Socialist Challenge No. 142, 10 April 1980
The scan: sc-n142-apr-10-1980.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.
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Socialist Challenge ONE YEAR AFTER SOUTHALL DEFEAT BLACK PEOPLE WIN IN BRISTOL
But police prepare backlash
'They're in a position to take revenge. If we're walking on our own, they're bound to beat us up and who will believe us? They'll be thirsting for revenge, but we're prepared as well. If there's a next time we'll go to the city centre. We'll burn down Bridewell (police station). Well fight back.
INSIDE: Tariq Ali reports from Bristol, pages 2&3
No.142 10 April 1980 20g
Photo. SOCIALIST CHALLENCE
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CARNIVAL OF TH
brutality and won.
IT IS Easter Friday. The train from
Paddington is over-crowded. With
difficulty I locate a seat and find
myself sitting opposite
Record, a well-known Jamaican
playwright. He grins at me.
'Why do you think they burnt
down Lloyds Bank?', he asks.
I don't know.
perhaps...'
'If you'ré right brother, then
it's the most encouraging thing to
have happened so far.
And here. Record's
chuckles are suddenly transformed into a loud, infectious laugh,
appears that I'm the only person to be infected thus. Others pretend they have not heard - an amazing feat given Record's loud voice - and stare out of the window.
At Bristol station local supporters of Socialist Challenge meet me and drive to St. Paul's. The past is clearly visible: old Georgian charming square, state of decay and inhabited largely by immigrants.
Hungarians after the war, West Indians in the Fifties and Asians in the decade that followed. Those who built these houses have been dead for a long time. Their heirs have abandoned the inner-city and live elsewhere in suburban Coller.
Who were the prosperous chants whose wealth was displayed with such grandeur two and a half centuries ago? Bristol, readers will recall, was the first slave port in Britain. Slaves were bought and sold and then transported
Lne West Indies. dilapidated mansions now house the descendants of those very slaves who were forcibly uprooted from Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries.
There is a certain irony in this fact.
The bank is for moneyman. The majority of us are unemployed. We are
the dole. The represents the Thatcher government. burnt it down...
The chickens, as the late Malcom X used to say, have come home to roost. In this overcrowded district of Bristol one can observe the partitioned houses which acconfores labour from the colonies three decades
Here we have the colonial plunder in a nutshell.
But St. Paul's is almost a colony within a colony. The early immigrants have moved to better areas. St. Paul's houses. those who are capitalist society and who have rejected it in turn. Most of them are young; they
that they no Unemployment amongst black school
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980
ON WEDNESDAY 2 April, the mainly
black population of St. Paul's, a Bristol
inner-city district, responded to police
harassment by mounting a counter-
attack. The police are the most visible
instrument of state repression of the
black minority in Britain today. Almost
exactly a year after the police riot in
Southall, the black community of St. Paul's fought back against police
TARIQ ALI reports from Bristol.
Dy Barry
symbol Shattuck,
"The dreadlocks in St. staccato
though
story
supportels, community straightforward. houses; but in an advanced
Poles and Grosvenor Road. allowed to serve drinks.
one Knows Marijuana (or grass, herb,
and order mer-
These
outside.
the tew hundred black
bank savouring the sun.
Margaret fractures a cafe window.
We with her son, tells us:
in the club.
the influx of
history of used.'
the most provocative. rejected by enough,
future. and. barricade
Page 2
leavers is somewhere between 60 and 70
La strange coincidence I had
debated in Bristol last year the Labour
Shadow Home Secretary, Merlyn Rees,
and the Assistant Chief Constable for
Bristol and Avon, a Mr Shattuck. The
subject: "The Police are instrumental in
the oppression of minority groups.'
in particular, had made
great play of the fact that Bristol was a
'model' of good police-black relations.
Paul's won't
agree with a word you're saying', he
had told me. The national press has taken up the same tune. Small wonder then that what has happened here is regarded by the Tories as irrational,
illogical and utterly incomprehensible
So what did happen on 2 April? The which we have pieced together with the aid of local Socialist Challenge
black youths workers SCCHIN fairly
2.30pm: The Black & White cafè lies
It is no longer The police have revoked its license. And yet every-
that drinks are served. the weed, ganja) is openly smoked. Two plainclothes policemen enter the cafe
tea. They are instantly recognised. Rumours have been circulating that the police are about and Bertram Wilkes, the cafe owner, is not surprised. It's obviously the routine Easter raid. He thinks it will be over
3 pm. Police cars and a van pull up
Uniformed policemen jump out, are joined by others who have been waiting around a corner and burst into the cafe. Police cordon off both sides of the Grosvenor Road, but by this time
youth have already assembled outside the cafe. It is the first real Spring day and people are
A police truncheon
A black woman resident from the Brunel estate who was walking home
'Vans and cars carrying uniformed and plainclothes police arrived. They jumped out and started attacking those
Within minutes there must have been hundreds of police with dogs and truncheons. By this time hundreds of young people started throwing anything they could find. The police began to attack them and I saw dogs being
All agree that the use of dogs was
'Pigs are bad man, a youth told me, 'But why did they have to bring in the dogs?' A battle ensues outside the Black and White cafe and the police rush inside
themselves in. The
number of black youths outside the cafe grows rapidly.
3.30pm: A police car is overturned and set on fire. Police reinforcements arrive, but more and more people are now coming out on the streets and the police discover that they are not confronting a "troublesome minority', but the community as a whole.
3.30pm-5.30pm: Sporadic fighting continues. There are a number of lulls during which both sides regroup to prepare for the next round. The most amazing, though clearly provocation takes place during period as the police attempt to retrieve their burnt out car; it is surrounded by dozens of policemen who use dustbins as shields and attempt to escort the car which is being lifted by a pick-up truck and driven away. Some of them shout abuse at the blacks. They are greeted by a new charge and are forced to retreat.
6pm-7.30pm: By youths have realised that they have the upper hand. The police are utterly demoralised, have no clear strategy, no
LLOYDS
BANK
JIMNED
it...
aims.
unthought,
this police cars are set on fire. What the police
police withdraw.
One Asian however, this time the owner, Manzoor, (
when I talk to him. blame? 'The police,
'We feel great. We feel confident. It was a victory
and we were worthy of that victory. Yes, worthy of
The Bristol Chief Constable, Brian Weigh, is not as experienced or The pub skilled as David McNee or David Helm (the "Butcher of Southall'). Some more
thought was routine raid has exploded in their face.
As the shops begin to be smashed the police chief sounds the retreat and the
The shops that are antagonisit attacked are predominantly white. A white youth throws a stone at an Asian food store, but a group of black youths firmly, but fraternally, dissuade him.
supermarket to rotting. attacked and looted. The is extremely Who does he of course First At they come and provoke the youths and gives the order to withdraw. Hea
then they can't defend our prope
(West Indian owned) untouched as was the record shop youth explained: 'You don't shit your own doorstep, man!'
But why were the shops loo Because the resentment against racism which exists in society as aw came out. While there is virtually
towards whites streets, the white shop-keeper is ser some youths as an oppressor: blacks go in and ask for banana make sure its the bunch which is d
When they hand us bas change they slap it on to our ha They never count it, as if to imply we can't count.
7.30pm Chief Cons
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OPPRESSED
tinned food,
roplause and cheer...
he has no desire to cause blood-
-midnight: As Ine
aw more people come out into treets.
concerted attack is made on
Bank and the Post
minutes both are on tre as youths celebrate the departure of
lice. Then the looting begins in
Everyone joins in.
ents in their three-piece suits are
igging colour TV sets. An old
ouple, both of them pensioners,
walking into a supermarket
trolley. A quarter of an hour they
¿is full of tinned food, biscuits,
TFL 699T An old white couple, both of them pensioners, are zen walking into a supermarket. A quarter of an our later they are seen emerging with a trolley full
biscuits, soft drinks and other recessities. As the couple walk across the street *zens of black youths burst into spontaneous
soft drinks and other necessities. As the couple walk across the street dozens of black youths burst into spontaneous applause and cheer them all the way police back.
This continues for three hours and then the community, as if exhausted retires to bed. At midnight the police Office. re-occupy the ghetto. Like the Roman legions of old they march in with their shields raised and held facing outwards on every side. They are there to show Middle- their strength, observe people walking
interference. Only fourteen people are arrested ten-hour Southall, they arrested 350 in half the time. of the relationship of forces.
euphoric. them how
"Man,
not to test it. They home with
period
These statistics are an indication
Thursday 3 April: There is a big police presence, but there are no provocations. Black defeated blue the day before and blue bides its time. In the afternoon and the evening there is dancing on the streets. A rastafarian announces to no-one in particular: 'You can't sit around all day and smoke gan-
You've got to fight sometime.' Music is heard till late in the night. The blacks have won and the moodis
There is a real camaraderie between poor blacks and poor whites. People smile at each other. Laughter is heard at street corners and on the pavement outside the Black & White cafe.
I sat with a group of rastas in the sun on the Grosvenor Road and asked
they felt. They talked without prompting. Here are some of the things they said:
marijuana has got to be legalised. Legalise the herb. Write that in your revolutionary paper. For the police are evil and until its legalised they'll carry on behaving like this.'
"This has been going on for the last ten years. Ten, I say, but really its four hundred and sixteen years. Yeah, man! Its 416 and we've been taking it cool. There have been many secret beatings in ponce cels, too many arrestca OI
suspicion. This time they pushed us too far and we fought. It was good.'
feel lt' s got Margaret Thatcher got in. She's been cutting public spending about "law and order'. more confident since she's in power. She's for the rich. poor and she's not for black people.
•Police think because they wear a uniform, we should respect them. But we don't treat them any different from other people. versus white. It was us all against the police. There's too much racism in the police force. ficers.'
At this stage a car passes and a flashily dressed black waves at our little group
He's a bad man, Sinclair. He owns a club and a building frill, but he employs no blacks. He's
I asked them how they felt after the events of Wednesday:
'We feel great. We feel confident. It was a victory and we were worthy of the victory. Yes, worthy of it. want to fight the police. We want the
prejudiced.
them in the streets.
down. troubling closed community clubs can run ourselves.
The majority of us We are STCDICSCHL government.
A few
He explained why:
to see my pin something from the window:
the boarded
The
about anything,
hustlers,
and pimps. heavier • since
and talking The police feel
She's not for the One of
the beat as
This fight wasn't black
the neutral We want no black of-
in
that Johnny
up this way: "They're
We don't centre We'll fight back '
police to treat us normally. They treat us like animals. They think we don't have any intelligence and they have the government to back them up and the magistrates and the judges. They're al
'You go to school, you learn and then...nothing. The colour of your skin determines everything. We can't beat them in the courts but we defeated
'We set up a little blues club in a deserted basement. The police closed it
This is our ghetto. We aren't anybody. Then why they down? All the ; are useless. We can only use them when the owners let us use them. Never when we want to use them. The government is paying them for nothing. They don't do nothing for the community. Today is a holiday, but the youth club is closed and we're out on the pavement. They used to have a disco every Sunday, but they stopped that as well. We want a club which we
, A community club should be run by the community'
Why was the bank burnt down?
'The bank is for the moneyman.
are unemp oved. the dole The bank the Margaret Thatcher We burnt it down. We'd like to burn her down as well!'
minutes after we had interviewed the rastas we met three youths. Andrew Edwards is 16 and has just left school. His eye was swollen.
T was walking up Campbell Street
girl-friend. coppers. One had a truncheon and a dustbin lid. The other had an Alsatian. He whacked me on the head with the truncheon. They dragged me into a police car and the one with the truncheon beat me up. One blow hit me in the eye. I was locked up with two other black kids in the cells. They released me on Thursday afternoon, but didn't charge me with anything.'
Mike Neblett, 17, has to report at Trinity police station every evening at 7pm. The CID came to his house, but he got away. 'I'm sure they'll try and
on us.' As we were talking an old West Indian shouted
'It was me. It was me. I started it all!' He then gave a loud laugh and disappeared inside again.
The builders are back at work. On
up windows of Lloyds Bank is the sign: G. Hewitt and Son, Building Contractors Ltd., Bath.
exhilaration -felt by the community is visible on virtually every face. The way they talk about Wednesday it sounds like a carnival of the oppressed. And yet few have illúsions
including socialism and the revolution. Yes, it is a rough community. Yes, it has its share of
pimps and prostitutes. But that was not the reason for the rebellion as local Labour MP Arthur Palmer would have us believe. For the police maintain an active contact with hustlers
No, St. Paul's erupted as a result of accumulated grievances: against the police; against the state; against the power structures of white society.
the major casualties has been the self-image of the police. Police propagandists portray the copper on
"the aharmed, friendly constable helping the aged...the young and those in distress; the determined but scrupulous pursuer of the offender;
protector of life and property using a minimum of violence and intelligent crime prevention. ' This cosy image was destroyed in Southall. It has been blown apart in Bristol. But
Bristol the police were defeated. Demands for an enquiry, for a defence committee and for organised self-defence are being heard from many quarters. A black youth summed it all
in a position revenge. If we're walking on our own, they're bound to beat us up and who will believe us? They'll be thirsting for revenge, but we're prepared as well. If there's a next time well go to the cit
We'll burn down Bridewell.
Socialist Challenge : 1Q April 1980, Page 3
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Photo: SOCIALIST CHALLENGE
ABs 01
SI HIM 1203:
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Page 5 scan of this page
HOMENEWS
MIGRANT women who work in hotels, hospitals, and private homes as resident domestics and chambermaids face the threat of immediate expulsion from Britain.
Their 'crime' is to have concealed the fact that they
BeTT chilaren home they came to Britain.
The Home Office decided that women in this category WelC immigrants'
MaTCh Now me on! of Appeal has ruled that a resident domestic worker who entered this country while she had guilty of deception whether or not she was aware that these facts had
Women employed mas an comesar. workers earn on average £50 per week before deductions for board
1919 New Earnings Survey they are often for
extra pay. Restrictions are far greater than British women WIR tolerale. agencies therefore recruit overseas, especially in the
Combine secretary
faces the sack
ERNIE Scarbrow, Aerospace Combine Shop Stewards Committee, is once again facing dismissal from the company's Willesden, NW London, site.
His job was eliminated by management, and he turned down an alternative job Was • оттетео because ll was entirely unsuitable. announced in December, bas The sacking was withdrawn while talks were
and TASS, the Engineering Union's
These have resulted in a
agree. management is now rushing through remaining procedures OUl
who holds union both plant and SOSILIULIS company level. Threats
A statement issued by the
combine mices corinat
threats SCra
space management over the past ten well
OuTe STop stewards.
Obviously are
Women clothing
workers on strike
By K Bastin
organised.
•i you don't like it, there's the door.'
mainly women, have been on strike.
recognise the union was coupled with rumours of lay-offs. Sixty of the strikers have been sacked.
HONES. were cordillons
greetea with a chorus of "Come and ioin us'.
notoriously exploitative industry.
Manchester 20.
for having children.
Philippines, Latin America, Portugal. and Morocco The Migrant Action Group sites evidence to show FILIPINO nurses — now facing deportation secretary of the Lucas
mobilizing support within Lucas over unis anal. une statement says, 'but a second Derek Robinson affair is an mallel I01 trade union especially with Tory attacks strikers and trade unior rights.
Support
So we're asking for your Mellow Lane East, Hayes, Middlesex phone Ernie Scarbrow Mike Cooley on 01-965 7777 ext 5.
THE deadline for short news articles for this page is 10.30am Monday. Articles up to 200 words can be rung through 301-359 Sundays 8189.
CONDITIONS at Kleins clothing factory in Salford are typical of an industry in which employers' attitudes correspond to the 19th century and workers are badly
Accidents at work are frequent and victimisation commonplace. The management's response to any complaint is:
For the past three weeks, the workers at Klein, who are
It began after three-quarters of the 110 workers joined the Tailors and Garment Workers Union. The employers' refusal to
Although there has been little support from local clothing
are similar, the women pickets remain determined. Those who approach the picket line are
They have succeeded in stopping deliveries and refuse collections, and are calling for a boycott of all men's wear with a Bendyk' label. The strike is an important fight for women in a
Support and donations to: NUTGWU, 409 Wilmslow Rd,
Women to be deported
that it is the agencies not the women no rive inhuman rules. On 30 March 300 filipinos sent a telegram
noll Secretary expressing their horror at the deportations which the court ruling now makes likely.
YOUR LOCAL
POLICE STATION
WED APRIL 23rd-
Assemble Ipm
Labour movement bodies
and WORCH Y organisations shone co likewise. Report available from: Migrants Action Group, 68 Charlton Street. London NW1. Price 40p plus postage.
ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTHALL
DISBAND THE SPG
DEMONSTRATION
NATIONAL
Speakers Corner Marble Arch
March via Scotland Yard to Rally in Trafalgar Square
REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH
SOUTHALL ANNIVERSARY
BENEFIT Saturday 26 April 7.30pm, University of London Union, Malet Street, London WC1 THE PIRHANAS AND THE AU PAIRS
Admission £2
LONDON BOROUGH OF HILLINGD
EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEADMASTER SACKED Hillingdon teacher Dave Potter, who made national headlines after being suspended for distributing Anti Nazi League leaflets in school, has lost his appeal against unfair dismissal.
After deliberating for four
has upheld Hillingdon education authority's decis .101 " Sacl probationary studies teache Mellow Lane School, Hayes
Friendsol Blair Peach Committee
SUN APRIL 27th
GREENWAY SCHOOL
DAVE POTTER — sacked for handing out ANL leaflets in a politics lesson
Potter, an SWP member, told the tribunal: that the authority had tried to disguise its dislike of his left-wing views and activities as local NUT that scorcialy failed claiming reach
acceptable teaching standards.
He was suspended after
government TOSSOM School, Uxbridge. A National Front candidate was standing
time, and NF stickers and leaflets appeared the
its conference
By Alan Freeman THE Labour Party executive has convened a recall conference of the Party to discuss the cuts and oppose Tory policies. The conference is due to be held on 31 May.
The decision was response to a motion from the 1 Tans our and General Workers argued that the conference Wat needed to unite all factions a route policies to those of the present government'.
Although the implication is that discussion should be restricted to the policy of a future government,
KNOWLEY FACTORY
Massey Ferguson
occupation backed by
boycott
By John Kirby
for jobs on Merseyside.'
This was the message from Massey Ferguson steward Jimmy Forsyth when on 3 ADri 70 people packed into Kirkby Labour Club hear speakers from the curatul committee Massey's Knowsley plant.
The audience heard how the company wanted to close Knowsley and move its work to Manchester factories
national delegate conterence emier tie wee had thrown a spanner into Massey's multi-national WOrKS The representing company's workers, pledged
Knowsley and boycott all
school
In his final term at his last school Mellow • Lane Dave Potter was harassed to such an extent that he was the subject of 16 reports and 2 visits by advisers in just sever weeks. In fact at one lesson no fewer than three educational advisers sat in.
This was despite the fact
that thredomationato for
first recommendation voter's ansmissa 1978 was overturned by the Department of Education a are even
Labour Party recalls
and not action aga Tories, the conferenc sid prove explosive
It will one sin
point the enscontent me con
Left Socialist Challenge s:
among campaigning for
to plan ordinated anti-Tory off!" sty between rank-and-fil party members and e des
Jim Callaghan lully aware of the dangers of
vigorously • opposing tne recal decision and has asked the executive to reconsider it. A compromise may be • reachea, prevenung the conference taking votes or
THON 'WE'RE on a winner. This has got to be the turning point
carried out there.
Labour Club meeting, representatives several factories Liverpool docks, teachers and council workers pledged their support for the occupation, now in its sixth week
Dock shop steward Jimmy Nolan offered the help of his members in organising a tour oI all ports la tne country, lo
ampaign for the boycottin
of all Masse products
general strike action on Merseyside on 14 May - with • special IocuS the struggle Knowser unanimously agreed at the
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 5
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LESSONS OF THE 1980 A SELL OUT NOT
STRIKE NEWS
By Brian Grogan THE ending of the 13-week national steel strike on Tuesday of last week for a 16 per cent wage rise tied to job loss productivity increases sell-out - but it was not a defeat.
The large-scale redundancies demanded by the Tories, which before the strike seemed certain to go through without problems, now threathen become a battle ground.
The steel strike raised temperature of the class struggle in Britain and brought workers one of the key basic industries out of hibernation.
The settlement is made up of two paris. Eleven per cent is to be paid on existing rates. On average this will mean a f10 rise. Finance for this, some f180m, has to be found almost entirely from future redundancies.
Another 4.5 per cent on offer is dependent on the negotiation of local productivity deals involving massive changes in working practices speed ups. This will result in 12,000 lost jobs, on top of the 52,000 already announced by BSC management.
The 4.5 per cent rise will be paid for the first four months on account. But after that it will continue to be paid only if satisfactory local deals are completed.
Lamb
Nonetheless, a 16 per cent deal is a far cry from management's original offer of two per cent. hardly became the sacrificial lamb the Tories intended them strong sectors such as the miners will not. have been intimidated government's tactics
The inside the industry has been transformed. There was anger at the settlement. When the findings of the committee of inquiry were accepted, pickets lobbying the ISTC headquarters chased executive members round building.
The near unanimous view of the strikers was return to work. But these were only a minority of the total work force, which had by and large passive during the strike and subject to the pressure of the capitalist media.
local
generally took the view that a united
return to work was the best way to
preserve fighting capacity. In the face
of the executive's decision to settle,
which was endorsed
delegate-based negotiating committee
— the militant areas considered that if
they were sLay
become isolated and be picked off. Prestige
Even so in South Yorkshire, a key
militant strong-hold,
required all their prestige to win a
small majority for a return to work at
a mass meeting.
strike
steelworkers - the longest national
strike in Britain since the Second
Wore War - Wak
unexpected, not least by the Tories.
The government's plan,
while opposition
Ridley MP, was to pick on and defeat
a significant group of workers as an
example to the rest of the class.
What the Tories had learnt from
the Heath administration was that
they could not immediately take on
the militant sectors
encouraging the sort of conflagration
which Heath had touched off with the
miners in 1972 and again in 1974.
Thatcher's policy was therefore to
compromise with the core unions in
the present wage round. Miners won
21 per cent without any struggle and
British Oxygen workers received over
30 percent. Such wage
›annot continue if the fories are Ic
out British capitalism
expansionary basis.
A swingeing defeat for the steel-
workers was considered
necessary preparation to take on the
stronger sectors in the next. wage
round.
: + ISTC seemed to be well chosen.
Socialist Challenge
and
was
Many to
the
from and
Steelworkers LARRY HERMAN
be,
by the
steel
Photo:
the the
oppose
remained
leaders
ISTC's
out they would
local leaders
leadership had redundancies,
by the the lowest Europe.
completely
Spark
hatched by Nicholas
was spark following weeks a picket operation aimed particularly increases
back on an
many cases
cent with
demand. 10 April 1980 Page 6
STRIKERS lobby the ISTC HQ demanding action against private steel scabs Bill Sirs, its general secretary, was reknowned for his 'moderation' there had been no national steel strike since the General Strike in 1926.
Over the past two years the union
agreed to 40,000 and in the last wage round it had accepted eight per cent when everyone else was obtaining. 15 per cent. British stee! workers are by
paid Western
The British Steel Corporation's initial offer of two per cent on top of the massive reaunaancy programmic
ISTC into motion.
Despite the union's leadership, the strike brought a total walk-out from Coll day one, on 2 January. Even workers from plants such as Shotton, Corby,
new and Consett which were facing virtual closure came out solidly in support of the strike, even though they appeared to have nothing to gain from it.
Within days the whole of the Steel Corporation was at a standstill. In the
massive flying • WaN organised, at steel stockholders, docks, and private steel. Such actions were against the policy and in
the explicit instructions It was the local strike leaderships which formulated the strike aim of 20 South Yorkshire strike committees no strings, with the to the fore in putting forward this
The scope of the flying pickets, the range of their targets, and the number pickets involved exceeded the previous highest level of struggle set by the miners in 1972.
The level of rank and file self-organisation in the strike remarkable. This was coupled with a widespread distrust of the union leadership which led popularisation of the demand for Sirs' resignation.
The policy of Bill Sirs was to attempt to find a compromise with management at every turn. With the backing Len proposed the form of the final sell-out formula — eight per cent plus five per
local productivity - just one week into the strike.
It quickly became obvious that a
strike leadership had to be forged.
The delegate-based negotiation committee was somewhat responsive to rank-and-file demands Thus the committee took just minutes to throw out the 2 per cent plus 12 per cent pay-for-jobs deal offered management recommended by Sirs in the fifth week of the strike.
But this body did not act as a day-to-day leadership
With virtually no tradition struggle, it was militants at local level who took the lead in extending the strike. Their actions were not only independent of the bureaucracy but
against the officials.
The attempts to private sector, particularly the mass pickets at places like Hadfields and Sheerness; the was picketing to stockholders
docks; the attempt to steel users such as Metal Box, Fords and British Leyland all came from this the
layer of local leaders.
mittee which by the role of establishing day-to-day leadership of the immediately forming themselves into Sirs divisional
coordinated command The South decided organised pickets. il War developing rank community participation in the strike, organising national demonstrations to keep the mass of
strikers informed and involved. The South
20 were often elected and subject to mass
meetings.
and Region
region did not have the authority to openly seek the
of strike on a
things had to be This laid the basis emergence of the unofficial national strike committee.
THE scene of mass picketing which at first succeeded in closing
sabotage of the top South pull out the dispute with most areas. extension ana lne Ford close major
It was the South Yorks strike com-
and large played
strike almost It committee under
Yorkshire leadership targets and plant In
and financed the flying threat
exemplary in body and file and organising rallies and sell-out.
strike Yorkshire strike committees
But a committee based on a single
leadership of the Many done behind the contacts for the key
Again the initiative came from
• Yorkshire. The first meeting was held in the seventh week of the
representatives from From then on it held regular weekly meetings.
The objectives of the unofficia nationally the strikers' determinatio WELC to make good to stop the movement of all steel; t extend the action to major steel users and to popularise the objective of 21 per cent with no strings.
was the unofficial nationa strike committee which decided to tr and close Ford Dagenham, the large
Britain, which in the fina week of the strike was under seriou
of imminent closure. also took the initiative lobbies or une nanoth leadership meetings to try to prevent
The emergence of such a nationa
committee based on clas struggle militants in the localities ha no precedent • In asputes l years, and it threatened to take th running of the strike out of the hand of the ISTC bureaucracy.
To be sure, it never achieved ti credibility to challenge Sirs. For a the initiatives it was able to take. weakness lay In across the lack industry, of fini th
difficulty of gaining the confidence c
militants, and ineir tradition and experience. But for th
Page 7 scan of this page
e steelworks - Hadfields in Sheffield reason it was necessary for all those wanting strengthen struggle leadership to aid the building of the unofficial national committee and to support the key militants involved.
Unfortunately, the activities of the Socialist Workers Party detracted from this. It first launched the Real Steel News bulletin, openly to the SWP.
In response to the failure of this project, then launched Workers Charter, but this came out of the blue, unconnected to the rank-and-file leadership of the strike.
The formally correct demands of this charter were therefore not fought for as answers to the problems that this layer of militants was attempting to answer and millants looked to the SWP were away from the key task of buildling
unofficial ¿national committee.
The total lack of influence of the Communist Party among the active strikers meant that the struggle leadership did not have the burden of the traditional 'Broad Left' strategy, which attempts subordinate actions to the wishes of left bureaucrats. But the CP did play a role in the strike — essentialv one of sabotage. Hit
For the strike
manufacturing industry had to be hit.
East Heclas
EEL STRIKE
DEFEAT
the class the CP at
strike
products. impassioned only Connolly of the strike committee, tied
Convenor Steel Ford is another
Dagenham, agreement to essentially to strip
continued was on v
directed rank-and-file
Yorkshire strike
indeed did Sirs local class
this.
Said the steelworkers. It
develop between miners arid dockers pulling in of other sectors
succeed, general strike to
government.
W
CLIVE TURNBULL
Photo:
Stewards and union officials led by
meeting of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions held in Sheffield during the sixth week of the strike refused to extend a boycott to all steel
This • was despite an plea by Bernard South Yorkshire backed by Keith Jones, the local ISTC official.
example. Dan Connors, the leading CP convenor at
limit picketing steel which would have meant Ford could have
working indefinitely. the determination of the pickets from South which succeeded changing this. But by that time, the strike was in its twelfth week.
The CP recognised in words - as
- that the strike was a struggle against the Tory government. But it refused to accept the logic of
If a defeat for the steelworkers was a defeat for the whole class, then everything possible had to be done to
was vital to generalise the links which began to
the steelworkers, • as well as the - into a bring down the
It is hypocrisy to say that there wasn't support in the working class for the steelworkers. From the start of the steel strike miners, railworkers and dockers in militant ports offered solidarity to the steel workers and implemented a boycott.
'It was the refusal of the TUC to organise solidarity across the board that limited this. The real situation was seen in the docks. Dockers in the militant ports of Liverpool and Hull responded immediately. But action in other ports was patchy.
When an issue presented itself in the port of Liverpool, 6,000 dockers walked out. The day the steel strike was called off was to nave been tne start of an all-out national dock strike decided upon by a national delegate conference.
Such action could have been organised from the beginning, except
the refusal leadership of the Transport General Workers Union - the main dockers' union.
Lorry
The TGWU leadership was the main problem with another key sector
the lorry drivers. For the instruction not to cross so-called decision of pickthe tocross pickets ot "primary" given. stockholders and major users was left up to the 'conscience' of the drivers.
This was interpreted by most local bureaucrats as an invitation to cross picket lines, thus sabotaging effective picketing. It was only in the minth week that a clearer instruction went out.
The bosses were not so inhibited. They organised a massive operation to share the available stockpiled steel, and aided and abetted by management, kept rolling in through unregistered ports.
The sell-out policies of the union leaderships were all of a piece with their overall strategy. The thrust of the ISTC campaign was to indict the inefficient management of BSC and its lack of an aggressive export drive
It is true that BSC management is bad. Bureaucratic management in both the public and private sectors will breed inefficiency workers' control of production by an informed workforce and within the framework of a workers' plan for the industry as a whole can eliminate waste and inefficiency in large-scale production.
But the waste exhibited by BSC management arises not from incompetence but wrong planning predictions due to the chaos of the capitalist market. demand import controls to deal with this is to continue to join with the bosses in trying to resolve problem at the expense of workers -this time foreign workers.
Root
But the needs of steel workers as revealed in the steel strike was shown to be solidarity with foreign workers.
The new class struggle leadership which is beginning to form out of the experience of the strike must centre its strategy on opposing root and branch
rationalisation and the Tories. This must centre on the safeguarding of jobs, opposition
Rally hiving and nationalisation of all steel, including stockholders.
The Tory cash limits have to be smashed, and a subsidy to save jobs forced on the starting point needs safeguarding of the 40-hour week. This should extended total policy worksharing with no loss of pay.
The shop stewards which have been established in South Yorkshire must be nationally and a national combine committee formed, committed to a class struggle strategy to save jobs.
The fight has to go ISTC. The liaison committee for the reform of the ISTC, which exister before the strike, can now be placed on a higher level, integrating class struggle policies into the fight democratic control of the union. This
FRUSTRATION
national
and first BSC only of resources
from
their
of BSC
the total Demoralised
The
be the guaranteed
be of
committees
extended
on inside
the strike.' for
'The battle is over,
the war is not'
Celia Pugh reports on the feelings of South Wales Steelworkers
Monday, 31 March, a confident meeting of 300 pickets voted to campaign for their branches to carry on the strike on the jobs issue — whatever the results of the Lever inquiry. But that was before the national leadership of the steel unions instructed their members to return to work.
A recall meeting following these instructions on Wednesday of last week produced a different mood. This was summed up by one picket who explained: 'I voted to stay out on strike on jobs, whatever the inquiry came up with. But I now see that we have been undermined by everybody - BSC, Thatcher, the police, the TUC, and now our own leaders.
'We have been in the minority while we've been on strike but at least we've been official. We'd be in an even smaller minority if we stay out on unofficial strike. It would be suicide.'
At the recall meeting picket leaders from the platform tried to counter this mood of demoralisation. Arguing for the strike to continue, Ray Hill, a TASS representative on the Llanwern strike committee, said: 'I'd rather go down fighting than on my hands and knees. Most struggles are started by a minority, and are unofficial to begin with. We have to take a lead, by action. Support will follow when people see that we are committed to fighting for jobs.'
This argument was backed by other pickets. Phil Christensen, a member of the National Union of Blastfurnacemen, pleaded for the meeting to reaffirm the decision to remain on strike. But the feelings of isolation were too great. Reports that South Yorkshire and Port Talbot were returning to work sealed the fate of the 'stay out' resolution. After the vote Phill Christensen explained to Socialist Challenge how he felt:
'We've been out for 13 weeks to save jobs in South Wales Acceptance of the inquiry offer threatens to put a line right through Gwent. Steel jobs, coal jobs, other jobs in the community will follow this sell out. We should be staying out on strike to fight redundancies. Once we go back it will be very difficult to get people out again. I just feel sickened blowhat has happened. We are being forced to crawl back with our heads low. At least if we'd taken on the jobs strike we could have gone back with our heads held high.'
Redundancies
But the steelworkers at Llanwern are far from defeated. While they agreed to return to work, the four hundred strikers at the meeting voted: 'Not to accept redundancies at Port Talbot and Llanwern. ourselves to take industrial action against redundancies, if necessary. We should canvas unions nationally and locally to organise the fight against
Plans are now being laid to set up a campaign committee to put this resolution into practice. Miners, dockers, and transport workers will be
So steelworkers in Wales may have suffered a set-back in the jobs fight but they have not been hammered into the ground. Roger Tovey from the Caldicot Steelworks offered this conclusion in the Llanwern
"The momentous 13-week struggle is now at rest. But if the battle is over the war is not. We pickets did not lose. We won new confidence in our own ability, new energy and tenacity. This new-found defiant unity must neyer again be sacrificed on the alter of divisive leadership; it has cost us too much. Let us go forward with new confidence in our future. Never again leave union business to the bureaucrats. Use your branches and lodges as your platform. We can show again the strength and unity we found on the picket line; but this time for the most important fight of all — the defence of our jobs and those of our children. .
Ray Davies, an ISTC member of the Llanwern strike committee, echoes this feeling in his Steel Sheet contribution:
"The feeling on the picket lines is that we were not so much set back by BSC and the government but demoralised by our own union leaders and full-time officials. The people we pay to lead our union have been among our biggest enemies. This is the lesson of the strike. We have to make changes in our own union. Our officials should be subject to election and re-election. This is something we were campaigning for in the Labour Party, and it should be extended to our unions.
'Steelworkers from picket lines throughout the country feel the same as we do. In Yorkshire, Warrington, Scotland, and Corby they are as fed up as we are with our union leaders and structures During the strike we made links with members of other strike committees unofficial national strike co-ordinating committee. We should now make every effort to keep up these links so that we can get things changed after
Thatcher and the trade union leaders are warned. They have not heard the last from South Wales steelworkers.
Wales last week. On through the
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 : Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
HOMENEWS
to go'
road singing,
action to
Assembly, Saturday morning SLOWLY the first appeared from Sandfields' housing estate at the other end of the town. punks from Swansea; rude boys and skinheads from headbangers and punks from the valleys all assembled Aberfan shopping centre.
Veteran hunger from the '30s, Will Paynter saw us off to chants of: '2 4 6 8 we don't want a Tory state' and *Maggie, Maggie, out, out!' There were jangling cans as we collected money from every passer-by. Everyone talked to supported the march.
A typical comment from a steelworker was:
*If we had 300 of those kids from Bristol down on the picket line we'd have won our strike in no time. Good luck, boys, and don't take No for an answer.'
Lunch at Bryn and our first march meeting VOLUNTEERS from each town were elected to the march council Challenge) and men Maesteg where the local miners' off lodge were putting us up for the night.
After a quick rest marchers fanned out through the town to collect money and advertise our gig at Maesteg town hall that evening.
Knots of local youth, many (SO of them VOUS UCS around. They were suspicious at first because of the array of hair colours and fashions but soon got involved discussions.
*Is this a punk only march then? We're not punks round here you know?'
*No, we're fighting for jobs. My brother's been out of work for six months now."
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 8
100 youth set out on
South Wales march
'I'm marching
to say the
Tories have
OVER 100 young people set out on the South Wales Youth March Against Unemployment this Easter Saturday. They marched from Port Talbot, through the Ogmore and Rhondda valleys, lobby the Wales TUC in Cardiff. Five days on the
chanting, collecting explaining why we're fighting for united union
defend jobs. describes the events of the first few days.
Maesteg
marchers Talbot's the clash Then
Cardiff; the next day.
at the young miners
marcher socialists
into action.
Maggie, out,
dictably enough it was
started it.
for an excuse to harass us. the road to stood
heated
to
money,
REDMOND O'NEILL
Saturday evening gig at
SLOWLY we get to know each other. The gig's a big hit, despite she
OTTASHTOTS Bone beating. trainee miners and unemployed youth said they'd march with us
Back at the hall a group of
Were standing around firing questions at us about the march. They were all
sceptical whether we can push the unions
They had a whip round and gave us some money.
As the gig wound up we had our first trouble of the day. Pre- previous
not the local youth but the police who defence
They'd been hanging sed. around the gig all night looking
As a bunch of marchers, Lunch at Bryn and our first march meeting
merry after the gig, made their way back around midnight one was picked up for swearing at her mate. When he heard her being kicked about in the police van he tried to do something about it and they grabbed him too. The police were keen to provoke the marchers into a punch-up but atter a tew tense moments we moved off back to the hall.
Later at the police station we found they'd thrown the book at Tina and Jeffrey — four charges including assault on the police. In Tina's case connecting her belly with a policeman's boot'. When we arrived to bail her out
was vomiting after the
Our slogan is 'No return to
and it's clear that the South Wales police intend play the role of trying to break up marches like ours in the same way they did with the hunger marches in the '30s.
Where Tina and Jeffrey come from in Swansea there's nothing for youth to do except a youth club on one night a week and no jobs. So they've got a string of
convictions. They might go down if an effective
isn't organiCanDalsu
That night we got to sleep around 3am. No one had yet cottoned on to just how many
hills we'd be climbing on Sunday.
Sunday around 8am AFTER breakfast, and a failed argument attempting to persuade some Cardiff skins to stay with the march, road to Betws for lunch. to And then on the Llangeiner where the local mining community had given us their brand new hall for the night.
On Sunday we confident about slogans and asking for tions. For most people it was their first march and it takes time to get your courage up
It is a hard march. A lot of people hadn't twigged that the Welsh valleys precisely because they've got hills all around them.
Rhondda marching with black youth from
before the
were human
together. we were off on the
welcome.
Sunday
were more Llangeiner the chanting,
dona- AT
mods or punks.
are valleys
youth
WCIC
The hesitation,
march down earlier.
Rhondda.
the docks in Cardiff, while
march their only contact had been the odd punch up after a rugby match. At first
youth
they seemed amazed to find they
beings, but the barriers began to break down and a real march spirit began to AGAIN emerge as they panted up the hills
We marched around the estate in Betws knocking on all the doors and getting a warm
afternoon in
Llangeiner we played football with the local youth who were hanging around the hall hoping to get a glimpse of a few
Then there was a Revolution meeting with 50 or 60 marchers and the anti-racist film 'Divide and Rule Never'. Will Paynter (centre), the
That evening we listened to rally to launch the march Will Paynter speaking about the '30s, received a big clap when
explained that 'unemployment and crises won't disappear
we do away with the system that creates them'
The local pub was packed out with marchers and miners for the 'quiz'. The quizmaster had to keep correcting himself, 'Boys
girls'. then, 'and ere were i wonch u our ball of the pub except those with the
After the quiz the marchers were asked to sing a tew songs. sc we sang about the right to work and another song about Ireland and the IRA. Everyone joined in.
That night the talking died SOUTH AGAINS
. On Monday we'll be going up the Ogmore valley and over the mountain into the
Everyone who was still there was determined to stay with the march all the way to Cardiff. The feeling was that we were all in 11 together and we were going all There'l'be no more dropping or. despite blisters. between here and Cardiff.
Page 9 scan of this page
youth march
AGAINST
UNEMP
19135
30 OYMENT ran hunger marcher, spoke at the LTES
south wales
NC oturn 30
ENA
S GENERAL®
STRIKE
ICK OUT
Challen ES GENERAL: TO KICK OUT STRIKE
ORIES THE
TOP Br
GENERAL
STRIKE
TO KICK OUT
TORIES
Neil Rogers is 15 and a school student from South Wales
• coming on ae mares oecause mere s so muca unemployment in South Wales. It's really difficult to get a job when you leave school. I don't believe in what this government is doing. Were no getting any better off and things will get worse
wen leave schoor l want an apprenacesnip but I haven't got much chance. I'll probably end up on the dole. I want to get rid of the Tories for 2O00
WE WAIT
JOBS
NOW
Michael Davies, Treorchy is 18 I'VE been out of work for about a year now. I did do a labouring job for about 6 months with a local builder, but I had to have an operation so I lost the job. Lots of my Treorchy. They've closed pits round our way and there's no other work
We've got a sort of regional aid grant, and they built some factories but most of them are empty
term - things like biscuit manufacturing, not like the pits. I think the way to end unemployment is to cut hours and share out the work. And I think older people should retire earlier so the youth can get jobs.
Martin Morgan is a school student from Pentre in the Rhondda Valley I CAME on the march out of interest really. I can't stop unemployment myself but I'll do anything I can to help - like going on demonstrations asking the unions to take action. If I can't get a job, in say 6 months after I leave school, then I'll probably have to join the forces Tracy Jones is 15 and a school student from Port Talbot.
I'M marching because I don't agree with what the Tories are doing. I want to go to Art College when I leave school but I don't think there's much chance of that.
Dawn is a school student in Port Talbot. She's 16.
I'M marching because I'm leaving school and I won't be able to get a job. demonstrate and build a united front against the Tory cuts in education and in everything else. My father's a miner and he thinks we should have a
everybody should have been on strike in solidarity with the steel workers. But now the IST executive has sold them out. They betrayed the workers.
WHY WE'RE
MARCHING
WHAT DO
WANN school student
around. it for four months.
unemployed from
trouble with the
friends are unemployed in families.
beat us up ones nave to go
school to bust up their club.
We've got to
against the Tories. He says
They were sold out.
Anthony. Blenmen, Bute Town, Cardiff, 15
I CAME on the march because there's no jobs
Those that work round our way are mostly on the docks. My old man is a merchant seaman but I don't want to do that because I'd have to get my afro cut.
If you are in the merchant navy you have to sign on a pool when you haven't got a ship. You can claim cole. oecause h you do uncy lake you off the pool. At the moment there are 300 people on it in Cardiff. My old man was on Texaco oil tankers, but when he came home they sold his ship so he had to leave. Nov he's been on the poo without work for two months. Last year he was on
We thought it was great them throwing the police out of St Paul's in Bristol. Some people from Bute Town went down there. We got a lot of
Everyone I know has been in nick. The majority of
Nobody down there is ecause there are so many mixed some places in Cardiff we can't go, because people are racist and they try to
But Bute Town is great — it's not dead like th valleys. There's always something music, people dancing and that. many fights because the women run And the women in Bute Town are very big, and they are very strict. But if anybody starts trouble we can look after ourselves.
Alison is 15 from Cardiff I'M marching because it's a good way of showing that there is opposition to the Tories' policies. The Tories' cuts are making things worse for unemployed people. So I'm marching to say the
Paul Ford from Bute Town is 15 and still at
I'VE come on the march to help kick Maggie out. I nate tne tories and nate Maggie. everyone roune our way votes Labour and wants the Tories out.
I thought Bristol was great. Standing up for themselves against the police. I hate the police. We just get picked on by them, especially if we go
break into this or that lady's house and they shove us back over the bridge to the docks, so l can understand why they took them on after they tried
Joe is at school in Treorchy I'M coming on the march because when I leave school all 1 face is the dole. I've got no job prospects in Treorchy. I think it would have helped if the steelworkers had had more support. They should have got their 20 per cent with no strings
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
CP strategy: keep politics out of students unions
Founding conference of Revolution on 17/18 May Uniting revolutionary youth
HOMENEWS
By Mick Archer
'STUDENTS unions have got to have the courage to decide what functions of NUS are and conversely what they are not. At the moment NUS does too many things, organises conferences, has its fingers in too many pies.'
This statement lies at the centre of the manifesto produced by Dave Aaronovitch for the Presidential elections at the conference of the National Union of Students, in Blackpool on 14-18 April. Aaronovitch, a CP member, is the candidate of the Left includes the National Organisations of Labour Students, the Union of Liberal Students, the Communist Party and some independents.
With the Tory government on the offensive greater efficiency 2110| campaigning activity would not be a bad thing. move towards greater struggles Or me working class, against I naicher s atta place in the student movement in the late thas would reaffirm the important changes that and early '70s
In this period the NUS first began to openly solidarise with the struggles against Wilson and Heath and with the mounting struggles or une vietamese masses ana otners for national liberation. decisive role in the struggle to make NUS a more ponucal union
But this is no longer the efficiency today means something quite different.
"DIes DAVe supporters want the NUS to get out of include all the
general activity womens' international solidarity. NUS, they argue, oppression, racism,
concentrate on its '..unique functions. of national representation and student services.
This is all part and parcel of the Left Alliance's overall strategy. For them the democratisation' of THE NUMBER of young people on the No Nukes demonstration in London on the anniversary of the Three Mile Island disaster is convincing proof that the youth radicalisation is here to stay.
The recent events in Bristol, the South Wales Youth Unemployment, the amount of direct action in schoois. the 22-day Black Freedom planned for this summer, all demonstrate the extent to which the youth are moving into action around central issues in the class struggle.
Revolutionaries have
112I youth are dynamic section of society. This is still true today.
The reformists do not hold a great deal of attraction for those youth seeking a radical alternative. The young volver m me asan. you movenculs. the No Nukes demos, or fighting for their
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 10
the primary
too many Alliance which
entecuiveness NUNS
involvement in the central
of the working class
The Communist Party played a
CP's priority -necessilalc.
Aaronovich and his
abortion and has to In stonent anders.
Although the nearalculauve. LaCC
revoutonary TeLl incomprehensible March against
increasing need for strict party control march youth. independent
such an TE me conterence always the AROST But this will
people organisation,
FIGHT
play a major role in issues of national politics further and higher education is a precondition for revolutionary change. changes in the central concerns of the union, in its structures and in its relationship with college administrations, educational agencies and the state in general.
Far from extending the involvement of students, however, the change i lial lave occu naac to dale have disarmed the NUS and given the right wing a new lease of life. It has been the Federation of Conservative Students and iournals like the Economist that have welcomed the new style basic rights at school are not joining the Labour Party, or its youth organisation, youth.
youth are naturally attracted to the revolutionary left as an
-012 preventing us from realising this potential.
The first obstacle is the disunity of the
seems the youth. The second lies in the heritage of essentially
over the among
The IMG is committed to building an
revolutionary organisation. The launch of Revolution as
independent organisation, in May, will see this commitment realised in practice.
not resolve the broader prodiem or ourang a strong revoludon
any ta whate to it or unis
fight for a united
independently run by the existing youth, and committed to the fight to build the revolutionarv party. would ensure the rights
terrible.
Party
youth.
tendency
Jast united
SM
CURRENT NUS President, Trevor Phillips, with megaphone, playing a leading role during an anti-fascist demonstration in 1976. He also played a leading role in drawing up the new policy guidelines that, if approved by NUS conference this month, will ensure that students no longer
NUS. The employing
view.
the working class,
government, the
working class struggles. place of the revolutionary left among the
Urgency
The urgency of building such organisation is brought home by the fact al cueres not on a radical movemen! to the left among the youth, but there has also been a strengthening of the far right
young people. fascist British Movement has been able to win a significant following among white working class youll, who Have gol away with terrorising bands and smashing up left-wing gigs.
united youth organisation would be in a position • to torce united action — with the Labour Party and trade unions — to crush this kind of i attack. In Ine meantime it is or course sull necessary to fight for such united action.
The youth are not well organised by the
workers' organisations, mass unemployment coupled with lack of
make their ever This makes the need to build a clear united revolutionary pole among the youth even more pressing.
The youth wings of neither the Labour
Ene Communist Party capable of providing a real alternative for
The
which Socialists present: a canne that organisation into anything the campaigning organisation that i has been for certain brief periods in the Cultural:
The Young Communist League has tuned in to some of the elements of youth culture, but this cannot disguise a political ine mat is closer to mar or me yours Liberals than any other grouping. YCL's latest campaign among the youth is to 'democratise the nolice'.
There is a real vacuum on the left
youth in Britain revolutionary youth organisation
It could shatter the fascist influence on some sections of youth. It could seriously
concept of a mass pressure •Ine traditional tactics of politics, is a welcome advance from their point of
What Dave Aaronovitch ignores is that the Tories are committed to a massive attack on all the gains of
including those within the sphere i drain cader this eraser poin Under this Tory government especiall
within the student movement to
to practical solidarity with challenge the LPYS and YCL politics.
CHOl Revolution has been campaigning to unite revolutionary youth an À conference will be held on 17 to 19 May launch independent, with
PEOPLES Wille
more Organised by Southall AL as part of a national evenin.
SC EVENTS
Militant
Oval tube, Here Hul Brash Rail and Tetion too AMBETH: SC n
Scene Bookstall, upstairs in Spencer Marret Stockto Viancheste
A Zimbabwe
OLDHAM SU Bank, High Street. For more information about loca
gathering. The
course closures, unemployment, particulars)
are on the agenda.
ideological offensive
initiatives like the
support in the colleges. these
Students,
their own interests.
A lance s NUS National overwhelmingly voted against it.
PrON
control right-wing
A suurgic was warco trounou group reformist Ine LeIL Audice Is ol
La full retreat is to be prevented
class or the working class in nana It would aid the fight for a united
newsoave
In a democratic, our aim.
Revolution an democratic revolutionary
WHAT'S LEFT
disaffiliation of a ti Arms
ales: at Newsfare shops in Clevela:
workers
DUNDER: SC sold every Saturday outside Yorkshi outside boots
The Left Alliance can see the storm clouds
government attacks. on overseas students. the decline in the real value or the grant
redundancies, • youth further restrictions on access to women working class youth, cuts, attacks on student union autonomy and the local campaigns for disaffiliation are a clear indicanon or tne major snowdowns tna
The Left Alliance believes that it can avoid that polarisation by changing the role of NUS
around extension
Such an orientation means turning away from
Anti Nazi League and the Campaign Against Corrie, which won tremendous
One mur benever 1. campaigns and those in solidarity with the steelworkers and other sections of the working class tnat are tne most signincant developments in studen
many others, need
organised working class against the overall offensive of the Tory government that they can hope to defend
In Blackpool this week the first task in fighting for such an orientation will be to defeat the Left
canee Drones reviev Women Conference Already Int has
1922 to the early '60s NUS, under the careerists, concentrated exclusively on social, recreational and welfare issues.
June OUS to Onl issues like the Vietnam war into NUS, and a change in the constitution was finally achieved in 1969
take the NUS • route LO back to the pre-1969 situation as rapidly as possible. Socialists throughout NUS need to unite around a
In the context of world economic crisis and this government's offensive the student movement will be increasingly forced to line up either with the ruling
programme. We have not yet managed to
view that there should be a single united organisation, but the struggle for this will go on after the conterence until we achieve
That's why we urge all youth to come to the Revolution conference, to help fight for that unity. The bigger the Revolution conference then the more the rest of theleft wu Have to useu lo our doocab 1or unity
DEFEND Tameside Trad
Sauce Te. 36 4 to more may no Merey
BRENT SC supporters seli Collective Pontestall in eve Trades Hall, Willed en × 20 co Bristol 6
45:30pm, Saturday I Th Thursday 45.30pm,
Page 11 scan of this page
INTERNATIONAL
bases in Britain, political debate.
SINCE the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Wal has considered 'unthinkable'. suddenly the nuclear armoury is being rattled anew; Western powers Britain and the United States are stepping up expenditure; and nuclear war is discussed by 'sane' people.
An al-out war between maior capitalist powers has indeed become unthinkable, unlike when the epoch of world imperialism announced itself in 1914 to 1918. The war preparanons or impellalsil dic now directed towards two objectives — against the outbreak of revolution, particularly in the colonial and semi-colonial world, and azallist USSR.
Over the past 20 years the major capitanst countries nave lad to copt with developments throwing them into chaos.
America's intention policeman to the world foundered in South-east Asia at the hands of the
and peasants of Vietnam. Worker This defeat, and the response of the American working class, almost impossible for the intervene against movements abroad. Inis was not the case with the Lebanon in 1958, or Santo Domingo in 1965.
Upsurges
upsurges Nicaragua found the US unable to make a military intervention. more revolutions threaten in the neo. colonial world.
These developments in politics have combined and interacted with the onset of huge recession. apparent without end is already leading to signs of frenzy and panic in the ruling class. For world imperalism there is only
solution - a defeat workers' movement on a world scale leading to a boost to profits.
Events like the Nicaragua and Iran are a direct threat to American interests, and explain the developing war hysteria inside the US itself, the attempts to counter-revolutionary policing role of the US forces, and the moves to set up highly mobile counter-revolutionary forces in the US
army what can De shuttled to 'trouble-spots' anywhere in the world.
But they do not explain why the US needs to build up arsenal. The target of armaments programme in the US is beyond dispute — Il Is me UssK.
The leadership of the USSR is an extremely conservative seeking peace ul coexistence, and anxious nosulues wiln Ine Uo. bur tne soviet bureaucracy cannot isolate itself from world imperialism today, than could under Stalin. different social system in the USSR inevitably leads it into conflict with American imperialism.
Soviet backing regime, on the US's doorstep, helps ensure the political instability of the whole of Central America. strength of Cuba - also strengthen and deepen the colonial
The imperialists step up preparations
DURING the late '50s and early '60s Britain's nuclear bomb, and the presence of American were major questions
Now the same questions - of Britain's
been But
all the
especially
defence
bloodily
Angola and Nicaragua.
The Soviet
the
than defence bureaucracy.
recession, the
of playing
nicole possibility of war. US to revolutionary Clashed
imperialism Inexorably,
Iran and and the
over the lasting years.
And tension the ideologues of world way out of the crisis
SECONDE
for the thinking.
limited nuclear
perfect the
stakes have developments:
its nuclear
the nuclear
meters of its target. below most
grouping, international
to avoid
anymore The be sited in Western Europe.)
bomb, which Carter
for the Cuban without substantial
environment. primarily The capturing
helps to
of the attackers.
THE THREAT OF
NUCLEAR WAR
once more the subject of debate.
range
*The revolution in certain instances — as in
Union itself has directly backed forces opposing the US in Africa and in the Middle-East
— less in pursuit of world revolution
of the Soviet
Also, in a period of crisis and when
idea reclaiming certain markets for world capitalism - in Eastern Europe, the far East and so on - becomes an increasingly attractive way out of the economic crisis. But this immediately poses the
The interests of the Soviet Union have recently clashed with those of Time
tension between the US USSR has been mounting
In the build up of international
military and political the bourgeoisie are much more willing to discuss war as a
A clear sign of this dynamic is seen in the response to The Third World War: a future history by Sir John Hackett. This book was designed to have a major effect on Tory "defence'
Its basic thesis is that war with the USSR need only involve a the
exchange, and that war with the USSR, far from being unthinkable is eminently winnable.
The increased war drive is shown in the rapid rearming of the Western
The international armament been raised by four
* The Cruise missile. The Boeing AGM86B missile represents a major breakthrough in weapons technology, and a major threat to the USSR. With a range of 5,000 kilometers, it has a self-correcting guidance system which can deliver a nuclear warhead withir
Because it flies conventional radar, hugging the terrain, it is extremely difficult to develop a counter-missile system against it. (Tests show it has a forty per cent failure rate - but the terrain it 'accidentally' ploughs into is unlikely to be in the US as they will all
* The neutron bomb. This 'dirty'
announced in July 1977, is designed to kill people
damage to in olner words, it is for use towns and then repopulating them under the control
nuclear role and the preparations for civil defence in the event of nuclear attack - are
PHIL HEARSE looks at the reasons why.
* The increasing development of 'super-weapons, including
laser weapons and nuclear missiles delivered from space.
MX missile system. missile "shuttle' system, thoions of dollars, would moke SALT thousands of miles roads Il far less attractive to the USSR — if the US hadn't pulled out already. It involves up to 5,000 silos but only a
warheads which. are around from silo to silo - so that the USSR never knows where they are The MX is less of a threat to the USSR with the abandonment of SALT II -there is nothing to stop the Soviet Union having a missile trained on each silo.
The rapid development of new
technology does necessarily mean it will be used.
1S combined with speculation that the US could now win a war wth the USSR, and with clear preparations for a new cold war, then we have to admit that we are 19ser to war than at any time since And in Britain...
In Britain there have been two ominous developments. First, revelation in the London magazine
Out of the extent preparations made by the government for controlling the country in event of nuclear war. These include a complex set of communications and regional government centres have been constructed over the past fifteen years. The government is now preparing for a considerable extension of civil defence preparations.
More ominous for the working class in Britain is the deployment of the Cruise missile. The cruise missile, only 21 foot long, has a limited range. Unlike conventional missiles it cannot be launched against the USSR from
United States. Therefore, Western Europe, and particular, have become the USA's 'aircraft-carrier'. Devastating
The cruise missiles are deployed in Lakenheath, Upper Hessford and Sculthorpe. This makes Britain even more of a target for the USSR's nuclear arsenal.
The effects on Britain of a nuclear war would be completely devastating. Apart from the numerous warheads pointed at London, Ine UsoK Ild undoubtedly reserved at least megatons for the US airforce's British nerve-centre at South Ruislip Middlesex.
Bomb
single 100-megaton exploded over London would cause a firestorm stretching from Brighton in the South to Reading in the West. The undoubtedly, be wiped out. Despit the Tories' inanity that "15 million' could survive a nuclear attack, reality thạt for most population there is no defence from nuclear attack except to stop it happening in the first place.
long-
This involving
moved
But
open
of
the
which
being Suffolk,
100
bomb has to happen again.
the the interests of imperialism. of the
survive.
The campaign we need
IN THE new CND pamphlet, Protest and Survive, attacking the government's decision to allow Cruise missiles in Britain, Edward Thompson calls for the launching of a new campaign. Socialists should vigourously support this call.
Our campaign must be centred on the demand that the Labour Party and the trades unions come out against nuclear weapons and American bases in Britain, pledging themselves to withdrawal fr '60s the Labour left rallied around the demand toe..
Today, with the world closer to nuclear war than at any time since 1962, we need to launch a new crusade against NATO and nuclear weapons in Britain. The decision to place hundreds of cruise missiles in Britain was taken by the NATO high command, without even a formal reference to Parliament.
The working class is not defended by nuclear missiles or NATO; on the contrary, it just places the British working class in the front line in defence of
The real defence that the working class needs is precisely against imperialism, and — as Edward Thompson says - that means 'protest and
NATO. In the late '50s and lear disarmament - this Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
La Mon frame-up comes unstuck
IRELAND
Irish
Campaign in
Labour Party
launched
By Mick Sullivan, committee member, Labour Committee on Ireland A CAMPAIGN to 'break the silence on the question of Ireland inside the Labour Party' and to 'commit the party to a policy of withdrawal from Ireland' was formally launched at a press conference in the Commons on Wednesday of last week.
This follows a conference the previous Saturday which established the Labour Committee on Ireland and which attracted over a hundred members of the Labour Party from 44 CLPs.
Opening Stallard MP explained what he thought was needed:
'We must build mass support inside the Labour Party and trade union movement demanding and insisting that we demolish the bi-partisan approach bedevilled the Labour Party for so long
"Most of us here oppose partition. Our task is to move the party towards that policy.'
Withdrawal
press conference Rosemary Sales, the LCl's press officer and member 5. Hackney explained that the mediate aim of the campaign was to get a resolution calling
British from adopted the Labour comerence
The model resolution being circulated to Labour Parties throughout the country reads:
'Conference recognises that the clear popular wish of the Irish
Ireland, progress towards a united Ireland,
"hurtermore. we recognise British involvement in Ireland constitutes
major obstacle to the TOwareS that Conference therefore:
"1) Rejects the current policies Parliamentarv Policy leadership;
2) Repudiates the successive British governments which have effectively guaranteed the right of veto to the Unionist minority in Ireland,
situation remains unresolved;
"3) Feels that effective communication wencel organisations is essential and urges that measures be taken to
WHOSES alla LaDOul members are provided with accurate information about the views of their Irish
La sanes une leadership to adopt a policy favouring political and military termon
'5) Calls the next government to immediately process of this full political and military withdrawal.'
Troops
The main discussion at conference revolved around whether canne or me uncare troops should be part of the model resolution.
Certainly, most of the Labour Party
personally support such a call, majority view was that at this stage of the
tant to win as much backing general principal of British withdrawal and inish self-determination.
"Troops out now', it was felt, might hinder this. The view was also expressed that the Labour Party and that the main directed at the next Labour government.
On the other hand, the conference did feel that the original proposed resolution, which did not contain the demand that the
Labour
was too vague.
The fifth point of resolution, moved as an amendment by Socialist Challenge consequently won overwhelming support.
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980
House of
Jock
which has
CLP,
Ireland Party
the evidence
development
country.
bi-partisan By Geoff Bell
_ Laboul RARE policies of
an Irish Republican failed. The case
disastrous
the 12 victims
ensure that British Brophy was
Tally
out the job. withdrawal from
Labour the statements.
begin the
indeed 'inadmissable'
Will Underhill
the LCI publish? the windrawal ol
agent OI recently 'exposed' but the documents tendency 1L0O1for the
Prevention of Terrorism Act.
His job will
demand should be the PTA.
of democracy. he said last allowed to
immediately
difficult to understand.'
model миша operaica In secrol .
supporters,
people held under the PTA:
Page 12
RUC TORTURERS
event happened in Belfast last week. A frame-up of
was that of Edward Brophy, charged with the murder of
of La restaurant bombing in February 1978.
The only evidence offered against
signed which he was alleged to have admitted hijacking a vehicle, keeping bombs in a shed, and handing the vehicle and bombs over to the team who carried
But Brophy told the court how he had been threatened and tortured into making
At the end of the 46-day trial Justice Kers muca unal brooy s colcosiu wa. LORD Underhill, the former national
who Militant grouping when he published various
about the way the operates in the Labour Party, has been given a new job.
Tory Home Secretary Willie Whitelaw has anpointed. Underhil adviser on the
be to hear appeals by individuas who face deportation under
Underhill is of course a great upholder
Referring to the Militant, month: How tney can be within the democratic
structure of the Labour Party I find very
The good Lord is also a firm advocate of open government. He complained that Clares
No doubt in his new job Underhill will publish all details of any charges against
GUILTY
Said Kelly: I cannot say I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the verbal one winer areners chanener wert not induced by torture or inhuman or degrading treatment. Detail
During the course of the trial Brophy
described in detail his interral ion*
hands Constabulary. he was
*Punched in the testicles;
*Hit on the back of the neck and face;
*Punched in the stomach;
*Forced to do press-ups and stand against a wall;
*Had urine thrown in his face.
The "last straw', Brophy court, was when the police told him hi wife was being 'questioned' and he heard a woman screaming in a nearby room.
non-jury, one judge courts of the North, judges usually ignore the type
He may even be bold enough to le those whose appeals he hears know
alast lick PTA makes no provision for.
Or then or theight to know and of champion democracy,
of information, may none of these things.
of charges Brophy made, even when — as
corroborate the torture But Brophy produced evidence which Kelly found disregard. He pointed detectives who were in the courtroom and identified them as playing a part in the ocalllss Ulster The derecaves
they had indeed been in the police statio at tne exact time bropny said lncy nau "interrogated' him.
The judge concluded: It is one thing for a suspect in treatment and details of it but it is a very told the different
embark on choosing as the perpetrators, on stated days and times muniver • telectives record, and whose whereabouts at the time of the ill-treatment are unlikely to TUC
were invited.
Tameside Trades Council.
the
Vietnam and South Africa.
also be discussed.'
- there is medical evidence to courtroom during impossible to a number of been so lucky. denied Free but later evidence proved that
was
custody to invent ill examined by Prosecutions. ventur will face charges Devolte not one but a their treatment who are
be court.
More support for Tameside
TAMESIDE Trades Council has received more backing in its fight against the
Iwo weeks ago Tameside was struck off the list of trades councils recognised by Congress House because it wanted to hold a conference on Ireland at which speakers who did not support the TUC's policy on the issue
A number of other trades councils have already protested to the TUC and its role as a censor on Ireland. Last week trades councils in Tower Hamlets and Lambeth, both in London, joined the angry critics of the TUC.
The Lambeth resolution was passed with no delegates voting against.
It said: 'Lambeth Trades Council being extremely concerned at the news of the TUC's disaffiliation of Tameside Trades Council, calls on the TUC to reverse this decision and to lift all threats and conditions from the work of
'Lambeth views with concern this attempt to stop British trade unionists discussing what is going on in the North of Ireland and calls on the TUC to actively encourage discussion of the British government's policies in that country in the same way as they have done in relation to countries such as Chile,
"This could be achieved by the organisation of a series of regional conferences aimed at discussing the official TUC policy of support for the Better Life for All Campaign, at which other resolutions and opinions coula
known to the suspect.'
So Bronhv was acquitted because his torturers were stupid enough to sit in the
the trial Hundreds of wio nave been convicted on the sole basis of confessions that were tortured out of them have noi
Brophy did not get off scot-free. He
jailed for five years for being a member of the Provisional IRA
their case is being
AS IOr IS LOTEUCT.
But it is extremely unlikely
of
Cher areas made of aniontes not oner
prisoners, once once mrs ever seen brougal t
Page 13 scan of this page
MOROCCO'S VIETNAM
INTERNATIONAL
By leorge Levantis
'aroline Tisdal A FEW months ago observers were referring to Polisario struggle Western Sahara as 'the war the world forgot. Now become 'Morocco's Vietnam'.
On the fighting front, the Polisario guerillas have carried the war deep into 10 ARe IP IT GOOSION FINOS off King Hassan's troops from access to the eastern part of the COLORS
At the beginning of March an 11 day operation along 72-mile 2.000 Moroccan troops according to Polisario figures.
The rout of a 7,000 strong armoured column is a further demoralising blow to an army already snaken by neavy losses since the guerillas stepped pressure in December
As Moroccan prisoners testify, fighting parallel to Vietnam is that they cannot locate the guerillas: vou fight an enemy vou cannot see?'
At the same time United States' aid to King Hassan has been creased. CasI OCtober. prove and forthe tried ed further arms a tie wedoons woult oe usee m te Western Sahara conflict
The new assignment includes OV-10 Bronco surveillance planes and Cobra helicopters as used in Vietnam, as well as the installation of a $200m electronic personnel detector system to be built by Nortop rage commumicanons.
Silencing
orth king Hears mater lat
been Hassan's card, silencing onnosition within Morocco and indeed within the army which led to attempts on his life in 1970 and 1971.
Now all opposition is discredited as treason and Moroccans are called upon
sacrifice themselves restoration of the "Greater Kingdom of Morocco' as it existed in 16th century pre-colonial days.
After recent defeats sorties Moroccan une sug again crica wolf, calling on his people to forget inflation and the crippled economy me war costs tim a day.
They should, he said, "serve their flag and honour their by me uscives body ana sour to ucicia lit territorial integrity of their country.
For the struggle to defend their
Morocco's Nort Alica position al ine western entrance to tne both as a port of call for the iteration Mediterranean and as a potential reruching pount I a future Middle East conflict.
As long as King Hassan remains on the Western interests Morocco, including reserves, are secure
pro-Western Arab leader,
As a
Captured T.54 tank supplied to Morocco by Egypt, and taken by Polisario near Labouriat, South Morocco
and
the to liberate
has
-occupied
put vul l all.
• up
Lne
'How can
massively
congress
nationalist
for the
Hassan has been occasions, Sadat.
prepars on or came Unit.
was why the Moroccar Western Sahara
sacrificing
withdrew in
Western Sahara. stronghold in
strategic • Recent Morrocan caused grave consideration, they
Israel.
Iroos now
some Hassan's position looks shaky.
While the Polisario: were
'Sahrawi women support the Polisario'
useful many notably as a go-between for Besin North Africa:
United States They
when the Spanish North Africa'. 1975, a move that directly contradicted UN recommendations for independence for the Sahrawi people of
rollsario have concern in Washington, after increased encouragca A men an a conc ba bombs in 1976.
France 70,000 More an facing a guerilla force that 80 per Western dallald.
inflicting more damages in sournent morocco.
Photo: GEORGE LEVANTIS Conrad Coon, Carter's director general of African affairs, called the first-ever
met in Madrid to discuss 'the penelranon or communist forces into
It's hard to believe that US foreign poncy analysis could be so simplistic
The Polisario are backed by Algeria. The Sahrawi refugees, organised by the
are sol camps
Sorocco Angriad which they iry fied
Morocco invaded
Polisario Front receives arms trol Lioya. loo, whough lucy now ciall!
cent or their weapons art captured from the Moroccans. Neither Algeria nor Libya can in any way be cance communis states.
Indeed both of them foster trade
Photo: GEORGE LEVANTIS relations with the United States carefully as does Morocco Soviet Union
So what at most could become an CALCISU radical • inrougn irom Algeria to
of Western Sahara phosphate deposits of Bou Craa being used as yet another "red scare'
Moroccan prisoners testify to this When they are dispatched to the desert war tney are told that taell will be Russian or Cuban. take long on the front to realise that this is nonsense.
Only a Sahrawi Polisario can fight on this terrain, and success in desert guerilla
or it. Discussions witn rolsano gulers and contradiction.
AS Tairy devour Mosens. mey stor far short of Marxism. though socialist by nirst ano Toremost manoranst and all' colonial. It has become anti-imperialist now that the United States has revealed its hand in Morocco
Backing
As the secretary general Polisario Front, Mohammed Abdelaziz, points out: 'We do not
ask for it.
contrast... Morocco, initially admitting it, internationalised aid At from Spain, then France and the
But as Andrew Young pointed out or a visit to the Polisario in February, it is also the diplomatic success of the Front in the Third World in general and Africa in particular which worries the United States.
Can they again afford to patently on the 'wrong' side? Young thought not, and condemned military aid as a threat to the stability o the region and damaging to US relations with black Africa.
While Hassan's Morocco now stands dangerously isolated in both African and Arab affairs through the King's refusal to attend conference for the past year Polisario have achieved major political victories
At the next Organisation of African Unity meeting in Freetown this summer they should gain the necessary majority
Dallidw Republic declared four years ago, and this will reinforce UN action
Already in the UN the vote is in thei favour. This past year has brought 16 official recognitions
bringing the total to 36 with Iran the latest signatory
The Polisario confidently expect that events of the coming. yeat calation into a oar wingeria Hassan negorale
Increased American
stronger negotiating position. It looks as if they have backed a loser.
STATE
parliament
Democratic of all political prisoners.
ETA(Military) which ended
terrorist' against ETA.
parlamical.
cast.
With the number
right of self-determination. . Alal belt
and the Victory
the party of Euskadi, aversaric It does not
UCD-imposed autonomy.
the
nationalist party.
Their struggle declaration, is stil
of various ETA(Military),
Yet if Herri
of the
without
Trapped
Euro-communist position.
from ETA (Military). obtaining be so the PNV and UCD
•liberties under bourgeois
front against the UCD The
Arab petty bourgeois supporters.
Mandel, of the Polisario's
Spanish state
and against TISK nationalist government of the PNV. was put him This was linked
social pact.
Socialist Challenge
BASQUES
DEAL BLOW
TOSPANISH
THE first elections to the Basque
have resulted spectacular defeat for the Union of the
Centre (UCD), the governing party in the Spanish state, which shows that its policy of limited autonomy' cannot satisfy the national aspirations of the Basque people.
The run-up to the elections was marked by a new rise of national and social struggle in Euskadi, as the Basque country is known, with strikes against factory closures and the 'social pact' (a version of Britain's social contract) and demonstrations for the release
launched an offensive in an assault on a military convoy and the death of five civil guards. The government responded with an 'anti-
decree and massive repression
The result: UCD lost over half the votes it received in the elections to the Madrid
relegating the party to fifth place, with less than 10 per cent of the votes
The socialists and the Communist Party, which openly supported the government's anti-Basque policy, also lost a significant
votes. They had furiously attacked the left nationalist parties and the
'the industrial bourgeoisie in achieved an impressive victory, allowing it to form a government on its own.
A few weeks earlier it had withdrawn from the Madrid parliament in protest at the
limitations Basque
At the same time, the negative character of ETA(Military)'s armed offensive and the divisions among the left nationalists allowed the PNV to appear as the only 'responsible'
Herri Batasuna (The People United), the second beneficiary in the elections, is a front
parties linked ideologically to which during the campaign that it wouldn't take up its seats in the Basque parliament.
Batasuna maintains this boycott, much of the political capital that it has gained will be lost, giving a margin of manoeuvre to the PNV and to the UCD
LKI, the Euskadi Trotskyists, pointed this out in its election campaign, calling on Herri Batasuna to defend class and national intersts in the Basque parliament.
Euskadiko Eskerra (Basque Left) is the second left nationalist party, with a broadly
which has split the aim of for Euskadi autonomy, it argued for negotiations with
PNV wants to subordinate working clas and social demands to a fight for national
leadership, there is a danger that Euskadiko Eskerra could be trapped into an inter-class Basque
Trotskyists' election campaign began with a united front proposal to Herr Batasuna and the far left, that is to everyone who opposed the limited autonomy projec and the social pact. It was not accepted because of the pressure of Herri Batasuna's
The LKI was able to organise 32 mass meetings, with the participation of Ernes
Bernadette MacAliskey-Devlin, and leaders from other nationalities in the
Their aim was to fight for socialists to use the Basque parliament as a platform,
Many working class left support for the •bourgeois to a campaign for democratic national rights and against the
10 April 1980 $ 13
Page 14 scan of this page
WIN A QUARTZ WATCH!
LETTERS
Helpless
anger' over
Zimbabwe coverage YOUR coverage of the wonderful struggle of the Zimbabwean people in overthrowing mperialism has often reduced me. to helpless anger over the last few months.
Why must you be so scornful of the black masses that you contanaly scue me case their chosen leaders in the Patriotic Front?
Solel use : Lancaster House talks you said that these leaders had 'offered the people nothing Vul Wall When the people proved you wrong by giving the PF a massive vote ‹ of approval in the
the people for being stupid enough to vote for them.
Your article 'Mugabe's Cabinet, the masters now?' (20 March) is just the last in a line of articles that have implied that the struggle or what to do with victory when they get it.
wwwoe vou tunk ural victory was given to them by the massive pressure of those outside Zimbabwe, like yourselves?
No, my friends, the people of Zimbabwe have struggled long enough against imperialism in all its forms not to be duped by it in whatever guise.
F BENTY, Edinburgh
Too kind to
the
Fragments?
HILARY Wainwright's letter (27 March), attempting to justify her Jime. is quite untenable. She says she rejects Leninist organisations.
never done Lenin LIC Courtesy o cycl caul us basic works. With consummate arrogance, she considers she can
without having the ABC of theoretical understanding.
As resul WICT ONC examines the political practice
squalid mess. Her beloved Newcastle Socialist Centre exemplifies this fact.
One of its leaders is Jimmi Murray. He backed the right wing in the AUEW delegation at last wears Labour rare annua conference, sabotaged the struggles against redundancy at
Vickers's Scotswood, and spoke at the Labour regional conference ny cin cerence orale Cunningham and T Dan Smith.
Yet, recently, when Andy Strouthous, the SWP Tyneside organiser, moved a mild resolution proposing Newcastle Socialist Cent : should be critical of Murray, inlary Wainwright
Clear instructions to all Socialist
a delighted chuckle because all who
will be eligible to win one of two
are also eligible).
on the watch and noble materialists
cracking.
Paul Russell
London SW7
Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980
sprang to the defence of this firstlass opportunist.
Valerie Coultas is too kind. one accuses wanno "lending weight to Benn's view"; she should have added 'and to Callagnan's view as well .
RAY CHALLINOR, Whitley Bay Sectarian stance to Protestants WE BEG to differ with the article v veere contes cae Roe (13 March) on Internationa Women's Day in Bellast.
extremely sectarian stance and therefore a most dangerous acco sa dollies. from their reference to 'a few Protestants hanging around' and none une rrotestants our singic handed', the most offensive part of the article was the comrades' aude co socaust renasu We would ask the comrades to define *Protestant socialist feminism'. In our opinion there can be no such thing.
Surely the term socialist feminist would imply that the
her religious background. Indeed, any true socialist feminist, regardless of background. would be angered at the presence of an army of occupation on their streets, It is not Protestantism but Loyalism that is the obstacle to attack by Valerie and Pauline on the Protestant population in the Nort or ireland more or less brands Protestants as hopeless. reactionaries incapable of developing any progressive ideas The Protestant working class mitle more of nothing than thy ar in fact, have materially a much more oppressed psychologically by the dominant COLOR fear of being repressed in a 32-County republic.
Valerie and Pauline may think thev are lucky not to have to live in Belfast, but in our opinion Northern Ireland, with
broad-based movement involving the Protestant working class, would be better off without them EMMA CRAIG and CHARLIE BAIRD, Glasgow
Glasgow ANL
silent on
Loyalists
MARIAN Koegh in her letter (20 March) quite rightly criticises your article on the Armagh picket for is use orre cos ceromanons to explain the divisions in the working class in the Six Counties.
Certainly the division is between those who are oppressed by British imperialism and who fight back (the nationalist population)
Challenge readers: complete and post the adjoining form, then sit back and smile when the next nagging appeal is printed. Your smile may well turn into
start or increase their banker's order
stunning digital quartz watches (those who answered the appeal weeks ago
The draw will take place on May Day, so vulgar materialists with an eye
with an eye on the paper's funds get
Page 14
Лo1.
and those who have been bought off by relative privileges ans support British imperialism (the Loyalists or Unionists).
Where the letter goes wrong, however. is in failing to bring out the importance of this political division -Marian and her IMu and tne ANL totally covered Ip for in their opposition to the
Of course you don't tell Protestants they the Republican Movement mat is not what Mans ge
Glasgow with every effort made not to mention what they marcus aboul never opposed the regular Orang valks in Glasgow whose very conlem is avour suasing unc IRA. The IMG in Glasgow have taken responsibility for this part 1 ne OILIC ANL The point I'm making is clear
in my own 'small story'. somicone col us to socak al all ANL meeting in Glasgow and talked about the need to support the Republican Movement
with anti-Republican shouts. One woman shouted Ulster is British ana acclarco wal sue was prescui "to talk about fascists, not
Not one ANL or ›wr on the platiorm opposed this point of view. entire publicity and standpoint endorsed it, so how could they? all the The struggle is not about
Catholics and Protestants. It is about whether we are prepared to oppose British imperialism Loyalism and suppori the A for
its glorious role in the fight against British imperialism.
JANE PETRIE, Edinburgh
Expose racist
court
IN Socialist Challenge (20 March) you reported the police attack on me. It's not only racist attacks bi the police that face black people in Hornsey but also a racist conspiracy between the police and Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.
This court has now refused to grant me legal ala -fact that I earn only £32 a week. As in the case of the Earlington Your Bank
Name of Account to be debited
Our Bank... Socialist Challenge...
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NO BLOODY CORM GANN legal aid for wallica. we court loses li
of racists.
comrades in the decision by the court but obviously support for our
important now Cavement but petition was about. The
and Junior Archer. Assemble tube) at 1.30pm. were The ANL has 21st April - Picket of nignoury corner Magistrates Court, assemble 9.30am.
Donations, EFDC, SE24 OLN.
When Junior Archer Appeal for several Soviet feminist
French feminist weekly des
member of the IMG,
femmes en mouvementon b Their March.
2000 sponsors.
is also a painter and editor.
movement in Russia. She Is
really deal with social and political issues: immediate: interrogations; threats; surveillance. In the
make ste mo erade
worse: the denunciations • despite one SOCIALIST CHALLENGE BANKER'S ORDER FORM
Account Number .....
Socialist Challenge
Lloyd's Bank, Upper St, London N1:
30-94-57
in the month thereafter.
Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
→ PERHARE HE'S PISSED OFF "CAUSE WE HAVEN'T Family, who were twice refused
the solicitors they prevent a fightback which would expose Hornsey police as a bunch
the Almanac
The Earlington Family
WOrKCU Defence. Committee will fight this
all Cal activities and financial support fo fighting the cases are even more
The EFDC is calling for maximum support for two events: 19th April - Demonstration in defence of the Earlington Family
Finsbury Park (gate nearest the
, messages 01 support and further enquiries to Krouglova
49 Railton Road, London M Smirnov,
Gordienko, THE following appeal, signed by its authors, was received by the
March. They published it on 7 Saint-Peres,
On 15 March it was published in Le Monde, together with over
future issue.
"Tatiana Mamonova is a talented poet from Leningrad. She
distort,
recent were nas occolle famous, both here and abroad.
"She started the women's smash!
director of publication and editor of Women and Russia, the first independent women's journal. It
style.
1. First,
The reaction of the KGB was
consistently where she lives with her husband and son, the KGB have done everything to
Recently the situation got even
provoked by the KGB allowed the militia to demand that Tatiana's husband give a detailed account
context
concepts.
debate.
Meer's p domination.
... Monthly list Cabuscu. .... And on the same date
To of their finances over the last few years. They are trying to accuse Tatiana and her husband of
The authorities claimed that
accord with Mamonova and her family, librairie Des femmes, 0o rue des
Fi Haris Socialist Challen ige will be carrying an article on the background to this case in a
Caricature,
MEMO to a Left male - how to
win' an argument, traditiona
Dedicated to Rashid Meer.
misunderstand your • LILC easy, as most people don't
express themseives wur comocic occoon.
2. Next, get very angry. This helps you to forget you actually
'opponent's' views. It also enables you to give your aggression and
Sancture disor ane generally misrepresent your 'opponent's' arguments.
4. quote coerer son. misquote) your 'opponent' out of
5. Imply your 'opponent' is deficient in basic Marxist
6. Artificially polarise the
Finally, attempt to 'smash' your opponent compictely.
8. Subsequently, wonder why women are alienated by 'male
Taking up some of Rashid
1. Is it divisive to expose Cousins ervisive acues u relation to black people? If so, it must also be divisive to say SCCLOTS Ol c workie-Cas: believe Government-propagated myths about greedy workers and nelso cu scroulecis. and ll show how setting 'coloureds' against 'blacks' helps to assure the South African state's
How can capitalism's con-tricks be combatted unless
2. My 'personal impressions.' Naturally my impressions are personal; how could they be otherwise basee on Tour vears working with Asian children, they are admittedly incomplete, but surcly Have some va
3. 1 alan't say, Aslans lee. loathing and contempt for West Indians'; I actually said, 'Many
BUT THEN IT'D HELP
If WE HAD MIS
ADDRESS
Cohnne
African Asian children arrived in Britain with a deep loathing and contempt for black Africans, which was then often transferred to the west nolans - not quite the same. Rashid Meer can choose to disbelieve this statement, but must then claim that the Ugandan Asian children who have related their experiences in Uganda and Britain to me lied about their feelings. (Naturally, I'm not saying their feelings subsequently modified.) Also I refer him to Sabir Bandali's Small Accidents, the autobiography of a Ugandan AsIan schooldo!
4. I didn't think it ne for SC's readership, to delineate imperialism's super-exp oitation of the Indian sub-continent. Incidentally, how are immigrants' sublective motivations any les real than the historical context?
5. While appreciating the enormous importance of the Black Freedom March and the organisations Rashid Meer
comprise a united black movement. This would surely
people, not just that minority now
, but also, for example, groups like the temple-orientec a my-centeo ormocox Hindi communities of North-west London JENNY FLINTOFT, London Labour and
Namibia:
Shoring up
South Africa THE South West Africa People's public the following telegram sent to the leader of the Labour Party,
SWAPO of Namibia regrets to wallaghal learn that the shadow Foreign Secretary, Peter Shore, is meeting
strator general for Namibia, Gerrit Viljoen
we are cecoy concenco mia Mr Shore is not only willing to defy United Nations resolutions ana Labour rarty policy ol Namibia, but is also willing to jeopardise the Labour Party' relations with SWAPO. We therefore urge you to put a stop to the meeting.
SHAPUA KAUKUNGUA, SWAPO representative for West Europe. Back Tameside THE TUC's ban on Tameside Trades Counci because of an Insh conference is an affront to all working people
If they get away with it we won't be able to criticise any policies of the government of the dav if the TUC also agrees will them
As the TUC nearly alway backs the government on political
it means we will be prevented from putting forward our own point of view.
Trade unionists should take up support for Tameside in their union branches and even hold thei own conferences on Ireland to defy the TUC chiefs.
JOE TIERNEY, Richmond Surrey LETTERS exceeding 400 word:
will normally be cut to ensure
that the maximum number
express their Anonymous letters will only be published in exceptional
circumstances but real name will be withheld from publication on request
Page 15 scan of this page
Getting the facts on nuclear power
Swiss high finance exposed *
UNDER REVIEW
"What working people should know about nuclear power Halstead. Pathfinder Press, 50p.
'Workers' Power, Not Power' by Mike Simons. Socialists Unlimited for SWP. 50р.
TWO socialist pamphlets on nuclear power have been published recently. One is from the Socialist workers Party in the United States and the other from the British SWP.
The first entitled What • people shoula know about nuclear powe by Fred Halstead. It is a successful attempt
straightforward what exactly the dangers of nuclear power
starts with biological effects of radiation, goes on to say now nuclear reactors work, wnal luel reprocessing involves, and then says a little about the political background.
pamphlet clear pressurised water reactors (PWRs) - the
the US and US legsaion as is not relevant to Drilal because the Tory government wants to build them here, but some of the technical facts. stated as generalities, do not apply to British gas-cooled reactors.
The basic differences reactors and thermal reactors could have been explainea in just a nue more detail. These are not obscure technical points, LICY are fundamental to the economics and safety of nuclear connection with nuclear weapons. (A plan
by the International ruel Cycle avaluauon sel up oy ricsident Carter that the capitalist countries should reactors, we erore reprocessing and bombs, allowing the developing countries only themai reactors. and inadequate theoretical framework.
particularly when left governments come to power.
different components could be untangled.
Academic
named in the book,
'outside' forces will topple it.
However,
ALAN LENTON
'My Song is My Own, 100 Women's
Songs! Kathy Henderson
Frankie
Kerr, Pluto Press £3.95
'WE HAVE selected material that
reflects the experience of ordinary
women, throws light on their lives and
feelings, and links up
invisible tradition of
resistance'
So Kathy
enterorise ine sno
editors have explored hitherto neglected
songs of women in the folk tradition,
have set them side by side with music hall
songs and contemporary
struggle. The result
which succeeds
unearthing a lot of interesting music and in
combining the diverse material to present
vivid picture of the lives of
through history.
Culled entirely from the British Isles,
by Fred
Nuclear working
language NON
description of the NUCLEARE AL'ETAT
with
safety
between fast
The political powel and to is
Nuclear answer
advanced keep A final section by ase fuci to themelves; 'Switzerland Exposed' by Jean Ziegler, Allison & Busby, $3.50 A FASCINATING account of some of the darker workings of the Swiss banking system and state, this book has two main flaws - inadequate format,
The most interesting sections are undoubtedly those explaining the way Swiss banks are used to transfer money around the world in secret
Swiss financiers participated in the overthrow of Allende.
These sections highlight a major problem for the book's editors — that of combining narrative, facts, and figures in standard book format. In my view, the whole thing would have been much clearer in the style of the CIS Reports — A4, soft-covered with the flexibility of a pamphlet. In this framework the
A more serious weakness is the lack of theoretical framework within which to situate the fightback against the system described in the book.
Ziegler is a Social Democratic member of the Swiss parliament. This, together with the fact that he knows personally many of the financial barons
possibly accounts for the eclectic mixture of ThirdWorldism and academic Marxism that characterises the programme he offers.
The two main planks of this programme are anti-imperialism and an unmasking of the capitalists' activities. Nowhere in the programme, or the descriptive part of the book for that matter, does the working class feature.
Ziegler's programme is that of the impotent academic faced with a structure, the dimensions of which he can just about grasp, but who lacks the analytical tools to understand it. As such he can only hope that nameless
despite this, the book offers many useful insights into the workings of international finance and multinational companies.
and Sandra
the largely women's these songs Henderson describes this thematically, mean briel. The courtship, motherhood. No , and Tra01a0Ell songs inspired unique and heartwarming whole. both The women information
conclusions of the pamphlet are that nuclear power should be opposed and that coal is the short-term
energy until renewable sources can be developed
Andrew Pulley tactics for opposing nuclear nower. we shone encourate traac unlone to join with other forces and to put their organizing power and political strength
- and the section on how
Women's songs
turnizat
have been organiser into sections on love and work. and distinction h20 beet the old and the new, the but somehow they have been integrated into a
the songs have been meticulously annotated, so you are give a good deal of
• about their history, their
propagators, and where they can be heard.
DANGERS DE
L'ÉNERGIE
NUCLEARE
into the anti-nuclear campaigns. Like the technical information, this is based on the
necessarily apply to Britain in all respects
The overall conclusion is, however, applicable everywhere:
...the people who have been so callous and deceitful on nuclear power are the very same people who have control over ween some watch erre enever centure means of destruction.
HANS. NoTT And the result is an extraordinary lively mix of social history and lament; comments on women's exhortations to change it
The reader will find not only a wealth of little known, often very moving songs
ut also many insights into the lives
SILICTS. alt facts alongside the songs about,
lot prostitutes; lady women's role in harvesting; how women
But this book is anything but didactic It spills over with spirit and vitality - with
Working people have no interest in either nuclear power or making war. do nave an interest in cical all, Jou saicty. and — if you please — in the continuation of the human race. If we get organized, we have the power to do something about it.
The British SWP Workers Power. written by Mike Simons. Contrary to my expectations, it is one nuclear publications i nave read, and is an immeasurable improvement previous SWP effort, Red Alert.
Longer than the American pamphlet it not only covers wider ground but also goes into deeply. It is very easy to read in spite of the density of information, and gives a wellbalanced view DOWe technical, paris and winda true excessary
without exaggeration found in some anti-nuclear publications, Wnic! substantial danger with
role imperialist domination clearly itset. ine economic aroments or tic so-called 'energy crisis' are exposed and the anti-nuclear movement, world-wide and in Britain, is assessed. Case studies illustrate the general points about work hazards, threats to workers' rights, and how they interaci sociali pamphlet inal say: giving all tne lacts badly needed in Britain. the (British) SWP is excellent in filling this
how nuclear power should be opposed But perhaps it information to make up our own minds on that CAROL RUSSELL humourous songs, bawdy songs, songs o! women complaining of their men's lack of gumption, women having fun. Trico
One section contains songs of recent struggles - the Trico workers strike songs, sons aboul songs of the picket line. One of the many achievements of the collection is that these contemporarv songs fit so the format and between old and new, songs of complaint and Sons or u The booki dendenor has well ay
treat 1 of although given But I do commend it
remarkable, villains; innovative contribution both to the study
of women's history and to the history of
British traditional music.
SALLY FELDMAN
We
pamphlet, called Not Nuclear Power is
of the best anti-
Female
hbk £10
descriptions more
of all aspects of nuclear
economic, and serious unnecessary
however, relatively
nuce Dower
explained as as the risks from the technology the myths
capitalism justifiable
Howevel, should oppose nuclear power
theoretical and arguments
Ine pampniet os
from saying exactly sociologists
'conservative gives us enough
Braverman Bureau,
equal
At presentation classically women.
Since
agrees
the
ience'.
Later dialogue
Bureau,
labour undercut
abnormal
Hurst extremely
, the Idris equal pay and an naturally into unintended - snowing a tirm continuil
KIUW
La sulle clear and which
informative
'the girls'.
Secretaries:
'an absolutely
natural role
for women'
'Women for Hire: A study of the Meal. McMillan 1979 pbk 24.95 Office Worker Fiona
I FIND it difficult to generate much of a positive response to this book. As an attempt to fill the gap in industrial sociology left by the absence of a
study of women office workers, it does perhaps perform a useful function. At the same time,
suffers from inadequacies of traditional sociology.
McNally is concerned to explode
surrounding women r waged work which assume them to be home-centred and passive and expose them as ideological justifications for the exploitative systems of
and patriarchy. aim which Marxistfeminists would agree to.
because there is no political analysis
classic reformist style: must overcome their assumptions' that women passively accept the fact of limited occupational alternatives.
The book is also marred by what appears as an obsessive concern with sociological 'scientificness'. •McNally lumps together quotations from and references to the most disparate and incompatible sources, skipping from
the Alfred Mark. from Marcia Williams to Gerald Nabarro, and from the Daily Express to Spare Rib, giving them all
weight effort undauntingly to prove her point.
point, a 5-page of the cause of secretaries' job dissatisfaction (drawn heavily from secondary sources) ends abruptly with a quote from Bernar Marks, of the Alfred Marks Bureau which not surprisingly describes the secretary's supportive (read subord inate) role as 'an absolutely natural,
appropriate role They want to feel needed (and) wanted...'.
the statement is offere uncritically, one assumes Ms McNally
Mr Marks assumption which is indeed confirmed 9 lines later with 'it is important therefore that one does not overstate
degree of work dissatisfaction which secretaries subjectively exper-
we have an interesting between Marx and Eric Hurst, chairperson of Brook Stree
over whether temps can be considered part of the reserve army of
and as such are used the pay permanent workers, as was (rightly) claimed by NALGO a few years ago. Mr Hurst allays these fears by assuring us that 'the main role for temps is to supply
•and peripheral requirements and not to provide competition with permanent workers'.
Faced with both arguments, Ms McNally rejects Marx in favour of
and difficult concludes that to resolve it the is competing claims and it may be that in those cases where the hire of temps wages of permanent staff, this was
unintended consequence of the consequence of the employers' actions'. (!)
It seems to me that if we are going to think, critically about women's employment and not just attempt to redress the sociological balance, ther we must locate women's work within
a socially critical analysis — a move
McNally explicity rejects. And I wish she wouldn't kee
referring to women office workers a!
HAZEL DOWNING Socialist Challenge 10 April 1980 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge NO NAZIS IN OLDHAM
April.
The new Nazi Brons, will be the star speaker and a call has gone out to fascists nationally
Ostensibly the marching in opposition to Oldham's two 'extreme left-wing' MPs, James Lamond and Michael Meacher.
In reality the NE's fire is directed against black people. Since August 1979, when they were admitted to the Sunday Football League, they have increasingly been able to pose as a credible organisation. there has been a phenomenal increase in the growth of racist graffiti - but not just graffiti.
Violent
Three weeks ago violent attacks on black people began again. Nazis had clearly decided to prepare their members tor demonstration. The community is concentrated largely in the Glodwick and Westwood areas of Oldham. On two consecutive nights a thirty-strong platoon Movement hoodlums and NF thug attacked Bengalis in Westwood with iron bars and bricks. Two Bengalis were taken to hospital and many olers senously injurce as ine Nazi gang smashed windows and doors.
One of the victims was Mobaswir Khan, President of the Bangladesh Association.
of last week his door smashed in. Next day he opened his door to find a gang of fifteen youths. He told Socialist Challenge:
•Within seconds they attacked me: They were hitting me with sticks and I received five blows. smashed a long iron bar through my window.
Typical
The reaction of the police was typical. They stated claims 'are exaggerated' and Mr Khan said thạt seriously'. The Bangladesh Association has had a different response. militant meeting of 250 agreed on a plan of self-defence against these attacks.
In the Glodwick bombs have been Pakistani houses and the family's house was set Fortunately the fire started upstairs and the family were asleep downstairs and were able to leave the house. Mohammed Aslam told us:
"This is the fifth attack in recent
Janet Gardner reports from Oldham:
THERE ARE nearly ten thousand black people in Oldham. Most of them are Asian workers, employed in the textile mills and local factories. It is against them that the Nazis will be directing their racist abuse when they march through Oldham Town Centre on Saturday 12
chief, Andrew broken,
La large mobilisation.
National Front are
In Risley.
Since then not ask him.
interview
threatening The deception!
tne 12 April As all laws, allacks,
British Asian Oldham On Wedwas
Then they
that Bengali
taking
Bengalis
area, petrol thrown into Aslam on fire.
ASIAN FAMILIES FIRE-BOMBED
My windows have NF slogans have painted on my front door and my front gate was burnt two weeks ago. My 84-year-old mother has chased by racist youths.
Alongside attacks from the Nazis, the Tory government has stepped up its implementation of racist laws. Munir Ahmed is currently being held
He entered the country legally three years ago. Immigration authorities now claim he did not tell them he was married• but they did
When he made an application for his wife to join him, he was asked by immigration authorities to attend am
Manchester Airport.
They promptly arrested him and are
to deport him
A mass rally against immigration
for self-defence against racist and against the Nazis, has been called by the Oldham Campaign Against Racist Laws on the same day as the fascist march. Hundreds of
workers are preparing mobilise for this meeting.
Two marches are being prepared egistered with the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Lid. for Socialist Challenge,
been been
been
centre. (WIl
labour movement • Lamond and Meacher.
Labour Coordinating
for
for Michael Meacher.
to
stop the NF marching. Join us.
ANTI-NF
RALLY
Saturday 12April
11am, car park behind the library,
Union Street, Oldham
by Asian organisations from different parts of the town to converge at the
There enthusiasm for the rally and demonstrations from many sections of the
- but not MPs
The latter, a leading figure in the
Committee, told OCARL: "The NF have the right to march if they so wish, it's not up to me to comment on that. Although the police should ban it on the day if it becomes a racist march. ' He went on to explain that events such as Southall would not have happened if antifascists had stayed at home. So much
With or without Oldham's 'left'
black and white workers and anti-fascists will be on the streets to
Britain:
Abroad: 12 months - Surface Mail
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