback. Management seized their and sacked another branch activist, John Deason, and transferred a branch leader, Fred Clarke, out of the district.

The officers refused requests to rescind their. resignations: nor were ther

Dren Taking an age o

Taking advantage of witn branch, BT has now refused to allow new branch chair, Fred Clarke, to enter the union office, alone negotiate on behalf of the branch.

Branch activist, Anne

News

John Golding, general secretary of the NCU faces fierce criticism at this year's conference both for the terms of the return to work, and for his conduc during the dispute. No less than 12 mo tions of censure and calls for his resigna tion have been tabled by a cross section

However the most important issue

conterence will be BT's campaign of harassment and intimidation of union activists

end the strike Reprimands carrying the threat of dismissal if a further 'offence' is found proved; management refusal to reopen certain union offices they closed at the

union negotiators refused time off to carry out their duties: these are just some of the attacks.

Despite a 'no victimisation' clause in the return to work agreement, individual union members have found themselves arbitrarily removed from their normal duties and workplaces and subjected to determined management harassment. in the key City of London branch, a tradi-

militant section of the union, this has culminated in the sacking of two

campaign In derence o these victimised workers must be a priori. ty for the NCU conference.

Fiander, herself disciplined for. her part in the strike sala Inal untea action ll defence of the sacked and victimised members is key to rebuild the branch 'A branch incapable of defending its members cannot be ettective any question. Our task is to create the conditions for mounting strike action to win reinstatement This means building broad the labour movement 'We have to learn the lessons or ine miners strike Arthur Scargill has said tha through industrial actior can the victimised miners win reinstatement. To create the conditions where such

they've built the Justice for Mineworkers Campaign 'Drawing up a similar NCU campaign for reinstatement of victimised telecom engineers - which can win the united support of all leaders of the branch — Is ine hrst step, and will ning the ex-branch officers rescind their divisive resignation letters and publicly back the united campaign will be vital t forging a new unity within the branch 'The union conference will be an opportunity win national backing for such a campaign, vital to its success.

Page 11 scan of this page

ASTMS debates merger

In the Unions

was dominated by the proposed merger with TASS

voted to take the next steps in the merger. This was

delegates who understood

dustry. and TUC.

By Phil Paxton, ASTMS no 3 Divisional Council (personal capacity)

There is no visible move against the merger although bots she Tory although both the Party and SDP are calling

opposition to it and des bite ConCern non-engineering sections of ASTMS about TASS's lack of understanding OI their problems. A special ASTMS conference was called for 19 September to aiscuss a postal ballot the membership The ASTMS NEC has been in structed to try and reach agreement with TASS's executive on some of the main features of the new unions.

Ballot

The outcome of these negotiations will be reported the special conference. It will play a big part in deciding whether a mi ballot the membership is called. TASS will hold a parallel conference. If it is agreed to go lo a balul, allu lik result is a simple 'yes' maloritv the merger will go ahead.

Differences which emerged were doom type of structure and deci-

THE ANNUAL conference of the Union of Com-

union to the left on some policy questions, while the national leadership stance behind Kinnock.

Mostly the message from deregates Was lild supporting return of Labour is complimentary

OHH own demands. howeve element 'postponement' introduced into the decisions taken

privatisation, the shorter working week, and our opposition to the 1984 Trade Union Act.

Perhaps the most remarkable decision of the week was une cecsor o launch a campaign among

CUE communications with apartheid. The decision of general conference was declared unanimous. Tuftin in his speech accented the tour by striking South African postal workers.

The technical difficulties of postal workers storing South African mail, and telephonists blocking phone lines are not great. The main dif-

with TASS

THE 1987 ASTMS conference, held on 16-18 May

and the impending general election. The conference

clearly supported by the overwhelming majority of

would greatly strengthen both unions' members positions in in-

The proposals for the merger would result in the new 700,000 strong union being in place by January 1988. They would create the third or fourth largest union in Britain, the sixth largest in Europe, and the largest white collar union in the world. The union would have a presence in every sector of the British economy and be a major force in the Labour Party

within the union.

TASS and ASTMS have very different conferences.

TASS had 135 divisional delegates year's conference. ASTMS had 1000 branch Ically delegates.

Delegates

ASTMS delegates clearly want, and voted almost unanimously for, the retention of a branch based conference, maintaining the right of branches and divisions to 10 per cent and avely or dues, for dreisions cent respechave delegates on the Labour Party and TUC delegations, and for electing the union's representatives to the 'UC genera council. The platform did 10l these DIUposals, and agreed to seek agreement with TASS on them. These votes reflected disbelief in Ken Gill's claim that TASS is more open and less centralised than ASTMS. Votes The issue the platform wanted win was endorsement the agreement with Ass for each

Communication workers in conference

munication Workers continued the trend of the

displayed a hardening of its

ficulty is one of an organised campaign to carry the membership, , and this conerence decided to commit Itsell to inal. A rnenas ol Moses Mayekiso' leaflet Wan distributed delegates shortly after the debate.

By Stephen Bell, Delegate, Cardiff Uniform Branch (personal capacity)

The Postal Group conference adopted some chanenging poncies. It wa.

one despin a 3 pos

to claim a з reduction work week with a ballot for inCustod September if no ассер Ine delay in balloting may be unnecessarv. but delegates argued for time to secure a majority for strike action in the membership.

The Postal Group also

union have 330 delegates to the first rules conference of the union. This would. be held within six months of the merger. number would be double the aclegales wno norlally altend TASS conference.

ASTMS COference, on a card vote of 160,240 to 63,780,

SuD against the platform a resolution calling

based ries revision conference which COLU 1200 delegates from each union. The ASTMS NEC will now have to discuss this with TASS.

Diluting.

The reason for this vote was that a larger conference is seen as one way of diluting the influence of TASS's powerful 'Broad Left' at gathering that will decide the character of the new union into the 1990s In ASTMS no broad left TASS's

CASIO 'Broad Left' is a closely knit leadership organisation which restricts rank ana le participation in conference.

Democracy

ASTMS and TASS members *should strongly support the merger - but fight for every measure

increases the democracy the new

development of an organised left alternative the present leadership the two unions has to be a goal of union the merger is being carried through and after it is completed.

• We will report other decisions conference our

voted to end co-operation

studies of the service. Last vear the union had been on the verge of a major national dispute job definition procedures the main sorting offices. ock-orne eeds orfice was prompting supportive strikes. Eleven ma jor offices were balloted and revealed an average 75 per cent majority for strike action. The Post Office backed down, and a new deal was drawn up.

rejected

Conterenti the deal. The EC opposed this decision strong v lost to a massive majority on a card vote

This decision puts management plans in spin. The new procedures are a major plank of the TOSL Office pial establish two-tier workforce, in anticipation of later privatisation.

The Telecoms Group senerv showed aaress confident mood Two

telephonists jobs have been lost this

undermined the domestic

ailu

Clive Jenkins Ken Gill — general secretary TASS

threatens the general assistant grade Delegates showed caution, but also some real fight.

Conference agreed to support the •Save Our Operator launched ber vices by Call- the

London District Council. The campaign is aimed at preventing BT switching

Operato serVice Olside the district. Technical-

feasible this War stymied by the decision of the provincial delegates to refuse to handle diverted traffic. This decision doubly creditable as many exchanges outside London are being closed.

The Telecoms group also seek reinstatement of a number of staff suspended at Wren House in in a powerful debate delegates Chew on nao used

fraud action in the establishment to suspenc Delegate after delegate ex- members staff. plained how BT was using racism to force through hidden redundancies. these 90 members only six are white people.

The first work place

— general secretary ASTMS ballots this year confirmed the executive previously elected by annual conference 1986. The newcomers are filling vacancies, rather than displacing EC

menDeLs.

The results are in their way

the 'democracy imposed by the 1984 TU Act

The EC appears, and made much to appear 100 per cent in line with Kin nock, with no internal of

There viously different views in the EC, but the real opposition was led from conference floor. Communication Workers Broad Left (CWBL) supporters

Phe successes on South

successes South Africa, the shorter work ing week, time and motion studies, and opened debates unsuccessfully on the Labour women's organisation and the youth proposals - although this clearly struck a response among delegates

CWBL will De holding an open meeting in July to follow up the progress it made at the conference.

Inside

Teachers decide on strikes

THE two TUCarillatea teache

NUT and NAS/UWT have named 52 areas where their members will take strike action in the ten days leading up to the election.

Half the education

and Wales will be hit by the stoppages which will involve 50,000 teachers.

Of the 52 areas, 28 have not yet been involved in the campaign of half-day strikes against the Tory

withdrawal of teachers'

The union leaderships have said that they will seek a meeting with the leaders

government before deciding whether to continue with the strikes.

Civil servants action ballot

RESULTS of the ballots by civil servants over strike action on 8 and 9 June will be announced on thursday

Union leaders are anticipating a big vote in favour of action. General secretaries of Ine two major civil service unions, John Ellis of the CPSA and Leslie Christie of the SCPS, said that a yes vote will allow their members to do thre things.

Ensure that the appalling low levels of pay, morale and quality ot service to tne publ becomes a central issue in the electior campaign

'Show the depth of our frustration and

SERVICE WHY THESE OVI

Socialist Action 29 May 1987 11

the unions

They have pledged not to 'disrupt' GCF and CSE

examinations but the NUT has advised its 200,000 members not to attend annual parents' meetings as required

under the 1986 Eduestion (No 2) Act

The NUT leaders say they will attempt to unite with other teacher unions on this non-

reponse to education minister. Kenneth Baker's refusal to give an assurance that th meetings will not be used for complaints or criticisms of individual members of staff.

Teachers in inner

London are still posed to take strike acuon 4 June in opposition to

compulsory redeployment. The JubA Is relusing lo negotiate. determination to win a decent civil service from a new government.

to lobbly all candidaters

in their constituencies to win a commitment for a negotiated settlement immediately the election is over'

The national strike on the eve of the election will be followed by regional strikes on 18 and 19 June in Scotland and the north; 25 and 26 June in London and the south; 2 and 3 July in Midlands and Wales.

The CPSA is calling for a Labour vote in the election and will be balloting its members over Labour Party affiliation later this y call

CPS

Page 12 scan of this page

Nçvs on Sunday 3l Corshen Street London NI

EXHIBIT A

News on Sundayexposed forgery campaign against

Livingstone

Dirty tricks machine

in high gear

knife in the Labour Party.

The first direct libel of

the election therefore

campaign against David Steel.

the Star, and its publisher,

Express newspapers, were

forced to pay Steel a large sull. damages reported in one newspaper at £100,000. The Murdoch press, the Sun and the News of the World, off settling the matter until after the election.

The Express, however, was determined to press on. Its target tor the campaign Ken Liv ingstone. The Express/s

'Our by Red Ken'. On Saturday its front page was denies plot'. On Monday returned with a centre page

"The lies of Livingstone'.

These stories dealt with an alleged plot by Liv-

see the leadership of the Labour Party from Neil Kinnock after the election and were chiefly written Hitchens one-time supporter of the SWP who Legistered as a newsr aper with the Post Office.

printed by East End Offset Ltd. (TU), London E2.

SOCiAList

ACTION

RED-HANDED!

Envelopes reveal soun

of smear campaign

against Livingstone

Mr Malcoin Boughen Mr Kalcoln de News on Sunday London Il: 688

.......

THE CONSERVATIVE leadership spent the first week of the campaign bashing the Alliance. The Tory publicity department, otherwise know as Fleet Street, after an initial sally at the Alliance, spent its time on the real task of the election - sticking the

has become a very nasty piece of work. appeared to suggest Livingstone's was establish some totalitarian state not going far enough for the left. Hitchens revealed Livingstone: "was being criticised for appearing to believe in aemocracy CALCIUSL circles this is a serious offence.

Heading the list for bizarre smears in the Livingstone stakes. and for general smut, was however the extraorainary two page spread in the News of World on Sunday headlined: 'I hate Red Ken more than my lulaway lover!

This was by the Tory candidate running against Livingstone in Brent East, Harriet Crawley.

Livingstone had to deal, in addition, with suicals apparently emanating from inside the he News on Sunday produced forensic evidence anonymous press releases his Brent East campaign were in Tact produced on the same typewriter as cir-

SUBSCRIBE

Inland 24 issues £10 48 Issues £20 PO Box 50, London N1.

SL. Jorsham Street

culars sent out by

deselected right wing

Labour MP, Reg Freeson.

Also smeared

was Roy Hattersley — who

figures on the tront page

of the News of the World

and the Sun in relation to a

woman friend and appear-

ing on the electoral register

evidently an ad-

ministrati Hat-

committed

many pontical crimes but

voting twice Is certallly

not one of them.

Material released

Peter wright • nas shown the way in which MIS in terfered in the 1974 general elections to oppose the Labour Party. Other revelations have shown the

the Ministry

Defence was used in the

1983 general election against CND. All this is in addition to the usual lying carried out by the press at the behest of Tory central office the stream of material, now proved totally fabricated, against local councils.

With the Alliance turning to direct its main fire against Labour, and Tebbitt announcing that this week the order of the day

'bash the looney left' the Tory press campaign, which started in the gutter,

going be around in the sewers by 11 June.

RATES

Overseas

(48 issues only)

Europe £24 Airmall £34

(Double these rates

for multi-reader

institutions)

Daily

Labour leader's guer

KINNOCK ES

UNDER FIP

ridicule by the Tory press:

under fire heralded

arms policy savaged by

Times.

Telegraph.

The reason Labour go

tself in the mess, and Kir

nock made his ridiculous

remarks about 'occupa-

tion', is built into the very

core of Labour's present

defence policy. Labour's

defence campaign

grounded in its support for

NATO. That is, it actually

the ridiculous nonsense, which

believed by a single NATO general incidentally, that

there is a Soviet threat to attack Western Europe or

'occupy' Britain.

Given that Labour's policy accepts Thatcher's

point the Tories are able to tie Kinnock in knots. Their manifesto explains: "The determination of Britain and other NATO countries to improve their defence - in

Cruise and Perming of

cruise missiles - has brought the Soviet Union back to the

tables and made possible progress on arms control...

Voting

'Labour's policy is to give up Britain's independent nuclear deterrent without asking anything in

The Labour Party could redure the : United States to withdraw its nuclear weapons from our SOl close down nuclear bases in Britain. I would remove Britain altogether from the protection of the United States nuclear umbrella.'

The

buland by Thatcher is clear. She is the new Britannia saving this country from the

Mail

20p • la fighters scorn

DAD'S ARM

* Kinnock in

Blunderland

Why Labour

is vulnerable

on 'defence'

LABOUR SCORED the first serious 'own goal' of its campaign with what has now become termed Neil Kinnock's 'Dad's Army' interview. Asked on a TV-AM show of Sunday 24 Mey how Labou's conventional forces would combat a nuclear war in Europe, Neil Kinnock replied 'you've got to make any occupation totally untenable.' This led to immediate

'Dad's Army Kinnock the Daily Mail. 'Kinnock's opponents' crowed the 'Attacks on "guerilla" Kinnock' jibed the

threatening Soviet hordes.

The lily-livered Party would not only render us powerless before Soviet threat but remove the proceen ol 'friends' the loving United States.

Alliance During the election campaign further refinehave been added The Tory manifesto's section • defence 'The first duty of government is the defence of the realm and the preservation of peace. Nuclear weapons are vital to that task. In the 40 years since 1945, more than 10 people have died in wars around the globe. But there nas been peace in Europe 'Conventional weaDOIS • 610 not succeed in deterring war. But nuclear weapols lave preventea. not only nuclear war, but conventional Woll Europe as well. A strong defence policy has be the most effective peace policy.'

Others have joined in the attack. In the wake of we wads Army attacks on Labour's defence policy, the Guardian editorial developed this theme. 'If they are honest, those who answer yes (to nuclear disarmament) will admit that •decision carries a high cost.

It does make the risk - no, the probability of conventional greater. It must mean that, saving DUllIC change in human nature, future generations will see

KICK OUT ROY, MUSLIMS

URGED

LABOUR WOULD LET REDS

MARCH IN, SAYS MAGGIE

Rap for Kinnock

their homes and families

devastated again: even in

Europe.

Not only is Thatcher

trying to present herself as

a'strong' leader of a party

with 'strong' policies, but

beginning to

develop case tha

Labour's "weapo bies not

only but lead to

war.

course, are nonsense.

Soviet Union has never in-

vaded anyone in Europe,

although it itself has twice

been invaded by the west

- once by Britain and the

United States after the

revolution then World

Nazi Germany

War Neither has the

Soviet Union any purpose Western Europe. motive for attacking

It is the Soviet Union

which is trying to bring

Reagan, Thatcher et al to 'the nuclear negotiating table' by offering to limit

types weapons, nuclear and conventional

Europe. The USSR doing so against the tide of pro-nuclea propaganda

which resurfaced in Feb ruary of this year onwards

response Gor bachev's offers. It is the West which is stocking up nuclea anna ens and creating the war threat. Alternative

The truth IS that Labour will never get its 'defence' policies across so

as main framework is pro-NATO alle pro-American Spokespeople like Denzi

ridiculous inanities putting the nuclear disarmament case, like explaining that Ronald Reagan thinks nuclear weapons are immoral! He should be explaining that It is the United States which is the threat to peace

In fact, despite 40 cold war years, Thatcher's anti-Soviet, pro-nuclear policies are from popular. Guardian

IRA SUICIDE SQUAD STALKS MAGGIE

WE CAN'T WIN, SAYS

survey carried

rebruary this year reveal

British respondents belie ed that only 31 percent o

ed that 'the Americans

nuinely want to stop

whereas 35 per cent belier.

that the Soviet Union

did

More recently a Na

tional Opinion Poll survey

for the Independent car

ried out among 2000 elec

tors in 52 key marginals on

Tuesday 1 May, • showed

that only 43 per cent chose

the Tories in answer to the

question 'which party do

you trust most to take the

right decisions about

nuclear weapons?

Twenty-eight per cent

opted for Labour, , and 16

for the Alliance, while 12

per cent trusted none of

the parties Pressures

A substantial chunk oi

the 28 per cent that chose

neither the Tory nor the

Labour Party are already

won, , or potentially easily winnable, to the case for eliminating weapons.

On its present defence Lbour stands no chance of capitalising on that potential support. The truth is that nuclea weapons will at some point be used - there has never been a weapon invented which wasn't used.

Thatcher's policies of maintaining nucleat weapons threaten

ever word, Brita death.

world, "Army ea for 'Dad's because there is no Soviet threat to occupy Britain - it is the United States which is the threat world peace and the USSR which has made proposals for reduc ing military tension

That IS the that Labour should hammering And until it does it will continue to get itself into the type of rIdiCH OUS mess • Kinriock did on Sunday.