Socialist Action No. 21, 18 August 1983
The scan: 021-aug-18-1983-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
STOP WITCH HUNT
Help Fight
Fleet Street
Right now Socialist Action is in the firing line. Our limited resources are being strained to the limit as we fight back against the employers' and Fleet Street's witch hunt.
Our phone bills are shooting up. Our costs are increasing as we use more cash sending our reporters to get the truth course there is no way we can possibly hope to match the machine at Fleet Street. But we do have to make an effort to get out the real facts and unless we have the money that is impossible.
And unless we can raise some extra money then the employers' press wins the day. That is why we are asking you to rush in a donation immediately.
We need every single reader to give us something and we need every penny they can afford.
All money and cash to Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N.1.
No. 21
ACTiON
about Cowley. Of nions. lie • becomes
18 August 1983 30р
SoCiAList
ALL THE LABOUR movement must
Cowley. It must stand up against the witch hunt of the media which is aimed against every socialist and union activist.
The press have written about 'plots' and 'moles' so that the management can sack people who are socialists and trade union supporters. with Derek Robinson and Alan Thornett. The reason the 13 people were sacked is because they have strong socialist beliefs and want the trade unions to be independent of the companies.
Leyland is only the tip of the iceberg. Britain's firms — supported by the Tory government — use political tests on their workers and ban those with radical opi-
Shell's personnel director admitted to the Guardian that: We are interested in identifying overt opponents of the system to which we are committed. The last thing we want to do is have political subversives on our pay roll or on sites in which we have an interest.' By political subversives this gentleman means anyonewho is active in the labour movement.
Always the tactics are the same. Steph 'Red Steph', Alan becomes 'The Mole' and Derek Robinson 'Red Robbo'. After the press smear, the firm claims its dismissals have nothing to do with politics, but are
DEFEND
UNIONS
necessary oppose the sackings of 13 people in, violated company rules.
work
in Bermondsey.
This is what they did Party or about ed "Trots'.
pose be counted.
Thornett
because these The press is always on hand to do the bosses' dirty
whether it be at Leyland or character assassination of Peter Tatchell
The present witch hunt is aimed at crushing democracy in every field - be it in the factories, the unions, the Labour
social rights. The employers and their government want to crush all opposition to their scheme to make Britain safe for profit makers and their sights are set on all those socialists and union activistis who oppose them. British Leyland is not just about 13 alleg-
It's about the right of anyone to op-
exploitation and without victimisation and sacking. people who have given messages of support to the Cowley 13 understand this and their protests must be just the beginning of a campaign to roll back the witch hunt. Every Labour Party member and every trade unionist should stand up and
They should declare that the bosses and the press are not going to run the labour movement and hound those who dare fight back against them. Socialist Action asks its readers to support a campaign to defend the labour movement against the witch hunt.
National demonstration
No more Chiles -
hands off Central America!
Sunday 11 September in London
Defend the workers of
El Salvador and Chile!
Peter
Tatchell
THE TORY pres ful of praise for Eas European regimes who
becausal beliefs.
'reds' have what is being done in
cower Leyland
popular press are effectively saying traut рошиса should be forbidden employment and the right to engage in trade and freedoms which and democratic society This is the thi of the wedge. oppression,
The Dennis
Skinner
MP
Ware an inaustria scandal. The 13 peopl • defended. just for their sakes, but
Derek
Robinson
I'M UTTERLY op. posed to people being victimised for *thei views agree with their views
there.
It will be a sad day British industry WHICH WOTACTS HOE UHA
HOD nave qualify politically people
precisely
and aCUIVISIS
activists the no rested at come If it's are
up by other employers end and it could lead to a
West German-styk Berufsverbot.
FaSO because this part and parcel of th bosses attacks on the unions as whole Now Thatcher and Tebbitt are able to their friends in the
media to done: do
them. no longer righ ut a reward for bo man domen to the
this as a guidelin attac defeat th
look
they
We must draw
work, defend
truely represent the li terests of the worker
Page 2 scan of this page
Defend the Cowley 13!
2 Socialist Action THE SACKING of the 13 workers at the BL Cowle Assembly plant is a major attack on the rights of al workers. PAT HICKEY explains.
union freedoms and at weakening the shop stewards organisations.
attack the links between the Labour Party and the unions and to cripple the ability of unions to defend their members on the shop bosses are in the forefront of the employers offensive.
In 1979 BL sacked Derek Robinson tor openly disagreeing with the Ed-
of blall redundancies and speed-ups. This opened the door for a series of victimisations and attacks on shop stewards organisations right across the country in the wake OI Thatcher's first election victory.
In 1980 BL sacked 6 left wing shop stewards for
Last year Alan Thornett was sacked on the flimsiest of pretexts.
In every case the sackings were carried out in the context of a wave of press attacks against the tremists'.
The tions represent both a conunuanon and a stepping up of the campaign by BL
RouTe chublovels smash up rank and file
organisation Lauc in industry.
They were made at critical time for management. Despite repeatea alacks on snop floor organisation, COwICy WORKCIN showed that they were ready to fight management through the 4½ week washing up
Management WELC taken completely by surprise. They had thought that the failure of the trade union leadership to rally and fight the sacking of
Other could press ahead unimpeded with the tightening up of the pro-
But the so-called workforce' 4CCI recruited to the new Maestro line in the plant were organising to defend themselves. Among the 13 sacked were 4 who were elected as part of a number or new stewards Maestro line.
In particular a number of women workers had come to the fore as willing
build the union organisation in the plant.
It was in unis context that management felt they bad to act. Evidence their intent is contained in the report management/union team & up to invesugate int situation in the plant in the ziterman or une washllig
up strike.
The management com-
pained against the
workforce: 'The trade
structure and the
»ay it operates in the plant
not alou TOI communication to employees, or represenof their views. The trade does по:
inese a a unified muiti-
and there are the some oi "ork agains:
-::.--
18 August 1983 The attack is aimed at further reducing trade
It forms part of Norman Tebbit's proposals to
floor. Yet again BL
also shows that the trade
representatives on
the Transport and General une team. Bill Lapworth, Workers Union. South Midland Divisional Officer, and Bill Jordan, the Amalgamated Union of
Workers Engineering Divisional Organiser in the West Midlands, were prepared to make concessions to the company an their complaints.
The report goes on to tHat should be an urgent review of the trade union structure in the plant to resolve the problems identified in our finding above and reinforce effective trade unionism in the plant.'
What is meant by 'effective trade unionism' is left in no doubt in a finding responding to a complaint from the work force
employees to work unreasonably hard'
The finding states that "The team is no doubt that Cowley needs to be internationally competitive and this must be understood by employees at all levels, and LOS • Will COntinuous efficiency and procucuvity lotovecs.
But the management couldn't wait. hev went
the offensive against those the
Didill. stewards and otherwise, whose political views were 'incompatible with constitutional trade unionism.
They intend to follow the sacking
DICOCTIL through with further victimisations and the wholesale reorganisation ot the SHOD SEcwarub They aim to have tewer stewards, less accountable and representative to the members, more susceptible to company pressure.
The company is also keen to gain The meal veto the election of shop
like. This is of course a necessary preliminary for an attack on the whole work force, to jack up productivity and further worsen conditions in Leyland work places.
The sacking of the 13 workers at Cowley on the
same type of pretext used
kobinson and shoenetime came at the
that. the
sallic
ing the next major offen-
sive against the workforce
The tactics of the BL
management are
copied faithfully by other
employers.
During the two-month
long strike at the Financial
Times. John Mckay
hand man to
Sir Michael Edwardes, was
Red as the eminence :: =00 :n2: the =E-
=-i:
the other 12 people sacked at Cowley.
conspiring to destroy the unions.
strike.
COMPLAINT 9
The Trade adequate
body,
FINDINGS 2
The senior the stewards
deputies dud been effectively SLODDed
majority of problems should be resolved.
The two sections Beechad Level represent Where his and the members
settlement
Unlon structure in the plant.
Trade undeed bey to plane. The Trade Unloa
the print unions in the F Date CRy
methous car
fronted and defeated
The BL :==
2: 0-1
Above: Stephanie Grant at a press conference organised by Socialist Action on Monday 15 August. Stephanie slammed the press/management campaign being waged against her and
Later on that night she appeared on the BBC current affairs programme Newsnight. She rold interviewer Peter Snow, 'I wasn't part of a conspiracy, it is British Leyland who are
Below: a passage from the joint union management inquiry into the 4½ week washing up
late to all ed he 0- 12 operated do
structure
Internal Trade Union organisation
of the stewards work against constitutional trade unfonism in the plant. are clear signs that cherate does not
organtsation 1n deputies in January 1982.
Unlons operate separately both of designated areas Che effective communication, results in a less novement at a sentor level in the
This reduces the effective working of constitutiona
attacks scare the unions are : a addition to Tebbit's destroy the members
:CO: i thir
I': operates does not allow for of their views. political views a unified of some
in deputase used to relude 28a1 lea
senior stewards. to handle all problems personally. allowed steward level, the level at which the then problems
haga
so that la general on production
La shop steward will absence of joint of responsibility shop stewards works than authoritative Trade the speedy plant does not operate
all those concerned with civil liberties then the employers will have the green light for fresh attacks of these kinds.
It will be the first step in confronting the real conspiracy that of the Tories and the employers against workers' hard-won rights.
The following statement was releaser by the Socialist Leurne (British section of the Fourth Internationali al 5.00pm on Monda! 15 August.
BRITISH LEYLAND is a company with long record of sacking WOrKer. for their political and trade
activities. The Derek Robinson and Alan Thornett. senior deputy shop stewards the Longbridge and Cowles car plants are the most well known examples of such victimisation.
No one believes that Robinson and Thornett were sacked for technical cha They made against them. were wicumiser
Pis and de trides. And
and activities. And lee are peer numerous other less publicised sackings.
BI. is lying when it says i dope not drmi worker
political grounds that it would hire worker
spile record or socialist beliefs. Methods of political vicattalio and are systematic in Bl. and large • British companie».
simply. sachi prevent people from gaining employment for reasons political siens or trade «non aculates was dista
like most large com panies. operate a system of
Why does it employ organisation• 1o check Int
DOC? hackgrounds of its workers or those applying for jobs!
The of such methods in linown to all
unions and industrial rela-
and the press: if BI denies this slate of attairs il is merel! falsifying its «wn. and other companies", practices.
The facts are obrious. The BI. manasement ha not one single complaint against the work record of the thirteen dismissed dur ing ine were al Coules. Everyone knows that the compan!
ayainst the thirteen if thes were not suspected of har. ing strong socialist vien».
The real facts of the BI Cane vet were stated
Time
August 1983. 'BL. has been careful to stress officially
the constitutionality of
effect
however its central con.
cern was their suspected revolutionary attiliations
Accusations vitupid: prit did nor sir › are merc
timise people unpl
political and trade union
views in the first place no-
one at all would bother to
hide their views from the
nanagemen
BL in fact operates
political han on recruit
ment to the company
that is the reason for the
sackings. Accepting
News
Socialist League
statement
sacking of the thirteen workers in Cowley is to accept the right managements to operate
ment. supervise the political views of workers. and to pracuce viceunisa tion for political and trade union activities
It should be opposed as such by ine labour move
the trade and all those concerned in detenain: rights.
The sackings should also hy the women's movement who will have seen the way in which the press particularly singled out for at1acı women wOrKCE. Cowley.
While paradiny women's bodies like meat on their inside pages The Sun, news papers. particularly em phasise for attack women seeking 10
'reserved" for men.
The Socialist League will supports. tinue to support. all atlempts Di women to gain jobs on a basis of equality with men
The • charge that any. one
strike. filtrating the trade union. is a conscious invention by the press
Worker. going on strike lose pounds of their income and risk their jobs. The! will not strike unless propelled to do so hi deep Scalell and grievances against the
The ill.
BI ment. nol ali al
which leads worker strikino in Bi o in any other company.
As far the trade inons tre concerned t Socialist League has and will defend the right of all workers. whaleren
In stand election the trade unions and elect whoever the! wish as their union representatives. We
would defend in just strong! for and members of a trade union whaterer their political views.
stated mortalion, or not ine press and the Conservative
Party in their witch hun shake in the sacking or th
13 Cowler workers
The press conscious!! and clearly states tha
with political views they disagree with should
be excluded from emplos
ment in major companies and factories. They open!!
justify political victimisa tions and exclusions
Leveson on thirteen workers from
Cowley should be opposed
union and women's move-
ment as an attempe by the
Comor enIOrCt
political ban on recruit-
ment and on employment
systematic exclusions from
employment. and use vl
panies is continued and
strengthened there will be
" urner maor eroson di
the many sirest dried
and man! already carried
0) 1 governmen the and the BL management.
Page 3 scan of this page
Whose conspiracy at Cowley?
News
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
Cowley because of their political beliefs.
subject the 13 to trial by media on the charge of being revolutionary socialists.
Management gave out their first press release on Wednesday. Journalists contacung une nirm were told that valy waN , disciplining the
falsifying references.
journalists also told 'off the record' that the 13 were members of the International Marxist Group (fore-runner of the Socialist League).
The press dutifully took up the story and the Thursday's press was replete with stories of the Marxist 'moles'.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the company nau lound out about the 13 by 'examining carefully
jobs with the help of a firm of
next day the management press campaigl was in Tuff swing.
obviously aware repercussions of admitting that it screened its recruits with assistance
experts, had by time invented story about 'boasting workmates about now she got a JoD.
3 MINUTE
WARNING.
BRITISH LEYLAND management have denied in response to a Socialist League press statement (see opposite) that they were sacking the 13 workers at
But the whole course of events in the last week proves that management colluded with their press to
The idea of a worker "supergrass' had some basis in reality with John Power, an ex-shop steward at tne denouncilg extremists.
But the company was intent on concealing its policy of screening militants and operating de facto black list.
Security
The attempt to divert attention • to the "supergrass angle' conunued on rriday.
Stephanie Grant, one of the 13 sacked. had been set up by the press as the person who had bragged to other workmates. To provide the press with the pictures of Steph they needed to make the story stick, gate security men turned her away from the plant when she arrived to have her appeal heard.
Press photographers and TV film quickly gathered to take the pictures of steph that splashed under she-mole appeared the next head lines.
sackings
Were
CHu
While using the technicality false references manavenell
actions.
when Alan
CATCHINE
"here signs
Jelli
By reitasing text, of 'Jobs which
Leagut
of this) Explosion press and in the initial response of the Confederation of British Industry for a general witch hunt in industry.
Some sections of the press fearing an industrial relations explosion dres sharply back from this conclusion. Sunda! Times in an editorial Sunday 14 August asked:
' Why did the 13 consider deception in the first place? It can have only been becaus they expected to
blackballed if they applied under their real identities.'
They expressed fears that *the industrial 1811perative of modern Britain could be in danger obliterating many other considerations, such as the right to work and the right to be a militant,' citing in particular the proud boast of the Ford director that they rejected people who
Alan Thornett
were unsuitable 'for any
The Sundo: Tires went on to ask. Who exactl are 'unsuitable? conspirators? Cardcarrying Trots? Or 'Maniss"? Ot perhaps straightforward activists as well. And where in the purge of the hard left. does the soft left begin?
disrupting
ment. 66 believes • OUR organisation
thai astem Winter
put four million people on
the scrap heap in Britain is
rotten and must be replac-
ed by a society which puts
social need before private
proll.
Such a sociely would
be run on the principles of
worker democracy, pul
ling political power into
the nands of th over.
wnelming majori!.
are against
Nutallrall abomina-
lions which
socialism in such countries
as Poland
4s for the press allega-
tions thes are ridiculous.
We are not in tavour of the
Paul Mackney
AS PRESIDENT of Birmingham Trades Council, representing quarter of a million trade unionists, I condemn the suggestion by Dr Hawkins, the director of the West Midlands CBI that employers should 'be on their guard when recruiting new workers'.
People should be ap-
to do a job or to be train-
for job; LICH political and trade union beliefs should not be s
The unacceptable face of BL
management pearing at a press con-
Socialist udy, look unese questions up further.
political beliefs as an ac-
trade unionists, member of the Party and the Labour Party young socialists, and a woman. were the reasons
HanarCICIE Reason moved to get rid of her.
reason that she had lied to the management on her application form was because of her fear that management would reject her application otherwise.
In an interview in the Guardian on Tuesday, she denied that she had in any way deceived her
C0• workers as to her political views. It was only manage-
Che had been forced to deceive.
Trade union spokes. persons spoke out for the right of the sacked. David Buckle. the local
respondsaying that •with unemployment at its pre sent lered it is B01 sarpris
tion people give false information
Brian Mathers. IGW L organiser. stated that • If political affilia-
individuals LUtS
What is the Socialist League?
THE SOCIALIST LEAGUE has been attacked and villified in the press as an organisation 'hell-bent' on British industry and the union move.
We asked STEVE POTTER, acting national secretary of the Socialist League, to explain briefly what the aims of his organisation really are.
disruption of industry. On
Contrar we
that the anarchy of pro-
duction for profit that
characterise
economy today should be
replaced by planned
Phased
workers control over na-
tionalised industry.
We helieve that
trade unions will
crucial role in the building
such planned the economy and we reject the
charge too that we are out
Io disrupt the unions
We support the unions
against the assaults
vormat Tebbitt
others He also
the struggle of working
consideration.
It is a sorry state of affairs when the regional director of the CBI implies that firms should politically vet applicants to exclude active trade unionists, socialists and Marxists.
course the practice is not new, but with LITe growing tion of computer technology there is a real danger of totalitarianism at work.
There are already a
we are in ta ving then
George Orwell.
'Anybody who lies cannot expect union support. But
qualifications tempt to get a job'.
But the thing that worried him the most, he said, 'was the development that people are denied WOL because political views. This is a develop.
which every democrat has to oppose. Absurd
So the record is clear. The accusation that there was a plot to
Subver ult unions at British Leyland has been shown be baseless and absurd. What had been revealed is the meish Ley and has sacked mechanisms which mutants for ter ponuical beliefs in the past and how LICY continuing that policy today.
If is in the interess of anyone who wants to de.
oppose the HALL COCHI THES witch hunt. defend those sacted
Corley and all thos socialists *ho art threatened by the pro of 1984 of Margaret Thaicher
Socialist Action 18 August 1983
Irr Poland Centr America.
think that socialist revolution in it country will be in the i
dustrial workers. but women, black people an vOuln
We are intern tionalists who beliere th
oppresu another will never he ir itself. It's for this rear
for the withdrawal
from Ireland an SUDDON the developed between labour movement and it revolutionar of Ireland.
Il is for these belit that the Tories employers and pre Male us . But we are con dent that there thousands of people "t agree wan us and will join Is in the battle for socialism.
number of outfits thi keep computer files o socialists and provid firms with blacklists.
People rightly cOI demn these sort of pra tices when they occur Czechoslovakia as an il fringement of freedoms expressio and association.
We don't want to s them here Socialis have a right to work. would be happy debate this with Hawkins.
Keith
Lichman
PEOPLE should hav the right to jo whatever their politics views. The trade unio leadership must take thi up.
They and thei members are at risk fron
th beginning of witc
th Berufsverbot Wes Germany. Les
Huckfield
MY FEAR is that th Cowley issue will now b used as an tightening up on job ap plications throughout in dustry. It's tantamous to denying the civil an political rights Leyland workers
Phil Holt
(Post Office Engineering Union Executive, persona capacity)
IT'S AMAZING when the U'S orga forces interrese undermine self-determination gutter press rant ments.
Bat -bes takes a 100 zad call for ฿ AT NIA
e5j0!
breaded
Don on
Page 4 scan of this page
Labour Conference Agenda
Socialist Action 18 August 1983
IRELAND
UNFREE
Labour debate RECENT publications of the Labour Party conference booklet show that the debate on Ireland concentrates on debunking the myth of reformability of the Six County southern State.
Many of the 13 motions submitted draw attention to the loyalist veto. commitment to a united Ireland and ending the war is incompatible with the guarantee given to the Loyalists by the British ruling class.
Ine idea or a would permanently favour the British connection, was constructed by the makers of partition.
it was constructed to nurture the sash and the Lambey drums that has largely been eroded with the collapse of the economic structure of the province, but nevertheless permanently divides Irish workers, North
This majority sees its future in the embers of a decaying imperialist empire. Free reign to its frenry can only increase bitterness and brutality or a police state whose emergency measures are the envy of repressive regimes throughout the world.
That the rank and file of the party 'has its heart in the right place, that it wants to break the chains of bi-partisanship cannot be doubted reaffirmed its opposition to the Prevention of Terrorism Act and to plastic bullets.
But it is still trapped within the framework for reform put forward by the partitionists. It is a pernicious myth that must be destroyed. Labour's progressive act must be to withdraw debate at this year's conference mușt push in this
The Labour Committee on Ireland has marshalled model resolutions Prior's assembly, which Labour leaders have uncritically accepted.
In Tony Benn's comments he speaks for the North Kensington Party on just such a resolution. Here we have a useful ally.
Crackpot schemes peacekeeping erence floor with help to achieve the objective sel out in his Guardian article which called for Ireland to come to the centre of the debate.
This August marked 14 years of army occupation. The political successes of Sinn Fein have undoubtedly contributed to a lifting of the wall of disinformation.
Let's use that to help, not hinder the cause of Irish freedom.
Gerry Adams
The left and
Adams' visit
THE LEFT was not unanimous in extending the enthusiastic that this paper has done.
The Militant have already said that they prefer Rees, Mason and Concannon organising in Belfast to Sinn Fein, and did everything
they could to block the Adams visit.
Certainly their two 'Marxist' MPs did not think it worth turning up to the meeting in the
'onse of Commons to hear
say. But the reaction of Socialist Worker was more
Pat Stack told Adams at the London rally that
he was wasting his time with the Labour Party
because they would never do anything and sug
gested Sinn Fein waited until the SWP had rebuilt
the shop stewards movement.
following week,
nounced that there was really no difference bet-
ween Sinn Fein and the Labour Party.
The only reason Sinn fein had
votes, they
provide revolutionary in Belfast than it is in Bermondsey'. 'better LOUSE
This will come as a revelation to Militant can-
didate Muriel Tang in East Belfast who did think
•better housing' was the key to winning votes and
scored less than 600.
try to show that
in the North that
• symbols of a sectarian privilege
I nas with Irish nationalists and the
against the veto and
on United Nations his presence on the con-
Photo: GM COOKSON
welcome to Gerry Adams
what Adams had to Socialist Worker an-
got 102,000 said, was because they had offered to
and 'this Is no more
The Preliminary Resolutions for Labour's Annual Conference were publish-
eat the be asked Gree
month. asked Greg Tucker, one of Vauxhall's CLP's. Conference delegates to give us his impressions.
RATHER than opt for discussion on policy, it is obvious that this year local Labour parties want to discuss why we failed in the General Election. Over 60 resolutions directly refer to the election defeat. While the policies put forward in June are generally upheld, most resolutions are critical of the national organisation of the campaign.
Various remedies are suggested. Some, like that 11 U11 the General, Municipal and Boilermakers Union want 'an urgent review of all aspects of party organisation leading to such demands as 'more full time agents'. Others realistically blame the failure of the NEC and PLP to promote party policy. But here again some answer this by merely calling for a better
'VISIOn of the socialist future.'
However, the major
emphasis, appearing time
and again, is the need to turn the party outwards as
a mass campaigning body.
Sheffield Heely ... if the
last year organising demonstrations and cam-
paigning against LIC
Tories, instead of witch
hunting socialists
the election could have
been an overwhelming vic-
tory for Labour.
On constitutional
questions the by
women for a greater say in
the Party
the running ot
continues with 20 resolu
LIONS women's
organisation, most
which call for the Womens'
Ce are lo choose
the
women's division of the
NEC.
On the other hand,
however, altering the
balance OI conference
favour consti-
voting to
tuency parties is put up bi
9 constituency parties and
led by the 20
resolutions call for 'one
member one vote in elec-
ting the party leader. Two
of these call for 'one man
one vote' so much for
giving greater
say! Disappointingly there
Is only one resolanoi lo
you know, I have. always considered it important to be well-dressed
EL
conference on gay and lesbian rights.
On the witch whilst many resolutions dare it up in passione directly the reinstatement of the ex-, pelled Militant editors. Ten
CLPD TAKe Register' option, but only 2 argued to ensure that the Greenwich amendment gets conference time.
Given Kinnock and Hattersley's commitment to the witch hunt, this pre sents problems for the left and the resolutions need backing up with large number of amendments'
threat dissolution local parties, and the recent NEC ban on sales of the Militant newspaper.
Drawing the lessons of the June defeat is also the
the section. Of the 400 ) resolutions there are few which argue for any significant change in 'the party's pro. gramme. last year
health and defence of the NHS is the most popular subject, with 'defence' second.
I suppose you ss eels of Belfaste soldier
Of the 40 resolutions on the latter, _only one, predictably from the AUEW Engineering section, calls for a réversal of policy to multilateralism None, however, call for a change policy NATO, restricting themselves to attempting
ensure that present policy followed more vigorously in future
As Doncaster Central quaintly put it: 'it was made clear during the re-
election campaign that there is a need for party spokespeople at national level, to master the case of this policy...
Making the Party act now is a frequent theme and there are strong sections calling for campaign around unemployment devolved SCOTISH Assembly and in defence of local government. Here a significant proportion of the London parties considered it important to focus on the threat to the
Calls for th nae onasty lea
calls for a nationally campaign involving local
out
parties, , trade unions and local authorities to safeguard local democracy. democracy.
Still trying draw lessons from the election a large number resolutions deal with the role of the media, with 26 supporting the call for a national Labour daily newspaper. Low Pay is one area where policy may change with the recent change of position by the Transport & General Workers Union meaning that some of the 14 resolutions on want ulay get passed. The other key area where there is a call change IS On the Though as yet unprepared to come out in the open, there is a demand for so called 'realism' - the old story of 'as long as we are in the Market we might as well try to get the best out of it'
On international questions, for the first time for years there are sufficient resolutions make debate on Ireland almost certain. Many call on the Party to withdraw support
you may scoff but, while I was there, even the natives commented on how well I was turned
News
BES GOD FOR BRITAN
for the Northern Ireland Assembly and
opposition to the Unionist veto over to a United Ireland. , Brent Last adas a call to conference to 'welcome the election of Gerry Adams, and commit the next Labour coverinch immediate withdrawal of • British troops
Given the importance of events Central America 1L IS surprising that only 2 resolutions appear on the agenda. SVCI then, one only calls for the present Government seek peace and ask the US
E witnarav Salvador. Not the most forthright position Coll ference could take
For to be the debate Central America deserves there will have to be a campaign of emergency resolutions as was successfully mounted over the Lebanese massacres last year.
* Suggested amendments are available from Labour Against the Witchhunt (tel 01-802 1709) but have to be in by 26 August.
"CORING
here nee
Page 5 scan of this page
Fight the Police Bill
News
ABOUT 100 PEOPLE, representing a wide range of black groups, women's groups, gay organisations, union •ranches. LaDOUl parties, NCCL and other progressive groups mel formally last week to activate and consolidate the National Campaign Against the Police Bill.
The impressive feature of the meeting, apart from its size and the determination of delegates to oppose ine Dy any means necessary, was its Waited and pre-emptive move before the Bill brought ment. Although the size of Ine Tory especially, with the prohangers determined to get their pound of flesh after losing on capital punishment, will obviously be a formidable obstacle to the Bill actually being defeated.
By Unmesh Desai
What was recognised was that it is the political, social and economic framework of the bill that
• Be challenged well as the ideology behind
A wide-ranging list of activities and meetings have already been arranged to get the Campaign off on a positive and offensive Local groups are to be set up, a national speaking tour is to be organised, national and local sponsored walks based on the theme of "The Struggle for Liberty' are to be held as well as
wide range regional and national rallies.
A national march, probably timed to coincide with the introduction the Bill, will also be held through Central London. Two decisions in particular. should help the Campaign to build a genuine mass base.
Bearing in mind that if the Campaign is to link
Defend Cypriot refugees
AFTER THE Greek junta-backed coup and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, many Cypriots escaped to Britain.
Despite the fact that Britain had ruled Cyprus for years it failed to give any lasting welcome to these refugees. The Home Office refused to grant Cypriots refugee status as defined in the 1951 Geneva Convention. They were only allowed to stay under 'special concessions'.
came to Britain,
Greek community, some from the Turkish community. Now there are about 2000 to 3000 still here. By 1981 the Home Office was getting tough and starting to refuse to renew permits and demanded that many of the refugees and their families go back to Cyprus.
60 peopte siere deported that inic protests •Tic
and relate to the increasing number of young people wno race tne alrect brunt of police harassment and the need for more popular styles of campaigning, manora cur or concerts on the lines of 'Rock Against the Bill' is to be arranged. wildl the To Bill means SLICSS that
practice is cases like the Newham 8, Colin Roach, May 3rd Defence paign and the other numerous cases which the black and other communities have suffered for years now, the Campaigr took the decision to build for and support the Na-
March Racism and Racist Attacks called bv the Newham Defence Campaign for 24 September 1983.
With the wide support • alreadv given to the march and speakers already Invited from local black struggles round the country with a view to having a united mass demonstration, the scene is set for the campaign to make its first national impact before the Bill • comes up before Parliament.
Campaign
What socialists and trade union activists now need to start doing is to build local campaigns against the Bill. The importance of genutne mass local commitment and involvement and the necessity to develop these local cam. paigns into centres of resistance, if the Bill were to become law, cannot b e overestimated. groups should not only have the WeSLOOSSOC alliance of forces opposed to the Bill but should actively base themselves
local campaigns against police harassment.
If the Campaign is to have any chance of success, however, opposition to the Bill will need to be based upon an understan ding of the key, almost
CYPRUS Britain Orfice idicep ted
accepted they were displaced perCOIN This new still failed to give refugee
many people.
Since 1982, 42 Cypriots
DeCH deported, others have had to back. If they Greek
La C they controlled south of Cyprus the Greek-
Mary of • a different F. before
beir chadren
central role it plays in Tory ideology to police the increasingly rebellious unemployed and never employed and the politico-
Haunework which it is being introduced. Parents
The Criminal Justice Act 1983, which among other things makes parents responsible for the fines of their children under 17, brings in through the family.
watch schemes and the increasingly complicated forms of community policing. now being developed throughout the country bring in policing through
1 Greek
have never lived anywhere
The Cypriot Community Workers Action Group fighting the deportation of both Greek
Turkish Cypriots. You *l: belp humanitarian воп-
campaign contacting the CCWAG al
26 Crow adale Road. Lon-
daa to write to the Home Of Get Lion fice insisting that these refugess have the right to stay in Britain.
A license for gorillas — that's why we need a Police Bill.
ane neignbours. Ine rouc Bill, apart from giving unpreccacnica powers to une coercive agencies of the state, legitimises all the present police malpractices and brutality.
This process of legitimisation should be
in the light of the criminalisation of a black community which has
• with always nac 'police bill'. The Bill represents attembt bi British capitalism to cope with the social quences of restructuring its economic base. ticular, to cope with the effects of mass unemploy ment. The importance of this Bill to Tory policies Irish referendum
ON September
referendum on the 'right
to life' of the unborn will
take plaçe in
Counties.
Unfortunately, the
view in Ireland is that
despite wide.
spread support for a no
vote • to the extent of
provoking a major cirisis
in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael
and the Labour Party -bac pro-it mail Poo the
just manage
win.
The die-hards in the
Society for the Protec-
tion of the Unborn Child
see themselves making a
clear break with the 'roll-
ing liberalism thai ha
affected the 26 Countie
over the last decade
If they
continue with guerrilla
actions against every
County women have
over their fertility.
makes it imperative that a national campaign is built. Moral
The first step towards this starts with the national march against racism and racial attacks 24 September.
tion, Monitoring Project, London E7 9HJ.
of the Newham 8 Case.
on abortion
In a country that can already imprison women for having abortions this means campaigning against Family Planning Clinics, demanding a ban
the use of the IUD and . undermining Slalc funding for vi callsa tions like CHERISH who service single mothers:
This is why the size of the 'no' vote is so important. The opinions many people have changed in the course of this Camoani 'vote no' ac tion groups have been set
Bu: despite maicE iTOr
port.
Unfortunately this also applies to Sinn Fein who, despite positive
Socialist Action 18 August 1983 National March Against Raicism and Racist Attacks called by the Newham 8 Defence Campaign and supported by National Campaign Against the Police Bill Saturday, September Assemble 1pm, Plashet Park, East Ham, London Е6.
Conference: Racism, the Police and Educa1 October. Credentials from Newham
285. Romford Road,
National Mass Picket of Snaresbrook Crown Court, 24 October to coincide with the start
MALE
ORDER
steps the front of teminist issues have not chosen to break with their past on this issue. They have used the excuse that it is a 26 County campaign back down from any real involvement.
But some on the left wing of the antiamendemes: 2I A
around a new campaign with a real chance of suc-
Newham 8
support grows in Brum
By Bob Smith
A SUPPORT group for the Newham Eight Defence Campaign has been set up in Birmingham. The Newham Eight defended black youth when they were attacked by white racists on their way home from school. They are being charged with conspiracy to assault persons un known.
Following on from the
campaign launched against police
in the Wes Midlands to defend Pino Khan, , the Singh brother and the Smethwick Three the climate here for mobilising in defence of the black and Asian com munities is excellent.
With the Tory govern ment pressing ahead with Ine ronce bill next year defence campaigns of this
much bie
they are to succestil,
successfully fight back against state racism.
A national perspective he wini. The first ind HUTC and more vital. itiative of the new Birmingham group will be public meeting on Sunday 4 September at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham at 2pm. Speakers include Unmesh Desai, Newham 8, Tariq M. Ali, Bradford Gutsimore, secretary of thi defendant and Cecil National Campaign Against the Police Bill.
The second event wil be the national demonstra tion taking place Newham on Saturday 24 September. Three coaches have been booked to bring
Birmingham con tingent to London. (Valerie Coultas and Ann Speed
Anti-Amendment
Social.
Lasers, 9рт-2рт, 23 August, Green Lanes London N8. Tickets fi unwaged, f2.25 waged Available from Sisterwrite or ring women s Cer.:r:
Sure, London Ni2XF
day a week prior to publicz. tion.
Page 6 scan of this page
SRI LANKA
Background
to the riots
ALL OF JULY there have been problems Trincomalee in Eastern province. There have been attacks on Tamil speaking people by Sinhalese thugs egged on by the UNP and tolerated by the police and the army.
The army in particular has suffered a number of casualties in the North and Vavuniya and they have been bitter about restraints placed on them by the government. Some 100 soldiers had deserted because the officers had not permitted them to make indiscriminate retaliatory attacks on Tamil speaking people in the north.
The government is having a very bad response from aid donors. The International Monetary Fund insists that the government must devalue again and put right the yawning gap in the balance of payments. It is not possible for the government to impose import controls ecause that would undermine whole econome policy and political line.
After much huffing and puffing the government devalues the Rupee again on 17 July. Immediately some prices go up and whole set of others are poised for price rises - fuel, transport, fares, food,
The government seeks to divert the attention of the people from these problems by talking about the 'terrorist' menace. Announces that it would take decisive steps to stamp out terrorism whatever other parties may say or do in relation to the 'All-party Conterence called by the government to alscuss "terrorist' menace.
All the opposition parties including Mrs Bandaranaike's Freedom Party and the Tamil United Liberation Front refuse to particiate in the Conference (a) because it is only about terrorism and does not resolve the problems in the North and (b) ac-
cording to the interview President J R
Jayawardene giver.
Telegraph in London he would take
whatever steps necessary
other parties may do in relation to the
Conference. In an interview in Rivirasa
Mrs Bandaranaike of the SLFP stated
that Mr Jayawardene wanted to obtain
the approval (rubber stamp) for the ac-
tions the government wanted to imple-
The Tamil United Liberation Front
decides to boycott the parliament or
more precisely not to participate in it.
All the major newspapers have. various
stories about 'terrorists'
clamour for Eelam (separate state).
The first meeting of the 'All-party
conference' is a flop. Only the UNP and
Ceylon Workers Congress.
government parties) attend.
meetings are postponed to 27 July and the
government promises to enlarge the
scope of the all-party conference.
SLFP still refuses to
because the government is merely try-
ing to use the SLFP to further their
ends'.
Students resist UNP thugs in the
Peradeniya campus. A mass movement
of students stage protests and calls for
the withdrawal of suspension notices
students barred by the
Chancellor etc. After a week of struggle
and the taking of a hostage (Head of
the Arts Faculty) by the students, the
University authorities give in and sign
an agreement with students.
On the following day the govern-
ment states that it will not honour it
because it was obtained by duress. But
the students disprove the claims of the
University and offer written documents
in evidence to the newspapers and the
government imposes a press censorship
čn 19 July. Two days later the censor-
ship is extended to cover all 'terrorist'
incidents in the north.
The 1982 current account balance
ai paymenis deñtit ian io some $490m
and was attributed to sluggish exports == - 2: 3_2 - = 3:
Socialist Acron
THE FOLLOWING articles both came from Colombo and give dramatic descriptions of the reign of racist terror that swept Sri Lanka.
The articles make it very clear that the government lies behind the violence and show the way in which the police and the army openly sided with the pogrom. the THE ENTIRE POPULATION is supposed to be confined to their homes. Since 2pm yesterday (25 July) till 5am tomorrow (27 July) a curfew is in operation. Armed forces are on the streets. The whole country is tense.
Winds of racism demolished buildings and houses big and small. Arson and looting have become the order of the day. I can still see through the window of my home smoke reaching up to the sky hear now they are attacking the
Hine
deeds over the past two days.
their their the bus drove into ror, l saw large crowds of people running all over. The
traffic was in disorder. I got off the bus
and witnessed the of people were attacking Ambal Cafe (a
iron rods and there were armed police
started in Borella - (see other report).
I was an eye witness to many attacks
Pettah, Main Street,
Bankshall Street (the Bazaar area with
shops owned mainly by the Tamil com-
munity). I was furious. Some things!
just could not bear to look at. I think I
was the only person who did not symLanka
Large numbers of people watching
these atrocities gave them their passive
support. Some people even joined the
I was walking all over and
whatever
ON 24 JULY news trickled in to
Colombo about a big death toll
amongst army personnel
north as a result of 'terrorist' at-
tacks. Armed youth in the north
had set off a remote
bomb whilst an army convoy was
passing and then shot practically
every soldier that alighted from the
vehicles.
According to the figures released by (both the government 13 persons were dead Further including the lieutenant that command-
ed the unit and two others were serious-
ly injured. that the two injured soldiers had also Unconfirmed reports participate
died.
Sunday nights
began. Several persons boarded public
and private buses and began to make
racist and provocative remarks design-
ed to whip up racial hatred. Meanwhile
the government nad.
ments to bury the dead soldiers — it apVice pears without giving relatives an oppor-
tunity to take the dead bodies to their
homes. The burials were to take place
at Borella (Kanatte Cemetery).
mishap had occurred and the burials
did not take place. The result was peo-
ple who had been waiting to use the
whole incident. launch
pogrom went ahead with their plans
despite the fact that the dead bodies did
not arrive at Borella.
That Sunday night shops belonging
to Tamil traders were burnt and some
people were beaten and killed.
troubles spread quickly. The police and
the army egged them on. And by Mon-
morning attacks had spread to
da y
Narahana. Petrat
Fort.
18 August 1983
hand of the
listening to what people were saying -*If the government cannot solve this problem, let the people solve it'. slogans such as — 'Defend the Sinhala race'. It was a mood of mass hysteria. goods. Others were grabbing the goods from looters piled them on the streets on the streets and set them on fire. Soldiers in civilian clothes also actively have participated or rather initiated the at-
Pettah was broken open and crackers were lit on the streets in celebration of the 'heroic' deeds. that I was the only mourner while the others were merry making. There were many armed units cordoning off the crowds from the racist attackers! They didn't do anything else.
Criminal acts bi
Wattala etc.
in the
controlled
Wing the loot.
HOOL
several incidents. were being broken
say
preparations
lesson. and policemen.
made arrange- Pogrom
Some Clerical
racial and beating
were setting
place were couraging them 1 ne shouting
Kotte, anew.
In Silllala
the fire. 2.00pm.
Looters
jeeps were cheered by the crowds! And saw houses they were waving with smiles on their faces! Fort and Pettah were a red hot blaze (the main commercial centres of the capital about three square miles in allowed
their homes.
The fire brigades arrived but they ela. Kandy, were turned away by both the armed personnel and the attackers. Maharaja Organisation (a large Tamil business
were demolished and textiles the active looted (Main St. is a textile sales centre — the majority of traders being Tamil). 0I 1S01. Some of the loot was being put in taxis
The police were mere onlookers! I saw a man holding a Sinhala national flag being carried on the shoulders of a group of persons and Buddhist monks
encouraging LOUS.
Columbo burns
Many criminal types took the opportunity to loot. But on this occasion the attacks were more political - many attackers did not take any loot. They set fire to shops and their contents and even tried to prevent people from tak-
But in many places there were people who were only after the
On Monday morning I witnessed
Many Tamil shops into and goods looted and then shops were set on fire The people were in a different mood from the 1977 and 1981 attacks. Even the by-standers were approving the at-
and stating that the "Tigers' (reference to armed groups in the Tamil speaking North) should be taught a
Amongst them were soldiers
As I walked towards the Lake
House building and then to the Govern-
Service Union head-
quarters near the Lake House book
shop I saw a new stage in the pogrom -
groups of thugs were stopping vehicles to bus depots.
up Tamil people. They fire to cars and robbing tried
them of all their possessions. And the
soldiers in army trucks that passed the
waving at them and enand the thugs were 'victory' (Jayawewa) to the
soldiers. Only the police made any at-
tempt to save one or two people. When
they left the place the trouble began smoke.
! went untothe GCSU and spoke 1o
English speaking man; well dressed and carrying a briefcase caught a looter taking away some textiles and told him
'Shame on you! Don't take that loot away, put it in the fire, burn it!' And he put some items into
I saw a Tamil burnt to death and left lying on the road and one other on the road by the Pettah Central Bus Stand hacked to death. Another a few yards away from him was dying. Two cars and a Hiace van were burnt before me. All this happened between 10.30am and 1.30pm on 25 July in Fort and Pettah and curfew was imposed only from
As there was no transport, I began walking home from Fort. On my way I
Kottahena and Hettiyawatte in flames. Thugs were stopp ing looters on the streets and demanding a share of the loot and only then Women, and old ree body was, them proceed. Men, carrying at least a packet of biscuits to
Similar attacks have taken place in Mutuwal, Mattakkuliya, Wattala, Ja-
Wellawatte, Ratmalana and in areas all over the country. This time 1 am sure the race riots have escalated and spread to a much greater and worse extent than in 1958 with the passive support of the government and
incitement of the armed forces and are even worse than the riots
The police and the army have the authority to shoot looters after a warning but they don't shoot the looters. They use their bullets to open gates and doors of Tamil shops and homes that cannot be opened by sticks or iron
were streaming in to the streets and of-
fices had been closed. The government
had meanwhile imposed a curfew to
begin at 2pm and closed all schools and
government offices. But there were no
buses - most of them were being taken
Some private buses
operated but they were crowded.
telephone Father
Caspersz' several times but it was im-
possible to get through. I also tried to
get through to Mirje office, that too
was difficult. I left the GCSU at about
12.30pm. Massive fires were burning
verywhere and the wholeof d of da
as engulfed in a thick clou
overturned and burnt. One area where
there was no sign of any trouble was
66( this dr and
Paradi
If you fly Air L Bangkok on an i enjoy a relaxing Isle of Sri Lanka Colombo Stopo And the one price accommodation, transfers to and f and meal discour
there is a very large concentration Tamils and they have a tradition of b ing very violent. This was the only ar which was quiet. As I came to the Al mawatha Road people were gatheri outside their houses. Others - 1021 groups of youth were running in sear of their next target of attack
Page 7 scan of this page
• Race riots inspired by state
ri Lanka...
am of fairyland Paradise.'
Mark Twain..
e on Earth fro
to India, Singapore or dual fare, you can now ver en route in our Paro remarkably low price Holidays start at USe udes modern hat inental b the
Curfew made little difference at all to ine acuvides or lne lnugs largery because the army men of violence. The fires continued and even small houses were attacked.
Their belongings looted or taken out
ana set on nre. I nese acavides went on till about 11pm before the police came
1,2 an encouraged these Earlier the army
ignored people through with oftensive weaDons
i US$8 a day
• Isle of Sri Lanka around and asked people to get inside their houses and that too very gently.
encouraged people and even assisted them and the police
- mobs - marching
Although the government announc- Tamils. ed on the radio that looters will be shot
nt for travellers ntroduction
anka is now and that the punishment for looting is death, people did not take much notice
At the GCSU I met many who had come from different parts of the city and all of them said the same story -looting, burning and harassment of
Some killed and even worse people
TAR
О МЕЛ
in general had racial hysteria. It was pretty sickening. I felt very depressed because I felt I was powerless to do anything
However, no built back to Fort and the streets were now crowded with people who were trying lo sonicrow curfew. I walked up to a bus stand and there were no buses. I decided to walk with many others who were doing the same thing.
Dastardly
On the way I saw looters carrying their loot - bales of textiles, bottles of brandy, whisky sugar etc and they were forcibly stopping lorries and compelling them to take them.
Everywhere it was the same houses being looted and burnt, cars of it because they knew that neither the police nor the army were going to im•emen suda decisions.
In order to justify these dastardly acts people now began to make stories about the houses that they looted stories were made up to say that they had found boxes of bullets and ammunition inside these houses or that the army had captured to "Tiger' leaders. When they were closely questioned they were stories they had heard second or third hand.
The time now is 9am on Tuesday 27 July Just now warehouse factory and a house burn11g. Although last night the govern ment declared that there would be a curfew all day today people are roaming round the streets. They don't have transport and that is why they walk around tell locally
The situation worse. Although the government itself seems to have engineered this situatior they may not be able to control matters if these developments continue. People are now saying that the government did not act decisively and therefore the people took things into their hands.
We are too few to have a massive effect on the people. Although we explain things to people and show the futility of these actions, we can reach only more sensible people. things will die down and humanity and sense will return
But that is anybody's guess. What will happen today? row? One thing is clear; Tamils would stay in the South after this. There will be another mass exodus. I will try to send further reports as soon as bossiole
1. Father Caspersz is a Jesuit priest who leads the Movement for Inter-racial Justice and Equality
finis report was sent to Sinhalese Colombo London on 5 August)
FIFTY attacks
my.
not
accede to
people.
separate
been political
become affected by
, I realised that there was in being depressed. I came
get home betore the zon
and beer rice and
Led.
Without
of the state seen a big
only
may turn much dressed
We can only hope that
Lanka
tonight? tomor- tion very few by and reached
TWO KEY Tamil
militants, including Kuttimani
and Jegan, detained under the
Prevention of Terrorism Act in
the maximum security prison
at Welikada were massacred in
two seperate 'prison riots'.
Rampaging Sinhala
prisoners are alleged to have
attacked them. Nonsense! The
were planned,
reliably understand, by the ar-
A radio broadcast by the
President on the 28 July did
condemn the arson,
looting and murder. Instead he
said '... the time has come to
the clamour and
natural request of the Sinhala
It appears the desire of the
Sinhala people is that the coun-
try cannot be divided. Legisla-
tion has since been enacted
making it illegal to call for a
state and thus the
Tamil United Liberation Front
has been proscribed.
Constitutional cover has
obtained 'eliminate terrorism'. Martial law may well be declared in the
north and east and thus a de
facto separate state created.
Witch hunt
against the
left
THE GOVERNMENT is now trying to implicate the left as having conspired to overthrow it in the process of a three-stage revolution.
The violence has been blamed on the left and the Communist Party, the People's Liberation Front (JVP) and the New Socialist Party (NSSP) have been proscribed and their presses seal-
Left activists are being rounded up We believe the government is trying to break up left parties and launch a mopone to canoast or an erast elemenas
doing this the government cannot hope to maintain its stablitv and continue to rule. Particularly in the lace or ine cnaotic situation of the economic, social and political structure
If oppositional groups were left to freely operate in such a climate the rela tionship of forces may well have shifted against the government.
SOCIALIST ACTION urges
its readers to protest at the
attacks on the Tamil people in
Sri Lanka.
We ask you to get your
organisations to call for the
restoration of democratic
rights in Sri Lanka and for the
lifting of the ban on those par-
supporting Tamil self
determination and also the
parties of the left.
All protests should be ad. to the President,
Janadhipathi Mandiraya, Col.
ombo 1, Sri Lanka.
If your organisation wants
a speaker on the situation in Sri
please contact Sri
Lanka Research and Informa-
Group, Grays Inn
Buildings, London EC1.
A state visit to Britain by
President J.R. Jayawardene is
planned for October. Get your
organisation to insist that this
visit is cancelled. Also get it to
demand that Britain does not
sell any military equipment to
the Sri Lanka government.
Socialist Action 18 August 1983
Page 8 scan of this page
Chile's 'peaceful road
8 Socialist Action 18 August 1983 FROM 1970 UNTIL 1973 a Popular Unity Government in Chile led by Salvador Allende was conducting 'the great experiment democratic socialism.'
Chile was going to be the supreme example of how a peaceful non-violent road to socialism could succeed. By September 1973 'the parliamentary road socialism' lay in ruins.
Allende himself had been killed defending the Presidential Palace. The Santiago Football Stadium had been turned into concentration camp for the left: many of whom were to disappear for ever - their bodies broken and crushed by torture.
Capitalism in Chile like its counterpart in Germany 40 years before had shown that it would drown blood any attempt to wrest away its power and wealth. Once. . again the peaceful road to socialism had been shown as a one-way path to the graveyard for the working class.
This week Socialist Action begins a series of three articles on the Chilean events. The articles are written by Chilean revolutionary Marxists.
IN 1968 THE Chilean Christian Democrats won the presidential election getting 56 per cent of the vote. They had used an audacious gramme called Revolution in Liberty.
Their campaign called for the recuperation of the mining enterprises
US hands, wide agrarian reform, an economic policy of import substitution which would create the conditions to further industrialise the country, and the national organisa-
of the 'marginals' such peasants, dwellers, women, youth etc.
Model
This was a model Alliance-forProgress programme which had the full support of the American Government and was a means whereby this bourgeois reformist party was able to outflank the workers' parties.
This astute tactic by the capitalist class momentarily held back the motor forces of the revolution but it did not mean their social defeat. Aid-
ed by the fact that the workers' parties had only come forward with a mild
programme of reforms in the elec-
MONS - the programme of the united slate or tne socialist and communisi parties could hardly be described as
being to the left of the Christian
the ruling class had
been able to retard the mass move-
ment.
1970 none of the problems which the Christian Democrats had
set inemselves une task or solving were anywhere near a solution. The country was even more deeply in debt. Inflation was higher. Industrial production had sharply declined.
Both unemployment
underemployment had risen.
country had a huge balance of payments problems and social inequalitie. had worsened mainly as a result of growing monopolisation and the increasing trend towards foreign ownership. The workers and peasants had pressed their demands harder than evere
and social demands by strikes, land and factory occupations and by street demonstrations which invariably ended in clashes with the police. By 1970 the Government had logged
In a climate of economic, social and political crisis the 1970 elections approached. The bourgeoisie and imperialism knew this was going to be a
COLONIL Socialist Party, the Communist ParChristian Democrats -Party and two small parties, the AP! and the PSD, which were small and
on bourgeoisie of the lesser provincial LOWIN.
Allende won the elections getting 36.2 per cent of the vote. Alessandri of the National Party got 34.9 and Tomic of the Christian Democrats got 27.8 per cent. Immediately a situation
political lever of the capitalist state apparatus, the executive branch, was not under the workers' control. The workers and peasants attacked the property owners by taking over their landed or industrial possessions thus expressing this duality of power. But they did not set up organisations that gave material reality to this situation.
The ruling class meanwhile was in
unable to hight back. I was also difided as to the best strategy and tactics to use in this new situation.
to stage a coup with the aim of
Workers occupied factories demanding Allende's Government nationalised bosses' property.
movement - in-
preventing Allende taking office. This ended disastrously for the plotters when the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces was killed resisting his kidnappers. The extreme right were then thrown into disarray and for the time
Chilean society was in a period of major social confrontation and that a showdown between the classes was inevitable in the near future. They also knew that it was not Popular Unity
was the mats movem Popolar hers
led. They knew that they had to break up the mass movement and that the relationship of forces in Chile in 1970 Prevented the died ho Are sil freedom ofche dovernment sactithe whilst at the same time forcing the Government to limit the objectives of the mass movement and forcing it to restrict the extent and scope of the
Everything was done to try and
The Christian Democrats who led this section of the boureoisie did not have to press too hard to get the leaders of Popular Unity to the negotiating table to sign a Statute of Constitutional
votes confirming Allende as Presi-
Government to maintain intact the
civil service, parliament and especially would remain the dominant sector in
the capitalists were not made because of the strength of the ruling class. They were made because the strategy
Popular Unity's eyes was represented
This strategy more than allowed
disorientated forces in order to resist
ELCUCIO the relentless thrusts of the masses.
for the masses could not wait to get their
saW
Mapuche Indians in the south began to occupy the land. From then on a pattern was established. The masses would press the Government to na-
and capitalist property which was already in ine nanos of the workers atter an occupation. Time and time again the
DEVOLU Popular Unity's economic and social
ment had no difficulty carrying out popular measures like the nationalisa. tion of all the copper mines in US
the private banks and the sales of copper abroad. They eliminated the big the latifundia system. Wages were increased by 100 per cent and at the same time prices were frozen. The standard of living improved as never
April 1971 Popular Unity won 50.9 per cent of the vote. This showed that the fractures inflicted on the workers movement by the previous administration were being healed. Later that month 80 priests from working class
of the Nation' address promised to lay the basis for the transition to framework. In August that year the movement of the Christian Left split from the Christian Democracy and
workers had reasserted themselves as
everyone had to take into account. The same applied to the peasants who did not wait for Presidential decrees before taking over the land and expelling the landowners.
developments by sanctioning the de
International -
facto take-overs and making them legal. In the south the landowners responded by setting armed vigilante groups. It was becoming ob-
socialism' did not include using the power of the masses as the strength of
Their Christian Democrats meant just the
dissolved thousands of Popular Unity Committees which had been set up for the 1970 election campaign. When the President of the Supreme Court attacked a proposal to set up popular
Popular Unity's tactic concerning the army was to try and buy over the officer class which simply increased the power of the officers and increas ed their hold and influence over the
preted as a vindication of the cautious
gradualisuic pall. pledges to change the two chamber Assembly of the People and to formulate a new Socialist Constitution
The bourgeoisie knew by the mid. die of 1971 the electoral results were not in their favour. They proceeded to reorganise their forces knowing too well that the government was unwilling to go beyond bourgeois legality decisive political confrontations the class struggle between 1970-1971 despite all the advantages it then had.
Besides, the capitalists knew they form of foreign credit restrictions and the economic blockade that Chile was subject to from the moment Allende came to office; aiong with covert actions and activities. Not surprising, a scarcity of essential consumer goods and the black market made its ap. beginnings of economic difficulties allowed the ruling classes to stage an impressive march of the empty pots which coincided with Fidel Castro's one month visit to Chile on December Chilean masses who strongly tified themselves with revolutionary hundreds of thousands; the Chilean defending itself tooth and nail against
became evident almost to everyone that the class struggle had taken an unusual turn, it had become class war. A decisive social test of strength of historic significance was on the
democratic legality would become an
Either of them had to impose its will on the other and to do that they had
set bi
ties were the products of that very form of bourgeois rule, and therefore as far as their political programmes, psychology, methods of struggle and perception was concerned could not lead to its overcoming unless they transformed themselves into revolu-
or une quesuon.
ships would be much less scrupulous with political forms which no longer guaranteed the capitalists way of ruling and would therefore
Page 9 scan of this page
Letters
Know-nothing chauvinism?
THE WHOLE page devoted by John Ross (SA 29 July) to the issue of the attitudes of
withdrawal from the EEC begged far more caesuons tulan R answered.
More seriously, behind the smokescreen
the Labour Party with
• Common Market and EEC institutions, the line advanced by Ross represented a clear 08000 e 109! backward and nationally
British left at a moment
become possible to debate
working class and socialist strategy towards EurODe.
Ross in effect says that the EEC represents the interests of European capitalists in a period ci deepening trade and economic conflict with US capitalism, that
Downright prejudice
IT'S BEEN a long time since I last read quite such a farago of half-baked ideas, sweeping speculation, unproven assertions and downright prejudice in a left-wing publication, as John Ross displayed in his article "The Bosses Market' (SA 29 July).
Not since around 1975, in fact, when people like comrade Ross were last scraping around for reasons to jump on the little England antimarket bandwagon.
Actually, most of Ross's article is not about the EEC at all but about ine aulnor s speculation on the build-up of a European military power in competition with Alciica
In fact such a development could take place quite independently of the EEC. which remains an economic unit, Ross's chosen example - - Concorde of the strengthening of curope s millary aircral manufacturing capacity',
Britain joined, and would have proceeded whether Britian was in or out
And anyway, it is by no means clear that a
COMMON MA
withdrawal from the EEC is some kind of socialist princible. ne even concludes with the slogan
- the Tory government?) 'British out of the EEC'
Now if this a question of principle why does it not apply in the other 1C member states!
I have searched in vain through the sister publications of Socialist Action in other European 'countries to find similar calls for Belgian, French, Itaian or West German withdrawal from the Common Market. Ur does John Ross see something unique about Britain's circumstances that leads him to this conclusion (Britain's excess budget payments perhaps)?
Of course the policies and institutions of the EEC are incompatible with the actions which any serious socialist government would wish
Common Market debate
more integrated Europe, more independent of the US, would strengthen capitalism' overall, as Ross assumes.
It would actually be just as likely to disrupt the military, political and economic hegemony ecadenc after World War.2. It would be a re arrangement of existing capilalisi lorces, nol an addition to them.
More fundamentally, socialists do not simply
'the process of European Colas coordlalloll.
We defend working class interests at every stage, but we recognise that to oppose the process itself is both reactionary and utopian and can only mean reurcallls Into an isolationist, little englana posion i practice.
Our aim is to seize the means of production, not to roll back capitalsm to an earlier form, or to side with one capitalist bloc against another Similarly Ross completely. fails to explain how getting out of the EEC would make one iota of difference to the causes of job loss in the steel
the Market in 1975.
to take. But elsewhere in Europe socialists put the
a united socialist states of
advocated by John Ross) in front of the cart of EEC withdrawal.
In the first instance this means a determined no ore le left and the wider labour
crete European perspective for socialist action. Some model for this exists within the embryo buropean peace move ment, but coordinated Huropean action is needed in the struggle against
defence of trade union and civil rights, in defence of migrants, women and opressed minorities and - increasing.y - in defence of welfare services.
For those Socialist Action supporters who are members of the British Labour Party this industry — 'the United States - putting the squeeze on the European capitalism?.
Surely, our answer
must be to advocate the
HARRIS
Fortunately,
serious socialists in the
Labour Party are cam-
ing to see the fallacy of
the "get Britain out"
cause - which is why
Kinnock is deserting it
as well' — says Jackie
McDonough
development of international combine committees and international workers' alternative plans — and the 'get Britain out' line
ANO!
Photo: CHRIS DAVIES (Report)
Michael Foot speaking at a Tribune rally against
presumably would have to have an application in the kind of platform you want Labour to adopt in the Labour parliamentary elections next year.
Of course a large chunk of the Labourist left - - including ostensibly 'hard lefts use a reappraisal of policy towards the EEC as a cover for their obvious and growing shift to the right.
week when the Thatcher government announced opposition to the demand by the EEC that the Tories observe equal pay legislation, Ross's anti-EEC tirade panders to the latent know-nothing chauvinism peddled by the broad alliance which includes Douglas Jay Peter Shore, John Silkin and the British CP.
JOHN PALMER, London. could only detract from that.
Certainly any serious moves towards socialism and a working class
Britain, would involve breaking out of the EEC. But that would be the
east of our problems
compared with the battk we'd face with the ruling class, its army and police here in Britain.
of the
it as well. diversion.
No sexual innuendo!
SO A BIT of sexual innuendo about women is OK as long as they're agents of the state is it? Totally lacking in sympathy for the police though we are, be they women or men. we ta to appreciate the story
Worms Eye View (SA 22 July).
Surely it's more to the point to attack the police and their procedures than to attempt to inject a bit of sun-type titillation in
ARE Davy Jones and myself really on the same Labour Party GMC? I began to doubt it after reading his article last week on South Islington's policy on the EBC.
In 200 words he managed to twist the facts, in order to take a swipe at Socialist Organiser, so that I could scarcely recognise the meeting I was at.
He claims that our GMO carried, and that Socialist Organiser supporters backed, a 'pro-EEC' resolution This is nonsense.
we backed a call to scrap Labour's policy for quitting the NEC. That doesn't mean we're for it, it means we think 'getting out' is a nationalist diversion from fighting the bosses - and whether they are British of European bosses is neither here nor there.
avy makes oul ulal the decision was part of a straightforward lett-right debate, and that Socialist Organiser ganged up wit the right. The real worlc was not that simple.
The right wing, of course arged that Labour's policies were too left wing and should be scrapped to win back
Unfortunately, many on the left fell into the trap of defending 'the policies' and complaining that they weren't explained well enough.
Socialist Organiser
alllulle others, were more honest. We argued that the
order to brighten up an article, i.e. 'luring in the punters' etc
If you think this is
SONY DuL We don't find sexism even in the guise of tonguein-cheek humour amusing. And ov the way - we're not all 'lads'
HELEN MACDONALD, SUE MACDONALD KATH SHAWCROSS, London
LMNOPORSTU'
IJKLETTERSTU
LJKLMNOPORST
Heath has a message for Thatcher, but they both agree on the EEC
We didn't side with the right
central points of Labour's 'left wing' policies: the Alternative Economic
Strategy, import controls and quitting the Common Market, are rotten DoncIes . 'hev are all are all useless plans for reforming capitalism that will do nothing to save : jobs, protect living standards or change society.
We used a debate that the right wing wants too, in order to put forward our politics -working class politics
DAVY JONE'S report
(SA 29 July) on the EEC debate in Islington South Labour Party is a bit inexact
The resolution was not 'to support the BEC'.
It declared that to call for
withdrawal from the HEC
was an 'empty gesture',
ana proposed instead
Europe-wide workers'
solidarity for socialist
policies.
A 'major right-wing
offensive'? The EEC debate followed on from
a long discussion on
Labour's election defeat
in which practically every
speaker favoured sticking
by existing Labour policy
or shifting to more left-
wing perspectives
if a motion to droj unilateralism had been
put down at that meeting,
it would hardly have got a single vote.
Socialist Action 18 August 1983 9
Whoops!
SOCIALIST ACTION should be more careful about the letters it publisnes
SA 22 July included one from Albert Eider
of Eastbourne stating
been made an election
issue.
Mr Elder would
indeed think this, being
a former member of the
Constitutional
Movement and well.
known South Coast
racist!
The play of sending
such 'leading' letters to
une press is one used in
the past by the NF to
encourage racial
prejudice — it is up to
us to expose and
challenge them
whenever this occurs.
K. FLACK. East
Lewisham CLP. based on workers needs and struggles. We are not ashamed of that. We've said what we think of Labour's Common Market policy loud and clear since before the Referendum in 1975, when we said 'Bosses' Britain, Bosses' Market, No Choice'
I suspect the thing that really peeves Davy is that now a lot more activists in the movement agree with us.
NIK BARSTOW, member of Islington South Labour Party
The vote on the EEC was 34-25 There were four Socialist Organise supporters at the meeting, a lice die contany not 30 right-wingers in Islington South GC
No: the vote against EEC withdrawal represented a section of the Labour • Left moving away from the diversionary nationalist gimmicks waich dave long befouled its thinking. (And it was in those terms that the motion was moved - bi a left-winger who is not an SO supporter).
Socialist Action comrades should ask themselves why they are taking the role of the last of the Mohicans of Labour left nationalism.
MARTIN THOMAS, Socialist Organisel
Page 10 scan of this page
10
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CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE POLICE BILL
ocial and economic background of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill Waite eating campaiping tonence and with curiculom viac, mark.
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Sunday 11 September in London
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WANDSWORTH refuse collectors and gardeners
against private contractors who alt attacking their pay and conditions.
Wandsworth council workers warned against the council selling direct labour jobs last year to Olivate sualk.
They said this would lead to an assault on the unions, jobs and conditions of workers.
How right they were. Pritchard Industrial Cleaning Services fered to do gardening Top treader an once labour and the Tory counci Jumped at the chance.
This price cutting operation means no contract of emplovment. no protective clothing, no ELECON LOUI wash holidays, no sick pay, to facilities, paid pension, introduction of
PICKET
LINE
Glass workers resist closure
ON 15 JULY United Glass in Castleford, Yorkshire announced plans to close the plant of 590 workers and transfer production to Scotland and Essex.
The workers responded swiftly with
meeting which decided total opposition. Transport union branch secretary, Dick Roberts explained *The workforce are together, which is a real strength and they have told us , fight it. We will resist closure by all means available'.
If the company goes ahead with closure unionists at other United Glass plants will be asked
Sandhar
and Kang
strike again
A YEAR AGO a union recognition dispute banana Kang Birmingham was resolvPo are weeks
Management accepted the right of th Transport and General worker negotiate and allowed
«Domen convenor. Proper
tions were agreed
Now Sand K want to transfer the convenor, Marcharan Rar to a company that does not really exist. They are also using
excuse despatch department may close to make Ieaunant TGWU members with long service, they retain recently recruited scabs.
But the 23 asian workers at s and K. ar solid behind their union and have set up militant, round the clock picket. They remember too well the pre-union wages and conditions
Wandsworth workers strike espite stencouncil
less than council wages.
Soon after the strike of the 38 Prit. began chards gardeners, 100 Wandsworth refuse collectors walked out
Their work had been sold off to the private firm, Grandmet who refuse to implement pay award made by the central arbitration committee and who will not recognise une reruse col lectors' General and Municipa trade union • For information and solidarity messages con tact: NUPE London Division, c/o Junction Resource Centre, 248 Lavender Hill, London
and GMBATU Southern Region Cooper House, 205 Hook Rd, Chessington, Surrey. work
Castleford workers will not cooperate with the transfer of equip
and technical resources to other plants.
An appeal has also been sent trade unionists in Holland,
management in tends to transfer some of the Castleford work.
The joint union committee made up of the Transport, Engineering and Electrical unions anc the Association of Scien tific Technical and Managerial Staffs, has proposed a demonstration to build support on 24 September.
• For messages and information contact: Joint Union Committee United Glass Containers Ltd, Castleford West Yorkshire WFIO LOT (Mathew Creighton)
and don't want their
Delivery drivers and local small businesses are respecting the picket lin
and warehouse trade Call)
been decimated
£500,000 a week and the company other warehouses in Coventry and Wolverhamnton
Management is deter-
with courts, police security firms and scal labour
gol local Labour MP and contender for Labour Party leadership Roy Hattersley mediate.
When it comes aerenaing working clas asians Hattersley is sure
This Calous disinterest Muhammad Idrish the
1 def. ence campaign
His record of support for redundancy and recognition struggles his consitutency leave little room for confidence.
Messages and port to: and K Fund TGWU 211 Broad Street, Birmingham 15 (Bob Smith)
Page 11 scan of this page
Save Marylebone Campaign off to a flying start
News
A PUBLIC meeting of 200 people endorsed a call to establish a Save Marylebone Campaign, at the end of last month. The meeting had been organised by a joint rail unions committee comprising of the four affected National Union of Railwaymen branches and the train drivers union, ASLEF Marylebone. It was addressed by Jimmy Кпарр, general secretary of the NUR, Tony Benn from the Labour Party and Neil Milligan from ASLEF.
A statement launching the campaign declared its wholehearted opposition
Lne closure:
Marylebone... closing Marylebone is the Serpell Report through the back COOT British Rail Board (should instead) invest in the station. lines, signalling and rolling stock to secure jobs and provide an efficient, safe, comfortable and regular service
• bassencers
Vhile BR has been at ' main to denv there has been any decision taken future of Marylebone, the Guardian (4 August) stated:
•Marylebone Station to go in the first stage of loss of 2000 miles of line'.
This headline was the result of a meeting neween the Board and the unions and confirmed not only the suspicion that
threat, but that this is only
of
CUSTOM AND practice
Twenerally makes
LalU Christopher
Goldbourn being sur-
prised when Mr Justice
Oliver Martin told a jury
at the Old Bailey to toss
was
dependent on his and
Seven OLe! officers'
evidence.
The judge based this
action on some silly rule
which forbids coppers
jointly preparing notes.
Goldbourn and his seven
mates had got together in
the canteen to make sure
that they all told the
story which WaN
aimed at proving. that
four black men had con-
spired to cause grevious
bodily harm to police of-
ficers.
Their evidence relied
heaviv on that
the defendants had been
seen in places where ther
hadn't been that night.
How does the judge
think the police can do
an effective job of 'fit-
ting' CUVICE if, they
'an't get their lies right?
This is where custom
and practice comes in,
bewiteen
Goldbourn moaned to
that had heard of that
regulation. He explain-
more cuts and closures as the Tories prepare the rail industry for privatisațion of the profitable parts and shut down or muen or tne rest.
The of Marylebone will mean more than an interior service for commuters. It will inevitably lead to job loss.
Already 55 members of Marylebone NUR
have been given redundancy
They notices. WOLK LOI Grand Metropolitan Hotels which
LICi catering department for British Rail headquarters. When the old HQ moves out of Marylebone there
By an NUR member
will be no work for these members.
But 25 Grand Met workers at Rail House, Euston have also beer threatened with redundancies, thus the rumour that Grand Met is about lose its
If this happens it is likely that tuture catering herbers of the Nor and workers will will not be eligible for privileged travelling facilities.
Privatisation not new to British Rail and shows how it can be used
weaken the union organisation in the workplace - the 55 Marylebone members represent nearly 25 per cent of the
But the campaign to save Marylebone, jobs and services has got off to a strong start. Those at the public meeting represented many rail union branches,
ed: 'In eight years of ser-
vice I have always made
up notes with other of-
who's
doubt the lad? He might
added that he was
taught this practice by
who had been
CUTICIs
around for a lot longer
than eight years. Just im-
agine
pen if all those cases were
Pre-trial
where people had been
convicted by police
ting in lying collusion.
The jails wond
almost emptied and
thousands
would need a free par-
The whole system
of British justice would
be brought crashing
down — is this Justice
Oliver Martin some crazy
anarchist?
THE GUATEMALAN
army officer had just
popped in the presiden-
tial palace to ten born-
again Rios Montt that his
And nobody was
happier about this than
Major William Merdado,
the US deputy military
attache who purely by
coincidence was hanging
around the palace at the
SAY NO TO SERPELI Railworkers say fight closures and Serpell
Labour parties, the local trades council and community and passengers
Speakers from the Post Office Engineering Union Stressco struggle we have against Drivalsatiull.
Localy, ASLEF and the NUR working together Ill a joint соNo
apartheid
problem
ALL THAT stuff about
South African apartheid
is just not on.
At least Mr Rod
Stewart who kicked off
his musical career with
Jeff singing
Rhythm and Blues
black music reckons
he didn't see 'any apar-
theid problems' when he
was giving his concerts in
South Africa. Although
Mr Stewart just did not
find the time to pop into
the black townships nor
did he get across
Roben Is and — atter al
when you are a pors sor
bread you simply don't
Have _LIC go
time, walkie talkie in
After all the US ad-
ministanc got
their boy General Oscar
to betro veld
the top job and Mercado just coman tresist giving
the miltary envoy a big
nana squeeze for work
well done.
Then the TV cameras
WORLD This is in response to a new development nationally of building the Rail Federation. Both unions were represented the platform of the public meeting. OTSed Can boin spasters. dorsed but solid support has to be SocaKCIs
forthcoming from the national leaderships of the
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
around protesting apar-
theid.
He did admit though
that 'there weren't many
blacks in the audience',
but as he said 'maybe
they don't go for my sort
of music'. Perhaps Mr
Stewart's white South
African friends keep the
blacks out of the area
where he had his con.
had to go and spoil it all
rie zo at not Moment
moment which meant he had to
palace He might
diplomat and a stringer for the CIA but
had right then to be a TV star.
He was so upset with his that he described the TV crew as 'fucking reporters'. His
rail unions if Marylebone is to be saved.
More than that, as the NUR leadership's dithering on calling Ior nauolla.
to defend the British Rail Engineering Limited workshops has shown, losing one battle may well mean the long slippery slope to the implementation the certs. And then again
blacks don't earn HUSL the kind of wage that lets them buy tickets for his expensive concerts.
With Stepas stars like Rod cricketers like Geoff Boycott as friends, the • South African blacks certainly don't need any
bosses in the US State Department describing him it is said
that fucking Merdador who blew the show.'
Compiled by BOB PENNINGTON Send contributions Worm's LICI
socials acaon, 32o Uppe Street, London NI 2XP 1o arrive not later than Thars
Socialist Action 18 August 1983 SAY NO TO SERPELL
SERG
Serpell Report and the decimation of the nationalised railway industry.
That is why • the Save Marylebone Campaign has been established. Saving Marylebone could well become a key part of the fight to save the indsutry our jobs and the services we provide.
OFFICIAL
STRIKE
TWO HUNDRED workers Walthamstow, East London shorter hours, without loss of pay.
at 6.15. Senior shop steward Liaquat Ali explains
week'
solaters
refusing to cross
stewards 0mmitee..
11 Certainly without such
a fight it would be letting
Serpell by the front
door.
• The importance of the
national leadership of the
rail unions making each
and every threat of
closure, job loss, produc
tivity deals and ra
tionaisatior national
campaigr has been
highlighted by workers in
one of the threatened
BREL workshops - lem
ple Mills voting to co.
operate with the closure
For too long member
of the NUR have beer
without a lead from the
people they vote into of
fice to do precisely that
Demoralisation and the
belief that the union is not
prepared to fight for thei
jobs has resulted in such a
vote.
What the NUR leader-
ship now proposing is
too little, much too late.
Other than a lobby of
parliament the only pro-
posal for national action
emanating from NUR
headquarters was in a cir-
cular dated 29 July 1983
Redundancy , notices were
Photo:
suel on 1 August 1963.
And aside from some black work
there is no proposal for the
union
It is no good the general secretary
Jimmy Кпарр, blaming
the membership.
After years of Sidney
Weighell's betrayals, rail
workers are looking for a
lead that will unite all of us
the industry. That
Will KnaDI elected.
It's about time he got on
with the job
DECEN
WICE
FOR
al Britains Toys
have gone on strike for
The day shift begins at 7.45 in the morning and finishes
'There are so many unemployed, yet we are forced to do a 50 hour
The company is also notorious for its treatment o? home workers who are paid 20 pence an hour to pain: 10: A large picket is kept up in the day and lori driver. =!
• Donations and messages of suppor: is: Britis stic
Page 12 scan of this page
THE LION is out of the bag in Central America. On Monday 15 August United States President, Reagan announced to a rally of war veterans that he rejected the appeal of Mexican President, Miguel de la Madrid, to abandon military agression in Central America and take initiatives for peace.
Reagan 'America is the lion's heart of democracy. We have an obligation to give that democracy an occasional roar'.
Reagan's plans to maul the popular struggles of
worker and peasants of Central America and
Caribbean have the full backing of the Thatcher government.
A coordinating committee of solidarity groups, labour political organisations has been set up in brital lu campaign against US aggression British government complicity.
the campaign prepares for major solidarity demonstration on 11 September, the Scot:
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SOCiAList
ACTiON
END BRITISH
COMPLICITY
IN CENTRAI
AMERICA
tish Medical Aid Cam. paign has delegation visiting Nicaragua.
In interview with Brian Wilson, one of the delegation, the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D'Escoto explains The British Government is very, alone in attitude towards the Reagan administration. 'I don't think there is another Western governsupported the naval manoeuvres, for
example. yuppose phys is
their way repaying America for support over the Falklands, but it something that should concern the British people'
No Intervention Central America (NICA) is organising a series of activities in the coming months. These include:
be used on yorkplaces,
used workplaces, unions and local communities to build up support material for the press.
'he will be
handed in to Thatcher on September 12th.
The petition can be us-
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Led as the basis for resolutions from labour movement organisations and for requests that the TUC and Parliamentary Labour Party vigorously campaign against British governuten Reagan's new Vietnam.
• A daily vigil outside the United States Embassy, Grosvenor Square, don W1 from 9am to 7.30pm.
This continues until 11 September and trade union branches, trades councils, workplace organisations and CND'S are encouraged to send delegations with banners.
• National demonstra tion on 11 September anniversary coup. Trade unions labour Parties and CND groups should be preparing now to take large con. tingents, transport and banners.
For details of all events, local contacts. conies of leaflets and petitions, contact NICA, 20-21 Comp ton Terrace London NI. 01-226-6747. SPECIAL OFFER
we are offering a free copy of Hard Times, a new book in the 'Arguments for Socialism' series by Bob Sutcliffe. The book normally costs $2.50. Alternatively we are offering Alan Freeman's book, The Benn Heresy. For new readers there is our special introductory offer of 8 issues for $2.
All subscriptions are posted first class on day of publication.
paign delegation
10 August 1983.
THE DELEGATION of Soland are from
been very well received by the Sandinistas and the country is Tectooner posters saying "Todas los armas al pueblo', the 4th anniversary slogan of the 1979 revolution.
Contra forces from Honduras have killed over 500 Nicaraguan defence forces in the past few months and the whole country is on a state of alert against the possibility of an American invasion.
Despite the American blockade of Nicaragua, there allazing developments in housing and health the
Calc poorest people, inducing the introduction minimum and maximum
and the construcwage tion of a very large number of cheap houses for the homeless people. The Government also attempting to develop thermal® energy, and build
from the Pacific Tallways to the Atlantic coast.
The Government of the country relies on a jun-
of three people. the
commanders of the nine revolutionary forces and the Council of State of 51
The people of Nicaragua volunteer willing ly for the popular militias and Sandinista units to defend their revolution.
Hope for Nicaragua
JEREMY CORBYN, Labour MP for Islington North is a member of the Scottish Medical Aid Cam-
to Nicaragua. Here is a press release from the Nicaraguan capital Managua dated
Photo: GM COOKSON
members, who represent the trade unions, women's organisațions, youth, the churches and the private sector.
All proposals for future changes country have to go before the Council of State to discussion, including agreement of pluralism in elections as there are eleven political parties, six of whom fought the revolution.
There is now discussion on bringing in military service the Nicaraguans, although the effect of this is nil as vir. tually all Nicaraguans are in local militia or in the army in some way.
Each local community has its own street committees which oversee public health, education, security
and defence against invasion.
The demands that are constantly expressed to us are for the Americans to lift their military and economic blockade and to withdraw the forces Honduras and to send the American fleet home.
We have met the representatives Council of State and some says:
To: THE RT.
THATCHER, PRIME MINISTER
We, the undersigned Consider
participation of
military manoeuvres
ment and a threat to peace in Central America
Call on the
from the region;
initiatives for
of Mexico, Venezuela,
and to
dise these intiatives.
of the trade unionists who expressec complete support for the revolution of 1979 and hatred of the Somoza dictatorship anc the legacy of poverty an misery that has left.
Everyone we have met expresses hope for the future and a determination that there will be decen living standards for all as ioon as possible.
NICA NICA NICA
What the NICA petition
HON MARGARET
that the stationing of United States warships off the coasts of Nicaragua and the
combat in on the Honduran/Nicaraguan border are a serious escalation of efforts to destabilise the Nicaraguan govern-
United States government immediately to withdraw these warships and troops
Urge Her Majesty's Government to suppor peace proposed by the Nicaraguan government, and by the government:
Colombia and Panama reçommend strongly to the United States that it halt military manoeuvres likely to jeopar-
← Socialist Action No. 20, 29 July 1983Socialist Action No. 22, 22 August 1983 →