Socialist Challenge No. 140, 27 March 1980
The scan: sc-n140-mar-27-1980.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
Socialist Challenge TORY SPONGERS SOAK THE POOR
STEEL:
NO ENQUIRY,
20% NOW!
TWO pieces of news for the steel strikers — one bad, one good.
THE BAD NEWS was that the steel unions' executives, urged on by IST general secretary Bill Sirs, agreed to participate in a 'committee of inquiry' into the wages aspect of the steel dispute.
In doing this Sirs BACKED DOWN on his original demand that any such inquiry had to cover job losses and the way BSC is run — for example te 20 per cent plus rises on the way for the steel bosses.
HE CAVED in to the bosses' call for an inquiry rather than take the course some members of the IST executive were urging - stepping up of the strike.
The history of all such inquiries is that nine times out of ten they come down on the bosses' side. Take the example of the comparability study' held last year into the public sector
This very week, members of the white collar union NALGO are taking action because of the consequences of that inquiry which turned out to be one big con trick.
THE GOOD NEWS was the action taken by Liverpool dockers after they were threatened with loss of pay for refusing to handle seab steel. The dockers went on immediate strike and called for a national dock stoppage in support of the steelworkers.
That shows there is massive support for the steel strike in the working class.
Bill Sirs has had ample opportunity to call on that support and win victory for his members. Each time he has refused.
Now, rather than encourage the moves to a national dock strike which would win the steel dispute in a matter of days, he toddles off to some bogus inquiry.
Sirs is now on full steam ahead for a sell-out. The sell-out can still be defeated by taking the running of the strike out of
By rank and file steelworkers seeking to extend the strike — whatever Sirs says; by appealing across the working class for the type of support shown by the Liverpool dockers.
The fact is that the thirteenth week of this strike has shown one thing above all others. Either Bill Sirs will lose the strike or rank and file workers will win it. There is no other outcome possible.
JOIN THE SOUTH WALES
YOUTH MARCH AGAINST
UNEMPLOYMENT
5 April - 9 April Port Talbot to Wales TUC
in Cardiff
Youth demand a future - TUC must organise action on jobs
March backed by South Wales NUM, Port Talbot Strike Committee etc.
See pages 8 and 9 for details
No.140 27 March 1980 20p
Page 2 scan of this page
ATory budget for the rich...
...And it's the poor who don't get the claim!
OUR POLICIES
('apitalism is in crisis. The leaders
of the Labour Party and the trade
unions oller solutions that are in
ine interesis not ol the worker
hut of the capitalist class.
Socialist Challenge helleves that
Iwo vital lasks contronting
resolutionary socialisís art:
To build broad-based class
sruggie renatacies m opposion
class-collaborationism in the
lahour
HYCnCII.
Mm enccre
grouping together militants holdinf a wide range of political views.
To begin
c'reation ot unified
democratic revolutionary socialist
organisano wneca can. lnrougn
application united racucs, nepin lo be scen as an alternative thousands workers engaged in struegles.
such an oroanisation should be based on the understanding that:
The struggle for serks in unite the fight of
•workers against the with that of other oppressed lavers
women, black people.
VI SOEIC!! — Beration. Shrssocialism can only strugaling he achiered by creating new organs of power and deteating necessar! means the power of the capitalist state.
sociailsm
I than what exists in Britain today, with tull rights for politicai parties and currents that do not take up arms against the socialist state. The Stalinist models o* *socialism In the LSSR and Eastern Europe have discredited socialism in the eyes of millions of #OKE throughout the We are opposed to them and will offer full support 1o fighting for socialist democracy.
T he interests of workers and capitalists are irreconcilable on a world scale. C'apitalism has nol only created a marker. il has created politics. Thus we fight for working class unity on an scale. This unity will in the long run be decisive in defeating both the imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in Latin America. 9n0 A98.
In Britain it implies demanding the immediate withdrawal British troops from reland and letting the Irish people determine
The Communist parties in
'the 'Eurocommunist" the pro-Moscow wings have any meaningful strategy for overthrow ol the capitalist state. New revolutionary socialist parties arc nuTe hecessaly • than before. Conditions today more f'avourable than over the preceding three decades. But such parties can only be built rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracy not as a luxury but as a vital necessit!. This means the right lo organise factions and CUCHN
If you agree with these principles and be involved
Socialist supporters in vour area, fill in the form below and send it to us.
intormanon apote achtines n my arta. • I mould lihe additional literature and enchose Sop to cover costs. (Pelete it not applicabley
Name..
Address
CHANCELLOR
Exchequer Howe's second carries on where his first left off.
HIT are the poor These should such as those who depend
on social security, old age caracies.
pensions, allowances.
fight for the CLOBBERED is the average
and man and woman in the street
of the pleasures available to
front the Tory rich, but rely instead
of and a packet of
the big capitalists, nationals and CECCLOrS. socialism None
given the : record,
bosses LENe
their
wilh all
Campaign People (CHAR)
THE TORIES through
all
clear for
in November.
world
changes. The link all those
in line with prices.
The Denerls (ob) system overhauled.
world
to all suplementary
world determined by
rezualiuls international
Cuts
government
Africa reduction
WuCI thousand new
of while it cuts staff in the
year through tax evasion
benefits should be cut.
On the Neither
nor will octaculasd DUllE the earnings and price increases. If this change had heen 1974, pensions
ever Dresen
are put off for up to three weeks.
by are as harsh aure
Labour conveni-
in Challenge Commission
gives
means
ocen acciaca
Parlament eltects. mandarins of Whitehall.
been "aven Adyisory
it cannot initiate. wwil
EDITORIAL
of the Thatcher's government.
Geoffrey
Budget Lne Scr saying that afford decent nosala chap they
Wal and child
Justify
such terms
those who can afford few
cuts in social spenging.
Well it's true
a couple of pints of beel
elgarettes. general
SMILING are the wealthy,
winca the multi- capitalist world. the Nevertheless,
of this is surprising ideology, and Margaret LaDON
By Rick Middleton, field worker,
for Single Homeless
have pushed Parliament a major reform of the welfare state. The Social Security Bill was given its third reading on Wednesday of last week and the way is now
trimmed social security system to be introduced
The Bill brings two fundamental
between pensions and earnings will be broken. so that pensions will now be increased only
collapsing suplementary campere The SB Commission will be abolished after November and entitlement
benefits Will De published statutory
The context of these changes is a Tort
committed to massive public expenditure HeLOC CeO staff snoop on "scroungers" in order to save a mere £50m,
Juanu acycuut wnere an esumated t/1,00um is lost eacr
For the first time since the 30s, the Tories are suggesting that unemployment
government's own estimate breaking the link between pensions and
save £130m for each ditterence OCLCCH
introduced in , would be £5 less than The date of the uprating can be allowing additional savings of f35m a week.
I ne cuts in the supolementary benetits system are not as blatant, but their effects
gorernment claims tnal in reform of this system it is following the recommendations of the SB review team, wnica was caned tor ano took bace under
goverhment. Bureaucratic
crice is bue amm ol Many or laese retorms, which bear the hallmark of Whitehall.
The SB Commission is to go. The Bill State for Social Services to determine, entenslye powers to lne oecrelary oi
regulations, details entitlement to benefit, which have not yet
The Bill has therefore been passed by a
Ignorant UCUaHCe tave been left to the needs.
The role of overseer of the system has
To new Social Security As a lapid amer eh Da wated bog, omi
rather than a watchdog, thi body wisi oniy oe able to comment or Prope il caun oo in tate he anget ar
Chlall Cs oi it!
Thé abolition of discretionary pay-
Now and again the Tories try to justify their attacks on the old, salvato.
and working people by the "nation' can't Wielo uis. houses o senoos. sorry. od murmer, but the country is bankrupt so there's no
bad now avolaing a two milon plus dole queue next year. For
Sea oil -BP
« teotner nowe romme• •n inne te reed to iustite e cendre Wednesday
billion
enough. that British capitalism is in a mess.
It's also a fact that it is just part Now
economic crisis fact. antecung entire spending just for moment lers cast onraund back • the poor' budeet. to the old, 'light at the end of the
promise of both Тогу In cove dmenis. Une s bo e e ee ee re convenience has prevailed over claimants people in GULEDSE Davens TOr
exil bie dis nentioed thor most of the
discontinued 40v.wiv Deooe WnO were in desDeral need of them last year. Instead, payments will be made only circumstances laid down in the, unknown, regulations A recent survey of the effect of similar
example will do - how North for Sea oil would prove the country's people
That always was prophecy, but certainly if the oil nae pen useo cor tne benett o all of us things would not be so in
Slalc.
instance, in past couple of weeks two of the oil giants heavily involved in North
- Royal Dutch/Shell and announced ther cuuU2 profits. BP's amounted to £1.6
262 per cent increase from the orevious vear. Shell did cylon, alefi pee cenmace as3. better, they made
pront the here is an interesting £441.5m These profits combined are approximately half of the public
deficit which Howe used as the reason for his 'soak
cuts other words, if these profits had been seized and used
teculations applying payments for furniture regulations limited but did enire ment to peneti"
Additional allowances for laundry and heating costs for the man wil aso be reonce• such • The means by which a claimant is at present able to supplement the desperațely as yet Inadequate casic rales ol suppiementar benefit are being severely cut back. A few pounds will
the benefit of ordinary the HCCU IOr Howe's budget" would disappear, at a stroke.
Let's look more closely at this public spending deficit. It comes
part from high
LILCICS oaeu0 hich i ng introved by the goer wmech industry money which
Banks
By lending the money, the banks grow richer and richer. Al the top four banks have now announced last year's profits.
did best Dalkiays ErO.
of f529 4m. Then came
National Westminster with
Midland with £315.5m and Lloyds with £276m. Added up, the profit of the big four banks came to £1.5 billion
Compare this figure with the
social spending announced at the year. A massive £358m was cut
Slumt Sull showed that not clarify
elderly and the
CHAR, : saved at ine expense o Price 75p.
from education €242m from housing and £88m from the social services run b local authorities. If just over half banks nad emmauncopriated be profits announced by the government there would have peer need to make these
So don't believe the nonsens about the cuts being absolutely necessary Thes are only necessary if private profit is Du before need; if the oil barons and the City of London bankers are given unemployed, the elderly, the
The Tory budget will mean an increase of poverty. It means a loss in real earning power of the majority people. But for others, Sir Geoffrey and the whole philosophy of the Tory goveruuen offer one windfall after another. A case of Howe lucky for some. increased suffering. and hardship for the poorest and most vuinerable
The Social Security Bill is a major attack on the welfare state, and marks a significant change in the everyone should at least be insulated from poverty. Ine tory government is soaklg the poor to provide tax cuts for the rich.
*Benefits of Discretion, published by
27 John Adam St, London WC2
Page 3 scan of this page
4.50pm: with the shadowy presence of the police in the foreground a lorry driver watches the loading.
HOMENEWS
2.15pm:
police inconspicuous watch at the dock, several hours before the operation begins. 2.45pm: four miles out of town, in a private car park, empty lorries line up, waiting to go down to the dock. river Blackwater carrying a load of scab steel
pleasure craft.
three, the lorries race through the town to the dock. 4.17pm: the lorries race through the picket line, refusing to stop, the way cleared for them by the cops. 4.18pm: the small group of pickets stand by, helpless. into handle the heavy load, is a member of the TGWU. He says he has been threatened with the sack if he refuses to work.
car tries to keep 3.30pm: the 550-ton Ditte Holmo slips up the 4pm: at the height of the spring tide, the ship reaches the small port of Maldon, usually used only by 4.15pm: sent down in groups of two and 4.20pM: the crane driver, specially brought
Words: Andy Weir (Peoples News
Benjamin (Peoples News Service)
last Thursday breaking Danish ship,
pleasure craft.
In well-planned operation, 20 or so lorries went through the 10-strong official picket men?
Service). Photos: Nick Oakes and Mark
THE tiny Essex coast town of Maldon was drawn into the hub of the national steel strike
afternoon when a strikethe Ditte Holmo, delivered steel at a wharf normally used by
line, heading for the motorways.
This is just one example of a nanonwide steel-smuggung 4.40pm: alorry is loaded with its 15-ton roll of steel. Dockers are meant to have been instructed by their union not to handle scab steel. Who are these
EXPOSED!
THE SCAB RUN
operation that is managing to avol the bockace or see n the registered and maintain imports at the precrike leve
Steel is entering Britain
Sual DOTL Cornwall, Devon and Essex, and others in the North.
were unloaded at Maldon on
Thursday, a small quantity in
requirements but important enought warrant the organisation of a convor lorries, which travelled hundreds of miles. This was Dackca-wo oy unc local Donce.
4:50pm:
this man claims to have organised the transport. He asks that the names on the lorries not be photographed or Til be out of a job
4.55pm:
the
cop stand stilling s
scab unloaded.
headed by a chief inspector and a superintendent, who helped to co-ordinate the arrival of the • JOELICS dock.
The police claimed that they
WEIC • Lucie prevent damage to anybody's property' but their profile could have changed a officers waited out of sight in time Hundreds _case trouble escalaleu
The pickets managed snatches of conversation with only one or two or cae drivers all of whom looked as though they had expected opposition.
wal. 5pm:
stopped.
os anernoon passca Ice evening it became clear there
of stopping the scabs. But pickets came closi
the untoading by talking to the mobile crane
CHIG pickets had been there before he arrived he would not have crossed lie nicker line, once on the job he risked the sack for stopping work
Police protection or t
meticulous. patrolled Maldon and the roads around it. • When a vanload of pickets went to the car park three
lorries were gathering before coming into the wharf, police motorcycle followed
When the van arrived, the motorcycle was already there
police van, told the pickets that the would not be allowed on th
since the owner of the car
"wanted no damage to his property
While the pickets were still
La police sargeant said nette mole actic or. lorries would be coming. Barely three minutes • later CUZC car park.
Page 4 scan of this page
STRIKE NEWS
STRIKING steelworkers have finally won 'official permission' to close the Ford Dagenham car plant. But it took a week of independent action to force the hand of the steel union leaderships.
KEYWORTH, South Yorkshire steel strikers and members of the Transport and General Workers' Union, describe what happened.
It started at 6am on Monday of last week when the Dagenham plants were flooded with leaflets from the Ford Workers Group calling for support for the
and for SLCCIWOLRVID TGWU drivers not. to
cross picket lines.
A dozen militants from
ISTC then started picketing parts of the
Il weeks the loll leadership had sanctioned the unloading of steel at ford's private dock, and had turned
blind when it was transportea to the rord plants
Halewood and SouthScab
It seemed that the concer
Brian official for south-east
scab steel but to stop the picketing.
Or so it appeared on the Monday afternoon wheT Brian Connolly told two of the ISTC members who had picketed Ford that morning to 'fuck off home'.
The had the Canick Ford situation in hand. 1611 just what he meant was demonstrated the morning; for the first time ISTC officially sent pickets to
but only to the press shop,
se sold to stop noching but
That Taesday, 18 March
rat: redrarters fross Yaristire
Picket
de fast Ford driver i ach the picket line sak
There have you been for 12 weeks and taraod rouad.
HOW WE
WONTHE
FIGHT TO
CLOSE
Ford
STEVE SLINN, TONY MARTIN and ANDY
Internal transport stopped all day. There weren't enough pickets stop drivers round the clock. but the point had been made. All hell broke 10036
Cosy
wennesear afternoon, Dagenham and officials met ColYCHIUlS
reached agreement: only the press shop nickered one sucel sula wa to be stopped going in; and
be stopped
With this, the officials and convenors Communist Party Connors Dall nappy, No douol so Ford motor company.
But members of Yorkshire crafts. Warrington ISTC and. fortunately Ford's own TGWU drivers were not so
took place on Wednesday afternoon when we arrived.
We went to speak to the ISTC official picket leader.
ISTC official: 'Where are you trom?
Us: Sheffield T&G.'
Official: 'What are you here
Us: 'We've come to picket Ford.'
Official: "Who sent you?'
Us: 'Sheffield strike com-
at 'Have you reported through bead offix?' sold so
well pet the next
Luckily, the stewards for Ford's internal drivers were in a van nearby. They confirmed Workers Group had told us: "There's 27 March 1980
only one way to stop this place and that's stop the lot.'
So by 5.15 next morning we were at the picket lines and the transporters were stopped for the day.
brought local TGWU official Mike Murphy on to the scene. He was down Thursday afternoon transporte alla interna drivers that the official TGWUR pickets from Kolnerd la • Sheffield weren't official at all, but
'students' and 'miners' WElC
When we tree to discuss with Murphy he asked us to leave the TGWU office - the
Then on Thursday night, Bernard Connolly
IorkshIre Cralis member of the South Yorkshire strike committee,
WELL SCC Murphy and the convenors' panel next morning.
claimed their only concern had been to ensure their members received 80 pe cent lav-oft pay if Ford was shut down; that if the internal drivers were connects woma make
an internal dispute and mean no lay-off pay
byentuany, tie convenors agreed that steel pickets should stop all gasses, oil and DeLIOi CULCIALS ГОТИ complex, which should mean its 29,000 workers would b stopped within 3 to 5 days
From Monday 24 Mareh a round-the-clock picket was
all five entrances to the Dagenham estate.
Lessons
Many Can learned from last week's events. The union leaders are
•20 cent, no strings'
are sabotaging whict strike effective
through the national strike committee has also been
So, in ine end, not have been Briar Connolly's week outside
but it was the
By Paul Highfield OVER six hundred steel strikers crowded into Newport Hall last Saturday where ISTC general secretary Bill Sirs, and Hector Smith of the Blastfurnacemen's Union spoke at a meeting organised by the South Wales strike committee.
which was why Bill Sirs got a cool Ine mood war reception until he about the importance of fighting for jobs.
He demanded: We've got to force the trade unions and Labour Party into a battle for the ish ole ostient mC's and stated his opposition to proposals on jobs
to solution was 'a new BSC management BERNARD CONNOLLY,
the abritration demand of the bosses.
The national strike committee, meeting Manchester on 21 March, decided that there will be no to work
cent and no strings. would emphasise that NO STRINGS.
We will ignore any call for a return to work, just as the
officials 1000 с l members during this abol of
dispatc
Fi Parishire à so. 1
South Yorkshire.
This will be demonstrated if there is anv call for a returr to work on some shabby compromise. There will beno reunite won.
No answers from Sirs and Benn
Tony Benn,
militant,
began to talk
who believe in virility. would recommend a
say that his favour such a return Bernard Connolly, a leader of the South Yorkshire strike committee
is justassharp'
South Yorkshire steel crafts leader and member of the unofficial national strike committee answers Bill Sirs and his capitulation to
steel
We do not accept involving loss of jobs and conditions. The national ONCES ale saying: always have, that they are opposed job and closures and that the TUC has
Sheerness
was a
Sheer mess
Ebert none Robe aa! HADFIELDS:
WHAT
AGAIN?
and file But then,
support.'
the meeting
Newport
He wouldn't be drawn on whether he
return to work benefit of although Hector Smith seemed not to listen to the
Tony Benn called for a united trade them out.
Arbitration: 'The blade
some policy that, for the 'confidential'.
Confidential to whom? track record their 0000SIlIU1 that they haven't saved one job yet We are totally opposed to any arbitration or committee of inquiry. we have seen un results of these 'unbiased' government-appointed menace une past merely gives the unions the
International solidarity
Bernard Connolly has recently been touring Germany raising and: sobidarity for the steel why international solidarity now is very crucial.
A dispute like yours can only • Won g an porces of co unions stand together. 'Hold on to your militant way of representation of the of all the workers This is also a struggle against
union movement of 'black and white, women and men, leadership and rank
in response to a question on the need for a aenea sarke sent merely said: 'It's the responsibility of the trade union movement to decide and th
Downicar Wing give
Several important points came out of
The feeling was expressed that the
area needed to picketing more effectively; particularly that production had to be stopped at the private GN and Alphasteel plants.
A stepping up of the strike, involving the whole of the trade union movement, was also called for
As one striker said after the meeting: 'We didn't march on 9 March for the
"sight-seers in London : TUC saying it would still talk to the Tories. Let's organise to get
A MAN San Challenge
right to their executioners The blade is just as sharp and hurts just as much, as if it wielded the employers themselves . Arbitrad0 cal throw of the national officials in trying to sell us out.
If thev had only worked ar hard at winning this strike as they have at selling us out. we'd have won long ago
35
Stunden
Woche
Thee of Mir Thatcher. It might be passibl that we shall be confronied with a struggie like tomorrow. Therefore your fight
our fight.
In solidarity"
Fifteen names of the district ortice, Heinz Pleitgen, were attached.
Page 5 scan of this page
Police smash hospitalsit-in
'WECAN SMELL
A SMALL army or
than 150 police helped health officials smash
work-in at Etwall Hospital in
Derbyshire last Friday.
hospital and the village were
surrounded, and telephone lines were taken down.
As pre-convalescent
Etwall helped relieve the pressure on beds at larger local hospitals, and the work-in to oppose closure which By Jude Woodward 'ALL of us can smell a sell-out,' was the way
strike committee, speaking capacity, summed up the feelings of Newport steelworkers.
He was speaking at a meeting organised by Steel Sheet, rank and file steelworkers' bulletin that has appeared regularly in Newport since the
Sopining steelworkers
Some steelworkers came to the Steel Sheet meeting last week.
Ray Davies went on to
succiworker feared a sell-out: *Much to Steelworkers Banner o lo, surprise, when
otticia weekly
sayss. principle of locally negotiared
productivity deals". Jobs
*But saying all along is thai for
Lianwern that means our jobs.
Sirs says is just what Villiers has been trying to push down our throats for 12' weeks. deal based on Sirs' plan would give Villiers a licence to take away our jobs
close Llanwern altogether.'
Manorse seemoker at the meeting agreed with Roy Davies. Some were unhappy 40011 fluctuating level of picketing OYCI weeks workers questioned the value of sending. flying pickets to the West Country when the South Wales private steel firms had not been completely Crosco Cow.
All were nervous that a sell-out was being secretly worked out at a national level, DAVID WILLIAMS, Lianwern strike committee, talked to Socialist Challenge about the state of the steel strike.
The Steel Corporation
it knows that some unions in
steel industry have accentes corea causes orule document — that is 14.4 per cent. BSC boss Bob Scholey DIE SRI SEASHION CER he's clinging 1o it.
BSC will go
may, unless the unions begin to give way on the 14.4 per cer.
If we receive more positive support from the TUC would be a lot easier. We're hanging now hy • our fingertips.
I went down to Tratalgar
STRIKE NEWS / HOME NEWS
more began in December was backed by
NUPE and COHSE. hospital South Derbyshire
authority officials that for each The Erwall, two beds
would be denied them. attempted to biackmail relatives by saying that they medical cover from patients left in unit,
Local ambulance drivers refused to remove patients On Thursday evening the Health that Ray Davies, a member of the Llanwern
in personal
and questioned whether their own rank-and-file organisation enough to resist it.
Organisation
The level of rank-and-file
described by Roger Tovey and Tony Cartwright, members of
picketing organisation:
Caldicot we've omansed across tonna trace union lines on a multi-union basis.
*Every Sunday night we have an open mass meeting. generally with goo attendance. Last wock se har three hundred people along to
meeting with Tony Bein
Stood for morte to have people along every weck - it keeps them in touch.
1001 operative, too, which helps out financially and keeps peone mvoved In che surike The strike is only as strong as its pickets.
Tovev explained that social networks - like the Rugby Club and the Labour rally, as well as LIl trade union structures, had been used organise the Caldicot picketing.
Picketers
The Caldicot picketers offered to help organise steel SULKeES community basis in other areas around Newport.
'We've got a loudspeaker and We can go rouno the streets and tell people what's going on - because we are
'Pressure the TUC'
vice-chairperson of the
Square the other week and I thought it was fantastic. Then I listened to Len Murray and i went down like a balloon.
I've ever deare so maca
milky me. and says ie
all my Murray
days HAS ON CONO ato talk e Joseph and Prior, But they've ignored him, insulted him, humiliated and abused him.
I's Saesere lias
brouges to bear on the TU C Pressure got
Finally l'd liked urge all trades unionists to stay
ATTAL
holidays this ус&T l've already wriften Sirs
health nark near administrators LITCALCACUES patient referred to in local hospitals Al
aliCY also
would
police.
and
A SELL-OUT'
Steelworkers from Caldicot picketing in
anxious to get other areas going nke we are.
was suggested that open meetings, as ir
important element in ensuring that rank-and-file organisation momentum of the strike and could resist a sell-out
Paul Acaston, who had come down from Stocksbridge to address the meeting, brought donations of £30 to the Lianwern strike
DartICular approval when he said:
"The way we see it now is that the strike has Enover beyond wages that's the bottom of the list.
Trade Board ISTC conference, planned for later TENTS year, away from Torquay. Scab
The reason for this is the safe haved LICY Have been
seven to ical spa briting
from Spain. allowed (bree boats to use Torquay harbour to unload,
they've never done before.
We've been going along from Llanwern we've received Trom the non-registered dockers they're got working down there.
We'll keep on going down there until we stop them using the port.
authority removed seven ambulances nom service alta pur lem In a cal
the hospital. Two into the hospital to stay the night.
›am on rnaay iney but a padlock on the front and ar hour and a half later police sealed off
. Health workers arriving for picket duty were met by a wall of
hospital were opened to allow police
officials
SOUTH WALES
STEELWORKERS
Bristol
'All the lads agree that the first briority is redundancies and closures that's very important because it's JUSt 10I us out lor le alue generations *The second priority is her 10, and henchmen. We want to what we can to get rid of this
By Roger Tovey What is this — the sound and rumour?
What is it that steelmen hear?
Like the wind in our Welsh Valleys When the storm is drawing near; Like the rolling ocean billows In the eventide of fear. "Tis the people marching on!
What deep wound has raised from sloth The might dragon sleeping here?
A blow inflicted at its lifeblood industrial Inrombosis, inricung rear Pleas for security fall on deaf ears, Defence of its future represses its fear.
The people now march on!
The men of letters inspired a system of which the dragon became a victim.
Ignore human needs - out of hand. "Till the people march on!
On we march then, we the workers, Wealth creators not idle shirkers And the rumours that we hear Is the blended soul of battle stirring In active minds and hands of toil.
Deliverance, the hope of every creature — wrel ne peopic march on!
ambulances carrying UHL remaining patients, nearly knocking over pickets as they went Work-ins other hospitals, which are supported by Fightback, should prepare for such attacks The Etwal Hospital Action Committee has pledged to continue the fight to re-open the hospital.
Messages of support and donations Etwall Hospital Committee, c/o Wynn Connor, 85 Springfields Rd, Etwall, Derbyshire.
Tory government. "And then bottom of the list comes the money.' not It was clear from the Steel Sheet meeting that there is a high level of militancy among Llanwern strikers with a generalised distrust of HICI the national union leaderships.
The Sleeping Dragon
The classic economists inspired new wealth In which greed gained power, wielded by stealth. Those documents of yore, supply and demand,
the ACRES of newsprint have been devoted
Party by Underhill. Underhill has sent his weighty cole party's former
documents to every constituency party at euphemistically described as 'his owe interested party is giving him a lot of back either Lord Underbill has a lot of why all the fuss? After all, the Mititant tead hardly something new.
decisive influence 10 for year.
origina. Nationa decision not to publish documents was made in 19?: opportunity, which was open in thall. t0 i this decision cithat subsequently. abrioush,
On the contrary,
the amaiting victims of this alack Re Selection
Left at the 1979 Labou manifesto should be ratifed ty ix should be mandatory of teta of P rather than the kader of the these victories. They are preparing a lose sir defeat the left-wing challenge which they see be
up an offensive against
initial target.
"Trotskyist'. This is a Militant tendency and Trotskyism organised by the Labour
supporter and
factionalism and a few
factionalism,
organisations to the Party.
The campaign
Bill Rogers and Shirley bleating. al length
commitment to production,
I ne only way
class pouties of us perpetralors
Trot
'SMOKE OUT
"TE MOLES
Labour left must defend
Militant
"exposure' of the Militant tendency in the L
The newspaper Militant has been published in the Labour Party since 1964. Its supporters have
the Labour Party You
Socialists since at least 1968. Every member of d Labour NEC has known about the Militant to danc
Executive Come Loderhat's collecti
at ibe 15 Conde these Tertiation. nothing to do with the sudden discomery by Labour right that there is a party within a party
the whole affair is part of a carefully orchestrated campaign by the righr-wine led by Bill Rogers and Reg Prentice's understudy, Neville Sandelson, against the whole of the Labon left. Unless the Labour left, including Tony Benn the keaders of the Labour Coordinating Commitice, understand and respond to it, then they will becom
The offensive of the Labor ritu las 1o be ser
mainst the background of in vicacies son by d
des the
Labour's right wing is determined to ol
up in the wake of the disastrous expericace of th autumn's Labour conference to avertur these let Labour government. Their first target is to ges
tendency are just the most obvious and convenic
The Militant tendency is portrayed by the press as
slander both against thee At the debate Coordinating Committer with the far left last week, Tony Saunois, a Milita
representative on Labour's national executive, deliberately placed himself on the side of the Labour left against the revolutionary left.
But Militant's political accommodation to k-fi social democracy is tempered by an organisationa
'ritualistic references Marxist theory. Because of the Militant's obnoxions
the Labour left may be reluctant 80 defend them. But this would be a disastrous mistake rather than acting defensively, the Labour left shook go onto the offensive and raise the demand for th right of affiliation of all working class and socials
against the Militant is bein spearheaed by people in the Labour Party who hav no interest whatever in socialism or the working
about Clause 2 of Labour's constitution which forbids secret organisation insade the party; but, of course, those who hold clause 2 as sacrosanct have complete contempt for other parts of Labour's constitution, in particular clause 4, with it
nationalisation of the means of which they regard as a joke
The attack on the Militant is a political attack, and has nothing to do with constitutional niceties.
the Labour defend themselves is to denounce the political basis of this attack and expose the demagogy and anti-morkie
27. March 1980 Fae5
Page 6 scan of this page
HOMENEWS
ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTHALL
•YOURLOCAL
POLICE STATION
DISBAND THE SPG
issemble Ipm March via Scotland Yard to Rally in Trafalgar Square
REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH
Tasks set for
anti-racists
By Oliver New A RECALL conference of the Campaign Against Racist Laws, held in London established CARL as the main nationa, anti-racist organisation.
Delegates from 50 black and anti-racist organisations voted continue CARL, which was
last Novem pet's
against the proposals.
Over the past few months the anti-racist movement has been or me dcicisive. with police harassment and deportations increasing while a new nanonality appears on the horizon.
CARL Call help change that. has strength to act as a focus for
local anti-racist groups, and
The conference decided to launch appeal affiliation to CARL and to
La regular bulletin.
government's antlimmigration laws, proposals on which are expected in the
Delegates at the conterence also tell tal activity against other forms of racism
Students are
target for
fascists
By ffor Jones
planning to march through Brighton this Saturday with the slogan 'Kick the reds out of Sussex University •
This fascist organisation dinite itsh, propiglady tit directs propaganda unemployed aiming them against blacks and Jews
students.
Apart from its racism, the Sussex Front's
programme Io1 lue salvauor
of Britain' borrows from the
left and the Com-
munist Party in proposing: a
balt LO massive
programme Bridoes; pulling out of FEC. ad
Dracist investmen abroad
Sussex Sudan
organising. a counter-demon-
Brighton
Saturday, supported by the
Sacialet Cu lenge
DEMONSTRATION
SUN APRIL 27h
Speakers Corner Marble Arch
last Saturday,
should organised. Specifically it was agreed that LAK- WIll campargn agalsi the "sus' law
Also backed was the 27
anniversary of the murder of Blair Peach. This is the main
next month.
The London demonstration will be the day before the re-opening of the inquest into Blair's murder.
AMPLIC cussed the CARL
was black TreetOn Bradford to London, starting
28 June Manait TrOM Youth Moyement told the
that support committees had already been established in a number of
details of these activities can be from CARL Blair Peach Committer, Box 353, London NW5 4NH; Asian Youth Movement, 226
Bradford 8, West Yorkshire.
THE Sussex Front, part of the British Movement, is
Anti Nazi League. the local trades council anti-fascist
committee, and Brighton Revo DRon
produced a leaflet to explain
that the oppression of young
ment can only be overcome by
uniting all youth against the
throwe voine
people on the dole to protect
declining profits.
Brighton Revolution has
initiated a campaign against
youth unemployment
traton and will be sent
coach to the soul
Youth March.
counter-demo starts 11e Brighton, at am, 29 March. The Level, Stewer
• 27 March 1980 - Paze 6
By Dave Burns, Islington NALGO WIDESPREAD action by local authority workers over pay has won its first victories.
Government Officers Association, is in support of a pay comparability claim. Although the employers nationally have refused to budge from their 6 to 12 per cent offer, local councils have begun to crack.
offer.
Although the official instructions have been unclear, members
By Angie Smith
March.
her visit outside the plant.
Stone Platt plant in Oldham, now in its sixth week.
decision at the company's
Crawley, Accrinton, and
Oldham.
Sorry!
The quote on the front
page week's
socialist Cnallenge shou
have been attributed
Dentalu Connolly, not
ВПаВ Connolly
reported.
2,500 march in
Sunderland
By Paul Davidson
of steelworkers took part,
sector and other unions.
situation did not develop.
threatened if, as planned, the steelworks is closed.
The Sunderland Cuts Committee speaker
threatened by the Tories.
COUNCILS START TO PAY UP
The dispute, involving members of the National and Local
At least eight councils have settled at well above the national
Unusually for NALGO, the leadership has been overtaken
enthusiastic and effective action by the membership.
Thatcher visit: Heavy fines for students
FINES totalling more than £1,000 are expected to be imposed on students who joined workers in protesting against Margaret Thatcher when she visited Hull on 14
The prime minister was diverted fo Reckitt and Coleman when 1,200 production workers walked out of another factory she was due to visit, and then the Reckitt workers walked out to join a delegation from Hull Trades Council protesting against
Stone Platt occupiers
backed by AUEW
THE Engineering Union's executive committee decided last week to give official backing to the occupation of the
has been left to the worktorce which is opposing closure, to fight for implementation of this
other plants Bolton, the Scragg's division in Flying pickets have been out at these plants, turning away supplies close the ot tries with the AUEW's DACHES Oldham district committee.
In spite of the announcement last weck of a £3m loss by the comapay in the last year, the determination of th strikers "P,
A 2,500 strong march and rally against the cuts
and for the removal of the Tory government was
held in Sunderland on Saturday. Large contingents
Ted Knight, the leader of Lambeth council, received the
greatest applause at the rally when he called on Labour
councils not to implement the cuts and for the labour
movement to back these actions, so that another Clay Cross
John Lee pointed out that the
Thatcher govenment had not been giyen a mandate to carry
out savage cuts. In Consett the whole community would be
stressed the
need for the CPSA and other civil service unions to protect
• those without work whose social security benefits may be
The speakers were unanimous on the need to make 14
May a day of national strike action against the Tories.
around the country have been putting & stranglehold on their employers.
since 19 March. NALGO members at municipally-owned airports will be on strike over Easter, and a £10,000 collection made al a national delegate meeting will cover their pay.
omitters.
be seen from the comment of the finance chief of one London council, which expects to lose £16m in the first few weeks of the new financial year if the action is maintained.
is stopped, so that the trickle of councils caving in becomes a overseas student fees.
cross the cordon. He has since l
peace.
support to: Students Union, Hull University.
By Pete Clifford
according to strike committee
Harold Rob-
CHRISSI
inson.
Many strikers, including Harold Robinson
see their struggle as part or th
fight against the Tories. He told Socialist Challenge
•We'll be having a Confed
stewards meeting in Oldham
and I will be supporting the
call for & general strike on 14
May. "Days of action" can
he a dinner-time meeting
anything - the TUC has lell
it open, all airy-fairy
*I think the whole country
workers, who are proposing
this to the TUC are quite
right. fo
som his rivery,
at the Geoffrey
Hawkins, boss of Stone-Platt
and president of
Employers'
Federation, both Terry Duffy
and John Boyd went to tea at
the Dorchester Hotel in Park
Pride of place at this banquet
given to scieof Home.
Chancellor who announced
That Rritish
look forward to 10 years of
austerity.
Harold Robinson's
comment was: "I can tell you
that Duffy's got no credibilit
in Oldham there wil solid support for Bob in thi ballot against
Duffy for AUEW's national
president'.
Support and donations to:
Eddie Stone Platt
Dispule Fund, 70 Lord St,
Oldham.
In Camden, for example, telephonists have been on strike
Plans are underway to call out NALGO meat inspectors at
The effect of the clampdown on rent and rates collection can
NALGO members should ensure that all income to councils
A cordon of police surrounded 250 Hull University students who marched to the plant, in opposition to the increase in
A member of the Overseas Student Association was arrested and thrown head first over a metal fence when he attempted to
seen fined £175 for "breach of
Other students who verbally protested were also arrested Fines are expected to total more than £1,000. Donations and
30% rise
By John Brennan
opposition to the cuts.
Support for the march has already come from over hundred delegates on cainburgn irace and large number, delegations from both the public and private sectors and expected on the day he pressure for actiol has come from nurses in the National Union of Public
losing part of last year's Clegs pay award and at the recent " to 2s per cent 'offer To build for the march meetings are being held co-ordinate various LORELLIC mass meetings election etc.
Overnight accommodation
5,000
NALGO
members
rally in
Glasgow
By Andy Bein, NALGO Glasgow district branch, personal capacity THE Apollo in Glasgow is the jargest theatre Ir Europe.
But last Thursday it proved Falls all tembers oate a rally National Association of Local Government Officers district branch and Tne division branch, whose members work toi Glasgow and Strathclyde regional council, called the rally in work-time draw taking as patior NAl cors industrial action national fight on pay. er half an our to efor halt al admittance to the meeting.
Even then 500 the estimater 4,000 5,000 present were unable to get into the main meeting the liveliest fron the platform, Bill Seawright, Scottish national executiv
the present action as a 'bloody good dummy run' for the 1980 nationai claim Colin Turbett, Strathclyde social worker received the most enthusiasti response speakin from the floor, he called fo
£25 per week as the basis fo the 1980 clain The morale of the meeting could not have been higher Most the departments in the city cam to a standstill. Many libraries, pools, and sport centres were closed for several hours.
Nurses to march for
NURSES will be taking to the streets in Edinburgh on 28 March in support of a 30 per cent pay claim and in
COHSE and NUPE members encourage ancillar. workers to join the protest.
Sheridan, NUPE steward LCdI the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, 'We warpeared to light the Tories wages cuts alongside other health workers. 'Winning from poorly organised sections of womer workers can only SLICHZLICI
the unity needed for since
unity needed for strike action on 14 May.'
BuildingWorker
NATIONAL CONFERENCE for all building trades unionists
29-30 March, Digbeth Hall,
Birmingham Saturday, noon to 5pm: regional and job reports; the next wage claim; changes to policy statement; direct
Sunday, 10am to 1pm: Building Workes - the paper and its organisation; election of an editorial board and area secretaries; situation in the official movement -
and policy.
Sand Tel 01-732. 4678
Page 7 scan of this page
Is the women's TUC a 'ghetto?
Rank-and-file worker coordination
HOME NEWS
By Valerie Coultas BEL Mooney, a columnist on the Daily Mirror, has resigned her f16,000 a year job.
this was because the Mirror had refused to print her report of the Women's TUC. But Bel Mooney says she resigned because she felt she was given too little scope as a writer.
about the issues women - education and nursery cuts.'
common among both Mooney says: vears we should be able to take on the man in our own camp. We don't want to put ourselves in a ghetto. Is the Women's TUC that we. as women, can't take on men:
fashioned by the working class to defend themselves against exploitation, , they dIVISIOnS inequalities
Britain, the unions separate skilled workers from the unskilled and semi-skilled. Some unions divide off
There is now a greater than ever before for the Labour left to interyene decisively and coordinate rank-and-file trade union initiatives against the
and in favour socialism.
That was the clear lesson flowing from the collapse of the national delegate conference convened by Liaison Committee for Defence of Trade Unions (LCDTU) at the end January.
The 1,000 delegates left in disarrav atter the Communist Party-controlled platform had refused to permit discussion of a broader unity between the LCDTU and other rank-and-file groups.
The implications of this could be far-reaching and to understand them it is necessary to trace the role played in the past by the LCDTU. Stewards
Set up in 1966 by the CP to coordinate the growing strength of the shop stewards movement, it was able to play a key role in mobilising lour acuvism agalsl balbala Castle's 'In Place of Strife' and then in the anti-Tory campaign of 1970-74.
Its importance lay not only in an undoubted abiftv to ofter a forum for rank-and-file trade unionists, but In IS InKS tO 'left' trade union leaders in the heyday of the Jones-Scanlon Cla.
Prior to the social contract period from 1975 onwards, the
was ine locus lor a series of 'broad left' with significant shop steward supponL.
But, partly because of the alliance with Jones/ Scanlon leadership, LCDTU went into
during the contract - • its problems being accelerated by the more general decline in membership of the Communist Party and industrial base in particular.
Revolutionary
Thus it was that at the recent conference probably well over half those attending were not aligned to the CP, 'coming from other rank-and-file workers groups, notably the SWP's Rank-apd-File Defend Our Unions Committee which had staged an strong conference of unionists last June.
But instead seeking common ground with other left groups, the LCDTU's headership refused to alow a
Rumours in the press suggested that
unions
She told Socialist Challenge: 'I could not write las
that really attect working class
Her unpublished opinion of the Women's TUC
fernale and male trade 'I think that after 50 1UC1
an admittance of failure DUL anouen trade umons are bootec natoæve oen
al c still modelled on the that exist within the
Because of the tradition of craft organisation in
need
of
the the
of shop the rapid
its
motion calling for between it and the Defend Our Unions Committee.
Unruly OCCICT including an attempt physically to eject the SWP's industry organiser, Joan Deason, the conference was closed an hour prematurely by LCDTU Chairman Kevin Halpin. 1100 Warfare trade to acword noo course be east It woul bo much cance to such apparently internecie warrare on the leit. un the other hand, the seriousness
youndevorker, and unemployed workers are often Women and black workers have had to tight tor their needs and concerns to be recognised, as at Grunwick and at Chix.
There are still no women on the TUC's Genera Council in their own right. numerous on the union executives, even in those WILLCI Jave mambers i The National Union of Teachers, example, 75 per cent female four women and forty mer Men rule over women from the top to the bottom of the trade union movement. By and large they are the trade union officials, the branch secretaries, shop siewaras, and te delegales to conrerence To challenge this confront mate assumptions of superiority — to give cave co wencer the trade union harassment and abuse of women are clearly divisive. • SUDKC meetings can be just as off putting.
Women have to show that our needs and concerns
opportunities, improved working conditions, sexual antonomy benefit every worker. 1 he ideas of women's beration have found root among women workers who are beginning to demand not only equal pay, financial independence, childcare FROM 1970 to 1974, the last Tory government faced a powerfully organised force within the trade
It was led by the Communist Party in alliance with left-wing trade union leaders such as Jack Jones and Hugh Scanlon, through the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions. Today Margaret Thatcher does not face such a
unity the LCDTU's present should not be underestimated. followed, Weakening
Despite being able still to and attract shop floor leaders and having a far deeper industrial base than anybody else on the left, the CP 1n steadily position. And that is reflected in the increased confidence of signifi- management to take on local union committees, Leyland.
There is nothing therefore
If the
Men are far more
renale the unions • for membership, executive
domination women have to
movement. Sexual male preserves and trade unior insults and attack women
overcome
ORGANSING
INTHE
republished here.
implications of the
demise gans and
face an important layer of workers' rights.
coordinated weakening
notably being the child
provision and fertility control, but the right to do the
sane vos ichanuto work aciones talareno
adorned by pornography
Women's TUC is allowed to simply that have little effect.
organise rank and file women trades unionists to
fight for their rights, it could turn into a 'ghetto' that
diverts women from confronting male domination in
But if, on the other hand, the Women's TUC is
unions, to help organise those women to take up the
issues that contront them both at work and in the
community, as in the case of the pro-abortion march
on 28 October last year, it can be a useful weapon in
the light tor women's liberation
Gaining equality for working class women is no
easy battle. Jenny Tizard, the first woman electrician
Women's TUC, explained that once women step into
in the workplace we face physical
neeo more unan equa rignis to gair
equality with men. We need positive discrimination
the oppiession
discrimination we have suffered. Society has fallec
women, not the other way round
campaigning Women's TUC is part of the
positive action that is needed within the workers'
movement to win equality for women Committee, held last month, ended in disarray, with a refusal by the CP organisers to allow far left delegates to put a resolution for voting.
PETER HAIN, a member of the Labour Coordinating Committee, explains in the March issue of Labour Leader how he thinks that the left should now be organising inside the unions. His article is
to smirk about in the shenani-
disarray of the January LCDTU conference
Instead, the onus is placed sharply upon the Labour left to between
attack on the And that will only be successfully done by the both Labour left itself organising a
rank-and-file movement of trade unionists.
We should no longer accept the traditional argument that can only be the Labour Party, by virtue of Labour
of the trade potentially unions, should therefore leave tunity
pass falto industrial organising entirely to the official leadership of the
only Dy a fusion the rank-and-file of unions that sufficient mobilisation can be achieved
the presenl offensive and move beyond it towards workers' control.
At present, workplace level leaders are crying out for a coordinated campaign which
provided by the lefi. We alone offer the opporof credible link Socialist Challenge
REFOME
between the shop floor and the official whitst avoiding falling into the trap of the LCDTU and relying too much upon official leaders.
If we don't provide that Jead we cannot blame worker for turning to other rank-and• file initiatives. For even though these initiatives (and the SWP is putting considerable energy Into Is inaustria enrort present) are likely to fail for political reasons, they will offer
Against that background, the Executive of the Labour
Committee decided at its February meeting to convene a conference of trade unionists to explore the possibilities of a Labour left orientated shor floor coordinating committee.
In meantime, every support should be given to the TUC's 'day of action' on 14 May.
But, the LCDTU's conference declaration put it: 'A "day of action" can mean anything • to be effective it must be real action of general strike proportions
The LCDTU also called for the instant recall of Congress if the TUC has not produced plans for further 'positive action by 14 May to carry resistance beyond the day of action. Women's TUC inmilitant mood By Penny Duggan The 50th Women's TUC met in Brighton 13 March. Delegales mere in a militant mood and
nasd dominated trades made the presence felt.
They called for positive actior from employers and trade unions
break down barriers
higher paid manual trades, and to ensure that those women who are in siendos wee Honsoaer
W Corrie nada es hered has
John Corrie managed
manse discuss his anti-abortion Bill all bel broke loose Delegates ; rushed of of the hall to send off telegrams to their union sponsored MPs telling them to attend the debate and you the Bill down
Hoct artece worker soli. would guarantee the arrival of th letters!
was announced on Friday that the Bill had finally been commitred to the
applause for her news
Women trade unionists clearl felt that they had contributed to this victory.
27 March 1980 • Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
SOUTH WALES YOUT
Whenapit
closes all the
jobs will go
towards a united front to fight unemployment.
'We are very concerned about the unemployment
South Wales, Don Hayward, administrative secretary of the South Wales NUM. explains. 'We are very glad to see the youth taking part in this march.
It's good that they taking an interest in the job situation. can envisage a when there will be hardly any jobs in this aree for people of 20-25 PETIN CU
will support stand against unemployment in South Wales, that's why we fre supporting March. We are discussing giving some financial support as well. apprenties in the pits *There of
- these young people will sutfer if the pits cłose When e pii closes everyone's jobs will go. There won't be transfers, were in the past.
'Only the other day we got the message clear from Philip
Coalboard. said inar u a aozen pits romorrow you could count the number of jobs that could
'That's the scale of the proviem we are racing.
"The policy the National Union Mineworkers on job protection, as
at the delegate corterence London last week, is that accept colliery closures as a coal".
MARCH
NUM South Wales Executive ALAN FISHER, General Secretary, NUPE PAUL ELLIOT, Area officer, NUPE STUART HASTINGS, Area officer, NUPE Port Talbot ISTC/NUB Strike Committee EETPU Port Talbot Shop Stewards Committee GRENVILLE PHILLIPS,
Swansea ANNIE POWELL, Mayor of Rhondda
ISTC Lianwern RAY DAVIES, Labour
Caerphilly, and ISTC Llanwern ROGER TOVEY, NUB
Organisation JUNE
Hospital ANDY CHANDLER, president, NUS Wales
Students' Union South Wales Campaign Against Health Cuts West Glamorgan Cuts Committee Swansea Trades Council Swansea Women's Centre Wyndham West Lodge NUM DAI FRANCIS, former secretary, Wales NUM NUS Wales BURT PEARCE, secretary Wales CP 'Revolution'
International Marxist Group
Socialist Challenge
THE support of the South Wales Mineworkers' Union for the Youth March is an important step
The support of Don Hayward the South
crucial boost to building the Youth March.
march to go out to the pits in the and with
to the idea of the march.
But it would be better still 11 cne Num usen organisea a series of pithead meetings to gather support for the march.
apprentices and other young miners to come on the march.
ballot - rejecting the South Wales NUM executive call for
demoralised many NUM militants in the area.
not to sit back and say: Well. chat's it, the lads won't fight' *пат JUSC feeds demoralisa-
Militant miners have to go • 100 argue about it; they haye to give other Forkers a perspective
The Youth March, which will demand that the Wales TUC organises united action defence of jobs, 1s a positive step. the NUM should not just lend it official but out and Ine support rank and file miners. If the NUM executive is unwilling to trere will De no lack of others who will.
SPONSORS OF THE
Labour councillor,
TONY CARTWRIGHT, Labour district councillor,
district councillor,
Caldicot Picketing
ABDUL RAHAM, NUPE, Llywinypia
DAI GRIFFITHS, president, Swansea University
doi
27 March 1980 Page 8
By Jude Woodward
EASTER weekend will not be a holiday for a large number of South Wales youth.
home in front of the television possibly soaking up the sun in their garden, the youth will be going up and down the valleys support for the unemployment.
would cause widespread unemployment in South Wales. estimate that sthere unemployed in Wales by early next year — and this is probably a cautious estimate. It's not surprising that everywhere you go people are talking about the '30s.
everyone's lips in South among young people. It's the youth who nave most to lose if the closures go through - it will mean that they will have to leave theit home
face unemployment.
miners and steelworkers in an all-out strike on jobs failed through insufficient organisation at a rank-and-file level. The miners voted against this action in a pithead ballot.
The Wales pressure when it called a day of strike action in
Wales against cuts and closures. But it fell ove itself to call it all off when Len Murray put on Ine pressure
The Wales TUC had
betterwatchout!
While other people are sitting at
For
drumming up fight against
Closures planned for steel and mining
Even government figures will be 150,000
The cuts, the closures, and the Tories are on
Wales, particularly
the prospect of continuous
The attempt earlier this year to link the
TUC was responding to loca
But the failure of these plans will not be the end of the story on the fight to detend jobs.
In the long run, the working class of South Wales cannot defend jobs and living standards on its own.
organise a united front against the offensive, government and to win policies which save and create jobs rather than demolishing them.
The South Wales unemployment is an important step towards this all-out fight in defence of jobs.
With the significant backing of the South Wales NUM and the Port Talbot steel strike committee Irom une steel mining valleys will march to the Wales TUC to demand that it takes decisive action to halt job loss.
In the Port Talbot area over 70 youth have already signed up to go on the march. More will be coming from Cardiff, Pontypridd and the Rhondda. Young women who work in garment factories in thè Rhondda threatened Cardiff hospitals are expected to join along the route.
This is the kind of initiative which can work to galvanise workers in South unemployment. Iney talk about the being deprived of a future — come to them and demand that they organise TE ACTU
The Wales TUC had better watch out on 9 April. Young people of Wales will be banging on their doors, insisting that those who call themselves labour leaders behave like leaders.
And that means a vigorous push for united working class recall Wales TUC should meet to organise a class-wide struggle in defence of jobs..
March against
and nurses
Wales to fight
- now the youth will action against Tory policies. A
DOYOUREI
Fite 192
Do you remember 1926: Thist The sintchi on the ide wheel, And trie lughter and the curete De yourerember 1926: The s The azzoands ard the mooris Andere danderous icrues if Doyou: emember 1926?
The fende ard de trater tr The briver, ofthe ample tr Ay ww warem embe 192t As ihey steen on the kert n C And ar hairer enbe idris Davies
Page 9 scan of this page
ONL
put
S, 1UAШ
Spun
San yins
"saupaids pur:
273505%
epuefedoud
124304L no samos SAns 7877
Days
¿drystapnaj ino
241 SI 1DU1 SADS
20ЦI
В аноні м 1! 0] 5507 15501
„pen §ноше seM *!! 5147 1e47
10]
але
Jaso Ino paseyd
аці лод радиало нада роч аи
золави ST au MON S0£, д43 10
[01584
7, upIp mO t HodMaN pass
HodMaN
¡NOM papar
эq 01 eu
sqo? ио экор
Due
sued DIO]
capt 01 deg u —
sqo!
IMS a47 DIGA AM IS A PACOBIA
247
241
1112
10110 1M 10
and d
YOM ON
S, 184).
ADMA 1I0IN9PA
And and de e s conung ką pays!uıf aą 01 pasoddrs s, 1! — sqo! pussnoy: 0mz Isnal „ в в нị н
øod on aq a c 1 0 00008 dнàн (н 00 0 э c
'unop sasop cagay aut fi lo to sao! Kun aq 1, nom adays,
Photos: JUDE WOODWARD, (Socialist Challenge)
paan not ing loqual sod u! purora saal amos ano araul,
Page 10 scan of this page
The TUC's Irish scandal
Green for go in the Labour Party
IRELAND
Len Murray By Geoff Bell IS IRELAND about to become an issue in the Labour Party? Here are the clues: * The home policy sub-committee of the Labour Party national executive is currently taking evidence policy the party should be following on the North of Ireland * Tony Benn, leader of the Labour left, restated his 'own belief in Irish unity at the 'Debate of the Decade' on 17 March. Benn also revealed that he proposed that the NEC formally adopt a pro-Irish
* The London regional conference of the Party recently. overwhelmingly a motion calling on Britain to withdraw from Ireland;
On 10 • oi this.
Labour Party members are due to meet in London this Saturday, under the auspices
1575 R7C jetzit atai adi! the party STEE HITT
DUDE II DE SISTER CERE OF
nas raped as the subsequen Socialst Chafe
the
own
alleged growth Movement
taking on the ASUC the what Committee, VIl Voice
tot
"val
developments must
should question
unity encouraged?
One alternative
passed heckled and attempted
debate. Such
about a nunced those
Ireland is not ш Labour Jell to take up Ireland.
Al the ocher extreme, that have been
is tbe dange alersal rhythms of the party; of
and
27 March 1980 Page 10
By Chris Murray
THE Trades Union Congress is pressing ahead with its attempt to act as censor on Ireland. Tameside Trades. Council, threatened with disaffiliation by the TUC if it holds a conference Ireland, received a letter from Len Murray spelling out the TUC's attitude.
The letter was "addressed Halsworth, secretary of the trades council. It states that Tameside Trades Council 'must act at all times within the terms of Congress policy,' and that it must give an undertaking not to hold a conference on Ireland without first securing the agreement of the TUC about finat agenda and speakers for conferenee'
Helping the TUC have been members of the Communist Party who have contributed their nasty tactic of misrepresentation. At a meeting of Manchester Trades Council on 19 March a report of the Tameside situation, given by a CP member, Tameside had conference in conjunction with 'the political wing of the murderers of Airey Neave'.
ARE YOU WITH BENN
Labour Party conference to give space on
Troops Dermated come leading figures on the Labour left to take a closer look at what position they should be
Labour Co-ordinating agreed speak at a Withdrawal' forum It JEe y staged by those who organised the successful 12 August London demonstration last
For those who have been campaigning on the irish issue for several years these
Uk we tonel how Lall they be
Was offered at the Debate or the Decade by those who
disrupt the OCLICCLIV
H block protesters at this meeting were not
Involved in most of the disruptive
sidelines, the record of the Labour left on
by itself, likely to persuade ireland because of the
Low ray l me last lew monins, Inert
T'of focusing all activity on the
the noont as vim ing the borde poticy sub-committer to some vague
which has been
has now
to Dave
self-determination for
such a Such a policy, outside
slander and is not following
organised the
question of Ireland.'
K MEA
commitment to long-term irish unity. While such a commitment would be a step forward, representing as it would, at least on paper, a break with bypartisanship, the more meanina rest tor tae Labour ten concerns what they are willing to actually do on Ireland, and what precise demands tney will make
Ideally the best formulation Saturday's London conference can adopt
Party a caucus determined to fight for the
withdrawal of Britain from Teamo.oil whatever tae recise woromof the demands adopted, the Committee on Ireland would best advance
cause promoting campaigning strategy, rather than simply seeing itself as a polite pressure group
those outside the structure of the Labour
most appropriately the Troops call Daisl Ireland, and it would imply using the Labour Committee on Ireland to take the demand for British withdrawal into the trade union movement.
Most of all the Labour Committee on
necus JudD oul a sene activities — from backing demonstrations on such issues as the H blocks to assisting
Roy Mason - which help to make Ireland an issue not only in the Labour Party but outside as well.
This followed a totally false report in the Morning Star on 6 March saying that the conference had been reconvened at the request of the Irish Republican Socialist Party.
What is the real situation?
Tameside Trades Council has been debating the political situation in Ireland since 1976. Various debates and resolutions culminated in a decision, last November, to campaign for the removal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act; immediate withdrawal of the British troops;
the Irish people as whole; and prisoner of war status for Irish
it need hardly be said, is official TUC thinking Hallsworth believes that Len Murray's excuse for threatening disaffiliation - that the council
TUC policy smokescreen explains Dave: 'It's not because trades councils are not allowed to decide their own policy issues. Many trades councils oppose TUC policies and don't meet this threat. TUC stepped in because we dared to raise the
APRIL FOOL QUIZ
April Fools
this
of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Labour the anti-Catholic pogroms in 1969.
with A UDR member was one of the notorious
100 per cent Protestant.
was
pressing ahead with its plans
necessary to solidarity with
council's executive,
labour movement'
We shall open up
other trades branches asking for The support should be sent to:
Tameside Trades Council, Ashton-under-Lyme, Manchester.
STAMP
HIM
OUT
UDA-UDR-UVF
Spot the difference?
ANSWER: There is no difference
PRODUCED BY PEOPLES' DEMOCRAC\
THE British Government is to issue a stamp to commemorate ten years
The UDR was originally formed as a 'non-sectarian' alternative to the B-Specials which were forced to disband because of their open involvement in
The regiment was put under the direct command of the British Army and it soon carried on where the B Specials left off. Extreme loyalists flooded inta she UDR and many of its members were later convicted of a whole range of crimes, cuding murder. -Catholic after Catholic in a sectarian assassination campaign. Today the UDR is almost
The issue of a commemorative stamp would, therefore, be rather sick if it were not for the fact that the government is issuing it on I April — April fools day. Whether this is a rare sign or numour trom the brush administration In the Norn of Ireland Of whethe it is another of its many bungles is not clear. Whatever, the Irish revolutionary organisation Peoples Democracy have produced special postcards offering their own "commemoration' of the UDR. Copies of the cards, which should be sent to Thatcher on 1 April, are availabie from: Connolly Bookshop, Avoca Park, Anderstown, Belfast or Plougt Book Service. 38 Clanaries Road. Killester, Dublin 5. Cost 25p pop.
The resolution passed at the trades council
"to organise a bona fide trade uniondelegated conterence on reland and to see! sponsorship from other trade union bodies'. Despite TUC interference, the trades council is
But if the TUC is to be thwarted in its censorship of discussion on Ireland, it will be
build broad campaign the trades council. Such a campaign, said Nigel Smith, a member of the
should focus on 'fighting the conspiracy of silence on Ireland within the
As to the trades council itself, it has issued a statement saying it 'will not be dictated to on policy decisions democratically arrived at — - by anybody, be it the TUC or any other body...
• the debate on Britain's perfidy in Ireland and go on doing so until justice for the Irish people is achieved.'
Tameside will be circulating an appeal to
councils and to trade union support. Messages Dave Hallsworth, 186 Kings Rd, "Shankill butchers' who hacked to death
Page 11 scan of this page
WHAT NEXTFOR ZIMBABWE?
INTERNATIONAL
The legacy of imperialism is now the inheritance of the Patriotic Front government.
ALLE enormous political
economic problems which face the people of Zimbabwe and their new government are not simply the result of the revolutionary war, as the mass media would have us believe.
The new government is saddled with an external debt of about £250m. of which some £150m is owed to South Africa for its support for lan Smith's war effort! Black
only one in three adults are in formal employment.
One of the most pressing issues is the land question. Eighty-three per cent of the African population live in the countryside but the tiny white population own the best 50 per cent or ine lana. distribution has resulted in overpopulation in the "tribal trust lands' where the Airicans are condemnta to subsistence farming.
The consequence of this is a migrant labour system, similar to that operating in South Africa, where people are forced to WORK white-owned factories and homes for a part of the year. Between 60 and 75 per cent of all African households depend on some form of wage labour for their subsistence.
The countryside, particularly tribal trust lands', has been devastated by programmes are in ruins. The Red Cross says that 20 per cent of the population is.
Integration
There are 750,000 "displaced persons' living in wretched shanty-towns, and on the borders refugees. To this must be added the estimated 225,000 people living in the socanca protecied villages, to return to their own areas.
It Is estimated that $100m needed to bring the 'trust lands' back to life.
Radical measures, such
and a full-scale attack on the power of the foreign multi-nationals and agri-business,
there say to begin to solve these problems in the interests of the masses.
Such a course of action
ine let wing DI LAINu. Mowever; Robert Mugabe, under pressure South Africa and British imperialism, has adopted a different approach. election victory he has appealed for calm, and he has proceeded to make some major concersons to ure wale mallorily.
Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, now seen as the leading representative of the wine sewers. has been askca Lo stay oll ar supreme commander of the armed forces.
It is intended that Walls
with forces, mobilisation of the rest.
Dumiso Dubengwa, who has played a major role in the integration of Nkomo's
ZIPRA forces, recently flew to Zambia 3h0 ° guerillas stil there. 'tricky' operation of disarming the
A second major concession by Mugabe has been to include two members of the white ruling class in cabinet. Smith. who will be minister of commerce and industry, is a memoer or lan silen s Rhodesian Front Party, the Muzorewa and Smith governments.
State of calm
David Smith and Denis Norman, other white in the cabinet, responsible for agriculture, are large-scale ranchers. Norman was elected president oi the Rhodesian National Farmers Union in 1978. These figures are guarantee of the property rights of the white minority.
As soon as it appeared that Mugabe had adooted a policy of moderation. state panic afflicted the white minority gave way to
As the Financial commen eo the post erectos Denoeees a little like living in the immediate aftermath of an electric storm. As the thunder and subside, an unbelievable calm reigns.
The ZANU(PF) manifesto justifies its moderaton tnus. In working towaras the socialist transformation of
ZANU government recognise Castorea. realities in the capitalist system cannot be transformed overnight...
"It is recognesco Inat private cuterprise will have to continue until circumstances are ripe for socialist change.'
as unedua
a massive
farms, 175,000
who will wish
will be
as the sector farming
was proposed
from
oversees and
government with and. ine de.
people of Zimbabwe.
South Africa.
David
and was in both and its
the
and met within Zimbabwe. as
the. dole l vac
promised land establishment of
allost wine arcas
action. Kumbirai Kangai, Zimbabwean
workers which salisburv and other cities Kangai explained that
THE new republic of Zimbabwe is to become an independent state on 18 April. The landslide victory for Robert Mugabe's ZANU(PF),
the formation of the Patriotic Front 77 out of the 80 seats contested, is a giant step forward for the
This victory is a serious blow against imperialism and the Apartheid regime in
Eight years of relentless armed struggle against the white settler state of Rhodesia
South African backers enabled the Patriotic Front to win the support of the overwhelming majority of the oppressed masses. But their aspiration for political, social and economic emancipation cannot be
the framework of a capitalist
Imperialism will combine threats and
Mugabe's declared policy is to leave
• commerce and hands and to accept stage or acyclopmen. reforms, and co-operatives and of which Mugabe frequently speaks, will de contined to ine 10m acre of unoccupied and underused land in the
There is a clear danger in this course of
the incoming minister of labour, has found himself on a collision course with a wave of strikes by
has swept through
the workers were concerned about the future of thel pensions, but it was also reported that they were demanding wage increases. There is a
whole.
Zimbabwe's
conciliation.
With Zimbabwe, forward.
more than 10 to 1 ratio between white and black wages in Zimbabwe
bosses immediately aismissed hundreds of workers; the rest threatened with the sack Kangai, member of the left within ZANU. issued a statement saying that the workers must follow dispute procedures and not take
Tactical
Part of the statement said: precipitate action at this stage can only serve to damage the goodwill which has employees and their employers and will have a crippling effect on industry. concession, a ruse, to temporarily deflect a
offers of much needed aid in an attempt to throw back the gains of the Zimbabwean people, and minimise the effects of this victory on the masses of southern Africa as a
South African military might lies poised on
southern flank intervene if ZANU moves against their fundamental economic and political interests. The Front Line states, under pressure from imperialism, will argue for moderation and
these political obstacles , DAVE HUDSON argues that we must organise the maximum solidarity for the liberation movements of soüthern Africa.
While the solidarity of socialists remains unconditional, he argues that ZANU will have to break with the white settler state and its repressive apparatus to take the revolution
white backlash? It is too early to tell reporting from Salisbury, were class opinion with unusual candour when he states that the most important tactor
Patriotic Front government is the presence of the white-led country's democratically Ashford explained, "Any future. Mr Mugabe's own army of 17,000 guerillas is largely impotent, dispersed as it rentore assemly camps 'Mr Mugabe will therefore be able to
tactical the security forces. means the senior white officers in charge
'armed forces.'
ready to
the
countryside. officer
facing
tasks
Zimbabwean
Seen ale. disarming
ZANLA
reflects ruling
concessions, security forces. undermine
will be the
elected prime
'real power
ZANU vumelabls
build a
which essentially
... General Walls... is unlikely to accen any moves which he sees as seriously undermining white interests or in any way
while ignoring the degree of mass mobilisation which could upset ine calculations of tne imperialists reveals the stark realities of power.
There is a danger that the Patriotic
Front government will remain captive t
vhite-led security forces in Salisbur • Dower-base in the General Walls, the white the undefeated security
ministers in the government, represent a dagger at the heart of the Zimbabwean
Revolutionary
In order to deflect this dagger the new
Trayo docioak with white
it snom real a ponc dispersing the •guerilla armies. Any integration with the security forces must be under the supervision of
Al some point the sacking of General Wals. a purging of the too civi servants. and the removal of the white capitalist ministers will be necessary
While it is infantile to reject all tactica any course 118 Wit the mass movement and self-organisation and
Patriotic Front government has won ar enormous electoral victory, but they do not yet have the power.
An immense respons maxiaiss the leadership maximise cnances or victory against imperialism we have the duty to redouble our efforts to
movement of solidarity conspiracies Derend tal Zimbabwean revolution! US, UK, South Africa - Hands off Zimbabwe! Socialist Challenge 27 March 1980 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
WORKERS TAKEOVER FACTORIES
INTERNATIONAL
NICARAGUA:
By Brian Lyons ON 19 February, the workers at the El Caracol food processing factory in Managua took over the plant and began control of production. The following day
Sandinista Leberation Prome
Liberation (FSLN) representative, Carlos Nunez, and Niearagua's attorney general, Ernesto Castillo.
After four hours of discussion the factory Placed Manee
Since then they goverlien. held daily assemblies and comila JulI managing to increase by 66 cent in only 12 days
The takeover of Él Caracol was a response to private CANCESES refusing to participate in the 1980 National Plan of economic reactivation.
Sabotage
Private companies are involved
economic saborage, their investments from production units. By the end of February, a
comane taken over by the workers and five
them maintaining productioll
The FSLN has used takeover of El Caracol as a model for all workers to follow in cases of capitalist sabotage.
of Sandinista
exemplary, adding: control must be carried out so as to prevent a halt in production or the destruction of enterprises by their
These beginnings of workers' control are a vindicanon of tne words of the inspirer of the FSLN, Sandino, that only the workers and peasanis in mcaragua wil connue to the end.
Deepening
These words are now being put into practice in a way that testifies to a deepenmg or te class struggie
The FSLN is encouraging the
organisation of the working masses
through Enem
arming the workers into militias,
promoting mass mobilisations and
advocating verter' CULLO.
revolution is on the march.
1LC SeCOnd ICLEAL event
maportance was te decision or te
US goverament to freeze a loan of
27
75m dollars to Nicaragua. loan has been pending for several months and on 27 Februarv. in an extraordinary secret session of the House of Representatives
narrow majority of five votes gave approval to the loan under strict conditions.
Although much of the loan was earmarked for the private sector Ol the economy, the loan has since been frozen.
What could previousy have been described as willful hesitancy the by US imperialism
plant, nave have . nardenca Into opci nosulity. il l directly aids coincides the canitalists aim of destabilising the есопоту.
Consequently the
to the Soviet economic aid and has just sent a ILIONCICU Moscow, headed by Tomás Borge, delegation
founding member of the FSLN and
OCCI
by Megan Martin
'Literacy Nicaragua to liberate 900,000 will campaign Nicargauns by the end of July. This is the estimate number of people over the age
of 10 who do not know how to read and write. It represents
half the
Many of the illiterates adults; many of the 'teachers' organised literacy brigades are youths of 11.
Plans and preparations for the literacy crusade began in August
'79, two weeks after the
over Somoza. The
ready to bezin work but they need
Hons. materials. casettes: They need 650,000 books They need
can ot print because
they do not have the paper. They
need $20m. of LAC French
youth organisation,
set itself a target of 50,000 francs
Page 12
This Despite the many advances 01 the revolution, faces enormous
costing session in the
schedule.
The FSLN has workers: If acts of sabotage take place auring the coming monts. thousands of workers could face unemniovment. thus provoking the instability that the 1980 Economic Plan aims to avoid.
now exploit the devastation inflicted by
with and Somoza;
Nicaraguan
hope of dividing and demoralising the people, Nicaraguan favourable conditions to drown the
revolution in blood at a later stage.
indirect intervention, mental drive of the Carter administration is towards the nightmare of another The
Children's crusade 1980: teaching
900,000 adults to read and write
Liberation', launch
of the
population.
are 180,000 into
for the crusade by the end of April.
In Britain we have been slow off the mark but victory ordinating Committee in London brigades Education in Nicaragua which has
tapes
by the end of July.
Nicaragua met
the international departinent of the revolutionary National Union of Teachers and
SUDOUIE VC
themselves Nicaragua today difficulties.
like Nicaragua warned the devastated by task. backed
difficult.
The aim of US imperialism is to
capitalists the economicaly the Nicaraguan everything
the fundapowers. solidarity, Chile Centrai Nicaraguans Nicaragua. enthusiasm
the Yorkshire NUM.
CONSORECE importantly,
Necarasual educational system,
La Campaign text-books set itself the task of raising £20,000 problems In February a delegation from
Will nOE Ann Sutherland of
received from her a commitment to
crusade. One of the
training
of 1978; involved:
Item
are conscious of this •which is why one of the main slogans in Managua today is:
will another
Building socialism in a country
that nas been : civil war is no easy
up by both the Carter and the Thatcher government in Britain which is also refusing aid, will do anything they
task
Unlike British and American
working people Britain have nothine to lose tron
reconstruction economy. They have from building of socialism in Nicaragua and the weakening of British and
Imperialism as world solidarity, COnCele strenarien the fight for socian ly enormously delegation also met representatives from the Inner London leachers Association; they agreed to support the erusade and to help organise a
Specie seting it the coming NUT
"international department of the Labour Party has shown
for tar Scargill has campaign and Arthur committed himself to raising it ir
These offers of support need to
But ever youth youth organisations in Britain must com into the campaign and make it their
ownne literacy crusade is not a
traditional repressive and The old text-books of Somoza have been replaced Iby
organisco around the of the revolution. those who learn to read and write
only and words, but will also acquire a new social and political conscience. The literacy campaign is integral to the consolidation of the Nicaraguan
Health as a first
priority
SINCE coming to power in Government of National Reconstruction (GRN) has implemented a radical programme of Health care
The new Ministry of Health has: • Vaccinated two thirds of the entire population against polio, tetanus, diptheria, measles and other illnesses; * Fumigated some 24,548 houses against the everpresent danger of malaria; * Despatched 25 medical brigades to attend to sugar cane and coffee plantation workers; * Created a special education programme of nine courses for
auxiliaries in nursing, examinations, anaesthesia and basic sanitation; * Installed 4,200 new latrines, twice the number for the whole
* Made free all medical prescriptions;
Moreover, plans are already underway to reconstruct the hospitals destroyed by Somoza during the civil war. Work has also begun on the building of a National Childrens' Hospital and five clinics, with plans to build a further 150 clinics in the near future. Ambitious
These are only a small sample of the ambitious preventive health measures taken by the GRN. Free health care for its people will require approximately £10m. New hospitals must be built, new doctors trained to replace those who have died or fled the country, and vast quantities of medical supplies and equipment found. The following are examples of the costs
Reconstruction of the hospitals and clinics 67 refrigerators 40 sets of diagnostic equipment 8 sets of surgical equipment 12 machines for anaesthesia 6 operating tables 12 suction apparatuses 18 microscopes 71 ambulances and other vehicles for mobile care 720 sets of materials for childbirth
The Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign in Britain is already organising medical aid to Nicaragua, with regional committees in the North and South of England responsible for raising materials or money for the reconstruction of the medica! service in Esteli and Rivas respectively.
In addition, both the National Union of Public Employees and Confederation of Health Service Employees have promised to support the campaign nationally. This will be followed up shortly by the publication of a compreensive entitled Health In Nicaragua:
At the solidarity conference this weekend, discussion will take place with the funds to be raised over the next six to nine months.
Trade unionists, nurses or doctors who wish to help in this campaign should write to the Nicaraguan Medical Aid Committee, 20 Compton Terrace, London N1. Work has now begun on the bailding of a National Childre Hospital and five clinics im Nicaragua.
July last year, the
laboratory cost S 5,141,986 18,100 2,800 3,218 54,000 4,860 6,800 36,900 783,000 20,0 pamphlet Past, Present and Future:
aim of issuing an urgent national appeal for
Page 13 scan of this page
900 ATTEND HUGO BLANCO RALLY
AGENDA
member of the entusiastic reception
spèak about his presidential election campaign.
Also speaking at the rally were:
Tariq Ali of International Marxist Group: ol t orkere steelworkers' leader, Bernard Connolly, a representative of Zimbabwean Patriotic Maurice Keoghly, Peoples Democracy; and Anne Henderson, ILDHI LIC YUULI olsallisallon Revolution.
The rally was chaired Michael Boulter, deputy convenor ol Dritsu oxygen, паскпу, and d member of the IMG.
Bernard Connolly received huge •vaLU ] Wieu DOU IL greetings from the *Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire'. He
Tank -in -me seer workers had fought for solidarity actions from DullCl workers and expressec Ineir delerminaton to
through the struggle victory.
The main theme of the rally was
Maurice Keoghly both hailed the victory in Zimbabwe and related it
wor e-wire maurice Keoghly called for a stepping up of the fight
sulluarlly with the H-Block prioners, now facing their fourth year 'on the blanket'.
of 1CILCSCHLaLEVC Patriotic Front was given standing ovation when
Nub icalce of the Zimbabwe for struggle against imperialism HIlLa
*Anne Henderson orkevonIon realled the role that youth had played revolutionary struggles
The Revolutionary Unity
International Socialist Alliance has decided to
implement fusion with
Marxist Group.
formed to promote the cause of revolutionary
unity, split last autumn because these of us in
centralism as a method of organisation,
continued to press for fusion with the IMG
with the longer-term perspective of fusion with
the Socialist Workers Party:
success of the IMG's unity offensive would
result In
encouraged by the clarification at the IMG's
recent conference
iegroupment, and by the reaffirmation of the
commitment to work for revolutionary unity.
The IMG must help to answer the most urgent
need of the
formation
organisation capable of
alternative to the blind alley of reformism.
HUGO Blanco, a Peruvian revolationary and a leading
Fourth International, was
by 900 militants at the Meting House in London last Friday. He had come to
youth had been in the forefront of the struggle. In Nicaragua, people sommermes ony a venr. old had led the fight against Somoza and were now leading the Pronl. reconstmcuon enort.
Anne outlined the next steps for building Revolution „eeae enc revolonary
Youth March or anisco South Wales Easter and the founding conference of the organisation in May.
MugO Blanco account or ine struggles workers and peasants in Peru. He ono w a coc vœu were unemployed; how most of the working people lived Doventy «me now over ue Dase cu years the Peruvian to fought back against
Today revolutionaries in Peru were organising campa l WILD Hugo presidential candidate, despite the of Ucheil him stalluli osenirancrce illiterate people The campaign was not about building support! for Hugo Blanco said, but a conscious the SiC revolutionary party which he the Peruvian VICLUIY I the The audience entusiastically by donating over піо ностч сона но?
Che campaigns the . More than £270 was collected at the end of the meeting in support or une steel strikers.
Caucus of the
the International
The ISA, which had been
continued to defend democratic
and
We were afraid that the lack of immediate
sectarian backiash, so we were
its position
British working class thebei
united. revolutionary posing a realistic
The decisions of the IMG conference to"
SE OU
given an
Friends youtE These included the
being OVEI
gave a moving
of the
dire
masses had
this
election
Blanco
bourgeoisie
allu
millions
one man,
could
masses to
responded
Hourih make a turn to the working class, to help build an independent revolutionary youth organisation, and to adopt a more positive attitude țo the only revolutionary organisation significant base in the industrial working class, namely the SWP, represents a step forward in the political development of the IMG.
Our decision to fuse with the IMG reflects a genuine convergence of our political positions and an appreciation on our part of what we consider to be the IMG's political strengths. In
ABOVE: Patriotic Front speaker acknowledges applause. Below Hugo Blanco
ISA militants join the IMG
THE Revolutionary Unity Caucus of the International Socialist Alliance has decided to fuse with the International Marxist Group. represents, for the IMG, an important addition to our forces. caucus includes a number of very experienced militants, including comrades with long experience in the revolutionary movement, among them Harry Wicks, one of the founders of British Trotskyism. Below, we publish their statement announcing the fusion.
on with a oppressed; and International.
years,
NOL
particular we are attracted by the emphasis on the need for transitional politics; the position
movement: socialist democracy; democracy in the revolutionary organisation;
membership of the
On these and on other questions, we have been struck by what we regard as the positive
velopment of the IMG over the past f
Especially since the launch i
revolutionary
This political differences
The
politics; on
democracy.
We continue differences with differences with its political style,
the internal
Fourth despite our
member in l-gir t.Irr militants on an
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
Socialist Challenge and the unity offensive.
While the SWP is the largest revolutionary organisation in Britain today, and will have a vital role to play in the formation of any future
party, we have a number of Prontism in the unions and how to apply the united front tactic; on the need for transitional
correct way DIllEs an international organisation; and on internal
have some political the IMG 100. and some but do not constitute a faction or tendency. We have beer impressed by the internal democracy of the IMG, which we are confident will enable us to make a distinctive political contribution which,
depleted numbers, our lone collective experience can offer. We feel that we would gain from joining an organisation which
only revolution
Page 14 scan of this page
LETTERS
LETTERS exceeding 400 words will. normally be cut to ensure that the maximum number of readers can express their views. Anonymous letters will only be published in exceptional circumstances, but real names will be withheld from publication on request.
Disgusting Slur
YOUR article on the way Ford in Dagenham is obtaining steel shipments (13 March) included a disgusting slur on the train drivers' union ASLEF, with the statement: "The loading is courtesy of TGWU members and delivery is by ASLEFpowered British Rail.'
This implies that ASLEF members are deliberately scabbing on the steelworkers. In fact the umol was almons te first le officially call for a boycott of the movement of all steel within the first week of the strike, and since then trainloads of steel have been rusting away in sidings.
If Ford is using its container waggons to transport steel, the train crew have no way of knowing because the containers would be sealed and padlocked by Ford with no information about their contents:
If International Marxist Group members in Ford have proot that the containers are being used for shipping steel, 1 suggest that they pass the information on to ASLEF's executive and to the union's local branch. I am sure that a satisfactory result would be obtained.
PM GRANT, ASLEF Paddington
Beware the fate of Komsomol I WAS extremely surprised to read your unsigned report on the 'Rebel' youth conference (20 March). If your reporting of Simon Turner, the national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party, is correct then all one can say is that the model they have in mind owes more to the dreaded J Stalin than to Lenin.
The Komsomol (youth organisation) which grew in the Soviet Union after 1917 was totally committed to the revolution, but maintained and jealously guarded its independence from the party.
of the Komsomol was in those early years when the dead weight of Stalinism had not crushed its creative urge. From 22,000 members in November 1918 it grew to 400,000 in 1920. It was not subjected to any central control.
It was often gripped by what Simon Turner, with hindsight, would describe as 'sectarian squabbling'. In 1920-1 there was a strong opposition current in the Ukrainian Komsomol on the national question. They wanted an independent youth organisation for une wante
The independence of the Komsomol resulted in a large section of the organisation supporting the Left Opposition against Stalin. Stalin wreaked his revenge. Purges and dissolution followed, and in 1928 the Great Leader stated: "The Komsomol is an instrument of the party and a tool for doing the party's work.
That is the carbon-copy of how the Workers Revolutionary Party and Militant view a youth
organisation, It appears that the
SWP has joined their ranks.
have the right to do so, but let them
not pretend that they represent the
spirit of Leninist orthodoxy!
DAVID WAX, London No serious alternative I WAS suprised to read Tariq Ali's rendering (6 March) of my New Left
Review 119 article on Afghanistan.
It is a travesty of what I wrote.
Tario states that I offer no
serious alternatives to the policy of
Hafizallah Amin, yet on pages 39.41.
secialist Challeng • 71 March 1980
TASTE
CORMAC
*69
there is a whole section entitled 'What Were the Alternatives?'. Tariq proposes that a constituent? assembly should have been elected; my very first criticism of the Afghan regime is precisely its 'complete absence of concern for the most elementary democratic norms'.
Tariq goes on to say that I fail to discuss the relationship between the Soviet intervention and the question of national self-determination. Again, this is quite untrue. I develop the argument that some foreign military interventions by post-revolutionary states are justifiable that of the ÚSSR in the Spanish civil war, and of Cuba in Angola being
However, such interventions
• to popular consent, and the degree of response by imperialism. provide a basis for socialists to assess the Soviet role in Afghanistan of rather more substance than an abstract invocation or non-interference.
Afghanistan will be an issue of major concern to the left for a long time; 1 can only suggest that comrades read my article itself, rather than relying on Tariq Ali's rather deficient account of it. FRED HALLIDAY, London W1 General Strike?
general strike to kick out the Tory
strikers should overthrow the
the purpose of the strike itself being
to say arrest Thatcher's government
Alternatively, you may have the
ment to resign and hold a general
stand their ground and the strikers
prepared, or return to work before tood suppiles run oul. brolsky useu
it is only one step from the General brike to armed msuccaon
In any case, if the real aim of
calling now for an early general election? Then, if, after months of
general strikes by all means), the Tories refused to resign, the labour
the idea of revolutionary action — a
Of course, there is a possibility
general strike (i.e. one not called by any political party. As we saw in May-June 1968, the strikers would soon be demanding socialism and
revolution, facing the Labour Party with the Teed to seize power.
For this reason you must write discussion articles explaining the
lessons of the great general strikes and revolutions of the past. However, you seem to me too eager
де 14
THE ERUDITE THOUGHTS OF A IN THE FILM " LIFE OF BRIAN" DOES JOHN CLEESE, AS A ROMAN
THE IMMORTAL PHRASE "YOU'RE FUCKING BEAUTY!
to have workers rush headlong into the highest form of class struggle, while simultaneously keeping them in the dark about its implications.
Dave Bailey, Newham
Concessions to Imperialism
March) I would like to take issue
tion. presses West Indians and Asians
These
- it produces a group of people who are super-exploited and for
be provided.
combat their oppression and black that unity. The Bradford Youth March for Black Freedom; the Black Socialists Alliance and
Samples of this.
she is white) to glibly quote their personal (and no doubt ideology-
Asians feeling 'loathing' and 'contempt' for West Indians. the case, nor does Jenny Flintoft and what we feel. Comments like hers serve not to the interests of
black domination.
to arrive in Britain full of hope Clydesider", republican socialist and oiber
AND FORMERLY IN 1963 ORTON'S
NICKED, development:
IN REPLY to Jenny Flintoft's letter 'enormous cultural differences' (20 with several points which I consider to be divisive, dangerous, and con-
toft.
wnie l is true mal wie stale op-
through different tactics, the overall effect of that oppression is the same
whom the minimum of services need
work with them)?
Black people have long since realised the need for black unity to
youth particularly are experiencing
Organization of Women of African and Asian descent are but a lew ex-
What good does it serve for whites (and from the tone of Jenny Flintoft's letter I can only presume
behind this
induced) impressions of Asian/West Indian relationships? Doubtless, the police and the Home Office would like to believe what she says about
However, I do not believe that to be provide any evidence to support her Hilary Wainwright
The overriding impression I get from fellow black people is one ol hostility to the forces that oppress us and anger (dare I say contempt?) to unity at people like Jenny Flintoft who so imperiously tells us what we think
black liberation, but rather those of
And then, to top it all, Jenny Flintoft states: Asians have tended (otherwise why come?)'. Admittedly many Asians believed in the myth
WHAT'S LEFT
Psc. Derbyshirest, Lopon.
CAMDEN: *Revolutionary Politics as 60р (р8р)
OXFORD and ere Kings Arths BRENT SC supporters sel
BOLOVE Us 2 arch 7. 0pm at While Saan: HALOSE
SAND WHERE DID JOE
ORTON OBTAIN THIS PHRASE?
DET. SGT. • HAKKY
CHALLENOR ARRESTED AN
, DONALD TO SEND AND EXCLAIMED •YOU'RE FUCKING BRAD MY OLE of Britain as the home of democracy, but those illusions were surely dispelled on arrival at Heathrow and on confronting British immigration officials. For the real reasons why Asians came to Britain, I can only advise Jenny Flintoft to read up the terms "imperialism' and 'under-
Lastly, might I just add that if black people are expected to see the Campaign Against Immigration Laws as being an organisation campaigning for our rights, it would serve well for other members to take up the points made by Ms Flin-
Rashid Meer, Brighton Revolutionary WHY DO the IMG always have to ascribe grandiose schemes to people who sometimes criticize them (and
In her report of the LCC-far left debate, Valerie Coultas (20 March) accuses me of rejecting both left reformism and revolutionary politics' in favour of a 'third way'. I would not claim to be doing anything so pretentious and foolish.
I simply believe that some all — features of present-day Leninist organisation do more to put workers and women off socialist politics than to involve them. By opening up some of the problems
"Beyond the Fragments" could, I think, help to strengthen revolutionary politics — not play into the hands of the Labour left as Valerie implies.
But, by equating our criticisms with ta third way' (as if you guard the only true way), you only confirm, I'm afraid, the sort of things we've been criticising.
The numbers game approach
IF, as you state in 'Our Common Cause' (13 March), revolutionary unity is the equivalent of unity between the Socialist Workers Party and the International Marxist Group, what has happened to the thousands of revolutionary socialists who are in neither group yet who participated in such campaigns as
SCEVENTS
Hearse Te. 061-236 4905 or Sac indra Martsy чету Fri 12-2pm outsta 10.30-12.30pr Collective Pontesall in ibe Trades Hall, Wittedc
• Also available from 108 Books, Salisbury
bed the home beds ni
J HOW ONE MISSES TRADITIONAL BRITISH THUGS LIKE HARRY CHALLANUR MERELY FABRICATED EVIDENCE
•INNOCENT PEOPLE TO HE NEVER MADE A FORTUNE FROM HIS BENT ACTIVITIES -AND HE NEVER MURDERED ANYONE! the Anti Nazi League? What indeed has happened to the thousands (?) who have passed through both organisations in the past decade or have they all become reformists?
In a thinly veiled attack on the authors of Beyond the Fragments, you state that 'those who believe
organisation can be built outside the existing groups through socialist centres and so on are living in a dream world'. Really?
It is a gross caricature to suggest that such centres can only be built apart from existing groups.
'rank and file groups' versus 'united fronts', the IMG did participate in for example the Rank and File group in the National Union of
SWP's manipulatory attitude towards non-party groups and movements, not whether they are united fronts, socialist alliances or centres, rank and file groups or, as the ANL was, neither.
It is the 'numbers game' that lies behind so much of the SWP's
Yet your juggling of membership figures - 3,000 (SWP) + 1,500 (new recruits) = 6,000 falls into precisely that trap. It is the needs of the situation — a reactionary government intent on slashing the social and industrial wage, in addition to political attacks on women's rights, , sexual and racial minorities, civil liberties and so on which demand a mass response
It is in this context that socialist alliances and centres and other forms of organisation can play their part as well as the IMG. But no, the IMG sees redemption lying in fusion with the SWP
Could I suggest that instead of dismissing the ideas contained in Beyond the Fragments as lending weight to Benn's view', as Valerie Coultas maintains in her-report on the Debate of the Decade, you ask why it is that the behaviour of the far-leit groups in Britain have giver comfort to the reformists and put off large numbers of people from joining any group.
I write incidentally as an exmember of the International Socialists and as a founder member of the Socialist Students Alliance. TONY GREENSTEIN, Brighton
avalla blt
BRIGHTON: For more info phone Nick, 605052.
ker. Biso Fullmarks, no Cheltenam Rd, Mont pellie COVENTRY: SC available from Wedge Bookshop. Fo more info about local activities phone 461138.
day 49.0cm. Sin Thursday Jam-1po. The Patr
wal tube, Herne Hill British Rail and Tetric Do SWINDON: SC on sale 11-1 every Sat., Regent S
La Road Neede in
(S1255
Page 15 scan of this page
"My style is the style of the hatred of imperialism"
UNDER REVIEW
AS I sat and watched the film of a 1975 reunion of some of the finest musicians to come out of the Kansas City jazz boom of the 1930s, another emotion stirred with the elation which came from watching them hearing their music.
It was anger. Anger that Joe Turner, who began sini in theos is nota 'shake, rattle and roll...' household name. Anger that Charlie Parker Lester Young could only be in the reunion on scratchy black and white film clips.
Anger that these great black jazz blues musicals whose talent sparkles forty and fifty years atter they started, are less well known than their white imitators over those forty years not to mention the fame afforded to groups with only a couple of years' experience which are pushed on our radios today.
Experience
But the music has continued to develop for the same reason its creators are hidden and their history suppressed: they black, products of life in black America.
To get a feel of the tradition of jazz, try to see the film The Last of The Blue Devils now on
London at the Electric Cinema.
don't ignore exciting developments of new jazz. You have to look for this 'new music creators prefer to call it; it is still being suppressed but it is very much alive.
The highlight of Camden Jazz Week earlier this month was the McCoy Tyner
On 14 April the Ensemble of Chicago perform at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.
These musicia is are part of the revolution which began tr take hold in black music circles in the United States around the mid-'60s. It is no coincidence that this also when
was message of Malcolm black nauonansi was sweeping black America.
Like all decisive shifts in what is commonly called jazz music right from the Blue -Devils of the '30s and bebop of the '50s, the innovations
and and are the the
Art will
Milford Grayes playing in a street in Harlem.
came from the experience of the Black community.
the and However, because this new
music not only moved in new directions, but also consciously raised black pride always present link with Africa, the white record companies and critics have given it a rough ride from the start.
NEW MUSIC
Cecil Taylor, the pianist, is today hailed in jazz circles as a genius. But he began playing the new music in the mid-'50s.
He remembers times when he worked restaurants where his records and the
were on the juke box.
The inspiration commonly credited with for imperialison. He is one ni lapa: devictrd tor rok of the Cata
imprisoned of subbersilt aunt
1950 to whict many oner tures memseLuba s tim hidesa archivist in Cuban television in the 5ik 27n 1959 he was appointed head of the
Acknowiedged worldwide original igures in ue mistory or docuater gos out of this newsreel base. inspire his team to make the most neeDiOu in vow and LBI indictment ot :alim an made from newspaper protes. newsiet hands on, assembled into the mos: hard-breng.r.s 'cinema.
compared to Driga Vertov). repulsion, anticipation and surprise. kiss plea ollen complelely, and using music.
he moy evempiary cinematic lerms.
!!he mos comprehensive vet scen outside Cuba
revolution
John
La dishwasher Afro-American music,
the new music.
leading this SANTIAGO Alvarez says of his on a mart: "My siste is the serle of haired
most popolar file maliers who has
Born in Havana is 1919. ine sor of a Spanish anarchist, he had ar taris
di ine aze 0i tire ater tus iame »=
He joined the Cuban Commuris Pars: ¡as 2á *a 3 i..:
war tick
4 ha! Aivarer nas done is to stand ine conventon: of cap.a.: neusteel on their head. Fulfilling Lenin's dictum tha: film begins with anuality the key to Alvarez's aesthetic is montage cand he has often beer
Through a montage of attraction and climinating commentary as far as subletted to no same provedures, do narrate, he succeeds in rethinking revolutionary rhetoric in
Alvarez's work. showing at the National Film Theatre from 1-10 April,
Alvarez. himself is season and will participate in a sentinal
in music is the quartet 'classic' quartet of saxophonist "classic')
Coltrane. Although Coltrane died of cancer in 1967 1965. he is still regarded as a giant of
Originally unsurpassed in his contribution to jazz'
that the term used relegate
McCoy Tyner, then 20 years old, joined the first Coltrane entertainment.
out: (now called the when it formed in 1960 and stayed with it until
So what is this new music?
it was called 'free but the musicians feel 'jazz has been by white society great musical form to the status of bar-room
Socialist Challenge 27 March 1930
Where the new music departs from previous jazz traultions such as oeDop Is I the freedom of its improvisation from 'the restriction of
and time' or from being limited to 'variations on a
• chord pattern,' according to Valerie Wilmer in her book on the new music, As Serious As your Life. Drums
In fact the new music is solidly rooted in the heritage of black Many innovators are drummers, like Milford Graves pictured on this page at a surcel Harlem.
As Valerie Wilmer points
"The use •of additional percussion as an assertion of black identity effectively reverses the situation crented when the slave owners exerted their control by banning the drum
British and American slave owners destroyed all drums. Both reggae and the new music are identified by their drum and percussion beats.
Next Week: The Blues.
'The Last of the Blue Devils' is showing at the Electric Cinema, Portobello Road, West London until Saturday 29 March. It will also be shown at Norwich Cinema 5-12
23-26 June
How to find jazz events in your area: The Jazz. Centre Society based in London has affiliates in the North and the Midlands. Its newsletter lists lazz events and all new music events.
Write to: JCS, 35. Grea Russel St, London WCI
THE OTHER BOOKSHOP
BLACK NATIONALISM
AND THE REVOLUTION IN MUSIC by Koisky
Pathfinder Press, £2.45
AS SERIOUS AS YOUR LIFE . by Wilmer Quartet, £2.95
328 Upper Street.
London, N1 2XQ
(Tel. 01 226-0571).
Page 16 scan of this page
NO MORE NUKES
IT was 4am on 28 March 1978. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, generators linked to the number two reactor at Three Mile Island were producing 800 megawatts of electrical power. At that time of the day, 40 per cent of the US's electricity Was coming nuclear power stations.
Suddenly, & hundred or more alarms went off in the control room at Three Mile Island. pump which supplies the generators had tripped, and within 12 seconds the reactor cut out, dropping the power level some 6 per cent of full power.
For nuclear happened during the following weeks connico tac roslance of nucica:
Britain:
Abroad:
Name
Address.
I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of
POs and Money Orders should be made payable to
st Cince
Social
hardware. the from the
reactor core.
For the
radioact material,
Saturday, from Campaign, other
The feedwater Tory government steam Watch government before them, opted nuclear solution? megawatts, ine wepartment or Energy finding days ahat what be short
SUBSCRIBE NOW
12 months £12.50; 6 months E 6.50 12 months. - Surface Mail - £12.50 - Airmail £18.00 Multi-reader institutions: Double the above rate
and return to: Socialist Challenga, 328 Upper Street, London N1.
We all live in Harrisburg
Pennsylvania was protected radioactivity contained in AT TITORESTYA TRADIN TO SECT NATTEM
opponents of nuclear power, energy we were minutes away from a core mell
possible release
the Anti-Nuclear roenas or inę carin, anc organisations have called a demonLOUCH dEC Three Mile Island, and to oppose the plans of the
to introduce pressurised reactors (PWI? to Britain ngures
Why have the Tories, and the Labour
for the
Atomic Energy Authority say that Britain
of something like 40,000 megawaus or sucigy by tre ycal due and that the only way of filling the gap is by
money
living
Published by Releocrest Led. for Sectallet Chatt
installing 20 new nuclear power stations.
Their choice is PWR When ontions: such as enercy conservaton, the increased use of coal, or of renewable
sources such as solar, wave power could have exactly the same erect, way are tacy so Insisteal ou uk nuclear solution?
Cheap
be told that electricity would be so cheap that it would
be necessary to meter it. of Generating Board show the cost of nuclear generated electricity
year was 1.6p kilowatt comber dutco lor coa
With vast amounts of energy required to construct nuclear power stations, it is doubtiul programme would fill the energy
THE TORIES
ANOTHER attack on people from the Tory Budget! Anti-Union laws, redundancies, attacks on strike pay, and now a cat in living standards.
The trouble with capitalism is that unless you've already got lots
it's hard to keep ahead of inflation, let alone improve your
standards. Money money for the capitalists.
Socialist Chailenge has no stocks of capital or investments. All we have is our ideas and our capacity to help
takes from two to eight years for a reactor
other to pay back the energy debt incurred in its
construction.
SLUt by the or Research Unit at Sussex University shows that the load factor of PWRs -when the! electricity nuclear reactors.
So why the government's enthusiasm? The answer can partly be found in leaked nuclear Cabinet minutes:
would have the advantase of removine a Yet the substantial portion Scotland production from
aimuntion by industrial miners or transport workers.
hour, The reason for a nuclear programme
with its secrecy and no-strike clauses; is to
so that industry still runs and profits ar
For some time, GEC has been pushing
A FIVER TO FIGHT
working organise the fightback against the
Tory offensive.
So before you reel from the effects of the Budget send us a fiver, quick. It's not worth much after the budget, but we certainly need it. This is the of last week of the Fiver to Fight the Tories campaign, and we still need a few hundred makes target.
So, let's see those fivers rolling in over the next week way to show the Tories what we think of their anti-working class Budget.
because they
Science - Policy
the time Also
actually producing minutes - is among the lowest for
GEC has a strengthened so
'A nuclear programme other
of electricity
the dangers A
Lion o cow
ment, Wolves IMG E Fredenburg
J Webber
Anon Hackney IMG Islington IMG • R Stewart Preston IMG
Canterbury IMG TUC marcher YATE supporter Cardiff IMG pounds to meet our
Clive and Sue
— there's no better
Week's Total Grand Total r, 328/9 Upper 8h, London NI. Priated by East End [offset] Ltd. PO Box 82, London Ez.
enge
for a substantial programme of PWRs
"Te Deller pront spinner: than the existing advanced ga cooled
which have to be produced on
revealed in the Tory Cabinet a proposal for the role of the
large shareholding, be that it would take ful contro of nucle
words, the next generation of nuclear power stations would be built and run by privale capita
mass movement has to be buil against these proposals, which entrust the
sites and of the workers at the plants to GEC's quest for superprofits. Saturday's
which noods • develop national links if it is to fight capitalism's most international industries
Our thanks this week to:
£5.00 2:50 Camden SC group 11.00
1.00 SW Manchester IMG
10:00 "tal 50.
23.
Nottingham IMG
10.01 1.0.
43 Charlie and Morag 5:00
2.00 Huddersfield IMG 25.00
£241 £2,313 M
← Socialist Challenge No. 139, 20 March 1980Socialist Challenge No. 141, 3 April 1980 →